As we approach the end of the 2024 it's a great time to reflect on the exciting journey, we've taken together at MPES! 
  • September: We focused on what citizenship looks like in our school community, encouraging students to take pride in being responsible, respectful, and active members of MPES.
  • October: Our discussions centered around collaboration. Students explored how working together helps us achieve our goals and build stronger connections.
  • November: We turned our attention to kindness and compassion. Through meaningful activities, students learned how small acts of kindness can make a big impact.
This month, we are diving into the theme of creativity. Each morning on the announcements, we highlight how creativity can inspire us to think outside the box and express ourselves in unique ways. 
  • In music class, students are preparing for our holiday assembly by learning festive songs that will bring cheer to our school community.
  • In PE, students are getting creative with their fitness routines, discovering new ways to stay active through inventive exercises and interval training.
  • Across all subjects, teachers are weaving creativity into lessons, encouraging students to think innovatively and approach challenges with fresh perspectives.
  • Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. DeSimone’s class made slime!
As we celebrate these themes, we continue to strengthen the values that make MPES a wonderful place to learn and grow. Thank you for supporting our mission to inspire, educate, and empower our students. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights! 
 
Thursday, December 12 and Friday, December 13-Half Day for students & Parent Teacher Conferences. The front window will close at 11:45 am so we can prepare for dismissal.  (This is only if you need to pick up your child early.) 
 If you are picking up your child(ren) the cafeteria doors will open at 12:05.  The buses will depart campus around 12:12.

Wednesday, December 18-School Store will be open during all lunch periods.  If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the PTO website.

A big thank you to the MPES PTO and all the wonderful volunteers who organized and assisted with the Holiday Boutique, giving our students a fantastic shopping experience!
 
At MPES, we are committed to supporting the well-being and success of all students. One way we do this is through our Sensory Cart, a valuable resource available to all students throughout the school day. 
The Sensory Cart is equipped with a variety of sensory-based activities designed to help students regulate their emotions, refocus their energy, or simply take a calming break when needed. Each month, the cart features new themes to keep the activities engaging and aligned with the season or upcoming events. 
Some of the items and activities include: 
  • Fidget tools for hands-on focus
  • Visual timers and calming jars
  • Seasonal crafts and tactile activities
The Sensory Cart is a flexible resource that empowers students to take charge of their self-regulation and practice skills that support their emotional and mental well-being. Teachers and staff are always available to guide students in using the cart effectively, ensuring it meets their individual needs. 
We’re proud to offer this thoughtful addition to our school, fostering an inclusive environment where every child can thrive.  Thank you to CCSD SEPTO for providing materials for our students!  

Monday, December 9 is day 4 in our specials cycle.

Fondly,

Jennifer Darling 

Latest MPES Headlines

  • Fair Street Construction Project Update

    If you’ve driven to Carmel High School recently, you’ve likely noticed the construction on Fair Street.  

    The $30 million road improvement project, which will significantly improve safety, traffic flow and infrastructure in the area, will widen Fair Street from Simpson Road to Route 52. It will also add sidewalks and streetlights from Hill and Dale Road to Route 52, fix drainage and create an additional lane for easier turning into and out of the high school parking lot. Construction started in September after years of delays and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026. 

    Carmel High School Principal Brian Piazza said that the construction would make the road safer in the end.  

    “The construction will create challenges traffic-wise, but at its completion, the sidewalks and an additional turning lane will greatly benefit our school and community, especially in terms of student safety,” Piazza said.  

    Michael Klenotiz, Carmel Central School District’s Supervisor of Transportation, said that good communication will go a long way toward keeping school bus traffic on schedule.  

    Read more

    District News
  • Matthew Paterson Third Graders Celebrate History

    The Third-Grade Harvest Festival at Matthew Paterson Elementary School is an event that brings students, teachers, staff and families together to celebrate an American tradition. 

    Parents dressed as Pilgrims and helped the third graders with activities, including grinding apples to make applesauce. The apples were donated by Fishkill Farms in East Fishkill and Wilkins Fruit & Fir Farm in Yorktown  

    “This is a great tradition,” said Dan Minieri, who dressed as a Pilgrim for the event. Mineri’s son, Dan, is in the third grade.   

    The lack of rain this fall led to a burn ban throughout Putnam County, so the tradition of cooking applesauce over an open flame was replaced by a safer inflatable campfire toy with a smoke machine.  

    “It was still great fun,” said Third Grade Teacher Michelle Belasco.  “This event encompasses our Carmel 6 Cs, and it is something we look forward to each year,”

    Read more and see more photos

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News
  • Core Knowledge in the Real World

    On two warm fall days, third graders from Matthew Paterson Elementary School walked across the road to the Patterson Environmental Park.

    The park includes part of the Great Swamp, one of the largest freshwater wetlands in New York State and home to many species of wildlife. The students’ visit would allow them to see its ecological diversity up close.

    “We finished the unit on animal classification in our reading program, Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA), so we added a trip to the Great Swamp for a hands-on extension,” Teacher Gina Boalt said. “I love this reading program; it is so rich in content.”

    Judging from their enthusiasm, the students were excited to put their new knowledge to the test.

    Read more

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News
  • A Visit From Baby Goats

    Some visitors to Matthew Paterson Elementary School recently brought out the nurturing instinct in students from kindergarten through fourth grade, not to mention their teachers and administrators.  

