Year: 2025
A message from the superintendent regarding potential hardships facing our families
Dear Liberty families,
We know our students are at their best when they feel secure at home. We also know many of our families are suffering hardships from the government shutdown. And with the pending cut to SNAP benefits, the impact will be felt even more.
We do our best to work as partners with our families to ensure that our students can perform their best inside and outside the classroom.
To help ensure our students have enough to eat, we offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. We also operate our Snack Pack program, which provides healthy meals over breaks and weekends to students who face food insecurity. For more information on the program, or to donate, contact Community Schools Coordinator Katlyn Rusin.
Our families can also reach out to our Student Services and or their school’s counseling department for more information about what services may be available.
There are also several organizations in the community that can assist families in need.
Sullivan County Department of Health and Family services offers a list of local food pantries. Scroll down the page to find English and Spanish versions of their brochure.
The regional food bank is also offering a free Thanksgiving food distribution. Locally the distribution will be at 10 a.m. Nov. 22 on a first-come first-served basis at the Government Center in Monticello. Learn more at the regional food bank’s Thanksgiving food distribution page.
New York State has also created a list of resources available to families:
- FAQs regarding SNAP benefit cut
- Find Your Local Food Bank
- The Food Pantries Food Connect Map
- Resources for Working Families
- Find Services that Can Help
- Stay Connected With NY State of Health
- Social Services by County
I also encourage those who can to volunteer at or donate to our community organizations that are working to help our families in need.
We are proud of our Redhawk family and know that working together we can get through this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Superintendent
LHS National Art Honor Society to have photo shoot fundraiser
The Liberty High School National Art Honor Society will offer holiday family photo sessions from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14.
For $20, families will get three edited image files in time for holiday greetings sent to their emails. . There will be a choice of black, white or a holiday background shot at the LHS studio.
The fee includes two different settings, so families can choose to use both for the full family or perhaps use one just for the kids. The three images can be mixed and matched from the two settings.
For an additional $5, families can also receive an 8″-by-10″ print of one file, or more of the files edited.
The event is a fundraiser for the group to purchase art kits for Liberty’s Children’s Home.
Sign up can be done on the Holiday Photo Shoot Appointment Page. Click on “Next available booking date” choose a time and date, and input your name, email address and choice of background.
Payments can be made with cash, check or use pay by credit card via the NAHS fundraising donations portal
For more information, contact adviser Kath Johansen at kjohansen@libertyk12.org
Library to host showing of ‘Karate Kid Legends’
Liberty Public Library will host a Teen Movie Afternoon featuring “Karate Kid Legends” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.
Liberty Middle and High School students are invited to attend. Free popcorn will be provided.
The movie is rated PG-13, and those 12 and younger who wish to attend must be accompanied by an adult 21 or younger.
Liberty Public Library is at 189 N. Main St. in Liberty.
For more information, call 845-292-6070 or visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org.
Scholastic Book Fair coming to LES
Liberty Elementary School will host a Scholastic Book Fair the week of Nov. 3-7.
Parents and guardians have the opportunity to set up an eWallet for their children to shop independently for books they want to read. Others may also contribute funds.
Scholastic is also offering families a chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World and a collection of Disney books through the Scholastic “Stories Are Magic” Sweepstakes.
For more information on eWallet, the sweepstakes or the book fair, visit the LES Book Fair home page.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, 2025
Our student-athletes will be in action this week with football, soccer and volleyball.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Section IX website for the latest.
Monday, Oct. 27
2 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. New Paltz, Section IX semifinals at New Paltz
Result: New Paltz 1, Liberty 0. The Redhawks’ best opportunity came shortly after New Paltz went up one goal but unfortunately the ball hit the post and bounced out. The rest of the game was back and forth but Liberty couldn’t break through. The boys played their hearts out and fought until the final whistle.
