Our Superintendent

Dear Somers families,

We have just wrapped up another great school year!

Congratulations to the Somers High School class of 2025, to the Somers Middle School eighth graders who will rise to the high school next year, and to all our other students who will advance one more grade.

It’s been a year filled with incredible achievements and accomplishments. In these Friday letters, it has been my aim to share these accomplishments, but also at least a small sampling of the countless wonderful things that go on in our schools every day.

I want to thank you all for partnering with us in nurturing a love of learning, exploration and discovery in our students.

When students return to school in September, Dr. Adam Bronstein will be the new Superintendent of Schools. I wish him all the best in continuing to drive the Somers Central School District’s mission.

Have a wonderful summer!

Best,
Harry

Congratulations to the Somers High School seniors who graduated on Wednesday, and the Somers Middle School eighth-graders who celebrated their completion of middle school yesterday.
 
Here are some scenes from the ceremonies:

Somers High School
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Somers Middle School
Thursday, June 26, 2025

Join Spark Plugs for Smiles tomorrow, a heartfelt day of cars, community, and compassion.

Enjoy a display of classic and custom vehicles and a touch-a-truck experience with fire trucks, police cars, and more! Food will be available from Three Little Pigs BBQ, Kona Ice, and Stonefire Pizza.

The event takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at Somers Intermediate School, 240 Route 202, Somers. Spark Plugs for Smiles honors Trevor Spano, a cherished Somers student and friend. All proceeds will help his family.

The event is presented by Somers School Related Professionals and spearheaded by Somers Middle School physical therapist Caroline Ringle.

Click here or on photo for more information.

A cookbook with accessible, affordable recipes and a study of music’s positive impact on mental health were two of the personal projects that Somers High School sophomores completed in the new Tusker 102 class.

The course expands on the Tusker 101 class the students took as freshman. The class culminates with the completion of a personal project students worked on all year for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.

Scotty Evans, who created the cookbook, said, “My goal was to improve my cooking skills while helping others, especially beginners, without needing expensive ingredients or advanced knowledge.”

Smera Thekkenmar explored the connection between music and mental health, particularly among senior citizens, by performing music and surveying her audiences.

“Success for me was measured by feedback from patients and staff I played for at health facilities,” she said.

“Tusker 101 works on communication, social, and self-management skills, while Tusker 102 works on thinking and research skills,” said Erin Stewart, English and IB Film teacher at the high school.

Thekkenmar’s project boosted her interest in music therapy and gave her more confidence in performing and communicating.

“I learned that small acts like sharing music can have a powerful impact,” she said.

Learn more about the Tusker 102 projects here.

Dear Somers families,

Our sports teams are making us proud again. Congratulations to the Somers High School lacrosse team, who won the state championship last Saturday! And keep an eye on our track and field team. The athletes have had a had a great season, and it’s not over yet. Seven of them are giving their all in national competitions across the country this weekend.

I hope you had a chance to enjoy the Stringstravaganza on Tuesday, when our music students in grades 5-12 learning string instruments presented a concert at Somers High School. 

See more on those achievements and other good news below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

The Somers High School lacrosse and track and field teams continue to rack up triumphs.

Boys Lacrosse

The boys lacrosse team captured its first state championship in program history last Saturday with a 19-11 victory over Jamesville-DeWitt.
 
The Tuskers finished the season with a 19-3 record (15-0 in section 1), ranking 11th nationally as well as first in New York State.
 
Two players, seniors Miguel Iglesias and Matt Mayfield, were named US Lacrosse All-Americans.
 
Eight team members were named All-Section: Cam Violante, Tristan Iglesias, Bret Kennedy, Dylan Jimenez, Mason Kelly, Logan Ruby, Miguel Iglesias, and Matt Mayfield.  
 
Thirteen players were named All-League: Hudson Ruby, Cam Violante, Tristan Iglesias, Dylan Jimenez, Dean Palazzolo, Bret Kennedy, Ryan Brush, Logan Ruby, Mason Kelly, Brendan Lyle, Tristan Wachtel, Miguel Iglesias, and Matt Mayfield.
 
"This team's hard work, perseverance, and uncommon bond took them to heights that our program has never reached before,” said lacrosse coach Jordan Hirsch. “They have set a standard for years to come and have given us all a lifetime of memories. They come from great families and their exceptional talent as a group was second only to their character on and off the field. We're all extremely proud of them.”
 
Track and Field
 

The track team has had a successful season – and it’s still in progress. Seven athletes from the team are competing in national tournaments from Oregon to North Carolina. They are:

Nike Outdoor Nationals in Portland, Oregon

• Sam Parsons is competing in the triple jump.

 
New Balance Nationals at the University of Pennsylvania 

• Haylie Donovan, Julia Duzynski, Keira Cleary and Mia Sandolo are running the distance medley relay.
• Charles Sullivan will compete in the hammer throw. (Sullivan is ranked second in the USA.)

 
Adidas Track and Field Nationals in North Carolina
Brothers Ethan and Rylan Steuber will compete in pole vaulting.

• Rylan Steuber, a Somers Middle School student, is the first eighth grader to make the Somers varsity team.

 
Four team members delivered impressive performances at the recent New York State Track and Field Championships.

• Haylie Donovan concluded her high school career as the New York State Runner-Up in both Class B and the entire state for the 400-meter run, setting a new personal record of 54.44 seconds. 
• Keira Cleary secured seventh place in Class B in the 400-meter run with a time of 57.2 seconds. 
• Ethan Steuber finished 10th in Class B in the pole vault, clearing 12 feet, 6 inches.
• Julia Duzynski placed 10th in Class B in the 2000-meter Steeplechase with a time of 7:30.0.

“These athletes' hard work was evident in their strong showings against New York's best,” said track coach Mike Lacko.

Tusker 101 students from Somers High School volunteered to visit Somers Intermediate School recently to offer presentations on digital citizenship and online safety. They presented in small groups to fourth- and fifth-grade students about the possible dangers of being online while using social media and video games.

“Due to my own experiences, I am very passionate about digital wellbeing,” said Lauren Crispino.

“I wanted to show the fourth and fifth graders that they were not the only kids who were struggling with social media issues,” added Alexa Ernst.

The presentations covered a variety of topics, including social media, online gaming, and cyberbullying. Students spoke about the different online platforms and used real-life examples to illustrate their points. They also reinforced how what happens online can stay with you longer than expected.

“One of the most important lessons to me was how what you do online affects your future self,” added Crispino.

Read more about the digital citizenship presentation here.

Second-grade students from Primrose Elementary School watched nails being hand-forged and tried on 19th-century bonnets during a visit to the Elephant Hotel, a Somers historic landmark.

Students were able to learn about and touch artifacts from the 1800s as local historian Doris Smith helped them build on their classroom lessons on early Americans.

“We learned that they needed to leave some stuff behind because they could only carry the most useful things,” said Zoey Romano.

In a pioneer-style kitchen, students learned how people cooked in wood-burning ovens, and they were able to touch some of the cooking tools, such as bellows, heavy pots and pans, and kettles. They saw clothing from the time and were even able to try on bonnets.

“The fireplace was huge,” said Vivian Richardson. “They put bricks in the fireplace to help cook food.”

Students watched a real-life blacksmith craft items such as nails, hooks, and dining utensils by heating metal in a fire pit and shaping it with the necessary tools.

“He hammered the metal, then cooled it off in a bucket of water,” said Nick. “When it went into the bucket, it looked really cool because it was all steamy.”

Learn more about the visit to the 1800s here.

The annual Stringstravaganza brought together strings music students from grades 5-12 for a concert on Tuesday. Here are some scenes:

Dear Somers families,
 
Today’s letter is a little different from most weeks because I wanted to include the amazing achievements that we celebrated at the Somers Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, while also recognizing those staff members who are retiring after serving our students and schools with such devotion.
 
Among the accomplishments you will read about is the Somers High School boys lacrosse team, which will play their state championship game at 10 a.m. tomorrow. If you can’t make the trip to Geneva, N.Y., the Somers Sports Broadcasting Club will bring it to you live on YouTube. Somers High School students Benny Silk and Jayden Ferry will call the play-by-play live from the press booth at Hobart and William Smith Colleges on the Somers Sports Broadcast YouTube channel here.
 
I will also include some of the positive things going on in our schools as always. Following the news on the celebration at the Board meeting, you’ll find two examples of the innovative lessons students are learning in engineering.
 
Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
Harry

It was an evening of congratulations, thanks and warm wishes on Tuesday when the Somers Board of Education began its meeting with a ceremony to recognize students’ achievements and honor 22 retirees.
 
Somers Middle School musicians kicked off the meeting, held in the school’s auditorium. The chamber orchestra played "Zarabanda" by Enrique Granados, and the advanced choir sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and Irving Berlin’s "Blues Skies,” with soloists Alice Orzechowski and Julie Genovesi.
 
Students and teams representing achievements in many areas came to the meeting and received congratulations. Among them:

• Teachers Melissa Golia and Monica Martell handed out the state Seal of Biliteracy to 12 seniors who had become proficient in at least one other language beyond English. The students, with their world languages, are:
  • French: Mayank Dave and Natalia Tellez 
  • Italian: Gabriella Berisha, Gabriella Crecco, Luke DeBellis, Mia Sandolo and Daniel Spadini
  • Spanish: Erick Gualpa Ortiz, Julianna Guida, Estefany Ramos-Aragon, Gabriella Urquiza and Charlotte Wilke-Olsen
• Somers High School Principal Peter Rodrigues congratulated valedictorian Natalia Tellez, salutatorian Sara Hanford and the school’s two 2025 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, Luke Armstrong and Emma Gordon.
• Jacqueline Cirieco and Noel Allen, co-coordinators of the Destination Imagination teams, presented the two Somers teams that were invited to the Destination Imagination Global Finals in Kansas City. The teams were To Eat or Not to Eat, which took first place in the Fine Arts category, and the elementary level team, Fierce Fish.
• In sports, coach Mike Lacko shook hands with members of the boys lacrosse team, which had made it to the semi-finals. (The next day, the team scored another victory, against Maine-Endwell, 27-6. At 10 a.m. tomorrow they face Jamesville-DeWitt for the Class C state championship. Catch the action from the Somers Sports Broadcasting club live at this link.) 
• Rodrigues recapped successes among the Science Research students, including Charlotte Wilke-Olsen, who earned a spot competing in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May for her research into dark matter, and Isabella Wissa, whose research into infantile spasms made her one of 106 STEM champions to earn a spot at the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C. in March.
• Somers Middle School Principal Jennifer Mangone announced that eighth grader Gianna Lopez had won three honors from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In the competition’s Hudson-to-Housatonic region, Lopez won two silver keys for the poem “Sorry” and the novel Emotion-less, and a gold key, the highest honor, for the poem “TITLE.”

After the congratulations, the district's retirees were recognized and praised by their principals, assistant principals and administrators. The retirees are:
 
District Offices

• Mary Kiernan, Secretary to School Administrator
   

Primrose Elementary School

• Sherri Donovan, Teaching Assistant
• Elizabeth Maliniak, Elementary Teacher

 
Somers Intermediate School

• John Badini, Elementary Teacher
• Brenda DeBellis, Elementary Teacher
• Carmela Harris, Elementary Teacher
• Manuela Goncalves, Office Assistant
• Helen Morvillo, Secretary to School Principal
• James Simmons, Custodian
• Johanne Yursa, Teaching Assistant

 
Somers Middle School

• Joann Giudice, Teaching Assistant
• Kimberly Gordon, Special Education Teacher
• Phyllis Levesque, Teaching Assistant
• Monica Manko-Schmidt, Science Teacher
• Gina Oriti, Office Assistant
• Gina Sullivan, Teaching Assistant
• Kathleen Wright, Teaching Assistant

 
Somers High School

• Mary Campbell, Teaching Assistant
• Theresa Cominsky, Office Assistant
• Amy Durham, School Monitor
• Pamela Lacko, Food Service Helper
• Laura Vegliante, Math/Special Education Teacher

 
Watch the Board of Education meeting, starting with the ceremony here.

Find more photos on the Somers Central School District Facebook page.

Engineering Projects

Students in the Introduction to Engineering Design classes at Somers High School took their skills out for a test drive, literally, when they built downhill derby cars and raced them down hills on school grounds. “Experience with tools and materials is good for the soul—and that’s the kind of learning that sticks with you,” said teacher Edward Amato. “The downhill derby project gives the students a chance to design, build, test, and actually see their ideas come to life.”
 
Groups of students designed their cars in engineering notebooks and built them from downhill derby kits and disassembled pallets. They first built small-scale models using popsicle sticks, then the full-sized cars using CAD software for refinements.
 
“We wanted to be able to sit cross-legged while driving it, so it would be comfortable and stable,” said Tydeus Rodrigues, describing his group's car.
 
Finally, they were off to the races. One student from each group drove the car down the hill near the football field. If the car completed that hill 10 times, the team moved on to a steeper hill. Later, all the cars were displayed in the hallway during community lunch.
 
“Being creative and working together has been great,” said Naman Rastogi.
 
Read more about the derby cars here.

What if there was a robot that collected trash from the oceans, or a device that improved the focus of photographs?
These were just two of the inventions that creative fourth-grade students in Sharon King’s class at Somers Intermediate School came up after studying engineering and inventions that already have made an impact on the world. They were allowed to choose any specialty within engineering for their project, including civil, robotic, mechanical, optical, ocean, biomedical, and aerospace.
 
“People dump trash in the ocean because they think it gets rid of it forever, but it doesn’t, and it hurts the animals who live there,” said Violet Soto. “I chose ocean engineering and designed an ocean sweeper. It’s a robot that would pick up trash from the ocean.”
 
Molly Salman chose optical engineering and invented a “a spherical operation straightener.”
 
“It takes the light rays before they pass through the lens and straightens them so that pictures come out clear and not blurry,” she said.
 
Other inventions included an artificial brain, a smart backpack, a solar-powered plane, and a materials sorter.
 
Students presented their prototypes and displays to classmates. The inventions were then displayed outside of Mrs. King’s room.
 
Read about the students’ inventions here.

Dear Somers families,
 
There is a lot to celebrate this week! Our boys lacrosse team won its first Section 1 championship in 16 years! You can cheer them on tomorrow when they take on Wantagh in the regional final. The game starts at 10 a.m. at Yorktown High School.
 
Also, several of our sophomores Science Research students emerged with prizes from the annual Somers Science Fair. What’s more, our two quiz bowl teams performed well in their national championships in Chicago last weekend. (See more below.)
 

