Drama Enriches Lives for Newburgh Students

Actor Robin Williams greets NFA students after the show.

NFA Drama Students Meet Entertainment Icon Robin Williams

Recently, ten Newburgh Free Academy drama students, along with teacher Terry Sandler, made their way from Newburgh to New York City on a special field trip to see Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo staring Robin Williams.

Prior to the field trip, Sandler wrote Williams a letter to inquire about having a question and answer session with the students following the performance. In the days following, Williams’ assistant responded, explaining that the actor would be happy to meet with the students after the show.

NFA students pose outside the theater where Robin Williams is appearing.

“The experience was overwhelming. The students told me that it was one of the greatest nights of their life—they were able to meet a world famous icon,” explained Sandler.

Balmville Elementary School Students Partner with Elant in Newburgh Residents for Intergenerational Play

The Balmville students performed at the Elant home.

Sixth-grade students from Balmville Elementary School in Newburgh recently partnered with residents from Elant in Newburgh, as part of an annual initiative, to learn first hand facts about history. Since September, students from Jayne Mangieri’s class learned about the life and times from the 1900’s up until present day, including historical events, music, clothing trends, and cars.

The students then used the knowledge that they acquired during their time with the residents to create a play that was performed for the seniors at the end of the school year. In addition, several of the residents had roles in the performance. The collaborative efforts allowed the students and residents to discuss how times have changed and also allowed the participants to develop a strong bond giving one another a memorable experience.

The students performed a scene straight out of World War Two.