Community Check-In

We returned from our break this week, Raider Ready to close out the month of May!

Students were busy the last four days attending traditions we look forward to all year, like Academy Award Dinners and exhibitions, orientation trips, field days and NR’s annual “Awards Night." The exciting events of graduation season and the start of June are officially upon us.

This is such a special and memorable time for students, families and the community -- and it is a true cause for celebration! We want our high schoolers to fully enjoy it while staying safe and making good decisions. Prom season can be a particularly dangerous time for teenagers, so we must work together to ensure the well-being of our students during this celebratory period.

One of the major concerns during end-of-the-year commencements and events is what happens after they end. The issue of drinking and driving is significant, with about one-third of all alcohol-related fatalities involving teens each year taking place April - June, specifically around prom and graduation. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, we lose approximately 1,000 children under the age of 21 each year in preventable tragedies while celebrating their high school traditions.

North Rockland partnered with our local law enforcement this year for an impactful "No Empty Chair Campaign" spearheaded by SRO Mike Lupo. Below, you will find a video showcasing the collective efforts to prevent underage drinking and accidents. The campaign involved the State and local police, EMS, Fire Departments, local volunteers and businesses that donated vehicles for the exercises and demonstrations. Students and participants of the campaign truly gained a new perspective after witnessing and experiencing a simulated crash scene.

Ensuring the safety of our students is North Rockland's TOP PRIORITY. We are closely coordinating with our security teams over the next four weeks to implement heightened measures at both the prom and graduation events aimed at guaranteeing a safe, enjoyable and better experience for all attendees.

Maintaining open lines of communication between school and home, let's work together to create joyous occasions and prevent any potential tragedies. Parents, please have diligent and frequent conversations with your teenagers about the risks of underage drinking, drunk driving and driving while impaired. Encourage them to plan ahead and arrange for a designated driver or alternative transportation if there's a chance they will be consuming alcohol.

Thank you for your support in helping us make North Rockland’s 2023-24 prom and graduation season an incredible, safe and unforgettable time for our students!

Kris Felicello

Superintendent of Schools

This year North Rockland joined NYS and partnered with local law enforcement and first responders for the spring “No Empty Chair” teen driving safety education and enforcement campaign. The interactive demonstrations of crashes, extrication simulations and personnel arriving on the scene were extremely impactful in raising awareness of the dangers of impaired driving in the hope there will be no empty chairs during prom and graduation season. The 2024 statewide initiative helps educate teens about safe driving and encourage them to buckle up, drive safely and make good decisions not only throughout the prom and graduation season but every day. We thank SRO Lupo, our student participants, local EMS, Fire Depts and police for making this possible for North Rockland High Schoolers.

NR Proud to share that the NRCSD Special Services department were awarded for excellence by The Rockland County School Boards Association (RCSBA)!

At the 77th Annual Meeting and Recognition Dinner this week our staff was celebrated by districts, school board members and students from across Rockland County. Those leaders chosen for the honor at the RCSBA’s dinner were recognized for their unwavering dedication and advocacy to meet every student’s unique needs.

In NR we have expanded and pioneered important programs like ACCESS-NR, FOCUS programs and ICT classes to name a few that provide student inclusivity, skill-building and real-life school-to-work possibilities with the end goal of employment based on interests.

North Rockland's Special Services team, teachers and staff implement collaborative instructional strategies, school day job training, a PAES lab and vocational and Life Skills as part of the learning curriculum. Aside from hiring, the results include applying work and independent living skills at home, in school and in the community.

The RCSBA also recognized two student leaders from North Rockland for playing an active role in our school community.

Congratulate the honorees here!

The North Rockland Central School District was awarded over $2.4 million in state funding to expand opportunities for local families to access free UPK programs. The competitive grant award - among the largest of 64 NYSED awards across the state - will allow North Rockland to convert 200 half-day UPK seats into full-day seats as well as add 150 full-day Universal Prekindergarten placements. Register Here.