Faculty members are being honored, too. The annual Somers SEPTA and PTA Council Awards Ceremony will take place Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m. in Somers High School. All are welcome! This year, the organizations will honor:

• Brenda O’Shea, Somers High School student life coordinator
• Janna Salce, Somers Middle School sixth-grade special education teacher
• Johanne Yursa, Somers Intermediate School fifth-grade teacher assistant
• Lindsay Merchant, Somers Intermediate School speech/language therapist

Finally, please help get out the word; tomorrow is the last Tusker Shop of the school year, where community members can pick up donated items they need, including clothing, shoes, toys, and household items. It runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Somers Middle School, 250 Rt. 202, Somers. (The entrance is on the east side of the building, near the cafeteria.)

Have a wonderful weekend!
 
Best,
Harry

Congratulations to Somers’ winners of the 2025 Somers Science Fair, showcasing the works of first-year science research students from throughout Westchester and Putnam counties.

Somers Science Research director Dr. William Maelia called it one of the most successful fairs yet, with 764 students from 38 schools gathering at Somers High School last Saturday to compete. The Somers winners – all sophomores – and their categories were:

• First Place
  Rachel Lantz, Cellular and Molecular Biology 
  Smera Thekkenmar, Medicine and Health 
• Second Place
  Ashima Ojha, Physics 
• Third Place
  Connor Sheldon, Medicine and Health 
  Scotty Evans, Behavioral and Social Science 
  Molly Cutler, Medicine and Health

Dr. Maelia congratulated the students and schools who participated and thanked all who helped make the event a success, including the 525 judges who evaluated the projects and provided feedback.

“The fair was a true celebration of science, showcasing the incredible work and enthusiasm of our first-year research students,” he said. “It was inspiring to see so many young scientists excited to share the research they hope to pursue in the months and years ahead. Their passion was palpable, and the energy throughout the day was truly remarkable.”

• 2025 Somers Science Fair Preparation Video
• 2025 Somers Science Fair Video
• 2025 Somers Science Fair Award Ceremony

The Somers High School quiz bowl teams journeyed to Chicago for their national championships last weekend.
The junior varsity team had a successful tournament, winning two matches.

The varsity team won the Chicago portion of the competition and remained undefeated until they faced last year's national champions, Russellville, Arkansas. While Russellville repeated as nation champions, Somers finished second in the nation.
Congratulations to our teams!

Sixth graders in Somers Middle School took a musical trip around the world – and they have their passports to show for it.

In World Music, students learned about the sounds, the instruments and the dances of many cultures in their Music Around the Globe Unit. They included even ancient instruments such as the veena, a stringed instrument from India that dates to about 1000 BCE.

Throughout the unit, each student created a “music passport” as their process journal. As they studied each new region of the world, they answered questions in their passports about what made that music unique and how it compared to music in the United States, and gave examples of the different instruments used.

They also created posters of one of the instruments they learned about.

Dear Somers families,

This was a difficult week in our district with the tragic loss of Trevor Spano, a sixth-grade student at Somers Middle School, and I want to thank everyone in the Somers family who came together to help each other this time of loss.

In other matters, everyone is invited to the Somers Science Fair at Somers High School tomorrow. The fair is a competition for first-year science research students to present their proposed research. The public viewing will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Best,
Harry

Congratulations to the Somers Middle School team in the Destination Imagination competition. Named To Eat or Not to Eat, the team’s performance won first place in the Fine Arts category in the Global Finals of the organization devoted to inspiring students to become innovators.

The team was one of two from Somers who made it to the international tournament in Kansas City last weekend. The district’s elementary level team, Fierce Fish, also earned the opportunity to compete.

To Eat or Not to Eat faced 41 teams from across the country and 12 other nations, said team manager Cameron McClure. The team also won the Renaissance Award, which is given to a team for outstanding skill in design, engineering, execution or performance.

The theme was an exploration of how small or simple things can make a large impact. The winning performance used a seesaw as a set piece to represent a balance of power between two main characters, Professor Not So Smart and President Georgie Washie. McClure said the team had worked hard to improve after tying for 24th place at the finals last year.

“In my eight years of being a team manager, I have never seen a team so dramatically improve their performance after each tournament,” she said. The seesaw was a challenge, she said, adding, “I am very proud that they kept on trying and trying to find a way to make the seesaw do more and more.”

The two teams made it to the finals by coming in second place in both regional and the New York Eastern Region tournaments. Fierce Fish’s characters were a pig, a dog, and a horse who team up to save and then enhance the pig’s house after the other two animals accidentally cause it to catch on fire.

Students from two schools partnered on a “monster” project to foster kindness. When kindergarteners at Primrose Elementary School created colored drawings of friendly monsters, Somers Middle School students produced stuffed toy versions of the fanciful creatures by hand.The younger students got to keep the toys the middle school students created.

“It’s something they’ll keep for a long time,” said seventh grader Madeline Benedetto. “It’s a fun memory to have.”

Social studies teacher Amy Bergin, who was inspired by a story she saw on “On the Road with Steve Hartman.” “It got me thinking that if my kids, who are 12-13 years old, participated in an act of kindness where they knew they would get nothing in return except for seeing the joy on these kindergarteners’ faces with their monsters, then maybe it would follow them into adulthood.”
 
“I made my monster with rainbow dots and some stars and rainbow arms,” said kindergarten student Sadie Stewart. “I love rainbows.”

“I named mine Gluey, because I like that name,” said kindergartener Zofia Zak. “Mine was round.”

More than 80 middle school students signed up to make monsters, with many asking to work on a second one once the first was finished. With great attention to detail, craftsmanship, and talent, the students turned the drawings into real handmade stuffed toys. 

Read more about the monster project here.

Classes at Primrose Elementary School made the best of the spring weather recently when they ventured outside to read in the fresh air of an outdoor classroom. Reading buddies took turns reading their chosen books, strengthening their literacy and friendship skills.

Dear Somers families,

Don’t forget to vote! Next Tuesday is your chance to cast ballots on the proposed 2025-2026 budget, capital projects bond, and Board of Education members. Find plenty of information on what you’ll be voting on here.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Best,
Harry

As part of a series of events across the district to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month, Somers High School again hosted the JCK Legends program for all ninth graders.

This program focuses on eliminating the stigma around talking about mental health and how students can become a "Legend" by supporting one another. The program's founder, John Tessitore, grew up in Westchester and lost his friend and role model, John Kelly, to suicide.

On Tuesday, Mr. Tessitore and his co presenter, Kevin McMahon, spoke with the entire ninth grade about the courage it takes to talk about our mental health. The talk was followed by small-group breakout exercises on Wednesday and Thursday.

Many thanks to social worker Kristin Rigaglia and school psychologist Stefanie Candido at Somers High School for organizing the event.

Somers Middle School band, chorus, and orchestra students had a great time at the Music in the Parks festival at Six Flags New England near Springfield, Mass., on May 9.

The 250 students performed selections ranging from Dvořák to Journey at a local university in the morning as part of the festival, then headed to Six Flags for an afternoon of fun.They were accompanied by 40 volunteer chaperones.
 
The day was rainy, but photos of the trip are filled with students’ smiles.
 
“Our students work and practice hard and these festivals are great for them because they receive constructive feedback from judges who are university music professors,” said band teacher Rachel Malara, who organized the trip with her colleagues, orchestra teacher Miles Gilbert and chorus teacher Marie Williams. “Everyone had a great time and made some unforgettable memories!”

Science Dave thrilled students at Somers Intermediate School with expanding foam, paper that changed color when rubbed with a baking soda solution, and a rocket launch that looked at first like it might not happen. When the rocket failed to take off the first two times, Science Dave told them that failure is an important part of science.
 

“Sometimes things don’t work out the way we expect them to,” he said. “That’s when we must reflect on what we tried and investigate to see what we can change. Then we open our minds and become thinkers to problem solve how we can fix things.”
 
Science Dave eventually replaced each component of the rocket that could be causing the problem, trying to launch it again and again. His perseverance paid off when the rocket shot into the sky.

Read more about Science Dave’s visit here.

Dear Somers families,

Thank you again to everyone who came out to vote in Tuesday's budget vote and Board of Education election!

We appreciate the support in approving the 2025-2026 budget and the capital bond project. Also, congratulations to Amanda Kandel and Chadwick Olsen on their re-election to the board and to Rosalind Gallino for being elected to her first term.

I hope you all enjoy a long weekend, and also take some time on Memorial Day to remember the sacrifices made by military service members.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Best,
Harry

Eighth-grade students proudly presented their MYP Community Projects at second annual Community Project Showcase in Somers Middle School on May 15.

From raising awareness about important issues to creating real change in their neighborhoods, the young changemakers impressed all with their creativity, compassion, and commitment.

To start their projects, students reach out to businesses, organizations, or school officials, practicing communications skills they are learning. Their projects explore a wide range of ideas and proposals, including designing flexible furniture for classrooms or public transportation for Somers, beautification of Shenorock and fundraising initiatives for animal shelters.

The showcase was a powerful reminder that learning about citizenship begins at the local level. Special thanks to everyone who supported the students and helped to make an inspiring event.

Somers Intermediate School third- and fourth-grade musicians wowed their parents and other fans with a series of spring concerts last week.

The third-grade chorus and string orchestra and fourth-grade band played a variety of classical pieces, songs from musicals and more. Their performances brought waves of applause from audience members capturing moments in photos and video on their phones.

“A heartfelt thank you goes to Ms. Nomani, Ms. Giordano, and Mr. Mynt for the dedication and inspiration they bring to their music programs,” Principal Linda Belger and Assistant Principal Dr. Kyle Grogan said in their weekly email to families. “Our students have grown so much under their guidance.”

Dear Somers families,

We received good news this week when we learned that Somers High School has been named a Project Lead The Way Distinguished School. This is a great honor and a testament to the rigorous, innovative, transformative learning experiences we provide to prepare students for life beyond school. Congratulations to all involved!

Over the past week, our arts and sciences have been in the spotlight with the annual Festival of the Arts last week and the Science Symposium last night. Read about it all below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Somers High School has been named a 2024-25 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School, which recognizes the school for STEM initiatives that prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.

The designation places Somers among a select group of high schools across the U.S. recognized for their commitment to inspiring and engaging students to unlock their potential through the PLTW approach, which the school has adopted in engineering and biomedical science programs. PLTW is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting STEM in the classroom.

“It’s good preparation for college and for independent experience,” said sophomore Eve Clark in Daria Louch’s Introduction to Biomedical Science class, where the students worked in groups to isolate a specific bacterium to combat a (fictitious) outbreak at a hospital.

Principal Peter Rodrigues said students enjoy the program, which gives them practical experience, fosters critical thinking skills for solving real-life problems, and offers opportunities to earn college credits.

“As a PLTW Distinguished School, we’re proud to offer a program that opens doors for all students—removing barriers, fostering real-world learning, and building clear pathways to future success in STEM fields,” he said.

Somers High School celebrated its student scientists last night in the school’s 28th annual Science Research Symposium.

As they do in their many competitive fairs, the students in the Science Research program presented their hard-earned findings on an immense range of topics.

But for the night, the pressure was off.

“Tonight is a night to really be proud of the work that you’ve done, to be proud of the work you are currently doing or be proud of the work that you are going to do,” Dr. William Maelia, the Science Research teacher, told them in the auditorium.

Before students offered presentations and answered questions at their posters in the commons, the graduating seniors offered brief looks at their research in the auditorium. Among the seniors was Charlotte Wilke-Olsen, who was preparing to compete in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair - the world’s largest STEM research competition for high school students - which begins tomorrow in Columbus, Ohio.

“It has been a dream of mine, so I am super excited,” she said after her presentation.

Maelia and the seniors also traded gifts. The teacher handed his students Owala water bottles emblazoned with the Science Research logo. The students gave Dr. Maelia a signed tongue-in-cheek banner with three images of him, one wearing a crown, under the words “Lord Dr. Maelia.” (The banner is a reference to a gift Maelia received from the class of 2022 – one square foot of land in Scotland, bestowing the royal title.)

The 25th Festival of the Arts showcased about 500 works of art from students throughout the district.

Featuring artwork from students in K-12, the festival opened May 1.

Thanks to a grant from the Somers Education Foundation, the district purchased a new display system and panels and was able to extend the show beyond the opening.

The show remained up and community members were able to view it through Wednesday.

Here are some of the works that were on display.
 
 

Dear Somers families,

I want to thank the community members who came out for the second annual Tusker Café that we ran last week with the Town of Somers on the important topic, “The Power of Connection.” I’m also grateful to the four healthcare professionals in the community who spoke with Somers High School students this week about their careers.

Read about those events and more below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Students got their hands dirty in Gary Wanderlingh’s art classes at Somers Middle School making small clay “pinch” pots. The name reflects the way the clay is handled to create a work of art that is both unique and practical.“I’m going to put my keys in mine,” said Antonio.

Students worked fist-sized balls of clay by pressing their thumb into the middle, then pinching the clay to form the walls of the pots. They then used clay needle tools to engrave designs on the outsides that ranged from their names to shapes to favorite animals.

After the pots spent a few days drying, they were fired in a kiln at around 1800 degrees or more. When the artworks cooled again, students chose red, blue, or yellow food-safe, high-gloss glaze to paint their pottery, applying three coats to ensure an even glaze after the pots were fired again.

“I picked blue because it’s my favorite color,” said Jennifer. “I drew a sun and a happy face, and I wrote my name on it.”

Learn more about the pinch pots project here.

Community members learned about social connections and their impact on mental and physical health at the second annual Tusker Café discussion session on April 24. Entitled “The Power of Connection,” the evening was a partnership of the Somers Central School District’s Social Emotional Wellness Advisory Committee and the Town of Somers.
 
Town Supervisor Robert Scarano and district Director of Guidance Phil Kavanagh led the session in the Somers Middle School cafeteria. Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre also addressed the gathering.
 
Attendees participated in a storytelling exercise aimed at fostering greater connection and less isolation. Research discussed in the presentation showed that social isolation has highly detrimental health effects – more so even than smoking.
 
The discussion also explored the impact of breaking down social barriers to talking about the mental health and physical health stressors that impact every family in some way.
 
Click here for the Tusker Cafe presentation notes, videos, and group exercises.

Dear Somers families,

On Tuesday, the Board of Education adopted the $113,477,113 budget for 2025-2026 that the public will vote on May 20. Voters will also elect three Board of Education members and vote on a capital improvement plan to be funded largely by selling bonds.

Learn about the budget here.
Learn more about the capital project here.

If you want to see first-hand the work planned in Somers High School and Primrose Elementary School as part of the bond project, sign up for the May 13 open house. Sign up here by May 7. Residents got a look at what’s planned for Somers Middle School and Somers Intermediate School in the first open house this week.

Voting on May 20 is one of the most important acts you can take in partnering with the school district. I encourage you all to take part.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Best,
Harry

The Somers High School forensics classes learned about crime investigation and more from two special New York State Troopers – K9s Fortini and Hover.

