City School District of New Rochelle
News & Updates
Sept. 3, 2021
BREAKING NEWS: Flood Damage from Storm Impacts Opening of Two Schools
New Rochelle High School Building Opening Delayed,
Remote Learning Will Start School Year;

Isaac E. Young Middle School to Open Monday, Sept. 13
The torrential downpours brought by the remnants of Ida this week were devastating to our community, causing catastrophic damage and loss of life and property.

Since Thursday morning, City School District of New Rochelle leaders have been assessing flood damage at some School District buildings.

Most notably, at New Rochelle High School, the situation is serious. Unfortunately, the building received substantial damage, and will take significant time to remediate. There are losses to flooring, walls, and electrical and mechanical systems, including the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems’ pumps and motors, as well as maintenance tools and equipment.

Due to this damage, the New Rochelle High School building WILL NOT open Friday as scheduled. A reopening date is not known at this time. School District and high school leaders will announce remote-learning details as soon as they are available.

Isaac E. Young Middle School sustained floor and wall damage, which is now being repaired. The school will be cleaned and disinfected, and it will be safe and healthy for students and staff. Isaac E. Young Middle School, which was scheduled to open Friday, Sept. 10, will now open Monday, Sept. 13.

Superintendent Jonathan Raymond said, “While this is disappointing news, the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are our top priority. We know these delays impact many families, and our teams at our schools and across our district will work as hard as possible to ensure a positive learning experience for our students and reopen our high school as soon as possible.”

The School District will communicate news updates through email and other mediums such as robocalls, website announcements and social media.
National Academic Recognition for
NRHS Students
Congratulations to more than 30 New Rochelle High School students who earned academic honors from the College Board’s National Recognition Programs!

The programs grant underrepresented students academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications. The programs also connect students with universities, helping them stand out during the admissions process.
 
Designated as College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Scholars are Daniel Almonte; Ricardo Alvarez; Daniel Canhedo; Mathew Carpio; Abner Casanova; Alexandra Fumo; Valeria Godoy; Alfredo Licea; Natalia McMorris; Emily Mendez; Oscar Munguia; Andres Nunez; Fernanda Ochoa; David Olivo; Aislynn Pineda; Brandon Reyes; Denise Reyes; Nasrin Saleh; Carme Sanz-Munoz; Isabella Sapeg Santana; Leah Shefferman; Stephanie Silva; Alexa Tejera; Ariana Torres; and Sol Zamarbide.
 
Designated as College Board National African-American Recognition Program Scholars are Daniel Almonte; Bryan Benjamin; Darrin Greaves II; Abigail Jean-Baptiste; Natalia McMorris; Ariana Narain; Kamara StPaul; and Kaia Washington.
 
The students excelled on the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test for sophomores, or Advanced Placement exams, and in their classrooms. Students who may be eligible also have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams; and are African American or Black, Hispanic American, Latinx or Indigenous.
Barnard Hosting
9/11 Ceremony at Amy’s Greenhouse
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the Barnard Early Childhood Center will host a ceremony at Amy’s Greenhouse on the school grounds.

Amy's Greenhouse is a memorial to Amy O'Doherty, who died at the age of 23 at the World Trade Center. She was the daughter of Geraldine Davie, a since-retired teacher at Barnard.

The Greenhouse helps students learn about gardening and agriculture. It was created for the children and community of New Rochelle, and is a haven for people to connect to each other and nature. O’Doherty loved children; her family and Barnard view the Greenhouse as a sign of resilience, inclusiveness and a place where a better world is possible.

Amy’s Greenhouse also hosts sales, and proceeds from selling flowers, fruits and vegetables are reinvested in the Greenhouse.

The ceremony is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11. The community is invited; click the flyer to learn more. To RSVP, email amysgreenhouse@nredlearn.org. 
City’s First Unity Day
Commemorates 9/11
In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, bring your family to City Hall on Sept. 12 for Unity Day.

The fun-packed event will begin at 9 a.m. with a Youth Bike Ride starting at the steps of City Hall and ending with a ride through Flowers City Park. Events continue at 10 a.m. with a Youth Sports Celebration.

At 12:30 p.m., there will be a gathering at Fosina Field to introduce the participating organizations and capture photos reflecting unity.

The event is sponsored by the City of New Rochelle Parks & Recreation Department, the Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle, the New Rochelle Youth Bureau and the New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority.

Click the flyer for more information. 
New Rochelle Public Library Extends Hours
The New Rochelle Public Library has resumed expanded hours in September.

The Main Library and Huguenot Children’s Library will be closed Saturday, Sept. 4 through Monday, Sept. 6 for Labor Day.

Click the flyer to learn about updated hours. Learn more about the library at nrpl.org.
COVID Safety: New Initiatives Add to Extensive Protocols
An update on COVID safety planning from Superintendent Jonathan Raymond.

Dear New Rochelle Community:
 
As I mentioned in earlier communications, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, families and community. We have been hard at work at ensuring that our COVID-19 Safety Plan for the school year is comprehensive and incorporates the latest expert guidance from local, state and federal medical and education authorities. That guidance supports a well-rounded District team spearheading our efforts to provide safe in-school environments amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The pandemic’s evolution has resulted in updated guidance since our last communication to the community. New York State now requires that masks be worn during indoor physical education classes. For outdoor physical education classes, mask-wearing is optional for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals as long as 6 feet social distancing is maintained. Mask wearing is required for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals less than 6 feet apart. In addition, physical education lockers will be closed until further notice.
 
