Inside Yorktown CSD

Welcome to the Summer 2025 edition of “Inside Yorktown CSD.” This newsletter takes you inside our schools by sharing photos, stories, announcements, upcoming events, and more — all with the goal of creating a more connected school community.

July 7-August 15 – Extended School Year Program
August 25 – YCSD Board of Education Meeting
August 25 – Fall Sports Begin (Football on Aug. 23)
August 27-28 – Superintendent's Conference Days
September 1 – Labor Day
September 2 – Schools Open

For more calendar information, visit this link.

The YCSD Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Tuesday, July 1. A video replay is available on the District's YouTube channel.

Congratulations to Lisa Rolle on being appointed president and Reshmi Bose on being appointed vice president of the Board of Education for the 2025–26 school year. We extend our sincere gratitude to Jackie Carbone for her remarkable 18 years of service as president. After choosing to step away from the presidency, Jackie proudly nominated Lisa for the role. Jackie, who will continue to serve as a trustee, has been a steady and guiding presence on the Board and remains deeply committed to the students and families of the Yorktown Central School District.

The board will hold its next meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25, in the MESMS Cafeteria. You can find agendas and upcoming meeting dates by visiting the following link: BOE Agendas.

Construction on Campus

Please be advised that construction is taking place in several areas across our campuses this summer. If you are visiting, we kindly ask that you drive slowly, follow all posted signage, and remain alert to help keep everyone safe. Thank you for your cooperation.

Freshmen Chromebook Exchange Day

To ensure all of our 9th graders have their Chromebook for the upcoming school year, we will be exchanging and distributing Chromebooks during our Freshmen Chromebook Exchange Days. This is when your child will receive their new school-issued Chromebook. Please click here for more information and to select your preferred time.

Lead in Water Testing

We want to inform all parents, staff, and community members that the District has completed an updated Lead in Water Program for the 2023–2025 testing period. Our top priority is ensuring access to safe drinking water throughout all school facilities.

In accordance with New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) regulations, any water outlet that tests above 5 parts per billion (ppb) for lead — equivalent to 5 micrograms per liter (µg/L) — must be addressed. Any outlets that exceeded this threshold have been taken out of service, unless the outlet is a sink used solely for handwashing. In those cases, clear signage has been posted indicating that the water is not safe for drinking.

Full testing results are available on the homepage of the District website.

District Safety Plan

A draft of the 2025–26 Yorktown Central School District Safety Plan is now available for public review and can be found on the homepage of our website. The plan is expected to be adopted at the Board of Education meeting on August 25.

You can visit the District's Communications website to keep up with the latest news and to read archived stories.

From Pre-K to our high school seniors, congratulations to all students who celebrated a Moving-Up Day or Commencement Ceremony in June! Please see below for a list of photo galleries and video replays:

Universal Pre-K

Photos

Brookside

Photos
Video (9:30 a.m.)
Video (11:00 a.m.)

Mohansic

Crompond

Photos

MESMS

YHS

At the June 16 Board of Education meeting, we were proud to honor dozens of educators and faculty members celebrating retirements or milestone anniversaries. Congratulations and thank you for making the Yorktown Central School District such a special place!

Please click here for more photos and full list of honorees.

“The ASL program has taught me things I didn’t even know I wanted to learn about,” said rising eighth grader Joselyn Perl. “It has exceeded my expectations in many ways.”

Yorktown Central School District’s new American Sign Language (ASL) course wrapped up its first year with strong student engagement and growing excitement. Introduced last fall at both the middle and high school levels, the program is already set to expand in 2025–26 to offer more classes and reach more students.

Taught by Ms. Molly Dineen-Carey, the course covers the fundamentals of ASL — grammar, vocabulary, and conversational signing — while also exploring the culture and experiences of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Classmate Aislinn Downes added, “By learning ASL, students can connect with deaf and hard-of-hearing peers, which helps everyone feel seen and valued. It also encourages respect for Deaf culture and can even lead to future career opportunities. Overall, ASL builds a more inclusive, respectful, and connected school environment.”

A highlight of the year was a collaborative event in May with Ossining students, featuring immersive ASL activities and a panel discussion with members of the Deaf community. The event gave students a chance to apply their learning in a real-world setting.

“The panelists were the first Deaf people I’ve met,” said rising eighth grader Allison Xiao. “It was an amazing experience to see professionals come together and share real-life perspectives.”

“The ability to learn ASL and speak to Deaf people has been such a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” added classmate Olivia Rodman. “I’m so happy I got to be part of the program in its first year.”

For many students, the course sparked a lasting appreciation not only for the language, but for the people who use it.

“Each person’s signing reflects their experience, personality, and thoughtfulness, which makes ASL truly unique,” said rising eighth grader Sophia Daskaleas. “I wanted to experience a fun subject full of learning, and this program went beyond my expectations, even helping me in other subjects like English and Social Studies.”

Students are already looking ahead to September, eager to continue their studies, expand their vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of Deaf culture.

Congratulations to Yorktown High School junior Hunter Mezzatesta on being appointed the first-ever ex officio student member of the Yorktown Central School District Board of Education!

Joining him in leadership is sophomore Luke Evangelista, who was selected to serve as the alternate ex officio member. Both students will attend board meetings throughout the 2025-26 school year, where they’ll share student perspectives, provide updates, and contribute to discussions. Hunter and Luke were chosen following an interview process conducted by the Superintendent’s Student Council.

At the June 2 Board of Education meeting, we proudly honored the volunteers and school partners who go above and beyond in support of our students and staff.

“School Partner Recognition Night” is an opportunity to honor the unsung heroes behind so many of the programs, events, and initiatives that enrich our students’ experiences. From organizing community events to securing grants, these individuals and organizations play a vital role in our schools.

