City School District of New Rochelle
News & Updates
Sept. 17, 2021
New Safety Protocols for COVID Symptoms, Exposure
Nothing is more important than the health and safety of City School District of New Rochelle students, faculty, staff, and our community. As such, the District continues to refine its COVID-19 Safety Plan.

First, as a reminder, if a student is sick, he or she should not be sent to school. This recommendation seeks to safeguard everyone's health in a school setting.

The following provides procedures, identified as best practices, regarding situations where COVID-19 symptoms and exposure are suspected. Click on the graphic for a larger view.

1. If a student is sent home from school due to suspected COVID-19 symptoms, the school nurse will request in writing that a primary care physician evaluate the student and establish a baseline diagnosis. This diagnosis must be returned to the school nurse in order for the student to be cleared to return to school.

2. If a non-COVID-19 diagnosis is indicated through a negative PCR test and the student is asymptomatic for 24 hours, the student may return to school.

3. If COVID-19 symptoms are identified in a student, siblings of that student must remain home until the diagnosis of COVID-19 or a non-COVID-19 illness is identified. If the illness is not COVID-19, the sibling may return to school. If the illness is COVID-19 positive, the sibling must be removed from school for a minimum of 10 days, potentially up to as many as 20 days, depending on the ability to isolate from the COVID-19-positive individual. 

4. The sibling of a student who may have been, for 10 minutes or more, within 6 feet of person who is COVID-19-positive may continue to come to school as long as he/she remains asymptomatic.

The City School District of New Rochelle works in consultation with the Westchester County Department of Health regarding all COVID-19-related matters. The District and its schools are not authorized to declare a quarantine. The District is authorized to remove students from the school environment for the purposes of maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Only the Westchester County Department of Health can declare a quarantine status.

If you have questions, please contact your building administrator or District Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Corey Reynolds, at [email protected]. You also can learn more in the COVID-19 Resource Center on the District website, nred.org.

Superintendent Jonathan Raymond has recorded a video explaining the District’s current COVID-19 Safety Plan. Visit youtube.com/watch?v=qU-0GgFMxsM.
Vaccination Clinic at Albert Leonard Next Wednesday, 3:30 - 7 p.m.
The City School District of New Rochelle has scheduled a free vaccination clinic in partnership with the Westchester County Department of Health. The clinic is at Albert Leonard Middle School, Sept. 22 (first dose) and Oct. 13 (second dose). Both clinics are at new times, 3:30 to 7 p.m. Vaccinations are open to District staff and students 12 or older. Parents must accompany their children. The clinic will be held in the gym; please use the Auditorium entrance. Pre-registration is recommended at https://bit.ly/ALMSClinic. In-person registration also is permitted. In addition, Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital offers vaccinations. Visit montefiorehealthsystem.org/NewRochelle.
Three NRHS Students Named National Merit Semifinalists
Three New Rochelle High School students have been named semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Kieran R. Freed, Celine Glennon, and Leyla E. Selman are now in a nationwide pool of 16,000 semifinalists – representing less than 1% of high school seniors in the United States – competing for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.

The program honors students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

“Everyone at New Rochelle High School takes deep pride in the accomplishments of our National Merit Scholar semifinalists,” said Principal Dr. Dagoberto Artiles. “To achieve such success, especially amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is incredibly impressive. We heartily congratulate Kieran, Celine and Leyla, as well as their families.”

High school juniors entered the program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®). Semifinalists include the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit an application on the semifinalist’s academic record, school/community activities, leadership, employment and honors received. The semifinalist must be recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s performance on the qualifying test.

Finalists will be announced in February. Winners will be announced starting next April.
NRHS Orientation Welcomes Students
The new school year at New Rochelle High School kicked off with in-person orientation for freshmen and sophomores on Sept. 10 in House 4.
The event began with “icebreaker” activities, including mentoring from juniors and seniors. NRHS Principal Dr. Dagoberto Artiles then introduced himself and outlined his expectations to participants, who either are new to the high school or didn’t enter the building last school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program also included introductions by NRHS academic department chairs, time for students to meet their house teams, lunch for freshmen, and a cheerleading performance.
Social Media Posts Now Available in Spanish

The City School District of New Rochelle’s social media accounts are great places to get news. Now, posts also will be provided in Spanish. Follow the District on Twitter at @NewRochelleED and on Facebook at Facebook.com/newrochelleschools.
New Rochelle Library Offering Free Programs for Kids and Teens
A robust schedule of free in-person and virtual programs for children and teens is planned for this fall at the main New Rochelle Public Library and the Huguenot Children’s Library (HCL.) All programs will adhere to social-distancing guidelines, and all participants age 3 and over are required to wear a mask.

Children’s programs will take place outdoors, weather permitting. Tickets are required for children’s programs at the Main Branch, and may be picked up in the Children’s Room the day of the program on a first-come, first-served basis. Children’s programs at HCL and teen programs at the Main Branch are “drop-in,” unless advance registration is noted. Virtual story times are streamed on the Library’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/NRPublicLibrary.

