From the Principal
DR. SEVERIN CORNELIUS
Dr. Severin Cornelius is currently the principal of Grimes School. He has been teaching since 1997, became an administrator in New York City in 2004 and has been an administrator for the Mount Vernon City School District since 2005. Previously, he was an assistant principal and acting principal at Mount Vernon High School.
Dr. Cornelius completed the Doctor of Education program at Marymount University in 2024 and received a doctorate degree in educational leadership and organizational innovation.
Dr. Cornelius loves football and has served as the head football coach and assistant football coach at Mount Vernon for 11 years.
Dr. Cornelius is looking forward to sustaining solid connections within the community and improving academic achievement for all students.
Welcome Back Letter 2024-2025
Greetings Grimes Families,
Welcome back! I hope everyone is ready for an exciting 2024-2025 school year. Last year ended on a positive note with improved reading and math scores. The staff at Grimes want to continue our upward progress and encourage students to aim high. For students at Grimes, we encourage them to shoot for the stars and we only encourage students to be the best they can be. Failure is not an option.
Our success is accomplished through collaboration with families and the community. We encourage parental and community involvement. Only together can Grimes School reach its full potential. Parents are an important resource to any school community, and great schools have tremendous parental involvement. Let's work together to make Grimes School the best school in the Mount Vernon City School District. If we believe it, we can achieve it.
Grimes will host an orientation for students and families on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in the Grimes School auditorium. Grades K-6 will begin at 9 a.m. and Grades 7 and 8 will begin at 10:30 a.m. Parents must accompany students in grades K-6. I highly encourage all middle school parents to attend orientation.
Please review the protocols below for the first week of school and entry/dismissal procedures.
August 22: Orientation
August 29: Superintendent's Conference Day
September 3: School opens, half day for all.
September 19: "Bring your dad to School Day"
Entry Procedures
Grades K-2: 8:20 a.m. start. Students enter on South Tenth Avenue exit
Grades 3-6: 8:20 a.m. start. Students enter South Eleventh in the playground area. Students will move to the auditorium at 8:20 a.m.
Middle School: 8:15 a.m. start. Students will enter on Tenth Avenue exit
Dismissal Procedures
Grades K-2: 3 p.m. dismissal. Students are dismissed on South Tenth Avenue.
Grades 3-4: 3 p.m. dismissal. Students are dismissed on Second Street.
Grades 5-6: 3 p.m. dismissal. Students are dismissed in the playground area.
Middle School: 3 p.m. dismissal. Students are dismissed on Second Street.
Please listen out for robocalls from the Mount Vernon City School District. The robocalls have valuable information for parents and guardians. I look forward to seeing everyone at the orientation.
Sincerely,
Dr. S. Cornelius, Principal
Grimes School
CONTACT INFO
Severin Cornelius
scornelius@mtvernoncsd.org