Sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on news and events taking place in the district. You will receive two weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive both e-newsletters.
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.
Online registration for incoming 2023-24 kindergarten students is now open!
Please visit our New Student Registration page for additional information and the 2023-24 New Student Registration Form.
November 21, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all of you for being part of our amazing community.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives, and to share our appreciation with those who matter most to us. Research has shown that gratitude can have many benefits for our well-being. It can enhance our happiness, health, relationships, and even our academic performance. Gratitude can also help us cope with stress, adversity, and uncertainty.
I encourage you to help your children practice gratitude not only on Thanksgiving, but every day. When we talk about what we are thankful for, express our gratitude to our families, and engage in acts of kindness together, we are teaching the next generation a life-long lesson.
I am personally grateful for the privilege of serving as your Superintendent of Schools, and for the trust and collaboration you have shown me. I am grateful for our dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible education for our students. I am grateful for our amazing students, who inspire me with their curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm. And I am grateful for our supportive families, who partner with us to make our schools a safe and nurturing environment.
I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
It is not every day that we get to share news about something that is going to save families in the Carmel Central School District a lot of money. So, we are very excited to tell you that, starting December 1, 2023 school breakfast and lunch will be free for all students in all our schools.
This program, which is funded by a New York State Education Department grant, will save families $1,130 per child per year. Families with two children will save $2,260 per year. Three-child families will save $3,390 per year, and so on. These savings are based on a grant that allows Carmel schools to provide students with a free breakfast and lunch every school day through June 2027.
Additional meals may be purchased at the following prices: breakfast at the elementary schools, $1.50; breakfast at the middle and high schools, $2.00; lunch at the Elementary School, $3.35; lunch at the middle and high Schools, $3.65. There is still an additional cost to purchase à la carte items such as snacks, bottled water, extra portions and secondary beverages.
It is important to note that the no-cost breakfast and lunch program is not retroactive. Any negative debt incurred prior to December 1, 2023, will remain on the student’s account until payment is received.
Previously, only certain families qualified for free meals through New York State. I want to thank Director of School Food Services Patrick Rodia and his assistant, Christine Foltmer, for ensuring that every child who was previously eligible for free meals was enrolled. Their efforts made our entire school district qualify under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and receive the funding granted by the New York State Education Department. Now, what was once limited to a few students is available to all.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. If you have any questions, please contact the Food Services Department at: carmelfoodservices@carmelschools.org
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)?
A: The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a funding option under the National School Lunch Act that allows eligible schools to provide free meals to all students.
Q: Do I need to fill out an application for my child to receive meals at no cost?
A: No, families do not need to fill out an application for their child to gain eligibility for breakfast and lunch at no cost.
Q: What does CEP cover for my child?
A: With the CEP designation, all Carmel Central School District (CCSD) enrolled students can receive one healthy breakfast and one nutritious lunch per school day.
Q: I am new to the District and/or the Food Services program - what does a healthy lunch entail for my child? What about breakfast?
A: A healthy lunch always consists of five components: a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable, and milk. To be considered a full meal, children must choose at least three of these components, including either a fruit or vegetable. A full breakfast consists of four components: two grains (main entree), one cup of fruit/juice or a vegetable, one cup of milk. Students must choose three of the four components offered with one of those components being a fruit/juice or vegetable.
Q: Can my child still purchase snacks and à la carte items? What about a second breakfast or lunch?
A: Yes, snacks and à la carte items (including milk) are available. However, students will need cash or funds in their prepaid accounts to make these purchases. Also, only the first breakfast and first lunch of the day are free. A student would need cash or funds in their prepaid accounts to pay for a second breakfast or lunch.
Q: How can I add funds to my child’s account to make those types of purchases?
A: You can add funds by sending a check or cash in with your child or virtually through MySchoolBucks, an online school meal payment system. To avoid the fee, students can always pay with cash for their purchase. In addition, parents may send in a check or cash to be added to the student’s prepaid account.
Q: What if I already have money in my child's account for meals? Can I get it back?
