CROTON-HARMON SCHOOLS U.S. Postage PAID Yorktown Heights, New York, 10598 Permit No. 151 Non-Profit Org. Croton-on-Hudson, New York 10520 Dr. Edward R. Fuhrman, Jr., Superintendent Board of Education: Giuseppina Miller, President Neal D. Haber, Vice President Iris Bugliosi, Trustee Patrice Davidson, Trustee Joshua Moses Diamond, Trustee Todd Freebern, Trustee Andrea Furey, Trustee Postal Patron Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 Continuing the Tradition T he district continued the tradition of welcoming its new faculty members at a reception as they begin to settle into their new roles. Teachers from all three schools introduced themselves to a crowd of district administrators, Board of Education members and residents. “We are committed to hiring the highest-quality candidates who embrace the spirit of working together to provide the best education for our students,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Deborah O’Connell. This year, Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School welcomed leave replacements Theresa Delngeniis (general special education) and Rebekah Rupp (elementary teacher), and long-term substitutes Stella Landi-Lopez, Christina Pegna and Michelle Woods. At Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School, new faces in the building include fifth-grade teacher Emma Akhondzadeh, sixth-grade teacher Rachel Lang, Mandarin teacher Qi Song and sixth-grade leave replacement Alison Romm. Part-time professional Kami Hackett (art) and teacher Sarah Campbell (ESL), are teaching at both PVC and Croton-Harmon High School this year. Also at CHHS are new part-time social studies teacher Mark Sorondo and chemistry teacher Tatiana Dyakina. Hackett, who teaches art and photography at the middle and high school, said her first year in CrotonHarmon is off to a good start. “It has been really, really great so far,” she shared. “I love how supportive the other teachers have been. There is a real sense of community here in Croton.” It’s that sense of community that keeps faculty and staff members inspired to continue working hard for our students, including this year’s eight tenure candidates: • Deborah August (administration) • Kerri Bianchi (administration) • Karen Gatto (administration) • Deborah O’Connell (administration) • Erica Camilo (elementary teacher) • Joann Chousa (elementary teacher) • Linda King (school counseling and guidance) • Joseph Streany Jr. (social studies) FALL 2014 Published for the residents of the Croton-Harmon School District TOGETHER WE CAN: The Croton-Harmon School District and greater Croton-on-Hudson community embody the spirit of “Together We Can.” This issue of Reflections highlights some of the ways our faculty, staff and volunteers in the community work together to support our students and provide them with the best opportunities possible. CET, Staying True to Mission, Receives National Award The U.S. Department of Education has named Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School. “We have consistently maintained our focus on educating the whole child,” said Principal Kelly Maloney. “Like our mission statement says, ‘Together with our community, we empower each student to thrive academically, creatively and socially and to become responsible citizens.’” CET is the sole school in Westchester County to achieve Blue Ribbon status this year and stands in an elite group of just 337 nationwide. Said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward Fuhrman, “This award signifies CET’s commitment to deliver a developmentally appropriate and rich educational experience to children that is also academically challenging. It is indeed possible to do both, as CET proves every day.” In October, the Board of Education formally congratulated CET on its tremendous achievement. “With all the emphasis on testing these days, and the fact that Croton has tried to stay true to our vision Together with our community, we empower each student to thrive academically, creatively and socially and to become responsible citizens.” and mission of not concentrating on the testing, it is a testament to CET and our district that they still received this award,” said Board President Giuseppina Miller. For more news about our schools, check out the district homepage at www.croton-harmonschools.org. …Empower Our Youth Croton Community Thanks to generous support from the Teen Leadership Council Coalition, 22 members of the district’s d over the summer to traveled to the University of Rhode Islan l Youth to Youth Annual participate in the Eastern States Nationa days of nonstop action. Summer Leadership Conference for four Teen Leadership Council, Dan Vlad, president of the high school’s tchester County teenagers, was selected, along with three other Wes youth staff members. to serve as one of the conference’s 36 leader, role model, support “My role at the conference was to be a said Vlad, a senior. system and helper to anyone in need,” cco and other