As educators and children across the nation prepared to go back to school, we were once again faced with broad challenges due to the ongoing pandemic. The Delta variant surge has changed the trajectory of the pandemic and the safety protocols Districts and citizens were required to follow. Prior to kicking off the new school year, masks were once again mandated in schools. In spite of uncertainty the North Rockland Central School District provided students with an exemplary, high level educational experience that was as normal as possible and values our students' social emotional health while operating under required safety guidelines and protocols.

To help students feel the District launched a back to school campaign to help students get to know our new staff and their new schools virtually.

Virtual Orientations

SPE Kindergarten Video TES Kindergarten Video WHES Kindergarten Video

FES Video HES Video Willow Grove Video

New New Teachers Videos

2021-22 NRHS & FMS 2021-22 SPES TES FES HES WHES & WGES 2021-22 Remote Academy

Welcome Back Video

2021-22 Welcome Home Red Raiders

The North Rockland Central School District found a way to offer remote options for interested families during the 2021-2022 school year for students in grades K-12. While New York State did not require a remote option this year, North Rockland’s leadership team worked hard to provide remote options for families who wished to access school virtually. We’re so happy to report that the Remote Academy was such a success that it will be returning for the 2022-23 school year. It's been so fun navigating our virtual school's first year by growing, adapting, and excelling academically and emotionally NR Together!

Throughout the first semester the Academy's online classes helped to limit sensory overload for certain learners, let them re-watch lessons if needed, and provided opportunities for deep dives into their evolving interests -- all during regular school hours like their in person peers, which is when students are most productive. Many of them have discovered they can better focus on their education and extracurricular activities. We are so proud to be able to offer this remote option to the students and families of NRCSD!

Remote Academy Video

North Rockland made strides this year in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs. The Voice Council, which is a group of diverse North Rockland high schoolers who wish to amplify the thoughts and ideas of the student body, raised awareness by educating the school community and community at large to embrace diversity and inclusion. Their initiative was to get everybody, everywhere to a point where they feel valued because of their uniqueness, which requires teaching people to look for commonalities.

This year the voice group educated staff members through a book distribution project where each teacher was able to choose one book from a researched selection provided by the group. During the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Book Tasting hosted in each school building, group members presented, spoke and showed an educational video to NRCSD staff members as part of their initiative. We are so proud of these student leaders for the impact their project had on uniting us all as one community.

Voice Group Book Project Video

We’ve also worked hard towards creating a world of support and acceptance. Best Buddies is a most important program, which was expanded from from the elementary level up to high school in NRCSD. The collaboration on activities with SPIRIT classes fostered social opportunities and cultivates friendship, inclusion and leadership for people with and without disabilities throughout their educational journey. At Stony Point Elementary, the program focused on promoting awareness and provides avenues for peers to learn, play and grow NR Together and NR Strong. We are all alike, we are all in this together, we are NR!

Best Buddies Program Video

On May 17 our community approved the District’s $253 million spending plan and Proposition 2. Voter approval of the 2022-23 operating budget reflects that we’ve been successful in our efforts to balance quality programming with taxpayer sensitivity. For the Board of Education and administration, developing a plan both educationally sound and fiscally responsible was an important and comprehensive process. With the help of our local elected officials, we will receive an increase in state school funding over last year in North Rockland. The additional funding and hard work of our business office has resulted in a 0% increase in school property taxes for local homeowners—remaining well below New York State’s property tax cap of 2%. Keeping the tax levy at 0%, the District has saved local taxpayers a cumulative $23.7 million over the last three consecutive years.

The 2022-23 budget provides resources to sustain the District’s excellence and continues our mission of providing a safe, caring, and positive environment in which all students can grow, thrive and achieve their maximum potential. We will also be providing additional services and increasing efforts to support the social and emotional health of our students.

The approval of Proposition 2 allows NR to be proactive in our strategy for funding capital improvement projects as the District will now receive 80% building aid or approximately $11 million of the funds $14 million. It’s wonderful that our messaging about this plan was well-received and that we can now break ground on facility upgrades at - no additional costs to taxpayers.

Budget Video

Please join us on Monday in honoring Juneteenth. We encourage everyone to use this day as a time to listen, and to educate yourself by engaging in meaningful conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

Originating in Galveston Texas in 1865, Juneteenth, short for June nineteenth, commemorates the day when federal troops arrived to alert enslaved people they were finally free. This long-overdue declaration was made over two-and-a-half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Juneteenth is celebrated because it is the anniversary of the official end of enslavement in the United States.

While we are faced with new challenges every day, our top priority is and will remain providing our students with the best education possible. As a district committed to equity, we take this opportunity to celebrate the freedom of all people and remind ourselves of the work that lies ahead.

Our programs and their offerings can be found linked here and a video exploring Stepping Stones Summer Enrichment can be found linked here. Please be on the lookout for more information as we get closer to summertime on how to sign up.

SIGNING DAY: Congratulations to NRCSD’s varsity athletes who signed to play collegiate sports with their respective schools. It was so rewarding to see each of our dedicated student athletes, many who have been playing for NR since childhood, put pen to paper and officially commit to continuing their athletic career by signing their National Letter of Intent.

As Coach Joe Casarella said "As you continue your athletic career at the college level, never forget where you came from. North Rockland will always be your home Red Raiders!"

Signing Seniors: Jude Alvarez - Rockland CC Hawks - Baseball, Manny Bissereth - Nicholls College - Football, Emmett Brown - Westfield ST- Basketball, Kaila Dorch - Lycoming College - Basketball, Lennyn Fulgencio - Pace - Football, Kevin Morina - Western NE- Lacrosse, Jade Pazmino - Stonybrook - Cross Country, Track and Field, Jacob Pian - Utica - Baseball, Leyla Ventura - Oneonta - XC - Track and Field, Marco Evans - TC3 - Tomkins CC - Basketball

More photos linked here

Watch the ceremony via our LocalLive Channel linked here

North Rockland's Deborah Estabine threw 41.-1.5 to capture gold during the NYSPHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Syracuse last Friday.

"I knew I had a chance of getting gold," Estabine said, adding, though, it was hardly guaranteed with multiple competitors having thrown around 40 feet.

"Anybody could get it. It was up in the air," she said.

The junior said her approach was to stay calm and "try not to let nerves get to me."

Estabine, who'll compete at New Balance Outdoor Nationals next week, is now throwing about seven feet farther than she was last year. She credited her improvement to work last summer on her technique and winter weight room workouts.

Congratulation her here.

At North Rockland Central School District we take internet safety very seriously. It is important that we all have access to information on how to keep our students safe. Here are a few web resources:

1. Common Sense Media - click here

2. Connect Safely - click here

3. Internet Safety Tips - click here