A: Parents can either request a refund from the Food Services Department or leave the funds in their student’s account for à la carte items or snacks. Please send an email to carmelfoodservices@carmelschools.org to request a refund. Please include the first name, last name, and ID # of the student. Also, include parent/guardian name and address where the reimbursement check should be mailed. Please note that depending on the volume of requests, refunds may take up to 45 days to process. If there is an automatic replenishment of funds set up on your student's MySchoolBucks account, please discontinue this feature before requesting meal account reimbursement.
Q: What if there is negative debt left on my child’s account?
A: Free breakfasts and lunches are not retroactive, and any negative debt incurred prior to December 1, 2023, will remain in the student’s account until payment is received.
Q: What if my child brings their own lunch and just wants some milk or a piece of fruit?
According to State guidelines, to access the free meal benefit, a child must take what counts as a full meal, which means choosing at least three of the five components (including a fruit or vegetable) that make up the meal. Food Services staff will guide your child in understanding what constitutes a full meal.
Q: Does funding for school meals come out of my school taxes?
A: No, meals and food at schools are not funded by your school tax dollars. Instead, the funding comes from Federal and State taxes.
October 16, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
We are excited to announce two evening events for the staff and community called “Unity in our Community” Participants will have the opportunity to attend two sessions, exploring and building on shared experiences working toward a vision of unity for the community. These events will be held at Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM on October 25th and November 2, 2023. I hope that you will be able to join us as we stand together in our efforts to stand against hate.
October 25 Unity in our Community - led by Matt Latimer Lead Conciliation Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service.
Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM
A follow up to the Dialog on Race
This interactive session will provide informational sessions on the district’s progress and offer attendees the ability to craft action steps to build on prior work.
November 2, 2023, Unity in our Community - led by Steve Goldberg, Education Specialist, Holocaust and Human Rights Center.
Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM
Exploring the Symbols and Language of Hate
A symbol is a concept that expresses, represents, stands for or suggests an idea, quality, belief, action or material object. Symbols can be neutral or positive. But symbols can also become negative through association. Are symbols — both verbal and nonverbal — protected by the First Amendment? This interactive presentation will explore the language and symbols of hate, with specific emphasis on the swastika. Strategies on how to work with students on this challenging topic will be discussed.
Please let us know if you are coming by completing this form: https://forms.office.com/r/U87aXTUk6u
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
November 2, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
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These days, school districts are facing difficult issues nationally. Students react to reports on the news and conversations at the dinner table and, before you know it, national and world events spill over into our hallways. As you have seen from our previous communications, the Carmel Central School District has not been immune to the issues we see on the nightly news. We have notified you about a number of incidents of swastikas being drawn on school property. We send those notices because we do not want to normalize antisemitism or make hate speech of any form acceptable in our schools. We value the safety of every student in our schools, regardless of background, so we call out hate incidents in real time. Tonight, we will take an academic look at these symbols, their history and their meaning. Food will be served. Last week, we held the first Unity in Our Community event and looked at the progress our district has made in the past few months and what more we can do to create a school culture where everyone feels valued. Tonight Thursday, November 2, our second Unity in Our Community event -- Exploring the Symbols and Language of Hate – will be held at Carmel High School gym at 6:30 p.m. It will be led by Steve Goldberg, Director of Education at the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center in White Plains, who will address the question of whether symbols are protected by the First Amendment. “The uptick in recent years in racism, antisemitism and homophobia have our attention,” Goldberg said. “This presentation will explore the language and symbols of hate, with specific emphasis on the power of words and the swastika and the noose.” In addition to the meetings, we have also put together a list of resources to help families talk with their children about difficult subjects, including how to combat antisemitism, violence in the news, explaining the news to kids, and about being good a digital citizen in a diverse community. I hope to see you at tonight’s event. |
| Sincerely,Joseph McGrathInterim Superintendent of Schools |
Dear Carmel Parents and Community,
It has come to my attention that there was a drawing of a swastika found on a table leg in a Carmel High School classroom today. We do not know how long this drawing was there. It is possible it is old but that, following last month's antisemitic vandalism on the CHS tennis court, students have a renewed sensitivity to such acts of discrimination. It is also possible that this swastika was only recently drawn. Either way, we applaud the students who brought this to their teacher's attention.
