<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hear it There Presents Indie-Soul Songwriter Christine Chanel&nbsp;@Uncle Cheef, Brewster NY on Thursday, January 16, 2025 - two sets at 7:30 &amp; 9 PM.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Hottest Jazz Club in the Hudson Valley &amp; live music promoters Hear it There are honored to present Christine Chanel Thursday, January 16, 2025 with two sets of original music at 7:30 &amp; 9 PM.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Christine Chanel is an indie-soul recording artist based in Westchester, NY. She is best known for delivering powerful vocals with resonant hooks and emotionally charged lyrics alongside her dynamic backing band, The Roster. With genres ranging from rhythm &amp; blues to reggae, rock, and funk, Chanel knows how to captivate an audience in a commanding way.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Featuring: CHRISTINE CHANEL: vocals &amp; keyboard / CHOGYI LAMA: guitar / ZAC VANACORO: bass / ADAM ACCETTA: drums</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Doors 6:30pm / Sets at 7:30pm &amp; 9pm / $20 per person cash donation to the band encouraged / $25 per person table min per set.</span></p>

<p>Brewster High School Students Against Cancer (BSAC) raised $5,405 for national, regional and local efforts to fight cancer and support cancer patients. The members of the group gathered to present checks to representatives from the American Cancer Society, Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Megan Gersch Foundation.</p><p>Invited guests included Joelle and Marc Schwartz, Megan Gersch’s mother Mary Gionta, sisters Kayla Kennedy and Sarah Jean Gionta; and Senior Development Manager Kate Corsitto from the American Cancer Society.</p><p>“This year we raised money for national, regional and local causes,” said BSAC President Lindsay Smith. “In total, we raised $5,405 since the beginning of the school year.”</p><p>The first check in the amount of $1,464 was presented to Joelle and Marc Schwartz, parents of Zachary Schwartz, <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">a former Brewster student who died of leukemia, for a charity devoted to fighting pediatric cancer that Zach started himself, ZAAC Attack–Zachary Attacks Childhood Cancer.</span></p><p>Harrison Dakin, a senior, who knew Zachary spoke about him as a “friend to all and a truly great person.”</p><p>The second check went to Memorial Sloan Kettering in the amount of $2,000. After raising $1,000 with on-the-ground fundraising efforts, the BSAC money was matched by individuals on Giving Tuesday, which doubled the amount for the research hospital.</p><p>The final check was presented to members of Megan Gersch’s family. Megan was a beloved special education teacher at JFK school who died this summer after a five-year battle with breast cancer. The check in the amount of $1,941 was for the Brewster Education Foundation Megan Leigh Gersch Scholarship Fund. It will go to a <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">deserving special needs teacher who has overcome obstacles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p>“Megan loved her job and her students,” said her mother, Mary Gionta, “She wanted to keep a positive attitude and never complained. She was always smiling and thinking about others. Which is why it means so much to us to keep her memory and name alive. We set up this foundation through the Brewster Education Foundation because she loved being a special education teacher. We hope this money will enable a deserving special education teacher and continue her legacy. We are truly touched by your kindness.”</p><p>The Brewster community is also grateful for the generosity of the BHS Career Skills students and Beth Meola from The Swag Shop who all donated time and resources to help in the fundraising events to fight cancer.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Two hundred and thirty eighth graders filled the Wells Middle School auditorium for the second annual p-tech or Brewster Opportunities assembly. Administrators from Wells Middle School, district administrators and a representative from Westchester Community College were also in attendance. The idea for the assembly was to both inform and recruit the next class of students.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I know eighth grade might seem early to be thinking about college,” said Brewster Opportunities Director Miguel Suarez, “but high school is right around the corner and through this program you can get a head start on whatever it is you want to do after high school. The best part is you can obtain a free associate’s degree at WCC in one of the three technical fields offered–cyber security, mechanical or electrical technology. And we have so many community partners right here in Brewster that want to mentor and employ our students.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Suarez showed slides and spoke to students about the program including careers and starting salaries to show students how the program might pay off.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Currently there are 53 ninth graders enrolled in Brewster Opportunities at Brewster High School. Some of those students attended the assembly to highlight the program for their peers.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Marcus Castro told students about a trip to Lamordermics, a foundry which is just down the street from the school district, that makes parts for the aerospace industry, parts for food processing, construction and medical machinery.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“We got to see molten metal being poured into the casts. It’s a really cool place.” In the program students can learn about how to make the casts like the ones used at Lamordermics.