Raider Report November 2023

Red Hook High School’s new Microcredential Center provides free online courses for students to earn microcredentials that build skills and their resume – which can help them find employment, college acceptance or both. Microcredentials indicate that the holder has proficiency in certain skills, attributes or experiences as verified through testing, observation or both. Under the direction of Library Media Specialist Tanya Sasvary, the center will offer the following to kick off the 2023-24 school year:

• Google Apps Certificates
• Microsoft Office
• iMovie
• Financial education
• Health and wellness
• Keys to Your Future – career pathways, time management, networking and more
• Character Playbook: Building Healthy Relationships – self-awareness, decision making skills, social awareness and more

Additional microcredentials will be offered based on student interest. Ms. Sasvary hit upon the idea of offering microcredentials when the school moved to a block schedule, which provided students with some flexible time. “I thought if they were interested in gaining some skills this is something that is useful and they can learn great life skills and it can even help them with pursuing a career. Most of the EverFi offerings (the bottom four on the list above, for example) could be completed within one block or about an hour,” the librarian noted. In some instances, students who know the material/software can take the test immediately.

Superintendent Janet Warden commented, “Employers have often said that they want a skilled, knowledgeable workforce and often have to spend time training new employees in some of the basics. By offering microcredentials in some of the most common software, as well in general life skills, we are able to help our students stand out from the crowd – be it on a job interview or one for college. The skills are also aligned in our Raider Profile.” In the 2023 Business Workforce Survey by the Business Council and New York Department of Labor, businesses reported that job applicants lacked the skills they needed in a variety of areas. Among them:

• Basic computer/computer literacy: 48 percent
• Excel: 34 percent
• Email: 22 percent
• Word: 19 percent
• Communication skills: 61 percent
• Personal awareness: 26 percent
• Time management: 32 percent

“The credentials being offered directly address the skills businesses identified in the survey,” Louise McLoughlin, Executive Eirector of the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board, said.

Some microcredentials can even be “stacked” to help students earn a complete certification or credential. “The library will serve as the center of the school’s efforts to provide students with additional future-focused skills and opportunities,” Principal Kyle Roddey said.

Two Red Hook High School seniors are performing with the Empire State Youth Symphony Orchestra following successful auditions. Abby Mercier, who plays violin in the orchestra and trumpet at school, recruited her friend and fellow musician Winter Hubbell, who plays French horn. “Abby got me to join ESYA because they didn’t have many horns last year,” Winter said, adding that the experience made her push herself. “I had to get private lessons and do outside work because I couldn’t play some of the music. I learned how to play higher notes and my technical skills developed a lot,” she said. While Winter doesn’t plan to pursue music as a career, it is something she wants to continue with in college. In addition to French horn, she plays guitar and sings. Abby, however, does see music in her future as a career. “I joined the orchestra because I wanted to be part of a symphony as the other orchestra I am involved in is just strings,” said Abby who plans to attend college and major in violin performance and education.

The Symphony Orchestra is the flagship of the ESYO program. “It is all based on musical aptitude, they play the highest level of music,” RHHS band teacher Ben Bardenett said of his two students. "Youth orchestra is an experience for people who want to be in music will benefit from.” Abby appreciates that involvement in ESYO brings her more experience with violin. Being part of ESYO is a commitment. Each week the students travel to Schnectady for a three-hour session where they are coached by professional musicians. Plus, they both put in additional practice time at home and in private lessons. The orchestra also performs throughout the year. Past performances have included appearances at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Bardenett said since participation in ESYO is based on ability, often students play together for more than one year if they maintain the same or greater level of proficiency. “They get used to each other and learn to play as an ensemble,” he said. “I’m growing as a player,” Winter said, “I get a chance to learn what it is like to work with sections and play with other instruments.” Abby encouraged other students who are interested in music to try out for one of the ESYO ensembles (there are 13) for a variety of musical genres, instruments and voice. “It is a lot of time, but it is worth it, especially if you want to go into a music career,” Abby said. Congratulations to Abby and Winter, we are so proud of you!

