Kent Primary School

Fourth graders in Amy Constantinides and Sandra Cairl’s class at Kent Primary School honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day by learning about the life and legacy of the civil rights leader and reflecting on his dream for a more just and peaceful country. 

Students discussed Dr. King’s work and the impact he had on the nation. “He fought hard so kids could go to the same schools,” said Vivian. Thea shared that Dr. King believed in freedom for everyone. “He was saying let freedom spread out so we can all have it together. I think what he did was awesome,” she said. Alexander added that Dr. King used peaceful protests to stand up for what he believed in, even when it meant going to jail. 

After listening to a book about Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, Ms. Constantinides invited students to write about their own dreams for themselves and their community. The class shared thoughtful hopes for world peace, kindness, food for everyone and an end to littering. 

Some students also wrote deeply personal dreams. One boy shared that he hopes everyone can stay in this country, while another wrote that his dream is for his family not to be deported. 

Through discussion, reflection and writing, the lesson helped students connect Dr. King’s message to their own lives and the world around them—showing that his dream continues to inspire even the youngest voices 

The third-grade team at Kent Primary School proudly hosted their first Science Day of the year, an event brimming with excitement and discovery.

Science Day featured four captivating experiments, each intricately designed around the themes of Forces and Interactions. Every third-grade teacher crafted an engaging and interactive lesson, immersing students in hands-on activities that sparked curiosity and fostered a deeper understanding of scientific principles.

The atmosphere buzzed with enthusiasm as students eagerly participated in each experiment, making learning an exhilarating adventure.

The first graders at Kent Primary School brought the magic of the season to life with a charming, pint-sized version of New York City’s famous Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

To kick off their project, students read Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet. Then they watched a video showing how Macy’s designs its massive balloons and features a new balloon every year. 

With excitement bubbling, the students headed to art class, where they cut out and colored animal shapes, which they attached to their own balloons.  Their imaginations soared: Elena transformed her balloon into a bright pink cat.  

“I love cats so much,” she said.  

Gabriel turned his balloon into a dog, complete with flashing lights for extra flair. 

The celebration ended with a march outside, where families lined up to cheer on the young parade-makers. 

Students in Corinne Phillips and Julie Ann Burton's first grade class at Kent Primary School put on lab coats and stethoscopes and became doctors for a day.  

The students put together puzzles of skeletons, wore aprons decorated with internal organs, and listened to each other's hearts with a stethoscope.  

Carmel Central School District's reading program Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA, is a science of reading-based program that emphasizes skills like phonics, decoding and blending sounds.  

“The reading program introduces young readers to a wide vocabulary while building on topics like science and social studies,” said Dr. Jeff Gorman, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.  

When the first graders finished their unit on the body, Mrs. Phillips let them dress up and act like doctors as a way to reinforce some of the vocabulary and topics they had read about.  

"We had a memory game with germs, a food pyramid sort and some playdough body systems," Ms. Phillips said. "The class enjoyed rotating through each station They enjoyed calling each other Dr. and then their last name, as well as using the vocabulary we have learned." 

The New York State School Boards Association named October 13-18 as School Board Recognition Week, a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards.  

Since the Carmel Board of Education did not have a meeting that week, new Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin took the opportunity to extend the district’s thanks to the Board during the Tuesday, Oct. 21 meeting. It also happened to be Mr. Plotkin’s first meeting as Superintendent of Schools.  

“We pause to honor the extraordinary dedication of the Carmel Central School District Board of Education,” Mr. Plotkin said. “Each of you give countless hours, often behind the scenes, to ensure that every decision you make supports the success, safety and well-being of our Carmel students. Your leadership guides our vision and anchors our community in shared purpose. The progress we celebrate, which includes strong schools, innovative programs and caring classrooms, stands as a direct reflection of your commitment. For all of that, we want to say ‘Thank you.’” 

The district thanked the board members with a certificate of appreciation, drawings from elementary school students, tissue paper flowers made by art students and the gift of one service from the Carmel High School auto shop, where oil changes, tire rotations and detailing are all part of the curriculum.

The Board members, President Melissa Orser, Vice President John Curzio, II, Trustee Jordi Douglas, Trustee Frank Grasso, Trustee Nicholas Magliano, Trustee Michael Torpey and Trustee James Wise, all serve as volunteers in the unpaid Board positions. 

The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at the Carmel High School.  The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Community members who wish to speak during the public comment section of the Board meeting are asked to sign up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form here: https://forms.office.com/r/SnQBCFWYy8

Board meetings will continue to be live streamed on this page.  Committee meetings are open to the public.

Upcoming Board of Education Committee Meetings:

Audit, Facilities & Operation:  January 27, 2026, Carmel High School, Science Room #201, 5:30 p.m.
Special Education, Support & Wellness Committee:   January 27, 2026, Carmel High School, Library Lab, 5:30 p.m.
Policy Committee: TBD, Administrative Office, Executive Conference Room, 5:30 p.m.

Dear Carmel Central School District Community:

As I begin my work leading the Carmel schools, I’m eager to listen and learn from our community. I invite you to read my Entry Plan, which outlines my goals for understanding our district’s strengths and challenges

Please also take a few minutes to complete our community survey. Your feedback will help shape priorities and ensure we continue building on what’s working while addressing areas for growth.

Read the Entry Plan
Take the Superintendent's Community Survey by December 1, 2025

Respectfully,

Michael Plotkin
Superintendent of Schools 

If you like something a CCSD staff member has done, tell us at compliments@carmelschools.org. Likewise, if there is an area you think needs improvement, send an email to complaints@carmelschools.org. Both email addresses will go directly to the superintendent of schools and to the president of the Board of Education. 

Community members can sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on district news and events. You will receive weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive e-newsletters.

Sign-up now!

All parents should have received their credentials via email.  Please check your SPAM/Junk email if you have not.  If you still cannot find the email, please contact Mrs. Murray in the Main Office at 845-225-5025 X342.  We already began using this application for dismissal changes, and it is working beautifully.  Take advantage of this "soft launch!"  In the fall, use of this application will be mandatory for all students' dismissal changes.  

For an overview, please see The School Dismissal Manager Website

Community members who wish to speak during the public comment portion of a Board of Education meeting are asked to sign-up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form or by contacting the District Clerk four (4) hours prior to the meeting at jstevens@carmelschools.org.  The sign-up form will also be available at the meeting for anyone who wishes to speak and did not sign up in advance.  

These individuals will be called upon during the scheduled public participation section on the agenda.  To facilitate follow-up, please provide your name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address, as well as the topic of your comments.  Speakers are limited to five (5) minutes each.  No district employee or student may be commented upon or identified by name or situation.

As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety, communication and equity districtwide, Carmel Central School District has launched a new communication tool, Anonymous Alerts®. This tool enables students or parents to report urgent information to school officials quickly, easily and anonymously across all our school campuses. 

Access the Anonymous Alerts portal.

Recordings of Board of Education meetings and presentations from those meetings are available to the public.   

View recordings from Board of Education meetings.