Middle school students get a night full of STEAM events
Over 175 students attended the first annual STEAM Night at Benjamin Turner Middle School on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The events occurred throughout the entire school and featured hands-on activities such as gaming, mad science, coding, engineering, math and robotics.
“The goal of this event was to re-engage our middle school students with events that specifically target their needs,” said Director of Pre-K, Gifted & Talented and Special Projects, Dr. Gayle White-Wallace. “Tonight we turned it up a notch and made sure to include things that middle schoolers love to do.”
“It was a really fun event,” said Benjamin Jones, seventh-grade student at Benjamin Turner Middle School. “I was really excited for tonight.”
Jones was showing off the ice cream he just made with his friend and explained that with a little cream, some zip lock bags, rock salt and ice, it was really easy to make.
Students from Mount Vernon STEAM Academy volunteered to assist teachers and other district staff facilitate the event.
Volunteer Kayla Humphrey, 10th-grade student at the STEAM Academy said she wanted to go into forensic technology or cyber security when she grows up. She and her classmates, Ethan Fertil and Thomas Taylor were in attendance to talk to students about projects they have been working on with Northeast STEM Starter Academy (NSSA). This was a program they were introduced to at school in the third grade and have kept up with ever since.
STEAM Night showcased the ability to bring learning to life.
“STEAM will always be fundamental to every aspect of life,” said Shauna Chambers, eighth-grade student at Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer School.
4-22-2024
Dr. K. Veronica Smith, Acting Superintendent of Schools:
We are collectively letting out a sigh of relief in the Mount Vernon City School District, as we have been notified that our state aid funding for the upcoming school year will not be reduced. After over a month of lobbying with state and local officials, we prevailed and will receive the $2.9 million that was set to be removed from our budget in Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget proposal.
Principals throughout the district set up tables with brochures highlighting the District’s accomplishments at the Mount Vernon High School cafeteria to showcase their school for potential applicants during the Mount Vernon City School District Community Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Secondary students in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council stood in front of the room and showed off their leadership skills during their presentations on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Each student was given a scenario where they would need to lead, and they presented the methods they would use to reach their goal.
Cheers erupted with every basket made in the Mount Vernon High School gym, as students with disabilities from Mount Vernon High School and Woodlands High School competed in a game of basketball on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The game was held through the New York State Pioneer League, which provides students with disabilities the opportunity to play on a team.
The winners of the Mount Vernon City School District “Biggest Loser” challenge gathered around the Education Center with smiling faces, holding their plaques and checks during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
Another friendly face took place as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District for a day on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Dr. Colleen Seivright-Crawford, principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy, fulfilled the position of superintendent for Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day,” series. In exchange, Dr. Smith served as the principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.
The annual Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance hosted by the Mount Vernon PTA Council was a night filled with music, laughter, celebration and a strong sense of community. The event, held on Friday, April 12, 2024, not only raised money to provide scholarships to seniors from all four high schools in Mount Vernon, but also celebrated the accomplishments of 20 exceptional individuals within the District.