Southern Westchester BOCES Center for Special Services

News from our schools

• BluePath Service Dogs welcomed at Valhalla Center

  Valhalla Center students were excited to welcome back their furry friend from the BluePath Therapy Dog Program! Students had the chance to pet, walk, and engage with the therapy dog, building both comfort and confidence through these meaningful interactions.

  Therapy dogs provide more than just joy. They help students develop social and emotional skills, reduce stress and anxiety and create a calming presence in the classroom. For many students, engaging with a therapy dog also encourages communication, responsibility and positive peer interactions.

  Programs like BluePath give our students a unique way to learn and grow while enjoying the unconditional love and support that only a furry friend can provide. We are so glad to have this special program as part of our school community!

  News Feed - Valhalla Center

• SEPTA Virtual Learning Series kicks off 2025-26

  Join the Southern Westchester BOCES Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA) for the first in its yearlong series of workshops, "Understanding the OPWDD Eligibility Process... and related Support Services."

  The presenter will be Matthew Faulkner, Community Work Assistant with the Westchester County Department of Community Mental Health.

  Join the Zoom Meeting: 

  Meeting ID: 9713344 0018
  Passcode: 738928

  • SEPTA 10-23-25(1).pdf

  SEPTA

• Thanks, Joe & Adam! Transfiguration celebrates Custodian Appreciation Day

  Transfiguration School celebrated Custodian Appreciation Day Oct. 3 as the entire staff applauded Joe and Adam, who support our building all year long. Special thanks to all the custodians across Southern Westchester BOCES for their work!

  News Feed - Transfiguration School

• Rye Lake Lower Campus students ready welcome mats for volunteers

  Students in Kris Cook’s class have been hard at work on a special project to welcome community-based volunteers to the Rye Lake Lower Campus later this month. They are creating placemats for the campus’ kickoff Volunteer Breakfast. Principal Jonathan Remeny shared, “It is wonderful to see our students so engaged, and we look forward to welcoming our volunteers for another great year.”

  News Feed - Rye Lake Lower Campus

• Open House + Paws to Learning = one busy, happy Saint Matt’s!

  ✨ Mission Accomplished! On September 30th, we hosted our Parent Open House, with about 50% of families joining us. Teachers shared highlights of our instructional program, community integration, work-based opportunities, and the many wonderful things happening in our school building. Principal Diana Dinzey also spoke about how SWBOCES supports families through SEPTA, helps facilitate communication and access to student data through eSchools, and offers ways for parents to stay involved in our school community.

  🐾 The very next day, excitement filled the halls as we welcomed Wordly, the Blue Path Therapy Dog! Students loved spending time with Wordly; walking, petting, and soaking up lots of puppy love. It was a joyful day that reminded us of the many ways learning and connection happen at Saint Matt’s.

  🌟 And out in the community, one of our new students was hard at work!

  This is what life is like at Saint Matt’s—endless opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, both inside our building and beyond.

  St. Matthews

• Destiny visits Transfiguration: BluePath Service Dogs bring joy, connection to students

  Destiny, a visitor for BluePath Service Dogs, visited Transfiguration School, working with students there to provide comfort, engagement, social interaction and furry hugs to all. Students met and pet Destiny and took her on walks down the hallway with the assistance of a trainer.

  News Feed - Transfiguration School

• Transfiguration staff receive training in TCIS

  Assistant Superintendent James Gratto and Social Worker Yolette Levy led staff in training in TCIS - Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools - at Transfiguration School in Tarrytown.

  News Feed - Transfiguration School

• Transfiguration School hosts Back-to-School Open House

  It was a busy start to the week at Transfiguration School with Back to School Open House, featuring SEPTA's Donna Perazzo! That was followed by Principal Francesca Fernandez facilitating a question-and-answer session before visits to classrooms.

  News Feed - Transfiguration School

• St. Matthew's kicks off new year of Work-Based Learning

  Saint Matthew’s students launched the 2025–26 Work-Based Learning Program with a kick-off that was especially exciting because it included students who are new to Saint Matt’s. They are already acclimating well and embracing the community integration aspect of the program. From supporting our building with daily tasks to working in downtown White Plains, our students are off to an amazing start.

  A huge shoutout goes to both our school based and district based teams for ensuring students had the transportation needed to reach community job sites like the White Plains Library and DSW. Their support opened the door to these valuable opportunities. Even walking to nearby job sites provides meaningful learning—students practice navigating the community safely, building independence, and making their school day unique and purposeful.

  Inside the building, students tackled jobs such as washing windows, vacuuming, bus duty, shredding, and delivering meals. Out in the community, they are thriving at Raymond Opticians, Big Apple Smoothie, Cantina Restaurant, Mamaroneck Avenue Food Market, White Plains Bakery, White Plains Laundry, Fair Deal Deli, and the Apple Movie Theatre. Teachers are also weaving these experiences into their lessons, teaching the skills students need out in the community and tailoring instruction to support their growth. We are so proud of all that our students are learning and accomplishing!

   

  News Feed - St. Matthews

• Extended Day programming features curriculum resources for staff

  Teachers Leah Harris and Dori Kiplock engaged staff at the Transfiguration School during Extended Day with curriculum resources.

  News Feed - Transfiguration School

• Mr. Donald brings music, smiles to Rye Lake Lower Campus

  Students at the Rye Lake Lower Campus had an amazing time making music with Mr. Donald from the Music Conservatory of Westchester. Their excitement filled the room as they explored rhythms, instruments, and songs together.'"

  "We are so grateful to Mr. Donald and the Music Conservatory of Westchester for bringing such joyful, hands-on learning experiences to our students," Principal Jonathan Remeny said. "The smiles and energy in the room were priceless and we are so happy to have Mr. Donald with us each week."

  News Feed - Rye Lake Lower Campus