Community Check-In

North Rockland is a dynamic place with a unique, strong and family oriented organizational culture. I think we can all agree, especially during this busy and special time of the school year, there’s no place quite like it.

I believe the most effective school cultures support great teaching and learning. They empower teachers to communicate, collaborate, reflect, inquire and innovate.

Everything that we do in NRCSD is designed to promote innovation and excellence in education. In our more recent years of honing and evolving our programs, we’ve learned that school culture is truly at the foundation of a school’s success.

Everyone from our BOE to leadership to educators and staff brings something integral to the table to benefit students. You will find in the Board Spotlight section below that opportunities like STEM education at every grade level and expanding community service at the heart of our schools have strong advocates behind them.

Starting with our NRHS Academies, each week we will be sharing new videos in an effort to showcase some of that Red Raider culture not only taking place in our schools but in our community. It’s that spirit and drive to success that make us who we are in NR.

If there's an opportunity for your involvement in our programs and development of our students, like upcoming internship partnerships, I encourage you to participate in helping us shape their future.

The supportive culture here is what makes me so proud to be the Superintendent of this great institution.

As of today, the District has only used one of the three emergency days that were built into the 2022-2023 school calendar. Consequently, all schools will now be CLOSED on Friday, May 26 and Tuesday, May 30.

Please note that the Superintendent’s Conference Day scheduled for Friday, May 26 will now take place on Thursday, May 25.

North Rockland High School’s Academy of Finance is an advanced level, challenging program that gives interested students an opportunity to study and prepare for college majors and careers in business and the financial services industry. It will assist them in acquiring the knowledge and expertise needed to succeed in our rapidly changing technological world.

The Academy bridges the gap between the classroom and today’s competitive business world. It helps students cultivate both their academic and professional skills, evaluate their own potential for success and establish personal goals through an enriched, two-year comprehensive program that begins in the student’s junior year.

The North Rockland High School Academy of Finance Program is looking for partnering companies and organizations to provide summer and after-school employment opportunities for North Rockland students. The students have excellent computer skills with an emphasis on Excel and basic accounting skills. Have a student worker start that project you never have time to get to! Click on the link for additional information and/or contact Tim Ahle - tahle@northrockland.org or (845) 942-3376.

The Board of Education and Administration, District and Superintendent have a shared goal to provide our students with an exemplary educational experience, while controlling taxes for our community. We understand the fiscal challenges that living in Rockland County pose which is why they are collaboratively working to ensure the amount of money we ask from our tax payers does not increase for the fourth consecutive year. The latest 2023-24 school budget presentation can be found linked here.

Budget Highlights:

1. The BOE of Education has indicated the 2023-24 budget will NOT include an increase in our tax levy for the fourth consecutive year.

2. Expanded high-level programs and services customized for every learner.

3. Upgrades will be accomplished without asking the taxpayers for any additional funds. The District will utilize funds awarded through grants and secured through state aid.

Specifics on the projects will be forthcoming stay tuned!

New York State Testing Begins in April

The New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics and Science Tests will be administered to students over the next several months. These tests are designed to measure how well students are mastering the learning standards that guide classroom instruction. Below you will find testing date information:

Upcoming Dates:

1. Grades 3-8 Math: May 2nd - 3rd
2. Grade 8 Science: May 31st - June 1st & June 5th

Please read the full letter on testing from Dr. Felicello linked here.

We are thankful that North Rockland Board of Education member Richard Fernandez always shares his passion for education, his community and community service with our school community!

His motivation quote for our students is: “Together we can do so much!”

"North Rockland offers its students many high-quality learning opportunities, an array of extracurricular activities/programs and so many ways to volunteer." explained the longtime BOE member. "I admire our remarkable students, professional staff and strong commitment to making NR the best it can be. We never get comfortable with past successes and continually seek to improve our district."

Richard Fernandez always looks for ways to incorporate more service, drives and events, especially for veterans, into our schools. He was first elected to the North Rockland Board in 2013. In addition to serving on our Board of Education, Rich - a retired New York City Police Sergeant of 24 years - also serves on the BRIDGES of Rockland Board of Trustees and is a member of the Rockland County Hispanic Law Enforcement Organization, the Rockland Road Runners, the North Rockland Community Day Race Committee and other various charitable events committees. Thank you for your dedication!

