Category: Middle School News
Interact Club spearheads bench-building effort
The Liberty Interact Club recently completed a community service project in partnership with community volunteers, Interact advisers, and Liberty Middle School students to construct benches for the town of Liberty. Through the efforts of 23 volunteers, six benches were successfully built during the project. Three benches will be placed along the Walnut Mountain House History Trail, while the remaining three benches will be installed throughout the community for residents and visitors to enjoy.
This project provided students with valuable hands-on experience in teamwork, woodworking, problem solving, and community service. Students had the opportunity to work alongside community members while learning practical construction skills and the importance of giving back to their community.
A special thank you goes to the Liberty High School Woodworking Class for engraving the boards used for the benches. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail added a personalized and lasting touch to the project that will be appreciated for years to come.
The Liberty Interact Club also funded the purchase of the wood and materials needed to complete the benches, demonstrating the club’s continued commitment to service and community improvement initiatives within the town of Liberty.
“This project reflects the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for youth to become involved in their community, build pride in where they live, and experience the impact of volunteerism firsthand,” adviser Alyssa Thalmann said.
The completed benches and trail improvements will officially be showcased during the Grand Opening of the Walnut Mountain House History Trail starting at 10 a.m. June 6.
LMS to host cleanup at Walnut Mountain Park
Liberty Middle School will host a park cleanup from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 31, at the Walnut Mountain Park.
Those who wish to take part are asked to register by emailing athalmann@libertyk12.org or dcummins@libertyk12.org.
Those who are taking part are asked to meet at main entrance of the park at 73 Walnut Mountain Road in Liberty. It is suggested that participants bring a water bottle, comfortable clothes, sunscreen and a hat.
Trash bags, litter pickers, rakes, shovels and gloves will be provided, as will light refreshments and snacks.
This will be done in part for preparation for the Walnut Mountain House Trail grand opening on June 6
LCSD District-wide Safety Plan available for review
The Liberty Central School District’s District-wide Safety Plan is available for review on our website and at the district office at 115 Buckley St. in Liberty. It will be available for public comment through June 26, 2026.
Comments may be submitted to questions@libertyk12.org or to the Liberty Central School Office, 115 Buckley St, Liberty, NY 12754.
Liberty helps celebrate 10 years of Creating Healthier Schools and Communities
Liberty Central School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan recently attended the Creating Healthier Schools and Community Awards & Recognition Celebration at Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan. The celebration showcased the culmination of 10 years of successful collaboration and projects that have been implemented to improve physical activity and nutrition for individuals of all ages in Sullivan County. As part of the celebration, Liberty Central School District received a $2,500 celebratory check. We thank CCE Sullivan for their partnership over the past decade and look forward to more in the future.
Sports schedule, and results, for the week of May 25-31, 2026
Spring sports is starting to wind down with only softball and track in action this week.
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, May 25
No events scheduled.
Tuesday, May 26
4:15 p.m.: Modified Softball vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Elementary School
4:30 p.m.: Varsity Softball prelims vs. Port Jervis:
Results: Liberty 0, Port Jervis 28
The historic, barrier-breaking season for the Liberty Varsity Softball team came to a close yesterday afternoon, as the No. 6 Redhawks ran into an absolute powerhouse in the quarterfinals of the Sectional tournament, falling 28-0 to the No. 3 Port Jervis Raiders.
The Redhawks knew they faced a monumental task heading into the postseason matchup. Port Jervis, a perennial OCIAA jugger-naut, had already defeated Liberty by a combined score of 43-0 in two games during the regular season. Yet, despite the lopsided scoreboard, the Redhawks left the diamond with their heads held high, representing themselves and their school with immense pride, grit, and sportsmanship.
For a brief moment at the start of the game, the Redhawks went toe-to-toe with the Raiders . Liberty put together a brilliantly clean first inning, retiring three of the first four Raiders batters they faced. However, the wheels came off in the bottom of the second. Port Jervis exploded for 16 runs in the frame, capitalizing on five hits—all singles—along with seven walks, four hit batters, and two costly Liberty errors. From there, the Raiders never looked back.
Port Jervis was led by senior ace Madison Dobbs, who was clicking on all cylinders in the circle. The perennial All-Star was flawless, retiring all 15 batters she faced to throw a perfect game. Dobbs racked up nine strikeouts while throwing a whopping 77% of her pitches for strikes. She also led the Raiders at the plate with three hits, including a double. Teammates Savannah Mioglionico and Alabama Stankewicz chipped in two hits apiece, while Charlotte Rivera tripled and singled as part of a 15-hit Port Jervis onslaught. With the victory, Port Jervis advances to face Marlboro in the Class A semifinals.