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">There was a lively question answer session at the end. For parents who are interested in learning more, there will be a parent information session on Thursday, December 19th, from 6:00-7:00 pm. In the meantime, Suarez will be available in the lunchroom to answer all student questions about the Brewster Opportunities program.</span></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Brewster Central School District administrators, recess aids, facilities staff and students gathered Tuesday to officially open the new, accessible playground at C.V. Starr Intermediate School.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The playground includes arching spider webs, three different colored slides, 12 swings, ninja pads, a climbing wall, sensory activity instrumental panels, steps and bridges.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“The design and vision of the playground was a team effort,” explained Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction &amp; Assessment Maggie McCabe-Andriello who was the Principal of C.V. Starr during the planning phase.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“We met with and got feedback from our occupational therapists, physical therapists, physical education teachers, counselors, recess monitors, staff, parents and our students.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“This playground checks all of the boxes,” said C.V. Starr Occupational Therapist Lindsay Strassburg. “There are rock wall and rope structures for overall body strength and motor planning skills, ninja pads and a balance beam for balance, a sound garden which is easily accessible for all students and develops hand-eye coordination and auditory feedback, slides and swings for vestibular input which are essential for developing balance and spatial orientation. We just cannot wait for our students to explore, learn, and grow on the new playground.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Two of the students who helped the team have a bird’s eye view of the new playground from their classroom.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I helped out too,” said student Ryan Libal, “I wanted swings for kids who can’t push themselves.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I picked the color blue for the slide, " said Andrew Taormina, “I’m so excited.”</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“We are grateful for the ongoing support of the community which allows us to enrich and differentiate experiences for all students,” said Dr. Michelle Gosh.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The only thing left for C.V. Starr students is better weather. The day of the ribbon cutting and official opening of the playground was slated for indoor recess.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p>The Brewster High School National Honor Society ran a loose change fundraiser&nbsp;during the month of November. The NHS members raised $495 which they then donated to Putnam Community Action Partnership (CAP), a local not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing services to Putnam County's low-income community members. The fundraiser was specifically meant to help local families put food on their tables for Thanksgiving.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Photo of NHS Officers Savannah Fisher and Alessia Casale with Putnam CAP director Marisa O'Leary.</p>

<p>Teachers Kayla Corvino and Brianna Thomas, have once again earned the prestigious opportunity to present at the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Annual Conference. This marks their second consecutive year as presenters at the renowned event. This year, they continued their momentum with an innovative session titled "Beyond the Worksheet Wasteland."</p><p>Corvino and Thomas tackled the challenge of translating theoretical educational standards into meaningful, real-world applications. Their presentation emphasized the transformative power of Project-Based Learning (PBL), offering educators practical tools to design and implement engaging, standards-driven projects that inspire deeper student learning.</p><p>Through hands-on strategies, including scenario-based learning, role-playing, and technology integration, Corvino and Thomas equipped participants to implement creative, inclusive, and impactful lessons.</p><p>Corvino and Thomas emphasized inclusivity by sharing methods tailored to diverse learners, including honors, co-taught, and ELL students, ensuring PBL’s accessibility across various educational settings.</p><p>The session encouraged active participation, starting with collaborative idea-sharing on Padlet. Participants explored key principles of PBL, analyzed real-world examples, and designed their own projects with the presenters’ guidance.</p><p>Corvino and Thomas embody the spirit of this year’s NCSS theme, “Many Voices, Many Stories, One World.” Their expertise lies in connecting students to their communities and the broader world through meaningful educational experiences. Their work has ranged from nuclear war simulations to bilingual preschool playground projects, demonstrating their ability to translate learning into lasting change.</p><p>Corvino and Thomas’s innovative approach and proven success in the classroom highlight why they remain in high demand at national conferences. Their sessions continue to inspire educators to move “beyond the worksheet,” fostering curiosity, engagement, and a tangible connection between education and the real world.</p><p>The BCSD community celebrates their achievements and looks forward to the positive ripple effects of their work on classrooms nationwide.</p>