Nyack Schools Connection - Oct '23
October 2023
Dear Members and Friends of the Nyack Public School District,
We are thrilled to share that our district was ranked #1 in best school districts in Rockland County according to Niche.com. Our district was also ranked #1 as the most diverse district in Rockland County.
This recognition is a result of our dedicated staff, our hard-working scholars, and our partnership with families and community members. We remain steadfast to our commitment to prioritize a whole child education that integrates each student’s full development - academic, social, emotional, cognitive, physical, and psychological. We thank you for partnering with us to help each child reach their fullest potential.
We may be falling back one hour as daylight savings time ends this weekend, but we are forging ahead in our development of a multi-year Strategic Roadmap for our future. In partnership with our Board of Education, we will be launching a series of engagement sessions to gain your ideas and thoughts for Nyack Public School’s future. During my entry plan process, I utilized an Appreciative Inquiry Process to identify the strengths and areas of opportunity for growth in our district. We are now in the process of dreaming together about our future and co-constructing what should be our desired daily experiences for students, staff, and families. We hope to shape our future through conversations via World Cafes and a survey. We will share more information about these initiatives in a separate communication.
In the weeks ahead, we will be holding parent-teacher conferences. Please sign up for a time to meet your child(ren)’s teachers. Our students are working hard and there is much to celebrate during these meetings.
Susan Yom
Superintendent of Schools
www.nyackschools.org
What’s Happening in the Nyack Schools
Hispanic Heritage Month
Students and staff throughout the District celebrated Hispanic/Latino culture in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). The annual event at Nyack High School focused on “prosperity, diversity and inclusion.” Through written word, storytelling and dance, presentations shared a vibrant and varied cultural legacy. Liberty ES hosted performers from Calpulli Mexican Dance Company, an arts-in-education organization that specializes in bringing dance instruction and performance to children in schools. Upper Nyack ES children explored a variety of Spanish and transatlantic dance styles during recess with guest artist Anna de la Paz, who also performed for Nyack Middle School classes. Valley Cottage ES students learned important facts and discovered musical contributions with games and activities during Morning Program. Thank you to our PTAs for their support of this valuable cultural arts programming.
Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor
Dozens of our students traveled to Memorial Park on October 5 to participate in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program a “Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor.” Teens enrolled in our Nyack High School AP Environmental Science course collected data and wildlife, then shared their findings and engaged in discussion on how to conserve the local estuary. Fifth grade students from Liberty and Upper Nyack also took part in the annual event led by volunteers from the Outdoor Science Alliance (OSA), Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory/Columbia Climate School, Rockland County Division of Environmental Resources and St. Thomas Aquinas College as well as our own Nyack High School students. Groups rotated through stations where they tested water clarity and pH balance, observed the flow of the current and identified fish.
Bullying Prevention Month
The District kicked off National Bullying Prevention Month with Blue Shirt Day on October 2. The entire Nyack Middle School community took the message to the streets, with a Stomp Out Bullying March. Lessons during homeroom stressed the importance of being an upstander, not a bystander. In our three elementary schools, social emotional lessons led by our K-5 school counselors focused on bullying prevention and identification using the Second Step curriculum. (Click each building to learn more about the lessons at Liberty, Valley Cottage and Upper Nyack).
Family and Community Engagement
Parent Portal Training
In October, the District held its first Infinite Campus Parent Portal training event for Spanish-speaking families. Nearly 70 parents attended the event hosted in collaboration with our Family Resource Center Coordinators and the Nyack Center. Those who attended were trained on how to access the Parent Portal app and available information such as grades, homework, absences, class schedule and transportation, and customization of language settings. Families met with their school FRCs, administrators in our Bilingual Education and Curriculum and Instruction departments and connected with one another.
“This event was a huge success and most importantly, now our Spanish-speaking parents are more able to utilize the parent portal app and be informed about important information and how their child is doing in school,” said Yesenia Polanco, School/Community Liaison.
Screenagers Under the Influence - Parent and Student Conversations
How can we empower teens as they make decisions about what they will and will not be influenced by? That’s the goal behind “Screenagers Under the Influence,” a thought-provoking documentary that examines the impact of our digital age on teens' decision-making in relation to substances such as vaping, drugs, and alcohol. In September, parents were invited to watch a private screening of the film. This past month, our Nyack High School students reflected on its message. “We hope showing this piece to both students and parents opens the avenue to have these conversations at home," said Dornzella Milligan, District Student Support & Prevention Services.
