Minisink Valley Central School District -

The Athletic Department has presented Athletic Appreciation Awards to district’s Fields and Grounds crew and the Transportation Department for their ongoing support of Minisink Valley Athletics! Athletic Director Tim Bult expressed his gratitude and those of all team coaches for the critical behind-the-scenes and day-of support given by these two important groups. Their assistance and support are keys in the success of the Athletic Department’s operations each year!

THANK YOU to soon-to-be rising seventh-graders Sofia Tropiano and Brielle Sessoms, who grew Zinnias from seeds and planted the seedlings in the Middle School Courtyard. Their hope is students, faculty and staff will return to school In September seeing some gorgeous flowers in bloom to welcome everyone back! Well-done!

In addition to our wonderful and important Class of 2025, another important person in the district is also “graduating!” Please join us in sending our very best wishes and gratitude to Board of Education President Joseph Flaherty, who is concluding a 15-year term of service to the Board of Education and the Minisink Valley school community on June 30. For the last 13 of those 15 years, Mr. Flaherty served as Board of Education president, always working to put the needs of students first, while staying respectful of taxpayer dollars, to provide the best possible education to all our students. He’s been a member of all Board committees, including chairing several during his tenure. Mr. Flaherty has consistently worked with a resolve to put student achievement, success and safety as top priorities. He’s represented the district and Board of Education at countless events in the district, Orange County, Albany and statewide with distinction and good grace. We’re grateful for his guidance, leadership and all he’s done to support our faculty, staff, administration and, most importantly, students and families. During last evening’s Class of 2025 Baccalaureate Service, Mr. Flaherty acknowledged the common bond he had with the senior class. He began his Board presidency the same year they became kindergarteners! “While you’re finishing up 13 years of public education, I’m finishing up 13 years as president of the Board of Education in just a few days, too,” he said. “We all will be starting something new in the next chapters of our lives. Starting new…that ‘change’ in the way your life has been for quite a long time…and ‘what you know’ as a routine…. is something that you will repeat time and time again in your life. My simple advice for your consideration is this: Embrace change. Embrace all the new things that will come your way, no matter how uncomfortable they may make you feel or how exhilarated they will make you feel. Give ‘change’ a chance. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well you adapt and thrive.” We know Mr. Flaherty will thrive as he begins his new adventures in life. We wish him much good health, happiness, success and fulfillment! Thank you for your service to our school district.

COME FLY WITH ME! Jennifer Carroll’s and Mike Conklin’s IS fifth-graders “took flight” via their recent “Paper Airplane Project!” Each student designed and flew his/her own paper airplane, then measured how far it traveled—in feet and inches. After collecting their flight data, students created colorful line plot posters to display their results and practice real-world math skills. This project combined creativity, hands-on measurement, and data analysis—all while having a blast…and a fabulous STEM lesson! Making paper airplanes is a fun and engaging way to learn about math and science concepts! Students can use mathematical concepts like measurement, graphing, and data analysis to improve their designs and understand the forces at play.

The Class of 2025 Baccalaureate Service was a poignant evening that we know will be memorable due the wonderful advice offered to our soon-to-be graduates and their families. We are grateful for the wonderful words of wisdom offered by teacher Adam Hubbard, Senior Sean Crowe, Parent Ethan Gutzeit, Principal Kenneth Hauck, Superintendent Brian Monahan and Board of Education President Joseph Flaherty. See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD

Joan Giardina’s IS fourth-grade art students have been continuing their unit on sculpture, where they’re learned how to manipulate paper to give it strength. After doing this, they can use those individual cubes for building! Take a look at their creative work!

Kim Marasco’s IS fourth-graders had a terrific time during their recent Fort Day! Students brought blankets to build their forts using their desks and flashlights to be used for reading a book of their choice! It's a opportunity for students to enjoy a change of pace and engage in a creative, hands-on activity while still learning!

Kindness is a wonderful trait! Take a peek at today's expression of kindness at the Middle School: The Middle School Drama Club treated all middle school faculty and staff to a coffee/refreshing hot/cold beverage of their choice from Callie's Cocktails and Coffee Mobile Bar. There was so much for them to choose from! Owner Cassie Wilson is a Minisink Valley alumnus and this is her enterprising small business, (www.calliescocktails.com) which is named after her adorable dog Callie! These beverages really hit the spot on this extremely hot morning and were very much appreciated by all. It's going to be really hot today, so please exercise caution and restraint in whatever you! And stay cool and hydrated! Thank you to the Middle School Drama Club for their kindness and generosity!

Kara Welsh’s Otisville third and fourth-grade art students took advantage of the recent sunny weather to go outdoors to create these beautiful cyanotypes prints! What a unique lesson! A cyanotype, also known as a sun print, is a photographic printing process that produces a distinctive blue image. It's a fun and accessible art project for kids because it uses the sun's light and doesn't require a darkroom or film. Students place objects on special light-sensitive paper, expose it to sunlight, and then rinse it in water to reveal the image!

