Category: Middle School News
Annual tournament raises $200 for scholarship
Liberty High School Physical Education Department held its annual Ron Francisco Ping Pong and Badminton Tournament on Thursday, Feb. 29, in the high school gymnasium.
T
here were more than 100 participants and almost 200 students and staff who watched, the largest since at least before COVID, Athletic Director Erin Alvord said.
“In the end, this was probably one of our best tournaments of all time. The students were organized, followed direction and were supportive of one another,” she said.
The champions were:
- Girls Ping Pong: Julia Juron
- Boys Ping Pong: Enrique Mercado
- Staff Ping Pong: Gene Doyle (two years in a row, and was also champ when he was a student.)
- Student Badminton: David Philips and Ben Visconti
- Staff Badminton: Beth Quatrale and Liz Hannold.
The event, named in honor of a former PE teacher Ron Francisco, raised $200 for the memorial scholarship in his name. Two scholarships are awarded annual to seniors who have demonstrated positive character in PE classes and in their athletics.
More photos will be posted to the district’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
LMS students earn Leader of the Month Awards, Good News Notes
Liberty Middle School has awarded students for their leadership and following the Leader in Me Seven Habits during December and January.
Leader of the Month
The criteria for Leader of the Month Awards are:
- Effort: work hard and be persistent to the best ability
- Character: be proactive and display initiative, honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion, optimism
- Behavior: referral free for the month nominated
- Leadership: willingness to help peers, show respect and be a team player
- Attendance: good daily attendance and no excessive tardies
The following students received Leader of the Month Awards:
December
Grades 5 and 6: Claire Ferguson, Aubrie Keating, Pricilla Matute and Randy Panchana.
Grades 7 and 8: Ezra Dilworth, Mariana Joya-Reyes and Alexandra Kelly.
January
Grades 5 and 6: Milsi Ramirez Martinez and Raegan Wagner.
Grades 7 and 8: Miles Harman and Tristan Maloney.
Good News Notes
To receive a Good News Note, students must display the Seven Habits promoted by Leader in Me:
- Being Proactive
- Beginning With the End in Mind
- Putting First Things First
- Thinking Win Win
- Seeking First to Understand then to be Understood
- Synergy
- Sharpening the Saw
December
Grades 5 and 6: Madison Allen, Guiliana Birkett, Farrah Conklin-Degraw, Juan Carlos De La Cruz, Michael Gable III, Madelyn Garcia Cuellar, Danahia Gonzalez Gonzalez, Vina Graham, Z’cari Gulley, Raegan Harman, Alan Hernandez Lopez, Gian Garcia-Melgar, Aquamarine Jennings, Liam LaGattuta, Madison LaMantia, Jayden Lopez Olivares, Alexandria Lyden, Megan Martinez Gomez, Harper Matuszak, Audrina Molina, Bentley Moore, Karen Mosso, Helen Munoz Barragan, Rebecca Norris, Paul Odior, Jordan Ocasio, Adela Paz Perez, Aaliyssa Rodriguez, Caleb Rusin, Jayden Stein, Greyson Torres, Katherine Valdez Calle, Francisco Vicente-Gonzalez and Subhan Zeeshan.
Grades 7 and 8: Jordi Bustillo Martinez, Kendry Cordero-Lima, Yorleny DeJesus Padilla, Jayden Diaz, Branden Edwards, John Feliciano, Jade Guaillazaca Lopez, Zaniah Hernandez, Vallery Jennings, Dana Jimbo Montero, Damien Keating, Jessey Miranda, Mia Molina, Justin Molina Munoz, Louise Perry, Carlos Portillo Larios, Nathaly Portillo Munoz, Heaven Rolland, Quinn Santiago and Vlad Snell.
January
Grades 5 and 6: Raymond Cottman, Avery Decker, Tatianna Decker, Astrid Guardado Diaz, Demarye Douglas, Daniel Doty, Selena Feliciano, Royce Fingers, Aquamarine Jennings, Makenzie Knack, Leandro Leon, Keidy Llano Luciano, Gabriel Lotz, Brenda Lucero Andrade, Daisake Mapes, Atticus McNamara, Helen Munoz Barragan, Jordan Ocasio, Iker Perez, Isabella Pujols, Arian Rodriguez, Uriel Rios, Raegan Wagner and Ethan Zheng
Grades 7 and 8: Zachariah Bickham, Ethan Dowe, Mia Molina, Alfredo Rivera and Amaiya Williamson.
