Superintendent Community Updates 2023-2024
- June 27, 2024
- June 18, 2024
- June 7, 2024
- May 23, 2024 - In Recognition of Dr. Lang
- May 23, 2024
- May 17, 2024 (Updated May 20, 2024)
- May 10, 2024
- May 3, 2024
- April 19, 2024
- April 5, 2024
- March 22, 2024
- March 15, 2024 - Pending New Capital Bond
- March 7, 2024
- February 19, 2024 - Presidents' Day & Lunar New Year Edition
- February 16, 2024
- February 2, 2024
- January 12, 2024
- January 5, 2024
- December 22, 2023
- December 1, 2023
- November 21, 2023
- November 3, 2023
- October 20, 2023
- October 12, 2023 - Israel-Hamas War (Part II) - Social Media Advisory
- October 10, 2023 - Israel-Hamas War (Part I)
- October 6, 2023
- September 22, 2023
- September 8, 2023
- August 30, 2023
June 27, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff: Walking into a building empty of students this morning, I was at once relieved (that a summer of well-earned rest and relaxation had arrived for students and staff) and reflective (hoping that the year had been rewarding for students, staff and families). Mounting the stairs to my office (what I am known to call my classroom), my mind turned to next year. So, in this closing letter for the 2023-24 school year, I share eight headlines on what my focus will be this summer and in the new school year. I am intentionally brief, since it is summer, and who, I wonder, is reading this stuff. Details will follow frequently in the fall, winter and spring.
While not all-inclusive, this Big Eight lets you inside my head (and my heart) as we roll towards a new school year. Have a great summer. Be well. |
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William S. McKersie, Ph.D. |
June 18, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
A rare Tuesday note from me addresses two different topics: the anticipated Heat Wave and Juneteenth.
Advisory: Heat Wave 6.18-21.24
A Heat Wave will be upon us late Tuesday through Friday, with notably high Heat Indices. We will proceed with full days of schooling each day (other than Wednesday, when we are closed in recognition of Juneteenth). We are doing the following to maximize student and staff well-being:
- We ask that students come to school in light clothing and with water. We will have extra bottles of water available in each school for students and staff.
- All classrooms and learning spaces are air conditioned. We will keep AC units running off hours so that all spaces maintain cool temperatures. We will have extra air conditioning units available. (The exception: Cochran and Green Gymnasiums are not air conditioned; we will modify PE classes accordingly.)
- Buildings & Grounds and building administrators will be monitoring inside spaces.
- Final exams and the Regents will continue as scheduled, taking place in air conditioned classrooms and spaces.
- Outside activity will be limited whenever possible. High School Graduation will continue as planned Thursday evening, with ample supplies of water.
Hillside, FMS and HHS will send individual notices about Heat Wave management as necessary. Please be in touch with your building administrator if you have any questions.
Juneteenth – Recognized Tomorrow with District Closure
We are fully closed on Wednesday, June 19 in recognition of Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
“On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War was over and that enslaved people were free. While the day has been celebrated in many communities ever since, it was only recognized as a Federal holiday in 2021” (Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History).
History matters, as a way to gain insights on the present, and where we might be in the future. In the words of W.E.B. DuBois:
“If then we are indebted to the past for so much of the present, is it not clear that we can only understand the present by continually recurring to and studying that past; when any one of the intricate phenomena of our daily life puzzles us; when there arise religious problems, political problems, race problems, we must always remember that while their solution lies in the present, their cause and their explanation lie in the past” (“The Beginnings of Slavery,” Voice of the Negro, vol. 2, 1905, p. 104).
Please take time tomorrow to consider the significance of Juneteenth and the recurring need to study, understand and respect the full history of our nation.
Stay cool.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
June 7, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
A snapping turtle of regal stature was discovered in the middle of the Hillside playground early Wednesday morning, mistakenly considering it a prime nesting location. Confronted by excited students, kept at a safe distance by staff always ready for wayward wildlife, the mama turtle realized this was not a good place to raise her brood. Away she lumbered (with delicate help from custodian Bobby Duffy and a barrel) to nearby woods and a pond. I am told the mama-to-be muttered, “Off I go to more privacy and spot sans hundreds of lively and loud two-legged creatures–they are sweet, yet scary!”
Turtle love and turtle pace–maybe the love, but not the pace, speak to Hastings as we race to the final school day. Several Hillside teachers said to me yesterday, “this year is going so fast, so fast–signifies a really good year. Lots to love this year.” Here is a “SNAPit” from the past week.
National Honor Society – Induction Ceremony – May 30, 2024
Sixty-three juniors were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) last Thursday evening. Exemplifying the pillars of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character, the new inductees, a near record number, were celebrated by fellow students, family, teachers, administrators and their attentive NHS advisors, Faye Barenfeld and Maria Rudolph. For my part, I honored the students by challenging them to be “leaders of character…to lead with character…as our nation so sorely requires.” Take a moment to review the full program for the evening, listing each of the 63 new NHS members–making us proud.
Night of the Arts at Hillside – Planting Seeds of Creativity and Joy – June 4, 2024
Hillside’s hallways became a gallery of student art on Tuesday evening. Many reports came to me of the wonderful show. Maybe the best was from Martin Merchant–parent, grandparent and leading art educator. His note of appreciation to Zerlina Panush, Hillside art teacher, should be embraced by students, teachers and all of Hastings. Lots of deserved love.
It was good to see your smiling face last night as you greeted parents, grandparents, students and visitors to the art show - you looked happy and proud - as you should be. It was a thrill walking through the walls and pathways and tables of all the displayed artwork - it was tremendous! So much variety of artwork, in so many different modes - so inventive and unique! As a retired art teacher, I know what a task it is to just organize and store all that work in all those different media - and to mount and stage all that is monumentally challenging . . . and I know it's rewarding too, and that's where your smile comes in. So, congratulations on an impressive and extravagantly wonderful art show. Your students are very fortunate. It reminds me of how much I treasure the emphasis our school district has always placed on the arts - our three children, and now two of our grandchildren, have benefited from this environment of respect and support for all the arts. It's good to live here.
After admiring their children’s artwork, families proceeded to the Multipurpose Room for an enchanting Spring Concert. The evening's entertainment featured musical performances by the fourth grade orchestra, directed by John Carini, the third and fourth grade chorus, under the guidance of Doug Friedman, and the fourth grade band, conducted by Mike Rubino. The students’ music teacher Kathryn Concra accompanied them as they took center stage. Click here to view the full program for the evening.
Honoring Tenure Recipients and Retirees – June 11, 2024
On Tuesday, June 11 at 5:00 p.m. the Board of Education will be honoring this year’s tenure recipients and retirees with a reception in the Hillside Multipurpose Room, followed by the Regular Board of Education Meeting at 6:00 p.m. We will also recognize Elianna Carvalho, BOE Student Liaison. This will be a special opportunity for the community to extend appreciation to staff, teachers and administrators for their dedicated and expert service, while also applauding the newest recipients of tenure, signifying a pivotal point in their professional careers. Bring the love!
Tenure Recipients:
- Marisa Barbera, Kindergarten teacher at Hillside Elementary School
- Christine Samuel, Fourth Grade teacher at Hillside Elementary School
- Matthew Adipietro, Physical Education teacher at Farragut Middle School
- Laurence Cerretani, Special Education teacher at Farragut Middle School
- Kenneth Cotrone, English Language Arts teacher at Farragut Middle School
- Wendy White, School Counselor at Hastings High School
Retirees:
Administrator
- Louis Adipietro, Principal at Hastings High School, 19 years
Teachers/Social Worker
- Jeffrey Conwisar, Social Studies teacher at Hastings High School, 30 years
- Caryn Hecht, Special Education teacher at Farragut Middle School, 20 years
- MaryAnne Heckhaus, Special Education teacher at Hastings High School, 20 years
- Christina Repp, Social Worker at Hastings High School, 21 years
- Marc Rosner, Science teacher at Hastings High School, 22 years
Teacher Assistant
- Lisa Adipietro, Teacher Assistant in Guidance at Farragut Middle School, 15 years
Secretarial/Clerical
- Maria Cocucci, Office Assistant in Guidance at Hastings High School, 10 years
- Bethanne Habermann, Confidential in Special Education at Hastings High School, 30 years
Nurse
- Joanne Cipollina, Nurse at Hastings High School, 15 years
Custodial
- Nicholas Frascone, Districtwide Laborer, 31 years
- Emilio Righetti, Districtwide Maintenance Mechanic, 13 years
As previously announced, outgoing Board of Education Members Doreen Bucher and Dr. Damaris-Lois Lang will be recognized at our final Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
For More “SNAPits” – See the Latest Hastings Happenings
The latest Hastings Happenings should be perused for colorful coverage of Valedictorian Sonya Lasser and Salutatorian Erik Ghalib, Board of Education Student Liaisons Elianna Carvalho and Kai Dirksen, the Senior Prom, the Eighth Annual Multicultural Book Fair, the Second Annual Night of the Arts at Hillside, and the first grade’s participation in the Creative heARTS program.
Final Word: Pride Month – June 2024
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This month-long celebration demonstrates how LGBTQ+ Americans have strengthened our country, by using their talent and creativity to build awareness and goodwill. The first Pride March in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising (Pride Month – Library of Congress).
Educational organizations across the country, joined by the Hastings Public Schools and Village, are recognizing Pride Month. As we move through June, please avail yourself of educational materials curated by the Library of Congress and other resources.
Be well.
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May 23, 2024 - In Recognition of Dr. Lang
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Earlier today I wrote about the changing BOE governance team for 2024-25 and beyond. Focused on the Trustee election, I was remiss not to honor Dr. Damaris-Lois Lang, who will be departing the BOE after not seeking re-election.
We will be celebrating both Dr. Lang and Doreen Bucher at their final BOE Meeting on June 25. Echoing my praise earlier today for Ms. Bucher, let me be among the first to applaud Dr. Lang. With an inclusive spirit and rigorous insights, Dr. Lang stands for what is most essential for each and every student. Her care and compassion—and insistence that we act on that standard—has been a boost to all of us in the Hastings schools.
Please join the BOE and administrators on June 25 to celebrate Ms. Bucher and Dr. Lang for their three years of dedicated service as Trustees.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
May 23, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Our unique five-day Memorial Day Weekend has arrived. Here are several Hastings Hurrahs as you head out the door for rest and relaxation.
2024-25 School Budget Adopted
Notices have flowed since late Tuesday evening with news that the 2024-25 School Budget was adopted by Village residents by a vote of 1,206 to 313. District employees in total join me in expressing humble gratitude for this statement of financial support, ensuring that we can continue to do everything possible to advance the growth and development of every student in Hillside, FMS and HHS. Personally, I see the vote as a challenge to do even better in the coming year, to move the quality of our teaching, coaching, directing, support, counseling, managing and visioning, yes, visioning, to even higher levels. We can do even more, I believe, to validate the strong support of the Village represented by Tuesday’s vote. More on this commitment as we head into the summer and new school year. For now, two words: Thank you.
New Board of Education
The long-time (former) coach in me considers a team new when any of its membership changes. Tuesday’s Trustee vote brought us a new BOE team. Alexander Dal Piaz returns as Trustee; Catherine DiMartino and David Barone are new Trustees; joining Silvia Robles, Maureen Lennon-Santana, Theresa McCaffrey and Jodie Meyer to comprise the new BOE. The reelected and newly elected members will be sworn in on July 9, 2024 at the Annual BOE Organizational Meeting. Orientation and planning will take place over the summer so that the new governance team is ready for full work come the start of the 2024-25 school year.
We will thank departing BOE Vice President Doreen Bucher at the June 25, 2024 Board of Education meeting. Let me be the first to offer thanks and praise. For the past three years, I have deeply valued Doreen’s clear, insightful and open leadership, guided by her dedication to each and every student and family in Hastings.
Science Research at the Pinnacle
Themes in life matter–especially when good and powerful. Among several such themes this year has been the awesome results of Melissa Shandroff’s Science Research Program. The following announcement from Ms. Shandroff, sent to all staff on Tuesday, speaks for itself.
The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) took place May 11-17, 2024, in Los Angeles, CA, with 1700 students from 67 countries competing for monetary prizes. Two Hastings students, Justin Baldassarre and Miles Hamilton, were among the top 20 students out of 714 projects who qualified for ISEF through the Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair this past March.
On May 17, Society for Science announced the Grand Awards at Regeneron ISEF. Justin Baldassarre placed second in the category of Biomedical and Health Sciences and won $2000 for his project, "STING-Rich Ciliated Cells Protect the Fallopian Tube from Early Transformation in the Development of Ovarian Cancer." Miles Hamilton placed fourth in the category of Earth and Environmental Sciences and won $500 for his project, "Reconstructing Late Pleistocene Changes in the Western Equatorial Pacific Thermocline and Analyzing the Viability of Coarse Fraction as a Temperature Proxy."
Congratulations to both Justin and Miles for these amazing achievements! Attached are photos of both students with their medals at their poster boards at ISEF.
