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Students at Hamilton and NMHZ design thoughtful cards for patients at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital

Students at Hamilton and NMHZ design thoughtful cards for patients at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital

At Hamilton School and Nelson Mandela/Dr. Hosea Zollicoffer School, students are spreading hope through artwork. Students are writing positive messages to patients at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital as a part of the hospital's “Cards of Cheer” program, which was introduced at Hamilton and NMHZ by School Counselor Toni Ann Trombetta.

At Hamilton, students worked on the cards during their lunch periods, taking time to write thoughtful messages in the hopes of bringing cheer to the patients. At NMHZ, students worked on the cards in Elisabeth Faraone-Carpenter’s art classes. 

Students started by designing their cards and learned about ways that they can promote health through art in their class.

“I'm giving them an idea of health and things that we want to inspire our students to write,” said Ms. Faraone-Carpenter. “And color – we were talking about how colors can give emotion.” 

Students are now writing inspiring messages and well-wishes to patients on their cards. The project is also helping students practice their handwriting, as they are writing a draft before copying it onto the final card. 

The cards will soon be delivered to patients at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital to provide them with joy during their recovery.

A young boy in a black sweater is sitting at a table, holding up a colorful drawing with hearts and flowers. In the background, other children can be seen working on various activities at their desks.
Two young girls are standing in a classroom setting, one holding a sign that says "Time to shine" and the other holding a drawing of sunflowers.
A young girl with curly hair is holding a colorful, patterned artwork in a classroom setting with desks and chairs.
The image shows a handmade card with a colorful floral design and the text "One day at a time" written on it, sitting on a table with various art supplies and materials in the background.
A young person with glasses is holding up a piece of paper with a heart and smiley face drawn on it, in a classroom setting with desks and supplies visible in the background.
A young child wearing a gray sweatshirt with the word "PUMA" printed on it is holding a colorful drawing depicting a sun, trees, and flowers in what appears to be a school or educational setting with other children visible in the background.

 

Snapshots from Pre-K event on April 11.

The Mount Vernon City School District's Pre-K Program hosted its Parent Academy on Saturday, April 11, 2026.  The event welcomed over 35 parents and students to engage in Math, SEL, Movement, and Reading lessons with our staff. The team used the Frog Street parent backpacks and lessons as a foundation for the learning. The teachers facilitated six different lessons that required parents to work with the Pre-K students. Breakfast was served, learning took place, and fun was had!

A group of women in colorful, formal dresses posing together in a lavishly decorated event venue with a chandelier and blue lighting.

Excellence in education was celebrated at the Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance last Friday, as 17 people were honored for their impact in Mount Vernon schools. The event, hosted by the Mount Vernon PTA Council, has so far raised $21,000, which will go toward scholarships for the Class of 2026! The PTA Council is still raising money, and you can make a donation by clicking here.

Click here to view the photo gallery from the event here!

 

Mount Vernon's Jewel Box

In the Jewel Box this week, we are highlighting the importance of early childhood education for Week of the Young Child. Prekindergarten is a vital stage in a student’s academic journey, and you can sign up to start your child on that journey in our schools. Pre-K 4 Early Registration and Pre-K 3 lottery will be open until June 19, 2026. You can also view Mount Vernon’s Jewel Box on our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube! #MtVernonShines

 

The image shows a sign above the entrance of a building, displaying a welcoming message to visitors. The sign has an arched design with decorative lettering, and the background appears to be a plain, light-colored wall.

The Prekindergarten Department held its Homework Celebration on Saturday at the Pelham Picture House! The celebration recognized 50 out of the 112 students who completed 90% or more of their homework from October to February. A lottery for 50 spaces was held to select students for the celebration. Families were so excited to watch the Mario Movie in a private local theater, and the Prekindergarten Department can't wait to host their final celebration in June with a viewing of Toy Story 2!