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Inside My New Castle

Two Great Volunteer Ambulance Corps

August 5, 2015 by The Inside Press

chapp ambulanceFor more than 75 years, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps has provided emergency care to those who visit, live, or work in New Castle. Today’s volunteers are your neighbors–teachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, parents, and grandparents. CVAC responds to more than 500 calls annually attending to medical emergencies that include everything from falls and illness to motor vehicle accidents. Volunteers respond to a wide variety of 911 calls, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls include at home accidents or illnesses, motor vehicle accidents, and any form of medical emergency in our district. Sometimes the patient may decline the ambulance but most times we transport the patient to an emergency room for further medical care. On some calls, paramedics arrive to assume patient care, and we assist them. To volunteer, no experience or background in emergency care is necessary or required; training is free and provided by CVAC.

chappaquaambulance.org

ossining vol ambulanceThe Ossining Volunteer Ambulance Corps volunteer and career members provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Members come from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. EMT classes are offered in neighboring communities in conjunction with the Phelps Pre-Hospital Training Department. First Aid and CPR courses are also taught by our members as needed for anyone interested. Volunteers participate in community events such as parades, standbys at church bazaars and street fairs, make presentations in our schools in addition to the primary responsibility of answering emergency medical care calls.

ossiningvac.org

Filed Under: Inside My New Castle Tagged With: Ambulance, Chappaqua, community, Ossining, volunteer

The Joy of Recreation and Parks

August 5, 2015 by The Inside Press

10K Race.people girl fishing ragamuffins

We are very proud of our Recreation and Parks Department in New Castle, where there is something for everyone. We have one of the finest art workshops in Westchester County, along with a wide range of children’s programs from infants to toddlers and pre-schoolers as well as a very successful dance program. Looking for camp? We offer Summer Camps for children ages 4 through 8th grade along with Specialty Camps such as Soccer, Lacrosse and Basketball. Annual events include the much loved Halloween Ragamuffin Parade, a free Fishing Derby and a very challenging 10K Road Race which traverses the hilly terrain of New Castle. In cooperation with the Chappaqua-Millwood Chamber of Commerce, we offer a series of summer concerts at Recreation Field. We have our fair share of youth sports here in town as well; youth athletic programs include Baseball/Softball, 

Lacrosse, Soccer, Field Hockey,
Football, Wrestling and Basketball.

For more info, call 914-238-3909 or visit mynewcastle.org

Robert O. Snyder

Superintendent of Recreation & Parks

rsnyder@mynewcastle.org

Exploring our Grand Parks

 

Glazier Arboretum
Glazier Arboretum / Photo by Jolie Simpson

One of New Castle’s greatest draws is its natural beauty with its very own network of parks and sanctuaries. For the outdoor enthusiast, the Town boasts an award winning park system, states Snyder. “We are proud of our 549 acres of parkland which comprises seven separate parks and two preserves.” Town parks and preserves include Amsterdam, Burden, Gedney, Glazier, Millwood Park, Recreation Field, Sunny Ridge, Warburg, and Whippoorwill, with facilities including hiking trails, ball fields, and playgrounds.

The Saw Mill River Audubon Society, with headquarters at 275 Millwood Road in Chappaqua, maintains eight local wildlife sanctuaries. Two in particular, Pruyn Sanctuary and Pinecliff Sanctuary, are ideal for a leisurely country walk. Trail maps are posted at each site and the trails are open to the public from dawn to dusk.

Whipporwill Park
Whipporwill Park / Photo by Jolie Simpson

Pruyn Sanctuary (pronounced Prine), 92 acres off Route 133, has three miles of wide open walking and running trails. Public Parking is available at both entrances, the garden entrance at the Pruyn home (off Route 133, two miles east of Millwood or just before the train entrance at the end of Woodmill Road.

