Patriotism lessons continued in the Intermediate School yesterday, May 21, when members of the American Legion George Smith Post 1607 of Unionville visited all fifth-grade classes to talk about Memorial Day. We’re grateful for the interest of members of the Post in helping educate our students.
As part of their visit, members explained why Post 1607 was named after Sgt. George Smith, citing his bravery and sacrifice during World War II in the European Theater.
Visits like these help bring history to life, give students a deeper understanding of service and sacrifice, and encourage respect for the men and women who have served our country.
As part of their visit, members explained why Post 1607 was named after Sgt. George Smith, citing his bravery and sacrifice during World War II in the European Theater.
Visits like these help bring history to life, give students a deeper understanding of service and sacrifice, and encourage respect for the men and women who have served our country.
The district’s K-12 Art Show, held last evening, was a vibrantly gorgeous celebration of student creativity, showcasing an impressive collection of artwork created across a wide range of mediums, alongside exceptional work from our media, production and film students.
From expressive compositions and striking use of color to thoughtful mixed-media pieces and digital storytelling, the exhibit transformed the high school cafeteria and auditorium into a true gallery experience!
We hope many of you were able to attend and witness the tremendous talent of our student artists representing all five district buildings. Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the power of the arts to bring a community together — connecting students, families, educators, and neighbors through creativity, imagination and shared pride.
Hundreds of proud students and even prouder families filled the show to celebrate not only the artwork created by the children in their own lives, but also to admire and encourage the work of all participating artists. The evening reflected the collaborative spirit and cultural richness that make our school community so special.
THANK YOU to the district’s art faculty for curating such a magnificent and thoughtfully installed exhibition, to everyone who supported the scholarship auction of furniture and clocks and to the high school’s Step Dance Team for their dynamic performance!
See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD/posts/pfbid02xsVFMrvxVVmJZ5QCMgC5PBeeDvgjMzEZAQiA3r3UCDQd6VXq3f7qhtXBFKe9kqk5l?__cft__[0]=AZbX_xIm4L32rE1Jz-gzl63jTzYc8uLFmA00ZZsY8-PauqmUM1qQr6LQOuWkz-N_YQk0FD-namhvBdHhCGK9OOS8w_T4Ixck8vf4xCaPuVynUx4GLCTunm1bx-01w_PywuC7LBK3zN28jrW82BiNux0sU_k7QP6L9WjGGgdR9H5ZTA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
From expressive compositions and striking use of color to thoughtful mixed-media pieces and digital storytelling, the exhibit transformed the high school cafeteria and auditorium into a true gallery experience!
We hope many of you were able to attend and witness the tremendous talent of our student artists representing all five district buildings. Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the power of the arts to bring a community together — connecting students, families, educators, and neighbors through creativity, imagination and shared pride.
Hundreds of proud students and even prouder families filled the show to celebrate not only the artwork created by the children in their own lives, but also to admire and encourage the work of all participating artists. The evening reflected the collaborative spirit and cultural richness that make our school community so special.
THANK YOU to the district’s art faculty for curating such a magnificent and thoughtfully installed exhibition, to everyone who supported the scholarship auction of furniture and clocks and to the high school’s Step Dance Team for their dynamic performance!
See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD/posts/pfbid02xsVFMrvxVVmJZ5QCMgC5PBeeDvgjMzEZAQiA3r3UCDQd6VXq3f7qhtXBFKe9kqk5l?__cft__[0]=AZbX_xIm4L32rE1Jz-gzl63jTzYc8uLFmA00ZZsY8-PauqmUM1qQr6LQOuWkz-N_YQk0FD-namhvBdHhCGK9OOS8w_T4Ixck8vf4xCaPuVynUx4GLCTunm1bx-01w_PywuC7LBK3zN28jrW82BiNux0sU_k7QP6L9WjGGgdR9H5ZTA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
Like all district fourth-graders, Alexis Covais’ IS fourth-graders have been exploring the CKLA Ocean unit through the Core Knowledge Foundation curriculum, where they’ve been diving into the ocean as a massive, interconnected “blue world” that covers most of Earth and helps regulate global climate.
For example, students now know how oceans are divided into different zones—such as the sunlight, twilight, and deep ocean zones—each with unique conditions that affect the plants and animals living there.
