Chestnut Street School in West Hempstead rings in 106th anniversary

The West Hempstead Union Free School District acknowledged the 106th anniversary of the Chestnut Street School with a special ceremony at the end of the school day on Jan. 14.

The celebration started last week when students throughout the building learned the poem “I Love My School,” which kindergarten student Zayn Dungersi was selected to read over the P.A. system during the celebration as students were being dismissed. A group of students also joined Principal Faith Tripp to sing “Happy Birthday” in both English and Spanish.

The ceremony was marked by the sounding of the bell that sits atop the building, which was formerly used to signal the start and finish of the school day. Tripp, district Superintendent Daniel Rehman and other district officials traveled to the top of the building to ring the bell as families picked up students at dismissal.

“We continue to celebrate the tradition of honoring the anniversary of Chestnut Street by ringing the bell and coming together as a school community,” Tripp said.