RIDER REPORT

As we settle into a new school year, it’s inspiring to see the energy, creativity and dedication across our campus.

At the heart of our vision for the future is a commitment to creating spaces and opportunities that support learning, well-being and future-focused instruction.

The recently finalized Capital Project represents a major step forward in that vision. This carefully planned initiative addresses urgent facility needs while preparing Ichabod Crane for the years ahead. These improvements reflect the best of what we do at ICC – investing in students, staff and our community.

Keep reading to learn more about the project, how it will directly benefit our students and staff and the thoughtful planning undertaken to minimize the tax impact on our residents.

I am excited for the opportunities this project will create and I encourage all community members to learn more through our upcoming Community Forums and Special Campus Tour.

Together, we are building a future-focused school district that puts students first, invests in people and honors the strong tradition of support from our families and residents.

As you explore this month’s Rider Report, you’ll see how our Capital Project, vibrant cultural celebrations and innovative food programs all reflect our commitment to a thriving, inclusive and forward-looking school community.

Ichabod Crane continues to be a place where students grow, staff are inspired and every member of our community can take pride in what we accomplish together.

Articles:

• Capital Project Finalized: Investing in the Future of Ichabod Crane

• New Hire Spotlight, Chapter 1

• Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Honoring Culture and Belonging

• Nutritious, Delicious & Fun: Cafeteria Initiatives at ICC

• What’s Next in October

• #ICYMI

This year we welcomed many new staff members to Ichabod Crane! Each month, we’ll continue our tradition of introducing them in our New Hire Spotlight series.

We’re excited to begin with our first group of educators — welcome again to the Rider family! 💙 Stay tuned for more chapters to come!

Taylor Meyer is a 5th-grade teacher, who decided to join the ICC team after hearing so many wonderful things about the district. She previously worked at the Berlin CSD for four years. Originally from Stephentown, her family has roots in Chatham, where her grandparents ran a dairy farm. She lives with her two labs, Honey and Dixie. Fun Fact: I love to hike with my dogs! I plan to hike at all the national parks.

Madelyn Percy, a 1st-grade special education teacher, came to Ichabod after teaching for five years and wanting to find a forever district. She previously worked at Troy and Mohonasen CSD. She comes from a family of educators and hopes the tradition continues. Fun Fact: I studied abroad in London, England and then stayed for the whole summer! I am a huge WWII history buff and enjoyed exploring all things WWII.

Tanya Hamm, an ICC alum, is a Middle School Art Teacher. She is so happy to be back where her love of art began, after working at Taconic Hills for three years. She lives in Germantown with her husband, Andrew (also an artist), their baby Rowan, two cats (Abby & Mo) and dog, Juniper-May. Fun Fact: I love gardening and being outdoors. I have 7 different gardens all focused on different types of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Jenna Hoffman, a 4th-grade teacher, grew up surrounded by a family of educators and always aspired to teach, so she’s thrilled to join Ichabod’s strong community of educators and families. She earned a double major in Inclusive Childhood Education and English from St. John Fisher University and previously worked as a student teacher, long-term substitute and ESY Special Education teacher. Fun fact: I love playing volleyball, basketball and softball outside of school!

Theresa Mulvey is a 3rd grade Special Education teacher, who worked previously at Berlin CSD for four years. After hearing so many wonderful stories about Ichabod, she decided to apply right away when she saw a position open. She lives in East Greenbush with her dog, Niko.

Fun Fact: I love to read and travel. Over the summer I went to Alaska with my mom and it was beautiful! I also love going to the gym and taking Zumba classes.

Juanita Reyes is an English as a New Language (ENL) teacher at the High School. She joins Ichabod Crane after working at the Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network at Questar III BOCES. After spending a few years out of the classroom, she was excited to return to teaching and applied for this position. She lives with her husband, two children, two dogs and two cats. Fun fact: I love to sing and dance!

Ashley Walsh, an Ichabod Crane alum, knew she wanted to return to her alma mater after starting her career as a teacher. Five years later, she is so excited to be teaching in the community that helped shape her into the educator and person she is today. Before ICC, she taught at Sweet Home CSD in Buffalo and Chatham CSD. She lives with her two dogs. Fun fact – I lived in Buffalo, NY for 3 years and I am a huge Buffalo Bills Fan.

Holly Feit is a Primary School Physical Education (PE) teacher and a High School Health/PE teacher. She worked at New Lebanon CSD for two years before coming to Ichabod Crane and is so grateful to be a part of the Rider community. In July, she married her husband, Jared, in Scotland. They live with the dog, Rango and cat, Cabot. Fun fact: I play 6 musical instruments and have memorized over 80 digits of pi!

Leah Meredith is a 2nd-grade teacher, who always dreamed of returning to Ichabod Crane as a teacher after being a student in the district. She previously taught at a small charter school in Albany and now lives in Albany with her kitten, frequently visiting her family in Kinderhook. Fun fact – I loved art class throughout school and am currently taking pottery classes on the weekends.

