A one room school house was built in 1857 in what is now known as Brentwood.  This came into being as a result of the early settlers of our community desiring a school district.  They sent a petition to William Nicoll, Superintendent of Common Schools of the Town of Islip, for approval to form a school district here.  Nicoll responded favorably by issuing an order to establish School District No. 12.

In 1856 the first school board meeting was held in the home of Francis M.A. Wicks.  The board approved the expenditure of $50.00 to buy land and $400.00 to build a school building.  It was decided to build an octagon shaped one room schoolhouse.  The eight sided design was chosen because it did away with corners enabling more people to share space in the room.

The First teacher in the new schoolhouse was Mary Swain.  Her 25 students, of various ages, learned the traditional subjects of reading, writing and arithmetic.  By some accounts it is reported that in addition to these basic subjects children were taught science, music, dancing and sex education.

The Octagon Schoolhouse was in use for fifty years.  The building was moved in 1989 from its original location in a wooded area near Second Street and Fifth Avenue to the Anthony F. Felicio Administration Center on Third Avenue where it still remains today awaiting restoration.  

- A. Bennett, Local History Newsletter, April 2006