Inside Yorktown CSD

Welcome to the December 2023 edition of “Inside Yorktown CSD.” This newsletter will take you inside our schools by sharing photos, stories, announcements, upcoming events, and more — all with the goal of creating a more connected school community.

• Dec. 25-Jan. 2 – Schools Closed for Holiday Recess

• Jan. 5 – Winter Formal

• Jan. 8 – Board of Education Meeting

• Jan. 11 – Yorktown Science Research WR-JSHS Practice Night

• Jan. 11 – CPSE to K Transition Night

• Jan. 12 – Charlie Strong Basketball Game

• Jan. 15 – Schools Closed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

• Jan. 20 – YHS Science Competition

• Jan. 22 – Board of Education Meeting

• Feb. 2-3 – YHS Dance Company Performance

Athletic schedules can be found here.

For more calendar information, visit this link.

On February 13, 2024, we will be putting forward a vote on a bond project that includes two propositions. The first proposition will have NO additional tax impact, and cost approximately $46 million. The first proposition includes expansions to Brookside, Crompond, and Mohansic elementary schools. These expansions will provide additional space and resources to accommodate student needs and the growing student population, ensuring that every child continues to have access to the high-quality education that has become synonymous with Yorktown.

Another highlight of the bond project at Yorktown High School is the addition of a new multi-purpose turf field where the current baseball field is located. This field will not only benefit our athletes and physical education classes, but will also be utilized by our middle school to provide increased opportunities for outdoor recess. What’s more, this second turf field will be an incredible resource to our community for years to come.

Finally, the first proposition proposes investments in security that will continue to elevate the already robust measures in place in our District. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students and staff, and we will continue to demonstrate this commitment through strategic investments in this bond project.

All of the above items are included in proposition 1 with NO additional tax impact. However, we heard very clearly from our community, through the facilities survey that we conducted and informal conversations with members of our community, that our district has additional needs. After thoughtful consideration, we are also presenting a second proposition on the ballot for February 13th. This second proposition will include a full renovation to the Mohansic cafeteria, an emergency generator to power critical infrastructure on our MS/HS campus, an additional multi-purpose turf field, and an outdoor concession plaza that includes a concession stand, bathrooms, and an outdoor dining area.

Proposition 2 can only be passed if proposition 1 passes. The tax impact for proposition 2 is approximately $78 per year, or $6.50 per month, for a home at the Town’s average assessed value. As previously mentioned, there is no additional tax impact for Proposition 1.

In addition to sharing information on our website, we will also be hosting community meetings to address any questions that you may have. We encourage you to stay informed and engaged in this important conversation.

The vote will take place at the French Hill School Library on Tuesday February 13, 2024 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES is hosting a virtual “Internet Safety for Parents” presentation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10. The presentation is free but registration is required. The Zoom link will be sent to the email provided during registration. The event's keynote speaker will be Thomas Roidl, a retired state police investigator. More information about the event is available here.

If you are interested in working as a Certified Teaching Assistant (CTA), Substitute Teacher, Substitute Nurse or Teacher Aide in the Yorktown Central School District, you may use the following link to submit an application. Employment Opportunities.

Unless noted otherwise, all Board of Education meetings will be held in the middle school cafeteria. You can find agendas and upcoming meeting dates by visiting the following link: BOE Agendas

Please know that all meetings will be uploaded to our YouTube channel the day following the meeting.

• Brookside Grade 2 Concert
• Photos
• Videos will be posted on our YouTube channel at a later date
• Crompond Grade 4 Concert
• Session 1 Video
• Session 2 Video
• Photos
• Crompond Grade 5 Concert
• Video
• Photos
• MESMS Band Concert
• Video
• MESMS Choir and Orchestra Concert
• Video
• YHS Band Concert
• Video
• YHS Choir Concert
• Video
• YHS Orchestra Concert
• Video

Incredible job by Brookside Elementary School on their record-setting Holiday Toy Drive!

All students and staff participated in a recent donation drive for the Community Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Mohegan Lake. This year, Brookside beat their record by collecting a total of 838 toys, books, and other gifts! These donations have already been distributed to local families.

Brookside (with some extra help from the Yorktown Lions Club) truly made a difference in the lives of others and made the holiday season brighter for many children in our community. We are so proud of their efforts!

Please visit our website for many more photos of Brookside students and staff with their donations.

On November 29, our YHS History Club had the honor of hosting Andrew, Gene, Neil, and John — local Purple Heart recipients whose powerful stories of war left a lasting impact on our educators and students.

All four of them saw active duty and were wounded while serving, earning them the Purple Heart medal. Additionally, John was awarded the Silver Star for his exceptional bravery in combat.

The veterans spent nearly 90 minutes sharing their stories and fielding questions. The students were particularly moved by the fact that Gene and John were close to their age when they were drafted into the Vietnam War.

We extend our gratitude to the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 21 for participating in this memorable learning experience. Thank you for sharing your stories, answering our questions, and, most importantly, for your service to our country!

Additional photos from the visit are available on our website.

Crompond was buzzing with excitement for Computer Science Education Week (December 4-10)!

At the December 4 Board of Education meeting, students and staff showcased their cutting-edge approach to learning and their commitment to ESTEAM.

