Category: District News
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Sept. 16-22, 2024
Our athletes will be in action in cross country, football, soccer, tennis and volleyball this week.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
Monday, Sept. 16
4:30 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. James I. O’Neill at James I O’Neill High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Tennis (with Tri-Valley) vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School.
4:30 p.m.: Girls Modified Volleyball vs. Livingston Manor/Roscoe at Roscoe Central School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Beacon City at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Beacon City at Liberty High School
Tuesday, Sept. 17
4:15 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Multiple Schools at Tri-Valley Central School TV – Iatauro Sports Complex.
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Soccer vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. James I. O’Neill at James I O’Neill High School.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
4 p.m.: Girls Varsity Tennis (with Tri-Valley) vs. John S. Burke Catholic at Liberty High School
4:15 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School
5:30 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. Beacon City at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School
Thursday, Sept. 19
4:15 p.m.: Girls JV Soccer vs. Middletown at Liberty High School
Result: Liberty 1, Middletown 2 (OT) The JV girls lost a hard fought game to Middletown in overtime. After a scoreless first half, Middletown scored in the second half. The team rallied and moved the ball effectively challenging every shot and fighting for possession of the ball. A brilliant pass from freshman Yarel Diaz Lopez found the foot of junior Valeria Cruz who notched the tying goal. The Redhawks’ passing allowed pressure to be placed on the Middletown goal keeper for the remainder of the half. Entering a 10 minute overtime period Middletown was awarded a penalty kick, which they were able to convert. A strong showing from Cassandra Porter in goal with eight saves.
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Soccer vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty Elementary School.
Friday, Sept. 20
4:15 p.m.: Girls Modified Soccer vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West – Jeffersonville
4:15 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School
4:15 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West – Lake Huntington
Result: Liberty 5, Sullivan West 0. The entire team contributed to the effort.
5 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Goshen at Liberty High School
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Goshen at Liberty High School
Saturday, Sept. 21
10 a.m.: Modified A 11 Man Football vs. Monticello at Liberty High School
1 p.m.: Varsity Football vs. Monticello at Monticello High School
Sunday, Sept. 22
No events scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section 9 website for the latest.
Attendance notifications are changing
Starting Monday, Sept. 16, parents and guardians will begin receiving notifications via ParentSquare if their child is absent from school.
They will receive a text or an email notification in regards to their child’s absence. If the text or email cannot be delivered, the parent will automatically receive a phone call.
An advantage of signing up for ParentSquare is that notes can be submitted through the ParentSquare App or website. The absence notification can be found on the alerts button at the bottom of the app or on the left hand side of the webpage. For more details on how to access the notifications, visit ParentSquare’s help page here.
Submitting the note is as easy as 1, 2, 3. (images are only for reference)
- Click Send Note to School.
- Enter the reason for the absence and click Submit.
- The note will be sent immediately to the school’s attendance office.
If the parent or guardian hasn’t yet registered for ParentSquare, they must send the reason for the absence via email to centralregistration@libertyk12.org or send in a physical note with their child to be turned into the school’s main office or with the child’s teacher or homeroom teacher.
For more information and instructions on how to sign up for ParentSquare, visit the ParentSquare page on our website.
MHSSC to honor LMS aide/safety duty staffer
Liberty Middle School Aide/Safety Duty staff member Cindy Mercado 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.
Mercado was recognized for her positive attitude, professionalism and dedication to making Liberty Middle School a safe and welcoming place to learn.
“What sets Cindy apart is her genuine connection with the students,” LMS Principal Heather Cheh said in her nomination letter. “She has a unique ability to engage with them in a way that is both nurturing and authoritative, earning their respect and trust.”
She has been named a LMS Staff Standout several times. She often goes above and beyond her duties, helping special events and assisting colleagues, her nominators said.
“Her collaborative spirit and proactive approach make her an exceptional team player,” Cheh said, “and her contributions significantly enhance our school’s operations.”
Her ability to de-escalate was noted by LMS Assistant Principal Kaitlyn Rusin, as was her assistance in translation for non-English speaking families.
She also embodies what it means to be a Liberty Redhawk, in line with the culture pillar of the district’s strategic plan.