4 p.m.: Boys Modified Soccer vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Elementary Field
Tuesday, Oct. 28
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Volleyball vs Rockland at Rockland MS/HS New Gym.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
4 p.m.: Boys Modified Soccer vs. Sullivan West at Sullivan West Lake Huntington Campus Main Field
4:30 p.m.: Girls Modified Soccer vs. Beacon City at Rombout Middle School
4:30 p.m.: Modified Football vs. Valley Central at Valley Central High School Field
Thursday, Oct. 30
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Soccer vs. Sullivan West at Sullivan West Lake Huntington Campus.
Friday, Oct. 31
6 p.m.: Varsity Football vs. Spackenkill High School at Spackenkill High School Field.
Saturday, Nov. 1
No events scheduled
Sunday, Nov. 2
No events scheduled
Anti-vaping program to be offered Nov. 5
The Coalition for a Vape-Free Sullivan, a collective of community organizations committed to ending the youth vaping epidemic locally, will welcome a national organization PAVe (Parents Against Vaping e-Cigarettes), to at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at the CVI Building in Liberty.
Parents Against Vaping is a grassroots community of passionate parents and individuals committed to protecting children from the dangers of vaping and other flavored tobacco use.
The program will:
- give an overview of the scope of the youth vaping epidemic, supported by national and state-specific data
- showcase research-based alternatives to exclusionary practices,
- talk about the root causes, impacts and scope of student vaping; and
- offer a restorative, student-centered framework for addressing vaping.
This presentation is appropriate for anyone looking to learn more about the issue and the solutions, but will be particularly impactful for parents, teachers, principals, school administrators, school resource officers, school nurses, as well as public health and youth development professionals. PAVe leaders will present “Reducing Youth Vaping: School Strategies and the Power of Restorative Practices and Policies.” Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) credits for this presentation will be available thanks to Sullivan BOCES.
The program is made possible with opioid settlement funding administered through Sullivan County.
Those who wish to attend may register via a short Google form, by visiting Sullivan180.org or emailing trainings@sullivan180.org.
Book Fair to be open Oct. 29-31 at LMS
The Liberty Middle School will host the Scholastic Book Fair between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Oct. 29-31 in the Middle School gym.
All students will attend with their PE class on Oct. 29 and 30. All LCSD families may also purchase from the fair during the annual Haunted House from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
Families can shop online and set up an eWallet for any middle school student at https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/libertymiddleschool25.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Oct. 20-26, 2025
Our student-athletes will be in action this week with cross country, football, soccer and volleyball.
Here are the schedule and results, if available. Livestream links are included where available.
The schedule is subject to change. Check the Liberty schedule on the Arbiter website for the latest.
Monday, Oct. 20
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Soccer vs. Tri-Valley Secondary School at the Iatauro Sporks Complex, Main Field, Grahamsville
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Sullivan West High School at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Sullivan West High School at Liberty High School
Tuesday, Oct. 21
4 p.m.: Boys Modified Soccer vs. Tri-Valley Secondary School at the Iatauro Sporks Complex, Main Field, Grahamsville
4:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Modified Cross Country vs. Multiple Schools at Thomas Bull Memorial Park, 211 State Highway 416, Montgomery
4:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls Modified Volleyball vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Middle School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Soccer vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School Turf Field.
5 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Sullivan West High School at Liberty High School
Result: Liberty 4, Sullivan West 0. Congratulations to the boys varsity soccer team for their 4-0 win on its pink out/senior night against Sullivan West. Goals were scored by Jose, Columbia, Ryan and Raul, with assists by Dylan and Michael Reyes. Great team effort all around as they did not allow a shot on goal either.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Soccer vs. Eldred at Liberty Elementary School
4:15 p.m.: Modified Football vs. Ellenville Central at Ellenville High School Field
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Volleyball vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg High School gym
4:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Monticello at Somerville Filed in Monticello
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg High School gym
Thursday, Oct. 23
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Volleyball vs. Fallsburg at Fallsburg High School gym.
4:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Sullivan West and Fallsburg at Sullivan West High School Lake Huntington Campus XC Track.