Photo by Jolie Simpson
Photo by Jolie Simpson

Following the Fern and Pruyn trails will take you on a dirt road with sections of boardwalk through a pond, arboretum, and a butterfly and hummingbird garden. There’s enough terrain change to make this an interesting walk requiring moderate endurance. If you prefer something less rigorous, try the Pinecliff Sanctuary at the end of Pinecliff Road in Chappaqua. This site offers a quarter mile of wheelchair accessible boardwalk, allowing everyone the chance to experience nature. Benches and interpretive signs dot the path taking you through a pond and red maple swamp, a especially rich habitat of local birds. Stroll through in ten minutes or repeat the loop, or try the additional half mile of upland trails which connect to the boardwalk.

fall parks page pic
A Chappaqua Lake. Photo by Don Emmert/Afp/Getty Images

New Castle also maintains several area parks ideal for walking and running include Gedney and Whippoorwill Parks. Gedney Park, the less remote of the two, has a year round comfort station, and a popular playground. Whippoorwill is populated with wildlife so be cautious.

And whether you are rollerblading or just looking for the perfect place to push a stroller, your best best is the 26-mile North Country Trailway maintained by the Westchester County Department of Parks. A popular section of the trail starts in Millwood. Public parking is just off Route 133, near Millwood Town Plaza. Take the well paved path north to the trailway bridge where you’ll be surrounded by natural beauty. Walkers, bikers, hikers and in line skaters are all welcome. Use caution where the road crosses public roads. For trail maps and parking information, visit westchestergov.com

Filed Under: Inside My New Castle Tagged With: Activities, fishing, outdoors, parks, running

Community Day, Pancake Breakfast & So Much More

August 5, 2015 by The Inside Press

Community Day Bouncy CastlePromoting the idea of “service above self,” the Rotary Club consists of neighbors, friends and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our community. As one of their many ways of carrying out this mantra, Rotarians raise money to fund various charitable organizations and causes, including the Horace Greeley Scholarship Fund, the Food Bank of Westchester, the Open Door Foundation, and End Polio Now. The club typically hosts a guest speaker at each of their weekly luncheon meetings, associated with a given organization, who will elaborate on their cause, to which the club could consider for a donation at the end of the year.

Additionally, the club sponsors charitable events including the annual Pancake Breakfast & Blood Drive, held each Spring at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin; and Charter Night, held around February or March, wherein club members honor both a Rotarian and a community member, each of whom have fully demonstrated the “service above self” motto through their commitment to volunteer work in New Castle neighborhoods. The honorees receive the Paul Harris award, named for the original founder of the Rotary Club International, and the Community Service Award, respectively.

The biggest and most buzzed-about Rotary Club-sponsored event, however, comes in the form of Community Day. Held annually each September at the Chappaqua Metro-North train station, the event serves not only as a fundraiser for various not-for-profits, but also acts as a means to bring people to the center of the community, make them aware of the particular organizations, and strengthen the neighborhood bond. Fusing booths that advertise worthy causes and town merchants with bouncy castles, music, face painting, rides, and cotton candy, Chappaqua Community Day is always a huge hit for residents of all ages. The 2015 Community Day is set for September 26th.

community day two girlsIf this all seems exciting to you, the good news is that applying for membership is easier than ever! Rates are offered at four different fixed stages (full, active, friend, and guest), so if it looks like your busy schedule won’t allow you to attend every meeting, you can still be considered as a Rotary Club member! Note: While any New Castle community member may become a Rotarian, all must be approved by members of the current Rotary group.

“Friendship, involvement, and community service probably sums it up,” says Rotary Co-President Peter Davidson. “And learning [about charitable organizations] through our speakers program.”

Keep in mind, he adds, whether you are a community member contemplating applying to Rotary, or a current Rotarian carrying out your club duties, “in addition to what we do locally, Rotary International [the main Rotary service organization] has a world-wide impact.” And it’s for that reason why they do what they do, and why their service work is so crucial to the function of our community.

chappaquarotaryclub.com

Filed Under: Inside My New Castle Tagged With: Blood Drive, Breakfast, community, community day, New Castle, Pancakes, Rotary Club

Welcome to Excellence in Education!

