The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Byram Hills Education Foundation

Beyond the Budget: The Byram Hills Education Foundation Impact

by

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE
BYRAM HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

For thirty years, the Byram Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) has been instrumental in shaping Byram Hills into one of the most renowned districts in our area. A non-profit organization, made up of volunteer parents, school administrators and educators, the BHEF has become the district’s innovative engine, enhancing education for all students by funding grants that are beyond the school district’s budget.

With over $6 million awarded – its impact can be felt everywhere. “The BHEF is capable of doing what school budgets cannot do alone. The BHEF has been behind major initiatives of the District for decades, from 1:1 technology initiatives to library renovations and program development. EVERY child in Byram Hills benefits from the support of the BHEF–at every turn in their school years–and that is a big part of what distinguishes a Byram Hills education,” says Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia.

Working collaboratively with the district and community, everyone can help shape the future of Byram Hills by sharing grant ideas, donating and taking part in events.

Every Child, Every Day

The BHEF relies entirely on the generosity of families and businesses. Last year, the BHEF awarded over $575,000 for 20 new grants benefitting every school. These grants nurture every aspect of the educational experience such as a cutting-edge theater projector that creates digital scenery, a new Executive Functioning program, the first Fashion Design course, an outdoor ropes course, and innovative 3D Lego kits and social-emotional resources.

The BHEF has also pledged $1MM towards the district’s transformative “Lights, Learning, Action!” initiative, bridging the gap between the budget and the $9MM project cost. With the foundation’s support, the 1965 BHHS library and lecture hall wing was re-imagined into a collegiate quality Learning Commons and a second turf field was added. Donations are still needed to install permanent outdoor lights on BHHS fields and courts – bringing the thrill of night events to Byram Hills.

Taking Byram Hills Beyond Limits

Byram Hills is a special district. While our schools offer extraordinary opportunities, they operate on a public-school budget. Many of the programs and facilities that set a Byram Hills education apart – from innovative curriculum, cutting edge technology, wellness resources and modern learning spaces – were made possible by the BHEF.

There are many ways to support the foundation’s mission, including corporate sponsorships and BHEF Leadership Circles that include donor benefits. Donations of any amount are truly appreciated and make a difference. Byram Hills graduates can also leave their legacy with a personalized brick on the new Bobcat Alumni Walkway, paving the way for future bobcats.

What Will You Make Possible?

This is an exciting time to be at Byram Hills! Whether your child is at Coman Hill, Wampus, HCC or BHHS, your donations today to the BHEF will elevate their Byram Hills experience for years to come. YOU can help our children learn and grow beyond limits.

Donate: supportbhef.org
Learn: byramhillsfoundation.org
Follow: Facebook Instagram
Get in touch: BHEF1@byramhills.org

Byram Hills Ranked No. 1 Public High School in Westchester

by

Christopher Walsh, Principal, and Dr. Jen Lamia, Superintendent   PHOTO BY Elise Trainor

Receiving well-deserved recognition, Byram Hills High School was ranked as the number one public high school in Westchester County in Westchester Magazine’s March 2024 issue. The Inside Press asked me to explore the “why” behind the ranking. It is particularly noteworthy as Westchester is home to some of the best high schools in the country. Factors considered included college readiness, average class size, student-to-teacher ratio, SAT scores, the number of counselors, the number of AP courses, and more.

“It’s very exciting when the district is recognized for our strong academic and extracurricular programs. An acknowledgement from Westchester Magazine as the #1 high school in Westchester is a credit to a strong school community that places students at the center of what we do,” says Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia.

Innovative Programs

“I marvel at how the faculty, staff, and administration continue to develop opportunities for students to find their individual passions and excel,” says Lamia.

The opportunities are endless. Students interested in robotics and coding can immerse themselves in the robotics course and participate in competitions. Extensive offerings abound in the Fine Arts department, including metalsmithing, jewelry making, ceramics, and photography. Available to seniors who qualify is “Perspectives in Literature,” an integrated study that includes literature, philosophy, art, and an intensive writing experience.

One of the most recognized programs at Byram Hills is the award-winning Authentic Science Research program, a three-year program in which students complete independent research under the mentorship of professional scientists. Students submit their research to the Regeneron Science Talent Search (“STS”). Byram Hills touts 132 “Top 300 scholars” and 23 national finalists in the Regeneron STS since 1991.

Two other thriving programs that are distinct to our district are the Global Scholars Program and the StartUp Entrepreneurship Program. Both began as pilot programs sponsored by the Byram Hills Education Foundation (the “BHEF”) and have been very well-received.