"Drawing" attention to our remarkably talented student body, Luke Alvarez has been selected as the next NR Creatives Spotlight award recipient! Alvarez is an NRHS senior and Academy of Art student nominated by his teachers for his accomplishments, drive and visual art creations, who will be attending the University of Central Florida for Civil Engineering in the fall. Of his future plans, Luke shared art will continue to be a part of his tool belt when it comes to designing, constructing and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment. “Architecture is abstract and subjective. A structure can be viewed from any angle or viewpoint. Anyone from any background can view the structure and conjure a completely different meaning to it and ironically, this can unite people." We are so proud of this future grad and wish him all the best! Congratulate him here.

Farley Elementary held their annual Memorial Day Assembly service this morning honoring local vets and active military members. Red, white and blue, stars and stripes surrounded the building from the tremendous flag hanging outside the entrance to the decorated chairs reserved for the brave.

Grades 4-6 students took turns speaking of the courage and valor of the military personnel in attendance, their protection and service provided and showcasing all the efforts the school has launched throughout the year in preparation for the visit. As part of the district wide "Purple Up" for Military Kids event, North Rockland students raised $3,000 to buy seats through Hudson Valley Honor Flight, where vets are welcomed home in Washington D.C. The organization was in attendance to receive a check from NRCSD’s Honor Flight Committee and spoke to the room full of upper elementary schoolers about the impact the contribution would make for many heroes.

As the story of Army Cpl. Manny Lopez was told by his family, a story of bravery, remembrance, service and sacrifice there were strong sentiments of pride, respect and support felt by all. We are all connected by one flag, one land and one nation. The crowd roared as each honoree, past and present, was called by name to be awarded for their heroics. In their serving, they remembered us. As we live out our freedoms, may we ALWAYS remember them! More Photos.

Last night, North Rockland celebrated Awards Night, where the seniors were celebrated for all the scholarships they received. The NRHS auditorium was packed with students, staff, family and friends to support the 230 students who received over 700 awards.

There was an overwhelming feeling of pride as Principal DaPonte recognized each recipient individually. There was not a dull moment throughout the evening. To our seniors, your hard work, dedication and achievements have truly paid off. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see the amazing things you will accomplish in the future.

This night would not be possible with the donors. Principal DaPonte put it best when she said “To our donors- This night is amazing because of you. Every contribution sends a message about how much you care. We are truly a community.”

We also want to thank Assistant Principal Kelley Herman, Patty O'Sullivan, Kathleen Sangen and everyone else who made this night possible! They have worked tirelessly through the year to make the night what it was!

More Photos

Individual Photos Gallery Link For Parents

Haverstraw Elementary’s “Girls Who Code” club is building for the future! Club Advisors Nancy Donohue and Nicole Jessie wanted to challenge members by putting their new skills to work. Over the past few weeks, they have been disassembling and reassembling chrome books. It is amazing to see fifth graders fully take on the challenge and succeed. The task required organization, a little elbow grease and a LOT of patience. Not many upper elementary students will be able to say they can build a computer by the time they reached middle school. Full Story/More Photos.

The Red Raiders hit Wall Street! A visit to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) offered our high school students a unique opportunity to witness the dynamic world of finance firsthand. Academy of Finance Teacher Nick Teglas spearheads the trip every year but this year was special because the students were on the floor during the opening bell! The Red Raiders were positioned right next to the CNBC TV Studio, where the WNBA Commissioner was the special guest who rang the bell to signal the start of business. Full Story/Video.

It was an exciting day for the sixth graders in NR, as they attended their middle school orientation. They got a sneak peek at their new school and all the amazing opportunities it offers. Principal Natalie Santopietro spoke to the students about how to succeed on their academic journey. AP Ed Garcia hosted a scavenger hunt that allowed the students to tour the school and get familiar with their new surroundings. AP Jim Mulligan hosted all the clubs and teams in the gym, where students got to see all the extracurricular opportunities that lay ahead of them. It was an amazing experience for the soon-to-be seventh-graders, who can now start their middle school experience with confidence! Full Story/More Photos.

The Class of 2024 is starting to spread its wings and we got a look into where many of the students are heading next. It is amazing to see the diversity in college and career choices, with students attending colleges as far away as Hawaii! We are so proud of this class and are looking forward to seeing their continued success. Once a Red Raider, always a Red Raider! More photos.