“I’m proud to be a parent in the Liberty community, but also an employee of the district. I take pride in coming to work every morning and greeting the students with a smile,” Mercado said. “I genuinely show up to work to make a difference in the lives of the students and also keep them safe when they walk through the Middle School doors. I will continue to nurture the school culture and am proud to say I definitely have Liberty Pride.”
The MHSSC awards for administration, pupil personnel services and support staff services will be presented Oct. 16 at The Barn at Villa Venezia in Middletown. The school board service and community service awards will be presented in the spring
LHS student earns Soapbox Derby title
LES student competes, finishes eighth
When asked what they did over summer break, two Liberty students are able to say they competed in the 2024 All-American Soapbox Derby. One of those students can add that he is a world champion.
Hudson Danzilo, a 10th grader, earned the 2024 masters division championship and received a $1,000 scholarship. Fourth-grader Ava Diehl finished in eighth place in the stock division.
The two pursued their potential by competing with racers from around the world in Akron, Ohio, in July.
Racers qualify by competing in local Soapbox Derby or via earning enough rally points to qualify. Ava and Hudson won their divisions in the Sullivan County Soapbox Derby, held annually, the first Saturday after Memorial Day in Liberty. Ava competed in the stock division (ages 7-13) and Hudson competed in the Masters division (ages 12-21). Competitors race against each other in gravity-driven vehicles built within specifications determined by the organization in a single elimination bracket style race to determine a champion.
For more information on the Soapbox Derby, visit https://www.soapboxderby.org/
LCSD welcomes new director of facilities
Liberty Central School District recently welcomed Randy Kleingardner as the district’s director of facilities.
Kleingardner, who began in his role in late August, has been involved in the building construction and building maintenance industries for more than 45 years. He has worked in all positions of project management and building renovations; being responsible from start to finish and budgets from small to large scale. He owned and operated a successful maintenance and excavating company.
He was born and raised in Liberty and has lived here for most of his life. He and his wife own a successful local restaurant and bar.
He said he is looking forward to making the Liberty schools a great place to attend and to work.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Sept. 9-15, 2024
Our athletes will be in action in cross country, football, soccer, tennis and volleyball this week.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
Monday, Sept. 9
4:15 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
4:15 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. Monticello at Liberty High School
5:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. James I. O’Neill at James I. O’Neill High School
7 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. James I. O’Neill at James I. O’Neill High School
Tuesday, Sept. 10
4:15 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country Multi-Matches vs. Multiple Schools at Monticello High School
Boys result: The Liberty Boys Varsity Cross Country team competed on a 2.8 mile course against Monticello, Sullivan West Eldred and Fallsburg with the LCSD boys recording the following times Colin Dasraj: 18:18; Braedan Clark: 18:19; Angel Gomez: 20:53, Konnor Williams 21:46, Eli Desrochers 21:52. “The team has been working hard to compete and has proven that all of that hard work pays off!,” Coach Samantha Abplanalp said.
4:15 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
5 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School Chase Field.
Wednesday, Sept. 11
4 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. S.S. Seward Institute at Seward Soccer Complex
4:15 p.m.: Girls JV Soccer vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Cornwall Central at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Cornwall Central at Liberty High School
Thursday, Sept. 12
4:15 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. Fallsburg at Liberty High School
Friday, Sept. 13
4 p.m.: Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Monticello at Liberty High School
4:15 p.m.: Girls JV Soccer vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Monticello at Monticello High School
4:40 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School.
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Monticello at Monticello High School.
7 p.m.: Varsity Football vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School Chase Field
Saturday, Sept. 14
9 a.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball Tournament vs. Multiple Schools at Goshen High School
Sunday, Sept. 15
No events scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section 9 website for the latest.
LCSD issues safety reminders
In the midst of the excitement of welcoming students back to school was the tragedy the previous day in Georgia, where four people lost their lives and several more were injured in a school shooting.
“Our hearts go out to the families and community impacted by this tragic event,” Liberty Central School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
At the same time, the district is reassuring families that the safety and security of students, staff and the school community remain LCSD’s top priority.
A combination of technology, training and planning is used in an effort to prevent a tragedy like what happened in Georgia and too often across the United States.
The district issued the following safety reminders:
- Entry to all buildings requires keycard access. Visitors are restricted to a single point of entry in each building. All visitors are required to show a valid ID at an automated kiosk before entering any of our school buildings, and visitors will be buzzed in. More information is available at https://www.libertyk12.org/visiting-procedures/
- All classrooms require keycard access as well, and doors are expected to remain closed and locked when occupied.
