Fall 2015 Vol. 64 No. 1

Published by the Board of Education, Pleasantville Union Free School District, Pleasantville NY

Dear Neighbors,In September, the New York State Association of School Business

Officials released a report that highlights a disturbing trend. “The local share of a school district’s funding (in New York State) over the last decade has grown by 4 percent — mostly in the form of property tax revenue” while, during this same time period, New York State now dictates educational policy in key areas. In short, we now pay more of the educational tab and have less local control in policy decision making, the worst of both worlds.

“The report comes more than two months after state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to re-approve the state’s cap on local property tax increases, but also after a state budget that boosted school aid by $1.3 billion. At the same time, most school districts in the four years the cap has been in effect have budgeted under the limit. Still, despite the increased education aid approved in the last several state spending plans, the report found money steered to schools remains below pre-recession levels.”

As this funding shift has evolved, New York State has mandated the rushed implementation of its version of the Common Core, cre-ated student tests based on these new curricula with an opaque student assessment and scoring system, tied these tests to 50% of a teacher’s annual evaluation (making it more likely that “teachers will teach to the test”), eliminated the local diploma option for special educa-tion students, and forced local school districts and teachers unions to collectively bargain these changes when, previously, local school boards had the authority to create teacher evaluation policies without negotiation.

New York State’s tack over the last decade has been to under-fund and usurp local school/community decision making. Help us, help you, fight for the funding and local decision-making control we once had, and need, to ensure our schools stay strong, by going to our advocacy page, and letting our state legislators know we are underfunded, capped, cuffed and not happy about it.Sincerely,Shane McGaffeyPresident, Board of EducationSource of quotes: Nick Reisman, “Property Tax Revenue Takes Up Increasing Share of School Funding,” State of Politics blog (nystateofpolitics.com)

Board Meetingsthrough January 2016

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings of the Board of Education begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Pleasantville High School Library Media Center. Reports sched-uled are subject to change. Information is available on the District website and at 741-1460. Every meeting provides an opportunity for comments and questions from the audience.

Tuesday, November 10Joint Village/Board MeetingTuesday, November 24• Finance Committee Report: Tax

Cap and Budget ImplicationsTuesday, December 8 Joint Student/Board MeetingTuesday, December 22• Fall Athletic Season Recap• Guidance ReportTuesday, January 12• Financial Update• Testing ReportTuesday, January 26• Facilities Update: Bond, Phase II• Technology Update

Board of Education, seated: Vice President Angela Vella, President Shane McGaffey; standing: Larry Boes, Emily Rubin Persons, Lou Conte

Pleasantville Schools 2026 — A Five-Year Strategic Plan Dear Community Members,

Year Two of Pleasantville Schools 2026, our five-year strategic plan, is underway. We will expand upon many of the 30 objectives that we suc-cessfully operationalized in Year One and have added 12 others. Integral to many of these objectives is the $1.1 million technology project (part of the 2014 bond referendum) that will upgrade our technology infrastructure. As of this writing, we are waiting on State Education Department approval of the plans, which were submitted last school year.

Among our Year One results were: new PHS electives (e.g. SmartPhone Photography, Anatomy & Physiology, Engineering, Military History); cre-ation of a Maker Space in the Middle School library; art shows held at the Mt. Pleasant Public Library; Lego Logo after-school activity for second graders; expanded senior internship program; extra science, reading, and physical education for grades 1 & 2 (Primary Time); facilities improvements (new MS roof, new entry doors at BRS, new turf fields & track, etc.); formation of Pleasantville STRONG and Drug Free Coalition application; Change Your Energy Day (holistic well-being) at the Middle School; creation of new PUFSD logo and app; alternative high school in non-traditional setting (Pleasantville Academy).

While a few of our Action Plans were completely operationalized in Year One, most supported additional initiatives for Year Two including: K-12 Art Show at Mt. Pleasant Public Library; extra writing, activity, and math time for grades 3 & 4 (WAM); a 3D printer for the MS Maker Space, which will also be used by 8th grade STEM classes; flexible learning spaces at PHS; Vex robots in PHS science offerings; new Middle School master schedule; block scheduling in ELA, Social Studies, and Science for 7th & 8th grades; Pleasantville STRONG public meetings and forums; Computer Principles course at PHS; BOCES Regional Information Center Technology Management Services; and more.

