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May 3, 2024
Dear Hastings Families and Staff:
May oh May, May is here.
Writing every other week, with the added frenzy of our closing two months, I put you at risk of trying to drink from a fire hose of information with today’s letter. To help manage the flow, I segment the topics into Reminders (three), Student Impact (four), Essential Wellness Update (one) and Cultural Recognition (one).
Wetsuit on? Goggles tight? Ready, read!
Reminder I: Key Dates for 2024-25 Budget
May is the pivotal month for the Recommended 2024-25 Budget. To be prepared, please review the Budget Page on the website for detailed budget information, including the complete Budget Book, related presentations, and FAQs.
The School Budget and Trustee Vote is on May 21, which is the last step in formalizing the 2024-25 Budget. Please make note of these key dates and activities leading up to May 21:
- Public Hearing for 2024-Budget – May 7, 2024 (6:00 p.m., Lecture Room, Farragut MS
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PTSA/SEPTA Superintendent Budget Forum – May 8, 2024 (7:00 p.m., Hillside Multipurpose Room)
- Budget Newsletter Mailed to all Village Residents – May 8, 2024
- Budget & Trustee Vote – May 21, 2024
Please participate in this fundamental part of our democracy. You will be acting on a beautifully phrased passion (and a caution) of the late E.B. White:
I believe in freedom with the same burning delight, the same faith, the same intense abandon which attended its birth on this continent more than a century and half ago. I am writing my declaration rapidly, much as though I were shaving to catch a train…I just want to tell, before I get slowed down, that I am in love with freedom and that it is an affair of long standing and that it is a fine state to be in… (E.B. White, “Freedom,” Harper’s Magazine, September 1940; One Man’s Meat, Harper & Bros., 1942; On Democracy, Ed. Martha White, Ed., Harper Collins, 2019).
Reminder II: Extended Memorial Day Weekend
It appears likely that we will not use the remaining three inclement weather days, meaning that we will be implementing the previously announced plan to extend Memorial Day Weekend by two days. As listed in the Revised 2023-24 School Calendar, we will be closed on Friday, May 24, Monday, May 27 and Tuesday, May 28, 2024. While we are talking school calendar, please note that the final day of school will be Tuesday, June 25, 2024. If Mother Nature throws a weather curveball prior to these days off, you will hear from us promptly regarding an updated schedule.
Reminder III: Official Instagram Account Launches for the District
To increase visibility in the Hastings community and showcase our many student programs and district happenings, we have extended our social media reach with the launch of an official Instagram account. This is an exciting step forward in our communication efforts. Click here to follow us and stay connected.
Student Impact I: HHS Spring Concert – More Glory
Dr. Melissa Szymanski shared with me an uplifting and personal (as a former performing artist) reflection on last evening's HHS Spring Concert.
Kudos to our high school student vocalists and instrumental musicians who showcased their exceptional talent during last night’s spring concert. The evening included selections from a variety of different genres, filling the theater with joyful ska, lilting classical pieces, lively bluegrass, a meditative minimalistic piece, contemporary favorites, and more. The eclectic repertoire included tunes ranging from They Might Be Giant’s Istanbul to the “good and pleasing” Hineh Ma Tov in Hebrew to Every Teardrop is a Waterfall by Coldplay. Pieces arranged by our very own Jasper Zimmerman were strong highlights of the featured repertoire.
HHS Jazz band opened the show masterfully, offering the audience a strong selection- including a final piece that fused jazz with the klezmer talents of the student performing group Chutzpah-on-Hudson. HHS Madrigals followed with a textured performance integrating a cappella, music sung in a round and gesture. String Sinfonia, student-performed and student-facilitated, was deftly synchronized and technically precise. HHS Band was energetic, mighty and tackled a challenging trio of pieces. HHS Chorus surprised the audience (and Mr. Riss!) with a particularly professional, poised entrance. Their stunning performance of Lacrymosa brought me back to youthful days of performing the piece as a former soprano with my own high school chorus. Finally, the HHS Orchestra did an exceptional job with bowing, plucking, and creating an earworm- as evidenced by audience participation!
