Liberty Central School District 2019

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A Special Supplement to the Sullivan County Democrat

A look at activities in the Liberty Central School District

SECTION L • NOVEMBER, 2019 • CALLICOON, NY

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Inside both classroom and community, Liberty schools are on the move STORY AND PHOTOS

BY KATHY DALEY

group.

Referencing the life story of Liberty billionaire and philanthropist Alan Gerry, “I want to create a business incubator at the high school,� the superintendent said. “That’s what we’re trying to do: inspire entrepreneurship, independent thinking and problem solving.�

Gerry started as a TV repairman who went on to launch the first cable TV system in Sullivan County, which became Cablevision Industries.

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iberty Superintendent of Schools Dr. Augustine Tornatore can’t help but feel excited about where the District is now and where it’s headed. “I feel that we’re rapidly becoming the school district to watch in the county,� said Tornatore.

Check it out: At Liberty High School, virtual reality technology is set to be unveiled momentarily. Students will don special goggles to “experience� the inside of a growing cell, or work inside an office, or stroll down a street in Paris or London.

The high school also boasts a new course in computer science, so vital to students as they move on to college or the workforce. Nationwide, only 45 percent of high schools are able to offer the class.

Chromebooks (laptops for every middle school and high school student) and Makerspace (hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design and experiment) “push us toward student-centered learning,

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At Fire Prevention Day in October, White Sulphur Springs firefighter and ex-chief Thomas Kehrley shows children how the professionals wield a fire hose to fight blazes. Town of Liberty firehouses and the school district also connect in the Junior Firefighter program, which encourages 15- and 16-year-old students to learn about firefighting in hopes of volunteering later.

where instead of listening to the teacher exclusively, students and teachers interact equally,� Tornatore said.

For the past few years, Liberty stu-

dents have been fortunate enough to participate in work experiences with local businesses and agencies. This year, Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark in Monticello joins that

CREATING COMMUNITY Tornatore, who owns a home in Liberty, is charmed with the multicultural character of the Village and its school population. It’s like “Manhattan in the Mountains,� he says.

Various local eateries and restaurants play host to a Tornatore meeting with administrators: from Piccolo Paese, now run by Kirsten and Sims Foster who took over ownership earlier this year, to the Thai restaurant Sweet Basil, to Indian cuisine at Curry Melt, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4L

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School Scene ‘A Look at Activities in the Liberty Central School’ Published by

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(845) 887-5200 Callicoon, NY 12723 November 1, 2019 • Vol. CXXVIV, No. 41

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to the Mexican restaurants, to the new Star Bar & Grill.

Then, once a month, the superintendent sits down for a Liberty-based meal with John Liddle, Deputy County Manager of Sullivan County; Liberty Town Supervisor Brian Rourke; and Ron Stabak, Liberty village mayor.

“The four of us meet in ongoing dialogue to support each other through synergy,” said Tornatore. “We want to see the area offering job opportunities, students excelling, revitalizing and stimulating job growth.”

It’s all part of a burgeoning campaign to further the school district’s role as a robust “community school district,” that is, one that serves as a hub of thinking and action, uniting families, educators and community partners in providing students with top-quality academics and opportunities, and strengthening families and the community as a whole.

A number of initiatives are already in play. “We want to continue to increase the District’s ‘wraparound’ services,” Tornatore said, “like the dentist who comes to elementary school, and the

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medical professional who checks people’s heart rates,” Along with BOCES, the school district offers free English lessons to parents, with the classes packed. And with the Rotary Club, the District is helping to tackle the county's opioid crisis. For example, school administrators have been trained in the use of NARCAN, which is the medication that can reverse a drug overdose.

“How can we meet the needs of the community... how can we protect the community?” Tornatore asks. “I feel it’s my responsibility as superintendent to open the door to everybody.”

With the unveiling of newly renovated baseball and soccer fields this school year, the District will move on next summer to an upgrade of the elementary school’s gym/auditorium.

That pre-K to grade 4 building is not only important now but is part of village history, said Tornatore. From 1925 to 1963, kids of all ages learned their lessons in the brick building off Main Street.

Like the District itself, said Tornatore, “we want to make the Elementary School shine and look beautiful.”

NOVEMBER, 2019

‘Here at Liberty, we want a balance of technology and phenomenal teaching,’ says Superintendent of Schools Dr. Augustine Tornatore.

