Dear Port Chester Ramily,

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

-Helen Keller

We are excited to introduce a new community tradition: Ram’s Walk it or Run It! This annual event is designed to promote health, wellness, and school spirit while bringing our community together for a meaningful cause.

The Port Chester School District is proud to partner with the PCHS PTA to help raise funds for student scholarships. We hope Ram’s Walk It or Run It will continue to grow each year, strengthening the connections within our Ramily while directly supporting our students and their future success.

So dust off your sneakers and join us for this fun and memorable event! Please see the flyer below for additional details and registration information.

As we celebrate this exciting new tradition, we also want to recognize our incredible educators during Teacher Appreciation Week. Our teachers make a lasting difference in the lives of students each and every day through their dedication, compassion, and commitment to excellence. We encourage our community to take a moment to show appreciation, whether through a kind note, thoughtful gesture, or simple thank you.

Together, let’s celebrate our educators, support our students, and continue building a healthier, stronger, and more connected community.

We look forward to seeing you at Ram’s Walk It or Run It!

With gratitude,

Dr. Aurelia Henriquez
Superintendent of Schools

Port Chester High School students Erick De León and Marjorie Davison Mayorga recently represented the district at the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Forum in Albany, joining students from across New York State for a leadership and civic engagement experience centered on government, advocacy, and public service.

During the forum, Erick earned special recognition after being selected to speak and defend a bill position before a large audience of students and state leaders. Counselors shared that the accomplishment was especially meaningful because Erick has only been living in the United States and attending Port Chester Schools for two years.

“As an English Language Learner, the courage required to debate complex policy in front of other students and state leaders is immense,” shared School Counselor Yudelca Martinez. “He handled the challenge with seamless confidence. We are incredibly proud of how he represented our school.”

Click the image below to watch a clip of Erick delivering his speech in defense of the bill position.

Program liaison Darwin Gramajo praised both students for the way they represented the district throughout the experience.

“Erick and Marjorie represented our district with great Port Chester pride and enthusiasm,” Gramajo said. “Seeing their confidence soar with each session was a highlight, and I was deeply impressed by the depth of knowledge they developed regarding our state’s legislative inner workings.”

For Erick, the opportunity was both meaningful and inspiring.

“Representing Port Chester at the State Leadership Forum meant a lot to me because I was able to represent my school and my community while also sharing the perspective of Hispanic students,” Erick shared. “It made me feel proud to know that students like us can have a voice in important conversations and leadership opportunities.”

Erick said some of the highlights included learning about leadership, public service, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence, while also collaborating with students from other schools.

“This experience motivated me to become more involved in leadership opportunities at school and continue building confidence in myself,” he said. “It also made me more interested in future goals related to leadership, helping my community, and possibly studying political science in college.”

Marjorie also reflected on the impact of the experience and the importance of student leadership.

“Representing Port Chester at the State Leadership Forum in Albany is, for me, a way to demonstrate that our voice matters and that it can be of great help to our community despite being Hispanic teenagers,” she shared.

Marjorie said she especially enjoyed learning about the growing role of artificial intelligence and meeting Assembly member Karines Reyes, whose advocacy efforts left a lasting impression on her.

“I improved my teamwork skills and also learned how to enhance my speeches as a good leader,” Marjorie said. “It helps me become a better leader and gain more confidence in the clubs I am involved in, as well as on my swim team.”

The district congratulates Erick and Marjorie on this outstanding achievement and commends them for representing Port Chester with confidence, leadership, and pride. Their participation reflects the growing impact of student voice and leadership throughout the school community.

Port Chester High School seniors Christopher Zamora and Joel Peralta returned to their roots, visiting two fifth grade classrooms at John F. Kennedy Elementary School to lead a hands-on science lesson for students taught by their former teachers, Vinny Fiscella and Richard Gregory.

The student-led lesson focused on electric and magnetic fields and featured interactive demonstrations designed to make science come alive. Christopher and Joel demonstrated “eddy currents” using magnets and a copper tube and showed students how a metal detector works. Fifth graders eagerly participated throughout the lesson, raising their hands, asking thoughtful questions, and competing for the chance to hold the metal detector during the demonstrations.