We are thankful NR BOE Trustee Robert Masiello always shares his passion for education, tech, engineering and his community with our school community!

His quote to think about for our students is: Embrace technology, it can help you achieve the unimaginable!

“More than any other community I believe NR demonstrates courage, cooperation and character, that is unmatched ” Robert who is a lifelong resident of Haverstraw explained.

Robert is an advocate for STEM education and makes sure our students have outstanding opportunities to explore the field at ever grade level. Bobby and his three sons are graduates of the North Rockland Central School District. He was first elected to the BOE in 2007 and also serves on the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Thiells Roseville Fire District, as a member of St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish, Knights of Columbus, Italian American Social Club, Rockland County Historical Society Preservation Committee and is a Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Police Auxiliary Officer and New York State Peace Officer. He also currently serves as a Commissioner of the Haverstraw Water Recovery Facility. Thank you for your dedication!

NRCSD Honor Flight

Run, Skip, Walk-A-Thon!

Help us support and honor local veterans!

Our mission is one of gratitude. For their service, sacrifice and selflessness. Join us as we proudly celebrate and raise funds for Hudson Valley's Veterans day of honor in our nation’s capital. From May 1-12 all K-12 PE classes will start running, skipping and walking laps to "Help a veteran get a flight” to Washington D.C. on May 20, 2023.

We are asking our school community and parents to sponsor students PE laps to support our local veterans on www.mybooster.com. You can donate per lap or do a flat donation. You can register on the Booster website. Thank you in advance for your donation!

Please nominate ANY U.S. Veteran from any branch of the military on www.hvhonorflight.com.

NRHS students will be joining vets May 20 at Westchester Airport to send them off with handwritten letters to share in D.C.

Let’s give them a flight to remember #NRTogether and #NRStrong!

Each year during this season thousands of high school students across New York State look forward to attending their prom and graduation ceremony. For parents, siblings, educators and the community, these are the memorable moments that can turn to heartbreak when a child dies in a car crash. Unfortunately, this happens all too often and law enforcement are faced with the difficult task of notifying loved ones. In an effort to reduce these tragedies, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) launched the “No Empty Chair” educational campaign in 2014. The theme is to symbolize the missing high school senior on graduation day.

Let's work #NRTogether and #NRStrong to have #NoEmptyChairs. Please talk with your children about:

ALWAYS

• Following Speed Limits
• Wearing Seatbelts
• Safe Stopping for Signs, Lights and Busses

&

NEVER

• Texting and Driving
• Drinking and Driving

NRCSD partnered with the Rockland Community Tennis Association (RCTA) and the United States Tennis Association - USTA (Official) to give our Junior Raiders (K-6) a chance to learn the game of tennis by professionally trained tennis coaches. Sessions kicked off NR Together and NR Strong this week! Full story and more photos.

By the end of this school year, every NR elementary school will get a chance to try hockey for free, thanks to a partnership funded by The NHL and New York Rangers (Junior Rangers Program). The experience has an emphasis on inclusion, allowing all students of different backgrounds and physical capabilities to try the sport. Before the break, Thiells Elementary was the lucky school to get the first chance to get on the ice. Each day of the week, different classes got to take a trip to Sport-O-Rama. Full story and more photos.

Shrek The Musical is taking place on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29. Tickets can be purchased using the link below.

FIELDSTONE MIDDLE SCHOOL DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS: SHREK THE MUSICAL

FRIDAY APRIL 28 at 7pm, SATURDAY APRIL 29 at 2pm & 7pm

Tickets can be purchased at THIS LINK (fmsdrama.booktix.com) or at the door of performances!

Adults are $10 and Students/Seniors are $5

Come join us at our *new location* for the 2023 Family Charity and Law Enforcement Sports Day on May 6 @ 10 AM. This year’s Sports Day will be held at the Town of Haverstraw Recreation Facility. We can’t wait to have you at this FREE and INCREDIBLE event. See you there!

