Budget News:
- Requests for Absentee Ballots are still available in the District Office. Contact Leslie Coons at 794-9016 ext. 2001 or via email at lcoons@newlebanoncsd.org.
- May 14, 2013 is the last day to request an application for absentee ballots to be mailed. Voters may still complete the request in person at the District Office.
- Absentee Ballots are due to in the District Office by May 20, 2013.
- Newsletters have gone out in the mail. Please call the District Office if you have not received one.
- Budget Vote is May 21, 2013 at the WBH Gymnasium, 12 to 9 p.m.
- For more information regarding the 2013-2014 proposed Budget and candidate bios, go to the District tab and click on Board of Education or Budget Information.
New Lebanon Spring Fling- Saturday, May 4 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
The New Lebanon Spring Fling will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School. Food, drinks and baked good are all available to purchase. There is no entry fee and tickets can be purchased for the carnival games. The event is a fundraiser for the Yearbook Committee, 8th grade, 10th grade and Travel Club. Click here for more information.
Drama Club visits New York City
The New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School Drama Club attended a performance of “Phantom of the Opera” at the Majestic Theater on Broadway in New York City.
After the performance, the students had the opportunity to meet members of the orchestra and cast, including Heather Hill, an actress in the show and sister of New Lebanon English teacher Holly May. While meeting the cast, the students participated in a 15 minute meet and greet and question and answer session.
New Lebanon English teacher and Dram Club advisor, Brooke Warden, is grateful her students were given this exciting opportunity and first-hand look at a Broadway show.
“This was a great opportunity for the kids. They were able to experience something outside of their comfort zone and partake in an experience of meeting the cast of a Broadway show, which not many can say they have done,” said Warden.
WBH Students Enjoy Preview of Musical
The WBH Drama club performed “Little Mermaid Jr.” for their fellow students on Friday. The students received a preview of the performance during the school day and parents and family members packed the cafeteria for the musical on Friday night. Congratulations to everyone involved for all your hard work! Click here for more photos!
Board of Education Candidates
There are five candidates running for three Board of Education seats: Raymond Sowalski, Alexis McDonald, Sharon Putnam, Tim Lambert and Martha Esposito. Information on each candidate is linked to our District page under Board of Education.
NHS Induction Ceremony- Thursday, April 25 at 7 p.m.
The National Honor Society induction ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 25th at 7 p.m. in the Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium.
Students visit the State Capitol
Government and Economics students from New Lebanon High School visited the State Capitol in Albany for a first-hand look at their state government in action.
Students spoke with Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and Senator Kathleen Marchione, witnessed an Assembly session, received a tour of the Capitol Building and had lunch in the Concourse. Click here for more.
Student raises money to help abused dogs
Jacob Weaver, a fourth grader at WBH, is raising money for a cause that is close to his heart.
For the past three years, instead of receiving birthday presents, Weaver has asked his friends and family to donate money to the Out of the Pits organization. Out of the Pits is a non-profit Pit Bull rescue organization that promotes awareness of the breed and helps them perform as therapy, sport or rescue dogs. Click here for more.
Absentee Ballots are now available
Absentee Ballots for the 2013/2014 school budget vote are now available in the District Office. To read the propositions, click here. Contact Leslie Coons, District Clerk, at (518) 794-9016 ext. 2001 to have an absentee ballot sent to you. Click here to download a request.
3rd quarter Jr./Sr. High School Honor Rolls announced
New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School has announced the Honor Rolls for the 3rd quarter. Click here for a list of students. Congratulations to all of our students!
2nd trimester WBH Honor Rolls announced
Walter B. Howard Elementary School has announced the Honor Rolls for the 2nd trimester. Click here for a list of students. Congratulations to all of our students!
Career Expo 2013- Tuesday, May 7th 5-8 p.m.
Students in grades 7-12 are invited to attend and learn
about exciting careers in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Birch Hill in Schodack, NY on Tuesday, May 7th 5-8 p.m.
