While students, parents, and school folk alike treasure the remaining days of summer, preparations have been under way for a dynamic new school year. The Admissions staff is excited about the quality and diversity of returning and newly-enrolled students. The Academic Dean is pleased about new course offerings and well-credentialed faculty. The Dean of Students has revised the Student/Parent Handbook, called The Crest, to reflect policies that will serve the community well. Teachers are enthusiastically outlining curriculum and lesson plans.  

Greenhouse Club's Garden is Yielding Great Results

Biology teacher Jim Uhlig has for years involved his classes in planting activities in the classroom and after-school campus beautification projects. SKS is fortunate to have a greenhouse, which was dedicated to Head of School Steevie Chinitz in 2008 in recognition of her passion for education and the environment.  

This past spring, Mr. Uhlig and Greenhouse Club students installed a garden. First, they installed a deer-proof fence and raised beds and then planted seedlings that they had started in the greenhouse. Mr. Uhlig said, "It was fun how different students involved themselves in different aspects of the project. Some put their shoulders into the hard work of digging holes for fence posts. Others enjoyed choosing which vegetables and flowers to plant." Strawberries were the first to show fruit. The spring lettuce was enjoyed in the dining hall, and its bed has now been replaced by pumpkins, basil, cucumbers, and rhubarb. The garden is producing watermelon, cantaloupes, tomatoes, and peppers, while sunflowers and zinnia decorate campus offices. It will be fun for students returning to campus to see how much their seedlings have grown and produced!

Meanwhile, across campus in celebration of Earth Day this spring, students helped College Counselor Jim Leppla and Admissions Officer and Master Gardener Toni Scherrer plant annual flowers to fill in beds of perennials and shrubs. Throughout the summer months, Toni and SKS staff have kept the beds free of weeds and well watered, so the students can see the results of their efforts when they return in the fall.

One of the great things about the Storm King community is the personality, skills, and dedication of our faculty. We are pleased to announce that the following folks will be joining us this fall.

Our new social studies teacher, Taras F., earned his B.A. in Political Science and Economics at Rutgers University and his M.A. at the University of New Hampshire in Kinesiology and Outdoor Education. Taras brings years of experience as an Instructor, Residential Life Director, and Outdoor Adventure Coordinator at UNH, Phillips Andover Academy, and Rutgers University.

Katja J. (B.A. English, Chinese minor, Colby College; M.A. English, Boston College) will be joining our English Department. Previously, Kate taught writing at Boston College and also taught literary analysis and essay writing at Phillips Academy. Kate is conversational in Spanish and Mandarin Chinese and will be assisting in our foreign language department as well.

Corey B. (B.A. Humanities and Social Justice, John Jay College; M.S. Education, Adolescence, and Special Education, Mt. Saint Mary College) did his student teaching in grades 7-12 at Wappingers Falls Junior High School and Beacon High School, with additional responsibilities developing individualized education plans for students and planning for varying Language Arts topics. He will be joining our English Department.

A dance/theatre major from Manhattanville College, Jeanette P. will be our new dance instructor. Jeanette has trained in ballet, hip hop, tap, choreography, and musical theater, and more, and she has much experience teaching, performing, and choreographing at Footworks Dance Center, John S. Burke Catholic High School, Manhattanville Center, and several other venues.

Our new English as a Second Language Teacher, Stephanie F., earned her B.A. in Spanish and International Relations at Bucknell University. Stephanie taught English at Escuela Jose Figures Ferrer in Costa Rica and tutored ESL students at Baugher School in Pennsylvania. She is proficient in Spanish and Italian and has intermediate proficiency in Arabic.

Felicia G. is working towards her M.A. in Education at Mt. Saint Mary's College, and studied American Sign Language (ASL) at Gallaudet University. She will be our new ASL teacher. Felicia taught English and ASL to hearing students at several grade levels and worked with deaf students at the Warwick Valley Central School District, providing real time C-Print captioning, in which she is certified.

Amanda P., hailing from the Rhode Island School of Design (B.A. in Illustration with a concentration in Photography) will be our new art, photography, and ceramics teacher. Amanda also earned her M.A. in Education at Arcadia University and taught at Lenape Middle School, Moore College of Art and Design, and William Tennent High School, in addition to several interesting internships.

Please join us in welcoming them all to our enthusiastic community of teachers and learners!