We are investigating this incident. These acts have serious consequences involving law enforcement, as demonstrated a few weeks ago.
We have reached out to the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center in White Plains and, in the next few weeks, we will be holding workshops at the secondary level to combat antisemitism. There is no room for hate speech or action anywhere in our district. We are committed to fostering a a safe and protective learning environment for all.
I want to urge anyone with information about this offensive drawing to let school officials know. Students or parents who have concerns are invited to reach out to their building leadership or guidance counselors for assistance.
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. It’s going to be great because with effort and enthusiasm, we will make it so. We are thrilled to welcome the students back to school for an exciting year of learning, growth and community spirit.
Our teachers, staff and administrators have been hard at work finding new ways to inspire young minds. Their goal is to help all students feel supported, respected and motivated to reach their full potential. We know that kindness is contagious, and we will continue to spread it around showing every student how much we value them.
This year we will be offering many new opportunities for students, including a new reading program based on the Science of Reading. It will emphasize skills that help children become proficient readers.
Thank you for being the kind of community that works together to support the schools. I encourage you all to get involved and be actively engaged in the education of our students. A culture of unity is what makes our community.
As part of our commitment to providing support to the community we also wanted to make sure you knew about this: the NYS Comptroller is returning lost money to New Yorkers. Check the Comptroller’s website to see if you are owed unclaimed money. It is a reasonably quick process that could end with you getting a check in the mail.
I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Carmel Central School District this fall and wish you all a remarkable and rewarding school year ahead.
Best regards,
Joe McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
I hope this letter finds you wrapped in the embrace of joy and anticipation as we prepare to embark on yet another remarkable chapter in our educational journey together. The summer sun may have been shining, but it pales in comparison to the radiance that each of your children bring back to our halls as we prepare to welcome the laughter, learning, and shared experiences once more.
Our school has missed the cheerful hum of conversations, the echo of footsteps, and the sweet melodies of youthful enthusiasm! We are counting down the days to the heartwarming symphony that only our community can compose.
This year we have the distinct pleasure of introducing not just one, not two, but three extraordinary individuals who have chosen to dance their way into our hearts as our new principals. Ms. Darling at MPES, Dr. Neufville and GFMS and Mr. Piazza at CHS are joining our existing amazing principal team with Mr. Brown at KPS and Mr. Setaro at KES. We also are pleased that Mr. Svarczkopf has joined our ranks as interim Director of Technology. Additionally, we are welcoming several new teachers and other staff members who are excited to support and nurture our wonderful students.
Can you feel the excitement in the air? These remarkable educators come bearing not just wisdom and experience, but an abundance of warmth, compassion, and the promise of forging connections that will leave an indelible mark on our students' lives.
School calendars will be sent out on Monday and should be arriving in your mailboxes any day. In additional to important dates, the calendar has lots of useful information including a referral chart and other information on how to have your concerns addressed if you have the need.
You will be receiving more correspondence from our principals and our staff very shortly with information on the return to school, but I wanted to personally wish you a fantastic school year.
With warm regards,
Joe McGrath
Interim Superintendent
Dear Carmel Community,
While summer break is still upon us, we are already looking forward to welcoming our students and staff back to our buildings for the first day of the school year in just a few weeks.
We are gearing up for another amazing year and I am pleased to share the following recent staff appointments with you:
Matthew Paterson Elementary School Principal
At the August 1 Board of Education meeting, Jennifer Darling was appointed as principal of Matthew Paterson Elementary School, beginning the week of August 14
Darling joins our district with more than 20 years of experience as an educator working with elementary school students. For the last four years, she served as the principal of Concord Road Elementary School in Ardsley, having served as the building’s assistant principal there for five years prior. In these positions, she oversaw the refinement of the multi-tiered system of support for students to strengthen core instruction; led building-level committees including the Safety Team, Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Committee and the Planning and Performance Leadership Team; and redesigned and implemented a cycle design to strengthen the K-4 literacy program.
