One Mount Vernon Digital Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Greetings MVCSD Community,
Happy Black History Month! The achievements of Black people throughout history should be recognized and celebrated, and we are emphasizing that in classes this month. At Lincoln School, students explored the accomplishments of Black scientists and inventors and created their own STEAM-based projects for a science fair. Combining Black history with the history of science is a unique and fitting approach to learning about both, and it was even featured in a video story on LoHud!
This week, I distributed a letter regarding New York State’s guidance on safeguarding the rights of all students, regardless of their immigration status. To view that letter, click here. I understand that this is a difficult time for many families, but the Mount Vernon City School District is committed to supporting all students. This letter was distributed in nine languages, including English. In addition, all text on our website can be translated into additional languages by clicking the banner on the bottom right of each page (the default setting displays as an American flag and is labeled “English”). Find more English as a New Language resources and contact information at https://www.mtvernoncsd.org/academics/bilingual-education-world-languages.
February is also Career and Technical Education Month, and our CTE students have been working hard and gaining valuable skills all year. I am so proud of the growth that our CTE Department has seen in the past couple years, and I am excited to see our students reap the benefits. Just this week, Nursing Assistant Program students, along with the Skills USA Club, organized and helped with patients at a blood drive at MVHS! This was a wonderful, practical experience for these students.
We are highlighting a talented and industrious Denzel Washington School of the Arts student, Celine Buchanan, in this week’s Senior Spotlight Series. Celine is outstanding academically and as a dancer, and she also started the Community Service Club at DWSA with her classmate Jhaelyn Jacobs. This type of initiative will take her far. Keep up the great work Celine!
To all of our families, please join us for Parent Involvement Day next Monday! From workshops to classroom visits, this day provides a great opportunity to learn more about your children’s education and how you can support them.
Kindest Regards,
Dr. K. Veronica Smith
Acting Superintendent of Schools
LINCOLN STUDENTS SHOW OFF PROJECTS DURING ANNUAL STEAM FAIR
Students interacted with their classmates science projects which lined the Lincoln School auditorium. On February 4, 2025, scholars at Lincoln School excitedly showed off their research and STEAM-based projects to classmates, teachers and parents at the annual science fair, which had a Black History Month theme this year.
GUIDANCE ON SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS OF ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING IMMIGRANT STUDENTS
In recent weeks, there have been significant changes within the government and to decades long existing policies. Among those policy changes is enabling Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out immigration enforcement actions in churches and schools. This is of grave concern for our school community as this action threatens the sanctity of the safe learning environment that we seek to provide to all of our students, including noncitizen students. We seek to preserve our schools as a sanctuary for all our students. Every child, regardless of their immigration status, has the right to public education under the landmark Plyler v. Doe | 457 U.S. 202 (1982).
NURSING ASSISTANT AND SKILLS USA STUDENTS ORGANIZE AND ASSIST WITH BLOOD DRIVE
Mount Vernon High School’s Skills USA Club and Career and Technical Education Nursing Assistant Program organized and assisted with the New York Blood Center’s blood drive at MVHS on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Students handed out snacks, water and juice, and they spoke with donors after they gave blood to make sure they were feeling well.
DWSA SENIOR DETAILS HER JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS AND DANCE
Celine Buchanan, a senior and dance major at Denzel Washington School of the Arts, maintains her spot in the top 10% of her school by staying extremely dedicated to her academics and artistry. Over the past four years, Celine has maintained a 4.0 grade point average, a consistent spot on the honor roll, and dazzled members of the Mount Vernon community with her excellent dancing skills.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT DAY - MON., FEB. 10
The Mount Vernon City School District is holding its 28th annual Parent Involvement Day at all schools on Monday, February 10, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This day is a special opportunity to take your child to school, visit their classes, meet and speak with other parents, and hear from administrators, teachers and specialists.