Headlines and Highlights Across the School District |
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Dobbs Ferry School District Successful Reopening Plan Enables Students and Staff To Return to "Normal"
Our students, teachers, staff and administrators are having a great first quarter and are excited to be back in school all day, every day. Incorporating a number of the District's successful strategies (based on the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations) along with the NYS Education Department's most recent health and safety guidelines issued last month, our schools are able to get back to business as usual and focus on instruction and learning.
Despite the challenges that remain ahead, we are confident that by continuing to work in partnership with parents, public health officials and our Westchester and Rivertowns' colleagues, we can mitigate our exposure to COVID-19. To view the updated Reopening Plan, information on COVID-19 resources, school news and education/health department guidance, please visit our Reopening Dobbs Ferry Schools website.
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Capital Projects Phase One Is Moving Ahead
Much of the phase one construction work on the Springhurst and Middle School/High School campuses, stemming from the Capital Projects Bond passed by Dobbs Ferry voters in 2019, has been completed. Phase two of the Capital Project upgrades and renovations will continue during the school year, and phase three, the final stage, is expected to begin in summer 2022.
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At Springhurst, a new sidewalk from Walgrove Avenue to the front of the building is getting a lot of use. In addition, the front of the building has a new security entrance, the library is being renovated, and the softball field is being totally refurbished. |
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The new roof and HVAC work at the Middle School is completed, as is the retaining wall and the new walkway at the rear of the building providing a second access point to the Aqueduct Trail.
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Air conditioning the High School/Middle School auditorium is a huge undertaking, but an exciting one. The work also includes replacing the stage lighting and sound equipment. The auditorium should be ready for use later this fall. |
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District Adds Surveillance Testing to Ensure Safe Environment for Students, Staff and Families |
As part of our reopening COVID-19 plan, the Dobbs Ferry School District has partnered with the Westchester County Department of Health, Quadrant Biosciences, and SUNY Upstate Medical University to incorporate their Clarifi COVID-19 testing program. The goal is to have 100% of students and staff participating in the program.
Within two weeks of school opening, all participating students and staff were tested. Since this initial "gateway testing," a random sample of 20% of students and staff in the pool are being tested weekly. The Surveillance Testing Program will enable Quadrant to potentially identify “breakthrough” infections in asymptomatic individuals and can help us prevent bringing infections that we are unaware of back to our families and friends, as well the rest of our school population. If you have any specific questions, please contact the District's COVID-19 Coordinator, Andrew Klaich. See directions for signing up here.
Superintendent Lisa Brady explains how easy it is to sign up for Surveillance Testing. It's free and it's a great way to make sure we're all doing our part to keep our school family safe. Click on link to sign up now!
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Linda Flanagan Named
Assistant Director of Special Education
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The Dobbs Ferry School District is pleased to announce that long-time Special Education Coordinator and Springhurst Speech Pathologist Linda Flanagan has been appointed to the new position of Assistant Director of Special Education, under Special Education Director Jean Gismervik.
Ms Flanagan started her career at Dobbs Ferry as a Speech Language Pathologist in 2010. In 2016 she was promoted to Special Education Coordinator. While in this role, Ms. Flanagan chaired the majority of CSE and 504 meetings within the District, as well as oversaw other administrative tasks. As the District's needs and programmatic offerings have increased, so has the need for a 12-month administrative position to replace the current 10-month teacher on assignment role that Ms. Flanagan previously held.
According to Special Ed Director Gismervik, having administrative support over the summer is essential to be able to respond to the increasing number of CSE/CPSE/504 meetings held during these summer months, as well as assist in scheduling, extended school year and program development that occurs during this time.
“In her new expanded role, Ms. Flanagan will be able to take on a broader range of administrative roles and responsibilities throughout the school year and brings valuable experience and insight accumulated during her time in the District,” Ms. Gismervik said. “During the past 11 years, Ms. Flanagan has made a substantial impact in the way we support students through her oversight of assistive technology, participation in the development of therapeutic based programming, and support of the Building Bridges program. Throughout the recent pandemic, Ms. Flanagan worked tirelessly to support students and staff as we navigated a series of unprecedented challenges. I am excited to welcome Ms. Flanagan to this new role and am confident she will continue her proven track record of hard work and improved student outcomes.”
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Is There a Doctor in the Schoolhouse? |
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Springhurst Principal Julia Drake was the latest PhD to join the ranks of DFSD administrators with their Doctorate Degrees. Donning their doctoral robes for the 2021 DFHS graduation ceremony, Dr. Drake and Dobbs Ferry High School Principal Dr. John Falino join Superintendent Dr. Lisa Brady, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Equity, Dr. Darrell Stichcomb, new to the District this year.
The District is very proud of the educational accomplishments of the entire DFSD staff with 99% of faculty holding advanced degrees, including Masters and Doctorates. At Dobbs Ferry we take pride in being lifelong learners.