We have posted the news on the district's Instagram. Kudos to Justin and Miles!
From Science to Art – Renaissance Hastings
“So wonderfully Hastings, voting and art, all in one gym.” Voters on Tuesday could go from voting to admiring hundreds of art pieces by FMS and HHS students as part of the Annual Art Show. My amateur eye was taken by the breadth of creativity, insights, tears, laughter, scenery, physicality, shapes, dimensions, darkness, light, fear, hope, joy and life conveyed through ceramics, sculpture, drawing, painting, sketches, sewing and textiles and video displayed across half of Cochran Gym. Ezra Elliott, Department Chair, offered this overview, bringing an expert interpretation to the show:
How important it is to celebrate this community's greatest gift, our amazing and talented young artists. With the focus in schools becoming more and more digital every year, it's refreshing to see how our students can show mastery of expression with "analog" approaches. Darkroom film photography, sewing and textiles, and the classics like drawing, painting, ceramics and sculpture were all on display at the show. And one of the annual highlights is our digital animation station, surrounded by the work cultivated in our Media Arts and Digital Photo classes. The breadth and depth of our art program is always impressive. I have such a high level of gratitude for our art staff. They encompass everything I think a great art teacher should be. I was talking with Senior Emma Gelman yesterday about what makes art from Hastings so special, and she shared that "students are allowed the room for expression, given a wide berth for experimentation, while also having the focus on technique and skill." I couldn't agree more.
A special treat to kick off this year’s art show was the Annual National Art Honor Society Induction. Under Lorienne Solaski’s guidance, the group focuses on service projects in local and global communities, using their artwork to benefit populations in need. Congratulations to this year’s inductees: Tess Humphreys, Kaleigh Maloney, Sienna Radley, Lisa Ramos, Macey Renzin and Spencer Vishab.
Kudos to the FMS/HHS Art Staff for fostering a “wide berth for experimentation…and the focus on technique and skill.” Thank you, April Browne, Ezra Elliott, Cory Merchant, Nate Morgan and Lorienne Solaski.
More to See – The Hastings Happenings
Before you jump to vacation, take a look at yesterday’s Hastings Happenings (May 22, 2024) for news about Mr. A’s celebration at Reynold’s Field, Bob’s Bees at Hillside, the 6th Grade Debate Team Awards at the American Debate League Championship, 31 HHS students earning top scores on the National Latin Exam, the upcoming Multicultural Book Fair (May 29-30), and Dr. Ken Cotrone’s 8th Grade Class meeting with Barbara and Michael Lissner, daughter and son-in-law of Mr. Sol Urbach, a Holocaust survivor and employee of Oskar Schindler. Hastings sets the pace for taking on, learning about and succeeding with topics, issues and history small, large and profound.
Final Word – Memorial Day: Remembering the Ultimate Sacrifice
Please take a moment over the long weekend to honor American military members who gave their lives while defending our nation. We are stronger for their ultimate sacrifice. Memorial Day is their day, their time–to be remembered.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
May 17, 2024 (Updated May 20, 2024)
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
I write to put a skip in your step. First, look at the inspiring stories emanating from yesterday’s annual celebration of HASP graduates. Second, voting age readers, or anyone who knows a voting age reader, please see the final reminder on the May 21 Budget & Trustee Vote. Third, review the final reminder about the fast approaching extended Memorial Day Weekend. Lastly, finish with the listing of late-breaking good news.
HASP 2024 Graduation Ceremony
Established in 1985, Hastings Alternative School Program (HASP) provides educational opportunities for 9th-12th grade students. The Mission:
HASP promotes a sense of family and a philosophy of “voluntary involvement.” Through small classes, regular Community Meetings… HASP seeks to provide a foundation of engagement, commitment, and an enriched education for every child. Students are challenged to realize their highest potential in a small-community atmosphere that emphasizes learning and achieving success.
Eight HASP seniors were celebrated yesterday morning by fellow HASP students, teachers, administrators, and family members. (The eight seniors will join the full Class of 2024 for graduation on June 20.) The ceremony’s annual signature is individual remarks by each senior about their journey to graduation. Reflections and appreciation–clear-eyed, unvarnished, from the heart–were shared by this year’s eight seniors. A sampling of the statements:
- Big day for each of us…
- A journey to celebrate…
- Proud of my HASP peers, so proud…
- HASP peers, my friends, without you I would not be graduating…
- Time to say thanks for a program making connections to teachers, friends and family…
- HASP gives connections…that help us be better and succeed…
- Teachers cared about me, even when I did not care…that made the difference.
- Teachers never stopped believing in me…helping me to believe and succeed.
- My writing and speaking improved…broadening me beyond science and math…
- I was encouraged by teachers and counselors to join HASP…the best decision I made was to enroll in HASP.
- Confidence…found my voice…ready for college…ready for the next chapter…
Such were the honest, real, and gracious words of the eight seniors celebrated Thursday morning. They featured many faculty and administrators for making a giant difference in their lives in the past four years. Most frequent was Peter Scotch, current HASP director in his 19th year teaching in the program, followed by Greg Smith, a former director of HASP and teacher for most of the current students, as well as Christina Repp, “Mr. A” (said ever so fondly), Melissa Hardesty, Maria Rudolph, Wendy White, Ross Abrams, Caroline Atanacio, Brad Hunt, Randie Shaw and Gloria Szeszko. Erin Dolan and the High School Special Education Department also received heartfelt thanks from several students. The gratitude was uncommonly personal–speaking to the teacher:student connections at the heart of HASP.
Mr. Scotch’s final words captured the essence of the group. “These eight seniors, while diverse in many ways, share an essential commonality: they are good people, with inspiring smiles that will melt you, who have a strong sense of self and strong sense of others.” Fittingly, Mr. Scotch closed with a special thank you to “Mr. A, Ms. Hardesty and Ms. Repp, who are today at their final HASP graduation ceremony. They have always been important advocates for HASP students.”
Please join me in applauding the HASP Class of 2024:
- Kaylon Comashi
- Ryan Fonfrias
- Jenelsie Garcia
- Zade Hinawi
- Jayde Jones
- Hannah McGuirk
- Alexander Vargas
- Lucas Vellequette
Extended Memorial Day Weekend – May 24-28, 2024
As listed in the Revised 2023-24 School Calendar, we will be closed on Friday, May 24, Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
Final Reminder: Budget Vote and BOE Trustee Election – May 21, 2024
The Annual Budget Vote & Trustee Election is on Tuesday, May 21. Vote your conscience, vote your preference, but please vote. The Budget Page is rich with detailed facts, figures and narrative. A new one-page Budget Fact Sheet is being shared widely. Regarding the Trustee Election, please refer to the dedicated Budget Vote & School Board Election Page for information on each of the candidates and a link to the recent Candidates Forum.
Late-Breaking Reasons to Skip
See this week’s Hastings Happenings (May 16, 2024) for good news about FMS & HHS artists, Hillside families dancing (and maybe skipping), junior Caitlin Thomas dominating in the Steeplechase, senior Jason Nadler being named LOHUD Player of the Week in baseball, and the upcoming Multicultural Book Fair (May 29-30, 2024).
And, just this morning, we learned that senior Sonya Lasser won first place in the Junior/Senior Category at the 9th Judicial Gender Fairness Award Ceremony, honoring Women’s History Month. Sonya’s leadership, well known across the High School and Village, now reaches across the region.
Skipping into the weekend I go.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
May 10, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
My writing pace must match the sprint toward June 20 (HHS Graduation) and June 25 (last day of school). So much important information and good news to share and underscore (repeating matters from time to time) requires a letter from me after just one week. (I have been tending toward biweekly missives.)
Student voices are the connecting thread today:
- Remember the value to students of the upcoming budget vote
- Listen to student perspectives on their Hastings experience
- Celebrate once more our student athletes
- Consider a timely cultural recognition, brought to life by our students.
An Essential Repeat: The 2024-25 Budget
The School Budget and Trustee Vote is on Tuesday, May 21; the last step in formalizing the 2024-25 Budget. Your vote is your choice–such is the beauty of a democracy. Not voting, well, that is a choice problematic for a healthy school district–in terms of finances and governance. Vote your conscience, vote your preference, but please vote.
Ample information is available on the proposed 2024-25 School Budget, including a newly released video from Wednesday’s Budget Forum. Don’t forget the Budget Page, rich with detailed facts and figures, as well as narrative. The big take-away: holding to a modest 3.53 percent increase year-to-year, which is below the median for districts regionally, the 2024-25 Budget allows Hastings to continue to provide robust educational, extracurricular and support programs–advancing the growth of all students, across their diverse interests, abilities and passions.
Hastings Education: The Student Perspective
The Special Budget Edition of Hastings Happenings highlights the perspectives of seven students, spanning 4th to 8th to 12th grade. Read their full statements in the newsletter for your golden nuggets. Here are mine, which I challenge you to find in the text:
- “...a unique village of inspiring teachers, passionate students and dedicated staff that blend together to make something remarkable.”
- “HHS is at the root of almost everything I do…Teachers at HHS are genuinely passionate about what they’re teaching, making their classes unique and engaging…I’ve found the subjects that I love, the things I love to do, and the people I love to spend time with…”
- “My experience at FMS has been truly great. I’ve enjoyed my teachers and classes…I feel prepared for what high school will bring…”
- “FMS not only means a lot to me academically, but also provides me with a sense of belonging…I feel fully equipped to face High School head on, with a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful community of friendships, mentors and peers.”
- “Hillside…Everyone is kind and respectful towards one another. I love it here.”
- “The teachers at Hillside make you feel welcome…they give all their students an equal amount of love and care.”
- “There are a lot of opportunities to explore at Hillside.”
- “When I came here…everyone in the school was very nice to me. There are so many new things to try and new people to meet.”
Athletic Walkabout Update
Heading into the final weeks of the Spring Athletics season, it is a good moment to review student-athlete accomplishments. Click here for a list of highlights featured on the Athletics page and updated regularly by the district’s dedicated coaches. I can attest to the hard work, character and good play of our Spring athletes–having continued to “walk my talk” to see Varsity Baseball, Varsity Softball, JV Baseball, Varsity Boys Lacrosse, JV Boys Lacrosse, Varsity Girls Lacrosse, JV Girls Lacrosse, Modified Boys Lacrosse, Modified Girls Lacrosse, Flag Football and the Field portion of Track & Field.
Yesterday, I took in the final home match for Varsity Tennis, with players ranging from eighth grader Eli Sundheim in the number two spot to seniors Brian Jaeger, Lionel Muench and Leon Wang in competitive matches, all of which Hastings won (5-0). In addition, senior Dash Dolgins won an exhibition match. Recent alumni cheered on their former teammates and then joined a raucous “elimination game;” the “young testing the old” with powerful groundstrokes and overhead smashes. Fast, loud and fun…Hastings spirit, yes!
Among many standouts this Spring, special mention goes to Kieran McGrath for being named as this week’s Lohud Player of the Week. To quote the tribute, “The junior third baseman was a bright spot in victory or defeat for the Yellow Jackets, safely hitting in each of their three games this past week. He played a big part in their wins over Bronxville and rival Dobbs Ferry, collecting three doubles and six RBIs in the winning effort.”
Cultural Recognition: Jewish American Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month is commemorated in May. As I did last year, I am raising up this cultural recognition for all Hastings students, staff and families. Especially in May 2024, we must reflect on, cherish and embrace the deep and far-reaching impact of Jewish Americans on Hastings, our region and Nation. On April 30, the White House released A Proclamation on Jewish American Heritage Month, 2024. Consider the opening, “For centuries, the perseverance, hope, and unshakeable faith of the Jewish people have inspired people around the world. During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on our Nation’s character and recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Jewish Americans.” Turn as well to the Smithsonian and its partners for a plethora of resources on Jewish American Heritage Month, bringing to life “the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society.”
I would ask that you take a personal step by considering how every day you can act to respect and honor the dignity of Jewish Americans, as you should for every person you know or meet. Dig deeper now in that consideration, deeper than you have before. Start close to home, here in Hastings, in our classrooms, in our schools, in your neighborhood. Look around to see what you might learn from your classmates, fellow educators or neighbors.
For my part, I turned to Kai Dirksen, who as a junior is one of several HHS musicians exploring, performing and improvising the rich tradition of Klezmer music. “Klezmer music has its origins in Europe among the Ashkenazi Jews. The word is a Yiddish contraction of the Hebrew words for instrument (kley) and song (zemer). This traditional folk music borrows inspiration from music from the synagogue, Roma peoples, European folk music, and even classical music.” (Boston Public Library, October 31, 2019)
Kai provided me with links to recent performances by their group, Chutzpah-on-Hudson, featuring Kai (vocals), Natalie Garson (clarinet), Sofia Eliasi (violin) and Jasper Zimmerman (piano). Listen, think and ultimately celebrate–this is Hastings, reaching across cultures and varied histories to foster dignity and respect, especially at a time when so many seem to have lost touch with that fundamental human value.