In a beautiful grand finale, senior vocalists joined the full orchestra. Our graduating students got wrapped up in the moment, wrapped around each other, and wrapped up the evening. Following a standing ovation, everything came up roses. Thank you to our wonderful students and music faculty for creating such a special experience!
Student Impact II: Academic Challenge A Team – National Champions
Last weekend, Hastings’ Academic Challenge A Team traveled to Chicago to compete with over 80 schools in the NAQT Small School National Tournament. Their record was 17-0, overwhelming opponents on their way to winning the competition. Four seniors comprise the team: Benny Feldman (Captain), Hazel DePreist-Sullivan, Owen Linder and Jacob Goldman-Wetzler.
I talked with Benny earlier this week about the keys to the team’s remarkable success. I was struck by the sophisticated crafting of a coherent, seamless team from tactical specialization across disciplines (History, Chemistry, Geography, Literature, Physics and beyond). Also paramount, their work ethic: they spent countless hours the past year refining their knowledge, expertise and how to draw on it in high pressure competitions. Not to be overlooked is that they have been together as budding intellectuals since third grade. Benny shared the following summary with me, for the benefit of all of you:
We just competed in and won the Small School National Championship Tournament (Traditional Public Schools Division). We not only won, but we won handedly, putting up the most dominant performance of all-time for an SSNCT winner, establishing ourselves as the consensus most dominant school in the country at our size. This was not dumb luck; our team collectively studies for hours a day, but more than that, the four of us coordinate our efforts and play a team game. What I mean by that is that we divide up all categories of academic learning, separately specialize, and communicate with each other when playing the game about who talks when and who knows what. We take pride in the fact that we’ve “sportified” quiz bowl and it has pulled off massively this year. Now, we turn our focus to broader nationals on Memorial Day Weekend in Atlanta, where we hope to finish in top form as well.
Student Impact III: Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund Grant
On Earth Day (April 22), Mayor Armacost announced exciting news, which I pass on with enthusiasm since it represents a wonderful partnership between the Mayor and Hastings students.
The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson has been selected as one of 101 municipalities around the world (29 are in North America) to receive a $50K grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund. We are to use the award to distribute small microgrants to youth (ages 15 to 24) who submit compelling proposals that address climate change. The grant program is an initiative under the Mayor’s Climate Youth Council (founded by Mia Christie and Aynsley Zamore, Hastings High School students). There is a dedicated webpage (see HERE), where you can find the application form. The deadline for submissions is May 22 – we can’t wait to see what you come up with! (Mayor Niki Armacost, April 22, 2024.)
Student Impact IV: BOE Student Liaisons Going on the Road
Student BOE Liaisons Elianna Carvalho and Kai Dirksen have been invited to speak at the annual meeting and dinner of the Westchester Putnam School Boards Association (WPSBA) on June 3, 2024. Karen Belanger, Executive Director of WPSBA, observed Elianna and Kai virtually and wrote to me saying, “Having seen both of them on video in the boardroom, I was impressed and believe they would be great ambassadors for Hastings and for the potential for student members of the Board…I am hoping that they might be available to give the student perspective on Board service.”
Simply put, this is a big compliment for Hastings, the BOE, Elianna and Kai, as well as their predecessors, who served such that we have maintained this important student voice on the Board. Mr. Alex Dal Piaz and I will join Elianna and Kai at the event to lend support, even though they are proven performers “on the road.”
Essential Wellness Update: Youth Needs Assessment Survey 2023 Report
Every two years, the WAY (Working Alliance for Youth) Coalition conducts a survey of Hastings 8th, 10th and 12th graders to assess alcohol and other substance use prevalence rates and related factors. Linda Fosina, Coalition Coordinator, presented the results of the Youth Needs Assessment Survey 2003 Report at Tuesday’s BOE Meeting. We now have four sets of data (March 2017, April 2019, December 2021 and November 2023), providing the start of a longitudinal understanding of student behaviors. Conducted electronically, the survey was completed by 90 percent (348 out of 387) of 8th, 10th and 12th graders. The WAY Coalition uses the Prevention Needs Assessment Survey, which is used across communities nationally.
Ms. Fosina succinctly summarized this year’s notable strengths and areas that remain a challenge.
Strengths:
- In 10th and 12th grade, alcohol use increased only slightly from 2021 levels (taken during Covid) and remains below the levels seen in 2017 and 2019.
- Binge drinking decreased in 8th and 12th grade, and although it increased slightly in 10th, remains below 2017/2019 levels.
- Marijuana use decreased in 8th and 10th grade.
- E-cigarette use decreased in 12th grade and is less than half of the highest use rate found in 2019.
- In 8th grade, use of marijuana, cigarettes and E-cigarettes are low.
- No student in 10th grade reports prescription drug misuse, and the 8th & 12th grade rates are low.
- Perceptions of risk have increased for each grade across all substances.
- Most students believe their friends think it is wrong for them to smoke cigarettes or misuse prescription drugs.
- Most students think their parents disapprove of them using any substance.
Challenges:
- Alcohol use rates doubled from 10th to 12th grade.
- Marijuana use increased in 12th grade.
- Most 12th grade students do not perceive marijuana use as harmful and use becomes more and more socially acceptable for each grade.
- Perception of parental disapproval of all drug use is high but is lowest for marijuana use in 12th grade.
- Students who drink report drinking alcohol primarily at parties, but also at home with parent’s permission.
- Students who report using marijuana are most likely to do it at an open outdoor area, followed by at someone’s home.
- Although no students report alcohol use at school, a small number (3% - 5%) report using marijuana and e-cigarettes at school during the day.
Ms. Fosina’s presentation ends with recommended next steps regarding educational support and intervention programs. Several administrators and staff will sit with Ms. Fosina this summer to develop an action plan for bolstering Hastings strengths and mitigating the challenges. We will share a draft of the plan with the BOE and community in Fall 2024. Comparative data regionally and nationally is not included in this presentation. We will follow up on providing such comparisons after the summer.
A personal note matters at this point: since starting my career in 1981 at Northfield Mount Hermon School, I have been committed to open conversations about student decisions regarding alcohol and other substance use. To be clear, all those years ago, many schools and communities were not willing to share information, insights or the facts about student substance use. I was weaned differently as an educator–I was taught to believe that light and air around these issues is the best path to helping students make healthy choices. My commitment to openness has continued for over 40 years, so I was pleased when arriving in Hastings to find the partnership with the WAY Coalition, and especially the biennial survey. Going into next year, I intend to extend the partnership and the use of longitudinal data and information to provide stronger education and support for students.
Cultural Recognition: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. “It is an opportunity to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have played in enriching America's history and ensuring its future success.”
Please make time this month to explore the rich impact of Asian/Pacific Americans on your life and our community. The Smithsonian and its partners are superb resources—see their dedicated website for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Alternatively, you might explore through a friend, family, an activity, an event, reading, music, food or sport.
Let me prime the pump by turning to Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo'ole, who died at 38 of respiratory failure in 1997. NPR journalist Renee Montagne, in a March 9, 2011 remembrance entitled, “The Voice of Hawaii,” described Mr. Kamakawiwo'ole as “one of the most beloved singers in the history of Hawaiian music.” Most notable was his version of “Over the Rainbow,” which was released in November 1993 on Facing Future, sparking the album to be the best selling of all time by a Hawaiian artist. Montagne continues, “In Hawaii, we talk about this thing we call mana," says musician Del Beazley, who grew up with Israel and wrote two of his songs. "Mana is like an energy that you get. We believe we get ours from the elements first, the Earth, your sky, your ocean, your God, and all that is inside of us. And when we open our mouths to speak, to sing or to play, that's what we let out. But it's that that makes him [Israel] special, because his mana always came out."
My brother played IZ’s “Over the Rainbow” for me in 1994 soon after returning from one of his medical treks to Nepal—showing off his far-flung passion for music and people of the world. I will never forget that moment. Maybe you have listened a thousand times to the song, maybe not. Either way, take a listen now.
Be well.
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