Category: High School News
LHS photographers set record in number of Scholastic Art awards
Liberty photography students won a record breaking 37 Keys and 28 Honorable mentions in this year’s Mid Hudson Regional Scholastic competition.
Allison Vasko led Liberty with seven Gold and five Silver Keys and four Honorable Mentions.
“To me, photography is more than just a camera. It’s about capturing moments that last a lifetime. Turning fleeting experiences into sentimental memories is what I love most,” Allison said. “Being recognized for my photos feels like an important milestone in my photography journey, and I’m excited to see where it leads next.”
The Mid Hudson Regional division reaches far into Poughkeepsie and parts of Westchester as well as Sullivan and Ulster counties.
Works that earn Gold Keys are in the top 5% of works judged. Silver Keys are in the top 10%. Honorable Mentions are in the top 11% or 12%. Gold key winners will be adjudicated again for possible participation in the national competition.
Other Liberty students earning honors:
- Sebastian Yupanqui with two Gold and five Silver Keys and three Honorable Mentions
- Lucio Ponce Vazquez with one Gold and four Silver Keys and three Honorable Mentions
- Carlos Cruz Garzon with one Gold and two Silver Keys and one Honorable Mention
- Misael Juarez Perez with one Gold and one Silver Key and four Honorable Mentions
- Kourtney Perry with one Gold and one Silver Key.
- Cassandra Porter with one Gold Key.
- Giuliana Wagner with three Silver Keys and two Honorable Mentions
- Emma Stonick with one Silver Key and five Honorable Mentions
- Evelyn Molina Ax with one Silver Key and two Honorable Mentions
- Kelsey Hopkins with three Honorable Mentions
- Valeria Cruz with one Honorable Mention
The ceremony for the Key winners, open to all, will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at SUNY New Paltz followed by the opening of the show with refreshments. The exhibit will be open through early March in the Fine Arts Building Rotunda. The snow date will be Feb. 7.
Many of the students earning Scholastic Honors also have work featured in “It’s Time …,” a photography show at the Liberty Library that runs through March.
Liberty’s annual Jazz Festival to be Feb. 7
The Liberty Central School District Music Department will host the 28th Annual Liberty Jazz Festival on Saturday, Feb. 7, in the Liberty Middle School gymnasium.
The festival will feature high school and middle school jazz ensembles from the Liberty, Monticello, Tri-Valley, Rockland and Eldred school districts. The students will work with a renowned jazz artist during the day and all of the groups will collaborate for a concert at 7 p.m.
This year’s clinician is Michael Berkowitz. Mr. Berkowitz brings his professional experience, personal charisma and “witty banter” to concert stages in what reviewers call “a model of high quality conducting technique.”
Composer-conductor Johnny Green called Michael Berkowitz a “Drummer Conductor Extraordinaire.” Berkowitz has led numerous orchestras, including the Boston Pops, London Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Pittsburgh Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and the National Symphony, and has conducted for Marvin Hamlisch, Roberta Flack, Maureen McGovern, Michael Feinstein and Sarah Brightman. He is also featured on recordings with Steve Lawrence, Placido Domingo, Linda Eder and countless original cast albums, movies, jingles, and television performances. As a drummer, he has performed for Henry Mancini, Liza Minnelli, Michael Crawford, Billy Joel, Sting, Elton John and Bette Midler.
Berkowitz began performing as a drummer at the age of 11 in his hometown of Indianapolis. After studying music at Indiana University, he began touring with Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and Henry Mancini, the latter persuading him to move to Los Angeles, where he became one of the city’s busiest studio musicians, working with stars such as Gloria Estefan, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr, Helen Reddy, Seals and Crofts, and The Association.
Berkowitz has performed on many television programs including The Academy Awards, The Tonight Show, The Tony Awards, The Today Show, A Capitol Fourth, Great Performances, Live From Lincoln Center and Concerts at the White House.
“We are thrilled to have him work with our students,” said Liberty Central School District Director of Music Mr. Eric Aweh, who organized the festival.
The clinic will take place from 3-5:30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the Liberty Middle School Gymnasium. The snow date will be Sunday, Feb. 8.
Admission for the event is $5. For a family of five or more the maximum price will be $25. Tickets will be on sale in the gymnasium lobby.
For more information, contact Mr. Aweh at 845-292-5400, ext. 5116, or eaweh@libertyk12.org.
VIDEO: Programs helping Liberty improve
Since Liberty Central School District’s five-year strategic plan was introduced 3½ years ago, the district has instituted or refined several programs with a goal of meeting its mission to empower each student to contribute and thrive in a diverse community by pursuing their potential. Progress has been made. Liberty students’ reading scores are improving, thanks in part to the alignment of its reading curriculum through the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Into Reading and Into Literature programs. The support for all students is growing with the refinement of the district’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. Students are showing personal growth and honing their leadership skills through Leading in Me and the related Lighthouse Teams across the district. The emphasis on hands-on learning in STEM (science, technology engineering and math) is preparing Liberty students for future careers. Watch this video to see how these programs are impacting the Liberty Redhawk family.
District offers update on emergency closure days
As of Tuesday, Jan. 27, Liberty Central School District has used five of its eight emergency closure days allotted for the school year.
If the district uses all of its emergency days, the district will transition to remote learning if weather or other situations require the buildings to be closed.
The district will communicate its intention to use remote learning days, if the potential situation arises. The Liberty Central School District remote learning plan is available on the district’s website.
Questions may be emailed to questions@libertyk12.org.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2026
Our athletics schedule is quite busy this week, with alpine skiing, basketball, indoor track and field and wrestling scheduled.
