PRSD Pulse
June 2022
Superintendent's Update
Greetings Pearl River School District Families and Staff,
Thanks to the continued and unwavering support of our school community, our 2022-23 School Budget Vote passed on May 17! The approved proposition reflects a total budget of $77,509,312, a 4.78% budget-to-budget increase and a 2.84% tax levy increase – which will continue to preserve current programs and services, and allow for sustained growth in key areas that support K-12 student learning and overall well-being. In addition, Denise Caunitz and Terrence Cortelli were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education (expiring June 30, 2025). Welcome, Mrs. Caunitz and Mr. Cortelli!
Throughout the month of May, our District has rolled up its sleeves to begin the crucial and important work centered on creating inclusive, safe and respectful environments in each of our school buildings and throughout our PRSD community. We will move forward in our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Education work – as part of policy adopted by our Board of Education on April 12, 2022. The Equity Task Force will focus on several key areas: student support, curriculum materials, professional development and staff support, opportunities for community education, athletics, and extracurricular activities.
As we gear up for June, our District excitedly prepares for the conclusion of the 2021-22 school year – with events like field days, spring concerts, art shows, academic awards ceremonies and final exams/projects. We look forward to joining friends, family and students in celebrating end-of-the-year promotions, moving-ups and commencements!
Sincerely,
Marco F. Pochintesta, Ed. D.
Front of the Class: School Spotlights
Leading up to Memorial Day, second-graders in Nancy McCarthy's class at Evans Park Elementary School rotated through an array of patriotic-themed activities centered on reading/writing comprehension, math practice and creativity-based collaboration! Students discussed service, sacrifice and patriotism, developing a deeper understanding of the establishment of this day and its importance -- rooted in both history and honor. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
On May 27, Pearl River High School students across grades 8-12 engaged in a ‘Better Together' assembly, learning about the collaborative work of Virginia Norfleet -- founder of the Haverstraw African American Connection and Andrea Winograd -- Director of Education at The Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education. These two individuals work closely together to amplify the overarching message of the importance of dialogue, connection and understanding amongst all individuals. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Fourth-graders in Kayla Kurzhals' class at Franklin Avenue Elementary School kicked off their newest module focus with solving metric measurement and conversion problems in a Chromebook-based 'Escape the Room' activity -- collaborating to test their skills in order to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects and money! Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
In front of a hand-painted backdrop scene (created with the help of art teacher Tom Price) third-graders in Krista Potenza and Kimberly Duggan's class put on their own version of 'Shakespeare In the Park' -- donning costumes fit for Renaissance royalty! The third grade cast assumed the roles of characters including Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio, Lady Montague, Tybalt, Capulet and Friar Laurence, as they recited and acted out their lines. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Congratulations to seven Pearl River High School student-artists – whose amazing original artwork was showcased at the Garner Arts Center's 2022 Garner Arts Festival held on May 21-22 in Garnerville, NY! This immersive arts festival showcases the work of talented students hailing from Rockland and Westchester County schools, in addition to world-class art exhibitions, large-scale installations, artisan demonstrations and live music performances. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
K-4 students across each of our District's elementary schools performed a variety of tunes during their Spring Concerts held on May 6, 17 and 25! Dressed in their best, ELF students from each grade-level gathered on the risers to perform for their friends, family, teachers and administrators -- led by music teachers Scott Louis and Glyn Nixon. Scroll through our Facebook and Instagram feeds to see more photos from the performances.
Our District celebrated eight Pearl River High School students who picked up their pens to officially commit to playing at the Division I, II and III collegiate athletic levels next year -- as part of the 2022 Pearl River Athletics Signing Day Ceremony! Families and friends alike joined Director of Health, Physical Education & Athletics Artie McCormack, athletic coaches, and administrators to excitedly congratulate these student-athletes and applaud them for their dedication to their sport. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Pearl River Middle School students in grades 5-7 participated in Field Days -- an annual outdoor event filled with cooperative games and opportunities to engage in sports participation! Ranging from tug-of-war, to volleyball, to kickball, students soaked up fun in the sun -- thanks to the planning of PRMS physical education teachers. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Pearl River High School National Honor Society members penned their latest letters to senior residents who reside at the Promenade at Blue Hill, an assisted living facility located in Pearl River, as part of an ongoing intergenerational partnership opportunity coined the Pen Pal Program! Engaging in bi-weekly communication, each student is matched up with a senior with whom they establish a written connection with -- sharing memories, stories and details about their lives including hobbies and exciting upcoming ventures. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Franklin Avenue Elementary School kindergarteners excitedly awaited the arrival of the bride and groom as they strolled down the aisle, colorfully decorated by Carla Harris’, Jeanie Imperati’s and Alyson Fishman’s classes, as part of an official outdoor wedding ceremony of the letters Q and U! These nuptials serve as an exciting and memorable way for these students to explore the ‘qu’ spelling pattern present in words like quiet, quest, squid and quilt. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Sounds of harmonized voices, as well as band and orchestra instruments, floated through the hallways of the music wing leading up to the Pearl River High School Spring Concert on May 25! Under the instruction and direction of choral director Shereen Way, orchestra director Darcie Pickering and band director Brian Evans, PRHS student-musicians diligently prepared for their musical showcase. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Inside Jacinta Winters’ kindergarten classroom at Evans Park Elementary School, students combined alphabet practice with mindful breathing -- thanks to the guidance of school social worker Eric Borcherding! These kindergarteners engaged in breathing exercises categorized by letter as they cultivated an understanding and awareness of healthy mindfulness and calming strategies while also incorporating movement and poses with each breath. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Congratulations to Pearl River High School senior Dennise Lema Caceres -- the winner of the Westchester Putnam Rockland Counseling Association's Rose Cooper Award Scholarship! Dennise first entered our District as an English Language Learner -- arriving from her native country of Ecuador at the age of 16. Beginning her academic journey in ninth-grade in order to learn the new language and meet graduation requirements, she quickly excelled academically -- displaying unrelenting work ethic, determination, and strengths/interests in the areas of math and science. Read more about Dennise on Facebook and Instagram.
