Parents learn about how to help children cope with illness and loss at Parent Resource Center
On Thursday, February 13, the Mount Vernon City School District Parent Liaison Team hosted a parent and guardian workshop entitled Chronic Illness, Loss, and the Impact on Your Child. Their guest presenter was Ms. Jennifer Ricca, MS, CCLS, Children, Teens, and Family Manager for the Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT.
The Cancer Support Community Greater NY & CT provides free social and emotional support to adults, teens and children affected by cancer.
Since parents in attendance had older children, Ms. Ricca discussed common reactions of middle and high school students to illness and loss, helping their children understand, and when to seek outside support.
Parents in attendance were given the opportunity to share how they and their families are being affected by chronic illness and the death of loved ones in a safe, supportive environment and received personalized suggestions about how they can help their children understand and manage their emotions and behavior. They left with information about free services that the Cancer Support Community makes available to families affected by cancer.
The Parent Liaisons helped facilitate the conversation in English and Spanish by providing in-person translation and through the use of translation technology.
Parents, guardians and other adult family members across the Mount Vernon City School District are invited to attend all events held at the Parent Resource Center. We offer workshops and support groups that focus on mental wellness, financial literacy, health education, coping with social/behavioral issues, how to navigate the world of special education, and much more! A new event calendar is released each month on the district website, social media, and in our schools. Please watch for the release of the March event calendar after the mid-winter recess.
Please join us for the Job Search Essentials workshop on February 25, at 11 am at the Parent Resource Center at the MV STEAM Academy, Room G5, 350 Gramatan Ave. Click here to register or register via phone (914-308-4220) or email (mgutierrez1@mtvernoncsd.org).
Mount Vernon City School District was highlighted for its outstanding achievements, particularly focusing on Benjamin Turner Academy and Pennington School at the Impact in Action Symposium on Tuesday Mach 11 and Wednesday, March 12. These schools have demonstrated significant progress through their meticulous iReady implementation plan.
The Mount Vernon City School District’s Career and Technical Education Automotive Program has secured two articulation agreements, where students can transfer credits to a post-secondary institution, in the past four weeks. Students will now be able to earn college credits for Lincoln Technical Institute and Rockland Community College through the program.
Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith presented the first 2025 State of the District Address via Zoom to Mount Vernon City School District faculty and staff on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Dr. Smith gave updates about the upcoming building reconfiguration, how it affects employees, and where the District stands in the process of closing schools.
Jhaelyn Jacobs is a senior at Denzel Washington School of the Arts who shows amazing character and dedication to her academics and school community every day. During her time at DWSA, she has chartered two clubs, earned outstanding grades, and run a business selling crocheted items.
On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, students in the Secondary Superintendent’s Advisory Council met at The Education Center to discuss and review a survey that will be sent to all students in the Mount Vernon City School District. The survey addresses concerns about curriculum, school leadership, social-emotional learning, instruction, and other topics
Franyeli Fabian Rojas is an exemplary Mount Vernon High School senior whose focus towards her academics, extracurriculars and sports has created her into an all-star student. As a student of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, Franyeli has spent countless hours committed to being the best student she can be. In June, she will be earning a distinguished IB Diploma and an Advanced Regents Diploma.