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Liberty High School teachers got to display the coveted Pineapple Challenge Championship Belt in October, after logging 29 teacher observations during September.

The sweet taste of the Pineapple Challenge

BY KATHY DALEY

W

hat does it take to make a terrific teacher? “A great teacher is someone who is constantly learning,” says Liberty Superintendent of Schools Dr. Augustine Tornatore.

To encourage that academic stretching, the District initiated a contest that encourages teachers to visit one another’s classroom for informal observation and feedback.

In the Pineapple Challenge, so-called because the fruit is a traditional sign of hospitality, teachers “advertise” the interesting things they are doing in class on a Pineapple Chart. Their col-

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leagues are welcome to visit the classroom and quietly observe.

“Formal professional development and conferences are all beneficial, but the Pineapple Challenge creates a wonderful opportunity to see what your colleagues are doing,” said Tornatore. “I think that’s the best way to learn and grow in our profession.”

Each month, the Championship Belt travels to the school that logs the most observational visits. The High School was presented with the Pineapple Challenge Championship Belt in an Oct. 1 celebration after logging 29 observations during the preceding month.

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New assistant superintendent at helm Dr. Patrick Sullivan, right, began this school year as Liberty Central School District’s new Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He joined the district’s administrative team in 2016 as Assistant Director of Student Services, and in 2018 became Assistant Principal at Liberty Middle School. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Manhattanville College in the Bronx. Here, he works with Liberty High School Principal Derek Adams.

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This year, a laptop of their own for middle and high school students STORY AND PHOTO

BY KATHY DALEY

smoothly.

The laptops make it possible for students who tend to be shyer about speaking up to easily communicate with the teacher: “They might be embarrassed to ask a question outloud, but they can send me a message.”

As for homework, students either upload their work and send it to the teacher, or choose to hand it in in paper. “But most choose to do it digitally,” she said. “That way (when they need to look back on past homework), they don’t have to dig through binders and stacks of paper. It’s right at their fingertips.”

Student Veda Murphy says the Chromebooks make schoolwork more accessible both in school and when a student is out sick. “And you can take notes faster in class,” Murphy added.

“You can research anything – the internet is unlimited – and you can do it in the moment.”

Social Studies teacher Celia Golden takes her handy Chromebook with her as she works lessons with students. Here, she connects with student Veda Murphy.

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hromebooks have made it 100 times easier for kids to have resources,” says Liberty High School social studies teacher Celia Golden. “They have all this information literally at their fingertips.”

Last year, Golden piloted the use of the laptop devices in her classroom.

This school year, all students in middle school and high school “own” a Chromebook for use at school and home until the end of the school year.

“Chromebooks are simplistic, fast and cost effective,” enthuses High School Principal Derek Adams.

Golden agrees. “It’s good for collegebound kids, where there’s so much digital learning. And it’s great for kids going into the work force, who must have digital communication skills.”

Recently, Golden’s tenth grade students studied the French Revolution,

analyzing on-line documents and learning the historical circumstances behind topics like the power of the king, Divine Right theory, and the eventual beheading of Louis XVI in 1893.

In ninth grade, students partnered with one another to create slide shows on the empires of Mesopotamia: Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyria and NeoBabylonian. “I gave them a few starting websites, but then they were free to do their own research,” said Golden.

In developing presentations, students can drag and drop images, cite sources and find quotes that bring their presentations to life. Partnering students are able to work on the same presentation at the same time, adding to it, and then if need be, finishing it at home.

Golden pointed out that she requires her students to partner with different kids on different projects so that they learn to work with one another

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Hands raised for hands-on approach to the science of geometry STORY AND PHOTO

BY KATHY DALEY

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tudent Darlyn Rosa puts it succinctly. “Geometry is about explaining things,” he says.

The tenth grader at Liberty High School is onto the truth about the part of math that studies the size, shapes, positions and dimensions of things. Geometry comes into play when we parallel park a car, make art, lay a new kitchen floor or determine how many gallons of paint we need to do the living room. Our brains are measuring spatial calculation all the time.

“You use geometry your entire life,” Rosa said.

He and 24 other students from 10th grade to 12th grade are studying geometry using a new hands-on approach in a course called ProjectBased Geometry.

