Year: 2023
Take steps to stay safe from respiratory illnesses
It is important to us here at Liberty that we keep our school community safe and healthy. Respiratory illnesses are on the rise here and across the nation, with the triple threat of flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV. These viruses, while usually manageable, can lead to illness, hospitalizations or death, according to the state Departments of Health and Education.
There are several simple steps that can be taken to help prevent the spread of these illnesses.
- Wash your hands often with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, especially after touching commonly touched surfaces such as door knobs.
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water isn’t available.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces often.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands; sneeze or cough into your elbow or into a disposable tissue.
- Although we want our students and teachers to be in school as often as possible, we’d rather they stay home when they are sick or symptomatic.
- Stay up to date on vaccines, including flu and COVID-19. Find a location to get vaccinated here.
- If you have been exposed to someone who is sick, are at high risk for infection or just feel more comfortable wearing a mask while in public indoor spaces, wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask.
Masks and rapid COVID tests are available in the health office of each building.
To learn more about COVID, RSV and flu, visit the state Health Department page on respiratory illnesses.
The state Health Department also has information for parents and guardians about fighting flu. Click here for printable a flu information flyer in English, and click here for a printable flu information flyer in Spanish.
LHS teaching assistant earns MHSSC honor
Teaching Assistant Nancy Katzenberger will be honored later this fall as one the recipients of the Mid-Hudson School Study Council’s Support Staff Award for Excellence in Education.
Katzenberger recently began her 27th year at Liberty High School.
“Nancy has the aptitude, ability and motivation to assist with all aspects of learning throughout our high school and has been a model employee,” High School Principal Derek Adams said in the nomination letter.
For many years she assisted in the earth science classes before helping in the life skills class two years ago. There she helps students realize their potential by acting as a role model, and she is an invaluable support when teaching students the necessary competencies for being an independent adult.
Her dedication to Liberty goes beyond the students. She is a member of the LHS Building Leadership Team, president of her collective bargaining unit and volunteers her time to the monthly building safety team meetings. As an extension of the safety role, Katzenberger served on the COVID reopening team, which created and executed plans to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also often volunteers to serve on hiring committees as well as other service orientation opportunities.
“What strikes me most about Nancy is her willingness to do what is best for the students, our school and the district,” Adams said. “Ms. Katzenberger is a model support staff member and the epitome of a recipient for an award based in educational excellence.”
The MHSSC awards for administration, pupil personnel services and support staff services will be presented Nov. 1 at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The school board service and community service awards will be presented in the spring
Special education teacher, former coach to be honored by SCSBA
Two people who have had a positive impact on Liberty Central School District will be honored next month by the Sullivan County School Boards Association.
Special education teacher Jill Weiner will be presented with an Outstanding Educator Award, and former mathematics teacher and coach Ralph Bressler will receive an Outstanding Friend to Education Award.
“Liberty Central School District could not be more proud to honor these well-deserved individuals who have dedicated their careers to making Liberty a great place to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
Jill Weiner
Weiner has been a special education teacher for more than 30 years—27 of them at Liberty. A special education teacher for a multi-grade self-contained class at Liberty Middle School for the past four years, she has taught at various grade levels kindergarten through eighth grade.. As a special education teacher, Weiner “strives to differentiate instruction, for all of her students to benefit, and plans learning activities to maintain motivation and engagement,” Middle School Principal Heather Cheh said in her nomination letter.
In addition to academic instruction, Weiner arranges for her students to perform hands-on activities, such as running a Class Cafe. The cafe includes preparing food, serving customers and cleaning up. Further, her multi-grade self-contained class creates and hosts thematic bingo games for other students. She and her students plan virtual cooking nights, where they can meet outside of the classroom and cook together.
Community service is also a theme in her classroom. Students help in preparing “snack packs” for the Liberty Middle School, create holiday gifts for the homeless, design games and signs for community events, as well as make holiday cards for veterans.
As an advocate for individuals with special needs, Weiner consistently offers support to the parents of her students, and when applicable, provides resources to help them receive services outside of the school for their children.
Ralph Bressler
Bressler taught mathematics in Liberty for more than 30 years and was a coach for just as long. He retired teaching before he retired coaching, ending his coaching career in the spring.
“I could just as well be writing this recommendation for Mr. Bressler to receive the outstanding educator award if he were still formally teaching,” High School Principal Derek Adams said in his nomination letter.. “He has never detached himself from the art and science of teaching through coaching and other avenues.”