This year, student have been diving deep into coding and algorithms, engineering prototypes, crafting sustainable life on other planets using Minecraft, and even reimagining real-world events through tech projects. They’re also acing digital citizenship with lessons on cellphone safety, cyberbullying, and smart internet habits.

As one student put it, “In this digital fluent world, we are looking forward to a future where classrooms are not just spaces for learning, but places that inspire, engage, and support the dream of every student.”

You can read more and view additional photos on our website.

On December 6, BluePath Service Dogs visited all Yorktown CSD schools as part of the District's Innovation Grant program.

Each month throughout the school year, teachers can apply for these iGrants, each worth up to $1,000, with the goal of supporting innovative curriculum-centric projects. This grant, applied for by Crompond teacher Mrs. DeIngeniis, will support six visits throughout the school year.

Thank you teachers for making this opportunity possible for our students!

Additional photos from the visits are available on our website.

December 8 marked a wonderful collaboration between two second-grade classes at Brookside. Students from Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Castoro's class shared their unique personal narrative stories with Ms. McGarvey's class, creating a meaningful exchange of creativity and storytelling.

Meet the talented artists behind this month’s Mohansic Masterpieces! This showcase is updated throughout the year by art teacher Ms. McCloat and spotlights students across all grade levels.

On December 10, Yorktown High School Band Director Emily Kluga and junior student Sharik Bose participated in the 50th TubaChristmas concert at Rockefeller Center.

This magical event welcomed tuba and baritone players from all corners of the country, with participants flying in from Washington state, South Dakota, Michigan, and more. Ranging in age from 11 to 85, this diverse ensemble showcased their love for music, uniting professionals, students (like Sharik), and enthusiasts alike. Most of the nearly 350 musicians met each other for the first time on Sunday morning. They rehearsed for about an hour before delighting the crowd with Christmas tunes.

TubaChristmas concerts happen nationwide throughout December, but the NYC event holds the distinction of being the original! It was also a family event for Ms. Kluga, who played alongside her 12-year-old daughter, Linden.

What a great time at Crompond Community Night on December 13! Many fourth- and fifth-grade students came out to Yorktown High School to support the varsity basketball team in their exciting win over Alexander Hamilton. They even performed a halftime show!

Additional Community Night photos are available on our website.

It was another incredible Pioneer League home game on December 6! Our student-athletes showcased their skills in a fantastic match against Somers.

Don't miss your chance to see the Pioneer League team. The upcoming schedule is available here.

On December 19, the YHS choir did a great job spreading holiday cheer! They visited Brookside, Crompond, MESMS, and Mohansic to perform seasonal songs and classic carols. After the concert, the high schoolers sat alongside the K-6 students, took their song requests, and led a sing-along!

Congratulations to Alexis Venechanos (Class of 1999) and Katrina Dowd (Class of 2006) on their recent inductions into the Hudson Valley Lacrosse Hall of Fame! They are the first two female Yorktown lacrosse players to receive this honor.

As a collegiate coach and athlete, Alexis has been a part of five Division 1 national championship teams. She was the starting goalie for the University of Maryland, helping to lead the Terrapins to consecutive national titles in 2000 and 2001. Alexis began her coaching career in 2004 as an assistant at Northwestern, winning multiple championships before embarking on a successful head coaching career at UMass, Ohio State, and Otterbein. Alexis returned to Northwestern as an assistant coach in 2023, winning another title with the Wildcats.

Katrina is one of the most decorated players in the history of women’s lacrosse. A World Cup medalist, she boasts three national titles as a player and two as a coach. Graduating from Northwestern in 2010, she won three NCAA championships (2007, 2008, 2009) and garnered recognition as a two-time first-team International Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-American (2009, 2010). Her professional career in the United Women's Lacrosse League saw her earn all-star honors while leading the Long Island Sound to a 2016 league championship.

After beginning her coaching career on staff at the University of Denver in 2011, Katrina joined the staff at Syracuse in 2012, helping to lead the Orange to the NCAA championship game for the first time in program history. She served two highly successful stints on staff at the University of North Carolina, leading one of the top offenses in the country to two national championships and setting numerous program records. She spent two seasons as the head coach at the University of Oregon and two seasons as an assistant coach at West Point. Katrina currently serves as the head coach of Brown University’s women’s lacrosse team.

We are so proud of these two amazing former Huskers!

Congratulations to several of our elementary and high school students, whose whose stunning artwork will be showcased at an upcoming regional exhibition!

• Yorktown High School: Gavin Maher (Junior), Eva Wingfield (Sophomore)
• Brookside: Violet Rai (Kindergarten), Carolina Oliveira (Second Grade), Seanna Alam (Second Grade)

Their pieces were selected from a pool of submissions by K-12 students in New York State Assembly District 95. The “Radiating Tranquility” exhibition sought works from students that embody the themes of peace, serenity, illumination, or radiance.

The exhibition will run from Jan. 2 to June 13 at the Ossining offices of Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg.

On November 28, Mohansic's second graders gathered for a special writing celebration where they took turns reading their own personal narrative stories aloud.

Additional photos are available on our Facebook page.

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

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.

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