"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children." 

- Sitting Bull-Hunkpapa Lakota

Dear Ramily,

I write to you today with prideful news following our informative Board of Education Meeting’s Academic Update from Tuesday, November 25. I am thrilled to announce that our district has achieved its highest New York State ELA combined grades 3–8 proficiency since 2015.

Additionally, the Port Chester School District is outperforming similar communities on New York State ELA assessments. I encourage everyone to watch the recent board meeting presentation, available on our website under the PCSTV section, where you can see the details of our accomplishments and ongoing initiatives.

While we still have a long way to go before we can say we have reached our ultimate goals, it is important to acknowledge how far we have come over the last few years. This success is a testament to our dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff. It is also a testament to our motivated students and our supportive parents and community. Port Chester’s commitment to continuous improvement is not just a phrase; it is a guiding principle that drives us to make data-informed and transparent decisions.

Let us continue to focus on academic excellence and push our students to reach their fullest potential. Nothing less should be expected.

I am also excited to share details about our first in-person Community Partners Committee Café meeting. During this gathering, our partners focused on the essentials for continued community school transformation. We explored best practices for community schools and engaged in discussions centered around these practices, allowing our partners to contribute to the longterm vision for our school district.

The Community Café model serves as a platform for collaboration and dialogue among community members, educators, and stakeholders. Its purpose is to foster a shared understanding of our goals and challenges while encouraging creative solutions to enhance educational experiences. We exchanged many great ideas during this meeting, and we look forward to sharing this information publicly. Additionally, we are eager to expand our Community Café activities this spring.

The key takeaway from Sitting Bull’s quote above is the importance of shared vision and collaborative efforts for future generations.

With gratitude,

Dr. Aurelia Henriquez
Superintendent of Schools