Career Fair 2012: A Resounding Success!

The second annual Red Hook High School Career Fair was held on April 27th from 2 to 6PM at the Red Hook High School

With over 60 Careers and Trades, 20 Regional Colleges, and numerous community organizations presenting, it was a high-impact  and well-attended event.  Over 500 community members, including more than 360 students, as well as a number of parents, attended this event.  Originally conceived in an effort to provide Red Hook students with a much needed opportunity to explore various career options in a hands-on manner, the Career Fair has achieved a momentum of its own.

The parking lot was full; walking up to the school one could hear and feel the vibe of engaged youth, enhanced by some great music, including an impromptu performance in the front hallway by a great local student violinist.  Delicious, healthy food was provided by one of our local food gurus, Joe Baldwin of Earth to Table.  It was great this year to see many students from the Middle School participate in the Career Fair.  It’s never too early to begin the long and important process of career exploration and choice.  A panel discussion regarding “Owning Your Own Business” was also offered.  A number of local business owners shared their perspectives on the rewards and challenges of starting a business.  County Executive Marc Molinaro also participated in this panel.

Another great dimension of this career fair is the multitude of parents who generously offered their time to share their passion for their chosen professions with students.  One presenter whose booth generated a lot of student interest was Helena Hobson, a physical therapist with a practice in Rhinebeck.  What a rich resource this community has in its parents and other adults who show their commitment to our students by offering their time and presence.   One freshman commented on the fair, “It was a great opportunity to learn more about things we are interested in, and see what careers paths we could take to fulfill our interests.”

A huge thank you goes to Tara Sullivan, who spearheaded this event, as well as all the volunteers who created a seamless experience for the attendees.

All photos by:  http://www.andywainwright.com/portfolio.html

Sponsors of this event included the following:

TD Bank
Professional Computer Associates
The Palombo Group
Williams Lumber
Ruge’s Subaru
Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation Red Hook Chamber of Commerce
Bard College
Northern Dutchess Hospital
Ulster Savings Bank

Red Hook Education Foundation
Bard College

Red Hook Central School District
Red Hook Parent Teacher Student Association

RHEF looks forward to seeing you next year!  Meanwhile, if you have feedback about how we could improve this venue, we would welcome your ideas and input.  Please contact us at info@redhookeducationfoundation.org.

Bard 5K for Red Hook Schools

The 2nd annual Bard 5K Run To Support Our Schools was a success!

On Sunday, April 22nd, in spite of the chilly Spring weather, over 75 folks came out of their warm homes to help the Red Hook Education Foundation in its mission to support Red Hook Schools.  There were runners of all ages and speeds, as well as a number of walkers this year.  The course, which winds through the Bard campus, was well-marked and showed off the campus in Springtime.  It was nice to see a number of entire families walking or running the course together!  After the run, there were winners in many categories, and participants were happy to receive their prizes of tickets to Bard Summerscape.  What a great way for a community to join together, with an invigorating walk/run while supporting Red Hook Schools!  Thanks to all who helped organize this annual event, and to all who particpated.  RHEF is donating half the profits from the race to the Red Hook Sports Boosters Club.

Top 5 winners are as follows:
Jim McNulty 23:32; Sally Dwyer McNulty 24:18; Christina Beal 24:29; Jenny Carpenter 24:35; Aiden Hackmeyer 25:20.

Red Hook Education Foundation

The Red Hook Education Foundation (RHEF) engages the support and energies of educators, businesses, citizens, parents, students, alumni, private foundations, and civic
organizations to enhance public education in our community.

Career_Fair_2012_poster

Red Hook Education Foundation Grant Writers Obtain their First National Grant!!

Red Hook Education Foundation Grant Writers Obtain their First National Grant!!

This just in!  On March 15, 2012, Red Hook Central Schools received word that they had been selected to receive a $500.00 grant to support the Garden at Mill Road; the first grant written by the Red Hook Education Foundation Team!   This particular grant was offered by Annie’s, Inc., as part of their “Grants for Gardens” initiative to fund small grants for community or school gardens that connect children directly to real food.  A small group of committed community members who happen to be skilled at grant-writing have been collaborating for just a few months, and have another grant currently under review as well.

This particular grant will facilitate the second phase of the garden; specifically the creation of cold frames to protect hardy greens and herbs into the late Fall, and then again in early Spring in order to extend the growing (and learning!) season of the garden.

As Tricia Paffendorf, horticulturist and coordinator of the Garden at Mill Road aptly put it, “Thanks so much … for all of your contributions in landing our very first grant.  You all took action after one meeting not too long ago, rocked on a couple grants, and now…Yippee!”