    Nearly everyone who got to see the three baby goats that visited from Ridge Ranch in Patterson started cooing.  

    “Oh, they are so cute,” they cried. “Can we pet them?”  

    The district’s Special Education PTO, or CCSD SEPTO, sponsored three goats this year at Ridge Ranch, an educational farm run by Arielle and Dan Honovich that specializes in “Animal Experiences.”   

    Read more

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News
  • Thankful for Senior Citizens

    The Senior Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by The Carmel Teachers’ Association was a big success with the guests praising the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables and, of course, pumpkin pie.  

    Most of all, however, the senior citizens who came to Carmel High School, George Fischer Middle School and Matthew Paterson Elementary School were glad to return to schools that many of their children (and some of them) attended and to see friends from the throughout the community. 

    “We love our seniors,” said Alice Holzmann, the Family and Consumer Science teacher at George Fischer Middle School. “And they love this event.” 

    Read more and see more photos

    District News
  • A Thank You to the Board of Education

    The week of October 14 is School Board Recognition Week, but Superintendent of Schools Dr. Erin Meehan-Fairben thanked the Board of Education for their service a few days early, during the Board of Ed meeting on Octobert 8th. 
    "I know we are a little early, but I just wanted to take the chance to thank you for all you do," Dr. Fairben said. 
    Then she showed a surprise video that was created by students in Tim Raney’s Video Production class at Carmel High School, who included children from all five school buildings.    
    CHS Senior Kasey Carboy led the project. She wrote the outline, filmed and edited the video, which was her first project as lead.
    Seniors Ivy Kolovik and Dan Fanceschi assisted Kasey with filming at the various school buildings. 
     
    District News
  • Fire Department Visits Matthew Paterson

    For National Fire Prevention Week, the Patterson Fire Department No. 1 visited Matthew Paterson Elementary School to teach kids about fire safety and help familiarize them with emergency equipment so they could be less anxious in case of an actual emergency.  

    EMT Foreman Susan McLaughlin, who came to Matthew Paterson in an ambulance, asked students in Jessica Curran’s first grade class when it might be appropriate to call 911.  

    “If someone is bleeding or hurt,” one student said.  

    “If there is a car accident or a fire,’ another added.  

    Then McLaughlin pulled the stretcher out of the ambulance, asked first grader Abigail to climb aboard and called upon classmate Hunter to act as the doctor.  

    “Ok, Dr. Hunter, you need to check your patient’s heart rate,” McLaughlin said, as she put the stethoscope on Abigail’s forehead.  

    The class all laughed and yelled “No, that’s not where it goes.” McLaughlin scratched her head and put the stethoscope on Abigail’s foot to an even louder outcry from the first graders. Finally, she handed it over to Dr. Hunter, who placed the stethoscope on Abigail’s heart.  

    Read more and see more photos

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News
  • Second Graders Learn New Sports

    Now that the first couple of weeks of the school year are over, the games can begin. The games in physical education class at Matthew Paterson Elementary School, that is.  

    “Soccer is our first intro to a sport activity,” said Physical Education Teacher Lisa Palmieri as she led groups of second graders around the school field. “The first weeks are about learning routines such as how to behave in the gym and how to act outside. Now they are learning soccer skills like passing, dribbling, shooting – the basics.”  

    Playing school sports teaches all of Carmel’s Six Cs -- Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Compassion, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication.  

    Darwin, a 7-year-old, passed an orange soccer ball to his classmate Jackson. 

    “I do play soccer all the time,” Darwin said. “I asked my mom if she could take me to soccer practice and she said she would.”  

    Read more and see more photos 

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School News
  • A Carmel Graduate Gives Back

    Come October, Chris DeChent will have worked in the Carmel Schools for 20 years. But that anniversary does not even include the time he worked in the district before graduating from Carmel High School in 2004.  

    DeChent, the Information Systems Technician, started helping out with district technology when he was in Carmel High School. By tenth grade he had a summer internship in the IT department and, later, an after-school job.  

    “In high school I was always the student ready to jump in and help the teacher if the computer had a problem or the projector wasn’t working,” DeChent said. “I enjoyed building computers, understanding how they worked, and figuring out how to repair them. My name became known to the IT department and they let me help out. I started here full time after graduation.” 

    DeChent credits his teachers with encouraging his interests and talents.  

    Read more

    District News
  • An Announcement

    We unequivocally denounce antisemitism in all of its forms and expressions.

    The Carmel Central School District serves a diverse population. We embrace that diversity and are focused on shaping the next generation of successful Carmel graduates who exemplify the Carmel 6 Cs (Citizenship, Compassion, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, Communication). Through education, our students are taught to engage in civil and respectful discourse. Our mission is to educate the whole student through partnerships to become lifelong learners in an ever-changing world.

    Read more 

    District News
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Upcoming Events

  • Early Dismissal (Elementary Only)

    Early Dismissal (Elementary Only) 

    Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Carmel Central School District
  • MPES - 1/2 Day - Conferences 1:30-3:30PM

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School
  • MPES - 1/2 DAY - Conference 6-7:30pm

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School
  • Early Dismissal (Elementary Only)

    Early Dismissal (Elementary Only)

    Parent-Teacher Conferences

    Carmel Central School District
  • MPES - School Store

    Matthew Paterson Elementary School
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