Various colleges and universities will be visiting North Rockland High School to provide information sessions for students. These sessions will be great opportunities to connect with admissions representatives and learn about program offerings. Scan the QR codes on the flyer to register to attend the sessions. Flyer link.

Scholarship Bulletin #4 is now available!

After completing the google form application, students will receive an email confirmation. Please keep this for your records.Scholarship recommendation letters from teachers are submitted electronically or dropped at the Campus Life office. NR staff members have access to that information.

It is recommended that you keep a personal record of all the scholarships you have applied to with the confirmation that they were submitted.

Any additional questions, please contact:

• Mrs. O’Sullivan @ posullivan@northrockland.org

• Mrs. Herrmann @ kherrmann@northrockland.org

Ian Posillipo is our #REDRAIDEROFTHEWEEK! Ian was the medalist in all 4 of his Varsity Golf league matches this week. His performance helped propel the Raiders to going 4-0. In additional he currently holds the lowest scoring average and course differential for the team. His Coach shared that "Mr. Posillipo is a leader in every sense of the word. Ian will play anywhere in the lineup that we ask and does it with pride. He make his teammates better through his sheer determination and drive. Keep it going Ian!" It is for all these reasons that he is our Red Raider to watch this week. Let’s make some #REDANDWHITE noise for Ian!

Delaney McGovern is #LADYRAIDEROFTHEWEEK! Delaney surpassed the 500 Strikeout mark - yes you read that right 500 STRIKEOUTS! - in the Varsity Girls Softball 8-1 win over Nyack with 14 K’s. She's actually the third pitcher in all of NRHS history to do so. McGovern also moved up into second place All-Time on North Rockland softballs career strikeout list in that same game surpassing Samantha Walsh’s 505 career K’s. Her Coach shared that "She helped us move to an 11-1 record and has been a tremendous leader on the field in the circle and in the dugout." It is for all these reasons that she is our Red Raider to watch this week. Let's make some #REDANDWHITE noise for Delaney!

The 2023 edition of the Wounded Warrior Sports Challenge set to take place this Saturday, April 29 has been postponed. The event, now celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a friendly competition between North Rockland and Warwick Valley High Schools. All of the teams on the JV and Varsity level play a round of games against each other. A point system is used to determine the winner of the event. Since 2013, North Rockland has won the trophy five times, Warwick has won twice, and there was a tie in 2017. All of the action will be at Warwick Valley High School. T-Shirts and concessions are sold with the proceeds from the sales going to local chapters of the Wounded Warrior Project. Last year we donated $1000 #NRTogether and #WarriorStrong to the local chapter of the organization! Help us double it this year by coming out to support the #REDANDWHITE in their fight for our Warriors! Rescheduled date will be communicated once confirmed.

Athletics Update - Spring Sports have begun!

Our unique online store offers athletic apparel totally dedicated to NR athletics with a share of the sale proceeds going to our dept.

Thank you all again for support of NR Athletics!

https://north-rockland-athletics-powered-by-fleet-fundraising.myshopify.com/

ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT NEWS

Please check the NR Athletics website for schedules, information and updates.

Follow us on Twitter @NRockathletics

Be sure to check NR Athletics Website for Schedules and information.

Click here for starting dates for: Winter Sports 2022-23, and Spring Sports 2023.

North Rockland has partner with Hi-Tor Animal Shelter to feature one dog and one cat to help them find a loving home each week. Check out the Shelter Wish List linked here. Red Raiders to the Rescue!!!

Meet Mickey!

Mickey is a super senior, good boy that loves going on walks and being outside. He loves rotisserie chicken and his big comfy soft bed. Mickey would love to find a family to love him in his senior years.If you are interested in adopting Mickey, please visit www.hitor.org and fill out an application.

Meet Ginger!

Ginger is a super sweet, 6 year old girl that loves all the attention she can get! Her long, luxurious hair and friendly personality would make her the best companion for almost any household. If you are interested in adopting Ginger, please go to www.hitor.org to fill out an adoption application.