Yorktown First Day of School Described as ‘Happy, Exciting, Wonderful’

YORKTOWN, NY — A little drizzling rain didn’t affect the first day of the new school year in Yorktown.

Students and staff returned to classes Thursday, with the day ranked a success with the district’s 3,437 students getting to school safely and relatively on time, unpacking their new supplies and finding classrooms clean and ready, district officials said.

“I am pleased to say that our first day of school, September 1, was a happy, exciting and wonderful experience for our students and staff members,” said Superintendent Dr. Ralph Napolitano.

“We are always thrilled to have our students back,” he said.

Napolitano said that school was about growing, developing, changing and improving in order to make a better tomorrow.

One mentoring program that kicked in on the first day was the Big Buddies project, which links incoming freshmen with senior mentors to help them navigate their new surroundings.

Seth Altman, a social studies teacher, runs the 20-year-old program.

“It’s a good way for the ninth graders to feel comfortable in their new school and for the seniors to mentor their younger classmates and make the transition a smooth one,” Altman said.

The ninth graders had the building to themselves on Thursday with sophomores, juniors and seniors starting school on Friday.

Isabella Vo, 17, said she was proud to be a co--president of this year’s group.

“I had a Big Buddy and it was great. I knew I wanted to be a Big Buddy when I could. And today I am here,” she said.

Not everything was familiar to returning students and staff.

Some changes included a new district sign at the campus main campus entrance, an updated canopy at the Yorktown High School and a renovated entrance at the Mildred E. Strang Middle School.

Throughout the distric,t some classrooms and offices were reconfigured and upgrades were made made to the tennis courts and sports field lighting, district officials said.

Photos courtesy Yorktown Central School District.