RIDER REPORT

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful winter break, filled with relaxation and quality time with loved ones. Looking back on 2024, we have so much to celebrate – from impressive achievements in academics, athletics and the arts to accomplishments in technology and world languages.

As we step into 2025, our focus remains on building Ichabod Crane’s legacy of excellence. A key initiative this year is the Capital Project Referendum set for December 2025. This project builds on the success of the 2018 Capital Project by addressing aging infrastructure, supporting future-ready instructional goals, and aligning with our ICCSD Instructional Program Vision and Rider Goals 2027.

As always, community input is at the heart of this process. Your ideas and feedback are helping shape the next phase of our facilities and programs to ensure we provide the best possible learning environment for our students.

This month’s newsletter also highlights some exciting news:

• Meet the newest Ichabod Crane members of the National Junior Honor Society.

• Celebrate the High School’s recognition with a GreatSchools Award.

• Get to know our new Middle School Assistant Principal, Erin Russo and Food Services Director, Carly Wills.

There’s so much to look forward to in 2025 – keep reading to learn more!

Articles in this edition:

• Capital Project Referendum 2025: Building the Future of Ichabod Crane

• 5 Facts About Our New Assistant Principal & Food Services Director

• Rider Students and High School Celebrate National Achievements

• Nominations Open for Wall of Fame 2025

• Kindergarten Registration Open for 25-26

• What’s Next in January

• #ICYMI

We’re excited to share plans for the next phase of upgrades to our school facilities through Capital Project Referendum 2025! This project builds on the success of the 2018 Capital Project and focuses on tackling aging infrastructure, creating spaces that support modern teaching and learning and staying aligned with our district’s goals, including the ICCSD Instructional Program Vision and Rider Goals 2027.

Since September, district leaders have worked closely with stakeholders from the Primary, Middle and High Schools, as well as Operations and Athletics, to identify critical infrastructure needs, review deferred items from the 2018 project and explore how our facilities can support innovative teaching and learning.

“Education is evolving and our facilities must evolve with it,” said Business Manager Michael Brennan. “With upcoming debt being paid off, we have a unique opportunity to address critical needs while minimizing tax impact. This phased approach ensures we meet urgent priorities now while planning sustainably for the future.”

In 2018, the community approved a referendum that delivered significant upgrades to our three-building campus. This initiative included extensive renovations and construction, enhancing academic programs, athletics, health and safety, and overall infrastructure. Highlights of the project include the addition of the High School’s STEAM wing, renovations to the Middle School wings, the complete transformation of the Middle School gymnasium and safety upgrades to our greeter stations.

The 2025 Referendum builds on this progress with a vision rooted in the Portrait of a Rider – a blueprint for preparing students to be problem-solvers, responsible tech users, change-makers and community-minded individuals.

“This next phase reflects the ideas shared by our students, staff and community,” said Superintendent Marie Digirolamo. “Our spaces must inspire innovation, foster collaboration and prepare students for the future while staying aligned with long-term goals and fiscal responsibility.”

What’s Next?

This fall, district leaders met with students and staff to discuss program needs and to imagine how updated spaces could better support their goals. Based on this feedback, the team developed a preliminary project scope.

This winter, conversations with architects and stakeholders will continue, focusing on specific needs and conceptual designs. Community input will remain central, shaping the final plan to ensure it reflects the priorities of students, staff and residents.

For updates, visit the Capital Projects webpage.

Together, we’re shaping the future of teaching, learning and facilities at Ichabod Crane!

At the close of 2024, Ichabod Crane proudly inducted 38 eighth and ninth grade students into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). This prestigious achievement recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship.

Superintendent Marie Digirolamo expressed her Rider Pride, saying, “We are so proud of our students. Each of them embodies the distinguished values of NJHS.”

NJHS chapters operate in all 50 states and schools around the world, engaging and serving more than one million students. Reflecting school leaders’ profound commitment to student leadership development, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) founded NJHS in 1929 with the purpose of creating enthusiasm for scholarship; stimulating a desire to render service; promoting leadership; encouraging responsible citizenship; and developing character in secondary school students.

Ichabod Crane High School is also celebrating an amazing achievement: the receipt of the College Success Award from GreatSchools, the nation’s leading nonprofit providing school information to parents and families. The annual recognition honors schools that excel at preparing students to enroll and succeed in college, as determined by available data in each state.

Ichabod Crane High School is among 1,436 high schools in 19 states that have demonstrated a successful track record of graduating students who enroll in two- or four-year college, are ready for college-level coursework and persist on to their second year.

The College Success Award is possible because New York is leading the nation in both collecting and transparently sharing information on how students perform after high school, which is valuable information for families, educators and policymakers. A total of 284 schools in New York received this award in 2024, according to GreatSchools.

“We applaud Ichabod Crane High School for prioritizing a high-quality public education that puts students on the path to bright futures,” said Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools. “It’s inspiring to see how an entire school community — students, teachers and families — can work together in pursuit of a common goal: success for all. Congratulations to Ichabod Crane High School for receiving the College Success Award as proof of their hard work and dedication.”

Registration for the 2025-26 Kindergarten class at Ichabod Crane is now open! 🎉

• No appointment needed.
• Registration packets are available for pickup at the Primary School and on our website.
• Completed forms, along with all required documentation (e.g., birth certificate, medical records, proof of residency), can be dropped off at the Primary School between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions, please contact Crystal Cirillo at ccirillo@ichabodcrane.org or 518-758-7575 ext. 6002.

We look forward to meeting our new kindergarten families!

• January 7: BOE Communications Committee Meeting, 5:45 p.m., Central Office

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

• January 14: BOE Policy Committee Meeting, 5:45 p.m., Central Office

• January 14: Board of Education Workshop Meeting, 7 p.m., High School Library

• January 16: BOE Facilities Committee Meeting, 4 p.m., Virtual Meeting

• January 17: We Go Together Performance, 7 p.m., High School Auditorium

• January 20: No School and District Offices Closed, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• January 29: No School, Lunar New Year

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

💙 Primary School Good Character Award Recipients and Middle School Riders of the Month! 🌟

Did you know that late President Martin Van Buren's favorite sports were horseback riding and fishing? 🐴🎣

Our 4th Graders shared this fun fact and a biographical timeline at the annual celebration of MVB’s birthday on December 5! MVB would have been 242 years old! 🎂 Our students also sang "Happy Birthday" alongside community leaders, elected officials and the New York National Guard. Together, they honored his political legacy and deep ties to Kinderhook. Wreaths were placed at his grave, including a special one on behalf of President Joe Biden. 🇺🇸

☃️ Our Primary Schoolers had a blast at the Holiday Sing-A-Long! Check out a video of the festive and fun event on our Facebook or Instagram!

She performed at Rochester’s renowned Eastman Theatre with top students during NYSSMA’s Winter Conference in December.

We’re so proud of you, Lauren!