A Message from the CCSD Board of Education

May 9, 2022

Dear Carmel Community,

At Carmel Central School District, we are committed to creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students feel safe, included, welcomed and accepted. Racism, discrimination and marginalization of any people or groups of people, whether intentional or not, has no place in our District or our community.

As a Board of Education, we are guided by our district’s Mission, Vision and Core Values in all that we do, and we have an ethical duty to stand up against all types of hate and discrimination, and the spread of misinformation. We neglect our responsibility as leaders if we simply ignore it and allow it to permeate the foundations of our community.

There is a clear difference between civil discourse and what is happening in society. The Carmel School District community is not immune.

We have seen our students, staff, fellow trustees, community members and others be victimized by defamation and hate of the worst kind. We have heard from students who are afraid to be themselves. Members of our faculty and staff have been targeted and smeared on social media and by other means. Members of our Board of Education have been slandered and falsely accused of some of the worst crimes in the human condition.

Remaining silent while someone is attacked and hurt is to be complicit in the pain. We have remained quiet for too long.

As trustees of the Carmel Central School District Board of Education, we unanimously denounce all forms of racism, bigotry and hatred. We remain committed to providing our community with facts, building trust, dispelling misinformation, and creating a socially and emotionally safe learning environment for all.

As a community, we must work together to ensure that our district continues to be a place where all members feel safe to be themselves and feel supported in becoming lifelong learners in an ever-changing world.

In solidarity,

Eric Mittelstadt, President
Matt Vanacoro, Vice President
John C. Curzio II, Trustee
Debra Heitman-Cayea, Trustee
Matthew Morello, Trustee
Melissa Orser, Trustee
Jason Paraskeva, Trustee

Latest News

  • Eighth Grade Students Dress for Culinary Success

    Dressed for culinary success! Eighth-grade Family and Consumer Science students at George Fischer Middle School recently put the final touches on their chef's apron projects, making sure no thread was out of place! See photos of our students' aprons.

    George Fischer Middle School News

  • Carmel High School 38th Annual Art Show

    At the end of April, Casey Hall at Carmel High School was transformed into a prestigious art gallery for the 38th Annual Carmel High School Art Show. The annual event showcases the amazing artistic talent of our high school student-artists and this year's display was truly magnificent! Check out our photo gallery to see some of the artwork that was on display.

    Carmel High School News

  • Carmel Schools Names a 2022 Best Community for Music Education

    For the ninth consecutive year, Carmel Central School District’s music program has been honored with a 2022 Best Communities for Music Education designation by the NAMM Foundation, a non-profit supported by the National Association of Music Merchants. Read more about the Best Communities for Music Education designation.

    District News

  • Elementary Students Receive Books from Rotary Club Donation

    Our district kindergarten and first-grade students are getting an extra lesson in kindness thanks to a large donation of books from our friends at the Rotary Club of Carmel, NY.

    At a recent meeting, the Rotary Club presented the district with more than 500 copies of the book, The Caring Me I Want to Be by Mary DiPalermo. The book tells the story of a young girl who always remembers to be kind during her very busy day. Every kindergarten and first-grade student in our three elementary schools will receive their own copy to read, enjoy... and keep!

    Thank you to the Rotary Club for promoting literacy and spreading kindness in our district.

    District News

  • Delicious Dirt Cup Desserts for Kent Elementary Buddies

    Who knew dirt could be so delicious? Dirt pudding cups that is! First- and fourth-grade buddy pairs at Kent Elementary School celebrated the recent Earth Day by creating a yummy nature-inspired treat using chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies and gummy worms. See more photos of our students working together on their dirt cup desserts.

    Kent Elementary School News

  • Crowning Math Champions

    Congratulations to our recent First in Math Grand Champions! Our students participate in the extension math games/activities program to earn stickers for playing math games. To become a Grand Champion, students must earn 10,000+ stickers from the various math activities to choose from. See what our newest grand champions had t say about the First in Math program.

    District News

  • Holocaust Survivor Visits Carmel High School

    In April, students at Carmel High School filled the gymnasium for an important historical lesson. Our students had the opportunity to hear the first-hand perspective of Paul Galan, a Holocaust survivor. Read more about Galan's presentation to CHS students.

    Carmel High School News

  • CHS Earth Science Students Investigate Engineering Design

    Earth Science students at Carmel High School got their hands dirty, all in the name of science! The students had the opportunity to investigate the difference between sand, silt and clay particles, and explore techniques engineers use to build stronger structures. Read more about the Earth Science lesson.

    Carmel High School News

  • MPES Second-Grade Students Release Butterflies

    Bon voyage, butterflies! Mrs. DeGloria's second-grade students at Matthew Paterson saw the release of their Painted Lady butterflies on Earth Day after watching the transformation from caterpillars in the classroom over the last couple of weeks. See a video of the butterfly release.

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News

  • GFMS RAMtv: Season 7, Episode 5

    Check out the latest spring-themed episode of RAMtv, created by our talented digital media students at George Fischer Middle School! This episode includes a new segment of Q & A with Deputy J where School Resource Officer Deputy Johnson addresses a question about social media use by students. View the latest RAMtv epsiode.

    George Fischer Middle School News

  • Second-Grade Students Plant Pansies at Matthew Paterson

    Second-grade students and teachers at Matthew Paterson Elementary celebrated Earth Day by planting pansies in the garden beds in front of the school building. The planting activity complemented their recent classroom lessons about plants and roots. See photos from the planting activity.

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News

  • Congratulations, Newly Tenured Staff!

    Congratulations to our District staff who were approved for tenure at the April 19  Board of Education meeting:

    Melissa DiCanio (Special Education - GFMS); Ornella Salza (Special Education - GFMS); Nancy Cyrus (Asst. Principal - GFMS); Ed LoPresti (Pupil Services); Jacqueline Barry (Speech Therapist - KES); Kirsten Carillo (Social Worker - KES); Brandon Johanson (Physical Education - KES); Nina Madison (Music - KES); Kelly Mastrogiovanni (Special Education - KES); Kimberley Chukwuemeka (Teaching Assistant - MPES); Diana Trinchitella (Teaching Assistant - CHS); and Chelsea Casella (ENL - CHS).

    Thank you for the positive impact you have on our students every day. We are so proud of you!

    District News

  • Kent Elementary Kindergarteners Study Environmental Changes

    Do animals and plants change our environment? Kindergarten students at Kent Elementary School jumped into the roles of scientists during a recent lesson presented by the Center for Environmental Education at PNW BOCES. The students were asked if they believed that animals and plants could change other plants, animals, water or even rocks in the environment around us. In the name of research, the students studied facts about three different living things in the environment: beavers, kudzu vines and turtles. Read full story on the environmental change lesson.

    Kent Elementary School News

  • Perfect Brackets for KPS First-Grade March Reading Madness

    It was slam dunks and perfect brackets at the end of March Madness for our first-grade students at Kent Primary... perfect book brackets, of course! Throughout the month, the four classes read 16 different books as a group – some multiple times – and voted for their favorites along the way. Read what our students had to say about the final two books.

    Kent Primary School News

  • Virtual Science Fair Highlights Extraordinary Student Research

    George Fischer Middle School hosted its first-ever Virtual Science Fair to highlight exemplary original student science projects and the submissions were extraordinary. Congratulations to the winning projects of the Virtual Science Fair! See a list of student-winners and watch a video of the in-school award ceremony.

    George Fischer Middle School News

  • Carmel High School Names Class of 2022 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

    Carmel High School has named Ryan Doherty as valedictorian and Jack Boeheim as salutatorian of the Class of 2022. Read more about Ryan & Jack's accomplishments!

    Carmel High School News

  • Celebrating CHS Student-Athletes

    On April 1, the Carmel High School community lined the halls of the school building for a Ram Trot to celebrate the latest sectional and state champion wins by our outstanding student-athletes: Leo Venables (Wrestling); Joel Venables (Wrestling); Ivan Dudjak (Skiing); and Spencer Schmidt (Skiing). See a video of the Ram Trot in action!

    Carmel High School News

  • CHS Science Students Compete at Prestigious Westchester Science & Engineering Fair

    Carmel High School students continue to excel with scientific research! Senior Jaclyn Repanti and junior Riley Ward competed in the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and earned awards for their outstanding research projects. Read more about their research projects and awards.

    Carmel High School News

  • Middle School Students Examine the Extraordinary Journey of Ordinary Stuff

    What materials go into the creation of ordinary objects that we use every day? Sixth-grade science students at George Fischer Middle School were surprised to learn that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the cotton shirts, sneakers, pencils and smart phones they use every day. Read more about the extraordinary journey of ordinary stuff!

    George Fischer Middle School News

  • CHS Senior Smashes All-Time School Record for Digits of Pi Competition

    How high can you Pi? For Carmel High School senior Nicholas DiLeo, very high – 2,500 digits to be exact. He takes the crown for the 4th year in a row in the Digits of Pi competition, topping the previous school record from 2015. Read full story about DiLeo's impressive feat!

    Carmel High School News
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Announcements

  • Zone Change Requests for 2022-23

    If your child is zoned to one of our elementary schools and you would like them to be considered for a rezone to another elementary school in our district for the 2022-23 school year, you may submit a Zone Request Form. Zone changes are primarily considered for childcare arrangements and only requests submitted through the Zone Change Request Form will be considered.

    Please submit your request for the 2022-2023 school year using our Zone Change Request Form. Requests will be accepted until June 1, 2022. 

    For any questions regarding zone change requests, contact Ines Petterson at ipetters@carmelschools.org or (845) 878-2094 x215.

