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Getting to Know Superintendent Christine A. Tona

Christine A. Tona, former Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction of the Riverhead Central School District, takes the reins as Superintendent of Mahopac Schools on Friday, July 1.

When Tona was selected by the Board of Education in March, community members learned about her credentials and accomplishments. During the next few months, Tona will host a series of conversations with community members, parents, students and teachers, with a goal of learning more about the district and its priorities.

If you haven’t already met Superintendent Tona during her transition visits to the district, let this brief Q & A serve as an icebreaker.

Q: What is your top priority as the new superintendent?

A: My priority is to get to know the community, students and staff and to get their input on where we are going to take the district in the future. That input will go into building upon the Strategic Plan to create goals and an action plan for the next five years. I also look forward to bringing the district back to normalcy and providing students with all the opportunities they deserve.

Q: What did you want to be when you were a child?

A: For as long as I can remember, all the way back to kindergarten, I have wanted to be a teacher. I loved my elementary school years and had a strong relationship with my kindergarten teacher. We kept in touch even when I became a teacher.

Q: What did you teach?

A: I have always loved math so I earned my certification in math for grades 7 through 12. I spent the first 10 years teaching math, and the next 11 years as an elementary school principal. So, I was able to do both of the things I loved. Then I spent another 10 years as an administrator in the district office, which I have enjoyed and learned from.

Q: What is your favorite destination?

A: I love traveling the USA, going to different regions and exploring all that this country has to offer. Last summer, I visited Arizona, Utah and Nevada, went to the Grand Canyon. I have visited many other states including Alaska, Maine, Florida and California. I also love going to Mets games and my bucket list includes going to stadiums across the country where the Mets play,

Q: When was the last time you danced?

A: I just danced last week at a retirement party for a former colleague from West Babylon, Long Island. I think relationships are really important and pivotal to living well. It was great to see former colleagues and catch up with them.

Q: When was the last time you sang?

A: I sing all the time in the car.

Q: What do you think is the greatest asset of a public education?

A: The greatest asset of a public education is the opportunity for students to try new things, which will help them form lifelong friendships and choose their future career paths. It is important for educators to push students out of their comfort zones and get them to try new things.

Q: Would you tell us a little about your family?

A: I come from a small family. I have one brother and my mom lives with me. I have two adult sons. Michael, who graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, is an animator. He recently worked on the “Sonic the Hedgehog 2” movie. Ryan is a mechanical engineering student at the University of Rhode Island where he is a decathlete on the Division 1 track and field team. I am very proud of both of them.

Q: Is there anything you would like the community to know?

A: I am honored to have this opportunity to be Superintendent of Mahopac Schools, and I am very grateful to everyone who has been so welcoming to me. My fiancé and I just bought a home in Mahopac and we look forward to spending the rest of our lives here.

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Christine A. Tona Comes to Mahopac with a Proven Track Record

An accomplished school district leader, Christine A. Tona comes to the Mahopac Central School District from Riverhead Central School District, where she served as Interim Superintendent at the height of the COVID crisis in 2020. The following is a summary of Superintendent Tona’s professional experience:

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Riverhead Central School District, July 2016 to June 2022.
Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction, West Babylon Union Free School District, July 2012 to July 2016.
Principal, Forest Avenue Elementary School, West Babylon, July 2001 to June 2012.
Coordinator of Mathematics, West Babylon, September 2000 to June 2001.
Teacher, September 1991 to June 2000.

Superintendent Tona holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Adelphi University, a master’s degree in reading from Adelphi University and a professional diploma in education administration from Dowling College in Oakdale, NY.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac High School Graduation

In a ceremony that was part celebration and part goodbye, Mahopac High School graduated 327 students on Friday evening and wished retiring School Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo well in his retirement.

The graduation had been rescheduled to Friday because of weather and as graduates walked down the turf field, passing under an enormous American flag that waved in a summer breeze, bleachers full of family and friends erupted in cheers.

High School Principal Matt Lawrence took to the podium and noted that 283 members of the Class of 2022 are going on to a two or four year college, 23 plan to work, 14 will take a gap year and seven are enlisting in the military.

“You were the class to lead us back,” Dr. Lawrence said. “You were able to shake off the remnants of the last year and a half. You ran clubs, you played sports, you made music. You owned Mahopac High School. You have strong core values and that makes strong leaders. I want to say two words to you: “Go Pac!”

Salutatorian Kaylie Ann Hammond spoke about a high school career that went from in-person classes to studying online to returning with a lot of contact tracing.

Valedictorian Matteo Perillo noted there were many statistics of which his class could be proud, but that education in Mahopac High was about more than numbers, it was about heart and values.

Superintendent DiCarlo said he was honored to have served the Mahopac Central School District.

Later Dr. Lawrence returned to the podium and spoke about all that DiCarlo accomplished in his four and half years as superintendent.

“We finally have college courses in every area of the curriculum,” Dr. Lawrence said. “We now have a STEM lab and updated science classes and a music wing and you should see our library/media center. We have been named one of America’s best schools. Mr. DiCarlo, that’s what happens when leadership works with leadership.”

District News & Headlines

Administrator for a Day

Not every teenager would jump at the chance to be a school district administrator for a day, but Mahopac High School junior Kevin Whitmarsh did just that when he won a raffle hosted by the Mahopac Lions/Leo’s fundraiser for their Relay for Life team.

The prize was to spend the day trailing Michael Tromblee, Mahopac’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning. Tromblee serves as co-advisor to the Leo’s Club and Kevin is a member of the Leo’s.

"It was a great day," Tromblee said. "I think Kevin learned a lot. The more exposure to careers you can get at a young age, the better equipped you will be to decide what direction to take in your life."

A week before the school year ended, Kevin visited Tromblee's office in the Mahopac Falls School for a discussion on what innovations students might like to see in classrooms. Then he participated in beta testing of new materials. Later he helped fly a drone over the Falls School athletic fields with Jay Zides, the District’s Secondary Educational Technology Specialist. Zides happens to be a certified drone pilot.

Kevin also got to participate in a discussion on district professional learning activities, take a tour of the bus garage and read a book to Country Knolls Preschoolers.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Seniors Focus on Career with Internships

When Gabby Cazzari started her senior year internship at the Yorktown Center for Specialty Surgeries, she was sure of one thing: she did not want to see any blood.

She was interested in medical technology, not nursing, she said.

“She was adamant,” said Bernadette Lingardo, the English teacher and coordinator of the WISE program at Mahopac High School. “I’m so excited that after spending a semester interning in a medical environment, she now wants to be a nurse.”

WISE, or WISE Individualized Senior Experience, gives Mahopac seniors the chance to intern in a business they want to learn more about. The program, which has been in place in Mahopac High School since 1997, accepted 30 students this year. They interned in all sorts of different workplaces – from architecture firms to police departments, film production companies to veterinary offices, elementary schools to design shops. A Mahopac High School graduate runs the film production company that hosted the intern.

“In the first semester we introduce goals and objectives,” Lingardo said. “The students do research, write cover letters and visit sites where they might want to intern. In the second semester they go to the site.”

It is a yearlong process that begins with an application in 11th grade and ends when each student delivers a presentation about their experience to other students, teachers and parents.

“The presentation is the culminating activity,” Lingardo said during the weeks-long presentation period at the end of May. “They worked hard to get to this place.”

In Gabby’s presentation she talked about how much she had learned from the experience.

“I wanted to experience a medical environment and figure out my future career,” Gabby said. “WISE made a huge impact on me. I walked into WISE not wanting to even see blood. Now I watch bunions getting cut off and see people getting cataracts removed, and I think it’s really interesting.”

District News & Headlines

Gardening Across The Curriculum

When the fifth graders in Beth Doré’s class start to garden, they learn about more than getting their hands dirty.

Doré, who has been the garden coordinator at Austin Road Elementary School for 1o years, turns gardening into an opportunity for hands-on learning and incorporates most subjects in the curriculum into the experience.

“The students start by writing a story we call “Hello Garden,” Doré said. “It's about using your five senses in the garden. Then they learn about plant parts for science, distances and measuring for math and healthy eating for health and nutrition.”

Along the way, she works some history and geography into the lessons. It is a lot to pack into a small plot of land, but somehow she manages to plant the seeds of learning along with the tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, herbs and flowers that grow in abundance.

On a recent morning, the students harvested the bounty. They washed, dried and prepared it into a salad before serving it to their schoolmates. To them, it seemed, the gardening experience was all about the fun.

“We planted everything in the spring,” said Aidan, who is 11. “Now we’re going to harvest chives and lettuce and Swiss chard.”

Doré taught her class to test the soil, make the compost, fill the beds and lay the irrigation system.

“They do all the behind the scenes work, then the other fifth grade classes get a chance to do the planting and all the kids get a chance to harvest,” she said.

When Lisa Coen’s fifth graders came out for their turn at harvesting, Sophia, a 10-year-old in Doré’s class, explained the right way to harvest lettuce.

“It grows from the middle, so you take the leaves from the outside first,” Sophia said. “You go from the outside to the inside.”

Then she stood back and smiled as the other students picked lettuce leaves for their own salad.

“The best part of this is that the students feel so proud,” Doré said.

District News & Headlines

Farm Animals Visit Lakeview

Some teachers introduce their students to fish or amphibians to teach them science, but Arielle Goldstein, a special education teacher at Lakeview Elementary School in Mahopac, brought a bunch of mini farm animals from her home to teach her students about animal care.

“I grew up working at Muscoot Farm in Somers,” said Goldstein. “I think it is so great to expose kids to animals that they would not normally see.”

A year ago, Goldstein and her fiance, Dan Honovich, who is a veterinarian, bought a farm in Patterson and started stocking it with dwarf goats, mini donkeys, mini cows and micro cows. They now have a collection of 30 animals at their farm, Ridge Ranch.

On a recent sunny morning the couple brought a few of the small farm animals to Lakeview for all of the second graders to see.

Samantha, 8, led a mini donkey named Caz on leash as a group of her classmates gathered round. Though only second graders, the children towered over Caz, who only stood as tall as their waists.

“My uncle’s dog is bigger than this donkey,” Samantha said. “She’s so small.”

Caz, who likes having her cheeks scratched, didn’t mind the children fussing over her. One boy, Sammy, played with the donkey’s mane and shaped it into a mohawk, but the animal didn’t seem to notice.

“They are very gentle creatures,” Honovich said. “They are great with children.”

Goldstein hopes to make the farm animal visit an annual event.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Senior Athletes Saluted

Athletes, coaches, families and friends gathered on the Mahopac High School Field on Wednesday evening for the Senior Athletic Awards Ceremony.

“This is a great night. It’s not only a chance to celebrate our athletes, but also to celebrate the programs, coaches and teams that helped them develop their talents,” said School Board President Michael Mongon. “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to create an athlete. Here in Mahopac, we make sure our athletes work just as hard on their academic skills as their sports, and that they have a strong sense of teamwork and fair play.”

Then Mongon turned the microphone over to School Superintendent Anthony Dicarlo.

“Athletes, you do us proud,” DiCarlo said.“The Board and I salute you for your scholastic achievements, your athletic achievements and your community service. You have grown in every aspect of your lives. You are, indeed, a credit to your high school, your parents and yourselves.”

Before the awards were presented, the names of 16 seniors who were named All-League for spring sports and seven seniors who were named All-Section, were read to the crowd.

These included:

All-League Spring – Seniors 2022

Women’s Lacrosse
• Ava Jennings
• Avery Przymylski
• Grace Witt
• Nicole Panny
• Audrey Colucci
• Ally Savino
• Mia DelBene

Softball
• Gabby Marino
• Mia Lanter
• Ava Lichtenberger

Baseball
• Joey Koch
• Conor Watts

Track & Field
• Kaylie Ann Hammond

Men’s Lacrosse
• Sean Massett
• Michael Harney
• Chris Evans

All-Section Spring – Seniors 2022

Women’s Lacrosse
• Ava Jennings
• Avery Przymylski

Softball
• Gabby Marino
• Ava Lichtenberger

Baseball
• Joey Koch

Men’s Lacrosse
• Sean Massett
• Michael Harney

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Musicians Shine In Competition

It was a clean sweep for Mahopac High School at this year’s Music in the Parks competition in Massachusetts.

All five ensembles from the high school’s well-regarded music department won awards and two of the groups — the Symphonic Band and the Sinfonietta – took home the biggest awards of the day.

The competition, held at Westfield State University in May, featured 23 ensembles from high schools throughout the Northeast. It was followed by a trip to Six Flags New England, where the adjudicators announced the winners.

Mahopac ensembles received the following:

• Sinfonietta – Superior Rating, First Place, Best Overall Orchestra. Mahopac’s Sinfonietta received the highest score in the entire competition.

• Symphonic Band – Superior Rating, First Place, Best Overall Band of the Day

• Wind Ensemble – Superior Rating, First Place

• Chorus – Excellent Rating, Second Place

• Philharmonic Orchestra – Excellent Rating, Second Place

“Students performed extremely well that day,” said Band Director Rich Williams. “They weren’t expecting these results because they are very aware of what goes into a good musical performance and they hold themselves to a high standard.”

The Mahopac Central School District is known for its outstanding performing arts programs. Mahopac is regularly cited as one of the best communities for music education by the NAMM Foundation.

Williams credits hard work through daily rehearsals and individual practices, a commitment to excellence and the school district offering students many opportunities to perform.

Judges in the Music In the Parks competition rated performances by assigning points in each of five categories – tone, intonation, rhythm, technique and musicality.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Students Learn to Write Really Short Stories

It might be hard to summarize a life in six words, but the assignment was to write a six-word memoir, so that’s what Bruce Procel, a Mahopac High School junior, set out to do.

“You’ll forget it, we all do,” he wrote as one memoir. Later he added: “It’s not going to last, so enjoy.”

Procel, who said he usually writes short stories – but not just six words long – in his free time, was one of the students from local high schools who attended the 35th Annual Young Author’s Conference. Sponsored by Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES in May. The conference, held virtually, attracted 160 students from 18 school districts.

Growing up, Crystal Maldonado loved books. But the books she read didn’t resonate with her.

“I never saw fat, Latino girls in the books I read,” Maldonado said. “I never saw fat, brown characters. It made me wonder if there was something wrong with me. Don’t we get to have adventures, I thought,” she said.

Maldonado’s experience spurred her to write, “Fat Chance, Charlie Vega,” a winsome, coming-of-age young adult novel whose protagonist is a self-described fat, Puerto Rican-American teenager.

Maldonado shared her writer’s journey at the conference with some of the region’s most talented young writers.

Maldonado, who has since written a second young adult novel, said her “driving force is the desire to make people feel seen.” She said her books include characters who are transgender, who have two moms, who are from different socio-economic groups.

One student asked Maldonado how she got her first book published. To which, she said, “Google is my friend. So, I finished my book and typed ‘I just wrote a book, now what’ into the google search and found a guide to all the steps to getting published.”

In addition to hearing from Maldonado, conference participants could choose from 17 workshops on topics ranging from writing the murder mystery to developing young adult characters to balancing realism and emotion in poetry.

Molly Decker, a Mahopac High School senior, said her favorite workshop centered on finding yourself in poetry.

“I write a lot of emotional poetry,” she said. “Poetry is short and you can do it in the moment. Writing short stories is much harder.”

Molly was impressed by the diversity of experiences her fellow young poets expressed.

“These days a lot of extracurricular activities are geared toward science,” said Adam Lewis, Chair of the English Department at Mahopac High School. “The Young Author’s Conference gives students who are interested in the humanities an opportunity to expand their skills and it also shows them that there is value in the humanities.”

Adams first saw the impact of the Young Author’s Conference 24 years ago, when he started as an English teacher in Mahopac.

“Mahopac participated before I even started in the district,” Adams said. “As long as BOCES has held the conference, Mahopac has sent students.”

In a workshop on Writing for the 5 o’clock News, reporter Nadia Galindo talked about not only reporting the facts, but thinking about visuals that can be used during the broadcast.

“When you are out on a story and someone says there’s a sign on that store that says something related to the story, make sure your camera person gets that footage because you need images to help tell the story,” she said.

Galindo also broke down the classic television news story into the intro that the anchor will read, a three-sentence summary of the story and a sound bite or quote from someone on the scene.

Danielle Colangelo, Jennifer Delvecchio and Diane Sarna organized the conference. In addition to Galindo, presenters included Alan Beechey, Carter Benes, Vin Dacquino, Joe Ferraro, Jimin Han, Chris Hansen-Nelson, Emma Kress, Terri Linton, Sangheeta Mehta, Matt Pasca, Kim Purcell, Steven Salvatore, Rachel M. Simon, Tom Slot, Frankie Soto and Amy Stern.

District News & Headlines

Essay Contest Winner Surprise

Mahopac High School junior Tay Chang received a $1,000 Brighter Future College Scholarship after winning an essay contest from Mountainside Treatment Center. Tay's health teacher, Valarie Nierman, recommended that Tay, who loves to write, submit to the contest, which sought essays that foster awareness surrounding the disease of addiction.

Though Tay's Mom, Grace Kim, and MHS guidance counselor, Marianna Callagy, knew about her win, they kept the secret. Mountainside officials Candace Dean and Alexandra Helfer came to the high school and surprised Tay with the scholarship.

District News & Headlines

Hometown Heroes Banner Honors Tromblee

Just in time for Memorial Day, the Mahopac High School Leo's Club and its parent club, the Mahopac Lions, have honored Michael Tromblee with a Hometown Heroes Banner.

Tromblee, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997-2001, serves as co-advisor to the Leo's. He is Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning for the Mahopac Central School District.

"The students decided to get Michael a special thank you for his extraordinary efforts in helping grow our Leo Club and for his service to our country," said fellow co-advisor Farrah Ballard, who serves in the position along with Danielle Whitmarsh.

The Military Tribute Banner that features Tromblee is hung across from Red Mills Market on Route 6N in Mahopac Falls. Banners honoring Veterans, Active-Duty, Reserve and National Guard Members can be purchased by families, friends, colleagues and supporters and line roads throughout Putnam County.

The Leo's Club was chartered in September 2020 and grew to 70 members strong during the pandemic. This past year they accomplished:

United for the Troops fundraising and packed care packages
Art from the Heart - Mahopac school district students create artwork gifted to deployed military and Putnam Hospital cardiac patients to brighten their day. Hosted three events to date.
Easter Egg Hunt Fundraiser
Earth Day Clean Up
Thank a school nurse
Donated to school Thanksgiving dinner, Pac Love, LLS, Relay for Life, Women's Resource Center, adopted a student for junior prom, etc.

District News & Headlines

Middle School Public Speaking Contest

Women’s rights, bullying and what it means to be a hero were the topics that won the day in the Mahopac Middle School’s Public Speaking Contest.

The contest, which has been tradition at Mahopac Middle School for 29 years, gave students up to a minute and a half each to speak and was held after school early in May.

“I gave a speech about heroes and what I think a hero is,” said Kevin Behrendt, an eighth grader who was one of three winners. “I think a hero is someone who does something without the intent of helping themselves.”

Facing a room full of students, parents, current and retired teachers and judges, did not phase Kevin who said he was always confident talking in front of a group.

