Dear Carmel Community Members:
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent community forum to learn more about the proposed Transportation Facility Capital Reserve Project. We appreciate your time, thoughtful questions, and commitment to our district’s future.
For those who were unable to attend, or who would like to review the information shared, we invite you to view our informational video, which provides an overview of the project, its purpose, and funding details.
This proposed project would not be a new facility. It would just take what we have and make it better. It would include paving, fencing and adding buffer zones, which would increase safety and security, protect our employees and increase the usable life of our buses.
The proposed project would be funded entirely through the district’s existing Capital Reserve Fund, meaning there would be no additional cost to taxpayers. A capital reserve functions like a savings account, allowing the district to set aside funds over time for specific long-term projects such as facility renovations or equipment upgrades. Using this reserve ensures we can maintain and improve our facilities responsibly, without increasing taxes.
We welcome and encourage continued feedback from our community. Please share your thoughts or questions by completing our Community Input Form by March 6, 2026. The form is available here: The proposed Transportation Facility Capital Reserve Project Community Input Form.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we plan for the future of Carmel Central School District’s facilities and services.
Sincerely,
Michael Plotkin
Superintendent of Schools
If you like something a CCSD staff member has done, tell us at compliments@carmelschools.org. Likewise, if there is an area you think needs improvement, send an email to complaints@carmelschools.org. Both email addresses will go directly to the school superintendent and to the Board of Education president.
BOE Committee Meeting
Audit, Facilities and Operations - Library
Board of Education Meeting
Public Participation will begin at 7:00 p.m.
The GFMS Spring Book Fair will be open to our students on March16th-March 20th. Please use this link view more information and to set up your child's e-wallet for easy and convenient purchasing.
We are also in need of volunteers to help run our fair. Sign up here, we have plenty of time slots available to choose from. Thank you always for your support!
The spirit of the American Revolution came alive at George Fischer Middle School this winter, as students explored the rich Revolutionary-era history of Carmel and the surrounding Putnam County community in the school’s first-ever history contest.
The excitement culminated on Thursday when the winners of the inaugural competition were announced.
The contest began back in December with a visit to the middle school library from Kara Matteson, Educational Director of the Putnam History Museum. Matteson spoke with seventh graders about the Hudson Valley’s vital role in the American Revolution, sparking ideas and inspiration for student projects.
To enter the contest, students were required to complete a detailed research paper, cite reliable sources in a reference page, and create a hands-on or creative project connected to their topic.
“We are really doing this to recognize the 250th anniversary of our country,” said Social Studies Teacher and Department Chair Lisa Steiner. “It is the first time the school has held a history contest.”
Social Studies teachers for seventh grade helped the students develop their ideas. School Librarian Lindsay Gerard taught students how to navigate online databases and make use of local resources, including the Putnam Historical Society.
The results were as creative as they were educational. One student produced a dramatic video portraying Benedict Arnold, bringing the controversial historical figure to life. Another student wrote a powerful journal from the perspective of an African American soldier fighting during the Revolution. Seventh grader Adelia crafted a working wheel cipher, a device used to encode and decode secret messages during the war.
In total, 11 students submitted projects, and their work was proudly displayed in the school library throughout February for classmates and staff to enjoy. Several participants also advanced their research to the regional Jean Saunders History Contest, sponsored by the Putnam History Museum, with those results to be announced in March.
Projects were carefully evaluated by members of the Junior Honor Society and middle school staff.
The contest winners, Adelia (Spies of Revolution), Nyah (Peggy Shippen Arnold), Logan (Benedict Arnold), Chase & Donovan (Rifle Jack and role of African Americans in Revolution, were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and creativity and received special awards for their achievement.
It’s not every school day that kindergartners get to hold chickens on their laps. But the youngsters at Matthew Paterson Elementary School recently got to watch, pet and hold four chickens that teacher Heidi Rolewicz brought in from home.
“They are so cute,” one little girl said of the birds, named Sweet Potato, Wheezy, Cocoa and Cinderella.
The chicken visits were part of a hands-on “Farm Day” that brought the kindergarten reading lessons to life. The day of activities reinforced the farm unit the children had just completed in their reading program, Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA.
“It’s a way to follow up on what they learned,” Mrs. Rolewicz said. “Farm Day takes the vocabulary and the concepts they have studied in class and brings them to life.”
