Mahopac Central School District

News & Headlines

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  Fall Sports Spotlight

  Superintendent Di Carlo and Athletic Director Stephen Luciana talk Fall Athletics in the latest edition of Spotlight https://youtu.be/SA7oTgbWb1w

  District News & Headlines
• featured post

  MHS Announces National Merit Scholars

  Congratulations to Max Semegran and Alexa Tyberg who were named Semifinalists and Angelo DiTocco for being named a National Commended Scholar in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Competition.

  Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. 

  Each of the students shared his and her reaction to the news. Max stated, “I am thankful to my parents, teachers, and the Mahopac High School administration for all their support. These incredible people facilitated an environment that allowed me to achieve this goal.” Alexa said , “I'd just like to say that I'm excited about National Merit and it was really cool to learn I had qualified for it.” Angelo said, “I didn't expect this to happen, but I appreciate the honor!"

  They received this distinction by scoring among the top 5% of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 scholarship program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

  To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT® or ACT® scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

  Finalists will be announced in February 2021.

  District News & Headlines
• featured post

  Austin Road Welcomes New Assistant Principal

  Michelle Tween has joined Austin Road Elementary as the school’s new assistant principal. 

  “I speak for everyone at  Austin Road in saying that I am pleased to welcome Michelle to the Austin Road Family,” said Principal Bryan Gilligan. “I am grateful to the administration and The Board of Education for working diligently to select someone with the combination of educational experience and philosophy that she brings. I look forward to working closely with her to continue the good work being done at Austin Road to the benefit of all our students. I believe that her passion and dedication to early childhood and elementary education is well-aligned with mine and am confident will make a great team.”

  Prior to joining Austin Road, Mrs.Tween spent nearly a decade as Director of Early Childhood Education at the Chapel School in Bronxville supervising and supporting preschool and K-2 team leaders, teachers, and teacher aides. Her other duties included coaching and observing teachers in instruction, management, and planning. She also created and implemented a schedule and protocol for school-wide faculty instructional rounds to create a culture of collegiality and collaboration. She was a reading specialist and a classroom teacher for Kindergarten, first, and second grades and participated on and led several educational and community committees including chairing the Cultural Competence Curriculum Review Committee.

  “I am thrilled to be joining the Austin Road team. The warm welcome I received from Mr. Gilligan, the staff, and all of the teachers has been nothing short of amazing,” said Mrs. Tween.   “Everything that I was told about the culture of Austin Road is what drew me here, and my experience so far is better than I could have imagined.  Austin Road’s commitment to each other, to our students, and to our families will continue to keep us a truly connected and strong community.” 

  Mrs. Tween, who lives in Eastchester, NY, earned both a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fordham University and a master’s degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education as well as an advanced diploma in school building leadership from The College of New Rochelle. She returned to Fordham to earn an Ed.D in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy and is planning to graduate in 2021.

  District News & Headlines

• Revised September/October School Calendar

  In an effort to answer questions that have been asked about the revised calendar (click here for a printable version), we have prepared the following notes to accompany it:

  • September 29 through October 2 - full-day, remote instruction for all students in grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. 
  • Tuesday, September 29 - half-day schedule for all students in grades K, 1, 2, 6, and 9. Both cohorts will follow the half-day schedule on the revised calendar. Blue in person, Gold remote.
  • Wednesday, September 30 - full-day schedule for all students in grades K, 1, 2, 6, and 9. Both cohorts will follow the regular full-day schedule on the revised calendar. Blue in person, Gold remote.
  • Thursday, October 1 - half day schedule for all students in grades K, 1, 2, 6, and 9. Both cohorts will follow the half-day schedule on the revised calendar. Gold in person, Blue remote.
  • Friday, October 2 - full day schedule for all students in grades K, 1, 2, 6, and 9. Both cohorts will follow the regular full-day schedule on the revised calendar. Gold in person, Blue remote.
  • Monday, October 5 - all students will begin following the previously shared hybrid schedule see above. On Tuesday (9/22), we will share the Blue/Gold schedule for the remainder of the year.
  • Friday, October 9 will be a half day of remote instruction for all students.
  • Monday October 12 is a holiday - schools are closed.

  Thank you.

  District News & Headlines

• Welcome Stephen Luciana - Mahopac's New Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics

  The Mahopac Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools  Anthony DiCarlo are pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Luciana as Director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics for the Mahopac Central School District. He was appointed during a special meeting on May 6, 2020.

  Luciana has an extensive background in physical education, health and athletics and will join Mahopac from the Pelham Public School District, where he served as director of health, physical education and athletics. During his tenure, he worked collaboratively with each department implementing the district’s philosophy of inspiring excellence to address the academic, physical, and emotional needs of his students. Specifically he increased the number of athletic teams, created a student athlete committee, and played an integral role in capital improvements related to district athletics. Prior to Pelham, he served as the Assistant Director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics in the Yonkers Public Schools and taught physical education at Greenburgh Eleven and P.S. 32 in the Bronx. He has also held various coaching positions in football, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse in Ardsley and Chester.

