wappingers schools

Members of the Wappingers school community reacted sadly and quietly Tuesday as Mark Serrano was convicted of killing five members of the Morey family ― three of whom were children who attended school in the district.

Board of education Trustee Joseph Incoronato said the justice system worked.

"Due process has occurred and the facts spoke for themselves in this case, and the jury has come back with the proper verdict," he said.

The three Morey children � 13-year-old Antonio, 10-year-old Adam and 6-year-old Ryan � were found murdered along with their parents Jan. 19. Serrano was one of two men accused of killing the family and then burning down their home to cover up the crime. Suspect Charles Gilleo is still awaiting trial.

Trustee Joseph Porpora said he had no comment on the conviction as a board member. As a member of the community, he said he feels the entire case has been "the saddest thing in Dutchess County."

Brinckerhoff Elementary School Principal Ursula Platz said she will make sure her staff knows about the trial developments before classes begin.

"We'll meet as a team in the morning to make sure that everybody is aware," she said.
Adam and Ryan Morey attended the school. Adam's class has already moved on to Van Wyck Junior High School.

Van Wyck parent Wendy McNamara said she has been thinking of the family often lately, with the holidays and one-year anniversary approaching.

McNamara was one of many parents and community members who helped erect a memorial to honor the family at the school. Antonio Morey was a student there and played on the football and wrestling teams. Roslyn's Emily Lipari placed sixth with a time of 17:46 at the Foot Locker Cross Country National Finals in San Diego Saturday. The 5K race featured the nation's top 40 high school girls runners.

"Coming in sixth was amazing," Lipari said. "I was hoping for a top 15 spot. I didn't think I would place in the top six this year."

Lipari won the state Federation girls cross country title in a time of 17:58.1 in November. It was the fourth-fastest time ever run at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls, NY.


The memorial includes a tree and two rosebushes, a stone bench, a memorial stone, and a birdbath. Children at Van Wyck designed the memorial.

"You're reminded at this time of year of the great loss," McNamara said. "We hope that what we did at Van Wyck would give some comfort to their families, let them know that they'll never be forgotten."
PALTZ ― The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold its December undergraduate and graduate commencement exercises Friday and Saturday in the Athletic and Wellness Center.

The total graduating class is 1,065, and about 510 candidates are scheduled to attend the ceremonies.

This will be first time the ceremonies, which recognize the achievements of August and December graduates, have been held on campus since the college's first December commencement took place on campus in 2000. Since 2001, these ceremonies have been held at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie.

The undergraduate ceremony for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Education will take place from 6-8 p.m. Friday.

The undergraduate ceremony for the School of Business, the School of Fine and Performing Arts and the School of Science and Engineering will take place from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

The graduate ceremony will take place 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Provost's Office has announced a tie in determining the valedictorian. Both Mary Corbin, a communication disorders major from Wappingers Falls, and Florence Nelson, an electrical engineering major and computer science minor from Poughkeepsie, will share the honors. Each has a 3.99 grade point average.