Announcements

Hundreds of dads, father figures and other special adults started the school day with their children Thursday morning as White Plains schools celebrated Dads and Special Adults Take Your Child to School Day with a strong show of family and community support. At Mamaroneck Avenue School, dads and dad figures lined up with their children near the school entrance to pose for photographs in front of a MAS backdrop before heading to the playground and field for some quality time together.

Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, 16 White Plains City School District students stood beside a memorial Friday morning to help a community honor six of its own and nearly 3,000 others whose lives were taken that day. The White Plains High School and Highlands Middle School students – accompanied by teachers Emory Davis, Paul Davis and Michael Sanchez – joined city officials, first responders, clergy members, families and community members at Liberty Park for the city’s 25th Anniversary September 11 Remembrance Ceremony.

Students across the White Plains City School District streamed into schools on Wednesday morning with a mix of excitement, anticipation and a few butterflies to kick off the 2026-27 academic year. Teachers and staff greeted the students with hugs and smiles, parents squeezed in a few final photographs and school leaders stood ready to welcome thousands of young Tigers back after the long summer break.

White Plains City School District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca opened the new academic year with a spirit of excitement, energy and pride on Tuesday morning as he delivered his annual welcome-back address to faculty and staff. Dr. Ricca highlighted student accomplishments, innovative programs and academic growth during his almost hourlong address in the White Plains High School auditorium, where he challenged the crowd to build on the district’s success for the 2026-27 academic year. His theme, “Building on the Past, Shaping the Future,” reflected both pride in what White Plains schools accomplished over the past year and a determination to continue forging ahead for the young Tigers.

Jessica Graves is bringing a philosophy built around listening, responsiveness and building strong relationships with employees to her new role as Director of Human Resources for the White Plains City School District. Ms. Graves comes to White Plains from the Mount Vernon City School District, where she most recently served as Associate Superintendent for Human Resources. She said White Plains’ reputation, diversity and opportunities for students all attracted her to the position, as did the professionalism of its staff and the district’s investment in its schools.

Durham School Services has shared an important back-to-school update for White Plains City School District families about student transportation and the BusZone app.