News & Headlines

• Mahopac Middle School students learn to use their ‘Wings’ to spread a positive and inclusive culture

  Instead of their usual Friday morning classes, Mahopac Middle School (MMS) students began their day with a lesson on the scientific theory of the Butterfly Effect, the notion that a single flap of a butterfly’s wings can play a significant part in generating a tornado a great distance away.

  However, the focus was not on the butterflies but the students learning that tiny acts of empathy and inclusion do in fact make a difference. This was the launch of the Wingman Program, part of Dylan’s Wings of Change, an organization founded by the parents of Dylan Hockley, a 6-year-old victim of the Sandy Hook shooting.

  As explained to MMS students by his father, Ian Hockley, Dylan was a child with autism, who was often misunderstood or excluded. However, he was able to “navigate the world and enjoy life so much more when those around him would step up and be his wingman.” He emphasized that “on the good days, people didn’t focus on the differences and made connections, and Dylan’s demeanor changed to positive.”

  The middle school has a group of students who have committed to take the lead in their school to counter rejection, exclusion and isolation with acts of compassion. These “wingmen” went through an application process that included a written rationale for why they want to be part of the program. Parents and caregivers provided their signatures on the applications as a commitment of support for their student-wingman.

  MMS Reading teacher Christine McNeil said, “It was interesting to read why our participating ‘wingmen’ wanted to be part of the program. Several of the students wrote that they feel excluded or disliked by fellow students and wanted to be part of something that makes a positive change in our school culture.” Learning about the program from her daughter’s school in Connecticut, McNeil brought it to MMS three years ago and participation grows each year.

  MMS Principal Tom Cozzocrea aims for the Wingman Program to help instill a positive change with how students make choices, particularly pertaining to social media and vaping.

  Middle school students are “reaching a new level of independence,” he said. “It’s a perfect time to show them that they can impact the world with smart and healthy choices. The more positive change we introduce students starting right now, the more negative effects we avoid.”

   

  Underscoring the value of the Wingman Program, popular motivational speaker Ed Gerety spoke to students about creating a positive school culture with acts of kindness and respect. This high-energy and interactive presentation instilled the “butterfly effect” with real-life testimonials, group participation like creating a “rainforest” with hand motions and one MMS student coming before his peers of about 400 to call his mother to say he loved her and appreciated all she does for him.

   

  The values the Wingman Program imparts are meant to affect students’ lives beyond the classroom and encourage them to “live and lead your life with gratitude, respect, kindness and a belief in yourself and one another. To play big in the game of life, go for your dreams and seize the day,” Gerety said.

   

  One wing flap at a time.

   

  October 5, 2018

  District News & Headlines

• Mahopac Schools “Start with Hello”

  Inspired by Sandy Hook Tragedy Mahopac Schools commit to inclusiveness and connectedness in the classroom and beyond

  Along with thousands of schools and youth organizations across the country, the Mahopac Central School District schools resolved to “Start with Hello” this week. As an outcome the Sandy Hook school shooting tragedy, “Start With Hello” Week, September 24-28, was conceived by the not-for-profit Sandy Hook Promise knowing that, in every school and in every community, there are young people who suffer silently because they feel left out, alone or invisible.  

  Still new into the school year, the “Start With Hello” objective is to make all students immediately feel seen, accepted and safe. Social isolation is a growing epidemic in the United States and within schools, and it can be associated with violent and suicidal behavior. One study found that chronic loneliness increases the risk of an early death by 14%. Young people who are isolated can become victims of bullying, violence and/or depression, and as a result, many pull further away from society, struggle with learning and social development and/or choose to hurt themselves or others.

  Fostering inclusion and community, the Mahopac elementary schools’ students and staff have committed to say “hello” when seeing someone who appears lonely, and then reaching out to help. During the week the students participated in curriculum activities that help fuel the skills they need to create a culture of inclusion and connectedness.

  The Mahopac Middle School is extending “Start With Hello” Week into a year-long initiative called the Wingman Program. This student-led program is a social and emotional learning environment from Dylan’s Wings of Change, a foundation dedicated to the memory of Dylan Hockley, one of the first grade victims of the Sandy Hook School shootings. Dylan had autism, and was at his best when those around him would step up and be his “Wingman.” The middle school has over 50 student volunteers, who are serving as Wingmen. They run “Mix It Up” day, which encourages students to get out of their comfort zones and meet new friends; facilitate lessons about inclusiveness in classes; and act as Wingman Spotters, who are on the lookout to "go above and beyond to support others."