His service to the district goes beyond the classroom and coaching. He serves as the scorekeeper and national anthem singer for Liberty basketball games. For years, he also served as the district’s webmaster, taking special care to promote athletic programs. A certified emergency medical technician, Bressler used his skills to provide coaches required first aid and CPR training.
Experiencing many athletic director transitions, Bressler also made sure that the person was supported, understood the history of the programs, and that students were being given opportunities through athletics. He also consistently held students accountable for their academic success while promoting their athletic endeavors.
“Mr. Bressler, as a model of lifelong learning, has challenged himself to learn something new or take on another challenge,” Adams said. For example, Bressler agreed to take on a chemistry teaching position for a year and a half until a permanent hire was found, despite not having taught chemistry in several decades. He dedicated many hours refining his chemistry knowledge, searching for laboratory experiences and updating the course materials.
The awards will be presented at an Oct. 18 banquet at the Villa Roma in Callicoon.
LHS earns place on US News Best High School ranking
Liberty High School was ranked in US News and World Reports’ 2023-24 Best High Schools listing.
“We are proud to be ranked in the top half of schools in New York and among the top 40% in the nation,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
LHS was 549 of 1,198 ranked schools within New York, and 6,214 of 17,680 in the national ranking. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, based on testing from 2019, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college.
The Advanced Placement participation rate at Liberty High School is 19%, with 13% of students passing at least one AP exam. The high school had proficiency rates of 80% in mathematics, 86% in reading and 75% in science, all higher than the state average.
Regents scores were well above U.S. News’ expectations, according to information provided by the organization. However, the LHS graduation rate was 82% (slightly below the state median), and college readiness index was 14.6 of 100, based 25% on the AP or IB participation rate and 75% on the quality-adjusted AP or IB participation rate.
The total minority enrollment is 58%, and 60% of students are economically disadvantaged.
To see more on what factored into Liberty High School’s ranking, click here. More information about how US News compiled the ranking is available here.
“This ranking shows we are making progress on improving the educational experience for our students,” Sullivan said. “Our five year-strategic plan will help us continue our improvement.”
LES honors first responders during 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony
With a backdrop of an American flag hoisted between two ladder trucks, Liberty Elementary students and staff remembered the police, firefighters and all first responders who lost their lives in or because of the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. As students learned about what happened on that fateful day in 2001, they also learned about those courageous heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.
As they waved more than 700 American flags, students and staff honored local law enforcement agencies, firefighters and EMTs who serve our communities today during the annual tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Robert England, the school principal, reminded students that police officers, firefighters and all first responders run to the danger to keep us safe, and they deserve our thanks. He said, “When we see a police officer, firefighter or EMT person in uniform, we will give them a ‘Liberty Thumbs Up’ as our way of saying thank you for their service and for keeping us safe.”
The school invited all past and present law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs to the September 11 Remembrance Ceremony. Personnel from the Liberty Police Department, State Police, Liberty Fire Department, Loch Sheldrake Fire Department, Monticello Police Department, White Sulphur Springs Fire Department, New York State Department of Environmental Protection, White Lake Fire Department, Fallsburg Police Department, and many other former first responders were also honored in this solemn learning experience about service and community. Liberty Police Chief Steven D’Agata also spoke about how much police, fire and medical workers mean to the community.
The first responders lined the doorways at the close of the event, as passing students and staff gave thumbs ups, high fives, waves and fist bumps to the guests, who were given American flag pins and thank you cards by students.
See more photos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Conference days kick off the new year for faculty, staff
Faculty, staff and administration spent the past two days gearing up to welcome students back to school.
The first of two conference days opened with keynote speaker Erica Orange, executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Future Hunters, one of the world-leading futurist consulting firms. Her presentation, “Failing Forward: The Future of Learning” focused on looking to the future of education, identifying trends and how to strategize how to most effectively support students and LCSD’s vision of cultivating trust and courage to be innovative and to persevere. She discussed how Gen Z is different from past generations and how that generation and future ones are developing biliterate brains — those that can think in the physical and digital realms. The increased use of automation and augmented and artificial intelligence is changing the way educators must think about teaching and learning, she said.
After a welcome and introduction by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan, BOE President Matt DeWitt and various school union leaders, new members of the Liberty Central School District were introduced and staff members who have years of service milestones were recognized. The superintendent then reviewed the five-year strategic plan, outlined what has been accomplished and offered an overview of what the next steps will be.
There were also presentations on mental health as well as a technology overview. Following meetings and lunch, the afternoon offered time for faculty and staff to work on their classrooms and buildings and complete training.
The second day of conference days included building-specific training, information and meetings as well as overviews of district-wide programs and policies.
