District Update

Dear East Ramapo Community,

On March 9, a devastating fire in the condominium complex across from Spring Valley High School left twenty families displaced. Without hesitation, our school community quickly responded with donations of food, clothing, money and other basic necessities. (Read the full story here) What an incredibly generous community we live in! We are privileged to have so many local residents, businesses and organizations willing to help our neighbors in times of need.

It's hard to believe we’re only three months from celebrating moving-up ceremonies in our elementary and middle schools and commencement in our high schools. Student achievement remains at the forefront in all that we do, and our teachers continue to provide robust instruction to help children absorb content and perfect problem solving and critical thinking skills. Social-emotional learning across all grade levels continues to strengthen self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal relationships. Each day in East Ramapo, we empower, inspire and support students in acquiring the knowledge, skills and dispositions to establish goals for their future and develop plans to achieve them.

Thanks to The American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund, (ARP-ESSER) East Ramapo will begin capital projects to improve instruction and non-instructional spaces in eight of our schools this summer. Facilities upgrades will include ventilation, lighting, ceilings and windows and ADA compliance. Additional details were provided during the March 1 Board of Education meeting. I encourage our residents to learn more by viewing the recorded meeting under the BoardDocs tab here.

An old English Proverb reminds us that, "No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow." While the winter weather has challenged us this season, the East Ramapo community has demonstrated its resilience once again. On behalf of the East Ramapo Central School District, thank you for your ongoing support. Happy Spring!

Sincerely,

Dr. Clarence G. Ellis

Superintendent of Schools

The East Ramapo Central School District community stepped up to help families that were displaced after their apartment building caught fire last month. About 20 families were displaced, including 16 children who attend school within our district.

On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the condominium complex across the street from Spring Valley High School, Kennedy Arms at 101 Kennedy, was evacuated due to a fire. Spring Valley High School cafeteria served as a warming station for more than one hundred residents, while the Fire Department assessed the building damage, and American Red Cross assisted in relocating victims. In all, about 20 families were displaced, including 16 children who attend school within our district.

To read more, click here.

Interested in playing a sport this spring? East Ramapo Varsity and JV spring sports season began on Monday, March 14th and 7th & 8th Grade sports will begin on Monday, March 21. In order to sign a student up for a team, Parents and caregivers must use this link to sign up for athletics. Clicking the button will bring you to a safe and secure registration platform called FamilyID. Click here for registration information.

The spring sports offered by schools are listed below:

EAST RAMAPO (Merged from both Ramapo HS and Spring Valley HS)

• Boys Tennis (JV & Varsity)
• Baseball (JF & Varsity)
• Softball (JV & Varsity)
  

RAMAPO HIGH SCHOOL

• Track & Field
• Girls Golf
• Boys Golf

SPRING VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

• Track & Field
• Girls Golf
• Boys Golf
  

POMONA / KAKIAT

• Track & Field
• Baseball
• Softball
  
  

CHESTNUT RIDGE

• Track & Field
• Baseball
• Softball

Coming soon to a theater near you! Here's a list of East Ramapo's spring performances and dates. Be sure to visit their websites closer to the performances for more information.

Winter Color Guard and Percussion Competition Dates

Saturdays: 03/05, 03/19, 04/02, 04/19

District High School Spring Musical Dates

• Spring Valley High School “You're a Good Man Charlie Brown”
  Thursday - Saturday, 3/31 - 4/02
• Ramapo High School “Twelfth Night”
  Friday - Sunday - 03/25 -27
• Pomona Middle School “Dear Edwina”
  Thursday - Friday 6/2-3
• Chestnut Ridge Middle School “The Wiz Jr."
  Thursday - Friday 4/07-8
• Kakiat Middle School “Once On This Island”
  Friday - Saturday 5/20-21

“With February being Black History Month and Valentine’s Day falling in the middle of the month, we lined up a series of compelling experiences associated with black achievement, wellness or self-love for the entire student body,” explained Madrid Boyd, Assistant Principal of Ramapo High School. “These meaningful speakers and special events play a tremendous role in the academic, social and emotional growth of our students.”

Each of the four grade levels had a different speaker, and the topics covered were specifically tailored to address issues and challenges faced by those students.

Click here to read the full story.

Did you know you could be borrowing books, DVDs, online content, and more for free? All residents of the East Ramapo School District are able to get a free library card at the Finkelstein Library, located at 24 Chestnut Street in Spring Valley, and take advantage of free museum passes, Roku and Kindle Fire sticks, and Homework Help for grade school students.

Through the library’s partnership with the school district, over 350 ERCSD students applied for library cards this year. What are you waiting for? Students are eligible for library cards starting at just 5 years old. For more information and to apply for a library card for you and your child, visit the Finkelstein website here.

As a unified community, the East Ramapo Central School District is committed to educating the whole child by providing a healthy, safe, supportive, engaging and challenging learning environment.

Website: www.ercsd.org
Location: 105 South Madison Avenue, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Phone: 845-577-6000