Eldred School Scene 2019

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SCHOOL SCENE A Special Supplement to the Sullivan County Democrat

A look at activities in the Eldred Central School District

SECTION E • FEBRUARY, 2019 • CALLICOON, NY

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The Eldred Central School District Superintendent Dr. John Morgano stands with Eldred Junior-Senior Principal Jean Maxson to greet the students every morning with a warm “Hello” and “Good morning.” Greeting the students helps put them in the right mindset to start the school day.

For active superintendent, the day starts at the front door STORY AND PHOTOS

BY PATRICIO ROBAYO

“W

hatever you do, you own it. It’s about taking care of each other.”

Those were the words of the Eldred Central School District Superintendent Dr. John Morgano before

stepping outside the Eldred JuniorSenior High School at 7 a.m. one January morning to greet the students, as he does every day.

It’s a tip he picked up while he was with the Pearl River School District after 40 years of experience working with special needs children and in leading that school district in a posi-

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tive direction.

By greeting the students every morning, Dr. Morgano says he gets to know them and they get to know him.

On this particular morning, he was joined by Jean Maxson, Principal of the Eldred Junior-Senior school.

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System, and this dynamic duo has a combined 80 years of experience in the field of education.

“One of my favorite things to do is to greet the students first thing in the morning,” said Dr. Morgano. “When I can, I try to get to the elementary school for dismissal.”

Each student is greeted with a

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warm “Hello, how are you?” or “Good morning.”

Dr. Morgano says after time he starts to notice the small things from his students.

A student can seem to be having a bad day. Dr. Morgano feels and hopes that by saying “Hello and good morning,” he can do something to brighten their daily routine.

According to Dr. Morgano greeting the students gives them a chance to get to know him and build the relationships and familiarity with school administrators that is sometimes lacking in other districts.

On this ordinary morning when the Democrat was visiting the district, students would walk up to Dr. Morgano and give him their special handshake or say hello with a smile.

Dr. Morgano would take the time to ask them how they are doing and if they needed anything.

One student said she was short on

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cash and wanted to buy another Gatorade bottle.

Without hesitation, Dr. Morgano reached into his pocket and pulled out the exact change for the student.

Dr. Morgano also mentors a few students on his own if he sees or finds out they might be having a tough time in school.

A select student might have failing grades or trouble with school authority and on the verge of being academically disciplined.

Dr. Morgano would invite the students to his office from time to time or see them in the hallways. He takes a moment to talk to them about their school and home life.

According to Morgano, he has seen the transformation first hand. By taking the time to understand the student who others thought might not have a chance of graduating, he now sees them actively thinking about college and the future.

Christian Schadt is a senior at Eldred and says hello to Dr. John Morgano every time he sees him in the hallway or outside the school.

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Seniors think back on Eldred; look forward to future STORY AND PHOTO

BY PATRICIO ROBAYO

S

Seniors are happy with the small-town education they receive and look forward to what the future might hold. From the left are Patrick Kenny, Hannah Jennings, Oliva Schultis, Morgan Kopf and Mickaela Gulla.

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enior year can be full of many emotions as students prepare to embark on a new chapter of their lives.

While the Eldred Central School District might be small compared to the other districts, it makes up for it with a personal touch.

A group of seniors from the Eldred Honor Society sat down with the Democrat. They reminisced on their time spent at Eldred and the things they will take with them when they leave and move on to college or the workforce.

Those seniors are Patrick Kenny, Hannah Jennings, Oliva Schultis, Morgan Kopf and Mickaela Gulla.

“Since its a smaller school, we have good interaction with our teachers. A lot of one-on-one and that has helped,” said Schultis, who will be moving on to Ithaca College in the fall to study business.

“My favorite part of being here is that I am so close to my classmates,” said

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Jennings who is currently undecided on where to go in the fall.

“Everyone knows everybody,” said Gulla, who will be attending Hartwick College to study nursing and wants to go into pediatrics afterward.

“You make all these friends throughout the year, but now everyone is going their own way,” said Kopf, who will be attending Mount Saint Mary College for nursing.

Patrick Kenny is still undecided for the fall.

All of the seniors said they would miss being part of the school and all the clubs and activities they are able to be a part of.

Music clubs, Honor Society and sports are just some of the things that the students are able to participate in.

“You can be involved in a lot of things here,” said Kopf. “If you want to be part of something you can just walk in and join since we are such a small school.”

“In sports, we go to selectionals every year, and it’s not hard to get on the team because we are a small school,” said Gulla.