- "The Love Me or Die" by C.W. Stoneking
- "Man in a Hat" by The Klezmatics
- "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" by They Might Be Giants, performed with the High School Jazz Band
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
May 3, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
May oh May, May is here.
Writing every other week, with the added frenzy of our closing two months, I put you at risk of trying to drink from a fire hose of information with today’s letter. To help manage the flow, I segment the topics into Reminders (three), Student Impact (four), Essential Wellness Update (one) and Cultural Recognition (one).
Wetsuit on? Goggles tight? Ready, read!
Reminder I: Key Dates for 2024-25 Budget
May is the pivotal month for the Recommended 2024-25 Budget. To be prepared, please review the Budget Page on the website for detailed budget information, including the complete Budget Book, related presentations, and FAQs.
The School Budget and Trustee Vote is on May 21, which is the last step in formalizing the 2024-25 Budget. Please make note of these key dates and activities leading up to May 21:
- Public Hearing for 2024-Budget – May 7, 2024 (6:00 p.m., Lecture Room, Farragut MS)
- PTSA/SEPTA Superintendent Budget Forum – May 8, 2024 (7:00 p.m., Hillside Multipurpose Room)
- Budget Newsletter Mailed to all Village Residents – May 8, 2024
- Budget & Trustee Vote – May 21, 2024
Please participate in this fundamental part of our democracy. You will be acting on a beautifully phrased passion (and a caution) of the late E.B. White:
I believe in freedom with the same burning delight, the same faith, the same intense abandon which attended its birth on this continent more than a century and half ago. I am writing my declaration rapidly, much as though I were shaving to catch a train…I just want to tell, before I get slowed down, that I am in love with freedom and that it is an affair of long standing and that it is a fine state to be in… (E.B. White, “Freedom,” Harper’s Magazine, September 1940; One Man’s Meat, Harper & Bros., 1942; On Democracy, Ed. Martha White, Ed., Harper Collins, 2019).
Reminder II: Extended Memorial Day Weekend
It appears likely that we will not use the remaining three inclement weather days, meaning that we will be implementing the previously announced plan to extend Memorial Day Weekend by two days. As listed in the Revised 2023-24 School Calendar, we will be closed on Friday, May 24, Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28, 2024. While we are talking school calendar, please note that the final day of school will be Tuesday, June 25, 2024. If Mother Nature throws a weather curveball prior to these days off, you will hear from us promptly regarding an updated schedule.
Reminder III: Official Instagram Account Launches for the District
To increase visibility in the Hastings community and showcase our many student programs and district happenings, we have extended our social media reach with the launch of an official Instagram account. This is an exciting step forward in our communication efforts. Click here to follow us and stay connected.
Student Impact I: HHS Spring Concert – More Glory
Dr. Melissa Szymanski shared with me an uplifting and personal (as a former performing artist) reflection on last evening's HHS Spring Concert.
Kudos to our high school student vocalists and instrumental musicians who showcased their exceptional talent during last night’s spring concert. The evening included selections from a variety of different genres, filling the theater with joyful ska, lilting classical pieces, lively bluegrass, a meditative minimalistic piece, contemporary favorites, and more. The eclectic repertoire included tunes ranging from They Might Be Giant’s Istanbul to the “good and pleasing” Hineh Ma Tov in Hebrew to Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay. Pieces arranged by our very own Jasper Zimmerman were strong highlights of the featured repertoire.
HHS Jazz band opened the show masterfully, offering the audience a strong selection- including a final piece that fused jazz with the klezmer talents of the student performing group Chutzpah-on-Hudson. HHS Madrigals followed with a textured performance integrating a cappella, music sung in a round and gesture. String Sinfonia, student-performed and student-facilitated, was deftly synchronized and technically precise. HHS Band was energetic, mighty and tackled a challenging trio of pieces. HHS Chorus surprised the audience (and Mr. Riss!) with a particularly professional, poised entrance. Their stunning performance of Lacrymosa brought me back to youthful days of performing the piece as a former soprano with my own high school chorus. Finally, the HHS Orchestra did an exceptional job with bowing, plucking, and creating an earworm- as evidenced by audience participation!
In a beautiful grand finale, senior vocalists joined the full orchestra. Our graduating students got wrapped up in the moment, wrapped around each other, and wrapped up the evening. Following a standing ovation, everything came up roses. Thank you to our wonderful students and music faculty for creating such a special experience!
Student Impact II: Academic Challenge A Team – National Champions
Last weekend, Hastings’ Academic Challenge A Team traveled to Chicago to compete with over 80 schools in the NAQT Small School National Tournament. Their record was 17-0, overwhelming opponents on their way to winning the competition. Four seniors comprise the team: Benny Feldman (Captain), Hazel DePreist-Sullivan, Owen Linder and Jacob Goldman-Wetzler.
I talked with Benny earlier this week about the keys to the team’s remarkable success. I was struck by the sophisticated crafting of a coherent, seamless team from tactical specialization across disciplines (History, Chemistry, Geography, Literature, Physics and beyond). Also paramount, their work ethic: they spent countless hours the past year refining their knowledge, expertise and how to draw on it in high pressure competitions. Not to be overlooked is that they have been together as budding intellectuals since third grade. Benny shared a summary with me:
We just competed in and won the Small School National Championship Tournament (Traditional Public Schools Division). We not only won, but we won handedly, putting up the most dominant performance of all-time for an SSNCT winner, establishing ourselves as the consensus most dominant school in the country at our size. This was not dumb luck; our team collectively studies for hours a day, but more than that, the four of us coordinate our efforts and play a team game. What I mean by that is that we divide up all categories of academic learning, separately specialize, and communicate with each other when playing the game about who talks when and who knows what. We take pride in the fact that we’ve “sportified” quiz bowl and it has pulled off massively this year. Now, we turn our focus to broader nationals on Memorial Day Weekend in Atlanta, where we hope to finish in top form as well.
Student Impact III: Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund Grant
On Earth Day (April 22), Mayor Armacost announced exciting news, which I pass on with enthusiasm since it represents a wonderful partnership between the Mayor and Hastings students.
The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson has been selected as one of 101 municipalities around the world (29 are in North America) to receive a $50K grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund. We are to use the award to distribute small microgrants to youth (ages 15 to 24) who submit compelling proposals that address climate change. The grant program is an initiative under the Mayor’s Climate Youth Council (founded by Mia Christie and Aynsley Zamore, Hastings High School students). There is a dedicated webpage (see HERE), where you can find the application form. The deadline for submissions is May 22 – we can’t wait to see what you come up with! (Mayor Niki Armacost, April 22, 2024.)
Student Impact IV: BOE Student Liaisons Going on the Road
Student BOE Liaisons Elianna Carvalho and Kai Dirksen have been invited to speak at the annual meeting and dinner of the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association (WPSBA) on June 3, 2024. Karen Belanger, Executive Director of WPSBA, observed Elianna and Kai virtually and wrote to me saying, “Having seen both of them on video in the boardroom, I was impressed and believe they would be great ambassadors for Hastings and for the potential for student members of the Board…I am hoping that they might be available to give the student perspective on Board service.”
Simply put, this is a big compliment for Hastings, the BOE, Elianna and Kai, as well as their predecessors, who served such that we have maintained this important student voice on the Board. Mr. Alex Dal Piaz and I will join Elianna and Kai at the event to lend support, even though they are proven performers “on the road.”
Essential Wellness Update: Youth Needs Assessment Survey 2023 Report
Every two years, the WAY (Working Alliance for Youth) Coalition conducts a survey of Hastings 8th, 10th and 12th graders to assess alcohol and other substance use prevalence rates and related factors. Linda Fosina, Coalition Coordinator, presented the results of the Youth Needs Assessment Survey 2003 Report at Tuesday’s BOE Meeting. We now have four sets of data (March 2017, April 2019, December 2021 and November 2023), providing the start of a longitudinal understanding of student behaviors. Conducted electronically, the survey was completed by 90 percent (348 out of 387) of 8th, 10th and 12th graders. The WAY Coalition uses the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, which is used across communities nationally.
Ms. Fosina succinctly summarized this year’s notable strengths and areas that remain a challenge.
Strengths:
- In 10th and 12th grade, alcohol use increased only slightly from 2021 levels (taken during Covid) and remains below the levels seen in 2017 and 2019.
- Binge drinking decreased in 8th and 12th grade, and although it increased slightly in 10th, remains below 2017/2019 levels.
- Marijuana use decreased in 8th and 10th grade.
- E-cigarette use decreased in 12th grade and is less than half of the highest use rate found in 2019.
- In 8th grade, use of marijuana, cigarettes and E-cigarettes are low.
- No student in 10th grade reports prescription drug misuse, and the 8th & 12th grade rates are low.
- Perceptions of risk have increased for each grade across all substances.
- Most students believe their friends think it is wrong for them to smoke cigarettes or misuse prescription drugs.
- Most students think their parents disapprove of them using any substance.
Challenges:
- Alcohol use rates doubled from 10th to 12th grade.
- Marijuana use increased in 12th grade.
- Most 12th grade students do not perceive marijuana use as harmful and use becomes more and more socially acceptable for each grade.
- Perception of parental disapproval of all drug use is high but is lowest for marijuana use in 12th grade.
- Students who drink report drinking alcohol primarily at parties, but also at home with parent’s permission.
- Students who report using marijuana are most likely to do it at an open outdoor area, followed by at someone’s home.
- Although no students report alcohol use at school, a small number (3% - 5%) report using marijuana and e-cigarettes at school during the day.
Ms. Fosina’s presentation ends with recommended next steps regarding educational support and intervention programs. Several administrators and staff will sit with Ms. Fosina this summer to develop an action plan for bolstering Hastings strengths and mitigating the challenges. We will share a draft of the plan with the BOE and community in Fall 2024. Comparative data regionally and nationally is not included in this presentation. We will follow up with comparisons in the fall.
A personal note matters at this point: since starting my career in 1981 at Northfield Mount Hermon School, I have been committed to open conversations about student decisions regarding alcohol and other substance use. All those years ago, many schools and communities were not willing to share information, insights or the facts about student substance use. I was weaned differently as an educator–I was taught to believe that light and air around these issues is the best path to helping students make healthy choices. My commitment to openness has continued for over 40 years, so I was pleased when arriving in Hastings to find the partnership with the WAY Coalition, and especially the biennial survey. Going into next year, I intend to extend the partnership and the use of longitudinal data and information to provide stronger education and support for students.
Cultural Recognition: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. “It is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have played in enriching America's history and ensuring its future success.” Please make time this month to explore the rich impact of Asian/Pacific Americans on your life and our community. The Smithsonian and its partners are superb resources—see their dedicated website for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Alternatively, you might explore through a friend, family, an activity, an event, reading, music, food or sport.
Let me prime the pump by turning to Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo'ole, who died at 38 of respiratory failure in 1997. NPR journalist Renee Montagne, in a March 9, 2011 remembrance entitled, “The Voice of Hawaii,” described Mr. Kamakawiwo'ole as “one of the most beloved singers in the history of Hawaiian music.” Most notable was his version of “Over the Rainbow,” which was released in November 1993 on Facing Future, sparking the album to be the best selling of all time by a Hawaiian artist. Montagne continues, “In Hawaii, we talk about this thing we call mana," says musician Del Beazley, who grew up with Israel and wrote two of his songs. "Mana is like an energy that you get. We believe we get ours from the elements first, the Earth, your sky, your ocean, your God, and all that is inside of us. And when we open our mouths to speak, to sing or to play, that's what we let out. But it's that that makes him [Israel] special, because his mana always came out."
My brother played IZ’s “Over the Rainbow” for me in 1994 soon after returning from one of his medical treks to Nepal—showing off his far-flung passion for music and people of the world. I will never forget that moment. Maybe you have listened a thousand times to the song, maybe not. Either way, take a listen now.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
April 19, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Heading into a long weekend in recognition of Passover, I am sending a Friday letter replete with important technical updates and a review of good stuff from my recent walkabouts (getting out to see and hear students).
Technical Update I: 2024-25 Budget Adopted
The Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously on Tuesday evening to adopt the Recommended 2024-25 Budget. Please peruse the dedicated Budget Page on the website for detailed budget information, including the complete Budget Book, related presentations, and FAQs. (The details do matter, so please take time to review the materials.)
