Austin Road Elementary School

Austin Road News & Headlines

• Travel Channel star takes over Mrs. Cerbini class

   While most Austin Road Elementary students get a bit restless and distracted on a grey, cold Monday just before Thanksgiving recess, Mary Jean Cerbini’s fifth grade class was attentive, inquisitive and focused.  All eyes and ears were on Don Wildman, Travel Channel’s host of "Mysteries at the Museum," "Monumental Mysteries" and "Greatest Mysteries.”

  Wildman, a personal friend of Cerbini, took over Social Studies class with lively stories from filming and researching shows for “Mysteries at the Museum.”  He started with theories on Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and engaged a thought-provoking class discussion on theory validation. 

  Doing what he does best, Wildman then smoothly transitioned to UFO and extraterrestrial sitings that led to testing the clandestine surveillance forces of the Unites States Airforce’s “Area 51” in a helicopter.

  The students were given an assignment from Wildman to read a book that is at least one and a half inches thick. He explained to them that his first “big” book was about the civil war which fueled his interest and eventual career into exploring history.

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• Community Survey: Capital Project Planning

  STRONGER SCHOOLS = STRONGER COMMUNITIES: We want to hear from you!

  Over the past several years, the Mahopac Central School District has taken great strides to improve and expand upon the academic program offered to students. Now, the district must also focus on the community’s investment in our school buildings to support our students for college and career-readiness.

  Capital improvements under consideration include:

  • STEAM & Science Instructional Upgrades
  • Music & Performing Arts Upgrades
  • Renovating Libraries to Multimedia Centers
  • Safety & Security Improvements
  • Athletic Fields & Facilities

  Together, we can develop a plan to address critical issues in our buildings to ensure a safe and strong learning environment for our students. The Board of Education and administration would like the community’s input as it begins to develop this plan.

  Please take a brief moment to take the survey, CLICK HERE – this will be open for community input until Friday, December 14.

  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MahopacSchools

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• Buddy Bench

  The Buddy Bench, a dedicated place at elementary school playgrounds where a student can sit if feeling lonely or bullied, has generated national attention in recent years and has even been the subject of a TED Talk.

  About five years ago, the Buddy Bench concept originated with a boy named Christian Bucks who was reviewing brochures about potential new schools in Germany with his mother. They were preparing to move there for his father’s new job. He would be the new kid. He was just in first grade, but he understood what feeling lonely on a playground looks like. He’d seen it at his own elementary school in York, Pa.

  However, one German school he and his mom looked at had a solution for this. It was called the Buddy Bench, and if a child was sitting on it alone, it was a signal to the other kids to ask him or her to play. Although Christian’s family did not end up moving to Germany, the boy is credited with introducing Buddy Benches to the United States. He brought the idea to his principal, Matthew Miller, and the two immediately set out to install a Buddy Bench in his school, Roundtown Elementary. Their project was covered by the local newspaper and went viral.

  Eighth-grader Becca Lomas decided to extend the Buddy Bench ideology as part of her bat mitzah by raising funds so benches can be in the Middle School – and Austin Road too!  Becca is an inspiring example of the values we uphold at Austin Road and our community.

   

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• Alphabet Couture!

  Each year, Mahopac’s Kindergarten students participate in ABC Bootcamp by studying a letter a day for 26 days! To celebrate completion of ABC Bootcamp, the kindergartners created a fashion show donning their handmade, custom letter design

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• Austin Road RUNNING Tradition & Top Finishers

  Fostering student athletes beginning, the #MahopacWay tradition lives on with the annual Mahopac Elementary Schools Cross Country and 5K races held in October. Students begin to develop the basic running fundamentals and learn the health benefits training for these running events.  “Our aim is to create not just life-long learners but life-long runners, as well,” said Lauren Kittredge, Austin Road Physical Education teacher and 5K organizer.  In fact, high school students from the cross country and track teams return to their roots and help with the races.

  The Cross Country race includes all students who run by age on the Lakeview grounds.  The 5K is made up of 4th and 5th graders who’ve committed to train before school before race day at FDR Park. This year’s 5K race was a record setting finish with all participants finishing under 41 minutes.  

  Austin Road finished big with top finishers:

   

  Boys

  1^st Aidan Paris-Devane (Austin Road) 21:21

  2^nd  Vince Cataldo (Austin Road) 21:49

  Girls

  2^nd  Niamh Kelleher  (Austin Road)  24:14

  3^rd Fiona Kelleher (Austin Road) 24:30

  We are so proud of all Austin Road student athletes!

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• Take a Stand. Lend a Hand.

  Along with schools across the country, the Mahopac Schools participated in a week-long celebration of making healthy choices and community connections with Red Ribbon Week.  By helping students build a foundation of mindfulness to themselves and their community, the risk of substance abuse is lessened.
  “Substance abuse prevention starts with the promotion of good mental health in kids and teens,” said Valarie Nierman, MCSD Health Coordinator.  The District is committed to helping each individual student.  Read more.

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