Bienes honored with Student Courage Award
New Lebanon sophomore Christine Bienes won the Student Courage Award presented to her at the 26th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King Lecture Series on Race and Nonviolent Social Change. The award honors those who actively show personal courage by taking positive actions against racism, prejudice, bias-related violence and other forms of intolerance in their community. Click here to read more.
WBH sings a new tune
Walter B. Howard Elementary School (WBH) has a brand new school song written by WBH students and staff, along with songwriter Jeff Blum.
Sponsored by the WBH PTA, each grade level met with the songwriter to create song lyrics that are meaningful and applicable to WBH. Click here to read more.
Dr. Birchak speaks to students at New Lebanon
New Lebanon High School was visited by professor and speaker Dr. Stephen “Bird” Birchak for an hour long presentation about character, leadership and anti-bullying. Click here to continue reading...
Virtual field trips begin at New Lebanon
The newly implemented Distance Learning Lab held its first virtual field trip when the 7th and 8th graders of New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School participated in a presentation about cyber bullying with the McMillen Center for Health Education in Indiana. Click here to read more.
Service learning for staff and students at WBH
Students and staff at Walter B. Howard Elementary School are participating in Service Learning Projects as part of their character education program. These projects are an opportunity for everyone involved to give back to the community and help others. Click here for more.
Jacy Good brings message to New Lebanon School District
Jacy Good, a cell phone distracted driving victim, gave a presentation to the 9-12 grade students at New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School. Click here for more.
Common Core Learning Standards Toolkit for parents
The Toolkit for Parents and Families is a collection of materials and resources that will help parents and families understand the New York State education reform initiatives and how the changes will help your child graduate from high school ready for college and careers. Click here for the Toolkit.
Junior/Senior High School honor and high honor roll students
Honor and high honor roll students have been announced for New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School. Click here for the list of students.
WBH honor and high honor roll students
Walter B. Howard’s fifth and sixth grade honor and high honor roll students for the first trimester have been announced! Click here for the list of students.
Students give suicide awareness presentations
New Lebanon students from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), the Suicide Prevention Team and other student leaders organized two presentations for their fellow classmates to raise awareness about suicide. Click here to read more.
Precautionary information about the flu
School nurses have begun to see some cases of flu in New Lebanon schools. While there are not many at this point, we would like to share a parent guide about flu precautions. Click here to view the guide.
Books get a second chance
New Lebanon High School’s Graphic Design students recently completed a project that made something old into something new again.
Students took old, worn books from the school library and designed and created new book covers which has greatly prolonged their useful life. Click here to read more.
School board appoints student member
The New Lebanon Board of Education is excited to announce their first student board member, Jill Risko!
Risko is currently a senior at New Lebanon High School and will serve as a non-voting board member for the 2012-2013 school year. She was appointed by the board after submitting her resume and letter of interest. Click here for more.
Message from Superintendent Karen McGraw
To our families:
It is important for parents to know that children of any age may be frightened or upset by the troubling recent events in Connecticut, and care should be taken if you choose to discuss the issue with children.
I would like to offer these tips on helping our own students discuss and cope with the terrible event that occurred in Newtown, Connecticut. Click here to read more.
New Lebanon shows support
The New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School honored the students from Shenendehowa and Shaker High Schools who were killed and injured in a recent car accident.
SADD members and student leaders volunteered their time to create a banner signed by faculty and students. Faculty and students also wore blue and green, Shenendehowa and Shaker High School colors, to show support. Click here for more.
SADD members promote Red Ribbon Week
In October, New Lebanon’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) members participated in Red Ribbon Week.
SADD members led the weeklong program to educate the 7th and 8th grade students about the dangers of drugs and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
The high school students planned all of the daily activities that occurred throughout the week. Click here to read more.
Sophomore chosen to attend HOBY Leadership Conference
Sophomore Christine Bienes has been selected to attend the weekend long regional HOBY Leadership Seminar at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in June 2013.
Bienes was selected by the JR./SR. High School Scholarship Committee based on her response to the essay question “Describe the most rewarding and challenging aspect of being a leader in your school and community.” Click here to read more.