A main reason for the budget securing unanimous approval from the BOE is the excellent work of our faculty, staff, and administrators–with full focus on the success of all students. The recommended budget will enable the continuation of vital academic, co-curricular and support programs for all students. The budget also should be deemed affordable by Hastings residents–a vital balancing act for school districts dependent on community wherewithal. Please join me in thanking Maureen Caraballo and team for detailed work with the Leadership Team and many faculty in crafting a well-reasoned and efficient budget
We now head towards the Village Budget and Trustee Vote on May 21, which is the last step in formalizing the 2024-25 Budget. Please make note of these key dates and activities:
- Public Hearing for 2024-Budget – May 7, 2024 (6:00 p.m., Lecture Room, Farragut MS)
- PTSA/SEPTA Superintendent Budget Forum – May 8, 2024 (7:00 p.m., Hillside All-Purpose Room)
- Budget Newsletter Mailed to all Village Residents – May 8, 2024
- Budget & Trustee Vote – May 21, 2024
Technical Update II: Bond Development Continues
Separate from the Recommended Budget for 2024-25 is work on a potential new Capital Bond. I provided an overview of the Capital Bond process in the March 15, 2024 Community Letter. To review, we are aiming to bring a recommended Capital Bond to Hastings voters by late Fall 2024 to provide funding for infrastructure and facility improvements critical to advancing the quality of curricular and extracurricular programs. PBDW Architects, the same firm which guided the Hillside expansion and renovations, has been retained to develop a detailed Master Plan for the entire Farragut Complex (FMS and HHS). Including intensive site documentation and programming analysis, the Master Plan will be the most comprehensive consideration yet of what will be required for an optimal teaching environment in the Farragut Complex, grades 5-12. As expected, PBDW is completing a preliminary plan in time for review this spring by the BOE Facility Committee, a new Facility Advisory Committee (currently being established, inclusive of parents and community members) and the full BOE. We will also provide an opportunity for FMS and HHS faculty and administrators to review the preliminary plan with PBDW before summer vacation. The outreach and meeting schedule will be communicated in early May.
Technical Update III: Technology Advisory Committee
We have formed a Technology Advisory Committee of administrators, faculty, staff, two BOE members and high school students. The Committee had an organizational meeting last month, will meet two more times before summer vacation and will continue to operate through at least the next school year. The charge for the Committee is to consider critical issues and potential solutions for ensuring a highly effective, educationally sound, safe and secure approach to the use of technology to bolster learning and management functions. We have been receiving questions about a range of topics including, optimizing the extent of curriculum, incorporating digital resources into lessons and teaching; device types and provision for instruction; mobile phone use: screen time; social media use; Internet security; safety precautions for students; algorithmic targeting; and, parent, student and faculty education about mental, emotional, physical health impact of digital devices and social media. The Committee will take these questions and issues into consideration in developing a phased inquiry and work plan for the next 18 months. We will provide an update at the final BOE meeting in June 2024.
Walkabout Highlights
Walkabout: an informal stroll among a crowd conducted by an important visitor (Oxford English Dictionary).
My definition: an informal stroll bringing me to a crowd of Hastings educational endeavors. Several strolling highlights from the last two weeks…
Urinetown
Hastings High School's musical production of Urinetown was a jump-about, skip-about…an event inspiring energy far beyond a stroll. It was a special send-off for 27 graduating senior cast members, many of whom have performed in shows since fourth grade. Each of the three performances thoroughly entertained audiences, igniting conversations about social and political issues. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for a spectacular success. I shared the following note with the students Sunday evening:
Just finished applauding the closing show for the HHS Theatre Program’s remarkable “Urinetown.” Backbone of 27 seniors, most together doing theater since 4th grade. Spirit, dedication and talent are all woven with love. Truly. Thank you for sharing your extraordinary gifts with us.
Special thanks to the Directors and Coordinators for guiding the cast and crew with expertise and care: Laurie Walton, Bob Walton, Gillian Husovsky and Phyllis Udice. The latest Hastings Happenings (April 18, 2024) provides a colorful summary of the production complete with photos taken by Audrey deWys.
Varsity Baseball & Softball
Several weeks ago, I recommended getting out to see our spring athletes in action. I “walked my talk” the past two weeks, taking in, among other contests, Varsity Baseball and Varsity Softball. The athletes and coaches know best the final scores; what I focused on was the serious level of play across both fields, and the strong support from families and faculty. Each team has individual standouts, yet it was the full team spirit that was paramount. Kudos to the athletes, families, and, I must add, our Facilities Department for having the fields in fine condition. A special nod to Varsity Baseball’s Head Coach Dom Cecere and Assistant Coach Brendan O’Sullivan, as well as to Varsity Softball’s Head Coach Kaitlin Degnan and Assistant Coach Matthew Adipietro.
Science Research
Last month, I featured seniors Justin Baldassarre and Miles Hamilton for ranking among the top 20 of 714 students at the recent Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF), securing their place at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (May 11 - May 17, 2024, in Los Angeles), where they will compete against 1,800 students from over 75 countries.
I strolled back into their arena of excellence this week by attending the WESEF Board dinner honoring the 20 students who made it to the International Science Fair. Dr. Melissa Szymanski and I were on hand to applaud Justin, Miles and their parents. A highlight was hearing “one minute elevator speeches” on their rigorous, path-breaking research. As summarized by Melissa Shandroff, Science Research teacher extraordinaire, “Miles did work at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory on core samples from the Pacific Ocean and used foraminifera as a proxy for determining past ocean temperatures. Justin spent the summer at the University of Michigan and found some of the earliest markers of ovarian cancer, which actually starts in the fallopian tubes.”
Hastings, it cannot be overstated how significant this accomplishment is by Justin and Miles, and what it symbolizes about the faculty fostering true intellectual curiosity in many of our students. Kudos to Melissa Shandroff for creating robust learning opportunities.
AP Art Show
Cory Merchant and Lorienne Solaski shared the following reflections with me this morning, providing a robust interpretation of what I witnessed last evening at the show’s opening.
If you are looking for the Portrait of a Hastings Learner framework distilled into its purest form, you will find it at the AP Art Show. Let's take it one attribute at a time:
· Bold: AP Art and AP Photo students are regularly taking creative risks as a fundamental part of our process of experimentation and revision. This is just as true when talking about their ideas as it is when discussing their work. They are also responsible for carefully documenting the growth and maturation of their investigations as they go, which requires constant self-reflection and assessment.
· Collaborative: These students engage in lengthy critiques where they actively seek and provide constructive feedback to each other about their ideas and the direction of their work. These critiques typically occur monthly and can last up to three class meetings in a row. They also engage in a group critique in a heterogenous group of students from both classes during midterm testing week, when they get fresh ideas and hear from new voices.
· Empathetic: We encourage our students, when generating ideas for new work, to think about those things intrinsically important to them. It is often these foundational components of their individual identities that inspire the best work and motivate the students most. We see investigations into heritage, body image, anxieties, mental health, and many other similar topics. It is never easy for these students to make work inspired by these kinds of feelings, much less to discuss these topics with their peers. Oftentimes, the hardest work is the work most worth doing.
· Empowered: The AP Art classrooms are visual research labs. We are there simply to facilitate the students' experimentations and provide a safe and equitable environment for the steady completion of work. These students take responsibility for their own experience, and advocate for themselves and their needs each and every time we see them. It is not a byproduct of anything we have done, as their teachers, but rather a necessity for a reflective and constructive work environment.
· Inquisitive: From the moment we meet with the AP students to discuss the summer assignment, the reins are handed off to the students. We encourage them to think very carefully about those things that are important to them, the things that they consider to be foundational parts of their identities and personalities. The Sustained Investigation, to use the College Board's verbiage, requires an Inquiry. We make it clear, even from the earliest moments, that an inquiry is a question. You cannot hope to investigate something if there is no question to be asked. We also often refer to the Scientific Method when speaking with students about how an investigation should be structured. An experiment starts with a question, and then a hypothesis. Throughout the school year we test our hypotheses, and when we finally hang the AP Art Show and submit the AP exams, we see the fruits of their labor.
· Inventive: If you happened to see the show, you would see just how inventive our students have been this year. Students attacked their investigations through hand-built ceramics, alternative darkroom printing processes, video installation pieces, sculptures, drawings and paintings on atypical surfaces, collages, digital paintings, diptychs, and triptychs, and more.
If you did not get to see the show, mark it on your calendar for next year. It is truly a remarkable and singular experience. We also invite you to the MS/HS Art Show in May. The AP work may not be on display at that time, but you will still see a wide breadth of examples of the Portrait of a Hastings Learner on display.
AP Computer Science Principles
This morning, I strolled into Sorin Mihalcescu’s AP Coding class. Each of the dozen students gave me a brief overview of one of the digital games, processes, tools or tasks they have created through coding. The work is real and sophisticated, requiring knowledge and thinking across mathematics and other subjects, including AP Biology work for a couple of students. Nearly all students noted how they plan to use their emerging coding expertise in their college studies. As I strolled out, I said to the class, “I leave at once impressed and humbled, your work is intellectually beyond me. Well done!”
For Other Strolling Moments…
Please turn to this week’s Hastings Happenings for other stops on my recent walkabouts. Through the good reporting of Jackie Saviano, you will get a taste for the spirit, dedication and good work of many Hastings students and faculty. In my words, “a crowd of Hastings educational endeavors.”
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
April 5, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
A trilogy of letters this week from me–a rare necessity. On Wednesday, I sent out guidelines for the Solar Eclipse; yesterday, I shared an update on the retirement of two long-serving administrators; today, the standard bi-weekly Friday letter arrives, with attention to the budget process, my week of classes with fifth graders, and a nod to spring sports and performing arts.
Step Three in the Budget Process
On Wednesday evening, the Board of Education (BOE) heard the third of three major presentations on the Recommended 2024-25 School Budget. The presentation focused on the status of the district’s Reserve Funds and the Five-Year Projected Budget, both of which NYS requires be reviewed by school boards during their annual budget deliberations. A simple summary of a necessarily complex and detailed presentation is that the district’s fiscal foundation is solid, with carefully managed reserve funds and conservative projections for balanced budgets over the next five years. However, the presentation made clear that we are entering several years of significant external pressures on both revenues and expenses, which require us to be cautious to efficiently match student needs with personnel and programs. For the coming school year, with the proposed budget, we can maintain all priority programs and services for students, but only because we have identified reductions not directly affecting students and optimizing the deployment of personnel relative to student need. The details on these broad statements are included in the budget presentations posted on the website.
Following Wednesday’s meeting, in response to BOE and community questions, we have launched the annual Budget FAQ on the district website, which will be updated regularly with new questions and responses. The first iteration focuses on questions about the proposed 0.4 FTE adjustment to the number of faculty in the music program. We provide detailed information in response to a series of questions as to courses, ensembles and lessons offered this year and planned for next year, including enrollment levels and designated faculty. The conclusion is that all programs and opportunities for students this year in music will be continued in the new school year. As I stressed Wednesday at the BOE meeting, we will monitor the music program next year as to enrollment in each offering, the optimal load for faculty, and the experience for students.
At its April 16 meeting, the BOE will complete its deliberations regarding the recommended budget and vote. While each BOE meeting has included opportunities for public comment on the budget, a Formal Budget Hearing will be held ahead of the BOE’s May 7th meeting. Ultimately, the budget is not final until adopted by Hastings residents through the Budget and BOE Trustee vote on May 21.
A Ride into Historical Poetry
For the second year in a row, I spent much of the first week of April leading full period lessons in each fifth-grade class on the meaning and purpose of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1860). The version of Longfellow’s poem we used is illustrated and curated by Christopher Bing (Handprint Books, 2001); chosen for the powerful images Bing creates to convey the essential messages and themes of Longfellow’s epic work.
The 40-minute lesson opens with a quick connection back to my fourth grade reading with the students, allowing me to say, “I am back to have fun, but to challenge you more by digging into history portrayed in an epic poem.” We then set the stage by discussing “what is a poem” (the wording, phrasing, content and mood), “who was Paul Revere” (myth versus facts), and the timing and message of Longfellow’s poem (written on April 5, 1860, as the Civil War loomed, to honor the events of April 18, 1775 that led immediately to the American Revolution, and to warn of the risk of a war that could divide a nation formed some 80 years earlier).
With the suggestion of Mr. Wynne, and wonderful support from each teacher, students volunteered to read aloud Longfellow’s evocative pages. We stopped at key points to check on the themes and messages emerging in the words and images on each page. Kudos to the students for stepping up willingly to read unrehearsed “words and phrases, circa 1860.” Not an easy go.
We closed in small groups studying a map of the “facts about Paul Revere’s ride.” (You will find a copy of the map we used at the end of the presentation linked above.) My simple question: “Tell me who got where on the ride?” (The map tracks three riders and the fast-moving British.) Wrapping up, we discussed the heroic nature of Paul Revere, even though he did not ride alone nor make the full ride, as the poem and myth say. Concluding that Revere was a hero, but with more complexity than the inherited story conveys, we landed on what Longfellow set out to do in 1860:
“On the eve of the Civil War, create an American Myth and Patriotic Legend, feeding America's delight in the hero or heroine who battles alone against all odds” (Bing); providing us, “A cry of defiance and not of fear…and a word that shall echo for evermore…in the hour of darkness and peril and need…the midnight message of Paul Revere” (Longfellow).
Families of our fifth graders: be proud of what I witnessed this week in each class, where budding scholars grappled with fundamental literature and history, actively and openly seeking new insights and knowledge. A big thank you to their teachers: Ms. Brennan & Ms. Gray, Ms. Case & Ms. Gamble, Ms. Kavanagh, Ms. Schnall, Ms. Smith and Ms. Wolk-Kilion.
