Dear Mahopac Community,
Thank you to everyone who participated in Tuesday’s annual School Budget Vote and Trustee Election. The proposed budget and the referendum to purchase additional buses both passed and I am grateful for the community's support. Congratulations to our incumbent trustees, Ben DiLullo and Tanner McCracken, on their reelection to the Board of Education and congratulations to Mike Mongon on his return to the Board of Education effective July 1, 2023. Our students are the true beneficiaries of this spending plan for the 2023-2024 school year and I am excited about the programs that will be added as well as those being continued so that our students receive all of the opportunities and support that they so deserve.
At last night’s Board of Education meeting, the result of Tuesday’s student vote for our new mascot was announced. The choices were the Mavericks, Mustangs, and Wolf Pac and the largest vote getter and our new mascot, pending Board approval, is… the Mahopac Wolf Pac! A huge thank you to the students, staff, alumni, and community members who participated in the mascot selection committee. We will continue to work on our logo and the transition plan that must be adopted by the Board of Education at the June meeting. I recognize that this change is not an easy one for our community but I am confident that together we can move forward and continue to demonstrate the strength of our school district, our students, and our community. Go Wolf Pac!
Please join me in welcoming Alyssa Hasbrouck to the Mahopac Central School District as our new Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. Ms. Hasbrouck comes to us from the Rondout Valley Central School District where she is currently their Business Official. She previously served as the Business Official in Tuxedo Union Free School District where she also held several other key business office positions. Ms. Hasbrouck will replace Interim Assistant Superintendent for Business, Christina Howe. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Ms. Howe for joining us during the 2022-2023 school year. I am excited to have Alyssa Hasbrouck join our administrative team on July 1, 2023 under her new name, Alyssa Murray, as she is getting married in June.
Finally, a reminder that due to a mild winter, we did not use two of our emergency days. Therefore, we will have an extended Memorial Day weekend with schools closed on Friday, May 26th through Tuesday, May 30th. School will resume on Wednesday, May 31st. Please be sure to take time over the long weekend to remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We are forever grateful for their service.
Sincerely,
Christine Tona
Superintendent of Schools
|
|
Fulmar Road Students Take
Class Outdoors
|
|
Second grade students from Andrea Jones’ and Jim Lieto’s classes at Fulmar Road Elementary traded desks and school chairs for a shady clearing and fresh air earlier this week during a Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES Center for Environmental Education workshop.
“Today we’re going to put ourselves in the shoes of the animals that live outside and see the world from their perspective,” said Environmental Educator Sam Pierce.
The students were excited to be outside but slowed down when Pierce told them that they were going to make ‘deer ears’. The Fulmar Road students followed the educator’s lead and placed their cupped hands behind their ears, amplifying the sounds of the world around them. The normally high-energy students silently took in the sights and sounds.
“I heard kids playing!” one student said while pointing toward the distant recess field.
“I heard birds and the wind and leaves,” said another student.
Pierce drew the students’ attention toward some plants growing beside the grass where the students were sitting and picked a green plant with tiny white flowers.
“This is Garlic Mustard Weed,” Pierce explained. “Garlic Mustard hasn’t always been here, it’s from Europe and none of the animals around here knows how to eat it. It takes away habitat from native plants.”
Students grimaced when they smelled the crushed leaves of the plant, understanding why it was called ‘Garlic Mustard’.
At the end of the lesson, students participated in an activity called ‘I Notice… I Wonder… It Reminds Me…’ where students paired up and looked at plants before discussing what the plant or item reminded them of.
“These leaves are soft like a pillow!” said a student named Eli.
“Do you know why it’s soft?” Pierce asked. “It’s so bugs have a hard time walking on it, that way the leaf doesn’t get eaten!”
|
|
School Budget Vote &
Board of Education Election
|
|
Voters approved Mahopac’s 2023-2024 School Budget on Tuesday with a vote of 1294 votes in favor and 1105 opposed.
The approval of the $137.9 million budget will continue Mahopac’s tradition of excellence in education.
"Thank you to the Mahopac community for their support of the school budget. I am excited about the opportunities that this budget provides for our students," said Superintendent Christine Tona. "Congratulations to the elected Board Trustees- Tanner McCracken, Ben DiLullo, and Michael Mongon. I look forward to continued success for our District."
The following are the results of the 2023 School Board Election:
Tanner McCracken: 1734
Ben DiLullo: 1422
Michael Mongon: 1268
Marsha Waldman: 1119
Tanner McCracken, Ben DiLullo, and Michael Mongon were elected to the Board of Education.
During recent weeks, the Mahopac Community has shared in the celebration of all of Mahopac's students at such events as Tuesday's Fifth Grade Track Meet, and the Eighth Grade trip to Washington D. C. from earlier this month. Students expressed themselves at the District Art Hop, where parents and young artists viewed their work on display at the A. Eric Arctander Gallery at the Putnam Arts Council, and the cheer team showed what Mahopac athletes were made of at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. The future is bright for Mahopac's students thanks to the hard work and diligence of teachers and staff and the tremendous support of the greater Mahopac Community.
|
|
Lakeview Students Get a Lesson in
Health from Rich Moran
|
|
"Does anyone know why smoking is bad for us?" Rich Moran asked the students.
After a horde of hands raised, one student was chosen to speak.
"Because our lungs can't breathe smoke!" said one Lakeview 4th grader.
Rich Moran stopped in to teach Lakeview fourth grade students about health and the dangers of smoking. Moran has spent the last few months visiting classes in all of Mahopac's elementary schools presenting critical information about health and the things that we put in our bodies to the next generation.
|
|
Mahopac High School Student
Receives Merit Award
|
|
Now that the year is coming to an end the success stories keep rolling in from Mahopac High School. The latest student to be recognized is MHS Junior Aaliyan Ali.
When Ali was called to Aaron Kleinman's office, he had no idea what the counseling department had in store. For scholastic achievement, community involvement, and his focus on the sciences, Ali was selected to receive the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal Award, which offers a $30,000 merit award each year if he attends school at RPI. He was presented with the award by the counseling department on Tuesday.
"I've had a lot of excellent teachers, especially my science teachers. I've had so many opportunities here to focus on my studies and improve," Ali said. "I want to go to school for computer science and continue to play violin. Up until now I was mostly looking at state schools, but this changes a lot. RPI is a great school."
|
|
Fifth Grade Students Impress at
Annual Track Meet
|
|
Frisbees and miniature shot flew on Tuesday as Mahopac's future track and field stars competed in the annual 5th Grade Track meet at Mahopac High School.
Parents, teachers, principals, and even Mahopac High School students were in attendance to support and facilitate the participating student-athletes who were each wearing colors representing their schools: pink for Austin Road, green for Fulmar Road, and blue for Lakeview.
|
|
|
|
|
5/26 - 5/30 - Memorial Day Recess
6/10 - Relay for Life
For more information about Relay for Life, donations, and to save the date click here.
|
|
Mahopac Middle School uses the CARES program to recognize students who are Consistently Safe, Act responsibly, Respect all, Engage in Learning, and Support others. |
|
Mission Statement
To prepare each and every student for college and career readiness, and
to educate all students to be responsible and productive members
of the global community.
|
|
Mahopac Central School District
179 East Lake Boulevard, Mahopac, NY 10541-1666
Phone: 845-628-3415 Fax: 845-628-5502
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
