A K-12 Public School District located in Rockland County in New City, New York. This page is only monitored during regular business hours.
The Clarkstown Central School District, in partnership with the community, will meet the individual academic and social-emotional needs of all students within a safe environment while empowering them to reach their full potential in a complex society. We welcome your comments, but reserve the right to remove postings that:
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06/06/2026
Clarkstown High School North’s annual Cardboard Boat Regatta returned to the Felix Festa Middle School pool yesterday, and physics students navigated the challenge skillfully. Teams put buoyancy and fluid mechanics to the ultimate test across three rounds of intense, splash-filled races. While a few inevitably met a soggy fate, one ship reigned supreme. Congratulations to the winning vessel and its captains for conquering the waves and taking home the top spot!
The Portrait of a Clarkstown Learner initiative ensures students transition through milestone years equipped with the essential skills to thrive in an evolving world. While the Portrait in Action series celebrating fifth, eighth and twelfth graders concludes today, CCSD’s commitment to fostering future-ready traits remains ongoing. For the final feature, fifth graders at Bardonia Elementary School share how they are prepared for their next academic chapter and Principal Michelle Zernone explains how the students embody the District’s core tenets.
Motivated: “Lena Edmond brings an incredible spark to our school; her deep personal curiosity drives her not just to succeed, but to constantly seek out new challenges. She’s also a fantastic peer mentor who knows exactly how to motivate and support her classmates.”
Innovative: “Azariah Joshua is a true innovator whose unstoppable curiosity and creative problem-solving turn every single obstacle into a learning opportunity. We love seeing how his open-minded approach helps him lead and lift up those around him!”
Resilient: “Chloe Ro is the definition of a resilient student, tackling every tough assignment with a positive attitude and a refusal to give up. Her sheer love for learning and willingness to ask the hard questions inspire everyone in the classroom.”
Empathetic: “Blair Davis stands out for the profound empathy she brings to both her friendships and her schoolwork. Whether she’s navigating social dynamics or collaborating on a group project, Blair excels at making sure every voice is heard and valued.”
06/05/2026
Heidi Bernasconi’s Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science students recently transitioned their focus into community action by hosting a campus cleanup. In collaboration with Keep Rockland Beautiful, which generously supplied the necessary tools and materials, the high schoolers worked collectively to remove garbage and enhance Clarkstown High School North’s grounds — a great way for the AP students to bring their coursework outdoors.
06/04/2026
As part of the District’s Farm to Classroom Initiative, second graders visited nearby Cropsey Farm seven times this year to learn firsthand about planting, harvesting, soil investigations, composting and creating seed balls. On their final trip, in true farm to table fashion, students got to participate in a tasting of spinach, carrots and cucumbers. (The spinach garnered mixed results.) The students also learned about how the farm’s bees produce honey and, since a trip to a farm wouldn’t be complete without visiting the livestock, they were able to pet the goats and feed the chickens. All in a day’s work!
Thank you to Sue Ferreri and the staff at the Rockland Community Farm Network for their continued partnership with the CCSD!
06/04/2026
The end of year celebrations continued last night at the Carroll F. Johnson Scholastic Achievement Dinner honoring the Class of 2026 valedictorians and salutatorians. Congratulations again to Jason Chen (valedictorian) and Yuemeng Zhang (salutatorian) CHSS and Cecilia Simoes (valedictorian), Vincent Luu (co-salutatorian) and Lyla Manini (co-salutatorian, not pictured) CHSN!
06/04/2026
Milestone Moment: On Tuesday evening, Clarkstown Central School District hosted its first ever Fine and Performing Arts Signing Night! The event was modeled after the NCAA signing events that are held for student athletes who are continuing their careers in college. Casey Vanderstouw, the District's coordinator of fine and performing arts, implemented the signing as a way to recognize graduating seniors who are majoring in music, theater, broadcasting arts, visual arts, media arts and related creative fields. "Through a ceremonial signing, the evening showcases the lasting impact of arts education and celebrates the bright futures of Clarkstown’s creative leaders," says Vanderstouw.
