Kent Elementary School

When Sarah LoCascio’s daughter started school four years ago, LoCascio knew they would both miss the outdoor time they spent together in the garden.  

“I’m a gardener and my daughter always worked with me in our garden,” she said. “When she started kindergarten, I thought maybe I could bring the gardening to school, then every single student could experience gardening.” 

And that is how the Kent Elementary School Garden was born. LoCascio met with administrators, set up a non-profit to raise funds for the work and recruited volunteers to help build a fence, create the raised beds and maintain the garden. In 2021, the garden was planted for the first time.  

Now, gardening is part of every Kent Elementary student’s education. Each class is invited to participate in garden programs every fall and spring. 

“In the fall, they pick vegetables, harvest, collect seeds and water the plants,” LoCascio said. “All the kids love to water.” 

In the spring, students grow seeds in classroom seed kits and later plant the seedlings in raised beds in the garden.  

The vegetables the students grow are donated to local food pantries each year, and the students take such pride in helping feed those in need, said Erica Intrieri, the garden treasurer.  

“This year we donated 60 pounds of food to Second Chance Foods, a pantry in Brewster,” Intrieri said. “We grew a lot of cabbage and cabbage is heavy.”  

On a recent day when the first frost was expected, Alexandra Stenger’s class of second graders came out to the garden, which sits in the side yard of Kent Elementary.   

“Does anyone know what a frost is?” LoCascio asked. 

“That’s when it’s lower than 32 degrees, and sometimes the plants die,” said second-grader Leanna. “But if the root is still in the ground, sometimes it grows again in the spring.” 

Even though it was the end of the season and the pumpkins had not grown as planned, the students did not mind. They got to build a scarecrow instead. 

They stuffed an old pair of jeans, green sneakers and a pink plaid shirt with plenty of crumpled newspaper.  

Then the class took a vote on naming the scarecrow. They settled on “Mrs. Sunflower.”  

“Does anybody know the purpose of a scarecrow?” LoCascio asked.  

All the hands shot up: “It’s to scare away the birds.”  

The students said they could not wait to start gardening again in the spring.  

The New York State School Boards Association named October 13-18 as School Board Recognition Week, a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards.  

Since the Carmel Board of Education did not have a meeting that week, new Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin took the opportunity to extend the district’s thanks to the Board during the Tuesday, Oct. 21 meeting. It also happened to be Mr. Plotkin’s first meeting as Superintendent of Schools.  

“We pause to honor the extraordinary dedication of the Carmel Central School District Board of Education,” Mr. Plotkin said. “Each of you give countless hours, often behind the scenes, to ensure that every decision you make supports the success, safety and well-being of our Carmel students. Your leadership guides our vision and anchors our community in shared purpose. The progress we celebrate, which includes strong schools, innovative programs and caring classrooms, stands as a direct reflection of your commitment. For all of that, we want to say ‘Thank you.’” 

The district thanked the board members with a certificate of appreciation, drawings from elementary school students, tissue paper flowers made by art students and the gift of one service from the Carmel High School auto shop, where oil changes, tire rotations and detailing are all part of the curriculum.

The Board members, President Melissa Orser, Vice President John Curzio, II, Trustee Jordi Douglas, Trustee Frank Grasso, Trustee Nicholas Magliano, Trustee Michael Torpey and Trustee James Wise, all serve as volunteers in the unpaid Board positions. 

Michael Plotkin’s first day as Carmel’s Superintendent of Schools started out with a tour of George Fischer Middle School, where he seemed to already know just about everyone.  

That’s because Mr. Plotkin has been an active parent in the Carmel Central School District for decades.   

His walk through the middle school hallways was punctuated with hugs and handshakes as he rekindled old relationships and quickly made new ones.  

Fifth grade teacher Deanna Belascio reached out in greeting. 

“I had all of his daughters,” she said. “They grew up, but I stayed the same age; I have only taught here for 26 years.”  

Further down the hallway, Assistant Principal for fifth grade Joe Keenan offered a bear hug. 

“Thanks for taking this on,” Mr. Keenan said. “This is a big job, but you’re going to do really well here.”   

Up in the sixth-grade wing, even students called out to him.  

“Do you remember me?” sixth grader Giuliana asked. “I’m Kevin’s daughter.”  

“Of course, I remember you,” the new superintendent said. “Let’s take a selfie so I can send it to your father.” 

Her father served as the D.A.R.E. officer in Mr. Plotkin’s previous district, Croton-Harmon. 

Since it was a Friday, several middle school Carmel Rams Football fans were wearing their jerseys.  

“Are you going to the game?” Mr. Plotkin asked as he slid into a booth in the school library where a group was working on an independent study project. 

“Yes, my brother is on the team,” said a boy named Henry.  

“My son, Ben, is on the team,” Mr. Plotkin said. “I’ll tell him to say hi to your brother.”  

Then it was on to the building’s lowest level, where he spoke with the cafeteria manager about the day’s lunch (Taco Pizza), stopped to talk to the kids learning coding in the technology classroom, and checked into Head Custodian Terrence McQuade’s office to see the equipment that keeps the building humming.  

Of course, he knew Mr. McQuade from back in the day. 

“I used to do the youth wrestling program here, and he was instrumental in making sure that we didn’t kill ourselves,” Mr. Plotkin joked.  

Before he headed over to Carmel High School and the district’s three elementary schools, Mr. Plotkin stopped to hear the students in Erika Wahlers’ music class practice drumming to a Halloween song.  

“That teacher was friends with my daughter when they were in school,” he said.  

With his outgoing and friendly demeanor, it seems Mr. Plotkin will soon know everyone in the Carmel Central School District. 

Shopping is a lot harder when you don’t have your parents paying the bill.  

That is what Antonietta Feliciotto’s first graders found out at the Kent Elementary School bookfair this week.  

First, the children roamed around the school gym trying to decide between the many books, posters, gadgets and pencils that filled the bookshelves and tables.  

“The Dog Man books (by Dav Pilkey) are really popular,” said Erica Intrieri, one of the Parent Teacher Organization volunteers who staffed the bookfair, which is a fundraiser for the group. “Those are for second graders and older. Books about rocks and sharks are also popular. All kids love rocks these days.” 

“I have $20,” one boy said, holding up a baggie filled with cash. 

It was a hardcover book involving monsters that cost $9.99, so yes, he could get that and something else.  

Arianna, a first grader, held up a pencil case designed as an iPhone. She pulled out a receipt that showed how much money she had in the spending account her parents set up for the occasion. “I have this much,” she said. “Can I get it?”  

The Scholastic Book Fairs, which were held in each of the three Carmel Central School District elementary schools in October, were about more than reading. They were an exercise in math and decision-making, and they gave kids a sense of independence.  

After Kent Elementary PTO President Marie Camacho explained to one young boy the cost of the books he chose and how many he could buy with the money he had, he asked a question many of us share.  

“So,” he asked. “What is tax?”  

Though his official start date is not until October 17, incoming Superintendent of Schools Michael F. Plotkin has been hard at work in the Carmel Central School District since the Board of Education appointed him on September 16. Mr. Plotkin, a longtime member of the Carmel schools community, has been meeting nights and weekends with Interim Superintendent Dr. Erin Meehan-Fairben to ensure a smooth transition.  

“I am so eager to start that I wanted to jump right in,” Mr. Plotkin said. “I’m excited to meet all the parents, staff and the students, and I look forward to being involved in the day-to-day operations of the Carmel schools.”  

A resident of Holmes whose three daughters are Carmel High School graduates, Mr. Plotkin has deep roots in the community. He particularly enjoyed the recent homecoming weekend, since his son is one of the Carmel High School Rams football players.   

“I am so honored to have the chance to serve my home district,” Mr. Plotkin said.  

After touring the schools and discussing issues with Dr. Fairben, who announced her retirement plans this past spring, Mr. Plotkin solidified his goals for his first 100 days in office. Now, when he officially starts as Superintendent, he will hit the ground running.  

“Over these past few weeks, I have gotten to know Michael, and I am confident that I am leaving the district in excellent hands,” Dr. Fairben said. “I am certain that the Carmel Central School District will thrive under his leadership.” 

Throughout the Carmel Central School District on Thursday, educators took time to reflect on the history of 9/11. 

“This morning, we observed a moment of silence during our announcements,” said Jeffrey Noto, Interim Principal of Kent Elementary School. “We also shared a short paragraph with students about the significance of September 11, 2001. Our statement recalled the heroic acts on and following September 11, 2001.  We referenced Carmel’s 6C’s: Collaboration, Communication, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Creativity and Compassion, and how these characteristics contribute to developing a greater school community.” 

At Kent Primary School, third grader Gregory said he was wearing a red, white and blue shirt to honor Patriot’s Day for the memory of 9/11.  

“Today was the day the twin towers were destroyed,” Gregory said.  

John Fratto, the principal of George Fischer Middle School, said the day not only included time to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on 9/11. 
 
“We also want to thank the first responders—firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and everyday people—who showed incredible bravery in the face of unimaginable danger. Your actions saved lives, and your courage continues to inspire,” Mr. Fratto said.  “It’s a day to reflect, to honor, and to never forget.” 

If you like something a CCSD staff member has done, tell us at compliments@carmelschools.org. Likewise, if there is an area you think needs improvement, send an email to complaints@carmelschools.org. Both email addresses will go directly to the superintendent of schools and to the president of the Board of Education. 

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As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety, communication and equity districtwide, Carmel Central School District has launched a new communication tool, Anonymous Alerts®. This tool enables students or parents to report urgent information to school officials quickly, easily and anonymously across all our school campuses. 

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