Check out dozens of photos and videos here: https://bit.ly/30MZYVh.

From left: Board of Education Member William Iannuzzi; Board of Education President Julia Muggia Ochs with

Board Member Katie Castellano Minaya; and Board Member Adam Cooper, joined by a furry friend

Schools and district offices will be closed Thursday and Friday. They reopen Monday, following a normal schedule. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Several of our schools engaged in creative activities to emphasize the meaning, traditions, and lessons of Thanksgiving. Here are just a few examples:

Throughout Barnard, students have shared what they are most thankful for this holiday season. Teachers integrated thankfulness into their curriculum with math, writing, and art projects. During technology class, students created videos to describe their feelings of thankfulness. Click here for the link to a video.

At Columbus, students created clothespin "Pilgrims" that reflect their own heritage. Christine Hidalgo’s third-grade class related the original Pilgrims to similar journeys by members of their own family.

First, students read the book “Molly's Pilgrim” by Barbara Cohen. The story is about a Russian girl who is made fun of because she is different. When Molly's teacher assigns a project, Molly has to make a Pilgrim. Her mother makes a little Russian doll. The students make fun of her but the teacher explains that Molly and her family are today’s pilgrims because they have moved to America for a better life.

“Many of our students’ families come from other countries,” Hidalgo said. “We discussed how many Americans come from diverse backgrounds, and that they are modern-day pilgrims.” As part of the project, each student decorated a clothespin to represent the area of the world from which their family originates. Other classes were then invited to see "The Modern-Day Pilgrims."

Thankfulness. Gratitude. Putting others first. Those key social-emotional themes drove an important lesson at Davis Elementary School, which, along with its PTA, organized a “Thanksgiving in a Box” event to help some Davis families. Families and school staff were asked to purchase a pre-made Thanksgiving in a Box food package from a local supermarket. The ham, vegetables, fruits, juices, and desserts in the box are enough to feed six to eight people. Enough money was raised for the PTA to purchase nearly 50 packages. Students also created artwork, and wrote poems and letters, to decorate the boxes, and along the way, again experienced the joy of helping others.

In addition, first-graders created a book featuring the wonders in the world they’re thankful for. They read “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong and brainstormed what they’re thankful for besides turkey, families – and even toys! They illustrated their creations with wonderful colors, and it all was set to Armstrong’s song, “What a Wonderful World.”

Teacher Odeyla Vivolo's second-grade class at Daniel Webster Elementary School used engineering skills and creativity to create their own Thanksgiving Parade balloons after being inspired by the book “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet. After comparing and contrasting the Thanksgiving Day Parade from when it began in 1924 to today’s parade, they created their own floats using balloons, glue, construction paper, pipe cleaner, straws, and tape. Students shared engineering ideas and tapped into their “growth mindset” to persevere through challenges such as popping balloons. Instead of saying “I can’t”, they said, “we will try a different strategy.” At the end, they were proud of their creations and paraded them through the school hallways.

Ward's first-graders are ready for Thanksgiving! They enjoyed “A Plump and Perky Turkey” by Teresa Bateman. Afterward, students created a disguise for a turkey, now on display in school hallways. Principal Franco Miele, and Assistant Principals Kimberly Peluso and Rudelina Murray read “A Turkey for Thanksgiving” by Eve Bunting to students. Students also sang and created special turkey headbands to wear, all culminating a week in which students shared family traditions, and read about Native Americans and Pilgrims.

Click here to view a document with pictures highlighting learning and fun events at Webster last week. On page two of the document, you will find links to each teacher's first page of pictures. Most teachers added several pages of pictures. Don't forget to visit the art, music and Studio Arts pages. 

New Rochelle High School’s special exhibit, "A History of Opportunity, Service, & Success: Latino Migration to New Rochelle,” drew a prestigious visitor this week: Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who serves the 16th District.

Bowman said he had heard wonderful comments about the exhibit and wanted to view it. That effort, he said, is part of his desire to build stronger relations with the Latino community in New Rochelle, as well as his interest in learning about the migration the exhibit examines.

Bowman was impressed by the comprehensive exhibit, and grateful for the contributions of children of immigrants to our community. He also visited with Francisco Sandoval, a Social Studies teacher who is a curator of the exhibit with Social Studies & Business Chairperson Gustavo Barbosa and teacher Jarohan Garcia. Sandoval’s grandfather was directly related to Antonio Valencia, the first Mexican immigrant to New Rochelle.

Bowman’s webpage, https://bowman.house.gov, chronicles his visit, and says, “Our students at New Rochelle High School put together a phenomenal Latino Migration Exhibit. Loved seeing their talent on display depicting essential stories in our history.”

The exhibit, at New Rochelle High School until Dec. 1, is being presented by the school’s Social Studies Department with the support of the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence.