Auto Mechanics students at work
Cosmetology student at work
Advocacy Day 2017
Advocacy Day 2017
Ronald McDonald House visit
Greenburgh Memorial Wall restoration project
Culinary student at work
It's our goal to make finding the services and supports you're seeking as easy as possible. Use the BOCES Centers menu above to connect with any of our seven major centers. The About menu contains our Services Guide, Directory and other useful items. Below you'll find links to Central Office departments, useful links for employees and news from across our campuses. Click the calendar icon for a full-screen view and to subscribe to specific centers' calendars. If you need more assistance, reach us at 914-937-3820. We welcome your feedback!
This comprehensive K-12 professional development melds building executive function skills, increasing student responsibility for learning, and infusing student-centered best practices into one cohesive, <b>problem-based learning</b> (PBL) environment that addresses the needs of all students. Teachers will develop a plan for redesigning every aspect of their classroom into a highly <b>differentiated</b> learning environment that provides students with the skills necessary for college and careers. Teachers will design PBL units to align with the standards all instructional structures and strategies will be aligned with the highly effective column of the five major teacher evaluation rubrics (Danielson, Marshall, Marzano, NYSUT, and Stronge.)
Subsequent to the workshops, the consultant will provide coaching through on-site visits. At times, the consultant will visit a teacher’s classroom to provide feedback and suggestions; at times, the consultant will meet with a teacher outside of class to debrief unit implementation or plan an upcoming unit.
<b>*Note: Districts must sign up for coaching prior to signing up for this workshop. For districts new to the work, ideally at least four teachers per school will sign up for this workshop. Teachers who have worked with IDE Corp. before are welcome to sign up. The workshop will be differentiated for all participants.
*Participants will need a copy of “Students Taking Charge: Inside the Learner-Active, Technology-Infused Classroom” by Dr. Nancy Sulla.
Please click here to register: Designing Learner Active, Technology-Infused Classrooms
Read about the Annual Southern Westchester BOCES Retirement Reception honored the service of 33 retirees at a reception at the administrative offices in Rye Brook Wednesday.
From the moment “Pomp and Circumstance” began playing on the overhead speakers, an air of celebration and joy filled the auditorium for the Southern Westchester BOCES’ Therapeutic Support Program Intensive Moving Up Ceremony.
During the June 16 graduation, which took place at Pocantico Elementary School, 14 students from Mara Ivkosic and Karen Walker’s fifth- and sixth-grade classes were recognized. The children and audience members alike smiled as they reminisced about the past year at school.
“We are very proud and very excited for our students,” said Principal Jessica Walker of the children who sat in the front row. “But we are having a hard time saying goodbye.”
She noted that throughout the year, they have worked hard, grown academically and made new friends. While there will be many challenges ahead for them as they enter middle school, Ms. Walker said, she knows that they will flourish in their upcoming adventures.
During the ceremony, students shared their “Hero Speeches” – words they had written to honor people who are their heroes. The students spoke about their parents, grandparents and other family members who take care of them, make them feel safe and happy, and show them how to be responsible.
Students from both classes took to the stage to sing “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars. The song’s lyrics depict friends being there for one another to help whenever one has trouble in life.
The teachers presented each student with their certificates and awards, congratulating them on a year of achievements. Principal Walker and SWBOCES Director of Special Services Lisa Schuchman shook their hands, commending the work since September and wishing them well in the next chapter of their lives.
Here is a list of the graduating students and the awards that they received:
Mrs. Ivkosic’s Class:
Jordan Baldwin – Excelled in Computer; Friendship and Good Citizenship Award
Nathaniel Davis – Excelled in Math
Cory Eulin – Overall Academic Improvement
Patrick Gettler – Most Improved in Reading; Friendship and Good Citizenship Award
Ajay Gonzalez – Most Improved in Literature
Gregory Tompkins – Excelled in History
Mrs. Walkers’s Class:
Alvaro Alvarez – Most Improved in Reading
Jasmine Doley-Figueroa – Good Citizenship Award
Michael Espinoza – Excelled in Science
Arween Hernandez-Baez – Excelled in Writing
Miguel Lopez – Most Athletic
Yeison Parra – Most Creative
Joseph Pirrotta – Excelled in Art and Music
Elyjah Williams – Academic Achievement in Math
Over 100 students were honored at the Center for Adult & Community Service Student Recognition Ceremony.
