Washingtonville celebrates students, athletes and retirees at Board of Education meeting

Washingtonville Central School District's Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, June 11 was an evening of celebration from start to finish, as the district recognized a world-ranked Odyssey of the Mind team, honored its spring student-athletes and bid a heartfelt farewell to more than 20 retiring faculty and staff members.

Check out a photo gallery from the evening here!

Odyssey of the Mind team takes on the world
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Marguerite Fusco opened the recognitions by introducing Round Hill Elementary's 2026 Odyssey of the Mind team — the New York State champions, who went on to place eighth in the world at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Iowa State University just a few weeks ago.

Odyssey of the Mind is a creative problem-solving competition that blends engineering, theatrics, communication, project management and teamwork. Competing in Problem 4: Life's a Ball, the Round Hill team designed and built a balsa structure to support as much weight as possible while withstanding strikes from rolling balls — all while performing an original skit with student-designed costumes, sets and characters.

"It's the life skills that come out of this team and their experience — it's incredible. You can't put a price on that," Ms. Fusco said.

The team began practicing in the fall and worked all the way through May, with coaches Kathleen Vilchez and Caitlin Hulbert guiding them through the state championship in Syracuse and on to the world stage in Iowa.

Ms. Fusco thanked the Board of Education, the district's finance and transportation teams, families, and building administrators, who sent the team off with parades and clap-outs. She also shared a favorite memory from the state competition, where members of an opposing team watched Round Hill perform.

"After they finished, I heard one of them say, 'Well, I guess we're not winning this thing,'" she laughed. "It was just so impressive."

"No place like home" for spring sports
Athletic Director Suzanne Lendzian then welcomed the district's spring coaches and student-athletes, reflecting on a season in which Wizard Nation thrived alongside the capital project's progress.

"Even as our campus transformed around us, our Wizards made this spring season one to remember," Ms. Lendzian said.

The spring season was a season of championships. Girls flag football captured the first sectional championship in program history and advanced to the New York State quarterfinals. 

Boys tennis went 15-3, winning division and sectional titles and reaching the state regional final. Esports claimed multiple state championships – including Edwin "Tabpol" Charriez's fourth straight Super Smash Bros. solos title and the district's first-ever state team championship – and finished among the top eight teams in the country.

Several Wizards were still extending their seasons following the BOE meeting. Six girls track and field athletes qualified for the New York State Championships in Rochester, while Cameron Snyder and the boys 4x400 relay team also earned spots at the state's premier track and field competition.

Coaches across every program celebrated growth, resilience and character. Unified basketball capped a nearly undefeated second season with a Scholar-Athlete Team Award, an honor girls lacrosse earned as well — with all three of its senior captains committed to play in college, including Division I-bound goalkeeper Julia Seawald. 

Boys golf tripled its win total, girls golf sent an eighth grader to the Section 9 tournament, and softball, baseball and boys lacrosse all pointed to young rosters and rising numbers as foundations for the future.

Beyond the scoreboard, the district also celebrated 17 student-athletes who recently committed to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level, along with Michael Silva, who spent the past two years representing Section 9 on the NYSPHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and helping grow Washingtonville's Unified Basketball program.

"Unified is honestly an experience of a lifetime," Michael said. "Out of all the things I've done in this building, it's definitely the most rewarding. The atmosphere is really life-changing."

Honoring 458 years of service
The evening concluded with a tribute to the district's retirees, led by Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Lynn Imperato. This year's 21 retirees represent a combined 458 years of service to the district, with the longest-serving retiree marking 34 years.

"As I was listening to the accomplishments we heard tonight, I kept hearing the same themes: dedication, teamwork, hard work, passion," Ms. Imperato said. "That's exactly what makes our retirees, and what makes Washingtonville, so special."

In a new twist this year, colleagues and community members were chosen to speak on behalf of each retiree, surprising the honorees with a video of loved ones sharing what they'll miss most about them. See WCSD’s retiree tribute here. 

Congratulations to all of Washingtonville's honorees — and way to go, Wizard Nation!

Check out a photo gallery from the evening here!