Headlines and Highlights Across the School District
Fall 2022
Dobbs Ferry School District Welcomes Superintendent Ken Slentz and 18 New Faculty and Staff

New Superintendent Ken Slentz officially joined the Dobbs Ferry School District this August and didn't waste any time getting to know more about the District, staff, teachers, and administrative team. The District is delighted to have filled almost all of the faculty and key staff positions created by retirements, and Mr. Slentz is excited about the District's new hires and building a great team. His first priority as Superintendent is to enable the District to continue the excellent work that is being done here, and to learn how he can help move important initiatives forward, focusing on what we can do to make the most of each opportunity for teaching and learning. He is also in the process of connecting with parent organizations and community members so that we can enhance our school-home relationships and community partnerships. Already a familiar face on both the HS/MS campus, at Springhurst and extra curricular activities and events, stay tuned for other opportunities to meet Superintendent Slentz.
DFSD Facilities' Projects Wrap Up Construction for School Opening

The District completed its two-year Capital Projects construction in time for the start of school, which included major renovations and upgrades at both the Middle School/High School campus and at Springhurst Elementary School. Those projects included the following:
  • A new roof and HVAC for the Middle School
  • New ceilings throughout the Middle School
  • New HVAC lighting and sound for the Auditorium
  • Conversion of the TV studio into new classroom space
  • A new Library Media Center at Springhurst
  • A new varsity softball field
  • A security vestibule at Springhurst
  • Several playground upgrades at Springhurst

Other noteworthy improvements over the summer included a complete replacement of all District copy machines and the installation of new security cameras.
DFSD New Faces and Fanfare
Denis Brazil is the District's new Director of Facilities. He has nearly 20 years of experience in building and grounds. He was previously Supervisor of Facilities and Operations at the Hempstead School District in Long Island. He also worked at the Roslyn Public Schools and the Hewlett-Woodmere School District where he began his career as a custodian. Mr. Brazil graduated from Queens College and has a BA in Mathematics and Psychology as well as an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Nassau Community College.
Juliet Gevargis-Mizimakoski is serving as Dobbs Ferry High School's interim Assistant Principal for the 2022-2023 school year. She is a seasoned assistant principal who served in that role for eleven years at Tappan Zee High School before moving to Irvington High School for the past two years. She was appointed by the Board of Education on August 22nd after former Dobbs Ferry AP Candace Reim resigned to become the Principal of Clarkstown North High School. We were delighted to have Juliet on board in time for the opening of school.
Shari Kaplan is the District's new Assistant Director of Special Education. She is working under Special Education Director Jean Gismervik, Ms Kaplan spent the last 15 years in the White Plains School District where she was a speech language pathologist and most recently the CSE chairperson. Ms. Kaplan was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and stood out with her attention to detail, warmth and expertise. We are excited to welcome Shari and feel lucky to have someone with her background joining our team.
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!
Back-to-School Night Virtual Model Preferred
by Faculty and Families
The traditional Back-to-School Night provides an opportunity for parents/guardians to come to school on a designated evening shortly after school opens to meet with their child's teachers(s). Over the past few years, because of the pandemic, we were not able to safely conduct these in-person events for each school and the District moved to a virtual back-to-school model. On a positive note, this model led to many more parents being involved because of the ease of participation.

While Springhurst Back-to-School Night was in person this year because parents are only visiting one classroom, the District decided to continue to offer Back-to-School Week for the High School and Middle School via the virtual format:
  • September 26th-30th was designated Back-to-School Week.
  • During the week, teachers and Principals shared with parents via email a link to videos from their child's teachers.
  • Teacher videos included all the detail and information that they would normally cover in their in-person Back-to-School presentation to parents.
  • Parents could watch the videos at their convenience, and teachers shared their contact information at the end of the video.
  • The school Principals, along with some of our community partners, also shared email videos with parents last week.
Students in Life Skills Class Gain Real World
 Work Experience with Local Business
In a pilot program this spring, students in the High School's Life Skills Class partnered with local business Three Dogs Artisan Collective on Cedar Street.The District reached out to store owner Tanya Scharton-Kersten, a parent in the District who has always been someone who looks to build community and support for the schools' Special Education Program. The students visited their job site at Three Dogs, a family-owned gallery, twice a week in the afternoon where they worked tidying up the shop, overseeing inventory and customer service.

