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It was a gorgeous day to be outside (August 25)—and our seniors with driving privileges made the most of it by adding some personal flair to their parking spots! From bold designs to creative details, students brought their ideas to life, sometimes with a little help from a friend or family member.

We can’t wait to see those finished masterpieces!

Rotary club scholarship award winners

Congratulations to Kelsey, Audrey, Valentine, Maddison,Tessa, Caden,Yoel, Bradley, and Ella. They were awarded scholarships today at a special event run by the New Paltz Rotary club. We are very proud of the accomplishments of the students and we thank the Rotary club for always supporting our school.

The New Paltz High School Art Show was a star attraction for guests arriving to vote on the school budget on May 19!

The exhibit drew steady crowds as appreciative visitors explored the incredible variety of artwork created by NPHS artists—including works in drawing and painting, sculpture, pen and ink, fashion, photography, creative crafts, and film and video.

AP Studio Art students each displayed works they had created focusing on a theme of their own choosing.

As part of their projects, they began with an investigation, or inquiry, into something that interested them and how they might represent their personal journeys and emotions through visual design. For instance, Ida Stoever created a collection of sculptures inspired by her investigation into the interconnectedness of human experience. To do so, Ida blended past and present representations of queerness and sailing to show how these seemingly unrelated themes are woven through history. In addition, Iliana Melissis explored her Greek heritage through gorgeous, colorful depictions of her family, while Kala Schultz’s gallery of portraits centered on her reflective inquiry into mental health. Ella Brassard focused on her family and community, looking at her identity within those groups, and Dahlia Haselton explored how memory and loss shape identity.

Among the many highlights was an eye-catching display of upcycled clothing created by Fashion Design student Makena Laurie, along with a pocket gallery of miniature artworks inspired by major movements in Art History from Studio Art students. Visitors also admired striking portrait collages of famous figures, galleries of stunning black-and-white photography, and dynamic “living” video content. Guests were even invited to leave compliments for the artists on Post-it notes—and judging by the incredible talent on display, there was no shortage of praise to share.

This incredible art show truly is a testament to our hard-working student artists as well as to the following dedicated, supportive teachers: Laurene Pountain (Studio Art, Drawing and Painting, Advanced Drawing and Painting and AP Studio Art), Todd Martin (Studio in Photography, Studio in Ceramics and Advanced Ceramics), Brennan Woods (Intro to Media Arts, Graphics Design and Animation, Film and Video, Creative Crafts), and Alicia Tuttle (Family and Consumer Science: Fashion).

Amazing!

On May 15, the New Paltz High School Band performed at the Music in the Parks competition held at Holyoke High School in Massachusetts. Following their performance, the musicians spent the day enjoying Six Flags New England!

The competition concluded with the awards ceremony, during which the Band received first place in its division with a rating of "Superior." In addition, the Band won the Esprit de Corps award, which is given to one school across all divisions that "displays exemplary conduct, outstanding character, and exceptional team spirit throughout the festival weekend."

Congratulations!