Hundreds see All Things Liberty has to offer at winter festival
The Liberty High School gymnasium lobby and surrounding hallways were packed Saturday, Feb. 24, with vendors, informational booths and games to bring the community together for the inaugural All Things Liberty Winter Festival.
Hundreds of students, parents and guardians, as well as community members, flocked to the event, where they could play carnival-type games, sing karaoke, learn about programs and activities in the district and get information about 15 local programs and organizations. Attendees also were able to purchase wares from nearly a dozen craft vendors
“I am bursting with pride to be a part of such an extraordinary community,” said Community Schools Coordinator Stacy Feasel, who organized the event. “Our exceptional teachers and staff demonstrated unwavering dedication, with many devoting not only their time on Saturday but also months of meticulous planning and organization.”
Dozens of student volunteers took part as well.
“Our student volunteers were simply outstanding, taking ownership of their roles and offering assistance wherever needed,” Feasel added.
More than $400 in monetary and food contributions benefited the Snack Pack Program, which provides meals to families in need over weekends and breaks.
The All Things Liberty Winter Festival supports the district’s five-year strategic plan pillar of culture.
“We are proud to be able to showcase what makes Liberty — the school and community — a great place in which to learn and live,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
More photos from the event can be found on the LCSD Facebook page and LCSD Instagram page.
New technology brings history to life
Liberty Central School District sixth-graders in Samantha Abplanalp’s social studies class recently had the opportunity to interview Egyptian pharaohs.
No, they didn’t travel in a time machine. They used ChatGPT.
“The idea of using AI can be scary, but I know that students will begin using it at some point in their academic career,” Abplanalp said. “I thought it would be better to teach students how to use AI appropriately now.”
In sixth grade, students learn about early humans and ancient civilizations, from Mesopotamia to ancient Egypt, then China, Greece and Rome. Abplanalp, who has been teaching at Liberty Middle School for three years, tries to make learning fun.
Using technology is one way Abplanalp works to keep her students actively participating in class. “I find that students are much more engaged in their learning when they are doing projects and collaborating with others,” she said.
Interviewing a pharaoh
In the pharaoh project, students are creating posters using facts garnered from credible sources on the internet. Students were provided a graphic organizer to plan the poster and write the facts that they found. They created interview questions that they would ask their pharaoh if given the opportunity. This is where ChatGPT came in. Students met in small groups with Abplanalp and asked their questions to ChatGPT.
To help students get accurate answers, Abplanalp asked ChatGPT to be the pharaoh and to reword responses for sixth graders.
“I think it was interesting because it acted like Cleopatra and told me that she purposely made a snake bite her because she was worried the Egyptians were going to kill her anyway,” student Zalaina Nash said.
After asking their questions, students had to decide whether ChatGPT answered their question and if it seemed accurate. They had to use an additional source to determine whether it was correct.
“I looked the same question up on a different website and got a different response, which showed me that ChatGPT might not always be accurate, just like we talked about in class,” student Madison LaMantia said.
“Before using ChatGPT in the classroom, I always discuss with students that it can provide inaccurate information, just like other sources that can be found online,” Abplanalp said.
AI in the classroom
Students were shocked by how fast ChatGPT responded to their questions, Abplanalp said. Many students were looking forward to the interviews, and they were really excited when fact checking and finding that ChatGPT generated an accurate response, she added.
“It was a fun assignment where students got to play around with technology while also learning that AI can have errors,” Abplanalp said.
Her students had used AI previously when studying the Indus River Valley. They asked questions, and Abplanalp typed them into ChatGPT. She read the responses aloud, and the class discussed how some of the questions couldn’t be answered since archaeologists themselves were unable to answer those questions.
The program actually inspired the pharaoh activity, Abplanalp said. “When I was thinking about how ChatGPT could be used in the classroom, I played around with it to see what ideas it could give me.”
She typed in “‘How can I use ChatGPT in the classroom?” and one of the ideas generated was having it pose as a historical figure.
The program helped spark ideas for students as well.