Some of the new Action Plans undertaken in Year Two include: interac-tive white boards and new software for music classrooms; PHS students encouraged to bring their own computers/devices to class; a multi-year Humanities Research Program at PHS; field trip evaluation surveys for teachers, parents, and students; substance abuse prevention counselor at PHS; partnerships with external STEM organizations; digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources (JSTOR) added to PHS library; external resources for professional development; and more.

Amid the myriad distractions of our interconnected, 24/7 world, our strategic plan helps us keep our focus on what is important — the educa-tional needs of our students. For more information, Pleasantville Schools 2026 as well as my Year One and Year Two presentations can be found in their entirety on the District website under the Board of Education tab. Sincerely,Mary Fox-AlterSuperintendent of Schools

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Strategies2014–2019

1. We will design dynamic, differ-entiated learning environments infused with technology in the Arts.

2. We will design dynamic, differ-entiated learning environments infused with technology in the Sciences (STEM).

3. We will design dynamic, dif-ferentiated learning systems infused with technology in the Humanities.

4. We will explore, design, and real-ize optimal uses of time, space, and place.

5. We will sustain and expand our climate of holistic wellness.

6. We will communicate to inform and empower.

7. We will strengthen and existing and develop new community partnerships.

K-12 Art Show at Mt. Pleasant Library

BRS Family Fitness Night

District News

Staff ChangesOur new staff members fill positions made avail-able through leaves of absence, resignations, and retirements. Many may be familiar as they have been teacher aides, teaching assistants, and substitute teachers in our schools.

Bedford Road School welcomed speech therapist Kara Falconi, school psychologist Marissa Chris-tensen, and school nurse Debra Carpenter. Part-time

Front: Gianna DiPaolo, Lauren Byassee, Dillon Clark; back: Jazmin Blanco-Limarzi, Rebeca Castellano, Kelly Bentson, Mary Dwyer, Maryann Flately.

Front: Corinne Credendino, Jennifer Gottfried, Genevieve Johnson; back: Laura Drysdale, Jean Gilroy, Stephanie Chu.

Top row: Barbara Berg, Kara Falconi, Marissa Christensen; bottom row: Debra Carpenter, Kimberly-Ann Spence.

music teacher Barbara Berg (strings) divides her time between BRS and the Middle School.

Joining the Middle School are Laura Drysdale (7/8 social studies), Jean Gilroy (7/8 English), Jennifer Gottfried (5th grade), and Kimberly-Ann Spence (special education) and teaching assistants Corinne Crededino and Genevieve Johnson. Speech therapist Stephanie Chu is in both the Middle School and the High School.

New staff members at Pleasantville High School include school counselor Rebeca Castel-lano, teachers Jazmin Blanco-Limarzi (special education/ISP), Lauren Byassee (social stud-ies), Dillon Clark (math/special education), and Gianna DiPaolo (math), and teaching assistants Kelly Bentson, Mary Dwyer, and Britney Krantz. Also at the High School, courtesy of the Drug Free Coalition Grant awarded to Pleasantville STRONG, is Maryann Flatley, a school assistance counselor from Westchester County’s Student Assistance Services.

The District calendar also listed the following name changes for staff members at BRS: Tara (Dolan) Goldstein, Joanne (Stratigakis) Koutsaris, Jane (Mwanza) McGowan, and Lindsey (Swerd-loff) Rosenthal; at the Middle School: Tara (Mul-

lin) Birrittella , Pamela (Roth) D’Agostino (who also moved from PHS), Tania (Zuccaro) Dunlap, and Sara (Keegan) LaMar; and at the High School: Stephanielynn (Imperato) Marra.

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District News

Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter recognized Virginia Mancini, Hillary Dettwyler, and Dr. Carolyn McGuffog for their twenty-five years of service to the District at the first Superintendent’s Conference Day of the school year.

