Community Update
December 20, 2024
Hello North Rockland Families,
As we move into the Holiday Recess, please remember our North Rockland schools are closed for instruction from Monday, December 23, 2024 through Friday, January 3, 2025. Regular classes resume on Monday, January 6, 2025.
While schools are closed for students, all building operations will continue through the holiday period on Monday, December 23, Thursday, December 26 and Friday, December 27, as well as Monday, December 30, Thursday, January 2 and Friday, January 3, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The start of a new year is always a perfect time for reflection and I encourage everyone - administrators, educators and students - to revisit your goals set earlier in the year. This is a moment to reflect on our progress, realign our efforts and recommit to our personal and collective aspirations. The new year is not just about setting new resolutions, but also adjusting and refining our goals to ensure they continue to inspire and motivate us.
Along with all the wonderful holiday celebrations this week, one of the highlights was the 37th Annual Arts Day at North Rockland High School. This year’s event featured a beautiful exhibit displayed in the high school library and lobby celebrating the Arts in all forms. The creativity and skill of our students were on full display and it was inspiring to see their hard work come to life in such a meaningful way. The event also highlighted the talents of our musicians and writers with performances from the orchestra, choir and band, along with spoken-word readings by students from the Writers Club.
In addition to our local accomplishments, the North Rockland Central School District (NRCSD) had the honor of attending the "Creating Pathways for Multilingualism for All" event at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington DC this week. I was joined by Director of ELL (English Language Learners) and K-6 Services Amaris Scalia, ENL (English as a New Language) Instructional Specialist Nicole Capasso-Garbutt, ELL Staff Developer Alex Bello and Associate Commissioner of the New York State Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages Elisa Alvarez in recognition of North Rockland’s contributions in promoting our innovative Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs. The event also featured a showcase of the newly released Dual Language Immersion Playbooks, which outline effective policies, practices and strategies to support the design and implementation of DLI programs, ensuring they are well-resourced, accessible and equitable—especially for English Language Learners (ELLs). The North Rockland team also had the privilege of meeting U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, as well as Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director of OELA Monserrat Garibay.
As we head into the holiday season, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you - our students, families and staff - for your dedication and support. We’ve accomplished so much this year and I’m excited for all that lies ahead in 2025. Together, we continue to build a community that values education, creativity and collaboration and I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve achieved.
I wish you all a joyous, peaceful and restorative holiday season. I look forward to welcoming everyone back in January. Happy Holidays, North Rockland!
-Kris Felicello
Superintendent of Schools
#PointsofPride - NRHS Arts Day
This year’s 37th Annual Arts Day at North Rockland High School was a spectacular display of talent and holiday cheer! Our library and lobby came alive with vibrant artwork from students in Studio Art, Ceramics II, Fashion Illustration & Design, Digital Drawing, Drawing and Painting and STAC Art, showcasing the creativity and dedication of our young artists. The NRHS Art Honor Society added a special touch with handmade jewelry, ornaments and sketchbooks that were a hit with all who stopped by. Meanwhile, the NRHS Band, Orchestra and Chorus filled the halls with festive music, making the day a true celebration of the arts. It was an unforgettable event that truly captured the spirit of the season!
Neary Winter Wonderland
A night filled with creative art, exciting games and—most importantly—making memories with friends! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this special celebration.
View more pictures HERE!
Holidays Around the World
TES students are embarked on a festive global adventure, exploring holiday traditions from across the world!
View more pictures HERE!
Holiday Character Day
Fieldstone Middle School students and staff had a blast dressing up as their favorite holiday characters for Holiday Character Day!
View more pictures HERE!
Luke Hilliard
Jaidah Arce
Sophomore co-captain Jaidah Arce has been an instrumental leader for the Girls Varsity Basketball team this season. Wearing #14, she has showcased not only her incredible skills on the court but also her unwavering dedication to the team. As a point guard, Jaidah has delivered standout performances, including 30 points, 6 assists and 8 rebounds in a win against JJEF, 11 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in a victory over White Plains and 12 points and 8 rebounds in a hard-fought game against Ketcham. Her coach shared high praise, saying, “Jaidah has a mind beyond her years and a heart full of unselfishness. She carries a maturity that belies her age.”
Cheerleading Senior Day
Action Shots against RCK
Last week at the JV boys basketball game RCK. The team showed great teamwork, hustle, and dedication to secure the win. View the post HERE!
100 Wins!
Congratulations to senior varsity wrestler Amari Payton on getting 100 wins during the Section One Round 1&2 Duals Meet! We’re so incredibly proud of you, what an amazing accomplishment! View more pictures HERE!
First Win of the Season
Take a look at some action shots from JV girls basketball’s first win of the season against White Plains! Awesome job Raiders, keep up the good work! View more pictures HERE!
Swim to Success
This week, varsity boys swim competed against Clarkstown at NRHS! Personable best swims came from Aidan Tat, Zachary Rodriguez, Andy Sanchez, Lucas Vargas, Alexander Carpenter, and Charles Oppong. View the post HERE!
Raiders Dominate the Court
This week, varsity boys basketball went head-to-head with Arlington and delivered a great win! With a final score of 58-37, our Red Raiders showed their skill and determination. View the post HERE!
Gabby Castro is Runner of the Year
Congratulations to junior girls’ cross country standout Gabby Castro for being named lohud’s “Runner of the Year”! This season, Gaby proved she’s a force to be reckoned with and continues to raise the bar every year. Her remarkable accomplishments include, winning the Rockland County Girls XC Championship, taking 3rd in the Section One Class A Championship, placing 24th out of 107 at States, and finishing 28th out of 287 in the State Federation Championship. Check out the post HERE!
Claudel Chery is Runner of the Year
A huge congratulations to junior boys' cross country runner Claudel Chery for being named lohud’s "Runner of the Year"! This honor is well-deserved after an incredible season filled with hard work and standout performances. His amazing accomplishments this year include Rockland County Boys Champion, 1st place at the Manhattan College Cross-Country Championships, finished 6th in Class A in the Section One Championships, and 8th overall out of 483 runners in the State Championships. Check out the post HERE!
