Save the Date: YHS Drama Club Presents ‘Murder's in the Heir’
YHS Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian
We are proud to announce Chinmayi Goyal as Valedictorian and Emily Tian as Salutatorian for the Yorktown High School Class of 2025. Please join us in celebrating these two exceptional students and their remarkable achievements.
Crompond Apple Fun Run
What a great time at the Apple Fun Run on October 16!
Dozens of Crompond students — and even some adults — ran laps around the school’s field. Their reward? Some delicious apples donated by Stuart's Fruit Farm!
Thanks to PTA, the Crompond physical education teachers, and everyone else who made the event possible!
YHS Assembly Focuses on Making Positive Choices
On October 11, Yorktown High School students had the opportunity to hear from Stephen Hill, founder of Speak Sobriety, bestselling author, and recovery coach. In a powerful assembly, Stephen shared his personal journey from addiction to recovery, stressing the importance of making healthy, positive choices. Despite a strong upbringing and family support, Stephen struggled with substance abuse, reminding students that addiction can affect anyone.
A Rockland County native, Stephen spoke about the pivotal moment when he made the “first choice” to try drugs as a freshman in high school — a decision that led to years of dependency, arrests, and personal setbacks. He encouraged students to have the confidence to say no, even when facing pressure from people they look up to.
Today, Stephen is a criminal defense attorney and proud father of two young daughters. He has presented at more than 800 schools and organizations nationwide, using his story to inspire others and promote smart decision-making.
MESMS Students Showcase Ceramics Skills
Through a little clay and a lot of creativity, MESMS students are mastering ceramics! Whether they're creating decorative pieces, functional items, or a mix of both, they’re bringing their unique ideas to life in Ms. Osborne’s art class. Check out their awesome work!
Brookside Families Enjoy Pajama Night Storytime, Book Fair
On Wednesday night, October 16, Brookside students arrived in their favorite pajamas and enjoyed bedtime stories read by teachers! The event also featured Family Night at the PTA Book Fair, where families stocked up on books and took part in games and raffles.
Mohansic Families Enjoy ESTEAM Fair
Mohansic families had a blast at the ESTEAM Fair on October 9! Students explored interactive stations filled with games and activities, each highlighting a unique part of ESTEAM — Empathy, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. It was an evening full of hands-on learning and fun!
YCSD Announces Positive Audit Results
The Yorktown Central School District is proud to announce the successful completion of its annual financial audit for the 2023-2024 school year, demonstrating the District’s commitment to financial transparency and accountability.
Independent external auditors conducted a comprehensive review of the District's financial records. The outcome was an unqualified, or “clean,” opinion for both the basic financial statements and the extra classroom activities report, representing the highest level of assurance and confirming the accuracy of the District’s financial statements.
For the third consecutive year, the auditors acknowledged that no areas of improvement were identified, citing the District's strong internal control systems and meticulous accounting of taxpayer dollars. The Business Office, led by Assistant Superintendent Lisa Sanfilippo, received commendations for its excellence in monitoring and maintaining sound financial practices.
Thank you to our dedicated Business Office and the Audit Committee for their hard work and commitment, ensuring the District’s continued financial integrity.
The audit reports are available on the Business Office's website.
Farm Fest Returns to Crompond
Fourth and fifth graders spent the morning immersed in vegetables, pollinators, dancing, and much more at the school’s annual Farm Fest event.
Launched in 2016, this themed event invites students to explore good nutrition and sustainability through engaging, hands-on activities led by farmers, vendors, and volunteers.
Students rotated between stations where they participated in lessons on nutrition, fitness, pollinators, and vegetables. One highlight of the day was sampling fresh coleslaw prepared by Whitsons Culinary Group!
At one station, Yorktown’s Hilltop Hanover Farm & Environmental Center taught the students about seeds. Elsewhere, Ms. Hyndman quizzed the students all about kale! Northwell Health was also on hand to test students' knowledge of various food items.
Special thanks to WBP Home Delivery for donating a variety of vegetables, which the students were excited to take home and enjoy.
Of course, no Farm Fest would be complete without a little dancing! The students were excited to move their feet and learn a line dance to the tune of “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”
The special day was organized by fourth-grade teacher Cari Byrnes and YCSD Director of Wellness Laura Tolosi. Ms. Byrnes emphasized that Farm Fest offers students a unique opportunity to connect with the local agricultural community while experiencing “a hands-on approach to learning about things they often only read about or see in movies.”
Farm Fest coincides with the school’s participation in National Farm-to-School Month, an October celebration focused on food education, school gardens, and nutritious lunches filled with local ingredients. It also reinforces Crompond’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, highlighted by the school’s pollinator garden and outdoor classroom, which every class visits regularly.
Yorktown High School Champions Student Wellness Initiatives
Yorktown High School understands that student wellness is foundational to success in the classroom. That’s why the school is championing wellness initiatives designed to unlock student potential and help them thrive both emotionally and academically.
One initiative that’s already making a difference is “Relationship Mapping,” a simple yet powerful way to ensure that each of the school’s 1,100-plus students is developing meaningful connections with adults in the building. Here’s how it works: teachers place a dot to the left of a student’s name if they have a “Positive Relationship” with them. If a student might be “At Risk” either socially, emotionally, or academically, a dot is placed to the right. This map gives administrators a clear picture of how well-connected students are and where support may be needed.
Assistant Principal Cristina Criscione, who leads the school’s wellness efforts, recently presented these initiatives to the Board of Education. “We wanted to make sure students had connections with adults in the building,” Ms. Criscione said, highlighting the importance of fostering positive relationships. Student Connectedness is also a key Area of Focus for the Board of Education for the 2024-25 school year.
We’re also excited about Mrs. Jaime Ciliberto’s role as Student Life Coordinator. Alongside her work with the Husker Discovery course, which helps freshmen transition to high school, Mrs. Ciliberto is focusing on enhancing student well-being and engagement. “I really wanted to do something that actively helps our students make connections and have a voice in our school,” she shared.
Yorktown High School is also launching two new initiatives in the 2024-25 school year: a Wellness Day and a Leadership Academy. Wellness Day, set for November 27, will include workshops and activities for students at every grade level, ranging from alumni and community presentations to a student-teacher volleyball game and a silent disco.
Meanwhile, the Leadership Academy will bring together student leaders from various extracurricular clubs to develop leadership and professional skills. The goal is to increase student engagement by connecting more students with the wide range of clubs and activities available.
Through these exciting initiatives, Yorktown High School is committed to fostering a supportive environment where every student feels connected, empowered, and ready to succeed — both inside and outside the classroom.
Yorktown Central School District
Website: www.yorktown.org
Location: 2725 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
Phone: 914-243-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YorktownCSD/
Twitter: @YorktownCSD