Silver Anniversaries

Psychology interns work under the supervision of Dr. Carolyn McGuffog and the school psychologists where they are placed. Seated: Jacqueline Russo (PHS), Lauren Cohen (PHS), Deanna Spoto, (BRS), Jake Ross (BRS). Standing: Marlee Schwartz (PHS), Sarah Lebovitz (PHS), Nikki Katsiotas (PMS), Natalie Garcia (BRS). Not pictured: Teresa Faulkner (PHS), Viany Orozco (PHS), Talya Ramchandani (PMS), Anastasia Reison (PMS).

Psychology Interns

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New Track & Turf Fields

WATCH Board Meetings & OtherDistrict Programming on

www.pctv76.org Verizon Channel 32

Cablevision Channel 77 (simulcast Fridays on Channel 76)

Our new track and turf fields were put into service in September and are in heavy demand — physical education classes, recess, team practices and games, AYSO, Dad’s Club, residents getting some exercise, and more. To ensure the safety of our students, the health of all users, and the maximum life expectancy of these facilities, it is important that we all understand and adhere to the rules governing their use:• Like our school buildings, our track & fields

may be used only by students and staff during the school day.

• We know you love walking our track, but doing so while schools are in session is a breach of security and a safety concern.

• We encourage you to continue to use our track whenever school is not in session and whenever students are not using it for practices.

• Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, strollers, chairs, metal spikes, golf equipment, and other items that might damage the track & fields are not permitted.

• Pets are not allowed anywhere on school grounds. This includes the new track & fields.

• To protect the financial investment we’ve made in our fields, water is the only beverage allowed on the new turf fields. Also, please refrain from bringing food onto the turf fields. Sunflower seeds are a major no-no. The seeds and their husks get in between the grass blades and can’t be easily removed by the machines used to keep the fields in good shape.

• Group use of the track & fields requires a permit.

School News — Achievements & Awards

Class of 2015 AP Scholars: Caroline Cancino, Ju-lian Fernandez, John Glinski, Nancy Howe, Alynne Jeanty, Briana Mar-rone, Audrey McGrath, Danielle Mur-ray, Monique Ng, Michael Nuccio, Amanda O’Leary, Kathleen O’Neill, Sarah Paraszczak, Alexandra Puccia, Noelle Salzarulo, Richard Teigtmeier, Eli Waxler, Michael Zakher, Kate Zizmor. AP Scholars with Honor: Kathryn Berg, Rachel Cooper, Christopher Durang, Olivia Heintzman, Mollie Keller, Isak Leon, Erin Mandeel, Cas-sidy McCrea, Alyssa Nagel, Amanda Posa, Baylor Rosenbaum, Audrey Tocco, Bryan Wolf.AP Scholars with Distinction: Calyn Bronkema, Angela Calvi, Eamon Co-burn, Tucker Coburn, Terence Crowe, Vanessa DeMeo, Jordan Frank, Liana Frasca, Adam Giuriceo, Jacob Levine, Victoria Macera, Thomas Marrone, Kathryn McAllister, Roisin Reilly, Leah Russo, Alana Ruth, Isabella Schwartz, Ryan Soohoo, Audrey Tuck, Leo Tulchin, Patrick Watts, Jackson Wong. National AP Scholars: Eamon Co-burn, Tucker Coburn, Jordan Frank, Roisin Reilly, Isabella Schwartz, and Jackson Wong also received the National AP Scholar Award, given to students who scored 4 or higher on 8 or more AP Exams and had an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken.AP International Diploma: Olivia Heintzman received the AP Inter-national Diploma (APID), given to students who scored 3 or higher on 5 or more AP Exams across several disciplines and who are applying to universities outside their native country. The APID “represents an exceptional level of achievement.”

The College Board gave out 105 AP Scholar awards to 98 Pleasantville High School students for their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. Forty-four are members of the Class of 2016 and have the opportunity for further recognition. About 22% of the 2.2 million students who took AP Exams earned awards.

AP Exams are graded on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest grade. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement, based on the number of AP Exams taken and the scores earned: AP Scholar (scored 3 or higher on 3 or more AP Exams), AP Scholar with Honor (scored 3 or higher on 4 or more AP Exams, with an average grade of 3.25 or above), and AP Scholar with Distinction (scored 3 or higher on 5 or more AP Exams, with an average grade of 3.5 or above).

