Carmel Central Schools

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Carmel Central Schools This is the official page of the Carmel Central School District.

Located just 56 miles from New York City, Carmel Central School District provides a high quality education for students within a pristine rural setting. The District encompasses 85 square miles and serves students from six towns located in two counties (Putnam & Dutchess)

Carmel Science Research: Student SpotlightAnna Parzych, a junior in the Science Research program at Carmel High School,...
10/22/2026

Carmel Science Research: Student Spotlight

Anna Parzych, a junior in the Science Research program at Carmel High School, is beginning year two of the Mianus High School Mentorship in Ecology at Mianus River Gorge in Bedford, New York.

The Mianus High School Mentorship in Ecology provides research opportunities to high-school students in the fields of ecology, conservation biology and wildlife biology. Throughout her study, Anna has been researching the prevalence of salamanders throughout the Mianus River Gorge nature preserve with the assistance and supervision of her mentor, Norman Budd Veverka.

The study has a spring and fall data collection session. Over the summer, Anna used soil samples (which were collected during the spring 2026 session) to calculate the pH and soil moisture from all 12 of the data collection sites. Since the fall session has started, she has continued to gather data and has experienced a substantial increase in her salamander number compared to the spring 2026 session. She hopes to present her research at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the Taconic Hill Symposium.

Students throughout the Carmel Central School District wore orange on Wednesday to celebrate Unity Day as part of Nation...
10/21/2026

Students throughout the Carmel Central School District wore orange on Wednesday to celebrate Unity Day as part of National Bullying Prevention Month,

"Unity Day is an opportunity to come together in support of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion," Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin said. "Each of the district's schools celebrated it in their own way. "

Matthew Paterson Elementary held an assembly. Fourth graders at Kent Elementary sang a song over the loudspeaker. Teachers in Kent Primary taught special classroom lessons about kindness.

"At GFMS, we’ll celebrate by wearing orange and taking time to reinforce the importance of how we treat one another," Principal John Fratto said. "We want all of our students to feel comfortable being themselves, knowing they are valued and that they belong. Today is a good reminder that the way we treat others matters, and that even small actions can make a difference in someone’s day."

At Carmel High School, members of the Best Buddies Club, set up a table in the lunchroom and invited students to write about how they can make someone feel included, or what they do when they see unkindness.

"We had a lot of kids from all different grades filling these out," said Owen, President of Best Buddies. "We're going to make a huge unity chain and hang it on a billboard outside the cafeteria."

Created by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the message of Unity Day is simple: bullying is not acceptable, and every student deserves to feel safe and valued at school, online, and in the community.

10/20/2026

Kindergarten Adventures: Fall Fun!
🍎
Our kindergarten Pandas enjoyed their first field trips to the local firehouse and Barton Orchards! These experiences connected classroom learning to the world around them and offered opportunities to explore, ask questions, and make memories with classmates.

Apple-Picking Adventures at Barton Orchards 🍎
Our trip to Barton Orchards brought learning outdoors! Apple picking offers a hands-on connection to how food grows and travels from a tree to our tables. The orchard is also a wonderful setting for noticing seasonal changes and exploring the different colors, sizes, and shapes of apples.
The learning can continue at home! Invite your child to count and sort apples, compare their sizes, or describe how they smell and taste.
Ask your kindergartner: What was your favorite part of the orchard? How would you describe an apple to someone who has never tasted one?
Try It Together: Easy Cinnamon Apples
Turn a few apples into a warm fall treat!
Ingredients:
4 apples, washed, peeled if desired, cored, and chopped
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1–2 teaspoons brown sugar, optional
Directions:
Have an adult prepare the apples and place them in a saucepan.
Add the water, cinnamon, and optional brown sugar.
Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add a little more water if needed.
Let cool to a comfortable temperature before serving. Enjoy on their own or with oatmeal or yogurt!
Children can help wash the apples, measure ingredients, and count the apple pieces while an adult handles cutting and cooking.
Thank you to our teachers, chaperones, local firefighters, and the team at Barton Orchards for helping make these first field trips special for our kindergarten Pandas

BE A JUDGE AT PUTNAM WESTSCHESTER ROCKLAND SENIOR SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM – PWRS³!Represent Carmel High School & Support Our F...
10/19/2026

BE A JUDGE AT PUTNAM WESTSCHESTER ROCKLAND SENIOR SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM – PWRS³!

Represent Carmel High School & Support Our Future Scientists!

About the Event
Our senior science research students are participating in the inaugural Putnam Westchester Rockland Senior Science Symposium (PWRS³), a PowerPoint-based regional competition to present authentic research.

Urgent Need: Schools must register judges by December 21, 2026, or our students cannot participate!

Symposium Date: Saturday, Jan 30, 2027 (Snow Date: Sun, Jan 31, 2027)
Time: 7:45 AM – ~3:00 PM
Perks: Free Breakfast & Lunch provided!

Who Can Judge?
(Must meet at least 1 of the following criteria)

Advanced Degree: Master’s degree or higher in Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, Social Work, Psychology, School Counseling, or any Healthcare field.

