Newburgh City School District

Students from Newburgh Free Academy recently celebrated African American heritage and honored local legends during the 2012 African American History Celebration, “Paying Homage to Our Local Legends”, held in the Newburgh Free Academy Auditorium, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012.

Legends honored during the special event included former City of Newburgh Mayor Audrey Carey, the first African American female mayor of a city in New York State; Chuck Stewart Sr. and Chuck Stewart Jr., local media pioneers; Saul Williams, NFA alumnus and poet-musician; and Runston “Pop” Lewis, former Newburgh Free Academy Board of Education President and current Board of Education Member. In addition, the late Sojourner Truth, an African American abolitionist and women’s rights activist, who was born in Ulster County, was honored for her achievements to United States history.

NFA students honored the legends through song, spoken-word and dance routines. Percussionist Jeff Haynes works with students for a moving musical tribute to honor African cultural heritage. In addition, GoldbackTV students created tributes through interviews and music to commemorate the local legends, detailing the contributions that their lives made to not only African American history, but to Newburgh and the Hudson Valley.

According to English teacher and coordinator for the event Silver Williams, “It is important that the students work on the production every year so that they will not only be able to experience greater knowledge through research, but so they may also be able to teach their peers about the ways in which African Americans consistently contribute to the improvement of our schools, communities, and the world.”

Press release by Kerry Butrick

On Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18, 2012, Heritage Middle School presents, Once on the Island Jr., at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Middle School Cafetorium. Tickets are $5 for students/seniors and $10 for adults.

Once on the Island Jr. will transport audience members to a tropical paradise through colorful costumes and songs. An adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid, Once on the Island Jr. tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of the island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death.

Once on the Island Jr. is presented through special arrangement with, and all authorized performance materials are supplied by, Music Theatre International, 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 or visit www.MTIShows.com.

Press release by Kerry Butrick

South Middle School sixth grader Jackson Galati

Newburgh Enlarged City School District South Middle School honor students, as well as selected students in the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, recently participated in the upstate New York division of the History Channel’s National History Bee. The division is comprised of the entire state of New York, excluding the five boroughs of New York City, and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island.

During the three-part scholastic event, students first competed in an in-school 80-question Intramural Bee beginning in December. Intramural Bee Champions then advanced to the second stage, the Online Regional Qualifying Exam, comprised of 80 questions and entirely multiple-choice.

Students scoring in the top three for South Middle School:

1st place Sam Conti, 8th grader
2nd place Jackson Galati, 6th grader
3rd place Jack Anderson, 8th grader

On Thurs., January 26, 2012, top-scoring students from throughout upstate New York advanced to the Regional’s in Bethlehem, New York. South Middle School’s Jackson Galati, accompanied by family members and his teachers, Alice Kish and Jonelle Formato-Santo, traveled to Bethlehem, New York, to participate in the Regional’s. After a series of three 45-question rounds, Galati placed seventh in the top ten, representing the Newburgh Enlarged City School District and the Hudson Valley. “It is encouraging to see middle school students exhibit a passion for history and exciting to have Newburgh students perform well in the National History Bee. Newburgh, and the entire Hudson Valley, has a rich history and it is great for our students to be aware of it, and to be celebrated for their knowledge. We congratulate all of the students, and their teachers, at South Middle School who participated,” said NECSD Director of Social Studies George Teasdale.

Press release from Kerry Butrick

Letters to Daddy: The Musical Key to Bully-Free graced the stage at Newburgh Free Academy recently for nearly 2,000 fifth and sixth grade students in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. The event was sponsored by Edible Arrangements of Newburgh.

The Letters to Daddy ensemble cast is comprised of students from across Orange County, including three student-actresses from the NECSD, whose combined voices deliver a powerful message about the struggles that many students face growing up in today’s world and the pressures often placed on students both in school and at home. Topics such as bullying, peer influence and becoming a positive member of today’s society captured the essence of the characters’ efforts to maintain balance in their lives despite obstacles that come along the way.

The theatrical performance was designed to empower children through inspirational songs, peer-to-peer influence and collaboration to resolve challenging issues and help create a better world for everyone.

Press Release by Kerry Butrick

The Newburgh Free Academy Dance Department presents The Nutcracker on Friday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Newburgh Free Academy Main Campus Auditorium. Tickets are $5 for general admission seating and are available by contacting the NFA Bookstore at (845)563-5413 or at the door the night of the show.

Newburgh Free Academy North Campus students in Tim Toomey and Mike Truncale’s Criminal Procedures class, part of the Forensics, Security and Law Academy, were recently given the opportunity to utilize two safe-driving simulators provided by Orange County STOP-DWI. Orange County STOP-DWI loans simulators to high schools throughout the county, following a submitted request, at no cost to the respective district. The school is then allowed to use the simulators, made possible through fundraising, donations and grants, for a three week period.

According to Truncale, Orange County STOP-DWI Program Assistant John Jones, visited the classroom to give students a brief overview on Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) laws, penalties, and showed students examples of field sobriety tests.

Of the 280 students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program, approximately 130 students, mostly juniors and seniors, participated in the simulator exercises by taking a turn at the wheel.

“For kids who haven’t received their permits or licenses yet this will hopefully take some of the fear away, assist them in getting their licenses and for kids with licenses it gives them an opportunity to review what they learned while practicing safe driving skills,” explained Truncale.

The simulators were used as part of lesson plan on safe driving. Each machine allows the teachers or driver to create a real-life scenario, using variables including country or city roads, changing weather conditions and time of day which allows students to take part in a real-life driving or DWI simulation. Students are able to practice avoiding accidents or hazards and the technology keeps a record of reaction time and stopping distance. When the student’s experience is completed, the simulators offer tips, feedback and statistics, which offer students the information needed to become a safer driver.

This is the first year Newburgh Free Academy has been able to bring the simulators into the classroom and Truncale hopes to continue the partnership with Orange County STOP DWI in the future.

Truncale explains the significance of the program for students, “Very few schools today provide driver’s education programs so this is considered to be a great tool. We are very fortunate to be able to utilize this outstanding technology and we thank Orange County STOP DWI for sharing this with Newburgh Free Academy students.”

Press Release by Kerry Butrick