As we close the 2025-2026 school year, we reflect on another extraordinary year of learning, growth, achievement and community. Throughout the year, our students excelled in academics, athletics, the arts, service learning and leadership, while our schools continued to provide meaningful opportunities that inspire curiosity, creativity and connection.
For our final Community Connection of the school year, we would like to thank our families, staff, students and community members for their continued support of the Byram Hills Central School District. The budget vote for the 2026-2027 school year passed with a 76% YES vote. Community members also elected Sally Cavada and Kevin Landesman to three-year terms on the Board of Education. They will succeed retiring Board President Lara Stangel, who has served since 2016, and Lori Kanner, who has served since 2017. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lara and Lori for their years of dedicated service and leadership on behalf of our students and community.

COMAN HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Coman Hill Community Day Spreads Kindness One Box at a Time

On May 20, Coman Hill hosted a cereal-isly wonderful Community Day as students gathered in the gym to celebrate the donation of more than 1,200 cereal boxes collected by families, faculty and staff. The event featured student performances, heartfelt speeches and an exciting cereal box domino chain that demonstrated how acts of kindness can create a ripple effect throughout a community. All cereal boxes were donated to a local food pantry. Thank you to the Byram Hills PTSA for its support and for providing Coman Hill bracelets for students.
WAMPUS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Hoops for Hunger Helps Students Make a Global Impact

The Wampus VIP Jr. Club hosted its third annual Hoops for Hunger event, combining fun, teamwork and service to support students at the Esilalei School in Tanzania through the Armonk 2 Africa cultural exchange program. During PE classes, fifth-grade students participated by seeing how many "hoops" they could make with basketballs or hula hoops in a fun, music-filled atmosphere. Students received certificates recognizing their participation while learning valuable lessons about compassion, leadership and giving back to others. Led by Byram Hills High School sophomore Alex Bond, the Armonk 2 Africa program connects Wampus students with pen pals in Tanzania through the exchange of letters and drawings, helping students build meaningful friendships and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and communities around the world. Funds raised through Hoops for Hunger support Food for Thought, a program that provides a daily lunch to all 600 students at the Esilalei School, ensuring children have access to nutritious meals throughout the school day.
H.C. CRITTENDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mandala Rock Installation Celebrates Community and Creativity

A colorful new art installation now welcomes visitors outside H.C. Crittenden Middle School. Created by the Art for H.C.C. after-school club, the installation features hand-painted mandala rocks designed by students and faculty members. Each unique piece contributes to a larger work of art that symbolizes unity, creativity and school pride. The installation serves as a lasting reminder of how individual contributions can come together to create something meaningful for the entire school community.
Spring Concert Season Showcases Student Talent
Students across Coman Hill, Wampus and H.C. Crittenden Middle School have been wrapping up the school year with outstanding musical performances. From vocal ensembles and band concerts to orchestra performances, students showcased their hard work, growth and musical talents throughout the spring concert season. Be sure to visit BobcatTV.org and the District YouTube Channel to watch performances from across the District.
BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
Unified Basketball Brings the Community Together

On May 27, the Byram Hills Unified Basketball Team hosted an intrasquad game in front of a packed crowd of students, faculty and staff. Unified Sports brings athletes of all abilities together through teamwork, competition and friendship. The event created an incredibly positive atmosphere and served as a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusion, understanding and community.
Annual Awards Ceremony Celebrates Student Achievement

Congratulations to all of the students recognized at the Byram Hills High School Annual Awards Ceremony. Among this year's honorees, Dylan Gasch received the prestigious Hy Blatte-Jack Wollenberg Memorial Award, which recognizes a senior who exemplifies selflessness, compassion and an optimistic approach to life's challenges.
Student Impact Award Recipients Recognized
Byram Hills High School seniors Madison Clarner and Tyler Boyd have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Student Impact Award presented by Shelley Mayer in recognition of their outstanding dedication to leadership, service, and community involvement. The award celebrates students throughout the region who have made a meaningful impact through civic engagement, volunteerism, leadership, and contributions to their schools and communities.
Madison was recognized for the many ways she has strengthened the Byram Hills community through both leadership and kindness. Throughout her four years at Byram Hills, she has contributed to Theater Crew, Yearbook Club, Film Club, Track and Field, and the Grade Activity Board, helping create meaningful experiences and memories for her peers. Beyond school activities, Madison has demonstrated a deep commitment to serving others through volunteer work that includes crocheting hats and scarves for veterans, serving meals to those in need, and supporting environmental and animal-related causes. Her consistency, compassion, and willingness to help others continue to leave a lasting impact on the school community.
Tyler was honored for his dedication to service, leadership, and responsibility both in and out of the classroom. As a volunteer firefighter, he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to helping others and serving the community. He has also balanced academics while contributing to his family’s business, developing a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility at a young age. In addition, Tyler has remained dedicated to athletics and his teammates while also pursuing entrepreneurial interests through his sports card business. His humility, determination, and commitment to others reflect the values at the heart of the Student Impact Award.
Byram Hills Seniors Honored at Scholastic Achievement Dinner


