For SWBOCES Special Services faculty and staff, if you experience symptoms or are exposed to COVID-19, including during or outside of school hours, report this information by using the following designated email, covidalerts@swboces.org.Parents/guardians must notify SWBOCES if students experience symptoms or are exposed to COVID-19 via email at healthupdates@swboces.org. Send a blank email, then complete the form generated in response. The student may not come on campus until they receive clearance.
Remote Plans and Guidance:
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Fostering student independence is a critical skill that all teacher aides should have in their toolbox. It enables them to support students with special needs in developing the necessary life skills to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
As such, SWBOCES Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support recently continued their training series with a session on Fostering Student Independence at the Rye Lake campus.
"The ultimate goal is to help students develop the skills they need to become independent and successful adults," said Elizabeth DellaBadia, Supervisor of Teaching, Learning, and Student Support in Southern Westchester BOCES' Center for Professional Learning & Curriculum Support. "By fostering their independence in the classroom, we are setting them up for success in the real world."
Deputy Superintendent Brendan Lyons visited teacher Errol Rivera's classroom at Tappan Hill School in Tarrytown, where the wearin' o' the green was on full display for this St. Patrick's Day. We wish all who celebrate a festive and enjoyable day!
On February 13, teacher aides from Tappan Hill School attended one of three training sessions offered by SWBOCES Center for Professional Development & Curriculum Support. The session, titled Communication: The Key to Adult Relationships, was led by Tracy Tyler, Supervisor of Literacy & Learning.
There was no doubt the holiday season had arrived at the Southern Westchester BOCES Tappan Hill School on Dec. 22! Students and staff gathered for a rockin’ good holiday time. Leading the fun was Emmy award winner Donald Stevens from the Westchester Conservatory of Music who belted out several seasonal songs, “Jingle Bells,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel,” among them as students clapped and danced along. All the action was capped off by a visit from Santa Claus (played by Errol Rivera) who took a few minutes to dance with students and wish them all “Happy Holidays!” Wishing you and your families a happy and health holiday season!
Tappan Hill School's Connected Learning Team organized a food drive for families in need this holiday season. Staff donated non-perishable items to be delivered to 17 families to make delicious holiday meals. Thanks to the Falens Project, two beautiful baskets were donated in memory of Falens Bruno, a former Southern Westchester BOCES employee, and will be shared with two families. Thanks to all who participated in the food drive for these grateful families. Special thanks to the Connected Learning Team members for organizing this event and to Maryann Smith, Elizabeth Fay and Dwayne Welcome for putting together gift bags for the families. The entire Tappan Hill School team wishes everyone a very happy holiday season!
President Biden replies to SWBOCES student's letter calling for unity
After penning a letter to numerous public figures and media outlets, Jason Wellington, an eighth-grader at Southern Westchester BOCES’ Irvington High School location, this week learned a lesson in patience and received words of encouragement from an unexpected source. “I never got anything back until Tuesday, when I got a letter from the White House,” Jason said.
“I was giving up on it," he added, "but then my heart kept telling me don’t do that because it may take a while."
Tappan Hill School students in Teacher Linda Liebman’s class recently visited Homefields Bowling Alley in Yonkers.
"This happy and welcome tradition is one of many ways our students take part in community activities, reinforcing a range of social and motor skills, all while enjoying their time together," Principal Phyllis Rizzi said. "Thank you to Homefields for welcoming us. We look forward to returning as well as to making other in-person field trips that are part of our learning curriculum."
Ms. Liebman added that her students had a wonderful time on their class trip. "It was wonderful to be back out in the community as a group making amazing memories," she said.
The annual Tappan Hill Food Drive for Feeding Westchester was delivered Tuesday to Feeding Westchester in Elmsford. The Tappan Hill School Connected Learning Team organized the food drive and with the help of Operations & Maintenance staff were able to collect and pack 512 pounds of donations. In all, 14 boxes of food was collected from students, families and staff for those in need in Westchester. Thank you to all who contributed. Happy Thanksgiving!
Students at Tappan Hill School enjoyed a frightfully fun Halloween, replete with a Scarecrow contest judged by Director of Special Services Andrea Byrne. Students practiced their motor skills last week by designing classroom scarecrows using available and up-cycled materials. The contest was the creation of the school's Connected Learning Community committee, which plans events to increase a sense of connectedness, build morale, and reinforce academic, fine and gross motor skills and speech/language building concepts, and to practice social skills.
Students in Teacher Adriane Lomupo's class at Tappan Hill School are pictured here preparing for Monday's Scarecrow contest. Tappan Hill students had the chance Friday to practice their motor skills and have a bit of pre-Halloween fun designing their classroom scarecrow. All 10 scarecrows are homemade, using materials in the classroom and up-cycling items that would otherwise be discarded, such as water bottles and plastic bags. On Halloween the school will have a guest judge — Center for Special Services administrators Andrea Byrne or Jessica Walker — pick the best scarecrow. Such contests are becoming a Halloween tradition at Tappan Hill, which held a door decorating contest last year. The school's Connected Learning Community committee plans events like this to increase a sense of connectedness between classes and students and the community and to build morale among staff and students. The activities are also used to reinforce various academic, fine and gross motor skills, speech/language building concepts. They also serve as opportunities for students to practice social skills.
Tappan Hill School received a lovely donation Oct. 27 of donuts and 100 pumpkins from our alumni Michael (known affectionately to us as Mikeymo) and his mother, Justine Riordan, and the D'Ercole family as gifts for our students. "This thoughtful and generous act made many children very happy," said Principal Phyllis Rizzi, "and we thank them along with the Mikey Mo supporters for their generosity."
Tappan Hill School hosted a well-attended, in-person parent Open House the morning of Oct. 14. Some 30 family members turned out to meet the teachers, administrators and service providers who work so closely with their children daily. The annual event has been held remotely in recent years. “The staff here at Tappan Hill are so dedicated to the students here," said one parent, "so we’re very lucky.”
Nearly three dozen families turned out for the SWBOCES Special Education PTA fall Meet & Greet Thursday, Oct. 13.
The virtual event featured speakers Matthew Faulkner from the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health, to discuss the OPWDD process and transition to adult services; Ellie Arnemann, Executive Director of North East Special Recreation to share information about their programs; and Lisa Sandagatta, Director of Outreach at Music Conservatory of Westchester, who spoke about their music therapy programs.
Families are encouraged to join SEPTA, which hosts events and programs throughout the school year to provide support, information and networking opportunities. Please reach out to your child's teacher or principal for information about how to become a member.
Tappan Hill is looking forward to welcoming parents to Back to School morning on Friday, October 14! Please join us at 9 AM to meet your child's teacher, related service providers, nurses, clinicians and Principal/ Assistant Principal. We look forward to seeing you soon!