Jill Wheat, Grades 4-6 Music teacher and Grade 4 After-School Chorus director, recently moved from Massachusetts and is thrilled to be part of Ichabod Crane. She previously taught music at Saint Jude’s Catholic School in Albany and, over the past 25 years, has taught in a variety of schools while also giving private voice and piano lessons. She has three children, ages 8, 10 and 14, and a dog, Phloxy. Fun fact: I lived aboard a sailboat for two years.

Aja Sisco is a Speech-Language Pathologist in the Middle and High Schools. She most recently worked with adults in medical settings, but over her 18-year career, she has worked with people of all ages – from infants to 104-year-olds. Fun Fact: One or more of these may be true: I have

My motorcycle license, starred as Annie in my high school play and lost then found my wedding ring while on my honeymoon.

At Ichabod Crane, we know that a sense of belonging is not just important – it’s a basic human need and a cornerstone of our school community. Creating an environment where every student feels seen, valued and included is at the heart of everything we do.

From September 15 to October 15, the Primary School is proudly celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultures, histories and contributions of the countries and one territory that make up the Hispanic world. This celebration is an opportunity for our students and staff to explore traditions, learn about diverse perspectives and reflect on the impact Hispanic culture has around the globe.

“This month-long celebration reinforces our mission to create a school community where everyone feels a sense of belonging, learning about history and culture and building community together," said Superintendent Marie Digirolamo.

Thanks to the thoughtful planning and creativity of our Primary School English as a New Language (ENL) Team, students and staff are enjoying meaningful opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate diversity and inclusion. Throughout the month, the school will showcase a vibrant lobby display and posters around the building in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

As part of the celebration, students are creating artwork inspired by Hispanic culture during art with Mrs. Rossback. In one 1st grade class, students learned about Gustavo, a shy and kind ghost, who is the main character in a popular children's picture book by Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago. Then, they made they very own Gustavos.

Daily announcements have also brought the celebration to life:

• On the first day, a brief introduction was given to explain the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month.

• 3rd-grade ELL (English Language Learner) students share a word or phrase in both English and Spanish, showcasing the importance and significance of bilingual education.

• Each day, one Hispanic country/territory is spotlighted with a fun and interesting fact to spark curiosity.

“The feedback from staff is overwhelmingly positive. Students are stopping me in the hallway to discuss Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Jennifer Abrams, Primary School ENL teacher. “Students who are not ELLs are telling their teachers that they, too, are Hispanic and want to speak on the announcements. This has been so wonderful!

The timeframe of this month is significant because many countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988.

Last Friday, our Food Services team celebrated International Pancake Day by serving this beloved breakfast favorite for lunch at the Primary and Middle Schools. Students enjoyed options like pancakes topped with blueberry compote and mini maple pancakes.

Since stepping into her role as Food Services Director, Carly Wills has focused on introducing new offerings and fun events in the school cafeterias. Her goal is to highlight the nutritious and delicious food – at breakfast and lunch – available daily to all students at no cost.

This school year, students have already enjoyed celebrations like National Pizza Day, which was a hit at Ichabod Crane no matter the holiday! In addition, Mrs. Wills has launched a fresh vegetable and fruit program, giving students more opportunities to enjoy healthy snacks while discovering new flavors and foods. Looking ahead, our cafeterias will celebrate National Apple Day on October 21 with a variety of apple options for students to try.

Another initiative that began last year is Student Choice, which gives students a voice in the cafeteria menu. Last year, the High School Seniors had the opportunity to vote for some of their favorite lunches before graduation. Using a Google form, the top three selections were chosen and served.

National School Lunch Week will be celebrated October 13-17 with an international theme. The High School will feature meals like General Tso Chicken, Baked Manicotti and Chicken Queso Pizza. At the Primary and Middle schools, students will enjoy coloring books and signs promoting the importance of school lunches.

The district is also collaborating with student groups for special events. The Class of 2027 is planning a dinner fundraiser during the Capital Project vote night, with menu details in the works. Last year, the district celebrated National Breakfast Week by distributing coloring books, bookmarks and stickers to highlight the importance of starting the day with a nutritious breakfast.

As of January 1, 2024, all Ichabod Crane K-12 students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day, regardless of economic status. During the 2024-2025 school year, the district served 85,135 breakfasts and 191,655 lunches.

“Since stepping into my role as Food Services Director, my goal has been to ensure our cafeterias continue to be places where students not only enjoy their meals but also understand and appreciate the nutritional value of what they’re eating,” Mrs. Wills said. “With initiatives like celebrating national food days and highlighting fresh, healthy options, we want to show that school lunches can stay both nutritious and delicious.”

Although breakfast and lunch are now provided at no cost, we encourage Ichabod Crane families to check the CEP income eligibility chart — cuadro de elegibilidad de ingresos del CEP en español — and to fill out the form below if they meet the income guidelines.

Completing this form is crucial, as it helps determine eligibility for state and federal benefits like SAT and AP exam fee waivers, College in the High School tuition assistance and college application fee waivers.