WOODBURY — Busy bees buzz around the Nonnewaug lunch tables.

The beginning of fall means the bees are out, which causes chaos outside the cafeteria. 

Sophomore Cash Medonis has had a tragic experience with bees, so sitting outside can bring back bad memories. 

“I’m definitely scared of the bees,” Medonis says. “When I was 6, I got stung in the eye by a bee and I couldn’t see for a whole day.”

Bees are a concern when it comes to swarming food and flying around the lunch tables, but what causes all these bees? Lee McMillan, an agriscience teacher at Nonnewaug, explained the reason for all the buzz.

“Right now, honeybees, yellowjackets, etc. are sensing a change in the weather pattern with cold mornings and warm afternoons,” McMillan said. “They sense winter is on its way, so in the afternoon when it is warmer, they are actively searching for pollen, or your surgery drinks, as their food source to sustain them over winter. Hence why they are really active right now.”

Bees have been out for a few weeks now, and in that time they’ve even managed to sting some students at Nonnewaug. Nonnewaug school nurse Sandy Snabaitis has dealt with a couple of stings.

“So far this year, one student has been stung outside of the cafe, and then there was another one over in ag,” Snabaitis said.   

Many of the students who sit outside at lunch have had an encounter with the bees at least once before. Sophomore Luke Lodice says bees wreck his lunch plans.

“I like sitting outside because my friends are out there and I enjoy being in nature, but [if] the bees are all up in my food, then I’m not gonna wanna eat it if they were just in it.”