The students rotated among the four kindergarten classrooms throughout the day and worked on a variety of farm chores. They milked pretend cows in Jessica Kuney’s ”Dairy Barn,” a creative setup that featured a paper cow with latex gloves for udders. The udders were filled with a mixture of water and white paint to resemble milk.
Jaylyn gave it a try. “It was a little hard to squeeze it out,” she said.
After milking the cows, they also got to make butter by shaking jars of milk. Ms. Kuney even brought in some bread so they could taste their homemade butter.
In the other classes, students reviewed farm vocabulary, such as “shelter” and “crops,” before participating in creative activities. The students made a barn craft with different animals in Carol Cassidy and Christina Tucci’s class and then created vegetable crops out of handprints and craft materials in Antoinette Stasiak’s class.
A highlight for many seemed to be meeting the four chickens in Mrs. Rolewicz and Mrs. Perez’s classroom.
“I have ten chickens,” one boy said proudly. “We get eggs from them.”
By the end of the day, students experienced firsthand some of the farm life they had been learning about for weeks.
Eighth grade students in George Fischer Middle School learned about the meaning behind symbols like the swastika and what actions they can take if they see such imagery in their school.
The lesson in Lisa Steiner’s eighth grade class started with a laughing emoji, a symbol that all the students knew the meaning of without anyone having to explain it to them.
“You get to know the meaning when people start using it,” Jenny said. “When a lot of people use a symbol, then you understand it.”
Then the class discussed a half–dozen familiar symbols, from the wi-fi signal to the peace sign to the breast cancer ribbon.
A short video talked about how the swastika was an ancient symbol used in in many cultures to represent a good life until Hitler appropriated it and it became known as a symbol of hatred and Aryan supremacy.
The video featured brutal historic footage of Nazi atrocities and the voices of some Holocaust survivors.
“It was a lot,” Mia said after watching the video. “There was so much violence then.”
Today, when someone uses the swastika symbol, it represents hatred toward an entire group of people, Ms. Steiner, the social studies teacher and department chair, told her class.
The lesson was timely as swastikas have been found in schools throughout the region recently, including in Carmel. When they learned about the history and meaning of the symbol, and how it represents hate, the students agreed that anyone who saw a swastika drawn on a school desk or wall should report it to an adult.
“I’m surprised that swastikas still turn up,” Alexandra said. “I thought Nazi activity and all that hate had died down but now it seems like it’s rising again.”
This year, New York State required boards of education to include student representatives, and those chosen for the slots in Carmel intend to make the most of the opportunity.
Isabella and River, both seniors, worked alongside Max and Aarav, sophomores. Because all four students juggle packed schedules, they split attendance at the twice-monthly meetings.
Each student noticed something different at the meetings. What stood out to Isabella was the public nature of the discussions.
“It’s good that everyone can air their concerns,” Isabella said. “There is a sense of accountability because issues are raised and brought up in a public space.” Seeing decisions unfold in real time changed how Isabella understood leadership.
Aarav paid close attention to how the board functioned. The formal process was structured and deliberate, and surprisingly interesting.
“I learn something about how a board works at every meeting,” Aarav said. “There is a specific order that things must happen on the board. Someone makes a motion, and someone has to second it. It is interesting.”
River focused on the relationships in the room. Different opinions did not stop progress, they shaped it.
“It’s interesting to see that board members can have different points of view but there’s still a balance there,” River said.
Max viewed the role as a new way to connect with the community.
“I wanted to be able to speak about issues that are important to me and to other students,” Max said. “It’s a different way of interacting with my community and the teachers and students.”
Before each meeting, Superintendent Michael Plotkin meets with the students to review the agenda and explain what to expect. He emphasized preparation and problem-solving.
“If you want to bring up an issue, try to propose a possible solution,” Mr. Plotkin said. “That usually sparks a real conversation.”
Four girls in Alison Cordone’s fourth grade class decided they wanted to spread positivity throughout Matthew Paterson Elementary School, so they started a Kindness Bookmark Club called “Spread the Word!”
“Their goal was to make a bookmark with a phrase or an illustration of kindness for every student in the fourth grade,” said Ms. Cordone. “They want their bookmarks to be a reminder to spread kindness wherever you go.”