The crime-fighting canines, which are invaluable for their sense of smell and specialized training, were accompanied by their human partners, Troopers Porteus, Gelbman, and Wolensky.

Fortini is trained in narcotics detection while Hover is an expert in sniffing out explosives. They also are trained in other skills, such as tracking suspects or missing persons, finding weapons or lost items, and protecting their handlers. They can even help extract a person who refuses to get out of a vehicle, Officer Gelbman said.

“They are strong enough to pull a person out of a vehicle,” he said.

Learn more about the K9s’ visit here.

Somers Intermediate School found a sweet way to learn about evaporation and viscosity.

With a backyard filled with maple trees, fifth graders recently took advantage of fluctuating weather to make maple syrup.

“40 gallons of sap only make one gallon of syrup,” said Ryan LeFevre. “It’s 97% water and only 3% sugar.”

“The weather helps the sap flow through the tree,” said Cormac Pelhank.

With help from their teachers, students “tapped” the trees by boring into them with electric drills, then tapping small metal spouts into the holes with a hammer. When the sap filled five-gallon buckets, teachers helped boil it in large pots at cooking stations, showing the students how the sap’s viscosity changed as water evaporated.

“When the wind blew at us, the scent of the maple syrup smelled so good,” said Evie Bahr. “It smelled like pancakes!”

Learn more about the maple syrup project here.

With spring here, Primrose Elementary School is taking learning on the road with a series of educational field trips, including one to meet endangered wolves. Second grade classes recently visited the lupine residents at the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem. They began by meeting Silas and Nikki, two ambassador wolves who are used to seeing humans. The students then visited two enclosures to look for endangered types of wolves – red wolves and Mexican gray wolves. (The red wolf is the most endangered wolf in the world.) The Tuskers learned about how wolves grow and develop as a member of a pack, and how they are being bred to be introduced to the wild. That was only one of the adventures on which students will embark. In the near future, first graders will visit the Somers Library, and kindergarteners will explore Teatown nature preserve in Ossining.

Dear Somers families,
I’m sure you’re all looking forward to a well-earned Spring Recess.

This week, we welcomed Dr. Adam Bronstein, the next superintendent of schools, for his third school visit, which he spent at Somers High School.

For those of you whose children were scheduled to take the state ELA tests this week, I apologize for the postponement of the tests caused by technical difficulties New York State experienced with its testing platform. See the messages from your schools with the revised schedules for the tests, which will be administered after the break. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

The week that we come back, two important events are scheduled – an open house to learn about the $63.9 million capital bond work on April 23, and the second annual Tusker Cafe session on “The Power of Connection,” on April 24. (For flyers on both events, click "View Attachments" or "View in ParentSquare" at the bottom of this message and scroll to the bottom of the message that opens.)

Sign up for the capital bond open house here.
Sign up for the Tusker Cafe here.

In the meantime, I wish you all restful and enjoyable Spring Recess. We will see you when classes resume on Tuesday, April 22.
Best,
Harry

Watch Dr. Bronstein's message to Somers High School families here: youtube.com/shorts/-i15zBlTWe8

Somers Middle School eighth graders brought to life a scene from the 1930s when they held mock press conferences with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.Having studied the Great Depression, some students portrayed FDR, presenting the 32nd President’s measures for addressing the economic crisis, while others played reporters challenging the president to defend the plans.

“I spoke about the FDIC,” said one FDR, Andrew Wuench, referring to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which insures bank deposits. “The journalists asked some tough questions that we couldn’t answer.”

“I tried asking about the FDIC and what would happen to the rest of my money because the FDIC only insures so much,” said Ian Wictor, who played a journalist.

With this activity, students practiced International Baccalaureate learner profile attributes of being knowledgeable, communicative, and reflective.

Read more about the press conferences here.

Heartfelt messages and hand-drawn replicas celebrate the Elephant Hotel, a Somers landmark, in cards that Meghan Gioffe’s fourth-grade art students in Somers Intermediate School created.Students were invited to create cards celebrating the iconic building’s bicentennial.

“It’s been here for 200 years,” said Eleanore Newman. “It’s an important building, and it makes our town proud.”

Home to Somers Town Hall and The Somers Historical Society, the building became a National Historic Landmark in 2025. The students were invited to create the cards to help celebrate the iconic building’s bicentennial.

Completed in 1825, the Elephant Hotel was the home of Hachaliah Bailey, who is credited with operating one of the country’s first “traveling menageries,” Bailey Circus. In 1827, a likeness of Old Bet – an Asian elephant Bailey was rumored to have acquired – was erected in front of the hotel.

Read more about the Elephant Hotel letters here.

Science National Honor Society students hosted their third annual Science Club Convention at Somers Middle School for eighth graders on March 25.

Honor students, along with representatives from each science-related club, visited by the middle school to show the future freshmen the various science clubs that they will have an opportunity to join at the high school next year.
 

Dear Somers families,

On Thursday, Dr. Adam Bronstein, the next superintendent, visited Somers Middle School getting to know the students and staff. He's making the rounds to all four schools before he takes on his new position July 1. Read more about that and watch a video from Dr. Bronstein below.

Later on Thursday, I had the honor of helping initiate our brand new baseball field at Somers High School. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Chris Platania and I threw out twin first pitches to start the game between Somers and Tuckahoe.

As a reminder, ELA state tests will be administered this week. At Somers Middle School, the tests will be taken on Tuesday and Wednesday during periods one through three. At Somers Intermediate Schools, fourth and fifth graders will take the tests on Tuesday and Wednesday; third graders will take them on Thursday and Friday.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
Harry

Watch Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre and Assistant Superintendent Chris Platania throw out the first pitches here.

Dr. Adam Bronstein, the Somers Central School District’s next Superintendent, visited Somers Middle School on Thursday as the second stop on his tour of all four schools.

During his tour, he visited classrooms across all grade levels and in different content areas, introduced himself to students and staff, and actively engaged in their learning throughout the building.

At a meet-and-greet in the school library, he stopped for a press conference with three ace reporters from the school’s Tusker Tribune; (from left in photo, along with faculty advisor Dean Pappas) seventh graders Allison Posadas and Lauren Rosenblum, and sixth grader Lila Maneyapanda.

The journalists asked him about his impressions of their school.

“I would describe the atmosphere as one of excitement and of learning,” Dr. Bronstein told them.

Dr. Bronstein is visiting each of the schools to get to know the educators, staff, and students before he takes on his new position July 1. He previously visited Primrose Elementary School and will visit the intermediate and high schools in the coming weeks.

The annual Somers Intermediate School Science Fair was abuzz March 27 with fifth-grade scientists demonstrating free-falling cars, elephant toothpaste, magnetic slime and of course, oobleck.

Visitors marveled at about two dozen experiments showcasing students’ creativity and ingenuity as they explored various topics. Can a potato power a clock? Do you need your sense of smell to taste Skittles? Also, what is oobleck?

(It’s a non-Newtonian fluid, a substance that changes viscosity with stress by, for instance, hardening to a solid when pressed.)

For the fourth year, Somers High School Science National Honor Society members helped the fifth graders prepare, brainstorming with them for ways to enhance their projects.

“These experiences allow us to both solidify our capabilities while learning so much from the young scientists that will one day fill our shoes!” said Makaila Eagleton, society representative for the Science National Honor Society.

Fifth graders at Somers Intermediate School expanded their language horizons on Tuesday when students from the middle and high schools came to offer tastes of French and Italian.

Students in Somers Central School District begin learning Spanish in kindergarten. At Somers Middle School, their options expand to include French and Italian as well.

Tuesday morning, 28 Somers High School students visited each fifth-grade class to teach the younger students the two new languages.

“High school French students taught the fifth graders about French culture, cultural expressions and the French alphabet,” teacher Gemma Stoecker said. “Italian high school students taught the fifth graders about il Cibo, or Italian cuisine.”

In the afternoon, four Somers Middle School students visited with World Language teachers Daniel Drebycz and Carmen Quinn to teach Italian. Eighth graders Cole Kennedy and Sophia Bernardi and seventh graders Rocco Zurica and Colby Janec taught greetings such as ciao and buon giorno, and the song Come Ti Chiami? (What is your name?)

“The students were engaged, speaking and having fun all at the same time,” Drebycz said.

Dear Somers families,

Congratulations to the 11 Somers High School students who won awards in the Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) last night! This was an amazing showing in this prestigious annual event.

It is an honor to host this show each year, and it was great to see how all 18 Somers students who participated in the competition advanced our tradition of excellence in scientific research.

Elsewhere in the district, you still have a chance to catch the Somers Middle School production of Matilda Jr. tonight or tomorrow.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Eleven Somers High School students won honors in the 2025 Regeneron Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) at an awards ceremony last night.

WESEF brought together more than 750 students from more than 40 high schools in Westchester and Putnam counties to compete last weekend. Somers High School hosts the event, which is the largest regional fair of its kind in the nation.

“It was another tremendously successful year for not only the Somers Science Research students, but also the science research community at large,” said Dr. William Maelia, director of Somers High School Science Research.
 
The honors, bestowed in a jubilant ceremony in the Somers High School gymnasium, included more than two dozen awards in various fields and topics, with multiple winners for each, plus “Best in Category” awards. Somers’ winners and their awards were:

• Regina Ayoubi: David M. Holmes WESEF Engineering Innovation Award (2nd place)
  2nd place, Best in Category (Engineering)
  International GENIUS Olympiad finalist
• Makaila Eagleton: Association for Women Geoscientists Award
  4th place, Best in Category (Earth Science)
• Evan Aronoff: United States Air Force Award
• Adriana DiGiacomo: Environmental Perspiration Award
  (recognizing "perseverance and dedication" in research)
• Charlotte Wilke-Olsen: Ingenuity in Math, Physics and Astronomy Award
• Isabella Wissa: Innovations in Biological Sciences Research Award
• Sean Maguire: 2nd place, Best in Category (Medicine & Health Sciences)
• Kailyn Garrity: 3rd place, Best in Category (Behavioral & Social Sciences)
• Sara Hanford: 3rd place, Best in Category (Cellular & Molecular Biology)
• Anya Khurana: 3rd place, Best in Category (Cellular & Molecular Biology)
• Traian Stor: 4th place, Best in Category (Medicine & Health Sciences)

As a GENIUS Olympiad finalist, Ayoubi is invited to participate in the international competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology in June.
 
“The Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair continues to grow year by year, and the level of sophistication and rigor of the projects continues to keep pace,” Dr. Maelia said. “Our students here at Somers continue to lead that charge, producing graduate-level research.”

Photo: Somers WESEF winners with Science Research Director Dr. William Maelia (rear left) and Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre (rear right). (Missing from photo, Somers winner Isabella Wissa, who is participating in the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C.)

Watch a video of the award ceremony here.

Nine Somers students’ artworks joined those of students throughout the region at the Katonah Art Museum in its Young Artists 2025 exhibition.

The March 1 display showcased 400 artworks by students from 45 high schools in Fairfield, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties. Students also help design, curate and install the exhibition.

“My favorite part was choosing the art to put on my assigned wall,” said Somers High School student Gabriella Urquiza. “It was cool to get a taste of curation for an exhibition, which is like its own piece of artwork when it’s completed.”

Urquiza's pen-and-ink drawing “A5” was displayed in the art show. The other Somers student artists were Atheana Canete, Emily Uffer, Amanda Dustin, Jenna McMahon, Amanda Guardino, Jaelyn Juarbe, Olivia Soto, and Estefany Ramos-Aragon.

“The Young Artists exhibition is a great experience for these students,” said Somers teacher Christine Brooks.

Read more about the exhibition here.

How would you trap a leprechaun?

That was the challenge that Ashley Eichel’s first-grade students at Primrose Elementary School tackled a recent STEAM-inspired, St. Patrick’s Day-oriented activity.
 
“We followed the steps of our design process model from Science 21,” said Eichel. “This method breaks down the activity into manageable pieces that are achievable and rewarding as they move from start to finish, while still allowing them to explore their creativity.”
 
Working in groups and with parent volunteers, students reviewed past traps. Then each group worked together using materials including shoe boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, construction paper, stickers, and popsicle sticks. The goal: build a colorful trap clever enough to capture even the wisest leprechaun before he made a mess of their classroom.
 
“We’re going to catch the leprechaun!” the students cheered.

Dear Somers families,

We've got a lot to celebrate and look forward to in our schools this week.

First, congratulations to Somers High School track-and-field athlete Charles Sullivan! He broke records and became state and Federation champion in the weight throw -- a first for Somers in that event. He threw the 25-pound weight 73 feet, 9.25 inches. Read more about Charles below.

Looking ahead, come out for the Regeneron - Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) tomorrow. Each year, we are proud to host this prestigious regional event. To see the amazing research conducted by almost 800 students throughout Westchester and Putnam, come to Somers High School tomorrow for the public viewing session, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Leave extra time for parking.) Look for more on WESEF next week.

Finally, don't miss Somers Middle School's production of Matilda Jr. the Musical, playing next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The school's Theater Group has been working hard to present the show, based on the classic Roald Dahl novel. Cast members delighted the Board of Education and audience at the board meeting earlier this week with a song from the show. Read more about the upcoming production below.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Best, Harry

Somers High School track and field athlete Charles Sullivan became the district’s first weight throw state champion on Saturday when he flung the 25-pound weight 73 feet, 9.25 inches – and into the record books.

His distance was a record for Section 1 and Westchester County and elevates him to number seven in New York State history. 

“It’s a great feeling winning the state championship,” Sullivan said. “It had been a goal of mine for a while. Being the first in the school’s history was just another great honor. Somers track and field has an incredible history and has had many legendary coaches and athletes come through the program.”

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships took place at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.

Mike Lacko, head coach of the boys track and field team, said Sullivan’s victory “is a testament to his unwavering dedication and exceptional talent,” and solidified his place “as a true legend.”

Read more about Sullivan here.

Watch a video of his throw here.

The Somers Middle School Drama Club is preparing to bring to life the classic Roald Dahl story Matilda, about a brilliant, book-loving, five-year-old girl who is also, at one point, a little bit magical. The student thespians are rehearsing Matilda Jr., The Musical, which tells the story of how the title character survives neglectful parents and challenges a tyrannical school headmistress. Along the way, the girl develops telekinetic powers.

“She’s strong, and a good role model,” said sixth grader Elowyn Dawson, who will play Matilda in two of the four performances. She shares the role with seventh grader Michaela Gallo, and like their fellow thespians, they are enjoying the experience.

“It’s really high-energy,” Michaela said. “I get to dance a lot, and I like to dance.”

Performances will be March 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., and March 22 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at https://somersms.seatyourself.biz/.
Read more about Matilda Jr. here.

