The City School District of New Rochelle is participating in a survey conducted by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) related to BMI (body mass index), which estimates whether a person is in a healthy weight range. BMI, a calculation based on height and weight, is part of a routine physical examination used by health care practitioners. New York State is requesting BMI statistics of students in kindergarten and grades 2, 4, 7, and 10 to help health officials develop programs to promote the health of children and teens.

The New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA) has presented the City School District of New Rochelle the 2009 School/ Community Partnership Certificate – Quality System Recognition Award. The award recognizes the School District’s work in Special Education Transition Planning, “because it is clear that there continues to be a school culture of acceptance of school to work goals and transition services being provided to students with disabilities,” complimented Jeff Wise, NYSRA President and CEO. Credited for obtaining this award is Transition Coordinator Greg Lau and Director of Special and Alternative Education Yvette Goorevitch.

New Rochelle SEPTA, Special Education PTA, presented a substantial grant of $10,000 to the Board of Education on November 5. SEPTA members raised the funds to support the New Rochelle City School District's Response to Intervention initiative. Upon presenting the gift which will be used to implement an innovative literacy program to develop proficient readers, Mrs. Brickle explained, "Providing research based early literacy interventions to all struggling students, regardless of disability, is a win-win for everyone, especially our kids. We commit our continued support, both to assist parents in understanding Response to Intervention, and working to develop new opportunities for students to access effective interventions like Fast forWord."
Shown are SEPTA Co-Presidents Naomi Brickle (left) and Cydni Carew (right) present grant to Board of Education President Cyndi Babcock-Deutsch (center).

After school on September 11, teachers and staff at the Barnard Early Childhood Center gathered on the new patio surrounding Amy’s Greenhouse to reflect on the tragic events seven years ago, and to recognize positive changes since then. One outcome is the creation of Amy’s Greenhouse and patio, an out-of-doors educational space in memory of the late Amy Doherty, daughter of former Barnard teacher Geraldine Davie. Among those who spoke to gathered Barnard employees was Superintendent of Schools Richard Organisciak (center), Barnard Principal Patricia Lambert (left), and Millie Radonjic (right) who coordinated the event as well activities in Amy’s Greenhouse. Also speaking was Assistant Principal Lori Pisani, Director of Student Retention at Iona College Brother Kevin Devlin, School Nurse Anna Summa, who composed an original poem, and two guests who were high school friends of Amy Doherty. A web site about the ongoing projects at Amy’s Greenhouse, www.amysgreenhouse.com, was launched on September 11, 2008, where information is posted about greenhouse facility, activities, about Amy Doherty.
Public schools throughout New Rochelle observed moments of silence during the morning. Immediately following the observance, teachers at Albert Leonard and Isaac Young Middle Schools and New Rochelle High School used the time for discussions. During School announcements at 8:46 a.m., Trinity Elementary School Principal Richard McMahon incorporated elements of the Proclamation by the President of the United States. Red, white and blue were the colors of choice worn by students and staff at Isaac Young Middle School.
Students at Columbus Elementary School began creating Pinwheels for Peace which will be displayed en mass during Peace Day observances on September 22. Included with announcements at Columbus school was the following quote of the Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton, "... We find darkness and light, suffering and joy, sacrifice and love united together so closely that they seem at times to be identified."

The City School District of New Rochelle is currently collaborating with Village Team, a compilation of nearly 40 different community service agencies, to further develop a series of ongoing character education and conflict resolution initiatives in place within the schools and throughout the New Rochelle community.

During an April 16th meeting of the New Rochelle Council of Community Services, several representatives of the school district talked about the various programs they are involved in and ways to promote peaceful conflict resolution. They included Dr. Dorothy Larkin from the College of New Rochelle Jeanie Miller, who heads up the Peer Mediation Program at Daniel Webster Elementary School; Khali Murrell, Jefferson Elementary School’s social worker, who also focuses on school-wide character education and peer mediation initiatives; Dr. Karen Gongora, school psychologist, and Susanne Handel, school counselor, both co-advisors of the Peer Mediation Program at Albert Leonard Middle School; and Michael Hilderbrand, a Spanish teacher at New Rochelle High School, joined by NRHS student Marquis Smith, who works in collaboration with Joseph Starvaggi, NRHS Assistant Principal, in coordinating the Power of Peace project, which is designed to promote positive interaction among youth.

“We’re trying to create a community sentiment about peace within the schools and across the community in order to empower our young people and our families to solve conflict in a healthy and peaceful way,” said Carol Feldman, Director of Pupil Services for the New Rochelle Schools.

Many pieces of student artwork were on display in the Spring at the New Rochelle Library in an annual exhibit called “Our Children, Our Artists.” A ceremony celebrating the work of elementary school students took place May 7. A formal presentation of middle and high school students’ works took place May 21.

Approximately 80 students in grades 3 through 6 participated in the 10th annual Poetry Out Loud festival, which took place May 19 at Albert Leonard Middle School. The students read their original works to an audience of parents, peers, teachers, administrators, government officials, and members of the New Rochelle community. The event was dedicated to the late Jeremy Scheinfeld, a former New Rochelle student. It was sponsored by the Jeremy Scheinfeld Publishing Center, a project of the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence.