Letter To Families & Staff

In a well-deserved achievement, Brandon Herwick, RCS Physical Education Teacher, has been named the recipient of the 2024 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYS AHPERD). This honor recognizes Brandon for his exceptional contributions to the field of physical education and his unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and engaging learning environment for students.

As an educator at A.W. Becker Elementary, Brandon has earned a reputation as a passionate and inspiring teacher who makes physical education both fun and accessible. Alongside his co-teacher, Megan McClave, Brandon creates an engaging and supportive environment where students are excited to learn, grow, and develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Earlier this year, Brandon was recognized by the NYS AHPERD Capital Zone chapter as Teacher of the Year and was honored at a February RCS Board of Education Meeting. True to his kind and giving nature, Brandon used the opportunity to recognize and celebrate his peers, who were all there to support him. 

Congratulations, Brandon, on this well-deserved honor! Read more about Brandon’s recognition here.

With the return to SchoolTool, our District’s Student Management System, the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central School District is focused on confirming we have the most up-to-date student information for your child. 

The District must have current and accurate contact information for several reasons, including ensuring that you receive important and timely notifications from your student’s teacher, building, and district. Providing accurate information to our transportation department for dispatch communication and off-campus field trips. Lastly, providing you as guardian access to the SchoolTool Parent Portal. 

Please review and follow the directions on how to return the small packet of papers that came home with your student(s) in October with a bright yellow top sheet with guardian contact information attached. 

Thank you for your support in ensuring we have the most accurate information for your child. If you have questions, please contact Diane Palazzo, Registrar at 518-756-5200 x 6008.

For more information about SchoolTool you can visit our website: SchoolTool - Monitor Your Child’s Progress.

The Who to Contact and When Guide was put together to connect the community with the most knowledgeable and direct person for concerns or questions. When looking for assistance, please start at level 1 and move up through the levels if that person is unable to provide you with the assistance you need.

The Board of Education will become involved, if necessary, in the final stage of the process. The Board may be contacted via District Clerk at (518) 756-5200 ext. 6000 or sstar@rcscsd.org.

Check out the guide here and on the second page of the 2024-25 RCS Printed Wall Calendar.

Add to your digital calendar all the important District dates by visiting our website https://www.rcscsd.org/ and clicking on RCS School District Calendar then “copy to my calendar.”

Congratulations to the High School Artists of the Month for September, Cecilia Kunuria, and October, Owen Smith! Check out their incredible artwork! You can read more information on these students' talents here: https://bit.ly/AOTMSept2024 (Cecilia)
https://bit.ly/AOTMOct2024 (Owen)

Mrs. King and Mrs. Wright's Kindergarten classes learned about Election Day! After learning how elections work, our young learners took part in an in-class vote to choose a decoration for their desk pets!

A.W. Becker Elementary held a special assembly to honor those who have served in the military. Students waved American flags as they recognized parents, grandparents, uncles, and brothers from the A.W. Becker community for their service. The ceremony included a color guard, the singing of America the Beautiful, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Fifth-grade students read about the importance of honoring our veterans, and Taps was played in remembrance.

Congratulations to the RCS High School Varsity Football team on moving forward to the Section II Class B Championship! What a terrific season you had!

Congratulations to the RCS Girls Modified Soccer Team and Volleyball Team on undefeated seasons! What an incredible achievement—way to go!

Fifth-grade student council candidates at Pieter B. gave their final campaign speeches in front of their peers. The speeches were heartfelt, focused on important student issues, and wrapped up with excellent closing statements! We wish all the candidates the best of luck and congratulate them for running strong campaigns!

We would like to take a moment to congratulate our Middle School students who have demonstrated leadership, positivity, and respect throughout the month of October. Keep up the great work!

Members of the RCS High School Chorus had the honor of performing the National Anthem at the UAlbany Women’s Basketball game! We’re so proud of their amazing performance and for representing our school in such a meaningful way!

Volunteers from the A.W. Becker Natural Helpers Club have been dedicating their time to assist at the Regional Food Bank on Saturdays. Recently, at the club's last event, there were RCS students from Pre-K through 11th grade, along with their parents, who helped pack meals for those in need.

RCS Central School District happily welcomed 30 Thanksgiving meals donated by TCI of NY through the Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family program, just before Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving meals were delivered to the high school and distributed to RCS families. Thank you to TCI NY for your donation!