A former student became the instructor for Somers Central School District art teachers in a recent day-long workshop. For the March 7 professional learning day, the educators visited the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Conn., where Antonio Paone, a 2015 graduate of Somers High School, serves as education assistant. Paone helped lead the activities for the Somers teachers.

Somers High School art teacher Christine Brooks said she and her fellow educators remembered Paone well and still use ink images he created at the high school as examples of superior work.

“I have always found joy in making art, discovering community resources and celebrating our many talented alumni who still are engaged in the arts and who have translated their passion into a career,” Brooks said.
 
Read more about the day of art here.

Dear Somers families,

We were proud and thrilled to hear that one of our student teachers, Emily Guerra, created a lesson plan that was chosen to be demonstrated as a model of STEAM education at a national conference. Read more about Emily and her achievement below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Keep an eye on Primrose Elementary School student teacher Emily Guerra.

A lesson plan she created on how to build a better birdhouse was one of five from across the country that were demonstrated at a national conference in Orlando, Florida as model STEAM activities.

The top five were chosen from among 50 – one from each state – that were spotlighted in the Beyond School Hours conference, presented by the education non-profit Foundations Inc., Feb. 13-16.

“Emily's lesson was chosen for its strong connection to standards while being fun and engaging for students,” said Starr Jordan, program strategist with Engaging Creative Minds, which curated the event.

Guerra created her lesson plan, “Home Sweet Birdhouse: Design and Build Like the Pros,” in Jessica Paperman’s second-grade class at Primrose. It instructs students to identify the needs of local birds, then design and build homes for them from found art – using everyday objects – to address those needs.

“I truly wasn’t expecting to be chosen as one of the top five lesson plans out of the 50 submitted, but I was overwhelmed with the result!” said Guerra, who is also a one-to-one aide.

Read more about Emily Guerra here.
 

Every good story needs a great soundtrack.

With that in mind, eighth graders at Somers Middle School recently composed music to heighten the emotions of stories they themselves had written.

A collaboration between music and English Language Arts classes, the project’s first phase came in November, when students wrote fiction for National Novel Writing Month.

In February, they created musical scores for specific scenes. Working in pairs, each team recorded themselves reading an excerpt from one of their novels, then added the music, and even sound effects.

“The excerpt we chose is about a girl finding her real parents after running away from some kidnappers, and then she wakes up,” said Jules Cacsire, who wrote the piece. “The story is very stressful and scary.”

“The music is going to be lonely and eerie,” said Jack Loscher, Cacsire’s partner. “We’re going to use violin and viola, and maybe piano too. We’ll use a slower tempo and then have moments when we speed it up to show the action in the story for a dramatic effect.”

Read more about the program here.

For 30 minutes on Monday, throughout Somers Intermediate School, all classrooms and even the gym turned so quiet you could hear a page turn.

Indeed, many pages.

For Read Across America day, students and staff halted what they were doing and quietly read the book of their choice. The aim of the activity was to show that reading is enjoyable for all. Principal Linda Belger read Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing, and Assistant Principal Kyle Grogan read Think Again, by Adam Grant.

On Tuesday, SIS students were visited by Somers High School Athletes and students from the Somers High School’s Future Educators Club. The high school students visited all classrooms and read to the younger students of SIS who truly enjoyed the experience.

“Through activities like these, we hope to instill a lifelong love of reading in all our students,” Belger said.

On Wednesday Somers Intermediate School students watched a video that showcased the book, What Do You Do With a Chance? by Kobi Yamada as Belger and Grogan narrated the text.

“Thank you for your support in fostering a love of books at home,” Belger and Grogan said in a note to families. “We can’t wait to continue celebrating literacy together!”

Dear Somers families,

By now you probably have heard that Dr. Adam Bronstein, a top administrator in the Mount Pleasant Central School District, has been named the next superintendent here in Somers. He’ll start here on July 1.

Community members came out to meet Dr. Bronstein when the Board of Education appointed him on Tuesday.

I am greatly enjoying my year as interim superintendent in this wonderful school district, and I am happy knowing that I will leave it in the hands of a stellar educational leader such as Dr. Bronstein.

In other news, I encourage you to stop by the Katonah Museum of Art, where eight of our students have artworks exhibited. There will be a reception for the artists, their families, teachers and more tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Best,
Harry

Dr. Adam Bronstein, an education leader with more than 20 years of experience, was appointed Somers Central School District's next superintendent Tuesday evening by a unanimous vote of the Somers Board of Education.

Dr. Bronstein, currently the Mount Pleasant Central School District’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and administrative services, will take his position in Somers on July 1, 2025.

“I’m so excited to be your new superintendent of schools and I can’t wait to get started in July,” he said in a message to the community. Welcoming people to address him as "Dr. B," he added that when he meets students, staff and family, "I hope you might tell me one of your favorite things about being a Tusker."

He was chosen after an extensive and thorough search by the Board of Education.

“Dr. Bronstein’s journey through numerous educational roles has equipped him with a vast array of skills and insights,” said Board President Amanda Kandel. “His experiences in teaching, coaching, administrative leadership, and academic research position him uniquely to address the evolving needs of students and educators alike.”

Read more about Dr. Bronstein's appointment here.
Watch Dr. Bronstein's message to the community here.

Somers High Schools students took the opportunity yesterday to talk with New York State Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-Yorktown) about a ban on cell phones in schools proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Slater visited at the invitation of the SHS Student Council.

Several students said they prefer the school’s current policy, which requires students to stow their phones in pouches during class but allows them to use the devices between classes and during lunch and free periods.

“It’s a good policy because you still get to learn responsibility,” said senior Emma Monteleone.

As written now, Hochul’s proposal would be stricter, restricting cell phone use for the entire school day.

Students raised several questions, such as what would happen in an emergency. Student Council President Jimmy Gallivan, a junior, said some students would find a way around a ban. He suggested dedicating some resources to treating social media addiction.

With the proposal still in the works, Slater said he appreciated the students’ input.

“I want them to understand that they have a say in the policies that impact them,” he said.

Read more here.

Dear Somers families,

Whether you’re traveling next week or relaxing at home, I wish you an enjoyable winter break. Our students have earned it!

And if you like to make your plans far in advance, here’s some good news. On Tuesday, the Board of Education approved next year’s calendar. You’ll find a link to it below.

Have a wonderful week!
Best,
Harry

See the 2025-2026 school calendar here

On Tuesday evening, the Science Research students at Somers High School (SHS) were ready to show the fruits of their experiments and explorations.

With large posters displayed in the school library, 18 students, preparing for the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF), debuted their presentations to volunteer audiences of parents and fellow students. Their research tackled everything from preventing eye cancer to creating a super-powerful fuel with fusion to some of humankind’s greatest questions about the origin of life and the very structure of the universe.

Junior Makaila Eagleton’s research took a step toward understanding of how life began by showing that uracil, a building block of RNA, thrives in the heat and pressure that a meteor strike creates.

“This is something that had never been seen before and it was kind of shocking to us,” Eagleton said.

The event, known as WESEF Practice Night, helped students prepare for the March 15 fair, when 800+ students from more than 40 schools compete at Somers High School.
Read more here

Congratulations to Somers High School seniors Luke Armstrong and Emma Gordon, who both have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists!

Armstrong and Gordon were among the 16,000 semi-finalists named last September from 1.3 million students who entered the competition in their junior year.
 
The contest is run by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a not-for-profit organization established in 1955 to honor the country’s academic leaders who exemplify excellence in scholarship. High school juniors enter by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
 
The list of semifinalists showcases the highest-scoring students in each state. Of those, 15,000 are named finalists in February. Winners will be announced from April through July of 2025.

Clay, paint, feathers, paper, and pipe cleaners were used to make mixed-media birds in Mrs. Eileen Olsen’s art class at Primrose Elementary School.

“This is one of the first times they’ve worked with modeling clay,” said Mrs. Olsen. “They had to stretch and pinch it to make their bird shape. The model could be any style they wanted, as long as it resembled a bird."

Second-grade students first watched a video of the book “Hooray for Birds” by Lucy Cousins. To create their birds, they sculpted modeling clay into the body, a head with a beak, and a tail. They painted the birds a variety of bold colors and added beaded pipe cleaners for the legs. Mrs. Olsen also helped to add eyes to the birds using hot glue.

“I added eyelashes. I also outlined the wings,” said Vivian R. “I liked painting the birds the best because I can mix the colors.”
Read more here

Dear Somers families,

I hope you all stayed comfy and warm during the snow day yesterday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Do you know how to say that you’re afraid in Spanish?

“Everybody say, ‘¡Tengo miedo!’” teacher Caitlin Purnell urged a second-grade class at Primrose Elementary School.

‘¡Tengo miedo!” the class called out.

In truth, the students did not sound scared at all – and that’s the point. Spanish instruction in kindergarten, first, and second grades began this year to excite students about learning a second language. The lessons are an extension of world language teaching in the early grades, which before this year began in third grade.

When students reach Somers Middle School, their choice of a foreign language to learn broadens to include French and Italian as well as Spanish.

Research shows that learning a second language early enhances brain development, problem-solving abilities, and higher-order thinking skills, and results in higher scores on standardized tests. It even enhances English language skills.

With songs, games and other activities, Primrose students learn the days of the week, terms about the weather, and numbers. They also speak with Mariquita, an inflatable ladybug who speaks only Spanish.

“If you ever go somewhere that speaks Spanish, you can know what they’re saying,” said student Delilah Goode.

Students learn to give back in many ways throughout the Somers Central School District. One big way is the “Day of Service.”

In Mrs. Dooney’s third-grade class at Somers Intermediate School, the day of service actually lasted multiple weeks and encompassed a variety of activities that involved giving back to the local community.

For two weeks, students collected food for St. Luke’s, a local food pantry. They decorated collection boxes and welcomed students from other classes to drop off non-perishable goods. At the end of the two weeks, three boxes were completely full and ready to be delivered.

“We brought canned foods and things like rice,” said Emma Anderson.

The activities expanded on lessons students had learned about Martin Luther King Jr. and his life of service. In another project, students handmade Valentine’s Day cards for residents of The Paramount at Somers Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. Each card included a handwritten message of encouragement.

“I made a card and put a joke inside to try and make someone’s day,” said Evan Bruno.

The fifth graders in Mr. Ringer’s class at Somers Middle School are having fun putting their new 3D printers to work to see what they can create.

Thank you to the PTA for funding the printers.

Dear Somers families,

Thank you for your patience with the delayed opening of school today. I hope you were able to enjoy a little extra rest in the morning.

It’s hard to believe the first month of 2025 is over already, but it has been a  productive month. Our 2025-2026 budget process ramped up with a presentation, found here, on non-instructional costs. Watch for the presentation on the instructional costs at the Feb. 11 Board of Education meeting. We also saw a presentation, found here, on a proposed $63.9 million construction bond package of improvements. This work is aimed at restoring buildings to top condition, continuing to provide state-of-the-art facilities and preventing costly deterioration.

There will be much more public discussion on both matters.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

Somers High School alumni Derrick Lee, now an FBI special agent, returned to his alma mater recently to talk with the students in the forensic classes. He came with Michael Dougherty, from FBI Community Outreach, who also spoke to the students.

They discussed career and internship opportunities in the FBI, cybercrimes, and crime scene investigation (CSI)

They also talked about the different roles within the nation's principal federal law enforcement agency, and how they work together.

Ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, students at Primrose Elementary School, enjoyed an assembly marking the Year of the Snake (or year 4723 on the Chinese calendar).

Students were enthralled by a vibrant Lunar New Year performance presented by a dance troupe from the New York Chinese Cultural Center. The program featured a stunning Lion Dance and even gave students the opportunity to participate in the excitement by waving long red ribbons during a Ribbon Dance.  

The school extends thanks to the Primrose PTA for sponsoring this assembly!

Two new “bodies” are hanging around the seventh-grade science department at Somers Middle School. Thanks to a grant from the PTA, the science department purchased two new skeleton models.

The life-sized skeletons are made from high-quality PVC material. Mounted on rolling racks, they can be easily wheeled around the room, and to other classrooms.

The skeletons will be used for a wide range of lessons, including learning about elements in the body, demonstrating force and impact, and illustrating how the different types of joints in the body move.
 

Dear Somers families,

I hope you enjoy the districtwide talent show at Somers High School this evening. It starts at 5:30 p.m. Read more about that and other great news below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Best,
Harry

The districtwide talent show at Somers High School (SHS) tonight promises an eclectic evening featuring rock, light jazz, ballet and a demonstration of karate – with handheld fans.

“The talent show is a wonderful way to bring our schools and our community together,” said Alyssa Spiconardi, one of two advisors to the Class of 2026, along with Lauren DeFrancesco. The talent show, run by the junior class, is a fundraiser for next year’s prom and other activities.

Emceed by SHS Student Council President Jimmy Gallivan, the show begins 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students (cash only, at the door).

Here are the acts:

• Lucy Edmiston (grade 2), will dance ballet to Debussy’s Clair De Lune. 
• Sean Edmiston (grade 4), will play an original piano piece called “Tornado.”
• Luke and Owen Genett (grades 6 and 4, respectively) will play rock songs, with Luke on guitar and Owen on drums.
• Mehr Sikriwal (grade 6), will present a karate demonstration with folding hand fans. 
• Jason Graessle (freshman) will play an original light jazz piece, “Canyons.”
• Regina Ayoubi (junior) will perform the Benson Boone song “In the Stars,” singing and playing piano.

“Touchdown!”“He shoots, he scores!”

Benny Silk, founder and president of the Somers Sports Broadcasting Club, can be heard calling out phrases like these from the booth during local varsity games.

Now in its second year, the 12-member club has hit its stride. During local games, up to three members call the play-by-play from inside the booth while other members film and stream to the club’s YouTube channel. Last November, the club attended the State Championship game in Syracuse, calling the plays as Somers Varsity football scored its way to victory.

The club maintains Instagram and Twitter accounts, where members advertise sports talk show episodes and broadcasts.

Simplicity met precision in a recent seventh-grade art unit, in which students studied the work of Piet Mondrian, a Dutch artist known for his simplistic, color-block approach.“In his later years, Mondrian believed in simplifying color in art,” said Somers Middle School art teacher Mr. Gary Wanderlingh. “Things don’t have to be complex. Beauty can be found in its simplest form with primary colors.”

Students chose landscape photos to be printed onto paper and covered with tracing paper. They then drew the rough shapes they saw, which became the foundation for Mondrian-style rectangular blocks. Colors were chosen for each block, starting with the primary colors – blue, red, and yellow. Students cut out construction paper in those colors to see if they liked the way their piece looked on a smaller scale before moving to the canvas.

“At that point we could switch around the colors to make it look more balanced throughout the painting,” said Kari. “It was a very careful and precise process making sure your lines were straight, you liked how it looked, and that the lines were what you thought they would be.”

