Headlines and Highlights Across the School District
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Dobbs Ferry Board Of Education and District Administration Host Staff Recognition Reception
On behalf of the District's Board of Education and Administrative Council, Superintendent Slentz recognized five new tenure recipients, welcomed 18 new teachers to the District and applauded 25 teachers with 25+ years in the Dobbs Ferry Schools. Mr. Slentz noted that when you combine those faculty who have 25+ years of service, it adds up to over 700 years of teaching experience! The success of the Dobbs Ferry School District has everything to do with the people who have dedicated their careers to our schools. These teachers have truly touched the lives of generations of Dobbs students and their impact is felt as our High School graduates have gone on to accomplish amazing achievements. Light refreshments, appetizers and homemade sweets were served at the Staff Recognition Reception compliments of the Dobbs Ferry PTSA in honor of the recipients. It was a wonderful evening as staff, family and friends came together to celebrate these milestone achievements. Click to see the List of Honorees. Congratulations to everyone!
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Springhurst New Parents Meet Admin
And School Partners
Springhurst Elementary School hosted a "New Parents Breakfast" for families with children in grades K-5 who are new to the Dobbs Ferry School District. Families were invited to meet and mingle with other new parents, District administration and "seasoned" parent volunteers. The Dobbs Ferry PTSA sponsored the event and served coffee and delicious homemade breakfast treats in the school's Outdoor Classroom/Garden on the perfect fall day.
Other volunteer parent organizations including SPRING Community Partners, Dobbs Ferry Trailguides, the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation and the Outdoor Classroom/Garden participated in the morning "meet n' greet," and guests were able to sign up for the upcoming school year to help out. New Springhurst Principal Tashia Brown was delighted to welcome some 70+ parents to the gathering, and thanked all the school's partners and parents for making Springhurst such a special place.
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DFSD New And Familiar Faces | |
Gianfranco Bastone is the new K-5 Coordinator of Student Support Services (CSSS) at Springhurst Elementary School. In this role, he is the lead for the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. which integrates the IB Core Values into its activities and events. He is also responsible for the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), MTSS is a proactive and preventative framework that integrates data and instruction to maximize student achievement, and support students academic, social, emotional and behavioral needs. Mr. Bastone has over 15 year of experience working in school building leadership. | |
Sara Grosso has taken over Shari Kaplan's former position and is serving as the Interim Assistant Director of Special Education. Sarah has been a special education teacher at Dobbs Ferry High School for the past 16 years. Shari and Sarah are looking forward to growing an environment of inclusivity within the District, expanding partnerships with neighboring districts and developing transition program for students. Both Sara and Shari will be working with the building level special education departments to expand the continuum of services and formalize systems to improve special education. | |
Shari Kaplan, previously the Assistant Director of Special Education, is now serving as Interim Director of Special Education. She is responsible for program development in all special education classes, including the new 12:1:1 special classes at Springhurst and the 19-21 program, where our students will be going to Westchester Community College for the first time. Shari will also be supporting the staff in implementing the new literacy and math curriculum in the special classes. Additionally, she and Sara will both work closely with the new CSE Chairperson, Michael Sherer. | |
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Who To Call When?
New District/School Contact Guide For Parents
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The District has compiled an easy-to-read Schools Contact Guide for parents/caregivers that lists who you should contact for typical school-related issues and questions that arise. We hope this will be a helpful document to keep handy or put right on the refridgerator door. Do you have an attendance question? want to know if the District has a dress code policy? wondering what to do about your child's broken chromebook? or need to ask a teacher a quick homework question? This Guide will help you get to the the right person in a timely manner. Check out the Contact Guide for yourself! | |
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Attendance Awareness Month advocates the message that every day a student is in school is an opportunity to learn, build relationships, and access support. The theme of 2023's Attendance Awareness Campaign is “Showing Up Together!" Students who "Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!"
Post pandemic, schools across the nation have seen a drop-off in student attendance and Dobbs Ferry is no different. In grades 1-8 we are expiencing 10.5% of a total 974 students who are chronically absent, and of the 458 students in grades 9-12, some 15% are chronically absent. Our school year is off to a great start, and we are looking forward to a year of maximizing student learning and teaching time. To do this, we want to make sure our schools are safe, inclusive and welcoming environments for students and staff. A critical component of this work is to ensure that students and staff alike are in attendance to the greatest extent possible throughout the year, so as to maintain consistency in our teaching and learning.
To this end, chronic absenteeism – being absent for 10% or more of a school year regardless of the reason – will be an ongoing focus for us this year. This begins with an understanding of the Board of Education’s Policy on attendance and the strong connection between attendance and student performance and growth.
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Middle School Students Welcome First PBIS Day
Of The Year with Positive Enthusiasm
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The Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework is a proactive approach designed to encourage positive behavioral results. 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.
