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Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Join us in making a difference and spring into action by participating in the upcoming blood drive, hosted in collaboration with the American Red Cross!

This event will take place on Thursday, March 27th, at the Hermon DeKalb School Gym, located at 709 E De Kalb Rd, De Kalb Junction, NY. Appointments are available between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and you can sign up here or call Sarah Platt NHS Advisor (315)347-3442 during school hours.

By donating, you’re not only helping save lives but also supporting the well-being of our community. Appointments are encouraged and appreciated. Walk-ins welcome! Please share this link with your friends and family and encourage them to participate in this important cause. Together, we can make a positive impact and contribute to the health and wellness of those in need.

 

The Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Museum, and National Mall… oh my! Starting last school year, our district partnered with the Close Up Foundation to bring course material to life for seniors enrolled in the Government “Close Up” course during an unforgettable trip to the nation’s capital.

Students enrolled in the “Close Up” class to fulfill their “Participation in Government” credit requirement for graduation, learn about the functions of our state and federal government, debate current topics, and study the history of some of the world’s most famous monuments, culminating in the chance to see their classroom lessons come to life during the field trip to Washington, D.C. For many students, this trip is their first time leaving the state and flying on an airplane.

“The class spends all school year teaching students about the history of our country, government institutions, current issues, and the role of citizens in a democratic society. When we go to D.C., students get to see it all come to life,” said Hermon-DeKalb Central School Pre-K-12 Principal Rebecca Hocking. “The program also arranges time for our students to meet with their federal representatives and ask them questions about policy.”

In class, students are expected to verbally participate each day. By incorporating debate, a mock Congress exercise that places students in the roles of elected officials, and current events recaps, it is hard to not speak up! Students must fully examine their positions and find a way to communicate those ideas with the goal of reaching the best solution through collaboration.

“Not only do HDCSD students get an insider’s look at how our government operates, they are also introduced to the other students from across the country who are taking the same course. Everyone that attends the trip brings a unique perspective and is eager to share. Our students get a chance to share their positions and open their eyes to new ones, and remain calm and open-minded throughout. By the end of the trip, they’ve made new friends,” added HDCSD social studies teacher Garret Glasgow.

The Close Up Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, civic education organization that believes a strong democracy requires active, informed participation by all citizens. The foundation is funded through grants, which are used to bring students to Washington, D.C.

 

At the Hermon-DeKalb CSD Board of Education meeting on Monday, Dec. 2, Board Member Mr. Jordan Deleel submitted his letter of resignation. As a result, the district collected letters of interest from members of the community to find a candidate to fill this position until the school budget and board of education election can be held in May.

We are proud to introduce Christopher Stransky, who will be filling the seat. Christopher Stransky works as the Water and Sewer Superintendent for the Town of Hermon and the Head of Maintenance at the Losurdo Foods in Heuvelton. He is a long-time member of the Hermon Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue squad, the head of the Hermon-DeKalb Pee Wee association, and has two children in the district.

"Christopher Stransky is an active member of the community. We are happy that he has chosen to lend his talents to our district, and we look forward to his ideas as a board member,” said Hermon-DeKalb Board of Education President Ronald Smith.

We are pleased to share that we have a few new team members to welcome to the HDCS family! 

Join us in welcoming Science Teacher, Brad Johnson to HDCS. Mr. Johnson joins our middle and high school science department. He is from Oregon and has spent the last nine years teaching science in Alaska. Mr. Johnson, his wife, and two sons moved back to the North Country this summer to be closer to their family in Heuvelton.

Meet our newest bus driver, Ryan Oliver! Mr. Oliver is from Cato, NY, and has lived in Hermon for over a year now. He has been driving commercial vehicles for 8 years. He is married to our new bus monitor, Christina Oliver, and they have a purebred boxer named Stella. He currently serves the Hermon Fire Department and previously served the Cato Fire Department and Cato Ambulance Company. He has started a DJ company as a hobby and loves spending time camping

Julie Slane, Kristine Carr, and Christina Oliver have joined Hermon-DeKalb Central School as bus monitors. They will play an essential role in ensuring that our students travel to and from school safely while enforcing the rules that allow the bus drivers to focus on their jobs. 

Save the date! The Sweetheart Dance is happening on Saturday, February 8th! Students in grades Pre-K through 4 are invited to join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in their best attire. Students must be accompanied by an adult. The cost of entry is $5 per person, with all proceeds going to the HDTA CARES Foundation. We are looking forward to a night filled with music, dancing, and fundraising!

The HDTA CARES committee is a group of teachers that works toward meeting the needs of the Hermon-DeKalb community. Historically, the HDTA Cares committee has donated gifts to Hermon-DeKalb seniors at graduation, provided scholarships, helped pay for distance learning classes and AP exams and helped alleviate expenses for families undergoing medical treatment. It is the committee's goal to help the families in the Hermon-DeKalb community in any way possible.