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, Jan. 26
All events canceled
Tuesday, Jan. 27
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at C. J. Hooker Middle School in Goshen
4:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Liberty High School
5 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Rockland Central School District at Liberty High School.
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Rockland Central School District at Liberty High School
Wednesday, Jan. 28
3:15 p.m.: Boys Varsity Indoor Track and Field Exhibition vs. Multiple Schools at SUNY Sullivan.
4 p.m.: Boys Modified Basketball vs. Tri-Valley at Liberty Middle School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Rondout Valley Central at Liberty High School
5:30 p.m.: Girls Modified Basketball vs. Tri-Valley at Liberty Middle School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Rondout Valley Central at Liberty High School
Thursday, Jan. 29
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Basketball vs. Rockland Central School District at Liberty Middle School
4:45 p.m.: Boys and Girls Alpine Skiing: Slalom vs Multiple Schools at Holiday Mountain in Monticello.
5 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
5 p.m.: Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Highland at Highland High School
5:30 p.m.: Boys Modified Basketball vs. Rockland Central School District at Liberty Middle School
6 p.m.: Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Highland High School
6:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
Friday, Jan. 30
5 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Indoor Track & Field Sectionals vs. Multiple School at West Point – United States Military Academy
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Liberty High School.
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31-Feb. 1
No events scheduled.
Library to host show of LHS photographers’ works
The photography of Liberty High School students will be featured at “It’s Time…” at the Liberty Public Library.
The show will open Wednesday, Jan. 28, with a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. and an artists’ talk at 5 p.m.
The LHS photography students will share their collected adventures through their lenses during the show and the artists’ talk..
Students participating in the show and the talk are:
- Carlos Garzon Cruz, Photo 2 AP/SUNY Sullivan
- Misael Juarez Perez, Photo 2 AP/SUNY Sullivan, Individual Arts Assessment Pathway Certification candidate
- Allison Vasko, Photo 2 AP/SUNY Sullivan
- Lucio Ponce Vazquez, Photo 2, National Art Honor Society
- Guiliana Wanger, Photo 2 AP/SUNY Sullivan, National Art Honor Society, Individual Arts Assessment Pathway Certification Candidate
- Sebastian Yupanqui, Photo 2 AP/SUNY Sullivan, National Art Honor Society treasurer, Individual Arts Assessment Pathway Certification Candidate
Each student will talk about their work as well as one photo from a Photo 1 student. Photo 1 students in the show are Amy Szuba, Kelsey Hopkins, Shirley Cando, Emma Stonick, Kortney Perry, NAHS Secretary Cassandra Porter, Valeria Cruz, Evelin Molina Ax and Janelis Flores.
Light refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Library during the reception. The show will remain on display at the Liberty Public Library, at 189 N. Main St. in Liberty, through March.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Jan. 19-25, 2026
Our athletics schedule is a bit lighter this week, with basketball, indoor track and field and wrestling scheduled.
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, Jan. 19
No events scheduled.
Tuesday, Jan. 20
4:30 p.m.: Boys Modified Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Washingtonville High School.
Wednesday, Jan. 21
3:15 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Indoor Track and Field Exhibition vs. Multiple Schools at SUNY Sullivan.
Thursday, Jan. 22
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Wrestling vs. Monticello at Liberty Middle School
Friday, Jan. 23
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Monticello at Liberty High School
5 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. Eldred at Eldred High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Monticello at Liberty High School
6 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Indoor Track & Field vs. Multiple Schools at West Point – United States Military Academy
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Liberty Middle School
6:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Eldred at Eldred High School.
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 24-25
No events scheduled.
LCSD seeks nominations for Wall of Fame
The Liberty Central School District Wall of Fame provides an opportunity to honor and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of those who have walked the halls of Liberty’s schools.
Alumni of Liberty who have made a lasting and outstanding contribution in their lives and career to society upon graduating or leaving the Liberty Central School District are eligible for nomination to the Wall of Fame.
Nominations are reviewed by the Wall of Fame Committee, which is made up of volunteers representing the school district, the local community, and the Board of Education.
To nominate an individual, please complete and submit the Liberty CSD Wall of Fame Application, and email it to WallOfFame@libertyk12.org or mail the application to Liberty Central School District Wall of Fame, LCSD District Office, 115 Buckley St., Liberty, NY 12754. Nominations must be received by Friday, Feb. 27.
For more information, reach out to Assistant Superintendent Dr. Derek Adams at dadams@libertyk12.org or call 845-292-5400, ext. 2052.
Bus slides off roadway; no injuries reported
During the morning route today, Jan. 15, a bus carrying Liberty Central School District students slid off the roadway. Emergency services were immediately alerted and arrived on the scene. Twelve students, a bus monitor, and the driver were on the bus at the time. All were evaluated at the elementary school and there were no injuries. Students were then transported safely to their schools.
Liberty works closely with our transportation partner Rolling V to ensure the safety of our students.
“We appreciate their work, as well as the efforts of the first responders who helped our students and others on the scene,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said.
All Things Liberty to be featured at Winterfest on Jan. 24
The All Things Liberty Winterfest is approaching quickly.
The annual Liberty Central School District event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in Liberty Middle School and High School gymnasiums. The snow date is Saturday, Jan. 31.
All are welcome for games, crafts, prizes, hot cocoa, music and a variety of community vendors. It is free to enter and play games. There will be some local vendors selling items. The public is invited.
For more information, contact Community Schools Coordinator Katlyn Rusin at krusin@libertyk12.org.