Students sound off on why they love learning
Watch here to see 1st grader Caden and 3rd grader Sadie discuss why they love learning and Walter B. Howard Elementary School!
Budget Calendar- Friday, November 16, 2012
The 2013-2014 Budget Calendar has been approved. Click here to see the calendar.
External Audit Report- Friday, November 16, 2012
Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the New Lebanon Central School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2011 and ending on June 30, 2012, have been examined by an independent certified public accountant, Raymond G. Preusser, CPA P.C., and that the report of examination performed or management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent certified public accountant has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., pursuant to §35 of the General Municipal Law. The governing board of the New Lebanon Central School District may, in its discretion, prepare a written response to the report of external audit or management letter by independent certified public accountant and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested. Leslie M. Coons, Deputy District Clerk
Corrected dates for School Tax Payment
Unpaid taxes for our Columbia County Residents can be made at the Columbia County Treasurer’s Office from November 19-30. Incorrect dates were mistakenly printed on our tax bills. Please note the corrected dates and plan accordingly.
Students get excited about math
New Lebanon Jr/Sr High School students recently finished in second place in an online math competition among schools in the Columbia-Rensselaer-Greene area. The competition, sponsored by Sumdog, an educational website, took place over the course of a week and included students from across the tri-county area. Click here to read more!
WBH has Fire Prevention Assembly
Walter B. Howard students were visited by Lebanon Valley firefighters for their Fire Prevention Assembly on October 25.
Students heard from the firefighters about the importance of fire safety and having a plan with your family if there is a fire in the house. They were taught about Exit Drills in the Home (E.D.I.T.H.), stop, drop, cover and roll and what they need to know when they dial 911.
Principal Becky Marzeski donned the firefighter gear to show the children what a firefighter on the job looks like. The students then went outside to see the fire truck and had their questions answered by the firefighters.
New Lebanon wins $5,000 Innovation Award
New Lebanon Central School District averages about 40 students per graduating class. In such a small school district one might expect limited options for the students. However, New Lebanon doesn’t let their small size prevent them from offering their students cutting edge classes in modern day technology.
Click here to read more and to view pictures and video!
Community pool times
Community Open Swim:
Mondays & Wednesdays beginning 10/1/12
5:30-7:00 p.m.
$5.00/family (up to 4)
$3.00/individual
Lap Swim: Friday Evenings beginning 10/19/12
5:30-7:00 p.m.
$3.00/individual
Welcome to WBH Class of 2025!
The Class of 2025 recently had their first day of kindergarten at Walter B. Howard Elementary School. The young students had the option to ride the bus to school with their parents and upon arrival they listened to Principal Becky Marzeski talk about the exciting upcoming year. The kindergarteners also heard from the bus drivers about important bus safety rules. Students and parents were then escorted to their classrooms where they were able to find their seats and talk with their teachers. Welcome to WBH! Click here for a photo slideshow!
Board of Education switches to BoardDocs
Notice: New Lebanon Central School District is leveraging the power of the Internet to improve the governance process while saving time, taxpayer dollars and the environment. This new initiative will replace the old and costly method of compiling, printing, and distributing paper agenda packets by hand. Click here to read more...
From the Desk of the Superintendent…Karen McGraw
Apple picking, the spectacle of the leaf colors, and soccer games marks our fall season here in New Lebanon. Our teachers have been establishing the routines and expectations for the 2012-2013 school year. Both school buildings had their open houses and many parents took the opportunity to meet their children’s teachers and to learn about their educational program.
This year, there are significant changes that are a result of NYS’s Education Department’s requirements. The most apparent change this fall is the need to conduct baseline testing of each student in many of their subjects. For elementary students this means Math, English Language Arts and each of the special areas such as music. Our teachers will use the information gathered to set educational goals for each child and they will also set goals for the class as a whole. Periodically throughout the school year, interim testing will occur so the teacher will be able to track the students’ progress.
It is felt that this change along with major changes in the curriculum taught, will upon graduation, more effectively prepare our students for college and/or a career.
Health Information for Parents:
Flu Symptom Checklist for Families
Seasonal Flu Guide for Parents