   

  From handing out lollipops and a “hello” to Mahopac High School students coming to school in the morning, to putting blank “meme” images on cafeteria lunch tables to invite conversation, to having clementines with positive messages on student desks, the high school social work team provided students daily gestures that spark a “hello” and conversation.

  The hope is practicing “Start With Hello” will translate to home and the community too. Some specific tactics the parents and guardians can do to help foster inclusiveness and connectedness are:

  • Make an intentional effort to greet each other with hello and ask questions about each other’s day.
  • Practice active listening.
  • During car rides or at dinner challenge each other to use eye contact and truly listen.
  • Model best practices for your child.
  • Say hello to strangers on the street and make conversations at stores or restaurants.
  • Tell your child a story about a time that you reached out to someone who was alone and in need. What happened? How did you feel afterwards?
  • Talk about what your child can do if they ever feel lonely at school. Remind your child that you are always there for them if they need someone to talk to.
  • Talk about good and bad kinds of being alone.

  Keeping with the “Mahopac Way” the District will continue to engage students in programming and curriculum that encourages a culture of inclusiveness, compassion and kindness.

   About Sandy Hook Promise

  Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook School on December 14, 2012. SHP’s sole purpose is to educate and empower parents, schools and community organizations on how to prevent gun violence BEFORE it happens by providing mental health & wellness early-identification and intervention programs, gun safety storage practices and advocating for sensible state and federal violence prevention policy.

  About Sandy Hook Promise and our other school and community-based prevention programs and training, please visit : sandyhookpromise.org

   

  District News & Headlines

• Mahopac Way: 8th Graders Spruce Up Town Hall

  About 60 Mahopac Middle School eighth grade students and staff started last Saturday morning at Carmel Town Hall. The students spent most of the day working hard cleaning and doing yard work to spruce up Town Hall to fulfill community service hours required for their trip to Washington, D.C. and or the National Junior Honor Society.

   

  “We have changed it around this year so that the community service could be more meaningful for our students. We believe that it is important that they give back to our community. We will be creating different community service events throughout the school year for them to earn their hours,” said Tom Cozzocrea, MMS Principal.

   

  District News & Headlines

• MCSD Teachers Ready for New School Year the "Mahopac Way"

  Leslie Mancuso, Board of Education President and Anthony DiCarlo, Superintendent, along with the MCSD leadership team welcome teachers and staff for the first “conference day” for the new school year.

  Superintendent DiCarlo shared his pride in the teachers and staff for reflecting the “Mahopac Way” of being problem solvers, compassionate, resilient and risk takers - and instilling these attributes to students.

  The new school year goal for the “Mahopac Way” extends into academics, culture and life skills. 

  The Mahopac community is encouraged to use hashtag #MahopacWay in social media posts that reflect the "Mahopac Way" in action.

  District News & Headlines

• Raise the (new) Roof to the MCSD Buildings & Grounds Team

  Special thanks to the buildings and grounds crew who worked hard during the summer making enhancements to the schools. Some highlights include:

  - new security vestibule area at the middle school

  - new learning lab at Mahopac Falls Academy

  - new custom-made digital signs at the middle and high schools entrances

  - new electronic messaging boards throughout the middle and high schools

  - newly created “senior” lounge at the high school

  - high-efficiency lamps at the high school turf field

  - expanded parking, surface repair and optimized traffic flow at the schools

  - new doors, renovated walls at the high school

  - water tank cleaned at the middle school

  - new sensory room at Austin Road

  -updated HVAC system updated at Fulmar Road

  The roofing capital project is also near completion for Austin Road Elementary, Lakeview Elementary and Mahopac High School. The roofing will be completed after school and on school holidays.  The district is grateful to George Pine for supporting the crew.

   

   

   

   

  District News & Headlines

• Lakeview Elementary School ROCKS in the new school year

  With help of Lakeview Elementary School mascot “Paws,” the students and staff rally to make the new school year “R.O.C.K.S.” (Respect. Organized. Cooperative. Kind. Safe.) This is an ongoing initiative by Lakeview’s Positive Behavioral Incentive (PBIS) committee to help set the tone for a positive school year.  R.O.C.K.S is supported throughout the year with campaigns that cover reading, giving acts of kindness, and health and wellness.

  • R O C K S.mp4

  District News & Headlines