Due to prediction of inclement weather, the Board of Education Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14th at 8:00 p.m. in the Falls School Auditorium, rescheduled from Thursday, November 15th.
MS, HS, and 5th grade parents join us for our first parent-workshop with Mr.Thomas Grimes from New York’s Finest Speakers on 11/13, 6:30pm at the Middle School. He will speaking about internet and social media safety. Adults only.
Please join us for Mahopac Drama Company's A Christmas Story, 11/15, 16, 11/17 at 7pm
Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 school year will be held at the Office of Central Registration located at the Falls District Office, 100 Myrtle Avenue, Mahopac, between the hours of 8:15 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please click on the attached flyer for dates and times by school.
The flu season will be upon us soon. There may be confusion as to what the “flu” really means. Some may use the term to describe the common cold, vomiting and diarrhea (stomach bug), or most accurately, the viral respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.
Infection with the influenza virus can lead to serious complications. The best protection against influenza is by getting your annual flu vaccination. Please contact your local pharmacy or health care provider to schedule a flu vaccination if you have not already done so.
We encourage our students, family members, and employees to monitor their health status and stay home and/or seek medical attention if feeling ill.
If your child is not feeling well, we ask that you follow the protocols below:
Practice proper hand hygiene:
Get better and stay well by:
Together we can reduce the impact of illness in our schools. For any questions or concerns, contact your individual schools. Please visit our Health Services page for more information and details about our free Influenza Vaccination clinics - https://www.mahopac.k12.ny.us/groups/11077/health_services/home
Basketball for men are Mondays and Wednesdays at the Mahopac High School Old Gym 7-9pm, $5 per session.
Five-Hour Driving Pre-Licensing will be offered Nov 13 and Dec 11, Room 215, at the Mahopac High School. Please contact Betsy Tobias to register tobiasb@mahopac.k12.ny.us or 845-628-3256
The Mahopac Central School District is working diligently on developing a tax-neutral capital project that provides strong and safe schools. Strong relationships between schools and community fosters strong students and families that can contribute to long-term community success. Communities that have strong, positive relationships with schools have a solid workforce, higher job satisfaction, improved housing options and a flourishing economy.
The bond supports an educational facility plan that serves as a clear reflection of our community’s commitment to high-quality schools, including security and safety initiatives, infrastructure needs, such as:
“We are able to put forth a tax neutral capital project as a result of new debt replacing old debt being paid off. In other words, the capital project does not have to increase property taxes,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business Harvey Sotland.
The capital project will be the result of extensive research and planning by the District’s Administration and Building Committee, which is led by Sotland and Superintendent of Schools Anthony DiCarlo. The committee is comprised of Board of Education members, staff and administration representatives, and community members who have expertise in finance, construction, education and security. The committee is also supported by the architectural firm Tetra Tech Architects & Engineers and a construction manager.
“Together we will create scalable and cost-effective designs to provide for the best learning spaces for our students and staff. The capital project will help meet the needs of today’s students and the students of the future by reinvesting in our schools and community,” DiCarlo said.
The New York State School Boards Association recognizes October 22-26 as School Board Recognition Week. This is a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by school board members. 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 Mahopac’s 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 tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect.” Superintendent DiCarlo said the key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:
The members serving our district are as follows:
Submitted by: Melody LaRocca, District Clerk to the Board of Education and Secretary to Superintendent DiCarlo
Dear Mahopac Families,
Over the past few months, I have seen such wonderful teaching and learning taking place throughout the District. Our schools offer an incredible selection of courses, clubs, athletics and extracurricular activities provided by both the District and our incredible PTOs. Our students are so fortunate to have a wide variety of after-school sports and programs that enhance their overall learning experiences. As a true testament to the “Mahopac Way,” it’s been great to see so many Mahopac families part of our school and community events, including Back to School Night, Homecoming, community bonfire, local chamber street fair, and fall team sports games.
The District is committed to supporting each student for college and the work force as we continue enhancements in our teaching and facilities upgrades. Jon Dewey wrote, “If we teach today’s students like we did yesterday’s we rob them of tomorrow.”
Our Board of Education has outlined both the opportunities and challenges ahead for our curriculum and facilities. The following district-wide initiatives are underway:
This has been an exciting time for our schools, students and the community. I look forward to our continued work together. “GO PAC!”
Respectfully yours,
Anthony DiCarlo
Superintendent of Schools
dicarloa@mahopac.k12.ny.us
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the selection of Mahopac High School teachers Michael Mahoney and Elizabeth Stephans, along with 273 other educators from across the state, to join the New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP) in partnership with the State University of New York and Math for America.
In effort of strengthening the state’s K-12 STEM education, the NYSMTP honors the work of the highest-performing STEM teachers by establishing an expert community dedicated to developing expertise in teaching science, technology, computer science, robotics, coding, engineering, and math courses across grades K-12, including Advanced Placement, honors, Regents and International Baccalaureate levels. These educators will join the network of Master Teachers created in 2013, bringing the total number of Master Teachers across New York State to 980.
“Education is the cornerstone to success, and it is the brilliant, dedicated teachers in New York who make a difference in countless lives and inspire the leaders of tomorrow,” Governor Cuomo is quoted on the NYS Education website. “Congratulations to the 275 newest members of the Master Teacher Program, who will join the ranks of the top educators in the state as they work to further their skills and their impact on students in every corner of this great state.”
