Farmingdale HS Marching Band To Perform Halftime Show At Homecoming

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Farmingdale High School marching band is set to take the field at halftime for its show on Friday during the school's homecoming football game, Superintendent Paul Defendini announced.

The Daler Marching Band will be joined by the Dalerettes and Color Guard for its first performance since the bus crash on Sept. 21. The crash claimed the lives of two educators — Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale — when a bus overturned in Orange County on Sept. 21. More than 40 students were injured. The bus was transporting the marching band to its annual band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania.

Pellettiere was the school's marching band and wind ensemble director. Ferrari, a retired teacher, chaperoned band camp each year.

"Homecoming is this Friday, and of course, our amazingly resilient Daler Marching Band, Dalerettes, and Color Guard are prepared to steal the spotlight with their pregame and halftime show," Defendini said. "Come on down and take in the excitement of Friday Night Lights at Farmingdale High School."

Related:

• Gina Pellettiere's Rise To Farmingdale Band Director
• Remembering Gina Pellettiere: Farmingdale Band Students Share Memories
• 'Life Of The Party': Beloved Farmingdale Music Teacher Laid To Rest
• 'The Most Beautiful Soul': Farmingdale's Bea Ferrari Mourned
• Fundraisers For 'Ms. P's' Son, Farmingdale Students Hurt In Bus Crash
• LI Students Critically Injured In Bus Crash In 'Less Critical Care'

Farmingdale is set to host Baldwin at 6:15 p.m. for its homecoming game.

Students who were on the bus that crashed will be among the performers, Farmingdale Athletic Director Jeanne Berkoski told Newsday. She said Defendini spoke with the band after the crash and that its members wanted to return and play at the home football games.

A memorial is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Farmingdale High School, according to Defendini. There, the community can celebrate the lives of "our two beautiful angels, Bea and Ms. P," the superintendent said.

"We will offer a short service to show our love for each other and, in one unifying moment, show the world what it means to be a Daler as we wrap ourselves around the Ferrari/Aldieri and Pellettieri Families," he said.

The school district is continuing to offer counseling to anyone who needs support.

Funerals for Pellettiere and Ferrari were held last week.