Dear Somers families,

I hope you’re all looking forward to the districtwide Talent Show in the Somers High School auditorium a week from tonight, Jan. 24. (Students, if you haven’t signed up, you can still do so through Sunday!)

Meanwhile, enjoy the upcoming three-day weekend. As you do, take a moment to reflect on the deep impact Martin Luther King, Jr. made on our country.

Best,
Harry

Cyberbullying, online privacy and other related issues were covered when the eighth-grade Family and Consumer Sciencestudents from Somers Middle School presented a lesson to fifth-grade classes at Somers Intermediate School.

The lesson was part of the middle school students’ Internet Safety Project, which empowers them to educate their peers and younger students on key aspects of online safety and digital citizenship. The project places students in the role of "internet safety experts," encouraging them to engage with their peers in meaningful ways.

Key topics covered were cyberbullying, digital ethics, digital literacy, inappropriate content, and online privacy.

Working together, problem-solving, and taking risks were all vital strategies when Somers High School Tusker 101 freshmen tackled the PNW BOCES Challenge Course.

Visiting the course in the fall, before the weather turned frigid, students worked in groups on team-building activities that challenged them both physically and mentally, while fostering cooperation, communication, open-mindedness, planning abilities, leadership, kindness, trust, and respect.

Equally important, they had fun.

“Students see their peers, and teachers see their students, in a very different light, changing the classroom environment,” said Ms. Christine Lepkowski. “They create a bond to last the entire year.”

Students had different favorite activities.

“For me, the most challenging obstacle was the see-saw with everyone on it,” said John Seeger. “It was challenging because everyone had to move together at once to succeed.”

Whitebull, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, regaled Somers Intermediate School fifth graders recently with stories, songs and music from his Native American tradition.

Also known as J.R. Spencer, the visitor from the Pacific Northwest spoke to the students while dressed in traditional clothing, including a split buffalo horn hat.

His trip enriched English Language Arts lessons in which students learned about Native Americans, the Nez Perce, and the U.S. government.

“I learned about different cultures,” said Ethan Baksh after the presentation.

“The best part was his singing,” said Victoria Ramos.

The students had learned some of Whitebull's songs from his videos, and they surprised their guest by joining in when he began singing.

“This is the first time I actually had kids sing along with me,” he said.

Dear Somers families,

I hope you’ve all had a great start to the New Year!

We received some great news this week when the International Baccalaureate Organization approved our grades 9 and 10 Middle Years Program for authorization! Congratulations to the Somers High School team that spent so much time and effort putting this together!

While we’re noting good works, I also want to thank our Family Liaison Raisha Hernandez for the Tusker Shop she has started to help families and individuals in need.

Read about these great developments and more below.

And have a wonderful weekend!

Best
Harry

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) has approved Somers High School’s (SHS) Middle Years Programme (MYP) in freshman and sophomore grades, clearing the way for acceptance in the globally recognized community of rigorous, student-centered schools.

The approval affirms a continuous experience in the approach to learning beginning at Somers Middle School in grade 6 and continuing through grade 10, after which, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is one of several robust pathways juniors and seniors may pursue.

“With IBO’s affirmation, we are part of a widely esteemed, international professional learning community,” said Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre. “That is only going to help us get stronger and build upon what has been created by the dedicated team at Somers High School, supported by the Board of Education.”

To finalize the process, SHS will submit a signed statement of acceptance. The IBO will then issue an official authorization letter and certificate. Once completed, Somers High School will be listed as an authorized MYP school.

By emphasizing academic rigor, interdisciplinary connections, and student-centered learning, the MYP enhances both personal and academic development, equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in society.

Where there’s a need, there’s a way to help.

Raisha Hernandez, the Somers Central School District Family Liaison, found a way to help families and others throughout the Somers community when she set up the Tusker Shop. That’s a once-a-month boutique where Somers families and other residents can find items they need at no cost.

Ms. Hernandez got the idea from a similar boutique at a community center in Katonah, where she volunteers.

The Tusker Shop offers a range of donated items, including toys, books, children’s items, school supplies, household necessities, personal care supplies, and weather-appropriate clothing. The shop opens the first Saturday of every month, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Somers Middle School, 250 Route 202 in Somers. Donations can be made on those days beginning at 8 a.m. The shop will next open on Feb. 1.

The shop has been growing in popularity since first opening in November.
“The families who came were so grateful,” Ms. Hernandez said.

To donate or for more information, contact Ms. Hernandez at 845-260-8502.

Technology and Engineering classes reached new heights recently as students designed and built amusement park rides. Putting to the test the coding, laser cutting, and engineering skills they’ve developed for the past three years, the eighth graders created original amusement park rides that spin, rotate, or move up and down.

“We made multiple designs and sketches,” said Drin H., explaining how his group chose its design. “We tried some of the other designs and realized they would be too complicated, so we went with something more basic like the dropper style.”

Arduino programmable motors powered the rides.

“This is actual coding that they have to write,” said Mr. Matt Lugo. “They have to write it, edit it, and get it to move their ride the way they want.”

Dear Somers families,

The atmosphere has been festive here with winter concerts, students singing, playing music and ringing bells for their peers and school staff, and even one principal and assistant principal entertaining students with their life-size version of Elf on the Shelf!

Today, my cabinet members and I had a lot of fun visiting the schools in holiday costumes! 

But now it’s time for a well-deserved rest from school. I wish you all a wonderful holiday break!

Best
Harry

Here are some photos from the holiday festivities, including our visit to the schools, Somers Intermediate School Principal Linda Belger enacting “Principal on a Perch” (which she did with Assistant Principal Kyle Grogan); the Somers Middle School Chamber Orchestra and Bell Choir serenading students and staff, and the Winter Concerts from Somers High School and Somers Intermediate School and the holiday sing-along at Primrose Elementary School.

Somers High School (SHS) junior Isabella Wissa has been named one of 106 champions in the National STEM Challenge for her research into infantile spasms. Wissa and the other winners will be invited to the National STEM Festival in Washington D.C. in March, where they will present their projects to corporate executives, government officials, and the media.She was thrilled to learn she had been recognized for the project that is close to her heart.

“I am excited for the potential it has to help infants, especially in the developing world,” she said. When she learned she had won, she added, “It felt like all the hard work and late nights were worth it. I couldn’t stop smiling—it was such a surreal and joyful moment.”

This is Somers’ first year in the competition, which is run by the education streaming service EXPLR. Wissa was one of three finalists from SHS; the others were Caroline DiMella and Anya Khurana.

“This is a huge accomplishment for Isabella and it’s amazing that one of our students was able to win the top prize in our first year of participating in this competition,” said science research teacher William Maelia.

The three-peat champion Somers High School football team stopped by Primrose Elementary School this week to greet students as they arrived. It was the team's way of thanking the younger students for their support.

The Tuskers defeated the Whitesboro Warriors 51-27 on Dec. 6 in Syracuse for their third consecutive championship – and their second in a row against the Warriors.

Dear Somers families,

It was amazing to see the Tuskers win a third consecutive state championship, and it was just as thrilling to see the community celebrate the team. Supporters made the trip to Syracuse, and others, following tradition, gathered at Somers High School after midnight to cheer the team as it returned at 1:45 a.m., escorted by Somers police and firefighters.

Congratulations, team!

Many of us also enjoyed the Somers Middle School Winter Concert last night, and are looking forward to the Somers Intermediate School and Somers High School winter concerts next week. (See our district calendar for more.)

Finally, don’t forget the Somers High School production of Clue tonight and tomorrow in the auditorium.
I hope to see you at these wonderful events.

Best,
Harry

Find  ‘Current Topics’ on Website

We provide information on current topics that impact our schools on our website, somersschools.org, Under the dropdown menu for “Our District” on the top left of the homepage, click on “Current Topics.” Or go directly to somersschools.org/our-district/current-topics. You’ll find information about regionalization and foundation aid, with links to where you can learn more. We will keep this page fresh with new information that impact the district.

Somers High School students hosted another successful Veteran’s Lunch on Thursday, December 11.

The annual event honors veterans from the Somers community.

Students prepared and served their guests brunch classics such as pancakes, French toast, pastries, and potatoes, along with coffee and desserts.

The community event provides an opportunity to support those who served our country and helps to bridge the gap between generations. The students took the opportunity to speak with the veterans, learn their stories, and make connections.
 
 

The student sleuths in our Somers High School forensics class have been learning about latent fingerprints – how to spot their distinct characteristic, how to lift them from a surface, and more. They inked their own fingertips onto partially inflated balloons, then blew them up to full size to expand the prints.

"Because we blew the balloon up, it helped expand the print, so it’s easier to see the characteristics,” Haylie said. “I found a fork, which is a line with two branches coming off it at the end.”

They also used cyanacrylate (super glue) fuming to develop fingerprints on non-porous material such as glass. In this case the students applied their fingerprints in petri dishes in shapes that created ornaments such as snowmen, hearts, and trees.

Every month, Somers Intermediate School (SIS) students gather in the gym for grade-level assemblies called “Town Meetings” that recognize students’ successes and showcases their talents. 

This year, SIS’s school theme is the Olympics. Students earn points reading books and taking quizzes through the Accelerated Reader Program. Points go toward a bronze, silver, or gold medal at each town meeting.

“I like reading,” said third grader James O’Conner, who earned 50 points – and a silver medal – in November. “It wasn’t how many books I read, but if they were hard enough for me. Most of the books I read are funny.”

Other achievements recognized include Artists of the Month and Heroes of the Month (those who have treated others with kindness, respect, and gratitude). Students also showcase any talent they want to show off, such as cheerleading, dancing, and singing..

Dear Somers families,

We received great news from our Science Research program this week when three Somers High School juniors were named finalists in the National STEM Festival competition. They are among 12 finalists from New York State. Read more about them below.

Also, our Tuskers football team continued its winning streak. The team won the quarterfinal match last Friday and now faces Cornwall in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday at Middletown High School. Go Tuskers!

Those are just a couple of the many, many things we have to be grateful for heading into the holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Best,
Harry

Three Somers High School juniors, Caroline DiMella, Anya Khurana, and Isabella Wissa, were named finalists in the National STEM Festival competition.

This is Somers’ first year in the competition, which was started last year by EXPLR, an education streaming service. The Somers finalists are among 12 chosen from New York State and 402 chosen across the U.S. and its territories.

“This is a huge accomplishment for Caroline, Anya, and Isabella, and for Somers High School!” said science research teacher William Maelia. “These juniors worked very hard over the summer to complete their research projects. They will be entering numerous other competitions throughout the year. Hopefully this achievement is a sign of many future successes.”

The finalists will now submit videos for the next round. On Dec. 18, up to 150 champions will be named, including three or four from New York State. They will be invited to the National STEM Festival in Washington D.C. in March, where they will present their projects to corporate executives, government officials, and the media. The festival will also offer mentoring and networking opportunities.

The familiar melody of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” fills the afterschool hallways of Somers Middle School every Thursday afternoon as students in the Rockestra ensemble practice.

“Rockestra is a creative outlet for students who are passionate about rock and pop music,” said Mr. Miles Gilbert, the director.The musicians will perform the classic Queen anthem – and possibly another song – at the Somers Middle School Winter Concert on Dec. 12.

“Rockestra is amazing,” said Cooper Hewitt. “It’s different. It’s fun. It’s unique. It’s just a really nice club to go to if you want to play music.”

The club meets weekly and is open to all students, with no auditions and no musical experience required. The ensemble teaches a different musical skill set from an orchestra class. With songs such as “Paint it Black,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Day Tripper,” the emphasis is on groove, chord changes, and improvisation.

The trails behind Somers Intermediate School aren’t just for wandering in nature; they’re also an outdoor educational space.The weather was warm when students began their hiking unit in physical education classes recently. They set out on their trek after ensuring they were properly equipped with sneakers and a trail map. (Sneakers are available for borrowing, if needed.)

“We’re hiking, but it’s more than hiking. We’re experiencing nature,” said Ava I. “It feels good to be out in nature.”

Mr. Thomas Albano made sure that every group of students had a map and knew how to read it. Students took to the trails eagerly, with Mr. Albano leading the way and Mrs. Jamie Pryschlak following. Along the way, students learned to respect nature.

“If you drop something you should pick it up and not leave it there,” Elle P. said. “If you find something, you should leave it there and not take it with you.”

Dear Somers families,

Thank you for your cooperation with the two-hour delay this morning. I hope that you all stayed safe -- and maybe enjoyed a little extra sleep!

There’s a lot to celebrate with our student athletes this week. Last Friday, the Tuskers football team won the Section 1 championship for the fourth year in a row. They’ll compete in the quarterfinals at 7:30 tonight against Averill Park at Shenendehowa High School north of Albany. We wish them a great game!
 
On Saturday, junior Julia Duzynski competed in the Class B New York State Public High School Athletics Association Cross Country Championship race at Queensbury High School. She finished 15th. Congratulations to Julia on a great season and amazing championship race.
 
Finally, nine athletes in the class of 2025 committed to colleges and universities on Signing Day this week. See more on that and more great news below.
 
Have a wonderful weekend!
Best,
Harry

Congratulations to the nine student athletes in the Somers High School class of 2025 who committed to colleges and universities on Signing Day, which was Wednesday. They are:

• Julia Arbelaez: Syracuse University
• Haylie Donovan: Southern Methodist University
• Andrew Kapica: Fordham University
• Mason Kelly: Brown University
• Miguel Iglesias: University of Notre Dame
• Sydney Ingraham: University of Notre Dame
• McKenna Mullins: College of William & Mary
• Tiana Righetti: University of Connecticut
• Julia Schmidberger: College of Staten Island (Division 2)

Flames of bright pink, green, yellow and more colors sparked around the room of a chemistry class at Somers High School in an experiment that ignited the students’ passion for learning.“We’re seeing how different colors come off of different elements when they’re heated,” said student Michael Monahan.
Classmate Gianna Conunale added, “When the electrons are heated, they jump to the excited state, which results in a different wavelength of light.”

The colorful light show was a reward for the students who were learning about and testing the energy of different elements.
Seven individual powdered elements—calcium (Ca), lithium (Li), strontium (Sr), copper (Cu), barium (Ba), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) —were mixed with water to create solutions that students tested in flames. One test tube was not labeled with its element, creating a mystery that students solved when they correctly determined by its color that it was strontium.

There was no need to wait for Thanksgiving Day to enjoy a parade for some parents at Primrose Elementary School. Last Friday, kindergarten students, led by teacher Alexandria Jasek, marched through the hallway to the cafeteria, holding aloft balloons they had created of Pikachu, Bluey, Mario, turkeys, cats, and more.Benjamin Manzi created one of several Spider-Man balloons.

