Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services programs support the needs of students with disabilities by offering specialized instruction tailored to the learning needs, individualized educational plans and life goals of each student. Our six school programs offer environments in which social emotional and academic learning are integrated so that students develop confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance, and resiliency. We believe a growth mindset is the key to progress.

Our classrooms feature small staff-to-student ratios that provide for individualized support and attention. Staff and students develop positive learning communities where students can connect with peers and form friendships.

Our curriculum is aligned with New York State and Next Generation standards which aids in a smooth transition when students may be ready to return to their home districts.  Our instructional professionals implement a comprehensive program that accounts for unique student learning styles and needs. Programs are therapeutic in nature and build in positive behavior supports and reinforcement.

Our clinicians and related service providers include psychologists, social workers, school counselors, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, teachers of reading and the deaf and visually impaired and crisis intervention specialists. Transition is a primary focus so school counselors and social workers support students and families in planning and readiness for returning to district or post-secondary experiences, including adult programming, vocational placements and college or career training. Our  work with families is paramount to our students’ success. We partner with them in navigating community supports and services.

The Center is comprised of six schools on five campuses. Each program serves a diverse group of students ages 5-21 and offers opportunities in the visual arts, music instruction, technology, and physical education. Students also participate in health and wellness learning, community trips, and activities that build social skills.

 

Continued Learning

STUDENT RESOURCES GRAPHICPlease select your child's school page from the Locations menu above for additional information.

Parents Guide to Google Classroom 

Click the image here for a list of available online learning resources.

News from our schools

  • Southern Westchester BOCES is hiring Teacher Aides - Apply today!

    Southern Westchester BOCES is seeking Teacher Aides for its summer programs. This is a great opportunity to work in education and make a difference for kids. Complete our easy application and get started today: https://forms.gle/8DxNdU8nLQhNhjwh8

    News Feed - Center for Special Services
  • Tappan Hill students run circles around Achilles challenge

    Deputy Superintendent Brendan Lyons was on hand to witness the completion of the Achilles virtual marathon at Tappan Hill School. The event is a nationwide program of Achilles International in which students log their step, strides and minutes of physical activity all school year and come together to cross the finish line together.
     
     
     
     
    News Feed - Tappan Hill
  • Rye Lake students take a nearby hike into nature's classroom

    Students in Mrs. Schwartz’s and Ms. Salinger’s classes at Rye Lake Campus visited Cranberry Lake Nature Preserve, where they hiked to South Pond. Students were able to catch bugs, frogs, and other macro invertebrates under the guidance of nature center staff. 

    News Feed - Rye Lake Lower Campus
  • Tappan Hill students make and enjoy their own personal pizzas

    Mangia! Mangia! Mrs. Christiansen's students at Tappan Hill School learned all about how to make individual pizzas, from following a recipe to hands-on pizza-making techniques and, most popular, eating the delicious finished product. Yum!

    News Feed - Tappan Hill
  • Rye Lake Lower Campus lemonade stand a hit with students

    Students in Teacher Danielle Schwartz’s class at Southern Westchester BOCES's Rye Lake Campus celebrated the conclusion of their novel study on The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies with a lemonade stand for their campus mates to enjoy. Students in the AIIM and TSP programs on the Lower Campus stopped by and purchased a refreshing cup of lemonade and a snack using pretend currency.

    News Feed - Rye Lake Lower Campus
  • Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services Celebrates 30th Annual American Dreamer Achievement Awards

    On May 24, the Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services held the 30th Annual American Dreamer Achievement Awards, an event that honors individuals who perform outstanding works of service for, and on behalf of, students with special needs. The heartfelt awards luncheon recognizes of the exceptional work done by both students and community partners throughout the SWBOCES community.

    News Feed - Center for Special Services
  • Special Services programs participate in wide range of wellness activities

    Student Wellness takes center stage with a week of fun activities

    Student wellness is always a priority, but it was at the forefront May 8-12 in the form of activities and programming designed to meet the needs, abilities and preferences of all students in all programs. All six program locations took part in the weeklong slate of events, which ranged from flower planting and yoga to sports skills competitions, hiking and even a dance party plus more. 

    “It was gratifying to see this collaborative effort come together across our programs and locations and to see our students engage in so many meaningful activities that benefited their wellness physically, mentally and emotionally,” Director of Special Services Andrea Byrne said.  

    News Feed - Center for Special Services
  • St. Matt's Celebrates Wellness Day! May 12, 2023

    St. Matt's students and staff celebrated Wellness Day on Friday, May 12th. There was a focus on tending to our minds, bodies and beautifying the space around us! Students got to participate in music therapy, yoga, art therapy and planting flowers. Please enjoy some photos from our event! 

    St. Matthews
  • Tappan Hill students take a mini golf field trip

    Tappan Hill School teacher Linda Liebman's class took a trip to play miniature golf at Saxon Woods Park May 11. The class has been practicing in the school gymnasium with Coach Diane to help get ready for this field trip.  Practice makes perfect, as they say, and the students all had a great time on the course! They had fun on the playground as well and enjoyed a picnic lunch and riding the bus with their classmates. 
    News Feed - Tappan Hill
  • Year-long Achilles Virtual Marathon provides opportunities to get fit and achieve

    St. Matthew's students go the distance

    Southern Westchester BOCES students at St. Matthew’s School in White Plains enthusiastically crossed the finish line of a school year-long journey of physical fitness and personal achievement. 

