RIDER REPORT

Welcome Back to School, Riders! We are so happy that our classrooms and hallways are once again bustling with our staff and students, ready and energized for another year of teaching and learning.

In this edition of the Rider Report, you’ll read about all of the work we did over the summer to prepare for another successful year. A significant part of this effort was focused on strategic goal setting to ensure our students, now and in the future, receive the high-quality education they deserve.

As part of that process, as you may recall, we reached out to our entire community for feedback on the future of instructional programs and facilities at Ichabod Crane. Your input was invaluable, and I want you to know that your voice was heard!

This summer, those ideas were synthesized into the ICCSD Instructional Program Vision, which you'll learn more about below. I’m excited to say the future is bright for our district! At the same time, our dedicated Board of Education was busy drafting Rider Goals 2027, an ambitious three-year plan that will guide our decisions, grounded in best practices, research and data. Your feedback played a key role in launching the Capital Project Referendum 2025, guiding us toward future-focused and fiscally responsible investments in our facilities.

All these initiatives focus on supporting our students' emotional and physical well-being. Keep reading to learn about Sources of Strength, a student-driven program at the High School now in its second year, which emphasizes mental health, resiliency and building a positive school culture.

The district's Summer Learning Program was once again a success, providing students from Ichabod Crane and Maple Hill school districts across K-12 with the resources and support they needed to excel.

We also adopted a new hands-on, interactive K-5 math program, which aligns with the NYS Next Generation Mathematics Standards. This evidence-based program helps students develop critical thinking and problem solving skills essential for long-term success.

We’re thrilled to kick off the 2024-25 school year! We will be making some big moves this year!

Welcome back, everyone! It’s a good day to be a Rider.

In this edition:

• ICC’s Future-Forward Approach to Education

• New K-5 Math Curriculum Launches

• Sources of Strength: Empowering Students to Share, Support, Thrive

• Summer Programs Keep Our Riders on Track

• What’s Next in September

• #ICYMI

This summer, our administrators and staff designed several interconnected projects focused on the future of teaching and learning at Ichabod Crane.

“The summer is a vital period where we work to enhance our instructional programs and the facilities that support them,” Assistant Superintendent Lucas Christensen said. “This work demands significant time and dedication from our exceptional team, and we are grateful for their unwavering commitment to our students.”

Based on insights from last year’s community survey, we developed the ICCSD Instructional Program Vision. Feedback from students, staff, families and residents highlighted the importance of hands-on learning, project-based experiences, career pathways, and support for the whole child and whole household.

Our Portrait of a Rider reflects these key elements in the new Instructional Program Vision.

“Our students are problem solvers, responsible tech users and change makers,” Superintendent Marie Digirolamo said. “They actively participate in academic and extracurricular activities, while knowing how to access the resources available to them to support their overall well-being.”

We shared these updates with our staff when they returned last week for three-days of professional learning, introducing the Instructional Program Vision and the Board of Education Rider Goals 2027, which focus on:

• Realizing Student Potential
• Enhancing Technology and Instructional Tools
• Prioritizing Health, Safety and Belonging
• Strengthening Communications and Community Engagement

On the first day back with all staff, Superintendent Digirolamo, Assistant Superintendent Christensen and Business Manager Michael Brennan led the Capital Project 2025 launch session.

They reviewed the significant improvements made during our last capital project and how the next referendum will build on that progress. They outlined the upcoming collaborative process to prioritize capital improvements for the next phase, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder input from across the district.

“We know that today’s students need to master not only the standards but also competencies like innovative problem solving and critical thinking. They need facilities designed with these in mind, which is exactly what we’re doing at Ichabod Crane,” Superintendent Digirolamo said. “Our path to the next referendum builds on where we left off. The list is long so we’ll tackle the necessary capital improvements in phases, aligning with our instructional vision and Rider Goals 2027, while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”

Welcome to the 2024-25 School Year at Ichabod Crane CSD, Home of the Riders! Curious about what being a Rider really means? Watch the video above to hear our students and staff share what it’s all about. It’s more than a mascot or a hashtag - it’s who we are.💙

We understand that today’s children are growing up in a rapidly changing world, necessitating that our district stay current with best practices and research-based programs.

Beginning in fall 2023, our team of administrators, content specialists and instructional staff undertook a thorough process to select a new math program for grades K-5 – i-Ready Mathematics.

A key strength of this program is its emphasis on mathematical discourse, which is the active communication that happens in a math classroom. It’s more than just solving problems on paper; it involves students discussing mathematical concepts with their peers and teachers, engaging in problem solving, teamwork and real-world applications.

“This new math program is an essential addition because it strengthens our students' foundational math skills and aligns with our district's vision of creating a Portrait of a Rider,” said Berit Erickson, the district’s Instructional Coach.

The selection process began with staff engaging in in-depth discussions about what effective math instruction looks like today and participating in a book study, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics by Peter Liljedahl, to deepen their understanding of strong conceptual foundations. Our internal core review team ultimately evaluated over two dozen math programs using a detailed rubric before selecting the new program.

The new curriculum features engaging lessons, textbooks, workbooks and online resources for students and families. Starting this school year, we will begin rolling out the program, with full implementation across K-5 over the next two years.

High School Senior Brianna Doria joined Sources of Strength last year, seeing it as an amazing opportunity for Ichabod Crane students to share their feelings and feel supported as they navigate life's challenges.

