Recognize this giant pillar? This photo was taken in July 2019 at the entrance to the old high school (which was our Junior High School in my era).

The second photo with some students visible was taken about 1939-40.

How many pillars are there? Four. Construction of the old high school on upper Greene Avenue began in October 1926 at a cost of $338,000. It was dedicated on January 21, 1928.

Jumping ahead to 2007, Mark David Milliron, PhD, an award-winning education leader wrote a paper titled “Catalyzing Positive Change in Education: The Four Pillars”. It provides an overview of a framework intended to help educators and is based on the notion of “four pillars”, as follows;

(1) catalyzing conversations
(2) inspiring innovation
(3) championing insight
(4) fostering leadership

Since 1928, many thousands of Sayville Students have passed through, leaned against, and sat all around these four giant pillars. The reality is, some 80 years before Dr. Milliron’s “four pillars” was written and published, Sayville’s educational system embraced conceptual equivalents.

While not necessarily in Dr. Milliron’s exact words, clear principles, strong pillars and exceptional mentorship were all presented to Sayville students by its exceptional corp of fine, enthusiastic teachers, faithful staff, dedicated board of education, and remarkably strong community support. Give a nod to those old pillars next time you pass by.