But after making their first 100 bookmarks, the group – Samantha, Lucy, Adrianna and Scarlett – decided to go a few steps further. They solicited help from their classmates and together the class made bookmarks for one half of the school’s students and stickers for the other half.
“The whole reason we are doing this is because we want to spread kindness around the school,” Scarlett said.
Their work was showcased at a Random Acts of Kindness Assembly on Wednesday, January 21 for the entire school. In two separate sessions, students from kindergarten to fourth grade listened to “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” It’s a story about how kind actions help “fill” others’ buckets, while unkind choices empty the bucket. Then they watched a video where students shared their acts of kindness. “I helped a friend by bringing food to the table,” Lillian said. “I stopped to ask someone if they were ok,” Ethan said.
At the end of the assembly, the students in Ms. Cordone’s class handed out the bookmarks and stickers and heard the thanks from all their schoolmates.
Fourth graders in Amy Constantinides and Sandra Cairl’s class at Kent Primary School honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day by learning about the life and legacy of the civil rights leader and reflecting on his dream for a more just and peaceful country.
Students discussed Dr. King’s work and the impact he had on the nation. “He fought hard so kids could go to the same schools,” said Vivian. Thea shared that Dr. King believed in freedom for everyone. “He was saying let freedom spread out so we can all have it together. I think what he did was awesome,” she said. Alexander added that Dr. King used peaceful protests to stand up for what he believed in, even when it meant going to jail.
After listening to a book about Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Ms. Constantinides invited students to write about their own dreams for themselves and their community. The class shared thoughtful hopes for world peace, kindness, food for everyone and an end to littering.
Some students also wrote deeply personal dreams. One boy shared that he hopes everyone can stay in this country, while another wrote that his dream is for his family not to be deported.
Through discussion, reflection and writing, the lesson helped students connect Dr. King’s message to their own lives and the world around them—showing that his dream continues to inspire even the youngest voices
One day last month, Jeanine Lopez, a paraprofessional at Matthew Paterson Elementary School, was in the school’s cafeteria during lunch when a fourth grader named Ethan began choking, panicked and just got up and ran.
Ms. Lopez was able to grab him. She kept her cool and quickly did the Heimlich maneuver. The first thrust of her clenched fist did nothing. Then she performed a second, and a third. On the fourth thrust to the boy’s upper abdomen, the piece of the mozzarella stick he had been eating popped out. He could breathe again. She had saved Ethan’s life.
A member of Matthew Paterson’s Safety Team, Ms. Lopez is certified in CPR, first aid, AED, Narcan emergency and, luckily, the Heimlich maneuver.
“There is nothing I wouldn't do to help a child in any emergency,” Ms. Lopez said. “As a paraprofessional you must always be mindful of your environment and student’s needs. My advice to anyone who works with children is to be trained in emergency situations because the more you are informed and trained, the better you are prepared. My advice to others in this emergency is to remain calm, trust your training, and act quickly.”
Ms. Lopez was recognized at the January 13 Board of Education meeting.
“In a moment that could have ended very differently, Jeanine acted with calm, courage, and quick thinking,” Matthew Paterson Elementary School Principal Jennifer Darling said. “When a student was in danger, she didn’t hesitate—she stepped in and performed the Heimlich maneuver, saving that child’s life.
“Because of her training, her bravery and her willingness to act, a child went home safely that day. We are beyond grateful and proud to have Jeanine Lopez as part of our school community. Thank you for being a true lifesaving hero.”
Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin then honored Ms. Lopez as well.
“This Certification of Recognition acknowledges that Jeanine Lopez has been recognized for her dedication and outstanding care for the children of the Carmel Central School District,” Mr. Plotkin said at the meeting.
Ms. Lopez has been shy about taking the credit she deserves. As the audience applauded her at the meeting, she just held Ethan’s hand and smiled.
The seventh graders in Glara Dorgan’s English Language Arts class at George Fischer Middle School celebrated the holidays through creative writing and art.
“We could make something about any winter holiday memory,” Julie said. “It could have been any holiday from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.”
Alex, Adrian, and Matthew made an entire house for the holiday season.
“Ours is about the magic of family and friends and the wonder of Christmas,” Alex said.
The students worked on a writing assignment that focused on their favorite winter or holiday moment,” Ms. Dorgan said. “Then they used vivid imagery and sensory details to bring these moments to life either by drawing a window scene on paper or creating a three-dimensional float.”
