2017 - Red Hook Education Foundation

October 15, 2017December 7, 2018

The Red Hook Community Auditorium – It’s Happening!

Red Hook had been the only school district in the Hudson Valley and one of only a few in New York State without an auditorium to accommodate theatrical productions, band and chorus concerts, lectures, assemblies, graduations and community events.

Historically, cafeterias and a gymnasium with inadequate seating have been utilized as makeshift spaces for large group events. That meant that gym classes and sports teams needing to train had 20% less access to the gym than teams they compete against. Meanwhile, our band, chorus and theater groups were required to host their artistic performances in the school gymnasium or outside venues with many rehearsals taking place in corridors, classrooms and elsewhere.

But that’s about to change!

The Design

The new auditorium design is truly multi-purpose, with flexible space options to accommodate a broad base of school and community needs. The flexible configuration allows for both large-scale seated performances, small group meeting areas, as well as additional classroom and workshop spaces.

The auditorium will be connected to the front of the high school with an open flow for students during school hours that can then be closed off with a separate entrance for public events in the evening. Locating the Auditorium at the high school has many advantages – including easy access for out of town guests and adequate parking – a big cost saving for a project of this scale.

The Benefits

In addition to providing a space that matches the high caliber of local performances and activities, there are many additional benefits that the auditorium will offer the students and citizens of Red Hook. It will:

Improve educational programming (band/chorus/dance/digital media/technology offerings)
Increase access to current gymnasium for sports programs by 20%
Enhance extracurricular opportunities (science/social studies/math/debate groups)
Provide additional exhibition spaces (showcase student and community artists)
Encourage greater attendance at civic activities (political debates/citizenship classes)
Offer meeting space to community groups (volunteer organizations/job fairs)

The Cost

The district has worked hard to secure millions of dollars in NY State aid and they have kept the budget limited. The cost of the project is low:approximately $2.50 per month for the median priced home with basic STAR. The Red Hook Education Foundation has raised additional funds and worked closely with local public officials to offset costs.

September 14, 2017December 7, 2018

RHCSD Receives $3.5 Million Towards an Auditorium

Announcement Made at Red Hook Education Foundation Annual Gala

Red Hook, NY –On Friday, June 23^rd, Assemblymember Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) announced that $3.5 million dollars in state funding was made available to the Red Hook Central School District for construction of a new auditorium at the High School. Funds were secured through a 3 million dollar commitment from Speaker Carl Heastie and a $500,000 grant through Assemblyman Cahill. The grant was announced at the Red Hook Education Foundation’s annual gala at the Bard SummerScape Spiegeltent. This annual event raises money for educational opportunities in the school system and is also a champion for the development of a new auditorium.

“For far too long the community has been underserved by the lack of an auditorium to gather for performances, community meetings, as well as the need for a large student space. After speaking with leaders in the community it became apparent that this was a priority for the Town. Residents recognize the importance of this project but it is understandably difficult to place the financial burden totally on the local taxpayers. With this additional state assistance the project is now in a place where voters can be presented with a reasonable bond vote which would serve the surrounding areas for years to come. I want to thank Speaker Heastie who displayed a deep interest in the issue when first presented and without whose leadership this investment would not be possible. Further thanks go to our partners in the school system and local advocates who have shepherded the project through its planning phase and will ultimately be responsible for its development,” said Cahill.

“I get chills thinking about the thousands of students who will be positively impacted by the opportunity to perform in a real performance space and not a gymnasium. This grant, coupled with a modest bond referendum, will make it possible to immediately improve the existing programs and begin to imagine other twenty-first century programmatic possibilities. I also believe that a large assembly space of this nature can be a boost to our local economy as we think about hosting more regional events. On behalf of the current and future students of the Red Hook Central School District, I want to thank Speaker Heastie and Assemblyman Cahill for recognizing this glaring need,” said Red Hook Schools Superintendent Paul Finch.