Elsewhere, masks will now be required on school buses. Windows will be kept open on buses, and social distancing must be maintained. All school personnel, including bus drivers and contracted bus drivers, must either submit proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing for the virus.

Music education safety protocols also have been updated. Vocal music and wind-instrument playing can occur with 6 feet of physical distancing, and masks must be worn. Those playing string instruments must wear masks and ensure 3 feet of physical distancing. For students participating in band, specialized masks and wind-instrument bell covers will be provided.

Other highlights of the District’s COVID-19 Safety Plan:
 
  • All classes will be in-person unless new guidance or emerging health data indicate otherwise.
  • Parents should complete a daily health screening questionnaire for their children prior to sending them to school. If a child is sick, please keep him/her at home.
  • All students and adults, regardless of vaccination status, will be required to wear masks indoors.
  • Indoor mask breaks of 60 to 90 seconds are permitted for individual students and staff, provided 6 feet of physical distance is maintained.
  • Hallways/stairwells will have travel in one direction, with students maintaining 3 feet of distance where feasible.
  • Children will eat in cafeterias and other locations while maintaining 6 feet of physical distancing.
  • For visits to school buildings, principals will offer virtual appointments and utilize outdoor spaces accordingly. Non-employees visiting a campus must complete a screening questionnaire. This includes the Board of Education at City Hall. Masking is required in every District building, including City Hall, at all times regardless of vaccination status.
  • Volunteers must show proof of vaccination, wear masks and sign a health-verification form.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available throughout our buildings and frequent hand washing and sanitizing are encouraged.
  • The custodial staff will do continuous cleaning.
 
The School District also has taken extensive precautions by investing in new air-purification technology. In addition to high-end MERV 13 filters, cleaning air ducts and using surface-cleaning products, the District is installing an indoor air-purification technology system called AtmosAir bi-polar ionization. This technology will augment existing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in all schools to provide continuous disinfection of the air. The District hired a third-party engineering firm to test and evaluate the product prior to the District procuring and purchasing the technology. A third-party engineering firm also will ensure the technology is functioning effectively. In addition, the District is installing indoor air-quality monitors to obtain real-time air quality measurements from each school.

The District embraces vaccinations as the surest way to end the pandemic and protect health. We are grateful to our two unions that represent New Rochelle district administrators, teachers and staff. Earlier, we reached an agreement that requires all staff to be fully vaccinated or to submit to weekly testing.

The importance of vaccinations is why the District has scheduled vaccination clinics in partnership with the Westchester County Department of Health. The vaccinations are free and open to school district students 12 or older, as well as staff members. Parents must accompany their children. More information will be provided in the future to supplement these locations, dates and times:
  • New Rochelle High School, Sept. 22 (first dose) and Oct. 13 (second dose), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Isaac E. Young Middle School, Oct. 16 (first dose) and Nov. 6 (second dose), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

We also appreciate that Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital will offer vaccination clinics to the public starting on Sept. 7 and into the foreseeable future. Clinics are from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Visit montefiorehealthsystem.org/NewRochelle.
 
The District is excited for the start of the school year. District leadership will continue to review and update all COVID safety opportunities that emerge. Learn more about current District COVID safety protocols and find future updates at nred.org.
 
Thank you for your trust, and best wishes for health and success this school year.
New Teachers, New Year: Orientation Introduces Educators to New Rochelle
For new educators in the City School District of New Rochelle, lessons start before the first day of class.

More than 80 new teachers, teaching assistants and clinicians attended a two-day Teacher Orientation Program this week.

The program was an immersion into the District’s commitment to educating the whole child – focusing on academic excellence, social and emotional well-being and instilling life-ready skills. It also was an opportunity to meet and greet new colleagues and administrators while obtaining crucial hands-on information about District operations and standards.

After being welcomed by Superintendent Jonathan Raymond and Board of Education President Julia Muggia Ochs, informative presentations were given by Mary Claire Breslin, president of the Federation of United School Employees, and several members of District leadership. Topics delved into curriculum, technology, human-resources services, a history of New Rochelle and more.

“These productive two days were designed to help our talented new colleagues appreciate our culture and commitment to excellence,” Superintendent Jonathan Raymond said. “We look forward to a great year for students, led by our entire teaching staff.”

Photos: Dr. Corey Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, and Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Olivine Roberts lead orientation segments.
Vision for Learning: Trinity Teachers Co-Author Article on STEM Education
Trinity Elementary School teachers Terri Sanchez Agravat and Johanna Vasquez recently helped author an article on the importance of family involvement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, specifically in marginalized communities.

The article was published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, which empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching and leading so every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged. The teachers described how marginalized communities historically are not represented in STEM education and careers due to lack of resources. That led them to create a pilot program known as Family Outreach and Research in Education and STEM (FLORES). FLORES works with families to support students ages 5-7 in and outside of the classroom by encouraging STEM learning opportunities every day.

“The FLORES program offered early exposure to STEM learning,” said Sanchez Agravat. “It strengthened our community and school partnership. We also provided two sections in Spanish, allowing for our families to participate in their native language.”

It was especially important for both teachers to engage families in children’s education during the pandemic. “This was such a wonderful experience for the families and teachers that participated,” Vasquez said. “We value STEM education, as well as bringing joy to our school community.”
City School District of New Rochelle | http://www.nred.org/