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Freshmen at MVHS participate in monthly Knights Day

Freshmen at MVHS participate in monthly Knights Day

Ninth graders at Mount Vernon High School spent the first hours of the school day learning about programs in the school and engaging in workshops with community-based organizations (CBO). On January 28, 2025, these students touched base with their school counselors, received academic intervention and met with local organizations. The Social Butterfly, Safe Place 4 Our Girls, the Guidance Center of Westchester, Family Services of Westchester, the SNUG Street Outreach program and the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program (SRAEP) visited the school to help students learn valuable life skills.

Guidance counselors speaking to students.

Knights Day started with a check-in with the school’s school counselors. The MVHS theme for the school year is “accountability”. During the session, ninth graders were taught about tools, such as healthy study habits and school resources, which can be used to ensure their success.

The school counselors reviewed the most important things a freshman must know to achieve greatness during their first year. Students were also taught how to use SchooLinks and access the school’s course catalog. Counselors talked to them about executive functioning skills such as time management, flexible thinking, emotional regulation and organization. 

Counselors chatted with students about “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and held a middle-of-year check-in to talk about grades and goals for the rest of the school year. 

After the first hour, students were sent to tutoring lessons or to take part in a session with a CBO. The academic intervention sessions provided support for students in need of improvement in the subjects of math and English language arts. This is an opportunity for them to get ahead and learn principles to help them in their coursework. 

Working with the CBOs, the social and emotional needs of students were addressed. Students grouped with the Social Butterfly got to learn social skills and public speaking by engaging in fun activities, SNUG taught students about bullying and how to prevent bullying in their hallways, and the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau Ready4Life program allowed students to get hands-on and create healthy friendships with their peers by creating figures out of clay.

Student sitting in the middle of classroom during workshop.

“Today they are focusing on creating sculptures that represent relationships in their lives,” said Tia William, Program Director for Ready4Life. “We hope the students receive the tools and necessities that guide them into avoiding conflict, stress, and anger with situations presented to them and provide resolutions.” 

Some freshmen got to learn about career exploration and college readiness opportunities provided by the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. These students can choose to take classes in cosmetology, nursing assistance, culinary arts, and cybersecurity, amongst other areas, as a part of the CTE curriculum. 

“Every student in the ninth grade gets the opportunity to have academic intervention in math and ELA and have an opportunity to do career exploration,” said Dr. Pauline Pearce, Principal at MVHS. “They also get to talk about topics that are pertinent to teenagers such as healthy relationships, preventing pregnancy, and learning skills to navigate life and school.” 

Additional Information:

Knights Day is a monthly initiative specifically designed to support the unique needs of grade 9 students. This year, the program focuses on providing essential academic interventions and enrichment activities to help students thrive both academically and personally.

The Knights Day program aims to enhance students' executive function skills, provide academic intervention in math and ELA, address their social-emotional needs, and offer career exploration opportunities.

Each Knights Day begins with a one-hour session with the students' school counselors, providing a foundation of guidance and support. Following this, students will participate in two one-hour sessions that may include workshops with community-based organizations (CBOs) or targeted academic interventions in math or ELA.

Program Highlights:

  • Academic Intervention: Focused support in math and ELA to help students improve their skills and achieve academic success.
  • Enrichment Activities: Workshops designed to develop executive function skills, such as time management and organization. Social Butterfly often brings in experts in the field to work with students and provide opportunities for them to earn prizes. 
  • Social-Emotional Support: Activities and sessions aimed at addressing the social and emotional well-being of students.
  • Career Exploration: Opportunities for students to explore various career paths and gain insights into their future aspirations.
Guidance counselors speaking to students.
Students making clay sculptures.

 

Careers in Health and Nursing Assistant Students visiting Monroe

Careers in Health and Nursing Assistant students visited Monroe University’s New Rochelle campus on Thursday, February 13, and took a tour of the campus. They learned about programs at the School of Allied Health Professions, including Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Medical Assisting and Surgical Technology. Students are excited to visit Monroe University in the spring for the Nursing programs.
 

MVHS cheers for winter sports teams at pep rally

On Thursday, February 13th, 2025, students at Mount Vernon High School whooped and cheered on their fellow classmates and student athletes during a pep rally to celebrate all eight winter sports teams. Participants in the crowd were excited to play tug o’ war and jam to the music provided by student DJs.

Student pointing at computer.

Students booteed up their computers and loaded their games in the new esports room during the grand opening ceremony on Thursday, February 13, 2025, preparing for the inaugural season for the Mount Vernon High School Esports Club.

Students smiling and working with clay.

Ninth graders at Mount Vernon High School spent the first hours of the school day learning about programs in the school and engaging in workshops with community-based organizations (CBO). On January 28, 2025, these students touched base with their school counselors, received academic intervention and met with local organizations.

Mount Vernon High School opens calm room for students

Bean bag chairs and recliners lined the walls of the new calm room at Mount Vernon High School, as students and staff gathered for the grand opening, sitting to participate in a guided meditation, led by Career and Technical Education Director Brian Simmons, on Friday, January 17, 2025.

Cosmetology students working with seniors.

Mount Vernon senior citizens visited Mount Vernon High School for makeovers from the cosmetology and barbering students on Monday, December 16, 2024. This was the second Senior Citizen Makeover Day and was holiday themed. Seniors got a brand-new style to celebrate the holidays with while drinking coffee and eating sweet treats.

 
 
 
MVHS students attend Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit

Mount Vernon High School students attended the Black Men in White Coats Youth Summit on Saturday, November 16, 2024, hosted by White Plains Hospital and in partnership with the national organization Black Men in White Coats. The goal was to inspire students of color to enter the field of medicine and allow them to network, receive mentorship, and participate in hands-on activities. Each student received a gift bag that included a stethoscope