Dear Putnam Valley Community,

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am especially thankful to be part of the Putnam Valley School community, surrounded by talented and passionate teachers, administrators, support and service staff members, all who do their best to make Putnam Valley the amazing place it is today. I am equally grateful for our fantastic students who are eager to learn, explore, and grow. Their talents and passions are continually on display both inside and outside of the classroom.

As we prepare for winter, we are reminded of all the successes we enjoyed this fall. Several of our sports teams brought home sectional titles and we celebrated many individual athletic achievements. Our high school performance of Girls in the Boat highlighted the talents of many of our students both on and behind the stage, and I encourage our community to be sure to see the high school spring musical in April. 

The Putnam Valley Food Pantry continues to appreciate the community spirit of our staff and students who organize food drives each Thanksgiving. The response from our community is always generous and is deeply appreciated by the pantry which helps to support families across our area. These acts of kindness continue to bring us together as a community.  

Looking ahead, our High School’s National Honor Society is currently holding its annual Toy Drive with all donations going directly to the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital. Our Middle School Student Council and the High School National Honor Society will be holding coat drives and drop boxes can be found in the entrances of our buildings.   

Yesterday evening, I had the pleasure of attending the Gratitude Festival at the High School. This annual event, hosted by our Music Honor Society provides a special opportunity for our students to share their talents. Current and former students gathered to express gratitude and appreciation for one another and all who support them. It was truly heartwarming. 

I am grateful for the generosity of our community, the compassion of our students and staff, and the partnership of everyone who helps make our schools and community a special place. 

Enjoy the Thanksgiving break. Take care and stay well.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft Superintendent of Schools

We were so excited on November 13 to invite families and community members to the PVES Gym Show! This event featured elementary students showing off their skills in a variety of areas including gymnastics, dance, balance and coordination. Their practice paid off as the students put on an amazing show!

4th Graders read Balloons Over Broadway and learned all about how STEM

Master and Engineer Tony Sarg helped to create the ideas behind Macy’s

Thanksgiving Day Parade. Following the Engineering Design Process, they

imagined, planned, and designed their own balloon prototype.

Great job Mrs. Bruno and students!

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a framework for learning and discovery that supports students in engaging in rigorous academics and embracing challenges with an open mind and a willingness to take productive risks. MYP is for all students aged 11-16 and PVMS offers this four-year program to students in grades 5 through 8. The MYP curriculum framework comprises eight subject groups: Language Acquisition, Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Design, and Physical & Health Education. It is through these subject groups that students are provided a broad and balanced education. Students are explicitly taught to think about how they learn and the process of learning.

We are so grateful for Sue O'Connell and Mary Sullivan at PVES,

Jason Kane at PVMS,

Gina Frye and Alyssa Cohen and our leave replacement

Karen Profita at PVHS!

School psychologists play vital roles in helping students navigate life’s hardships and achieve their goals. The National Association of School Psychologists sponsors National School Psychology Week, Nov. 11–15, to recognize the many contributions of these talented professionals. “From providing counseling services to crisis intervention to teacher consultation and instructional support, school psychologists fill many different roles within schools,” said Ron Gross, NYSUT second vice president. “I’m proud to recognize these talented professionals for their work.”

PVHS TheatreWorks was proud to present the production of Girls In The Boat. The students and staff did an excellent job making the play come to life and captivate the audience. We look forward to seeing what our actors and actresses bring to the stage in the spring! Mark your calendars for April 26 - 28.

"Centralized Dogma"

River DeMarco

Grade 12

"San Tower"

Julian Vazquez

Grade 11

"Visions of Spiral Folly" Brandon Urbina

Grade 12

The NYSATA sponsored New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) Exhibit is an annual art exhibit that brings attention to your students' work with members of local school boards at the School Board Association's annual convention.

Since 2020 this show has pivoted to an online platform allowing the required flexibility needed with our changing times. Images of artwork submitted will be used to create a virtual exhibit representing our 10 regions. Participants from elementary and secondary schools across the state are featured in this prestigious show. School board members attending the NYSSBA Convention will able to view student artwork during the convention October 20-22 in New York City, NY. Attendees and the public will continue to have access to the virtual art exhibit through December 31, 2024.



Here is a link to learn more about the exhibit:

https://nysata.memberclicks.net/nyssba

The Putnam Valley CSD community is invited to our holiday potluck night on December 16 at PVMS! Bring a dish and your family to join us in celebration of the holiday season!

Fall Athletics: A Season of Success

The Fall 2024 athletic season was a resounding success for our Putnam Valley Tigers! Our teams demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and sportsmanship, resulting in numerous accolades and achievements including multiple league and section titles.

Championship Victories

• Field Hockey: Our field hockey team captured the Section 1 title and advanced to the regional finals.
• Game Day Cheerleading: The cheerleading team defended their Section 1 championship for the third consecutive year and secured a second-place finish at the NYSPHSAA state championships.



Individual Honors: A remarkable 48 varsity student-athletes earned recognition as all-league, all-section, and all-conference athletes. Many of these talented individuals received multiple honors, highlighting their outstanding athletic performances.

Academic Excellence: Our commitment to academic achievement is as strong as our athletic ability. Seven teams were recognized as scholar-athlete teams, and an impressive 94 varsity athletes maintained a 90 or above average during the fall season.



Winter Season is Here: As the fall season concludes, we have begun our winter season. Games begin in December, so mark your calendars and come out to support your Putnam Valley Tigers!

We are incredibly proud of our student-athletes and coaches for their hard work and dedication. Let's continue to cheer on our Tigers and celebrate their successes!

The Winter Super Store is now open for all winter programs as well as a district/athletics store. The stores will be open until Sunday, December 1. All orders are ship-to-home only at no additional cost. Based on demand, the store may open again after December 1 for another one-week window.

Create your online account to pay for snacks and second meals:

• Go to www.mySchoolBucks.com
• Click Register for a Free Account and enter the required information.
• Click Finish to complete the initial registration process.