- Through the district’s updated door lock system, school officials are able to immediately lock all doors if there is an emergency. As part of the lockdown system, digital signs throughout common areas will help inform students and staff of what is happening. There are also strobe lights inside and outside the building, which will help alert of emergencies and advise those outside the building not to enter. If an emergency occurs, the Liberty Police Department is able to monitor school cameras if a lockdown takes place.
- The district has continued its partnership with LPD, placing a school resource officer in each building. They regularly patrol and check for vulnerabilities and are a valuable resource to students and staff.
- The district safety plan, which is updated yearly, can be seen at https://www.libertyk12.org/district-wide-safety-plan/. Faculty and staff are trained in what to do in the event of an emergency, and the schools have emergency drills several times a year.
- All statements or actions that suggest a threat to the safety and security of school populations are taken seriously. Any such statement comes with significant consequences, even if they are made jokingly and/or are deemed as not credible. The district’s Code of Conduct will be followed in all instances.
- Families are encouraged to speak to their students about their actions on social media. A post that may seem funny may lead to significant school discipline and/or criminal charges.
- Talk to students about reporting any concerning post to a trusted adult, the school administration, or the police department immediately. Every concerning post or statement must be fully investigated.
- Non-immediate concerns can also be reported via the district’s Anonymous Alerts reporting system.
Those with questions may email questions@libertyk12.org.
Liberty teacher, police chief to be honored by SCSBA
A longtime Liberty Elementary School teacher and the Village of Liberty police chief will be among those honored by the Sullivan County School Boards Association Annual Dinner and Meeting next month.
Jennifer Eisenberg will be honored as an Outstanding Educator, and Police Chief Steven D’Agata will be honored as an Outstanding Friend to Education.
LES teacher Jennifer Eisenberg
A teacher at LES for 25 years, Eisenberg has educated a range of learners, from students with a variety of learning needs to the highest performing students.
“There is no student Jen Eisenberg cannot reach and teach,” Principal Robert England said in his nominating letter.
“I never entered the teaching profession looking for accolades or recognition, but, when I opened the letter I was immediately humbled and felt an immense sense of pride,” Eisenberg said.
Eisenberg accepts all challenges. She adapts her methods as needed and holds high expectations for her students, ensuring they exceed their expectations, the nomination read.
For the past 10 years, Eisenberg has been the math department facilitator, an instructional coach and a leader in the school and districtwide. She has helped the district work toward its strategic plan goal of ensuring curriculum, instruction and assessments are aligned vertically and horizontally.
It was a childhood dream to become an educator, Eisenberg said. She credited the mentors and support team in her earlier years of teaching for her success and she looks forward to sharing her knowledge and expertise with the next generation of teachers, including her daughter, who is now a teacher at LES
“(Eisenberg’s) legacy to her family and community as an educator and a human being is imprinted on her students, her colleagues and anyone who has the good fortune to work with her,” England said in the nomination.
LPD Chief Steven D’Agata
D’Agata’s dedication, innovation and community spirit were among the qualities highlighted by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan in the nomination letter.
“I’m deeply honored and humbled to receive this award, but any recognition truly belongs to the men and women of the Liberty Police Department,” D’Agata said. “Their tireless work and dedication are the foundation of everything we achieve.”
D’Agata’s forward-thinking approach and proactive measures have enhanced the safety and well-being of students, staff and the broader community. They have become benchmarks for other districts, Sullivan wrote.
D’Agata has helped build relationships between the community, the district and the police department, by visiting schools, participating in community events and having open dialogue with students and families. This aligns with the culture pillar of the district’s strategic plan,
“Together, we’ve built something special for this community, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” D’Agata said.
Sullivan also praised D’Agata’s leadership in ensuring seamless collaboration and communication, crucial in times of crisis and for the ongoing safety.
“He has fostered a culture of mutual respect and understanding, creating a supportive environment where students feel safe and valued,” Sullivan wrote. “Chief D’Agata has established a presence that is both reassuring and inspiring.”
Each year, the SCSBA presents Outstanding Educator Awards and Outstanding Friend to Education Awards based on nominations from districts across the county during the organization’s annual meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at The Villa Roma in Callicoon.
