Nyack Schools Connection - May '24
May 2024
Dear Members and Friends of the Nyack Schools Community,
As we conclude a vibrant month of May, we are reminded of the incredible contributions of those who shape the lives of our students in the Nyack Public Schools. The month of May began with National School Principal’s Day, Teacher Appreciation Week and Nurse’s Appreciation Day. Their tireless efforts ignite a passion for learning and provide comfort that touches every student in our school community. May we embrace a spirit of appreciation not just this month, but every day.
On behalf of our Board of Education and school community, I want to extend my deepest appreciation for your unwavering support of the 2023-24 budget. We received an almost eighty-one percent “yes” vote for the budget. Your approval of our propositions ensures that we can continue to provide a whole-child focused education as well as fund critical capital improvements and projects. Thank you for your commitment to our students and staff, and our future.
Congratulations to our newly elected Board of Education Trustees Elaine Philhower and Bryan Burrell. We thank you in advance for your service over the next three years. We also extend our deepest gratitude to President Karen Hughes and Vice President John Duval who are concluding their terms. Their dedication, vision, and hard work have profoundly shaped our district. Their leadership made a difference in ensuring that our district was not only meeting the present needs of students but also preparing for the opportunities of the future.
On the evening of June 4, 2024 we will also extend heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who has been instrumental in their dedicated support to our students. Someone once said, “It takes a whole community to raise a child, to support their dreams, and to help them become the best version of themselves.” We thank you for continuing to uplift us!
Susan Yom
Superintendent of Schools
www.nyackschools.org
Facebook: @nyackschools Instagram: @nyackschools
What’s Happening in the Nyack Schools
Spring Concerts
Throughout the month of May, our schools were alive with the sound of music as student musicians spent hours rehearsing for Spring Concert performances. Fourth and fifth graders at Valley Cottage Elementary School kicked off the Spring Concert Season. At Liberty Elementary School, fourth and fifth grade student musicians practiced songs such as "Turn the World Around" before taking the stage on their big night. Upper Nyack Elementary School Orchestra, Band and Chorus ensembles fine-tuned their sound throughout the month. Our Nyack High School and Middle School Orchestras finessed various classical and contemporary pieces. All performances enjoyed standing-room only attendance - with huge applause for all musicians!
Spotlight on Talent
Congratulations to the cast and crew of our Nyack High School Drama Club! Their production of "Grease" has been nominated for seven LoHud Metro Awards! The Metro awards honor excellence in high school musical theatre in the Lower Hudson Valley and New Jersey. We are amazed by our students' talent and dedication to the craft of live theater, and are rooting for a big win at the Metro Awards awards ceremony in June.
Check out more photos on Facebook.
Teacher Appreciation
We appreciate and honor our teachers' commitment to inspire and guide our children daily. Still, during Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10, all Nyack Public Schools communities carried the celebration of our dedicated educators to a new level. The Global Learning Commons transformed into an upscale restaurant for a teacher appreciation luncheon at Nyack Middle School. Teachers at Nyack High School also enjoyed a special luncheon sponsored by the PTA. At Upper Nyack Elementary, special events celebrating teachers included a “Parade of Heroes.” The PTA at Valley Cottage Elementary showed teachers how much their hard work is appreciated with a catered luncheon. It was a pizza party to celebrate educators at Liberty Elementary.
School Principals Appreciation
On May 1, National School Principal's Day, we celebrated our Nyack Schools principals for the work they do each day for our students, staff and community.
Thank you to our principals:
Nicole Saieva - Nyack High School
David Johnson - Nyack Middle School
Craig Dreves - Upper Nyack Elementary School
Ellen Rechenberger - Liberty Elementary School
Lucrisha Addison-Harris - Valley Cottage Elementary School
School Nurse Appreciation
On May 8, National School Nurse Day, we honored all our Nyack Schools nurses for the difference they make in the lives of our children. School nurses lead the way to bridge healthcare and education, providing care and helping to ensure that students are healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Thank you to our nurses:
Sue Cech, RN - Nyack Middle School
Kathleen Fredericks, RN - Liberty Elementary School
Patricia Kozar, RN - Valley Cottage Elementary School
Christine Ucker, RN - Nyack High School
Laura Weigel, RN - Upper Nyack Elementary School
Kathleen Kelly, RN (Traveling Nurse)
Family STREAM Nights
After successful events at Upper Nyack Elementary, and Valley Cottage Elementary the STREAM team concluded their series of events this month at Liberty Elementary School. The LES staff opened their doors to the community for a Family STREAM night. Teachers Francisca White (LES), Dana Rende (VCES) and Dean Gianakouros (UNES) organized a variety of engaging activities that allowed the school community to experience the Elementary STREAM program firsthand. These activities, such as Keva Plank challenges, camouflage art, Ozobots, stop motion animation, marble mazes, Makey Makey interactive posters and games, and Scratch games, showcased the diverse learning opportunities the program offers.
STREAM stands for Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Art and Math.The STREAM team says the goal of the program is not to teach those subjects in isolation. Instead, it is to have students develop core competencies such as critical thinking; creativity; and collaboration which are key to our district's vision for achieving equity, innovation and optimism.
