Byram Hills has had a wonderful start to the school year! Across our schools, students have settled into their classrooms, connected with friends and teachers and embraced new opportunities to learn and grow. That excitement carried into Spirit Week and Homecoming, bringing students, staff, families, and community members together to celebrate Bobcat pride.
With the school year now well underway, we are pleased to share some of the learning, accomplishments and special moments taking place across the District. From engaging classroom activities to student honors and milestones, there is so much to celebrate and look forward to in the weeks ahead!
COMAN HILL SHARES THE JOY OF READING
Books brought students and families together during PARP week at Coman Hill Elementary! Coordinated by the Byram Hills PTSA, PARP (Parents as Reading Partners) welcomes parents into classrooms to read stories, explore character traits and lead engaging activities that reinforce each book’s lessons. Thank you to the PTSA and our parent volunteers for sharing the joy of reading with our students!
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY AT COMAN HILL
Coman Hill students are building their math skills through hands-on activities, games and collaboration! In Ms. Markarian’s kindergarten class, students rotated through small-group math centers focused on number sense. They counted, identified numbers, formed numbers out of Play-Doh and grouped objects by color.
First graders in Ms. Weiner’s class practiced their number skills with Five in a Row. Students rolled two dice, added the numbers and placed a chip on the sum, aiming to get five chips in a row. The game encourages students to recognize, represent, and compare numbers as they decide where to place their chips. Along the way, Ms. Weiner encourages them to explain their thinking, notice patterns and develop strategies.
WAMPUS STUDENTS ENJOY UPGRADED BASKETBALL COURT
Students at Wampus Elementary School are hooping it up on the newly upgraded basketball court! In September, the court was repaved, regraded and redesigned to create two smaller, full courts instead of one. With all four new hoops now installed, students have been putting them to good use at recess. Principal David Mack thanked the Byram Hills Education Foundation for the terrific improvement to their outdoor basketball area, noting that it now allows twice as many students to play, which is an important part of their midday break.
H.C. CRITTENDEN STUDENTS FIND THEIR NEXT GOOD READ
There’s nothing like a good book! Sixth grade students in Mrs. Smith’s Literature class visited the H.C. Crittenden Middle School library to learn how to use databases and search strategies to find engaging books for independent reading.
The sixth grade Literature curriculum focuses on novels, short stories and poetry, while students develop their writing skills through paragraphs, essays and creative works. Students read a mix of class novels and books they choose themselves, so finding a good read is an important part of their learning.
BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 60 YEARS
Happy 60th birthday to Byram Hills High School! The high school opened on September 7, 1966, and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller dedicated it on September 27. To mark the milestone, some of the very first Byram Hills students returned in August for a tour and were impressed by what they saw.
Six decades later, the symbols and traditions those students established remain part of our school community. The first students, who entered as juniors and graduated in 1968, selected red, white and blue as the school colors to reflect their pride in the American flag. They chose the bobcat as a symbol of protection over their new school and named the yearbook the Arch after Lord Tennyson’s poem “Ulysses.” Today’s students continue to create their own legacies through scholarship, leadership, community service, athletics and the arts.
NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS
Congratulations to 17 Byram Hills High School seniors named Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Program in recognition of their academic promise.
The students are Lilah Altman, Anisha Bobra, Zachary Cohen, Andrew Grodin, Caspar Hamilton, Annelisa Joseph, Asiya Karim, Ian Klugman, Sophia Li, Ella Petta, Vivienne Read, Eli Roth, Aveer Saxena, Nathan Schweitzer, Noah Stopnik, Rohan Sundaram and Alice Tardieu.
More than 1.2 million students enter the scholarship competition each year by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Of approximately 50,000 high scorers, about 34,000 are named Commended Students and receive Letters of Commendation.
GLOBAL SCHOLARS TAKE PART IN YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Congratulations to our Year Two Global Scholars students, juniors Isabella Rufrano, Magnolia Spain and Basha Gudas, who were nominated to attend the Young Women’s Leadership Summit at Manhattanville University on September 29! They joined 60 students from across the region to explore human rights, leadership and ways to make a positive difference.
The summit featured a keynote address by human rights advocate Kerry Kennedy, who encouraged students to approach change with courage, commitment and persistence. Students then participated in group discussions about their aspirations for peace and human rights and how to turn those ideas into action. Now in its second year, the summit honors Ethel Kennedy’s legacy and helps young women build the confidence, connections and tools to create positive change in their schools and communities.
BYRAM HILLS NAMED A NATIONAL BANNER UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOL
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Byram Hills High School has been recognized as a National Banner Unified Champion School by Special Olympics North America for its commitment to inclusive sports and programming! The school’s Unified basketball, bowling and flag football teams bring students together to train and compete as teammates.
Byram Hills became a Unified Champion School last year. To earn National Banner recognition, schools must meet 10 national standards of excellence that reflect a commitment to inclusion. Since Unified basketball began at Byram Hills in 2022, that commitment has grown beyond sports to include youth leadership and activities that engage the whole school.
Unified athletes participate in physical education classes together and help lead initiatives through the Do Something Club and Big Brother/Big Sister. A schoolwide Unified basketball assembly, Homecoming, pep rallies and other activities provide opportunities for the broader school community to take part and celebrate inclusion.
A WEEK OF BOBCAT PRIDE: HOMECOMING 2026
Bobcat pride brought our school community together for this year’s Homecoming celebration! The festivities began with the Byram Hills Education Foundation’s Movie Night on the turf on Friday, September 25. Schools across the District celebrated Spirit Week with themed dress-up days and activities. Our annual Traveling Pep Rally added to the excitement on Tuesday, as varsity student-athletes and the pep band visited H.C. Crittenden, Wampus and Coman Hill to greet students and spread school spirit.
The week culminated at Byram Hills High School with Friday afternoon’s pep rally on the turf and the Homecoming dance that evening. From Wednesday through Saturday, families, students and community members came out to support our teams and cheer on the Bobcats. The celebration wrapped up with Saturday night’s football game and the announcement of the Homecoming court at halftime.
A special thank you to the Byram Hills Education Foundation for funding enhancements that help our Bobcat pride shine, including a fresh look for the press box, the alumni walkway just outside it and field lighting! Learn more about the BHEF by visiting the Byram Hills Education Foundation website.
60 YEARS OF JOY: THEATRE HALL OF FAME AND GALA
Join the Varley Players on October 17 as we celebrate 60 years of Byram Hills Theatre! The evening begins with the induction of a new class into the Theatre Hall of Fame at 6 pm, followed by a performance of Closer Than Ever featuring Byram Hills alumni at 7 pm.
Celebrate six decades of creativity, talent and unforgettable performances with our theatre community. The performance is recommended for audiences ages 13 and older.
Visit our 60 Years of Joy page to learn more and find ticket information.
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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.
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