Despite the heavy pressure, several Liberty players shined in the field. Junior center fielder Maddy Stewart put her elite athleticism on full display, tracking down and ranging deep for three spectacular flyouts. Meanwhile, sophomore Charlotte Horton De Morla proved her versatility, making clutch putouts in her first-ever varsity start at shortstop.
While the final score was tough, it does nothing to diminish an unforgettable season of overachievement for Liberty. Just over 11 weeks ago, low turnout left the athletic department completely uncertain if a varsity squad could even be formed. It was then that a resilient group of student-athletes, more than half of whom had little to no prior softball experience, stepped up just to save the program.
What followed was a season of unprecedented milestones. This inexperienced squad shocked the league by winning at James I. O’Neill on April 10th for the first time in years, followed by capturing the program’s first-ever Class A Divisional win on April 15th. Even when disaster struck on May 1st with a season-ending injury to standout ace pitcher and captain Angie Wheeler—forcing a depleted roster to play completely out of position—the Redhawks refused to quit.
Adopting the rallying cry of “us against the world,” this team fought its way to the program’s first Sectional tournament appearance since 2019. The 2026 Redhawks are a squad to be remembered. They left it all on the field, had fun, and proved that heart and dedication can write history.
4:30 p.m.: JV Softball vs. Sullivan West Central at Liberty High School
Wednesday, May 27
4:30 p.m.: JV Softball vs. Fallsburg at Liberty Elementary School
Thursday, May 28
No events scheduled.
Friday, May 29
2 p.m.: Boys and Girls Varsity Track and Field Sectionals vs. Multiple Schools at Rondout Valley Central School
Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31
No events scheduled
Friends of Liberty Library to host plant sale
The Friends of Liberty Library will host its plant sale on Thursday, May 28, until sold out.
Flowers, vegetable plants and house plants will be available for sale for the home and garden. Proceeds will benefit Liberty Public Library.
It will take place at the library at 189 N. Main St. in Liberty.
For more information, visit www.libertypubliclibrary.org or call 845-292-6070.
Liberty Middle School honors leaders, attendance
Liberty Middle School hosts regular leadership celebrations to highlight the ways students demonstrate leadership and live out the Leader in Me seven habits.
Leader of the Month is generally awarded to two students per grade level per month. Recipients consistently demonstrate the seven habits, work hard and be persistent to the best of their ability, be proactive and display initiative, honesty, respect, responsibility, compassion and optimism, set a positive example for their peers, maintain good attendance, and have no referrals. At the end of the year, Leaders of the Month are invited to a special dinner celebrating their leadership.
Good News Notes can be given to any student, at any time, and there is no limit to how many a student can receive. Good News Notes are a way to recognize both big and small acts of leadership—whether it’s holding the door, helping a classmate, or going above and beyond in class.
Students are also honored for Perfect Attendance or Redhawk Spirit Attendance 95% attendance rate (two or fewer absences).
The honorees for April and May are as follows:
April Leaders of the Month
Eighth grade: Meily Valencia Bamac and Sidra Keon James
Seventh grade: Justin Dowe and Jordanno Rivera
Sixth grade: Carter Funcheon and Audrey Yaun
Fifth grade: Riley Edwards and Jordana Ratner
May Leaders of the Month
Eighth grade: Oakley Kelder and Joseph Travis-Sanchez
Seventh grade: Bentley Moore and William Schaerhamer
Sixth grade: Joseph Geoghan and Parker Gissentaner
Fifth grade: Braeden Danzilo and Henry Krum
April Good News Notes
Eighth grade: Montgomery Allen, Amy Cortes Cruz, Mya Davis, Keily Dominguez-Chabla, Genevieve Dudley, Claire Ferguson, Makayla Fuentes Serapio, Michael Garzon Valle, Vina Graham, Sidra Keon, Corinne Lake, Madison LaMantia, Denis Leon Aldana, Ishandy Lima Cedeno, Kristol Malaga Beltron, Ixchel Marin Gonzalez, Harper Matuszak, Adner Mejia Aguilar, Liriel Mueses Valdez, Luna Pixie Hulse, Valeria Ponce Vazquez, Aaron Quiroz Gomez, Myla Reilly, Fabian Reyes Benegas, Angelick Rivera, Aiden Satz, Angel Terraza, Erick Torres Garcia, Salvador Vidal Lopez and Evan Vidalis
Seventh grade: Esa Awais, Tyrone Harris, Lorelai McCarthy, Gavin McDonough, Christopher Perez Lorenzana, Paul Odior II, Sophie Toledo, Illiany Sanabria, Delanie Yupanqui and Zahra Zia
Sixth grade: Dominique Banks, Paul Cando, Joel Cruz Lopez, Estiven Flores Baquedano, Parker Gissentaner and Esmeralda Santiago Sharpe
Fifth grade: Emeli Bonilla Izaguirre, Greydis Bustillo Martinez, Alexander Castillo Ramiro, Daniel Crespo, Braeden Danzilo, Viviana Frasier, Emmy Galeas Aguilar, Jozalin Garcia, Ram Hamal, Alex Ines Leon, Phallen Johnson, Henry Krum, Julia Lopez Meza, Lennox Lyons, Scarlet Manamon, Elijah Patterson, Shaleigh Santiago and Liam Warren.
