The Clarkstown Connection
March 2023
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear Clarkstown Central School District Families and Staff,
As we wrap up a very challenging week, I hope that our spring recess will be a time of rest and an opportunity to recharge for the final quarter of the 2022-23 academic year.
Please know that our top priority is always the health and wellness of our students and staff. As we continue to navigate challenging times, CCSD will make every effort to maintain a safe and secure environment for all in our schools. Your efforts in assisting us keep our school community safe are greatly appreciated.
Throughout March, we celebrated the success of our students in art competitions, debate tournaments, sports playoffs and musical performances. Please read on and enjoy the variety of outstanding accomplishments and fantastic learning experiences our student have taken part in during the last few weeks.
For those who celebrate, I wish you and your families a Happy Easter, a Sweet Passover and a Ramadan Mubarak. Have a wonderful and enjoyable spring recess. I look forward to welcoming you all back on Monday, April 10!
Sincerely,
Marc P. Baiocco, Ed. D.
March was Music In Our Schools Month (#MIOSM) and we saw many amazing performances and lessons throughout the district! The FFMS Drama Club, North’s Cue & Curtain Club and South’s Centerstage Drama Club each put on outstanding productions that featured hundreds of talented students on stage and behind the scenes!
Meanwhile, the sixth grade Felix Festa Middle School Band, the North Jazz and Concert Bands and the bands from Lakewood, Little Tor, New City and Woodglen Elementaries kicked off #MIOSM with the return of Bandapalooza! There were several individual and joint performances that showcased the students’ amazing skills, and ultimately created one band, one sound!
And earlier in the month, the district hosted the intermediate All-County Music Festival at South! This festival gathered the best fifth through seventh grade chorus, band and orchestra musicians from across the county for a public performance as one, county-wide music community.
Read more about all of our #MIOSM performances and lessons on Facebook and Instagram.
First Place Winners (undefeated for the season):
- Chris Anil
- Ethan Frank
- Amulya Mandapaka
- Ritika Pawar
- Jonathan Thomas
- Emma Zadrima
Third Place Winners:
- Rebekah Field
- Mikayla Friedman
- Leah Gottlieb
- Giana Maltbie
- Leah Siegel
Four CCSD students triumphed in the PTA Reflections Competition and were selected as state-level winners! Thousands of students from across the state submitted works of art to the annual competition. Against these odds, four Clarkstown students won awards! Congratulations to the following winners on their Reflections awards and for making Clarkstown proud!
- William Campbell (West Nyack Elementary) - Excellence in Music Composition
- Pearl Dawadi (Little Tor Elementary) - Merit in Literature
- Donovan Kalina (New City Elementary) - Merit in Music Composition
- Angela Xu (Clarkstown High School North) - Merit in Literature
Little Tor students turned life's lemons into entrepreneurial lemonade! Fifth graders in Little Tor’s Dimensions program wrapped up a unit on entrepreneurship and were inspired to bring their proposed business plans for a fundraising lemonade stand to life! The students sold freshly-made lemonade and donated the proceeds to help protect endangered animal habitats, all while being environmentally-conscious by using cups that could be upcycled into flowerpots! The lesson was an awesome combination of small business experience and environmental conservation.
STEAMfest '23 — Join us for a fun-filled night for the entire family with dozens of STEAM activities, games, presentations, competitions and more. STEAMfest provides youth of all ages with opportunities to imagine, discover and explore topics in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics through fun, engaging, hands-on activities. Admission is free!
When: Thursday, May 4
Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Felix V. Festa Middle School
Featuring: Demonstrations by the HS Robotics Teams, CO2 car expo and championship races, VEX Robotics competition, The Robot room featuring Ozobots, Beebots and Spheros, College STEM program tables, Technology Job and Internship Fair, The Clarkstown PD Drone Unit, Cybersecurity presentation from Clarkstown PD, Science and Technology Art exhibition, Drone Coding & Flying Challenge, The Greenscreen Experience, Radio, TV, Podcasting studio...and more!
