SRF CSD District Diary

Dear St. Regis Falls CSD Community,

As the month of March came to a close, we look back on some district highlights, keep focused on the future, and welcome the warmer weather that spring will bring.

Some updates in this newsletter include:

• Continue planning, preparing, and organizing for the upcoming budget season. While we foresee challenging situations ahead, we will work collaboratively to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• The search for a permanent superintendent. The Franklin, Essex, and Hamilton (FEH) BOCES put out the announcement of vacancy at the end of the month. The deadline for applicants is Apr. 25.

• Academic happenings in the classroom.

• Athletics.

• Senior class of 2025 Billy Martin's Cole All Star Circus.

• Sweethearts & Heroes returned to the district.

• Irish step dancing.

• Be sure to download the SRF Rooms app and check out the new features.

• District calendar, important upcoming events, and school & district closure reminders.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email at wwalbridge@stregiscsd.org or via phone at (518) 856-9421, ext. 1007.

Go Saints!

Educationally Yours,

Wayne C. Walbridge

Interim Superintendent of Schools

• Tuesday, Apr. 15 at 6pm- Board of education meeting. Adoption of 2025-26 budget. The meeting link can be accessed here.
• Tuesday, Apr. 29 at 6pm- Special meeting, BOCES election/budget.
• Tuesday, May 13 at 6pm- Budget hearing.
• Tuesday, May 20- District annual meeting & budget vote & election. Polls open at noon. Board of education meeting at 6pm. Be sure to come vote!
• Tuesday, June 17 at 6pm- Board of education meeting.

Those interested can obtain a petition by contacting Donna Goodrich, District Clerk, by email at dgoodrich@stregiscsd.org or by phone at (518) 856-9421.

Qualifications for a board member of the SRFCSD Board of Education:

• Must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age or older.
• Must be a resident of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year.
• May not reside with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family.
• Must not be a current employee of the SRF School District.

April 25: Application deadline.

April 28 - May 2: Review of applications by the Board of Education.

May 5 - 9: First round interviews with the Board of Education.

May 12 - 16: Second round interviews with stakeholders and selection of potential candidate.

June 2 - 6: Final appointment of superintendent.

July 1 (or soon thereafter): Expected start date.

The St. Regis Falls Central School District Board of Education is pleased to announce a series of new initiatives aimed at enhancing leadership stability and deepening community engagement. In response to feedback received from our recently launched ThoughtExchange , we are committed to creating a stronger, more sustainable future for our district, as we begin the search for a new superintendent.

Enhancing Communication and Transparency

Building trust within our school community is a top priority. To strengthen transparency and foster open communication, the BoE will commit to working with the new superintendent to implement regular updates and hold open forums. These efforts will keep community members, staff, and the superintendent well-informed, creating an environment of shared decision-making and collaboration.

Supporting New Administrators for Long-Term Success

We understand that new administrators face unique challenges, which is why we are committed to providing the new superintendent with robust support. The board understands the need to clearly define its role and working relationship with the new superintendent to avoid the perception of micromanagement. We will support the cultivation of positive relationships with teachers and staff, and the establishment of local and statewide networks of administrators with the aim of equipping new leaders with the resources they need to succeed. This will foster a stable leadership environment and promote long-term commitment to our district.

Promoting Teacher and Staff Stability

Teacher and staff stability are vital for student success and the overall health of the district. The BoE is dedicated to actively listening to the needs of our educators and providing the necessary support to ensure they feel valued and empowered. By creating a supportive and stable work environment, we will strengthen the foundation of our district and enhance student outcomes.

Engaging and Educating the Community

We believe that an informed and involved community is essential to the success of our district. To that end, the BoE will work to educate the public on the roles and responsibilities of the superintendent and the board. We will also actively involve community members in the hiring process to ensure that the leaders we select align with the values and needs of our district.

Focusing on Experienced and Committed Leadership

Recognizing the critical role effective leadership plays in the success of our school district, the BoE is prioritizing the selection of a superintendent who is not only highly experienced but also deeply invested in our community. The ideal candidate will have expertise across key areas such as curriculum, instruction, fiscal management, and special education law, as well as a strong connection to the North Country. This focus on leadership stability will ensure the district’s continued growth and success for years to come.

Search Timeline

The Board of Education will conduct superintendent interviews throughout May, carefully considering these initiatives in the selection process. The community can anticipate the appointment of the new superintendent in June, with the official start date scheduled for July 1, or shortly thereafter.

The St. Regis Falls CSD Board of Education is committed to implementing these initiatives to build a stronger, more stable school district. By prioritizing experienced leadership, fostering transparency, providing strong support, promoting staff stability, and engaging the community, we are confident that we will achieve long-term success for our students and the entire school community.

Students in grades Pk-6 enjoyed a visit from Adirondack Experience. They loved learning more about the wildlife in our community!

Thank you, Ms. Jodilyn, for all you do for our school. We appreciate you!

Innovative minds at work! Grades 1 & 2 students harnessed their creativity to build earthquake-resistant houses, developing problem-solving skills that will serve them well in shaping a brighter future.

The seventh-graders had a wonderful video interview with Alaska dog musher Peter Reuter, a former Adirondack resident, on March 28 in Mr. Crowley's English class. They are reading "Winterdance," Gary Paulsen's memoir of running the Iditarod race with his sled dog team. Mr. Reuter did a great job answering their many questions and showing them his mushing gear -- and one of his dogs.

The Northern Franklin Educational Center inducted Lilly Sherman into the National Technical Honors Society! To be inducted, Lilly held over a 90 grade point average and has missed less than 13 days of school.

All of us at Saint Regis Falls are proud of Lilly. Keep up the great work!

Students observing a moose jaw and fox and marten fur!

March 14 was Pi Day and we had so many amazing activities! Our 5th grade class led the way with some team building activities creating a "raccoon circle," made Pi Day bracelets, sang Pi Day carols, read a story called "Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi," used a mathematical formula to calculate circumference, played Simon Says to learn the parts of a circle and of course, ate pie!

Congratulations to juniors Chet and Lyly on completing their second Section X Athletic Leadership Summit held at Clarkson University! The summit focuses on leadership, problem-solving skills, teamwork, & perseverance.

Student-athletes in training! On March 15, 155 students in grades 3-6 participated in the Biddy Ball basketball camp where all current SRF basketball coaches and the bookkeeper were present to teach basketball skills to our future Saints student-athletes. This was so successful and fun that we plan on scheduling more so stay tuned for when the next event will be held!

A fun night was had by all!

Pat Fish joined us for the after school read aloud in the afternoon, reading from his book, Boredom School: For Those Bored in School.

He is the Circle and B.R.A.V.E. Youth Leadership System Specialist.

B.R.A.V.E. stands for: bullies ‘are’ action-based, vulnerable, and empathetic.

B.R.A.V.E. is focused on:

1. Student empowerment.

2. Empathy activation.

3. Building the Core Human Skills to sustain healthy relationships, build stronger support networks, and have a positive impact on the social determinants of health.

• Designed to take young student leaders who can impact their school and build a culture and community of H.O.P.E. and Action through peer modeling, mentorship, and influence.

Circle

• Built on the ancient ritual of communicating in a circle to build compassion and empathy.

• Fish says, “Circle is an opportunity for amazing stories to be shared and heard. Amazing isn’t good or bad. Some amazing stories I’ve heard are heartbreaking, others are heartwarming, and others are downright hilarious. But every single one of us has an amazing story, because we all have unique experiences. Circle allows everyone a chance to share those stories and, more importantly, practice listening so that we can learn others’ amazing stories. Also, everyone practices various social-emotional skills in Circle. What sets us apart? We make it fun! Everywhere we go, there’s a thirst for Circle from students of all ages, social groups and backgrounds. They want to connect further with people around them. Circle is a vehicle for that.”

Sweethearts & Heroes will once again be in the district on Monday, Apr. 28 and Tuesday, Apr. 29.

Many thanks to Ms. Augenstein and our families for supporting our after school Irish Step Dancing that began in January. The recital for our school and community was amazing. We are grateful for the idea and work to get this going. We are proud of what the students learned and how well they performed. Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy!

Be sure to download the app to interact directly with your child(ren)'s teachers. All things SRF can be found using the app!

Check out the video below that highlights what's new!

• Apr. 30- Grades 3-8 State ELA test
• Apr. 30- SAT's for juniors who have signed up
• May 1- National Honors Society induction
• May 12-16- Book fair.
• PreK registration- Open for the 2025-2026 school year for children who will be 4 years old by Dec. 1, 2025.

• The district will be closed on Friday, Apr. 18 for Good Friday.

• Students and 10-month staff will be on spring break from Monday, Apr. 21, through Friday, Apr. 25. Classes will resume for all students on Monday, Apr. 28.