“Students were invited to speak publicly about the topics of respect or about heroes and heroines,” said Mary Wheeler who teaches special education English and Social Studies at the middle school. “They could write their own speech or read from a printed work. We invite retired teachers, former students and staff to be the judges of the contest. The students are responsible for practicing prior to the contest and are able to invite friends and family to attend. Winners are tallied from the judges scores.”

Matthia Guy, the seventh grade winner, dressed up as a suffragette and talked about women’s rights.

“I found a dress and a sash in the attic,” Matthia said. “I said that women should be just as respected as men when it comes to equal pay and. everything else.”

In prepping for the contest, the teachers gave students tips on how to calm their nerves.

“I was a little nervous up there, but I took sips from a glass of water and deep breaths,” said Matthia, who just recently moved to Mahopac. “I want to be an actress or a scientist so being able to give presentations or have better social skills overall will help me.”

Gabriella Olivieri, who won for sixth grade, said she entered the contest just to get over her stage fright.

“I wanted to do it because I have always wanted to do the school play but I was too scared,” Gabriella said. “I wanted to face my fear.”

“I talked about bullying and I shared some stuff about how I got bullied,” Gabriella said. “I feel like it’s good to admit that you’ve been bullied because kids should talk about it.”

District News & Headlines

One School, One Book and Lots of Fun

Second grader Iker Contreras couldn’t get enough of “The Lemonade War,” the book that every child at Lakeview Elementary School – from kindergarten through fifth grade – read as part of Lakeview’s One School, One Book event.

Iker discussed the book with his classmates, his family and anyone who wanted to talk about how the characters teamed up to work together toward a goal, even when they didn’t really like one another.

But the part that Iker liked the most, came after the entire school finished the book, which was written by Jaqueline Davies. The best part, he said, was “The Challenge,” in which Lakeview Principal Jennifer Pontillo and several teachers had a Lemonade War of their own.

“It was very crazy,” Iker, 7, said. “It was a race and the torture was when Mrs. Pontillo got bonked over the head with a barrel full of lemonade. That was so funny.”

All of the elementary schools in the Mahopac Central School District have been running similar one book schoolwide reading events for several years now, though each school calls it by a slightly different name and not every school has such a dramatic finish. The PTOs in each school buy the books for the entire school.

The program was a big hit right from the start. Then, during the pandemic, “One School, One Book” went high-tech. Teachers, teacher aides and school staff took turns recording chapters of the book to be placed on a website that the children could access at home. High school students read chapters in Spanish so Lakeview’s English language learners and their families could participate as well. The reading schedule was placed on the website, with chapters assigned to each day. Children and their families were asked not to jump ahead.

Patricia Huestis, Instructional Educational Technology Specialist for K-5 schools, set up the websites.

“During the pandemic, we needed a way to do read-alouds for the kids, so we decided to record teachers reading each chapter,” Huestis said. “It worked really well, and we decided to keep doing it. We Screencastify the book cover and the kids can just sit, listen and concentrate on the voice that’s reading.”

Leigh Galione, Lakeview’s building coordinator and the district’s ENL Chair said sharing one book schoolwide brings the students, teachers, staff families together.

“Our One School, One Book initiative brings our entire school community together,” Galione said. “Parents & guardians can carve out time at night to read to their younger children. Siblings read to each other. Some teachers do chapter read-alouds.“

The reading took place during the month of March, and when every student finished the book, the “OSOB Challenge” was revealed.

The challenge “Jen Pontillo vs. Paws and Friends,” pitted the principal against the school’s special area teachers in a race that involved balancing lemons on spoons, squeezing lemon juice into containers and carrying marshmallows on chopsticks – not to mention a lot of hooting and hollering from the students and teachers who lined up along the route to cheer.

At the end of the race, Pontillo was doused, NFL style, with a cooler-full of lemonade.

“Connecting to each other through common literature is a wonderful, unifying experience,” Galione said. “To have that shared experience culminate in an event that the entire school can witness and participate in was the icing on the cake!”

The challenge sparked such interest in reading that Iker is now reading the second book in the series, "The Lemonade Crime."

District News & Headlines

Top Scholars of the Class of 2022

The seniors who have been named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Mahopac High School Class of 2022 are not only highly driven, academically successful students, they also each intend to use their talents to make the world a better place.

Matteo Perillo, who was named valedictorian, plans to tackle climate change, and Kaylie Ann Hammond, who was named salutatorian, hopes to help people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries.

“They are remarkable students and caring people,” said Mahopac High School Principal Dr. Matthew Lawrence. “We are so proud of them, and I’m sure their families and friends are, too.”

Matteo, who is president of the school’s Environmental Club as well as a member of the National, Italian and Science Honor Societies, plans to study renewable energy engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

“I’ve always been interested in the environment and I always liked science and math,” Matteo said. “So this is a way that I can help the environment while doing something I like.”

A well-rounded student, Matteo earned All League for cross country and plays trumpet in several school bands.

“What makes Matteo most proud is his work on a project through our Science Research Program,” Mahopac High School Guidance Counselor Anna Boyle said. “Students in the program are required to partner with a mentor in the research field and, although it was a challenge due to the pandemic, Matteo was able to start a project looking into perovskites which is a material used in research for experimental solar cells and determining how new additives can increase their stability thereby making it cheaper and less wasteful.”

Salutatorian Kaylie Ann Hammond is interested in rehabilitative engineering, which involves creating technological solutions to physical or cognitive problems. She plans to study biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt University because it has the research facilities for the kind of work she hopes to do.

“In the future I want to help people with brain injuries,” Kaylie Ann said. “Vanderbilt has all the programs and the research facilities for the things I want to do.”

“Although she has always had a passion for science, two major events in her life have influenced her interest in the field,” Guidance Counselor Anna Boyle said. “One was when her uncle was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury after a serious car accident. The other was when her sister was diagnosed with a brain lesion at four years old which also required invasive brain surgery and numerous medical visits and hospital stays over the next several years.”

Kaylie Ann is an AP Scholar, Scholar Athlete, and member of four academic Honor Societies. She is also captain of her gymnastics and tennis teams, and serves as treasurer in student government.

District News & Headlines

It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s Vowel Man

When a man in a blue bodysuit burst into Margaret Bartholomew’s kindergarten class at Fulmar Road Elementary School this week and started waving a shield featuring the letters A, E, I, O and U, it wasn’t quite the normal start to a reading lesson.

The students started chattering, pointing and laughing.

“I’m Vowel Man,” the masked hero said. “I’m here to make sure you know your vowels, because vowels can help you form words and help your reading come alive.”

To help the kindergartners remember their vowels, Vowel Man gave each child a paper "shield" featuring – what else – vowels.

“Let’s say them together,” said Vowel Man, who declined to give his proper name but resembled a certain Mahopac school administrator who oversees the district’s reading curriculum.

The class started chanting as one – “A, E, I, O, U.”

“Will you study them for me?” he asked. “They will help you become better readers. Your writing needs to have vowels in it, so people know what you’re trying to say. There’s only one way to solve this problem, it’s to learn our vowels.”

As he handed out the shields, Vowel Man asked each child to say their name and tell him which vowels it included.

Madison, who just turned six, was proud to realize that she had all five vowels in her name – A, I and O in her first name and E and U in her last.

“I’ve got them all,” she said, beaming.

It was probably inevitable, but soon the children started asking about the man behind the costume.

“Take off your mask,” one boy demanded.

But Vowel Man held firm.

As he dashed out on the way to the next kindergarten classroom, he turned and said: “This is not a costume, it’s a lifestyle.”

The children laughed and debated among themselves as he left.

“Vowel man was awesome, but I think he was wearing a costume,” said five-year-old Chad. “He looked like Captain America, with stickers on his shield and mask.”

David, who just turned six, disagreed.

“I don’t think he was wearing a costume,” David said. “He said he wasn’t.”

“When it’s not a costume, it doesn’t come off,” Avery said, disagreeing. “I think that one actually comes off.”

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Theater Club Doubles the Fun

The theater kids at Mahopac High School had a lot to juggle this year. In addition to their regular, demanding schoolwork, they had to manage a highly condensed theater season that involved presenting two plays since Christmas break.

“This year has felt like one long season,” said Drama Director Christopher Purr, an English teacher. “We did the fall play and immediately jumped right into the spring musical. There were lots of challenges, but the students rose to the occasion.”

For three nights from April 28 to April 30,The Mahopac High School Drama Company dazzled the crowds with the spring musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The fall drama, “Clue,” had been presented in mid-January instead of November because of construction in the high school. As soon as that play wrapped, the drama club was back at it again, working on the spring musical.

“It is pretty much the same cast of students, so it’s asking a lot,” Purr said. “The kids show so much commitment. We were able to find a place for every student who chose to stay on board for the spring musical.”

The “Spelling Bee” show was a big production involving a large stage and technical crew. In addition to learning their lines, the dozens of student actors had to also learn the songs. Chorus teacher Jacob Rhodebeck taught the vocal music to the cast and provided the piano accompaniment, while band teacher Richard Williams led the pit band.

“We’re all pretty tired,” Purr said. “But we had a great time.”

(Photo credit: Manny Martinez)

District News & Headlines

Athlete Signing Day Ceremony

Ten Mahopac High School athletes signed commitment letters with colleges during the Senior Signing Day ceremony on Tuesday, April 26.
As student fans, parents, siblings and grandparents cheered them on, the athletes signed letters of intent to play the sports they love at the collegiate level.

Athletic Director Stephen Luciana said the students had good reason to be proud since they represented a very small percentage of student athletes nationwide. Only 7% of high school athletes go on to play varsity sports in college.

“Congratulations to all our student athletes who will be competing at the collegiate level next year, Luciana said. “This special group has excelled in athletics and the classroom. I can’t wait to see what they accomplish over the next four years!”

Five football players were recruited, along with senior athletes from baseball, wrestling and women’s soccer.

Throughout this school year, 23 members of MHS Class of 2022 have signed letters of intent. In November, MHS senior athletes from the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and baseball were celebrated in a signing ceremony.

Here are the athletes who signed on April 26:

• Adam Montalvo, Football, SUNY Brockport
• Marissa McCarney, Women’s Soccer, Keene State College
• Ryan Rondeau, Football, Pace University
• Conor Watts, Baseball, United States Coast Guard Academy
• Angelo Centrone, Wrestling, SUNY Cortland
• Chris Evans, Men’s Lacrosse, Post University
• Anthony Mante, Baseball, Mohawk Valley Community College
• Anthony DeMatteo, Football, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Maxwell Gomes, Football, Alfred State University
• Ryan Reilly, Football, Ithaca College

District News & Headlines

Considerate 8th Grader Sends Positive Vibes

Griffin Vennard is the kind of eighth grader who goes out of his way to keep in touch with his favorite teachers. So, when he noticed that his former math teacher, Dorothy Myler, hadn’t been in her classroom for a while, he sent her an email asking if she was ok.

“I was thinking that she might have had Covid,” Griffin said. “We’re used to kids suddenly being out for a while and then finding out that they had Covid.”

But he was surprised when Myler responded that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy before having surgery. Myler’s response was honest, but also upbeat.

“The way I look at it, it can always be worse,” wrote Myler, who has taught seventh grade math at Mahopac Middle School for nearly 20 years. “You guys at school are much more entertaining than nurses and doctors, LOL. Any good stories for me? I am always checking email, so feel free to email.”

Griffin, 13, was shocked to learn that Myler was sick. After seeing family friends and relatives suffer from cancer, he knew how hard chemotherapy could be.

He was determined to find a way to keep his favorite math teacher’s spirits up. Griffin remembered that his father had just sent a group e-card to someone, so Griffin decided to do the same.

Griffin contacted Assistant Principal Allyson Fallman who helped him get the email list of all the eighth graders who had Myler last year, as well as a list of the school’s teachers. He set out to round up teachers, administrators and all Myler’s former students and get them to write to her.

“Griffin is a quiet, unassuming kid,” Fallman said. “But he was so organized and thorough. He reached out to everyone and he did it all on his own. It shows a lot of maturity and a lot of empathy.”

The result was a beautiful card full of affection, jokes and wishes for a speedy recovery.

“I figured I was going to get 20 or 30 people to send her their best wishes,” Griffin said. “In the end, it was more like 100.”

Myler, who started her leave of absence on January 24 and expects to be out for the rest of the school year, said she really appreciated Griffin’s kindness.

“This was an extremely nice gesture that goes an awfully long way when you’re going through a hard time,” she said. “He’s a great kid with a really big heart.”

District News & Headlines

Meet The New Superintendent of Mahopac Schools

Christine A. Tona, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction of the Riverhead Central School District, will take the reins as Superintendent of Mahopac schools beginning July 1, the Mahopac Board of Education announced Thursday.

An accomplished school district leader with a year’s experience as an Interim Superintendent, Tona said she was attracted to Mahopac Central School District by its success, initiatives and commitment to meeting the needs of all students.

“From the moment I stepped into Mahopac, I felt the warmth and respect from the community and the shared desire to do what is right for students,” Tona said.

Board of Education President Michael Mongon praised Tona for her leadership in Riverhead, saying, “Christine stepped into the Interim Superintendent role in Riverhead in the midst of the COVID crisis in July 2020 and never missed a beat. She led the district through the crisis, advanced programming and engaged the community throughout. We are thrilled to welcome her to Mahopac.”

During her nearly six-year tenure in Riverhead, Tona secured laptops for all students, provided professional development for teachers, promoted diversity, equity and inclusion, maintained partnerships with local organizations and launched the creation of a district strategic plan.

On the subject of diversity, equity and inclusion, Tona said: “DEI is not just about the color of skin or language spoken. It is about making sure that every student has access regardless of where they are on the educational spectrum or what challenges they may face in their education to be successful.”

In Riverhead, Tona said she partnered with the community, looked at data on educational outcomes and improved curriculum to meet all student needs over time. As she begins her tenure in Mahopac, Tona said she would focus the first year on getting out into the district, meeting students, parents and community members and listening to their hopes and priorities.

Throughout her career, Tona said, she took great pleasure in watching students grow and get to know them as she advanced from classroom teacher to building leader to district leader. “I’m very excited to get to know the families and students of Mahopac as they move through the district,” she said.

A graduate of Adelphi University, Tona holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, a master’s degree in reading, and a professional diploma in education administration from Dowling College. Prior to her work in Riverhead, she worked in the West Babylon Union Free School District for sixteen years. She served as executive director for curriculum and instruction for four years, was a building principal for 11 years at Forest Avenue Elementary and was coordinator of Mathematics, K-8, for a year. Before that, Tona was a classroom teacher for nine years.

District News & Headlines

One Book, One School, and Many Enthusiastic Readers

The children in Stacey DiLullo’s third grade class at Fulmar Road Elementary School took out their snacks, arranged them on their desks and waited for the story to begin.

It was time to listen to “The Nocturnals: The Mysterious Abductions” by Tracey Hecht, and the students didn’t want to miss a minute of the tale. But their teacher was not the one reading to them that day. Instead, as the students nibbled their snacks, they listened to a second grade teacher, Bernadette Khrohomer, read Chapter 22 and act-out the voices of various animal characters as she went.

“Oh, that’s Mrs. Khrohomer,” one girl said. “She was my teacher last year.”

March was “One Book, One School” month at Fulmar Road Elementary School, the time when the entire school reads the same book on the same schedule.

“The whole point of ‘One Book, One School’ is to build a common, schoolwide language,” DiLullo said. “We want everyone in the school building to have one thing they share so a first grader might say to a fifth grader, ‘I loved Chapter 21.’ It may be the only thing that is common to children in every grade during the course of a year.”

Each of the elementary schools in the Mahopac school district have been running similar schoolwide reading events for several years now, though each calls it by a slightly different name. The PTOs in every school buy the books for the entire school.

The program was a big hit right from the start. Then, during the pandemic, “One Book, One School” went high-tech. Teachers, teacher aides and school staff took turns recording chapters of the book to be placed on a website that the children could access at home. The reading schedule was placed on the website as well, with chapters assigned to each day. Children and their families were asked not to jump ahead.

Patricia Huestis, Instructional Educational Technology Specialist for K-5 schools, set up the websites.

“During the pandemic, we needed a way for the kids to be read to, so we decided to try and record different teachers reading each chapter,” Huestis said. “It worked really well, and we wanted to keep doing it. We Screencastify the book cover and the kids can just sit, listen and concentrate on the voice that’s reading.”

DiLullo, who leads Fulmar Road’s site-based committee, recommended “The Nocturnals,” and added several creative touches of her own to the website. She used iMovie to make a Hollywood-style trailer that introduces the characters of the book to the young readers. She also put together a slideshow with photos and facts about the real-life animals on which the characters are based, and she created a contest page that allowed the readers to vote for their favorite character.

“We try to find a book that is the first of a series,” DiLullo said. “That way, if they like it, they’ll be able to look for others in the series. Our aim is to promote a love of reading.”

It seemed to be working for the third-graders in DiLullo's class. One student, Aaron, said he couldn't wait to get to the next chapter of “The Nocturnals."

“Every chapter in this book has a cliffhanger,” Aaron said. “I like cliffhangers. They give you a sense of mystery and clues to try and figure out. It’s like a puzzle, but I really want to know what happens next.”

District News & Headlines

The Curtain Rises on Mahopac Middle Schoolers

Not every child can afford a fancy theater camp, but students at Mahopac Middle School have the opportunity to perform in a professional quality play right on their own school stage.

"We like to involve as many students as we can," said Heather Palkewick, the middle school's musical director and chorus teacher. "This year we had about 50 in the cast and crew. This is a real school-wide event."

The Little Mermaid Jr., which dazzled Mahopac Middle School audiences on March 18 and 19, was the school's 21st musical production.

District News & Headlines

Library Media Center Gets Rave Reviews

Ava Van Nortwick leaned back in one of the Mahopac High School library media center’s new padded chairs and sighed.

“Nowhere in school has comfy chairs like this,” Van Nortwick, a junior, said. “These are the most comfortable chairs in the entire school. I’m going to come here every time I have a free period. On the days I have to stay after school for AP review at 5 o’clock, I’m going to come here with my friends and we can do our homework together in the study pod while we wait. This place is so nice.”

The high school’s library media center received rave reviews from the dozens of students who stopped by on Monday, March 21, the first day it opened after major renovations.

It’s easy to see why.

Gone are the dusty books, floor to ceiling shelves and “Shush, be quiet” vibe. Instead, students find a place where they can decompress, booths where they can sit and plug in their computers, small break-out rooms where a Chromebook screen can be cast onto a TV-sized display and bigger conference rooms where groups of up to eight students can work on projects together.

“The library is different than it used to be,” said Dara Berkwits, the library media specialist.

“It’s not a quiet zone anymore. It’s a place for social collaboration. The media center really is the center for the building’s technology.”

The library media center was renovated as part of the district’s $54 million bond referendum, which voters approved in 2019. Phase One of the renovation is complete, with major updates to the school entry way, music wing, STEM labs, science classrooms and cafeteria creating world-class spaces that facilitate learning.

“I haven’t been in the school library since 2019,” Brian Stone, a senior, said. “It’s so much bigger and so much better.”

Of course, the library still has plenty of books and printed materials, but it also has a “maker space,” where students can finish arts, crafts or other projects they might be working on. It has a Chromebook Loan Center, where the high school’s Chromebook guru — Patricia DellaMedaglia – can answer student questions and fix technical issues. And there will be a row of more powerful computers equipped with studio art and other sophisticated software that students can use to complete work after class.