In fact, Dobbs Ferry Middle School was one of the presenters at the IB Conference in Toronto this summer highlighting its updated PBIS initiative rolled out last year, and it caught the eye of a number of other school districts. DFMS Assistant Principal Anne Pecunia explained that the goals of the presentation were to share the Middle School's experience in building its own version of a PBIS program. The team outlined how schools could start to build a school culture that supports inclusiveness and well being, while making connections to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the IB Learner Profile and ATL skills. The administration started to think about this in response to post pandemic concerns regarding students' mental health. The idea was to promote positive relationships and create connections and a sense of well being among students and staff.
The PBIS team consists of teachers, school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, and the administration. They recently held an all-school PBIS morning which was a bit hit. Students were most excited to find out what teams they were on for the school year (think Harry Potter and Hogwarts' Houses). After a brief re-introduction to what the PBIS days look like, as well as an explanation of expectations, at exactly 8:50 a.m. each student received an email "drafting" them to their PBIS team. Prior to the day's closing pep rally, which helps build a sense of community, students spent time in one of eight smaller grade level teams (24 teams in total) to take part in team bonding exercises.. They also had to design a "team" banner that symbolized their new team and its individual members. Teams include the Bears, Cobras, Dragons, Panthers, Lions, Sharks, Tigers and Wolves.
The teams will participate in various competitions and games periodically throughout the year. Additionally, students have a voice in creating the activities as the year progresses. Students are acknowledged and rewarded for exhibiting the desired behaviors. Middle School staff and students are looking forward to another successful and fun-filled PBIS year.
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Springhurst Annual Harvest Soup Day Helps Students
Understand Food-To-Table Concept
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Harvest time is here for the nutritious organic vegetables growing in the Outdoor Classroom/Garden! The produce was skillfully chopped and cooked into a delicious vegetable soup. Teachers brought their classes to the cafeteria for a visit to view the preparations on October 18th. Thank you to those classes who also helped to harvest and do food prep.
This scrumptous soup was served to the entire Springhurst community during lunch periods the next day. See the list of soup ingredients:
- Portabella Mushrooms
- Yellow Onions
- Carrots
- Celery
- Swiss Chard
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Butternut Squash
- Tomatoes
- Vegetable Broth
- Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
- Parsley
- Red Kidney or Cannellini Beans
- Extra Virgin Olive oil
- Pasta
Students/staff also had an option of choosing an allergen-free (gluten/dairy free) soup. .
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Our entire Springhurst community including K-5 students, teachers, staff and administrators partook in this annual special lunch treat. The hearty vegetable soulp also came with parsley or parmesean cheese toppings if desired. All of of the soup vegetables are grown in the Outdoor Garden. Thank you to the PTSA and parent volunteers who helped prepare and cook the veggies and soup, as well as act as servers in the cafeteria.
Kindergarten students recently participated in a hands-on recycling demonstration of what materials goes where in the cafeteria,and the children did a great job sorting their soup bowls, waste from lunch tray items and lunches packed from home into the correct recycling bins. Springhurst has been a school leader promoting zero waste since 2016.
Thank you to Sara Sellitti, Springhurst’s Outdoor Classroom Coordinator, for organizing this wonderful event. Please contact her at sellittis@dfsd.org if you have questions about the school's recycling or composting programs..
Springhurst's Outdoor Classroom and Garden.
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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 student 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, International Club, Mindfulness and Meditation Club, Musica Appreciation Club, Octets Choral Group, Sign Language Club, Student Government, WIS/STEM and many others. The "Hands-In" Service Club has become one of the most popular at DFHS. 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.
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Middle School Coding Club Students Win Big At SCRATCH Olympiad National Competition
Six students in the Middle School's popular "Coding Club" submitted entries in the 2023 Scratch Olympiad National Coding Competition, and all six of those students took home awards in the ScratchTween 11- to 12-year-old category called "Know All." This is a huge achievement for our students since this is the first year that the Middle School had entered the coveted contest. The students had to design quiz games based on school subjects using creative programming on Scratch.
Amazingly, 7th grade student Easton DiSimone took home first place in the nation. Another 7th grader, Zain Klein, won third place in the U.S. also competing in the "Know All" category. Other students who placed in the competition included 7th graders Sienna Horowitz and Julia Szczeszynski, along with 8th graders Shane Callahan and Felix Brass. Middle School Digital Design Instructor Lynette Colon was thrilled for her budding programmers, who meet every other week after school to design and practice coding.
Scratch is an educational and visual programming language developed by MIT Media Lab that enhances essential skills such as creativity, problem solving, logical thinking and team work. Congratulations to the award winners.
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Illustrative Math Program Rolls Out To More Grades:
Parents Learn New Math Too!
In October, K-8 Math Specialist Josh Rosen invited Springhurst and Middle School parents to join him for two Illustrative Math (IM) Workshops to learn about their children's mathematics curriculum, as well as engage in some IM math activities. The schools introduced IM last year with a phase-in approach. In the 2022-2023 school year, grades 2,3 and 5 began using IM and grades K, 1 and 4 have begun utilizing the program in 2023-2024. The Middle School is simultaneously rolling out the IM program. The 6th grade was introduced to the program last year and 7th and 8th grades will incorporate IM over this year and next..
