Director of Education and Community Engagement Julia Grella O'Connell at Thomas Jefferson School

On September 24, 2025, Director of Education and Community Engagement Dr. Julia Grella O'Connell presented a special program to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders at two local elementary schools. The program, “What's In A Name?” delved into the history of the German Settlement on Binghamton's West Side, with its six streets named for classical composers. Children learned about Franz Joseph Haydn – a.k.a. “Papa Haydn” – and his “Surprise” Symphony, and were introduced to a new version of “Ode to Joy” with lyrics all about West Side schools Horace Mann and Thomas Jefferson. The City of Binghamton will host a renaming ceremony in autumn 2025 to update the Hayden Street signs with the correct spelling of Papa Haydn's name.