“We can’t expect our students to have all the sophisticated technology they need to do high-level work at home,” Berkwits said. “We have to provide it for them.”

Berkwits, who has worked in the district for six years, helped design the media center renovation.

“It’s important to have the input of a librarian on the design,” she said. “You need to know how a library is used in a high school, and what to look out for.”

A librarian knows what the information needs of students are today and can anticipate their future information needs, which is essential when designing a space that will be used for many years to come. Berkwits also made sure that the library was designed with an eye to the kind of research spaces the students will encounter in college and career following graduation.

Jenna Mayer, a senior, stopped by to review her calculus homework between classes, while her friend, Molly McGrinder, did work for her college-level forensics class. They sat in a booth, spread their Chromebooks spread out on the table and plugged in.

“This is not like a library,” Mayer said. “It’s like a hangout.”

District News & Headlines

Mahopac High School's New Master Teacher

In the back of Scott Rizzo’s classroom at Mahopac High School sits a fish tank full of tiny brown trout swimming aimlessly. Suddenly the fish all dive to the bottom.

“What’s going on?” Rizzo, asks the class.

“There must be food at the bottom,” one student says. Though when they gather round, the students don’t see any food.

“Maybe the water temperature changed,” another student says, reaching for the thermometer.

Rizzo nods and watches. His method of teaching is inquiry-based, and he wants the students to come up with their own questions and ways to answer them.

“I don’t let them jump online,” he said. “I don’t give them answers. It is more of a ‘Let’s talk about this’ approach.”

Rizzo, who teaches Living Environment and college-level Forensics, was just named to the New York State Master Teacher Program, one of 230 teachers statewide to receive the recognition from Governor Kathy Hochul.

Mahopac High School’s science department has three other master teachers as well – Elizabeth Stephens, Michael Mahoney and Tricia Fuller-Johnson.

In the highly competitive program, Rizzo will participate in a professional learning community at SUNY New Paltz where he will engage in peer mentoring and help guide teachers who are at the beginning of their careers.

“This is my 27th year of teaching and I’m so excited to be a part of this,” Rizzo said. “The program lends itself to experimentation.”

Experimentation seems to come naturally to Rizzo, who runs the school’s recycling through the Biology Club, Genesis Water Quality Club and serves as an advisor to the Science Olympiad.

On a recent afternoon, he sent the dozen or so Water Quality Club members to a wetland outside to collect water samples for testing.

“If we’re not making a mess, we’re not doing something right,” Rizzo said. “I do everything I can to get them outside, to make them look around and ask questions.”

Rizzo himself may be asking questions in the three-year Master Teacher program, where he said he’ll be both mentor and mentee and is looking forward to taking some classes.---
caption: Mahopac High School science teacher Scott Rizzo and student Krista Burke feed the class trout

District News & Headlines

Welcoming Families from Around the World

Families of students in Mahopac’s English as a New Language Department came out to the ENL Parent Night on Thursday, March 10 to learn about all the community has to offer.

“It’s a great way for our ENL parents and families to feel that they are part of our Mahopac community,” said Leigh Galione, the district’s ENL Chairperson. “It is a way for ENL families to learn about the programs that are available in our schools and our community. It’s a big help for the community programs that come, too, because it gives them an opportunity to do outreach.”

The community groups that set up booths at the event, which was held at the Falls School, included Putnam Community Action Partnership, Open Door Family Medical Centers, Catholic Charities S.N.A.P., Neighbor's Link and the Mahopac Public Library.

Tom Vasquez, a Senior Network Technician in Mahopac schools’ Technology Support Department was on hand to help translate important information about the Parent Portal, Chromebooks and more. Mahopac School District administrators, including Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo, and all 11 teachers in the district’s ENL Department turned out to greet the parents and students.

While the majority of the 181 students in Mahopac’s ENL classes speak Spanish as their first language, 11 different languages – from Albanian to Ukrainian – are spoken by the students in the district’s ENL classes. Mahopac has more than 3,800 students districtwide.

“This is an annual event that gets better every year,” Galione said. “We missed two years because of the pandemic, but we were so glad to be able to host it in person this year.”
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Photo Credit: Courtesy Mahopac Central School District

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Music Students: “The Sound is Amazing”

In the nearly four years since they started at Mahopac High School, Juliana Stefan and Alexander Gaspar have witnessed the transformation of the music department.

Back when the two were freshman, the band room had no soundproofing, and when they practiced, things would get loud – really, really loud.

“The sound would just echo off the walls and the noise was overwhelming,” Alexander, a cellist, said.”The acoustics were terrible. You couldn’t even hear yourself.”

The room also had built-in risers, which might be nice for chorus, but were not easy to navigate for those lugging an upright bass.

“As orchestra and band students, we didn’t need risers,” said Juliana, who plays bass. “Really, they just got in the way.”

Then there was the condition of the instruments. Many of the basses, cellos and violins had cracks in them from their wood expanding and contracting as the temperature and humidity in the building changed with the season.

Now, the music department has a state-of-the-art, climate-controlled storage hallway, where students can store instruments and know that they are safe from damage. It also has soundproof practice rooms, where students can perfect a piece they are working on.

Juliana said the renovation of the music wing, which was completed this spring, makes her realize how much Mahopac values music education. Mahopac routinely wins national recognition for having an outstanding music program, and now the district has put a lot of money into making sure its students have facilities to match their talents.

“I used to think that everything here was about sports and athletes, but look at this,” Alexander said, gesturing around the spacious practice room with its soundproof ceiling tiles in blue and yellow, the school colors. “This space is fantastic and the sound is amazing.”

District News & Headlines

High School Music Department Gets a Tune-Up

When Mahopac school officials began seeking a wish list from teachers for what would bring the high school up to date, they kept hearing about the music department.

The district is known for its top-notch music education and offers a wide array of musical ensembles, including the Philharmonic Orchestra, String Sinfonietta, Chorus, Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band. Mahopac was selected as one of the Best Communities for Music Education in 2021 by the NAMM Foundation.

But its facilities were lacking.

Now, the music wing could be the envy of every high school in the state. It has spacious, soundproof music and chorus rooms, professional-grade practice studios and climate controlled storage cubbies for instruments.

“It’s the best kind of musical environment for learning and performing,” School Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “It has great aesthetics, smart design, a lot of sound proofing. Not only are the kids excited, the staff has been waiting for this for many years.”

The staff had a great vision, DiCarlo said. They knew that, in addition to performance, the district had to think about what happens to the instruments.

“We had to create storage to free up classroom space,” said the high school principal, Dr. Matthew Lawrence. “Before, kids were tripping over their instruments because there was no place to put them. We took a hallway that was behind the auditorium and created a temperature-controlled area where students could store their instruments.”

The $54 million bond issue was approved by voters in 2019. Phase 1, which is nearly complete, also included a new, secure front entrance, upgraded science rooms, high-tech STEM labs, a library/media center and an updated cafeteria.

“This is getting us to where we should be as a school district,” Superintendent DiCarlo said.

District News & Headlines

School Cafeteria Reopens to Students School Cafeteria Reopens to Students

“Oh, wow!” “No way!” “This is so cool!”

To hear the kindergartners at Austin Road Elementary School tell it, eating lunch in the school cafeteria on Monday was nothing short of amazing.

“They have never eaten in the cafeteria,” said Kindergarten teacher Diane Binns. “This is a really big deal to them.”

For the first time since the pandemic upended regular life in March 2020, elementary students throughout the Mahopac Central School District returned to their school cafeterias for lunch on Monday, March 7. While the schools reopened in full in September, lunch had been restricted to the classroom, where students sometimes ate in shifts.

“This is exciting,” said Caltha, a kindergartner who waited on a brief line to pick up a sunflower butter sandwich, a carton of chocolate milk and an apple. “It’s like a restaurant.”

A restaurant with rules, perhaps.

Austin Road Interim Principal Robert Meyer greeted the children and spelled out the dos and don'ts of cafeteria dining.

“Raise your hand if you need to get up from the table,” he said. “See how clean this room is? That’s because we all clean up after ourselves.”

The students didn’t seem to mind a chore if it meant they could sit with their friends in a big, noisy, happy room.

“This is so great for them,” said Nancy Libertino, a monitor. “In the classroom, one half of the class would eat for fifteen minutes and then they’d switch and the other half would eat. We got used to it, but this is so much better.”

District News & Headlines

A Colonial Maker Space

Fourth graders at Fulmar Road Elementary School made their own toys, just like the kids in the colonial era once did. Teachers Lisa Tornambe and Keri Fredriksen helped their students make the Jacob’s Ladders during a lesson from Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Center for Environmental Education teacher Beth Thompson.

"Twice a year, we get to choose a lesson that the Center for Environmental Education offers to enhance our curriculum," Tornambe said. "The fourth grade social studies curriculum is focused on history in New York State, so making the Jacob's Ladders is a nice match. We wanted our students to make something that children who lived in this region in colonial times would have made."

District News & Headlines

100th Day of School Celebrations

Lakeview Elementary School kindergartners aged about 95 years in a single day when they dressed up as 100-year-olds to celebrate the 100th day of school on March 1.

The children in the school’s five kindergarten classes started the day by donning gray wigs and bowties and marching through the school. Then they spent much of the day working on activities that involved the number 100.

“This is fun, but it’s all about learning,” said kindergarten teacher Robin Clark. “The activities include reading, writing, math, and more.”

The students found 100 words in a classroom, made necklaces out of 100 Fruit Loops, and saw how far 100 steps would take them.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Art Students in Katonah Museum Show

Bethany Itzla, a Mahopac High School senior whose striking print of koi fish is on display at the Young Artists 2022 show at the Katonah Museum of Art, said every gallery show is an education.

“I have had my work shown in public a couple of times before,” Bethany said. “It’s always interesting to hear what people say. But this time it was different because we helped install the show. To hear people talk about how a piece fits in with the work that’s displayed around it –- that made me think about art in a new way.”

Ten MHS seniors have artworks in the Katonah Museum show, which runs through February 27, and four of them helped install the show.

“It’s a great opportunity for students,” said Sean Flanagan, the interim chair of the high school Art Department. “Giving young artists a chance to show their work is really important. Our department has made sure there are many opportunities for student artists coming up.”

Mahopac High School’s Computer Graphics and Animation Class is working with the music department to create an animated visual for the Pops Concert on March 9, 2022. Later that same week, Mahopac elementary, middle and high school students will all be represented at the Garrison Art Center’s annual School Invitational Theme Exhibition, or SITE show, which opens March 12.

Mahopac Library displays student work in a bi-monthly rotation, and the Jefferson Valley Mall is planning a show of Mahopac student artwork. Then there’s the community-wide “District Art Hop” in May, which will showcase K-12 student work at Mahopac High School, Mahopac Library and the Putnam Arts Council.

But, the exhibit space Flanagan is most excited about is a gallery being set up right in the halls of the Mahopac High School art wing. Called “The Baldwin Gallery,” the hallway will allow student artworks to be shown where the artists’ biggest, most important audience – other students – can see them every day.

“We are all kind of used to having our art publicly displayed because we put it on Instagram and people react to it,” said Manny Martinez, who has a piece in the Katonah Museum show. “But to have it where people can walk around and look at it from different angles and talk about it in the real world, that’s really cool.”

It will also be a lot more convenient for busy young artists to have a space in their own school to see each other’s work.

Holly Cote, a senior, has not yet even found the time to see her own painting which is hanging in the Young Artists show at Katonah Museum.

“I want to go, but I’ve been busy with school,” Holly said. “I also have an internship at an interior design business in Beacon, a job at Carvel and I’m on the ski team.”

District News & Headlines

What could be more fun for a first grader than having a high school student for a pen pal?

Students at Austin Road Elementary School recently expanded their writing abilities by exchanging letters with Child Development and Education students at PNW BOCES, providing both younger and older students with educational opportunities.

Students in Laura Scampoli’s and Lisa LaPadula’s first-grade class partnered with high school juniors in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Program run by teacher Melissa Davis.

“My students and the first graders wrote back and forth to each other,” said Davis. “Now my students are preparing worksheets for the read-aloud books the younger students are working on.”

The Education students met remotely with their first-grade pals to give a face-to-face aspect to the assignment. They will collaborate on books and lessons on vocabulary for the elementary school students among other things.

“Our class was beyond excited to get letters from their pen pals,” said Scampoli. “It was extra-special because each student got one written to them.”

She said her students particularly appreciated the cards’ decorations. “Our class couldn't wait to write and decorate cards to send back to

them.”

The CTE students were equally excited by the connection. Faith Marchioni, of Mahopac, is one of the CTE juniors working on the project.

“This program really helps us gain knowledge about the teaching environment,” Faith said. "I love this assignment because it really shows me what teaching will be like. Working with the Austin Road students has been amazing."

At Austin Road, the feeling is mutual.

“It has been so helpful to have the high school students working with our class,” said Scampoli. “The activities have been engaging and fun for the kids,and it gives them something new to look forward to. We are so lucky that we get to work with these students.”

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Graduate Aims to Fight Climate Change

Sydney Hughes, Mahopac High School’s 2018 Valedictorian and a senior at Princeton University, has been awarded one of Princeton’s highest honors. She will spend two years studying in Munich, Germany, working to fight climate change.

Hughes was awarded the Daniel M. Sachs Class of 1960 Graduating Scholarship, which is intended to broaden the global experience of its recipients by providing them with the opportunity to study, work or travel abroad after graduation.

“Hughes has committed herself to addressing the climate crisis in ways both large and small,” Princeton University said in announcing the award. “At Princeton, she is concentrating in chemical and biological engineering and pursuing certificates in sustainable energy and German.”

After graduating from Princeton, Hughes plans to spend two years at the Technical University of Munich, Germany and work with one of the world’s leading hydrogen fuel cell research teams, the university’s news release said.

Hughes’s academic success started close to home.

“I think it all started with the teachers in the Mahopac schools inspiring her,” Andrea Hughes, Sydney’s mother, said. “From kindergarten through high school, her love for learning came from the teachers who motivated her. She had so many opportunities here, with a balance of academics, sports and music. Mahopac schools even furthered her love for travel; she went to Italy with the Italian Club, Costa Rica with science and Florida with the band.”

In her application essay for the scholarship, Hughes said that she hoped to contribute to a solution for climate change by improving fuel cells so they can be used to power transportation.

“Climate change causes wildfires, droughts, sea level rise, and species extinction, which jeopardize human health, water and food resources, and the future of our ecosystems,” she said. “To mitigate climate change, we will need to expand and improve current sustainable energy sources to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.”

District News & Headlines

Fulmar Road Olympics

Principal Gary Chadwick marched across the snowy school yard, holding the Olympic torch high as a line of second graders, dressed in snow gear and waving paper flags, marched closely behind.

These were the opening ceremonies of the Fulmar Road Elementary School Olympics, where every second grader got a chance at being an Olympian.

“It’s a great way to teach them about current events and the world,” said Andrea Jones, the second grade teacher who organized the event along with her colleagues Stacey Biagini, Bernadette Krohomer, Jim Lieto, Dona Martirano and Dayna Westcott.

For weeks, the students researched 35 of the countries participating in this year’s Olympics and wrote paragraphs about each. Then they made 35 flags to carry in the opening parade. Throughout the Olympics, keeping track of the medal count will be part of the second grade math unit.

“Now they’ll pay attention to the Olympics,” Jones said. “They’ll watch the opening parade and know something about the countries and their flags. They’ll be aware of the bobsled race and the luge, and it will all mean something to them.”

But being in the Fulmar Road Olympics wasn’t all work and no play. The students competed in bobsled, luge and skeleton races. They played hockey and built snowmen. And, of course, they got medals.

Though the second grade teachers arrange an Olympics every four years, this year they got especially lucky. The weekend nor’easter blanketed the school grounds in snow and the weather on opening day, Tuesday Feb. 1, was warm and sunny.

“We couldn’t have asked for more perfect conditions,” Jones said.

District News & Headlines

Middle School STEAM Fair, Creativity on Display

Leona Ademi dreamed for science.

Leona teamed up with fellow eighth-graders Lola Lauro and Madeline Rucker to test the hypothesis that what you eat affects how you dream. The trio were among dozens of student teams that presented projects at the Mahopac Middle School STEAM Fair.

“We wanted to do something relatable, something that people would have questions about and want to know more about,” Leona said. “We also wanted it to be something that could help in the real world so we could tell people what to eat to get the best sleep.”

The annual Middle School STEAM Fair showcases science, technology, engineering, art and math projects created by students in sixth through eighth grades. It was organized by science teachers Kelly Kischak and Margaret Fox and presented to the entire student body on Friday, Jan. 28.

“The STEAM Fair has been part of a tradition here at Mahopac Middle School for many years,” Schools Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “I want to congratulate the winners, but you are all winners for being able to put it on this year.”

COVID restrictions prevented the public from attending the fair and the Saturday nor’easter interfered with the awards ceremony, which had been scheduled to be livestreamed.

Nevertheless, student projects filled gymnasiums one, two and three.

The middle school scientists sought answers to questions like: Can solar power generate heat to melt s’mores? Are makeup wipes bad for the skin? And can a 3-D printer create an iPhone stand?

“We think of the STEAM Fair as a middle school event, but it has a lot to do with the high school as well,” Principal Thomas Cozzocrea said. “We had approximately 50 middle school students who were mentored each week by more than 75 high school students from the Science National Honor Society. Now, when these middle school students move to the high school, they will want to be part of the Science National Honor Society.”

As for the results of the dream experiment, Leona’s team found that drinking milk two hours before bed produced the happiest dreams.

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Former Mahopac Student Makes Forbes 30 under 30 List

News reports say stress and anxiety are on the increase among students. Luckily, there’s an app for managing that – and a Mahopac native developed it.

Katherine Grill, who attended Mahopac schools and whose mother, Teresa Curtin, still works in the middle school, founded Neolth, an online platform that provides stress and mental health support to students.

Grill’s work is so timely that she was chosen as one of Forbes 30 under 30 for 2022.

A neuroscientist who worked in therapy before founding her company last year, Grill said the Mahopac community and her mother’s work in education influenced her.

“I am really proud of the work she has done, especially with children who have special needs,” said Grill, who attended Fulmar Road Elementary and Mahopac Middle School. “I remember Mahopac having a really well-rounded curriculum and so many diverse activities to get involved in – the arts, twirling, dance, soccer. I had a lot of opportunities inside and outside of the classroom to learn interpersonal and other skills that translate into business.”

Neolth’s website gives students personalized on-demand access to relaxation practices created by doctors and therapists and offers a video library, where students explore topics like managing academic stress and watch their peers talk candidly about their own mental health struggles.

“Mental health is a priority in schools now,” Grill said. “Now digital health resources can help students manage the stresses they face.”

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Eighth Grade Project Makes History Come Alive

For as long as Lynn Gilchrist has been teaching social studies in Mahopac Middle School, she has tried to turn abstract historical concepts into something tangible that her students can touch. One of her most popular projects – The Tipi Project – does exactly that.

“It visually represents the culture of the Plains Indians and the impact of Manifest Destiny,” Gilchrist said. “The unit touches on culture, Westward Expansion, the Gold Rush, the Transcontinental Railroad, cattle ranchers and the Homestead Act.”

For weeks, the students in Team 8C worked on researching, drawing and cutting out their tipis (also spelled as "tepees") finding symbols that carried meaning and adding visual elements that represented the history they were describing. Manifest Destiny – the 19th century idea that American settlers were destined to expand democracy across the entire continent – may be a difficult concept to explain, but it was easier for students to show than tell.

The Tipi Project is so popular it has become an annual middle school event, with teachers and staff voting on the winners.

The tipi Julie Fraser and Gabriella Geiger made took first place. Eric Harting and Christopher Holloway’s tipi came in second and Joshua Leviner and Celina Wendler took third place.

“We put the buffalo in the middle because that was the most important animal to the Plains Indians,” Julie Fraser said. “They made everything from the buffalo, the food they ate, the clothes they wore, their weapons, their tipis, everything.”

In addition to the art, the students created a key, which tells the story of the symbols used and what they represent.

Joshua Leviner explained why train tracks were an important symbol in his Tipi.

“When they were building the train tracks, they went through the Indians’ land so the Indians had to move to the reservation,” Joshua said.

Christopher Holloway pointed out that the Plains Indians had been nomadic. He symbolized that by showing an empty tipi next to a horse galloping toward another tipi, where a warm fire was burning.

The Tipi Project also gave students a chance to work together, which Gilchrist said was important after all the social distancing they have had to practice.

“The Tipi Project was overall fun to do,” said Celina Wendler. “I usually like to work on my own when it comes to projects, but working with a partner was a fun experience. This project gave me the opportunity to learn more about their symbols and way of life, as well as the history behind Westward Expansion and the goal of achieving Manifest Destiny.”

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Drama Club Makes a Grand Return with “Clue”

From high tech to hijinks, the Mahopac High School Drama Club’s three-day production of the comedy/murder mystery “Clue” was a student-run affair.

Drama Director Christopher Purr, an English teacher, said 63 students worked on the production, including actors, stage crew and technical crew.

“We pride ourselves on having the kids mostly running things,” Purr said. “They build the sets, they place the sets. They handle the tech, the lights, the sound. Sometimes they help with costumes. It’s different with each play we do, depending on the strengths of the kids who sign up.”

Dayton Halmy, a senior and president of the student Drama Club, has been in every play since her freshman year. When she heads to college in the fall, though, she doesn’t plan to major in theater.

“This is just something I love doing,” said Halmy, who portrayed Mrs. Peacock, a daffy older woman. “It lets me get together with all my friends. People in sports have been able to do so much more during the pandemic. I’m so thankful to Superintendent (Anthony) DiCarlo for letting us put on this show.”

Until she was cast as Mr. Green tenth grader Kaitlyn Pearsall didn’t know much about the play “Clue,” in which a group of dinner guests is caught up in a raucous murder and blackmail scheme.

“Before this, I really just played the board game,” she said.

Nonetheless, Pearsall said she was most surprised by how the stress of putting on a show could bring everyone involved together.

“You cannot get mad at anyone here,” Pearsall said. “I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Breseis Forte played the French maid. An 11th grader, Forte has been in school plays before, but this is her first big role.

“I remember being a freshman and seeing the leads on stage testing their mics,” Forte said. “I thought that was so cool. Now, I wear a mic. It feels so professional.”

“Clue” had been scheduled for the fall but was postponed until Jan. 13, 14 and 15 because of construction in the high school. In just a few weeks, the drama club will start working on the spring musical, which is scheduled to open April 28.

“It’s a lot,” Purr said. “The kids are really into it, however. They are so glad to be back. This is the first time we’ve been on the high school stage in almost two years.”

The drama club was just ready to open “Wizard of Oz” in the spring of 2020 when schools were shuttered because of Covid. Then the fall 2021 production of “Charlotte’s Web” was videotaped without a live audience. Last spring, they performed the musical “Working” just once, for parents only, at The Falls School.

English teacher Sonya Velez has served as Assistant Drama Director for more years than she cares to remember. Still, she never forgets a play.

“This is my 42nd production at Mahopac High School,” Velez said. “I know the number of shows based on the number of T-shirts that I have. Soon, I’ll need a new room in my house just to store them all.”

(Photos by Manny Martinez)

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Lakeview Elementary Students Help Make-A-Wish

Do you Believe in Wishes? Students at Lakeview Elementary School do! For the past several years, they have participated in the Macy’s Believe campaign in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“The Believe Campaign was once again a big success as students at Lakeview raised $637 for their friends at Make~A~Wish of the Hudson Valley,” said Denise Hembury, who teaches third grade at Lakeview. “They spent time giving back to others during the holidays and should be proud of their efforts and accomplishments.”

At Lakeview, it’s an annual tradition to support the Believe Campaign each November/December. Students take letter writing to a whole new level to help raise money for children with life-threatening illnesses.

For every heartfelt letter written to either Santa (letting him know they believe in the power of a wish) or Macy’s (thanking the company for hosting such a wonderful campaign), Macy’s donates $1 to Make-A-Wish (up to $1,000,000).

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Lakeview Elementary Students Practice Kindness

Every year before Christmas, Lakeview kindergarten classes do a Grinch Day. This year, The Kindergarten Team teachers wore shirts with the slogan “In a world of Grinches be a Cindy Lou Who!”

The exercise is not just fun for the children; it complements the Mahopac Central School District’s curriculum goals for social and emotional learning.

All day, students participate in activities tied to the Grinch. They dress up like characters in the Dr. Seuss classic book “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and its movie adaptations, and perform acts of kindness to make the Grinch’s heart grow to three times its size.

For those who might have forgotten, the Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small” tries to steal all the joy from Christmas in Whoville by swiping all the gifts and decorations on Christmas Eve. His plot is foiled by kindness from Cindy Lou Who, which makes his heart expand.

It’s a lesson we never get too old to relearn.

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Mahopac High School Life Teaches Freshman to Navigate High School

Jason Zides stood in front of a class of ninth graders and pointed to a white board as Google Earth zoomed around the world and landed at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

“Your social studies teachers would be seriously impressed if they got a presentation with this in it,” said Zides, the secondary educational technology specialist for the Mahopac Central School District. “Social studies teachers love this because you can travel around the earth without leaving the classroom."

Zides was the guest speaker in a Mahopac High School Life class that all freshmen are required to take. He was speaking to Global History teacher Kerry Price’s class about Multimedia Technology Options, including all the Google tools available to the students to use on their district-issued Chromebooks.

He ran through tools for making slide presentations, templates to make interesting layouts, audio recording sites and links to copyright-free photos that the students can use to augment their projects.

The skills can help students, whose work is often presented via the Chromebooks, to use technology to be highly creative.

“On a scale of one to useful, where are we at?” Zides asked the class. The students, busy zooming around the earth on their own, said the lesson was very useful.

The MHS Life class promotes a positive school culture, while boosting the social, emotional and executive functioning skills that support academic development in high school. The class aims to help students develop self-awareness and self-management skills while building relationships and learning to resolve conflicts, said April Ljumic, the MHS assistant principal who oversees the program.

Zides’ gave his technology demonstration to each section of MHS Life class. His was just one session of the MHS Life curriculum, which includes a variety of guest speakers throughout the year.

Over in Amy Mahoney’s MHS Life class, students were learning to question their own preconceptions. Mahoney, a 12th grade English teacher, gave her class a new phrase to think about – a “paradigm shift.”

“It’s good to question your own mindset,” Mahoney said. “The objective here is to analyze negative paradigms high school students might have and adjust them to reflect positivity.”

Mahoney gave her class three scenarios and asked them to recast them in a positive way.

Ninth graders Kelsi Thimm and Giovanna Angrisani took the example of feeling ignored by a friend who was too busy with sports and other activities to hang out. Instead of looking at it in a negative way, they celebrated the girl's achievements.“I really admire my friend Cameron,” they wrote, of the fictitious friend. “She helps her mom with her siblings ... works really hard in school … is dedicated to her sport … and babysits. I hope I can balance my life like she does.”From technology to empathy, the skills MHS Life teaches will last a lifetime.

District News & Headlines

Austin Road Fifth Grader Gives Special Gift

In this holiday season, Mahopac Central School District students had many ways to show their gratitude and give to others. There were toy drives in each building and food and clothing drives throughout the community.

But, Yulisa, a fifth grader at Austin Road Elementary School, wanted to give something unique. She wanted it to be something that would help another person long after the holidays passed, and so the 10-year-old decided to cut her beautiful waist-length hair and donate it to someone who has lost their own hair.

“It makes me happy to help other people,” said Yulisa, whose shiny, jet-black hair is now chin-length. “I went to my aunt’s hair salon and she cut 10 and a half inches. Then we wrapped it in bubble wrap and mailed it off.”

With her mother’s help, Yulisa chose Locks of Love, a Florida-based nonprofit that makes wigs for children who suffer medical hair loss.

“We did it in honor of my grandmother who has cancer and is starting to lose her hair and also in honor of my grandfather who died from cancer,” Yulisa said.

Bryan Gilligan, the principal at Austin Road Elementary School, said Yulisa showed a lot of initiative for a girl her age.

“We were so impressed that Yulisa was the one who suggested it,” said. “She was the one who went to her mother to ask if she could donate her hair.”

Yulisa said she felt so good about giving her hair to someone in need that she is thinking about growing her hair long again – just to cut it and donate it. The hair donation has to be at least 10 inches in length for Locks of Love to accept it.

“My hair grows very fast,” Yulisa said.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac High School Rocks On with Illusion

For Caroline Carey, the quest to sing in Illusion, Mahopac High School’s annual student rock concert began in sixth grade, when she first saw the show.

“Illusion was my goal,” she said. “It’s a bunch of talented kids coming together to do what they love, and I wanted to be a part of it.”

Now a senior, Caroline, 17, has been part of Illusion for three years, once as crew and twice as a singer. She performed on stage at MHS auditorium for three nights this year – December 9, 10 and 11 – singing such rock anthems as Joan Jett & the Blackheart’s “I Hate Myself For Loving You.” before a highly enthusiastic crowd.

The Mahopac Central School District is known for a well-rounded curriculum that gives students a lot of opportunities to play music. The high school offers a wide array of musical ensembles, including the Philharmonic Orchestra, String Sinfonietta, Chorus, Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band. The district was selected as one of the Best Communities for Music Education in 2021 by the NAMM Foundation.

Illusion began as a jazz-rock ensemble at the school in 1981, said the show’s director Stas Przymylski, an audio and video production teacher at Mahopac High School. And he should know.

Przymylski performed in Illusion when he was a Mahopac High School student in 1988 and 1989. When he started teaching in the school in 1994, he signed on as assistant director for Illusion and, in 2006, he became director.

“This is the real deal,” Przymylski said. “The kids rehearse for months. We bring in professionals to do the lights, the sound, the video. It’s a very professional performance.”

This year, the school’s most talented rock musicians and vocalists performed songs from Journey, Harry Styles, Stevie Wonder, Paramore, Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy and more. Due to Covid, seating was limited to 300 per night, with masking and social distancing in place. Still, students said they were thrilled to be performing in the auditorium again. Last year’s performance was held outside on the turf field.

Senior Ethan Haley said he changed the whole course of his music education so that he could play drums in Illusion.

“I was doing a community service project for NJHS in eighth grade, selling food and drinks outside the auditorium,” Haley said. “I came in for a bit and I was really blown away. I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I switched from trumpet to drums in band so I could play in Illusion.”

Cameron Dinsmore, a sophomore who plays keyboard and five other instruments, is one of the few performers to get cast in Illusion the first time she auditioned.

“Everyone told me I was not going to make it as a freshman, but I tried out and I did,” she said.

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Photo Credit: Manny Martinez, Mahopac High School

District News & Headlines

Mahopac High School musician was First Violinist at All-State

Mahopac High School junior Rachel Berger played First Violin in the All-State Symphony Orchestra at the NYSSMA Conference in Rochester in early December. The All-State Symphony Orchestra is made up of the top student musicians in New York and Rachel was selected after auditioning at the Solo Festival in the spring.

“Even scoring perfectly at the audition, which Rachel did, does not guarantee you a spot in one of the ensembles,” said Evan McGregor, MHS Orchestra Director and Music Department Chair. “Rachel's selection is a testament to her drive for excellence and her achievement of it.”

Rachel, who started playing violin when she was 5 years old, said it was great to play with a group of such high-level musicians at All-State, but that she also enjoys playing at local hospitals and nursing homes, which she has done for community service.

“I really love to play violin because I find it extremely rewarding to see how my music can bring comfort and joy to others,” Rachel said. “It is incredibly heartwarming to see the faces of the old and sick light up when I perform.”

The Mahopac Central School District is known for its outstanding performing arts. The high school offers a wide array of musical ensembles including the Philharmonic Orchestra, String Sinfonietta, Chorus, Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band and produces a musical extravaganza known as “Illusion” each year featuring the district’s most talented rock musicians and vocalists. It is also regularly cited as among the Best Schools for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.

District News & Headlines

Middle School Newspaper Seeks Hero Journalists

When sixth grader Chris Moran first learned that the Mahopac Middle School newspaper, The Torch, was looking for student reporters and editors, he was curious, but not convinced it was the after-school club for him.

“I thought I’d wait and see,” said Chris, who is 12. “Some of my friends joined, but that’s not what made me join. It was when I saw the first edition. I said ‘Oh, this is cool.’ I really liked the movie reviews. I want to write movie reviews, so here I am.”

That is pretty much the reaction that The Torch newspaper advisor David Gordon was aiming for. Gordon took over leadership of The Torch this year and saw it as an opportunity to update the publication.

“We are in the process of trying to make a newspaper that the kids themselves would be interested in reading,” said Gordon, an eighth grade social studies teacher. “We’ll publish reviews of movies, books and games, maybe write about new businesses in town and spotlight somebody the kids think is interesting. This has to come from them.”

Gordon recruited Michael Woodrow, another eighth grade social studies teacher, to be co-advisor.

“We really are trying to create a culture, a community with a mission,” Woodrow said. “We wanted to make them feel like they are part of something big.”

The club launched in the third week in September. Students who signed up got a Torch lapel pin and a press pass that allows them to use their phones in school to take photos if they are working on a story.

The first issue was published in November. At 16 pages, it included a poem, story and drawings by Mia Panebianco, who had just moved to Mahopac in February, and an editorial by Kylie Quackenbush, the pop culture editor, who asked “Is cereal soup?”

“That’s a popular debate right now,” she said.

Roma McConnell and Jackson Spedaliere interviewed Mahopac Schools Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo, who recently announced that he will retire in June.

“I was nervous at the start,” Roma said. “I learned a lot about what he does from talking to him. I learned that he is in charge of a lot of people. We learned a lot about the importance of decisions we make now, and how they can affect our future.”

The kickoff issue also included an inspiring front page story by advisor David Gordon that called journalists heroes, quoted the Washington Post’s slogan “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” and referenced mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, as well as muckrakers like Nellie Bly and novelist Upton Sinclair.

“Our world needs heroes like Upton Sinclair and Nellie Bly as much as we needed them one hundred years ago,” Gordon wrote. “The Mahopac Middle School encourages students to join the ranks of the heroes who came before them.”

Judging by the group of enthusiastic students who attended a meeting in early December, The Torch will have no shortage of heroes.

District News & Headlines

Middle Schoolers Explore Careers

Mahopac Middle School seventh and eighth graders recently got to spend some time thinking about the age-old question "What do I want to do when I grow up?" At the Middle School Career Fair, held in November, the students got to meet professionals who work in a dozen diverse careers and hear what day-to-day life is like in all sorts of jobs.

“Rather than a fair where students wander from table to table, this year’s middle school career fair was held via Zoom,” said Aaron Kleinman, Director of School Counseling K-12 for the Mahopac Central School District. “It actually worked better, I think. There were no distractions. All of the children got to hear what the professionals had to say.”

The professionals included an architect, chiropractor, veterinarian, police officer, firefighter, librarian, banker, marketing executive, Putnam County Youth Bureau representative and a media person.

It was not the middle schoolers’ first exposure to career choices. They start taking career inventories in the sixth grade, via the district’s Naviance computer system. When they get to high school, career choice is among the first subjects discussed in the freshman MHS Life class, which every student is required to take.

“We want to have these conversations earlier so the students will start thinking about what classes to take that will help prepare them for their future,” Kleinman said. “Research has shown that the more information and exposure students have to career choices, the more directed they will be when it comes to what they plan to do after graduation.”

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The Thanksgiving Point of View

In a week when many families might tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Carole Garcia donned a festive turkey headband and read a book about the history of the parade to a class of fifth graders.

“Balloons over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet tells the story of the early years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the puppeteer who created its iconic helium balloons.

“How many of you know what a marionette is?” Garcia, the Library Aide at Fulmar Road Elementary School, asked the students from Thomas Jordan’s class.

Almost all of the students raised their hands.

“And you know how they move, right?” Garcia asked.

“Yes,” the children answered. “By strings.”

There’s no surprising fifth graders these days. Still, the children sat quietly, completely taken in by the story they were hearing and the idea of character balloons flying higher and higher above the streets of New York City.

After the book was done, the class discussed the assignment their classroom teachers had given them -- to write a story from the perspective of one of the balloons in the parade.

Some said they would write about SpongeBob SquarePants and what he would see when he looked down from the sky. Others said they would write from Smokey The Bear’s point of view.

Delilah, whose favorite subject is science, picked Aida Twist, Scientist.

“I’m writing a story and saying how it felt to her to be up that high looking down at the world and all that she saw,” Delilah said. “I’m drawing pictures too.”

For some of the students, the exercise quickly turned into science fiction. Jake didn’t want to write about just one character. He said he would write about a mix of Baby Yoda, Boss Baby and Ronald MacDonald.

“I’d like to combine them,” Jake said. “I’d love to make that abomination. He’d fly high. Then he’d look down and see a hundred million tiny humans.”

It may not be a classic Thanksgiving tale of Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrating a feast before winter, but the creative balloon combo gave the 10-year-olds something new to think about as they prepared to celebrate the traditional American holiday.

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Austin Road Students Give Thanks

In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, teachers throughout the Mahopac Central School District talked to their classes about the importance of gratitude.

In Carolyn Ryan and Tiffany Ziegelhofer’s fourth grade class at Austin Road Elementary School, the discussion led to feathers -- “Thankful For Feathers,” that is.

Some children in the class pasted photos of beloved family members, pets, favorite foods, games and more on a feather-shaped piece of construction paper. Others drew their own pictures, of flags, trees, school buildings and nature. The feathers were then assembled around a turkey cut-out for all to see and discuss.

Paige said she was thankful for her dog Charlie, a German Shepherd. She was also thankful for her parents, who are both police officers, her brother, friends and teachers.

Lilliana said she was thankful for her older brother, who teaches her what he already learned in fourth grade.

Throughout the district, children were likely also thankful that they had a long holiday weekend coming up.

District News & Headlines

Live and In-Person, a Wonderful Fall Music Concert

Mahopac High School’s Fall Music Concert marked the first time many of the talented musicians had performed on the school stage in front of a live audience.

And perform they did! The Philharmonic Orchestra, String Sinfonietta, Chorus, Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band each took the stage on Wednesday, Nov. 17 and dazzled a highly-receptive, if smaller than usual, audience.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to perform, so it’s really cool to get back out there,” said Ella, a 10th grader, whose last on-stage performance took place when she was just a middle schooler. “It’s exciting to get to play the pieces we’ve worked on for so long.”