This year’s honorees were the District PTSA, YHS PTSA, MESMS PTA, Crompond PTA, Brookside PTA, Mohansic PTA, SEPTA, Foundation for Excellence, First Nighters, Huskers Club, Alliance for Safe Kids, Science Research Foundation, and Whitsons Culinary Group.

Dr. Hattar shared his appreciation, stating: “Our district is so fortunate to have such wonderful volunteers… Everyone's busy, everyone has demands on their time, yet you prioritize service to your school district and to your community in a way that very few people do.”

Thank you for all you do!

Please click here for more photos.

On their final day of school, Yorktown High School seniors returned to where it all began.

The Class of 2025 kicked off the morning by visiting their former K-3 schools — Brookside and Mohansic — before reuniting at Crompond. They were welcomed by cheering students, heartfelt signs, and plenty of hugs from their former teachers. From touring the hallways to revisiting the playground, it was a full-circle moment and a fitting way to close out their time in Yorktown.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025!

Please click here for more photos.

Mohansic Elementary School students raised $800 for the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem with their custom-made “Wolves Are Worth Saving” t-shirts!

After learning all about wolves, each classroom designed logos with art teacher Mrs. McCloat, with the winning designs printed onto t-shirts by teacher Mrs. Quinones. The students proudly presented their donation on June 2 to animal facilities manager Alex Spitzer.

Amazing job!

Our Crompond students put empathy into action this spring through a series of powerful ESTEAM celebrations!

In classrooms across Grades 4 and 5, students researched global challenges, developed creative solutions, and presented their inventions to families using tools like LEGO Spike, Canva, and WeVideo. From tackling natural disasters and improving access to clean water, to reimagining classroom tools and solving everyday problems with compassion, each project reflected thoughtful design and a deep sense of purpose.

Whether the focus was hygiene, the environment, or life on Mars, one thing was clear: these young innovators are ready to change the world!

Please click here for more photos.

Congratulations to the 17 Yorktown High School seniors who earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy!

This prestigious recognition celebrates students who have demonstrated an advanced proficiency in English and at least one other language. With guidance from Ms. Marilee Mero and Assistant Principal John Gollisz, these seniors developed rigorous portfolios and delivered formal presentations showcasing their language skills, cultural understanding, and academic excellence.

The following seniors have earned the Seal of Biliteracy this year:

Alberto Alexandre, Spanish
Ditlum Bajrami, Albanian
Priscilla Berlis, Spanish
Michael Chitu, Spanish
Emanuel Gojani, Albanian and Spanish
Roni Haxha, Albanian
Johan Kavanal, Spanish
Melanie Pujols, Spanish
Christina Semenko, Ukrainian
Stavros Shafik, Spanish
Nicole Skouras, Italian
Elanna Smith, Spanish
Ainhoa Todorov-Rubert, Spanish
John Tyndal, Spanish
Duru Unal, Turkish
Norah Yang, Mandarin and Spanish
Brandon Zhong, Mandarin

Brookside third graders ended the year in style with a series of publishing parties. Throughout May and June, the students proudly shared persuasive essays, research reports, and creative stories with classmates and families. Our young authors have grown so much this year, and these celebrations were a perfect tribute to their hard work!

Please click here for more photos.

Crompond fourth-graders wowed families on June 4 with two amazing Pixar-themed concerts!

Under the direction of Ms. Salustri, the students performed a selection of Pixar favorites, including “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” “Life Is a Highway,” and “Un Poco Loco.” The concerts also featured soloists and speaking roles, giving students the chance to shine in a variety of ways.

Congratulations to all on a wonderful performance!

Photo galleries and video links are below:

In June, Mohansic third graders capped off their study of butterfly life cycles by releasing monarchs they raised in class. Watching the butterflies take flight was a memorable moment — especially as these students prepare to spread their own wings and head to Crompond next year!

Meet Mason and Milo, who were our "Superintendents for the Day" on June 20!

The Brookside students — Mason, a second grader, and Milo, a first grader — won the opportunity through a PTA raffle to step into the District’s top administrative role.

After receiving their official badges and a warm welcome from the HR Department, Mason and Milo stepped into Dr. Hattar's office and got to work.

Their focus? Pizza toppings, classroom temperatures, and recess equipment. With Dr. Hattar’s support, they got our Facilities and Food Services teams on the line and even managed to set a few changes in motion before the day was done!

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Students in Ms. Brennan’s class have some ideas!

The Crompond fifth graders hosted a classroom career fair in June, showcasing their research on a wide range of professions, from space exploration to the culinary arts.

As part of the ESTEAM lesson, each student created a posterboard filled with facts and trivia about their chosen field. They also designed an original invention to improve their industry.

Other classes visited throughout the day to learn from the presentations and get inspired.

Mohansic's annual Fitness Fun Day certainly lived up to its name!

K-3 students were all smiles on June 3 as they rotated through high-energy activities that tested their fitness and teamwork skills. Thanks to our amazing PE teachers and the parent volunteers who made the day such a success.

Please click here for more photos.

We continue to update our website with various job opportunities for both instructional and non-instructional roles. If interested, please visit our website for a list of vacancies or you may click here.

Yorktown News – Yorktown CSD Receives National Recognition in Three Key Areas
Yorktown News – Husker Bevilacqua Headed to States
Yorktown News – YHS Girls Win 13th Lacrosse Sectional Title

If you are not a District parent but would like to stay connected with our School Community, please fill out this form to receive our monthly newsletter.

You can read more District highlights by visiting our website and social media pages, which are updated regularly with stories, photos, and announcements.

Yorktown Central School District

Website: www.yorktown.org
Location: 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
Phone: 914-243-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorktownCSD/
Twitter: @YorktownCSD

Inside Yorktown CSD