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“I am going to miss being part of all the activities, and when we go to college we are going to be apart,” said Schultis.

Furthermore, many of the Honor Society students have been able to earn college credits.

Those credits could transfer over to their respective colleges and will give them a leg up on other students.

Another unique aspect the seniors are going to miss is seeing Dr. Morgano in the mornings greeting the students.

They all said that they were happy to get to know school officials and to be able to build something that hadn't happen in the past.

“I always tell them when I see them to take care of each other. It’s a small school and I think it’s great,” said Dr. Morgano.

A similar sentiment was felt by Junior Senior principal Jean Maxson, “I have never seen such a group of well-mannered students in my life and I’ve never seen young people take the responsibility to be where they are supposed to be on time. It’s an amazing thing.”

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English-Language Learners program finds home at Eldred STORY AND PHOTO

BY PATRICIO ROBAYO

J

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osh Mardan, 9, is happy that he no longer has to go back and forth from Eldred to Monticello for his English-Language Learners (ELL) class.

Over the summer, Mrs. Laura Walsh, the Eldred Junior-Senior Spanish teacher for nine years, was able to become certified to teach ELL students.

According to the New York State Department of Education, ELL students might be unable to communicate or learn effectively in English.

Most often these students come from non-English-speaking homes and backgrounds.

Moreover, these students receive and require specialized or modified instruction in both English language and their academic subjects.

“I know we had some need in the district,” said Walsh. “There was a

Josh Mardan, 9, whose favorite subject is Math, is happy he no longer has to go to Monticello to receive his ELL training.

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program with SUNY New Paltz that offered an intense one year class and the state would reimburse you 75 percent of the tuition.”

Walsh took the chance, became certified and is already seeing the difference it can make in her students’ lives.

Josh hopes to one day to win the Champion League Cup playing soccer for Barcelona in Spain, but these days, he is content with figuring out long division, one of his favorite subjects.

“I like to come to school and have fun working with my schoolmates,” said Josh on what other things he liked about going to Mackenzie Elementry.

Before Walsh was certified, Josh would be bused from Eldred and

make the 30 minute trip to the Monticello Central School District to receive his 45 minute ELL instruction.

That commute not only cost the district money, but more importantly, cost Josh valuable time he could spend learning his schoolwork or interacting with friends.

“We are very fortunate that Josh doesn’t have to travel back and forth to Monticello for ELL instruction,” said Junior Senior Principal Jean Maxson. “We know now that it does not affect his day school.”

Maxson said the district is better off since Walsh took the intitative to become certified as an ELL instructor, and her expertise will help future students feel more at home attending Eldred.

According to the Maxson, once a

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‘We are very fortunate that Josh doesn’t have to travel back and forth to Monticello for ELL instruction. We know now that it does not affect his day school.’

Jean Maxson Junior Senior Principal |

student comes into the district and identities as multi-lingual they would

have to be tested to see how proficient they perform in both languages.

Therefore, if the student is lacking in English proficiency, the district has to offer them an English-Language Learner program like the one now provided at the Eldred Central School District.

According to the New York State Education Department, “Instructional programs for ELLs are funded primarily through local funds but are supplemented by State LEP Aid, known as State Bilingual Categorical Funds.”

Josh is happy that he can spend more time in the Eldred Central School District and not be too far away from his sisters Wendy and Katy, who also attend the school.

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Sara Simon-Shult, the new music teacher at George Ross Mackenzie Elementary School, instills in her students the love and appreciation of music of all styles.

Music at the heart and soul of Eldred STORY AND PHOTOS

BY PATRICIO ROBAYO

E

ldred has a new music teacher at Mackenzie Elementary School, and her name is Sara Simon-Shult.

Simon-Shult has been a music teacher for 15 years and taught at Livingston Manor before calling Eldred Central School District home.

“I am a big advocate for STEAM education and how the arts integrate into the other disciplines,” said Simon-Shult.

STEAM is an educational approach that uses Science, Technology,

Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.

Simon-Shult believes in using this system as a guide for student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.

“When we are in here we learn about math, history, and science. So much of music is all of those things,” said Simon-Shult.

Simon-Shult teaches Pre-K through sixth grade. Grades Pre-K to second grade is taught general music. From third grade to sixth is where the students will have the opportunity to be in band or chorus.

Using the smart classroom board, Simon-Shult uses newer technology

to begin some of her music lessons.

The students have visual cues showing notes and when music is played.

After the students become more proficient in the music, the students start to play the songs without the smart board.

Furthermore, the smart board can show live performances of the music so students can see for themselves people using their instrument of choice.