Ella, who sings alto in chorus and plays flute in the band, said her favorite choral number was Finale B, from the musical Rent, and her favorite band piece was Highland Legend by John Moss.

“I think it shows the potential of the band,” Ella said. “I think we bring it all together very nicely.”

Band Director Rich Williams noted that the Fall Music Concert was the first in-person, in-house concert since February 2020, in the pre-COVID times. Tickets were limited to two per household, but the concert reached a larger audience via live streaming.

“Music is a performing art and ultimately meant to be shared with an audience," Williams said. “Last year we played on the field, but that was after never having rehearsed together. It was fun, but we were each about 12 feet apart. It wasn’t like this where the kids hear one another and respond.”

Nonetheless, Mahopac was honored this spring as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants, or NAMM, Foundation. The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.

Chorus teacher Jacob Rhodebeck said the upcoming school year will be a busy one for musicians. There are four concerts scheduled and several small ensemble events.

“It was exciting to get the kids ready for it,” Rhodebeck said. “They were certainly ready to have a performance and show what they’ve been doing.”

James, a 10th grader, who plays percussion was ready for his debut. He joined band in high school at his mother’s urging.

“I started on pots and pans,” James said. “I was just always picking them up and banging on them. I really wanted to play drums.”

The students will have many more opportunities to perform this year.

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High School Teacher Publishes Scientific Research Paper

As if she weren’t already accomplished enough, Jennifer Degl, an Earth Science teacher at Mahopac High School, just added another achievement to her portfolio.

Degl, who has taught at MHS since 1999, was first inspired to activism when her daughter was born prematurely in 2012 and spent months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla.

Since then, Degl has written three books about the experience, testified in front of Congress twice, been named to the leadership team of the International Neonatal Consortium, and founded Maria’s Hope, a support group that mentors parents who have babies in the NICU at the children’s hospital. In October, she had another first: Degl was the lead author in a scientific research paper published in the Journal of Perinatology that grew out of her weekly volunteer work in the Maria Fareri NICU.

“We wanted to look at how doctors, nurses and parents communicate with each other in the NICU,” Degl said. “I put together a survey of 323 neonatologists, neonatal nurses and NICU parents from around the globe, and we found ways that communication could be improved. When research scientists speak to parents, they speak at a completely different level, with their own scientific vocabulary. Parents, who are under a lot of stress at the time, often do not speak out and say that they do not understand. So there’s a lot of miscommunication.”

Degl, a mother of four, remembers being overwhelmed when her daughter Joy was born extremely premature, weighing just one pound four ounces. Joy spent 121 days in the NICU. The experience set Degl on a mission to improve healthcare for preemies.

“All of the research and volunteering I do helps me to be a better teacher and the opposite is true as well,” said Degl, who also teaches Living Environment and the MHS Life class for freshman at the high school. “Both experiences help me to better the lives of children. My experience as a NICU parent mentor has helped me immensely as a teacher of the MHS Life course at the high school. I have been mentoring NICU parents for years as they process fear, confusion, conflict, sadness and grief. I'd like to think that all of those experiences shape me and I know they provide me with additional tools to support my students at MHS.”

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Fast-thinking Middle School Students and Teachers Save a Boy from Choking

William, a sixth grader at Mahopac Middle School was walking through the hallway with a friend during change of class on Friday, Nov. 12 when the friend suddenly stopped and started motioning toward his throat. Then the boy’s face turned red and a terrified look came over him.

Thinking fast, William ran into a classroom, where Jenifer Maloney was preparing to teach her MMS Success class and Michael DiLeo was gathering his things after teaching a Spanish class.

“Help, Help,” William yelled. “My friend is choking!”

Maloney has taught in the Mahopac Central School District for 22 years and, like all teachers, has had training in life saving. Mr. DiLeo, a first-year teacher in Mahopac, had also received training when he worked as a lifeguard. Still, training is one thing. Actually saving a life is another.

“We looked at each other and just said, ‘Ok, here we go,’” Mr. DiLeo recalled.

Maloney quickly jumped into action. Grabbing the boy and tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver, wrapping her arm around him and pushing her fist into his abdomen.

“He had his backpack on, and it didn’t work,” Maloney said. “It was terrifying.”

She pulled the boys’ backpack off and asked DiLeo to step in while she ushered the other students out of the classroom and into the gym.

With the backpack removed, DiLeo tried the Heimlich again, and this time, the boy started breathing.

“The lifesaver didn’t pop out,” DiLeo said. “It moved enough so he could breathe, though.”

The minute the child could catch his breath, he began to calm down.

It had all happened so fast that the teachers did not even notice 11-year-old Abby was in the classroom. When she heard the commotion, Abby did not stop to ask permission. She just ran to the school nurse’s office to get help.

“Someone’s choking,” Abby yelled to the nurse.

When asked how she knew to get the nurse, Abby said: “It was instinct.”

Abby led the school nurse back to the classroom. By the time they got there, the boy was already breathing again. Then the Sheriff’s deputy arrived and transported him to Putnam Hospital Center where he was soon released.

“It felt like it took forever,” Maloney said. “But it was probably really just seconds.”

The boy, who the district is not naming for privacy reasons, posted on Snapchat thanking his friends, teachers, first responders and others who came to his rescue.

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Senior Signing Day Honors 12 Student Athletes

A dozen Mahopac High School athletes signed commitment letters with colleges during the Senior Signing Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 10.

As student fans, parents, siblings and grandparents cheered them on, the athletes signed letters of intent to play the sport they love at the collegiate level.

Stephen Luciana, Mahopac’s athletics director, told the group they had good reason to be proud.

“Playing college sports is not easy,” said Stephen Luciana, director of health, physical education and athletics for the Mahopac School District. “You are the top of the heap, the best of the best. You represent a very small percentage of the student athletes across the nation.”

The players were recruited across many sports, the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams, women’s soccer, women’s basketball, softball and baseball.

“As you move forward, you’re elite in terms of your commitment to your sport,” Mahopac High School Principal Dr. Matthew Lawrence said. “But nobody goes to college just to play sports.”

Lawrence noted that in going to college students would have to concentrate on their academic and professional careers as well.

Michael Mongon, the president of the Mahopac Board of Education told the students: “You personify the highest standard of leadership and character.”

Then he read the list of the student athletes who had signed commitment letters.

• Audrey Colucci, Lacrosse, Lynn University
• Julie DeBrocky, Basketball, Manhattanville College
• Madison DeCola, Soccer, Seton Hall University
• Melanie DeMeo, Basketball, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
• Chris Evans, Lacrosse, Springfield College
• Michael Harney, Lacrosse, United States Military Academy at West Point
• Ava Jennings, Lacrosse, University of Cincinnati
• Mia Lanter, Softball, Wesleyan University
• Sean Massett, Lacrosse, Monmouth University
• Madeline McCrosson, Soccer, The College at Brockport
• Chris McKeon, Baseball, Siena College
• Avery Przymylski, Lacrosse, Coastal Carolina
• Ally Savino, Lacrosse, University of Indianapolis

There will be another senior signing day ceremony in the spring for students who have not yet decided, football players and some others.

District News & Headlines

Middle Schoolers Learn Team Building

Naturalists from the Center for Environmental Education at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES visited Mahopac Middle School recently for a team-building workshop. Students from Team 8A were presented with mental and physical challenges that could only be completed if the students all worked together.

“Teachers were only there to observe -- not to help -- and it was great to watch the students learn lessons from one another,” said Karen Haitoff, Team 8A English teacher. “At first everyone was talking at once, and doing things the way they wanted, but they quickly realized that in order to meet the challenges successfully they needed to work as a team and listen to one another.”

Students' social and emotional growth was at the forefront of the activities, which were both fun and impactful. The team-building program is a powerful and proactive tool that helps students learn and practice social skills that create a safe and supportive climate.

Team 8A is a looping group, so the students have stayed with the same group of teachers for seventh and eighth grades.

“Although we are in our second year together, we did not have a typical first year together at all,” Haitoff said. “As a result, we are especially excited to further develop the close community we value in our looping program.”

The BOCES programs put a premium on relationships between members of the group and help establish a sense of acceptance and belonging. Some of the skills and issues addressed include creating a climate of respect and acceptance, understanding and appreciating differences, tolerance, compassion, patience, support and encouragement, positive attitude, humor and flexibility. The workshop emphasizes transferring these skills from the activities to the school environment.

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Lakeview Classrooms Stocked with Books

If you want to know anything about Greek and Roman mythology, just ask Luke, a fourth grader at Lakeview Elementary School.

“There’s Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Chronos, the god of time,” Luke said. “Percy Jackson is a demigod. That means he’s the son of a god, Poseidon, and a mortal.”

Luke developed his expertise by reading the Percy Jackson series of novels that he found in his class, where hundreds of picture books, young adult novels and non-fiction books line the shelves.

A classroom library stocked with high-interest books in a range of reading levels is the bedrock of The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, which was launched in kindergarten and first grades in the Mahopac schools in 2019. The workshop-style program was added to second and third grades last year and introduced in the fourth and fifth grades this fall.

“It was important to align the reading curriculum in all three elementary schools,” said Michael Tromblee, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Learning. “Mahopac has made a commitment to the Reading and Writing Project. We’ve brought in a literacy coach to work with teachers, given teachers extra time to learn and purchased hundreds of books for each classroom so all students will have access to books that interest and engage them.”

Lakeview teachers Jeanne Russo and Don Triebel unpacked 26 boxes of books last month to line the shelves in their classroom.

“The students are really excited to read,” Russo said. “We teach them how to pick a book that is at their level. We want them to pick a book they will enjoy.”

Instead of using a textbook that contains passages of books that are chosen to illustrate a literary concept, the children read whole books. That doesn’t mean they don’t get instruction.

Reading time starts with a lesson on a topic such as character development or finding the main idea. Then the students read independently -- 20 minutes a day in class and 20 minutes a day at home. Students write about what they have read and teachers conference with students one-on-one to ensure they understand what they are reading. At the end of each book, there is a comprehension test.

At the heart of it all, however, is the freedom to choose their own books.

“This is basically old school, going back to the way people actually read,” said Triebel, who has taught in Mahopac for 26 years. “The students choose a book they are interested in and read the whole thing. Previously, we had textbooks that included bits and pieces from a book, not the whole book. It’s a different experience. This is about teaching the love of reading.”

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Fulmar Road Students Use Their Senses

To be a scientist, you need to be observant.

Beth Thompson, a naturalist from the Center for Environmental Studies at Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES, came to Fulmar Road Elementary School recently and pointed out to the youngest students that meteorologists rely on their five senses when they observe the weather.

“Use your eyes and tell me what you see,” Thompson said.

Some of the students in Jennifer Conroy’s K-1-2 class looked up at the sky. Others studied a worm on the ground. Then Thompson pointed to the flagpole in front of the school and asked again what they saw.

“A flag,” Daniel said.

“What is making that flag move?” Thompson asked.

“The wind!” several children shouted.

Thompson went through the same steps with hearing the rustling of the leaves, smelling the fresh air, feeling the sun on their skin and feeling the breeze on their bodies.

Using your senses to identify the weather is the first step in learning to prepare for the weather.

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Middle School Gourd Contest

If you’ve been wondering about the strange looking gourds that started appearing in Mahopac Middle School last month, Kelly Kischak, the Living Environment teacher on team 8D, is the person to ask.

“We’ve done this every year for about 10 years, except for last year because of Covid, of course,” Kischak said. “It’s a way to get the kids to work together and be creative. It’s a team building exercise.”

It’s also a contest. The staff at the Middle School have until Nov. 5 to choose the best gourd. The top three winners get a goody bag. Take a look at this Google slideshow and pick your favorite. While you’re scanning, see if you can find the gourd that 8th-grader Vincent meant to look like Mr. Woodrow, another teacher on the team. Or, hunt for the gourd that Ryan made to look like the TV art teacher Bob Ross.

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Mahopac Quarterback Named Con Edison Athlete of the Week

Mahopac High School senior Anthony DeMatteo has been named Con Edison's Athlete of the Week.

Quarterback and captain of the team, Anthony earned the award for his performance in last week's game, said the Con Ed Panel of athletic directors and coaches who chose him.

"Anthony DeMatteo led the Mahopac HS Football Team to a 44-6 victory over Panas to secure the #2 seed in the Section One Playoffs for Class A North,” the panel wrote in a press release. “Anthony was 8-10 passing for 249 yards and 5 TDs. What is most compelling is that he achieved these numbers in the 1st Half and did not play in the 2nd Half.”

As the panel noted, Anthony is also the third generation of DeMatteos to win the award. His grandfather Tony won it in 1959, his father, Dominick, won it in 1989. Dominick is the team’s coach.

“To be selected as Athlete of the Week is a great honor,” Mahopac Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo said. “Congratulations to Anthony, his teammates, the football program and Coach DeMatteo. Anthony, we wish you all the best for you and the team on Friday night.”

The Con Edison Athlete of the Week award recognizes students in Westchester and Putnam schools who excel athletically and academically. Leadership, citizenship, and school and community activities are also taken into account. The winner is chosen each week by a panel of athletic directors and coaches who review ballots submitted by each athlete’s athletic director or coach.

"In my short time at Mahopac, I have been very impressed by the character Anthony DeMatteo has shown, '' Mahopac Athletic Director Stephen Luciana said. “He is the true definition of a student-athlete who has excelled on the field and in the classroom. We are very proud of Anthony for this well deserved honor.“

Anthony, who has been starting quarterback since his sophomore year, has received All League and All Conference honors. A three-season athlete, Anthony also plays on Mahopac’s basketball and baseball teams.

In addition to sports, Anthony is President of the Spanish Club, a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers with community youth camps.

"Anthony has evolved into a mature and responsible leader for our Mahopac community,” Coach DeMatteo said. “He has proven himself time and time again as a student, athlete and most importantly as a person. Ultimately, Anthony serves as an excellent role model for all of the young children in our community."

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Students Learn College-Level Engineering at Mahopac High School

The VEX V5 robots raced across the table, grabbed plastic cones and returned them to the teams of students competing to collect the most cones in a two-minute stretch.

The robotics race may have looked like a game, and the students’ cheers and laughter certainly made it sound like one, but there was serious science behind it.

“We start with a friendly challenge and then move on to solve complex design problems,” said Thomas Mellin, who teaches the Principles of Engineering class at Mahopac High School. “Later, the students’ Chromebooks will connect to a coding platform that links to the robots. We use VEX VR, a virtual program, to introduce them to coding and machine control.”

Mellin, who holds degrees in physics and education, teaches three engineering courses for students in grades 9 through 12. He works closely with another engineering teacher,

Jennifer Johnston, whose experience as a chemical engineer includes work at IBM and several other companies.

The classes are held in the high school’s new STEM area, which is designed to cultivate student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and prepare them for college and careers.

“This is so much fun,” said Anthony Pfeifer, 16. “It helps me learn what I want to do. If someone is thinking about engineering, I’d say definitely take these classes.”

Though only a junior, Pfeifer is already certain he wants to study engineering.

Victoria Longo, a senior, juggled her schedule to make sure the engineering class fit.

“I’ve been trying to teach myself coding and I know how to write a basic if-then statement,” said Longo, describing a programming command for making decisions. “But, if I want to be a chemical engineer, do I still need coding?”

To which her teacher answered: all types of engineers need computing and coding skills now.

Thus began the coding part of the class, where the dozen or so students each created code to maneuver an on-screen robot to pick up a cone, mimicking their real-world robot challenge.

It was just another day of fun, games and high-tech learning in a STEM classroom.

“The students are engaged and excited about every challenge we give them,” Mellin said. ”I’m so privileged to have the opportunity to apply physics to engineering and focus on problem solving and design with students.”

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All-Elementary Race is a Long Tradition

First, the Lakeview Elementary School runners camped on the hill started chanting “Let’s go Lakeview, Let’s go!” Not to be outdone, rivals Austin Road and Fulmar Road elementary schools got loud with cheers of their own.

The Annual All-Elementary Cross Country race at Lakeview Elementary School is the biggest good-time, healthy sporting event in Mahopac for the second-to-fifth-grade crowd. More than 300 students competed and it drew families, friends and neighbors from all over the district. Some lined up along the field waving signs, others had cameras outfitted with long zoom lenses; one spectator even launched a drone that followed the racers around the course.

“It’s great to see you all out here,” school Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said before the races began. “It’s not about winning or losing. It’s just about having a good time.”

Tell that to Dylan, a 10-year-old in Mary Moriarty’s class at Lakeview who was the fastest boy in the fifth grade. Dylan trained every Friday afternoon with his mother, Angela O’Keefe, and it paid off when he came in first in his race.

“I heard the cheering and I got so excited,” Dylan said. “I looked one time and I got very distracted, so I tried not to look again. I just concentrated on running.”

For Kaitlin, a fifth grader in Vanessa Stavisky’s class, the race was all about school spirit. If the green t-shirt didn’t give away Kaitlin’s school allegiance, the Fulmar name in erasable marker on each of her arms might have.

“I came in as number 31,” Kaitlin said. “I count that as good. I don’t compare myself to others.”

The race, planned by the elementary school physical education teachers, is a long tradition in Mahopac.

“This event has been going on for well over 26 years,” Lauren Kittredge, a physical education teacher at Austin Road Elementary School, said. “Children in grades two to five competed in a race according to their age.”

Those ages 10 and older ran a mile. Those eight and nine years old ran three-quarters of a mile and the youngest runners, six and seven-year-olds, ran a half mile.

Alexa, a Lakewview second grader whose father stood at the sidelines with a brightly colored sign, came in fourth.

She mock-collapsed on the ground as if the race had taken all the energy she had.

Still, she will be back for more. Students from Austin, Fulmar & Lakeview schools will compete at The Mahopac Elementary 5K Run at FDR Park in Yorktown on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

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Simon Says... “Write”

Learning math isn’t only about numbers in Christina Salo and Jenn Borst’s kindergarten class at Lakeview Elementary School.

The children in the ICT, or integrated co-taught, class practiced number writing on a recent Monday by reciting poetry and playing a game of Simon Says.

When Simon -- also known as Mrs. Salo -- recited a number-writing poem, the children got to work.

“Simon says ‘Make an S and close the gate,’” Mrs. Salo said. “That’s the way to make an eight.”

The children repeated the rhyme and wrote number eight on their whiteboards.

Charlotte, who happened to be celebrating her fifth birthday on the day of the lesson, said writing the number one was easiest. The rhyme sure makes it sound easy.

“Come right down and then you’re done,” Mrs. Salo said. “That’s the way to make a one.”

Teachers often combine skills, such as using language to reinforce math and vice versa, Mrs. Salo said. When children are just learning to write numbers, it helps to have a little rhyme to remember.

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Putting Out Fires

After examining the ladder and shiny dials of a fire engine, piling into an ambulance and climbing an escape ladder, it was time for the Austin Road Elementary School kindergartners to grab a hose and shoot out the flames of a burning building.

One by one, they lined up for their chance to wrestle the hose and aim it at windows that were red with flame.

“That was a piece of cake,” said Christian, a 6-year-old in Daniella Morgante’s class. “It was not hard at all. I didn’t even get wet.”

The building, of course, was a wooden prop and the flames were cutouts set in windows that the stream of water could easily knock down.

The Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department came to Austin Road Elementary School to teach the children about fire prevention. Every fall, the department offers fire safety training to children in pre-kindergarten to second grade, Jason Stasiak, a captain of the department, said.

“This training really pays off,” Stasiak said “We have actually seen kids who we taught fire prevention come across a fire and use what they learned. One kid, when he grew up, helped get an elderly woman out of a burning house.”

Austin Road’s teachers use the visit as a jumping off point for several lessons.

“We integrate this into all the subjects,” Morgante said. “We read books about firefighters and books about fire safety. We incorporate it into writing. The children write about what they want to be when they grow up, or about firefighters they know. Many of them have firefighters in the family. We even used the fire department’s visit to do math, counting the firefighters and fire trucks as they came in.”

As important as the fire safety training was for the Austin Road Elementary School children, it was equally meaningful for the firefighters to train the next generation in their own community. Some of the firefighters were Austin Road alumni, others the parents of children who attend the school.

“It’s great to come back here every year,” Stasiak said.

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Fall into SEPTO event

Families from across the district came out to Sycamore TownPark on Sunday, Oct. 17, to celebrate the season with the Special Education Parent Teacher Organization.

"This was a community event," said Christina Salo, a kindergarten special education teacher at Lakeview Elementary School and member of the organization. "We wanted to encourage people to join, but we also just wanted to create an event where kids can feel comfortable, wear their costumes and enjoy the fall spirit."

There was no shortage of fun and games, including scavenger hunts, pumpkin decorating and arts & crafts.

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It is Safety First for School Bus Drivers

The beginning of the school year is a time of adjustment for school bus drivers everywhere as they settle into new routes and get to know new students.

This year, the Mahopac schools, like school districts nationwide, had to contend with a bus driver shortage. Despite the challenge, however, the district’s Transportation Department is making it work and delivering students safely to and from school every day.

“We are advertising for new drivers,” said Leonor Volpe, the district’s supervisor of transportation. “We have a reputation in the community as a great place to work, and I am confident we will be able to attract great drivers.”

Dave Carrido, senior bus driver and trainer, has been driving for Mahopac schools for 33 years.

“The kids are terrific,” he said. “They all wear masks now. It’s basically second nature to them.”

Mahopac school bus drivers spent the first few weeks learning new routes.

“In order to have fresh eyes on the road, new routes are always a good thing,” Volpe said. “They keep the driver alert. Every day should be the first day of school. We are transporting precious cargo, after all.”

District News & Headlines

Pumpkin Time

The minute the kindergartners stepped off the buses at Outhouse Orchards in North Salem the excitement began.

It was the children’s first field trip and there was so much to see -- a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a hay-filled tractor. The first thing that caught their eyes, however, were their parents, many of whom had driven to meet the buses and enjoy the field trip with their children.

“Mom, Mom, Dad,” some of the children shouted, eager to run for a hug.

The kindergarten teachers from Fulmar Road Elementary School -- Kathryn Jesselli, Lisa Barletta, Margaret Bartholomew, Patricia LaPeruta and Fran Shea and Megan Shea, who are known to the students as Mrs. Shea and Ms. Shea, respectively -- kept the students in line until they could all calmly join up.

“This is going to be fun,” said Nash, as his mom, Tiffany Ward, smiled.

Wearing matching shirts that read “Mahopac High School Class of 2034” the kindergartners broke up into class groups with their teachers and went to explore the orchard.

Robert L. Treadway, Outhouse’s tour guide/storyteller started Mrs. Shay’s class off with some tales.

“Who knows who Johnny Appleseed is?” he asked, pointing to the fields of apple trees beyond.

Nash’s hand went up: “He cut down the apple tree.”

“Um, not exactly,” Treadway said. “That was George Washington.”

Later, after talking about the corn maze as a little hint, Treadway asked “What’s another name for corn?”

“Corn on the cob,” some children shouted..

“That’s true,” Treadway said. “But I was thinking ‘maize.’”

Soon the children set out to pick their pumpkins, bounce around in a hayride, find their way through the corn maze and color at a picnic table.

“A great time was had by all,” Mrs. Shea said. “The children enjoyed apple cider donuts, apples and water provided by their teachers.”

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What first graders like about Fulmar Road Elementary School

Caleb, 6, a first grader in Tracy Barrows’ class:

“I like Mrs. Barrows because she lets us play math games,” Caleb said. “My favorite number is 100. It’s a big number, but it’s not the biggest number. I’ve counted up to 100 before. How did I get there? I just kept on counting.”

Joseph, 7, a first grader in Tracy Barrows’ class:

“I love writing stories because you get to draw,” Joseph said. “My last story was about when me and my dad went to a water park in New Jersey. I drew a lot of pictures about that and my dad really liked it. We hung it up in my bedroom. I like to look at it before I go to sleep.”

Leanna, 6, a first grader in Carol Stefunek’s class:

“My teacher is really nice,” Leanna said. “Once she let us have a lollipop while we were reading. I like making friends. Joselyn put her towel next to mine one day and sat next to me. I asked if she wanted to be friends and she said ‘yes.’ We are best friends now.”

Photos: Caleb, Joseph, Leanna, Leanna and Joselyn

District News & Headlines

On Your Mark, Get Set, COOK

It’s a good thing that being in middle school is nothing like reality TV.

Just ask the 7th graders who have been cooking up some tasty quesadillas in Virginia Gertling’s Family and Consumer Science class.

“It is kind of like the British Baking show," Emma D. said. “There are five kitchens and they are set up in a circle, kind of facing each other. Each kitchen has a group of four kids who work together. We have a time limit, like they do in those shows. Here, the time is limited by the bell.”

The comparisons end there. Sometimes the students compare the end results, but no one is judged. Mostly they just enjoy eating their work. If a quesadilla ends up overcooked or a little runny, of course, no one gets kicked out of class.

“Quesadillas were the first thing we made,” Ryan W. said. “It was pretty simple and quick. Next we’re going to make pumpkin bread. There’s a lot of steps to that.”

Students in the Family and Consumer Science class learn the kind of practical skills that will last a lifetime. In addition to cooking, they learn sewing, how to manage money and how to manage their time when they have so many activities going on at once.

“I really like this class,” Maya I. said. “It’s fun cooking and getting up and making things rather than always using a pencil and writing on paper.”

Just because the students like cooking in school doesn’t mean, don't count on them to start preparing the family meals.

“I don’t think I’ll start cooking dinner regularly,” Maya I. said. “Quesadillas are the kind of thing where I’ll always tell my mom that hers is better, even if secretly I think mine is.”

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Environmental Club Plants Flowering Tree

Come spring, visitors to the Town of Carmel Airport Park in Mahopac may notice a flowering dogwood tree thanks to the efforts of Mahopac High School’s Environmental Club.

The tree, donated by Whispering Pine Nursery in Yorktown Heights, will only stand about two feet tall this spring. But it should grow to 20 to 40 feet tall and thrive for many years to come.

“We tried to water it every other day for the first month that it was planted,” said Matteo P., president of the environmental club. “Its leaves are changing now. We hope it will grow again next year.”

The environmental club planted the tree in June as a memorial to those who lost their lives to Covid-19.

The club, which has about 25 to 30 members, was created as a provisional club two years ago and became an actual high school club just this year. One of the environmental club’s goals is to set up a system to compost cafeteria waste to use in the garden behind the middle school, Matteo said. Another goal is to establish a competition that encourages students to create something sustainable in the community.

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New Teacher Spotlight: Szilvia Tobak

Chemistry teacher Szilvia Tobak is the only new teacher to begin at Mahopac High School this year. She joins a 120-plus teaching staff.

“I feel very lucky,” Tobak said. “Everyone here has been so friendly and so helpful.”

On a recent Wednesday morning, she had students come up to a whiteboard at the front of her class and draw Bohr diagrams, which show electrons orbiting the nucleus of an atom.

“I think that Ms.Tobak is a really good teacher,” said Brianna F., a junior, who drew the carbon atom. “She makes sure everyone participates in class and makes sure that we understand the material we are learning.”

A New York City native, Tobak moved to Westchester County a few years ago and developed a love of the great outdoors. She was drawn to Mahopac because of its open space, picturesque lakes, reservoirs and rolling hills.

“I grew up in the city, so this is a big change for me,” Tobak said. “I had to buy my first car. I never owned a car before.”

Though country life is new for Tobak, teaching science isn’t.

She taught for seven years at Central Park East High School in Manhattan, where she earned a STEM Education Leadership Certificate.

“I was always interested in chemistry, it is the fundamental science,” Tobak said. “Chemistry bridges the knowledge between biology and physics.”

After majoring in forensic science in college at John Jay College of Criminal Justice/City University of New York, Tobak received a master’s degree in science teacher education at Hunter College.

Tobak said that she knows chemistry will not be every Mahopac High School student’s favorite subject, but she hopes that all of her students learn something that gives them a new appreciation for the building blocks of life.

“I hope they have a memorable experience and that the experiments we do in the lab teach them about the scientific method,” Tobak said. “The best thing would be if I was able to inspire some of my students to go on to study science in college.”

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Kindness Rocks Mahopac Middle School

Math teacher Marie DeNicola and English teacher Karen Haitoff started the school year with an exercise in compassion for their 8th grade students.

DeNicola and Haitoff, loop teachers who stay with the same class of Mahopac middle schoolers for two years, have their students working on the Kindness Rocks project.

Started in Cape Cod in 2015 by author Megan Murphy, the project aims to make the world a little happier by painting inspiring messages on rocks that are then left on roadsides, hiking trails, playgrounds or anywhere else that strangers might find them.

“These kids are resilient and wonderful, but they have been through a lot this last year and there is still a lot of recovery going on,” Haitoff said. “This gives them a chance to express that.”

First the students research quotes and pick three that inspire them. Then they write a paragraph about what the quotes mean to them.

“It adds depth to the exercise,” Haitoff said. “It forces them to think about inspiration and how you take that out into the world.”

Not to mention that it sneaks in an opportunity for the students to read some great writers.

Eighth-grader Angelica picked a quote from Mark Twain, “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

“I am not the same as everybody else,” Angelica wrote. “No one is the same, but having kindness in my life reminds me that you don't have to be perfect or fit in. Having kindness in your life can show you that being different is ok!”

Damian wrote that the quote “Kindness begins with understanding that we all struggle'” by Charles Glassman resonated with him because you cannot always tell from the outside how others are feeling.

“Everybody goes through different struggles every single day,” Damian wrote. “It's always a good thing to be kind, but especially when you understand that other people have their own struggles.”

After the students chose a quote, DeNicola, who teaches math but has a passion for art, had the students paint it on a rock.

“As a math teacher, I usually only get to see one side of the kids,” DeNicola said. “This allows me to see their artistic side, and to get to know them a little better.”

When the project is finished, the students will have the option of placing the rock out in nature where it can brighten a stranger’s day or keeping it and finding their own inspiration every day.

Whether they find it on a rock or carry it in their hearts, these middle schoolers know that the quote Noelle chose, “Kindness is giving hope to those who think they are all alone in this world,” is important every day.

“There are children who have no friends and feel lonely at school,” Noelle wrote. “There are adults who only focus on work instead of their friends and family. There are old people who are alone in nursing homes. By being nice, saying hello, a quick chat, a warm smile, can give these people hope and happiness.”

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Fresh-air Studying at Mahopac High School

Jeanette Coniglio, English Teacher at Mahopac High School, supervised the outside section of 9th period study hall on a recent weekday.

“There are four teachers and we take turns supervising the group outside,” Ms. Coniglio said. “I like that the students can get outside, see each other and utilize some mask-free time.”

A dozen or so students sat on benches in the shade of an oak tree. Some were reading, others typing on Chromebook keyboards. Many were just taking in the beautiful afternoon, enjoying the return to normal after all the remote and hybrid learning, and waiting for the final bell to ring.

“I’d rather be outside than inside,” said Edona L., a junior. “I feel more free, and we don’t have to wear masks. Even at lunch, we can come outside now.“

Fellow junior Jonathan S. said the only problem was some annoying bees.

“They are very aggressive now,” he said. “But I hope we can come outside even in the winter. When it snows, we can bring blankets.”

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A break for fun at Austin Road Elementary School

The grass field on the side of Austin Road Elementary School was full of the sounds of children playing on a recent Monday afternoon. The school was taking advantage of the good weather to give the students some healthy outdoor and mask-free time.

“I got it, I got it, I got it,” yelled Thomas, a fifth grader who gave a swift kick to a big rubber ball his classmate had thrown. His kick sent the group of kids scrambling to catch the ball and win their turn to throw it to the group.

“I’d rather play kickball, but we’re in the yard, not the kickball field,” Thomas said. “We call this game ‘King of the Hill.’”

Christina Tucci, a permanent substitute teacher in the district, was overseeing Thomas’s class during a lunch and recess break that emphasized social skills the students may have missed during remote and hybrid learning.

“They initiate play on their own,” Ms. Tucci explained. “They bring the ball down, they organize the game themselves. It’s their time.”

Across the yard, school monitors Nancy Libertino and Lori Plath were supervising another group of students.

“It’s so nice to have them outside,” said Ms. Libertino, who has worked for the Mahopac schools for 15 years. “On a day like this, we are outside all day long. As monitors, we get a different class every period.”

“All the kids are so good,” Ms. Plath said. "They are very happy to be back at school. Because of the pandemic, some of the little ones have never even been to school before.”

District News & Headlines

Fulmar Road Reads Outside

Schools throughout the Mahopac district took advantage of the good weather to have storytime, lunch, gym and some other classes outside during the first week of school.

After 18 months of remote and hybrid learning, the outside time also gave students the option of taking a break from mask-wearing for a while.

At Fulmar Elementary School, teachers and even the principal made sure outside time was part of the daily routine.

During a recent snack time, third graders in Stacey DiLullo and Nicole DiMeglio’s classes spread out under a shade tree on a lawn in front of the school while they listened to a book about anxiety.

“We just wanted to acknowledge their feelings about coming back into school for the first time,” Mrs. DiLullo said. “It’s a lot to process.”

Mrs. DiLullo read “Wilma Jean, the Worry Machine,” by Julia Cook.

“My stomach feels like it’s tied up in a knot,” the book begins. “My knees lock up. My face feels hot. You know what I mean? I’m Wilma Jean, The Worry Machine.”

If the Fulmar Road third graders were worried, they didn’t show it. Sitting on the beach towels they brought from home, munching on snacks and sipping their drinks, the students seemed quite content to be with their classmates once again.

Wilma Jean is just one of a series of books about school jitters that teachers are reading to classes as the school year begins.

Even Principal Gary Chadwick got in on the outside action, reading “School is More Than a Building,” by Kelley Donner, to a class of kindergartners.

District News & Headlines

A Great First Day of School

Students returned to the Mahopac schools on Friday, Sept. 10, kicking off a new school year full of hope with full-time, in-person learning.

“It’s great to have everybody back,” Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “Socialization is such an important part of education. We’ll not only have in-person learning, but the full return of all athletic seasons, extracurriculars, and co-curricular programs that add so much to student development.”

The joy students felt at seeing their friends and teachers was easy to see as they stepped off buses to schools that some had not seen in 18 months.

The transition grades – kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth – started on Thursday to give the youngest students time to adjust to a new building.

At Mahopac High School, the educators designed a schoolwide scavenger hunt to give the freshman a fun way to explore the building on Thursday. There was a lot of laughter heard as students checked off boxes and searched out each new location. At the last stop, they got to meet the assistant principals.

Every school in the district had a unique way of welcoming new and returning students.

“It’s a credit to the district to be able to have us here five days a week,” said Austin Road Elementary School Principal Bryan Gilligan. “After last year, I think everyone has a new appreciation of sending their kids to school.”

District News & Headlines

MHS Art Teacher Announces Publication of "Sam's Unboring Adventure"

Mahopac High School Art Teacher Sean Flanagan has been busy this summer! He announced this week the publication of a children's book called “Sam’s Unboring Adventure” which he wrote and published.

“This labor of love is finally complete,” said Flanagan. “I started on it when my son was in his early stages of bedtime reading and have now (finally) completed it with the arrival of my third child!”

In the story, the main character, Sam, rediscovers his imagination after setting out on an urban adventure through Manhattan and visiting a buddy in Suburbia (or "upstate" to most N.Y.C. Dwellers). An ordinary trip to the ‘burbs turns into a wild adventure of ingenuity from morning to night.

“The story has a strong local connection, you'll see I used lots of iconic imagery

from Central Park, Grand Central and The Metropolitan Museum of Art,” he said. Flanagan’s goal was to depict Sam’s desire to explore, be brave, and learn to look at his surroundings differently in a way that was infectious and would ultimately push young readers to be creative and to “see more.” “It has been an exciting experience that would have never come to fruition without the support of my family and friends!

The book is available on Amazon and anyone wishing to obtain a signed copy of the book should email Flanagan directly at srflanag@gmail.com

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Board of Education Selects Mongon as President and Savino as Vice President

Michael Mongon and Adam Savino, both long-time residents of Mahopac, will once again serve as Mahopac Central School District Board of Education President and Vice President, respectively, for the 2021-2022 school year. They were both sworn in, along with re-elected trustees Lucy Massafra and David Furfaro, at Tuesday night’s reorganization meeting on July 13th. Trustee Michael Martin was sworn in the week before, as he attended the meeting remotely.

Mongon, who is beginning his sixth year on the Board of Education, has previously held leadership positions on the board including committee chairs, vice president, and last year president, said he enjoyed the challenge of leading the organization through the pandemic.

“From navigating zoom and figuring out ways to bring the public into our meetings, I am proud of what we accomplished and look forward to continuing the good work we have started with the rest of this team,” Mongon said. “Working closely with my colleagues on the Board, Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo and our District leadership, we were able to welcome students and staff back in-person, settle various contracts, and break ground on the capital project. Changing guidance from state and local agencies demanded a great deal of everyone’s attention every day, making these achievements even more noteworthy.”

He remarked that the District did an outstanding job with enhanced training and support around technology. “The entire Mahopac team collaborated to ensure confidence and competence with the use of technology - both hardware and software - as they taught and learned in the remote environment. I am both proud of and grateful for our teachers whose commitment to educating our students shone particularly brightly during the past year.”

Along with looking back at the challenges of the past 18 months, Mr. Mongon recognized the positive moments that marked a particularly demanding year, “At our last board meeting we celebrated our sports teams, clubs, and some students’ achievements, and our graduation could not have been any better. Our retirement celebration was perfect along with our tenure recognitions.” He also praised the community and thanked the members of the community who attended meetings both in person and via zoom, adding “This is a golden opportunity for residents to get involved through committees and the PTOs, who do amazing amounts of work for Mahopac. Our schools offer a tremendous amount of avenues to get involved”. He looks forward to the emotional and academic growth for the students of the district.

Mongon and his wife Lynne have six children, including three MHS graduates. He is a Sports Fields and Parks consultant and Assistant Superintendent for Parks in New Jersey and serves on the Town of Carmel Recreation Committee. Savino, and his wife Claudia, have two children in the district, he is a 30-year veteran of the utility industry and has served on the board since June 2019. He also served as co-president of the Lakeview PTO and is active in the community outside the schools as a member of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department and Vice Chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners.