According to the Byram Hills website, Global Scholars is an “interdisciplinary three-year program…[in which] students investigate global issues, analyze diverse perspectives, communicate ideas effectively in both English and a second language, and take action.”

The StartUp program, which began in 2022, most recently had 35 members of the community acting as mentors to the students in their start-ups. The two-year program allows students to create and launch their own business or social enterprise. Guest speakers are invited to talk to the kids about starting a business. This past year, they held an exciting evening competition à la “Shark Tank” with parents and business owners in the community acting as judges.

“Byram Hills’ number one ranking is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our teachers, faculty, and the entire community,” says BHEF board member Ally Wolland. “The BHEF plays a critical role in this success story. By funding faculty and teacher-written grants across the district, the BHEF addresses specific needs at each grade level and school. Impactful programs like the Global Scholars program and the StartUP program exemplify the BHEF’s influence.”

“For me, as a parent and BHEF board member, what most exemplifies the essential partnership between the BHEF and the district was the BHEF’s facilitation of an emergency meeting during the pandemic to secure funding to purchase Viewsonic technology to aid in reopening and remote learning,” explains Wolland. “A vibrant and supportive education foundation like the BHEF is a rare gem in public schools. I am incredibly grateful for the profound impact the BHEF has on our school district…”

An Engaged Community and Happy Families

“This ranking was an acknowledgment of the strength of our entire district. We have such a wonderful community, and it starts from the great support we get from the Board of Education and District Administrators. We have families who are incredibly supportive of the work we are doing and appreciate the collective efforts that go into educating their children,” says Byram Hills High School Principal Chris Walsh.

“We have students who have been given a great foundation in learning going all the way back to their first day in kindergarten through every grade level and school in the district. I am most happy for our faculty and staff here at the high school that they can take pride in this and know that their professionalism, care, and expertise are recognized on a regional level. Overall, the ranking helps to reinforce that Byram Hills High School is a special place where students benefit from the highest quality educators, supportive district, and collaborative community.”

For area realtors, who promote the positive aspects of living here all the time, the good news about Byram Hills was not surprising. “As an alum of Byram Hills and lifelong resident of Armonk, I am thrilled that our high school has been named #1 in Westchester County,” says Stacey Sporn, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at William Raveis. “This recognition highlights the dedication of our teachers, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of our community. Growing up here, I experienced firsthand the exceptional education and the strong sense of community that defines our town. It’s no surprise that more families are choosing to move here, drawn by our top-notch schools and the welcoming, vibrant atmosphere that makes this area a wonderful place to live and raise a family,”

“I think the district’s recognition of talent is what contributes to Byram Hill’s excellence,” says Harriet Libov, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Houlihan Lawrence. “The district always looks to the best in faculty to promote from within. For example, Superintendent Lamia was my daughter’s middle school teacher back in the day. Similarly, many of the administrators and principals were promoted after proven success in our district. I feel fortunate that both my kids, each with very different interests, soared academically and socially as a result of what Byram Hills had to offer. Moreover, as adults today, they remain friends with their Byram Hills classmates.”

“Byram Hills High School created an environment in which both of my daughters were able to grow and thrive intellectually and socially,” says Stacee Massoni Blatte, Armonk parent and Associate Broker at Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s. “They had the opportunity to take classes that both challenged and interested them. The immense support they received from their teachers enabled them to excel and equipped them with the resources necessary to continue to flourish throughout their college experiences at the University of Pennsylvania.”

Always Moving Forward

Whether advancing the curriculum or the social and emotional well-being of the students, Byram Hills is always thinking how best to serve its students. A recent district-wide vote approved the use of eight million dollars of the capital reserve fund for the “Lights, Learning, Action!” renovation project at the high school to create The Learning Commons, a reconstruction of the library; install a turf field; and add lighting on all fields and courts.

“Our school community is best exemplified by a senior who told me recently that the thought of leaving Byram Hills and graduating makes her cry – that’s the heart of it all – and I think it’s the school community that does it. We are continually on the flywheel of moving forward for kids,” says Lamia.

Byram Hills High School Juniors and Seniors Honored at Awards Ceremony

by

Byram Hills High School juniors and seniors were honored for their individual achievements at the annual awards ceremony on May 25 in the high school theater.

“We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the achievements of all of the students who are behind me on stage,” Principal Christopher Walsh said. “It’s been such an incredible year, for so many reasons, for our high school community.”

This year, Byram Hills students were recognized by organizations including the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, the New York State School Music Association, Regeneron, the College Board, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, Con Edison, Section 1 Athletics, and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. 

