A Board of Education Work Session will take place on Thursday, January 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Community members are welcome to attend in person at Port Chester Middle School or join via livestream.

Click here to join the livestream

If you’re unable to attend or watch live, a recording will be posted on the district website shortly after the work session for you to view at your convenience.

Thank you for staying informed and engaged with the work of our Board of Education.

Dear Port Chester Ramily,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026, the district is filled with joy and excitement for all that lies ahead. Our energy is palpable as we gear up for the second half of the school year, embracing the many opportunities that await our students.

This month, we had the honor of kicking off our Superintendent's Distinguished Speaker Series with the District Attorney’s Office Chief Criminal Investigator Andrew Grascia. He delivered a much-needed message about the hidden realities of drugs and vaping. The event was well-attended, with many parents bringing their children to engage in this critical conversation. I look forward to hosting another distinguished speaker event soon, focusing on the dangers of social media and gaming. Stay tuned for details!

Additionally, last week we welcomed Professor Simmons from SUNY Westchester to Port Chester High School, who met with our My Brother’s Keeper and My Sister’s Keeper students. He reminded us that as educators and parents, we serve as guardians of our children’s dreams and aspirations. His inspiring message emphasized resilience and grit, encouraging our students to be bold and envision themselves in college and beyond.

On an especially exciting note, I want to highlight a remarkable young lady from our community, Sophia Faraci, a sophomore at Port Chester High School. Sophia has been selected as a female ambassador for Baseball for All at the Laulima Girls’ Baseball Series in Honolulu, Hawaii, taking place from January 23 to 25. In a sport where girls are often underrepresented, she will serve as a junior coach to local Hawaiian girls, fostering their love for baseball. This national leadership honor recognizes her commitment to community service, equity, and empowering girls and women in baseball.

Sophia’s achievements extend beyond the field. She is a three-sport athlete at Port Chester High School, with an impressive record that includes:

*Port Chester Rec League for 10+ years

*Competitive travel baseball with the Port Chester Pirates Baseball Team; positions include Pitcher and 2nd Base

*PC Baseball; positions include Pitcher and 2nd Base

*Competitive travel baseball nationally with the NY Wonders; positions include Pitcher, 2nd Base, and 3rd Base

*Won 3rd Place in the National All Girls Baseball Tournament in 2024 with the NY Wonders

*Varsity Volleyball; position Middle

*Currently playing Varsity Basketball and competitive AAU travel Basketball; positions include point guard and shooting guard

*Additionally, Sophia is a High Honor Roll student in honors and AP courses, a member of the Math Honor Society, participates in various community service projects locally and nationally, and is an active EMS member of Local Post 77.

Please join me in celebrating this amazing young lady on the rise! Her achievements are a testament to her dedication, and she serves as a positive representation of our Port Chester community. Wishing everyone a prosperous and fulfilling New Year ahead!

Sincerely,

Dr. Aurelia Henriquez
Superintendent of Schools

The district is proud to announce that 17 talented student musicians have been selected to participate in the prestigious Westchester County School Music Association (WCSMA) All-County music ensembles for 2026. These students were chosen for their outstanding musical skill and dedication, and will perform alongside top student musicians from across Westchester County in concerts this March.

 

 

This achievement reflects the hard work of our students and the strong support of our dedicated music educators, underscoring Port Chester’s ongoing commitment to excellence in the arts.

Park Avenue Elementary students have been busy with engaging activities that build curiosity, creativity, and community, both inside and outside the classroom.

In Nicole Palma’s fifth grade classroom, the room became a global landscape as students wrapped up a multi-week study of Earth’s diverse ecosystems. Each student demonstrated their learning by creating an ecosystem habitat diorama and writing an informational report, then sharing their research and discoveries with the class. The project showcased strong research skills, creativity, and pride in student work as classmates learned from one another’s presentations.

Students are also continuing to explore important lessons in history and character. Savannah McEntire’s first graders took part in a lesson focused on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., encouraging thoughtful discussion and reflection at an early age.

To add even more joy to the week, Park Avenue staff also launched a fun “secret” staff-only spirit week designed to keep students smiling and guessing. Teachers planned playful surprises such as using silly classroom phrases, wearing mismatched items, standing in unexpected spots, and doing things slightly backwards on purpose. Today’s “big reveal” shared a simple message with students: school is a place where it’s okay to notice, question, laugh, and be yourself.

Port Chester High School theatre students recently took learning beyond the classroom with a Broadway field trip to see The Outsiders. Theatre Director Christina Baurle shared that the experience was both inspiring and closely connected to what students are studying in class.

Many students were already familiar with The Outsiders through the novel or film, making it an exciting opportunity to experience the story in a new way. The trip also reinforced learning across several theatre courses. Students in Acting for the Stage observed realistic performances and emotional storytelling, while Technical Theatre students saw how creative design and staging shape a production. IB Theatre and Musical Theatre students gained new ideas and professional examples to support their coursework and assessments.

Baurle emphasized the value of seeing theatre live, especially since many students had never attended a professional performance before. “There is nothing like experiencing live theatre firsthand, and I am glad to give our students this opportunity,” she said.

The district is proud to support opportunities like this that strengthen students’ creativity, collaboration, and confidence through meaningful arts experiences.