WVCSD EdTalk & Photo of the Week: November 26, 2025

As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on the many reasons we have to be thankful. This season reminds us to appreciate the blessings that enrich our lives every day. Warwick Valley Central School District is a special place for both students and educators, and its success is built on the commitment of our students, staff, families, and community members. For that, we are deeply grateful.

Our students inspire us daily with their curiosity, resilience, and enthusiasm for learning. Whether in the classroom, on the athletic field, on stage, or in extracurricular activities, you demonstrate perseverance and a commitment to growth. Your kindness, your pursuit of excellence, and your dedication to education show us just how bright your future is.

This year, our schools partnered with the Warwick Food Pantry to help provide holiday meals for local families. Students and staff in buildings across the district showed how thankful they were by contributing generously, and last week, the Warwick Valley Middle School Student Senate loaded up an entire trailer with these donations to take to the pantry so families could have the basics for a holiday meal. Thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!

We are also thankful for our outstanding teachers and staff, whose tireless efforts nurture both the minds and hearts of our students. Every creative lesson, every word of encouragement, and every challenge you help students overcome shape them for success tomorrow. Just one example is the overwhelming commitment our teachers and staff displayed toward our students to ensure their annual productions were successful this season.

At Sanfordville Elementary, Ms. Overbey, Mr. Bauer, Ms. Clark, and Ms. VanDeWater’s classes hosted their annual Friendsgiving celebration. Each class helped prepare a menu, full of traditional Thanksgiving food. Each family guest was greeted as they arrived and then served a delicious meal, and they were able to enjoy it with all of the friends that gathered. It was a nice way to have the different families gather together and celebrate all of the students' hard work in preparing this meal.

To our parents and families: your partnership is vital. From attending parent-teacher conferences and student events to volunteering and supporting your children at home, you play an essential role in their growth and success.

And to our local businesses, organizations, and community members: thank you for your generosity, which comes in the form of your donations, volunteering, and resources. Your support makes a lasting impact on our schools and students.

On behalf of the entire Warwick Valley Central School District, thank you. We wish you and your family a happy, peaceful, and safe Thanksgiving.

Here are some highlights from our schools this week: 

Park Avenue Elementary School
Kindergarteners began compiling their original writing into books. Students learned how each page of a story has to connect to the next, much like a puzzle. Students collaborated with their peers to brainstorm ideas for their books and practiced organizing their thoughts in a sequential manner using numbered blank pages provided by their teacher. Mrs. Dinino shared, “Each book is so unique, and full of incredible details! By working together, students were able to develop the details they wanted to include in their writing.”

This week, first graders started their Word Detective unit. During this reading unit, students will learn strategies that will help them tackle more complex words and to self-monitor their reading. Mrs. D’Angelillo shared, “Each lesson gives the children a ‘mission’ to accomplish. So far, we have completed a mission related to noticing a problem and how to stop and fix it.”  More specifically this skill helps students monitor their reading, pausing when they arrive at a difficult word, and using strategies learned to decode letters, sounds and word parts.  Mrs. D’Angelillo added, “Once first graders complete all of their missions, they will earn word detective badges!”

In their Reader’s Workshop Unit: Becoming Experts, second graders are learning how to build knowledge by reading multiple nonfiction books on the same topic. This week students focused on collecting expert vocabulary words related to a nonfiction topic. Mrs. Theologis said, “We learned how to notice, collect and jot down expert vocabulary that will help us teach others about a nonfiction topic.”

Sanfordville Elementary School
The Sanfordville Cafetorium was transformed into the “100 Acre Wood” as Sanfordville hosted three performances of Winnie the Pooh Kids. Guests were treated to numerous musical renditions as Winnie the Pooh and his friends were on a mission to help Christopher Robin escape from the “Backsuns.” Congratulations to our very talented performers, Directors Ms. Mistler and Ms. Moren, for putting on three tremendous performances over the course of the weekend! Thank you to the PTA, the Drama Club, parent volunteers, custodial staff, and to all of the faculty and staff volunteers for helping to make these performances so successful!

Warwick Valley Middle School
Continuing a commitment to building strong school and community partnerships, all of our fifth grade social studies classes had the opportunity to work with the Warwick Valley Historical Society through an engaging program called Document Detectives. The interactive workshops transformed classrooms into investigative hubs, giving students the chance to step into the role of real historians as they analyzed documents and artifacts connected to Warwick’s past.

Students worked in groups of four to five and were assigned specific roles varying from secretary, Chromebook operator, speaker, and timekeeper in order to support teamwork and develop real-world skills. These structured roles ensured that each student had a meaningful responsibility and voice within their group, helping them stay organized, focused and actively engaged throughout the experience.

Each session began with a lively presentation from Historical Society representatives, who introduced key concepts historians use when studying primary sources. Students learned how documents provide clues about people, events, and time periods, and how historians evaluate credibility, interpret evidence, and bring information together to build a deeper understanding of history.

In the second half of the lesson, students put these skills into action by becoming true “document detectives.” Groups examined historical materials, discussed their observations, and collaborated to draw conclusions about Warwick’s past. The combination of expert instruction and hands-on exploration made this experience both educational and memorable, strengthening students’ connection to local history and reinforcing the importance of community partnerships in learning.

Warwick Valley High School
The Warwick Wildcats girls varsity volleyball team continued to make school history with an unforgettable and inspiring postseason run. The Wildcats captured the Section 9 Championship, a triumph made even more extraordinary by their victory over Cornwall – a powerhouse program that had secured 20 straight Section 9 titles. Ending a streak that spanned two decades  underscored the grit, preparation, and unshakeable resilience of this remarkable Warwick team.

Under the dedicated leadership of Head Coach Shawn Thomas, the Wildcats have elevated their level of play all season long. Coach Thomas has built a team rooted in strong fundamentals, strategic discipline, and an unwavering competitive spirit – qualities that have propelled the Wildcats to new heights.

Their momentum only grew following the sectional win. Fueled by confidence and the support of the Warwick community, the Wildcats went on to win their State Quarterfinal match, firmly establishing themselves among the top volleyball programs in New York State. Their performance showcased powerful serves, dynamic offensive transitions, disciplined defense, and a level of composure that kept fans energized from start to finish.

Warwick could not be prouder of this outstanding group of athletes and the example they set – both on and off the court. And as the Wildcats headed out to the state tournament last Friday, the school gathered to send them off in Wildcat spirit. The team continued to play well over the weekend, and placed third overall in the NYSPHSAA Class AA tournament. Congratulations on an outstanding season!

Photo of the Week

Park Avenue Elementary School students perform on the stage in a dress rehearsal of "Jungle Book Kids" on Nov. 21, 2025. The three weekend performances were all sold out.