Before joining the administrative team in Ardsley, Darling spent 14 years working in the public school system in the Bronx, beginning as a fifth-grade teacher before transitioning into positions as a literacy instructional coach and then assistant principal.
Darling earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education PreK-6 from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Cortland, an MSEd in Literacy Birth-6 from City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter College, as well as an EDM in Leadership for Educational Change from The Bank Street College of Education.
Interim Director of Technology
At the August 1 Board of Education meeting, Daniel Svarczkopf was appointed as the Interim Director of Technology for the district, beginning August 21. The vacancy was created when I took on the Interim Superintendent role and I have been serving in both capacities while we searched for and appointed a candidate as Interim Director of Technology.
Svarczkopf joins our district from Newburgh Enlarged City School District where he served as Assistant Principal of an elementary school for the last year, having also served as the Instructional Technology Facilitator for the four years prior.
Svarczkopf’s career in education has provided him with opportunities to develop a unique ability to effectively analyze student achievement data which has helped teachers drive exceptional student outcomes. He began his career as a Mathematics Teacher and Educational Technology coach at Passages Academy in New York City, before moving into roles as a Computer Science Teacher in Newburgh Free Academy’s P-TECH Program and then the Computer Science Program Coordinator at Newburgh Armory.
Svarczkopf earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Mathematics) from Mount Saint Mary College, a Master of Science in Educational Technology from SUNY College at Oneonta, as well as a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Leadership from SUNY New Paltz.
We are excited for both Darling and Svarczkopf to join our district’s administrative team over the next few weeks. Please join me in welcoming them to our district.
Best regards,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
At the June 27 Board of Education meeting, Ms. Merica Neufville, Ed.D., was appointed as principal of George Fischer Middle School, beginning August 1. Deborah Weisel will serve in the interim principal role with our district through July 31.
Neufville joins our district with nearly 20 years of experience working with PK-Grade 12 students, families and staff within diverse professional learning communities, and more than a decade of experience as an assistant principal. For the last two years, she served as a high school assistant principal in Peekskill City School District where she filled many roles including the Mathematics and Science Department supervisor, instructional evaluator, grade level supervisor, School Safety Team member, Building Emergency Response Team member and many others.
Prior to her time in Peekskill, she served in the Yonkers Public School District for eight years as a PK-12 Assistant Principal where she gained experience in curriculum design and development, instructional learning, learning plans, teacher and staff development, assessments, education scheduling, student performance evaluation and more.
Neufville earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from The College of New Rochelle, a Master of Science in School Administration and Supervision with distinction from Mercy College, as well as an Education Doctorate in Executive Leadership and School District Leader Advanced Certificate from St. John Fisher College. She brings many valuable skills and relevant experience to our district as a seasoned educational leader.
We are excited for Dr. Neufville to join our district’s administrative team and are confident that her passion and abilities are going to take George Fischer Middle School to the next level. Please join me in welcoming her to our district.
Best regards,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
On Giving Tuesday, the fourth graders at Kent Elementary School each picked out bottles of shampoo and conditioner, containers of toothpaste and toothbrushes, bars of soap and other essentials, and packed them neatly into bags to give to complete strangers.
“I hope you think that this is helpful,” Emma, a student in Chris Livulpi’s class, wrote on a card that she made to accompany the bag of hygiene supplies.
“We don’t know who will be getting the bags,” Emma said. “They are just going to people who need them.”
For nearly a decade now, sharing with the less fortunate on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving – known as Giving Tuesday – has been part of the fourth-grade curriculum at Kent Elementary.
Sariah picked a question from a pack of conversation starter cards and could not believe her good luck. It was about sports, her favorite subject.
“Who is your favorite sports player?” Sariah, a third grader in Michele Love’s class, asked the children at her lunch table.