Thus far, both teachers and students have had a very positive learning experience and are finding that Illustrative Math builds upon strong math practices and introduces 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 have been engaged in professional development related to IM and this will continue throughout the school year.
If you missed the Middle School IM parent presentation 6-8 you can watch the video on our website.
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MTSS Framework Offers School-Wide Approach To Instruction That Addresses The Needs Of ALL Students | |
To augment the District’s explicit focus on teaching and learning all three schools are utilizing the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework, a school-wide approach to instruction that addresses the needs of all students, including struggling learners and those with disabilities. MTSS enables teachers to provide a consistent level of instruction for all students (Tier 1) while also addressing students’ individual gaps in knowledge and skills (Tiers 2 and 3) to get them back on track for Tier 1 as effectively and efficiently as possible. MTSS is designed to support the whole student academically, socially and emotionally to maximize student achievement and to understand and reduce behaviors that distract from learning.
Teachers closely analyze student data to help evaluate any gaps in knowledge and skills. This data comes from the following sources:
1. Screening assessments (DIBELs)
2. Teacher input and curriculum-based assessments (classroom tests, observation, homework, etc.)
3. STAR Assessments (K-8 reading and math and grades 9-10 reading)
4. NY State Assessments (reading, math & science)
Technology makes each school more proficient at gathering and assessing this type of information. The implementation of LinkIt!, a data collection and reporting platform, has made this process much easier by aggregating student data all in one location, and creating a unified system throughout the District to determine tier level supports. MTSS gives us a clear picture where students are at present, and provides tailored individual support to track the student’s progress. Each school has a formal MTSS team that meets regularly. With the right type and level of needed assistance, we expect to see identifiable progress throughout a student’s academic year in all areas.
Springhurst is hosting two Principal Coffees for parents on Tuesday, November 14th at 8:45-10:00 AM and at 5:45-7:00 PM, and MTSS is one of the topics for discussion. Please RSVP if you're planning on attending.
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DFSD Featured Video
The Dobbs Ferry School District is a great place to work and if you don't believe us, just ask some of the people who are new to the District and others who have been here for over 25 years. We hope you will join our school family and become a part of our exciting education future, as well as become a devoted Eagles fan!
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November 10th- Veteran's Day/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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November 14th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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November 15th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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November 22nd- Early Dismissal Prior to Lunch
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November 23rd-24th- Thanksgiving Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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November 28th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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December 19th- Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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December 22nd- Early Dismissal Prior to Lunch
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December 25th - January 2nd- Holiday Recess/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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January 9th - Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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January 15th- Martin Luther King Jr. Day/SCHOOLS CLOSED
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January 23rd - Board of Education Meeting (7:00 PM)
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Dobbs Ferry Students in the News | |
Congratulations Seniors '23 and DFHS Alum '20 | |
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Congratulations to Dobbs Ferry High School seniors Jason Goodwin, who was named a 2023 National Merit Commended Student and Melody Bonano, who received the 2023 National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA) from the College Board.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) uses the qualifying PSAT/NMSQT test (taken in the student's junior year) as an initial screen of some 1.3 million program entrants, in addition to other competition requirements, to determine winners. Roughly 34,000 of the 50,000 high scorers in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program contest are named Commended Students. The NMSC sends a Letter of Commendation to the school principal to present to the Commended Student recognizing their scholastic achievement.
The College Board National Recognition Programs honor the strong academic achievements of underrepresented students. Eligible students have a GPA of 3.5 or higher and are in the top 10% of PSAT/NMSQT test takers in each state for each of the National Recognition Programs. Students receive award certificates of this honorary designation.DFHS is proud to celebrate Jason and Melody for their hard work and academic success in high school.
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Congratulations to DFHS alum (Class of '20) and Carleton College senior track star Phoebe Ward (third from left) who ran in the Mike Woods 6k Invitational at SUNY Geneseo helping her team to a first-place finish. Led by four top-10 individual finishes, the number 6th-ranked Carleton College Women's Cross Country program competed again a 23-team field including six national ranked programs along with eight additional regionally-ranked squads.
Ward kick-started Carleton's amazing day finishing fifth overall with a time of 21.06.8 (17:37 5k). Carleton College won the Invitational beating out Johns Hopkins and Geneseo, two of the top eight ranked teams in the country for D3 cross country.
Before heading off to Carleton, located in Northfiield, MN, Ward was a top runner at Dobbs. In Ward's bio on Carleton's athletic website she is asked "Person who had the most influence on my athletic career"? Her response, "JP Kaminski, my high school coach, who told me to quit soccer and run track instead!"
Congratulations Phoebe and the Carleton Knights!
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Dobbs Ferry Schools Photo Op
"Tradition, Pride and Excellence"
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On the field and in the classroom Dobbs Ferry students cheer each other on and are supportive of their Dobbs Ferry Schools family. DFHS Spirit Week, followed by the school's 18th MAC Field Day competition between the grades is a highlight in the fall and sponsored by the Student Government Activities Branch. For a history of MAC Day 2023, please read Dr. Falino's blog On Principal. | |
Dobbs Ferry School District
505 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 | 914-693-1500
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