WB's spirit soars as district celebrates its 50th Blue and Gold competition
by Carolyn James

Linda (Bianco) Stone, a Blue and Golder when she was a student at West Babylon High School, and her daughter Kaycee. Stone's sisters, Kaycee's aunts, were also involved in the program when they were in school, making it a memorable family event.

This week, West Babylon Schools will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the district's high spirited extravaganza- Blue and Gold. The event, which has evolved into a major theatrical and dance performance, began in 1957 as an after-school sports program for girls but has become a symbol of the district's pride and camaraderie.

"It originally was to give female students in the district a chance to recreate," said Peggy Ehrensperger, a teacher in the district and the Blue and Gold Advisor for 34 years. "The uniforms were gym bloomers which were popular back then and the program was held in Main School."

Main School on Little East Neck Road, has since been demolished and the site is now a senior citizen center, but the program that began there is going strong. Today, more than 175 students participate in Blue and Gold, including male students.

"Blue and Gold today is theater and as in all good theater it is an educational experience," explained Ehrensperger, who is affectionately called Ms. E by her students. "The music and the art have changed along with the culture and we strive to deliver a quality show each spring. I think we have succeeded."

But the show really begins in the classroom, pointed out Ms. E. The students develop a theme and then research it, learning all they can about the events, culture or time period they are studying.

They then take that information and transform it into music and dance. This year's themes are Blue's Zeus the Almighty, and Gold's Arabian Nights.

"It is really like completing a term paper," said Ehrensperger in talking about how the students put together the program. "And it exposes our children to things they may have not otherwise known or heard about."

The program may have begun as an athletic recreational opportunity for female students, and evolved into a major production but it also has become the focal point of community spirit in the district, bringing people together like a family, say those who are still a part of it.

Patti Neville, another teacher in the district is also a former Blue and Golder, and she remembers the experience of being part of the spirited event fondly.

"It was a wonderful program to be a part of and it gave me the opportunity of meeting and working with students I may not otherwise have met," she said. "It helped to enrich my high school years and I still have friends that I keep in touch with that I met through that experience."

"It was a chance for girls to have something to do," recalled Linda Stone, a West Babylon graduate whose daughter is in the program this year. "I still keep in touch with some of the students I met when I was in Blue and Gold, and every year we get together during the event and talk about our experiences and old times. It's just wonderful."

This year's Blue and Gold performances will be held at the High School tonight at 6 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the High School office or by calling 321-3004.

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