What is it like living in the Katonah area?

If you are a parent and wondering about Katonah Elementary School...I wrote this blog post a year or so ago, it gives a sneak peak into being a kid at KES........



THROUGH the EYES of a PARENT: Katonah Elementary School and why it’s Special!
March 7th, 2011
Yesterday, I sat down with Nancy Kerans, a parent of three past KES students, Emily, Peter and Olivia. She fondly and passionately recalled all the fun traditions, teachers and community spirit that make Katonah Elementary the special place that it was and still is.

Katonah Elementary with its warm and wonderful teachers embraces all types of students. It has a terrific special education group that adjusts for kids with all styles of learning and learning disabilities. It has an exciting new playground and beautiful sports fields up above the playground. KES is a neighborhood school where you see little ones headed to school on their bikes, their sibling on a tricycle, while mom wheels the youngest in a carriage; it’s an outing for all. Older kids often walk with their friends.

The great after-school programs keep kids busy and involved in a fun atmosphere.

Nancy’s daughter did a fun Irish dance class and a knitting class with her friends. The “built in playdate” helps kids make new friends in a relaxed setting. The interesting choices encourage them to try new after school activities outside of the everyday homework grind.

But the enthusiasm for KES becomes sparkling clear when one of the SPECIAL events such as “Starry Starry Night," “The Halloween Fair,” or the “Olympic Field Day” is taking place. On Starry Starry Night , except for the kindergarteners, ALL the kids are invited to return to school in their PJ’s and go from classroom to classroom reading goodnight stories. Each teacher reads in their classroom in an exciting and animated way. It’s a joyous night with READING the main event! The Halloween Fair is a truly magical party with amazing costumes, face painting, games and food. The Olympics Field Day is filled with team spirit, exercise and sportsmanship. Each student is placed on a team with lively competition between teams as each team vies for the most points and a win. It is a highpoint of the year and every child is a winner regardless of what team they are on.

All of the Kerans kids reflect with happiness on their years at KES. They felt supported throughout their childhood by the wonderful faculty and community of Katonah Elementary.

Its great living in the Katonah/ Bedford area. The sports teams for kids are great; lacrosse, soccer ,softball, baseball, basketball , ice hockey, field hockey. There are great art class at the Katonah Art Center. The Caramoor Center for the arts has amazing concerts and events. The Katonah Museum brings in wonderful exhibits. The John Jay Homestead is a great museum celebrating the family life and home of the First Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.For parents there are great resturants, gardens clubs, book groups, religious groups of all sorts, a great library, wonderful town parks with pools and tennis in Katonah, Bedford, and Bedford Hills.

Katonah is the perfect place to live, the schools are fine, it's a strong community feel, the train is here, the Victorian hamlet has great small shops, restaurants, bigger shopping is close by, equal distance to Danbury and White Plains.