School seeks memorabilia for big bash

MARLBORO - This year marks a very special milestone for Defino Central Elementary School - its 50th birthday.

As part of the yearlong celebration, Principal Sandra Morris and Vice Principal Nicholas Camera are creating a Defino "museum" in the school's hallways, where memorabilia depicting the school's 50-year history will be displayed.

Former students and teachers are being asked to donate or lend items such as yearbooks, photographs, textbooks, tests, T-shirts and more to the school so that they may be included in the exhibit. Call Camera at (732) 972-2099 for more information.

Although the museum is an ongoing project, it will be officially unveiled and

open to the public from May 1-5. Anyone interested in speaking to students about their memories of Defino Central during that week are encouraged to set up an appointment with Camera.

According to information provided by the Marlboro K-8 School District, Frank Defino Central Elementary School was founded in 1956. It was built on 20 acres formerly owned by Howard Maglan and officially opened to students in September 1957 as Central School, on Route 79 just north of Route 520.

The original school had 11 classrooms, a multipurpose room, a teachers' room and auxiliary rooms. As the town's population grew, so did the school. In 1963, 10 classrooms were added. Another addition was built in 1969 that included 16 classrooms, a cafeteria, conversion of a multipurpose room to a gym and renovations to other areas of the building. In 1996, a cafetorium and six more classrooms were added to the school. At the present time, the school educates 854 pupils in grades 1-5.

The school experienced many grade changes over the years: 1957-68, K-8; 1968-70, 1-8; 1970-76, 6-8; 1976-88, K-5; 1988 to 2001, Pre-K to 6; 2002, 1-6; 2003, 1-5.

In 1992 the Central School name was officially changed to the Frank Defino Central Elementary School in honor of Frank Defino, who served as the district's assistant superintendent from 1971-76 and as superintendent from 1976 through his retirement in 1992.