NOVEMBER 30, 2023

For the youth,

Dr. Tina DeSa

Superintendent of Schools

Students from Mrs. Anttila’s kindergarten class:

Calvin Almassy, Suleika Dougherty, Liam Martinez, and Lucia Neary

Bedford Road School was bustling with energy on the day before Thanksgiving. The focus for classes was on giving thanks, as was evident by the hallways adorned with Giving Thanks drawings and explanations of what students were most grateful for.

Kindergarteners in Debbie Anttila’s class made turkey costumes before the end-of-day parade, while Eileen Eustace’s second graders assembled foam turkeys with feathers listing those things for which they were thankful.

On a beautiful brisk day, second graders from Bedford Road School walked to Arc Stages as part of the Visions and Voices Festival. The program began in 2016 as a partnership between BRS and the theater. It introduces students to the world of stage during multiple visits throughout the school year. On their most recent trip, students watched performances of short plays written by children formerly in the playwriting program (former second graders!) and participated in games and exercises related to theatrical expression.

Fourth graders in Laura Twomey’s class played Native American games and musical instruments.

As a culmination of their studies on Indigenous Peoples, fourth graders were treated to a visit by Danny Carvill, an assistant naturalist at BOCES. Classes enjoyed hearing a Native American creation story before breaking into four smaller groups focused on various aspects of daily life from 500 years ago.

Carvill pointed out that Native Americans used all the natural resources at their disposal. “They didn’t have stores,” he reminded his captive audience.

Students rotated between the four stations. At one, students took turns grinding corn and rubbing wood to start a fire. At another, students handled art that was both attractive and practical, such as wood bowls, corn dolls and dream catchers. A third station had games and musical instruments. The fourth table had animal pelts, which Carvill displayed to demonstrate how Native Americans used every part of the animals. (All the skins were from animals that had died of natural causes.) 

Students enthusiastically engaged with the artifacts while asking questions and observing similarities and differences between how we live our lives now and how the Indigenous Peoples did 500 years ago. Carvill concluded by noting that, “we are not that much different from them. We are just removed from the process.”

Shop for Your Holiday Gifts

at Fabulous Finds!

Show your appreciation for someone, make holiday gift purchases, and support a worthy cause by shopping at Fabulous Finds! The store, located at Pleasantville Presbyterian Church, 400 Bedford Road, is managed by the Pleasantville High School FAST Students.

New items arrive every week to keep the store chock full of gently used housewares, children’s and adult clothing, toys and games, and seasonal decorations and holiday baskets.

The store will be open from 12:30-3:30 on Thursdays, 11/30, 12/14 and 12/21.

You can also support the FAST program by participating in the FAST Panther T-shirt Fundraiser. Click here for more information. 

FAST, an acronym for Pleasantville Functional Achievement Skills Program, assists students with disabilities, ages 18-21, in developing essential skills to achieve the highest level of independence. The students who work in the store learn invaluable skills while interacting with shoppers and assisting in transactions. These experiences help the students develop a stronger sense of confidence and the ability to be more independent when they leave the Pleasantville School District. 

Who’s Got Talent?

Pleasantville High Schoolers!

Big Fellas performing for PHS students.

On the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving, members of the high school's Performing Arts Club gave it their all, performing a variety of acts including piano; vocal solos, duets, and trios; bands; along with contemporary and Bollywood dance.

The Talent Show was performed again the next morning for PHS students, with most of the 11 acts reprising the previous evening’s performances. The students who packed the auditorium appreciated the energy of performers who were clearly enjoying themselves on stage.

The Performing Arts Club is made up of selected students from all ensembles and performing arts disciplines in the school. Choral teacher Nadia Rizzo serves as advisor to the group.

High School Students Selected for Leadership Seminar

Megan Chiong, Camilla Broward and Elizabeth Dean

Three 10th graders were chosen to participate in the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) State Leadership Seminar in June 2024 at Adelphi University on Long Island.

The selection process included interviews with the high school counselors, led by Joyce Connell and Rebeca Castellano, co-coordinators of school counseling.

Each year, PHS typically sends two students to the conference. This year, according to Connell, “we were impressed with the three students and chose to sponsor all three.” The cost for one of the participants is being supported by Pleasantville Strong.

At the seminar, students learn about their own leadership strengths and skills, and focus on making a positive difference in their communities, advocating for what they believe with newfound confidence. 

Connell stated that when students return, they will be able to apply service leadership skills in areas such as peer mentoring and freshmen orientation, among others.

HOBY Youth Leadership was begun in 1958 by American actor and humanitarian Hugh O’Brian, with the goal to, “inspire a global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.”

Eighth Graders Receive Guidance and Support for Their Writing from Author Joe Wallace

Corrine Kennedy consults with Joe Wallace

Published author Joe Wallace thoughtfully considered one student’s writing, nodding approvingly before remarking, “I like that beginning. This is VERY good.” He then proceeded to offer suggestions to make the writing crisper and more vivid.

Students had the opportunity to meet with Wallace twice in November as part of the Writer’s Circle workshop sessions open to all eighth graders. During these discussions, the author gave feedback to help students learn new techniques and prepare their writings for possible submission to the Scholastic Writing Contest. As an adviser to contests for over a decade, Wallace offered a seasoned perspective on the characteristics of writing that make for potential contest winners. 

The point, he stated, is to keep writing. He encouraged writers to keep honing their craft and persist in their creative thinking. As further demonstration of his commitment to assist the students and desire to support future authors, he readily offered students to reach out to him again for advice and to review their latest version of their poem or essay.

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