ENL Night in the Mahopac CSD
Staff Spotlight: Kathy Racz
Thank you buildings and grounds employees!
When third graders in Jena Amedeo’s class at Lakeview Elementary arrived at school recently, they were greeted with a special surprise – their classroom had been transformed into a “book tasting” café. Red and white gingham tablecloths covered the desks, place mats and chef hats were set out for each student, and baskets of books in a variety of genres were on the tables, ready to be “tasted.”  The special event served as the kickoff to the students’ first reading unit of the year, Building a Reading Life. To make the launch both fun and meaningful, the book tasting gave students a creative way to sample different genres of books they will encounter throughout the year during Readers Workshop.  “These are the kinds of experiences that stay with children,” Amedeo said. “My hope is that this book tasting will become a core memory for them, one that inspires a lifelong love of reading and reminds them that exploring books can be joyful and exciting.”  With their chef hats on, students browsed various books, spent time reading selections and recorded their impressions on “tasting sheets,” rating and reflecting on each new title they explored. Students laughed, shared discoveries and proudly announced their new favorites. At one point, a student shouted out, “This is the best day ever!” a sign of the enthusiasm in the room. The activity encouraged students not only to try something new, but also to think about what kinds of stories spark their interest and excitement.  The event was a hit with students and staff alike, serving as both a celebration of reading and an invitation to begin a yearlong journey into new genres, stories and adventures.
Mahopac Central School District staff recently joined forces with the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department to support a hands-on bus evacuation drill. The training, held at the firehouse, gave volunteer firefighters the opportunity to practice essential safety procedures designed to prepare them for school vehicle-related emergencies. 	Using district buses for the exercise, instructors from the fire department guided participants through step-by-step evacuation scenarios. The drill focused on how to exit buses safely and efficiently, while also emphasizing the importance of staying calm and working together during an emergency. 	Leading the training were Assistant Chief Dan Johnson, Firefighter John Mulvaney, a retired Mahopac bus driver, and volunteer firefighter Argie Kavalieratos, a current Mahopac bus driver. Their firsthand knowledge of student transportation and emergency protocols provided valuable insights for both district staff and volunteer firefighters. 	“The professionalism of the instructors made this training incredibly valuable,” Interim Superintendent of Schools Frank Miele said. “Their expertise with buses and emergency procedures helped ensure that our partners in the fire department gained a deeper understanding of what to do in an emergency.” Michael Mongon, president of the Mahopac Board of Education, agreed, "We are grateful for their partnership and their commitment to keeping our students safe."	 The annual drill is part of the district’s ongoing commitment to student safety and emergency preparedness, and it reflects the strong collaboration between Mahopac schools and community first responders.
Lakeview Fourth Graders Bring Rounding to Life With a Living Number Line
Staff Spotlight - Melody LaRocca
MS PBIS Assembly
STEAM Rubber Duck Rescue
Fulmar Road Reopens Slides on Lower Playground
Mahopac’s literacy and math coaches strengthen teaching and learning
Putnam County Youth Bureau speakers at 9/11 Memorial
Mahopac Students Selected for NYSSMA Conference All-State Ensemble
Mahopac Launches Fundations Program in Grades UPK-2
Austin Road Students, PTO Bring Colorful Mural to Life
Mahopac welcomes new teachers and staff to the district
Mahopac Central School District resurfaces high school tennis courts
Back to School at Mahopac CSD
 While classrooms were quiet during the summer months, members of the Mahopac Central School District’s technology department worked to ensure that students and staff return to a faster and more reliable network this fall.
This summer, students at Austin Road Elementary School dove into hands-on learning and discovery at the school’s STEM Camp, a three-week program designed for second through fifth graders with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math.