“He’s super awesome and he gets the bad guys,” Benjamin explained.
Amalia Del Castillo made Pikachu, her favorite Pokémon, “because he has electric power.”

The event capped a lesson that began with the class reading Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, about the puppeteer who invented the first giant balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Each student then planned their balloon on a planning page and material request form, choosing the color of their balloon plus supplies such as construction paper and googly eyes. The goal was for students “to learn the importance of brainstorming and planning” and to use their creativity, Jasek said.

Many parents attended the celebration, which turned into a showcase in the cafeteria as students crossed the cafeteria stage one at a time showing their creations.

Dear Somers families, 

On Wednesday morning I had the privilege of participating in the Somers Community Council Meeting, hosted by Town Supervisor, Rob Scorrano. It was an opportunity to meet with representatives of many town agencies and organizations. 

The main theme of the discussion was Domestic Violence and the resources that are available to community members. As we all continue to grieve and heal after the tragedy that shook our Somers family two weeks ago, it’s important to remember that resources remain available to students, staff, families and community members. 

Links to some resources are listed below, as well as a few pictures of Axel, one of the emotional support dogs that has spent time with students at SHS and SMS over the past two weeks. He was at SMS today and brought smiles to many faces! 

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been enjoying visiting our schools to read to students and to witness the wonderful activities they’re involved in. 

I hope that these weekly letters, the district’s website and social media pages, and the Tusker Nation newsletter have been giving you all a taste of the innovative lessons and fun events our educators lead. 

Best, 
Harry 

Domestic Violence Resources

• Click here for a list of domestic violence resources from Westchester County  
  https://women.westchestergov.com/domestic-violence 
• Reach the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at:
  (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or https://www.thehotline.org 

Students in the Tusker 101 class at Somers High School (SHS) are getting to know the faculty and staff members better with the new Humans of Somers High School project.

Modeled on the “Humans of New York” photo blog and book series by photographer Brandon Stanton, the project entailed each student interviewing and photographing a faculty/staff member or administrator. They then created an Instagram-style post as if they were the person interviewed.

“We interviewed them and asked them questions to get a deep but quick look into their lives,” said Ava Schmidberger. “It was stuff that you wouldn’t normally ask.”

Tusker 101 is a full-year class for freshmen at Somers High School (SHS) that debuted in the 2023-2024 school year. The class aims to teach students lessons that foster success at school and in their lives outside of school. Tusker 101 focuses on the 10 International Baccalaureate learner profile attributes and puts them into practical use through creative assignments.

Shhhh! Authors at work!

The eighth-grade students at Somers Middle School (SMS) are crafting their own novels for National Novel Writing Month, a 30-day challenge that comes each November. Intended to immerse them in writing, the project has inspired a wide range of stories about ghosts, football players, a dystopian society and more.

Student Elizabeth Spano, whose novel Decisions in the Dark is about a girl who awakens from a coma, said the writing can be intimidating – until you dive into it.

“I start writing and I get ideas and it gets easier,” she said. “It gets better.”

Often called NaNoWriMo – or just NaNo – the project engages 100,000s writers and budding authors around the world to write their novels entirely within November.

"This experience provides students the opportunity to hone their writing skills while creating authentic stories that they want to tell," said SMS teacher Kirstin Reynolds, who leads the project with teacher Tricia Baldes.

Baldes said that New York State education standards call for narrative writing.

“We often remind students that the skills they are learning here should be applied as they write elsewhere,” she said.

Students in the Outdoor Activity Club at Somers Intermediate School (SIS) got their hands dirty digging up dahlias for winter storage.

They divided the work into two tasks – some students pulled the tubers out of the ground and others wrapped them in newspaper.

“I love wrapping stuff. I always ask my mom to help wrap gifts,” said Elle V., explaining her choice to wrap. “And I didn’t want to get dirty.”

The students learned that dahlias are tubers, not bulbs, and a part of the aster family, along with daisies, sunflowers, and zinnias. Dahlia tubers also share similarities with potatoes, including growing eyes.

As Ms. Beth Monteleone explained, “The eyes are where a new beautiful dahlia plant can grow from next year.”

Dear Somers families,

Have a wonderful long weekend. If you come out for the town’s Veterans Day Parade on Monday, be sure to watch for our Somers Middle School Fife and Drum Corps! See more on that below.

Sincerely,
Harry

While you’re enjoying Somers’ Veterans Day Parade on Monday morning, watch and listen for these young musicians. The Somers Middle School (SMS) Fife and Drum Corps will be marching and playing traditional numbers including Billy Boy March, British Grenadiers, and of course, Yankee Doodle.

The parade, hosted by the Somers Lions Club, begins at 10:25 a.m. at the SMS lower lot and proceeds down Route 202, turns left at the Elephant Hotel and ends with a ceremony at Ivandell Cemetery. 

(Pro tip: Get there early!)

Teams of robots faced off in a Robot Freeze Tag Tournament recently in the Somers High School electronics and robotics class.

In each match, teams of two robots battled it out, each trying to press a red-and-black button on opposing robots to cause them to halt for five seconds and flash red. Whichever team’s robots froze fewer times would win and move on to the next round.

Students built their VEX EXP robots from a kits by VEX Robotics with metal bars, screws, motors, wheels, and a “brain,” which was a box students programmed with controls. Students operated them with remote controls.

“We started from scratch, and we used the metal to build the base,” said junior Chris Curry. “Once we had our base, we added the motors, then we used a drive train and put it inside a motor so that when the motor spins, it makes the wheels turn.”

To perfect their robots’ performance, they tried different wheels and controller settings, said teacher Chris Pietris.

“There was a little experimentation throughout the whole process,” Pietris said.

Somers Middle School Italian teacher Daniel Drebycz wished “Benvenuti!” to the Westchester Coalition of Italian-American Organizations when the school hosted the Italian Language Awards Ceremony recently.

Somers eighth-grader Olivia McGurk drew applause when she started the ceremony by singing the national anthems of Italy and the United States, each in their original language.

The celebration in the school’s auditorium included the presentation and proclamation of Italian Heritage Month with special recognition of outstanding students and teachers of the Italian language from Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

The theme of the celebration was Giovanni da Verrazzano 1524-2024, in honor of the Italian explorer’s discovery of New York Harbor 500 years ago.

Dear Somers families,

This has been a heartbreaking week for us all.

The tragedy that struck our community Monday night took the life of Somers High School 10th grader Michael Raimondi and hospitalized his younger brother Matthew, a Somers Middle School 8th grader, and their mother.

You may have seen some news coverage that has focused on the horrific details of the shooting that has caused us such sorrow. Somers Town Supervisor Rob Scorrano and I have sent a joint letter to the editor of Lohud.com protesting the irresponsible nature of the reporting. You’ll find the letter attached to this message.

This coverage, coupled with misinformation that has circulated on social media, has made navigating the many emotions we all feel more difficult. We have aimed to counter the rumors and unreliable information by presenting only relevant facts from trusted sources – the police and the family.

I urge you all to avoid the unnecessary negativity in the news coverage and the misinformation on social media and to focus as much as possible on positive memories of Michael and on wishes for a complete recovery by Matthew and their mother.

Throughout the week, our goal has been to offer aid and support to students and staff. Many individuals and organizations have reached out to help, both inside and outside the community. All of this is greatly appreciated.

We also aim to help the Raimondi family in any way that we can. I urge you to attend the vigil that the Town of Somers will hold in Reis Park tomorrow evening from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

I am proud of the way that the district staff has pulled together to support students, even as they experienced the loss and pain themselves. I also appreciate the way that the students have come together as a family to find ways to honor Michael and convey their best wishes to Matthew and their mother.

I know that everyone grieves at their own pace. I want to assure you that we will provide support as long as it is needed, and our counseling staff is always available for students. Please never hesitate to ask for help if you think you need it. Parents and guardians, if you have a concern about your child’s wellbeing, please reach out to a member of our wellness team or a trusted staff member.

More than ever, this is a time for the Somers family to support and look out for one another. I assure you that I and the district will continue to do all that we can to support our students, staff, and the greater community in this difficult time and whenever needed.

Sincerely,
Harry

Primrose Elementary School students interviewed for positions as part of the “Wee Deliver Post Office” recently.

Their interviewers were administrators from around the district to came to help out with the long-standing tradition, including Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre.

“The students are very interested in participating,” LeFevre said amid the interviews. “So far, they have all wanted to be a carrier or a sorter and they can explain what each of the positions requires.”

The hopeful job applicants were asked about the position they would like to fill, their desire to be a part of the team, and how they would handle certain situations. All interested students were successfully accepted onto the Wee Deliver Postal Team and will find out their jobs during their session between November and June.

Students at Somers Intermediate School practiced meditative breathing, gentle stretching,  and a series of yoga positions, including cat and cow, downward dog, child pose, and warrior recently.

Led by Miss Beatrice, the recess activity was part of Red Ribbon Week, which encourages healthy choices for mind and body.

Thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this activity.
 
 

Throughout the district, many students wore their best costumes for Halloween yesterday. Somers Intermediate School students held their traditional Halloween parade, processing past Somers Middle School and back. At Somers High School, Vader the therapy dog, with a couple of canine friends, joined in the day. At Primrose Elementary School, orange was the color of the day.

Dear Somers families,

It was encouraging this week to see red ribbons around the schools in support of making healthy choices.

I hope everyone has had a great week!

Sincerely,
Harry
 

If the world’s sustainability challenges such as clean water, improved health and quality education require superhuman efforts, the sixth graders at Somers Middle School are here to help. In social studies, they explored the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development goals and created superheroes to tackle the problems.

Mia Klein’s superhero defends life below water, helping animals and making waste in the ocean disappear.

“She has a watch that notifies her if the ecosystem is in danger,” she said.
 
Milania Chiazzese’s superhero can “cure people and help people who struggle with health.”
 
In the lesson, students employed their International Baccalaureate learning profile attributes and practiced being principled.
 
“This project gets the students to be risk-takers as they create and design their superhero,” said Mrs. Jacqueline Dolan.
 
Take Natalia Steiner’s caped superhero, who fights for gender equality.
 
“When the cape is moving, it will give women the same amount of money as men,” she said. “The necklace will give girls more confidence, because girls get treated poorly and bullied. And she has shoes, so when my superhero walks, she will give girls an education, because a lot of girls still don’t get to go to school.”
 

Students in Somers High School’s Photo One class combined their know-how and creativity to produce eye-catching photo compositions recently.

Teacher Colleen Sheehy encouraged them to collaborate to help each other with the technical skills required for analogue photography. It also gave them an opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and fuel their imaginations.

Most students paired up, but a small group pulled together to collaborate with classmate Hazel Sledzik on a composition with the theme of “reflection.” They placed a flat mirror in a tray of water that Brooke Hadley rippled with a hair dryer. Curtis Dustin held a prop flower over the mirror while Kiernan Page completed the effect with a reflector casting additional light on the scene.
 
“The idea to add ripples came out of collective brainstorming as they were toying around with the positions of the lights to see what type of shadows and highlights they could create,” Sheehy said.
 
Students in the elective class learn both digital and analogue photography. They start by learning how to “see as a photographer,” by focusing on composition, and they build their skills from there.
 

Primrose Elementary School has fallen for autumn.

Students have engaged all five senses in the brisk time of vibrant colors to explore the changes that the season brings. They have created fall scenes in paint, crayon, tissue paper, and other media. They have also written about the season, with either descriptions to accompany their artistic creations or about their favorite fall activities.

So, what are the students' favorite fall treats? Highlights of the writing featured family members jumping into leaf piles, hanging out at football games, and family excursions to pick pumpkins and apples.

“This is a magical time, when the senses come alive,” said Principal Katie Winter. “The students’ imaginations have been sparked, and their projects have captured the vibrant spirit of the season and its many wonderful colors, sounds and aromas.”

Dear Somers families,
 

Congratulations to Primrose Elementary School Principal Katie Winter, Assistant Principal Meg Benedetto and Somers High School Past Principal Mark Bayer, who were inducted last night into the Somers Education Foundation Hall of Fame. We are proud of the honor they have earned, of all that Katie and Meg do every day, and all that Mark accomplished during his years with the district. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to the Somers Education Foundation for recognizing the educators' contributions, and for its wonderful continued partnership with the Somers Central School District.

Sincerely,
Harry
 

Superintendent Survey Deadline is Sunday

If you haven't filled out the survey on what you would like to see in the Somers Central School District's next permanent Superintendent of Schools, there is still time – but not much! Please fill out the survey and make your voice heard by the Oct. 20 deadline. That's this Sunday. All responses are anonymous.

Learn about the search here.

Find the survey here.
 

Not all “Vaders” Work for the Dark Side.

Greeting the students at the start of the day, checking out what they have for lunch, and making sure that each student gets a tail wag just for them are a few of the ways certified therapy dog Vader brightens the days and supports the students at Somers High School (SHS).

“Vader has been here since my freshman year,” said senior Julia Schmidberger. “The first time he was here, it was so fun to meet him.”

Brenda O’Shea, SHS’s Student Life Coordinator, is Vader’s handler and has been bringing him to school once a week for three years. The beloved labrador-shepherd mix is about five years old.  “He’s a really good dog,” said senior Engji Demaj. “I feel good when I see Vader.” 

Music is on the rise at Somers Middle School.

At Somers Middle School, you don’t have to be a performer to learn about and appreciate music. Students who are not in performing arts classes now take two years of general music, in sixth and eighth grades, instead of just one in seventh grade.

“Exposure to the arts increases brain productivity, critical thinking, and mindfulness,” said Principal Jennifer Mangone. “It also helps increase social-emotional wellbeing.”

Sixth graders are learning to play the ukulele and read chord charts. In a recent eighth-grade class, teacher Marie Williams taught the ways people have listened to music over the decades, from vinyl records through streaming services.

Williams added personal experiences, recalling that vinyl records from the progressive rock band Yes “had the best album covers,” and that compact discs “made great stocking stuffers.”

Later, her students will analyze form in pop music and learn guitar tablature (tabs), learn how to work a digital audio workstation and more.

“If you want to go into music or songwriting, this will be important,” said student Matt Sowa.

True enough, but Williams said music is universal.  “Appreciating music makes us more human,” she said.

Cheers filled the Somers Intermediate School gymnasium when teams of fourth graders faced each other in a Soccer World Cup tournament.

The students had spent time improving their ball control, handling, dribbling, and passing, as well as increased communication among teammates.

“We’re going to try as hard as we can,” said student Lana V. “We started in the dungeon and now we’re on the hill.”

Each of 10 five-member teams represented a different country that has played in the official World Cup. Teams created posters about their represented countries with fun facts, the country’s flag, and the country’s most recent year in the World Cup.