“Countless other local, state, national and international organizations recognized Byram Hills students for their achievements,” Mr. Walsh said. “Our students were celebrated for their work in and out of the classrooms, both at school and on the road, and even remotely.” 

He thanked the students’ families for their endless support.

“None of the students would be able to be up here without all that you do for them,” Mr. Walsh said of the students seated on the stage. “Thank you for the hours and hours of support that enabled them to achieve so much.”

The top honor for a graduating senior, the Hy Blatte-Jack Wollenberg Memorial Award, is given to a student with a humanitarian outlook, a willingness to extend himself for others, and an optimistic approach to life and its challenges. 

Mr. Walsh presented the award to Ross Eagle, hailing him for his leadership, involvement and willingness to help.

“This student always looks on the bright side and sees challenges as an opportunity for growth and learning,” Mr. Walsh said. “He is kind, compassionate and cares deeply for his community. This student reflects the values of Byram Hills High School.”

Along with the award, Ross received a $1,000 scholarship from the PTSA, $100 to donate to a charity of his choice, and by tradition, gave a speech during the ceremony. 

“When looking back on our time at the high school, it was nothing short of unusual, and a true test of our resilience,” Ross said, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had shifted the mindset of students. “But it taught us an important lesson: that is, to make the most of the time we have and not to worry about the things that are out of our control.”

The PTSA Caruolo Leadership Award, which is decided by a student vote and comes with a $1,000 scholarship, was presented by Assistant Principal Kristen Sautner to senior Irene Byrnes.

The award goes to a student who demonstrates outstanding leadership and exhibits character, dedication, loyalty and humanity. Ms. Sautner noted that Irene is described as dynamic, intelligent, fun loving, kind to all and always willing to lend a helping hand. 

“She has strength in her convictions and has shown that she can support and lift up others while also making her voice and point of view heard,” Ms. Sautner said. “This student works hard to ensure the success of those around her. She is also known for being astute and recognizing when a fellow classmate may be in need of help and demonstrates genuine care and willingness to assist others.”

The awards ceremony was filled with applause and pride as dozens of students were recognized, a wonderful way to kick off the end of the academic year.

 

News and photo courtesy of the Byram Hills School District

 

The Byram Hills Education Foundation Funding Our Students’ Futures

by

The View Sonic at Byram Hills High School

As a Byram Hills parent, I have often marveled throughout the years over the state-of-the-art technology and innovative programming available to our students in our local public school. Byram Hills families have been fortunate to have the Byram Hills Education Foundation (“BHEF”) brainstorming and funding visionary grants complementing an already stellar school district. The BHEF is a non-profit group that has awarded over 430 grants totaling over $5 million since 1994.

The mission of the BHEF is to enhance the education of all students in the Byram Hills school district by funding grants that encourage learning and personal development. The BHEF is governed by a board of directors representing a broad spectrum of the community. The board is comprised of 27 voting directors, consisting of parent and community volunteers. In addition, a group of non-voting board members include Byram Hills Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia, a teacher representative from each school, and representatives from the board of education.

The BHEF funds two main types of grants: insta-grants and signature grants. Insta-grants can be submitted by teachers at any point in the year, are capped at $2500, and must be implemented that same school year. Signature grants are typically bigger in dollar, can be implemented over two years, and typically follow a lengthier review process. The BHEF relies entirely on donations from parents and the community to fund grants.

Wampus Art/Courtyard

Facilitating Getting Kids Back to School

Last summer, in response to the schools being shut down and the challenges posed by the Covid pandemic, the BHEF fast-tracked their grant review process and supplied cutting edge ViewSonic Virtual Classroom technology, an idea spearheaded by Dr. Andrew Taylor, Director of Technology at Byram Hills, that allowed our teachers to implement effective hybrid learning for students in different locations through a touch screen monitor and accompanying software that served as a hub in each classroom. They also outfitted every school with new shaded outdoor spaces for socially distanced learning and fresh air mask breaks.

“This was very quick from idea to inception,” recalls Jessica Bond, BHEF president, “but we were able to get it done because of the great collaboration and communication we have with the administration.”

The BHEF Is An Innovation Engine

“The BHEF is capable of doing what school budgets cannot do alone. The BHEF has been behind major initiatives of the District for decades, from 1:1 technology initiatives to library renovations and program development. EVERY child in Byram Hills benefits from the support of the BHEF–at every turn in their school years–and that is a big part of what distinguishes a Byram Hills education,” says Dr. Lamia.

Grant ideas can come from a variety of sources. Teachers are encouraged to submit grant proposals. “It is their classroom,” says Bond, “and if they want to try something innovative or have a need, that’s why we’re here and we try to get that message out to them.”