Students also explored marine ecosystems and food chains, showing how energy flows from tiny organisms like plankton to larger predators such as fish and sharks. Additionally, they learned about ocean features, including currents, tides, and the ocean floor, and how these movements influence weather and climate around the world. Finally, the unit emphasizes human impacts on oceans, including pollution and overfishing, and highlights the importance of conservation to protect marine environments.
To wrap up this unit, students researched a marine animal of their choice and presented it in creative ways like slides or models, sharing details about adaptations, diet, and fun facts, while practicing growing research and presentation skills. Well-done, everyone!
Please join us in congratulating the student musicians and singers for their wonderful performances at the recent NYSSMA Solo Festival at Mount Academy in Esopus! They proudly represented Minisink Valley with tremendous musical excellence!
The New York State School Music Association Solo Festival (NYSSMA) is a music evaluation event for student musicians and singers where students perform a prepared solo piece for a certified judge and receive a score plus written feedback on their musical skills, technique, tone, rhythm and overall performance.
The festival uses difficulty levels from 1 to 6, with higher scores at advanced levels sometimes helping students qualify for honors ensembles like All-State or strengthen college music applications
The New York State School Music Association Solo Festival (NYSSMA) is a music evaluation event for student musicians and singers where students perform a prepared solo piece for a certified judge and receive a score plus written feedback on their musical skills, technique, tone, rhythm and overall performance.
The festival uses difficulty levels from 1 to 6, with higher scores at advanced levels sometimes helping students qualify for honors ensembles like All-State or strengthen college music applications
Intermediate School Grade 3-5 families: How fast can you run?
Sign up today for the Intermediate School's Fastest Student competition on May 26! Registration deadline is May 20, so don't miss out!
Sign up today for the Intermediate School's Fastest Student competition on May 26! Registration deadline is May 20, so don't miss out!
Please join us in congratulating members of our faculty and administration who were granted tenure by the Board of Education during its May 7 and earlier in the year meetings! #MINISINKProud
High School
Jacquelyn Campbell, Special Education teacher
Thomas Connolly, Mathematics teacher
Jonathan Hannes, Special Education teacher
Toni McGinn, Special Education teacher
Rachel Moran, English as a Second Language teacher
Middle School
Francine LaDonna, Social Worker
Kaitlin Santos, Elementary teacher
Ramon Torres, Foreign Languages teacher
Otisville Elementary
Lisa Assaiante, Special Education teacher
Victoria Frascone, Special Education teacher
Stephanie Gove, Elementary teacher
Nikachi Griffin, Assistant Principal
Bryon Imbarrato, Elementary teacher
Jessica Kahn, Elementary teacher
Nicole Martinez, Elementary teacher
Intermediate School
Lilivette Alten, English as a Second Language teacher
Andrew Fenner, Elementary teacher
Elementary School
Megan St. Clair, Elementary teacher
We love all our student teachers!
Student teacher Veronica Broas, who is working in IS fourth-grade teachers Jenn Kemmerer and David Mellan’s class, led their students in some recent fun mystery science activities!
Students completed two short activities that explore sound vibrations. They experimented with sound to understand how it moves through the air and during their “Balloon” activity, they considered what would happen in an environment like space where there is no air.
Students also discovered that sound is a wave. In their “Making Waves” activity, students drew the waves that different sounds made using a virtual oscilloscope, a machine that shows images of sound waves. Then, they vibrated a rope to make waves that look like the ones made by the oscilloscope. What a fun science lab!
Student teacher Veronica Broas, who is working in IS fourth-grade teachers Jenn Kemmerer and David Mellan’s class, led their students in some recent fun mystery science activities!
Students completed two short activities that explore sound vibrations. They experimented with sound to understand how it moves through the air and during their “Balloon” activity, they considered what would happen in an environment like space where there is no air.
Students also discovered that sound is a wave. In their “Making Waves” activity, students drew the waves that different sounds made using a virtual oscilloscope, a machine that shows images of sound waves. Then, they vibrated a rope to make waves that look like the ones made by the oscilloscope. What a fun science lab!
Congratulations to the 15 students who were recognized at the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) Catskill Zone Leadership Awards Ceremony, held May 2 Wallkill High School!
This event honors top-grade-level students who exemplify excellence in fitness, leadership, and citizenship — key components of New York State learning standards.
These students were selected for their commitment to an active lifestyle, responsible behavior, leadership qualities, and contributions to their school community. While athletic ability is not a requirement, each honoree embodies the spirit of personal growth and positive influence.