    “This is such a tremendous feeling of accomplishment for them,” said teacher Denise Hurvitz, who has been involved in the Achilles Virtual Marathon at SWBOCES programs for 15 years. “Their families can’t believe it when I tell them.”

    News Feed - St. Matthews
  • Extended School Year

    Extended School Year 2023 at CSS will be held from July 3 – August 11

    Center for Special Services
  • Moving Up / Graduation Ceremonies

    Information coming soon!

    Rye Lake Campus Middle/High
  • RISE Volunteer Recognition Celebration shines a spotlight on SWBOCES partnership

    Volunteer New York! recognizes individuals who support Tappan Hill School students

    Nine volunteers with Volunteer New York!'s RISE program were honored by the organization for their work with Southern Westchester BOCES students at Tappan Hill School.

    RISE stands for Readiness thru Integrated Service Engagement. The program connects young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so they can build skills while volunteering.

    The honors were announced at the Annual RISE Volunteer Recognition Celebration at the Greenburgh Library. The event was hosted in recognition of April being Global Volunteer Month

    The honorees have been volunteering weekly in the middle school and high school classrooms at Tappan Hill School as peer mentors throughout the 2022-23 school year.  These peer mentorships are part of their transition planning, in understanding how their older peers spend their day once they leave school. One of the RISE groups works with the students to do community service projects that give them a chance to volunteers as well. Other RISE volunteers offer self-advocacy support and resources, while the rest help in a physical education class or read to the students in the classroom.

    News Feed - Tappan Hill
  • Please check your emails for important updates from Administration!

    Parents & Guardians, 
     
    Here is helpful information:
    1. SWBOCES Procedures for School Closing, Delayed Openings, and Early Dismissals Due to Inclement Weather:
      • Your child attends Southern Westchester BOCES, Rye Lake Lower Campus.  Please be sure to follow notifications for SWBOCES, Rye Lake Lower Campus ONLY.
      • Notifications for Rye Lake Middle School/High School due NOT apply for your child.
      • Information can be found at http://swboces.org, under the news section.  Additionally, an alert usually appears on the homepage.
    2. Late Arrival/Early Pick Up:
      • Students that are brought to school late, after 8AM, need to be signed in upon arrival.  All students should be bought to Building 1, also known as the decagon.  We ask that you do not bring them directly to their classroom.  Please park in the visitor's parking lot and call 914.948.7271, extension 1263.  If the receptionist answers, please ask for the Rye Lake Lower Campus Secretary, Kaye Jackson.  Once she knows you are outside, she will open the doors, have you take your child's temperature, and have you sign your child in.  The classroom will be contacted that your child has arrived.  We ask that you wait with your child for a classroom staff member to pick up and escort your child to their classroom.  We ask that you make every attempt to call the bus company to notify them of any changes in service.  Additionally, we ask that you email Ms. Jackson, kjackson@swboces.org, if you know that your child will be coming into school late.  This helps keep us in the know.  Lastly, please note that masks must be worn at all times when in the building, including during drop off.
      • Students that are being picked up early, before 2:32PM, need to be signed out.  Parents/Guardians report to Building 1, also known as the decagon.  We ask that you do not go to or directly call their classroom.  Please park in the visitor's parking lot and call 914.948.7271, extension 1263.  If the receptionist answers, please ask for the Rye Lake Lower Campus Secretary, Kaye Jackson.  Once she knows you are outside, she will call your child's classroom and have them brought to Building 1 to be signed out using our Rye Lake Lower Campus Drop Off/Pick Up Form.  Again, we ask that you make every attempt to call the bus company to notify them of any changes in service.  Additionally, we ask that you email Ms. Jackson, kjackson@swboces.org, if you know that your child will be picked up early from school.  This helps keep us in the know.  Lastly, please note that masks must be worn at all times when in the building, including during pick up.
      • Student Absences
        • If your child will be absent from school, please be sure to email the nurse, Nora Mannuccia, nmannuccia@swboces.org.
        • COVID-19 Reminders & Updates:
          • If your child is symptomatic, displaying COVID-19 like symptoms, please keep your child home and alert us by sending an email to healthupdates@swboces.org.  Feel free to reach out to our school nurse Nora Mannuccia, nmannuccia@swboces.org, and/or me, jdolan@swboces.org.  
          • If your child begins to display COVID-19 like symptoms while at school, they will be seen by the nurse.  All students displaying COVID-19 like symptoms must be pick-up and a negative COVID-19 test and/or clearance from a medical professional must be submitted before re-entry to school is permitted.  Pick-up in this case, would take place via the outside door of the nursing office.  Please call 914.948.7271, extension 1250.  If the receptionist answers, please ask for the Rye Lake Lower Campus Health Office Nurse at extension 1250.  
    Rye Lake Lower Campus
  • Blue Path Service Dogs come to visit St. Matt's!

    Blue Path Service dogs recently came to visit our students at St. Matt's. Student had the opportunity to interact, walk and play with Ginger, a trained yellow lab service dog, if they were comfortable. Ginger was very sweet and the students had a great time! 

    St. Matthews
  • Women's History Month at St. Matthew's

    St. Matthew's students celebrated our remarkable women during Women's History Month.

    St. Matthews
View More Posts