District News & Headlines

Spring 2021 Scholar-Athlete Teams and Individuals Announced

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) announced its spring 2021 scholar-athlete teams and individuals and Mahopac Central School District has nine teams and 165 athletes on the list.

To receive team recognition with a certificate, the team’s average GPA for 75% of the roster must be greater than or equal to 90. Those students with an average of 90 or above are recognized as individuals.

“Along with our unprecedented success on the track, fields, and links this Spring, our student athletes also excelled in the classroom. This is truly a winning combination for the entire community,” said Athletic Director Stephen Luciana. “Please join me in congratulating our Baseball, Softball, Boys Tennis, Boys & Girls Golf, Boys & Girls Lacrosse, and Boys & Girls Track & Field teams.”

This is the 29th year the NYSPHSAA has conducted the Scholar-Athlete program.

District News & Headlines

St. John's Thanks Lakeview Students for Donations

More amazing Lakeview Raise Craze news: Deanne DelCampo’s class was celebrated one last time before school ended for their amazing efforts to promote kindness at Lakeview and beyond. Her class logged the most acts of kindness during the RaiseCraze event - 111 to be exact - so representatives from Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Mahopac Food Pantry stopped by to say thank you and bring a banner to be displayed in the school, marking the momentous accomplishment.

St. John’s Parish Manager Terry Komendowski and President of the Financial Committee and CYO director Gil McMahon (pictured on the far left side of the photo) praised the kids for their amazing efforts and thanked them again for food donations that were part of the week’s festivities. Ms. Komendowski said, “It took us two days to unpack the donations and put them on shelves and distribute. These items made a difference to over 100 families in the Mahopac community.”

Mrs. DelCampo (far right) and Principal Jennifer Pontillo (center) posed for this photo with the class.

What a great way to end the school year!

District News & Headlines

4-H Program Connects MHS Senior and Lakeview 3rd Grade Class

As part of the National 4-H Ag Innovators Project, MHS Senior WISE Intern and Putnam 4-H Teen Leader, Anne Kasparian facilitated the Curbing Your Carbon Appetite Lesson for Denise Hembury’s 3rd Grade at Lakeview Elementary.

This is the eighth year, National 4-H Council has collaborated with Bayer for the annual 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (AIE) to provide 7,000 youth in seven selected states, from urban, suburban and rural backgrounds, the opportunity to develop the workforce skills to feed the planet. The AIE helped drive youth awareness of, and interest in, agriculture innovation and agriculture careers.

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development Program applied for and was selected to take part in the 2021 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, Curbing Our Carbon Appetite Challenge; which is a series of interactive, hands-on activities that helps youth understand why everyone has a role to play in addressing climate change.

In January, Putnam 4-H teens were given an opportunity to apply for a leadership role to serve as 4-H Ag Innovator Youth Leaders. Five Putnam teens representing Brewster, Carmel, Haldane & Mahopac School Districts were selected.

Throughout February and March, 4-H Ag Innovator Teen Leaders took part in National and Statewide train-the-trainer workshops to learn how human activity, including burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, soil mismanagement, and unwise food systems are increasing atmospheric carbon and contributing to climate change. The 4-H Ag Innovator Teen Leaders also learned how to lead a series of hands-on activities, which are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, for elementary and middle school students in both an in-person and virtual format.

The Putnam 4-H Ag Innovator Youth Leaders were also given the task of finding a teacher in their home school district to work with on this project and allow them to teach in their classroom.

Once teachers were identified and the training was completed, the teen leaders began to visit classrooms. Between April and June, Putnam 4-H successfully delivered the 4-H Ag Innovators Experience, Curbing Our Carbon Appetite Challenge to 266 elementary and middle school youth in Putnam County, serving four out of five school districts. We are so proud that Anne and Lakeview were part of this exciting project!

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Softball News: Becker Player of the Year and Giansante Coach of the Year

Read Lohud's year-end coverage of our Westchester-Putnam softball standouts!

District News & Headlines

Weiss Places Second in Assemblyman Kevin Byrne's 94th Assembly District Art Competition

Congratulations to MMS 8th grader Alexandra Weiss for placing second in Assemblyman Kevin Byrne's 94th Assembly District Art Competition. Designed to offer more opportunities for young people to engage with their elected representatives and witness democracy in action, this year Assemblyman Byrne’s office launch its first ever district-wide Art Competition for middle school students (Grades 5-8) throughout the 94th Assembly District.

The contest sought submissions in a wide variety of mediums - painted canvas, drawings , two dimensional collages, mixed media, computer generated art, and photography - all of which were on display at the A. Eric Arctander Gallery from June 5 to June 13, where parents, teachers and students were able to come in and admire them. Winners were announced at a ceremony on June 13 at the Putnam Arts Council.

District News & Headlines

MCSD 2020-2021 District-wide Art Show

The Mahopac Central School District believes that Art education is an essential component of human development. Through Visual Art, students are empowered to be creative, “out of the box” thinkers and conscious designers; they are able to discover and express who they are, communicate their ideas, understand the visual, cultural, and virtual world, take risks, work collaboratively, make connections in their learning, innovate, develop an increasing sense of their own aesthetic, and authentically engage in their education.

The inaugural District-wide Art Show centralizes all the a talent district wide from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. Click the link below, explore, and enjoy!

2020-2021 MCSD District-wide Art Show: https://sites.google.com/mahopac.org/2020-2021-art-show

District News & Headlines

Maxwell Semegran and Alexa Tyberg are MCSD Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Mahopac High School has named its distinguished seniors Maxwell Semegran and Alexa Tyberg as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2021.

Both students said they were honored to receive the school’s top honors.

Semegran, who has attended the Mahopac schools since first grade, enjoyed all of my classes because of my excellent teachers, “but if I had to choose I would pick AP Environmental Science and Orchestra.” He added, “I am likely going to go pre-med because of my interest in STEM influenced by my science and math classes at Mahopac and my interest in the medical field developed by my parents, who are both doctors. However, I might do a government major because of my interest in environmental and public health policies.”

As much time and effort as he put into his success during his time in Mahopac, he knows he could not have done it alone. “I would especially like to thank my parents, who have given me everything they have and have guided me to become the person I am today. I would also like to thank all of my teachers, from elementary to middle to high school, who made me excited to learn and pushed me to succeed. Finally, I would like to thank all of the administrators and staff who have facilitated a positive environment in which to grow and learn.”

“My parents and older brother are my main source of inspiration,” said Semegran. “My mom immigrated to America from Vietnam when she was 6, barely able to speak english, and went on to college to eventually become a doctor.”

“This definitely isn't the senior year that I expected with the ongoing pandemic, but I would say that this is still a pretty killer way to end my high school career. I'm most looking forward to the prom and the sectional track meet.” Speaking of running, it was not lost on Max that the last three valedictorians have been on the cross country team, or as he suggested, “#SmartestTeamInMHS.”

Not only did Semegram and Tyberg earn the top academic awards at MHS, their paths crossed in orchestra and on the Science Research team.

Tyberg too began her career in Mahopac in elementary school and has enjoyed most of her classes over the years, “AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and AP Calculus. Going way back to middle school, my 7th grade math teacher, Mrs. Myler, used to give students lollipops and/or Froot Loops. I don't remember exactly why. Maybe it was when we did our homework for a certain amount of days or got a high score on a test) but maybe she was training us to enjoy math. If so, it definitely worked on me!”

“I'd like to thank all my teachers who guided me through high school. The care and effort that so many teachers at Mahopac put into their classes is extraordinary, and without them I may not have thrived as much as I did here.” Along with sweet rewards and her teachers, Tyberg knows that her drive to achieve also comes from within, along with her competitiveness. “I've always been pretty self-motivated, but my peers have pushed and inspired me over the years. Both our friendly competition and our collaboration motivated me to do as well as I could in all my classes.”

“This year is going as best as it can with the pandemic,” she said, echoing Semegran’s sentiments. “I'm very happy that we were able to come in full time so I could see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a year. And I'm glad we're able to hold events such as prom and senior day. I look forward to college since I feel I'm prepared for it and that I will enjoy it immensely.”

Tyberg is headed to University of Virginia in the Fall where she plans to major in math or physics and Semegran will attend Harvard.

District News & Headlines

MMS Teacher Dave Gordon named Senior Fellow by the James Madison Foundation

Mahopac Middle School history teacher David Gordon has been named Senior Fellow by the James Madison Foundation. Selected as this year’s educator from New York to be awarded a scholarship for a master’s degree in American history, he will attend a four-week Georgetown University summer program on the United States Constitution.

“I am humbled to have been selected as a Senior Fellow by the James Madison Foundation. This presents both an amazing opportunity and a tremendous challenge for me,” Gordon said. “I look forward to learning, growing and changing throughout the experience.”

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship, established in 1986 by the United States Congress, allows one secondary school history teacher from each state each year a chance to thoroughly study the Constitution. The academic focus of the Institute is a graduate course entitled, "The Foundations of American Constitutionalism." Taught by constitutional scholars, this course is a study of the principles, framing, ratification, and implementation of constitutional government in the United States.

“I am excited that David will have the opportunity to collaborate with 49 other educators who are doing exactly what he’s doing with his class but in different places around the country,” said Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo. “I’m eager for him to share what we are doing here in Mahopac, learn from his colleagues in the program, and bring that knowledge back to our students. The great benefit of this program will be his opportunity for interaction with a wide range of individuals whose varied interests can lead to enduring friendships and professional associations.”

In a note to MCSD administrators Gordon said, “I cannot thank you enough for the part you played in helping me get this most prestigious honor. Fewer than forty residents of NYS have ever received this honor and it is both humbling and rewarding to be able to stand among them.”

Gordon is pursuing his master’s degree in history at Southern New Hampshire University.

District News & Headlines

Thank You School Nurses!

May 12 is National Association of School Nurses' National School Nurse Day and we are celebrating our seven amazing school nurses who are compassionate, caring, and committed and have worked tirelessly to keep us safe during this pandemic: Lynn Karst (MHS), Alice Foley (MMS), Lori Farrell (HS/MS), Mary Brunetti (Lakeview), Teresa Sedran (Austin Road), Marianne Meenan (Fulmar Road), and Margherita Chirurgi (Elementary)!

“On National School Nurses Day, I know that our school community joins me in thanking them for their efforts, said Dr. Greg Stowell, Assistant Superintendent, Pupil Personnel & Educational Services. “The only thing that has remained constant for schools during this pandemic is that everything we know and have to do ultimately changes. School nurses have played a critical and important role in opening our schools in the Fall , keeping them open throughout this school year, and ensuring that our school community continues to stay healthy and safe. Our school nurses have spent a significant amount of time educating students, families, and staff on ways to mitigate the spread of the disease and what to do if exposed to or contracted COVID-19.”

Thank you nurses!

District News & Headlines

Music Education Program Again Receives National Recognition

Mahopac Central School District has been again honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Now in its 22nd year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

“This truly is a district effort,” said Evan McGregor MHS Orchestra Director and K-12 Music Department Chairperson. “From the support at district office for funding, accessibility, and curriculum development; the daily guidance and coordination from our building administrators; custodial staff making sure the facilities are in the best shape for our students to succeed; and the tireless efforts of our dedicated music teachers from K-12, working with our students everyday in every way, shape, and form.”

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, detailed data was analyzed about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. The details of Mahopac CSD’s Music Program were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Since the passage by Congress in 2015 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and a stated emphasis on a well-rounded education, many school districts have re-committed to music and arts education programs and found that in this time of a national pandemic music provides a valuable way to keep students engaged in school.

Michael Tromblee, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning, best articulated the district’s commitment to its music education program: “Our Strategic Road Map states that one of our goals as an educational community is to support students in becoming collaborative and creative critical thinkers. There is a well known link between high quality music education supporting students develop and refine critical thinking skills. Additionally, we seek to educate the whole child at Mahopac and engaging in the study and creation of music benefits our students in so many ways. I want to thank the faculty of our music department and our community for their dedication to and support of our music education programs.”

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational, cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students’ everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech, pay attention, and aural memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

Echoing these benefits of Mahopac’s music program, Mahopac High School senior, Max Semegran, who was selected as one of the best violinists in the state to perform with the NY All-State Symphony Orchestra, stated that "...Mahopac High School's orchestra has been such a major part of my high school experience, I can't imagine my time at Mahopac without it. Educationally, orchestra has given me self-control, brain development, and teamwork, important things for any student to have. Arguably more important however, are the memories that I have made in orchestra. I recall entering the stage my first day of school filled with nerves. These nerves were quickly put to rest with the humorous yet confident leadership of Mr. McGregor and the comradery of my fellow musicians. Little did I know how many incredible times I would have with this wonderful group of people... I will forever cherish the memories that I have made in MHS' orchestra."

The music program in Mahopac has a strong heritage and is continuing to grow recognition for a remarkable culture of excellence. In recent years, Mahopac has been well represented by the middle and high school ensembles (band, orchestra, and chorus) at regional competitions, receiving superior ratings and the MHS Philharmonic Orchestra has received multiple best overall orchestra awards. For the past few school years, members of the MHS Symphonic Band were selected as best in the state for the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA) Honor Band and Jazz Band. In 2020, two Mahopac students were section leaders of the NYSBDA Jazz Band. The MHS Jazz Band continues to be recognized as the “Showcase Band'' at the Sleepy Hollow Jazz Festival, along with numerous other individual recognitions in the competition. Last year, sixth grader Sarah Kayler was one of two elementary student composers selected for the All-State Conference Composers Showcase.

Current senior, Mark Dusociv said, “I feel like I've improved a lot as a musician because of this music program. I've also made some of my best friends through it. I love how many opportunities we get to perform in and out of school.” Indeed, within the Mahopac community the MCSD music program hosts a multitude of events every year. Fulmar Rd, Lakeview, and Austin Rd Elementary put on multiple band, orchestra, jazz, and chorus concerts each school year. The middle school groups do the same, along with a hit, spring musical production and an end-of-year Steel Drum concert with Mr. Flynn. At the high school, there are many great events. A late-winter Pops Concert is always a packed community event, hosted by the Mahopac Friends of Music parent group. Mr. Rich Williams and Mr. Steve Wands, directing the Jazz Bands, put on a swing dance night every winter which has professionally-led dance lessons and an evening of upbeat swing tunes. The Jazz Bands also put on an always sold-out spring show at the St. George Winery in Mohegan Lake. The high school rock experience, Illusion, annually holds three straight nights of arena rock and top 40 pop, to a packed and energetic audience. Illusion, directed by Stas Przymylski, also recently performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A true community staple, members of the marching band can be seen at every home football game and in Mahopac parades.

A member of the MHS Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras, class of ‘21 senior Olivia Vataj said that "being a part of orchestra and the wider music community here at Mahopac has been such a rewarding experience. Making music with my friends and peers is one of the defining components of my high school career, and I am so lucky that we still have such a vibrant and welcoming music program during distance learning."

When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, and New York went on lockdown, that did not stop Mahopac CSD Music from being there for the students. A quick look at the Virtual Performance playlist from Mr. Williams and the MHS Bands shows that music education remained a vital part of the student experience, and the weekly installments gave the community a regular bright spot to look forward to. Vincenzo Pascarella, in the junior class at MHS, said that “even during this pandemic we have been able to rehearse and perform in ways that have helped restore a bit of normalcy during these crazy times."

Fellow bandmate, Dylan Ellrodt (class of ‘21), put it best, saying, "The Mahopac Music program has and continues to change my life for the better every day. I have no idea where I would be now if not for this music program." Through the continuous trials of the COVID crisis, Mahopac’s music program continues to work hard for the students, and the spring performances are highly anticipated. “I want to say that I've really enjoyed being a part of the orchestra these past few years. The music program helped me love performing and I'm honestly super impressed by the hard work and musical successes of the music community here, especially during the pandemic,” said Alexa Tyberg, Class of ‘21. The music program in Mahopac Schools continues to be a hallmark of the community and with a hope towards normalcy, the student musicians of Mahopac High School will be eventually welcomed by completely renovated rehearsal spaces and classrooms as a part of the ongoing Capital Bond Project.

Mahopac CSD’s Program provides a robust offering from beginning instruction to college and AP coursework. There are opportunities for all students at all levels to be involved and learn from the top-level educators of the music department. The Mahopac CSD music program is staffed by Elizabeth Day (Austin Rd), Marcia Webb (Lakeview), Jennifer Gilbert (Fulmar Rd), Joseph Seeley (Middle School), Steve Wands (Elementary Band), Don Flynn (MS Band), Rich Williams (HS Band), Heather Palkewick (MS Chorus), Jacob Rhodebeck (HS Chorus), Stas Przymylski (Music Technology), Rob Loprinzo (Elementary Orchestra), Katelyn Tai (MS Orchestra), Evan McGregor (HS Orchestra).

About The NAMM Foundation

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.

District News & Headlines

MCSD Recognizes World Autism Month

April is World Autism Month, beginning with United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. Throughout the month, people are encouraged to focus on sharing stories and providing opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, fostering worldwide support.

Austin Road special education teacher Amanda Giacquinta snapped these fabulous pictures of the hallway decorations and said, “I love walking through the halls and seeing this in honor of Autism Awareness Month!”

We agree, Mrs. Giacquinta!

District News & Headlines

May 1st is Principals' Appreciation Day!

School Principals’ Day is celebrated on May 1 annually to recognize the importance of principals, from elementary to high school, and all the work they do for the betterment of the school.

"We appreciate our principals everyday, but a #PrincipalsAppreciationDay is the perfect opportunity to say it loud and proud! Mr. Chadwick, Mrs. Pontillo, Mr. Gilligan, Mr. Cozzocrea, and Dr. Lawrence- you’re the best and we are grateful for you!!"

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Brings Home Six Awards from WESEF, Plus a Microscope!

Congrats to the seven Mahopac High School students whose work was recognized at the Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF) and to all our students who participated!! 564 students from around the region participated in the virtual fair this year. MHS sent seven projects and were awarded a total of six awards!

“Please join me in congratulating all of the MHS Science Research students on their participation in the WESEF. These students all upheld the MHS Core Values as they completed scientific research despite a global pandemic and I am so proud of all that they accomplished,” said MHS’ Science Research Advisor Elizabeth Stephens who worked with Mahopac’s Science Research program and credits shares her students’ success this year with all of Mahopac, “Thank you to MCSD for continuously supporting the scientific endeavors of our students, and to the entire Mahopac Community for consistently pushing our students to be the best that they can be.Congratulations to our winners and to all our seniors!”

Alexander Gaspar and Andrea Settembrini: Recipient of the Leason Ellis Team Project Award
Victoria Longo and Olivia Saturn: Recipient of the Critica Behavioral Science Achievement Award
Renuka Muralidhar: Recipient of the United States Air Force Award
Alexa Tyberg: Recipient of a 2nd Place Award in the category of Computer Science
Maxwell Semegran: Recipient of the American Meteorological Society Award AND Recipient of the Teatown Young Environmentalist Award

Additionally, MHS was the lucky recipient of a brand new, top of the line Stereo Microscope thanks to a generous donation by Carl Zeiss Microscopy!