“These students set a strong example for others, demonstrating how character, dedication, and service make an impact both in physical education and in all areas of life,” said Elementary School Physical Education teacher Anthony Pascarelli, who represented Minisink Valley faculty at the event.
Students honored were:
Middle School
Justin Artola
Charlotte Ringus
Maximus Sisto
Jasmine Tepper
Otisville Elementary
Peter Caputo
Helen Hutchital
Callan Mark
Frank Ortiz
Intermediate School
Lucas Ayala
Logan Flynn
Siena Paccio
Grace Rolon
Elementary School
Augustine Paccio
Delilah Useo
Everett Whalen
This event honors top-grade-level students who exemplify excellence in fitness, leadership, and citizenship — key components of New York State learning standards.
These students were selected for their commitment to an active lifestyle, responsible behavior, leadership qualities, and contributions to their school community. While athletic ability is not a requirement, each honoree embodies the spirit of personal growth and positive influence.
“These students set a strong example for others, demonstrating how character, dedication, and service make an impact both in physical education and in all areas of life,” said Elementary School Physical Education teacher Anthony Pascarelli, who represented Minisink Valley faculty at the event.
Students honored were:
Middle School
Justin Artola
Charlotte Ringus
Maximus Sisto
Jasmine Tepper
Otisville Elementary
Peter Caputo
Helen Hutchital
Callan Mark
Frank Ortiz
Intermediate School
Lucas Ayala
Logan Flynn
Siena Paccio
Grace Rolon
Elementary School
Augustine Paccio
Delilah Useo
Everett Whalen
KUDOS to the Varsity Softball team for knocking it out of the park with its fantastic “Rising Stars Night,” held May 4!
More than 60 future varsity stars representing the Minisink and Otisville Little Leagues stepped up to the plate to join the fun — and what a night it was! The festivities were capped off with a thrilling 9–8 varsity comeback win over Warwick Valley! Amazing!
These young student athletes — clearly future varsity standouts — were all smiles as they received their “Rising Star” bracelets, rounded the bases alongside varsity players, and even scored big by getting all the varsity player autographs they wanted! From dugout chats to on-field memories, it was a home run evening filled with mentorship, teamwork and plenty of heart.
What a beautiful display of paying it forward, beginning to build a future lineup by showing how much fun the game is, and reminding these rising stars that with practice, hustle, and love of the game, anything is possible!
More than 60 future varsity stars representing the Minisink and Otisville Little Leagues stepped up to the plate to join the fun — and what a night it was! The festivities were capped off with a thrilling 9–8 varsity comeback win over Warwick Valley! Amazing!
These young student athletes — clearly future varsity standouts — were all smiles as they received their “Rising Star” bracelets, rounded the bases alongside varsity players, and even scored big by getting all the varsity player autographs they wanted! From dugout chats to on-field memories, it was a home run evening filled with mentorship, teamwork and plenty of heart.
What a beautiful display of paying it forward, beginning to build a future lineup by showing how much fun the game is, and reminding these rising stars that with practice, hustle, and love of the game, anything is possible!
May the Fourth be with you!
IS fourth-grade teacher Jenn Kemmerer and IS music teacher Deanna Feuerbach are bringing a galactic spark to their classrooms today, May 4, with their very clever Star Wars character attire! Their playful tribute comes from the famous line “May the Force be with you,” a phrase central to the Star Wars series’ mythology about an energy that connects all living things.
Fans cleverly turned it into “May the Fourth be with you,” transforming the date into a lighthearted celebration of imagination, storytelling and a galaxy far, far away, proving that even a school day can feel a little more epic!
Congratulations to the 23 students representing the Middle School, the Intermediate School and Otisville Elementary this past weekend’s Orange County Music Educators Association (OCEMA) Elementary All-County Music Festival held at Monroe-Woodbury High School this past Friday and Saturday! These talented musicians and singers represented the district with honor and distinction!
