With the last days of the year coming to a close, we look to the New Year with anticipation that grows in the countdown of each day leading up to it. During this season, it is customary to be intentional if not a little more giving with our time, energy and resources, spending them all the best we can on ones we love.

Our winter recess this year is long with schools closed for two weeks. I hope you take time for yourself, with your family, and with friends, to pause amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays and reflect. For me, this is a time not only for reflection but also for assessing goals and evaluating how we are entering a new year. As we reach the midway point of the school year, we begin to see the culture and climate of the district truly take shape. Our gears are in motion, and as I look ahead, I reflect on important questions: How much have we done? How well did we do it? Is anyone better off?

I can already see how some of our new systems are impacting the way we address challenges, ensuring we use data effectively to inform our decisions and improve upon “what we have always done.” In the new year, I’m excited to have the opportunity to share more about our district goals, ideas for impacting positive change, and my leadership vision for this school community.

Trust serves as the foundation for transformational change. Because I believe that inspiring trust is a leader’s responsibility, I am revisiting the characteristics of effective leadership and how trust is intentionally built. As I look ahead to 2025, I see my future here. I am focused on building trust and transformation, fostering an environment where students, staff, and families feel valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.

And so, I wish you good health, much happiness and lots of holiday lights to brighten your nights. May your days be merry and filled with good cheer as together, we welcome in the new year! Let us be bold and brave in 2025.

Yours in Education,

Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi

Interim Superintendent of Schools

This mural was created by Nyack Middle School Visual Arts Teacher, Danielle McDonald and the students in one of her classes and features students in the class. It is displayed in the Central Administration Office during the month of December, reminding us all of the beauty and expression of our brilliant students that grows in uniquely-Nyack ways.

Ms. McDonald states, "Creativity thrives in shared experiences, and this mural celebrates our growth as individuals and as a community throughout the year. What began as a surprise sketch, featuring drawings of the students creatively working, quickly became a collaborative work of art brought to life through the talent and teamwork of my Painting Elective students."

The concept for this work of art was inspired by a Kurt Vonnegat quote: "Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

We encourage you to "practice an art" during this Winter Recess. Lift your voice. Express yourself. Share stories with one another. Be creative in your giving. Nurture a culture of love.

Happy Holidays one and all!

2024-25 District Goals Presentation

Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi's leadership vision for the school community will be presented at a Special BOE Meeting on January 14, 2025 at 6:30pm. This Board Meeting, like all board meetings, is open to the public. Members of the community are invited to listen to this presentation and will be given the opportunity to ask questions related to or in response to it.

In keeping with the theme for the year: "RedHawk Ready with Vision, Strength, Brilliance", community members can expect to hear a throughline of the goals, objectives and desired outcomes aligning to the District's vision and mission.

The leadership vision includes an overview plan for systemic intervention and change that places priority on building confidence, coherence, collaboration and a culture of love within our educational environment in Nyack Public Schools.

Music in our schools is not only a holiday tradition but a beloved one instilled in our students of all grades throughout the year.

This month, students in the third grade from each of our elementary schools learned a selection that we would like to share with you at this holiday time. We know that music uplifts the human spirit and the voices of our children making music is a joyful noise.

An extra joyful note about this song choice: our school community's very own Michael Mark, Trustee on our School Board of Education, co-wrote the song in his longstanding partnership with local community members, John Forster and Tom Chapin. Together, they have composed, recorded, and performed children's songs to share with families over many years of making music.

Take a look at the lyrics below and warm your heart this season with a listen to "Walk the World Now Children" by John Forster, Michael Mark & Tom Chapin © 2005 Limousine Music Co., HCD Music & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP):

Walk the world now, children. Walk it now with me.

Walk the world now, children. Walk it now with me.

Walk the world now, children, treat it lovingly,

And the world will last forever and a day.

Drink the water, children. Drink it now with me.

Drink the water, children. Drink it now with me.

Drink the water, children, treat it lovingly,

And the world will last forever and a day.

Breathe the air now, children. Breathe it now with me.

Breathe the air now, children. Breathe it now with me.

Breathe the air now, children, treat it lovingly,

And the world will last forever and a day.

Work the land now, children. Work it now with me.

Work the land now, children. Work it now with me.

Work the land now, children, treat it lovingly,

And the world will last forever and a day.

Walk the world now, children. Walk it now with me.

Walk the world now, children. Walk it now with me.

Walk the world now, children, treat it lovingly,

And the world will last forever and a day.

In the season of giving and in a time when we need each other more than ever, here is a wish for the future of our world:

May our children grow stronger, smarter and with stability in a beloved school community so that they may walk the world, breathe the air and work the land in peace with themselves, each other and all creatures great and small.

The student newspaper of Nyack High School, a longstanding tradition, has been publishing on topics, current events and culture that our high school journalists care about since "the dawn of time"... as far back as the school community remembers. Expressing skill, perspective and opinion on a monthly basis, the Spectrum is a brilliant reflection of student voice that is lifted up in our schools. Critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity - all necessary components of putting the paper together each month - are core elements of Nyack's Profile of a Graduate that are deeply embedded in our district values and vision.

In the current issue of The Spectrum, Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi was interviewed by staff writers Ella Rossiter and Caroline Pierre in Meet Dr. Ruiz-Gionvinazzi! where they shed some light on how "her [Dr. LRG] own school experiences have impacted her future vision for Nyack."

Cheers to the student journalists, their hard work, dedication and talent represented in the timeless yet always relevent Spectrum!

The Spectrum Staff:

Editors-in-Chief.................................................Zoë Reiss & Josie Rothman

Copy Editors....................Nicole Lipner, Justin Morales, Josie Rothman, Olivia McGuire

Layout...........................................Zoë Reiss, Josie Rothman

Photographer....................................................... Nicole Lipner

Staff Advisors.............................................Robin Maslanek & Adele Metrakos

Staff: Addison Burns, Ella Rossiter, Hailie Vasquez, Caroline Pierre, Liliana Dolinsky, Sophia Perlin, Justin Morales, Julia Labrada, Madeleine Pence, Tressa Sullivan, Gideon Dunbar, Olivia McGuire

CHECK OUT THE FULL ISSUES HERE: The Spectrum 30.3 December 2024

Follow The Spectrum on Instagram

The Journal News featured this article in lohud on December 12, 2024. Link to the article, below.

In their 12-10-24 letter, the BOE announced Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi as their "final choice" for the superintendent position for Nyack Public Schools. A timeline of the superintendent selection process, an FAQ about this process, and anticipated next steps is provided to the public in a new webpage on the district website. A Special BOE Meeting on January 14th will provide opportunity for Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi to share her leadership vision with the community.

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.

January BOE Meetings:

• TUES. JAN. 7 at 6:30pm
• Workshop Presentations
• Budget Presentation Workshop
• Restorative Justice with Nyack Middle School Principal Dave Johnson

• TUES. JAN. 14 at 6:30pm
• Leadership Presentation with Interim Superintendent Dr. Ruiz-Giovinazzi

• TUES. JAN. 21 at 6:30pm
• Elementary and Middle School Math Update
• District Goals Update

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