Here's a complete list of Mahopac's WESEF Categories and Project Title submissions:

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Veronika Bilinkski and Kiarra Condon: "Analyzing the Change in Crime Rates Among Different Areas in New York Due to the Outbreak of Covid-19"

Alexander Gaspar and Andrea Settembrini: "The Relationship of the Platforms Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram with Depression, Stress, and Anxiety in High School Students" (Recipient of the Leason Ellis Team Project Award)

Victoria Longo and Olivia Saturn: "The Effects of Artificial and Natural Ambient Light on Short Term Memory" (Recipient of the Critica Behavioral Science Achievement Award)

Nicole Silvagni: "Effect of Owners' Personality on Dogs' (Canis Lupus Familiaris) Behavior"

Computer Science

Renuka Muralidhar: "Modeling for Identifying Methane Emissions" (Recipient of the United States Air Force Award)

Alexa Tyberg: "Investigating Channel-Adapted Bacon-Shor Quantum Error Correction Codes in a Realistic Setting" (Recipient of a 2nd Place Award in the category of Computer Science)

Environmental Sciences

Maxwell Semegran: "Aquatic Invasive Species Survey of Lake Mahopac" (Recipient of the American Meteorological Society Award and Recipient of the Teatown Young Environmentalist Award)

District News & Headlines

The MHS Drama Company presents Charlotte's Web

Grab your popcorn and get ready to be entertained by our amazing actors: MHS Drama Company 2021 - Charlotte's Web

"Congratulations to the resilient members of the MHS Drama Company for not letting COVID stop them from producing Charlotte’s Web! They followed the rules and they got it done! Stay tuned for our Spring Musical!" -- Director Chris Purr

Check out the fabulous playbill created by our talented students! Charlotte's Web 2021 Playbill

District News & Headlines

Miele Appointed Acting Superintendent, DiCarlo on Medical Leave

At a special meeting on Monday, March 8, Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo advised the Board of Education that he would be taking a medical leave.

In an email statement shared with the community on Monday after the Board’s special meeting, Mr. DiCarlo said, “The Board of Education and I have full confidence in the strength and teamwork of my cabinet. I look forward to returning to the Mahopac Central School District as we make Mahopac stronger and better.”

On March 11 Board of Education Budget Meeting former Mahopac Athletic Director Frank Miele was appointed acting superintendent.

“Frank Miele is a legend in the Mahopac school district. A graduate of MHS, he taught here for more than 40 years has come back on a couple occasions to help out,” said Board of Education President Michael Mongon stated at the March 11 meeting. “He was a gym teacher and football coach, a baseball coach who won a couple state championships, an athletic director and assistant principal. Everybody knows Frank, and it will be a seamless transition. I could not be any happier for our school district.”

District News & Headlines

Cote Earns Scholastic Art Honorable Mention for Photography

Holly Cote was recognized with Scholastic Art & Writing Award Honorable Mention for both of her photography submissions. The one of the dog looking into the pool is titled Curiosity and the one of the dog with the dirty face is titled Young.

"I'm honored to be recognized by Scholastic Art Award for doing something that I love," she said when asked about the award. "I look forward to pursuing a degree in interior design where I can continue my passion for art!”

Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for young artists and writers in grades 7–12 and serves as a launch pad for furthering students’ future success by providing them with access to scholarship programs and workshops, as well as the ability to have their work published and displayed in regional and national exhibitions.

District News & Headlines

MHS Artists Featured at Katonah Museum of Art

Each year, the Katonah Museum of Art celebrates the work of high school senior artists in what has become, as they describe it "a perennially popular exhibition." In addition to having their pieces exhibited, students work alongside Museum professionals to take part in publicizing, curating and installing the exhibition. This year's exhibit, its 38th consecutive, will feature nearly 350 artworks from more than 30 regional schools. MHS Senior Abigail Park was the winner of the Katonah Museum of Art’s annual Young Artists postcard design contest.

"The digital artwork I created was inspired by the hunger for creativity I see in young artists. I wanted to capture that creativity in a fun and cheeky way: the girl is representational of that spirit in artists, and she's painting the Katonah Museum of Art logo onto a large piece of glass in front of her. In my artworks, I always strive to deliver meaningful messages for its viewers to think about. I'm honored and so grateful to have won this competition, and I hope to always continue creating artwork!"

Abigail's artwork will be used to promote this year’s exhibition including on the banner and on all other marketing materials.

In addition to having their pieces exhibited, students work alongside Museum professionals to take part in publicizing, curating and installing the exhibition. Mahopac High School Art Teachers Kaitlin O'Brien and Sean Flanagan have 11 students participating this year and the submissions span a variety of mediums including digital illustration, colored pencil, mixed media, graphite, acrylic paint, and digital animation. The exhibit is open daily through February 28. For more information visit https://katonahmuseum.simpletix.com/e/62319

District News & Headlines

MHS Athletics Hosts Perfect Playcement Webinar

MHS athletes & families with an interest in playing college athletics were invited to a Zoom to discuss the desire to play college athletics & Character Matters. Organized by Athletic Director Steve Luciana, sponsored by the Booster Clubs and hosted by MLBPA Certified Agent and former non-scholarship Division II athlete Mark Leinweaver, the event was designed for high school parents, students, and coaches to discuss "recruiting" during this pandemic. The session also addressed anti-bullying, volunteering, social media dangers, and how getting cut doesn’t mean a college career is over.

Watch a recording of the event here.

District News & Headlines

Mahopac Athletes Advocate

At the Board of Education meeting on January 21, Athletic Director Stephen Luciana and Coach DeMatteo discussed the #LetThemPlay movement in New York and shared this video of the student athletes describing the situation in their own words.

Read the Lohud coverage of this topic here.

District News & Headlines

#STEAMFair2021

Mahopac's annual celebration of STEAM is this Saturday, January 23, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Follow this link to the program of events for the day. The award ceremony will be live live-streamed at 2 p.m. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyyGXNnB-fKndXzHrPO_WqA/videos (once the live-stream starts the link will update).

Please access the STEAM Fair 2021 website using your Mahopac.org username and password. For the security of our students, it will not be accessible without Mahopac credentials.

This website includes:

Middle School STEAM Fair participants' projects
Information about MHS Science National Honor Society (SNHS)
Middle school technology & engineering classes
MHS Project Lead the Way (Engineering Class)
Science-inspired art projects done by Mrs. Lyons’ class
Interactive Math Games hosted by the Math Experts
STEAM ITalian - save Venice!
Staying Healthy During COVID - participants can win prizes!
Gender Equality Club - Learn about the Red Box Project
STEAM Week highlights for our 5th grade students

District News & Headlines

Letter Signing Day!

On November 20, parents, coaches, District administration, and teammates gathered on the turf - masked and socially distanced - to celebrate our student-athletes’ commitment to playing at the collegiate level. The event was broadcast on LocalLive.

Congratulations Shannon Becker (University Of Notre Dame/Softball), Brett Shane Crecco (Mercy College/Lacrosse), Krista Dietz (Pace University/Field Hockey), Gigi Genovese (Pace University/Lacrosse), Vincent Mariella (Susquehanna University/Baseball), Tatiana Moran (Mercy College/Lacrosse), John T. Nolan (Pace University/Lacrosse), Caitlyn O’Boyle (Tufts University/Basketball), Jack O’Connor (Suny Oneonta/Baseball), and Hailey Pereira (Bryant University/ Soccer)!

District News & Headlines

MHS Staff Invited to Present at Regional Curriculum Council

April Ljumic, High School Assistant Principal, and Kelley Posch, High School MHS LIFE and Math teacher have been selected to present a breakout session for the Putnam|Northern Westchester Curriculum Council’s Virtual Learning Regional Conference, which will be held via Zoom on Friday, December 4, 2020. April and Kelley are co-facilitating a break-out session entitled: “More Than Screens: Forming Lasting Relationships in a Virtual World” with Dan Novak and Catherine Leist from the Center for Environmental Education at PNW BOCES. In this session, teachers and administrators will focus on creating and fostering relationships built on trust in a hybrid and virtual setting. Mahopac High School’s “MHS LIFE” 9th grade program will be showcased for its work in building positive long-term relationships and its collaboration with the Center for Environmental Education of PNW BOCES to continue this great work in a virtual setting. Showcased practices are designed to build empathy, facilitate communication, and encourage lasting personal development and healthy relationships even through a screen.

"MHS Life Program is a robust and impactful course that each of our freshmen take, MHS Principal Dr. Matt Lawrence said. "I am extremely proud that we have been asked to participate as presenters at the Regional Curriculum Council Professional Development Program."

District News & Headlines

Virola Invited to Participate in the National Hispanic Recognition Program

Jaime Virola, Jr. scored in the top 2.5% on the PSAT/NMSQT among all Hispanic and Latino test takers in the region. As a result, he has been invited to participate in the National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP).

“We are extremely proud that Jaime has been honored as part of the National Hispanic Recognition Program,” said MHS Principal Matt Lawrence. “This recognition celebrates his success thus far and the brightness of all that's ahead. Please join me in congratulating him on this outstanding academic achievement.”

When he learned that he had been recognized, Virola said, “It is not about enduring the hard work, but about loving the work you do. You will be surprised how far anyone can travel if they enjoy the journey.”

Participation in this program enables students to highlight their outstanding educational achievement to top colleges and universities. In a statement regarding NHRP, The College Board said, “Colleges know that students who have earned this recognition are some of the most talented across the country.

District News & Headlines

School Board Recognition Week 2020

The New York State School Boards Association recognizes October 19 - 23 as #SchoolBoardRecognitionWeek. This is a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by school board members. The Mahopac Central School District is joining all public school districts across the state to celebrate School Board Recognition Week to honor local board members for their commitment to Mahopac and its children.

“It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and these men and women devote countless hours to making sure our schools are helping every child learn at a higher level,” Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “They make the tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect.”

Mr. DiCarlo said the key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:
• Creating a shared vision for the future of education
• Setting the direction of the school district to achieve the highest student performance
• Providing accountability for student achievement results
• Developing a budget that aligns district resources to improve achievement
• Supporting a healthy school district culture in which to work and to learn
• And much more!

“School board members give the Mahopac citizens a voice in education decision making. Even though we make a special effort to show our appreciation in October, their contribution is a year round commitment,” DiCarlo said. “Thank you to the members serving our district President Michael Mongon, Vice President Adam Savino, and Trustees Ben DiLullo, David Furfaro, Lawrence Keane, Lucy Massafra, Tanner McCracken, Ray McDonough, and Michael Simone.”

District News & Headlines

Congratulations Max Semegran, NYSSMA All-State

Max Semegran has been chosen to participate in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Festival. The festival will be held virtually.

Over 7,000 student musicians from across the state compete for a spot in one of the eight All-State ensembles. Being named as a violinist is the result of an arduous process including performing scales, a solo or ensemble piece of choice from the designated NYSSMA repertoire, and a sight reading piece. The judges score and comment on the students' performances according to defined guidelines set by NYSSMA.

“Participating in such a prestigious event significantly benefits students,” said Mahopac High School Orchestra Director Evan McGregor. “I truly wish Max could meet fellow musicians and perform to an in-person audience, but the experience still offers an opportunity to learn and play challenging material. Last year, Max was selected as an alternate but ultimately did not get selected to participate, so this year being able to participate as a full member of the All-State String Orchestra is particularly gratifying. I'm proud of the work he's done and I think a fine example of Mahopac's potential.”

“In addition to earning a perfect ACT score, being named a National Merit Semifinalist, being a three season athlete, and now NYSSMA All-State, Max is a peer leader, brother, and community member,” said MHS Principal Matt Lawrence. “Over the years we’ve had the pleasure of watching him grow and flourish. We look forward to his All-State performance.”

District News & Headlines

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

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

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

A Great First Day of School

Students returned to the Mahopac schools on Friday, Sept. 10, kicking off a new school year full of hope with full-time, in-person learning.

“It’s great to have everybody back,” Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “Socialization is such an important part of education. We’ll not only have in-person learning, but the full return of all athletic seasons, extracurriculars and co-curricular programs that add so much to student development.”

The joy students felt at seeing their friends and teachers was easy to see as they stepped off buses to schools that some had not seen in 18 months.

The transition grades – kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth – started on Thursday to give the youngest students time to adjust to a new building.

At Mahopac High School, the educators designed a schoolwide scavenger hunt to give the freshman a fun way to explore the building on Thursday. There was a lot of laughter heard as students checked off boxes and searched out each new location. At the last stop, they got to meet the assistant principals.

Every school in the district had a unique way of welcoming new and returning students.

“It’s a credit to the district to be able to have us here five days a week,” said Austin Road Elementary School Principal Bryan Gilligan. “After last year, I think everyone has a new appreciation of sending their kids to school.”

District News & Headlines

An exciting first day

Students returned to the Mahopac schools on Friday, Sept. 10, kicking off a new school year full of hope with full-time, in-person learning.

“It’s great to have everybody back,” Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “Socialization is such an important part of education. We’ll not only have in-person learning, but the full return of all athletic seasons, extracurriculars and co-curricular programs that add so much to student development.”

The joy students felt at seeing their friends and teachers was easy to see as they stepped off buses to schools that some had not seen in 18 months.

The transition grades – kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth – started on Thursday to give the youngest students time to adjust to a new building.

At Mahopac High School, the educators designed a schoolwide scavenger hunt to give the freshman a fun way to explore the building on Thursday. There was a lot of laughter heard as students checked off boxes and searched out each new location. At the last stop, they got to meet the assistant principals.

Every school in the district had a unique way of welcoming new and returning students.

“It’s a credit to the district to be able to have us here five days a week,” said Austin Road Elementary School Principal Bryan Gilligan. “After last year, I think everyone has a new appreciation of sending their kids to school.”

District News & Headlines

An exciting first day

Students returned to the Mahopac schools on Friday, Sept. 10, kicking off a new school year full of hope for full-time, in-person learning.

“It’s great to have everybody back,” Superintendent Anthony DiCarlo said. “Socialization is such an important part of education. We’ll not only have in-person learning, but the full return of all athletic seasons, extracurriculars and co-curricular programs that add so much to student development.”

The joy students felt at seeing their friends and teachers was easy to see as they stepped off buses to schools that some had not seen in 18 months.

The transition grades – kindergarten, first, sixth and ninth – started on Thursday to give the youngest students time to adjust to a new building.

At Mahopac High School, the educators designed a schoolwide scavenger hunt to give the freshman a fun way to explore the building on Thursday. There was a lot of laughter heard as students checked off boxes and searched out each new location. At the last stop, they got to meet the assistant principals.

Every school in the district had a unique way of welcoming new and returning students.

“It’s a credit to the district to be able to have us here five days a week,” said Austin Road Elementary School Principal Bryan Gilligan. “After last year, I think everyone has a new appreciation of sending their kids to school.”

District News & Headlines

2021-2021 Budget Vote and School Board Election Results

Here are the unofficial results of the Budget Vote:

Budget Vote Result: YES 917- NO 694

Proposition 2 Result: YES 967- NO 702

Board of Education Vote Results
Lucy Massafra 724
Joaquim Mota, Jr. 491
David Furfaro 767
Michael Martin 780
Roger Duran 571
Allison Mueller 685

District News & Headlines

Austin Road Students Sign Song of Thanks

When Austin Road Elementary students can't sing together (check out the video here!), they sign together instead! Music teacher Elizabeth Day, using technology and sign language, helped her students perform "Thanks a Lot" by Raffi in celebration of Thanksgiving and in gratitude. Enjoy!

The Lyrics of the song are:

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for Sun in the sky.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for clouds so high.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for whispering wind.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for the birds in the spring.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for the moonlit night.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for the stars so bright.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for the wondering me.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for the way I feel.

Thanks for the animals,
Thanks for the land,
Thanks for the people everywhere.

Thanks a lot,
Thanks for all I've got.
Thanks for all I've got.

District News & Headlines

2020-2021 One Page Calendar

This Calendar includes school breaks, holidays, and color cohort days for the entire 2020-2021 school year. *Please refer to specific communications from schools for building specific changes and updates.*

District News & Headlines

From the Superintendent

News & Headlines

Getting to Know Superintendent Christine A. Tona

Mahopac High School Graduation

Administrator for a Day

Mahopac Seniors Focus on Career with Internships

Gardening Across The Curriculum

Farm Animals Visit Lakeview

Mahopac Senior Athletes Saluted

Mahopac Musicians Shine In Competition

Mahopac Students Learn to Write Really Short Stories

Essay Contest Winner Surprise

Hometown Heroes Banner Honors Tromblee

Middle School Public Speaking Contest

One School, One Book and Lots of Fun

Top Scholars of the Class of 2022

It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s Vowel Man

Mahopac Theater Club Doubles the Fun

Athlete Signing Day Ceremony

Considerate 8th Grader Sends Positive Vibes

Meet The New Superintendent of Mahopac Schools

One Book, One School, and Many Enthusiastic Readers

The Curtain Rises on Mahopac Middle Schoolers

Library Media Center Gets Rave Reviews

Mahopac High School's New Master Teacher

Welcoming Families from Around the World

Mahopac Music Students: “The Sound is Amazing”

High School Music Department Gets a Tune-Up

School Cafeteria Reopens to Students School Cafeteria Reopens to Students

A Colonial Maker Space

100th Day of School Celebrations

Mahopac Art Students in Katonah Museum Show

What could be more fun for a first grader than having a high school student for a pen pal?

Mahopac Graduate Aims to Fight Climate Change

Fulmar Road Olympics

Middle School STEAM Fair, Creativity on Display

Former Mahopac Student Makes Forbes 30 under 30 List

Eighth Grade Project Makes History Come Alive

Drama Club Makes a Grand Return with “Clue”

Lakeview Elementary Students Help Make-A-Wish

Lakeview Elementary Students Practice Kindness

Mahopac High School Life Teaches Freshman to Navigate High School

Austin Road Fifth Grader Gives Special Gift

Mahopac High School Rocks On with Illusion

Mahopac High School musician was First Violinist at All-State

Middle School Newspaper Seeks Hero Journalists

Middle Schoolers Explore Careers

The Thanksgiving Point of View

Austin Road Students Give Thanks

Live and In-Person, a Wonderful Fall Music Concert

High School Teacher Publishes Scientific Research Paper

Fast-thinking Middle School Students and Teachers Save a Boy from Choking

Senior Signing Day Honors 12 Student Athletes

Middle Schoolers Learn Team Building

Lakeview Classrooms Stocked with Books

Fulmar Road Students Use Their Senses

Middle School Gourd Contest

Mahopac Quarterback Named Con Edison Athlete of the Week

Students Learn College-Level Engineering at Mahopac High School

All-Elementary Race is a Long Tradition

Simon Says... “Write”

Putting Out Fires

Fall into SEPTO event

It is Safety First for School Bus Drivers

Pumpkin Time

What first graders like about Fulmar Road Elementary School

On Your Mark, Get Set, COOK

Environmental Club Plants Flowering Tree

New Teacher Spotlight: Szilvia Tobak

Kindness Rocks Mahopac Middle School

Fresh-air Studying at Mahopac High School

A break for fun at Austin Road Elementary School

Fulmar Road Reads Outside

A Great First Day of School

MHS Art Teacher Announces Publication of "Sam's Unboring Adventure"

Mahopac Board of Education Selects Mongon as President and Savino as Vice President

Spring 2021 Scholar-Athlete Teams and Individuals Announced

St. John's Thanks Lakeview Students for Donations

4-H Program Connects MHS Senior and Lakeview 3rd Grade Class

Mahopac Softball News: Becker Player of the Year and Giansante Coach of the Year