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DISTRICT CALENDAR CHANGES: HS Graduation & 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony date has moved to WED. June 21st; MS December Concerts also changed
Please be advised of the following date changes to the 2022-23 District calendar:

Nyack High School Graduation and 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony date has been modified from the originally published date in the district’s 2022-2023 calendar (Thursday, June 22). The new date is Wednesday, June 21, 2023. Nyack High School Graduation will be held on campus at the stadium field and will begin at 7:00 PM. Nyack Middle School's 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony will also take place at the high school stadium field and will begin at 9:00 AM. The rain date for both remains set for Friday, June 23, 2023.

Nyack Middle School Concert dates for December have been changed as follows:

Monday, Dec. 12 = MS Orchestra Concert (grades 6-8) 6PM at Nyack Middle School

Wednesday, Dec. 14 = MS Chorus Concert (grades 6-8) 6PM at Nyack Middle School

Thursday, Dec. 15 = MS Band Concert (grades 6-8) 6PM at Nyack Middle School

Nyack Middle School Art Show for grades 6-8 will be held on the same dates as the concerts (Dec. 12, 14, 15) from 5:00PM to 6:00pm.

Although a new printed calendar is not available, the corrected dates are included in the attached online pdf of our calendar and posted to our website for your convenience.
- Nyack Calendar 2022-23 1.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
A Statement of Solidarity from our BOE & Superintendent is posted here in the wake of Saturday's violent attack in Colorado Springs.

Dear Community,

The Nyack Union Free School District Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools, Administration and staff stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ members of our school community and extend love and support in the wake of Saturday’s violent attack in Colorado Springs.

The shooting at a nightclub known to be a safe space happened on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to honor the transgender and non-binary people killed over the past year. At a time when organizations like GLAAD are tracking an uptick in violence against the LGBTQ+ community, it is more important than ever that we continue to provide safe places - and faces - for all.

Our building-level counselors and staff are available for students needing support today and every day to affirm, uplift and model a culture of empathy and respect. We are also fortunate to have the Rockland County Pride Center as a vital partner and resource. We are Nyack Strong and together we will disarm hate.

Sincerely,

The Nyack School Board:
Jen Marraccino, President
Karen Hughes, Board VP
Beth Davidson, Board Secy.
John Duval, Trustee
Michael Mark, Trustee
James Marshall, Trustee
Matthew Watson, Trustee

Superintendent of Schools:
James Montesano, Ed.D.
- 11-22-22 BOE Letter of Solidarity.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
A presentation of the results is posted here: Thank you Nyack School Community for your feedback on the Superintendent Search Survey!

The results from the Superintendent Search Survey have been included in a Leadership Profile that was presented to the Board of Education during it's October 18th, 2022 meeting.

Take a look HERE: Leadership Profile for Nyack Public Schools
- Leadership Profile Report to BOE from HYA 10-18-22.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
2022 Community Pulse Results

Community Pulse Results
- Community Pulse 2022 Results and Analysis(1).pdf
Communications
The Nat'l School Lunch Program is no longer free to all children. Please fill out and return your 2022-23 Free & Reduced Meals applications.

2022-2023 School Year Public Announcement for School Meals
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Nyack Union Free School District will return to the National School Lunch Program for the 2022-2023 school year. This means that school meals will no longer be free for all children attending school. Only students and families approved for free and reduced meals will have their first breakfast or lunch meal free. Second meals and ala carte items will continue to be charged accordingly. Children are automatically eligible for free meals if anyone in their household gets SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits. Families with Medicaid may also qualify, depending on their income. To find out if your child is automatically eligible, please contact Denise Hogg at the phone number or email listed below. Families in need are encouraged to fill out an application for free and reduced lunch available on the school website.

For additional information please contact:
Denise Hogg, Secretary to the Director of Special Education
Nyack UFSD
13A Dickinson Avenue
Nyack, NY 10960
Call 845-353-7036 for assistance
shogg@nyackschools.org

Additional information may be found at: https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/2022-23-parent-FAQS

Forms in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole are attached to this announcement and posted on our website as a quick link for your convenience.

To apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals for your children, read the instructions provided on the back of the form, complete only one form for your household, sign your name and return it to the address listed below. Additional names may be listed on a separate paper.

Return Completed Applications to:

Nyack Public Schools

13A Dickinson Avenue

Nyack, NY 10960
Nyack Public Schools
Guidance for the new school year regarding COVID-19 is provided in this letter to district families and staff, sent on 8-30-22:

Please be sure to review the 8-30-22 letter sent to all staff and district families from Dr. Montesano with guidance from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) for the new school year including important information and linked resources from the CDC on isolation, testing, masking and a 2022-23 Frequently Asked Questions related to COVID-19.

We will continue to focus our attention on keeping our students and staff safe while providing in-person instruction in the new school year.

