Irvington Union Free School District

09/15/2026

Homecoming is almost here, Bulldogs! 🐾

Irvington Homecoming is a weeklong celebration showcasing all of our non-merged varsity athletic programs, with each sport taking center stage for its own evening event celebrating Irvington Pride!

Join us throughout the week to cheer on our Bulldogs:

🏈 Oct. 2 at 7 p.m.: Football
⚽ Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.: Girls Soccer
🏑 Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.: Field Hockey
🎾 Oct. 6 at 6 p.m.: Girls Tennis
🏐 Oct. 7 at 7 p.m.: Girls Volleyball
⚽ Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.: Boys Soccer

We look forward to bringing our students, families and community together for a week of Bulldog pride and supporting our student-athletes!

See you Oct. 2! 💚 🐾

09/11/2026

Today, Irvington Union Free School District joins communities across the nation in commemorating the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

Across the district, students and staff observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the lives lost and all those impacted by the events of Sept. 11. Members of the Irvington school community also joined the Village of Irvington for its local remembrance ceremony this morning.

Twenty-five years later, we continue to remember and honor the lives lost, the courage and service demonstrated that day and the lasting impact of Sept. 11 on our communities and our nation.

We remember. 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

Irvington High School Seniors Selected for NYSSMA All-State Chorus

Two Irvington High School seniors will represent the district on the statewide stage this December after earning spots in the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Chorus.

Alexandra Kaye and Lily Korb will perform as alto vocalists at the All-State Chorus concert in Rochester, New York, on Dec. 6. Kaye will perform with the SATB Mixed Chorus, while Korb will perform with the SSAA Treble Chorus.

Both students were selected based on their auditions at last spring’s NYSSMA solo evaluation festival. The highest-scoring students from across the state who demonstrated the most advanced skills at the festival were invited to participate in the All-State music ensembles.

“I am so excited for Allie and Lily! They have worked so hard, and it’s going to be really amazing to see the two of them perform with such an accomplished ensemble,” Irvington High School/Middle School chorus teacher Stephen DiGiovanni said. “I am so proud that these two singers are representing the Irvington UFSD music department.”

Kaye and Korb have participated in the Irvington choral program throughout all their years of schooling and have previously been selected to participate in a variety of honor choir festivals in Westchester County. Their continued dedication to the choral program and pursuit of opportunities to develop their musical talents reflect the Irvington Way and the district’s commitment to encouraging students to discover their individual strengths and strive to achieve their fullest potential.

As a result of this achievement, both students are now eligible to apply to participate in this year’s upcoming All-Eastern conference ensemble, which will be held in Providence, Rhode Island.

Congratulations to Kaye and Korb on this outstanding musical achievement!

09/03/2026

Welcome back, Irvington! 🎒📚

The 2026-27 school year is officially underway! Students returned to classrooms across the Irvington Union Free School District today, reconnecting with teachers, classmates and their school communities as they kicked off a new year of learning and growth.

We’re so excited to have our students back and can’t wait to share more from a wonderful first day! 💚

More first-day photos to come! 📸

08/25/2026

Dows Lane Welcomes New Students with Special Back-to-School Traditions

Excitement for the new school year was in the air at Dows Lane Elementary school on Aug. 24 as incoming kindergarten students, new students and their families came together for two special back-to-school traditions.

Incoming kindergarten students started the day with a school bus ride around Dows Lane alongside a family member. During the ride, students learned more about their new school and what to expect on their first day of kindergarten. Each student also received a plush bulldog courtesy of the PTSA.

“Students were so excited to get on the big bus,” Principal Dr. Andrea Kantor said. “It’s a fun way to get ready for their first day of school.”

Later that day, Dows Lane welcomed new students and incoming kindergarten students for the PTSA’s annual Popsicles with the Principal event. Dr. Kantor and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mara Ratesic greeted students and families as they became acquainted with the Dows Lane community.

Students had the opportunity to find other students in their classes, play on the playground with new friends and explore the school garden.

“It's a wonderful tradition,” Dr. Kantor said. “Students and families are joining our Irvington family, and we welcome them with open arms!”

Together, the two events offered Dows Lane’s newest students and families a fun and welcoming introduction to the school community as they prepare for the start of the new school year.

08/19/2026

Students at Dows Lane Elementary School will return to a thriving garden this fall, with new improvements and grant support creating even more opportunities for hands-on learning and community engagement.

This fall, the Irvington Union Free School District reinstalled the garden’s irrigation system, restoring its automatic sprinklers and providing additional support for the plants and produce students help cultivate throughout the year.

The garden also recently received exciting news after Dows Lane PTSA Garden Coordinator Meg Tubman applied for the Whole Kids Foundation Garden Grant. Dows Lane was selected from among 800 schools that applied for the grant and is expected to receive approximately $3,500. While plans for the funding are still being determined, the grant is expected to support seeds, plants and the continued upkeep of the garden’s vegetable beds.

The garden serves as an extension of the classroom, providing students with opportunities to plant, grow, observe and harvest while developing a greater understanding of the environment and where food comes from. In her letter supporting the grant application, Principal Dr. Andrea Kantor highlighted the role gardening plays in supporting the school’s whole-child approach to education, including hands-on learning, environmental awareness and students’ social-emotional well-being.

Throughout the school year, the space is incorporated into learning and activities in a variety of ways. Students read and observe plant growth in the garden with librarian Gina Samaniego, while Garden Club Advisor Alissa Campbell works with students to cultivate seeds and care for the garden. The school also collaborates with Irvington High School’s vocational program, providing opportunities for high school students to contribute to the community garden.

The garden’s impact extends beyond the school day through the support of the PTSA, families and community volunteers. Tubman coordinates volunteers who help prepare and maintain the garden throughout the year. The garden also provides opportunities during the summer, and extra produce is donated to a local senior center.

Students will have another opportunity to enjoy the fruits, and vegetables, of their labor this October when Dows Lane hosts its first whole-school soup day. Students will help pick and chop vegetables from the garden before coming together to enjoy the soup. The new event builds on the school’s popular spring salad day.

“It’s going to be a wonderful school community event,” Kantor said. “The students love being in the garden, and one of their favorite days is salad day in the spring, so we are trying a fall soup day this year, too. The garden is an incredible learning space for our students and a wonderful community space for all our families.”

Kantor credited the collaboration among Campbell, Tubman and the district with helping the garden and its programming continue to thrive.

“Our garden is a place of pride and joy for all students, staff and families at Dows Lane Elementary School, Kantor said.

With new improvements, continued community support and plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning ahead, the Dows Lane garden is ready for another year of growing alongside its students.

08/03/2026

Now Hiring: Part-Time School Monitors

Irvington Union Free School District is seeking part-time School Monitors for Irvington Middle/High School.

We're looking for dependable individuals who enjoy working with students and are committed to helping maintain a safe, welcoming school environment.

Interested candidates are encouraged to email a resume to [email protected].

Join our team and help make a positive difference for our students every day!

07/29/2026

Congratulations to Dows Lane Elementary School on its 2026 National Gold Star School Award!

Superintendent Dr. Mara Ratesic and Principal Dr. Andrea Kantor recently traveled to Orlando to accept the award at the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Gold Star Schools Awards ceremony. The prestigious recognition honors schools that demonstrate excellence through an established culture, empowered people, and optimal systems.

"It is such an honor to receive this award for Dows Lane. We work hard as a staff to create the most glorious culture for our students, families and each other, and I am so proud," shared Dr. Kantor.

Congratulations to the entire Dows Lane community on this well deserved honor!

06/24/2026

A special message from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mara Ratesic.

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