Farmingdale High School superintendent: Last student hospitalized after bus crash has returned home
An emotional homecoming at Farmingdale High School on Friday was marked with a milestone before it even began: The last of the dozens of marching band students injured in a fatal charter bus crash two weeks ago has been released from the hospital, Superintendent Paul Defendini announced at an afternoon pep rally.
That student, Ashley Betts, a freshman, was watching a livestream of the pep rally from home, Defendini said.
“Today marks another homecoming; the last of our students are now home,” Defendini said. “ ... In celebration of Ashley, the last of our heroes finding their way back to Farmingdale, let’s all cheer, “Welcome home Ashley!”
Defendini and Principal Jed Herman led a chant, “Let’s go Dalers!” during the rally.
Homecoming marked the return of the high school's marching band for its first major public performance since the Sept. 21 crash, which claimed the lives of band director Gina Pellettiere and chaperone Beatrice Ferrari.
Dozens of students were hurt when the bus ran off the road and down a 50-foot embankment on Interstate 84 in Orange County as the band was on the way to a camp in Pennsylvania. NTSB investigators said recently that they are looking at a host of factors that could have led to the crash.
Before kickoff against Baldwin on Friday evening, with the stands of the football stadium packed in a sea of green, the marching band took to the field to cheers.
At midfield, the school logo and green and white ribbons were painted with the initials of Pellettiere and Ferrari, “GP” and “BF.” Musical notes and a treble cleft also were painted along the sidelines.
The stadium announcer called for a brief moment of silence for Pellettiere and Ferrari before the band played the national anthem and Farmingdale’s fight song.
Some band members who had been injured and could not perform took the field with the band. Others watched from the sidelines.
Some parents in the crowd dabbed tears as the student musicians approached the home stands. The public address announcer said the band served as “an inspiration to the resilience of our community.”
Then at halftime, there was another tribute to Pellettiere and Ferrari when the marching band took the field: A moment of silence before the drumline-led band played a selection of songs including “Proud Mary.” Following the performance, the announcer said the band showed “the everlasting legacy and fiery spirit of Ms. P.”
Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, were laid to rest last week during funerals with a strong showing from the community still working to heal from the tragedy.
Before the game, assistant band director David Abrams said the band was excited to perform before the crowd. He said Pellettiere’s loss would be on their minds, but that the band wanted to play. He said that for about a week after the crash, there was no music in the band room, or in other programs at the school.
“It was very difficult for all of us. She was their teacher for a long time. She was my friend for 20 years,” Abrams said. “Then the day came and we talked to our students and asked them about playing and they said, ‘We want to play. We want to play for Ms. P.’”
He said that playing gave the kids a sense of normalcy. He told his band not to become overcome with emotions, but to allow the emotions. “Music is healing,” he said.
Kayley Flockhart said she graduated from Farmingdale High last year and came to watch her sister, who is a freshman in the band.
“It’s taken her a while, but it’s nice to see her have the support of everyone,” she said. “It’s definitely different this year, but great seeing everyone come together and how close everyone can get. It’s amazing to see how quickly they got to the field. They sound amazing.”
Earlier in the day, at the pep rally, Herman, the principal, said that two weeks ago, he didn’t think homecoming would happen.
“I don’t know about you, but man, I need a pep rally,” Herman said to the students. “If you told me two weeks ago we would be here, I’d say no chance. But 40 of our kids are back home — with us.”
The community has rallied around the high school, holding a fundraiser this week at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh hosted by Nassau County police unions and the John Theissen Children’s Foundation. The event raised more than $15,000 for the marching band, to be distributed among injured students and to support Pellettiere's 2-year-old son, Joseph.
After halftime, Abrams said: "It’s amazing what this community has done and the love and support they have shown us. ... They played with energy and pride, just as Ms. P would have wanted them to. They were great."
With Roger Rubin
An emotional homecoming at Farmingdale High School on Friday was marked with a milestone before it even began: The last of the dozens of marching band students injured in a fatal charter bus crash two weeks ago has been released from the hospital, Superintendent Paul Defendini announced at an afternoon pep rally.
That student, Ashley Betts, a freshman, was watching a livestream of the pep rally from home, Defendini said.
“Today marks another homecoming; the last of our students are now home,” Defendini said. “ ... In celebration of Ashley, the last of our heroes finding their way back to Farmingdale, let’s all cheer, “Welcome home Ashley!”
Defendini and Principal Jed Herman led a chant, “Let’s go Dalers!” during the rally.
Homecoming marked the return of the high school's marching band for its first major public performance since the Sept. 21 crash, which claimed the lives of band director Gina Pellettiere and chaperone Beatrice Ferrari.
Dozens of students were hurt when the bus ran off the road and down a 50-foot embankment on Interstate 84 in Orange County as the band was on the way to a camp in Pennsylvania. NTSB investigators said recently that they are looking at a host of factors that could have led to the crash.
Before kickoff against Baldwin on Friday evening, with the stands of the football stadium packed in a sea of green, the marching band took to the field to cheers.
At midfield, the school logo and green and white ribbons were painted with the initials of Pellettiere and Ferrari, “GP” and “BF.” Musical notes and a treble cleft also were painted along the sidelines.
The stadium announcer called for a brief moment of silence for Pellettiere and Ferrari before the band played the national anthem and Farmingdale’s fight song.
Some band members who had been injured and could not perform took the field with the band. Others watched from the sidelines.
Some parents in the crowd dabbed tears as the student musicians approached the home stands. The public address announcer said the band served as “an inspiration to the resilience of our community.”
Then at halftime, there was another tribute to Pellettiere and Ferrari when the marching band took the field: A moment of silence before the drumline-led band played a selection of songs including “Proud Mary.” Following the performance, the announcer said the band showed “the everlasting legacy and fiery spirit of Ms. P.”
A scene from the pep rally Friday at the high school. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, were laid to rest last week during funerals with a strong showing from the community still working to heal from the tragedy.
Before the game, assistant band director David Abrams said the band was excited to perform before the crowd. He said Pellettiere’s loss would be on their minds, but that the band wanted to play. He said that for about a week after the crash, there was no music in the band room, or in other programs at the school.
“It was very difficult for all of us. She was their teacher for a long time. She was my friend for 20 years,” Abrams said. “Then the day came and we talked to our students and asked them about playing and they said, ‘We want to play. We want to play for Ms. P.’”
The crowd cheers during the pep rally. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
He said that playing gave the kids a sense of normalcy. He told his band not to become overcome with emotions, but to allow the emotions. “Music is healing,” he said.
Kayley Flockhart said she graduated from Farmingdale High last year and came to watch her sister, who is a freshman in the band.
“It’s taken her a while, but it’s nice to see her have the support of everyone,” she said. “It’s definitely different this year, but great seeing everyone come together and how close everyone can get. It’s amazing to see how quickly they got to the field. They sound amazing.”
Earlier in the day, at the pep rally, Herman, the principal, said that two weeks ago, he didn’t think homecoming would happen.
“I don’t know about you, but man, I need a pep rally,” Herman said to the students. “If you told me two weeks ago we would be here, I’d say no chance. But 40 of our kids are back home — with us.”
The community has rallied around the high school, holding a fundraiser this week at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh hosted by Nassau County police unions and the John Theissen Children’s Foundation. The event raised more than $15,000 for the marching band, to be distributed among injured students and to support Pellettiere's 2-year-old son, Joseph.
After halftime, Abrams said: "It’s amazing what this community has done and the love and support they have shown us. ... They played with energy and pride, just as Ms. P would have wanted them to. They were great."
With Roger Rubin
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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