Welcome Back GUFS!

Dear Students, Families, and Community Members,

Welcome back to a brand-new school year! I hope your summer has been filled with joy, rest, and meaningful moments with loved ones. As we prepare to open our doors for the 2025–2026 school year, I am filled with excitement and gratitude to continue serving as your Superintendent in this incredible community.

This year promises to be one of innovation, connection, and growth. We are thrilled to welcome several new and familiar faces to our Garrison team:

• Margaret Berger, our new First Grade Teacher, brings a passion for early childhood education and a warm, student-centered approach.

• Zemerie Bajramaj joins us as a new Teacher Aide, ready to support our students and staff with care and dedication.

• Jeff Barone and Jared Gonzalez, who have been integral to our music program through PNW BOCES, are now officially part of our staff as full-time Music Teachers. We are excited to continue building our vibrant music program under their leadership.

• Michael McDonald, our new Director of Innovation and Learning, began his work with us on July 1st. Michael will help lead our efforts to expand STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, modern Arts, and Mathematics) experiences, deepen our commitment to Environmental Education and Sustainability, and support our educators in exploring innovative instructional practices that elevate student learning.

• Natalie Arneson will be joining us through PNW BOCES’ Arts-in-Education program as our new theater teacher.  Natalie is a dynamic and accomplished artist—an award-winning director, actor, singer, and anime voiceover performer. She received the 2016 Manhattan Association of Clubs and Cabarets (MAC) Award for Best Female Debut for her original show Mama Drama. Her New York stage credits include performances with Playhouse Creatures, MCC Theater, and the New York Musical Festival. 

We have several important updates to share as we begin the 2025-2026 school year:

• School Lunch Program Launch:  We’re excited to share that, for the first time, Garrison Union Free School District will be offering a school lunch program for all students, at no cost to families! This important initiative is made possible through our strong and growing partnership with the Putnam Valley Central School District. Thanks to the incredible support of Putnam Valley CSD, their Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Luft, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Dr. Grace Chan, we are able to bring this meaningful resource to our students. Their commitment to collaboration and community has made a real difference, and we are deeply grateful. Over the past several years, our partnership with Putnam Valley has become a cornerstone of support for Garrison families. As we enter our third year of offering Putnam Valley High School as one of three high school choices for our students, this new lunch program is another example of how our districts are working together to expand opportunities and care for our community. We’ll be sharing more information soon about how students and families can participate in the lunch program as we onboard our new food service vendor. Stay tuned for updates—and thank you to our community for supporting this important new initiative!

• School Safety Update:  We’re pleased to share that we have successfully negotiated a Special Patrol Officer (SPO) contract with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. This agreement, which incorporates the safeguards our community requested, enables us to onboard an SPO in a way that aligns with our shared values and expectations. Our next step is to work closely with the Sheriff’s Office to identify a candidate who will be a strong fit for our school culture and community. Once a suitable candidate is selected, we will share an update with the community.
  

• New State Guidelines:  As we implement the new New York State bell-to-bell ban on internet-connected devices, we recognize that this change may bring questions and adjustments for students and their parents/guardians. We are committed to working closely with our families, students, and staff to ensure a thoughtful and supportive rollout that prioritizes student engagement and learning.

At the heart of all we do are our incredible students and staff, whose curiosity, creativity, empathy, and resilience inspire us every day. We are equally grateful for our families, who continue to place their trust in us and support our mission to provide an unparalleled educational experience and environment. Your partnership is essential to our success, and we are honored to work alongside you.

As a reminder, the first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Our staff will participate in professional learning on Tuesday, August 26, Wednesday, August 27, and Thursday, August 28.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. Let’s make this school year one of inspiration, innovation, and joy!

Warm regards,

Superintendent of Schools

Garrison School District