Community Update

May 9, 2025

COMMUNITY UPDATE

Hello North Rockland Families,

It was Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9) in North Rockland - a time to celebrate the incredible educators supporting our students. Every day, teachers look at our children and see in them the next inventor, architect, doctor, writer or Olympic gold medalist. Their job isn’t just to teach science concepts, verb conjugations or primary colors, but to foster the next era of learners who seek to improve the world using their talents, skills and ideas. To all of our North Rockland teachers: thank you.

Before Tuesday night’s regular Board of Education meeting, we recognized the Top Five Percent of North Rockland High School’s Class of 2025. These outstanding students have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and coursework proficiency - congratulations to each of you and your families! I hope you’re incredibly proud - because we certainly are!

During the BOE meeting, we presented the final budget for the 2025-26 academic year. The proposed fiscal plan demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality education while supporting both students and staff. It also prioritizes necessary improvements to our facilities, all while maintaining a zero percent tax levy increase for the sixth consecutive year. The community will have the opportunity to vote on the budget, Proposition 2 and Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, May 20. We encourage everyone to vote and make their voice heard.

On Wednesday evening, Fieldstone Middle School had the honor of hosting the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s (MHSSC) 2025 Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony. The MHSSC, a regional nonprofit dedicated to improving education through collaboration and innovation, recognized four exceptional members of our North Rockland community. Congratulations to Ellen Reiss (Stony Point Elementary), Margaret Castellano (Farley Elementary), Rich Fernandez (NRCSD Board of Education) and Kevin Nolan (Stony Point Seals) for their remarkable dedication, service and impact on our district.

Meanwhile, across town, North Rockland High School held its annual STEM Night, where it was exciting to see all the innovative projects and interactive stations that students created and participated in. From hands-on experiments to creative engineering challenges, it was an incredible display of our students' talent and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms and mother figures in our community!

Kris Felicello

Superintendent of Schools

#PointsofPride - NRHS and FMS perform at Music in the Parks

This past weekend, student musicians from North Rockland High School and Fieldstone Middle School showcased their talents at the Music in the Parks adjudication festivals. Our high school ensembles (including band, orchestra and chorus) traveled to Busch Gardens and our eighth-grade ensembles participated in their adjudication event at Six Flags. We are proud to share the following outstanding results:

🏆 NRHS Awards:

Band – 1st Place, Superior Rating and Overall Trophy

Chorus – 1st Place, Excellent Rating

Orchestra – Top Three, Excellent Rating

🎖️ FMS (8th Grade) Awards:

Orchestra – 1st Place, Superior Rating

Chorus – 1st Place, Excellent Rating

Band – 1st Place, Excellent Rating

View more pictures

Around the District

WHES at the Bronx Zoo!

Thanks to our amazing school community, WHES raised nearly $20K - enough to send all 700+ students on a fully-funded, unforgettable adventure. View more pictures HERE!

Mental Health Awareness Month

During lunch, Farley Elementary students rotated through interactive stations where they explored calming techniques, practiced coping skills, reflected on gratitude and learned the importance of prioritizing their mental health. View more pictures HERE!

Cinco de Mama at WGES

Earlier this week, Willow Grove Elementary hosted its Cinco de Mama Mother’s Day event. Moms and their kids from the community came out to enjoy a fun afternoon with a festive photo booth, food and drinks, great prizes and plants to take home. View more pictures HERE!

Class of 2025 Top 5%

Meet the top 5% of NRHS’s Class of 2025 and discover their exciting college plans! View more pictures from the recognition ceremony HERE!

2025-26 Budget Updates

The NRCSD 2025-26 Budget Vote and Board of Education Election will take place on Tuesday, May 20. Voters will decide on the 2025-26 District Budget, Proposition 2 (which would allow the District to use existing funds for capital improvements at no additional cost to taxpayers) and Board of Education candidates. Make your voice heard!

