We are proud to announce that five Yorktown High School seniors — Akhil Bollimpalli, Jashvi Desai, Jack Falk, Siddharth Nair, and Connor Ropke — have been named semifinalists in the prestigious 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program!

This honor places them among the top 1% of high school seniors nationwide. Out of more than 1.3 million juniors who took the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT, only about 16,000 students earned this distinction.

Semifinalists now move forward in the competition for nearly $26 million in scholarships that will be awarded in the spring. About 95% are expected to advance to Finalist standing, with roughly half earning the title of National Merit Scholar.

Congratulations, Akhil, Jashvi, Jack, Siddharth, and Connor!

A student-driven project is making a world of difference for student drivers.

Downing Park’s commuter lot, better known by students and staff as the “C Lot,” was paved this summer thanks in part to the efforts of the newly formed Superintendent's Student Council.

Created in fall 2024 by Superintendent Ron Hattar, the middle school and high school councils were designed to amplify student voices and take on meaningful projects. At the high school, 16 student representatives focused on the C Lot, which is owned by the Town of Yorktown and operated by YCSD during school hours. The council raised concerns that uneven pavement and missing striping created safety issues for upperclassmen who park there.

“We unanimously agreed that paving the C Lot would benefit the student body not only today, but for many years to come,” said senior Patrick Reardon, a member of the Superintendent’s Student Council.

Senior Lauren Tamburelli added, “Since it was something that directly affects so many students, we felt it was important to take on. It was a necessary capital improvement, and we saw it as an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on student safety and daily life."

With the help of Dr. Hattar, the students secured a meeting with Town Supervisor Ed Lachterman and Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli. During the discussion, students advocated for paving both the upper and lower levels of the lot, as well as the entry ramp. The town agreed to move forward, with paving completed in August. The lot was also striped with spaces and directional arrows.

“The students made such articulate, passionate cases for paving the C Lot, and we’re so grateful to the town supervisor and highway superintendent for not only hearing the perspective and concerns of our students, but agreeing to pave the C Lot at the town’s expense,” said Dr. Hattar. “The students are incredibly happy and proud that they were able to influence such an important change in our community. This was student-driven, and we really respect our students for advocating for something they believe in.”

For council members, the payoff went beyond a smoother parking lot. They said the project created a safer environment for student drivers and gave them a sense of accomplishment in leaving behind a lasting improvement.

“It felt unreal driving in the C Lot for the first time since the paving,” said senior Gillian Grabowski. “It was so rewarding to see that we made this happen. It only started as an idea that we brought up in our meetings, but we took the steps to get this done. It's also been so gratifying to hear other students' reactions and the way it has brought everyone together to celebrate. It was wonderful to see the school administration and town officials come together, listen to students, and find a solution.”

Paving the C Lot was the council’s most visible achievement, but it was only one of several goals the students identified. Both the middle school and high school councils will resume their work in the 2025-26 school year, continuing to tackle projects and issues identified by students.

Innovation is thriving in the Yorktown Central School District!

Our Innovation Grants (iGrants) program was recently named a 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 by Character.org, a national organization that honors effective initiatives promoting character development in schools.

Launched in the 2023-24 school year, iGrants give our faculty and staff the chance to pitch their own ideas and receive funding for curriculum-driven projects that promote critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

Since then, iGrants have helped students run their own coffee cart, work with service dogs to build social-emotional skills, create and market food-truck concepts, design Disney-style attractions, and produce broadcasts using a professional green screen. Other projects have included a forensic science and genetics lab investigation in middle school, an elementary school garden, flexible seating at the high school, special glasses for all students to view the solar eclipse, and a playground communication board for non-verbal students.

We can’t wait to see what amazing ideas our teachers will come up with in the 2025-26 school year!

“The ASL program has taught me things I didn’t even know I wanted to learn about,” said rising eighth grader Joselyn Perl. “It has exceeded my expectations in many ways.”

Yorktown Central School District’s new American Sign Language (ASL) course wrapped up its first year with strong student engagement and growing excitement. Introduced last fall at both the middle and high school levels, the program is already set to expand in 2025–26 to offer more classes and reach more students.

Taught by Ms. Molly Dineen-Carey, the course covers the fundamentals of ASL — grammar, vocabulary, and conversational signing — while also exploring the culture and experiences of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Classmate Aislinn Downes added, “By learning ASL, students can connect with deaf and hard-of-hearing peers, which helps everyone feel seen and valued. It also encourages respect for Deaf culture and can even lead to future career opportunities. Overall, ASL builds a more inclusive, respectful, and connected school environment.”

A highlight of the year was a collaborative event in May with Ossining students, featuring immersive ASL activities and a panel discussion with members of the Deaf community. The event gave students a chance to apply their learning in a real-world setting.

“The panelists were the first Deaf people I’ve met,” said rising eighth grader Allison Xiao. “It was an amazing experience to see professionals come together and share real-life perspectives.”

“The ability to learn ASL and speak to Deaf people has been such a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” added classmate Olivia Rodman. “I’m so happy I got to be part of the program in its first year.”

For many students, the course sparked a lasting appreciation not only for the language, but for the people who use it.

“Each person’s signing reflects their experience, personality, and thoughtfulness, which makes ASL truly unique,” said rising eighth grader Sophia Daskaleas. “I wanted to experience a fun subject full of learning, and this program went beyond my expectations, even helping me in other subjects like English and Social Studies.”

Students are already looking ahead to September, eager to continue their studies, expand their vocabulary, and deepen their understanding of Deaf culture.