Spring Sports Have Sprung
Spring Sports season is officially underway. Our talented student-athletes and coaches have been eagerly preparing to represent Hastings with pride and determination. Now is the perfect time to show your support by attending the games and cheering on our Hastings Yellowjackets. Click here for the Spring Weekly Practice & Game Schedule.
Spring Performing Arts on the Horizon
Get ready to be entertained by the Hastings High School Musical Production of Urinetown, a satirical musical comedy that promises to captivate audiences of all ages. Mark your calendars for performances on Friday, April 12 & Saturday, April 13 at 7:00 pm, and a special matinee performance on Sunday, April 14 at 2:00 pm. You can purchase your tickets here. I personally plan on attending the matinee performance on Sunday to witness the incredible talent showcased by our Hastings High School performers. It is also worth noting that on opening night (April 12) Hastings K.I.D.S will be collecting food donations for the Hastings Food Pantry, further demonstrating our community's commitment to supporting one another.
To go full circle, I leave you with an eclipse song, written by Katie Concra, Hillside Music Teacher, and performed by several classes she formed into a “lab choir.”
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
March 22, 2024
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March 15, 2024 - Pending New Capital Bond
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Today I will write briefly on a big topic. As promised last week, I am sharing an update on the status of the pending capital bond.
Capital Improvements 101
For all NYS school districts, it is standard to have money allocated each year in the operating budget to address facility needs. In addition, districts issue bond referendums for larger capital needs that have been identified through five-year facilities assessments (required by NYS), as well as targeted capital projects for instructional needs. More precisely, annual operating budgets are designed to cover costs incurred in a given year, whereas a capital bond is designed to match a term of costs more fairly with the longer-term use of a building, field, or other capital improvement.
Capital bonds are essential to ensuring school districts provide educational facilities and grounds conducive to high-quality teaching and learning in a safe, secure and up-to-date educational environment. Hastings has secured capital bonds judiciously for many years, the most recent of which provided for the impressive renovations of Hillside Elementary School, the FMS Auditorium, and the Music Rehearsal Rooms in FMS/HHS.
Pending New Capital Bond
For over six months, the administration has been conferring with the Board of Education (BOE) about the critical district needs which would be appropriate as part of a new capital bond. Broadly speaking, the pending bond would address significant educational space needs in FMS/HHS, building systems updates, as well as insufficient playing fields relative to increased demand from students and the community, especially given the negative impact of heavy precipitation on field availability.
We originally aimed to bring a capital bond proposal to the BOE this spring for approval. However, we have modified our pace and planning to make sure that we are bringing forth a well-conceived and researched proposal, especially from a multi-year perspective. As part of this, we have taken additional steps to analyze both the educational space needs for FMS/HHS and to consider the most effective way to solve our playing field problems, most likely with a mixed model of grass and artificial turf surfaces. We are consulting with a range of experts regarding both the educational space and playing field needs.
FMS/HHS Master Planning
Regarding FMS/HHS, we have drawn on the talents of PBDW Architects, the same firm which guided Hastings with the Hillside expansion and renovations. PBDW has been retained to develop a detailed Master Plan, including Site Documentation and Programming Analysis. The first portion of the plan is due by the end of April. PBDW has provided the following summary of their Master Planning process.
HOH UFSD is undergoing a Master Planning process for the Farragut Complex. The Farragut Complex, housing Farragut Middle School and Hastings High School and encompassing grades 5-12 with a collective student body of approximately 1,100 students, has previously undertaken a number of small projects over the years, both for maintenance work to care for the existing school building, and as renovation work as a result of annual re-organizational strategies. Due to a number of space and flexibility concerns, disparate department locations, and the need to accommodate additional class sections within the existing building, the district is looking to better understand and resolve the Complex’s organizational bottlenecks, and evaluate their additional space needs to align with their evolving programmatic goals.
The District architects are evaluating the efficiency of program space allocation to identify inefficiencies and opportunities within the existing building footprint in order to maximize use of the building. The Master Planning process aims to align the evolving programmatic goals of HOH UFSD/Portrait of a Hastings Learner with the needs and development of the supporting building spaces. The architects will ultimately provide conceptual studies for space reallocation within the existing building and study a possible addition to the existing building.
The Master Plan will serve as a guide about how to make informed decisions and sequence capital projects in alignment with the school’s needs and goals. By taking a holistic look at space utilization across all programs in the 190,000 sf Farragut Complex, the master planning guide will help to minimize the occurrence of reactive and redundant work. It will help to address new pedagogical thinking and how to accommodate that within the school district. It will address not only immediate needs, but also provide a framework of a forward-looking plan for the long-term projected needs and aspirations of the District.
Next Steps
With the first report from PBDW in hand, the BOE and administration will map out the next phase of concept design for FMS/HHS. Parallel to this work, the administration is analyzing playing field options, which will be woven into the FMS/HHS Master Plan to shape the recommended capital bond. Our anticipated timing is to have the BOE review the final capital bond plan to allow for referendum on the proposed bond in Fall 2024.
Prior to the final plan being adopted, there will be opportunities for community input. For instance, the BOE’s review of each element of the bond process is conducted as part of their regular public meetings and public sessions of the BOE Facility Committee. All sessions are conducted in public. Meeting agendas are posted in advance with specific notation if the pending bond will be a topic.
We will continue to keep Hastings families and staff informed about the development and final decisions on the new capital bond. Questions may always be submitted to my office (mckersiew@hohschools.org) or to Maureen Caraballo, Business Official (caraballom@hohschools.org).
Be well.
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March 7, 2024
March 7, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
This Friday letter arrives on a Thursday, to give prompt attention to two important updates on the school calendar–for this year and next year. I then shift to a reminder about the Third Annual Poetry Challenge. I close with an introduction to a letter I will send next week on budget and capital bond planning.
Today’s letter must be read; it is dry, technical stuff, but essential to every student, staff member and family. It tells us when to be in school, when not to be in school, and why.
Final Plan – Inclement Weather Give-Back Days 2023-24
To review, the 2023-24 School Calendar includes six emergency closure days (inclement weather days). Per agreement with the Hastings Teachers Association, we “give-back” any unused inclement weather days. School is closed for both students and employees on these days.
On Tuesday evening (3.5.24), the Board of Education (BOE) approved the “give-back” plan for this year. Here is the plan:
- To date we have used three Inclement Weather Days: December 18, 2023; January 16, 2024; and February 13, 2024.
- Anticipating that we will not use all three of the remaining days, we will "give-back" days as follows:
- Friday, May 24, 2024 - Fully Closed - Memorial Day Weekend Extended
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024 - Fully Closed - Memorial Day Weekend Extended
- Wednesday, June 26, 2024 - No School - Last Day of School would be June 25.
- The three selected days are as late in the school year as possible and extend existing school breaks. This approach allows teachers to plan and minimize impact on instructional time. It also should help families plan ahead.
- The 2023-24 School Calendar has been updated to show the "give-back" days.
- If we have to use any of the remaining Inclement Weather Days, we will reduce the "give-back" days in this order: May 28, May 24 and June 26. (That order is correct: we would subtract the May 28 date before the May 24). Any changes would be communicated to staff, students, and families.
Lastly, families should understand that building administrators have been working with the faculty to plan for the reduced instructional time. We want to ensure students have ample time to prepare for end-of-year assignments, course tests and Regents. Students and parents should be in touch with the relevant teacher with questions about preparing for assignments, tests, and exams.
Final Decision – 2024-25 School Calendar
The BOE approved the 2024-25 School Calendar on Tuesday evening (3.5.24). The decision was based on the standard two-step review process. The BOE had its first read on January 23 and its second read on March 5. Students, staff, and parents should study the school calendar and prepare your plans for next year accordingly. Here are several highlights:
- The first day of school will be September 3, 2024.
- The Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 27) will have an early release at 1:00 p.m. modified slightly to reflect HES, FMS, and HHS schedules-details to follow).
- The Holiday Recess will be two weeks (December 23 - January 6).
- HHS Graduation will be June 18, 2025.
- The last day of school will be June 27, 2025.
For background on the considerations that led us to the 2024-25 School Calendar, please see the memorandum to the BOE on February 27, 2024.
Reminder – Third Annual Hastings Poetry Challenge
On February 2, I announced the Third Annual Hastings Poetry Challenge, once again challenging Hastings’ students and staff to share their poems for public consumption. Poetry is a powerful form of expression.
Good news: poems are being submitted, and we want more. The deadline is Friday, March 15. Please send your poems electronically to me (mckersiew@hohschools.org) and Melissa DeLaBarrera (delabarreram@hohschools.org). We will share them in a digital format during National Poetry Month (April 2024).
Last year’s Poetry Challenge resulted in nearly 30 poems from middle and high school students, which we shared in a digital compendium. In Spring 2022, six poems were submitted. Each year, the poems range in topic, style, message, and imagery–as is poetry’s want.
Hastings, write early, often, and freely.
Advance Notice: Special Letter on Budget and Capital Bond
Next week, I will send out a letter with details on the work underway by the BOE and administration on the proposed budget for 2024-25 and emerging plans for a new capital bond. The BOE started reviewing the proposed budget this week, with the first presentation by the administration at Tuesday’s BOE Meeting (3.5.24). For now, everyone should focus on two overarching points about the proposed budget:
- We are proposing a modest year-to-year delta of 3.53% in budget growth, which is below most comparable districts in the region.
- Most importantly, we will continue to provide robust educational, extracurricular and support programs–advancing the growth of all students.
We also are working on a potential capital bond, which may be brought to Hastings’ voters in Fall 2024. Please look for the detailed update next week.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
February 19, 2024 - Presidents' Day & Lunar New Year Edition
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
As we start into our Mid-Winter Recess, I am sending a special edition of my Community Letter. I know that many Hastings students, staff and families are away, and may not see this letter for several days. Nevertheless, I want to raise up two significant aspects of this week, neither of which I addressed in my 2.16.24 Friday Letter.
Presidents’ Day 2.19.24
Presidents’ Day, which for my generation is recalled as Washington’s Birthday, now is a shared recognition for President Washington’s Birthday (February 22) and President Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12). My generation also recalls a separate day for Lincoln, especially if you were a youth in the Land of Lincoln (Illinois), as I was. Rightly so, the lead for Presidents’ Day falls to Washington.
Americans began celebrating George Washington’s Birthday just months after his death, long before Congress declared it a federal holiday. It was not until 1879, under President Rutherford B. Hayes, that Washington’s Birthday became a legal holiday, to be observed on his birthday, February 22. Washington’s birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th century. In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to “provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” By creating more three-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.”
In a sense, calling the holiday Presidents’ Day helps us reflect on not just the first president but also our Nation’s founding, its values, and what Washington calls in his Farewell Address the “beloved Constitution and union, as received from the Founders.” Also, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is in February (on the 12th), so by calling the holiday “Presidents’ Day,” we can also include another remarkable president in our celebrations (Farmer’s Almanac, February 18, 2024).
As we in Hastings refresh, relax and recharge, take a moment to consider the leadership and legacy of Washington and Lincoln. Far from perfect, Washington and Lincoln nevertheless guided our Nation into formation, and held our Nation together, when complex and seemingly insurmountable forces sought, often brutally, to divide us. In 2024, we would be wise to draw on the resilience of Washington and Lincoln. We need their persistent ethical and moral dedication to the constitution and democracy.
The Lunar New Year
A diverse Nation we are, with the daily need to consider and embrace how diversity in all ways makes us a stronger people. For sure, Washington and Lincoln struggled with how to lead with full respect for diversity, yet, ultimately, they advanced the concepts of freedom and dignity for all Americans. Yes, we still are striving to make those concepts real and far-reaching, but they were assured a future life by Washington and Lincoln.
So, in keeping with the concept of dignity for all, I turn to Lunar New Year. As a thoughtful parent wrote to me on Friday afternoon, “Lunar New Year began last Saturday, 2/10 and the celebrations last 15 days for many who observe. The Lunar New Year is the *most celebrated* cultural holiday in the world among approximately two billion people across the Asian diaspora in Latin America, Africa, and North America, including the United States.” The parent continued, “Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing racialized group across the U.S., and Westchester County is no exception. At a little over 5.3% of Hastings' current population, and that's not including mixed race Asian households (which increases the village's proportion of AAPI-identifying individuals), the growth and presence of AAPIs is palpable.”
Unlike last year, I had yet to raise up Lunar New Year for recognition. Significantly, in future school years Lunar New Year will be recognized as a day off from school (January 29, 2025, in the coming school year). Regardless, I want to personally underscore the importance of Hastings students, staff and families taking time this week to consider the deep meaning of Lunar New Year to Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Hastings, as well as regionally, nationally and internationally. We are fortunate to live in a region robust with celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Indeed, in my own walk on Saturday around Manhattan with my second oldest son, who lives adjacent to China Town, I was reminded of the many ways we can lend our hearts to the recognition of Lunar New Year. (If a “digital walk” is your preference, a wonderful resource is the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.)