Congratulations to Byram Hills High School seniors Max Charney and Alex Lewis for being chosen to attend the Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents’ annual Scholastic Achievement Dinner last night. They were honored for their exceptional academic excellence. Congratulations to senior Rodrigo Candela Levano, who was also honored at the dinner and was the Southern Westchester recipient of the Judith Johnson Opportunity Scholarship. Alex and Rodrigo attended the dinner at Villa Barone in Mahopac with Superintendent Dr. Jen Lamia, Byram Hills High School Principal Christopher Walsh and Board of Education Vice President Mia DiPietro. Max was presenting at the Science Research Symposium and was unable to attend the dinner.
Science Research Students Shine at Somers Science Fair

Congratulations to the 18 sophomores in the Byram Hills Authentic Science Research Program who participated in the Somers Science Fair on Saturday! The fair, which drew more than 800 students from Westchester County, was the first competition for the first-year science research students, and they had a great showing. “Congratulations to our determined and enthusiastic sophomores,” said Stephanie Greenwald, director of the Authentic Science Research Program. “They represented Byram Hills as outstanding and thoughtful scientists.”
First Place
Leah Stein - Behavioral Science
Nate Kafko - Cellular Biology
Ojaswi Sahu - Cellular Biology
Sophia Yang - Chemistry
Isabel Cooper - Medicine & Health
Second Place
Madelyn Gish - Medicine & Health
Third Place
Thalia Vakkas - Animal Science
Mercer Katz - Behavioral Science
Peter Weil - Computer Science
Academic Team Finishes Third in the Nation

The Byram Hills Academic Team delivered an outstanding performance at the National Quiz Bowl Championship in Morristown, New Jersey. After finishing the preliminary rounds with a perfect 8-0 record and earning the No. 3 seed, the team advanced to the national semifinals and captured an impressive third-place finish in the country.
Global Scholars Showcase Celebrates Learning and Impact

The Global Scholars Showcase highlighted the learning, leadership and service of students across all three years of the program. Students shared original artwork, Changemaker Projects and Senior Defense presentations while celebrating partnerships with local organizations that helped raise more than $7,000 for families in need through service initiatives during the school year.
Global Scholars Changemaker Project Earns People's Choice Award

Congratulations to Noah Stopnik and Shannon Moloney, winners of the Global Scholars Changemaker Project People's Choice Award. Their project, 914 Health Nav, helps connect Westchester residents with affordable healthcare resources, food assistance, wellness services and advocacy opportunities through a free online platform. Their project received a $500 grant to support future growth and impact.
Science Research Seniors Honored at 37th Annual Symposium
Congratulations to the 31 seniors who received science research diplomas during the 37th Annual Authentic Science Research Symposium. The event celebrated three years of dedication, inquiry and discovery while honoring students for their contributions to scientific research. Alumni keynote speaker Dr. Monica Pozzuoli encouraged students to apply the skills they developed through research to every stage of their lives.
Five Students Inducted Into International Thespian Society
Congratulations to Benjamin Andrews-Silby, Avery Lombardi, Amelina Milio, Darby Schlosser and Maeve Sullivan on their induction into the International Thespian Society. The honor recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, dedication and service in theatrical performance and technical theatre.
As we conclude another successful school year, we thank our students, staff, families and community members for their continued partnership and support. We are proud of all that our students have accomplished and look forward to celebrating our graduating seniors in the weeks ahead.
We wish everyone a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer and look forward to reconnecting with you in our next Community Connection in September.
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For the second year in a row, Byram Hills has been named a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation. In its 27th year, the organization recognizes school districts across the country for their outstanding commitment to music education and efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning opportunities as part of a well-rounded education.





Congratulations to the Byram Hills High School students in the Authentic Science Research Program for a strong showing at the Tri-County Science & Technology Fair! Junior Chloe Ferreira Szilagyi placed first in the environment category and qualified to compete at the New York State Science Congress competition in June. Her research focused on algae in the Kensico Reservoir, one of the most vital water supplies in New York, and paves the way for more accurate forecasting of future harmful algae blooms in the reservoir. Senior Gavin Bunting placed second in math/computers. The third-place winners were senior Angelina Nie in biology, senior Claire Mauney in clinical/social psychology, senior Jeremy Loots in earth/space, senior Max Charney in math/computers and junior Ying Yin Chen in physics. Students from Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam counties competed in 11 categories in the online competition, which was organized by the nonprofit Putnam Children's Discovery Center.







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Boys Varsity Ice Hockey Advances to State Final Four








BHHS Seniors Earn National Recognition in Prestigious Science Competition
Young Authors Master Class Highlights Student Writing






Coman Hill Elementary School




Winter Music Season Brings the Community Together




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