Graduate Student: Currently earning a graduate degree in any of the above fields.

Healthcare Professional: 2+ years of professional experience working in a healthcare field.

Tech Professional: 2+ years of professional experience working in Computer Science or Technology.

Educator / Counselor: 2+ years of professional experience as a STEM teacher or School Counselor.

How to Register
Contact Dr. Nicole Griffin, [email protected] by December 21, 2026 to represent CHS!

Carmel Science Research: Summer 2026 AccomplishmentsCongratulations to Senior Colin Weindel and Junior Aarav Prasad!Coli...
10/16/2026

Carmel Science Research: Summer 2026 Accomplishments
Congratulations to Senior Colin Weindel and Junior Aarav Prasad!

Colin Weindel (sr) was paired with a postdoctoral research scholar in genetics at Stanford University, through the Collegiate Mentorship Program to craft a research paper on a topic of his choosing. He decided to write a literature review on the effect of animal-assisted interactions in decreasing levels of anxiety and agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. He was able to complete the research project with the help of the postdoctoral research scholar and was fortunate enough to be able to submit his research paper to a scientific journal called Exploratio. The journal is specifically tailored towards high school students. Colin was very grateful for the opportunity and is looking forward to continuing his research in the future.

Aarav Prasad (jr) was accepted into the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) Junior Academy. NYAS is a highly selective global STEM program focused on solving real-world challenges through data-driven innovation and research. Students participate in collaborative sprints on the Launchpad platform, working alongside international student teams and professional STEM mentors. Aarav’s focus centers on utilizing data science and machine learning concepts to address global health, computational modeling, and preventative healthcare challenges.

This first meeting of the budget cycle will be for the purpose of reviewing where we are in the current budget and descr...
10/16/2026

This first meeting of the budget cycle will be for the purpose of reviewing where we are in the current budget and describing our assumptions for the 2027-2028 budget including some significant challenges we will face.
Light refreshments will be served. Join Superintendent Michael Plotkin and Assistant Superintendent Ken Silver for this introductory meeting as we start the process for the next budget cycle.

“That's misogynist,” an eighth-grade girl said, reacting to an Instagram post that used Disney's Cinderella to suggest t...
10/15/2026

“That's misogynist,” an eighth-grade girl said, reacting to an Instagram post that used Disney's Cinderella to suggest that women should know their place.

“That's hate speech against women.”

The exchange sparked a conversation about online hate speech, why people spread harmful messages and how young people can respond. It was one of the lessons that seventh- and eighth-grade students explored when the Mobile Museum of Tolerance (MMOT) visited George Fischer Middle School for three days this month.

An innovative classroom on wheels, the MMOT brings history and contemporary issues to students through interactive, facilitator-led workshops. At GFMS, students examined lessons from the civil rights movement and learned how to recognize and combat online hate speech.

Lindsay Brill, an education facilitator with the MMOT, led the workshop on online hate speech. After displaying the Instagram post about Cinderella, she asked students why someone might share such a message.

“They know there are people out there who agree with them and they will connect,” one student responded.

An eighth-grade boy said he feared the post would have a bad impact. “It's not about me," he said. "But even I don't like seeing stuff like that.”

The discussion turned to the importance of being an “upstander” — someone who speaks out when others are targeted or put down — rather than remaining silent.

“At a time of increasing division, using the lessons of history to teach tolerance is more urgent than ever,” George Fischer Middle School Principal John Fratto said.

The visit also emphasized the value of understanding various points of view.

“Bringing the Mobile Museum of Tolerance to GFMS gives our students an opportunity to learn from history, understand perspectives different from their own, and develop the compassion and critical thinking they need to be thoughtful, informed citizens,” said Dr. Jeff C. Gorman, assistant superintendent for instruction.

This week, author Patti Sheehan Hupp of The ArtSmart World Foundation came to Carmel Central School District and donated...
10/14/2026

This week, author Patti Sheehan Hupp of The ArtSmart World Foundation came to Carmel Central School District and donated 250 coloring cook books called "Famous Art & Fabulous Recipes" to Carmel's three elementary schools.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Plotkin and Board of Education Trustee Jordi Douglas helped Ms. Hupp and her son Dan deliver the books to excited students and staff at Matthew Paterson, Kent Primary and Kent Elementary schools.
"It's not just coloring alone," Ms. Hupp said. "It's also cooking, so the family can work together to create dinner."

Putnam County Health Dept. Staff came to Matthew Paterson Elementary today for the Carmel Schools’ first flu vaccination...
10/13/2026

Putnam County Health Dept. Staff came to Matthew Paterson Elementary today for the Carmel Schools’ first flu vaccination clinic this year.
Don’t forget the upcoming flu clinics:
Kent Elementary School - Wednesday, 10/14/26, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Kent Primary School - Wednesday, 10/14/26, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
George Fischer Middle School -- Wednesday, 10/21/26, 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Register by Wednesday, 10/14/26.
Carmel High School - Thursday, 10/22/26, 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Register by Thursday, 10/16/26.

Address

81 South Street , P. O. Box 296
Patterson, NY
12563

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