As we enter the Year of the Dragon, I ask that you consider and embrace the far-reaching contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders to what makes our region and Nation so vibrant and compelling.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
February 16, 2024
February 16, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Mid-Winter Recess is upon us. Before we disperse for rest and relaxation, I need to share several important updates. The first two items pertain to HHS, yet with district-wide value. I then swing into two “technical updates” on pending Board of Education decisions regarding the school calendar. I close with recognition of Black History Month by featuring an inspirational African American author (recall my promise to do so in the February 2 Friday Letter).
Into Rare Intellectual Air – Six National Merit Scholarship Finalists
Lou Adipietro was thrilled to report earlier this week that six seniors have been selected as National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists from HHS. They are:
- Justin Baldassarre
- Robert Burdick
- Jacob Goldman-Wetzler
- Sonya Lasser
- Owen Linder
- Zixuan Wang
Hastings’ six students are among 15,000 Finalists nationally, who are now eligible for some 7,140 Merit Scholarships, with those decisions announced during March 2024. Regardless of the next step for our students, they have ascended into rare intellectual air when compared to high school students across the country. It is a testament to all K-12 teachers in Hastings, and of course the students' families, that we have as many as six finalists in a relatively small high school. Congratulations to all!
Meet the New HHS Principal
As I mentioned in my February 2 Friday Letter, Mr. Andrew (Andy) Clayman will be visiting campus on Wednesday, February 28th and Thursday, March 14th. During his visit, Mr. Clayman will introduce himself through meetings with small groups of students, faculty, and families. Two Meet and Greet sessions for HHS parents will be held, one on the evening of February 28th and another on the morning of March 14th. For more details about the HHS parent sessions, please click here.
Technical Update I – Inclement Weather Give-Back Days
The 2023-24 School Calendar includes six emergency closure days (inclement weather days). Per agreement with the Hastings Teachers Association (HTA), we “give-back” any unused inclement weather days. School would be closed for both students and employees on these days. I want to give all staff and families advance notice on this year’s plans for the “give-back” days. The Board of Education (BOE) will review the proposed “give-back” plan for this year at its February 27 meeting.
To date, we have used three Inclement Weather Days: December 18, 2023; January 16, 2024 and February 13, 2024. Anticipating that we will not use all three of the remaining days, we are proposing three “give-back” days:
- Friday, May 24, 2024 – Fully Closed – Memorial Day Weekend Extended
- Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Fully Closed – Memorial Day Weekend Extended
- Wednesday, June 26, 2024 – No School – Last Day of School would be June 25
If we have to use any of the remaining Inclement Weather Days, we would subtract them chronologically from the three “give-back” days. Any changes would be communicated to staff, students and families. The BOE will discuss this proposal on February 27, before voting on it at the March 5, 2024 meeting.
Technical Update II – Revisions to Proposed 2024-25 School Calendar
The BOE is in the midst of its standard two-step review of the proposed 2024-25 School Calendar. The first read and discussion of the recommended School Calendar was on January 23, 2024. Based on that discussion, I conferred with the Leadership Team and area superintendents on potential adjustments. I also double-checked the proposed school calendar with HTA leadership. The BOE will have its second read of the updated version of the proposed 2024-25 School Calendar at its February 27 meeting. Per procedure, the BOE will vote on the proposal at the same meeting.
There are several revisions to the latest version of the proposed school calendar:
- The first day of school will be September 3 (not the 4th);
- The Wednesday before Thanksgiving (November 27) will be a school day, with an early release at 1:00 p.m. (modified slightly to reflect HES, FMS and HHS schedules);
- The Holiday Recess will be two weeks (December 23 - January 6);
- HHS Graduation will be June 18 (instead of June 26).
We have made no other changes to the recommended calendar presented on January 23. After an analysis of draft calendars from comparable districts in the region, we have decided to maintain November 1, 2024 as a combined recognition of Diwali and a Superintendent Conference Day; and, similarly, to maintain March 31, 2025 as a combined recognition of Eid al-Fitr and a Superintendent Conference Day.
Please see the memorandum to the BOE regarding the Updated Version of Proposed 2024-25 School Calendar (February 27, 2024) for more details and comparative information.
Black History Month – A Continued Sharing of Writers
On February 2, I featured Kwame Alexander as personally inspiring. Today, I highlight James McBride.
When in doubt, I read. When struggling to understand, I read. It helps me make sense of challenges, difficulties, and rough times; ultimately, it helps me celebrate the wonders and beauty of our world and our humanity.
For nearly 20 years, National Book Award winner James McBride has been a pivotal “go to” for me. His novels and memoirs center on the nexus of race, ethnicity, class, conflict, as well as love, beauty, and redemption – in a phrase, being humanely human. Mr. McBride, one of 12 children of a Jewish mother and African American father, is best known for The Color of Water (1995), in which he celebrates his mother, who raised his large family in Brooklyn in the absence of his father.
Mr. McBride, also a professional Jazz Saxophonist, writes with a lyricism that circles back again and again to the fundamental need for people to reach across the lines and divisions that all too often separate us—needlessly and harmfully. His latest, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (2023), is immediately and historically relevant to questions and issues facing many of us in Hastings, not to mention the nation and world.
Go read McBride. In the meantime, take in this recent PBS NewsHour interview of Mr. McBride. I bet the interview will whet your appetite to read McBride.
Have a good Mid-Winter Recess.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
February 2, 2024
February 2, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
The second day of Black History Month…Poetry for Us…a re-release of a major announcement. They all connect. Read on.
Black History Month – A Sharing of Writers
On the second day of Black History Month, my muse is Kwame Alexander, internationally acclaimed writer of poetry and children’s fiction. Starting with Mr. Alexander, several times this month I will share African American authors, who I have found especially inspirational. In turn, I would appreciate hearing from readers (students, faculty and families) about inspiring African American authors.
Mr. Alexander engages and challenges the young and old with his beautiful, rhythmic, flowing prose, sparking emotions, thought and ultimately knowledge. A poignant example, perfect for the start of Black History Month in a school district, is his reading of The Undefeated (2019), a Caldecott Medal Book described as “a love letter to Black life in the United States…highlighting the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes” (American Defamation League).
Please take a moment to watch Mr. Alexander read The Undefeated to a group of school children.
Third Annual Hastings Poetry Challenge
With a nod to Mr. Alexander, I am announcing the Third Annual Hastings Poetry Challenge. I am once again challenging Hastings students and staff to share their poems for public consumption. Poetry is a powerful form of expression. Let’s see if Hastings can use poetry for Us. (Recall the final word in The Undefeated.)
Last year’s Poetry Challenge resulted in nearly 30 poems from middle and high school students, which we shared in a digital compendium. (In Spring 2022, six poems were submitted.) Each year, the poems ranged in topic, style, message and imagery–as is poetry’s want. With more advance notice, and inspiration from the likes of Kwame Alexander, I believe even more students and staff will submit poems for the Spring 2024 compendium.
Short poems written by students or staff should be submitted by Friday, March 15. Please send your poems electronically to me (mckersiew@hohschools.org) and Melissa DeLaBarrera (delabarreram@hohschools.org). We will share them in a digital format during National Poetry Month (April 2024).
Hastings, write early, often and freely. Write on!
Redux: Announcement of the New HHS Principal
On Tuesday evening, I announced the exciting news that Mr. Andrew (Andy) Clayman has been appointed as the new HHS principal, effective July 1, 2024, following Mr. Lou Adipietro’s retirement. Please take a moment to review the announcement, which Mr. Clayman has updated with two photos. A large number of students and faculty have stopped me since Tuesday to express enthusiasm for Mr. Clayman’s appointment. Over the next two months, Mr. Clayman will be on campus to begin to introduce himself through meetings with small groups of students, faculty and families.
Have a good weekend.
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January 12, 2024
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January 5, 2024
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December 22, 2023
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Inspiration is what we need and seek, especially right now, in Hastings, our nation and internationally. Heading into the Holiday Recess, I want to share several inspiring moments from my “walk abouts” the past week.
Timely Lyrics Shared Beautifully – Part I
Draw the circle
Draw the circle wide.
Draw the circle
Draw the circle wide.
No one stands alone
We’ll stand side by side.
So sang the Hastings High School Madrigals at the HHS Winter Concert last week–introducing Hastings to this inspirational piece by Gordon Light and Mark Miller (2008). With solos by Maya Ganeshananthan, Max Boyd, and Johanna Nollen, Draw the Circle Wide carried a profound and timely message, felt across the audience.
Surrounding this piece were remarkable performances by the full range of HHS’s orchestras, bands and chorus. I took in the Dress Rehearsal for the Senior Citizen Dinner. Holding the door for our dozens of guests as they shifted from “the show to dinner,” they each “sang” the praises of the “wonderful music and talents of our students.” Inspiration layered on inspiration, eh?
Timely Lyrics Shared Beautifully – Part II
The world is sustained by three things: by truth, by justice, and by peace.
So sang the FMS 7-8 Chorus last night to a packed house of family, friends and fellow students, who turned out with high spirits for the 7-8 Winter Concert. These timely lyrics are the translation from Al shlosha d’varim, a piece in Hebrew by Allen E. Naplan. Beautifully sung by the chorus, with a solo by Henry Phillips, the audience was to my eye and ear united as one for that spell-binding moment.
Echoing the HHS Concert one week ago, tremendous performances by the FMS 7-8 Band, Selectones, Orchestras, Chorus and Jazz Band had the auditorium alive with cheers and applause. The refrain I heard as families left: “excellent performances…great show…Happy Holidays, indeed!”
A tall thank you to both Eric Day and Jon Riss for guiding our musicians–in both the FMS and HHS concerts–through challenging and evocative pieces. Thank you for being an inspiration to us all.
Timely Lyrics Shared Beautifully – Part III
Early in the week, I happened by the First-Grade rehearsal for their Thursday morning sing-a-long. They were proudly singing the Hillside version of “This Land is Your Land”, ending with modified lyrics: “Hillside is Our School,” with the emphasis on “our community,” not I, or me.
Maria Gunther provided me with a description of the full performance:
The First-Grade sing-a-long is the celebration of some wonderful work we’ve done in our classrooms. Our unit on families and reading a book titled, We Dream of a World, led us to think about what we want our world to be like and how to make those ideas really happen. We’ve already made a difference for families right here in Hastings by collecting food for the Hastings Food Pantry. The music was selected around the theme of making changes for peace, and for celebrating how very special our families are.
Another tall thank you, this time to Maria Gunther and all the First-Grade teachers and classroom aides for bringing song–with inspirational meaning and purpose–into the daily lives of our young students.
Hoops Played Well – At Each End of the Hall
A straight line (actually, a hallway) brings one from the Cochran Gym to the Green Gym (or vice versa). Twice this past week, I followed that line back and forth to take in our Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams (in the Cochran Gym) and our Modified Boys and Girls Basketball teams (in the Green Gym). To push the line image, these teams are at different points in their “basketball developmental continuum,” but they are connected by three truths: dedicated play, attentive coaches (who are rightly demanding and supportive), and cheering family and students. These truths were in full form in each gym, regardless of the team. More simply, it was plain old fun to watch our students have fun playing. Fun…inspiration…fun…inspiration. It all connects and interrelates. I was inspired.
Guest Reading – What Do You Love?
I started guest reading rounds for the fourth-grade last week in Christine Samuel’s class. Giraffes Can’t Dance (Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees) is the book of choice. Even if you do not know this joyful book, you can guess that Gerald (the Giraffe) evolves from a clutz on the dance floor to a veritable Baryshnikov (or Gregory Hines). Gerald’s parting wisdom, “We all can dance…when we find music that we love.” I turned to the class and asked, “What do you love so much that it gets you going, makes you happy, makes you want to do even more?” The class leapt to respond, with eager hands thrust in the air signaling their love to share: “Reading… math… soccer… basketball… drawing… painting… reading (again)… my after-school program… swimming… Hillside… soccer (again)... reading (again)... and, of course, Taylor Swift (three times).” Hard to recreate the moment here, but it put a skip in my step. Early glimpse of their essential, emerging passions.
Final Word: A Long Break, Well Earned
As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed Monday, December 25 thru Tuesday, January 2. The first day of school in the New Year is Wednesday, January 3!
Wishing you and your family a holiday season filled with happiness, health and peace.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
December 1, 2023
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Warning: occasionally I have to rekindle my educational policy chops; this is one of those moments.
Before doing so, let me get personal about Project Share–I want to encourage all readers to take time to appreciate this vital Hastings tradition of selfless service and giving.
Reflecting on an Evening of Connecting, Caring and Reaching Across
On the eve of Thanksgiving vacation, over 600 people gathered in the Cochran Banquet Hall (aka: Gymnasium) for Project Share’s Annual Thanksgiving feast, prepared and served by our students and staff. The guests were several hundred homeless adults and children from across NYC. (For a multimedia story on the evening, please see yesterday’s Hastings Happenings.)
