Inside Yorktown CSD
Yorktown Schools Community Newsletter | October 2023
As we share this newsletter, we recognize the profound pain and grief that many of our students are experiencing as a result of Saturday's attack on Israel and the ensuing conflict. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are extended to everyone affected. Please know that our faculty, staff, and administrators stand ready to support all of our students. Always know that your child's teacher, counselor, clinical team, or administrators are only an email or call away.
Welcome to the October 2023 edition of “Inside Yorktown CSD.” This newsletter will take you inside our schools by sharing photos, stories, announcements, upcoming events, and more — all with the goal of creating a more connected school community.
Oct. 16-20 — Mohansic PTA Book Fair
Oct. 18-20 — Brookside PTA Book Fair
Oct. 18 — Crompond Apple Fun Run
Oct. 19 — Crompond Farm Fest (Rain Date: Oct. 27)
Oct. 20 — Crompond PTA Fright Night
Oct. 20 — Brookside Trunk or Treat
Oct. 21 — YHS Music Department Tag Sale
Oct. 23 — Board of Education Meeting
Oct. 23-27 — Red Ribbon Week
Nov. 1 — Brookside Picture Retakes
Nov. 6 — Board of Education Meeting
Nov. 7 — MESMS Picture Retakes
Nov. 9 — Crompond Picture Retakes
Nov. 9 — Mohansic Picture Retakes
Nov. 10 — Schools Closed in Observance of Veterans Day
Nov. 13 — Superintendent's Conference Day (No Students)
Nov. 14-18 — Crompond Book Fair
Nov. 17-18 — YHS Drama Club Performance
Athletic schedules can be found here.
Facilities Needs Assessment
We continue to provide facilities planning updates at each Board of Education meeting regarding the Board’s consideration of a capital project to meet enrollment and capacity needs. If you would like to view any of our past presentations, you can visit our Facilities Needs Assessment website, which will continue to be updated regularly with new information.
Unless noted otherwise, all Board of Education meetings will be held in the middle school cafeteria. You can find agendas and upcoming meeting dates by visiting the following link: BOE Agendas
Please know that all meetings will be uploaded to our YouTube channel the day following the meeting. The latest video is enclosed for your viewing.
Pre-K Update
At the Sept. 18 Board of Education meeting, Dr. Hattar and representatives from YMCA of Central & Northern Westchester provided an update about the first few weeks of Universal Pre-K at YCSD. That portion of the meeting is available here.
Modified Sports Presentation
At the October 23rd meeting, we will be delivering a presentation on athletics, with a focus on modified sports to the Board of Education. All are welcome to attend these informative presentations. The meeting will be in the middle school cafeteria at 7 p.m.
From Service Dogs to Disney Magic: Yorktown CSD Awards First iGrants
Service dogs, green screens, and a Disney Imagineering class are coming to the Yorktown Central School District as part of our first-ever round of Innovation Grants!
Each month throughout the school year, teachers can apply for these iGrants, each worth up to $1,000, with the goal of supporting innovative curriculum-centric projects. The District received many submissions for the month of September, each showcasing the passion our teachers have for education. While not every proposal could be funded this month, the District will consider even more applications in the coming months.
Here is a glimpse at the five innovative projects that earned grants in September:
1. BluePath Service Dogs (Across All Schools): BluePath’s “Paws to Learn” program will bring service dogs into the classroom to support social-emotional learning. The grant will support six school visits district-wide. Mrs. DeIngeniis, a special education teacher at Crompond Elementary School, has worked closely with the organization since 2017. “It’s the best day. The kids absolutely love it. We sing to the dogs and take turns walking the dogs up and down the hallway. It’s a really nice program.”
2. Generation Genius (MESMS): Generation Genius is a teaching resource that enhances curriculum through educational videos, activities, quizzes, reading material, and more. This software will be used in an 8:1:2 class at Mildred E. Strang Middle School.
3. Genetics Study in Middle School Science (MESMS): Middle school students will dive deep into the world of genetics using hands-on lab activities. Rather than just simulating, they will use real equipment to test and analyze DNA, offering a glimpse into advanced genetic techniques and the scientific process.
4. Imagineering CORE Class (MESMS): Tapping into the magic of Disney, students can immerse themselves in an Imagineering course. This initiative allows students to conceptualize, engineer, and create 3D models.
5. Green Screen Multimedia (YHS): This project incorporates green-screen technology into the high school’s television and film course.
Crompond Welcomes New Principal
The Yorktown Central School District is thrilled to welcome Jennifer Jacobs as the new principal of Crompond Elementary School!
Before joining Crompond over the summer, Ms. Jacobs said she was already familiar with the District’s reputation for having a strong academic program and a supportive community, sharing that “Yorktown is a district that others look to for ideas.”
So, how does she feel about Yorktown a month into the school year?
“It’s everything I heard it was. It’s a great place to be. The parents have been wonderful and the staff is super welcoming and supportive.”
YHS Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist
We are proud to announce that Yorktown High School senior Julia Whalen has been named a semifinalist in the prestigious 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. This honor places Julia among the top-performing high school seniors in the nation!