“Some of the projects this year will be creating mini-golf courses,” said Geometry teacher Liz Fuentes, “building truss bridges and Canstruction,” which is the science of making huge structures entirely from full cans of food.

“We are going to need lots of art supplies, wood, computer programs and different building supplies,” Fuentes said. “I am working with (Assistant Superintendent of Schools) Dr. Patrick Sullivan to procure grants.”

Right now, the class is tackling a project entitled “Selling Geometry,” that is, convincing other high school students about the perks of learning geometry.

“We have groups creating a video that will show how geometry is useful in the work,” said Fuentes. “Other groups are making PowerPoint presentations, posters and pamphlets.

They have to be creative in thinking about how they can make geometry in the real world look interesting.”

The class created “tessellations,” that is, arrangements of shapes closely fitted together, especially of polygons, in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. “Our tessellations are one way to catch someone’s attention,” added Fuentes. “They look beautiful and they speak to the artist-student as well as the math student.”

Also on the agenda was an Oct. 23 visit from a special guest speaker.

Former Liberty High School student Chris Lockwood from Kartrite Resort & Waterpark was set to speak with the students about marketing and how to use it to sell something to teenagers as well as to the general population.

Looking long-term, Fuentes said her plan for the Selling Geometry project is to work with the school's

Guidance Department in encouraging more students to take Geometry next year.

The District is pleased with the launch of the new course, which came about when Fuentes and other math teachers expressed concern that the traditional approach to teaching Geometry might not work for students who would better flourish under a hands-on approach.

“Some students learn more with a lot of hands on, building and making things,” said Fuentes. “They learn better if they are engaged in actual tasks versus sitting there and hearing rather than doing.”

Recently, Liberty Superintendent of Schools visited the classroom as students worked on their projects, some solo and others as partners. “See,” Dr. Augustine Tornatore said, “the teacher acts as facilitator, and every single student is engaged.”

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Liberty High School sophomore Darlyn Rosa is enthusiastic about a new hands-on approach to Geometry. His class is working on a comprehensive campaign to encourage other students to look into geometry.

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Second grader J.J. George loves the elementary school’s new Sensory Pathway that helps kids ‘get the wiggle out’ as they build motor skills and learn at the same time.

How leaping and jumping nourishes kids’ bodies and minds STORY AND PHOTO

BY KATHY DALEY

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.J. George is only in second grade, but he knows what he likes about Liberty Elementary School’s newest tool to keep kids learning. It’s called Sensory Pathways.

“It’s cool,” said J.J. “I like hopping on it and learning about planets, and about the whole world.”

Nationwide, many school districts are inaugurating sensory experiences as playful ways for students to build the connections in the brain responsible for sight, touch and sound.

Sensory paths help develop balance, hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. And they give students a break from sitting so they can come back energized for study.

Inaugurated this school year, four

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indoor pathways grace the elementary school hallways to encourage both fitness and learning. The pathways were designed by teachers and created by maintenance staff, who stripped the floors and then applied six coats of wax over colorful decals of planets, numbers and squiggly lines.

Principal Jacqueline Harris pointed out that Sensory Pathways encourage learning along with hopping, tip toeing and jumping. In the younger grades, children are learning their numbers along the paths as they leap and spring, crawl the way that crabs do, and stretch up high. In the older grades, they leap to land, one by one, on the universe’s planets.

“The Sensory Pathways are physically healthy for them,” said Principal Jacqueline Harris. “It’s healthy for their heart, and they go back ready to learn.”

“Kids need the break,” she noted.

“When they get to move, they’re happier in general.”

Teachers use the pathway for individual students who need a break for

a few minutes, and they use it during transition times for the whole class.

For example, when it’s bathroom break time, students awaiting their turn can spend time on the pathway.

“We’re trying to do a lot of things that promote a healthy mind and a healthy body,” added Harris.

For example, the school is testing out special chairs that are ergonomically designed to allow a child to semi-stand in a chair comfortably if need be.

“People who sit all day long don’t feel energized,” said Harris.

And so it is with children: “We’re looking at meeting learners’ needs through their bodies,” she said. “A kid can’t learn when sitting in a chair all day. It stops their ability to learn. If a child needs to stand up while learning, we want to respond.”

Several classrooms are using the chairs on a trial run with great results.

One student, Harris said, very quickly enthused “Wow! I love my classroom!”

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