Greetings MVCSD Community,

Rebecca Turner Academy scholars have been hard at work this year, and they had a week filled with high-quality lessons and learning experiences. Principal Troy Newbey and all the teachers at RTA care so much about their students, and they do a great job of providing students with an intensive and in-depth educational experience. Initiatives such as credit recovery have allowed our students to make swift progress towards their diplomas and a successful life after high school.

I was thrilled to see that Mount Vernon STEAM Academy was ranked by Public School Review in the top 25 high schools in Westchester County. Dr. Christopher Pearce has done a fantastic job as the principal, and his teachers and staff do great work to help their students succeed.

At Mount Vernon High School, our students in the Nursing Assistant Program are learning valuable skills that will allow them to become certified nursing assistants. Nursing Instructor Bonnie Ball has done a great job preparing them to become nurses, and I am excited to see what is in store for these students as they continue through the program and start working with patients. Our Career and Technical Education courses, led by CTE Director Brian Simmons, are preparing students well for their future careers.

Mount Vernon Leadership Academy Librarian Lissa Hogan was rewarded for her great work with our students with the Amazing Teacher Award for Westchester County. Ms. Hogan is one of the many amazing teachers we have in our District, and it is wonderful to see her win this well-deserved award. Keep up the great work, and thank you for being there for your scholars!

Someone else who deserves recognition is an alum of Mount Vernon High School, Pastor Damon Mack. Pastor Mack has done great work within the community, and it is a pleasure to see the positivity he consistently spreads.

Please take a moment to RSVP for our Fall Festival on Saturday, November 2. Please come out and celebrate the fall with the Mount Vernon City School District! Children will have a variety of games and activities available to them, and there will be community resources for parents and community members to learn about.

Our building configuration survey will be open through Thursday, October 31, at 11:59 p.m. Please share your thoughts on the proposed configuration.

Kindest Regards,

Dr. K. Veronica Smith

Acting Superintendent of Schools

Classrooms in Rebecca Turner Academy were alive with learning on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, as students were engaged in their coursework. Several teachers also held lessons preparing students for their field trip to Jacob Burns Film Center, where they will watch a documentary and learn about the American dream, its history and how it is achievable.

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Mount Vernon STEAM Academy is ranked as a top 25 public high school in Westchester County and in the top 6% of public schools in New York State, according to Public School Review’s 2024-2025 rankings. Public School Review collects data and provides analysis of public schools throughout the country.

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Career and Technical Education students in the Nursing Assistant Program at Mount Vernon High School practiced basic nursing skills during their class on Friday, October 18, 2024. Among the skills they are learning are infection control, communication, safety and emergency procedures, vital signs, job interview skills and resume-building skills.

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Lissa Hogan, a library media specialist at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy, has been honored with the Amazing Teacher Award for the month of October by LoHud, sponsored by Fordham Preparatory School. The award is given each month to local teachers in the Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester and Putnam areas, who are nominated by others for their talent and passion for teaching grades K-8.

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Pastor Damon Mack graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1993. His time in school stoked his passion for the arts, and he decided to become a professional musician. Later, he founded The L.I.V.E. Church and has been the senior pastor for the past five years, serving the community he grew up in as a religious leader. View the Q+A with the Pastor Mack!

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The Mount Vernon City School District thanks the community for their participation in its two K-8 building configuration surveys released in January and February 2024. The District has heard your input and will be establishing a committee to implement a transition from its current K-8 building configurations to a more age-appropriate and cost-effective model. 73% of respondents supported a change in the building configuration in our first survey and 59% supported a change in the second survey.

Please click here to answer the following survey questions before October 31, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. to help us determine the best methods to make this transition.

The Mount Vernon City School District will hold its annual Fall Festival at Graham School on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attend to participate in fun games and pumpkin activities as well as learn about resources available to the community! Scan the QR code or click here to RSVP by Wednesday, October 30.