News Archive
2009-2010 School Year
The Yorktown Central School District adopted the $89,941,000 budget to be put to before voters on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The proposal represents a budget-to-budget increase of 0.09% or $83,000.00. The estimated tax rate increase is 1.5%.
The District is experiencing intermittent outages on its Email network for both incoming and outgoing messages. We are working to fix the problem. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Earlier
this month, 25 students from Mount Vernon’s Longfellow Elementary School visited 25 Yorktown sixth graders at Yorktown's Mildred E. Strang Middle School to celebrate random acts of kindness and being a positive role model in the world. Read more about these inspiring and inspired students who are our middle schoolers.
School begins for students grades K-9 is Monday, September 13. Students grades 10-12 begin Tuesday, September 14.>> See the adopted calendar
The
Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Education raised over $26,000 at it's annual fundraising dinner dance, Viva La Foundation, on Saturday, March 6, 2010. The event also honored the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education.
>> Read more
Yorktown
High School students Joseph Sloan, Laya Rajan and Elbert Heng have been named National Merit Finalists, a distinction that places them among the top graduating seniors in the country. Students earn finalist distinction as a result of SAT scores and academic merit. Congratulations to this trio of outstanding students.
Thomas Donatelli, a resident of Yorktown for sixteen years, took the oath of office as a Trustee of the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education on March 1, 2010. Mr. Donatelli is filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Judith Huntington.
Save the Children and the American Red Cross are the two humanitarian organizations whose work in Haiti is being supported by more than $11,000 in donations collected through the efforts of the Yorktown Central School District. During the last month, the schools have continued to fund raise for Haiti with programs like "Hearts for Haiti" and a "A Night of Altruism," and through bake sales.
The legacy of Rachel Scott, whose young life was cut short
by the tragedy of Columbine High School, lives on in Yorktown High School. Rachel had "this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion it will start a chain reaction..." See the lessons learned about character, kindness and one person's capacity to influence the world in a positive way. >> Rachel's Challenge
Come see the artwork of Crompond young artists on display
in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery in the Administration building. If you can’t make it, take a look at the rich variety of art movements, media and styles from Fauvism paintings and Glue Textured Self Portraits to Storytelling Lunch Bags, Snow Globes and Winter Trees. >> Gallery
In a
collaboration between the Library Media Specialist, Carole Clark, and the YHS English Dept’s Christine Johnsmeyer and Barbara Williams, the High School is integrating blogs with reading and writing. The novel approach to the outside reading assignment encourages students to read literature and then open up communication about what they have read. The blog engages technology and develops the understanding that learning is a collaborative process. >> Watch
Take a look
at the beautifully renovated lockers rooms at Mildred E. Strang Middle School. You'll see the extensive work done during the construction period, and how the locker rooms look today -- beautiful, well lit, functional and safe for our middle school students and community. Thank you!
The Class of 2011 is leading the Yorktown
High School drive to collect toothbrushes that will be distributed in Honduras by CAPE Cares, an organization that brings free medical and dental care to areas in Central America where people have limited access to these services. Community members are invited to join in this public service effort. Please bring your donation to the main office of Yorktown High School.
The legacy of Rachel Scott, whose young life was cut short
by the tragedy of Columbine High School, lives on in Yorktown High School. Rachel had "this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion it will start a chain reaction..." See the lessons learned about character, kindness and one person's capacity to influence the world in a positive way. >> Rachel's Challenge
Come see the artwork of Crompond young artists on display
in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery in the Administration building. If you can’t make it, take a look at the rich variety of art movements, media and styles from Fauvism paintings and Glue Textured Self Portraits to Storytelling Lunch Bags, Snow Globes and Winter Trees. >> Gallery
In a
collaboration between the Library Media Specialist, Carole Clark, and the YHS English Dept’s Christine Johnsmeyer and Barbara Williams, the High School is integrating blogs with reading and writing. The novel approach to the outside reading assignment encourages students to read literature and then open up communication about what they have read. The blog engages technology and develops the understanding that learning is a collaborative process. >> Watch
Take a look
at the beautifully renovated lockers rooms at Mildred E. Strang Middle School. You'll see the extensive work done during the construction period, and how the locker rooms look today -- beautiful, well lit, functional and safe for our middle school students and community. Thank you!
Wish lists
from children in need were filled by Yorktown High School students who raised money, went shopping and wrapped the gifts with some pretty paper and lots of love. Spearheaded by guidance counselor Kathy Quackenbush, Operation Santa helps our students help others enjoy the spirit of the season. >> See the pictures
Students learned
about family bonds at Crompond's Family History Day, a cross generational program that strenghtens connections between school, family, the past and the future. The youngsters had the opportunity to invite a special guest to share life experiences. They loved it! >> Pictures
Meet Chris, a soldier on the frontline in the Middle East.
