Message from the Principal

Dear Mahopac Middle School Families, 

Welcome back to 2018-2019 school year. The students had a great start to the year and have been a pleasure to work with. We had a busy summer with many exciting changes to enhance the safety and learning experience of our students. 

If you have been in the Middle School since September, you may have noticed that we have changed our entrance by adding new doors, a waiting area and a reception window. This will enable increased security in the building and provide a place that items can be dropped off rather than having to enter the building. We have also looked for ways to increase our communication with students and families. We have installed TV's in the lobby and Cafe 2 where messages and upcoming dates can be posted for everyone to review. There is also a new digital sign that will greet you at the road. This sign will also display upcoming events and messages. Beginning in October students will be able to access all morning messages through the Student Information Center in their Google Classroom.

We continue to find ways to empower our students to advocate for themselves and take ownership of their learning. We believe it is important for our students to have a good understanding of their strengths as well as areas of growth. The MS will be having a series of parent/student workshops this year that will focus on areas that the students, staff and community feel they would like to learn more about. Our first workshop will take place in November and will be about Social Media and how we can make sure that it is used for the best intentions.

The Middle School welcomes two new Assistant Principals this year. Ms. Allyson Fallman has been with the district for 18 years working at Fulmar Road in many different roles. Mr. Patrick Keevins previously worked at Lakeview Elementary and has most recently been an Assistant Principal in New Rochelle. We are excited and lucky to have them with us.

We look forward to a great 2018-2019 school year! Please reach to us out with any questions that you may have. 

 

Sincerely,

Tom Cozzocrea

Principal

 

 

 

News & Headlines

  • Student Government Representatives Visit Blythedale Patients with Gifts

    As the custom for over two decades, Mahopac Middle School Student Government student representatives; along with their adviser and teacher, Richard Kozera, and middle school administrative assistant, Annette Simmonds, delivered over 100 toys to infant and toddler patients at Blythedale Children's Hospital is a specialty children's hospital in Valhalla, NY.  

    The students continued to spread holiday cheer by playing with several the infants and toddlers, who have complex medical and rehabilitative needs.  This is a shining example of the Mahopac Central School District’s “Mahopac Way.”

    MMS News & Headlines

  • Artful Writing: Learning the Art of Calligraphy with Head and Heart

    "I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

    Charles Dickens

    Just as Charles Dickens dipped his fountain pen into his inkwell to write a “A Christmas Carol” over 200 years ago, so too did the Mahopac Middle School sixth graders of  Ann Lyons art class experiment with this forgone writing form to create their own holiday-inspired calligraphy masterpiece.

    With the goal of influencing distinctive ideas for expression, Lyons began her calligraphy unit this December. The students were able to experience the art of writing by hand with instruments used for thousands of years such as the quill feather and ancient Chinese bamboo pen.  Whatever the writing instrument, Lyons explained to her students that the emphasis is on the beauty and appearance of the writing.   From Mother Teresa to Aristotle, her students gain further inspiration with poignant quotes that are artfully executed in calligraphy by Lyons and hung throughout her classroom.

    Lyons then presented the sixth graders an assignment of creating a holiday-inspired drawing incorporating calligraphy of words that reflect how they celebrate the holiday season. Combining today’s technology with what is now considered an old art form, the students used their Chromebooks for inspirational imagery to accompany the calligraphy.

    The artwork was evaluated on tactics such as expressiveness, quality of line, color and following direction.  Most importantly, the hope is for the students to share their art with loved ones for the holiday.

    MMS News & Headlines

  • Wingmen & Retired NYPD Det on Social Media

    MS Wingmen and Thomas Grimes of NY Finest Speakers level set parents and students about social media

    It’s an anomaly these days not to see our children staring into a screen. These little devices provide our children big access to the social media world that often we, as parents and caregivers, can not control.  

    If we want children, especially tweens and teens, to adopt better habits and healthier choices online, and in-real life, we have to change how we talk about the social world, both online and in-real-life. This notion is what compelled the Middle School’s Wingmen team (a student-teacher group dedicated to promoting inclusion and positive community) to promote responsible social media use.   

    The Wingmen created a survey for fellow middle school students about their social media use.  Their findings revealed several vulnerabilities in student use of social media, including:

    • 37% of students sometimes or always feel isolated because of social media.
    • 53% of students will only play online games with friends but 37% will play with anyone.
    • 71% of students sometimes or always use the same password for social media sites.
    • 16% of students have a YouTube channel with subscribers.

    Survey results where then shared by the Wingmen to both students and parents/caregivers as a kick off to tailored social media responsibility presentations by retired NYPD detective Thomas Grimes.  

    The presentations focused on developing awareness and encouraging open communication, because children who perceive their parents and caregivers as are unaware are less likely to seek their guidance and support in times of need.

    “You must be vigilant with your children’s computer activity. Before you go to sleep at night you lock your doors and make sure your kids are safe.  Never forget that the internet can provide an unlocked back door into your home, or into our child’s room,” said Grimes.

    Grimes was a 20-year veteran of the NYPD and now owns “NY Finest Speakers,” a company which was formed in 2007 and is made up of former detectives and a former secret service agent. Those officials are “dedicated to educating and protecting today’s young people and their parents from threats posed by Internet usage and drug involvement.”

    For guidance and advice for helping children with social media and online activity, here are a few resources:

    Common Sense Media®: Advice for Parents

    Psychology Today: Parent’s Guide to Social Media Use for Kids

    Parenting.com: 13 Tips for Monitoring Kids’ Social Media

    To view the full Wingmen survey findings see the attached images

    MMS News & Headlines

  • Take a Stand. Lend a Hand.

    Along with schools across the country, the Mahopac Schools participated in a week-long celebration of making healthy choices and community connections with Red Ribbon Week.  By helping students build a foundation of mindfulness to themselves and their community, the risk of substance abuse is lessened.
    “Substance abuse prevention starts with the promotion of good mental health in kids and teens,” said Valarie Nierman, MCSD Health Coordinator.  The District is committed to helping each individual student.  Read more.

    MMS News & Headlines

  • Not Your Average Gym Glass

    MMS Physical Education teacher, Paula McGee walked us through the October Fitness Unit - Wow! The Middle School students are moving and getting the endorphins going! This helps keeps the kids in a good physical and mind state for the rest of the day.

    In Gym 1 is “boot camp" including abs stations, planks, squats, agility challenges and more. In Gyms 2 & 3 a “Mahopac Ninja Warrior” course further challenges students with hoops, ropes, and other fun obstacles. Gyms 4 and 5 are cardiovascular activities.

    MMS News & Headlines

  • Pink Out Day!

    Pink Out Day is our opportunity for a change in the daily dress code to promote awareness of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please remember that breast cancer awareness is more than getting to wear pink. 

    Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

    The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

    National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of detecting breast cancer early. Make a difference! 

    We can use this opportunity to spread the word about steps that mothers, aunts, sisters and all our loved ones can take to detect breast cancer early.

    MMS News & Headlines

Quick Links