“Mine is Brianna Stewart of the New York Liberty,” she said, starting off the conversation with a group of children she did not usually sit with at lunch. “She is a superstar. I love basketball.”
The activity was part of Mix It Up Day at Matthew Paterson Elementary School, one of the events in the school’s Kindness Week.
“Our PBIS study group developed and implemented a Kindness Week, starting with World Kindness Day and culminating in a Schoolwide Kindness Bingo, said Karen Wrobel, the school psychologist and chair for PBIS, or positive behavioral interventions and support.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, Kent Primary School art teacher Sarah Bell had her students work on projects inspired by Native American arts and crafts. Her fourth graders made beautiful sand paintings and her third grade students created beaded bracelets inspired by wampum belts. It was all part of Native American Heritage Month.
"Wampum belts were gifted from one tribe to another to represent a treaty between two nations," Ms. Bell said. "It's a nice Thanksgiving message about working together.”
The students in Alison Spunt and Julie Ann Burton's third grade class helped each other out with the beading when they came to the art class. Beading on a small string loom was not easy.
“I’m also working on improving the students’ manual dexterity,” Ms. Bell said. “This requires a lot of dexterity."
Third-grader Benjamin didn’t mind.
"This is difficult, but I think I'm getting the hang of it," he said.
Applying to college is difficult enough, Grace Fischer, a senior at Carmel High School, said. She did not need the added pressure of sending standardized test scores as part of her application.
“All of the schools I applied to are test-optional,” said Grace, who applied to seven colleges and hopes to study marine biology. “That lessens the stress and helps you focus on your capabilities. An exam does not reflect who I am.”
The Counseling Department at Carmel High School knows all about college anxiety, Heather Jaffe, Counseling Department Chair, said. The department’s Counselors are skilled at helping students navigate the college application process.
“Usually, the students are overwhelmed,” Ms. Jaffe said. “We help them to de-stress, compartmentalize and take it one step at a time.”
Fifth Graders in Jennifer Coughlin’s class at George Fischer Middle School celebrated Halloween with some Pumpkin Math. They estimated weight and predicted which pumpkin was the heaviest. Then they used string, a tape measure and a scale to find the circumference, height and weight. The students recorded their findings and sketched their pumpkins. The students were all excited about Halloween, so Ms. Coughlin found a way to work the holiday into the lesson.
With the Democrats dressed in blue and the Republicans wearing red, the students in the AP Government classes’ mock Presidential Debates got every detail of the two political parties correct – including the heated arguments over policy positions.
“Immigration is a defining aspect of the American character,” Aubrey Dall, the mock Democratic candidate for president, said. “Immigration is not a problem to be solved. Throughout our history we have welcomed immigrants.”
Ava Florez, the mock Republican candidate, begged to differ.
“We have a housing shortage, and the influx of immigrants complicates that even more,” Ava argued. “Our immigration system is flawed.”
David Zupan and Kerry Hackert’s AP Government classes each held a debate this month in front of a packed audience at Carmel High School’s Casey Hall.
Not shying away from difficult subjects, the candidates debated everything from the tax system and abortion to climate change and transgender rights. Aubrey and Ava were the candidates in Ms. Hackert’s class. Eric Juhanak and Evan Mole squared off on the debate stage for Mr. Zupan’s class. Each presented well thought out arguments that were developed by teams of students. The entire debate was student run. The topics and questions were created by the moderators in each class.
Senior citizens throughout the Carmel Central School District community were treated to an early Thanksgiving Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at schools across the district.
“Our community really wraps their arms around our seniors,” said Alice Holzmann, the family and consumer science teacher at George Fischer Middle School. “In each of our schools the students serve the seniors, make crafts for them, sing and entertain them and just spend time talking with the seniors. It is a real treat for our seniors and for our students.”
The Carmel Teachers Association sponsored the luncheon. Holzmann, who has organized the Thanksgiving Luncheon for 39 years, said the Putnam County Office of the Aging helped coordinate the event, and that the hard work of the schools’ cafeteria staff made the feast a huge success.
