Category: Elementary News
Hanofee Summer Camp registration to open
The Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation will host the Hanofee Summer Camp for students ages 5 and older.
There will be a variety of fun and creative outdoor activities, including storytelling, painting, arts and crafts, games, music and dance and daily swimming.
Registration for town of Liberty residents, at $700, will open March 1.
Nonresident registration, at $800, will open April 1.
To register or for more information, call Parks and Rec at 845-292-7690.
Elks to host Easter event
Liberty Elks Lodge 1545 will host its annual Easter event from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the lodge on Darbee Lane in Liberty.
All children up to age 10 will receive an Easter basket while supplies last. The Easter Bunny will be in attendance and will be available for family photos. Lunch will also be available.
All Things Liberty Winter Festival offers fun, sense of community
All Things Liberty Winter Festival offers fun, sense of community
On Saturday, Feb. 22, Liberty Central School District hosted its All Things Liberty Winter Festival drawing more than 275 people to the Liberty High School gymnasium.
The event featured numerous activities, including sledding, carnival games provided by the Rotary Club.
“The sledding event brought smiles and laughter to students and parents, and created memories we will cherish,” said Community Schools Coordinator Stacy Feasel, who coordinated the event.
A selection of crafts were available from more than 15 local vendors, but community involvement was at the heart of the festival, with more than 20 organizations lending their support. Catskill Animal Rescue, a local dog kennel, even facilitated two successful dog adoptions.
Numerous student clubs and school organizations offered activities and displays — robotics, a blender bike, a Lego table, a spaghetti bridge building activity and more — showing what makes Liberty a great place to learn. The Liberty Faculty Association gave out more than 100 books to students and the Booster Club provided concessions.
In addition, the festival raised $440 for the Snack Pack Program, which helps provide food for local students in need.
“This event truly shows what we can accomplish when we come together,” Mrs. Feasel said. “It’s amazing to see so many people give their time and energy to make this such a special day for our community.”
She offered a huge thank you to the staff, volunteers and custodial team who worked tirelessly to make this event possible
“This festival is more than just a fun day — it’s about supporting each other and making a real difference,” Mrs. Feasel added. “From the volunteers to the organizations, everyone played a part in making it a success.”
See more photos on our Instagram page and Facebook page.
Library to host Saturday Stories
The Liberty Public Library will host a story time and movement event for students in pre-kindergarten though second grade students and an accompanying adult.
Saturday Stories will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1. Attendees will read
stories and move like the characters as well as doing some yoga.
Liberty Public Library is at 189 N. Main St. in front of the Elementary School. For more information call 845-292-6070 or visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org.
Budget work underway at Liberty Central School District
Although there is still more than three months until the public will vote on the Liberty Central School District budget, district officials have been hard at work for months to begin crafting a budget that will maintain programs and balance fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers.
The process began in October when Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna requested 2025-26 proposals from administrators.
In December, Ms. McKenna presented the rollover budget information to the Board of Education. Those items include expenses that are carried over from year-to-year such as salaries, health care costs and other contractual obligations.
Preliminary state aid proposals were released last month. Under this proposal, Liberty CSD would see a 3.02% — or more than $1 million — increase in Foundation Aid, the main source of funding from the state. The district did see a loss in reimbursements from capital projects, but that is because a gap in capital project outlays during the current fiscal year.
The first presentation of the budget proposal, which will provide a conceptual framework for the final budget, will go before the Board of Education on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
“Our goal is to maintain the programs put in place during COVID, which used funds from the American Rescue Plan and Every Student Succeeds acts, even though that funding has dropped,” Ms. McKenna said.
The budget will hold true to the district’s strategic plan and continue investments in our students’ education following the District Comprehensive Improvement and building-level plans, Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
Once the budget is finalized, the district will plan a series of informational sessions in the community that will be communicated as they are set.
The budget vote will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, in the high school Media Center. For more budget information, visit the district’s budget page.
Professional development day gives LCSD admins, faculty, staff an opportunity for growth
Following a snow day and on the eve of a four-day weekend, the Liberty Central School District administration, faculty, and staff dedicated themselves to enhancing their skills and expanding their knowledge.
The Friday, Feb. 14, professional development day was broken into sessions geared for small and large group learning and collaboration.