May 20, 2025 | Polls Open 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM

Polling Locations

Polling District No. 1 – Haverstraw Elementary School, 16 Grant Street, Haverstraw, New York 10927

Polling District No. 2 – North Rockland High School Extension, 63 Chapel Street, Garnerville, New York 10923

Polling District No. 3 – Farley Elementary School, 140 Route 210, Stony Point, New York 10980

For more details about the proposed 2025–26 budget, including polling information and how to request an absentee ballot, please visit northrockland.org.

View the May 6, 2025 Final Budget Presentation HERE.

Immunization Notice for 2025-26

In compliance with New York State immunization laws, please see the attached 2025-26 Immunization Notice from NRCSD Health Services Facilitator Kathy Varieur. For additional information, visit our Health Services web page.

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Athletics

Molly Craffey

Molly is a senior captain of the Varsity Girls Golf Team at North Rockland High School. A dedicated member since her freshman year, she has been a standout from the start. Most recently, she placed 3rd in the Rockland County Championship with an impressive score of 41. As captain, she leads by example both on and off the course. In her last three matches, she shot scores of 37, 44 and 39, showcasing her consistency and skill. Anyone who knows Molly knows she is a positive force, always encouraging her teammates to be their best. Her coach shared, “It’s been a pleasure coaching Molly the past few years. She’s an excellent golfer and a great person. She will be missed!”

Ryan Martorelli

Ryan is a junior on the Varsity Baseball team at North Rockland High School, has been a key contributor this season. In a recent game against New Rochelle High School, he delivered an impressive complete game shutout, pitching 6 innings with 2 hits allowed, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts and just 71 pitches. Ryan’s consistency and composure on the mound have been a steadying force for the team. His coach said, “Ryan has been a pleasant surprise. He has stepped into a role we did not expect him to fill. He has pitched very well in all the roles. We couldn’t be in the position that we are without his contribution.”

Mental Health Matters

Last weekend’s Varsity Girls Lacrosse game vs New Rochelle was more than just a game. It was a dedication to raising awareness for mental health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, North Rockland proudly hosted its first-ever Morgan’s Message Game, thanks to the leadership of Acadia Scanlon, who founded the club at NRHS. Check out some photos HERE!

Shots of the Game

Check out some of our fav moments HERE from Freshmen Baseball vs Clarkstown South’s game a few weeks ago!

Win over Wappingers!

Last week, Modified Boys Lacrosse faced Wappingers for the first time ever at NRHS. The Red Raiders stayed focused and fearless, securing a 6-3 victory! Check out some more action shots HERE!

A Game with Heart & Purpose

This week, our Varsity Softball team faced off vs Clarkstown North at the TOH Turf, but the impact went far beyond the diamond. As we honor the legacy of Tara Csernecky-McCoy who was a proud Red Raider, inspiring coach and beloved educator, we would like to recognize our Red Raiders for playing this special game in her memory for the 14th year. Check out more photos HERE!

Flag Football Senior Day

Congratulations to the seven seniors on the Varsity Flag Football team who were celebrated at their game Clarkstown at Casarella Field! Check out more photos HERE!

Thumbs Up for Another W on the Road

Varsity Boys Lacrosse traveled across the bridge for a matchup Irvington. The Red Raiders took the win with a final score of 10-8.Check out the post HERE!

Big Hits Only!!

This week, Varsity Softball had their annual Tara Csernecky game at the TOH Turf where they took the win! Check out some of our favorite shots of the game HERE!

Game Face

Check out some action shots from this week’s Varsity Flag Football Senior Day game Clarkstown at Casarella Field HERE!

Photo Finish!

Check out shots from our Varsity Baseball game RCK at NRHS HERE!

Boys Tennis Senior Day

Congratulations to the seven seniors on the Varsity Boys Tennis team!Before the unexpected downpour, Coach Teglas gathered the team to celebrate the seniors by the NRHS tennis courts with special words and gifts from himself and the team. We wish our seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors! Check out more photos HERE!

Raider Rundown

Boys Golf

North Rockland Athletics caught up with our Varsity Boys Golf team to talk about their team goals, what unique traditions they have and more! With steady swings and sharp focus, this group is locked in for a strong season.