We always have a lot of activities happening around our district with important information to share to keep our community informed and updated. This newsletter will serve as a high-level overview, with links to allow our community to dive deeper into topics that are most important to them.
Clean Green Schools Initiative
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) is proud to announce it has been awarded more than $10 million in funding through New York State’s Clean Green Schools Initiative. The award, announced by Governor Kathy Hochul on April 27, is part of a statewide effort to modernize educational facilities, improve indoor air quality, and transition toward sustainable energy solutions.
The funding will allow the district to implement transformative environmental upgrades at two key school buildings. The centerpieces of the project include the installation of ground-source heat pump systems (geothermal) to electrify HVAC operations and eliminate fossil fuel usage. Additionally, the district will install state-of-the-art ventilation and filtration systems, which are expected to improve indoor air quality and reduce total energy use in the targeted buildings by 55 percent.
Beyond infrastructure, the grant will support the district’s commitment to future-ready education by incorporating clean energy activities directly into the student curriculum, providing "living laboratory" opportunities for NECSD scholars.
At the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, we believe that open, honest communication is the foundation of a strong partnership with our community. Often, speculation on social media or in neighborhood conversations, like a game of telephone, can cloud the reality of the work being done in our school buildings. You don’t have time for confusion, and you deserve the facts.
We have created this Fake vs. Fact page to serve as a direct, credible source for our community. Here, we address common rumors with verified, evidence-based information, ensuring you have the clarity you need to stay informed about our schools, our scholars, and our future.
Top Secret: NFA Educators Take Spirit Week to a New Level!
The hallways were buzzing with mystery this week as NFA staff launched a Secret Spirit Week, keeping students on their toes with a series of hilarious undercover themes. From the mysterious trench coats of Spy Day to the temporal confusion of Wrong Holiday Day, the faculty fully embraced the fun. The building was later overtaken by a "Suburban Showdown" of Soccer Moms and BBQ Dads, followed by a sea of fanny-packed Tourists navigating the halls with maps in hand. This surprise initiative was designed to boost morale and foster a joyful school culture, proving that while our educators are serious about learning, they’re never too busy to share a laugh with their scholars.
In a historic achievement for the district, five seniors from the Newburgh Free Academy P-TECH program have been named one of only 10 winning teams nationwide in the CTE Momentum AI Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education.
Emily Pham, Lesley Trinidad, Yahir Rosas, Aaron Villano, Eric Amaya’s winning entry, YourT.E.A.M. (Therapeutic Enhanced AI Monitor), was selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions from across the United States. You can watch their submission video here. The challenge tasked students with identifying a real-world problem and designing an integrated AI solution to solve it.
Our incredibly talented Newburgh Free Academy dancers are bringing a little extra sparkle to the "Most Magical Place on Earth" this weekend! NFA Dancers Ensemble traveled to Walt Disney World to participate in the Disney Imagination Campus Performance Series. Our Goldbacks didn't just visit the parks—they will step into the spotlight, performing a high-energy routine on Sunday at 1:30pm at the Waterside Stage at Disney Springs!
Beyond the performance, our student dancers took part in an exclusive workshop led by Disney professionals, getting a "behind-the-curtain" look at careers in professional dance and what it takes to be a Disney Cast Member. We are so proud of these scholars for representing Newburgh with such poise, athleticism, and passion.
The dancers debuted their 22-minute routine for GAMS Pre-K scholars and at the NFA student choreographed concert earlier this week. Please join us in wishing them well and congratulating them on this once-in-a-lifetime achievement!
NFA Athletics Unveils New Track and Field Leaders of Legacy Board
We are thrilled to unveil the brand-new NFA Track and Field leaderboard, an updated installation dedicated to honoring the incredible speed, strength, and legacy of our Goldback athletes. This new display serves as a permanent record of excellence, capturing school records and milestone achievements that inspire our current scholars to push their limits. By highlighting the top performances in our program’s history, the leaderboard celebrates the hard work of our student-athletes and alumni and provides a clear target for the next generation of champions. We invite the entire community to visit the track, see the names of our legendary competitors, and join us in cheering on our team as they strive to make history.
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Austin Lilla and Leah Walsh, were selected to represent our district as members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is composed of student-athletes who provide meaningful insight into the student-athlete experience while offering input on policies and initiatives that impact athletic programs. This well-deserved honor reflects their leadership, character, and unwavering commitment to athletics and their peers.
NECSD Her Time to Play Program Visits NY Liberty with MSMC
Students in our Saturday Literacy and Numeracy Program recently experienced a powerful blend of academics and real-world inspiration through the Her Time to Play curriculum. As part of this enrichment opportunity, students connected with collegiate athletes from Mount Saint Mary College Athletics, gaining insight into teamwork, perseverance, and goal-setting both on and off the court.
The experience continued with an exciting trip to Barclays Center, where students attended a New York Liberty game. Seeing professional athletes in action reinforced the program’s focus on confidence, leadership, and empowerment—especially for young women.
This unique combination of literacy, numeracy, and experiential learning highlights our commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities that extend beyond the classroom and inspire future success.
The Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD) recently celebrated its annual Family Reading Day, a vibrant community event dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of literacy. Held in partnership with the Newburgh Free Library, the event serves as a cornerstone of the district’s "Goldback Standard" of excellence.
the Newburgh Free Library was transformed into a hub of imagination and discovery for the annual NECSD Family Reading Day. On a rainy Saturday, the building was filled with the sounds of storytelling, laughter, and the turning of pages as families from across the district gathered to celebrate the power of books.
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