Building Futures, Opening Doors!

The opening of Newburgh Free Academy’s new Career and Technical Education Center marks an exciting investment in our students, our community, and the future of Newburgh. Under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell, NECSD has brought a long-awaited vision to life: a place where students can discover their talents, explore their interests, and develop practical skills that connect classroom learning to opportunities beyond graduation.

The new center brings together 17 career pathways: Auto Body, Auto Technology, Barbering, Construction, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Culinary Arts, Electrical, Fashion Design, Health Sciences, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Pet Grooming, Photography, Plumbing, Veterinary Science, Video Production, and Welding. These offerings give students opportunities to explore careers across the skilled trades, health care, public service, creative industries, and animal care.

Each pathway creates a different opportunity for students to see their potential. A student interested in building and repairing can explore construction, electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, welding, or automotive careers. Students drawn to creativity can develop their interests through fashion design, photography, video production, barbering, cosmetology, or culinary arts. Those who want to care for others or serve their communities can explore health sciences and criminal justice, while students with a passion for animals can pursue veterinary science and pet grooming.

Through hands-on learning, students have opportunities to practice problem-solving, teamwork, communication, precision, and responsibility. They can connect what they learn in their academic classes to practical projects, gain confidence in their abilities, and develop a clearer understanding of the education and training their chosen careers require.

Dr. Manning-Campbell’s commitment to advancing this project reflects a belief that students deserve multiple pathways to success. Whether their next step is college, further technical training, an apprenticeship, employment, or eventually owning a business, the new CTE Center gives them space to imagine that future and begin preparing for it.

For our students and families, this opening represents possibility. It tells our young people that their interests matter, their talents deserve investment, and their futures are worth building. With its doors now open, the new NFA Career and Technical Education Center begins a new chapter of opportunity, discovery, and Goldback pride.

A Place to Ride, Learn, and Grow

The Bike Gardens at GAMS and South Middle School are now complete, with Meadow Hill soon to follow, creating welcoming spaces where students can practice bicycle safety, build confidence, and experience the joy of riding. Under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell, these gardens reflect NECSD’s commitment to healthy habits, outdoor activity, and learning beyond the classroom.

For Dr. Manning-Campbell, providing safe spaces for students when they are outside our buildings is a priority. Our commitment to children extends beyond the school day and includes creating opportunities for them to remain active, connected, and supported within their community. The Bike Gardens advance that vision by providing dedicated places where students can enjoy riding, develop their skills, and spend time with friends and family.

These spaces came to life through the generous donation and partnership of the Kiwanis Club. Their investment helped transform a shared vision into places our students can use and enjoy. This contribution demonstrates how community partnerships can expand opportunities for children and strengthen the neighborhoods where they live and learn. We are deeply grateful to Kiwanis for helping make these gardens a reality.

For a child learning to ride, a safe place to practice can make all the difference. The Bike Gardens provide room to develop balance, steering, stopping, and awareness of others. They also offer opportunities to practice patience, take turns, encourage friends, and celebrate progress. Each successful ride can help a student gain confidence and a greater sense of independence.

The gardens bring together movement, learning, and the simple joy of being outdoors. They give children a place to try something new, build skills at their own pace, and create positive memories within their community.

With the gardens complete at GAMS and South Middle School and Meadow Hill soon to follow, more students will benefit from this investment. Together, NECSD and the Kiwanis Club are helping create safe, welcoming spaces where our children can ride, learn, and grow during the school day and beyond.

Confidence in the Water, Skills for Life

Through the Empower Swim Program, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District is helping children develop a lifelong skill while building confidence and learning how to stay safe around water. The program provides free swimming lessons for children ages 4–10 at Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus, expanding access to an experience that supports their safety, health, and well-being.

The program began with a generous donation from United Brain, whose support helped make these lessons possible. NECSD matched the donation, extending the impact of this investment and creating additional opportunities for children to participate. This partnership supports New York State’s guidance encouraging swimming and water safety education for children and families within school communities.

Under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell, NECSD continues to prioritize opportunities that support students both inside and outside our school buildings. Swimming is a skill children can carry into adulthood, opening doors to recreation, exercise, and time with family and friends. Providing lessons at no cost helps remove a financial barrier and makes this valuable learning opportunity available to more families.

More than 70 students received lessons across the program’s first two sessions. Participants had opportunities to become more comfortable in the water, develop swimming skills, and receive guidance on water safety. These experiences help children build confidence while learning the importance of supervision, following safety instructions, and practicing safe behavior around water.

For a young child, learning to swim can be a meaningful accomplishment. Empower Swim gives participants opportunities to practice, persevere, and celebrate their progress. Each lesson builds a foundation for continued learning and a healthy respect for the water—knowledge that can support children and their families throughout their lives.

The Empower Swim Program will continue during the 2026–2027 school year, bringing this opportunity to additional children and families across NECSD. Registration links for Sessions 3 and 4 will be shared in the coming weeks. Families are encouraged to watch for upcoming district communications with session details and registration information.