Eighteen students received awards at the recent Recognition Ceremony for Southern Westchester BOCES students at Farragut Middle School, receiving accolades for their resourcefulness, excellence in art, good sportsmanship, resiliency and other positive qualities.
The June 9 ceremony was for eighth- and ninth-grade students who will either transition to Irvington High School or their home school district in the fall. They have made significant behavioral and academic progress that shows they are ready to meet high school’s higher expectations, SWBOCES Principal Alberta Grant-Johnson said. They will need to work more independently and take greater ownership of their learning.
Ms. Grant-Johnson wished the students well on the next part of their educational journey and said she hopes they achieve success and acquire the skills they will need to be happy and productive in life.
“It’s a really big step. There is going to be a lot of work that you will need to do, projects and things that you’re going to do on your own, and manage your time,” she said. “And these are all skills that you’re going to need if you decide to go to college and when you go into the work world.”
Fifteen-year-old Jaden Lewis of Mount Vernon closed out the ceremony with a rendition of the song “Lava” from the animated short film of the same name. Jaden, who will attend his local high school in the fall, sang and played the ukulele.
Dr. Kenn Mann, psychologist, asked Jaden to play a voicemail the student had recently received from the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau. Jaden learned that he had secured a summer job. Fellow students cheered and shook his hand after he played the message on speakerphone.
Nathaniel Ayewah, 15, said he enjoyed his time in the SWBOCES program. He will be attending Irvington High School next year. “I’ll miss everybody here,” he said. “I love this school.”
Janine Renzo of Eastchester said she is pleased with the progress her son, Nicolas Renzo, made after transferring to the Farragut program. He will be attending Irvington High School next year.
“He’s very excited. He made some nice friends here,” she said. “I’m proud of him. He has done very well.”
In addition to Jaden, Nathaniel and Nicolas, the other students who were recognized were Brandon Christiano, Kyle Courounis, Eliot Davis, Sean Eybers, Joshua Lucio, Justin Najarro, Gabriel Polanco, Aiden Rafique, Rezaria Rasul, Daniel Rogers, Bryson Ruiz, David Schiller, Thomas Smith, Ethan Thomas and Derek Varon.
On June 2 and 3, students from the SWBOCES Multiply Disabled program at Tappan Hill School competed in the Nassau County Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged, also called the "Victory Games.”
The team of eight athletes won gold, silver and bronze medals at the event, which was held at Nassau Community College. The events they won medals in included wheelchair, walking and running races; club throw; precision throw; distance kick; soft discus; wheelchair and ambulatory obstacle course; and swimming.
The members of the team were Steven, Derek, Serena, Gerald, Ralph, Mia and two students who don’t attend Tappan Hill. Their coach was SWBOCES Tappan Hill teacher Penny Dickenson. This is the eighth year students from the multiply disabled program participated in the games. Their parents transported them to the competition.
This year was the 33rd annual Victory Games. The event primarily is run by volunteers and is organized by Nassau County. It is supported by fundraising in Nassau County and contributions from other donors. State funding for the games was eliminated several years ago.
“We hope the SWBOCES students will be able to continue their participation for future games, and we hope to increase the number of team members,” Ms. Dickenson said.
The Westchester County Center in White Plains was buzzing last Thursday as close to 300 students graduated from the Center for Career Services. Read more here.
There was lots of excitement on the Tappan Hill School campus last Friday morning as children from every class at the school completed the Achilles Kids Virtual Marathon.
Sarah Martabano, manager of the LHRIC's Instructional Technology Department, is one of 27 educational technology experts to serve on the state Education Department's Educational Technology Advisory Committee. Read more here.
Polka Dot and Applejack were the stars of the Center for Special Services’ Field Day at the Career Services Campus in Valhalla in early June. The ponies were a new addition to the annual event, which is in its third year.
The dozens of students who attended enjoyed pony rides, arts and crafts, a bean bag toss, inflatable bouncers and other games. On one part of the field, children used plastic rods to pick up magnetized plastic fish from a shallow pool of water. Another game was a race to transfer water from one bucket to another using a large sponge. In the craft area, children colored in paper butterfly mobiles and crafted colorful masks.