May Good News Notes
Eighth grade: Keily Dominguez-Chabla, Liam Greaves, Brody Kelly, Gabriel Lotz, Madison Misner, Brycen Smith, Jayden Stoddard and Meily Valencia Bamac
Seventh grade: Guiliana Birkett, Faith Cadet, Katarina Card, Avery Decker, Mia Grant, Syndy Ixchalchal Lagos, Kapone Jackson, Allyson Juarez, Savannah Kandic, Aubrie Keating, Starla Ligon, Robert MacGhee, Karen Mosso, Paul Odior II, Caleb Rusin, Lucille Sanders, Jerimiah Wilson and Delanie Yupanqui
Sixth grade: Anabella Ramos and Karter Velde
Fifth grade: Ava Diehl, Cora McConnell and Jordana Ratner
Perfect Attendance—Third Quarter
Eighth grade: Jeremy Correa, Claire Ferguson, Michael Garzon Valle, Chase Golzak, Gavin Grant, Z’Cari Gulley, Alan Hernandez Lopez, Lilly Kehrley, Ishandy Lima Cedeno, Harper Matuszak, Adela Paz Perez, Valeria Ponce Vazquez, Brycen Smith, Angel Terraza Raymundo, Erick Torres Garcia, Eric Vargas Martin, Francisco Vicente Gonzalez, Salvador Vidal Lopez and Ethan Zheng.
Seventh grade: Kendriel Aliers Amparo, Emma Boyles, Faith Cadet, Genesis Caiza Viacocha, Katarina Card, Jonathan Contreras Martinez, Genesis Harrison, Mason Hopkins, Isabella Intranuovo, Allison Juarez Perez, Raphael-Lopez-Luna, Ximena Malaga Gonzalez, Bentley Moore, Aarmani Moultrie, Samuel Negroni, Iker Perez, Ryan Perry, Jonathan Reyes Escobedo, Dylan Reyes Garcia, Miguel Rodriguez Membreno, Abigail Romero and Ralph Urgiles Montero.
Sixth grade: Finley Blume, Ailani Chavis, Jeanpierre Curicama Latacunga, Parker Gissentaner, Heidy Guambi Aules, Carlos Hernandez Aldana, Nayeli Hernandez Soperanez, Keylin Lopez Nunez, Helen Lucero Bonilla, Elvis Lucero Guzman, Ivanna Malaga Ventura, Derek Mateo Cruz, Stephanie Medrano-Recinos, Logan Moore, Alieska Perez Perez, Abigail Perez Reyes, Eric Poveda Penuela, Josemiguel Ramirez-Alvarez, Dylenne Reyes Garcia, Isabella Smith, Keyrin Tercero, Henry Vogler, Audry Yaun and Ivan Zheng.
Fifth grade: Christiana Allen, Adriana Ayala Ochoa, Christian Camille, Alexander Castillo Ramiro, Lenin Encarnacion-Rodriguez Jr., Pablo Galeas Osorio, Wil-akai Gamble, Amelia Gerwer, Alejandra Gomez Lopez, Jovani Gonzalez Coppiano, Amelia Greeno, Sophia Lopez Luna, Indigo Love, Aarit Patel, Aarohi Patel, Eliab Torres Garcia and Arelys Villarroel Toctaguano.