  “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Luciana to Mahopac,” Superintendent of Schools Mr. DiCarlo said. “His commitment building school spirit and promoting a positive culture will be an excellent fit in Mahopac as we work to define the future of our programs. His passion for athletics and his student-centered approach will serve us well in leading our physical education, health and athletics department. ”

  Luciana earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and his master’s degree in school administration Mercy College. 

  “I am honored and humbled to join a team of administrators that fosters such a high standard of student achievement and pride,” Luciana said. “I would like to thank the Board of Education for entrusting me with the highly-respected athletic programs of the Mahopac Central School District. I am eager to begin our partnership and bring my dedication and experience in fostering academic and athletic excellence to the Mahopac community.”

  Mr. Luciana succeeds Frank Miele who came out of retirement to step back into the Athletic Director position in Spring 2019, “Frank provided us with steady, reliable leadership just when we needed it most, “DiCarlo said. “He re-established the connections among our athletic department, student athletes, coaches, and community which have positioned us well for the next chapter in Mahopac Athletics. His legacy in Mahopac will live on forever. I cannot thank him enough.”

  Luciana will step into his new position on July 1.

  District News & Headlines

• Mahopac Board of Education Names President and Vice President

  Michael Mongon, a 1979 graduate of Mahopac High School, will serve as Mahopac Board of Education President for the 2020-2021 school year, while Adam Savino assumes the role of vice president.

  Mongon and his wife, Lynne, a 1981 graduate of MHS, together have six children including three MHS graduates. Mongon is a Sports Fields and Parks consultant and Assistant Superintendent for Parks in New Jersey. He also serves on the Town of Carmel Recreation Committee.

  “It’s all about creating an environment where our schools’ staff, both instructional and non-instructional, feel supported, trusted and respected,” Mongon said. “This can be achieved with strong leadership, vision and communication – hallmarks of creating and establishing a true team.”

  Although cognizant of the challenges facing school districts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mongon nonetheless said he was looking forward to helping Mahopac teachers, non-instructional staff and administrators emerge from the crisis stronger than ever. He praised the district for getting Chromebooks to students during the distance learning period.

  “When everyone had to shut down and switch to remote learning, our first thought was how are we going to ensure that all students can get to a computer,” said Mongon. “We were one of the districts able to outfit all of our students with Chromebooks.”

  As the district moves forward, Mongon said he would like to enhance training for teachers who need to gain greater confidence with instructional technology, while continuing to support those teachers who are already facile in the use of technology. 

  “We have excellent teachers and an amazing and very skilled support staff,” he said. “We have to give them the resources to do their jobs effectively. It is an entire team effort.”

  Savino, who has worked in the utility industry for 30 years, is also a longtime resident, having been raised in Mahopac. The father of two was elected to the board in June 2019, having served as co-president of the Lakeview PTO for two years.  He is active in the community, notably as a member of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department and Vice Chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners. 

  District News & Headlines

• Special Edition Spotlight: District Busing

  Please enjoy this Spotlight for all District Families about busing.

  https://youtu.be/aX7ATtzp9P8 

  District News & Headlines

• Please take our Transportation Survey

  Parents and guardians, please click here to take the Transportation Department’s survey to help us plan for September.

  District News & Headlines

• Share Your Thoughts on Regional Reentry Planning thru 7/13

  Recently, Mr. Tromblee, our Assistant Superintendent Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning, held town hall meetings to discuss considerations should the district need to reopen in a distance learning format. These discussions are part of a larger planning approach to reopening. Thank you to all who participated. Additionally, MCSD has been engaged in regional discussions to help coordinate reopening planning and to align to best practice.

  As school districts in our region collectively prepare to continue to plan for reentry in some capacity in Fall 2020, 12 districts within the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES region are interested in learning what you believe is most important to consider for reentry.

  The Thoughtexchange tool is being used to capture a broad range of perspectives and to gain a better understanding of what is important to those in our school communities and throughout our region about reentry. 

  We hope our families, staff, students, and community members will take time to participate in this regional discussion. To access the Thoughtexchange, click this link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/309679837.

  After entering the Thoughtexchange, click the participate button to share your thoughts and then rate at least 20-30 of the thoughts shared by others. 

  When participating, please keep the following in mind:

  • This exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared, but not your identity.
  • Please be polite and respectful as you share and rate thoughts.
  • If you see a thought that is rude, hurtful or identifies a person or group, you can report it by clicking in the upper right corner of the thought.

  Please feel free to revisit the Thoughtexchange site often to rate new ideas until it closes at midnight on Monday, July 13, 2020.

  Thank you for participating and sharing your thoughts to help our school communities and our region best plan for a smooth and successful reentry. 

  Participating school districts include: Bedford CSD, Brewster CSD, Carmel CSD, Chappaqua CSD Croton-Harmon UFSD, Garrison UFSD, Mahopac CSD, Katonah-Lewisboro CSD, Lakeland CSD, North Salem CSD, Ossining UFSD, and Somers CSD.

  If you need technical assistance, please call Thoughtexchange at 1-800-361-9027 ext. 4 or email help@thoughtexchange.com. For more general information about Thoughtexchange, go to: www.thoughtexchange.com.

  Thank you,

  Mahopac Central School District

  District News & Headlines