Parents and guardians are invited for a follow-up discussion on November 8. More details to come.
Cyber Security Month
As part of Digital Citizenship Week, sixth graders at Nyack Middle School learned about the importance of being kind online. NMS Computer Teacher Christina Hennessy and Library Media Specialist Jennifer Fratello teamed up to get classes thinking about what the lasting impact could be of a text or post. Earlier in the quarter, students created posters reminding their peers about online safety, cyber security and being a good digital citizen. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (a depart of Homeland Security), has a number of valuable resources for parents and families. Download Family Tech Planners for ages 2-8 and ages 9-12.
New to Nyack
Debra Legato Named Interim Chief Executive Director of Human Resources
We are pleased to welcome Ms. Debra Legato as Interim Chief Executive Director of Human Resources for Nyack Public Schools. Ms. Legato joins our District with nearly thirty years of esteemed service in Human Resources and career in public school administration. She recently retired as the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources in the Mahopac Central School District. Prior to Mahopac, Ms. Legato worked in the HR field in districts throughout the Hudson Valley region.
Ms. Legato serves on the Putnam Northern Westchester (PNW) BOCES Center for Educational Leadership (CEL) Advisory Committee, leading the HR Boot Camp Training. She holds a Master of Science degree in School Administration and Supervision from Mercy College, Educational Leadership credits from College of New Rochelle and SUNY New Paltz, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from SUNY Empire State College. She is New York State certified as a District and Business Administrator.
As part of an entry plan process, Ms. Legato will meet with associates from our District’s collective bargaining units and school administrators. She will serve as a member of Superintendent’s Cabinet and will support all staff members in all areas of the HR Office. Her many years of experience and areas of expertise will be a welcomed addition to our district.
Thank You Board of Education!
The New York State School Boards Association recognizes October 16-20 as School Board Recognition Week as a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards. Public schools form the bedrock of our communities and our country. Democracy thrives with educated citizens capable of critical thinking and civil discourse. And it is our local school boards who are ultimately responsible for student success. "Our school board members give the Nyack and Valley Cottage citizens a voice in education decision-making. Even though we make a special effort to show our appreciation in October, their contribution is a year-round commitment."
Thank you to our Nyack Public Schools Board of Education:
Karen Hughes, President
John Duval, Vice President
Michael Mark, Secretary
Jessica Goodman, Trustee
Jennifer Marraccino, Trustee
Benny Vasquez, Trustee
Matthew Watson, Trustee
Watch the video below as our students express their appreciation.
From the Board of Education
Strategic Roadmap
The Nyack School Board is in the pursuit of excellence in governance and consultation in partnership with the Office of the Superintendent and its pursuit of excellence in management and consultation. At the October 10 meeting, TeamWorks Educational Leadership Solutions led the Board of Education in a discussion that focused on two areas of development and action: 1) Overview of effective public engagement structures and practices that the Board can consider for adoption and use; 2) Proposed process for public engagement for a District Strategic Roadmap and its’ statements of Mission, Core Values, Vision and Equity.
The Board of Education decided to form a Public Engagement Committee to provide research, assessment, evaluation, and recommendations to the BOE in the arena for public engagement. On October 24, the Board of Education passed a resolution to create a Public Engagement Committee. The members of this committee are: Trustee Jessica Goodman, Trustee Benny Vasquez, President Karen Hughes (Ex-Oficio), and Superintendent Susan Yom. As per the Open Meetings Law, the Public Engagement Committee will hold meetings in public and we look forward to learning more about their work in the weeks to come.
Stay Connected
Schools Closed
Tuesday, November 7 (Election Day/Superintendent's Conference Day)
Friday, November 10 (Veteran's Day - Observed)
Thursday, November 23 & Friday, November 24 (Thanksgiving)
Upcoming Board Meeting Dates:
Fall Book Club: Mindset
Join us Thursday, November 2 at 6:30 p.m. for our fall reading group, featuring the book Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
The Nyack Public Schools Community Book Club is open to all parents/guardians of the district. Click the image for more details. Interested in attending? RSVP via email to Lretallack@Nyackschools.org.
RedHawks Athletics
Stay up-to-date with all our Nyack RedHawks teams.
Follow Nyack Athletics on Twitter and Instagram: @NyackHSAthletic
PeachJar
Learn more about in-school and community events with PeachJar.
Parents/Guardians receive flyers directly to their emails and can manage their own accounts, saving time, money and trees!
Produced in collaboration with the Rockland BOCES Communications Service.