We are excited to welcome back our students today, Sept. 7.
New teachers learn more about LCSD at orientation
New teachers were welcomed to Liberty Central School District on Wednesday, Aug. 30, with a full day of introductions, instruction and icebreaker activities.
The 16 newest Redhawk faculty members met in the High School Media Center where they signed in, got their Chromebooks and were treated to breakfast.
The day began with opening remarks by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan, who also introduced the administrative team. He then outlined the philosophy of having permission to “fail forward,” meaning it is OK to fail at something as long as the failure is accepted and used as a stepping stone for future success.
The teachers learned about the district’s Five-Year Strategic Plan, as well as the annual District Comprehensive Improvement Plan and building level plans, and discussed why they were important. They also received an overview of the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) process, SchoolTool, the DESSA social/emotional learning screener and other educational digital platforms, Leader in Me, Special Education, English as a New Language and Students in Temporary Housing, as well as technology information such as passwords, security and help desk information. The mentor-mentee program, required for all first-year teachers, offered at Liberty was highlighted during the orientation.
As a way to get to know each other early in the day, teachers paired up and were given 10 minutes to learn more about each other and then introduced their partners to the rest of the group.
The interaction continued throughout the day, especially during the program led by Betsy Conners, a PLC consultant. She addressed issues such as culturally sustaining education, professional learning communities, learning standards, learning targets and essential questions, and offered several group activities to help bring home her messages.
The day concluded with a look at “Overview of The First Days of School” by Harry Wong, which explains why some practices stand the test of time and offers suggestions on how to use them.
The teachers then wrote a letter to themselves, asking them what is their “Why” and where they expect to be at winter break, in respect to their strengths, accomplishments, instructional strategies and more. These letters will be returned to them at the end of the school year, offering them a chance to reflect on their first year at Liberty.
The goal of the new teacher orientation was to increase understanding of the processes and procedures at Liberty, inline with the coherence pillar of the strategic plan.
Forum outlines updates, changes for the 2023-24 school year
The Liberty Central School District’s Community Forum on Wednesday, Aug. 30, offered the chance for the public to hear updates on the five-year strategic plan and related plans, learn more about new programs in the district and more.
Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan welcomed about two dozen community members, offering updates on the plans created to help facilitate Liberty’s improvement and commitment to its mission and vision.
Strategic Plan
Sullivan highlighted the videos created to promote the four pillars of the strategic plan, Coherence, Curriculum, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Culture, and explained what each pillar means and how they impact the Liberty school community.
Coherence helps ensure all three buildings are moving in the same direction on procedures and instruction. Curriculum alignment across grades and subject matters helps ensure students have a consistent and cohesive learning experience. A strong MTSS model allows each student to get the level of support they need, where they need it. Culture’s pillar is two-fold—it focuses on the culture of Liberty, found in its mission “to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,” and the cultures of those who make up the Liberty community. More on the strategic plan can be found on the strategic plan page of the website.
DCIP
Sullivan then updated the audience on last year’s District Comprehensive Improvement Plan, which along with building level plans, support the initiatives in the strategic plan.
All three buildings saw progress toward their goals last year, with Liberty Elementary surpassing its goal of having 58.58% of the students being at watch, at level or above level as reported by STAR Reading and Early Literacy testing.
He also unveiled the three priorities for this year’s DCIP:
- Provide an accessible, culturally responsive, relevant, engaging, vertically and horizontally aligned PK-12 curriculum, that makes connections to our students and community.
- Provide a MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) for behavior and attendance that cultivates wellness and safety for students, staff and families.
- The district will create a positive, welcoming student centered environment that celebrates diversity and inclusivity to empower students, staff and families.
Curriculum
Curriculum was also a large portion of the presentation. Sullivan outlined several of the programs used, including IntoReading and IntoMath for kindergarten through eighth grades,, Math180 and Reading 180 intervention curriculum, Frogstreet for pre-kindergarten, STEM-focused Woz ED, and the Level Up Village program, which connects students with others across the globe.
The Business Incubator class, a high school elective which began last year, will be put on hold because of staffing changes, but the district’s goal is to bring the class back once a full time business teacher is hired.
Liberty has also been certified to offer the Seal of Civic Readiness at the high school to provide “civic education that empowers all students to make informed decisions for the public good as members of a culturally diverse, democratic society in an interdependent world.”
The district is also offering Mandarin as a world language class for eighth graders, and as an exploratory class for high school. This was done, in part, because of difficulty in finding Spanish language teachers, Sullivan said.
