Thursday, October 1, 2026
For half a century, a unique piece of Grand Avenue Middle School history remained hidden behind a wall, waiting for the moment when a future generation would finally discover what students and staff from 1976 had left behind.
That moment arrived on June 2, when school officials opened a time capsule created by the Class of 1976 inside the Bellmore school, fulfilling a promise made 50 years ago. Grand Avenue is part of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.
The capsule, sealed during the nation’s bicentennial year, was covered by a plaque bearing a message from the students of that era: “Presented by the Class of ’76 to be opened June 2026 when our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.”
Students and staff throughout the building watched the unveiling via livestream during an extended advisory period. In the days leading up to the event, advisory classes participated in activities designed to build excitement while helping students understand what life was like when the capsule was created.
According to Social Studies Chairperson Ann Donaldson, students first learned about the purpose of time capsules before making their own predictions about what might be found inside.
“All of our students spent a bit of time exploring the concept of a time capsule and guessing what would be in the GAMS capsule,” Donaldson said.
Many students proved to be surprisingly accurate.
“Many advisory classes guessed that there might be a record, baseball cards and bicentennial memorabilia — and all were correct,” said social studies teacher Kristin Fusaro, who played a key role in organizing the event.
The capsule’s unveiling became more than just a look into the past. Students also participated in an interactive “Inflation Station” activity, estimating the 1976 prices of everyday items such as milk, eggs, gasoline and Nike sneakers before comparing them to today’s costs.
Another activity challenged students to identify pieces of now-vintage technology based solely on the sounds they made.
“Students also got to listen to various audio clips to try and guess the 1976 tech that made the sound,” Donaldson said. “Some of the sounds were from a record player, a Polaroid camera and a typewriter.”
The school embraced the spirit of the decade throughout the celebration. Hallways were filled with music from the 1970s during passing periods, giving students a taste of the era their predecessors experienced.
“There have been several days of 1970s music playing in the hallways during passing time, and kids were even treated to some impromptu teacher dance parties,” Mary Allegretta, an English chairperson, said.
The unveiling was organized through a collaborative effort involving the Student Council, Grand Avenue Principal Carlo Conte, Howard Fields, the dean of students and social studies teacher, and Fusaro.
While the opening marked the end of one chapter in the school’s history, it also signaled the beginning of another.
“In September, Grand Avenue will build a new 50-year time capsule to replace the 1976 one, and students have already begun contributing ideas regarding what to include that best captures 2026,” Fusaro said.
The new capsule will be sealed for the next generation of Grand Avenue students to discover, continuing a tradition that has connected the school’s past and present for half a century.