“I think they’re loving it,” Tappan Hill teacher Kathleen Knudsen said as her group took a break for lunch. “I think the pony rides were a phenomenal addition.”
When 12-year-old Keino, one of her students, went for his first ride on Applejack, “I was a little nervous,” he said.
But he was fine the second time around. “I loved Applejack,” he said.
The activities at the event, which is organized by Coach Joe Racioppo, are designed to help develop balance, body awareness and hand-eye coordination, as well as alleviate sensory sensitivity.
Students in each class wore matching T-shirts. One class called itself the “Snack Shackers,” which was printed on their shirts, along with a black and white photo of the students. Another group put multi-colored handprints on orange shirts, and the children signed one another’s shirts. Other students tie-dyed their shirts.
Students who attend the CTE campus helped at Field Day in a number of ways. Those in the Cosmetology Program gave the younger children hand massages; students in the Culinary Arts Program prepared grilled cheese sandwiches and cookies for lunch; those in the TV/Video Production shot footage of the event; and other students assisted teachers with the Special Services children, said Audrey Mangan, a principal at the Valhalla Campus.
Dancing, tug of war, jewelry making and treats like chocolate fondue and cotton candy were some of the highlights of the Rye Lake Legends Field Day June 1.
Rye Lake Middle School and High School students, faculty and staff members took a break from regular classes for a few hours to enjoy the nice weather and one another’s company. They ate hot dogs, wings and side salads, along with and burgers made from ground short rib purchased at Biancardi Meats on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. But the most excitement about food was at the popcorn and candy table. Teachers manned a popcorn-popping machine, a cotton candy machine and a chocolate fondue fountain. Jars of candy included Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish.
Students and staff members faced off in a few rounds of tug of war. In the first round, the students were victorious, but faculty and staff won easily in the next game.
“All year, these people get to tell you what to do, all year. I say that today is our day and we are going to tell them what’s up,” Rye Lake Principal Scott Kaufman said into his megaphone before joining the team of middle and high school students.
Mr. Kaufman said there have been a lot of changes at the campus this year, and it was important for students to take a break from the routine and enjoy being with one another and faculty and staff.
“We have our different roles and our different hats, but I think it’s just important that at the end of the day they see us as being other people who want to help them and want to be part of something bigger,” he said.
Graduating senior Mee’ah Muhammed said tug of war was her favorite part of field day. “We liked competing against the staff to take all that anger out from the school year,” she said. “It was actually kind of fun. I fell, but it wasn’t that bad.”
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia will visit the region Monday, touring SWBOCES and component district programs and holding a hearing on the state's draft plan for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act.
State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia toured the Southern Westchester region Monday, visiting with school district and BOCES officials and students in Valhalla, Greenburgh, Irvington, Harrison and Dobbs Ferry.
An exciting field trip to the TV studios at the Center for Career Services turned into a valuable learning experience for some students in the BOCES AIIM Program at Irvington High School.
Exciting times for first-year students in our Music/Sound Production Program as they create the sound for a local production company's film trailer.
Students in Jason Poniatowski's CISMAA class have been busy all spring, learning the essential skills that will get them jobs.
Dr. Stephen Bicchieri, Principal
914-592-3402
Will Guterman, Principal
914-592-0849
Eileen Yip, Social Worker
914-761-3400
James Matera, Principal
914-761-3400
Orande Daring, Principal
914-761-3400
Audrey Mangan, Principal
914-761-3400
Alberta Grant-Johnson, Principal
914-948-7271
Leslie Handler, Principal
914-948-7271
Scott Kaufman, Principal
914-948-7271
Phyllis Rizzi, Principal
914-948-7271
Jessica Walker, Principal
914-948-7271
Rachelle Kritzer-Filipek, School Psychologist
914-948-7271
Cristina Tompkins, Guidance Counselor
914-948-7271
Monica Johnson, Guidance Counselor
914-948-7271
Allison Emig, Principal
914-948-7271
Katheryn Lockwood, School Social Worker
914-948-7271
