Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members,

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year!

Before stepping into the role of Director of the Arts, I spent 22 years teaching across our elementary, middle, and high school buildings watching students grow into confident, creative thinkers and that experience shapes everything I do in this work. The arts have a unique power to bring people together, and I am deeply proud to remain a part of this warm, energetic community.  

As always, our work is guided by our district's mission:

The Rockville Centre Public School District cultivates a learning environment where creativity thrives and character is strengthened. Our innovative learning experiences prepare students to strive for excellence, act with integrity and empathy, and lead with imagination and purpose. 

In the arts department, we live this mission every day. Arts education is a deliberate practice of character building. When a student spends weeks refining a sculpture, they learn to strive for excellence. When they collaborate as a cast or a musical ensemble, they practice empathy and integrity. Most importantly, the arts teach our young people to lead with imagination and purpose, giving them the courage to envision something new and bring it to life.

This deep alignment with our district mission is also why our arts curriculum is uniquely positioned to support the New York State Portrait of a Graduate. As the state moves toward a model that prioritizes real-world readiness, the arts naturally cultivate the exact competencies our graduates need. Through our programs, Rockville Centre students become Creative Innovators by using curiosity and flexible thinking to solve visual and musical challenges. They grow into Critical Thinkers as they analyze complex compositions, and Effective Communicators as they share powerful ideas and emotions through performance and design. Furthermore, by studying diverse cultural traditions and engaging in collaborative work, our students develop into Global Citizens and reflective, future-focused individuals who can thoughtfully respond to feedback and navigate a diverse world with empathy.

Over the last two years, I have been grateful for your feedback with which we continue to implement thoughtful changes to ensure our offerings serve every student. This year, I am excited to introduce several major updates at South Side High School designed to modernize our curriculum, align with current post-secondary practices, and provide greater scheduling flexibility.

Following its massive success at South Side Middle School, we are continuing the creative sequence with the addition of Fashion Design at the high school. We are also launching Digital Media & Photography I and II as a new visual art sequence to give students hands-on experience in these ever-evolving fields. To ensure opportunities are accessible to all, we have also redesigned the course formats for Music Theory and Music Technology so they can more easily fit into busy student schedules. Additionally, we continue to offer valuable dual enrollment options in both visual and performing arts, allowing our advanced students to earn college credit while pursuing their artistic passions right here at South Side.

None of this would be possible without the talent and dedication of our faculty, the support of our administration, and the partnership with families like yours. I highly encourage you to learn about the Rockville Centre Sponsors of the Arts, an incredible parent organization that champions our students and teachers. You can easily get involved today by joining their Membership Campaign or by purchasing official apparel for you or your student through the Sponsors of the Arts Apparel Store.

To stay connected throughout the year, see student achievements, get event updates, and catch a sneak peek into daily life in our classrooms and on our stages, please follow our department on Instagram at @artsRVC.  We are also thrilled to share the 2026-2027 Visual & Performing Arts Calendar, and hope to see you at some of our events.

Thank you for your continued support, advocacy, and enthusiasm for the arts in Rockville Centre. Together, we will keep nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and artists.

Kathleen Mark
Director of the Arts
kmark@rvcschools.org