The students also managed a section in the gallery dedicated to showcasing their soy wax candle business. Proceeds from the candle sales will be used to fund other school-based enterprises throughout the year such as winter holiday cards, plant sales and Coffee Cart. The in-school enterprises are student run, and really highlight the business sense and creativity of the students involved. The students were required to fill out a job application and there was also an interview process before starting their jobs at Three Dogs.

According to Special Education Director Jean Gismervik, "the District is constantly looking to expand this program and opportunities for students to have hands-on work or internship experiences within the local community. Being able to diversify the types of businesses that we work with helps to give each student an individualized experience aligned with their passions and skills. We are open to all fields, but specifically physical fitness, landscaping/construction, restaurants and retail stores."

Business owners who would like to participate should email Ms Gismervik at gismervikj@dfsd.org
Springhurst Reintroduces Recycling Program and Composting for Kids Education
The Dobbs Ferry School District is reintroducing its zero waste program at Springhurst Elementary School for grades K-5, and Kindergarten students are the first to participate in COMPOST KIDS this month. 
Students are learning about why recycling and composting are important for keeping the earth healthy, and will be reviewing how to sort their lunch waste at the cafeteria waste stations.

The program is being led by Pam Miner, previously with the Greenburgh Nature Center Sustainability Team, and Sara Sellitti, a Dobbs Ferry parent and Springhurst’s Outdoor Classroom Coordinator. Please contact Sara at sellittis@dfsd.org if you have questions about the District’s recycling/composting program.

The students will participate in a hands-on demonstration of what materials goes where, and will also learn what foods can be donated. Correctly separating and recycling both cafeteria-provided lunch items and lunch packed from home will be covered in the hands-on review. Springhurst has been a school leader in zero waste since 2016.
School Snapshots
High School Clubs Fair Offers Students Over 30 Co-Curricular Choices

DFHS students and faculty gathered on the High School front lawn to take part in the school's annual Co-Curricular Club Fair. All of the clubs had tables set up and club advisors and student members were present to answer any questions and encourage sign-ups. Club choices include Book Club, Creative Writing Club, Aca Fellas, Political Debate Club, Ecology Club, French Club, FUNDraising club, Gender and Sexuality Allicance (GSA), Habitat for Humanity, History Bowl, Improv Club, International Club, Mindfulness and Meditation Club, Musica Appreciation Club, Octet, Sign Language Club, Student Government, WIS/STEM and many others. There is something for everyone grades 9-12, and it's never too late to join! Click to see entire list of Co-Curricular Clubs.
Middle School's New and Improved PBIS Program Supports Positive Behaviors

Dobbs Ferry Middle School is rolling out its revised Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system this year. PBIS is a multi-tiered, research-based framework designed to support students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. Its goal is to provide students with an equitable, safe, and predictable learning environment that improves learning outcomes so all students can succeed socially, emotionally, and academically. The PBIS team consists of teachers, school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and the administration. This group worked over the summer to create the structure of the updated program.  
 
PBIS is a proactive approach designed to encourage positive behavior. The team's first step was to create the S.O.A.R. Matrix which details specific behavior expectations and social skills that teachers and staff want to see within the school environment. S.O.A.R. stands for Self-Management, On-Task, Achievement, and Respect  During the first few days of school, teachers broke down the matrix and explicitly layed out the behavioral expectations to the students.

The next step was to acknowledge and reward students for exhibiting the desired behaviors. DFMS created the S.O.A.R. ticket to aid in this task. Staff members give S.O.A.R. tickets to students whenever they meet positive behavioral expectations. Students will be able to cash in their S.O.A.R. tickets for monthly PBIS Reward time where students get to participate in fun activities with school staff members.  