Charlotte drew her favorite Christmas scene—the tree with many presents.
Oren and Carter built a house that featured sledders on the roof.
“We both had the same idea, and we thought we could incorporate it into one project,” Carter said.
“We wanted to show how we spent the snow day,” Oren said.
Brody showed his sense of humor with a diorama he could slip over his head and wear. It involved a bush with a sled sticking out of it and a spider on the side. He had a lot of fun walking around the classroom and explaining to everyone what they were seeing.
“I went sledding, and I hit a bush, and when I got up, I saw that there was a spider in the bush,” Brody said.
Learning about the Middle Ages is part of the fourth-grade curriculum. To bring the curriculum to life, the fourth graders at Matthew Paterson Elementary School showed one another what they learned about the Medieval Period.
The students had to pick a topic – Castles and Knights, Lord of the Manor or Serf, Medieval Village – and then decide how to present it to the class. They could make a diorama, a poster or a Power Point presentation. Then each of the fourth-grade classes took turns visiting each other's classrooms and seeing what their schoolmates created.
Johniel’s diorama showed what life was like during the Plague.
“I learned that hundreds of people died because doctors then didn’t have the tools they do now,” he said. “Their streets were really dirty. There was sewage everywhere. They used to hold flowers in their mouths to keep from smelling the bad smell.”
Daniel, 9, said it took him half the weekend to make his diorama.
“I had help,” he said. “My mom made the moat. My uncle showed me how to use the 3D printer to make the castle.”
Emily thought it would be fun to live in a big castle.
“I think I would have liked to live in the Middle Ages,” she said. “They didn’t have to go to school.”
Still, in some ways not much has changed since the Middle Ages. Then, as now, several students agreed that it would have been better to be the Lord of the Manor than a serf.
Every year, the music teacher Ms. Madison makes a holiday video featuring Kent Elementary School Staff to show the students at the annual sing-along.
See the 2025 KES Holiday Video here.
See the playlist to all past years' videos here.
Carmel High School proudly welcomed 58 new students into the National Honor Society (NHS) on December 11.
Membership in NHS is a distinction earned through dedication and perseverance. The juniors and seniors who were inducted, each achieved a minimum unweighted cumulative grade point average of 89.9, completed 30 hours of community service within the past academic year and held leadership positions or responsibilities in school, the community, or the workplace.
The evening’s induction ceremony was student-led, but Carmel Central School District leaders spoke to the group as well.
“Let this induction serve as both a recognition and a call to action,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin said. “Allow yourselves to dream with ambition and to serve with humility. Allow your curiosity to lead you to undiscovered places and your character to guide your every step. The true mark of honor is not only what you achieve, but how you choose to uplift others along the way.”
Including the new inductees, the Carmel High School Chapter of the National Honor Society now includes 110 members, and each one serves as a role model for scholarship, service, leadership and character.
“This event celebrates students who have not only demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, but who have also shown a deep and ongoing commitment to service, leadership, and character,” said English Teacher Joanne Morgan, the National Honor Society Advisor for CHS. “Their dedication in the classroom and in our community reflects the very best of what NHS stands for, and I could not be more proud of each one of them.”
We are excited to announce that at the Tuesday 12/16 Board of Education meeting Kerry Weltman was appointed as the new principal of Kent Elementary School.
Ms. Weltman brings strong leadership experience and a deep belief in building positive relationships with students, staff and families. She is committed to providing Kent Elementary School with stability and growth over the coming years.
Ms. Weltman, an administrator at Carmel High School, is especially known for how well she connects with kids. She makes students feel seen, heard and valued, and she takes time to understand what each child needs to succeed. Skilled at identifying areas where a school can improve, Ms. Weltman works collaboratively with teachers and families to make meaningful, student-centered changes. Just as important, she cares deeply about creating a warm, welcoming school community. Her goal is for every child and every family to feel that they belong at Kent Elementary and are an important part of our school.
Please join us in welcoming Kerry Weltman to Kent Elementary School!
Students from George Fischer Middle School and Carmel High School joined about 100 musicians from around the world to play holiday tunes at Rockefeller Center's 52nd Annual TubaChristmas in NYC on Sunday, December 14.
This was the third consecutive year that George Fischer Middle School music teachers Erika Wahlers and Eric Pecor led Carmel students to participate in the event.