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District-Wide Meet & Greet for New Faculty and Staff |
The Superintendent's annual conference day in September was a chance for new staff to meet each other, their mentors and colleagues. Faculty and staff broke into individual school building teams and heard more about the different committees that they could join. Welcome to the Dobbs Ferry School District and have a great year! |
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Springhurst Outdoor Classroom/Garden Update |
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Classes K-5 are visiting the Springhurst Outdoor Classroom and Garden during the fall months. Outdoor Classroom Coordinator Sara Sellitti and volunteers will be helping the students harvest the remaining vegetables including Swiss Chard and Butternut Squash, plus fresh herbs. Extra fresh produce will be donated to the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry. Visit the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry website. |
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Each year the the Outdoor Garden's organic vegetables are used for Springhurst's delicious Harvest Soup Day (coming up on October 21st), where the staff and student's get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. The entire Springhurst community is looking forward to this special lunch. A gluten/dairy free soup option will also be on the menu. Learn more about Springhurst's Outdoor Classroom and Garden.
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Dobbs Ferry High School Students Revel in Annual MAC Field Day Spirit
DFHS students and staff enjoyed the school's 16th annual MAC Field Day to kick-off October. MAC Field Day honors the legacy of Coach Jim "MAC" MacKenzie and it is an opportunity for students to participate in grade level competitions that range from athletic events to talent shows.
Each year, MAC Field Day also includes a community and/or service component and this year was no different. A number of tables were set up at the front of the school that offered information and activities from several organizations, such as the High School's Youth-to-Youth group, the GSA, and several other co-curricular clubs. Principal Falino's blog post from 2019 provides some more context for MAC Field Day which has become a DFHS tradition. As Coach MAC used to say to his students, "Who's better than you kid?"
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Middle School 8th Graders Participate In New IB MYP Community Service Project
This is the first year that 8th grade students will be completing the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) Community Project. The Community Project provides an important opportunity for students to collaborate and pursue service learning. Individuals or teams of students identify and research an issue in a community and develop a proposal for action that they present in person to both teachers and students (6th, 7th and 8th graders). This project will act as a culminating or capstone project for our 8th-grade students’ MYP experience, and as a way to showcase their commitment to service. Service can be direct, indirect, advocacy, or research.
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Direct: You will have interaction that involves people, the environment or animals.
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Indirect service: Although you do not see the recipients during indirect service, you have verified that your actions will benefit the community or environment.
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Advocacy: You speak on behalf of a cause or concern to promote action on an issue of public interest.
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Research: You collect information through varied sources, analyze data and report on a topic of importance to influence policy or practice.
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Springhurst Upgrades Kindergarten Playground Equipment With School-Community Partnership
Springhurst Kindergarten students are enjoying their newly renovated playground structure this fall. With the help of a grant through the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation, the climbing apparatus has been adapted to allow more children to use the refurbished structure at the same time, and to make it more engaging and challenging for younger students.
The original climbing structure was added to the playground in 2004. It still met safety standards, but the elementary school's population has steadily increased since then. The playground area also has a sandbox, a hoop and plenty of chalk for the students to use. The new structure is better able to meet the physical and social/emotional needs of kindergarten students, as well as help stimulate their imagination and creativity.
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DFSD Featured Video
I Will Be Fierce is a powerful picture book about courage, confidence, kindness and finding the extraordinary in everyday moments. These are "Independent Thinkers Prepared to Change the World"! (Read by Principal Drake and Asst. Principal Cavallo)
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October 19th- BOE Work Session on Civil Discourse (7:00 PM)
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November 2nd- Parent Teacher Conferences/NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
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November 9th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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November 11th- Veterans Day/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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November 23rd- BOE Work Session (7:00 PM)
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November 25th-26th- Thanksgiving Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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December 7th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00) PM
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December 21st- BOE Work Session (7:00) PM
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December 24th-December 31st- Holiday Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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Dobbs Ferry Students in the News |
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Congratulations National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students |
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Congratulation to DFHS seniors (L-R) Matthew Miadelets and Benjamin Fried for being named Semifinalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Competition. These students are recognized for exceptional academic performance based on the PSAT/NMSQT qualifying test they took as juniors. Semifinalists are able to advance to Finalist standing and compete for National Merit Scholarships awarded this spring. |
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Congratulations to DFHS seniors Alessia Bubula, Martin Mashalov, Olivia Molz, Emma Pralle, Zara Rust, Katelyn Storms and Srishti Tandon on being named Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. Each student received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation congratulating them on this honor and their academic excellence. |
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Dobbs Ferry Schools Photo Op
"In the Classroom"
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Dobbs Ferry Middle School students are back in the rhythm of school life and happy to be working together again on group assignments. |
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Dobbs Ferry School District
505 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | 914-693-1500
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