Programs are made possible by the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library. For more information, visit the Library's website.
Free Movie! Sept. 24!
Grab some popcorn and relax with a movie! The City of New Rochelle, in partnership with RFW Consultants, the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency and Team 914, will host a free Summer Movie Night Sept. 24, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Park's basketball court. The fun-filled night will begin with a youth dunk contest, followed by a screening of "Space Jam 2: A New Legacy," and end with a live Q&A with the director, Malcolm Lee. Lee directed films such as The Best Man and Soul Men. RSVP here.
Exciting Soccer Win!
It took two hard-fought overtime periods, but the Huguenot varsity soccer team defeated White Plains this week, 1-0! Superintendent Jonathan Raymond, at left, met the team.
Ceremony at Amy's Greenhouse
Marks Anniversary of 9/11
Above: An overview of the ceremony. Below: From left, Superintendent Jonathan Raymond; Millie Radonjic-Ilich, a retired educator from Barnard and host of the event; and Geraldine Davie, Amy O’Doherty’s mother.
It was a stunning fall Saturday when Barnard Early Childhood Center hosted a ceremony observing the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 at Amy’s Greenhouse. The space, which focuses on science education and allows hundreds of children to participate in horticultural projects and celebratory events throughout the school year, is a living memorial to Amy O’Doherty. The 23-year-old daughter of since-retired Barnard teacher Geraldine Davie, O'Doherty worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and perished in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.

This year, dozens of O'Doherty's family members and friends, plus other guests, came from near and far to collectively remember their loss and that tragic day. Millie Radonjic-Ilich, a retired educator from Barnard, hosted the event and will run programming at Amy’s Greenhouse this year. Radonjic-Ilich is well known throughout New Rochelle for her philanthropy and volunteerism. 

Songcatchers, a local nonprofit group that provides free and affordable access to music education, performed four numbers, including a rousing “God Bless America.” Brother Kevin Devlin, retired from Iona College, gave a stirring invocation. Remarks were offered by New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson, State Assembly members Steven Otis and Amy Paulin, Barnard Principal Dr. Nicolas Cracco, and District Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. Raymond gifted Geraldine Davie a sunflower pin that he received from a mentor early in his career. Raymond said sunflower seeds can sprout up to seven years after they have fallen, and are a reminder never to give up on any child. Butterflies were released to the delight of attendees.

Commemorative bricks were unveiled. Representatives from the New Rochelle police and fire departments were heralded and gifted with 9/11 pins with the numbers 23-343-37, representing the lives lost by first responders on Sept. 11, 2001 (23 New York City Police Department officers; 343 firefighters; and 37 Port Authority police officers). Radonjic-Ilich gifted Geraldine Davie, the mother of Amy O’Doherty, a Charles Fazzino art piece of the World Trade Center’s twin towers. She clearly was moved. The most touching remarks came from Maura Lee, O’Doherty’s sister, who thanked everyone who made the greenhouse possible. It is clear that O'Doherty will not be forgotten and her spirit lives on in Amy’s Greenhouse.

View more photos here.
Isaac E. Young Middle School Opens After Intensive Storm Recovery
Isaac E. Young Middle School students, faculty, and staff are back in their school, resiliently forging ahead with learning as the school continues to undergo flooding repairs in a few areas closed to students.

This week featured orientation and other “get-to-know-you” activities, including building tours, meet-and-greets, guidance counselors meeting with students, and a coat-of-arms activity. That consisted of students designing their own personal coat of arms, representing hobbies, interests and their personalities.

One start-of-the-school-year focus is on social and emotional wellness, as well as working with students to understand their individual needs to be successful. Each month will have a theme under the banner of social and emotional wellness. September’s is “Launching The Year for Success,” focusing on learning and growing.

“Wow! We have anticipated this day for some time,” said Principal Dr. Tawanda Robinson. “It was a joy to see the students entering the Castle and they were happy to be in school. I’m pleased with how Isaac scholars are adjusting. I am excited about the year and getting to know the children.”
Helpful Bus Assistance, Information

The City School District of New Rochelle is dedicated to providing the safest, most efficient, and cost-effective transportation. Communication between residents and the Transportation Office is an important part of providing effective transportation services. The transportation staff is available to address questions or concerns by phone or email. Every effort is made to respond in a timely manner. Please note that address changes must be made through the school your child attends.

Please call the bus company if the bus is running late, if your child is not home yet, and before and after school hours. The companies:

For bus-route issues, or to request a bus-stop change or childcare stop, or to report behavior issues, call the District's Office of Transportation at (914) 576-4230. If you do not intend to use the school bus for your child, please contact the Transportation Office as soon as possible.

For more information, email [email protected].
City School District of New Rochelle | nred.org