drugs has “I have seen how the use of alcohol, toba luded that partaking in affected many of my peers and have conc truly not worth the risks.” these dangerous and illegal activities is community group The Croton Community Coalition, a n of teen alcohol use dedicated to the prevention and reductio many other opportunities and community drug use, spearheads throughout the year for students and community members alike to combat and prevent substance abuse in Croton-on-Hudson. ther more than 500 youths This summer’s conference brought toge h, cry and learn together. from 10 states on the East Coast to laug “Designing Your Identity.” The theme of this year’s conference was to live drug-free and to “Teens truly empowered one another lives, but also in their make a difference not only in their own Hackett, the district’s Teen schools and communities,” said Ellen was one of the largest groups Leadership Council advisor. “Croton They already can’t wait to go at the conference and made us proud. back next year!” …Provide Social/Emotional Support to Students This year, students in grades 5-8 at Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School are embracing the theme of “I Choose” during twice-monthly homeroom meetings as part of the building’s Advisor y Program. “The Advisor y Program is a vehicle to teach kids outside of the academic realm,” explained PVC Assistant Principal Michael Plotkin, who worked with faculty over the summer to develop this year’s focus and theme based on data collected during the 2013-14 school year. The uniform curriculum this year ensures each grade level is addressing the same theme in an age-appropriate way. During two Fridays a month, the themes are discussed in class, and students follow up with guided reflections and the creation of action plans. A special assembly kicked off this year’s program, where students made speeches, every adult in the building was introduced, and students broke into groups to take part in trust-building activities. Plotkin, for example, showed students how to guide each other on blindfolded walks. The program is unique in that it has been organically grown to meet the particular needs of the PVC community. “It offers students a break from the day,” said Plotkin. “They can talk about things that bother them, and it also pushes them to think about things they might take for granted.” “I choose to persevere.” “I choose to be part of a team.” …Inspire Students to Take Charge of Their Learning Continued grant funding from the Croton-Harmon Education Foundation allowed district teachers to continue their training in LATIC (LearnerActive Technology Infused Classroom) techniques over the summer months. “I felt that LATIC would provide a great outlet for me to continue to take a look at the Common Core modules and adapt them to fit the needs of individual students, as well as integrate technology,” said PVC teacher Jacqueline Johnson. “The advantage of this model is that students will now have a desire to seek their own solutions to real-world problems, and ultimately take more responsibility for their learning.” LATIC empowers students to infuse technology into their everyday learning, as well as think about their own learning strengths and methods. While students continue to take part in traditional classroom lessons, they use the background they learn to tackle lessons independently, with teachers serving as guides. “So far, students have been very responsive, and I can already see them taking ownership of scheduling their time and tasks,” said Johnson. “LATIC allows students to think critically about real-world situations that strongly align to not only the standards for college and career readiness, but also to the districtwide mission and vision as a whole.” re tu u F e th r fo ts en d tu S r u O e …Prepar n High School Each spring, dozens of Croton-Harmo unique program seniors take part in C.H.O.O.S.E., a design their own that gives students the opportunity to on vocational course outside of the classroom based ular development. interests or desired areas of extracurric r Thanks to volunteer teachers who offe out the program, encouragement and guidance through offered by area along with professional opportunities organizations, businesses, individual professionals and principles of CHHS seniors learn to develop the blem-solvers becoming strong communicators, pro have partnered and researchers. In years past, students tees, beekeepers, with farmers, political action commit ers and EMTs, financial agencies, photograph ever ything in between. “C.H.O.O.S.E. gives us a sense to see how far the students have come,” said advisor Daniel Delaney. “It’s totally new, and for them, it’s a connection to post-high school life.” contributions It is because of the Croton community’s tinue to develop to our youth that CHHS students con ortunities. and flourish through these unique opp exemplified by “All the things an employer wants are aney. the C.H.O.O.S.E. program,” said Del