The letter is attached to this announcement in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
Nyack Public Schools
The 2022-23 District Calendar is HERE! Our theme is "Uplift Each Other." Please peruse to find important information and dates to mark.

"Uplift Each Other" ... a timely and transcendent theme for our students, staff and families in 2022-23.

2022-23 District Calendar
- District Calendar 2022-23.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
The following letter was sent to district families on 8-18-22 with important information regarding required immunizations for students.
August 18, 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians,
We hope you and your family are enjoying a healthy summer and encourage you to take advantage of these August days together! As you begin your Back-to-School planning, we would like to share some important medical information that requires your attention for your child to start school on September 6th:

Please note that New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164, mandates that schools not permit a child to be admitted unless the parents/guardians provide the school with a certificate of immunization or proof from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant that the child is in the process of receiving the required immunizations. Additionally, following the announcement of a rare case of polio in Rockland County, we would like to let you know that the Rockland County Department of Health (DOH) will conduct thorough compliance checks of all school district vaccination and immunization records this Fall. Therefore, please be advised of the following:

Immunizations and Vaccinations Required for the 2022-23 School Year

All students entering Kindergarten or any new registrant for September 2022 must have all the immunizations required for that grade. The schedule can be found here: https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2370.pdf.

All students entering 6^thgrade/11 years old must receive a T-dap booster.

All students entering 7^thgrade must submit proof of receiving their 1^stdose of the meningococcal vaccine before school starts. Can submit to: SCech@nyackschools.org.

All students entering 12^thgrade must submit proof of receiving their 2^nddose of the meningococcal vaccine before school starts. Can submit to: HSnurse@nyackschools.org.

If you do not have health insurance: Please call the Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) to schedule an appointment: 845-364-2497.

Physicals

Are required under this public health law for Kindergarten, 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th, 9^th and 11th Graders.

Please email or send the Physical Health Form to your child's school Nurse. A link for this can be found on our District website Parent Resources at nyackschools.org.

Nurse Contact Information

Nyack High School: TBD 845-353-7140

Nyack Middle School: Susan Cech 845-353-7210

Liberty Elementary School: Kathleen Fredericks 845-353-7240

Valley Cottage Elementary School: Patti Kozar 845-353-7280

Upper Nyack Elementary School: Laura Weigel 845-353-7260

Thank you for your cooperation! We are here for you and look forward to a healthy school year.

Sincerely,

James J. Montesano, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent of Schools
- 8-18-22 Letter to Parents Immunizations SPANISH.pdf
- 8-18-22 Letter to Parents Immunizations.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
We are proud to announce that the Visual Synopsis of the District's Strategic Plan has received national recognition and Award of Excellence

The district has been recognized by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), earning their Award of Excellence for distinguished achievement. This Publications and Digital Media Award is an honor presented to the Nyack Public Schools for the January 2022 newsletter which was distributed community-wide to increase awareness and build consensus regarding the fundamental body of work for equity, innovation and optimism in Nyack Public Schools.

A strategic plan should be a living document that takes an organization on a journey; a roadmap that reflects the trajectory of work between what is learned, believed and imagined.

In Nyack Public Schools, we wanted to capture the pillars, strategies, aspirational outcomes and competencies laid out in our district’s plan for the community to visualize with clarity. Here, we provide you with a snapshot of our Strategic Plan for Excellence Through Racial Equity. We are excited to present this piece as the first in a series of publications and videos designed to inform our stakeholders and promote the foundational work of equity, innovation and optimism aligned to the 7 C’s: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, Compassion, Content Mastery, Cultural Responsiveness.

Our history, demography and diversity enable a unique perspective; one that has propelled the school community into a challenging trajectory and investigation of the impact of systemic racism on student success. We are committed to this work going forward and are proud to serve the Nyacks and Valley Cottage community.

Please take a look and join us on this journey towards providing a world class education for each student in the Nyack Public Schools.

This publication is available in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole.
Nyack Public Schools
Anonymous Alerts is a communications tool posted on our website to anonymously report suspicious or threatening behavior. Find out more:
The Nyack Public Schools will be reinstating Anonymous Alerts, a communications tool that makes it easier to anonymously report suspicious, threatening or other concerning behaviors. A tab entitled Anonymous Alerts has been added in the navigation bar at the top of our website to easily access this tool.

Anonymous Alerts allows students or parents to quickly, easily, and anonymously report urgent information to school officials across all of our school campuses. The system encourages students, parents and staff to confidentially report bullying, cyber-bullying, and other sensitive topics through private messages to our administration.

How do I place an incident report from Internet connected computers/tablets?

Go to https://report.anonymousalerts.com/nyackufsd from any Internet connected device.

Click on the web button called “Anonymous Alerts”. Fill out your incident report.

How do I place a report from an iPhone or Android phone?

From the iPhone Store, download the free app by searching for “Anonymous Alerts”. If you have an Android phone, go to the Play Store, search for “Anonymous Alerts” and download.