4:30 p.m.: Boys and Girls Modified Cross Country vs. Sullivan West at Sullivan West High School Lake Huntington Campus XC Track.
Friday, Oct. 24
No events scheduled.
Saturday, Oct. 25
10 a.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country vs. Multiple Schools at Sanfordville Elementary School XC Cross in Warwick
1 p.m.: Varsity Football vs. Marlboro at Marlboro Central High School Field.
2 p.m.: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Saugerties opening round of Section IX Class A sectional playoffs, 2 p.m., Liberty High School.
Results: Liberty 2, Saugerties, 1. The Redhawks their unbeaten streak to nine games now. Man of the match was Brayan Hernandez Ballen who scored both goals.
Sunday, Oct. 26
No events scheduled
Alum shares information on Science Research Program coming to LCSD
Liberty alumnus Michael Blueglass returned to his alma mater Thursday, Oct. 16, to share more information about the Science Research Program, which will be introduced to the district next school year.
The three-year program provides high school students the chance to conduct STEM research at a college or graduate level.
The course goes beyond core STEM classes, with significant work also conducted during the summer. Successful completion could earn students up to 12 college credits through SUNY Albany.
Mr. Blueglass, who is the founder of the Advancing STEM Research Teaching group, highlighted many benefits of the program, including improving academic and technical skills, growth in professional and personal skills as well as being a major advantage in college admissions.
The program will begin during a student’s sophomore year, but interested ninth-graders must complete a series of prerequisite steps to be accepted. Students are paired with mentors in the field in their area of research to give them direct field work and research opportunities Some students may also work as partners or in groups, as some fields such as environmental, engineering, and behavioral projects are often better suited for teams. However, many lab-based mentors in biological or medical fields are not willing to take on a team of students.
Students who participate don’t necessarily need to be planning to pursue a STEM-based career. “What matters is being 100% dedicated to the project,” Mr. Blueglass said.
First year
During the first year, sophomores will narrow down the focus of their project, with help from the teacher, often choosing a topic based on their interests, knowledge and opportunities.
Research areas include animal science, astronomy, behavioral and social sciences, biochemistry and cellular biology, chemistry, computer science and systems software, engineering, environmental science, mathematics, medicine and health, neuroscience and robotics and intelligent machines.
The initial year will focus on gaining knowledge, including how to use professional scientific databases and research tools, studying on their desired topic and presenting information to the class. Once students gain enough knowledge on their chosen topic, they will find a mentor in their field.
Second and third years
The second and third years of the program is when the work will kick into high gear, with most of the hands-on research taking place during the summers before the junior and senior years, in the mentor’s lab or at home or school with the mentor’s help. During the school year, the teacher will meet with the class daily and with each student to check progress and set goals.
Each student will present their work by creating a poster and slide presentation as well as writing a formal research paper.
That work will prepare the students to enter prestigious science competitions as a requirement of the program, such as the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium, and the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. Some major senior-level competitions, like the Regeneron STS, do not allow team projects.
Time and travel
The program requires a significant commitment of time and work ethic, especially during the summer when most of the research is conducted. Depending on the project, it may also require extensive travel.
Medical or lab-based projects often require a five-day-a-week commitment for seven or eight weeks at locations throughout the region.
Environmental projects will typically require a five-day-a-week commitment for four or five weeks, followed by several more weeks of half-days, often at locations throughout the region.
Engineering, physics or psychology projects may offer more flexibility, allowing students to work from home and meet with a mentor one or two days per week.
Students who cannot travel can consider home-based projects (e.g., math, computer science or survey-based psychology), but these still require the same overall time investment.
For more information about the project, see Mr. Blueglass’ presentation, or call the high school office at 845-292-5400, ext. 2000.
Elks Lodge to be trick-or-treating stop
The Liberty Elks Lodge 1545 will be open for trick or treating starting at 5 p.m. Oct. 31.
Children are welcome to the club for fun and treats at 21 John St. in Liberty until candy is gone.