City School District of New Rochelle
News & updates
October 16, 2020
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Schools Ready For First Phase
Of Reentry as Hybrid Model Begins
A classroom at George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School.
The schools are ready for students’ reentry to the buildings on Monday.

The first major wave of students in pre-kindergarten through third grade, plus sixth grade (the first year of middle schools) will return for instruction in the hybrid model. Also, the Life Skills, ABA and PAT programs will return.

“Phase I is finally here!” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero. “Desks are set six feet apart, and schools are prepared to enforce the safety measures. Most importantly, we’re excited to see our students in person again.”

Some special education classes began in-person lessons late in September. Monday marks the first major phase of the reentry plan.

Students will attend school in person two days each week, and will continue remote learning on the other three days.

Teachers returned to the classroom this week, and their computer stations have been set up to teach both in person and virtually under the hybrid model. Schools have been set up for social distancing as well as observing other COVID-19 safety measures.

Anthony Bambrola, Principal of George M. Davis Jr. Elementary School, said the teachers and staff were ready to ensure that the students observe the precautions, including minimizing the sharing of blocks, colored pencils and other supplies.

“It’s very important that we orient the students to the new health and safety routines,” he said. “We also want a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We want students to be excited to be back.”
Reentry schedule
Scene from the first Research Fair, Jan. 11, 2020, in New Rochelle Public Library
2nd Annual Research Fair Announced
For January
Young scientists and researchers: Get ready to show your individual projects in the Second Annual Research Fair in January 2021.
 
The Foundation for Science Research in New Rochelle announced this week that it will hold the its follow-up to the first research fair held last January. The fair will take place whether it is held in person or virtually. All students in grades four through eight are encouraged to enter and prepare to present investigative work in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or the humanities.

Last year, the entire community enjoyed exciting presentations in the lobby of the New Rochelle Public Library from students at Albert Leonard Middle School, Isaac E. Young Middle School, Daniel Webster Magnet School and the Iona College STEP program. Students presented their work to experienced student volunteer judges from the Science Research Program at New Rochelle High School. The fair was supported with a seed grant from the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence.

Our fair is a crucial district-level qualifying step for students to advance to local, state and national competitions. Last year, our younger team did not disappoint. New Rochelle was the only district to have students competing in the TriCounty Science and Technology Fair, held virtually, with winning posters from students at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Three middle schoolers, Elena Adams, Julian Belfast and Juliette Thomas, qualified for the most prestigious national competition, the Broadcom MASTERS® (Math and Science Technology, Engineering Rising Stars). Strong work!
 
The middle school administration and faculty are eager to help students brainstorm a project. Experienced science-research students and Science Honor Society students who are veterans of advanced science-research competitions have organized a team of dedicated volunteers, “NR-USE” (New Rochelle United in Science Exploration), to bridge the middle schoolers’ progression into this arena. They are prepared to assist with the investigation, study design and presentation skills necessary for success.
 
Students can sign up for the Second Annual Research Fair by emailing foundation@newroscience.org. The Foundation for Science Research in New Rochelle will provide socially-distanced updates and ongoing support for parents and students, funding for supplies and will connect participants to our crackerjack high school team. Potential project ideas, timeline and resources are also available on our website, www.newroscience.org.
Hispanic History Month Profiles Reveal Stories Of Teachers, Administrators, More
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we featured a teacher, administrator or staff member each day. It turned out to be quite a collection of devoted, skilled members of the City School District of New Rochelle.

We spotlighted educators, a school nurse, a school psychologist, a laborer and even Interim Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero.

We found members of the District family from many areas, each with his or her own story. Some were born in the Bronx or New Rochelle (or Texas in one case) to parents or grandparents from Puerto Rico and Mexico. Others hail from the Dominican Republic, Colombia or Ecuador.

Some of the teachers wanted to be educators from childhood. Others pursued different professions only to become smitten with the look in children’s eyes when they learn something new.

We’ll leave the profiles on our homepage at www.nred.org for another month.

If you haven’t checked them out, there’s still time. Peruse them all.
Students Create a Drawing Every Day for 'Inktober'
Daily creative challenges were the motivation for Sutton Poretsky, an eighth-grader at Albert Leonard Middle School who is taking part in Inktober, an art experience in which participants draw one piece of art every day in October.

