US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor
US Presidential Scholars: 6 NY High School Seniors Awarded Top Honor These students have a date with the president. Six graduating seniors from New York were among just 161 high school students across the country to be selected as a US Presidential Scholar, one of the nation’s highest honors for students. Established in 1964, the award recognizes distinguished seniors who have shown exceptional accomplishments in areas like academics, leadership, and service to their school and communities. The program was later expanded to include students in the visual, creative, and performing arts, and in career and technical education fields. In the Empire State, the…
School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says
School In Westchester To Close: 'Sad Day,' Superintendent Says A school in Westchester County has announced it will cease operations at the end of the academic year.  In an announcement on Wednesday, May 1, the Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of New York revealed the Transfiguration School in Tarrytown would close at the end of the 2023-24 academic year.  Officials attributed the decision to close the Catholic school to shifting demographics and lower enrollment, which have "significantly impacted" its ability to continue operating.  The St. Simon Stock School in the Bronx will also close for similar reas…
School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District
School Superintendent In Hudson Valley Accepts Post In Nearby District After six years, a Hudson Valley superintendent has announced his upcoming move to a nearby district to remain closer to his family. Superintendent Phil Benante of Putnam County's Haldane Central School District announced on Tuesday, April 30 that he was appointed head of the Arlington Central School District in Dutchess County, according to a letter written to the district community.  In his letter, Benante wrote that he chose to move to the Arlington district because it would allow him to work closer to his family.  The Arlington district includes parts of Beekman, La Gran…
Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings
Best High Schools: Westchester Well-Represented In Brand-New Rankings New York is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings of the nation's best high schools. The brand-new rankings were released Tuesday morning, April 23, and determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. The highest-ranked school outside New York City is on Long Island: Jericho, at No. 13 statewide and 104th nationally. The top-rated high school in Westchester County is Edgemont at No. 14 in the state and 128th in the nation, with Bronxville, at No. 16 in the state and 151st nationally. Another W…
'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By Northern Westchester High School 'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By Northern Westchester High School
'Sopranos' Star Edie Falco Stops By Northern Westchester High School 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 …
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…
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…
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found At School In Hudson Valley Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found At School In Hudson Valley
Anti-Semitic Graffiti Found At School In Hudson Valley The discovery of two swastikas on a high school wall in the region is being used as a learning experience regarding anti-Semitism. The swastikas were found in Dutchess County on Monday, March 4 at Rhinebeck High School, said the principal Edwin Davenport. Davenport, who happened to be in the classroom when the symbols of hate were discovered by another student, said he is investigating to find who may have drawn the symbols in chalk on a wall, but also immediately called out the action for what it was -- "It's evil, and will not be tolerated," Davenport said. It is not the first time …
US Presidential Scholar: Northern Westchester Student Named Candidate For Top Honor US Presidential Scholar: Northern Westchester Student Named Candidate For Top Honor
US Presidential Scholar: Northern Westchester Student Named Candidate For Top Honor A senior at a Northern Westchester high school has been nominated for one of the nation's highest honors for students.  Daniel Ndocaj, a senior at Byram Hills High School in Armonk, has been selected as a candidate for the US Presidential Scholars Program, the Byram Hills Central School District announced on Tuesday, Jan. 30.  The federal program, created in 1964, recognizes the country's most distinguished graduating seniors and is one of the nation's highest honors for a high school student.  According to district officials,  Ndocaj was one of the more than 5,000…
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays A Connecticut school board's decision to remove two holidays that have traditionally given students a day off has sparked debate amongst community members, according to a report by ABC 7 New York.  The controversy began in Fairfield County following the Stamford School Board's decision to remove Veterans Day and Columbus Day from their calendar, which means students will not have them off for the next two years, according to an ABC7 report from Friday, Jan. 26.  Board members, who passed the decision in a 5-3 motion, have defended the decision by saying students should remain in s…
NY Easing Licensing Process For School Bus Drivers To Address 'Critical Shortage' NY Easing Licensing Process For School Bus Drivers To Address 'Critical Shortage'
NY Easing Licensing Process For School Bus Drivers To Address 'Critical Shortage' Leaders in New York are making it easier for people to become school bus drivers in an attempt to tackle a growing national shortage. The Department of Motor Vehicles has implemented a federal waiver allowing school bus driver applicants to skip the engine compartment component – known as the “under the hood” part – of the commercial driver license road test. Gov. Kathy Hochul said the move will make it easier to get a commercial license at a time when school bus drivers are “desperately needed.” “The job of transporting and caring for our children is so important, and the need for more dr…
Schools Superintendent In Northern Westchester Announces Retirement Schools Superintendent In Northern Westchester Announces Retirement
Schools Superintendent In Northern Westchester Announces Retirement A superintendent at one of the largest school districts in Northern Westchester has just announced he will be retiring. Andrew Selesnick has been in his post at the Katonah-Lewisboro School District since 2015, when he accepted the position after serving as principal at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua. His retirement will be effective Friday, July 12. "It is hard to express how grateful I am to have been your superintendent for nine years and an educator in Northern Westchester for 32 years," Selesnick said in a statement. "Though I’m retiring as superintendent, I will seek new way…