Haverstraw Elementary School House System has been a huge success year after year. Over the year, the four houses compete to win the most points through a wide array of activities, including school-wide competitions, food drives and most importantly, showing positive behaviors that go above and beyond. The school got together for two important announcements, the first being the new house leaders. The house leaders used various tools to show why they wanted it, get teacher recommendations and have shown overall positive character traits. Congratulations to the new house leaders! The second announcement was to declare this year’s winning house. This year’s winning house is…Altruismo! More Photos.

It was a bright sunny day for Stony Point Elementary’s first-grade Field Day, but the smiles of the students shined brighter than the sun! SPE’s Field Day is the perfect opportunity to show students how to use the skills they've learned in their classes. There was a wide range of activities that incorporated physical education, problem-solving skills and even math and science! Most importantly, the students got to have fun with their classmates and teachers, building an even stronger H.E.A.R.T. at Stony Point Elementary! More Photos.

Tommy Cahill is our RED RAIDER OF THE WEEK!!! Tommy is a sophomore on the North Rockland High School’s varsity boys golf team. This season he had the lowest individual differential and stroke average leading the team to a League Title. He also qualified for sectional play and finished strong in the Rockland County Boys Golf Championship in which the Red Raiders took 1st! by 34 strokes. Cahill was named the MVP of the team this year by his coach based on all of his achievements and character. His coach said, “Tommy is a tireless worker and one of the most dedicated players that I have ever coached. He is mentally tough, never surrenders, and is always TEAM FIRST. I look forward to seeing where the next two years take him.” Let’s make some #REDANDWHITENOISE for Tommy!!!

Tara Murphy is our LADY RAIDER OF THE WEEK Tara is a sophomore on the NRHS varsity softball team. She is the pitcher and bats 3rd in the lineup. Over the weekend, Murphy helped her team clinch its third straight Section 1 Championship with a 2-1 victory over White Plains. She also helped her team advance to its second straight Regional Final game with a 1-0 win over Section 9's Pine Bush. At the mound, she was 2-0 and threw a total of 18 innings facing 67 batters. She had 14 Strikeouts, 1 BB, 1 ER, giving up 12 hits, and had a .38 Earned Run Average. At the plate, she was 4-8 (.500 Batting Average) scoring 1 run and having the game tying RBI against White Plains. This season she is 18-2 with a 1.17 overall ERA with 207 Strikeouts in 149 innings pitched.

The overall team record is 22-2. Her coach said, “Tara is the epitome of a true Red Raider. Tough, gritty, coachable, a fierce competitor, and determined each and every day to achieve personal and team goals. She stepped into the circle this year having already had a terrific freshman year last season as our left fielder on our highly successful team. To say she’s grown as a player is an understatement. She has worked tremendously on speed, control, and movement in the circle this season and coach D’Ambrosio and I couldn’t be more proud of all she has accomplished. She has led us to league and section championships and was selected as the League Pitcher of the Year. Proud of you, T. Keep grinding!”

Catch Tara along with her teammates on Saturday, June 1st for the Regional Final against Section 4's Corning-Painted Post High School at NRHS at 1:00 PM.

Let’s make some #REDANDWHITENOISE for Tara!!!

NR vs. Corning-Painted Post High School

Saturday, June 1st

1:00 PM

North Rockland High School

In April, student-athletes traveled to Warwick High School for the annual "Wounded Warrior Tournament" where the Raiders freshman, JV and varsity teams had the opportunity to compete in their sport for the Wounded Warrior Challenge to raise money for the organization. Before the games began, Jacob Norotsky, a Wounded Warrior Project speaker and Iraqi War Veteran, traveled from North Carolina to share his heartbreaking yet inspiring story and highlight the organization's mission. $4,000 in total was raised for the project! North Rockland and Warwick was recognized by NYSPHSAA and awarded the NYCM Insurance award for their contribution to the project, ten years and running! Check out the article Team Up 4 Community wrote to learn more!

The District is looking for more great employees to work with our students. If you are looking for a rewarding position, please consider applying with NRCSD.