THE NYACK BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026 AT 10:00 AM
LOCATION: 13A DICKINSON AVE. NYACK, NY 10960
UPK for the 2026–2027 school year at Valley Cottage Elementary School (VCE) is an option again for parents in the 2026-27 school year.
District parents of eligible pre-schoolers who are interested in sending their child to the VCE location should complete the UPK application (posted on the Registration page) and specify Valley Cottage Elementary School as their 1st Choice .
Please note that there is a limited number of available seats for the VCE UPK location, and placement is determined by a lottery.
If the UPK VCE location is a first-choice site, we strongly encourage parents to select additional sites as the 2nd Choice and 3rd Choice on the UPK application.
UPK APPLICATIONS:
Universal Pre-K Application 2026-2027
Aplicacion de Pre-Kinder 2026-2027
Enskripsyon Pre-K Matenel 2026-2027
Click here for a listing of UPK Locations: UPK Program List 2026-2027
FOOD INSECURITY IS A CRISIS. In response to SNAP disruption, we have started and will continue collecting items to support families in our community.
WHAT TO DONATE:
- PASTA & GRAINS: Oats, oatmeal, rice, rice flour, quinoa, masa, macaroni & cheese
- MILK: Shelf-stable Milk, canned, condensed
- OLIVE/CANNOA OIL & SPICES: Adobo, cumin, curry, garlic, bouillon cubes, salt/pepper
- CANNED tuna and chicken, beans (or bags)
- CONDIMENTS: peanut butter, ketchup, mayo, mustard, tomato and guava paste, hot sauce
- TOILETRIES: deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene
- BABY PRODUCTS: diapers/wipes, formula, food
- HOUSEHOLD: cleaners, aluminum foil, paper towels. napkins, garbage bags
- REUSABLE GROCERY BAGS
WHERE TO DROP OFF DONATATIONS: In each of your school buildings main lobby
Please note the following dates that have been added to the District Calendar - eVersion/pdf:
New York State will implement Governor Hochul’s bell-to-bell ban on cell phones and personal internet-enabled devices in all public schools for all K-12 students during the school day. Our Board of Education and administration are following the mandated timeframe for implementation regarding how this policy will look in Nyack Public Schools. It’s important that you understand basic protocols and responsibilities. Here are some key points to know:
• On July 1, our BOE adopted Policy 5695: Students and Electronic Devices in accordance with Education Law §2803(1). Beginning September 1, 2025, students shall not use a personal internet-enabled device while on school grounds during the school day, except as expressly provided in Section V of this policy. Please read the policy for details.
• This means all devices - including but not limited to smartphones, iPads, AirPods, Apple Watches - will be turned off and stored away all day, even during lunch and recess. On-site storage facilities will be provided in each building for students who bring them to school.
• Principals will be sending a letter to families outlining how this policy will be implemented in each building to clarify procedures for storing and retrieving devices. Please note that this will look differently in the elementary schools than in the middle and high school.
• In the high school, students will place their turned-off devices in designated areas within each classroom and will be asked to store them in their backpacks during non-instructional time. In middle school, students will keep their devices turned off in their backpacks throughout the day. In the elementary schools, devices will remain in students’ backpacks, turned off, and stored in their cubbies. Principals will share additional details and strategies for supporting students in meeting these expectations to help ensure that students and families are on the same page.
• We will be releasing a short public service announcement (PSA) video before school starts to help everyone understand what this policy will look like in Nyack Public Schools.
• My leadership team will be collecting data on the effectiveness and challenges of this new policy for reevaluation in January 2026, as stated in the policy.
What can parents do? Encourage your elementary child(ren) to keep devices (including smartwatches) at home and reiterate with all students that they must adhere to this new policy. Help your child(ren) understand that limiting distractions caused by personal devices during the school day is important. Everyone should know that for urgent communications or emergency situations, our main offices and guidance department staff are alert and ready to respond to individual students and schoolwide needs. While we all adjust to this new policy, let’s help each other focus on the benefit of building a learning environment for students, free from personal electronic devices in our schools.
I can’t wait to see everyone back in school on Tuesday, September 2. Until then, take care and be sure to mark your calendars for our First Annual RedHawk ReadyFest on Sunday, August 24!
Yours in Education,
Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi
Superintendent of Schools
Visit our REGISTRATION page for more information and necessary papers for school registration.
Call our District Registrar at 845-353-7038 during our summer hours, Monday - Thursday, 8:00am-4:00pm
Be Real. Be Bold. Be NPS . That's our theme for the 2025-2026 school year and here’s what that will look like in our schools:
To“Be Real”, we must lead with vision and heart. This means keeping in-check with ourselves each day, aligning our gut and mindset as we build trust and relationships with one another and with authenticity. We will use compassion, courage and curiosity. Our students deserve nothing less.
To “Be Bold”, we will use our voice and ideas with the beautiful diversity of thought that encourages critical thinking skills, creates a colorful canvas, and tells the story of who we are in this beloved school community. Our differences make all the difference. This is what sets us apart and brings us together.
Here in Nyack Public Schools, we are clear: We believe that real excellence only happens when students are seen, heard, and valued for who they truly are. We are RedHawk proud and we believe our identity is something to beam about. THAT is what it means to “BE NPS.”
Always remember, RedHawks Rise Together!
Watch this video: What does it mean to "Be Real, Be Bold" in NPS ?
Educating the Exceptional Child Every Day: An Update on Special Ed
#RedHawkReady 2024-25: Remember, Refresh, Reunify
Being Strategic for All Students' Success
THE NYACK BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026 AT 10:00 AM
LOCATION: 13A DICKINSON AVE. NYACK, NY 10960.