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation released the names of over 16,000 semifinalists in this year's competition. These outstanding students now have the chance to compete for a share of nearly $28 million in National Merit Scholarships, which will be awarded next spring.
Out of the more than 1.3 million juniors from around 21,000 high schools who took the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, less than 1% were named semifinalists.
About 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the title of Merit Scholar.
Way to go, Julia!
MESMS Students Make Biomonitoring Trips
This month, our sixth-grade students are taking trips to Hunterbrook Stream for some real-world experience as part of their “Stream Ecosystems/Water Quality” unit.
Not only did they test the pH levels of the water to understand its health, but they also got up close and personal with some macroinvertebrates!
This hands-on lesson has been a cornerstone of our sixth-grade science experience for over three decades.
First Responders Night 2023
On September 14 at Charlie Murphy Field, the Huskers edged out a victory against Mahopac, 19-17. Before the kickoff, the Yorktown Central School District was proud to honor the First Responders of Yorktown.
Thank you to the Yorktown Police Department, Yorktown Volunteer Fire Department, and Yorktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps for all you do.
YHS Junior Joins Elite Columbia Science Honors Program
Congratulations to Amani Gupta, a junior in the Yorktown High School Science Research Program, on being accepted into the Columbia Science Honors Program!
This highly competitive program is specifically designed for high school students in grades 10 through 12 who have a strong interest in the sciences and mathematics. The program allows students to work directly with college professors and take courses at Columbia University.
Way to go, Amani! We are so proud of you.
YHS Musicians Earn Area All-State Honors
Congratulations to these impressive Yorktown High School musicians! Eighteen of our band, chorus, and orchestra students have been chosen to participate in the Westchester County School Music Association Area All-State Festival this November.
BAND: Param Amre (Grade 9, Percussion), Gillian Grabowski (Grade 10, Horn), Esther-Anne Villamin (Grade 12, Trumpet), George Whalen (Grade 12, Trumpet), and Julia Whalen (Grade 12, Flute)
ORCHESTRA: Julia Tobey (Grade 10, Viola), Carol Yang (Grade 11, Viola), Amani Gupta (Grade 11, Viola), Ryan Lee (Grade 11, Violin), Karen Yang (Grade 11, Violin), Thomas Karintholil (Grade 12, Violin), and Emily Tian (Grade 11, Cello)
CHOIR: Annabelle Newberger (Grade 12, Alto 1), Grace Morris (Grade 12, Alto 1), Mikino Elley Ishikawa (Grade 11, Alto 1), Evan Menocal (Grade 12, Bass 1), Abraham Marron (Grade 12, Bass 2), and Gregory Dalietos (Grade 12, Tenor 1)
New Drone Course Takes Flight at Yorktown High School
Beginning this year, students can come to Yorktown High School and leave as certified drone pilots.
“Introduction to Drones” is one of several innovative elective courses that has been introduced for the 2023-24 school year, reflecting the District’s commitment to provide students with new and exciting learning opportunities in a variety of fields. In recent years, the District has also added courses in areas such as engineering, arts, AP psychology, and app design.
Another exciting course this year is “Film as Literature,” which aims to foster an in-depth understanding of film in relation to literary elements. Taught by Michele Monaco, this course offers a deep dive into the nuances of filmmaking through classroom discussions, journaling, written critiques, and other projects. Additionally, students will align their cinematic exploration with relevant literature, delving into select film critiques, analytical essays, and insightful articles.
YCSD Announces Positive Audit Results
The Yorktown Central School District is proud to announce the successful completion of its annual financial audit for the close of the 2022-2023 school year, exemplifying the District’s commitment to financial transparency and accountability.
At the Board of Education meeting on October 2, the District's external auditors presented an audit summary and highlighted the following key points:
The District earned an unqualified, or “clean,” opinion for both its basic financial statements and the extra classroom activities report. This signifies that there were no identified issues that would compromise the integrity of these reports.
The management letter, a tool used to convey any recommendations or control deficiencies, noted zero findings, a commendable achievement that speaks to the District's robust internal control systems.
The District closed the fiscal year with a general fund unassigned fund balance that complies with New York State real property tax law.
Additionally, the extra classroom activity fund, which comprises numerous student clubs and associated activities across various buildings, also received no reportable findings. The independent auditor remarked that it is “very uncommon to not have findings,” praising the District for this accomplishment two years in a row.
Board members expressed gratitude toward the District’s business office for their hard work and toward the auditor for their diligence and collaboration.
More News & Headlines
You can visit the District's Communications website to keep up with the latest news and to read archived stories.
Interested in working as a Certified Teaching Assistant (CTA), Substitute Teacher, or Teacher Aide in the Yorktown Central School District? Join our team today!
Please click the following link to apply: https://www.applitrack.com/yorktown/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1
You can read more District highlights by visiting our website and social media pages, which are updated regularly with stories, photos, and announcements.
Yorktown Central School District
Website: www.yorktown.org
Location: 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
Phone: 914-243-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorktownCSD/
Twitter: @YorktownCSD