JANUARY 13, 2023

Dear Pleasantville Families,

Somewhere along the way, a document appeared on my desk indicating that in April 1973, the name of our school district was changed from the “Union Free School District Number 9 of the Town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester County” to the “Pleasantville Union Free School District.” 

I thought that as soon as it turns 2023, we had to have a celebratory presentation of the amazing 50 years of us being the Pleasantville Union Free School District. 

During our new teacher orientation earlier this year, the amazing Mr. Gregg Fonde gave a bus tour where he showed off his knowledge of all things Pleasantville.  So, when this landed on my desk, and we had this opportunity to celebrate the last fifty years, I thought “who better than Mr. Fonde to show us five decades of life in Pleasantville?”  

I am sure you will share my enthusiasm for Pleasantville and for Mr. Fonde’s knowledge of our school district’s history when you see this wonderful presentation. 

In closing, I want to remind you that there will be no school on Monday, Jan. 16 in honor of Martin Luther King Day, and to leave you with a quote of his to ponder: 

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

For the youth, 

Dr. Tina DeSa

Superintendent of Schools

NYSED Survey on Digital Access

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) is asking parents or guardians to complete a survey that requests information regarding student access to devices and internet access in their places of residence. The survey is to be completed for each student in the family in grades K-12.  

To access this survey, log onto Operoo and click the survey link. Please email helpdesk@pleasantvilleschools.org if you need help accessing the form.  

Traffic Advisory

Con Edison is scheduled to repair a gas main on Bedford Road from Guion St. to the Bedford Road School ‘U’ from Monday, Jan. 16 to Friday, January 27.  During this work, the westbound lane of traffic will be closed and there will be some temporary parking restrictions near the intersection of Guion St. and Bedford Rd. 

Athletes Sign College Letters of Intent

Congratulations to the Pleasantville High School athletes who signed letters of intent to play the sport they love at the college of their choice. Well done! 

Seven athletes signed and will attend the following colleges: 

1. William Lent, Baseball, Castleton University 
2. Jaden Lieb, Baseball, Franklin & Marshall 
3. Kate Moroney, XC/Track, Connecticut College 
4. Natalie O’Malley, Field Hockey, Hartwick College 
5. William Peacock, Soccer, Hartwick College 
6. Hailey Praslick, Field Hockey, Manhattanville College 
7. Alex Searle, XC/Track, Bucknell University 

In the signing ceremony on January 12, Athletic Director Dan Iorio told the students how proud he is of their tremendous efforts and success. Then he told them to think broadly and explore all the opportunities that college has to offer. 

“You should be proud,” Iorio said. “You have put in a lot of hours training and competing, and it has brought you to this moment. Less than 7% of high school athletes go on to college athletics. But you are more than an athlete. To those people who love and support you, you are a student, daughter, son, brother, sister, friend before you are an athlete.” 

Pictured Left to Right: Natalie O’Malley, Hailey Praslick, Kate Moroney, Jaden Lieb, William Lent, Alex Searle, William Peacock 

The Big Reveal

In the end, it was goodbye to Wicked, Hamilton, Frozen, Lion King and many other popular musicals. The 2023 Pleasantville Middle School Musical for sixth to eighth graders will be High School Musical.  

Music teacher Robyn O’Brien posted 20 Playbills of famous Broadway Musicals in her classroom and promised to remove a few Playbills each day until only this year’s musical remained. The big reveal came on Friday, Jan. 13, when High School Musical stood alone on the board.  

“I’m so excited,” said Molly, an eighth grader. “I love High School Musical. It makes me want to be a millennial.”  

O’Brien’s dramatic way of announcing the spring production had students throughout the middle school buzzing and stopping by her class to see if they could be the first to find out what the play would be.   

“I think everyone had a lot of fun,” O’Brien said. “And I hope that students who might not have considered auditioning or joining crew or getting involved will now be inspired to help with the musical.” 

High School Musical will be presented the weekend of March 24.

The sixth-eighth grade musical is just one of many opportunities Pleasantville schools offer students to perform on stage. The fifth graders in the middle school are already rehearsing “Annie,” which they will present the first weekend in February. Pleasantville High School students are working on “Bye Bye Birdie,” which they will perform on the weekends of March 10 and 17, and Bedford Road School has class performances weekly in its Little Theater.  

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