Putnam Valley Central School District Newsletter

Building a Foundation for the Future

Letter from Dr. Luft

Dear Putnam Valley Community, Every new year brings an opportunity for change, new perspectives, personal goals, and hope. I am looking forward to 2022 being a year of recovery, reflection and, most importantly, an opportunity to once again thrive as a community. It is my hope that the worst is now behind us (although I have been wrong before), and now is the time to focus on our future.   Despite the challenges we have faced, the Putnam Valley School District continues to thrive. Throughout the pandemic, we were able to provide a level of in-person instruction that many districts were unable to provide. Learning continued and the results proved it. Our Elementary School students performed in the top 4% of all NYS Elementary Schools, and Putnam Valley High School graduated 16 International Baccalaureate Diploma Recipients. There is truly much to celebrate here in Putnam Valley. Putnam Valley’s success has been recognized across the region and families have taken note. Over the past two and a half years, we have welcomed over 340 new students to our district. This is a net increase of 166 new students after accounting for those students who left the district. Putnam Valley is a place where families want to live, home prices are at all-time highs, and our schools are helping to entice young families to our community.   The continued success of the Putnam Valley School District is contingent on the support of our community. As of December, all of our Board of Education meetings feature building and department level budget development presentations. This is a great opportunity to gain a greater awareness of how our annual budget supports our buildings and programs for the students of Putnam Valley. It is our goal to engage a greater percentage of the community in the school budgeting process; last year only 9% of all registered voters in our community voted on the school budget. We approximate that only 30% of parents with school-aged children voted last year. The district is committed to transparency throughout the budget process, and we ask that you engage in the process and ask questions so that you can make an informed decision on Tuesday, May 17. Board meetings are open to the public, live-streamed via the pvcsd.org website, and meeting videos are available on our website.  The Putnam Valley School District remains committed to providing our students with rigorous academic instruction, a wide range of extracurricular activities, exceptional cultural arts experiences, and competitive athletics. In-person instruction, live performances, and fans in the stands are a testament to our commitment to move beyond the pandemic and offer our students the educational experience they deserve.

Sincerely, Dr. Jeremy Luft Superintendent of Schools Putnam Valley Central School District Website jluft@pvcsd.org

Budget Q&A Workshops with our District Treasurer Jill Figarella

Join us to learn about the PVCSD budget process! In an informal setting, District Treasurer Jill Figarella will provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the annual budget process. These workshops are scheduled to be one hour and will be offered at various times of the day to accommodate different schedules. Each session will be structured with a brief summary of the budget process, followed by a dialogue directed by the specific questions of the attendees. In order to designate appropriate meeting locations, and we ask that any interested attendees RSVP for a meeting time that best suits your schedule. As a result, space will be limited. Workshop Dates: Wednesday, February 16 - 2:15 to 3:15 pm - at PVES Thursday, March 3 - 5:45 to 6:45 pm - at PVHS  Wednesday, March 9 - 1:15 to 2:15 pm - at PVMS  Tuesday, March 22 - 6:30 to 7:30 - at PVHS

Register to attend here

PVES ENL Program Thriving!

Our ENL Program is thriving at Putnam Valley Elementary School! Our English as a New Language Teacher, Mr. Jonathan Hogan, helps to lead our students who are learning English to acclimate to their learning environment, learn curriculum content, and grow in their English proficiency! Mr. Hogan, along with his colleagues who are also skilled in this area, help to provide a strong and engaging foundation to learning, all while supporting communication and a strong partnership between home and school. Our students are so lucky, and we continue to learn from them every day as well!

PVMS: Science Spotlight

Our 5th grade students are investigating solubility, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity of matter in science this month. In partnership with PNW BOCES and the Science 21 program, our grade 5 science teachers are participating in a pilot of the fifth grade curriculum, which includes Engineering Design, Earth's Systems, the Solar Systems, and Matter and Energy. Our teachers will not only implement the lessons but play an important role in the development and design of the curriculum. We look forward to seeing what our young scientists - and our teachers! - accomplish this year!

Band Concert Rocks at PVHS!

Our High School band performances on Wednesday, January 19, were a huge hit, showcasing the many talents of our students from 9th grade to 12th grade. Special highlights included a full band celebration of our military, PVCSD faculty Michael Soprano and Ashley Bennet joining the Jazz Band, along with alumni student Peter Leo! We thank Mr. Ryan Odell for coordinating and conducting a fantastic show that allowed so many of our talented students to shine!