August 5, 2015 by The Inside Press

Lyn McKayThe Chappaqua Central School District is a nationally renowned suburban school system characterized by highly motivated students, a well-educated and talented staff, and an actively involved parent community. We have a strong, interdisciplinary academic program and remain committed to providing an excellent education for all students in Chappaqua. The Chappaqua Central School District provides an education for the future. Our students communicate, collaborate and create in supportive, rigorous learning environments. They become confident critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators. We are transforming education as we know it by creating active learning environments where students are working cooperatively toward a common goal, exchanging ideas, and relying on one another to create a product or arrive at a solution that is greater than the contribution of any individual. Our students perform well on the Regents exams, SATs and other measures of academic achievement, and our schools consistently rank among the top schools in the county, state and the nation.

As educators, we continually ask, “What kinds of citizens do we want our students to be while in school and when they graduate from high school?” Of course we want them to have acquired a deep understanding of many subjects. Our vision also is to graduate students who are thoughtful, creative, curious, participate in meaning-making inquiry, are proactive, use their imaginations, are inventive, can formulate hypotheses, can communicate their ideas and thinking and interact well with others, and are personally reflective. These are the students who will be ready for college and the work world.

While we embrace our long history of offering a rigorous curriculum for core subjects as well as a wide range of elective courses that challenge and empower students, we also know that extra-curricular activities and athletics play a key role. They provide students with so many positive experiences that help them become well-rounded individuals. Whether it’s pursuing their passions, discovering hidden talents, meeting people they might otherwise not encounter, or stepping outside of their comfort zones as they pursue something new and completely different, our students receive a complete and comprehensive K-12 educational experience. For more information, please visit ccsd.ws or call 914-238-7200.

Best,

Lyn McKay, PhD

Superintendent of Chappaqua Schools

The Chappaqua Central School District

Moving to New Castle?
Close to 4,000 students attend three elementary schools (K-4), two middle schools (5-8), and one high school (9-12). To see if an address falls within the boundaries of the Chappaqua Central School District, or to determine for which elementary or middle school an address is zoned, please contact the District Registrar at (914) 238-7200 x1007.

IconTHE CHAPP APP
Key features of the Chapp App include news and instant alerts; events and athletics calendars; lunch menus; District and staff contact information; Board of Ed. Information; and so much more! The Chapp App is free and available for Apple and Android devices.

School Board
The Chappaqua Board of Education is composed of five members elected by the community. They establish the policies and practices that ensure a high quality education for every student. The Board also is responsible for the proper governance and effective fiscal management of all aspects of the District’s operations, schools and facilities. To reach the board, write to: board@ccsd.ws

 

Schools

 

Douglas G. Grafflin Elementary SchoolElementary 2

650 King St. • 238-7204 • dg.ccsd.ws

Roaring Brook Elementary School

530 Quaker Rd. • 238-7205• rb.ccsd.ws

Westorchard Elementary School

25 Granite Rd. • 238-7206 • wo.ccsd.ws

Elementary 1

Elementary 5The District’s three elementary schools serve approximately 1,360 students in grades K through 4. Each school fosters a love of learning in a nurturing environment that promotes mutual respect and encourages social responsibility. The emphasis is on higher-level thinking skills with the development of essential skills to provide a strong foundation for students to become life-long learners. The schools are organized in heterogeneous classes with comprehensive support services and technology integrated into the curriculum. The instrumental music program (lessons and group instruction) begins in fourth grade, with students selecting from a variety of string, woodwind, and brass instruments to play as they embark on their exploration of band or orchestra participation.

Elementary 3Elementary teachers nourish students’ emotional lives and guide their social development, instilling in them an appreciation of self-worth, of individual difference, and of global interdependence. They help them learn how to manage freedom and to act ethically so that each may become a responsible, contributing member of a global society, and are supported in their work by a variety of special area teachers as well as teaching specialists. While responsible for covering the District’s challenging curriculum, teachers are encouraged to use their individual talents and interests for the benefit of their students.

Elementary 4The end result is a caring and nurturing child-focused environment with student projects and artwork covering just about every inch of the hallways.

