HURLEYVILLE, NY — Emmett Schwalb, a 13-year-old seventh grader at the Homestead School’s Collaborative College High School (CCHS), has a way with words and a passion for Broadway theatre productions.

“He’s like a lifer,” at the Homestead School and in the Montessori philosophy, said Amee Templin, lead instructor of the humanities program at the CCHS. Her pupil is now in his first year at the local Montessori-based education center.

Templin noted that Emmett recently transferred from the Gley Spey campus, where he started out in pre-K. “He really dug in here and developed some good work habits, and stands out with being very consistent with his work.” 

It’s a nod towards Emmett’s interest in a career in journalism, bolstered by a knack for sticking to deadlines and communicating with colleagues. 

According to Templin, who “traveled the world” before coming to the CCHS, several students have been writing articles for the Hurleyville Sentinel ever since the school opened its doors four years ago.

A few students “really got into it, and ran with it,” including Emmett and fellow student Mira Comstock, she said.

Recently the students joined forces to pen an article entitled “Water, Water, Anywhere? An Interview with a Farmer,” which was published in the April 2025 edition of the Hurleyville Sentinel. 

The article recounts the saga of Mountaindale farmer Brett Budde’s concerns over how “some areas in Sullivan County have been facing severe water crises due to rapid growth and outdated infrastructure.”

In December 2024, Schwalb penned “The Milk Train Trail Goes to School” for the Sentinel, exploring the relationship between the Homestead School’s students and Hurleyville’s Milk Train Trail along an old, long-abandoned railroad bed.

Schwalb wrote in part, “Being outside is a large part of the Homestead School philosophy, and the Rail Trail, as it is more simply known, gives students from the school a perfect opportunity to make the environment part of their curriculum… students also use the Rail Trial for science lessons, including some surrounding the Big Bang theory.” The discussions fall under the watchful eye of science instructor Tom Desiderio.

In May, the Sentinel published an article by Emmett titled  “CCHS Senior Participates in Kennedy Center Theatre Festival,” which recounts the story of CCHS senior Ayana Banks, who traveled to the nation’s capital to participate in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

“Ayana and her castmates were nominated for the theatre festival for a play called ‘Carburetor: A Ghost Sonata,’ about an autistic person, how they see the world, and how they experience love and grief,” Emmett said.

“Over the past few years, I have had the pleasure of working with quite a number of journalism students at the Collaborative College High School,” said editor-in-chief John Conway. “Under the guidance of teacher Kelly Adams, several of the students have provided articles on a variety of subjects for publication in the Hurleyville Sentinel newspaper.”

The local historian and newspaperman described Emmett’s story on the Milk Train Trail as “a very insightful article about the positive impact… on the community of Hurleyville in general and the CCHS students in particular.” He added that students found “myriad opportunities on the trail, including recreational and educational.” 

Emmett and Mira’s interview with farmer Brett Budde was “very professionally conducted,” and in examining the water situation in Fallsburg, covered “the negative impact the unprecedented development in the Town of Fallsburg is having on his livelihood,” added Conway.

On the theme of covering area news, Emmett said, “I really love being in touch with the community and knowing what’s going on, knowing what’s happening around town and in the community, really getting to dive deeply into subjects, learning as much as I can, and sharing that information.”

He noted that the team of about 10 journalism students from the CCHS works closely with teacher Kelly Adams as well as Conway on stories. 

Emmett has also participated in theatre camps, classes and stage productions at the Forestburgh Playhouse; he’s been with the last since 2022, when he joined the Forestburgh Playhouse Academy. “Last year, I was in a production with actual Broadway actors,” he said. “It was really exciting to work with the people in the ensemble, a group of actors from around the country.”

All academy participants work closely with staffers Kate Wilson and Roque Berlanga. 

While there, Emmett appeared in “The  Little Mermaid,” “Hercules” and “The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical,” in which he played Chiron, Trapp said.

Last year, the ensemble made its mainstage debut at the Forestburgh Playhouse in “The Prom,” while this summer, “Emmett will be joining us as a member of our inaugural Junior Resident Company, and will be starring as Nathan in ‘The Full Monty’ and in the production of ‘Pippin’ this summer,” Trapp said. 

“Emmett is... an intuitive, bold and confident actor, and brings 100 percent to everything,” he continued. “As a featured performer in mainstage and academy productions, Emmett has always been a standout and joy to work with.” 

You can see the members of the Junior Resident Company in “The Full Monty” (Tuesday, July 1 to Sunday, July 13) and “Shrek, the Musical” (performances every Thursday and Saturday, July 10 through August 16). For information, call the box office at 845/794-1194 or email info@FBplayhouse.org.

“I want to pursue theatre a little bit more, but consistently write for local newspapers, really get in touch with the community,” said Emmett.