Dear Ramily,

I have so much to share with you! We’re off to a running start for the 2025–2026 school year, and after a busy summer, we are eager to welcome your children back home to the Port Chester School District.

This past week was especially exciting. Leaders from across the district gathered to set goals for their individual schools, taking time to reflect on last year’s accomplishments and chart the path ahead. On August 26, we started bright and early at 5:30 a.m. with Channel 12 News and Feeding Westchester for our very first Backpack Giveaway, led by Ms. Allison Fasano and her team. Joined by students, parents, and community partners, it was truly heartwarming to see so many come together in support of our families.

Ms. Fasano also accepted a generous $10,000 donation from Optimum in support of our new outdoor classroom at Port Chester Middle School. She was joined by Board of Education President Ms. Chrissie Onofrio as News 12 cameras captured the celebration.

On Wednesday, we held our Superintendent’s Conference Opening Day Convocation—a wonderful opportunity to connect with educators and share our vision of raising expectations for the year ahead. The week continued with professional development for teachers and staff and concluded with a Board of Education Training on self-evaluation.

We are excited to welcome all students back to school and look forward to a productive, inspiring year. Our focus remains on raising expectations, strengthening accountability, and fostering adaptability as we create a thriving educational environment together.

And perhaps the most exciting news of all: this summer we launched our first official Rams Radio podcast! I had the joy of interviewing Port Chester High School students from our EmpowerED team—interns who dedicated their summer to the community garden, food pantry, and a host of events promoting healthy food choices and social-emotional learning. Guided by Ms. Fasano and Ms. Halstead, and supported by the State Education Department’s Office of Mental Health under the leadership of Dr. Rich Kennedy, these young leaders made an extraordinary impact. Their commitment and passion truly inspire me, and I can’t wait for you to hear their stories.

Scroll down to enjoy our very first episode of Rams Radio—and know that this is just the beginning! If you have an idea for a future episode, I would love to hear from you.

As the saying goes, “Greatness is not just possible, it is the expectation.”

See you in September!

Warmly,

Dr. Aurelia Henriquez
Superintendent of Schools