Middle School 3Seven Bridges Middle School

222 Seven Bridges Rd. • 238-7203 • sb.ccsd.ws

Robert E. Bell Middle School

50 Senter St. • 238-7202 • bs.ccsd.ws

Chappaqua’s two middle schools serve approximately 1,270 students in grades 5 through 8. Each school recognizes that young adolescents have unique developmental needs on cognitive, social, emotional and physical levels. The middle school program addresses these needs and builds upon the attributes and unique skills and abilities of every student while providing them with a strong academic foundation.

Middle School 5Middle School 1Middle School 2 The middle schools also embrace a team-teaching philosophy, with staff meeting daily to discuss student needs, curricular and instructional issues, and to communicate with parents and support personnel. Students practice creativity and are committed to learning and growth. They are good writers and speakers who express themselves well in many media, and are open minded and at ease collaborating and cooperating with others. They study core subjects and take courses in technology, computers, art, music, physical education, health and family and consumer science. Foreign language instruction begins in the 5th grade when students have the option of taking Latin, French, or Spanish.

Middle School 4

In addition to exploring mini-courses designed to promote critical thinking
and analytical skills, there are extensive after-school programs, which include modified sports and clubs and organizations that address other interests of young adolescents.

High School 5Horace Greeley High School

70 Roaring Brook Rd. • 238-7201 • hg.ccsd.ws

High School 1Greeley students are self-motivated and highly engaged as they are taught to think critically and collaborate to solve problems in all courses. In addition to core subjects (most students take English, social studies, math, science, and foreign language classes through their senior year,) students are committed to the fine and performing arts and have an opportunity to take any number of the dozens of electives offered–including shared online courses, a science research course, independent study, and the senior experience internship program. Over two-thirds of the student body participate in more than 85 clubs and organizations, publish two student newspapers and play on over 70 sports teams.

High School 2 High School 3Greeley has an iLab, a maker space, and a visual arts lab. These student-centered learning environments support small and large group instruction, independent study, and team collaboration. Students can roll up their sleeves and actively participate in problem-based learning, divergent thinking and knowledge creation.

High School 4The L.I.F.E. School (Learning Independently From Experience) is an alternative high school on the Greeley campus for approximately 60 juniors and seniors. L.I.F.E. utilizes innovative strategies of teaching and learning, and students play a major role in designing their learning experiences, which include internships, independent projects, and other off-campus experiences.

Filed Under: Inside My New Castle Tagged With: Chappaqua, education, school

The Chappaqua PTA: Enriching Student Education

August 5, 2015 by The Inside Press

IMG_2525

The Chappaqua PTA is a parent-run, volunteer organization that operates on a district-wide level, as well as in all six Chappaqua public schools. The PTA works with parents, teachers and administrators to enrich the education that Chappaqua students receive. Through its 16 district-wide and nearly 175 school-based committees, the PTA sponsors numerous programs and special events. The PTA welcomes new families and encourages parents to get involved; PTA activities are a terrific way to meet new people and have fun!

The following is a small sample of PTA- sponsored activities:

IMG_4638District-Wide: Learning to Look art appreciation program, Young Writers’ Workshop, the Chappaqua STEM Fest, parent education programming & R21K (Raising 21st Century Kids), special education programming and advocacy related to public education.

Elementary Schools: Author’s Days, book fairs, Bookpack programs, publishing centers, family movie nights, picnics/BBQs and seasonal fairs, sustainability and philanthropic efforts, cultural enrichment, After School Enrichment and theater programs.

IMG_3272Middle Schools: Cultural enrichment, grade level social events, theater programs, special school events such as International Day, Career Day for 8th Graders and talent shows, as well as support for school clubs.

IMG_3251Horace Greeley High School: Annual Art Show, Community Service Expo, support for student activities such as the SHARE Blood Drives and Midnight Runs; Freshman Orientation, trips/socials, Freshman pasta dinner, Sophomore & Junior events such as New Driver’s Orientation and College Night, Senior Year activities such as Senior Barbeque, Beach Day, Health Day, Color Wars, Graduation Party and Annual Reunion.

For more information, please visit: chappaquapta.net

Filed Under: Inside My New Castle Tagged With: Classes, Events, schools, Student

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