“I like how ChatGPT tried to figure out when Cleopatra’s birthday was, and I like how it gives you extra information. This helped in my research because it gave me more ideas of what I can put on my poster,” student Milana David-Colon said.
“I look forward to seeing how else AI can be used in the classroom,” Abplanalp said. “I know that AI is becoming a big part of the world around us and as technology continues to advance, there is no question that the use of AI will continue to grow.”
Beyond social studies
The class uses Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES curriculum, which is an integrated social studies and ELA curriculum. Abplanalp said her initial ideas come from the curriculum, and she tries to add in engaging activities.
Since the social studies curriculum integrates ELA, students spend a lot of time reading, writing and answering comprehension questions. “Sometimes students don’t even know if they are in ELA or social studies,” Abplanalp said.
The curriculum in different classes often align and work off of each other. In the spring, when students begin learning about ancient Greece in social studies, they begin reading “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan in ELA. The novel discusses the Greek gods and goddesses.
“When students begin reading, the lines between social studies and ELA really blur and the kids seem to enjoy how the two blend together,“ she said.
And it is more than ELA lessons that cross over into social studies. The ChatGPT project showcases the importance of fact-checking and accuracy. Students also learn about the geography of the world, different cultures and how history impacts the world today. Students are able to see the similarities and differences between ancient civilizations and they can even compare them to our lives today.
Using aligned curriculum, explicit direct instruction and supportive teaching methods are all part of the district’s five-year strategic plan and its supporting Middle School Priority Document to improve academic outcomes.
“I often think back to when I was in social studies in elementary school. I can still remember many of the engaging activities that my teachers did in the classroom, from dressing like Greek gods and goddesses to building a replica of the Great Wall of China, I was given the opportunity to be creative while learning, and those are the lessons I will never forget,” Abplanalp said. “As a teacher, I want my students to not only retain what they learn, but to enjoy school and the learning process.”
More than 200 named to LMS second-quarter honor roll
The following Liberty Middle School students were named to the honor rolls for the second quarter.
Honor Roll students have an overall average of 90-96. The Principal’s Honor Roll requires an average of 97-100.
Eighth grade
Principal’s honor: Colten Jay Allen, Sophia Duarte, Belle Gandulla, Tyler A Juron, Shea-Leigh Kristiansen and Adriana Ponce Agredano.
Honor: Angeliz Arriaga Munoz, Irwin Barragan Rojas, Zachariah Bickham, Gabriel Bossert, Alyssia Boyles, Jared Briggs, Ted Caycho Jr, Hope Corbett, Keven Cordero Lima, Ezra Dilworth, Michael Feijo, McKayla Figueroa, Brooke Golzak, Starriah Harris, Leah Herbek, Hunter Kavleski, Lena LaGattuta, Peter Miralle Jr, Jessey Miranda, Anai Perez Sanchez, Kourtney Perry, Jayla Ramon, Peyton Rivera, Baileigh Steinberg, Samantha Vidalis, Mason Williams, Jackson Wilson and Alonso Yupanqui.
Seventh grade
Principal’s honor: Samantha Bull, Luca Burgio, Phillip Burrous Jr, Amelia Cole, Joshua DiBartolo, Grace Fitzgerald, Sara Liddle, Elizabeth MacNamara, Olivia Matuszak, Sariah Ocasio, Jacob Pennell, Everett Schwartz, Alena Tarabichi, Anthony Valdez Calle and Sophia Vasko.
Honor: Nathan Alvord, Evelin Castillo Hernandez, Matthew Decker, Casity DiBartolo, Laudy D’Oleo, Alexandra Galeas Osorio, Jasmine Garcia-Reyes, Anthony Gavidia Reyes, Yoscari Gomez Mejia, Miles Harman, Victoria Henry, Mariana Joya-Reyes, Damien Keating, Alexandra Kelly, Selkir Molina Gonzalez, Alex Olivares-Reyes, Javier Ortiz Paz, Aaron Ponce Flores, Rudis Reyes Lazo, Kimberly Rodriguez, Quinn Santiago, MaKaidyn Smith, Emma Tacti and Wayne Toscano-Gardner.
Sixth grade
Principal’s honor: Madison Montgomery Allen, Genesis Caiza Viracocha, Amy Cortes Cruz, Mya Davis, Claire Ferguson, Gavin Grant, Antoni Klys, Matthew Kolarik, Harper Matuszak,Angelick Rivera and Brycen Smith.