After a rotation of three-minute games – with ties broken by rounds of rock, paper, scissors –  England and Australia faced off for the Gold Medal, cheered on by their classmates.

The score: Australia 1, England 0. The end result: the students had a blast!

Dear Somers families,

Join us in congratulating Somers High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian Natalia Tellez and Salutatorian Sara Hanford!

I wish you all a wonderful long weekend.

Sincerely,
Harry

Somers High School (SHS) proudly announced today that Natalia Tellez (right in photo) has been named valedictorian and Sara Hanford has been named salutatorian of the Class of 2025.

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Natalia and Sara for their exceptional dedication and for achieving this esteemed recognition,” said SHS Principal Peter Rodrigues.

Planes, bobsleds, and robotic hands are among the projects students are creating in the Makerspace in Somers Middle School (SMS). Located in the SMS technology department, the space gives students a place where they can work on a variety of STEAM projects. “These projects are guided, but mostly the students work through them independently,” said Matthew Lugo, one of two technology teachers who oversees the Makerspace sessions. “I’m here to support them along the way.”
 
Students sign up for Makerspace for one-week sessions and show up each day after eating lunch instead of going to recess.
 
Luke G. built an airplane out of cardboard because, “I like planes, and I thought it would be cool to make something that flies, but I didn’t want to make the helicopter.”
 
After a test flight, he was ready to make improvements.
 
“I threw it a few minutes ago and it’s decently durable, so I think it’ll land,” he said. “I’m thinking of putting two Hot Wheels cars on the bottom to be like landing gear.”

The six new tennis courts at Somers High School (SHS) are striped and expected to be ready for their first serves next week.

The courts are also lined for pickleball games.

Athletic Director Marc Hattem said high school tennis team members, who now travel to Reis Park a mile away for practice, are eager to begin playing on their own courts.

"When we met with the teams and student-athletes to discuss the new courts, the pride in having them on campus was seen immediately,” he said. “The students all had a feeling of ownership.”

Having the new courts on campus saves time and adds convenience for the players, and may open discussions of modified teams for seventh and eighth grades, Hattem said. The school’s physical education classes also will be able to use the courts, he said.

Two areas for throwing events such as discus are expected to be added over the next few months. Construction crews are also creating a parking area that will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition to the tennis courts, two fields, one for baseball and the other for softball, are being upgraded. They are expected to be completed by the end of December, with bleachers expected to be installed next February.
 

A new sensory space in teacher Crystle Regulbuto’s room in Primrose Elementary School helps students regulate their emotions through touch and sight and with a sound-activated lightboard. Occupational therapist DeAnne Chin called it “a sensory-friendly space” where students with special needs who are feeling overstimulated may receive sensory input to help calm them.

The space was created with a grant from the Somers Education Foundation.

Students can fall or jump onto a thick, foam-filled crash pad or slip into a swing made of smooth, stretchy material that cocoons a user as he or she sways or spins. Pads vibrate when pressed. A bubble tube and a curtain of fiber optic strands emit oscillating colors. A sound-activated board that lights up with colors “encourages speech and language,” Regulbuto said.

“I always want to be on the proactive end of their sensory needs,” Regulbuto said. “To give them the things that they need in that moment is key.”

Regulbuto and Chin were assisted by Somers High School senior Sarah Hanford, who helped as part of a Girl Scouts project. They are establishing protocols for the space to train colleagues throughout the school in its use.

They thanked the education foundation for its funds, the district for building the walls and the custodians for installing the equipment.

“There were a lot of hands and a lot of love that went into this,” Regulbuto said.

Planes, bobsleds, and robotic hands are among the projects students are creating in the Makerspace in Somers Middle School (SMS). Located in the SMS technology department, the space gives students a place where they can work on a variety of STEAM projects. “These projects are guided, but mostly the students work through them independently,” said Matthew Lugo, one of two technology teachers who oversees the Makerspace sessions. “I’m here to support them along the way.”
 
Students sign up for Makerspace for one-week sessions and show up each day after eating lunch instead of going to recess.
 
Luke G. built an airplane out of cardboard because, “I like planes, and I thought it would be cool to make something that flies, but I didn’t want to make the helicopter.”
 
After a test flight, he was ready to make improvements.
 
“I threw it a few minutes ago and it’s decently durable, so I think it’ll land,” he said. “I’m thinking of putting two Hot Wheels cars on the bottom to be like landing gear.”

The bold colors and smooth brush strokes of Georgia O’Keeffe served as inspiration for fourth-grade students in Meg Gioffe’s art class at Somers Intermediate School as they painted sunflowers in the famous artist’s style.
 
First, they learned about O’Keeffe’s technique and how it differed starkly from the textured, visible strokes painted by Vincent Van Gogh (whom they studied last year).
 
“It’s so gorgeous and lusciously smooth and blended,” Mrs. Gioffe said of O’Keeffe’s style. “You can’t see where the brush hit the canvas.”
 
To create their own artworks, students outlined sunflowers on black paper, first with white pencils, then white glue. They filled the spaces with shades of yellow, orange and even brown, blending the colors in the petals with a blender stick.
 
For backgrounds, some chose a bright blue sky, others a sunset. Student Joseph S. painted flecks of yellow on his black background.
 
“I just wanted to be a little unique by doing a summer night,” he said. “These are fireflies.”

Dear Somers families,

We had a great time celebrating Spirit Week, which started with our first-ever Homecoming Bash at Somers High School on Sept. 19.

It was wonderful seeing students, teachers and everyone else having fun together.

Sincerely,
Harry

Food Trucks, games, inflatables, and great food added up to loads of fun at the first-ever Homecoming Bash at Somers High School.
 
Tuskers of all grades joined the Sept. 19 celebration on the school lawn. Sponsored in part by Partners in Prevention, the bash kicked off Homecoming Week, which was full of spirit days and sporting events.
“I think homecoming is such a big town thing,” said high school senior Julia Schmidberger, publicity officer for the student council, which hosted the celebration. “To kick off that week, and to honor homecoming for the whole town, we wanted to bring it to the entire community in a new way.”
 
Students and families enjoyed inflatable games such as basketball and T-ball, as well as traditional lawn games such as bean bag toss. A DJ played music, kids slid down a giant inflatable slide, and students posed for photos with friends and family in a photo booth. Food trucks offered wood-fired pizza, barbequed meats, and ice cream treats while the student council sold drinks and candy confections.
 
“We loved having members of the community at the high school!” said Student Life Coordinator Brenda O’Shea. “It was great to have so many of our athletes attend as well.”

The students of Primrose Elementary School celebrated their role as “We the People” on Constitution Day, Sept. 17.
 
Many classrooms set aside time to draw up their own Classroom Constitutions, which spelled out students’ rights and responsibilities in the school community. They then signed the guiding documents.
 
“Signing our class rules is a lot like signing the Constitution,” one student observed.
 
Classrooms learned more about the topic from a video about citizenship and the United States Constitution, which established the foundation for the nation’s government, and how this document came to be.
In room after room, Primrose students discussed the importance of respect, kindness, responsibility, and citizenship; all values that create a tight knit community.

The third graders at Somers Intermediate School got their kicks the other day when they practiced their soccer skills in physical education class.
 
The students warmed up by running laps around the gym, then watched Coach Jaime Pryschlak demonstrate the fundamentals – passing, intercepting, blocking a goal, and stopping the ball, all using only her foot. The coach also reinforced techniques for aiming with proper body and foot position.
 
When the time came to practice, students moved outside for some fresh air and sunshine.
 
“We’re learning drag-backs, tick-tocks, and toe taps,” said student Caroline T.
 
Working in groups of three, they took turns passing the ball, stopping it, and sending it to the next player, no hands allowed.
 
“We want to make sure that we take turns so that everyone gets a chance to work on the different techniques,” Mrs. Pryschlak said.

Dear Somers Families,

It’s been a great week for achievements at Somers High School!
 
Junior Jimmy Gallivan, the president of the high school student council, has been named to the first-ever National Student Council, representing the entire state of New York.
 
Also, seniors Emma Gordon and Luke Armstrong have been named National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists. They’ll now move to the finalist level.

These are just a few examples of the achievements we see in Somers schools. And the year has barely begun.

Sincerely,
Harry

Somers High School junior Jimmy Gallivan has risen to the top of the school’s Student Council, serving as its president. Now he is poised to make an impact much more far-reaching as a member of the first-ever National Student Council. Gallivan will represent all of New York State on the council, which was started this year by the National Association of Student Councils.

“I’m honored to have been chosen to represent the concerns and ideas and perspectives of New York State on the national level,” he said.

Somers High School student life coordinator Brenda O’Shea said Gallivan was perfect for the role, adding, “Jimmy has a great combination of traits that make him an amazing leader.”

Two Somers High School seniors, one aiming for the stars and the other an aspiring writer, have been named 2025 National Merit Scholarship semi-finalists in a competition that recognizes academic excellence. Luke Armstrong and Emma Gordon were among 16,000 semi-finalists designated nationwide.

Armstrong’s goal is to become an astronautical engineer and “develop the technology to progress humanity further into space,” he said. Of his Somers education, he said, “The rigorous path supported me and my academic goals, making me well prepared for the National Merit Scholarship Competition."
Gordon aims to continue developing her craft as a writer, “while also exploring other disciplines such as applied mathematics and neuroscience to help enrich my perspective,” she said.

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized nationally as one of a very small group of high school seniors who have been named National Merit semi-finalists,” she said.

The seventh-grade ELA classes gathered recently in the Somers Middle School Library to celebrate reading with a series of short book discussions. Students in the three classes met in pairs to talk about the books they had read over the summer. They discussed the highlights and favorite parts of the volumes they had read during the break and got ideas and recommendations from their peers about books to read in the future. Over the course of one period, each students met with eight to ten peers to talk about their good reads.

Dear families,

Now that the whirlwind of the first school days has passed, students and teachers are settling into their daily schedules and building momentum. I look forward to sharing the achievements and innovative lessons and activities this year will bring.

I hope many of you are able to join the Homecoming Bash next Thursday to kick off Homecoming Week. Read more about that below.
 
Harry

School Bus Pick-Up Reminder
If your child takes the bus to school, please remember to arrive at the bus stop in the morning 10 minutes early. This is important for us to keep the buses running on schedule and to assure that all students on the bus route arrive at school on time.

Tuskers of all grades, join in the celebration to kick off Homecoming Week on Thursday, Sept. 19, from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Somers High School’s front lawn.

The first-ever Homecoming Bash will bring lawn games, music, food and more. Pose for pictures in a photo booth and get a bite to eat from food trucks selling wood-fired pizza, barbecued treats and ice cream.

The high school Student Council will present the event with sponsorship from Partners in Prevention, which will staff a table during the celebration. All students, K-12, are invited with their families. (Parents and guardians should be prepared to stay with younger children. This is not a drop-off event.)

“This is a new, exciting event for us,” said Student Life Coordinator Brenda O’Shea. “We want the community to come out and enjoy it.”

See you there!

Also, remember to wear your Somers schools gear or red for Somers School Spirit Day on Friday, Sept. 27.

Kindergarten students at Primrose Elementary School started off the year in motion with warm-up exercises such as ski jump and mountain climbers, stretches and games. The Listening Game taught them how to listen for and follow instructions in a busy, fast-paced environment. That sets the foundation for the most fundamental rule in gym: move safely.

Coach Marta Parker told them, “Be safe, try your best, and have fun!”

Once the exercises in safety had boosted their heart rates – and broadened their smiles – a series of stretches and cool-down activities prepared them to start classroom learning.

Eighth-grade students in tech class at Somers Middle School were excited to create laser printings with the VCarve software, which allows them to design and produce a laser-cut model from a sheet of clear plastic.

Students chose at least two pictures to combine into one image to print. A beachscape, snowboarder atop mountains, a volleyball scene and a day-and-night yin-and-yang design were among the images they created.

Students will also design stands for their cutouts so they can be displayed when completed.

Dear families,
 
What a fantastic first week of school we have had!

I was excited to help greet students as they arrived during the first two days. It was great to see so many students so eager to start the school year.
 
I want to thank our entire school district staff for their dedication and hard work in ensuring a smooth and joyful opening to 2024-2025. Now that the year is under way, I look forward to a year filled with the wonder of learning, exploration and discovery!
 
Harry

The 2024-2025 school year began Tuesday at dawn. It was then, shortly before 6 a.m., that the Somers High School seniors gathered on the football field to greet the day for Senior Sunrise, following a new tradition that began in 2021. Later in the morning, Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre and other administrators joined building principals and other staff to greet the students as they strode into the schools for the new year, wishing them, “Good morning!” “Welcome Back!” and “Happy first day!”

Among the greeters at the high school was Vader, teacher Brenda O’Shea’s 5-year-old Labrador-German Shepherd mix who enjoys a career as the school’s therapy dog.

Meet Officer Matt Laccetti, the new School Resource Officer (SRO) at Somers High School. He filled the position previously held by SRO Matt Hickey. “I want to be a resource for students and staff,” Laccetti said this week, his first full week in the assignment. “I want to be an advocate for them, someone who they can come and talk to about a problem, or about something positive. When they look at me, I want them to see someone who is going to have their back.”
 
Principal Peter Rodrigues said, “SRO Laccetti has been a welcome addition to Somers High School.”

More than 100 parking spaces at Somers High School came alive with color and creativity when this year’s seniors painted them for the start of school.

The tradition brought out an eclectic mix of themes. SpongeBob SquarePants, scenes from Finding Nemo, spoofs of Monopoly squares (“Bored Walk”), and images inspired by the famous Japanese print The Great Wave off Kanagawa were all in the mix. Senior Emily Uffer’s space featured the title of the song “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan, her favorite artist of the moment, and included a VW bus because “it fits his vibe.” Sebastian Chao painted Spider-Man from Into the Spider-Verse.
 
Seniors were invited to purchase the right to paint a space for $90. The funds pay to reseal the lot at the end of the year and to support senior events such as the prom.
 
Some paired up in claiming a spot, including Violet Wintle and her twin brother Ellis, who painted “Peace Out” on their space.
 
Violet explained, “We’re saying ‘Peace Out’ to school.”

Dear families,

Welcome to the new school year! I hope all of you had a wonderful and restful summer and are as eager as we are for the first day of school. Every September brings a new beginning filled with promise and opportunity. We have been preparing to make the start of school exciting and fruitful.

Our administrators have been honing their skills in the Multi-Tiered System of Supports to ensure all students’ needs are met, the buildings and grounds crews have been hard at work renovating and touching up spaces, while adding new athletics facilities, and teachers have been setting up their classrooms.

We look forward to your arrival!

Sincerely,
Harry

We are a family, not by blood but by common purpose,” Interim Superintendent Harry LeFevre told the Somers Central School District staff assembled in the Somers High School auditorium on Wednesday. “Everyone plays an essential and unique role in this family.”

