RedHawk S.U.N.

I am grateful in the work we do together. As I watch fall turn into winter, I see the change of season reflecting a season of change. With change comes opportunity, growth and challenge along with a range of emotions from exhilaration to exhaustion. I am mindful of positive changes I see each day in our schools and the daily victories that happen for our students. My hope is that the RedHawk SUN sheds a ray of light for our collective mindset.

Around Thanksgiving time, we emphasize themes of harvest, gratitude, empathy, and kindness. Folks often think of family and who is family to them. I think of friends, colleagues and neighbors who may also be struggling or experiencing pain and loss. As a former social studies teacher, I place importance on historical context and learning history from different points of view.

I have a phrase displayed in my office to remind me of what is most important: “Ubuntu means ‘I am, because you are’.” Ubuntu has its roots in humanist African philosophy and belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity. In fact, the word ubuntu is just part of the Zulu phrase “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, which means that a person is a person through other people.

In this season of change, we need each other more than ever! I wish you all UBUNTU as a reminder that when we take care of each other, we become a stronger society and we become our stronger selves. I encourage you to remember what matters most, celebrate togetherness, and give mindful thanks.

Yours in Education,

Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi

Interim Superintendent of Schools

This past month, Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi was invited to sit on a panel with Hudson Valley Superintendents at Putnam Northern Westchester (PNW) BOCES with Dr. David Mauricio of Peekskill SD and Dr. Aurelia Henriquez of Port Chester SD. Superintendents, education administrators, NYSED representatives and elected officials gathered to learn about best practices in developing inclusive school communities. This kickoff event, "Creating Inclusive School Communities in a Changing World", was the first in a series for educators in the region. NYS Regent Fran Wills spoke on the importance of building inclusive communities to minimize a current climate of divisiveness. Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi shared what defines and differentiates Nyack Public Schools, drawing attention to our trajectory of work that specifically seeks to deepen understanding of antiracist principles, build racial literacy and widen the network of school community by strengthening trust equity in it.

District's November Statement Supports Leadership Goals: In Nyack Public Schools, we reaffirm without equivocation our responsibility to confront both individual acts of racism, hatred and systemic racism as it occurs within our own community and across our nation. Our School Board of Education, Administration, and Leadership Team stand resolutely against all acts of racism and in solidarity with Black and Brown students, administrators, faculty, staff, and families in our community. We urge each and every one of you in this beloved community to reaffirm one another in the work that we do with children, families and each other, each day.

2024-25 District Goals Presentation

Learning By Design magazine, the premier source for education design, innovation, excellence, recently published its annual Awards of Excellence. The Nyack Public Schools libraries reimagined as Global Learning Commons were featured as an award-winning design. Now referred to as "GLCs" in each of our schools, these flexible maker spaces received national recognition with Outstanding Project for renovations and expansion in the Fall 2024 edition. Our students of all ages love the GLC's where technology, innovation and collaborative learning merge for an alternative classroom experience. The K-5 STREAM program takes place in the elementary GLCs, pictured here in one of our 3rd grade classes.

Our students learn about Native American Heritage, history and local tribes as part of the NY State curriculum. This year, 3rd graders in the STREAM class built desk-top wigwams with recycled materials for a hands-on lesson on the ingenuity, survival skills and community values of the Lenape.

The Lenape, also known as the Lenape Delaware People are an indigenous American tribe who traditionally inhabited Hudson Valley area and greater Delaware River Valley, including parts of present-day New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. They are considered the original inhabitants of this region before European colonization. Lenape people still live in Rockland, in the land of their ancestors.

Did you know? The name Lenape means "The Original People". The Lenape consisted of three main groups: the Unami (people downriver), the Unalachtigo (people near the ocean), and the Munsee (people of the stony country). Lenape were known for their semi-nomadic lifestyle on this land. They were hunters, fishers, gatherers, and horticulturalists. They cultivated crops like corn, beans, and squash. They lived in villages with dome-like dwellings called wigwams, built from tree bark. As part of their rich culture, the are known for their intricate beadwork and basketry, and held strong spiritual beliefs centered around a Creator and other deities.

This month, members of our RedHawks Varsity Football Team were invited by the NY Giants to attend the Museum of the American Indian in NYC. Joe Sigillo, District Director of PE, Health, Welness and Athletics, accepted the invitation as part of recognization he received by the Giants for his work with the InsideOut Coaching Initiative. With that 2024 InsideOut Leadership Award, the RedHawks football team also received a $5,000 grant from the NY Giants for the work our coaches do through the organization that centers transformational coaching initiatives.

This special visit included a panel discussion moderated by NY Giants Community Relations Representative, Ethan Medley, to discuss the relevance of honoring Native American Heritage. The panelists included Mr. Sigillo, Ketchum/Wappingers Athletic Director Michael Corsano, a representative from the Smithsonian Institute, and Native American Activist John Kane. NY Giants Player Carter Coughlin came to meet and speak with the players. The panel discussed the 2023 New York State Board of Regents decision to remove Native American mascot names from athletics, which Nyack Public Schools received recognition for a 20-year journey to choose a new mascot. Ultimately, Nyack's decision made by students was supported by Nyack's Board of Education in 2020 and continues to be part of a legacy of student-led activism.

