Mount Kisco Elementary Marks the Beginning of the School Year with an Opening Ceremony

Mount Kisco Elementary School celebrated the beginning of the 2025-26 school year with its first all-school Opening Ceremony.

“This is our opening ceremony to officially kick off the school year,” music teacher Carolyn Rowan told students before leading them in a song. “This assembly has two jobs: job number one is to open school. Job number two is to practice how to be in an assembly.”

While setting expectations for assemblies during the school year, the Mount Kisco school community also did something new this year: they had a flag ceremony signifying each grade moving up to their new level. Representatives from each grade carried colorful flags with their grade number on it and marched down the center of the crowd to place it in a special spot in front of the stage.

The assembly also included a kick-off to the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. Students learned or were refreshed on what PAWS means: Pure kindness, Act responsibly, Work and play safely, So respectful.

They were reminded what each of those things looks like on the bus, in the hallways, in the cafeteria and in the classroom. They were also guided through the assembly so that they were clear on how the events run and what the expectations are.

Students were praised for their behavior at the end of the assembly.

“You were respectful, safe with your bodies, listening to teachers,” said Kathleen Daniel, one of the PBIS and Social Emotional Learning Committee members. “You’re practicing all the things you need to know for assemblies.”

Acting Principal Dr. Angelique Johnson agreed. “That was excellent,” she said.