Educational consultant Eric Sheninger, founder and chief executive officer of Aspire Change EDU, returned to Liberty to lead sessions with administrators and teachers on the use of AI to increase engagement.
Faculty and staff took time early in the day to complete the DESSA social-emotional screening for students as well as worked on curriculum mapping and participated in required training throughout the day.
Faculty and staff were also assigned to specific sessions related to their roles and responsibilities. This included learning new programs, continuing education on others and finding new strategies to help educate students.
“It’s important for educators to keep learning and growing their skills,” Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “Our professional development days are vital to helping us meet the goals of our strategic plan and ensuring Liberty is a great place to learn.”
Some of the trainings were on Light Desk (first picture above) EduPlanet (center) and Project Adventure Rock Wall (at right)
LES Drama Club to present musical
Liberty Elementary Drama Club will present “Seussical Kids” at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, and at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 1, in the Liberty Elementary School gymnasium at 201 N. Main St. in Liberty.
The audience will be taken to the land of Seuss, where “All thinkers of strange and wonderful thinks” will bring Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat and others from the Page to the Stage.
Friday’s snow date will be 5 p.m. Saturday, March 1.
Saturday’s snow date will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 3.
For more information, email jward@libertyk12.org.
One emergency closure day remains; remote learning reminder issued
With today’s closure because of freezing rain, Liberty Central School District has used six of its seven emergency closure days allotted for the school year.
If the district uses all of its emergency days, the district will transition to remote learning if weather or other situations require the buildings to be closed.
Liberty will communicate its intention to use remote learning days, if the potential situation arises. The LCSD remote learning plan is available on the website.
Questions may be directed to questions@libertyk12.org.
Two recognized with Excellence in Service Awards at BOE meeting
A high school math teacher and an elementary teacher assistant were honored during the Liberty Central School Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Lindsey Murphy
Ms. Murphy, mentor and department chair of the Liberty High School Math Department, was recognized for her upbeat attitude, preparation, help extracurricular activities and her support of LHS staff.
She offers extra help to her students and to those who aren’t in her class, according to her nomination. She has also coached girls varsity basketball and, with Ms. Golden, has helped keep the George Hutchinson Scholarship running.
She always has a smile on her face, is kind and helps make school fun by playing music between classes and dancing along.
She helps foster a sense of belonging among students and staff.
“Lindsey is the kind of teacher we would all like to be more like,” her nominator wrote, “and kids are happy to see her name on their schedule and her smiling face when they enter the class.”
Katie Chakar
Mrs. Chakar’s pride in her work, positive energy and ability to make lessons fun earned her the Excellence in Service recognition.
“She comes to work every day with the biggest smile on her face, excited to see her students,” her nominator wrote. “Katie is wonderful and caring, always going above and beyond for her students and the teacher she works with.”
She comes up with fun crafts for her students, excels in organizing classroom materials and fosters a positive, inclusive atmosphere.
“Katie is a tremendous asset to Liberty Elementary School, especially in Mrs. Johnston’s class,” the nomination read.
There was no awardee from the middle school this month, as all nominees have already received the award.
Each month, staff members nominate others they believe are going above and beyond, be it a single act of excellence or kindness or a continuous work ethic.
We congratulate these employees on their awards.
LES to host Camp Invention in August
Liberty Elementary School will again host Camp Invention, kindergarten through sixth-grade students, this summer. The program, which is open to all area students, will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Liberty Elementary School, at 201 N. Main St. in Liberty.
This year’s all-new DISCOVER program is packed with hands-on adventures that spark creativity and innovation and include:
- Claw Arcade – Build a DIY claw machine, explore physics, and pitch your arcade experience to investors!
- Illusion Workshop – Become a special effects expert and create a spinning animation device.
- In Control – Discover AI in everyday life, design a Control Panel, and send secret Morse code messages.
- Penguin Launch – Join an eco-expedition with Snow-ver, a robotic penguin, and engineer flippers to launch plush penguins across the South Pole!
The cost is $275, with two discounts available through Thursday, Feb. 13. Program alumni can use the code ALUMNI35 to get a $35 discount and new attendees can use CREATE30 to get a $30 discount. Payment plans are available. Registration can be completed at https://www.invent.org/program-search/camp-invention/ny17/11041
For more information, email Camp Invention Director Stefanie Donohue at sdonohue@libertyk12.org