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These Westchester School Districts Named Best Communities For Music Education These Westchester School Districts Named Best Communities For Music Education
These Westchester School Districts Named Best Communities For Music Education Several school districts in Westchester and Putnam counties are being recognized as amongst the best in the entire nation for music education.  A total of 10 school districts across both counties have been named winners of the Best Communities for Music Education Award for 2024 by the NAMM Foundation.  These districts are some of only 975 across the country to receive the award, which recognizes "outstanding" efforts from teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who make sure students can include music as part of their education, according to th…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Westchester School District Earns Best Community For Music Education Award Westchester School District Earns Best Community For Music Education Award
Westchester School District Earns Best Community For Music Education Award A school district in Westchester has been recognized as one of the best in the country for its dedication to music education, officials announced. The Irvington Union Free School District has been named a winner of the Best Communities for Music Education Award for 2024 by the NAMM Foundation, district officials announced on Tuesday, April 9.  The district is one of only 975 school districts nationwide to receive the award and one of six in Westchester, officials added.  The award recognizes "outstanding" efforts from teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community lea…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent
Hudson Valley School District Taps New Superintendent After an intense vetting process, a Hudson Valley school district has selected a new superintendent with more than two decades of leadership experience.  In an announcement on Tuesday, April 9, the Garrison Union Free School District in Putnam County revealed that Gregory Stowell was offered the position of superintendent.  Stowell is expected to be officially appointed to the role at the next Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, April 10 at 7 p.m.  Once he takes the district's helm, Stowell will replace Carl Albano, who officially retired from the role in September…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Irvington HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Raise Funds Irvington HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Raise Funds
Irvington HS Student Leads Art Exhibition To Raise Funds A high school student from Westchester is looking to drum up support for the preservation of the Hudson River through the power of art.  To raise funds for environmental conservation efforts, Irvington High School Junior Minori Furtado has organized an art exhibition that will include works from students and seasoned artists, the Irvington Union Free School District announced on Thursday, April 4. The exhibition, titled "Ebb & Flow," will be held at the Studio 8 art gallery in Irvington at 8 North Dutcher St. from Thursday, April 11 to Wednesday, April 17.  The effort wi…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
School District Taps New Superintendent In Westchester: 'I Am Very Excited' School District Taps New Superintendent In Westchester: 'I Am Very Excited'
School District Taps New Superintendent In Westchester: 'I Am Very Excited' A school district in Westchester has announced who will succeed its outgoing superintendent after his upcoming retirement.  In an announcement on Monday, April 1, the Ardsley Union Free School District revealed that Matthew Block would take over as superintendent effective on Monday, July 1. Block will succeed Ryan Schoenfeld, who will retire at the end of the 2023-2024 school year after serving in the position for six years.  In their announcement, the Ardsley Board of Education, which will formalize Block's appointment during a meeting on Tuesday, April 2,  said …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
HS Students Honored As Outstanding Teens By Westchester Non-Profit HS Students Honored As Outstanding Teens By Westchester Non-Profit
HS Students Honored As Outstanding Teens By Westchester Non-Profit A Northern Westchester non-profit organization has honored several accomplished high school students as outstanding teens.  The students were announced as winners during the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester's Annual Youth of the Year Award Ceremony on Tuesday, March 26 at Crabtree’s Kittle House in Chappaqua, the organization announced on Friday, March 29.  The three winners chosen by the ceremony's judges were:  Pleasantville High School junior Grace Gerosa, who won the Youth of the Year Award. Gerosa, who has been a club member for a decade, manages…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By High School In Westchester 'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By High School In Westchester
'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By High School In Westchester Edie Falco, one of the stars of "The Sopranos," took some time to give some advice about acting and life to students during a visit to a Northern Westchester high school. In a 90-minute visit to John Jay High School in Cross River on Tuesday, March 19, Edie Falco, known for playing Carmela Soprano in "The Sopranos," spoke to over 100 students as part of the school's Social and Theoretical Criticism in the Serial Narrative elective.  During the visit, which took place in the school's auditorium, Falco answered students' questions about her life and career and told the story of how …

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Educator In Westchester Named NYS Principal Of Year Educator In Westchester Named NYS Principal Of Year
Educator In Westchester Named NYS Principal Of Year The principal of an elementary school in Westchester has earned one of New York State's top honors for educators.  Farid Johnson, the principal at Siwanoy Elementary School in Pelham, has been named the 2024 New York State Elementary Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State, the organization announced on Thursday, March 21.  The award is doled out to a member of the organization who is committed to excellence, has helped develop programs that meet the academic and social needs of all students, and has strong ties to parents and com…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage
Proposed $6M Budget Cuts At Hudson Valley School District Spark Outrage A Hudson Valley school district has sparked outrage among residents by proposing a budget for the next year that contains at least $6 million in cuts, which could affect many student programs and teaching jobs.  At a Board of Education meeting in Putnam County held on Tuesday night, March 12 at Carmel High School, countless community members spoke out about the budget, proposed by the Carmel Central School District for the 2023-2024 school year.  According to district documents, the budget could include at least $6 million in cuts to teaching jobs, after-school programs, fie…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
2 HS Students From Irvington, Ossining Place In Top 10 Of Prestigious Regeneron Competition 2 HS Students From Irvington, Ossining Place In Top 10 Of Prestigious Regeneron Competition
2 HS Students From Irvington, Ossining Place In Top 10 Of Prestigious Regeneron Competition Two high school students from Westchester won top awards and took home tens of thousands of dollars in the country’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors.  The two 17-year-old students, Ossining resident Thomas Cong and Irvington resident Christopher Zorn, placed No. 2 and No. 6 in the 2024 Regeneron Science Talent Search, respectively, the Society for Science announced on Tuesday, March 12.  In addition to placing in the top 10 in the prestigious competition, Cong took home $175,000, while Zorn took home $80,000 as part of their awards.…

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by Ben Crnic
Schools
Jimmy Fallon Crashes NY College Party, Pokes Fun At Alma Mater's Impending Closure Jimmy Fallon Crashes NY College Party, Pokes Fun At Alma Mater's Impending Closure
Jimmy Fallon Crashes NY College Party, Pokes Fun At Alma Mater's Impending Closure Funnyman Jimmy Fallon ginned up plenty of online buzz after crashing a college party in upstate New York. The 49-year-old “Tonight Show” host and “Saturday Night Live” alum made a surprise appearance at what appears to be a frat party at a house near the UAlbany campus on Saturday, March 9. Video shared on TikTok shows dozens of students screaming with excitement while trying to snap selfies as Fallon is led through a crowd and into the residence. It was not immediately clear how long he stayed at the party. @victoriaspadaro Kegs & Eggs 🍀 #jimmyfallon #ualbany #upstateny #capital…

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by Michael Mashburn
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HS Student From Westchester Advances To National Science Competition HS Student From Westchester Advances To National Science Competition
HS Student From Westchester Advances To National Science Competition Several high school seniors from Northern Westchester met success at a New York science and humanities symposium, including one who advanced to a national competition.  Five seniors from Byram Hills High School in Armonk won awards at the two-day Upstate Junior Science and Humanities Symposium held at the University of Albany on Wednesday, Feb. 28, and Thursday, Feb. 29, the Byram Hills Central School District announced on Tuesday, March 5.  Three of these students, Ayaka Ammon, Jake Fenster, and Yicheng Yang, presented their work in the speaker presentation competition,…

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by Ben Crnic