Honor: Alexander Alvarado, Conner Baum, Faith Boyles, Cinfuentesm Maria, Jeremy Correa, Jonathan DiDonne, Ethan DuBois, Makayla Fuentes Serapio, Analina Garcia, Michael Garzon Valle, Chase Golzak, Danahia Gonzalez Gonzalez, Vina Graham, Liam Greaves, Jacob Grossman, Damier Harrington, Aiden Hernandez Mejia, Jolisa Hernandez, Luna Pixie Hulse, Lilly Kehrley, Brody Kelly, Sidra Koen James, Liam LaGattuta, Corinne Lake, Madison LaMantia, Denis Leon Aldana, Briana Lojano Inga, Gabriel Joseph Lotz, Ixchel Marin Gonzalez, Pricilla Matute, Riot Thomas McCoy, Atticus McNamara, Ava McNett, Adner Mejia Aguilar, Americus Mott, Pearl Mott, Zalaina Nash, Erika Panama, Ruben Paz Lopez, Luke Poley, Valeria Ponce Vazquez, Fabian Reyes Banegas, Myla Rielly, Aiden Satz,Namarpreet Singh, Hayden Smith, Ana Sosa, Angel Terraza Raymundo, Erick Torres Garcia, Nakai Toscano-Gardner, Meily Valencia Bamac, Nahum Vallejo Sandoval, Eric Vargas Martin, Evan Vidalis, Markel Woeckener and Ethan Zheng,
Fifth grade
Principal’s honor: Elisa Barragan, Owen Brust, Farrah Conklin-Degraw, Dia D’Agata, Avery Decker, Tristian Degroat, Delilah Flores-Serapio, Mia Grant, Tyler Kavleski, Aubrie Keating, Megan Martinez Gomez, Karen Mosso, Randy Panchana, Scarlett Ratner, Raegan Wagner and Sophie Zayas.
Honor: Muhammad Awais, Guiliana Birkett, Emma Boyles, Andry Caal Chub, Katarina Card, Riley Church-Bradley, Raymond Cottman Jr, Gregory Dasraj, Marcel Davis, Conor Deis, Ellis Dilworth, Ronal Dubon Duque, Royce Fingers, Madelyn Garcia Cuellar, Ely Garcia Garcia, Lilliana Garzon Ferrufino, Dariana Gonzalez Suarez, Astrid Guardado Diaz, Anabel Hernandez Fuentes, Madison Hernandez, Isabella Intranuovo, Hudson Jardon, Dylan Joya Reyes, Mateusz Klys, Makenzie Knack, Kaleb Laidley, Leandro Leon, Keidy Llano Luciano, Alexandria Lyden, Daisuke Mapes, Ayanelson Mazariegos Cuz, Abel McClain, Bentley Moore, Alisha Morales, Samuel Negroni, Paul Odior 2nd, Denali Owens, Makaela Parsons, Lily Paynter, Joseph Portillo Larios, Milsi Ramirez Martinez, Jordanno Rivera, Kailani Rivera, Aaliyssa Rodriguez, Sherlene Romero, Caleb Rusin, MaKynlie Smith, Reinier Staton, Marjorie Tejada Servellon, Sophie Grace Toledo, Katherine Valdez Calle, Belinda VanGordon, Carolina Vera Rivera and Subhan Zeeshan.
Faculty, staff learn on students’ day off
Liberty Central School students didn’t have to answer the morning bell Friday, Feb. 16, but that was not the case for the faculty and staff.
It was a conference day full of learning and working to improve faculty and staff skills and knowledge to enhance their students’ classroom experience.
“It is important to offer time for our teachers to become students by offering vital professional development opportunities,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
The day started in the high school cafeteria with breakfast for all district staff.
Faculty and staff then broke into professional development sessions based on school or job description.
Elementary and middle school teachers started by working on their curriculum maps, which outlines the expectations and standards for each subject and grade level.
At that time, high school staff took part in a workshop with education consultant MaryAnn Brittingham, who focused on working with students who have an “I don’t care” attitude, explaining what is behind it and providing strategies to approach these students with a different mindset
Middle school staff was next for Brittingham, who addressed problems with students whose difficult home lives may impact their behavior in school. She explained methods to de-escalate situations and discussed: “What is under anger?” “Window of tolerance” and “The 3 R’s to assist in de-escalation.”
