District Highlights

• Holiday Drive Provides Extra Cheer for 500+ MUFSD Students
• Mamaroneck Schools Foundation Grant in Action: MHS Literacy Ambassadors Give Gift of Reading this Holiday Season
• Remembering Keith Yizar, Known Across Westchester as the "Gentle Giant"
• More MSF Grants Awarded for Innovative Student Initiatives
• District Equity Team Expands its Base: Plans for Remainder of Year into Summer
• Ongoing Efforts to Get Materials into Students' Hands, Mitigate Setbacks
• Impressive Hommocks Middle School Reading Stats to Date
• Wishing You Happy Holidays and A New Year Filled with Hope

Holiday Gift Cards and Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Socks Provided to 328 Families, 500+ Students

The 2020 effort led by the District's social workers to provide gift cards and new hats, gloves, scarves and socks to our Larchmont & Mamaroneck families in need was a resounding success. Mamaroneck teachers and community members donated a total of $23,000 in gift cards and an enormous collection of clothing accessories to keep everybody warm this winter. Many thanks to our social workers for organizing and to all of our generous community members who donated.

Mamaroneck Schools Foundation Grant in Action: Student Literacy Ambassadors Give Gift of Reading

In the giving spirit of the holiday season, our Mamaroneck High School student literacy ambassadors gifted more than 400 carefully chosen brand new books to children in the community through the Columbus Park food pantry distribution in Mamaroneck. The goal was to provide appealing and culturally inclusive books in both Spanish and English to our diverse community in order to promote a love of reading by all. Students packed up and delivered drawstring book-filled bags with the student designed and created logo "Reading is dreaming with your eyes open". The initiative is part of a broader community partnership teacher grant awarded by the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation (MSF), where students participate in ongoing work with the Hunger Task Force Food Pantry and the Community Resource Center in an effort to reach out, get to know, and support families in our community.

Remembering Keith Yizar: Known Across Westchester as the "Gentle Giant"

The initiative described above is the type of effort Keith Yizar undoubtedly would have been a part of during his more than 30 years as Youth Services Worker at Mamaroneck High School. Now, as we remember the "Gentle Giant", we think beyond the work he did at the high school and treasure the impact he had on the entire county of Westchester. Watch this News 12 piece to learn about Mr. Yizar's legacy on Section 1 Athletics.

“He didn't care what color you were, what your nationality was, he was there for you, encouraging all the kids and the adults, and everybody's life is better because they had the opportunity to meet Keith Yizar.” - Mamaroneck Varsity Basketball Coach Tyrone Carver.

More MSF Grants Awarded for Innovative Student Initiatives

A new slate of Mamaroneck Schools Foundation (MSF) student grants was announced at the Dec. 15th Board of Education meeting. From the funding of apps being developed by Original Civic Research & Action students, to a "Learn What I Do" speakers series, specialty mics to bring music outdoors, a MHS community video installation and multicultural marketing opportunities, these grants demonstrate our educational process in action. The District is grateful for the support of the Foundation.

Diversity and Equity Team Holds First Meeting with Newly-Expanded Group

The newly-expanded Diversity and Equity Team (DET) is already off and running with its 50 new members. At its first meeting held December 14, the DET used the draft multi-year equity plan that had been developed over last summer as the basis for planning work for the remainder of the year and into next summer. The next meeting of the DET is scheduled for January 19.

“Bringing stakeholders together who share varying views resulted in such meaningful dialogue and decision-making! The ‘new’ DET is on a journey towards action that will bring the mission to fruition. During this process, members will continue to share, to listen, aim to understand, and to empathize, all with the realization that we are all equal. It is our responsibility to ensure that all our students and families experience this truth.” - Leon Whyte, Mamaroneck District Equity Team Co-chair

District Provides Ongoing Efforts to Get Materials into Students' Hands, Mitigate Learning Setbacks

During the pandemic, the District has conducted a multitude of initiatives to get books and other instructional materials into the hands of students to help mitigate learning sebacks. Mamaroneck staff members collectively have had a "do whatever it takes" philosophy to ensure consistency of learning and monitor and assess student progress.