After downloading the app, click on it, enter activation code nyackufsd

Please read the attached letters, which were emailed to parent/guardians on 12-14-21, for additional important information.
Nyack Public Schools
A Community Update with action items to address racist behavior exhibited against our students during athletic events is posted here:

STATEMENT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS: The following information provides an update with action items in progress to address racist behavior exhibited against our students during athletic events over the past several months.

On May 22, 2022, Section One convened a meeting in which we expressed our concerns of placing our children in vulnerable situations and conveyed our position that we will not allow further acts of hatred to be committed against RedHawks team members or any student. While we placed emphasis on finding ways to collaborate, we made it clear there is an urgency for Pearl River School leadership to acknowledge necessary change and that these are not isolated racist incidents. We believe a systemic approach to change is required. Furthermore, pursuing racial equity and social justice requires commitment, planning and training. Therefore, it is important that the Pearl River School District research the resources, act and encourage their stakeholders to be accountable to a culture of change.

Pearl River has begun addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) in their school district as follows. They are: partnering with the Department of Justice (supported through BOCES) and the NAACP; agreeing to attend Getting to the Root workshop; in the process of approving an Equity Policy; examining their handbook for language consistent with understanding implicit bias; training head coaches; conducting Better Together- Unpacking Racism training and a Cultural Competency Observation list in each of their schools.

Section One and the New York State High School Athletic Association (NYSHSAA) will create a DEI Committee with the common goal to organize multiple school districts in understanding the urgency and impact of racism on the social emotional well-being of all students. We acknowledge that there are strategies that may support comradery and solidarity among students.

We have reiterated our request for Pearl River to forfeit all scheduled contests for all levels in the 2022-2023 school year and have asked for a timeline from Section One. We stressed the point that Nyack athletic teams should not be punished for the games not taking place. Section One will need to schedule a special meeting to discuss this further and provide their recommendations based on our requests. We will keep you informed on this matter.

Working towards becoming an anti-racist multicultural school community is vital to our students’ well-being and core to our district’s vision. Attached you will find the letters sent to Pearl River and Section One requesting the forfeit for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Letter to Pearl River - ESB 05 18 22.pdf
- Letter to Section One 05 20 22.pdf
Nyack Public Schools
Resources to support families to address community unrest, racial & social justice were included in a letter sent to parents/guardians

The following letter was sent by the Superintendent to district families on 5-20-22 and includes supportive resources for families, educators and community members:

5-20-22 Letter to District Families

Nyack Public Schools
Like, Follow and Share us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram as we tell our stories with equity, innovation and optimism!

Like, Follow, Share us at:

Facebook: @nyackschools

Twitter: @nyack_schools

Instagram: @nyackschools

Communications

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Calendar

Dec 9

Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nyack Public Schools
Dec 9

11:45am Elementary Schools Early Dismissal

Nyack Public Schools
Dec 13 11:30 PM 12:30 AM

BOE Meeting

Nyack Public Schools
Dec 16

Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences

Nyack Public Schools
Dec 16

11:45am Elementary Schools Early Dismissal

Nyack Public Schools
Dec 26 Jan 2

Winter Break SCHOOLS CLOSED

Nyack Public Schools
Jan 3

Schools Reopen

Nyack Public Schools
Jan 9

Nyack Basics 5 Year Anniversary

Nyack Public Schools
Jan 10 11:30 PM 12:30 AM

BOE Meeting

Nyack Public Schools
Jan 16

Martin Luther King Jr. Day SCHOOLS CLOSED

Nyack Public Schools

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Quick Links

District Vision for Excellence in Education with Equity, Innovation & Optimism

Theme for the 2022-23 School Year: Uplift Each Other!

As we emerge from challenges and changes we have faced not only in our school community but also in the world, we are eager to begin another year with renewed vision for equity, innovation and optimism.

Remembering who we are and why we do what we do in Nyack Public Schools is critical.

We are “Uniquely Nyack”, defined by a proud history that guides a moral imperative towards providing the best multi-cultural, anti-racist, equity-driven education for our children that we can.

We are Nyack-Strong; a microcosm of the United States, reflected in our diverse demographics and the many cultures celebrated within the Nyacks and Valley Cottage.

We are RedHawks Rising. Let us uplift each other as we collectively raise the children in this beloved community we call Nyack Public Schools.

In this year of continued transition, please be sure to stay connected with us. Use this calendar to be reminded of important information and events that will keep you and your family engaged in your child’s education. Check our district website on a regular basis for updates and announcements from your schools and principals. And be sure to follow us on our social media pages that capture a daily narrative of educational stories and photos that will make you smile.

Our teachers, staff, administrators and Board of Education are here for you. You can find a quick listing on the back of this calendar of who to call, so stay in touch throughout the year.

May we be safe, healthy, curious and inspired as we Uplift Each Other in 2022-23!