In honor of its 100th anniversary, Covert Avenue School hosted a celebratory ceremony on May 19. The school officially opened its doors to students in 1925, marking a century of serving students in the Elmont community. 

Principal Alison Gunn welcomed guests to the celebration. “We are so excited to gather everyone together today to celebrate 100 incredible years of history, memories, tradition and community here at Covert Avenue,” she said.

Assistant Principal Valerie Donoghue introduced several special guests, including retirees who served the school throughout the years. Among those recognized were former principal Dr. Margaret Pleta and former teacher and Gotham Avenue School principal Marshall Zucker. 

“We honor the past, celebrate the present and look forward with excitement to the future,” Ms. Gunn said. “Thank you all for being here today to celebrate this remarkable milestone. Whether you walked through these halls decades ago or are creating memories here today, you are an important part of the Covert Avenue story.”

Following the opening remarks, fifth and sixth grade students performed a special 100-year celebration song set to the tune of “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” under the direction of music teachers Mrs. Turk and Mrs. Turi. 

Mrs. Donohue then shared remarks on behalf of former principal Mary Natoli, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Former principal Dr. Pleta also addressed the audience, reflecting on the honor of serving as Covert Avenue School’s principal for more than 23 years.

Mr. Zucker, who taught at Covert Avenue from 1979-1986, also shared reflections and spoke about the Elmont district’s rich history.

The celebration continued with a performance by the kindergarten classes, who sang “We Love Covert Avenue.”

The ceremony concluded with a “Covert Avenue Through the Years” slideshow featuring photographs from the 1920s through the present day. Festivities continued throughout the school day, as each grade level celebrated a different decade spanning the school’s 100-year history.