The Newsfrom

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E 3 Summer school students earn their diplomas through hard work and perseverance

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E 2 Letter from the Superintendent highlighting exciting news about our schools

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E4 Easing the transition for students entering kindergarten, middle school & high school

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E 7 Introducing some new school and district administratorsMonticello gets a YMCA

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E 6 Preschool program expands into elementary schools Young geniuses in our schools

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E 8 The new Boys & Girls Club after-school program for middle school students is off to a great start

WHAT’S INSIDE

With the ever changing, ever expanding requirements of the new millennium’s global workforce, school districts around the country realize that they must make changes in their structure if they are to properly prepare their graduates to compete in the modern day working world.

At Monticello High School,

important changes have already

begun. With the undeniable success

of both the Academy of Finance

and the Freshman Academy, school

district administrators decided to

take the new academic structure

one step further. Beginning in

September 2007, the high school

began offering new academy

options to students. Tenth graders

are now able to choose from the

Fine Arts Academy, the Liberal

Arts and Science Academy and

the Entrepreneurship for the 21st

Century Academy (which now

includes the Academy of Finance).

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Monticello High SchoolEmbracing new academic structure

Students in the Academy of Finance program are required to work a summer internship. The program links local businesses with students interested in learning what it’s like to be out in the real working world. During the internship, students are given the same duties as regular employees. This past summer, high school senior Dior Jackson, left, worked closely with copy center manager Sean Haber, at the Kristt Company in Monticello.

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Teaching the teachers Eye on Professional Development

RJK Middle School social studies teachers (from left) Donna Nestler, Tim Potts and Renee Wilson each spent part of their summer at a prestigious institute of learning as part of an on-going district initiative to expand teacher’s professional development activities. The teachers were chosen from

a national pool in a highly competitive process, which makes this a great honor for them. Nestler and Potts were chosen to study at the George Washington Teachers’ Institute in Mount Vernon, Virginia, while Wilson studied Colonial era history at the Gilder-Lehrman Teacher seminar at Yale University in Connecticut.

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Letter from the Superintendent

Monticello Central School District began our school year with a very successful Opening Day Ceremony which included staff, parents, students and community members. Guest speakers extolled the many successes they have seen during the last school year and applauded the plans we are making for the future. We have accomplished so much.

Duggan and Chase Elementary Schools were recognized by the state as being “Gap Closing Excellent Schools” (this recognition signifi es that both schools are preparing their students for success in their next level of education). Rutherford and Cooke Elementary Schools have made great strides in English Language Arts and math. While Chase Elementary School had a signifi cant number of staff trained in the world-class International Baccalaureate program, which will be offi cially introduced in September 2008. During the next two years, Duggan, Rutherford and Cooke Elementary Schools will begin their IB training and applications as well.

RJK Middle School has made great strides in ELA and math, and we anticipate that they will meet the New York State math standards this year and will be removed from the state list. We have also redesigned our 6th grade program to better serve the needs of our children. Beginning this year, our 7th and 8th grade teams will prepare to loop. This means that our 8th grade team teachers will move to the 7th grade and our 7th grade teachers will move up to the 8th grade with their current students. If done correctly, our children should experience between four and six weeks of additional instruction time, as they will not have to re-learn routines and teacher expectations. This will also allow teachers to build a more comprehensive relationship with their students’ families.

At our high school, we have continued and expanded the restructuring process with the successful launch of three new themed academies: Fine Arts; Entrepreneurship For The 21st Century; and Liberal Arts and Science. This year we will be working closely with Sullivan County Community College and the Sullivan County Partnership to redesign our 11th grade program. The high school has also made great strides in improving safety and the overall atmosphere of the building. We are all extremely pleased with the growth and progress they have made.

District-wide, we have seen a signifi cant expansion of our EPIC Parent Center, which has developed a course for kindergarten parents. The new “Steps to Success” program gives parents the tools they need to help them guide their children through our school system right into college. We commend this organization for their outstanding work on behalf of our parents and children.

Our new Boys and Girls Club is growing. We began the year with 25 students enrolled and now we’re up to 62! The program is free to our middle school students and is held after school from 2:30 to 6 p.m. at the St. John Street Education Center in Monticello. We have also created a partnership with the YMCA and will begin sports programming starting in October. Both the Boys and Girls Club and the creation of the Monticello YMCA, are aimed at creating a positive infrastructure that will support good behavior after school.

We also want to thank our community for passing our EXCEL capital improvement project and passing the school district budget by a huge margin. We will be using our EXCEL funds to further improve education and our school buildings.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I wish you all a great school year!