“They see where they fit in the music,” said Simon-Shult. “It helps them see where and when to play their instrument. It’s a nice way to

build on skills learned and lessons learned in other classes.”

Simon-Shult also works with the Junior-Senior acapella group, Key Elements.

Junior-Senior Music For the high school, the music is what it’s all about. In December 2018, the Eldred Junior-Senior music students were invited to take part in the Marywood University Junior Wind Band Celebration.

Lead by the Junior-Senior music teacher, Brian Nivison, the students made their way to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

According to Nivison, the program

FEBRUARY, 2019

is an outreach effort that the university organizes every year for area schools.

Eldred was the only school in New York State to participate and the smallest school at this festival overall, proving that this district consistently punches above its weight class.

“These students had all participated in this same festival last year, and were very enthusiastic for the opportunity to participate again this year,” said Nivison.

“They worked very hard practicing and preparing in their music lessons throughout September to November.”

From the area, 52 schools were selected, and 312 students from grades seven to ninth participated.

“I really enjoyed it, we had a really good concert, it was well received,” said Justin “Chip” Pitre.

“It was a great experience and to be led by different conductors was great,” said Owen Anderson.

At the festival, every student had two minutes to audition in front of two music adjudicators.

They had to play two-octave scales, including the chromatic scale, and a short musical etude assigned to their respective instrument.

Out of the 312 students, only 84 are selected for the top Honor Band for the festival, made up of about one to two students from each school.

This year Eldred had four students who were able to participate in the Honor Band.

Two other bands formed at the festival and were made up of 114 students in each group.

Two of Eldreds students placed second top in the group called, Celebration One Band.

The two other bands had 114 students apiece. Eldred’s remaining two students placed in the 2nd top group, the “Celebration 1 Band.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank both Mrs. Jean Maxson, JSHS Principal, and Dr. John Morgano, District Superintendent for their wonderful support, and for allowing our students to make the hour-long trip to this festival,” said Nivison.

“And to the Sullivan BOCES Arts In Education CoSer for providing the funds for these six students to participate.”

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Here is how Eldred students placed: Honor Band Kaitlyn Potter second out of 33 percussion students. Kaitlyn auditioned successfully on the Snare Drum, Xylophone, and Timpani.

Justin “Chip” Pitre second out of 14 Baritone/ Euphonium students.

Annie Davis second out of seven Oboe students.

Owen Anderson ninth out of 27 Trombone students.

Celebration 1 Band Kyleigh Kuhn third out of eight Bass Clarinet students; she sat the first chair in this group.

Jada Reed 14th out of 55 Flute students; she sat in the fourth chair in this group.

Justin “Chip” Pitre, a ninth grader at Eldred Junior-Senior, was elated that he was able to join his classmates at the Marywood University Junior Wind Band Celebration.

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Bus drivers: the unsung heroes STORY AND PHOTO

BY PATRICIO ROBAYO

I

n the very early morning hours, there is a group of dedicated individuals who leave their own families to brave the sometimes cold weather of the Catskills. Their job is to ensure the safety of students to and from another day at the Eldred Central School District.

These unsung heroes are the staff and drivers of the Eldred Central School District Transportation Department.

“I love what I do, and I love my kids,” said Donna Decker, who has been a school bus driver for 23 years.

Decker will be leaving the fleet of bus drivers this year and said many of the students found out and were sad that she was going. “We have some amazing kids.

I do it because of them,” said Decker.

“One the most rewarding things is when you are starting out on the job, and you have a student in the beginning, and you see them grow and go through the grades and see them graduate,” said Transportation Coordinator Melissa Muller.

According to Muller, the Transportation company has 10 part-time bus drivers and staff of 25.

“We go everywhere,” said Muller. “We take care of field trips, sporting events, and late buses for the schools. We go to New York City and Upstate New York.

During field trip season, we will be very busy and have to be flexible and wear many hats.”

The school bus driver is the first face that students see in the morning, and they are the last ones they see when they leave in the afternoon.

“It’s automatic when I enter the school grounds, you welcome them and say good morning, and I tell every kid that gets off my bus to have a great day,” said Decker.

“A lot of times, the school bus drivers are our ambassadors to the schools,” said Eldred Superintendent Dr. Morgano.

“Parents would ask the bus driver how are things at the school and would show up to school board meetings if it was bad.”

With winter weather, Don “Bosco” Hunt, is usually the first one up at 3 a.m.