LCSD faculty, staff return to school
It may still be two days until students return, but Liberty Central School District faculty and staff had their first day of the 2024-25 school year on Tuesday. The year kicked off with the traditional Opening Day assembly, this year held in the high school gymnasium rather than the auditorium because of work underway on the stage.
“These first two days of school for our faculty and staff are a vital time to ensure we are all on the same page and working together to make Liberty a great place to learn,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
These two conference days help Liberty administration introduce or reintroduce and reinforce the mission, vision and beliefs of the district, inline with the district’s five-year strategic plan. It also allows time for faculty and staff to complete required trainings and to make final preparations before students return.
Following a brief welcome and remarks by Sullivan and various school union leaders, new administrators, faculty and staff were introduced.
Sullivan and building leaders also recognized staff who were celebrating milestone years of service, with special recognition given to two Liberty staff members who each have been with LCSD for 33 years — custodian Marilyn Doland and ICT first-grade teacher Karen Gorr.
The strategic plan was next on the agenda. Sullivan reviewed the plan, progress that has been made in the first two years, and where the district is heading in year three. He also briefly reviewed the annual District Comprehensive Improvement Plan.
The important topic of student mental health was next on the agenda, with behavioral specialist Sheila Wormuth presenting. She highlighted the importance of making a difference in students’ lives, from a small thing such as offering a smile to the big ones, such as truly listening and understanding when they are speaking.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Sept. 2-8, 2024
Our athletes will be in action in football, soccer and volleyball this week.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
Monday, Sept. 2
No events scheduled.
Tuesday, Sept. 3
2 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Sidney at Downsville Central School Jane Flannery Soccer Tournament.
Result: Liberty 0, Sidney 8
Wednesday, Sept. 4
No events scheduled
Thursday, Sept. 5
7 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Margaretville at Downsville Central School James Campbell Soccer Tournament.
Result: Liberty 5, Margaretville 1. The game was under the lights in the Downsville Soccer Tournament. Francisco Gonzalez recorded a hat trick with his 3 well placed goals. Jehu Abisair scored twice. Luis Molina Gonzalez had 2 assists, with James Dworetsky and Gonzalez each providing an assist. Bryan Jimbo and Justin Simon split time in goal with Simon recording 2 saves. Dworetsky and Anthony Lemus led a strong defense. The entire team contributed to the win. The team concludes tournament play with a 7 p.m. game on Saturday versus home team Downsville/Walton at Downsville High School.
Friday, Sept. 6
4:45 p.m.: Boys JV Soccer vs. vs. Pine Bush at Pine Bush Elementary School
5 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Monroe-Woodbury at Monroe-Woodbury High School Gym Main
6 p.m.: Varsity Football vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg Junior/Senior High School
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Monroe-Woodbury at Monroe-Woodbury High School Gym Main
Saturday, Sept. 7
7 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Downsville/Walton at Downsville Central School James Campbell Soccer Tournament.
Result: Liberty 2, Downsville/Walton 1. The game was tied 1-1 after regulation play with Jehu Abisair recording Liberty’s lone goal. In overtime, Captain Luis Molina Gonzalez was fouled while attempting to make a goal line play. Captain Jackson Bustillo then converted on the penalty kick to win the game. Bryan Jimbo had two saves in goal. Captain James Dworetsky and Anthony Lemus provided stellar defense in the win. Dworstsky, Abisair James, Jehu and Francisco Gonzalez were named to the All-Star Tournament team.
2 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Monticello at Downsville Central School Jane Flannery Tournament
Result: Liberty 6, Monticello 0. Despite the rain, the Lady Redhawks were able to work together to create many scoring opportunities. Scoring for Liberty with one goal each were Brooke Bull, Sydania Foster and Audrey Krum. Scoring two goals to close out the game was Madysen Rielly. Assisting those goals were Sandra Hanofee, Angela Wheeler, Elizabeth Navarrete, Adriana Ponce, Stephanie Gomez Nivelo and Madelynn Stewart. Holding the opponent from advancing were defenders Brenna Mangan, Gabriella Gentile, Sophia Duarte, Carmela Burgio and Elizabeth Cruz. Giving the Liberty Redhawks their first shutout of the season was keeper Haylee Gomez.
Sunday, Sept. 8
No events scheduled.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section 9 website for the latest.