P.S. / M.S. 95 The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School: On the Other Side of COVID-19

By P.S. / M.S. 95 STAFF

As children, parents, and teachers gear up for another new school year, almost two and a half years on from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school closures, staff at P.S. / M.S. 95, The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School, a public school located at 3961 Hillman Avenue in Van Cortlandt Village, reflect on the experience of being plunged into remote learning over two years ago and eventually resurfacing to an in-person learning environment once more. COVID-19 compelled our dive into unchartered waters, turbulent technology, and concerns about student learning, health and feelings. Special education teacher at

By SÍLE MOLONEY, JOSÉ A. GIRALT, EMILY SAWAKED, DAVID GREENE & MIRIAM QUIÑONES

After the polls closed on Tuesday, Aug. 23, on the second of two separate Primary Election Days held in 2022, due to redistricting, New York City Board of Elections released the initial, unofficial results in the congressional and State senate races, based on the majority of returned poll site scanners, which cover both early votes and election day votes. Below are some of the results of the various Bronx races, following a voter turnout described by one Norwood News reporter as “anemic.” Indeed, the situation raises questions not only about voter fatigue, but also about the overall cost to

By SÍLE MOLONEY

Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote. The daughter of a small business owner, a lawyer, and a former commissioner at NYC Board of Elections, Miguelina Camilo, initially threw her hat in the ring on Feb. 25, as the Democratic candidate to represent Senate District 34, the district currently represented by State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, who announced earlier this year she was running for Congress. As reported, the Democratic-controlled State legislature redrew and voted on the various electoral districts in New York State in February 2022, following the redistricting

By SÍLE MOLONEY

The Offices of the NYS Inspector General published its latest investigative report on Friday, Aug. 19, as well as 21 previously non-public letters arising from investigations undertaken by the office. The letters, which were sent to public officials and agencies regarding allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing, provide information on the ultimate investigative findings by the inspector general. According to the office, the published documents constitute the remainder of such investigative letters issued in 2013, and continues what was described by the offices as the inspector general’s commitment to providing all such historical letters on a year-by-year basis. “Today’s

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY

Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote. Hosted by BronxNet’s Gary Axelbank, the three candidates in the Democratic primary race who are aiming to fill the seat in redrawn Senate District 34, participated in a debate aired on BronxNet on Aug. 8 to discuss the issues affecting residents in the district, the candidates’ respective policy positions, and if elected, their goals for the district. Zoning and development took center stage. Christian Amato served as a board member and as a co-chair of the transportation committee on Bronx Community Board 11, and

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY

Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote. Voters still undecided about who to back in the 34th senatorial district Democratic primary were given the opportunity to gain more insight into the three candidates’ policies, when they took on issues ranging from climate to crime, and from budgeting to job development during a recent debate hosted by Schneps media. On Tuesday, July 26, Christian Amato, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez (A.D. 80), and John Perez answered questions posed both by the two moderators, Jane Hanson and Stephen Witt, and by each other in preparation for

By SÍLE MOLONEY

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams sent a letter to Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Preston Niblack, commissioner of the Department of Finance, on Saturday, Aug. 13, indicating that, in accordance with Section 1518 of the City Charter and in light of the ongoing court battle over the Department of Education (DOE) budget, he will not be signing the FY202 property tax warrant at this time. According to a press release dated Friday, Aug. 12, the public advocate wrote that according to the recent State Supreme court ruling in Williams v. The City of New

By MIRIAM QUIÑONES & SÍLE MOLONEY

The following is an extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition. It was a hot yet fun-filled and educational day all around as a Football Skills & Drills Camp was held in the Williamsbridge Oval in Norwood on Saturday, July 30, hosted by FDNY Community Affairs, the FDNY Office of Recruitment and Retention, and the FDNY Bravest Football Team in conjunction with local football group, the Bronx Buccaneers. Participants received training on not only some useful football skills, but fire safety training, and emergency preparedness and CPR training too. In addition, participants registered

By EMILY SAWAKED

There is nothing more powerful than hearing the voices of people who have been on the front lines of a battle against oppressive systems. The docuseries, “Defining US,” focuses on the U.S. public school system and its impact on low-income children of color across the nation. It premiered at the Toronto Black Film Festival in February, and as part of the series, two individuals with experience of the Bronx public school system shared their stories. One, Angel Diaz, is a former student at the school and now a paraprofessional [teaching assistant] at the school, and the other, Ingrid Chung,

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Schools

UPDATE Elections 2022: Aug. 23 Primary Election Night Unofficial Results

Elections 2022: Miguelina Camilo on Education, Small Business Support & Criminal Justice

Inspector General Publishes Investigative Report & Makes Public Letters Sent to Govt. Agencies & Officials

UPDATE Elections 2022: Rezoning, Development Take Center Stage during Senate District 34 BronxNet Debate

Elections 2022: Senate District 34 Candidates Debate Climate, Crime, Budgeting & More

Public Advocate Stalls Property Tax Collection as City Education Budget Remains in Doubt

Football Meets Fire Safety as Bronx Buccaneers & FDNY Team Up for Skills & Drills Camp in the Oval

Defining US, The Story of Umoja