LEADS
The Liberty Police Department and Liberty High School’ Liberty Law Enforcement and Discovering Success Program, or LEADS, will also continue this year, giving students who have an interest in entering law enforcement fields after graduation a chance to get an inside look at the career.
ENL Newcomer Program
To help meet the needs of the growing English as a New Language learners, the district has also created an in-house ENL Newcomer Program, where high school students who have limited or no English language skills are given extra support to develop their language skills before moving to mainstream, English-language based classes.
DESSA
Social and emotional wellness is also a priority for the district. That is why the district will introduce the DESSA Screener by Aperture, a way to check the social and emotional wellness of students to ensure they get the support they need. Gaggle, a tool that monitors the district’s computer network and notifies the administration if and when a child is in emotional distress.
Safety
Safety procedures and systems were reviewed, and initiatives such as increased supplies to support the school resource officers and reviewing and changing traffic patterns to make pickup and drop off safer were outlined.
Projects in progress
Two projects in progress were also reviewed — an upcoming capital project proposal and a new logo for the recently renamed Liberty Redhawks. Progress on both have been made over the summer with the goal of each being revealed in the coming weeks and months. Both take time, Sullivan said. The district wants to make sure all financial, safety and curricular needs are met before finalizing the capital project plans, and the mascot committee is “working diligently to create a logo that we all can support and be proud of,” Sullivan said.
The forum was translated by high school TESOL teacher Susana Alvarado.
The first day of school for students is Sept. 7. For the most up-to-date information, visit www.libertyk12.org. Feedback and questions can be directed to questions@libertyk12.org.
The forum’s goal is to inform and update the public about what is happening at the district, inline with the culture and coherence pillars of the strategic plan.
Retreat helps school leaders plan, improve for the new year
Liberty Central School District administrators and teacher facilitators were hard at work this week preparing for the upcoming school year.
The annual summer professional development and planning retreat was held Monday through Thursday, using LCSD’s five-year Strategic Plan and the District Comprehensive Improvement Plan as a focus and guide for sessions.
Administrators heard from speakers, participated in activities, took part in professional development sessions and worked on plans for the upcoming school year.
Teacher facilitators joined sessions on Wednesday to learn about best practices in curriculum and instruction. They also briefly reviewed student data to analyze how they can support students.
In the final day of the end of the retreat, the building teams met to create their yearly building plans to help achieve the yearly district goals, to ultimately accomplish the strategic plan’s strategic intents.
LHS junior to intern at NASA-funded SEES program
A junior at Liberty High School is looking to do big things in Texas this summer.
Jayla Edwards, who plans to be an aerospace engineer, was selected for the Student Enhancement in Earth and Space science summer internship.
Only 95 of the nearly 2,000 applicants from across the nation were selected for the competitive program, which will run July 8-22 at the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Space Research.
SEES is a collaborative effort of UT/CSR and NASA. The internships are organized around an aerospace or space science theme drawn from NASA’s diverse engineering and scientific research programs. The program combines the strengths of collaborators to enrich teaching and learning of STEM.
“The NASA SEES internship stood out to me because it allows high school students to work on issues prominent in actual NASA missions and gain valuable experience and knowledge that will be useful in college and in a career,” Edwards said.
The program pays for housing at the University of Texas for onsite teams, all meals, local transportation and has travel scholarships for those who can not afford the flight to Texas, Edwards said.
“We are all proud of Jayla’s accomplishment,” LHS Principal Derek Adams said. “We encourage our students to explore all options to further their knowledge, and this internship is a perfect example of that.”
Students will work with scientists and engineers to conduct authentic research from data received from NASA’s Earth-observing satellites as well as designing Mars habitats, lunar exploration and analysis of images from the International Space Station.
Students work remotely with their project scientist before the on-site internship, complete an Earth and Space Science course, and complete a Python coding course. During the two weeks the students will work at UT/CSR, they will conduct hands-on activities, field investigations, collaborate with NASA-funded scientists and engineers, and work on various NASA missions.
“I hope the program will provide me with the opportunity to gain the skills I will need in the future and give me a chance to see what kinds of things I will be doing in the future,” Edwards said. As part of the Mars Rover Resource Utilization Team, “I am very excited to be working on a project that is so similar to NASA missions that I desire to be a part of.”
It won’t be all work. The student will also listen to talks from scientists and engineers, visit the NASA Johnson Space Center, and go to an escape room, Edwards said.
“Our mission at Liberty is ‘to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential,’” LCSD Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “With this internship, Jayla embodies our mission and our Liberty Pride.”