After lunch, Brittingham then spoke to elementary staff on understanding and handling attention-seeking and manipulative behaviors among students. “Utilizing and Documenting Tier 2 Behavior Interventions in the Classroom; Put the Game on the Table” aimed to help staff decipher the underlying needs behind such behavior and find ways to address them.
Brittingham finished the day working with middle school administration and student services staff on implementation of strategies and accountability measures.
Other professional development opportunities included training for new substitutes, teacher assistants and aides, strategies for English Language Learners classrooms, using the DESSA/Aperture social and emotional screener, working with education consultants PLC Associates on Explicit Direct Instruction methods for giving transparent learning targets, breaking down complex concepts and setting up clear instructions for learning and more.
LCSD holds regular conference days to offer faculty and staff professional development in support of the five-year strategic plan. The sessions cover all pillars of the plan — curriculum, coherence, culture and MTSS, or Multi-Tier System of Supports.
LCSD seeks input on use of ARP-ESSER funds
Liberty Central School District is gathering input from the community regarding the district’s use of the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER) funding. To review how LCSD allocated the funds, visit the LCSD ARP-ESSER plan webpage.
LCSD residents and staff are asked to take this quick, anonymous survey to offer their feedback.
Asbestos abatement underway at LES
Asbestos abatement is underway for a damaged vinyl asbestos tile found under a rug on an uneven floor in a Liberty Elementary School classroom on Jan. 24.
The work is being done after school hours and other days when school is not in session. Because of the remediation, no activities will take place in the building after school hours. School is closed for students Friday, Feb. 16, for a Conference Day, as well as Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 19-20, for Presidents’ Day break. The project is expected to be completed by Feb. 20
The work presents no danger to the staff or students in the elementary school. To remove the asbestos, the district is following New York State regulations that require us to seal the room off from the rest of the building. The district will conduct air monitoring throughout the project.
Safety of the staff and students is of the utmost importance to the district.
If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Superintendent for Business Laurene McKenna at lmmckenna@libertyk12.org.
LMS band to join Pennsylvania bands in exhibition concert
The Liberty Middle School Band will travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Feb. 6, to join with the Western Wayne Middle School and Western Wayne High School for a one-of-a-kind clinic and exhibition concert sponsored by the KHS America Academic Alliance.
After working on the festival music in their own schools, band students from the two districts will meet for the first time as a band early in the morning and spend the day getting to know one another through music. Under the baton of clinician Dr. Peter L. Boonshaft, the students will have the opportunity to collaborate and learn festival rehearsal techniques to take back to their schools.
Boonshaft, director of education for KHS America, is the author of “Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise.” He was honored
by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education,” and was selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, where is professor emeritus of music.
The culminating exhibition concert is free and open to the public. The concert will begin at 4 p.m. at Western Wayne High School Veterans Memorial Auditorium, at 1970 Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m.
For more information on KHS America and the Academic Alliance, visit https://academicalliance.com/
District asks families to review remote learning plan
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, Liberty Central School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Sullivan sent the following message to students’ families.
Dear Liberty families,
With more than a month left of winter weather, I wanted to remind you of our district’s plan for remote learning should we exceed our seven allotted emergency closure days, which are used for inclement weather or another situation that requires the closing of school, such as a power failure. As of today, Jan. 30, we have used four of our seven emergency closure days.
Because the state Education Department requires school districts to remain in session for at least 180 days, using a remote learning day in the event that we exceed our allotted emergency days would reduce the need for the district to meet that requirement by extending the regular school year or taking away already planned days off, such as Memorial Day.
While we still have emergency days left to use, we are asking all parents and guardians to please review the Emergency Closing Remote Learning Plan now so you are familiar with the expectations of your student on a remote learning day so you and they are prepared if there is a need for one. If you have questions or concerns about the activities on a remote learning day, please contact the main office of your student’s school. If you have technology concerns, contact Director of Technology Patrick Killian at 845-292-5400, ext. 2068 or pkillian@libertyk12.org.
I understand that a remote learning day may pose challenges for some families, and I appreciate your flexibility as we work together to fulfill our district’s mission of empowering each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent of Schools