YOUTH ON THE GO
Parents, teachers, administrators — and especially students — in the Onteora Central School District have been preparing for the upcoming changes in building configurations that will take place next year with the closing of Phoenicia Elementary School and the expansion of Onteora Middle School to include grades 6 though 8.
All students who are transitioning to a new school building next year have been involved in the decision-making process for newly planned murals to be created at Bennett Elementary School and the Middle School. In addition, current grade K-3 students at Phoenicia Elementary have helped select a new playground for Bennett, which will be their new school.
“We want to support and empower our students during this transition,” said Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Stephanie Laffin said in a press release, “and giving those students who are moving to new schools several choices and making them a part of the process has fostered a sense of excitement for the future.”
Earlier this winter, the district consulted with Parkitects, a company based in Central New York, to begin planning an additional playground structure at Bennett Elementary designed specifically for the new K-3 students. Three different design possibilities were shared with Grade 4 teachers at Bennett and all of Phoenicia Elementary’s current K-3 students. The Bennett students shared their input and the students at Phoenicia then voted on which design they preferred.
The new structure is accessible for all, incorporates sensory elements into its design, and is geared especially toward their age group. Construction of the new playground is slated for this spring.
In addition, in January, every student who will be moving to a new school building in the fall had the opportunity to meet with popular regional artist Joe Pimental to discuss potential designs for murals. At Bennett Elementary, there will be two new murals. One will be by the playground outside, which will feature the district’s mascot and local bird, the eagle. Another will be inside by the gymnasium.
Students in kindergarten through grade 3 at Phoenicia Elementary, under the direction of art teacher Danielle Payette, were given word clusters created by a team from Phoenicia to contemplate and present visually. These included “Bravery, Strength, and Courage” and “Strength, Beauty, and Wisdom.” Pimental will incorporate the students’ drawings into a blueprint for the murals, and the children will help with the mural painting.
“We have been talking with the students about how we will all be moving together to a new school next year,” Phoenicia Principal Elizabeth Fallo said in the release. “They are used to seeing murals in their environment here, and they are looking forward to creating one in their new building.”
Third-grade student Eva Vergara chose to draw a dinosaur to represent courage. “If you ride a dinosaur, you need courage,” she said. Fellow third-grade student Hayla Scism, as well as kindergarten student Charlie Benjamin, chose to draw lions as a symbol of strength, bravery, and courage.
“A lion must be both brave and strong,” Scism said in the release. “He looks out for everyone because he is the protector of his pride.”
Jade Ryan, a second-grade student, decided to incorporate images inspired by her current school, the Onteora school district, and our region’s natural environment. She drew a logo that resembled one of the Onteora logos, adding design elements that resemble the mountains and streams that surround Phoenicia Elementary. In addition, she drew a beautiful eagle, which she said demonstrated strength.
At Bennett Elementary, students in grades 5 and 6 examined what the concepts of “Community, Inspire, Explore, Imagination, Believe, Friendship, Create, Unity, and Perseverance” mean to them and rendered their ideas into drawings that will be incorporated into the mural slated for the expanded Middle School. Fifthand sixth-grade students discussed the mural in Art class at Bennett and collaborated on the list of words. Middle School faculty also had input.
Incoming Middle School students also showcased their unique visions. Grade 5 student Odin Wright drew a hopeful message that depicted a situation of bullying that unexpectedly turned into friendship. “They got to know each other and became friends,” he said in the release. His drawing also included the words, “You never know who will be your next friend.”
Sixth-grade student Kahlan Liverani’s drawing conveyed messages of “community” and “welcoming,” she said in the release. Liverani drew a large colorfully accented heart, which depicted different types of people and preferences. The heart had a Band-Aid, representing the fact that “A lot of people struggle with depression and anxiety, but there is hope,” she said in the release “There are people who can help.”
“We are so excited for the students to be creating these new features in the buildings that will provide them with ownership of the space where they are going to be learning and growing,” Superintendent Victoria McLaren said in the release.
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Rondout Valley High School thespians thrilled audiences with their performances in “The Addams Family” Musical. The show, which took place Feb. 23, 24 and 25 in the school’s auditorium, was a comical theatrical production that brought to life the eccentric Addams family.
The story revolved around the challenges faced by the spooky Addams family when their daughter, Wednesday — the ultimate princess of darkness — fell in love with a seemingly normal young man. When the two families came together for a dinner party, chaos ensued as the Addams’ unconventional lifestyle clashed with the expectations of the young man’s family.
The cast included the following Rondout Valley High students: Ava Seablom as Morticia, Theo Elder-Rusciolelli as Gomez, Ramona Andersen as Wednesday, Stori Gallicchio as Pugsley, Ruby Focarino as Grandma, Graham Palmentiero as Fester, Owin Simmons as Lurch, Mica King as Mal, Cecilia Kwiecinski as Alice, and Carlo Bueti as Lucas. Also lending their talents were the rest of the cast members, collectively known as the “Ancestors Ensemble.”
The show was directed by Robin Baker, assisted by Ann Marie Maloney, and musically directed by Julianna McCarthy. The cast was supported by understudies and orchestra members, and the performances would not have been possible without the stage crew’s work behind the scenes, the dedication of teachers Randolph Loder, Kristine Jarvis, Mariann Hawryluk, and Nicholas Bodnar, and the assistance of many other helping hands.