Elementary and high school students don’t often learn the same thing at the same time, but this month a group of students in Stephen Hart’s fourth grade class and Thomas O’Dowd’s 10th grade Regents Biology class spent the day at the Hudson River together. The 13 Red Hook High School and 20 Mill Road Intermediate School students joined hundreds of others all along the river as part of the “Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor,” a program coordinated by the Hudson River Estuary Program of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

“The idea was to give our students a hands-on science experience and an element of contributing real data that is useful for more veteran scientists,” Mr. O’Dowd said. Together, the group, accompanied by parent chaperones, traveled to Ulster Landing Park in Saugerties on Oct. 5. They took a short hike down to the river where Mr. Hart spoke to his class, bringing a geology lesson to life as he pointed out the erosion from the stream and waterfall. "I encourage students to use their senses, to make observations of the stream,” he said, explaining that water has tremendous power. The lesson really struck his student Emmett Coon. “I learned that the water, when it raises and becomes big, it can crack rocks or make them smoother,” he said, adding that the hike down to the river was his favorite part of the trip. He also learned that the Hudson River had many names over time. Asked to give one, he said, “The river that flows both ways.” While the fourth graders took the hike slow, the older students headed down to help set up the five stations all students would gather data from:

• Turbidity and PH
• Water temperature and speed
• Cloud cover
• Fish identification
• Scavenger hunt – to help observation skills

Classmate Colby Benassutti appreciated the different learning environment. “It was nice to have a hands-on aspect and be outside in nature and learn in different ways,” he said, adding that he had to be more patient with the fourth graders. Once the data is gathered, it is entered into a spreadsheet shared with all of the groups that participated so there is a snapshot of conditions along the river at different times, Mr. O’Dowd said. Overall, 10th grader Jordan Bennett expressed what others were feeling about the trip. “It was better than sitting in a classroom because it was physical, and we were socializing and working with the little kids." This is the second year Mr. O’Dowd and Mr. Hart have combined classes for the experience and they plan to continue doing so. “For me, one of the highlights is seeing my former students again and getting feedback from them and seeing how I influenced them. It is very rewarding,” Mr. Hart said. Thanks to Mr. O'Dowd and Mr. Hart for providing this wonderful experience to our students, focusing on engagement, critical thinking, collaboration and empathy, all attributes in our Raider Profile.

Red Hook students and staff embraced the opportunity to help fight breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, with each school doing something a little different. It highlights the importance of engaging in local and global civics and demonstrating empathy and compassion for others, key attributes in the Raider Profile. Sports teams donned pink during some games while Mill Road Primary School (MRPS) and Mill Road Intermediate School did Pink & Denim Fridays. Students and staff were encouraged to drop change into decorated water jugs as part of the Coins for Cancer drive to support the breast care program at Northern Dutchess Hospital. MRPS also sold pink lemonade on Oct. 20, adding the proceeds to the jugs. Thank you to all our students and staff for supporting this important cause.

As we embark on the month of November, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the dedication and support shown by our wonderful families, students, and staff. Your commitment to the success and well-being of our students is truly commendable. We have a Superintendent Conference Day scheduled Nov. 7. This day is an opportunity for our dedicated teachers to work on our strategic plan and engage in continuous improvement efforts to better support our students. Your understanding and support of their professional development is greatly appreciated.

November is also a time for reflection and remembrance. As a community, we honor and express our deepest gratitude to the many veterans who have served in our local community and around the world. These brave people have made sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and we are incredibly thankful for their service. This month, we are privileged to have some of these veterans visit Mill Road Intermediate School, and we've heard that they plan to share their voices with us through song. Their presence and contributions remind us of honor, integrity and service. Lastly, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I wish you a wonderful time with your family and friends. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our school district, and I wish you all a warm and joyful November. We hope you are enjoying the updates and events in our district newsletter as we continue to strive to improve communication in the district.