Congratulations and best of luck to these 28 members of the Class of 2026:
Anastasia Alexeenko, SUNY Purchase (Major: Psychology, Minor: Sculpture)
Scarlett Artiles, SUNY Albany (Creative Marketing/Creative Director)
Shani Ben Hur, SUNY Purchase (Music)
Evan Block, Fairfield University (Major: Accounting, Minor: Music)
Haile Byers, Fashion Institute of Technology, (Fashion Design)
Emma Cortelli, College of Charleston (Major: Communications, Minor: Dance)
Caspar Cruz, SUNY Purchase (Creative Writing)
Angelina D’auria, Quinnipiac (Film Television and Media Arts)
Nicholas Franchi, Emerson College (Media Arts Production)
Lucas Gonzalez, Rockland Community College (Humanities)
Makaylah Herrera, University of Buffalo (Architecture)
Nidhi Joshi, University of Connecticut (Visual Arts)
Sarah Lennon, Dominican University (Childhood Education/Art Teacher)
Naomi Mata, Fordham University (Visual Arts)
Taylor McAstocker, Ithaca College (Stage Management)
George Melis, SUNY New Paltz (Major: Engineering, Minor: Photography)
Alyssa Meltzer, SUNY Binghamton (Major: Mathematics, Minor: Education and Technical Theater)
Ethan Migdol, Syracuse University (Broadcast Journalism)
Autumn Nardini, Boston Conservatory at Berklee (Musical Theater)
Alexandra Newman, Northeastern University (Theater)
David Pazmino, Otis College of Art & Design (Digital Animation)
Emma Perciballi, SUNY Cortland (Musical Theater)
Heidi Peterson, SUNY New Paltz (Art Education)
Madison Polanco, Stony Brook University (Major: Media and Arts, Minor: Art History & Criticism)
Haden Reese, Savannah College of Art and Design (Motion Graphic Design)
Diego Romero Fajardo, SUNY Purchase (Major: Latin American & Caribbean Culture, Minor: Art Education)
Elizabeth Sigerson, St. Thomas Aquinas College (Art Education)
Valerie Silverman, Ithaca College (Music Education/Performance)
The Portrait of a Clarkstown Learner framework instills the core competencies students need for future success. As CCSD’s fifth graders prepare for middle school, these foundational traits ensure they are ready for the next chapter. Four students from Strawtown Elementary School are featured in the latest Portrait in Action, while Principal Colin Andersen highlights how they embody the District’s vision below.
Motivated: "Every day, Claire Cunningham comes to class prepared, responsible and eager to challenge herself. Over the years at Strawtown, she has grown into an independent learner who embraces challenges and views mistakes as opportunities to grow. Her dedication to continuous self-improvement and her positive attitude toward lifelong learning make her stand out as a role model for her peers."
Innovative: “Isabella Larios’ ability to think critically is evident in the way she applies both logic and creativity to overcome challenges. She reflects meaningfully on her in-school and outside-of-school experiences, using both successes and mistakes as opportunities to strengthen her future choices. Lastly, Isabella is quick-witted and eager to think outside the box; she consistently pushes herself to grow."
Resilient: “Amaia Calel is very receptive to feedback from both of her teachers and consistently puts forth her best effort every day in several ways, thus contributing to her progress in newer, even challenging, academic areas, concepts and skills. Even if she tries multiple times or makes a mistake, she doesn’t view these as permanent setbacks; she perceives them as learning opportunities that can only strengthen her, which is exactly what has occurred this year."
Empathetic: “Allison Usefof notices when someone is struggling and steps in with kindness and patience, often offering support without being asked. Ally listens carefully to others’ feelings and responds in a thoughtful and caring way. Her ability to put herself in someone else’s shoes helps create a positive and inclusive classroom environment."
06/03/2026
The Clarkstown Central School District is looking for school bus drivers! Competitive pay, NYS Retirement System, excellent benefits. And did we mention it’s fun? Apply today!
06/03/2026
Twenty-four athletes took to the turf at Clarkstown South tonight to pledge their commitment to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Athletic Director Lindsay Zekus shared each student’s accomplishments during NCAA Signing Night—and reminded them that while they will be playing for a new school next year, “Once a Viking, always a Viking.”
Congratulations to the following college-bound athletes:
⚾️ Justin Amodeo, Salve Regina University
🏑 Lily Brower, Manhattanville University
🩰 Arianna Carpino, College of Charleston
🎾 Christopher Cho, Stevens Institute of Technology
🏑 Madi Davis, Muhlenberg College
🥍 Ryan Dollard, SUNY Plattsburgh
🏊♂️ Aidan Dwyer, University of Scranton
🏊♀️ Kayla Dwyer, Lafayette College
🏃🏻 Becket Fagan, Franklin & Marshall College
🥍 Lukas Fraser, Eastern Connecticut State University
⚾️ Michael Gauthier, SUNY Polytechnic Institute
🏃🏻 William Humbach, McDaniel College
⚾️ Kenny Johnston, RCC
🥎 Emily Lappetito, Western Connecticut State University
🏀 Spencer Morel, Emmanuel College
🎾 Pratik Nayak, Stevens Institute of Technology
🏃🏻 Joseph Price, Stonehill University
🥍 Mason Ready, DeSales University
⚾️ Trevor Reim, Westfield State University
🏃🏽♀️ Sabella Suarez, Molloy University
🏈 Michael Scarpelli, Hartwick College
🏃🏻 Connor Sullivan, Manhattan University
🏐 Brody Sutherland, University of Scranton
🏀 Carley Voce, Lafayette College