Dear Community Members,

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Michel

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High school restructuring: making education more “relevant and rigorous”

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To oversee and coordinate the many facets

of these new academies, the school appointed

veteran teacher Christopher Russo as the new

Director for Smaller Learning Communities.

“We’re trying to get students involved in something that they like,” explained Russo. “This keeps them interested in school and ultimately we hope their enthusiasm carries over to their whole learning experience.”

The high school

restructuring

comes as part of a

bigger district-wide

plan initiated by

Superintendent of

Schools Dr. Patrick

Michel to make

student learning

more “relevant and

rigorous.” Its focus

is to give students

the skills and

knowledge they’ll

need to compete in the global marketplace of today and tomorrow.

In preparation for the new academy structure, Monticello High School teachers met during July for team building activities and training with the American Alliance for Innovative Schools (AAIS). Part of their day included creating a mission statement for each of the new academies. Pictured from left are social studies teacher Lisa Pacht, Director for Smaller Learning Communities Christopher Russo, German teacher Jane Powers, and family consumer science teacher Joyce Kocsis.

On August 20, commencement services were held for students who graduated from Monticello High School after completing requirements in the Summer School Program.

Enduring the hot days of summer and getting up early each morning to attend classes, these students kept their sights focused on success and on getting their diplomas.

Romar Caraballo, who was chosen to be the class’ student speaker, addressed the audience in straightforward terms.

“Here I am - I am among a group of graduates who had to overcome unusual odds and fi ght that much harder to get to this day,” stated Caraballo. “We have this piece of paper that can open many doors for us, if we choose. I hope that every one of us makes a decision to continue to meet the many challenges that are ahead of us.”

Summer Students Shine with SuccessCongratulations

to our graduates: Faith Alleva, Tianna Capece, Romar Caraballo, Jessica Cruz, Rubi Diaz, George Hall, Alma Lekovic, Alexander Levine, Carlos Lopez, Benedetto Miraglia, Peter Mulhare, Heather Nieves, Angel Ortiz-Sierra, Samantha Sanok, Therese Sarosy, Ashley Seoane, Maxine Sheehan, Daniel Siegel, Chante Simon, Bryan Stanton and Bianca Straud.

Pictured from left are Samantha Sanok, Monticello High School math teacher Kimberly Falkena, and Chante Simon.

Academy of Finance senior Bryan Fuller learned a great deal more than he ever imaged about the plumbing and electrical business during his summer internship at Schmidt’s Electrical and Plumbing Wholesalers in Monticello. Pictured right is owner Christopher Schmidt.

Story & photo contributed by Monticello High School senior Taylor Fasce

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With the beginning of kindergarten, comes a transition to a new chapter of life fi lled with adventures in learning, socialization, and exploration of all things new.

It is also a time of tears and anxiety, as parents realize that their little ones are growing up.

To help ease both parents and children gently into the new mindset, Chase Elementary School PTO President Wandell Jersey started the Annual Kindergarten Kick-off nine years ago. The event brings incoming kindergarten children and parents together for a day of fun, frolic and friendship prior to the new school year beginning.

Creating New FriendshipsThrough the years, the gathering has

proven to help ease the transition and create a more comfortable environment for children entering kindergarten.

Sometimes older students need help in the transition process, as well. It’s a big step for children to go from elementary

Summer Gatherings help kids ease into school

school to middle school and from middle to high school. Knowing this, Monticello School administrators decided to create a two day “summer camp” for transitioning students entering 6th grade and 9th grade.

These Panther Camps give students the opportunity to meet their classmates and teachers and to familiarize themselves with the layout of the school buildings.

Easing Anxiety This helps cut down on the anxiety and stress many students feel on

the fi rst day of school. It also helps establish an emotional and social connection between students and their new school.

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At the 6th grade Camp Panther orientation, new friendships and bonds were created as Mara Resnick and other incoming middle school students followed technology teacher Paul David’s instructions in one of the day’s team building exercises.

Kindergarten Kick-off volunteers included older students from the Chase Elementary School who were on-hand to help oversee the day’s activities - which included freeze dance, hot potato, playground fun and a gift give-away for all attendees!

To help ease their transition into the high school Freshman Academy, students are encouraged to attend Panther Camp. During the two-day seminar, held in late August, students meet their teachers and other students and participate in a variety of “ice-breaking” and fun activities. Time is also allotted for a question and answer session.