Somers Board of Education President Amanda Kandel, and Rosalind Galino, who is president of Somers Education Foundation as well as co-president of the Somers PTA Council, also praised the staff.

LeFevre honored educators and support staff for their longevity, naming those who have served the district for 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 and, in one case, 40 years. (The 25-year employees will be honored in the spring.)

The groups received standing ovations, as did the buildings and grounds staff when recognized by Director of Facilities Chris McCartney, and Somers High School Student Government President Jimmy Gallivan, who thanked the district, saying, “Teaching is a superpower.”

The ceremony followed a breakfast of bagels, pastries and coffee provided by the Somers PTA.

“It’s a fresh start,” said high school teacher Christine Lepkowski who teaches forensics and the Tusker 101 and 102 introductory classes. “I think it’s going to be a really exciting year!

What’s one small change you can make the first week of school to benefit your students? That was the question posed to 75 teacher leaders and administrators at the start of the Camp Tusker Leadership Summit, a two-day professional learning experience on the Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) structure and how this approach supports Whole Child instructional planning.

District administrators partnered with consultant Emory Roethel of PLC Associates to teach the system for instruction. MTSS uses a tiered framework to students’ individual needs and to target supports to each student so that they all can reach their potential. One key of MTSS is to nurture students’ abilities to help themselves.

“We are initially the handlebars for kids to hold onto,” Roethel said during the first day, in the Somers Middle School library. “Eventually, we want them to hold onto their own handlebars so they can balance themselves.”

Participants said they enjoyed collaborating on the approach and exchanging ideas.

“It helps us to refocus and rethink how we support our students in all aspects,” said Director of Guidance Phil Kavanagh.

Construction and facilities crews have been busy all summer enhancing athletic facilities and preparing the schools and grounds for the students’ return.

Six new tennis courts are being built at Somers High School and are expected to be ready soon. Artificial turf is replacing grass and clay on the high school baseball field and the softball field at Primrose Elementary School. The fields are slated to be completed in December and ready for the spring season.

While those projects are under way by a contractor, the buildings and grounds staff has been busy renovating spaces and sprucing up the schools. Parents and students may notice the improvements the moment they arrive.

“They have curb appeal,” said Director of Facilities Chris McCartney. “People pull up and it looks fresh and clean. The buildings are clean and bright, the floors are shining. The planting beds are all freshly mulched.”

A new set of steps was installed between the high school and Primrose. At Somers Middle School, two large classrooms were split into three offices each and a new air conditioning system now cools the library. At Primrose, a staff lounge was refreshed and crews renovated the speech offices, replacing temporary dividers with permanent walls. At Somers Intermediate School, improvements included reflooring a classroom with a luxury vinyl tile (LVT) surface.

“The entire facilities staff did a tremendous job this summer,” McCartney said.

Dear Somers Families,

I am writing to share that on June 20 I am scheduled to be appointed as the Superintendent of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District. I will start at KLSD in mid-July.

Over the last 14 years, I have had the pleasure of working with an amazing team of educators and community members. Together, we have provided an unparalleled education for the children of Somers.

The students in Somers schools will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish them the best for the future.

Sincerely, 
Ray

SIS students competed in the Elementary and Middle School Mathematical Olympiad. Twenty-five students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades participated alongside approximately 80,000 students from across the globe, ranking in the top 10%.
The Somers PTA Council and SEPTA honored some of Somers' extraordinary educators at a ceremony on Monday. SHS Teaching Assistant Mary Campbell was awarded the Making a Difference Award. SHS Principal Mark Bayer was Awarded the Award of Excellence. The TUSKER Award went to Allison Quincoses (SIS-Occupational Therapist) and Lori Kearns (SHS – Science, pictured). Finally, the Sherri Mangus Award of Merit went to SHS Special Educator Melissa Carino.
Members of the Class of 2024 are working on “Leaving their Mark” at Somers High School. Each student receives a tile to decorate, which will be combined with their classmates' tiles to make a mosaic. The collaborative work will be hung in the high school's main lobby.

Dear Somers Families,

Now that our budget has been approved for the next school year, we are turning our focus to a capital project that will ensure our buildings and physical spaces are in good shape for years to come. This project is based on our five-year, Comprehensive Facilities Plan and includes updating our schools to create more engaging learning spaces for students.

In May 2025, the district will ask voters to approve funds for the Capital Bond Project, which will come at no added cost to taxpayers. To learn more about the project and timeline, listen to this episode of Tusker Talk.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,
Ray

Somers resident and Vietnam veteran Duane Martin spoke with U.S. History & Government classes at the high school. Mr. Martin served as an artillery officer in Vietnam from 1969-1970, a tour that included time attached to an infantry unit operating on the Ho Chi Minh trail.

On May 23, NJHS induction ceremonies were held for 6th and 7th graders. Inductees were selected after completing 15 hours of community service and upholding the NJHS pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

The high school Math Honor Society hosted its annual Math-a-thon for Primrose and SIS students. They played fun math games including sudoku, fraction bingo, Jenga, spaghetti and marshmallow building, mini-golf, mini tabletop pool, color by numbers with arithmetic, and chess.

Dear Somers Families,

It is a busy time of year at home and school and we have many culminating events over the next few weeks. Students are being celebrated for achievements big and small, collaborative and personal. I encourage you to take some time to think about how your child started the school year and the areas in which they have made progress since September. I find that often we get caught up in the day-to-day details, without taking notice of the overall growth.

We are so proud of our students here in Somers schools and acknowledge their efforts to engage in our school community and beyond.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely, 
Ray

On Wednesday, Primrose was treated to the annual visit from the Westchester County Police Aviation Unit. The kids were thrilled to watch the helicopter land at school and explore it up close.

Fourth-graders did a Challenge Island activity called Home Run Derby, focusing on energy transfer. They explored the concept of “collision” by designing and building a game that looked at the life of baseball legend and philanthropist Roberto Clemente.

The second annual Somers High School Film Festival was held in May. In total, there were six entries this year in the running. Congratulations to this year’s winner Sophia Trantos with her film, “Howe is Here.”

Thank you to everyone in the community who voted on the school budget and the Board of Education trustees. Our budget for the 2024-25 school year passed with an impressive 71% of the vote. The community's continued support of our district and students remains steadfast and we, as educators, are grateful for your partnership.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful weather this Memorial Day weekend, and take time to pay tribute to those who have sacrificed for our country. We will see the students back at school on Wednesday, May 29.

Sincerely,
Ray

Congratulations to these 7th graders who won awards for their essays submitted to a contest by the Mohegan Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Julia Markolovic, Ariana Cicciarella, Katie Kiely, Rosie DiLeonardo, and Allison Cardillo. Not pictured – Gabby Cordero.

Representatives from the League of Women Voters went to Somers High School to register or pre-register students to vote. Students can pre-register at age 16 when they get their learner's driving permit and their registration then goes into effect when they turn 18.

Throughout first grade at Primrose Elementary School, students have been exploring the concept of community. A Tusker is a part of many different communities, including home, school, classroom, and town. As part of their studies, they created pictures of someone in their school community.

Dear Somers Families,

It is concert season in Somers schools. We have been treated to performances at the middle and intermediate schools over the past week, with more to come at Primrose and the high school next week. I'm always impressed with the musical talent among our students, and I am proud to share that the district has been recognized again with the Best Communities for Music Education award.  Congratulations!

Tuesday, May 21 is our school budget and Board of Education trustee election. Please vote at the Somers Middle School Gym (lower parking lot) between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Sincerely,
Ray

For her Girl Scouts Silver Award several years ago, Isabella Milojevic brought Buddy Benches to Primrose. She returned recently to speak to kindergarten students about the benches and the importance of being inclusive during recess.

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday at Somers Middle School between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. On the ballot is the 2024-2025 school budget and trustee election.

Seventh-grade music students collaborated to learn the rhythm notation and counting of the "Cups Song". They also mastered the chords on their ukuleles.  Together, they showcased their skills by taking turns performing the song on the cups and ukuleles.

Dear Somers Families,

Believe it or not, our second and fifth graders were looking ahead to the fall this week. Supporting our students with transitions from one building to the next is an important way to let them know they belong in the school communities.

Students already at SIS and SMS participated in the orientations, giving tours and answering questions about what the younger students can expect when they move up next year. These visits go a long way toward easing the anxiety around building-to-building transitions. Eighth graders had their Taste of High School event earlier this year.

I hope all moms in our community have a wonderful Mother's Day, filled with love and appreciation.

Sincerely,
Ray 

Students at Primrose and SIS celebrated the WizFit challenge with assemblies hosted by the Harlem Wizards. Faculty, staff, and students participated in various activities to help them get active. Proceeds from the WizFit challenge go directly to Somers Education Foundation.

Primrose second grader Olivia Ponzio won the New York Giants Junior Reporter contest! At the Giants Draft Party at MetLife Stadium, she was invited up on stage and she interviewed NY Giants players Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Bruns.

Seventh graders prepped to be tour guides during their WIN period and then held a Q&A and gave tours for the fifth graders who will go to the middle school this fall. This tradition helps welcome the students to their new school and creates a deeper sense of belonging within SMS.

Dear Somers Families,

A group of dedicated high school students has been conducting action research projects on belonging in our schools. These members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council have been running focus groups and holding activities to determine what makes students feel they belong in Somers, and how we, as a community, can foster more belongingness.

We are so proud of the work they are doing and their commitment to improving our district for all Somers students. Please click here to read more about their research, and click the picture to hear from some of the students.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,
Ray

Our belonging event on Tuesday, Somers Soars When Everyone Belongs, was a great success. Many thanks to the dozens of participants who collaborated and committed to taking action to increase the feeling of belonging in the Somers community.

Authors Eric Valesquez, Susan Hood, and Jen Calonita visited students at Somers Intermediate School recently for Authors Day. Thank you to the PTA and SEF for bringing three talented authors to SIS!

Our 8th-grade students presented their community projects on Thursday evening. The event was the culmination of a months-long MYP capstone project, an academic and intellectual experience for students. Each student developed a service project to make a difference in our local community.

Dear Somers Families,

I hope you enjoyed the short school week and that those who are celebrating Passover are spending meaningful and joyous time with their loved ones.

Last week we presented our report on the district's Fiscal Stewardship to the Board of Education. You can view the report here, along with the year's previous reports on our other SCSD Elements of Excellence.

Next week the middle school will hold the first annual Community Project Showcase, an integral component of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. Please come explore the community-based service projects created by each of our eight-graders. Join us in the middle school gym on May 2 at 5:30pm.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,
Ray

Our eighth grade students have been hard at work for months, developing and creating projects to help our local community. Please come see what they've accomplished.

On Thursday we held our 24th annual Festival of the Arts. The show was an evening to celebrate the artistic achievements of our students in all grades in Somers schools.

The Science National Honor Society hosted a science club fair at the middle school to showcase the science clubs that will be available to the 8th graders when they enter high school this fall.

Dear Somers Families,

Our first annual Somers Soars When Everyone Belongs event, co-hosted by the Town of Somers and SCSD, is coming up.  Activities will focus on what it means to belong to a community and how we can foster a sense of belonging in each other. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for food, fellowship, and connection. RSVP with the QR code below or email belonging@somersschools.org.

I wish you all a nice long weekend. Prosperity, joy and peace to all during this Passover.

If you haven't already, please take a moment to: fill out the Family Engagement Survey.

Sincerely,
Ray

Fifth-grade students at Somers Intermediate School were visited by SHS Italian and French students to learn more about taking a language in middle school and high school. Students were introduced to vocabulary, watched short videos, and even sang the alphabet in French.

Second-grade students from Primrose had a ‘howling’ good time at the Wolf Conservation Center. Students learned about the feeding and living conditions of the 23 wolves at WCC, and the precarious endangered status of wolves in the United States.

Second-grade students from Primrose had a ‘howling’ good time at the Wolf Conservation Center. Students learned about the feeding and living conditions of the 23 wolves at WCC, and the precarious endangered status of wolves in the United States.

Dear Somers Families,

Our students' experience with the solar eclipse was exciting and went off smoothly. The glasses were a big hit, as they allowed the kids to watch the astronomical event safely. As you'll see in the picture below, a group of high school students traveled upstate to see the full eclipse and reported a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.

If you haven't already, please take a moment to fill out the Family Engagement Survey.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Ray

>Fifty students from Somers High School made the trip to Schroon Lake, New York. They joined hundreds of other spectators and got to see the total solar eclipse.

Math students at the middle school have a new learning tool in their classroom. Thanks to the Somers Education Foundation, students are using whiteboard tables to solve equations.

Primrose artists worked on a project based on the story "The Dot," by Peter H. Reynolds. In their art classes, they tapped into their creativity by painting a dot of their own design on a table-size paper.

Dear Somers Families,

Building a strong partnership between our families, schools, and community is the best way to realize the district vision of ensuring each child’s success. Every other year, we ask families to take survey to help us understand how best to support that partnership. The anonymous survey will take about five minutes. After the survey closes on April 19, we will report the findings and share what we have learned.

Your input is critical as we work together to provide our students with the best possible education and move our great district Forward In Excellence. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Click here to take the Family Engagement Survey

Our PTA is busy planning Bus Driver Appreciation Day to say thank you to all the bus drivers, monitors, and transportation staff in our district. Please consider contributing to the celebration via www.Myschoolbucks.com. Select 'School Store' and choose 'Somers PTA Council'. Fill out the short form and then under 'Donation Type', use the dropdown menu to select 'Bus Driver Appreciation'.

Another reminder that a solar eclipse is taking place on our first day back after spring break and will be at its peak during dismissal times. We will be providing all students and staff with NASA-approved glasses to protect their eyes. If you choose to pick up your child early that day, it will be considered an excused absence.

For those who celebrate Easter and/or Ramadan, I hope this weekend brings you joy, renewal, and cherished moments with loved ones. Have a wonderful spring break. See you in April!

Sincerely,

Ray

Congratulations to two Somers Destination Imagination teams for earning their way to the Global Finals in Kansas City in May. The 6th grade Roomba Republic team (above), won first place at the 2024 NY Affiliate Tournament in Binghamton. The 3rd grade Building Buddies team won second place and was one of two teams in the engineering category to be invited to the Global Finals.

It is Wish Week at Somers High School. Student Council is encouraging students to make a wish to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation. Wishes have ranged from a delivery of a favorite beverage, to bringing Vader the Therapy Dog to class, to a guaranteed photo of a friend group in the yearbook.

Special guest reader and author Tom Molito read to first-grade students at Primrose. Mr. Molito is the author of Mickey Mantle - Inside and Outside the Lines, as well as grandfather to Thomas (1) and Vincent (Pre-K).

Dear...