Curriculum and Instruction Spotlight: PVES Innovation Lab

The Innovation Lab is a place where all students have the opportunity to learn by exploring and taking risks. Throughout the year thus far, students in K through 4 have been provided multiple opportunities to explore and engage in many individual and collaborative "Challenges." Many of these experiences have included learning and working with the Engineering Design Process at varying levels. Students are encouraged to be creative and take chances, as well as learn to use different materials and tools to complete and participate in these different challenges. All of these hands-on, inquiry-based activities and experiences ultimately help to enhance their understanding and skills in the 4C’s: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical Thinking. Each class encourages and requires students to reflect on their work so that we are always learning and improving. Learn more about the Innovation Lab from Innovation Lab teacher Jenn Bruno and PVES Principal Dr. Margaret Podesta in our Spotlight video!

PVHS College Application Process Event Jan 27

Attention Parents and Guardians of 11th Grade Students:

You are invited to an evening event on January 27 at 7:00 pm in the PAC to learn about the college application process from our counselors. Please reach out to your child's counselor for additional information about this event!

PV Athletics News and Updates

On January 11, Eva DeChent scored her 1000th point in a 75-40 victory over Haldane. Eva, who has committed to the University of Rhode Island, would finish the game with a triple-double, including 11 rebounds, 11 steals, and a school record-tying 39 points. Way to go, Eva!

Spotlight on the Board: Meet Ms. Helen Horvitz

I always knew I'd become a teacher. I grew up in a household where certain norms were unspoken, yet stressed, and education was one of them. So, it was no surprise that I became a teacher. I was fortunate to work in diverse school districts, including Levittown in Long Island, NYC, Putnam Valley, Lakeland, and Mahopac. Working in different school districts provided me with multiple perspectives and insights into how schools operate. After twenty-seven years as an art teacher, I made the transition to school administration. As much as I loved being in the classroom and teaching the arts, it was time for a new challenge. Inherently, I knew if I wanted to influence change, I had to be in a position to do so. After nine years as an administrator, I retired after thirty-six years in public education. As the saying goes, do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. My only exception with that saying was waking up at five in the morning to get ready for work! Although I'm not an early bird by nature, teaching afforded me the opportunity to work with some very talented students, many of whom were residents of Putnam Valley. It seems whenever I try to retire, I'm called back as an interim administrator or, as suggested, become a school board member. Once again, I've come full circle, back to serve as a school board member for Putnam Valley Central School District. I'm an independent thinker, former educator, and fiscally concerned resident who will always do what's best for children. I believe in and support teachers, administrators, and staff, who work diligently, on a daily basis, with our most precious resource: our children.

Meet Joe Torres: Putnam Valley Bus Operator and Good Samaritan

In response to the tragic apartment fire in the Bronx in early January, Joe Torres jumped into action and organized a donation drive in support of the families affected. On a cold Saturday morning, Joe loaded up a bus donated for use by his employer, Orange County Transit and headed to the Bronx to make a delivery of toiletries, clothing, toys, food, and kindness on behalf of our community and others. Joe is retired from retail banking, has coached youth sports for nearly 30 years, and began driving a school bus in early 2020 for Orange County Transportation. His strong sense of community has resulted in numerous examples of volunteerism that support those in need. In this picture, Joe (far right) coincidentally connects with Putnam Valley CSD parent, Angel Mendez (far left) and his son Bryson.   When asked about driving a bus in Putnam Valley, Joe shared, "Every day I go to work smiling and return home with an even bigger smile. I have the distinct privilege of transporting the world's most precious resource every day. I also enjoy the camaraderie of all the drivers." When asked about his volunteer work, Joe said, "I am motivated by the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?"  We thank Joe Torres for his work on behalf of others and for his care of the children of Putnam Valley.

Yearbook Purchases Through the PTA

PVES and PVMS Families: Time to Order Yearbooks! New friendships, favorite teachers, Halloween, art projects, holiday celebrations, the 100th day of school, recess. Students make memories every day, and we want to help preserve them forever. Be sure that you and your student never forget them by purchasing a copy now! A limited number of books will be ordered and once they are gone, that's it. There's no guarantee that extra copies will be available when the books arrive. Don't miss out. Order today!  Order Form Purchase an Ad in the Yearbook

Our Mission The PVCSD, in partnership with our families and community, will ensure that all students are engaged in a challenging, student-focused educational program, understand and assume their responsibility for life-long learning, work to achieve their personal best and become productive citizens in a diverse global society.

Contact Us: Putnam Valley Central School District (845)528-8143 171 Oscawana Lake Rd Putnam Valley, NY 10579 How can we make our newsletter better? Email us! ‌

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