Fall 2025 has been an exciting and inspiring season across the Byram Hills School District. From the moment students returned in September, their hard work, leadership, and school pride have been on full display across every building.
Arts and Performances Shine Across the District
At Byram Hills High School, the Choir hosted its annual Choir Cabaret on October 24, A Musical Journey: The Places in Our Hearts. The performance featured the full Concert Choir along with standout soloists, duos, and small ensembles. Each piece reflected a meaningful place that shaped the performers’ lives, resulting in an evening filled with heartfelt storytelling and musicality.
In the visual arts, senior Angelina Nie earned the prestigious honor of participating in the Armonk Outdoor Art Show Public Art Installation, contributing a large fiberglass heart sculpture displayed at the North Castle Public Library through September 28.
She was joined at the show by 33 student artists, making Byram Hills one of the strongest youth presences at this celebrated regional event. Professional judges awarded top honors to:
First Place: Angelina Nie
Second Place: Julia Miller
Third Place: Sara Bogart
The music program continued its strong season as ten Byram Hills High School musicians were selected to perform in the highly competitive Area All-State Ensembles. Selection was based on exceptional NYSSMA scores earned last spring. They performed at Purchase College's Performing Arts Center on October 30, 2025.
Liana Brown, Soprano, Mixed Choir
Paloma Hussain, Cello, String Orchestra
Maximilian Leopold, Tenor II, Mixed Choir
Emi Nagura, Alto I, Treble Choir
Evan Reiss, Cello, Symphony Orchestra
Darby Schlosser, Soprano I, Mixed Choir
Kendall Sorenson, Soprano I, Mixed Choir
Avni Sundaram, Violin, Symphony Orchestra
Elena Yu, Violin, Symphony Orchestra
Alexandra Zodda, Double Bass, Symphony Orchestra
Director of Fine Arts Marc Beja congratulated the students and acknowledged the dedication of the district’s music faculty in nurturing such excellence.
Academic Excellence and Honors
On October 16, nineteen seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, recognizing their exceptional academic achievement. The ceremony included remarks from Principal Chris Walsh, 2024 inductee Rebecca Barnum, and Cum Laude Chapter President Dr. Sandra Abt, along with a musical performance by the BHHS Jazz Choir. Physics teacher Dennis Covert was also welcomed as a faculty inductee.
This year’s student honorees are:
Lilly Alonzo, Anika Bobra, Sienna Cavada, Max Charney, Joshua Goldman, Ariana Reese Guido, Matthew Ishkanian, Chase Keller, Tyler Kravitz, Alexander Lewis, Claire Mauney, Maxwell Moy, Angelina Nie, Amanda Olego, Emelyn Rasamny, Evan Reiss, Avni Sundaram, Allison Tsay, and Alexandra Zodda.
The district also proudly recognized 56 students inducted into the World Languages Honor Society on October 15 for their dedication to French, Italian, or Spanish.
Academic honors continued with recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Semifinalists: Claire Mauney, Angelina Nie, and Amanda Olego
Commended Students: Zachary Berman, Anika Bobra, Sienna Cavada, Max Charney, Noah Drazner, Joshua Goldman, Alexander Lewis, Maxwell Moy, Addison Petre, Avni Sundaram, Chase Tabankin, Allison Tsay, Elena Yu, and Alexandra Zodda
Global Scholars Leading through Innovation and Advocacy
Byram Hills Global Scholars are already making a positive impact this year. In October, students Shannon Moloney, Flavie Rondeau, Taylor Todman, Olivia Shulman, and Audrey Brown represented the school at the Westchester County International Day of the Girl Conference at Manhattanville University. They participated in workshops and discussions centered on leadership, gender equality, and the power of young voices to make meaningful change in communities both local and global.
Global Scholars also swept the 2024-2025 Ben Ferencz Creative Expression Competition, hosted by the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.
First Place: Evan Thorsen, A Window Through Time (Digital), inspired by Cambodian photojournalist Dith Pran
Second Place: Zabelle Shil, The Pages They Could Not Burn (Mixed Media), honoring resistance fighter Vladka Meed
Third Place: Theodore Lashmet, But They Went On (Collage), symbolizing the perseverance of Nanjing Massacre survivor Xia Shuqin
School Spirit and Bobcat Pride
Districtwide Spirit Week and Homecoming took place from October 6 through 11, featuring themed spirit days across all schools. At the high school, athletics events packed the turf field and the week concluded with a high-energy pep rally.
Before Friday night’s football game, the Byram Hills Education Foundation hosted a ribbon-cutting to officially open the new Bobcat Alumni Walkway located behind the press box. Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia, Principal Chris Walsh, and Byram Hills Education Foundation President Michelle Rettagliata delivered remarks and expressed gratitude to alumni and supporters. With Wampus Elementary School students, Dr. Lamia cut the ribbon to recognize this special tribute linking current students and graduates across generations.
Student Government continues to create authentic leadership opportunities. With successful recent traditions including Winter Spirit Week, a revived Winter Dance, and the inaugural Battle of the Classes, Student Government will now have representation at the Board of Education through a senior student representative who will share student perspectives during board discussions.
Unified Sports and Inclusive Opportunities
Byram Hills continues to be recognized as a leader in Unified Sports. Teachers and coaches devote countless hours to building teamwork, friendship, and inclusion throughout the program.
This fall, Byram Hills was honored as a Special Olympics New York Champion Banner School. The district will proudly hang the banner in the gym as it pursues national status next. The Unified Flag Football team also took part in an unforgettable skills session with the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium through a collaboration with the NFL, NYSPHSAA, Special Olympics New York, and Section 1 Athletics. Unified Sports remains a defining point of pride in our school community.
Highlights from HCC, Wampus, and Coman Hill
Across H.C. Crittenden Middle School, Wampus Elementary School, and Coman Hill Elementary School, students are engaging in meaningful learning experiences every day. These highlights represent only a small sampling of the many wonderful things happening in our classrooms and school communities.
At H.C. Crittenden, students participated in outdoor team-building activities with their X-Pods, strengthening their communication skills, confidence, and cooperation. The Bobcat Boards initiative has also begun for the year, with each grade creating a themed display that reinforces social-emotional learning. Sixth grade is focusing on embracing change. Seventh grade is highlighting empathy. Eighth grade is cultivating character. The completed boards will brighten hallways and inspire everyone who passes by.
Across all three schools, Book Fairs supported by the PTSA created excitement and enthusiasm around reading. Students at Wampus and Coman Hill also participated in Bus Safety Week, learning important transportation and safety routines with help from the district’s transportation team.
At Wampus, the fall theater season brought two sold-out performances of The Lion King, JR. Students told the story of Simba’s journey from playful cub to courageous leader through captivating music and choreography.
At Coman Hill, students continue to grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a caring, supportive environment. Through strong foundational instruction and whole-child learning, students explore, collaborate, and build important early skills every day. During a recent schoolwide Community Meeting focused on kindness, Principal McInerney read Have You Filled a Bucket Today to encourage students to care for one another through simple, positive actions that uplift others.
A Remarkable Start to the Year
From academic accomplishments to artistic achievements, from athletic pride to community connection, Fall 2025 has already given us much to celebrate. We extend our gratitude to our students, staff, families, and supporters who contribute to the spirit and success of the Byram Hills School District.
We cannot wait to see what the rest of the year will bring and all the fantastic things our students will accomplish. Go Bobcats.
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