In his hands is a message of thanks signed by the fifth grade students at Crompond Elementary School. The message of gratitude and a package of goodies from home was delivered to Chris as part of the school's 12th Annual Make A Difference Project, which lives up to its name in a very big way.
Nine varsity teams plus one hundred twenty eight athletes equals one prestigious designation: Scholar Athlete. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association confers the Scholar Athlete Team Award to squads that finish the season with a GPA of 90 or better. In Yorktown, that's every team! These numbers add up to success on the playing field and in the classroom. >> See the details
"Exceptionally clever"
is an apt description of Mohansic Elementary School's contribution to the Superintendent's Art Gallery. Working with a series of themes and with the guidance of their art teachers, the children gave their imaginations and artistry flight. Take a look!
>> Superintendent's Art Gallery
The year
long celebration marking the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's arrival and exploration of the river so central to life and livelihood taught our students much. Brookside students won't soon forget their own exploration.
>> Take a look!
The
New England Winds woodwind quintet, an ensemble of professional Airmen musicians of the United States Air Force Band of Liberty stationed at
Hanscom AFB in Waltham, MA., brought their considerable talent to young musicians at Yorktown High School for an inspiring workshop.>> Picture gallery
A
Yorktown High School cast featuring 100 elementary school students will usher you into the magical land of Narnia in this stage adaptation of the CS Lewis classic, possibly one of the best children's books of the last century, and certainly among the favorites. Performances are November 13, 14 and 15. You'll find out what it all means then. >> More
Kimberly
Chen has been named Valedictorian and Elbert Heng has been named the Salutatorian of the Yorktown High School Class of 2010. These accomplished young people will lead their class at the commencement ceremony in June. >> Learn more
Energy
conservation and environmental sustainability provide the overall thrust of the district's goal to reduce its carbon footprint. From the long-term planning of capital projects to the day-to-day "No Waste" campaign in each of our school buildings, the Yorktown Central School District is developing efficiencies today that impact the future.
>>
Read this overview to learn more
Yorktown
High School seniors Laya Rajan, Elbert Heng, Joseph Sloan were named semifinalists in this year's National Merit Scholarship Program. These young people are among a select group of students recognized for their exceptional academic ability. Less than 1% of high school seniors in the nation’s 22,000 high schools qualify for this distinction, which is earned by taking the PSAT/National Merit Qualifying Test as a junior. This terrific trio has the opportunity to continue in the competition for a Merit Scholarship award that will be offered in the spring.
Brookside
students put their their backs to work, their hands in soil and their minds in motion to build a cultivation station/edible garden at their school. The September ribbon cutting ceremony featured a reading of student musings that made it clear the seeds of learning have taken root.
>> More
Legislation
Yorktown
High School Seniors warmly greeted Congressman John Hall who spoke to the seniors about college and about the newly adopted Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 (SAFRA). The legislation raises the ceiling on Pell Grants from the long held maximum of $5,500 per year to $6,900 in 2011.
>> More
In our effort to create a more transparent governance system and to reduce our carbon footprint, the Yorktown Central School District is implementing an electronic document creation, distribution and archival governance system called BoardDocs.
>> More
The Foundation for Excellence in Yorktown Schools distributed $24,499.87 in grants to support sixteen programs and activities to enrich the educational experience of the District's students this year.
>> Learn more
Phase
three of the six phase capital project plan approved by the voters in 2006 is well underway, with substantial progress made during the summer in key areas. Work on the six phase plan is scheduled to continue through 2013. See a slideshow and overview on projects that began during the first days of summer.

Upper
classmen at Yorktown High School provided a warm welcome and those all important navigational tips to the school's ninth graders last week, making for a smooth first day of school. The Big Buddy program is a YHS tradition that helps the school's youngest students make the transition from middle to high school, and celebrates a true milestone.

Superintendent Ralph Napolitano (left) and Assistant Superintendent Florence T. O'Connor (2nd from left) welcomed new and returning teachers last week for an orientation and professional development training. Most of the District's new teachers are filling positions open because of retirements and leaves of absence, and several are returning in new roles. Also pictured are
Maureen Hynes, Kari Purdy, Walter Gulick,
Traci Sandler, Travis Richards, Thomas Dyer, Susan Sabella, Jessica Schnabel, Justin Steenblok, Jessie L. Wallace. Maureen Kessler is not in the photo. Faculty and staff officially return for the school year Tuesday, September 1.
At its annual Organizational Meeting, the members of the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education re-elected Mrs. Jackie Carbone to serve as president. Mrs. Karen Corrado was re-elected vice president. Both will serve one year terms in their leadership positions.
>> More