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Volunteers distribute backpacks and supplies to help families with back-to-school planning

A young boy with a backpack stands in the foreground of a gymnasium where people are distributing school supplies in the background.
Volunteers distribute backpacks and supplies to help families with back-to-school planning

This Wednesday, 16 Mount Vernon City School District Volunteers met at Rye High School Auxiliary Gymnasium to fill hundreds of backpacks with school supplies. These backpacks will be distributed to schools and programs throughout Westchester County to support students in temporary living accommodations. This year, the Helping Hands Organization donated 200 backpacks specifically to the Mount Vernon City School District's McKinney-Vento program.

In the foreground, a long table is set up on a polished wooden gym floor, while in the background, a basketball hoop hangs against a red wall.
A blue sign with "MISSION BACKPACKS" and an orange arrow pointing right stands in front of a stone wall, with grass in the foreground.
A young boy with a backpack stands in the foreground of a gymnasium where people are distributing school supplies in the background.
A person with a yellow bag stands in the foreground, while a long table laden with stacks of dark items is set up in a gymnasium with red walls in the background.
A young girl with a backpack receives items from a woman at a table, with other people and blue bags in the background of a gymnasium.
In the foreground, blue reusable bags sit on tables with signs indicating "Big Kids 3 Glue Sticks," while in the background, people are gathered in a gymnasium setting.
Cardboard boxes filled with black backpacks are lined up on a polished wooden floor in front of a red brick wall.
Cardboard boxes of colored folders are on a table in the foreground, with people and more boxes in the background.

 
 

 

Dr. Strickland outlines 'Excellence by Design' priorities for the new school year
Dr. Strickland outlines 'Excellence by Design' priorities for the new school year

Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland is putting literacy, attendance and student voice among the district’s top priorities for the new school year, while rolling out new technology, expanding access for families and pledging continued transparency about district finances. Dr. Strickland laid out those priorities in his Aug. 25 Superintendent’s Report, describing a districtwide effort to strengthen instruction and the systems that support students. The work is being framed by a new theme, “Excellence by Design,” which he said reflects a deliberate approach to improvement.

Three women stand behind a table with baby manikins in the foreground, while a colorful bulletin board is visible in the background.
Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors trained in CPR, first aid and AED response

Thirty-eight Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors returned to school this week with an important new set of skills: the ability to respond when a child or adult faces a potentially life-threatening emergency. The monitors, along with two Central Office staff members, were trained Wednesday in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and the use of an automated external defibrillator during the District’s first Superintendent’s Conference Day of the 2026-27 school year.

 

A server in an apron offers a sample of food to a woman wearing a lei, while a cafeteria setting with other people is visible in the background.
MVCSD food service staff get a taste of year ahead during professional development retreat

Mount Vernon City School District lunch monitors, head chefs, managers and other food service workers kicked off the new school year with their annual professional development retreat, which served up valuable training, teamwork and a taste of what’s ahead for 2026-27. Staff members from Sodexo – the District’s K-12 food services provide -- gathered at Mount Vernon High School for the various activities, including food tasting, as they prepared to welcome students back from summer vacation. The annual professional development sessions help employees review procedures and regulations while strengthening the teamwork necessary to provide exceptional service to students.

Mount Vernon's Jewel Box
Mount Vernon's Jewel Box - Welcome Back to School!

Welcome back to school! This week, The Mount Vernon City School District greeted students and staff with warm smiles for another exciting school year. Teachers quickly began diving into curriculum, starting off the academic year strong. You can also view Mount Vernon’s Jewel Box on our Facebook, Instagram or YouTube! #ExcellencebyDesign