“Mr. Mahoney and Ms. Stephens are each a true testament to our District-wide commitment to prepare each and every student for college and career readiness with a strong STEM foundation,” said Anthony DiCarlo, Superintendent of Schools.
Like their fellow Master Teachers, Mr. Mahoney and Mr. Stephens are active beyond their classrooms.
Michael Mahoney earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Science Education from SUNY New Paltz, and has worked at Mahopac High School for 20 years. Mr. Mahoney has taught Advanced Placement (AP) Biology, AP Environmental and Living Environment, and Syracuse University Project Advanced Forensics. Mr. Mahoney is actively engaged with the Teachers Teaching Teachers program that trains educators in new content, skills and pedagogy. He also created a program to help new teachers transition into their profession. Admittedly, Mr. Mahoney says he learns as much from them as they learn from him. Mr. Mahoney is excited about his new project that allows students to work side-by-side with STEM researchers in Costa Rica to preserve the rainforest. As a NYS Master Teacher, Mr. Mahoney is looking forward to joining his peers in various professional learning teams. His focus is learning and teaching others about reaching the new generation of students, the digital natives. His approach to learning can be summed up by Henry Ford’s statement, “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.”
Elizabeth Stephens earned her bachelor of science degree in biology with a concentration in biotechnology from the University of Delaware, her Master of Science degree in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College, and a master of arts degree in Secondary Education from Mercy College. In addition to teaching Regents Living Environment, Introduction to Science Research and Advanced Science Research at Mahopac High School for eight years, Mrs. Stephens has been an active participant in various school-wide initiatives and committees, and is the acting science department chair. As a result of employing the “flipped classroom“ model, Mrs. Stephens provides students with a differentiated approach to learning, using class time to engage them with “minds-on“ activities such as simulation and role-playing activities that reinforce content. She enjoys the opportunity to build strong relationships with her students in Science Research, a multi-year program where they create, complete and present original STEM research of their interests. Outside of class, Mrs. Stephens enjoys horseback riding and camping with her husband and three children. Her professional interests include research on technology integration and its influence on child and adolescent brain development. As a NYS Master Teacher, Mrs. Stephens is a member of the Digital Native Professional Learning Team and participated in the Safety of Genetically Engineered Food, 3-D Printing and the Statistical Inference mini-courses.
Throughout their four-year participation in the Program, Master Teachers:
The Mahopac High School College Counseling Program, headed by Ron Pollaro and Dennis DiSanto, has been awarded the 2018 New York State Outstanding Program, Practice, or Project Award by the New York State School Counselors Association (NYSSCA). This award recognizes the best professional practice in the field among New York State school districts.
Pollaro and DiSanto work together to lead the high school counseling team to present a comprehensive College Counseling Program for MHS students and families.
Some of the highlights of the College Counseling Program are:
“On behalf of the Mahopac High School educational community, I would like to congratulate our Counseling Team, especially Mr. DiSanto and Mr. Pollaro, for their tremendous work for our students and parents,” said Dr. Matthew Lawrence, Mahopac High School Principal.
Pollaro and DiSanto will attend the NYYSCA Annual Conference at the Sagamore in Lake George on Friday, November 16, to receive the award.
“We are proud to have the leaders in the state working with our high school students every day to become college and career ready,” said Anthony DiCarlo, Superintendent of Schools.
Literacy is the building block of all learning. To instill lifelong learning and the love of reading, Mahopac High School is participating in Project #MHSREADS. The outdoor digital display board will feature a daily announcement with book titles that teachers, administrators and staff are reading.
Parents and caregivers can model literacy at home, too, by talking to your children about something you’ve read and having them witnesses you reading.
Fostering student athletes beginning, the #MahopacWay tradition lives on with the annual Mahopac Elementary Schools Cross Country and 5K races held in October. Students begin to develop the basic running fundamentals and learn the health benefits training for these running events. “Our aim is to create not just life-long learners but life-long runners, as well,” said Lauren Kittredge, Austin Road Physical Education teacher. In fact, high school students from the cross country and track teams return to their roots and help with the races.
The Cross Country race includes all students who run by age on the Lakeview grounds. The 5K is made up of 4th and 5th graders who’ve committed to train before school before race day at FDR Park. This year’s 5K race was a record setting finish with all participants finishing under 41 minutes.
Along with schools across the country, the Mahopac Schools participated in a week-long celebration of making healthy choices and community connections with Red Ribbon Week. By helping students build a foundation of mindfulness to themselves and their community, the risk of substance abuse is lessened.
“Substance abuse prevention starts with the promotion of good mental health in kids and teens,” said Valarie Nierman, MCSD Health Coordinator. The District is committed to helping each individual student. Read more.
Austin Road’s back field area was transformed into a Pumpkin Patch. Diane Binns, along with her husband and the kindergarten teacher team, created their annual whimsical pumpkin patch. Students were able to select their own pumpkin generously donated by Stop & Shop in Somers Commons.
School Board Recognition Week: October 22-26, 2018
The New York State School Boards Association recognizes October 22-26 as School Board Recognition Week. This is a time to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by school board members. 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 Mahopac’s 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 tough decisions every month and spend many hours studying education issues and regulations in order to provide the kind of accountability our citizens expect.” Superintendent DiCarlo said the key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:
The members serving our district are as follows:
Please join us for a reception on October 18th at 7:00 at the Board of Education meeting to honor them.