Bard 5K Run for Red Hook Schools

Bard College is holding a 5K Run/Walk to benefit Red Hook schools, on the morning of Sunday, April 22nd.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, and the race starts at 9:30 a.m. Registration packets will be available at the sign in desk on the day of the race. Entry fees are $10 for students; $20 for non-students if you pre-register before April 18th, and $25 on race day. To pre-register, download a registration form 2012 Bard Run for Red Hook Schools reg form and mail it to: Red Hook Education Foundation, P.O. Box 2, Red Hook, NY 12571. For more information send an e-mail to jrankin@bard.edu.

All proceeds will be donated to the Red Hook Education Foundation and The Red Hook Raiders Sports Club, both of which are independent, non-profit organizations whose mission is to support Red Hook schools. This event is intended to mobilize students as well as the local community in a grass roots effort to support our local schools at a time when they are facing budget cuts to integral programs. The 5K will take place rain or shine.

Schedule of Events
8:30 a.m. – Day of race registration and Packet pick-up, outside of the Bard College Fisher Center
9:00 a.m. – Registration closes
9:30 a.m. – Start of 5K race
9:35 a.m. – Start of 5k run/walk
11:00 a.m. – Awards Ceremony, outside of the Bard College Fisher Center

Course Description:

The course is flat and fast with a couple of small hills.  The course will begin near the Fisher Center and will end near the same location.  Please arrive at least 45 minutes early to check in. Late-comers will be forced to park much further away.  

Facilities: Packet pick-up and registration will be located in front of the Fisher Center.  Restrooms are located in the gymnasium and student center.  Parking will be next to the Fisher Center as well; please follow the signs to the designated parking area.

Awards: Overall Male/Female 58 and up, Overall Male/Female 48-57, Overall Male/Female 38-47, Overall Male/Female 28-37, Overall Male/Female 18-27, Junior 12-17, and 11 and under.

2012 Red Hook High School Career Fair

Career Fair 2012

April 27th

“Owning Your Own Business”

 The Red Hook Education Foundation, Bard College, and the Red Hook Central School District will hold the second annual Career Fair on Friday, April 27th from 2-6:00pm at the high school. This event is a great way for all community members to support our students in planning their futures—over 60 careers, trades,and apprenticeships will be represented, with over a dozen Hudson Valley colleges attending. Our theme this year is “Owning Your Own Business”.

Congratulations to our 1st mini-grant recipients!

Help our Garden Grow!

Spring is coming soon to the Hudson Valley, and the folks at Mill Road Elementary School are busy preparing their garden.

Red Hook Students Compete in Debate Tournament at Bard

Red Hook LAMS Debaters at Bard Tournament

On March 9, Red Hook students competed in the Bard Debate Union’s first annual Debate Tournament, featuring 2 rounds of debate competition, luncheon, and an awards ceremony. Linden Avenue Middle School sent 5 teams, which competed against each other, and Red Hook high school sent 2 teams, which competed against 2 teams from Rhinebeck, and 4 teams fielded from the Bard High School Early College (BHSEC) schools in Queens, Manhattan, and Newark, NJ. The RHEF was a sponsor of this event, hosted by the Bard Center for Civic Engagement.

Team and individual awards were given to the following participants: in the high school division BHSEC A took 1st place, with Rhinebeck A in 2nd place, Red Hook A in 3rd place, and BHSEC B in 4th place. Individual high school debate awards: Hannah Frishberg (BHSEC A) 1^st; Callie Goldstone (Rhinebeck A) 2^nd; Joe Bryant (Red Hook A) 3^rd; Gabe Haddad (BHSEC D) 4^th  and “Mo” Tyler (BHSEC C) in 5^th place. Individual middle school debate awards: Caleb Wootan, 1^st; Elenore Zellneck, 2^nd; Joseph Becker, 3^rd; Abby Foster, 4^th, and Aidan Murtha in 5^th place.

Red Hook High School Debaters

Working in partnership with Bard Debate Union and the Bard Trustee Leader Scholar program, the RHEF has helped to start up the LAMS and Red Hook High School debate clubs over the last year. Many thanks to Red Hook faculty Ronald Dombrowski, Tom O’Connor, and James Armstrong, Bard Debate coaches Ruth Zisman and Jennifer Rankin, and especially to the Bard Debate Union students, for supporting the growth of debate in our community and beyond.

Red Hook High School Team A Placed 3rd Out of 8 High School Teams in the Tournament

Bard High School Early College Students Competed, Representing Schools in Queens, Manhattan, and Newark, NJ