Putnam Valley Central School District
Newsletter
Building a Foundation for the Future
Letter from Dr. Luft
Dear Putnam Valley Community,

The upcoming Presidents Day holiday has served as an opportunity for me to reflect on the leaders who came before me and helped develop my own leadership style, the leaders I have the privilege to work alongside each day, and our student leaders who, while still developing their leadership skills, find a way to teach us something new each day. 

Former colleagues come to mind as I think about the leaders who have left their impression on me. These school leaders include Dr. Wills (Regent Wills) and others who modeled the importance of supporting the whole child while promoting academic rigor, social emotional wellbeing, and equity for all. These individuals were the type of leaders who inspired others to be leaders.  

Putnam Valley is blessed to have an impressive group of building, district, teacher, and staff leaders; those willing to do whatever it takes to support the students in their care. These individuals are willing to push for meaningful change when necessary or able to hold a steady course when necessary. They are the same colleagues who never accept “good enough” for Putnam Valley and instead do what they can to ensure things are better. They are leaders who serve all, and inspire and guide the faculty and students to be the best versions of themselves.

The students of Putnam Valley inspire us each day, demonstrating an ability to overcome any obstacle that stands before them. While our instructional program is designed to instill leadership skills within our student body, natural leaders always emerge. Whether a student excels academically, athletically, or within the arts, leaders can be found throughout our school community, leading the way and inviting others to follow. Student leaders who not only speak up when something is wrong but actively work to make sure it is corrected.   

While our students will be entering an increasingly complex world after leaving Putnam Valley, I am confident they will continue to build on the leadership skills they developed during their time here. We all need positive role models to look up to and individuals we aspire to be like, especially during difficult times. This upcoming weekend can be an opportunity to share a positive story about a role model or leader that has inspired others for good, or consider asking your child about their own role models. Together, we can share the experiences and individuals that helped shape the people we are today and those we aspire to become.  
Sincerely,

Dr. Jeremy Luft
Superintendent of Schools
Putnam Valley Central School District
Reminder: 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.

Upcoming Workshop Dates:
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 
PVES Celebrates the Chinese New Year!
It is quite exciting that this year is the Year of the Tiger, according to the Chinese New Year calendar. Our PV Tigers at Putnam Valley Elementary School spent the day celebrating by wearing red and engaging in special projects in grades K - 2. These grades receive lessons in Mandarin once a week as part of their enrichment in the classroom from Ms. Sharon Lum. The district, in partnership with PNW BOCES, has been adding Mandarin as an enrichment opportunity for all students since 2019, adding a new grade level each year. We look forward to adding this to the third grade next school year!
PVMS Partners with PVHS to Welcome the Birds!
It's a perfect match! The PVMS Go Green Club is partnering with the PVHS Innovation and Design Class to bring birds to nest along the Wellness Trail on our campus. The birdhouses are designed and built by our high school students and then painted by our middle school students. