Raider Report February 2024

English Department Chair Christine Griffin and International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator Diana Decker are leading the effort to bring “IB English for All” to Red Hook High School starting in September 2024. The intention is to make IB coursework accessible to all students whether or not they intend to pursue an IB diploma. The idea to expand the IB English courses to all students sprung from the desire to include all students and find authentic assessments to use in the classroom for English 11 students.

“The IB program really aims to prepare students for success in higher education and life beyond high school, encouraging students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners,” explains Ms. Decker. “At the heart of an IB education are deliberate strategies, skills and attitudes that permeate the teaching and learning environment and develop great skills that we feel all of our students should have.”

The ten IB learner profile attributes aim to develop inquirers, knowledgeable thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective students. Ms. Decker noted, “The IB learner profile aligns with the attributes of the Raider profile, which demonstrates how well that IB program aligns with our mission and vision here in Red Hook.”

The IB curriculum consists of six groups of study with courses taken at the standard level or higher level. While IB classes can be challenging, the program is flexible enough so that all students can benefit from participation, and all who enroll can succeed. This year’s 10th graders will be the first participants. The IB pedagogy encompasses proven methods based on inquiry and focused on conceptual understanding developed in both local and global contexts, effective teamwork and collaboration, and differentiation to meet the needs of all learners. To accomplish this change, all students will take IB English in 11th and 12th grade, and the elective schedule will shift to the 9th and 10th grades.

Principal Kyle Roddey recently arranged a visit to the Dobb’s Ferry School District, which has implemented “IB for All” with success. Principal Roddy noted, “In the Dobb’s Ferry district, the change to “IB for All” led to an increase to 40 percent of graduating students receiving an IB diploma.”

RHCSD English teachers embraced the idea at a recent department meeting, explained Ms. Griffin. “It was very collegial, and people were bouncing ideas off each other. They are just so excited about it.” Ms. Griffin added, “I think it’s going to provide students a great opportunity to meet other students that they might not have met before, hear some different opinions, get some new ideas, and work together and collaborate.”

In addition to IB for All, a new four-course theater pathway will be available. “IB is interested in the development of individual students because there are so many opportunities for them to shine in different arenas depending on where their strengths lie,” said Ms. Decker.

The IB program became part of the curriculum at Red Hook High School in September 2002. Last year, 20 students graduated with an IB diploma. We are all very excited about this change!

Once a month, Linden Avenue Middle School student council homeroom representatives join Principal Stacie Smith for lunch. In addition to their lunch, each pair of reps bring along ideas, questions, and concerns they have gathered from their peers. The primary focus of each Principal’s Council meeting is improving the school. The grade-level groups act as an additional communication link between staff and students, providing input on how to reduce peer conflicts, change cafeteria options, make an event more engaging or propose new features for the building. “I love sharing my point of view and being able to take part in important conversations that could change the future of LAMS,” explained Isaac, a seventh-grade homeroom representative.

One topic tackled recently was changing the school dance format to include various activities that appeal to the whole school community. Another topic explored was adding water-bottle-style fountains. Students proposed placement for the new fountains, learned about plumbing constraints, and brainstormed alternatives that met both student criteria and logistics. Principal's Council students helped select the pieces for the recent playground build and have been instrumental in improving recess for all.

Students continue the line of communication after the meetings by bringing information gained back to their homerooms to share and gather additional input from their classmates. Valuable student feedback helps shape future initiatives, ensuring school changes are a hit with the student body. Mrs. Smith stated, “It gives students an opportunity to build leadership and problem-solving skills and gain valuable insight into decisions, and gives students a sense of agency by having a voice in school decisions.”

The Principal's Council is in its third year, improving LAMS and developing the next generation of leaders. Thanks to all of our students for their participation. Student voice is so important!

The Mill Road K-5 after-school enrichment program, Crossroads, returns to Mill Road in February. The program brings teachers and professionals from our school community to Mill Road to share their expertise with students on a variety of fun and engaging activities. Students have an opportunity to explore areas of interest or develop a new hobby while spending time with their peers.

“We are so excited to be able to offer Crossroads again this school year," said teaching assistant Jordan Hassett, the program’s coordinator. “The children truly look forward to it. This gives them a great opportunity to learn some new skills, create new interests, and meet some new friends! I am so appreciative of the school district personnel that choose to be a part of this program. They share valuable information and insight about fun, new hobbies that they are teaching young minds.”

The winter session will begin Feb. 5 and run through March 13, with classes offered on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Each Crossroads classroom has a coordinator and a course teacher.

The courses offered include:

• “Fresh Air Fun” with Jackie Forrest and Megan Thomas, an outdoor program for kindergarten and first-grade students, will utilize the nature trail and playground to give students extra time to play and participate in outdoor activities.
• “Let’s Paint!” taught by Leighann Lusito is also for kindergarten and first graders. It will allow students to experiment with different painting techniques from finger-painting to watercolors and portrait painting.
• “Learn to Play Chess,” for grades 1-3, is run by Adam Castiglione and will teach this game of strategy and cover basic moves and rules.
• “Creators Club,” for grades K-2, is taught by Courtney Skeen and will encourage young artists to explore their imagination and creativity, while experimenting with a variety of art tools.
• “Intro to 3D Printing,” for third-fifth graders, taught by Carol Dyson, will help students learn how to design 3D objects and print them on a 3D printer.
• “Intermediate Chess," for students in grades 3-5, is taught by Stephen Hart and will give students who already know the rules of the game and basic moves an opportunity to move to the next level by learning new strategies and playing against other players with similar levels of experience.

Each class begins immediately after school with parent pick up at 4:30 p.m. The cost per student is $60 per program for six sessions and $50 for the Monday program, which will have five rather than six sessions. No student will be turned away due to financial need explains Hassett. “Scholarships are available for families experiencing financial need and all requests will be kept confidential.

The Crossroads courses are open to Mill Road students in grades K-5. For more information, contact Jordan Hassett at jball@rhcsd.org.

Students are set to leap into Latino culture on February 29th as the Culture Fair returns to Linden Avenue Middle School for Leap Day with cuisine, culture and more.

Food vendors from the local community will be bringing a selection of dishes from their culture to share with students, including tamales from Mexico, Pão de Queijo - a cheese bread from Brazil, and Pastelillos, filled pastries made of thin, flaky dough from Puerto Rico. Also on the menu will be a performance from local musicians Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra, offering students a taste of Latin rhythms and music traditions.

The event brings Latin American culture to the school to give students a unique learning experience. “It’s one thing to learn from a textbook about foods and musical styles of different countries, and it’s another to taste the foods, and to participate in an interactive musical assembly using those beats,” explained Spanish teacher Elizabeth Lowney, who is organizing the event.

At the fair, eighth-grade students from Lowney’s Spanish classes will present their Latin Culture Research Projects that they have been working on since October. According to Lowney, students explored a topic they were passionate about, researched it, and then created bilingual posters. “I can’t wait for them to have the opportunity to share their hard work and their passion with the students that they see every day and the students in the grades below them,” she said. “I hope that this inspires younger students and makes them excited about eighth-grade Spanish.”

Students on the Culture Fair planning committee are working hard to recruit community members and local businesses to participate. “This event is all about representation, embracing cultures other than our own,” said Lowney, “and education for all of the people within our school community here at LAMS.”

The Culture Fair will be open from 12:45 to 2:20 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29.

As we navigated the five Mondays in the month of January, a month that often seems unending, we found ourselves at a critical juncture in the academic journey of our students. While January might give the illusion of a static period, it serves as a significant time for our students' academic growth. This time of the year holds unique significance as seniors contemplate their paths, whether it be through college applications, workforce considerations, or military service. Despite the seemingly perpetual nature of this time of year, it is, in fact, a season of change for many of our children. As we guide them through this period of change, we impart the essential lesson that change is not only inevitable but a fundamental part of life.

Reflecting on our recent Superintendent Conference Day adds another layer to this narrative. The day was full of reflection and learning, and educators engaged in discussions about the skills our students need for the future. We delved into the intricate relationship between neuroscience and learning, unlocking insights that can improve our teaching methods. A central theme emerged — the imperative to engage students more deeply in their learning experiences, fostering both agency and a genuine passion for acquiring knowledge. As we continue these conversations and initiatives, we collectively hope to prepare students not only for the challenges but also for the endless possibilities that lie ahead.