Anthony Pascarelli's IS fifth-graders have been getting lessons in pickleball! And, they're getting really good, too! Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis, played on a badminton-sized court with a slightly modified tennis net. (In this instance, students are using the high school's tennis courts.) Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball over the net. It's known for being easy to learn, low-impact, and accessible to people of all ages and skill levels.

CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES to members of our faculty and staff who are retiring at the end of this school year. We will miss them all and thank them for their talent, dedication and commitment to student academic achievement and success. The Board of Education paid tribute to this year's retirees at its June 18 meeting. Please join us in wishing them much good health, happiness, success and fulfillment in all they do in their new adventures. Thank you for your service to our school district. Jean Breheny Rose Marie Cricchio Lisa Emanuele Christine Fratto Andrea Ferguson Joseph Horner George Hoye James Johnstone Sue Kaczmar Dolores Lombardo Marina Marando Joseph Palazzo Lori Reynolds Miriam Rivera Cheryl Wilson

Otisville fifth-graders recently had a fun, wet and very important field trip to the High School’s natatorium for a Water Safety Day! Physical Education teachers Tom Uhrig and Stephanie Giufre and third-grade teacher Holly Pason led the activities with help from high school lifeguards. Students learned how to fit a lifejacket correctly, demonstrate and understand a huddle and H.E.L.P (Heat Escape Lesson Position). They learned about changing body positions in the water if they needed go; and what to do if someone is drowning or having difficulty in the water. Ask them about this! There was also time for water fun, too, as everyone got to play shallow water games called “Popsicle,” “Mr. Wolf/Mr. Shark,” “Sharks and Minnows” and “Kickboard Relay.” Thank you to all involved for making this trip fun and important!

Jennifer Carroll and Mike Conklin’s IS fifth-graders, like all district fifth-graders, have been learning about a period of history known as the Renaissance. As part of their activities, students worked in pairs to design their own inventions, just like Leonardo da Vinci. Their projects, known in-class as the “da Vinci Project,” needed to include at least one simple machine! Their companion sketches even mirrored da Vinci’s writing! Their projects included designing trampoline sneakers, a balloon powered car, paint brush dryer, catapults, lip gloss and lip liner in one unit and lip gloss and perfume in one unit. “This fun project helped us bring history, science, and creativity together in one big learning adventure,” said Mrs. Carroll. “The biggest teachable moment in the da Vinci project was the process of turning an idea into a tangible model. Students learned that it’s one thing to imagine or sketch an invention, but it’s another to bring it to life with real world materials.” Da Vinci was a highly accomplished inventor, among his many other talents as an artist, scientist, and engineer. He is celebrated for his innovative designs and conceptualizations of numerous machines and devices, many of which were centuries ahead of their time. While many of his inventions were not realized during his lifetime due to technological limitations, his detailed sketches and notebooks provide valuable insights into his thought process.

Kudos to sophomore Daniel Oenga, who represented Minisink Valley as an ambassador at the recent Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership New York East (HOBY NYE) seminar. Selected for his leadership potential and commitment to service, Dan joined other sophomores from across the region for a weekend focused on leadership development, community engagement, and personal growth. In addition to Dan’s participation, juniors Ashlyn Burke and Malunga Kinzonzi served junior facilitators at this event. Ashlyn and Malunga are HOBY program alumni and were selected to serve as mentors and guides to this year’s ambassadors, helping to lead group discussions, coordinate activities, and foster an inclusive, empowering environment for all participants. WELL DONE, everyone! HOBY New York East has been shaping young leaders across Eastern New York for decades, empowering high school sophomores to develop their leadership skills and make a lasting impact in their communities. Each year, HOBY New York East brings students together for a weekend seminar filled with interactive workshops, inspiring guest speakers and hands-on service projects. Guided by alumni and volunteers, participants leave the seminar with a renewed sense of purpose and the skills to become changemakers in their schools and communities.

It's "Paint and Sip," Kindergarten style! In this instance, it’s "PAINT AND SNACK!" Karen Ruoti’s and Tiffany Guareno’s ES kindergarteners recently gathered for a special and innovative year-end PAINT AND SNACK party where they painted and later snacked on fruit together! Students followed a guided painting lesson featuring fireworks (perfect for the upcoming July 4 holiday) followed by an outdoor picnic featuring fresh fruit. These little students followed a step-by-step demonstration, allowing them to create their own unique masterpiece! What a fun, relaxing and creative way to end the season with friends (and bring home a wonderful keepsake to their families!)