“I wanted to try something different. I had never done Inktober before, and I thought the daily challenges would be fun to try,” she said. “They are very fun and I love that you can create whatever you think fits best in the challenge.”

Sutton is one of approximately 40 students at ALMS, Isaac E. Young Middle School and New Rochelle High School participating in the challenge. Inktober was created in 2009 by illustrator Jake Parker to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has grown into a worldwide endeavor with thousands of artists accepting the challenge each year.

Anyone can participate. The guidelines are simple: Make a drawing in ink (or pencil underneath), post it to social media with the hashtags #inktober and #inktober2020, and repeat every day through Oct. 31.

“This is a great program for our students because the official project prompts help ignite their creativity and help them develop their skill set with each new day,” said Deepak Marwah, Director of Performing and Visual Arts for the City School District of New Rochelle. “After a time when many of our students felt isolated due to COVID, this challenge has allowed them to connect through their passion of art and has sparked group conversations about the topics they’re drawing.”

Since 2016, Inktober organizers have instituted a prompt list with a topic that participants must use for their drawings each day. This year’s prompts range from concrete objects such as shoes and fish to more abstract concepts like “ominous” and “hope.”

“I thought it would be a good idea for New Rochelle to have its own Inktober challenge this year. I wanted to foster a greater sense of community during this virtual time, while encouraging students to create and inspire each other,” said Sarah Suplina, an ALMS art teacher who was instrumental in sparking the District’s Inktober involvement.

Students in grades seven through twelve can join the challenge at any point by emailing artwork to their art teacher. View the artwork on the District’s Art Department Instagram page, instagram.com/creativenewro.
Confused About Voting?
3 NRHS Students
Will Help in Zoom Call
If you’re confused about how to vote in the Nov. 3 election, three New Rochelle High School students are here to help.

Seniors Dylan Matamala, Alex Plotkin and Jacob Rosenberg will hold a Zoom session at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 to address the intricacies of the process. Those who have questions can submit them in a form found here.

“People often complain about some of the candidates and how it’s unfair what people are doing and how the country is being led,” Matamala said. “People need to have their opinions heard and the best way for them to do that is to vote for the candidate who voices their opinions.

The initiative is part of a unit in their AP U.S. Government class called the Do Something Project.
“The purpose is to get the students to realize that they can participate civically even if they are not old enough to vote,” said teacher Tim Kuklis. “They can still encourage and help others to vote.”

Other students in the class have traveled to schools in the City School District of New Rochelle to teach the importance of voting to middle and elementary school students, or made commitments to persuade a certain number of adults to register to vote.

The project Matamala, Plotkin and Rosenberg are leading seeks to help people who are ready to vote, but are confused about how to do it in this unprecedented year.
Health Questionnaire
Must be Answered Weekly
As students return to school, families will be asked to fill out a Student Health Screener on COVID-19 for each student, at the start of every week. These should be filled out for all students, even those who will continue to learn in an all-virtual environment.

“Having everyone complete the screener, regardless if learning from home or school, will allow us to respond immediately to families in need of assistance and conduct contact tracing in partnership with Westchester County Health Department if the need arises,” said Interim Superintendent Dr. Alex Marrero.

A second notice will be sent to families on Sunday.
Look for Surveys Monday
The City School District of New Rochelle will seek your feedback on the school system’s strengths and challenges starting Monday.

Several surveys will be released for District employees, families of students, students themselves and even for community members who live or work in the city but have no children in the schools.

The student surveys are split in two. Grades three through five will receive a link to one in their Google classrooms. Middle and high school students will receive a link from their schools.

The surveys for employees, families and other community members will be emailed on Monday and posted on the District’s homepage, www.nred.org. The survey for families will require a password to enter, which will be included in the family email.

The surveys will be distributed in English and Spanish. Respondents will fill them out from Oct. 19 through Oct. 30.

The surveys are part of the Targeted Support and Improvement plan. The New York State Education Department has identified CSDNR as a TSI district as required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The information collected from the surveys will be critical in formulating a School Improvement Plan.
City School District of New Rochelle | http://www.nred.org/