To generate ideas and foster community involvement, the BHEF has also organized roundtable discussions with the donor leadership members, the Benefactor and Bobcat levels, to brainstorm grant ideas. “We discuss what we hope our kids will have learned upon graduating here and how we want them to feel; things like independence, being an innovative thinker, and happy. Then we talk about what grants might achieve that and where parents currently see successes and opportunities in our schools,” explains Bond. The BHEF holds multiple community and donor events throughout the year and welcomes the community’s input.

Once a year, the BHEF participates in a forum with other school foundations, such as Bronxville, Chappaqua and Edgemont, where they also share and discuss grant initiatives. Throughout its process, the BHEF maintains an open dialogue with the administration. “We work hand in hand with Dr. Lamia and the principals throughout the year to understand where our schools and students need our support and to translate that into successful grants that our community will rally behind,” explains Bond.

Photos courtesy of the Byram Hills Education Foundation

Game-changers for the Students

Every year, the grants have been impressive game-changers for the students. This year introduced the ViewSonic technology, enabling virtual learning, and the Written Out Loud program, where kids learned the power of storytelling by writing and publishing their own books. Last year, the Creative Arts Community Center grant created an indoor and outdoor community space at Wampus connecting two contemporary art studios to an outdoor space that will support student learning.

In 2019, the Wellness for Life grant funded a partnership with the nationally recognized Stanford University’s Challenge Success program to assess and support student wellness. The Wellness Initiative in 2018 built an indoor educational playspace at Coman Hill to be used year-round and an outdoor obstacle course at Wampus, all to nurture students’ physical and mental wellness.

The Library 2.0 renovations in 2017 at Coman Hill, Wampus, and H.C. Crittenden integrated STEAM and Makers Spaces, updated presentation technology, modernized learning spaces, and connected the library and computer labs. The Full STEAM Ahead grant and STEAM Labs initiative in 2016 renovated technology labs and gave students at all academic levels exposure to coding, robotics, engineering, electronics, and 3D modeling. Much what Byram Hills families have come to take for granted in the classrooms now was initially funded by the BHEF, from the smart boards to the chromebooks to the cloud computer.

The BHEF also funds smaller but very impactful grants throughout the year. A few examples include new podcasting equipment, alternative classroom seating to support all types of learners, Kindle e-readers, specialized “pupil core eye tracking” glasses for research and athletic projects, a solar telescope, Byram Hills’ first greenhouse to study plants, and much more.

The global scholars program at the high school, which began as a pilot, started with the idea of providing students an alternative to the acclaimed science research program and creating a global competency in students to teach them how to be citizens of the world. The BHEF took a chance and funded a professional development trip to Nicaragua for teachers to learn how to bring this program to Byram Hills, which has since developed into a well-loved robust program.

One of the newest projects funded by the BHEF is the construction of Crittenden Commons, a multi-sport court for basketball, volleyball, street hockey and other sports with an amphitheater style seating area. The seating area will extend outdoor learning opportunities at the middle school. “The English teachers are already picturing doing Shakespeare outside,” says Bond.

How to Donate

Donations of any amount are welcome online at SupportByramHills.org. The Benefactor Circle for those who give $1500 or more and the Bobcat Circle for those who give $750 up to $1499 are leadership circles which include exciting benefits. Additionally, for anyone interested in honoring a teacher, a “teacher tribute” can be ordered online at SupportByramHills.org and the BHEF will send your teacher a special certificate notifying them of your gift in their honor. The BHEF sponsors many fun events throughout the year including an Outdoor Family Movie Night (10/2/21) and a Spring Bash (2022 date TBD). Corporate sponsorships are available with benefits and volunteer opportunities are available for anyone that wants to get involved.  Contact the BHEF at bhef1@byramhills.org.

2019 Citizen and Organization of the Year

by

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARMONK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Armonk Chamber of Commerce has announced its 2019 Citizen and Organization of the Year. The recipients were selected due to their long-term volunteer commitment to help improve the North Castle Community. The Chamber pointed out that this year’s honorees “have gone above and beyond for the good of the Byram Hills School District.”

· Ira Schulman is the District’s longest serving school board member, who has also served in other local leadership and board positions.

· The Byram Hills Education Foundation, selected as Organization of the Year, is celebrating 25 successful years of providing grants to the District, totaling $4.6 million.

The Chamber stated they will celebrate “these local champions” at the annual Citizen of the Year Golf Outing and Dinner. This year, it will take place on Tuesday, May 14 at the Whippoorwill Club in Armonk. The public is invited to attend and may register at armonkchamberofcommerce.com.