AMAZING! Congratulations to the staff of the High School’s 2025 yearbook, which has been honored with the Gallery of Excellence distinction from Walsworth publishing. The edition, titled “Out Loud,” will be used an example of solid yearbook production and design to help other schools to gain inspiration. The Walsworth Gallery of Excellence is a distinction awarded to a select group of yearbooks published by Walsworth Yearbooks that demonstrate superior quality in theme development, coverage, design, and photography. It signifies that the yearbook is among the highest caliber publications produced by Walsworth and serves as an example of excellence in scholastic journalism

Congratulations to the recipients of the High School’s Band Awards, presented during the recent Band Awards Night! The event was a celebration of all their hard work throughout the year. Students were awarded “Most Improved Musician,” “Band MVP” and “Most Outstanding Musician” for Grades 9-12 in addition to the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Award, among others. This year, Band teachers Matt Christy and Tom Stickney handed out the first “Joe Horner Award of Commitment and Dedication,” honoring retiring High School Band Director Joe Horner. This award will now be presented annually. Students were also acknowledged for participating NYSSMA solo adjunctions this spring. Award recipients are: Most Improved Musician 9th Grade: Kolin Fiedler 10th Grade: Austin Arredondo 11th Grade: Gavin McGinnis 12the Grade: Dan Rolon Band MVP 9th Grade: Landon Straw 10th Grade: Vinny Galligan 11th Grade: Mitchell Demberg 12th Gard: Drew Jashembowski Most Outstanding Musician 9th Grade Matt Milby 10th Grade: Dan Oenga 11th Grade: Heather Day 12th Grade: Sean Crowe • Joe Horner Award of Commitment and Dedication: Matt Milby • Kaitlyn McElduff Shine a Light Award: Jacob Weymer • Dan Haber Frisbee MVP Award: Drew Jashembowski • Tedde Harden Band Spirit Award: Drew Jashembowski • Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Cheyann Kumar • John Philip Sousa Award – Audrey Guido

Andrew Fenner's IS third-graders had a very fun, recent occasion to be the class teacher, instructing their peers (and Mr. Fenner) on topics of interest to them. It was a great opportunity for students to share what they know, practice important public speaking skills and also, where relevant, use technology to prepare and present their presentations to the class. These are all important skills for them to refine as their academic careers continue! Some of the presentations included class participation! And everyone did great following instruction, including Mr. Fenner who know knows how to do basic Irish step dance footwork and cheerleading motions!

JUST...WOW! THAT. IS. ALL. Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Kevin Gallagher is thrilled to share that Senior PJ Duke rallied past Yianni Diakomihalis, a four-time NCAA champion and 2022 World silver medalist, at USA Wrestling’s Final X this past Saturday in Newark, N.J. to earn the 70kg spot at September’s worlds in Croatia! It was a huge, huge upset! PJ could be the youngest U.S. male freestyle wrestler to compete at a senior world championship in more than 50 years! On Saturday, PJ lost his first match to Yianni by mercy rule (10-0 at the 3:26 mark of the scheduled six minutes) in the best-of-three championship series. He won the next two matches, 17-10 and then with a pin in the decider at the 4:07 mark. After pulling off the stunning upset, PJ celebrated with a backflip! Television broadcasters told viewers they were “watching the birth of a superstar in Newark, N.J.” “PJ wrestled great and the whole place was going crazy,” said Coach Gallagher. “After PJ losing the first match some people were saying, ‘Yanni has too much talent, too much experience, and PJ is just not there yet.’ I guess he proved them wrong! I know the 70-plus Minisink people who were in the arena and the rest of the ‘Duke Mafia’ around the country still believed he would win. After PJ scored his first two points in the second match PJ began to dominate Yanni scoring 15 points to Yanni’s two. The third and final match was the most anticipated match of the tournament and nobody left the arena. After a defensive first period, Yanni scored another point and was leading 2-0. Then, PJ hit a single leg counter shot and took Yanni to his back and pinned him! The place went crazy! PJ is quite possibly the best high school wrestler ever!”

Matthew Finck’s general music students are in the midst of completing their Podcast Unit! Students have broken off into two or three--person teams, created 10 questions to ask their interviewees and then recorded the conversation in Soundtrap, a web-based, digital audio workstation (DAW). Using Soundtrap, the students can create their own songs as well as their own podcasts using the Music Department’s microphones or the Chromebooks’ built-in microphone. They created a podcast name and decided what its focus. Some chose sports while others discussed movies or even celebrity gossip. Soon, they will create music in Soundtrap which they’ll use for their introductions and breaks between their interviews. The last component is creating a parody advertisement, a sponsor for their podcast. (“This podcast is brought to you by…”) Using Soundtrap, students are able to develop interviewing and microphone techniques as well as how to create music using loops that are layered to create full songs. Once everything is recorded using the recording studios, they put it all together and submit their completed episodes. The final step in the completion of this project is when everyone gathers in class to listen to the episodes What fun, out-of-the-box music project that aligns itself with current societal trends! •Podcasts have gained immense popularity due to a combination of factors, including their accessibility, versatility, and ability to engage listeners in a multi-tasking-friendly way. They offer a wide range of content and the convenience of listening “on the go.” The ease of accessing podcasts on smartphones also contribute to their popularity. •Podcasting's growing popularity reflects several societal trends: a desire for longer-form, engaging content; increased use of digital devices for audio consumption; and a shift toward personalized learning and entertainment. Podcasts offer a unique combination of entertainment, education, and social connection, appealing to a wide audience.