Class of 2016 AP Scholars — Row 1: Aidan Lewis (H), Rithvik Subramanya (H), Alyssa Kerper (H), Rebecca Lord (H), Sophie Loring (H), Samantha Sicignano (H), Amelia Stargiotti (H), Kiernan McCarthy, Madison McKinney, Kevin Ansari (H). Row 2: Patrick McPhee, Sophia Maldonado, Hannah Baylies, Michelle DeSa, Katherine Bartz, Abigail Iaconis, Tyler Ossowski, Janna McPartland, James McCarthy, Benjamin Marshak. Row 3: Drew Dorflinger, Kevin Largey, Samantha Andreacchi (H), Alyssa Rufino (H), Karina Roye (H), Kathryn Nicolai (H), Kimberly Chia (H), Claire Pickens (H), Jack Finnegan, Sophie Dora Tulchin (H), James Bathon, Natalie Dell (H). Row 4: Sean Cotter (D), David Zweibaum (D), Laura Chapman (D), Emily Harter (D), Charlotte Hill (D), Haider Mumtaz.Not pictured: Amelia Brown, Philip Garbarini (H), Shivam Merai, Elena Phethean (H), Annie Stockel, Michael Weinberg.(H): AP Scholar with Honor(D): AP Scholar with Distinction

Reporting errors sometimes occur. Anyone who is aware of one should contact The College Board directly.

PHS Students Earned 105 AP Scholar Awards

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School News — Achievements & Awards

National Merit Awards

Laura Chapman and Sophie Dora Tulchin are among the approximately 16,000 seniors nationwide who have attained Semifinalist status in the National Merit Schol-arship Program. Laura and Sophie are now eligible to continue in the competition for some 7,400 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be awarded in Spring 2016.

Semifinalists are designated on a state repre-sentational basis and comprise less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. This year’s qualifying score for Semifinalists ranged from 202 to 225 and was 219 in New York State.

James Bathon, Lorenzo Castoldi, Kimberly Chia, Michelle DeSa, Charlotte Hill, Alyssa Kerper, Aidan Lewis, Sophie Loring, Sophia Maldonado, Tobias Mitchell, Elena Phethean, Karina Roye, Samantha Sicignano, Rithvik Subramanya, and David Zweibaum were named Commended Students. Michelle DeSa and Sophia Maldonado also were recognized as National Hispanic Scholars for scoring among the top 2.5% of Hispanic and Latino students.

Only the top 50,000 scorers of the over 1.5 mil-lion students who entered the 2016 competition are named Semifinalists (16,000) or Commended Students (34,000).

Row 1: Laura Chapman, Sophie Dora Tulchin. Row 2: Samantha Sicignano, Sophie Loring, Sophia Maldonado. Row 3: Tobias Mitchell, Michelle DeSa, Kimberly Chia, James Bathon, Karina Roye. Row 4: Lorenzo Castoldi, Rithvik Subramanya, David Zweibaum, Alyssa Kerper, Aidan Lewis. Not Pictured: Charlotte Hill, Elena Phethean.

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PHS Musicians in County, State & National Festivals

Orchestra teacher Mary Ann Meade, Samantha D’Angelo (viola), Gregory Hunter (double bass), Jonathan Kim (first violin), Eddie Tu (alto sax), Band teacher Dr. Tom Heintzelman.

Front: Elena Phethean, Sophia Maldonado, Alyssa Kerper, Marc Darmohraj, Sophie Dora Tulchin, James McCarthy. Back: Carter Tanis, Michael Bloom, Michelle DeSa, Katherine Stargiotti, Choral teacher Kathleen Donovan-Warren. Not pictured: Karina Florio, Sonya McGaffey.

Four instrumentalists and twelve vocalists will participate in the 2015 Westchester Area All-State Concert at SUNY Purchase on November 5. The annual event is a showcase for the top high school musicians (grades 10–12) in the county.