Band:
Elizabeth Claus, Flute
Leah Galligan, Saxophone
James Karpinski, Trumpet
Adrien Kusztykiewicz, Horn
Dejana Rosa, Clarinet
Chorus:
Julianna Andrade, Alto
Isabelle Decker, Alto
Nicolas Ellert, Alto
Hanna Elman, Soprano
Kenzie Ferdula, Alto
Mariyah Fonrose, Soprano
Penelope Greenberg, Soprano
Helen Huchital, Alto
Everly Johnson, Alto
Carla Lajara, Alto
Jemma Marsala, Alto
Gracelynn Morse, Soprano
Jillian O'Sullivan, Soprano
Alaina Paredes, Soprano
Devin Paredes, Soprano
Jandi Romualdo, Soprano
Finley Rossi, Soprano
Emilee Vernatter, Alto
The Elementary All-County Music Festival brought together talented young musicians from across the county to perform in bands, choruses, and orchestras. It featured rigorous selection processes to showcase elite elementary school performers, overseen by the OCMEA.
Band:
Elizabeth Claus, Flute
Leah Galligan, Saxophone
James Karpinski, Trumpet
Adrien Kusztykiewicz, Horn
Dejana Rosa, Clarinet
Chorus:
Julianna Andrade, Alto
Isabelle Decker, Alto
Nicolas Ellert, Alto
Hanna Elman, Soprano
Kenzie Ferdula, Alto
Mariyah Fonrose, Soprano
Penelope Greenberg, Soprano
Helen Huchital, Alto
Everly Johnson, Alto
Carla Lajara, Alto
Jemma Marsala, Alto
Gracelynn Morse, Soprano
Jillian O'Sullivan, Soprano
Alaina Paredes, Soprano
Devin Paredes, Soprano
Jandi Romualdo, Soprano
Finley Rossi, Soprano
Emilee Vernatter, Alto
The Elementary All-County Music Festival brought together talented young musicians from across the county to perform in bands, choruses, and orchestras. It featured rigorous selection processes to showcase elite elementary school performers, overseen by the OCMEA.
Did you know that learning how to be a great audience is a super important part of music class?
Deanna Feuerbach’s IS third-graders recently took turns performing for their peers, while their classmates practiced being respectful, attentive, and wonderfully supportive audience members. When it was their moment to perform, students could choose any instrument in the classroom to perform with! What a fun way to build confidence while also cheering one another on!
A big, thank you to the IS PTO for purchasing the new steel drums that now bring even more joy and rhythm to the classroom. We appreciate you!
Deanna Feuerbach’s IS third-graders recently took turns performing for their peers, while their classmates practiced being respectful, attentive, and wonderfully supportive audience members. When it was their moment to perform, students could choose any instrument in the classroom to perform with! What a fun way to build confidence while also cheering one another on!
A big, thank you to the IS PTO for purchasing the new steel drums that now bring even more joy and rhythm to the classroom. We appreciate you!
The Intermediate School's 5th Grade Dance, held April 17, was a wonderful evening filled with fun and lifetime memories!
Thank you to the awesome IS PTO for organizing and hosting such a great night!
Thank you to the awesome IS PTO for organizing and hosting such a great night!
Brrr…it’s a bit chilly today compared to last week when Alexa Covais’ IS fifth-graders went outside to work on geometry! They were working on Eureka Math’s Module 5, which includes the topic of geometry with area. Getting to do their work outdoors with chalk was an extremely creative way of making their work even more enjoyable!
Geometry with area is about studying shapes and figuring out how much space is inside them. The area tells how many square units are needed to completely cover a shape, like a rectangle or square. Students learn to find area by multiplying the length and width, and they also use models like grids to help visualize it. In lessons such as Eureka Math Grade 5 Module 5, this helps connect shapes with multiplication and even fractions.
Geometry with area is about studying shapes and figuring out how much space is inside them. The area tells how many square units are needed to completely cover a shape, like a rectangle or square. Students learn to find area by multiplying the length and width, and they also use models like grids to help visualize it. In lessons such as Eureka Math Grade 5 Module 5, this helps connect shapes with multiplication and even fractions.
Elizabeth Sirico’s and Susan Green’s IS fourth-graders, like all district fourth-graders, are working on their growing knowledge of geometry during math lessons. This includes exploring different types of angles — acute, obtuse, right, and straight — as well as how parallel, intersecting and perpendicular lines connect to help understand these angles!
A fun part of the math work included using their arms to model and represent lines and angles to demonstrate their knowledge! Take a peek!
A fun part of the math work included using their arms to model and represent lines and angles to demonstrate their knowledge! Take a peek!
DON'T COOK THIS THURSDAY, April 23!
Enjoy some great sandwiches, salads or soups at Panera in MIddletown and support the High School's FBLA Club! Details are in the flyer below, and thanks for sharing!