    Carmel Central School District

  • Board of Education Candidate Nominations

    This year, three Board of Education seats will be up for election. Those seats are currently held by Eric Mittelstadt, Matt Vanacoro and Jason Paraskeva. Nominating petitions for prospective Board of Education candidates are currently available.

    Board of Education term of office is three years, from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025. Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, and have been a resident of the Carmel Central School District for at least one year prior to the election.

    Due to the withdrawal of Robert Palazzo, one of the candidates for member of the Board of Education of the Carmel Central School District on the ballot at this year’s Annual Meeting and Election to be held on May 17, 2022, the deadline for filing nominating petitions is being re-opened immediately in accordance with the New York Education Law.

    Any qualified voter who wishes to submit a nominating petition must do so by filing the petition with the District Clerk at the District’s Administrative Offices located at 81 South Street, Patterson, New York 12563, on or before May 10, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.  A nominating petition must contain at least fifty (50) signatures of qualified voters residing in the District, stating their name and residence.

    Copies of petition forms are available at District’s Administrative Offices located at 81 South Street, Patterson, New York 12563.

    Carmel Central School District

  • Annual Budget Vote & Board Elections: May 17

    The Annual Budget Vote and Board Elections will take place on May 17.

    Presentations regarding different areas of the budget have been presented at Board of Education meetings during the last several month. See video recordings of budget presentations at meetings.

    Detailed information regarding the budget development process and presentation documents are available in our Budgets & Audits web section and will continue to be updated over the coming weeks.

    Information on voter registration, absentee ballots and polling locations is also available in our Budgets & Audits web section.

    Carmel Central School District

  • Public Budget Hearing and Board of Education Meeting: May 3

    There will be a public hearing of the proposed 2022-23 budget on May 3, at 6:30 p.m., in the George Fischer Middle School Auditorium. The hearing will provide the community with the information regarding the proposed 2022-23 budget that will be up for vote on May 17. The public budget hearing will be live-streamed on the District website for those unable to attend in-person. Detailed information regarding the budget development process and presentation documents are available in our Budgets & Audits web section.

    The Board of Education will meet immediately following the public budget hearing in the George Fischer Middle School Auditorium. Prior to the public budget hearing and BOE meeting, the Curriculum, Instruction & Technology Committee will meet from 4:30 - 5:20 p.m., and the Governance Committee will meet from 5:30 - 6:20 p.m. in the George Fischer Middle School Library.

    The in-person Board of Education meeting is open to the public and will also be live-streamed on the District website for those unable to attend in person.
     
    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.
    Carmel Central School District

  • 2022-23 Calendar at a Glance

    At the March 22 Board of Education meeting, the Board adopted the 2022-23 school calendar. See the Board-approved calendar at a glance for the upcoming 2022-23 school year.
    Carmel Central School District

  • Kindergarten Registration 2022-2023

    We are pleased to offer online registration for students entering kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year. Online registration is now open for incoming kindergarten students. 

    Please visit our New Student Registration page for additional information and the 2022-23 New Kindergarten Student Registration Form.  

     

    Carmel Central School District

  • Revised 2021-2022 School Calendar

    At the Board of Education meeting on January 18, 2022, a revised 2021-2022 school calendar was adopted. The changes to the calendar include:

    - Added half days for Grades K-4: June 21, 22, 23 & 24

    - Added half days for Grades 5-8: June 24

    See an updated calendar at a glance for the 2021-22 school year.

    Carmel Central School District

  • Free & Reduced Price Meals Application

    Although all student’s school meals are provided at no charge at this time, it is still important to send in a free or reduced application if you qualify.

    Applications for free and reduced priced school meals for the 2021-2022 school year are available on the Food Service Department webpage, on page 22 of the printed school calendar, by email at carmelfoodservices@carmelschools.org, or by calling the Food Service Department at 845-878-2094, ext. 255. Only one application per family is needed.

    Carmel Central School District

  • Sign-up for Weekly E-Newsletters

    Sign up for our weekly e-newsletters, Carmel Connections & Schoolhouse News, to stay up-to-date on all that is happening in our district!

    Sign-up now!

    Carmel Central School District
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Quick Links

Upcoming Events

  • Annual School Budget Vote

    Annual School Budget Vote

    Board of Education
  • CHS Library/Lab

    BOE Policy Committee Meeting, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

    BOE Policy Committee Meeting, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

    Board of Education

  • NYSESLAT Listening, Reading & Writing Assessment (Makeups)

    Carmel Central School District
  • Kent Primary School

    KPS PTO Open PTO Meeting

    Kent Primary School

  • 2022-23 Kindergarten Parent Orientation

    Carmel Central School District
  • Library, Carmel High School

    CHS Science Symposium

    Carmel High School

  • MPES Grade 3 Passport Day

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School

  • MPES Grade Rain Date Passport Day

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School
  • George Fischer Middle School

    CHS Concert - Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble

    CCSD Music

  • NYS Science Performance Test (Gr. 8) Begins

    Carmel Central School District
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