“The board of the Red Hook Education Foundation has been advocating for an auditorium over the last few years and we are so pleased that Assemblyman Cahill understands the needs of our community. His leadership and commitment to equitable access to quality education is inspiring. Red Hook students will benefit in untold ways from having a hall for the school community,” said Eleanor Davis, Red Hook Education Foundation President.

“With such great champions in the community and the school system, I’m hopeful that that this project will soon become a reality,” concluded Cahill.

The Red Hook Education Foundation’s 7^th annual gala at the Bard SummerScape Speigeltent was attended by over 300 community members and raised over $70,000 to benefit the auditorium project. Run by a volunteer board, the Red Hook Education Foundation is a 501c3, independently operated public charity.

For more information about the auditorium click here.

May 7, 2017December 7, 2018

RAMPing Up Music in Red Hook

RHEF is pleased to partner with the Red Hook Association of Music Parents (RAMP) to provide financial support and assistance for music department events in Red Hook schools. RHEF provided seed funding in the amount of $1,450 to support the student musicians, teachers, staff, and volunteers who bring music to Red Hook. Funding provided meals for the 50 plus volunteers and staff that helped run the 2017 NYSSMA Solo Festival, held at Red Hook High School on March 28 and 29th. Funding will also provide meals for the 119 RHHS band and chorus members who rehearse for long hours at Bard’s Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts prior to their Spring Concert on May 19th, as well as providing financial support for an end of year picnic for the hard working musicians.

In addition to supporting the RHCSD music faculty, RAMP is working to engage parents in their children’s music education, and both raise the profile and increase accessibility of music education in the district and the community. RHEF is pleased to partner with RAMP and enhance Red Hook’s excellent music programs throughout the district.

March 28, 2017November 20, 2018

RHEF’s Continued Support of Red Hook’s Robotics Team

Having proven themselves in just a few short years to be worthy of the challenge, the Roboraiders competed against almost 130 teams from more than 10 countries in St. Louis from April 26-29, 2017 at the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship.

In order to make the trip, they needed to raise the money to cover the costs for the trip. And the Red Hook community stepped up to help them achieve their target of $15,000:

RHEF provided a grant of $2,800 to support the team.
The Board of Education paid for the team’s $1,000 registration fee for the Championship.
Parents, grandparents, friends, local businesses and others made contributions through the Roboraider’s gofundme page.

RHEF has supported the High School Robotics Club early in its formation:

In 2012 with funding from the Red Hook Education Foundation and other organizations, the high school Robotics Team was started and joined the FIRST Tech Challenge Hudson Valley. The team designed, built, programmed and tested several successful robots, while learning the programming language RobotC and learning basic mechanical engineering techniques for robot design and construction.
In 2013, a $1000 mini grant award given by the RHEF was used to purchase additional robotic supplies and equipment and to help fund registration fees for entering competitions.
In 2015, RHEF funded the Red Hook Robotics Team with a $1,000 grant to invest in an Android-based technology platform. The new technology provides more real world skills and experience than the current Lego-based platform.

We see the Roboraiders as an example of one of the many programs that makes Red Hook Schools outstanding. We were proud to continue as a leading supporter of the Roboraiders as they took their place at this celebration of excellence — they ranked 30th out of 64 teams from around the world in their division and won the Judges Award (Higher Priorities Award).

Join us in congratulating the Roboraiders for their success at the World Championships — and consider supporting the team with a donation to help their ongoing efforts.

January 19, 2017September 14, 2018

Life, Learning & Language Program

RHEF supported a recent grant request for $1,000 for Life, Learning & Language (LLL), an after school program at Mill Road Elementary School in coordination with Culture Connect. The program brings Bard College and High School students to the elementary school to mentor and work with children on their English language and other academic and social skills, and to help them adapt to and succeed in school. The program began in September 2016 and currently works with approximately twenty students.

January 19, 2017November 20, 2018

New Middle School Science Fair

RHEF is proud to support the new school-wide and multi-school science fair for Linden Avenue Middle School students that encourages scientific discovery and investigation. Students will experiment in an area of science and present their findings to professionals in the community. In the past, students have attended the Science Fair at Bard College the Dutchess Regional Science Fair.