“Tubas are not instruments that typically have melodic parts,” Ms. Wahlers said. “Tuba Christmas is an event that allows tuba players to make up an entire ensemble, meaning tuba players get to be the melody, the harmony and the bass. This provides a unique playing opportunity for the students that they do not get every day in school.”
Carmel High School ninth grader Andrew returned for his third TubaChristmas and decorated his tuba by topping it off with a house with lights. Benjamin, an eighth grader, decorated his tuba with a holiday ribbon. It was the first time that seventh graders Evie and Claire got to play music in front of the world’s most famous Christmas tree, and they decorated their tubas with lights, garland and ribbons.
The students got to play holiday classics like Deck the Halls, Joy to the World, Silent Night, Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas, but the event was about more than music.
“The students are able to connect with other tuba players from Carmel but also get to meet tuba players from other schools, professional musicians and adults who have continued to play for the joy of making music,” Mr. Pecor said. “This is a fun performing opportunity where students get to share holiday cheer.”
TubaChristmas (the name is trademarked) was conceived in 1974 by Harvey Phillips as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day 1902. Now, tuba and euphonium players from around the world gather in front of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center for one afternoon a year to play Christmas carols on their horns.
In John Hildenbrand's AP Physics II class at Carmel High School, the students recently experimented with a Van de Graff machine.
A Van de Graaff generator is a machine that uses friction to build a massive electrical charge on a hollow metal sphere.
The students in Mr. Hildenbrand’s class had so much fun that their hair stood on end. Students took turns experimenting with the machine, and then Assistant Principal Allison Golan ad a chance to step into the action. Check out the static energy coursing through her hair!
The third-grade team at Kent Primary School proudly hosted their first Science Day of the year, an event brimming with excitement and discovery.
Science Day featured four captivating experiments, each intricately designed around the themes of Forces and Interactions. Every third-grade teacher crafted an engaging and interactive lesson, immersing students in hands-on activities that sparked curiosity and fostered a deeper understanding of scientific principles.
The atmosphere buzzed with enthusiasm as students eagerly participated in each experiment, making learning an exhilarating adventure.
Upcoming Board of Education Committee Meetings:
Policy Committee: March 2, 2026, Administrative Office, 5:30 p.m.
Audit, Facilities & Operations: March 10, 2026, Matthew Paterson Elementary School, Library, 5:30 p.m.
Special Education, Support & Wellness Committee: March 10, 2026, Matthew Paterson Elementary School Conference Room, 5:30 p.m.
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at the Matthew Paterson Elementary School in the Cafeteria. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Community members who wish to speak during the public comment section of the Board meeting are asked to sign up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form here: https://forms.office.com/r/SnQBCFWYy8
Board meetings will continue to be live streamed on this page. Committee meetings are open to the public.
Dear Carmel Central School District Community:
As I begin my work leading the Carmel schools, I’m eager to listen and learn from our community. I invite you to read my Entry Plan, which outlines my goals for understanding our district’s strengths and challenges
Please also take a few minutes to complete our community survey. Your feedback will help shape priorities and ensure we continue building on what’s working while addressing areas for growth.
Read the Entry Plan
Take the Superintendent's Community Survey by December 1, 2025
Respectfully,
Michael Plotkin
Superintendent of Schools
If you like something a CCSD staff member has done, tell us at compliments@carmelschools.org. Likewise, if there is an area you think needs improvement, send an email to complaints@carmelschools.org. Both email addresses will go directly to the superintendent of schools and to the president of the Board of Education.
Community members can sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on district news and events. You will receive weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive e-newsletters.
Community members who wish to speak during the public comment portion of a Board of Education meeting are asked to sign-up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form or by contacting the District Clerk four (4) hours prior to the meeting at jstevens@carmelschools.org. The sign-up form will also be available at the meeting for anyone who wishes to speak and did not sign up in advance.
These individuals will be called upon during the scheduled public participation section on the agenda. To facilitate follow-up, please provide your name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address, as well as the topic of your comments. Speakers are limited to five (5) minutes each. No district employee or student may be commented upon or identified by name or situation.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety, communication and equity districtwide, Carmel Central School District has launched a new communication tool, Anonymous Alerts®. This tool enables students or parents to report urgent information to school officials quickly, easily and anonymously across all our school campuses.
Recordings of Board of Education meetings and presentations from those meetings are available to the public.