Buddy Benches
This month 'Buddy Benches' were installed and unveiled in all three of our elementary schools. They were donated by the Jimmy Hauburger Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports programs that raise awareness on issues such as teen bullying and teen suicide. The placement of these benches during May’s Mental Health Awareness month integrated a safe space into our district’s social emotional curriculum. Any child who is feeling lonely or discouraged is encouraged to sit on the bench which signals to classmates a need for compassion or companionship.
Director of Guidance Lorraine Longing facilitated the donation of these benches and states the importance of modeling social awareness and mindfulness, both competencies taught in the district’s Social Emotional curriculum, Second Step. As part of this curriculum, school counselors go into elementary classrooms twice a month teaching concepts that foster social emotional intelligence, reiterate a need for connection and cultivate behavior we want to see in each other and our schools.
One Book, One Community
This month, the English Department kicked off a campaign and new idea for summer reading: “One Book, One Community." The entire high school student body, faculty and community is invited to celebrate literacy together in a shared reading of Ray Bradbury’s classic, Fahrenheit 451. Students will participate in reading the book, listening to the audiobook and analyzing relevant topics such as censorship, social justice and intellectual freedom. Next month’s newsletter will provide comprehensive information for K-12 summer reading.
Points of Pride
Teacher Tenure 2024
On May 7, Nyack Public Schools celebrated the achievement of tenure for ten up-and coming educators. Congratulations and thank you for the extraordinary instructional gifts you bring to our Nyack Schools community everyday.
Nyack High School
- Jacqueline Kahman - Special Education Teacher
- Stefanie LoMedico - Special Education Teacher
- Isabel McCarthy - Math Teacher
Nyack Middle School
- Kristina O'Toole - Special Education Teacher
- Kathryn Perrella - Speech Language Pathologist
- Stephanie Vargas - Special Education Teacher
- Maxwell Wild - Art Teacher
- Allyson Irizary - Special Education Teacher
Liberty Elementary School
- Genevieve Marino - Music Teacher
District Wide
- Jacqueline Kinsley - Teacher of the Deaf
Athletic Accolades
Congratulations to Nyack High School Athletic Administrator Joe Sigillo on winning the coveted InSideOut Leadership Award. This recognition is bestowed by the New York Giants, the NFL Foundation and the InSideOut Initiative. (ISOI). ISOI is a national movement that empowers and equips school communities to implement purpose-based athletics by connecting student-athletes to transformational coaches in a community of belonging for their social-emotional and character development.
Award Winning Posters
May is Mental Health Awareness month - dedicated to eradicating stigma, extending support. fostering public education and advocating policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Nyack High School and Nyack Middle School students participated in The Jimmy Hauburger Memorial Foundation poster contest. Students were invited to create a poster promoting prevention of harassment, intimidation and bullying, commitment to practicing acts of kindness, showing compassion to others and helping those in need.
NHS winners:
- Brendan Dillon - first place
- Elizabeth Higgins - second place
- Patrick Cooney - third place
NMS winners:
- Mia Cardin - first place
- Allison Ambrocio - second place
- Samantha Cooney - third place
Upcoming Events
Spring Concerts
Our 'Spring Concert' season rolls on, and our student musicians continue to rehearse for their big night. Here is a look at the remaining dates:
- Wednesday, June 5 - VCE Grades 1, 2 & 3 Concerts - 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. at Valley Cottage Elementary School
- Wednesday, June 5 - NMS Grade 6 Concert - 4 p.m. at Nyack Middle School
- Thursday, June 6 - UNE Grades 1, 2 & 3 Concerts - 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. at Upper Nyack Elementary School
- Thursday, June 6 - NMS Grade 7 Concert - 4 p.m. at Nyack Middle School
- Friday, June 7 - LES Grades 1, 2 & 3 Concerts - 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 10:30 a.m. at Liberty Elementary School
Mark Your Calendars
- Monday, June 3 - Senior Awards Night - 7 p.m. at Nyack High School
- Monday, June 3 - NHS Pride Day
- Tuesday, June 4 - Senior Clap Out at Elementary Schools
- Tuesday, June 4 - Nyack School Board Meeting 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, June 6 - NHS Seal of Biliteracy Recognition - 10:30 a.m. NHS
- Wednesday, June 12 - NHS Senior Prom
- Tuesday, June 18 - Elementary Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremonies 9:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 18 - Nyack School Board Meeting 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 19 - Juneteenth. School Closed
- Friday, June 21- Elementary Grade 5 Moving up Ceremonies 9:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 25 - Early Dismissal Grades K-8
- Tuesday, June 25- NMS Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony 9 a.m.
- Tuesday, June 25 - NHS Graduation 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 26 - Early Dismissal Grades K-8
- Wednesday, June 26 - NHS Graduation (Rain Date) 7p.m.
Early Dismissal
Reminder, Nyack Public Schools Grades K-8 will be dismissed early on Tuesday, June 25 and Wednesday, June 26.
RedHawks Athletics
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Produced in collaboration with the Rockland BOCES Communications Service.