K-4 students at Evans Park, Lincoln Avenue and Franklin Avenue Elementary Schools participated in Field Day festivities throughout the month! Elementary students spent their scheduled days engaging in activities ranging from jump-roping, to hula-hooping, to tag, to scavenger hunts -- planned and organized by ELF physical education teachers. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Pearl River High School students enrolled in Tracy Holihan’s English 12 class reached the concluding stages of their year-long Capstone projects: presenting their work to a panel of administrators, counselors and teachers! Students were required to frame an original project that they felt passionate about -- beginning with an idea pitch, finding a mentor in their field, crafting a research paper and managing their time wisely in order to complete their Capstones in a timely manner. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Students in Melissa Alm and Johannah Mitchell’s fourth grade class at Evans Park Elementary School were visited by school counselor Morgan O’Donohue for an exciting lesson focused on bridging personal interest areas with planning for the future! Fourth-graders learned about John Holland’s Six Personality Types Theory – which hypothesizes that individuals fall into the categories of realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional personality types which can determine career pathways best suited for their own personal values and interests. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Pearl River High School senior Majella Maltempi was selected as one of 50 semi-finalists for the Roger Rees Award for Excellence in Student Performance in the Best Actor & Actress category conducive to her performance in the PRHS Class of 2022's production of Chicago! Selected for consideration following a process which included evaluation from official adjudicators and performance scoring, Majella serves as an outstanding academic student involved in a number of honor societies as well as numerous musical theatre performances with Pirate Repertory. Read more about Majella on Facebook and Instagram.
Fifth-graders in Brianna Reale's social studies class at Pearl River Middle School kicked off their Government unit with a visit from a local assemblyman! Assemblyman Mike Lawler (Assembly District 97) listened intently as students pitched their ideas for new laws ranging from animal protection, to limiting the consumption of soft drinks, to gun safety. The Assemblyman discussed the powers and duties of his role, his membership on numerous committees, and how lawmaking is a process that begins with an idea and a proposal before undergoing the legislative procedure. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Pearl River High School seniors, staff and administrators, as well as local emergency services departments, were in attendance for a mock DWI accident demonstration preceding students’ Senior Prom event held on May 20. Educating students on the grave dangers and life-altering impacts of distracted driving/driving under the influence is both an important and necessary component of preventative education and smart decision-making that's an essential part of our school-wide programming. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Our District excitedly welcomed David Wright as Pearl River Middle School’s Principal effective following the Board of Education’s approval on May 3, starting July 1! Wright has most recently served as an Assistant Principal at Cornwall Central Middle School (CCMS) where he was responsible for the yearly build of master schedules; served as a 504(b) Chairperson, a Health and Safety Team Chairperson, and building lead for special education teachers; analyzed data from assessments to improve instruction; created Google University for teachers to move towards a 1:1 technology platform; and contributed to the CCMS SEL building committee. In that role, Wright was selected as the School Administrators Association of New York State and the National Association of Elementary School Principals’ Assistant Principal of the Year. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
During the week of May 6-12, our District celebrated National School Nurses Week and spotlighted each of our dedicated and hardworking nurses as part of our #WELLcome social media campaign! Each of these essential individuals ensure the health, safety and well-being of each and every one of our students. Scroll through our Facebook and Instagram feeds to explore each school nurse profile!
Pearl River Middle School fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders prepared to take the stage for choral, band and orchestra performances as part of their Spring Concert held on May 12! Student-musicians rehearsed under the direction of choral instructor Rene Dalandan, band instructor Brianna Benitez and orchestra instructor Danice-Claud Desir. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Friends and family excitedly flocked to Lincoln Avenue Elementary School on May 9 to observe the colorful creativity and inspiration of K-4 students as part of the Lincoln Avenue Art Show! This art showcase -- organized and arranged by art teacher Erin Girling -- displayed the amazing work of our talented student-artists. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Inside Lila Moreno's classroom at Evans Park Elementary School, kindergarteners (donning whale hats!) selected a nonfiction picture book about whales -- identifying specific information to support ideas in the text. Students were introduced to the word 'wow' by K-6 Instructional Coach Regina Zito -- discussing with one another what a ‘wow fact’ from their reading might be. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.
Building tours, Q&A sessions and music performances served as the perfect way to warmly welcome fourth-graders from each of our District’s elementary schools as they arrived by bus to Pearl River Middle School for an orientation! These rising fifth-graders will be the newest members of the middle school following their promotion ceremony in June -- as they prepare to become middle-schoolers in September! In small groups, fourth-graders followed along on student-led tours throughout the building -- connecting with teachers, staff and students; exploring different wings and classrooms; and learning all about what the middle school has to offer. Read more on Facebook and Instagram.