NECSD extends its sincere appreciation to United Brain for helping launch this program. Through community generosity and the district’s matching investment, Empower Swim is helping our youngest learners gain confidence, develop lasting skills, and become more aware of how to stay safe around water.

Friday Night Lights: Listening to Students, Creating Safe Spaces

Following the loss of a student, Superintendent Dr. Manning-Campbell recognized the need to create more opportunities for young people to feel safe, connected, and supported beyond the school day. Her response helped reimagine Friday Night Lights as a space shaped by student voices, caring relationships, and a shared commitment to student safety.

Dr. Manning-Campbell invited students and community partners—including YAP, SNUG, and local law enforcement—to engage in dialogue about what young people need. These conversations centered on listening: understanding where students feel supported, what opportunities they want, and how the district and community can work together to create welcoming places for them to gather.

That dialogue helped shape the Friday Night Lights program we have today, providing high school students with a safe space to spend time with friends, explore their interests, and connect with trusted adults. Activities include an open gym, karaoke, cooking classes, a gaming room, and art classes. Dedicated teachers and staff create an environment where students feel welcomed, valued, and encouraged to participate.

Local police also engage with students through conversations about safety and their experiences in the community. These interactions offer opportunities to build trust, answer questions, and reinforce law enforcement’s role as a partner with the district and its students. Alongside YAP, SNUG, and district staff, their involvement reflects a shared responsibility for supporting young people.

Friday Night Lights will kick off again on October 30, 2026, with a Halloween event, and the program will continue through August 2027. Students and families are encouraged to check the district website in the upcoming weeks for more information about the kickoff celebration, program dates, and activities.

Friday Night Lights demonstrates how listening can lead to meaningful action. In responding to loss, Dr. Manning-Campbell brought students and community partners together to strengthen connections and expand access to safe spaces. The program carries a clear message to our high school students: your voices matter, your safety matters, and your community is invested in you.

Newburgh Takes the Lead: Coming Together for Healthy Choices

This October, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District will proudly host Orange County’s Red Ribbon Week kickoff, bringing students, educators, and community partners together around a shared commitment to substance use prevention and healthy choices. Under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell, this event marks an exciting step forward in Newburgh’s participation and leadership within the county.

Red Ribbon Week, observed annually from October 23–31, is a national awareness campaign that encourages communities to educate young people about the dangers of drug use and support healthy decisions. Its origins date back to 1985, when communities began wearing red ribbons to honor Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena following his murder by drug traffickers. The National Family Partnership organized the first national celebration in 1988, helping turn a community response into a nationwide prevention movement.

Newburgh had not previously been formally included in Orange County’s coordinated Red Ribbon Week events. Through a renewed partnership with ADAC, Team Newburgh, and other community partners, NECSD is now helping bring this important work directly to our students and community. These relationships have created opportunities for greater participation, shared resources, and a stronger collective focus on prevention.

On October 23, 2026, NECSD will welcome participants from 10 school districts to the countywide kickoff at our new Newburgh Free Academy Career and Technical Education building. The event will feature a keynote speaker and sessions for visiting middle school students alongside students from Newburgh’s own middle schools. Together, they will have opportunities to learn, connect, and consider how their choices can support their health, goals, and futures.

Hosting the kickoff in our new CTE building brings two district priorities together: helping students envision meaningful futures and supporting the healthy decisions that allow them to pursue those futures. It also gives NECSD an opportunity to welcome neighboring districts into a space that represents possibility and investment in young people.

Our students have already begun making their voices heard. During last year’s Red Ribbon contest and event, Newburgh students created artwork addressing drug and alcohol prevention, one student earned first place, two students completed writing projects, and multiple students participated. Their contributions demonstrated the power of student creativity and voice in communicating messages that matter to their peers and community.

This year’s kickoff builds on that participation and reflects Dr. Manning-Campbell’s commitment to ensuring Newburgh students are represented, supported, and given opportunities to lead. With our schools and community partners working together, NECSD is expanding its place in the county’s prevention efforts and creating more ways for students to contribute.

In the words of our Superintendent, “There are more of us coming!”

Full Backpacks, Stronger Weekends: A Community Commitment to Our Students

For students experiencing food insecurity, the weekend can bring uncertainty about their next meal. Through a partnership with the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, the Newburgh Enlarged City School District’s Backpack Food Program helps bridge that gap by providing nonperishable food to participating students every Friday. These weekly supplies support children beyond the school day, when access to school meals is unavailable.

This work depends on a caring network of community partners and volunteers. Our local Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority partners coordinate the volunteers who unload food pallets and pack the weekly supplies for students. Their time, organization, and dedication help turn food deliveries into dependable support for families across our school community.

When unforeseen circumstances resulted in the loss of the program’s distribution location, finding a new space became essential to continuing this service. Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell made it her mission to secure a location where volunteers could receive, organize, and pack the food. Having toured the Regional Food Bank’s distribution center, she had seen firsthand the coordination behind this partnership and understood how much families depend on its continued operation.

