Above: Outdoor learning has continued through the month of December. Read the Journal News piece featuring MUFSD and exploring the benefits of learning outside.
December, 2021
District Highlights
- Celebrating 25-Year Partnership with Mamaroneck Schools Foundation
- Gift Drive Helps Brighten Holidays for 500+ MUFSD Students
- District Website: New "Staff", "Students", "Parents" Buttons at Top
- MHS Students Win "Best Small Delegation" at Yale Model Congress
- International Cuisine Studied in MHS Culinary, Hmx Social Studies Classes
- Transition Academy Visits LifeTown to Practice Daily Living Skills
- Hommocks Smile Senders Make Holiday Cards for Children in Local Hospitals
- Winter Sports Season in Full Force; Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams are Keith D Yizar Tournament Champs
- It's a Wrap: Concert Season Concludes with Festive Holiday Concerts District-Wide
Celebrating MUFSD's 25-Year Partnership with Mamaroneck Schools Foundation
This season we celebrate our 25-year partnership with the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation, which since 1996 has provided funding totaling more than $4.6 Million (488 grants) for creative, innovative programs and equipment that fall beyond the scope of our regular school budget and reach across all six of our schools.
MUFSD's 3rd Annual Holiday Drive Provides Holiday Cheer for Larchmont/Mamaroneck Families
For the third year, Mamaroneck School District social workers organized a holiday collection drive to spread holiday cheer to our Larchmont/Mamaroneck families. This year’s theme was "Family Game Night", which encourages children and parents to spend quality time together by playing games and having fun, especially during these chilly months ahead! The Social Work Department collected gift cards (to places such as Stop and Shop, Trader Joes, North Shore Farms, Target, and Amazon) and new board games for approximately 345 of our families (550 students) in need.
District Website: What has Changed?
Formerly "Tools", there are now three tabs at the top right of the District website (dark gray bar) that are labeled "Staff", "Parents" and "Students" and house a significant amount of information important to each stakeholder group. For example, by selecting "Parents", you will see links such as the Parent Portal for grades, an absense reporting link, school lunch accounts, and more. The "Students" button also is hepful for parents to know about, as it houses the most frequently used links for students. The District curriculum, calendar and school home pages continue to be accessible through the main navigation bar just below.
Mamaroneck High School Students Win "Best Small Delegation" at Yale University's 2021 Model Congress
Six members of MHS Model Congress participated in the Yale Model Congress Conference earlier this month. The delegation won Best Small Delegation, Honorable Mention (Milia Llorca Luth), Honorable Mention (Nadia Suben), and Best Delegate (Rebecca Herzberg).
Yale Model Congress was founded in 1993 by a group of Yale undergraduates who hoped to foster an appreciation for American democracy in high school students and inspire them to be active citizens. For 25 years, the group has furthered this mission by hosting hundreds of delegates nationwide for a unique educational experience, where students assume the responsibilities of elected officials and address the nation’s most pressing issues.
International Cuisine and Cultures Studied in MHS Culinary, Hmx Social Studies Classes
Hommocks students had the chance to extend their classroom study of the Ellis Island Experience - outside!
Here they share celebratory cultural dances, as well as food (generational family recipes) prepared by families of varied cultural origins.
Students - and staff - relished the opportunity to sing This Land is Your Land together.
Transition Academy Visits LifeTown to Practice Daily Living Skills
Our Transition Academy program – which teaches students vocational, daily living, social, and functional academic skills to prepare them for successful post-secondary outcomes – took their first big trip out into the community this month, visiting LifeTown in Livingston, NJ. LifeTown is a facility designed to replicate a small town and allow people with disabilities to practice their independent living skills. It includes a pet shop, copy store, grocery store, movie theater, doctor's office and more. Upon arrival, the students visited the bank to withdraw money. Then they had time to walk around town or choose to rent a bike and go for a ride. With a check sheet in hand, they kept track of their purchases and were able to put into practice the daily living skills they are taught regularly in school. They had the best time! The trip was made possible thanks to a grant from the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation.
A Little Cheer Heading Into Holiday Break! Hmx Smile Senders Make Cards for Chidren in Local Hospitals
The Hommocks Middle School "Smile Senders", a lunch group run by our Director of Student Life Keila Nunez, created holiday cards for children spending in local children hospitals. Each unique card offered a thoughtful message and drawing(s) and included a friendship bracelet hand selected by the smile sender. In total, students sent 41 cards in both English and Spanish that are sure to brighten someone's day.
Winter Sports Season in Full Force; Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball Teams are Yizar Tournament Champs
Both the Mamaroneck High School Boys Varsity Basketball team and the Mamaroneck Girls Varsity Basketball team were crowned champions at the Inaugural Keith D Yizar Memorial Tournament, held Dec. 16-18 at Mamaroneck High School.