There will also be school-wide PBIS team activities in which all students can participate, no S.O.A.R. tickets required. In October, all staff and students will be assigned to teams for the year. The teams will participate in various competitions and games periodically throughout the year. This is designed to strengthen relationships, build community, and increase student belonging and connection to the school. Additionally, students will have a voice in creating the activities as the year progresses. Middle School staff and students are looking forward to a successful year. See the DFMS Student Handbook to view the S.O.A.R Matrix.
Springhurst New Math Program is Illustrative Literally and Figuratively

Springhurst and Dobbs Ferry Middle School have adopted a new math program called Illustrative Math (IM). To learn more about this program and the journey that led to its adoption, please read this letter from Principal Drake The school is introduding IM with a phase-in approach that will take two years to complete. This year, grades 2,3 and 5 will use IM and grades K, 1 and 4 will begin utilizing the program next year. The Middle School is having a simultaneous rollout and this year is grade 6 and then 7th and 8th over three years.

Although our current Singapore Math program has consistently been a highlight of the student learning experience at Springhurst, the teachers are excited to build upon its strong practices and introduce an even richer and more comprehensive program to students. Another valuable benefit to utilizing IM is that it allows the District to be aligned K-8, which will ensure a more effective transition for students moving from elementary to middle school as well as provide opportunities for cross-school collaboration, professional development and sharing best-practices. Teachers spent a good part of the summer engaged in PD related to IM and this will continue throughout the school year.
Springhurst Officially Adopts Science 21 Program for K-5 Students
Springhurst is thrilled to officially complete the K-5 adoption of its Science 21 program. This year marks the official introduction of Science 21 in 5th grade (they piloted units in development last year).

Science 21 enhancements have been in development each year as the New York State P12 Science Learning Standards evolved and changed. Now that the standards have been fully revised K-5, all grade levels at Springhurst will utilize this student-directed investigations-based program that is purposefully designed to be relevant to students' everyday lives.

Teachers have seen high levels of student engagement as a result of using Science 21 and are happy to now have this curriculumin in use throughout the building. If you would like to learn more about the Science 21 program we encourage parents to visit the PNW BOCES SCI21 webpage.
   DFSD Featured Video
Springhurst students enjoyed a special welcome-to-the-school-year video highlighting the book School's First Day of School by Adam Rex with illustrations by Christian Robinson. This powerful book brings readers a fresh look at the first day of school, but this time from the school's perspective. (Read by Principal Drake with Assistant Principal Grabelsky signing the the part of the school)

Mark Your Calendar


  • October 5th- Yom Kippur/ SCHOOLS CLOSED

  • October 7th- MAC Field Day

  • October 10th- Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day/SCHOOLS CLOSED

  • October 11th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)

  • October 24th- Diwali

  • October 25th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)

  • October 31st- Springhurst Halloween Parade (9:30-10:30 AM)

  • November 1st- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)

  • November 8th- Superintendent's Conference Day/NO SCHOOL for STUDENTS

  • November 11th- Veteran's Day/SCHOOLS CLOSED

  • November 15th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)

  • November 24th-25th- Thanksgiving Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED

  • December 7th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00) PM

  • December 21st- BOE Work Session (7:00) PM

  • December 26th - January 2nd- Holiday Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED
Dobbs Ferry Students in the News
Congratulations National Merit Semifinalist and Commended Students
Congratulations to DFHS senior Cyrus Dadina who was named a Semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program!

Cyrus is an IB Diploma Candidate and has participated in the school's Science Research Program for three years. He is president of the International Club, captain of the Cross Country Track and Field Team and a Peer Tutor. He is also a member of the High School Orchestra and plays the cello in the Greater Westchester Youth Symphony. Cyrus is interested in studying mechanical engineering next year in college.

Cyrus is part of the nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, which includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
Congratulations to DFHS seniors Amalia Hunt and Zachary Carlsten on being named Commended Students in the 2023 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. Both students are IB Diploma Candidates.

This year's National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students were selected based on their 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. Semifinalists will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 7,500 Merit Scholarship awards to be offered in 2023.
Dobbs Ferry Schools Photo Op
"Tradition, Pride and Excellence"
On the field and in the classroom Dobbs Ferry students "cheer" each other on and are supportive of their Dobbs Ferry Schools family.
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Dobbs Ferry School District
505 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | 914-693-1500