While I am just two years old with Project Share’s 35-year tradition, I am a veteran of charitable efforts across the Northeast and Midwest. That experience gives me the perspective to say that Tuesday night in Cochran was a rare and remarkable moment of selfless service and giving. With exceptional organization and effusive spirit, our students, guided by Project Share’s founder, Jeanne Newman, reached across generations and racial/ethnic lines to demonstrate that we can be connected and caring. To be clear, our students received as much as they gave–learning from their guests in small and large ways as the banquet was served and savored. Indeed, as the feast came to a close, the dance floor filled with our students and their guests, moving in rhythm to whatever the booming beat and melody. Young and old, Hastings students and their guests–moving as one, with laughter, cheers and smiles. It was loud joy, as it should have been.
The connecting and caring I witnessed–between and among our students and their guests–brought to life an image I carry with me thanks to National Book Award winner James McBride, whose novels and memoirs center on the nexus of race, ethnicity, class, conflict, as well as love, beauty, and redemption – in a phrase, being humanely human. In The Miracle of St. Anna (2002), a historical novel set in World War II, McBride tells the story of a six-year-old Italian mute orphan, who is rescued and befriended by a giant, illiterate Black soldier, Sam Train, from the 92nd Infantry Buffalo Division. At severe personal risk, the soldier and child travel arm in arm through much of the book. I carry that image everywhere: the giant soldier—reaching across dramatically different histories and perceptions—to save and protect a struggling boy. In McBride’s words, Soldier Train and the orphan Italian symbolize what “happens a thousand times in a thousand places to a thousand people. Yet we still manage to love one another, despite our best efforts to the contrary.” In my words, we still manage to reach across.
Thank you, Project Share. Thank you, Hastings students, for reaching across.
Educational Policy Update: Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures
On November 13, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released the anticipated Report of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Graduation Measures. The report’s recommendations emerged from information gathering, literature review and analysis (November 2019-March 2022) and deliberations by the Blue Ribbon Commission (Fall 2022-November 2023).
The report was a primary topic at the November 2023 Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents (LHCOSS) meeting, which included a presentation from Commissioner Betty Rosa. Several superintendents from LHCOSS were part of the Commission. In general, superintendents consider the report and recommendations a significant development, most notably because it calls for major changes to the structure and requirements for high school graduation in NYS.
The report has received significant media coverage, especially for one of the 12 major recommendations pertaining to possible modifications to the Regents Examination structure and approach. However, this is but one of many recommendations.
The excerpt below from the report’s Executive Summary (pp. 5-7) outlines the three pillars of the framework guiding the Commission’s recommendations: Critical Needs; Priority Areas to Target Change; and, a NYS Portrait of a Graduate.
The Commission highlights two critical, overarching needs:
- To create equity in New York State public education.
- To ensure New York’s students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in future endeavors.
To re-envision a system that provides equitable opportunities for all New York State students to achieve these outcomes, the Commission developed four priority areas to target change:
- Multiple pathways leading to one high school diploma
- Assessment flexibility
- Understanding of meaningful life-ready credentials
- Culturally responsive curriculum, instruction, and assessment
These skills, knowledge areas, and competencies were identified by the Commission and listed in their recommendations for a New York State Portrait of a Graduate, serving as both a foundation and vision for what students should know, be able to do, and embody upon graduation in order to be successful in a complex and rapidly changing world. (pp. 5-6)
The Commission envisioned the New York State graduate as:
- A Critical Thinker
- Culturally Competent
- An Effective Communicator
- A Global Citizen
- An Innovative Problem Solver
- Literate Across Content Areas
- Socially-Emotionally Competent
I will provide additional information and analysis of the report at a future date, particularly regarding any direct implications for Hastings. For now, I hope this brief overview is beneficial, especially for those who share my proclivity to educational policy wonk-dom.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
November 21, 2023
Dear Hastings Community,
Traditions matter. Indeed, that is how I opened this Thanksgiving letter last year–get it, a Tradition.
Seriously, FMS introduced me two years ago to a wonderful reflective piece for students and educators in the Thanksgiving season. Now, for the third year running, I share that piece with our entire community–families, staff and students. Take a moment to read it, savor it, and carry it forward–in word and deed.
Be Thankful
Anonymous
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.
It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.
Best wishes for a healthy and refreshing Thanksgiving Break.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
November 3, 2023
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October 20, 2023
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
The school year is moving faster than could be imagined, yet with impressive productivity by our students and faculty. From the past two weeks of rapidly waning October, several examples stand out: the Clark Commemoration, this Saturday’s Homecoming, Fall athletic accomplishments, student leadership of the Community Solar project, and Superintendent Outreach. I close with a technical update on the Board of Education’s early deliberations on a potential Capital/Facility Bond.
Please read on.
Honoring the Legacy of the Clarks
From Thursday through Saturday of the past week, the entire school district, joined by many residents of Hastings, honored the legacy of the late Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark. To review, the multi-part program included assemblies in each school and a culminating commemoration on Saturday at the James Harmon Community Center. The assemblies featured student-led panels with Minnijean Brown-Trickey, of the Little Rock Nine, who lived with the Clarks in Hastings in the late 1950s. The celebration on Saturday featured Kate Clark Harris, daughter of the Clarks, and Natalie Thompson, a granddaughter of the Clarks.
The three student assemblies with Ms. Brown-Trickey epitomized the best of full-school gatherings. Thanks to the intensive work of our faculty in each school, students prepared for the assemblies with lessons specific to their grade level (K-12); students submitted questions to be asked of Ms. Brown-Trickey; and, student panelists were created in each school, with the interviewers prepared for the public task. Simply put, there was relevant work for the students before, during and after the assemblies, which models best practice for large student gatherings.
The impact? Students, faculty and administrators have reported that the assemblies were moving, informative and enjoyable. Yes, our students were engaged and learned. Indeed, Ms. Brown-Trickey made a point of asking me to extend a big, heartfelt thank you to the students, and especially the faculty, for making her school visits in Hastings among the best she has ever experienced (and she has made a lot to share her life story).
We have created a dedicated page on the Website for the entire three days of programs and events, complete with photos, narratives and links to each of the student sessions and the final gathering on Saturday at the Community Center. I recommend that staff and families take time to soak in all that is captured on the Webpage for what is a touchstone moment for all of Hastings.
Homecoming This Saturday – 10.21.23
Homecoming in Hastings is an athletic event, for sure. Even more, it is a community event, bringing together students for music, good food, club activities and fundraising (for student programming). The HHS Student Union invests extensive time into designing and hosting the activities around the football game. Students and families of all ages should consider making time this Saturday for Homecoming, which will be on Reynolds Field at 1:30 p.m. (Please check the website for any changes to the schedule that day.)
Fall Athletics – Winding Down with Good Results
Rain has been the unfortunate governor of the fall athletics season (other than for volleyball). Student athletes, coaches and families have exhibited remarkable patience and flexibility as Mr. Drew Wendol, Athletic Director, and the Building and Grounds staff have worked diligently to make our fields playable, or to find alternative venues. I have been to a lot of contests, coming away from each visit impressed with the consistent spirit, drive and good character of Hastings' teams.
Our Varsity teams are headed to the Postseason. Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, and Girls Tennis qualified for Sectionals. A summary of the schedule, as well as results for all fall Varsity teams is posted here. Congratulations to all our Varsity athletes and especially those headed to Sectionals.
A special shout-out goes to our Modified and Junior Varsity teams, which often are the future athletes for our Varsity teams. The determination and joy of play are obvious as our younger athletes learn and refine their technical and tactical skills.
Lastly, kudos to all our coaches for their hard work and dedication this Fall. Every season brings many moments of joy for them, as well as trying and challenging times. I appreciate their focus on maximizing the positives for our students–it is the only path to growth as athletes and young people.
Community Solar – An Update from Student Leaders
Two weeks ago, I praised the Hastings-on-Hudson Community Solar Project, a pathbreaking partnership among the Village, school district and G&S Solar. The project will place solar panels across the roofs of Hastings High School and Hillside Elementary, allowing Hastings residents to receive the benefits of renewable energy in their immediate community. Details on the project and how to sign up are available here.
Now, two weeks later, I am pleased to report that registration is going incredibly well, with strong interest from across the Village. One reason for this early success is the active “voice” of two HHS seniors, Barney Smith and Erik Ghalib, who provided this report on their efforts:
We began our involvement with Community Solar at the end of the summer. First, we started communicating directly with Hastings residents who struggled with the sign-up process. Then we condensed information about the project from the town and from G&S Solar into a student-friendly format. And now, we’re beginning to visit 7th-12th grade science classes with a short presentation about the project and a flier with the signup info. We’re excited to involve the students in this project and to hopefully get more families signed up for this beneficial program!
Barney and Erik embody the “bold, empowered, collaborative, inquisitive, empathetic and inventive” attributes we seek to foster in Hastings students. Their energetic and thoughtful advocacy will have a lasting impact on the Village.
Superintendent Forum & Roundtables
I benefit greatly from feedback and input. Hastings has had a tradition of the PTSA/SEPTA leaders sponsoring and moderating periodic forums for families to discuss questions and issues with the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Business Official (CFO) and various other administrators. The PTSA/SEPTA is hosting three forums this school year, with the first on Monday, October 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the FMS Auditorium. The session has been promoted in recent district and PTSA/SEPTA publications. I am offering a personal invitation to interested families to participate. Please see the posted flier for more information.
Separate from the Forums, I will host a series of Roundtable discussions in my office across the year for parents from HES, FMS and HHS. I hosted several roundtables in the Spring for FMS parents. I would like to extend the opportunity to each of the three schools. Obviously, we have to limit the number of people who can participate, but even meeting with a subset of parents in a discussion format will be beneficial. I will be reaching out through the PTSA/SEPTA for participants. In addition, if you are interested in attending a roundtable, please email Melissa DeLaBarrera (delabarreram@hohschools.org). Once we have a sense of the total number, we can plan the roundtables.
Technical Update: Pending New Capital Bond
Hastings has regularly carried, with voter approval, modest bonds for capital improvements that cannot be financed through the annual operating budget and annual tax revenues. Most recently, current and future students benefited from a bond that financed necessary additions and renovations at Hillside (including the Multi-Purpose Room, providing a cafeteria and all-school assembly and performance space) and the Farragut Complex (including renovation of the mothballed FMS auditorium and addition of music classrooms and rehearsal spaces).
We are again examining a targeted set of essential capital improvements for student academic and extracurricular needs, as well as critical facility infrastructure. These needs were recognized at the completion of our recent Five Year Capital Improvement Plan, a step required of all school districts by New York State. The Board of Education has begun the public process of considering the most essential items to include in a new bond. Technical analysis and planning are being provided by H2M Architects + Engineers, supplementing the expertise of our Building and Grounds Department, along with the perspective of our administrators, teachers, coaches, and students.
The BOE review process is at a preliminary stage and is being conducted in public sessions of the Facility Committee and full BOE. Once the final set of bond elements are approved, detailed case statements for the entire package and each element will be prepared and widely disseminated in digital and hard-copy formats. Public presentations and forums will be provided for families, residents, high school students and staff.
Please be alert to more frequent updates from the BOE on the emerging bond plans and the schedule for presentations and forums. The administration and BOE are committed to an energetic, open, and clear process ahead of the eventual Village referendum on the bond, which may be in early spring 2024.
Have a good weekend.
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
October 12, 2023 - Israel-Hamas War (Part II) - Social Media Advisory
Dear Hastings Family and Staff:
Hastings is a safe and secure school district and Village. I reiterate this fact because there are reports of nationwide social media posts related to the Israel-Hamas War that are attempting to sow fear and hatred among students. To be clear, we have zero tolerance in Hastings for words and acts that are anti-Semitic, anti-Arab or anti-Muslim, which is the currency of the social media posts.
In light of these social media postings, several points about safety and security are paramount:
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No Credible Threats – While it is important to remain vigilant, our actions must be guided by reliable intelligence, best practices, and common sense. Our law enforcement partners have assured us that there are currently no active, credible threats to New York State, including those mentioned on recent social media posts.
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Proactive Safety Measures - Hastings has well designed safety and security systems and procedures. We continually review and update our safety plans in collaboration with our law enforcement partners and security consultants to address potential threats and emergencies.
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Collaboration with Law Enforcement - We maintain a close working relationship with the Hastings Police Department. Our collaboration ensures that we are continuously monitoring for any potential threats and can respond swiftly, if necessary.
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Security Consultants - In addition to law enforcement, we work with Altaris, an experienced K-12 security consulting group, which provides guidance in assessing and improving our security measures.
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Mental Health Support - We understand that these times can be emotionally challenging for students, staff, and parents alike. Our dedicated counselors and support staff are available to provide emotional support to anyone who may need it. Please reach out to us if your child requires assistance. Throughout this crisis, I am asking our teachers and administrators to be extra attentive to any students who we know to have direct connections to Israel and Gaza.
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Open Communication - We are committed to maintaining an open line of communication with Hastings students, staff and families regarding safety and security concerns. We will keep you informed of any significant developments or changes in our security procedures.
Families need to be extra attentive to their children’s use of social media for the foreseeable future. Please be ready to have children turn off their social media sources, and please be ready to be of support if your children come across unsettling posts on social media.