More than 30 parents, students, teachers and administrators came to the Unity in Our Community event at Carmel High School on Wednesday, Oct. 25, to discuss ways to end divisions within the schools and bring Carmel Central School District residents together as “One Carmel.”
“Clearly, we are in a place where we are ripe for change,” Interim Superintendent of Schools Joseph McGrath said. “Just coming together like this makes our community stronger. Now, it is up to us to convert ideas into a strategic action plan.”
Led by Matt Latimer, the lead conciliation specialist for the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, the event featured discussions about Carmel’s progress over the past few months.
It is highly competitive to get invited to play in the NYSSMA All-State Music Festival, but for Carmel High School senior Ben Shea, the hardest part may be just physically getting to Rochester to perform.
Ben plays the contrabass clarinet, the tallest clarinet, at more than eight feet long.
“I’m definitely excited to get to go to Rochester and play with other good players,” said Ben, who will perform in the Symphonic Band. “I am the only contrabass clarinet player going. It is funny, I have never actually met anyone else who plays my instrument. When I first saw it in the music department, I begged to play it, and they let me.”
A funny thing happened when Jennifer Darling began as principal at Matthew Paterson Elementary School this summer; she kept meeting people who were Carmel Central School District alumni.
“I would meet teachers who work in the district, or local parents, and they would say ‘I went to school here, and I’m so glad my children go to school here,’” Darling said. “It seems that people who know it take great pride in the Carmel school district. It says a lot about a school community when you see that people want to keep coming back.”
Darling, whose background is in literacy, came to Carmel schools with a wealth of experience running a school and creating a positive school culture that encourages children and offers them all sorts of opportunities. A principal at Concord Elementary School in Ardsley for four years and a school administrator for 11 years, Darling holds a master’s degree in literacy from Hunter College of the City University of New York and a second master's in leadership for educational change from the Principal’s Institute at Bank Street College.
Dimitri, a fifth grader, flipped through the pages of “My Pokemon Cookbook” and said this was the book he wanted to buy at the book fair at George Fischer Middle School.
“I want to learn how to cook with this,” Dimitri said. “The Swalot Ube Flan is, to me, the most appetizing thing. That is the first thing I am going to make.”
The flan is purple just like the Pokemon character it is named for.
Fifth grader Charlotte lined up for a Babysitter’s Club book. Classmate Vin headed straight toward the Zombie Season display and picked up “The Last Kids on Earth,” the first in a series of best-selling children’s novels by Max Brallier.
The George Fischer Middle School PTA sponsored the book fair, which raises money to support programs in the school throughout the year, PTA Treasurer Debbie Sinnott said.
"The PTA uses funds raised to support our children and many activities at GFMS such as the PTA Reflections arts contest, the Science Fair, author visits, assemblies, Honor Roll breakfasts and financial aid for field trips," said Robyn Steinberg, President of the GFMS PTA.
Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Ed.D., who took over as Carmel Central School District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services in October, has hit the ground running.
Though she has only been in the district a few weeks, Dr. Kennedy has already attended SEPTO, or Special Ed PTO, meetings and started building relationships in the community.
“I am very excited to be joining this excellent school district community,” Dr. Kennedy said. “I know that the Carmel schools are dedicated to providing the best opportunities for children with special needs. I am also happy to have the chance to directly support our English as a New Language and Nursing Departments through this leadership role.”
Carmel High School named Luke Walters as valedictorian and Jennie Belle Aliaga as salutatorian for the Class of 2024.
“Congratulations to both of you,” Principal Brian Piazza said. “You make Carmel extremely proud.”
The students were informed of their achievement on Wednesday October 11 in the Guidance Office. With Mr. Piazza, Guidance Department Chair Heather Jaffe and several assistant principals and counselors in attendance, Luke and Jennie Belle each called their fathers to tell them the good news. Their dads were extremely excited.
Luke, 17, who plans to study neuroscience in college, said it was AP Physics that ignited the interest in him.
Jennie Belle, 17, hopes to study medicine in college and is considering applying to colleges that have accelerated pre-med programs.