“I know it’s hard to talk about how you feel, so when I heard about Sources of Strength, I knew I immediately wanted to join and help make our school a better place and a place where anyone can feel like they can speak up,” Brianna said.

Sources of Strength is a powerful, research-based, student-led initiative focused on mental health, resiliency and fostering a positive school culture.

Brianna appreciates how the program involves both students and staff, with staff helping bring students’ ideas to life. “This year, I’m excited to see more of what we do with this program. I’m excited for the addition of new members. Having new members means more ideas and better conversations.”

A top priority for the district, highlighted in Rider Goals 2027 and the new Instructional Program Vision, is to support the mental, physical and emotional well-being of all students and to ensure they know how to access these support systems. Sources of Strength is one of many initiatives at Ichabod Crane that helps us meet this important goal.

The first campaign, Trusted Adult Flowers, created a vibrant display in the 300 wing hallway. This installation still showcases the names of trusted adults, represented as petals created from translucent papers.

“The goal was for students to reflect on the positive relationships they have with adults they trust, and to create a visual representation of the support they can rely on. By centering trusted adults, students are acknowledging that the world, which can feel so lonely and isolating, has people in it who they can lean on and draw strength from,” said Nolan Wolfe, a High School AIS teacher.

High School Principal Craig Shull expressed his enthusiasm for the program, saying, “After learning about Sources of Strength from our school counselors, I knew it would be a great fit for our school and students.”

The program empowers students and staff to support one another by building protective factors, such as creating peer leaders, fostering resilience, reducing stigma and improving school climate.

This year, Mr. Shull said the program will formally create a group of Peer Leaders, students who will guide and verbalize how their peers want to be supported and act as agents of change to energize the High School community.

“The program is designed to evolve and progress, so the goal of this school year is to add momentum and visibility to our efforts,” Mr. Wolfe added. “A new school year brings with it opportunities for students to dive into something new. Hopefully, Sources of Strength can play a major role in determining the tone and direction of our school culture starting on the very first day of school.”

Once again, the district’s comprehensive Summer Learning Program was successful in achieving a variety of goals, including supporting academic progress, credit recovery, Regents preparation, and providing additional support and services for students across K-12.

Invitations and Summer ELL Program (Grades K-3): Our youngest students had a successful summer, with 87 students participating in the Invitations program and 22 in the English Language Learners program, maintaining an impressive 98% daily attendance rate.

“Early intervention and support are critical in a student's learning journey,” said Primary School Principal Andrea Williams. “Some students tend to regress over the summer, but this program helps them continue learning and reduces the likelihood of learning gaps.”

Students received personalized instructional support in small groups of no more than 10 students each. A key highlight of the program was offering ELL students both academic and language-specific sessions. The program concluded with a fun popsicle party to celebrate the students’ hard work.

Middle School Summer School (Grades 4-8): A total of 67 students, including 60 from Ichabod Crane and 7 from Maple Hill, participated in courses such as math, ELA, Spanish and French. Several students gained credits that they can carry into High School.

“This program provides students a smaller, more personal setting to work on specific skills,” Middle School Co-Principal Anthony Marturano said. “It allows students to get credit for courses they failed and the extra help they need to reinforce information from the past year and to prevent summer regression.”

High School Summer School (Grades 9-12): Forty-three High Schools students attended our summer learning program, with 34 from ICC and 9 from Maple Hill. The program offered a wide range of subjects, including Algebra, Global History, Health, Biology, Earth Science, Design and Drawing for Production, English (9, 10, 11), Regents review classes and more.

“Having students come to school over the summer in a welcoming environment allows them to recover credits and remain on track to their ultimate goal of graduation,” said High School Principal Craig Shull.

The program had a 95% passing rate for all courses taken, and 57 students took Regents exams over the summer.

Extended School Year (ESY) Program: We also supported 41 students with disabilities this summer, focusing on preventing substantial regression. The program included field trips, such as visits to Hannaford and the High and Mighty equine center, providing enriching experiences beyond the classroom.

These summer programs are essential for our students' continued growth and success. We’re proud of the hard work our students put in and look forward to another great year ahead!

• September 6: Primary School Unity Parade, 9 a.m., ICC track

• September 6: PTA + ICTA Back-to-School Picnic, 5:00-7:30 p.m., Primary School Playground

• September 10: Board of Education Regular Meeting, 7 p.m, High School Library

• September 12: Middle School (Grades 4-5) Open House, 6-7:35 p.m.

• September 17: Primary School (Grades 1 & 3) Open House, 6-8 p.m.

• September 19: High School Open House, 6-8 p.m.

• September 24: Primary School (Grades K & 2) Open House, 6-8 p.m.

• September 26: Middle School (Grades 6-8) Open House, 6-8 p.m.

Note: dates, times and locations are subject to change.

🚀We had a blast welcoming our newest Riders and their families to Ichabod Crane before the first day of school! During our annual Kindergarten Quest, they met their teachers, toured the school, enjoyed a snack in the cafeteria, and practiced getting on and off the bus!🍎

💪A week before our approximately 1,700 students returned to campus, all staff came back for three days of professional learning. We also welcomed our new instructional staff with a bus ride and orientation. We are so thankful for our entire dedicated team here at Ichabod Crane for their steadfast commitment to our students and district!💙