On May 21, 2025 BHS held the Annual Maritime Festival! Each year Bethpage High Schoolers and Elementary Schoolers look forward to the event. Third grade classes from Kramer Lane, Central Boulevard, and Charles Campagne visit BHS for a day of fun and learning. 

All activity stations are run by Mr. Portuese’s senior Forensics classes. Activities include: Blue Fish Dissection, Touch Tanks, Plankton, Rope Making, Fish Printing, and Scuba Diving.  The Fish Dissection is always a fan favorite, kids watch as the high schoolers remove the organs from the fish. Students have the opportunity to touch the fish’s heart, gills, and scales. 

At the fish printing station, students created their own fish paintings to take home and display. The paintings are a great way for each and every student to remember this special day!

Rope Making is always a fan favorite interactive activity for students. Students first learn about the different types of ropes and ways they are used on sailboats. Then every student helps create a rope to take back to their classroom.

Next, students make the journey to the BHS pool to watch Mr. Hack Scuba Dive! First Mr. Hack shows everyone the parts of his complicated equipment and how it works; then, students throw rings into the deep end. The lights are turned off and Mr. Hack dives in and finds all of the rings. It is always so exciting to watch.

Last but certainly not least, at the Touch Tanks the classes learn about the geography of Long Island and the sea creatures that surround us. They are able to see and touch these creatures up close. Julia Baumbach said, “I still remember when we came to the Maritime Festival and I loved the Touch Tank.” Clearly these experiences leave a lasting impression on young Bethpage Students. Thank you to everyone who makes this amazing day possible— Mr. Hack, the Maritime Band, Mr. LoBosco, and especially Mr. Potuese. Mr Portuese is the very spirit of the Bethpage Maritime Festival and all of us at The Eagle’s Cry thank him for his dedication.