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The 6th grade Camp Panther is a new orientation program that began this year. Fashioned after the 9th grade Panther Camp format, it is designed to help students have a smoother transition from elementary school into middle school. The orientation allows students the opportunity to meet their teachers and interact with students from other elementary schools prior to the beginning of the school year. As part of the day’s program, new students are assigned lockers to help prepare them for their fi rst day of school. From left, Jeremy Gwiozdowski tries out his new lock as Josh Mace and Kiera Williams watch. The trio of friends know each other from Rutherford Elementary School.

Incoming kindergartner Caleb McDermott demonstrates his triple hula hoop spin at the Annual Kindergarten Kick-off event held at Chase Elementary School in Wurtsboro. Caleb was very excited about coming out and meeting his new classmates and about starting kindergarten.

New school, less stress, greater success

Margarethe Meyer Schurz, a German immigrant, held the fi rst kindergarten class in the United States in 1856 in Watertown, Wisconsin. Schurz had studied in Germany with Friedrich Froebel, the creator of kindergarten. Froebel believed that “children learn best through guided play, arts & crafts and music,” so he created a “children’s garden” (kindergarten) in which a child could grow and blossom!

Did you know...The new “Steps to Success” program has been

created to help parents of incoming kindergarten students have greater involvement and input in their child’s future. Utilizing the vision of School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel, the program was created by the national EPIC (Every Person Infl uences Children) Center and will be implemented on the local level by Monticello Schools EPIC Parents Center personnel. The program is given as an interactive seminar in both English and Spanish. For more information about this and other EPIC programs, call the EPIC Parent Center at 796-3058, ext. 20216.

New program for parents

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Jared Weiss spent the summer of 2007 living at college, when September came, he began 9th grade at Monticello High School. This may seem like a backwards move, but not for Jared. The 11-year old genius is light years ahead of his age.

A couple of years ago, Jared qualifi ed through the Johns Hopkins program for Gifted and Talented Children as one of the smartest kids in the state. Since then, he has studied Science and Engineering at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, and Inductive and Deductive Reasoning at Washington College in Chestertown, MD. Though he

Young brothers traveling the road to intellectual success

is only supposed to be in 6th grade, he is already attending high school. And with the help of high school guidance counselor Jeff Mannino, Jared has been given a schedule of classes aimed at fostering his intellectual abilities.

Jared’s little brother and best friend Aaron, was inspired and impressed by his older brother’s amazing accomplishments. So he decided to follow in his footsteps. This past year, he tested at Johns Hopkins and found that he was also in the top intellectual bracket in New York State for kids his age. Currently the 9-year old is in his last year at Duggan Elementary School where his teachers are making sure his educational experience is challenging and rewarding.

While the brothers are still acclimating to the new school year, they have already made plans to attend a special seminar at the Nano-Bio Technology Center at Cornell University this fall, where they will learn about the integration of ano-microfabrication and biosystems research, and about nano-scale science and engineering.

Incoming high school freshman Jared Weiss analyzes “The Cube” challenge during Panther Camp. Volunteer student facilitators Jackie O’Rourke, left, and Beth Ulrich help explain the rules of this team building activity. For Jared, who should actually be in 6th grade, Panther Camp was an extra important experience that helped him adjust to his new school.

Easter Seals’ Project Excel Preschool in conjunction with the Monticello Central School District is now offering full day classes for Universal Pre-Kindergarten students in the Chase and Duggan Elementary Schools.

The new classrooms will follow the same educational philosophies of the Monticello Central School District, which currently echoes the early childhood policies of Easter Seals. Staff consists of New York State certifi ed educators who use the renowned “Creative Cur-riculum” to foster student explora-tion and hands-on learning.

In the Project Excel classrooms, children receive developmentally appropriate pre-academic stimula-tion, opportunities to participate in activities such as art, music,

movement, guided socialization, science, simple cooking and computer instruction, as well as exposure to high quality literature.

Project Excel language-enriched classrooms are bright and color-ful and are a place where a child’s self-expression is encouraged. The curriculum, aligned with the New York State Standards, focuses on using the strengths of the students to build self-esteem and important preschool skills.

Project Excel is fully approved by the New York State Education Department and the Offi ce of Children and Family Services.

Transportation to the new programs is available. For an application or more information, stop by Project Excel at the St. John Street Education Center in Monticello or call 794-4020.

Preschool program expands into elementary schools

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After two years of discussion and planning, Sullivan County is getting its own YMCA! The new Monticello YMCA Wellness Center, set to open in late October, will be housed on the second fl oor of the Monticello High School.

