Mohansic Fosters Empathy Through Friday Fun Club
Mohansic students recently wowed the Board of Education with an inspiring presentation about their Friday Fun Club, a program that goes beyond fun crafts and activities to foster empathy, inclusivity, and essential life skills.
At the heart of this initiative is the pairing of second-grade students with K-1 students from Mrs. Vadala's special education class. This buddy system aims to foster connections and deeper understanding among peers.
Under the guidance of the school’s speech language pathologists, the second graders embraced their roles as peer leaders. At Monday’s school board meeting, some of Mrs. Dable’s students spoke passionately about their experiences including lessons focused on nonverbal communication and empathy, collaborative crafts, games, and interactive sessions that further strengthened the relationship across the two classes.
Before their visits to Mrs. Vadala’s class, the students met with speech language pathologist Mrs. Poccia and delved into “A Day with No Words,” a story depicting Aidan, a nonverbal boy with autism. This story shed light on nonverbal communication, such as facial expressions and body language. They even learned about how some students can communicate using devices with images.
The students also shared the importance of expressing and understanding feelings. “It’s like having a friendship superpower,” shared one student.
Dr. Hattar and the Board of Education commended the students for embracing friendship, kindness, and delivering confident speeches. They also acknowledged the collaborative efforts of teachers, administrators, and parents in supporting this initiative.
Mrs. Dable expressed gratitude for the community-driven approach behind the Friday Fun Club, emphasizing the impact of the buddy system on both sets of students.
Charlie Strong 2024
What a great turnout for the third annual "Charlie Strong" game at Yorktown High School on January 12!
The school community came out in large numbers to support 2023 YHS graduate Charlie DeGennaro, who was a captain of the varsity basketball team. Four years ago, Charlie was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder. Despite this, he continues to inspire the Huskers with his attitude and determination.
The game between Yorktown and Brewster was not only a celebration of Charlie’s courage, but also a fundraiser for Blythedale Children's Hospital, with all proceeds from the game being donated.
YHS Senior Named a Regeneron Top 300 Scholar
Congratulations to Yorktown High School senior Eric Song for being recognized as a Top 300 scholar in the 2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search! This competition celebrates the achievements of high school seniors and their innovative research projects.
Eric's project focuses on tackling the growing issue of ransomware, a form of cyberattack that holds computer data hostage in exchange for a ransom. His software not only identifies and detects ransomware but also halts the key used by attackers to lock up data, allowing users to retrieve their files.
Unlike most research in this field, which primarily focuses on prevention software, Eric's project aims to mitigate the damage caused by these attacks. He believes that prevention measures can be costly, resource-intensive, and often ineffective against determined attackers. Calling ransomware “one of the biggest threats to computing systems today,” Eric is looking to address a multi-billion-dollar problem that has affected many consumers, businesses, governments, and organizations around the world.
Eric's passion for using his computer skills to help others has been nurtured through the Yorktown High School Science Research Program, which has provided him with unique opportunities to explore his favorite subject at an advanced level.
“The Science Research program has given me so many opportunities to connect with the best and brightest of the field,” Eric said. “I was able to connect to computer hackers, AI experts, and military and government officials, I don't think I ever would've dreamed of having these opportunities without the program. Additionally, the program has many like-minded people driven towards improving the world through research, and they're a fantastic bunch to be around.”
His science research project began in the summer of 2022 and has received high praise for its innovation and effectiveness. In 2023, he was awarded second place in the Systems Software category at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Paul Rubeo, Eric's science research teacher at Yorktown High School, expressed his pride in Eric's accomplishments and highlighted his self-driven nature. He commended Eric's passion for his topic and acknowledged the amazing work he produced independently, with support from mentors and teachers. “He deserves the recognition as an STS Top 300 Scholar and we are very proud of him.”
This year's Science Talent Search was the most competitive since 1969, with 2,162 students submitting their projects for consideration. As a Top 300 scholar, Eric has secured a $2,000 scholarship for both himself and Yorktown High School.
Yorktown Senior Named ‘Student of Distinction’ by BOCES
Yorktown High School senior Matthew Yee was recently recognized as a BOCES Student of Distinction, an outstanding achievement that highlights his exceptional talent and dedication.
Matthew, who is enrolled in the Animation and Motion Graphics program at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES’ Tech Center, received this well-deserved honor at Monday’s Yorktown Central School District Board of Education meeting.
Described as a student with an unwavering passion for animation, Matthew has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, and a deep appreciation for the school environment. He excels in all areas of animation, but shows exceptional skill and understanding of creating motion graphics. Matthew's time at BOCES has allowed him to develop an impressive animation portfolio that he has used to apply for admission to various colleges.
In addition to his animation interests, Matthew engages in various extracurricular activities. He serves as the chief editor of the Yorktown High School Soupstone Club, which organizes various art-related events throughout the school year and produces an art and literary magazine featuring the creative works of fellow students. Additionally, Matthew is a member of the Yorktown High School boys varsity volleyball team, the Yorktown High School National Honor Society, and participates in the Big Buddy program. Through this program, he mentors incoming freshmen, providing them with guidance and support throughout their first year of high school.
Congratulations, Matthew!
Senior Citizen Breakfast
What a great turnout on January 25 for our senior citizen breakfast! The seniors enjoyed a meal while sharing ideas and catching up with Dr. Hattar on school news. Special thanks to Chief Noble for stopping by and providing valuable insights on the strong partnership between the Yorktown Police Department and the Yorktown Central School District.
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