For a new school year, a new school

Rockland CS all set for opening day

By Anahi Rodriguez | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – It’s the first day of school for both Livingston Manor and Roscoe students, but instead of being separate as they were for the last 86 years, students from both hamlets are now together in a single school district.

Top administrators helping to create the merged Rockland Central School are Superintendent John Evans, middle/high School Principal Adam Larson, Elementary Principal Robin Francisco, and Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Christopher Hubert. Manor Ink interviewed all four officials and got answers to questions and concerns about what students can expect as a result of the merger when school starts on Thursday, Sept. 4.

“I think one of the most exciting things, that’s also creating the most anxiety, is the change in how our buildings are being used,” said Evans. Evans, Larson and Francisco all agreed that when students are back in school, they will see the teachers they’ve always known and who are familiar to them. And there will be new teachers to meet as well, which will be fun.

“That consistency and familiarity with the teachers you’ve always known will be there. They’re all still there,” Larson said.

“Converting the Manor building into the Rockland Middle/High School, and converting the Roscoe building into the Rockland Elementary School is a monumental task,” Evans explained. He also said that significant capital construction is currently on the schedule for both schools this summer, which, combined with the merger project, has made for major activity in both buildings.

”We’re using every aspect of both buildings. Every space and room has something going on,” said Evans. That became obvious when the Ink observed hallways still full of furniture, and rooms not yet organized – with just three weeks to go before opening day.

What’s new?

As for the new, there are new programs and periods for different students.

“We built in a lab enrichment period into each grade level every day for the elementary students. During that time frame, there will be some extra help and extra support for students who need it, and then also some enrichment as well for students who will benefit from that,” said Francisco.

Some students are concerned about the new cellphone policy that goes into effect this year, based on New York State law. Cell phones and all Internet-enabled devices are affected. Rockland’s middle/high school will issue each student a specially-designed lockable pouch that can only be opened with a magnetic key.

All Internet-enabled devices must stay in the pouches from the time the morning bell rings until the end-of-day school bell sounds. Obviously, accommodations will be made for students with certain documented conditions or situations. The full policy is available on the school’s website at sites.google.com/neric.org/rcsd/home.

What about new sports uniforms?

Some students are concerned about uniforms for sports teams. “Fortunately, vendors have been very great to work with so far, and we are confident that new uniforms should be here on time,” said Larson. Evans also explained that the school colors and name have been approved, so designs were made and uniforms ordered.

“The highlight for me is just the energy that’s been in the building in so many ways, whether it be the capital projects being done, or the fact that so many faculty and staff are setting up new spaces, creating learning areas for kids,” Francisco commented.

“Everybody’s working toward one goal – doing what’s best for the kids and preparing them for the world,” said Larson.

That sums up the positive feeling surrounding all the work going on to ready everything for a smooth start to the school year on Sept. 4. Meanwhile, enjoy your last days of summer!

New construction, new equipment

The Rockland Central School District is wrapping up a busy summer of construction across both the elementary and middle/high school campuses, with several projects aimed at improving safety, accessibility and student experiences. Here are some of the changes.

• Security Upgrades: One of the most significant improvements is the installation of a single point of entry at the middle/high school. Visitors will now enter through a secure vestibule, where they’ll be buzzed in and checked by office staff and a school resource officer before accessing the building.

• ADA Accessibility: To better serve students with mobility needs, the district has added ADA-compliant bathrooms on both floors of the middle/high school. Existing handicapped stalls weren’t large enough for power wheelchairs, so two new restrooms were constructed as part of this project.

• Cafeteria and Farm-to-School: The cafeteria and kitchen in the middle/high school received a facelift. The cafeteria boasts a fresh look and varied seating options, including high-top tables and flexible group arrangements. Thanks to a USDA grant and private foundation support, the district added industrial bread-making equipment, enabling Rockland to bake fresh bread for its students and potentially other schools countywide. The district is also scaling up its Farm-to-School program with an additional walk-in cooler and freezer for food storage.

• Athletics and Outdoors: The middle/high school gym is getting new flooring and paint. Through a Sullivan 180 grant, a basketball court, two tennis courts and multiple pickleball courts will be resurfaced. A donated greenhouse and a refurbished track with improved drainage are also slated for completion this fall. Plans for an outdoor classroom and orchard are underway.

• New Spaces: A permanent concession stand is being installed for games and events outside the middle/high school gym. The Roscoe campus now includes a dedicated STEM lab and a motor skills lab. New collaborative learning spaces in wide hallways feature whiteboard-top tables and flexible seating, allowing teachers to take instruction beyond the classroom.

Elementary school ‘specials’ and labs

The Rockland Elementary School, led by Principal Robin Francisco, is including a variety of approaches to further enhance learning while supporting its elementary students.

• Motor Lab: The Motor Lab is a new “special” for students in grades Pre-K through 2. It utilizes the “Ready Bodies, Learning Minds” curriculum which helps children develop skills necessary for learning readiness and mastery of their environment. When a child is better able to function in the environment, performance in tasks such as handwriting, sitting still, paying attention, speaking and behaving improves. The Motor Lab builds a structure for the acquisition of academic skills and creates a base for the skill building of physical education.

• Lab/AIS Tier 3/Enrichment: Many grade levels will have this Lab/AIS Tier 3/Enrichment timeframe designated during the school day. AIS stands for Academic Intervention Services. In New York State, Tier 3 refers to the most intensive level of AIS services a student can receive. Students who qualify will receive special instruction to assist them in meeting state learning standards. Principal Fransico noted that only a small number of Rockland students will qualify for the Tier 3 AIS. The Enrichment Lab will include the grade level teachers collaborating with specials teachers to provide enrichment activities based on students’ interests within the core content being taught in classes. Enrichment activities may be project-based and can be done individually by students or in a small group. For those who don’t fall into the AIS Tier 3 or Enrichment groups, this time allotment allows students to work with their homeroom teachers to finish English Language Arts or Math assignments, engage in silent reading, or complete missed work.

• Coming Soon: Principal Francisco is excited about including both Collaboration Spaces and a STEM Lab (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), once furniture and materials arrive. Collaboration Spaces will be carpeted and outfitted with several white board tables with seating. The lab will generally be used as an extra learning space for small groups in grades 2 to 6. One classroom in the school has been designated as a lab for teachers to bring their classes to engage in STEM activities through practical projects and experiments. The supplies and materials provided in the lab will be used to promote critical thinking, collaboration and creativity while connecting classroom concepts to real-world applications.