Raider Report mid-December 2024

U.S. News and World Report included Linden Avenue Middle School on its 2025 Best Middle Schools list, with rankings for each state. The annual list focused heavily on mathematics and reading/language arts state assessment proficiency, with demographics factoring into the calculations. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our students, the expertise of our faculty and staff, and the tremendous support of our Red Hook community,” Principal Stacie Fenn Smith said.

LAMS joined Red Hook High School in earning praise from U.S. News and World Report; the organization named Red Hook to its Best High Schools list for 2024 in June. While that list included a national ranking, the middle schools were only compared to others within their states. LAMS ranked 401st for New York, which included charter schools, and fourth in Dutchess County. It was in the 71st percentile of all New York middle schools. The list weighed state assessment data for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. For math, LAMS was in the top 200 for proficiency. “We appreciate U.S. News and World Report again recognizing the quality of education and level of student performance found in our school district,” said Dr. Janet Warden, Superintendent of Schools. “The teachers and faculty at LAMS prepare students for success as they move forward into high school and adulthood.”

Principal Fenn Smith noted, “Test scores are just one small piece of the incredible story unfolding here at LAMS.” Linden Avenue Middle School engages students through a variety of extra-curricular opportunities and unique educational experiences through a student-centered approach and collaborative learning. “In our classrooms, you'll find students tackling real-world challenges through collaborative, hands-on projects that connect them to our community and the world beyond,” Principal Fenn Smith said. “Our teachers prioritize authentic learning experiences and believe students learn best when they're actively engaged in meaningful work they feel personally connected to. “When students reflect on their experience at Linden Avenue, we hope they find it a great place to learn, have fun and feel a sense of belonging,” she said. “It's our honor and privilege to guide students through these transformative years and it's a responsibility we take to heart.”

Childhood has fundamentally changed with the rise of smartphones and social media. That much is clear. Understanding the depth of that transformation and the effect it is having on behavioral development and wellness is more complicated. The Red Hook Central School District, in association with Red Hook Public Library and Tivoli Free Library, invites the community to join a community discussion on those broad issues through a new initiative called Red Hook Reads. Through Red Hook Reads, participants are invited to read “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness” and engage in community events that include group book studies, talks, workshops and others to explore the themes covered in the book.

Roughly 200 free copies of the book by Jonathan Haidt are available, purchased through a Red Hook Education Foundation grant. You can sign up for the program here, or at the Red Hook Reads webpage. and sign up for the library book discussion group here. The initiative is part of a broader focus throughout the school district on mental health and well-being awareness. The district held its inaugural Wellness Fair at Mill Road Elementary School this fall, in which parents and students could learn more about healthy actions while engaging in games and activities. The high school this fall also began offering two classes focused on maintaining mental health: Freshman Focus, a first-year course to help students build healthy habits through their high school experience, and Mind, Body, Wellness, which students can take each year as an alternative physical education credit.

The Anxious Generation has captured national attention since it was published in March 2024. It examines the impact of the digital age, in which play-based childhood has been replaced by screen-based childhood and what the long-term effects of that may be. “I think there are a lot of parents who are trying to parse these things out,” said district K-12 Music Department Chairperson Matthew Funigiello, who is spearheading the inaugural Red Hook Reads. While the broad idea that screens and social media have encouraged the growth of mental health challenges among young people isn’t new, Mr. Funigiello said the book “takes that feeling that ‘We know this isn’t great,’ and he puts hard facts behind it. “He’s built an exceptional case that it’s not just ‘social media is just bad,’ but it is retooling how the brain works at a critical time in child development,” Mr. Funigiello said.

The group book studies will be hosted by the Red Hook and Tivoli libraries beginning in January. Other events will be planned and revealed as the year rolls on. Mr. Funigiello noted, the goal is to offer aspects of the program that appeal to residents and families in different ways, in order to capture as many perspectives into the discussion as possible. “Whatever way people want to participate, they should have the opportunity to participate in things that are very consequential – not just for school and children, but community health, in general,” he said. “Interface with it the way you want to.”

Red Hook Reads is already underway. Through the fall, groups of school district employees have engaged in book studies and discussions focusing on how to leverage professional expertise, strengthen relationships with students and families, and utilize district resources to address challenges that include screen-based childhood and adolescent mental health. “The passion and dedication our teachers bring to these discussions, especially their commitment to finding practical, meaningful solutions to the challenges we face together has been very inspiring and will have great impact on the well-being of the Red Hook community,” Funigiello said.

Throughout the program, the Red Hook Reads webpage will be updated with articles and videos that dive deeper into the broader subjects discussed. The 2024-25 edition of Red Hook Reads will culminate in May with a planned panel discussion and community meal that will be free of phones.

Dear Families,

As we approach the winter break, I want to share my heartfelt wishes for a season filled with joy, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones. This time of year offers a chance to pause, reflect, and embrace the hope and possibilities that a new year brings.

In the words of Maya Angelou: "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” Let this be a time to appreciate the growth of our children, embrace their change, and look ahead with hope. May the new year bring fresh opportunities, renewed energy, and positivity for all. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in creating a strong and thriving school community.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

Applications are available for students to enroll in the pre-K program at Mill Road Elementary School for the 2025-26 school year. To be eligible, a student must be 4 years old by December 1, 2025. Applications are available here.

The Mill Road pre-K program is free for district residents and follows the school year calendar, offering full-day programming every day school is in session. The curriculum-based program blends play, socialization and structured learning. Students enjoy engaging activities including art, music, physical education, the STEAM Imagination Station, and exploration of the school garden and nature trail. The deadline to apply for the 2025-26 school year is Friday, February 28, 2025.

Larry Anthony’s food service department completed a feat fit to eat in November. Throughout the month, all five components of his lunch menus in Red Hook’s schools were composed entirely – or, 99% of it, he said – of New York products.

The project was the product of four months of planning and an outgrowth of Red Hook surpassing the New York State Farm-to-School Initiative in which it encourages schools to have at least 30% of its lunch menu consist of New York-sourced items. In Red Hook, the menu last year was closer to 40% New York products, the Red Hook food service director said.

The idea of the initiative is to promote healthy, locally grown foods while increasing awareness of regional food systems. It also qualifies the districts for a roughly 325% increase in state lunch reimbursement funding, from 5.9 cents per meal to 25 cents.

When the concept of filling an entire month with Empire State foods crossed his mind, Mr. Anthony said he thought, “I have enough products that I think I can pull this off.” As snags in the supply chain can occur, he began reaching out to vendors in July to lock in his products and made orders in August and September.

He compared those initial calls to an automated external defibrillator. “I’m sending a jolt through all the vendors: ‘Here’s what November’s looking like and here’s the food I’ll need.’” The letters “NY” showed up 66 times on November’s printed menu, signifying the food item is from New York, including local products such as turkey from Northwind Farms in Tivoli, beans and cheese from Hudson Harvest in Germantown, eggs from Feather Ridge Farm in Elizaville, and fruits and vegetables from such places as Highland, New Paltz and, yes, Red Hook. That’s in addition to more specifically credited foods, like steelhead trout from Hudson Valley Fisheries, Niagara grapes and Issa’s Pita Chips from Buffalo.

While the month’s menu featured dozens of nutritious meals, Mr. Anthony said November will also go a long way toward making sure Red Hook surpasses the 30% plateau again in 2024-25. That was a secondary concern, though, considering how efficiently Mr. Anthony has been satisfying the initiative since 2022-23. “Last year we needed to purchase $37,000,” in New York products, he said, having done the math for the total amount spent. “We purchased $43,900.”

Mill Road Elementary School finished November with a vibrant showcase of school spirit in the form of its annual Raider Pride Parade, which was immediately followed by a fifth-grade football game. Video from the Nov. 25 event is available here.

The parade featured the fourth-grade classes marching down Paul Menz pathway as they were cheered on by their fellow students. Dawn Valentine’s flex class led the way, displaying a hand-crafted banner that set the tone for the festivities. They were followed by Cara Silvernail’s marching band, which provided music and excitement. The rest of the students filled the parade with their colorful and creative floats in the tradition of a Thanksgiving Day Parade. The various floats covered such various subjects as mythical creatures, ecological environments and music instruments.

Then, the fifth-grade classes took the field for the annual staff-students football game between the Red and White teams. In addition to the physical education instructors, others staff members including Principal Dr. Brian Boyd and Assistant Principal Kristen Strothmann took part. The contest featured music, energy and more than a few highlight plays, including an interception returned for a touchdown by Gunner Lynch. And, the game wouldn't be complete without a halftime show, courtesy of the second-grade classes. Throughout, the food services staff kept students warm and energized with hot chocolate.

Visitors to Martha Strever’s classroom have become a common sight this fall, as media agencies have pulled her reluctantly into the national spotlight, including a 'CBS Mornings’ segment available above, beginning at 1:48.

In early December she received a visit of a different sort: Rather than a reporter, it was a regent eager to talk with the math teacher of 64 years. Dr. Frances G. Wills, the New York State Board of Regents Ninth Judicial District representative, came to Linden Avenue Middle School to give Ms. Strever an official Certificate of Recognition from the state Education Department. “This is special,” Ms. Strever said.
The recognition notes Strever’s place as the longest active teacher in New York and the longest active member of New York State United Teachers. “Through your unwavering passion and dedication, you have inspired countless learners to embrace the joy of discovery and the value of lifelong learning,” the certificate reads. “Your leadership, including nearly five decades as Math Department Chair, reflects your deep commitment to student-centered learning and community. Your legacy is a testament to the profound influence of a passionate educator.”

After speaking together in her classroom with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Warden; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Staff Development Dr. Kitty Summers; and Principal Stacie Fenn Smith; Dr. Wills watched a portion of one of Ms. Strever’s math classes with co-teacher Christopher Wood.

Ms. Strever has appeared in features ranging from CBS to Education Week and the Poughkeepsie Journal, often shying from attention others may relish. The visit from Dr. Wills, though, left her touched. “I feel this, knowing the state Education Department really works with the curriculum, they are evidently recognizing, even though I’m in my 64th year, I’ve kept up to date,” she said. “I think that’s why this meant so much to me.”