One standout moment came when students observed a magnet slowly falling through a copper tube. The entire class counted aloud as the magnet descended, turning the demonstration into an engaging group experiment. Another memorable reaction came during a discussion about wind turbines and spinning magnets, when one student excitedly exclaimed, “Oh, so magnets move the electricity through the wires!”

According to PCHS Science Research Teacher Erol Bakkalbasi, the visit aligned with a larger goal of strengthening scientific mentorship opportunities between high school and elementary students across the Port Chester community. While Mr. Bakkalbasi encouraged students to connect with former teachers and supported them in developing the lesson, the experience itself was entirely student-driven.

“Christopher and Joel selected the classrooms, created the materials, and led the lesson themselves,” said Bakkalbasi. “No amount of money can buy the impact of older students returning to teach younger students in the same community.”

The experience highlighted not only the students’ leadership and communication skills, but also the strength of Port Chester’s science program across grade levels. By returning to inspire younger learners, Christopher and Joel demonstrated how curiosity, mentorship, and hands-on learning can spark excitement for science and encourage future academic success.

Students at Port Chester Middle School recently spent lunch and recess learning a timeless skill that combined creativity, mindfulness, and community.

Led by Deputy Superintendent Dr. Colleen Carroll, the PCMS Crochet Pop-Up Club introduced a group of sixth graders to the basics of crochet during a three-week series held four days a week.

Students learned foundational techniques including the slip knot, chain stitch, single crochet, and double crochet, while building patience, focus, and confidence along the way.

The club welcomed students of all experience levels. Some were learning to crochet for the first time, while others were excited to continue developing a skill they already enjoyed.

One student, Gianna, first learned crochet from her grandmother. She enjoyed spending recess practicing alongside classmates and hopes to crochet a blanket for her dog in the future.

Another student, Alissa, embraced the beginner foundations of crochet with patience and enthusiasm, learning to master the basic stitches while building her confidence. She enjoyed the process and took pride in seeing her skills improve with each session.

The club was inspired by Dr. Carroll’s years of experience teaching knitting and crochet to students as calming, creative activities that encourage sustained attention and perseverance.

“Learning a skilled craft takes patience, persistence, and intention,” Dr. Carroll shared. “It also gives students an opportunity to be mindful and embrace the satisfaction that comes from improving over time.”

Students shared that crocheting helped them feel calm and present, while creating a welcoming environment where they could learn from one another and express their creativity.

At the conclusion of the club, students were able to keep their crochet hooks and yarn so they could continue practicing and creating at home.

The activity became about more than learning stitches. It was an opportunity to connect with peers, build confidence, and discover the joy of creating something by hand.

Port Chester High School seniors proudly celebrated their future plans during the school’s May 1 College Signing Day celebration, an event designed to recognize and honor students as they prepare for their next chapter after graduation.

Students we

re invited to wear apparel representing their future colleges, universities, military service, career pathways, or post-secondary plans while also creating personalized lawn signs showcasing where they are headed after high school. The celebration featured a spirited parade through the school, led by the Port Chester High School Marching Band, as students were cheered on by classmates, staff, and the school community.

According to Director of Counseling Dr. Maeva Rich Kennedy, the event served as the culminating celebration of a weeklong College and Career Spirit Week organized by the PCHS Counseling Department.

“Our counseling team put a tremendous amount of work into creating activities throughout the week that built excitement around students’ future pathways,” Dr. Rich Kennedy shared. “The goal was to celebrate our seniors and promote pride in all of the different opportunities our students are pursuing after graduation.”

The celebration highlighted the many pathways Port Chester students are taking beyond high school, while reinforcing a school culture that encourages students to pursue their goals with confidence and pride.

From college acceptances and career plans to military service and specialized programs, the day served as a joyful reminder that success looks different for every student, and that every pathway deserves to be celebrated.