Enjoy some great sandwiches, salads or soups at Panera in MIddletown and support the High School's FBLA Club! Details are in the flyer below, and thanks for sharing!
Is it flat? Or not?
Joan Giardina’s IS fifth-grade art students recently created optical illusion artwork!
While their artwork is physically flat, on paper, it’s designed to appear three-dimensional, moving or warped. It creates this illusion by manipulating visual perception through geometric patterns, precise color relationships and techniques that trick the brain into interpreting depth where there is none. WELL-DONE, everyone!
Joan Giardina’s IS fifth-grade art students recently created optical illusion artwork!
While their artwork is physically flat, on paper, it’s designed to appear three-dimensional, moving or warped. It creates this illusion by manipulating visual perception through geometric patterns, precise color relationships and techniques that trick the brain into interpreting depth where there is none. WELL-DONE, everyone!
Members of Andrew Hulle’s IS Fifth-Grade Band are deep into preparations for their upcoming Spring Concert, refining their technique, ensemble cohesion and overall musicality! As part of this work, Mr. Hulle is recording select band concert repertoire. These early recordings will serve as a benchmark, giving students a clear reference point to measure their growth against the final Spring Concert performance.
Following the concert, students will complete a reflective assignment in which they will analyze the initial practice recordings alongside the culminating performance. They will identify specific areas of improvement—both individually and as a full ensemble—gaining insight into their development and the collective progress of the group.
Following the concert, students will complete a reflective assignment in which they will analyze the initial practice recordings alongside the culminating performance. They will identify specific areas of improvement—both individually and as a full ensemble—gaining insight into their development and the collective progress of the group.
Jonathan Sakadelis’ IS fifth-grade physical education students are having a great time learning how to play volleyball --- but first doing that with an oversized beach ball!
Physical education teachers sometimes use beach balls to teach volleyball to slow down the pace of the game, allowing beginners and younger students time to get into position, track the ball, and develop proper form without fear of injury. The lightweight, soft, and slow-moving nature of beach balls increases success rates, builds confidence, and enhances hand-eye coordination!
Physical education teachers sometimes use beach balls to teach volleyball to slow down the pace of the game, allowing beginners and younger students time to get into position, track the ball, and develop proper form without fear of injury. The lightweight, soft, and slow-moving nature of beach balls increases success rates, builds confidence, and enhances hand-eye coordination!
Lynda McKeon's and Taryn Richards' IS fourth-graders, like all district fourth-graders, are learning about character traits as part of their ELA work!
Currently, the class is reading E.L. Konigsburg’s "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." It’s the story 12-year-old Claudia Kincaid and her brother Jamie, who run away from home and find refuge in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. While cleverly hiding for more than a week, they stumble upon a mystery surrounding the museum's recent acquisition of an angel statue that may have been sculpted by Michelangelo. Along with Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, they are among the book’s main characters.
Learning how to decipher character traits is an important skill because it helps students become thoughtful, analytical readers and stronger writers, while also building important life skills like empathy and critical thinking.
Their students will then use their newfound knowledge to choose one of the characters and write a short narrative about one of the characters introduced in the novel, using the first person point of view.
“The students loved brainstorming and then sharing their thoughts and ideas with their partners and class,” said Mrs. McKeon.
Character traits are descriptive adjectives outlining a person's unique personality, values and behaviors inferred through their actions, words and thoughts. They define who a person is, encompassing both positive and negative qualities and influencing how they interact with the world.
Currently, the class is reading E.L. Konigsburg’s "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler." It’s the story 12-year-old Claudia Kincaid and her brother Jamie, who run away from home and find refuge in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. While cleverly hiding for more than a week, they stumble upon a mystery surrounding the museum's recent acquisition of an angel statue that may have been sculpted by Michelangelo. Along with Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, they are among the book’s main characters.
Learning how to decipher character traits is an important skill because it helps students become thoughtful, analytical readers and stronger writers, while also building important life skills like empathy and critical thinking.
Their students will then use their newfound knowledge to choose one of the characters and write a short narrative about one of the characters introduced in the novel, using the first person point of view.
“The students loved brainstorming and then sharing their thoughts and ideas with their partners and class,” said Mrs. McKeon.
Character traits are descriptive adjectives outlining a person's unique personality, values and behaviors inferred through their actions, words and thoughts. They define who a person is, encompassing both positive and negative qualities and influencing how they interact with the world.
