Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services

News from our schools

• New Assistant Principal's Ties to SWBOCES Go Back Decades

  Amanda Allison recently became assistant principal at Tappan Hill School, but her connection to Southern Westchester BOCES goes back decades.

  Her father, Marty Sommer, was a guidance counselor at the Center for Career Services campus. She attended “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” there when she was a child, and when she was older, she brought her car to campus for students in the Automotive Technology Department to work on.

  “I feel like BOCES is a second home, so it’s surreal for me to be working in the same organization that my dad worked so proudly for,” she said.

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• Valhalla students, staff give thanks for one another

  Students and faculty expressed thanks for one another and for their school at the Center for Special Services Thanksgiving luncheon at the Valhalla campus.

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• St. Matt's students deliver donations to Grace Church in White Plains

  Staff from St. Matthew's Educational Building donated a number of hygiene items including soap, shampoo, deodorant and more to the Grace Church in White Plains. St. Matt's students packed 50 bags of necessities and delivered them to the church Thursday, Nov. 21. These Student Helpers are paid by SWBOCES to work in the soup kitchen sponsored by Grace Church.

   

  

   

   

  

   

   

  

   

   

  

   

   

  

   

  News Feed - Center for Special Services

• New Laundry Program at Tappan Hill

  As Michael Wisher finishes his last year at Tappan Hill School, his mother, Justine Riordan, has been investigating adult programs and thinking a lot about what he will do when he turns 21 and leaves Southern Westchester BOCES. Michael, who is in Erroll Rivera’s class for students with multiple disabilities, is passionate about laundry and washing machines. 

  Ms. Riordan put a post on Facebook, asking friends to contribute to a new laundry program at the school called “Mikeymo’s Laundry Service.” Within days, she had about $3,750 in donations, enough to purchase a washing machine, dryer, supplies and additional funding for the program. Each child who participates will receive a Mikeymo’s Laundry Service T-shirt. She has pledged to keep the supplies stocked for five years after her son finishes in June.

  The laundry service is one part of Tappan Hill School’s “Essentials for Learning” vocational program, which will help middle and high school students develop some of the skills they will need to enter the workforce. The others are the office and silk flower programs.

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• Tappan Hill Welcomes Parents to Open House

  Tappan Hill welcomed dozens of parents and guardians at its Open House Oct. 3 to visit classrooms, meet with teachers and other staff, and learn about innovative programs at the Southern Westchester BOCES school.

  “We’re looking forward to a wonderful year. We’re very excited,” Principal Phyllis Rizzi said. “Don’t forget to look out the windows to see our new playground.”

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• Valhalla Center Celebrates Spirit Week

  Students and teachers at SWBOCES Valhalla Center capped off Spirit Week with a special school-wide breakfast on Sept. 27. The hearty fare included French toast casserole, cinnamon buns, muffins, fruit and more. Everyone was asked to wear clothing that is blue and white – the school colors – on that day.

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• SEPTA Welcomes Families to 2019-20 School Year

  At the Special Education PTA’s first meeting of the year on Sept. 18, parents met with representatives of community organizations that offer training, supports and recreational opportunities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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• Rye Lake Staff Welcome Back Students with Hugs, High-Fives

  On the first day of school, administrators, teachers and other staff at the Rye Lake Campus told students how much they had missed them and marveled at how much they had grown over the summer.

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• New School Year off to a Great Start

  Tappan Hill School staff members were thrilled to welcome more than 80 students to the 2019-20 school year. Principal Phyllis Rizzi said everyone has a lot of enthusiasm and positivity about the new academic year.

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• Tappan Hill students prep backpack donations

  Students at Tappan Hill Elementary School filled backpacks with school supplies for distribution to students in need as part of a three-way collaboration between Southern Westchester BOCES’ Center for Special Services, the Guidance Center of Westchester and Ivy Rehabilitation in Harrison.

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