White Plains schools report fall events, Hispanic Heritage activities and athletics updates
Summary
Student and school reports covered new fields, Hispanic Heritage Month programming, a $5,000 grant for a pollinator garden, transfer‑student events, Tigers in Training and athletics results, plus numerous PTA and community activities.
Student ex officio board members and administrators summarized school‑by‑school activities and upcoming events for October during the Board of Education meeting Oct. 6.
The reports covered elementary school picnics and new facilities, Hispanic Heritage Month programming, school open houses, a new gaga pit, a newly improved library ribbon cutting and garden activities, and several PTA‑supported fundraisers. Students and staff highlighted community events such as the Tigers in Training outreach program that brings elementary students to White Plains High School for a game night.
Specific school highlights and grants
- MAS opened new fields and held a back‑to‑school picnic; elementary schools planned Unity Day activities and trait‑of‑the‑month programs. - GW focused on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) awareness and community meetings tied to creativity and identity during Hispanic Heritage Month. - Post Road held a grand opening for a gaga pit and hosted a Tigers in Training event and PTA fiesta celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. - Church Street reopened an updated library and published a student‑produced Church Street School Chronicles; a new Grandpa’s United lunch program began for fifth graders. - Rochambeau received a $5,000 grant from the White Plains Youth Climate Action Fund to build a community pollinator garden led by teacher Paul Paredes; students will use the garden for project‑based learning. - White Plains High School hosted a transfer‑student welcome lunch, ran a student activities fair, and announced spirit week, a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration by the Latino Coalition on Oct. 16 and a class of 2026 trunk‑or‑treat on Oct. 31.
Athletics and extracurriculars
District reports noted successful summer academy programs and early season athletic results: the boys cross‑country team placed first at the Suffern Invitational, and a diver won at the Valley Central meet. The high school and middle school competitive seasons are underway with postseason preparations approaching.
Donations and grants
The board acknowledged multiple donations and grants during the meeting. Friends of the White Plains Public Schools awarded an $18,000 grant to support a Beyond Broadway dance program across five elementary schools and a $2,600 grant to support an Advanced Placement history field trip. The Premier Collection, with Subaru Loves to Learn, provided an $18,000 grant to Eastview Middle School for summer programming. Elks donated dictionaries to third graders, and the White Plains High School class of 1984 gifted two benches in honor of educators.
No formal action beyond routine acceptance of donations was taken during this portion of the meeting.