Redhawk Spirit Attendance—Third Quarter
Eighth: Faith Boyles, Jonathan DiDonne, Makayla Fuentes Serapio, Litzy Gonzalez Chevez, Randall Guncay Encalada, Sidra Koen James, Gabriel Lotz, Ava McNett, Liriel Mueses Valdez, Maryory Munoz Monzon, Americus Newhall, Rebecca Norris, Erika Panama, Genesis Paz, Angelick Rivera, Isabella Rodriguez and Aiden Satz.
Seventh grade: Britney Aguilar Fuentes, Raymond Cottman Jr., Emma Llano Villamarin, Ayanelson Mazariegos Cuz, Trebor McCoy, Karen Mosso, Helen Munoz Barragan, Randy Panchana, Milsi Ramirez Martinez, Daniel Ramirez-Alvarez, Reinier Stanton, Marjorie Tejada Servellon, Sophie Toledo, Belinda VanGordon and Delanie Yupanqui.
Sixth grade: Ariana Alvarez Leiva, Paul Cando, Ellenora Carroll, Neviya Cash, Alannis Flores, Willis Gamble, Marlo Gonzales Chevez, Aviana Gonzalez, Dean Harte, Melanie Hernandez Santiago, Damaris Jadan Pangolo, Axel Malaga Lopez, Jose Maradiaga Palma, John Matute, Nicholas McPhillips, Arysta Murphy, Sebastian Ramirez, Jacy Ramos Lopez, Izek Resto, Camila Reyes Cortez and Isabel Thomas.
Fifth grade: Iker Amador, Avi Bustillo Garcia, Jessica Contreras Paz, Yahir Cortes, Braeden Danzilo, Emmy Galeas Aguilar, Ashton Golzak, Norlan Gomez Arauz, Amie Guaillazaca, Mia Guaillazaca, Rylin Henry, Willow Herschel, Alex Ines Leon, Vladimir Lagla Tacuri, Madelyne Lagos Espinal, Camden Lake, Dayana Majano Paz, Keily Martinez Zelaya, Cora McConnell, Katherine Munoz Garcia, Anderson Munoz Monzon, Juan Rodriguez, Evelyn Segovia Ramon, Joshua Tejada Servellon, David Thomas Jr. and Yeral Zelaya Gonzalez.
Threat made on bus determined to be noncredible
This morning, May 21, a student reported to a bus monitor that they heard a student make a threatening statement toward the school the previous day. The monitor immediately reported the incident to Rolling V, who promptly notified the district and Liberty Police Department. The LES school resource officer responded and LPD investigated. It was determined the threat was noncredible.
“We take all threats seriously, as the safety of our staff and students is our top priority,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “I am thankful for the quick action of the monitor and the Liberty Police Department.”
The situation is being dealt with according to the Liberty CSD Code of Conduct.
Professional development offers working, learning opportunities
Liberty faculty and staff were still hard at work after students left for a half day on Tuesday, May 19.
During the half-day professional development time, faculty and staff worked with the DESSA social-emotional screener, the LinkIt data warehouse, and the EduPlanet curriculum mapping platform, as well as learned more about the collaborative Kami app and AI tools for teacher assistant and aides, and took courses specific to their field.
The day concluded with a year-in-review presentation shared by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan.
“It is very important for our faculty and staff to also be students,” Dr. Sullivan said. “To be effective educators, we all must continue to learn and adapt to new teaching methods, strategies and tools.”
Liberty CSD voters approve $72M school budget proposal; elect board members
On Tuesday, May 19, voters in the Liberty Central School District approved the district’s $72 million budget proposal for the 2026-27 school year, with 715 yes votes and 158 no votes. This was the eighth consecutive year without a tax levy increase.
“We appreciate the continued support of Liberty Central School District residents,” Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan said. “They allow us to continue our mission and vision to provide students a trusting environment where they can thrive, be innovative and work toward their full potential.”
The $72,062,104 budget funds all current student programs and services while accounting for increases in costs such as health care, transportation and contractual obligations. It also allows the district to expand courses offered through Syracuse University Project Advance and add extracurricular activities, including intramural sports at the elementary level.
Three board of education members were re-elected to three-year terms on the board. Maureen Stabak, with 966 votes; Eugene Thalmann with 961 votes; and Erin Abplanalp with 960 votes. Also on the ballot were: Miriam Singer, with 23 votes; Miriam Breuer with 19 votes and Miriam Heimlich with 17 votes.
Receiving write-in votes were Daniel Ratner Sr. and Joel Roth.