Principal Tom DiLeo, at Upper Nyack Elementary School, drew from his years of experience teaching social studies when he visited 3rd graders to share a lesson on how to take a closer look at stories we learn about in history. "How do we know what is real history? Any story can have errors. It's important to check the sources and always ask a lot of questions. Listen to voices from all around us, not just the most prominent or dominant voices", encouraged Principal DiLeo. Students watched a video from the Smithsonian Institute of the American Indian that included Wampanoag perspectives about the first Thanksgiving, then had opportunity to ask questions and apply critical thinking skills to answer some themselves. Click to view the class presentation from Ms. Holmes 3rd Grade.

• The History & Culture of New York's First People
• Pratt Institute on Native American & Indigenous People
• Lenape Center
• The Lenape in 17th Century Haverstraw
• The Tappan Lenape Tribe of the Hudson Valley
• Rutgers University Our Land, Our Stories: Ramapough Nation, specifically its Turtle Clan

Additional Recommended Reading:

- Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Rethinking Thanksgiving Celebrations: Native Perspectives on Thanksgiving

- Facing History and Ourselves National Day of Mourning. And, National Day of Mourning Homepage of United American Indians of New England (UAINE)

- "The Circle of Thanks" a children's book by Joseph Bruchac shares poems with themes of thanksgiving and appreciation of nature from various tribes. Native American have many thanksgiving ceremonies, customs and prayers to express gratitude for their way of life.

Special thanks to Kathleen Cancio, Nyack Schools Parent, who helped provide some of the recommended readings to share with our community on this topic.

Among the robust and diverse curricula that Nyack Public Schools provides is the Seal of Bilteracy Program. The Global Seal of Biliteracy certifies through testing that a student has attained a Working or Functional level of proficiency in English and one or more world languages. It is a language credential issued in collaboration with Nyack High School's World Language Department and the Global Seal of Biliteracy organization. Students must meet the criteria for one of its two award levels on one of its qualifying tests. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is serial-numbered and can be listed as a credential, not just an award, on a CV or Linked-In digital profile. It is an impressive life-skill that boosts resume qualifications and future-readiness of our accomplished students.

"The Global Seal of Biliteracy is universal; it crosses State lines and certifies students' language skills for academic or work purposes," explains Dr. Elcie Douce, our World Language Department Chairperson. "We are proud to celebrate today, our students who demonstrated their Spanish language proficiency with the Seal of Biliteracy."

More than two thousand schools and 8 million students participate in AVID, Advancement Via Individual Placement, a national program that cultivates equity, leadership and success. The AVID partnership enables valuable resources including professional development across different groups of educators who collaborate and share strategies.

This past month, the district hosted an Academic Language and Literacy Community of Practice workshop to empower educators, enhance student engagement and provide access to rigorous content through targeted language development. This two-day professional learning experience helped educators nurture students’ backgrounds and build academic language through reading, writing, speaking, and listening scaffolds.

Participants integrated AVID’s college and career readiness skills with language-building routines and strategies, promoting academic preparedness, opportunity knowledge, and student agency for multilingual learners and other learners who need language support. "This course will equip educators to create equitable learning spaces that foster student voice and active participation in various academic contexts", stated Lorraine Longing, District DIrector of K-12 Guidance and coordinator of the training.

The District is proud to announce it will host a GTTR Workshop in February, with a schedule to accomodate teaching staff during the school day. Participation in this workshop has long been a commitment by the District's BOE and Administration in Nyack Public Schools. The antiracist principles and analysis, originally developed by the People's Institute from Survival and Beyond is a foundation for the systemic equity work begun in the district more than 20 years ago and it remains the cornerstone for our Strategic Plan for Excellence Through Racial Equity.

Getting to the Root Workshop (GTTR) is an intensive two-day training on racial justice in partnership with Rockland's Center for Safety and Change. Learning about how systemic racism exists with a willingness to learn from history and deepen our understanding of the impact of it on our humanity is a driving force for becoming racially literate.

The GTTR Workshop for February 5th and 6th, 2025 will take place in the Professional Development Center in our Central Administration Building as a collaboration with Rockland BOCES and Center for Safety and Change to encourage County superintendents, administrators and professionals from the education sector to participate together.

The BOE recently approved three new committees with appointed trustees appointed to serve on them as indicated below. Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi, Interim Superintendent of Schools, will serve on each committee to guide discussions and help ensure alignment with District goals. As the BOE works to build stakeholder trust, the community can look forward to hearing the reports and seeing progression from these three committees:

• Budget Committee: BOE President Jen Marraccino, Secretary Jessica Goodman, Dr. LRG
• Policy Committee: Trustees Bryan Burrell, Michael Mark & Matt Watson, Dr. LRG
• Public Engagement Committee: Secretary Jessica Goodman, Trustees Bryan Burrell & Elaine Philhower, Dr. LRG

The Board of Education encourages community engagement. Our seven trustees are responsible to listen and represent our school community. Board contact information, the Board Meeting schedule, presentations and agendas are all posted on BoardDocs. Board members may be emailed at: BOEmembers@nyackschools.org.

BOE Meetings are open to the public, posted on the district website and calendar on specified Tuesdays each month. The public is encouraged to join in-person or via Zoom. Links to the webinar meetings are available on the district website homepage calendar at www.nyackschools.org.

December BOE Meeting: TUESDAY, DEC. 3 at 6:30pm

Scheduled Workshop Presentation: LinkIt Data Presentation

The RedHawk SUN is our reimagined eNewsletter for 2024-2025. Designed for promoting Superintendent’s Uplifting News, it is focussed on what defines and distinguishes Nyack Public Schools’ educational culture, vision, mission, learning and teaching environment, staff and students.