There are AED devices that can save a life placed strategically throughout the Carmel Schools so that if someone is suffering a heart attack in any of the buildings, there will be help close by.
But last year, after the cardiac incident with Damar Hamlin on the Buffalo Bills, Lisa Palmieri, a physical education teacher at Matthew Paterson Elementary noticed that the athletic field at the George Fischer Middle School was so far from the building that it might be difficult to get quick access to an AED, or automated external defibrillator, should there be a need.
“As a CPR/AED instructor I truly understand that every second counts so, I reached out to see how we could get an AED on the GFMS fields since the nearest ones were inside of the buildings,” Palmieri said.
She brought her concern to the district’s Safety Committee and John Fink, the Assistant Superintendent of Business who is chair of the committee, got to work to solve the problem.
It was fifth grader Kayla's first trip to the George Fischer Middle School library, and she was amazed by the selection of books.
“I used to have a big collection of books in my room, but then I realized they were all from when I was in first grade,” Kayla said. “I got rid of them, so I’m really glad to see there are so many good books here in the library to read.”
Her friend Olivia agreed. But the one book Olivia really wanted, “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han, was already checked out.
The first graders in Kerry Clark’s class at Matthew Paterson Elementary School were hard at work cutting apple slices into small squares.
“I found my first seed,” first grader Elden said. “I am going to plant it and grow it forever.”
The class was cutting apples to make applesauce. It was the final – and most delicious -- project in the science unit they were studying about apples.
“It’s part of learning about the season of autumn,” Clark said. “We study the lifecycle of the apple, the parts of the apple and the uses of the apple. We celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s birthday—September 26.”
As the teacher read a book celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, the students in Amy Constantinides’s fourth grade class at Kent Primary School could not help smiling.
When Ecuador was mentioned, nine-year-old Lindsay’s eyes lit up. “I’m from Ecuador,” she said.
When Guatemala came up, Matthew raised his hand.
Then, when Mexico was mentioned, Monica called out.
“I’m from four different countries – El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and the United States,” Monica said. “My aunt lives in El Salvador. My mom is from Mexico and my dad is from Guatemala. My family is not much for traveling now though. We stay right here at home.”
From Polish to Albanian, Chinese to Spanish, the Carmel Schools are a melting pot of languages. Dozens of languages are spoken in the homes of students in the Carmel Central School District every day.
“It used to be hard for school districts to communicate with parents and caregivers who speak so many different languages,” said Interim School Superintendent Joe McGrath. “Thanks to technology, however, it’s now as easy as a push of a button.”
SpongeBob SquarePants is one of sixth grader Eugene’s favorite cartoons, so when he was asked to draw any character, Eugene just had to draw SpongeBob.
“Our teacher said to make a banner with a character behind it,” Eugene, 11, said. “That is SpongeBob looking out in the back. My shield has a dragon on it.”
The banner and shield are part of the Coat of Arms, the first art project of the year for the sixth graders at George Fischer Middle School. The project teaches the students drawing skills and reinforces curriculum themes that will come up later in the year when they study medieval history, art teacher Sandra Swarm said.
Next Board of Education Meeting - December 5, 2023, Kent Primary School Cafeteria, 6:30 p.m.
NOTE: Board of Education meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Upon completion of Open Session and Board Comments, the Board is anticipated to enter Executive Session for approximately 1-2 hours in length.
Board meetings will continue to be live-streamed on this page. Committee meetings are open to the public.
Sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on news and events taking place in the district. You will receive two weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive both 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.
Online registration for incoming 2023-24 kindergarten students is now open!
Please visit our New Student Registration page for additional information and the 2023-24 New Student Registration Form.
Recordings of Board of Education meetings and presentations from those meetings are available to the public.
Report Card Conferences
Elementary Schools will dismiss at noon.
BOE Committee Meeting (Policy)
Link to View via Zoom:
| https://carmelschools-org.zoom.us/j/91475274013 |
BOE Committee Meetings (CIT, Governance)
BOE Meeting, Kent Primary School, 6:30 p.m.