Some of the funding for the new YMCA was provided by a community wellness grant that was procured through the Monticello School District. The programs that will be offered are a way to encourage students and the general public to become more active through a Youth Sports program and a variety of recreational activities including dance, volleyball, soccer, pee wee

sports, badminton and basketball. The wellness facility will house treadmills, elliptical machines, nautilus and free weights. The vast sports program for children is planned to not only supply a means of recreation, but to also teach youth leadership.

“Part of the plan is to keep students accountable and engaged in positive activity during after-school hours,” explained Monticello Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrick Michel, who has been instrumental in making the YMCA a reality for Sullivan residents.

For more information or to join the new YMCA Wellness Center, contact Ross Micelli at 845-344-9622, ext. 246.

New YMCA created to connect schools & community

Carl J. Solomon has recently joined the Monticello School District administrative staff in the newly-created position of Program Evaluator. The new position was developed as a way for district offi cials to coordinate, interpret and utilize all relevant student assessment data and student information in an effort to help continually improve instructional practices district-wide. Prior to Monticello, Solomon worked as an assistant principal for the Clarkstown School District in Rockland County.

Other administrative changes include the promotion of Business Administrator Gladys Baxter to the new position of Assistant Superintendent for Business and Support Services, the promotion of Shelley Rossitto from Director of Technology to the position of Executive Director of Instructional Technology & Staff Development and the promotion of Dr. Edward Escobar from Assistant Director to Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

District administrator appointed New faces on the block

Two new assistant principals have joined the ranks at Monticello High School. Mark Sutherland, left, will be working with freshmen and seniors. Prior to his position here, he worked as an administrator and teacher for Nyack Central Schools in Rockland County. Responsible for the tenth and eleventh grade students, is Normearleasa Thomas. Her experience includes more than 25 years in the education fi eld as an administrator and teacher for the Mount Vernon City School District in Westchester. Both Sutherland and Jackson are excited about their new positions and look forward to sharing their expertise in Monticello’s diverse academic environment. Former high school assistant principal Doug Murphy has been promoted to Director of Physical Education, Health & Athletics, while former AP Theodore Kusulus is now the Director of English Language Arts, Social Studies, & Library Education.

In case you haven’t noticed, during the past couple of months many of the district’s publications have looked a little spiffi er! That’s because recently, district offi cials decided it was time to revitalize the panther logo that once proudly represented the district schools. Expect to see the new-old logo on most of the printed materials you receive and on the new and improved district web site (www.monticelloschools.net) when it is unveiled in 2008.

Going back to our roots

Non-Profi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 1301Newburgh, NY

CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT237 Forestburgh Road, Monticello, NY 12701

Postal CustomerECRWSS

The News from Monticello Central School District

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Superintendent of SchoolsDr. Patrick Michel

Assistant Superintendentfor Student LearningMs. Kathleen Pagano-Fuller

Assistant Superintendentfor Business & Support ServicesGladys P. Baxter

Board of EducationRobert Stewart, PresidentAlyce Van Etten, Vice PresidentJacob BilligTara Buckstad-RussoRichard FellerVivian Gambino LiffLiza GlickYvonne HousmanEugene NesinTaylor Fasce, Student Representative

Renata Gittler, Editor, Photography & Graphic Design

Produced in cooperation with the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service.

www.monticelloschools.net

After months of much hard work and careful planning, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Orange and Sullivan Counties successfully launched its new after-school program at the St. John Street Education Center in Monticello.

Presently, the program, which is open to middle school students, has 62 registered members and almost 45 children attending every day. So far, activities have included Power Hour (focused time for homework comple-tion) playing basketball, soccer, double-dutch, ping pong and foosball. Plans for the future include the implementa-tion of the prevention program SMART Moves, and the community service Torch Club. Members worked hard during September making signs, silk-screening t-shirts, and inviting their friends in an effort to make the 1st An-nual Day for Kids event a huge success.

NEW BOYS & GIRLS CLUB off to a Great Start

With the help of Team Depot, comprised of volunteers from the Home Depot store in Monticello, ongo-ing structural improvements to the space at the St. John Street center are planned. Some of the suggestions for these improvements have come from members of the Boys & Girls Club who have been very helpful brainstorming ideas on how to make the space more

friendly and welcoming, including choosing paint colors and posters.

Organizers are thrilled by the excitement and positive feedback they are receiving from members and look forward to continued expansion with programming that offers additional positive things for kids to do with their free time!

Boys & Girls Club members get to catch-up on their homework during the daily Power Hour session at the new after-school program. Below, Boys & Girls Club Regional Executive Director Bill Fioravanti and Sullivan County Unit Director Teri Gamella in the gym at St. John Street.