With the help and generous contributions of the Kiwanis Club and Regal Bag owner Ted Doering, NECSD secured a new location that is well suited to the program’s distribution needs. Their support provides the space needed to prepare weekly food supplies and make Friday distribution possible across our schools.

This partnership reflects Dr. Manning-Campbell’s commitment to supporting students both inside and outside our buildings. Helping children access food over the weekend supports their well-being and helps them return to school ready to participate and learn. It also gives families a dependable resource during times of need.

NECSD extends its heartfelt appreciation to the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Kiwanis Club, Ted Doering, and every volunteer who contributes to this effort. Together, they are helping ensure that our community’s care for children continues beyond the school week.

If your family—or a family you know—could benefit from the Backpack Food Program, please contact our McKinney-Vento liaison at korogers@necsd.net. We encourage families to reach out and learn more about this support.

Bringing Food, Care, and Community Together

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District’s commitment to students and families continues beyond the classroom and throughout the year. Under the leadership of Dr. Jackie Manning-Campbell, NECSD is expanding access to food resources through community partnerships and opportunities that respond to the needs of our school community.

Over the summer, NECSD created Food Bank pop-ups to help families access food during a time when students were away from school and their regular school meals. These distributions brought resources closer to the community and provided another way for families to receive support. Food Bank pop-ups will continue throughout the school year, extending this effort beyond the summer months.

This work builds on the district’s partnership with the Regional Food Bank of the Hudson Valley and the dedication of community partners and volunteers. As demonstrated through the Backpack Food Program, which provides participating students with nonperishable food every Friday for the weekend, strong partnerships help turn a shared commitment into dependable support. The contributions of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Kiwanis Club, Regal Bag owner Ted Doering, and other supporters have helped strengthen the district’s ability to meet these needs.

NECSD also offers food resources within our schools through the food bodega at Newburgh Free Academy’s Main Campus and the food pantry at Meadow Hill. These spaces provide additional points of access, connecting students and families with support within familiar school settings. Together with the pop-ups and Backpack Food Program, they create multiple ways for families to obtain food throughout the year.

For Dr. Manning-Campbell, addressing food insecurity is part of supporting the whole child. Children’s ability to learn, participate, and thrive is connected to their well-being and access to basic necessities. By strengthening food resources across our school community, NECSD is helping families navigate difficult circumstances with care and dignity.

These efforts reflect what is possible when schools, community organizations, businesses, and volunteers work together. Whether distributing food at a summer pop-up, stocking a school pantry, or preparing a Friday backpack, each contribution helps make our community a more supportive place for children and families.

Third Annual Jumpstart Jamboree: A Strong Start, a Welcoming Community

The third annual Jumpstart Jamboree brings families, educators, and more than 30 community partners together to help students prepare for a successful school year. Reflecting Dr. Manning-Campbell’s commitment to family engagement, this welcoming event connects families with resources, introduces them to school experiences, and reminds every child that an entire community is ready to support their growth.

With games, enrichment activities, and opportunities to connect with district staff and local organizations, the Jamboree combines practical support with the joy of learning and discovery. NIKE provides activities in the gymnasium, giving children opportunities to move, play, and engage with one another. Community partners introduce families to programs and services that can support them throughout the school year, strengthening the connections between home, school, and community.

For our youngest learners and their families, the Jamboree offers a reassuring introduction to life in NECSD. Families entering prekindergarten and kindergarten meet Buster the Bus and learn about school transportation, helping children become more comfortable with an important part of their new daily routine. Families also learn about school lunches, giving parents and caregivers a better understanding of what their children can expect as they begin school.

Backpacks help students arrive prepared for the year ahead, while pre-K readiness kits provide resources to support reading, literacy, and learning at home. These materials encourage families to share stories, build early literacy skills, and make learning part of their everyday time together.

At its heart, Jumpstart Jamboree is about belonging. A welcoming conversation, a new connection, or a child’s excitement about their first backpack can help turn uncertainty into confidence. By bringing resources and relationships together in one joyful space, the third annual Jumpstart Jamboree helps our students and families begin the school year feeling prepared, connected, and welcomed into the Goldback community.

Strong Beginnings for Our Youngest Learners

NECSD’s increased support for Universal Pre-K reinforces the importance of a strong foundation for learning. Under Dr. Manning-Campbell’s leadership, the district is strengthening early childhood opportunities so our youngest learners can develop confidence, build relationships, and begin their educational journey with the support they need to thrive.

The additional state funding allocated under Governor Kathy Hochul allowed Dr. Manning-Campbell to extend increased funding to each of the district’s community-based Pre-K providers. This investment supports equitable access to early learning resources for children attending district classrooms and those receiving their education through our community partners.

By directing additional resources to these partnerships, the district recognizes that every Pre-K student is part of the NECSD learning community. Wherever children attend, they deserve nurturing environments, engaging learning experiences, and resources that support their development and prepare them for kindergarten.

This commitment strengthens the connection between the district and its early childhood partners while supporting a shared goal: giving every child a strong beginning. Through continued investment and collaboration, NECSD is helping build a foundation for literacy, curiosity, belonging, and future success.