Vocalists Marc Darmohraj, Alyssa Kerper, Sophia Maldonado, and Elena Phethean also will perform at the New York State School Music Asso-ciation’s All-State Festival in Rochester, December 3–6. This is the highest achievement that a high school musician can attain within New York State. Sophie Dora Tulchin and Eddie Tu are alternates for chorus and band, respectively.

James McCarthy performed in the All-National Honors Ensembles Choir at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on October 28. He was one of 673 students from 49 states accepted into an All-National ensemble, the “best of the best,” and only the second PHS student to earn this honor.

School News — Achievements & Awards

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Emily Harter, Mr. Maron

Witch Mountain by Emily Harter

National Art AwardPHS senior Emily Harter earned a Na-tional Medal in the 2015 S c h o l a s t i c Art & Writ-ing Awards for her silk-screen, Witch M o u n t a i n .

She is the first PHS art student to receive a National Medal in this contest. Both Emily and art teacher Jim Maron were honored by Scholastic with gold medals.

Witch Mountain was selected for inclusion in the ART.WRITE.NOW.DC exhibition at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building in Washington D.C. This exhibition, on display until August 2016, features 59 National Award-winning artworks as well as The Best Teen Writing of 2015.

National Honor Society Inducts 28The PHS chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 28 new members at an evening ceremony held on October 22 in the auditorium.

Front: Jeremy Stone, Ian Esliker, Gregory Hunter, Sophie Loring, Brian Halloran, Riley Kennedy, Adriana Fuccillo, Ashlin Leen, Vincent Ferraiuolo. Middle: Douglas Crocitto, Gwenyth Whalen, Eddie Tu, Kellie Allen, Joseph Trudo, Ana Malfa, Caitlin O’Neill, Jillian Labruzzo, Raquel Sammartano, Hanna Kapoor. Back: Marc Darmohraj, Jayson Calvi, Silpaa Gunabalan, James Grom, Michael Bloom, Sonja Meberg, Samantha D’Angelo, Caroline Kovatch, Divya Ramakrishnan.

Of Note…Sixth grade i n v e n t o r Grant Becker was i n t e r-v iewed by Ernie Anas-tos of Fox 5 News during the show’s “Super Kids

Week.” The week-long segment fea-tured young entrepreneurs whose creations, such as Grant’s Go Go Bike, help people.

The Middle School now has its own school song, thanks to PHS sophomore Sonya McGaffey. She

Ernie Anastos and Grant Becker

Sonya McGaffey (back row, left) with Ms. Johnson and Middle School students

joined a group of 6th, 7th, & 8th graders, under the direction of Hill-ary Johnson, to perform the song at the October 13 Board of Education meeting.

PHS senior Olivia Nem-ec earned the Gold Award, Girl Scout-ing’s highest achievement, with a project

that brought order to the roomful of props stored in the Performing Arts modular space. Olivia began last spring and worked throughout the summer, putting together shelving and sorting and organizing hundreds of items. Tom Patterson was named Track Coach of the Year by the Journal News. The award was reported too late to be included in the Summer 2015 newsletter.

Olivia Nemec

The Board of EducationPresidentShane McGaffey (409-3487)pleasantboard6@gmail.comVice PresidentAngela Vella (769-5729)pleasantboardav@gmail.comMembersLarry Boes (773-1882)pleasantboardlb@gmail.comLouis Conte (773-1532)pleasantboard7@gmail.comEmily Rubin Persons (747-0136)pleasantboardep@gmail.comSuperintendent of Schools Mary Fox-AlterDistrict Websitewww.pleasantvilleschools.comBoard Meetings and School Closings: 741-1460Editor / PhotographerJulie Schwartz

Board of EducationPleasantville Union Free School District60 Romer AvenuePleasantville, New York 10570

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PAIDWHITE PLAINS, NYPERMIT NO. 7046

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PHS Musical

This school year’s PHS musical production will be Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Performance Dates & Times:March 4, 5, 11, 12 at 7:30 p.m.March 6 at 2 p.m.

Rotary members distributed smoke alarms to all kindergartners.

Volunteer firefighters brought their trucks to BRS and talked about fire safety.

Teamwork Counts — a 4th grade program of activities run by the BRS PTA

Fourth grade science — a hands-on investigation of adaptation in the crab.