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.
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.
All Things Liberty Winterfest brings community together
The annual All Things Liberty Winterfest drew about 250 people to the Liberty Middle and High School gymnasiums on Jan. 24. While there, they played games and visited booths staffed by 85 student volunteers and more than two dozen LCSD faculty and staff members, as well were able to see what 25 outside vendors had to offer.
Although the extreme cold caused the outside activities to be canceled, the middle and high school gyms were bursting with activity for the annual event.
See more photos on our Facebook page.
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.
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.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Jan. 12-18, 2026
Our scholar athletes will be 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. 12
3:15 p.m.: Boys and Girls Indoor Track and Field Exhibition vs. Multiple School at SUNY Sullivan
5 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School
Tuesday, Jan. 13
4:30 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. Rondout Valley Central at Rondout Valley Central School.
4:45 p.m.: Girls and Boys Varsity Alpine Skiing: Giant Slalom vs. Multiple Schools at Holiday Mountain.
6:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Rondout Valley Central at Rondout Valley Central School
Wednesday, Jan. 14
3:15 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Indoor Track and Field Invitational vs. Multiple Schools at SUNY Sullivan.
Thursday, Jan. 15
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Sullivan West — Lake Huntington.
4:45 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Alpine Skiing: Slalom vs. Multiple Schools at Holiday Mountain.
5 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School
5 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. S..S. Seward Institute at S.S. Seward Institute
6 p.m.: Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Chester Academy/Tuxedo at Liberty High School
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Beacon City at Beacon High School
6:30 p.m.: Boy Varsity Basketball vs. S.S. Seward Institute at S.S. Seward Institute
Friday, Jan. 16
4 p.m.: Girls Modified Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West — Jeffersonville
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School
5:30 p.m.: Boys Modified Basketball vs. Sullivan West Central at Sullivan West — Jeffersonville
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Port Jervis at Port Jervis High School
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Wrestling Multi-Matches vs. Multiple Schools at Middletown High School
11 a.m.: Girls Indoor Track and Field, Steve Borbet Invitational, Armory in Nwe York City.
Result: Brooke Bull took first place in pole vault. Her 12’0 clear was a new personal best, school record and enough to put her as No. 1 in New York state.
Saturday, Jan. 17
Noon: Boys JV Basketball vs. Beacon City at Liberty High School
2 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball vs Beacon City at Liberty High School
Sunday, Jan. 18
No events scheduled.
LHS Art Honor Society Students share love of art, art kits with community
Students in Liberty High School’s National Art Honor Society held a Family Holiday Photo Shoot for two days in November to raise funds for Art Kits for children at the Liberty House Children’s Home.
The students used their advanced photography skills to pose and light the families in one of two settings with props, holiday backgrounds and a whole lot of spirit.
The students took the funds raised from the 20 families who participated and designed art kits, including bags, sketchbooks, journals and supplies, and assembled them with the hopes that other children would have a way to express themselves.
The Holiday Photo shoot was just one of the ways students raised money to complete this project. They designed bookmarks from their original artworks, laminated, decorated and sold them as well.
In December, the NAHS was able to hand over 30 completed kits to Anissa Avery, a representative of the home just in time for the holidays.
The members of the NAHS are President Jhosmery Jadan Pangolo, Vice President Savannah Pagan, Treasurer Sebastian Yupanqui, Secretary Cassandra Porter and members Giuliana Wagner and Lucio Ponce Vasquez.
In the past year, these students have volunteered for the Liberty Elk’s Holiday Photo shoots, worked to create a foods mural at the Liberty Elementary School as part of the Liberty Wellness Committee Grant projects, painted birdhouses as part of the Sullivan 180 White Sulphur Springs Beautification grant, painted the White Sulphur Springs Lending Library and made Valentine’s for the Sunset Care Center.
“They are truly sharing their passion for the arts with those around them,” club adviser Kath Johansen said.
A post-winter break message from the superintendent
Dear Liberty,
I want to welcome you back from what I hope was a restful and relaxing winter break. As we enter 2026, I would like to reshare the district’s chain of command calling guide, along with some reminders and updates as school is back in session.
DASA and Safety
As previously mentioned, safety is always of utmost importance, and we are committed to providing a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. Please take a moment to review the district’s safety measures and visitor procedures.
I would also like to remind you about our Anonymous Alerts system, which allows students and families to report concerns regarding safety or bullying. Furthermore, we continue to utilize the Gaggle platform to monitor student internet usage and alert officials to concerning searches or messages. Ultimately, both programs support our commitment to the Dignity for All Students Act and overall safety
Looking Back and Moving Forward
As we move forward, I want to look back at the start of the school year. We have visited classrooms throughout the district and seen some amazing things. Our building administrators, teachers and staff have been working diligently to create engaging learning opportunities aligned with the district’s curriculum.
In addition, we have seen our students enhance their leadership skills by leveraging our Leader In Me program and taking part in extracurricular activities. Moreover, students have taken steps to impact the Liberty school community and beyond by working with A Single Bite and Sullivan 180, planting daffodils with our Liberty Middle School FFA, performing at our winter concerts and the Sullivan County Government Center, taking part in the LPA’s production of All Shook Up, competing in interscholastic sports, and more.
As the school year continues, we look forward to ongoing learning opportunities for our students. We continue to work towards our yearly and long-term goals, helping our students innovate and persevere for the remainder of this year and beyond.
Finally, I invite you to revisit our Strategic Plan page, which details our pillars of Coherence, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Curriculum, and Culture. We are also sharing this year’s District Comprehensive Improvement Plan outlining our goals for the 2025-2026 school year, along with the presentation from the opening day forum regarding our latest educational programs.
We sincerely appreciate your ongoing commitment to our schools and the entire Liberty Central School District community.
Dr. Patrick Sullivan
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of Jan. 5-11, 2026
With school back in session, our athletics events are back in full force with, basketball, indoor track 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. 5
5 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. John S. Burke Catholic at Burke Catholic High School.
6:30 p.m.: Boys Varsity Basketball vs. John S. Burke Catholic at Burke Catholic High School
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Events canceled or postponed because of inclement weather.
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Events canceled or postponed because of inclement weather.
Thursday, Jan. 8
4:15 p.m.: Boys Modified Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Sullivan West – Lake Huntington
4:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. John S. Burke Catholic at Liberty High School
4:30 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Tuxedo at Tuxedo High School
6 p.m.: Boys JV Basketball vs. Tuxedo at Tuxedo High School
Friday, Jan. 9
5 p.m.: Girls JV Basketball vs. Chester Academy at Chester Academy
6 p.m.: Girls Varsity Wrestling vs. Multiple Schools at Kingston High School
6:30 p.m.: Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Chester Academy at Chester Academy
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 10-11
No events scheduled.