The dedicated bus drivers at Eldred Central School are, from the left, Melissa Muller, Harold Rhodes, Francene Barry, Wanda Burnette, Terri Fountain, Stephen Davis, Donner Decker, David Schreibel, Devon Rodriguez, Edward Watts, and Don “Bosco” Hunt. and is in direct contact with Dr. Morgano about road conditions or possible inclement weather.

Bosco makes sure all the roads and parking lots on school grounds are cleared and ready to go if the school is open.

For those snowy mornings, Donna Decker has one piece of advice: “Take it easy and go slow and steady.”

All school bus drivers follow that example and advice when transporting the students of Eldred.

“Safety first, schedule second,” said Muller.

Many of the bus drivers are part-time workers and live in the community.

When there is a change in the schedule, many of these drivers have to make the same last-minute changes as parents do.

“The other jobs [drivers have] have been flexible, we have been lucky,” said

Muller. “All the places are understanding and they allow them to come early or makeup the time they lost. It’s a community effort.”

Muller said the bus drivers and staff regularly train and practice emergency drills for any type of scenario, including fires, severe weather or even an active shooter situation.

“We watch over our kids,” said Decker.

“If I go to a bus stop and I do not recognize the car in the driveway, I would radio back to Melissa to get confirmation on who is home. I do not let the kid off the bus until it is safe.”

Furthermore, school bus drivers are sometimes faced with drivers who break the law and bypass a bus when it is stopped with its lights flashing.

“It’s hard to prosecute the drivers. You the need to get the license plate,” said Muller.

The school buses do have cameras, but they are for the inside of the bus and cannot capture a lot of what’s happening outside.

“It’s very dangerous and it happens too often,” Muller said. “The penalties for getting caught are not harsh enough.”

Maybe in the future, Dr. Morgano said, they could look into getting cameras on the outside of the bus if the budget allows for it.

The Transportation Department is looking for more drivers. Muller says if you have a clean driving record and need part-time work to call the school district to inquire.

You will need to have a Commercial Driver License (CDL), but if you do not have one, Eldred Transportation will be willing to train you.

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Pre-K and kindergarten program finds peace of mind STORY AND PHOTOS

BY PATICIO ROBAYO

A

fter a successful year, Eldred is looking to offer pre-kindergarten education again for the upcoming school year.

Pre-K was one program that was on the chopping block in the budget due to financial stress on the district.

After a plan presented to the Eldred School Board by Superintendent Dr. John C. Morgano, the board voted to keep the program alive.

It currently exists as a blended program where Pre-K and kindergarten students are in the same classrooms.

“We blended our Pre-K with our Kindergarten class to minimize the cost and were able to keep both,” said Mackenzie Elementary School Principal Scott Krebs.

“Next year we have to hire a kindergarten teacher and will not do the blended grades,” said Dr. Morgano. “We have too many kids.”

Currently, the blended program has 36 children. The school is hoping to have

Yoga and meditation are just some of the unique offerings at the Eldred Pre-K and kindergarten classes. that much and more, and if they do, they would need to hire another kindergarten teacher.

Eldred Mackenzie Elementary School children give the “thumbs up” on all the physical activity the school provides.

The blended program is currently being taught by one kindergarten teacher, a teacher assistant and a Pre-K teacher.

“We didn’t anticipate this many children, we started with 20, and the numbers just kept going up,” said Krebs.

Dr. Morgano credits kindergarten teacher June Lombardi, who has been teaching at Mackenzie since 1988, for making the blended program work.

“They are all great, the kids,” said Lombardi.

The young children have an active day of learning in the Pre-K and kindergarten classes.

While they are learning numbers, counting and early math skills, the children also have plenty of time to have physical activity.

A unique feature to Mackenzie is during break time the children have the option to meditate or do yoga.

Using two rooms, the children are presented guided videos that get the children to find their zen or to get up and stretch their bodies.

In the meditation room, a cartoon mon-

key presents the children with breathing exercises and asks them to be aware of their surroundings.

They are teaching the children how to breathe to become calm and build selfawareness along with mindfulness.

In the yoga room the children are shown cheerful and informative videos on the smart board.

The child yoga teacher on the smart board gets the kids on their feet and together they go through a variety of easyto-do yoga poses.

These lessons are coupled with other physical activities at Mackenzie like the indoor gym, outside playground and more recently, extra space to the side of the building where grass once was.

Registration for Pre-K and kindergarten starts in March, check the school website https://elem.eldred.k12.ny.us/ for details.

Mackenzie Elementary School Principal Scott Krebs sees the children off after a full day of learning and activities.

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