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Happy School Board Recognition Week! Thank you to the trustees on the Mount Vernon Board of Education for your advocacy and commitment to our students. Your leadership is vital to the success of the Mount Vernon City School District, and your work is empowering student futures

For Denzel Washington School of the Arts senior Xavier Griffin, music has been a constant in his life, from the sounds that filled his childhood home to the songs he now writes, produces and engineers under the stage name XENO 914. Xavier transferred to DWSA in 10th grade from Mount Vernon High School, where he had been playing basketball. Although he enjoyed sports, he knew his future lay elsewhere. “I always wanted to make music,” he said. “I don't think anything gives me the same feeling that music gives me. Even when I'm listening to it, I'm performing it, I'm making it, it speaks to me on different levels.”

At the end of September, the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau hosted their annual Family Day at Graham School! Families took the opportunity to spend time with each other, play games, do arts and crafts, and enjoy a meal together. Several families even won prizes!

Edward Williams School wrapped up Fire Prevention Week last Friday with a special visit from the Mount Vernon Fire Department. The firefighters brought two trucks, giving students the opportunity to sit in the truck and learn all about fire safety!

Last Thursday, Ashley Bady from Ashley’s Sweet Treats visited Bernadette Romanelli’s Entrepreneurship 2 class, with Kimberly Morales from the Guidance Center of Westchester also in attendance, to discuss upcoming capstone projects. Entrepreneurship 2 is a new class added to the curriculum for the MVHS Entrepreneurship program, which is a part of Career and Technical Education.

The Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer school community came out for a night of fun at Lotería Game Night on Thursday! This special event was a part of the school’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and provided an opportunity for the school community to come together to learn about and celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Families enjoyed an evening of Lotería, prizes, refreshments, and community building in a fun and welcoming environment.

Today, Mount Vernon STEAM Academy hosted VIP Day! Students were invited to bring a very important person in their lives to meet the principal, enjoy coffee and donuts, and spend a little quality time together. The event had a strong turn out and celebrated the special people who make a difference in students’ lives! Many thanks to the school community for their partnership and dedication to STEAM Academy students!

Families had a sweet afternoon at the Mount Vernon City School District Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) Ice Cream Social yesterday! The event brought together families of students in grades K-8 from across the school district, as SEPTA encouraged families to join and help support Mount Vernon children with disabilities. You can join SEPTA too, by visiting https://www.givebacks.com/causes/mvcsdsepta!

This week in the Jewel Box, we’re shining the light on the importance of fire safety. For Fire Prevention Week, students in our schools learned about how to avoid dangerous situations with fire, who to call in an emergency, and other safety tips that could save lives! Several schools even received special visits from the Mount Vernon Fire Department. Educating our students about safety is vital to ensure that they enter the world prepared for anything! #ExcellenceByDesign