Music to our ears

The Monticello Central School District has just been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education for the ninth time.  To qualify for the Best Communities designation, Monticello’s music department detailed information about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities and …

MHS Boys Basketball athlete and coach receive county-wide distinction

The Sullivan County Democrat recently recognized two integral members of the Monticello High School Boys Basketball family, naming Coach Chris Russo as one of 2018-19 Sullivan County Democrat Boys’ Basketball Co-Coaches of the Year (along with Coach Fred Ahart of Roscoe), and athlete Josh Gattling as 2018-19 Sullivan County Democrat Boys’ Basketball Player of the …

MHS and RJK Jazz Ensembles perform in Albany

The Monticello High School Jazz Ensemble, directed by Andrew Verdino, and the Robert J. Kaiser Middle School Jazz Ensemble performed as part of the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Music in Our Schools (MIOSM) Concert Series in Albany, New York. The students performed on the South Concourse, visited with Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and …

Determination, persistence and tenacity are on display

Mrs. Frey-Ramos’ class is determined to learn the names of our 50 states.   They persisted through putting together this U.S.A. puzzle. They showed patience with their teammates and they persevered through sorting the states by their beginning letters.  This class certainly showed its tenacity this month.  

Cooke students learn about writing, illustrating…and monsters

Cooke Elementary School students had a very exciting day Monday, March 18. Daniel Jude Miller, a children’s book author and illustrator, came to visit and talk about writing and illustrating books. Miller let the students in on a little secret, right from the start: the secret to becoming a good artist is practice.     …

Builders Club donates to Heart-a-thon; receives donation from Kiwanis.

Members of the Builders Club at RJK Middle School both gave and received recently. The students sold paper hearts during a fundraiser for the Heart-a-thon at Catskill Regional Hospital. The club raised $100 and presented a check for that amount to Al Frangipane and Lori Orestano-James, volunteers for the Heart-a-thon. Then it was the club’s …

Discipline is Not a Dirty Word -Free parenting workshops offered

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Sullivan County, in partnership with Monticello Central School District and the Empire State Program, is presenting a six-part series of parenting workshops entitled “Discipline is Not a Dirty Word” on Thursday evenings, now through April 11, at Cooke Elementary School, 6 to 8 p.m. This free program is for parents and …

Imagine that!

#MonticelloRocks because of our English Language Learners! Ms. Aftel’s third grade ELLs at KLR are working on narratives about their own imaginary planets. And they are doing an out-of-this-world job!

KLR students dazzle at mid-winter concert

Third, fourth and fifth grade students at KLR were able to show an appreciative audience just what they are learning in music class by singing, playing instruments and performing at the mid-winter concert. Each grade performed five songs. Third graders performed “Hello Song” in two languages along with other traditional tunes. The fourth-grade students ended …