We must continue to support each other during this tragic time, especially our students and families of the Jewish and Islamic faiths, and with connections to Israel and Gaza. As Sally Konbluth, MIT’s President, advised her community earlier this week, “Simple gestures of compassion and kindness can be incredibly important for people in the midst of such overwhelming suffering and uncertainty.” Hastings will continue to act on this wise guidance.
Sincerely,
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
October 10, 2023 - Israel-Hamas War (Part I)
Dear Families and Staff:
We are horrified by the terrorist attack on Israel and the violence of the Israel-Hamas War. Many in our schools and the Hastings community are deeply affected by the tragic conflict.
I want to share our plans for supporting students, staff and families. I write in coordination with the superintendents in the Quad Village districts (Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry and Irvington), who are unified in our support for students and families, many of whom know each other well. Our shared mission as educators is to inspire students to become an active force in shaping a better world: peaceful, compassionate and sustainable. Violence against Israel and the ensuing war make our mission even more challenging, yet even more important.
First, we are concerned about the wellness of our students and staff. Please know that administrators will be working closely with faculty to monitor and meet the needs of students. We know that knowledge of what occurred and what is continuing in the Middle East is troubling and potentially traumatic. Our commitment to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, practices and protocols will guide us in the days ahead. Our building leaders, faculty, and staff, including our guidance and clinical team, will be available for any student who needs support. Parents, please reach out to your child’s school counselor if your child is struggling and you need to access additional support and resources.
Second, we are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all students. We understand that discussions about conflicts, wars, and world events can evoke a wide range of emotions and perspectives. It is crucial to create a space where our students feel safe to share their thoughts and concerns. We encourage productive, open dialogue within our classrooms, guided by empathy, understanding, and respect. I am confident that Hastings teachers can facilitate classroom discussions that emphasize respectful discourse, evidence-based exploration of ideas, and that are developmentally and age appropriate. We will be sharing educational resources with families in the next two days.
Third, we are mindful that the Israel-Hamas conflict is hitting close to home for many members of our community, especially for our students and families with connections and relations in the Middle East. Our staff will be sensitive to provide appropriate support in classroom discussions and offer counsel. Please reach out to your child’s teacher, the clinical and counseling staff, or your building administrators should you need additional information or support.
Fourth, we understand that security and safety is a concern for many individuals in light of the Middle East conflict. Our building security staff will be extra attentive at the start and end of school, during recess and with the arrival and departure of visitors. Similarly, the Hastings Police Department will increase their presence in and around the schools, facilities and athletic fields. Families should be in touch with their building administrator if they have specific safety concerns.
Hastings, unity will be essential in these coming weeks. We must focus on what connects us, what we share, as a people rooted in compassion and care. We must not let differences–perceived or real–divide us. Our students–your children–demand that we remain unified. Together, only together, we will move through this unimaginable tragedy.
Sincerely,
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
October 6, 2023
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
Early October and it is…Nobel Laureate season! Surprised with this lead for Hastings? Shouldn’t be.
After making the Nobel connection, this week’s letter shifts to local celebrations and recognitions, and closes with two technical updates.
Nobel Laureate Season
The world is learning this week of the Nobel Prize recipients in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Literature–with the Peace Prize and Economic Sciences Prize due to be announced today and Monday, respectively. Spanning international institutions, the recipients represent what we strive for with the Portrait of a Hastings Learner–Bold, Empowered, Collaborative, Inquisitive, Empathic and Inventive.
Hastings has at least one direct connection: Edmund Phelps, a graduate of Hastings High School, won the 2006 Nobel Prize in economics. An emeritus professor of political economy at Columbia University, Mr. Phelps credits his Hastings education. Reviewing Mr. Phelps’ recent memoir, My Journeys in Economic Theory (Columbia University Press, 2023), Tunku Varadarajan writes:
Mr. Phelps is a courtly man, and his memoirs are unstinting in their praise for others, including even Mrs. Murphy from second grade at his school in Hastings-on-Hudson, for teaching him how to read. (The Wall Street Journal, May 13-14, 2023)
Mr. Phelps may not be alone as a Hastings-spawned Nobel Laureate. Let me know if we have other alumni who achieved this pinnacle of intellectual, academic and societal impact.
Community Solar – Hastings-on-Hudson Partners for Renewable Energy
Announcements are out this week about a significant partnership between the Village, school district and G&S Solar. The Hastings-on-Hudson Community Solar Project will place solar panels across the roofs of Hastings High School and Hillside Elementary, allowing Hastings residents to receive the benefits of renewable energy in their immediate community.
Special thanks go to the leadership of Mayor Niki Armacost, the Board of Education and Maureen Caraballo. We are pleased that HHS seniors Erik Ghalib and Barney Smith are stepping up to give student leadership and advocacy for the project.
The Village is taking the lead with G&S Solar in promoting the project. Please look for announcements from Mayor Armacost about community events, including a launch event on the morning of October 14, 2023. Details on the project and how to sign up are available here.
A Final Reminder: Honoring the Legacy of the Clarks
The Village and school district are in the midst of a several week recognition of the life-changing work of the late Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark, who were long-time residents of Hastings. Hastings residents Eddie Crawford, Caitlin Chang, and Jennifer Ito, and Hastings Historical Society’s Board President Natalie Barry, have joined with Greg Smith and Dr. Jenice Mateo-Toledo to design a multi-phase education program for families and students:
- September-October: An exhibit about the Clarks to be displayed in the HHS Lobby, before moving to the Hastings Historical Society through fall 2024.
- October 12-13, 2023: A visit by Minnijean Brown-Trickey, of the Little Rock Nine, who lived with the Clarks in Hastings in the late 1950s, to speak with students. The sessions are limited to students and staff, but the public may observe via these live streams:
- FMS: 10/12 at 1:30 p.m. - https://events.locallive.tv/
events/124341 - HES: 10/13 at 9 a.m. - https://events.locallive.tv/
events/125974 - HHS: 10/13 at 10:30 a.m. - https://events.locallive.tv/
events/124339
- October 14: Unveiling Ceremony for the Clarks’ Street Sign (signifying the co-naming of a portion of Mount Hope Blvd. as “Drs. Mamie and Kenneth Clark Way”) at the James Harmon Community Center from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
On September 26, Dr. Melissa Szymanski organized a virtual session for families and students in grades 5-12 on Brown v. Board of Education. The 45-minute program, led by a Park Ranger from Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park (Topeka, KS), examined how legal segregation began in America and the role of the research by Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark in the desegregation of public schools and the Civil Rights Movement.
Guest Reading Returns – Witnessing our Students & Teachers at Work
From the global to the local…
I started my third year of guest reading to each class at Hillside this week. Besides being a source of personal energy and joy, the visits ground me in the excellent (yes, excellent) work of our students and teachers. I started in Ms. Phyllis Udice’s third grade class, delving into the “poetic and pictorial layerings” (to quote one student) of Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López in their picture book, The Day You Begin. My simple inquiry theme (with profound implications): “stop, think, and share.” Hmm…I am stopping and thinking about the impact of second grade on Nobel Laureate Edmund Phelps.
Technical Updates – Two For Now
Weather Protocol Adjustment – Based on Last Friday’s Storm (9.29.23)
Last Friday was a difficult day for thousands across the Tri-State region, but especially those of us in the greater NYC metropolitan area. Per our published procedures for making schooling decisions when faced with inclement weather, we tap expert and local guidance as soon as inclement weather is projected, with intensive attention in the early mornings of the school day(s) directly affected. Indeed, from Thursday into early Friday morning, I was monitoring projections and consulting with our expert and local resources. I continued to monitor throughout the day on Friday, determining that an early release was not viable (although needed for those staff who live some distance from Hastings). The good news is that Hastings students made it home safely on Friday and within a reasonable timeframe; the bad news is that our out-of-district students were in many cases without transportation, and many of our staff had difficult commutes home.
Several superintendents are joining me in reconsidering our weather protocols. Specifically, we will begin to account for “evidence-based projections for heavy, concentrated rain storms, accompanied by official warnings of flash-flooding.” (Per expert advice, we must differentiate from warnings for coastal flooding, which involves wind-driven ocean/sound water.) We have applied a rigorous standard to snow and ice, but we will now do the same quantification for heavy rains and likely flash-flooding. Please be forewarned that in the future, with projections such as we had early Friday morning, we may cancel school for the day. I do not want to have students and staff struggle through the conditions we now know are associated with inordinate amounts of rain in a tight timeframe.
Lunch and Recess – FMS
As FMS students, staff and families know, we made changes to the lunch and recess schedule this year to provide students more flexibility. The initial week saw a series of problems: long lines, lack of seating, certain food choices running short, and confusion about where to be when. Since then, we have largely addressed each of the problems, based on close monitoring and corrections by the food service staff, Maureen Caraballo and the Facilities Department, Scott Wynne and Kamillah Dawkins, and the lunchroom monitors. I have been spending about 3o minutes per day in the lunchroom at the “busy times” to observe. We are timing the lunch lines, for instance, and know that the slowest line (typically the deli line) is now moving students through within 10 minutes. Families have been in touch with Mr. Wynne about individual concerns. Please continue to reach out to him, so we can identify solutions for individual students.
Final Word: A Long Weekend with Purpose
In observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day, the District will be closed on Monday, October 9th. This day provides an opportunity for reflection and recognition of the diverse history and cultures that comprise our nation. I encourage you to take this day to learn more about the rich heritage of Indigenous Peoples and to celebrate the contributions of all communities that have shaped our shared history.
Please have a restful long weekend.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
September 22, 2023
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September 8, 2023
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
We are back to school–in good form and with good spirit. We managed inordinate heat–keeping as cool as possible and healthy. With those two first-order facts in mind, I open with a heartfelt and extra-tall thank you to all students, staff, teachers, administrators and families for making these first four days successful.
Today’s letter is the first of what will be every other week Friday letters. Less is more, fewer words often are better, concise wins ears and eyes…I believe it best to focus your energies only twice per month on my Friday missives.
I start with words and photos about our opening days. I then shift to technical updates, necessary for the start of school. I close with applause for long serving staff–in many ways a fitting way to start another school year.
Opening Week Words
From amongst us, words flowed about the opening. A rough free-verse emerged:
Hastings Joyous Chaos
School is here
We are here
What do we hear?
(What do we see?)
From across HHS –
Happy noise
Student excitement
Seniors celebrating a final Hastings start.
From across FMS –
The energy is
Invigorating
Welcoming
Exhilarating.
From across HES –
Swinging lunchboxes
Smiles and cheers–new and old friendships
STEAM explosions (safely)
Buying school lunch–oh my!
Building trust and learning routines
Finding new books–a comfy Learning Commons
Playing on the playground
Getting on the big, yellow bus.
Joyous Chaos – Here we go!
Opening Week Images
Jackie Saviano, our Communications Associate, gathered photos from each school, creating three simple collages, which capture the “joyous chaos” of the opening week. Next week’s Hastings Happenings will feature more photos of the various welcoming programs.
Back-to-School Nights – Joy Sans Chaos
Hillside families and staff gathered last evening for Back-to-School Night. I joined district and community leaders in welcoming families and thanking the Hillside staff and administration for their excellent work. It was an evening filled with promises for a year of Imagining and Delivering (my watchwords for the school year) for each and every student.
Back-to-School Night for Farragut Middle School is Thursday, September 14, and Hastings High School steps up with Back-to-School Night one week later on Thursday, September 21. Each school is communicating with families about the respective programs.
Safety & Security – Technical Update & Resource
The safety and security of our students and staff is a top priority. I direct you to two updated brochures, created by Altaris Consulting Group, LLC, which is the district’s security consultant. Altaris provides expert guidance to districts across Westchester County and Connecticut, ensuring that we follow best practices in security systems, technology, and personnel. Altaris works closely with the Hastings Police Department and District and school administrators.
Please take a moment to review the brochure specific to your role:
- For Parents/Family: District Emergency Information Guide (Parents/Families)
- For Students/Staff: District Emergency Information Guide (Students/Staff)
Please pay special attention to the required terminology for our drills and action plans, as well as the communication systems we use during emergencies.
On a personal level, I must make the following difficult request: in the highly unlikely event that we have a severe emergency at any of our schools, it is essential that parents and families do not come to the schools or nearby roads. Our staff and first responders will need the time and space to address the emergency efficiently and effectively. We will communicate as fast as possible with parents and families about any emergency situation. As a parent, I know I would want to rush to the scene, but that will only hinder our full-on efforts to keep all students and staff safe and secure. Thank you for your cooperation.
Twenty-Five Years of Service – Remarkable Accomplishment
At the Opening Convocation on Tuesday, August 29, the entire staff rose in unison to applaud four colleagues for a remarkable 25 years of service to Hastings' students. Their expertise and dedication have had a lasting impact on the education and well-being of hundreds of students and families. Please extend your applause and appreciation to:
- Lisa Duquette, FMS Elementary K-6
- Nancy Mace, FMS Library
- Tasnim Nagrath, HES Kindergarten
- Lisa Wolk-Kilion, FMS Elementary K-6
Be well.
William S. McKersie, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools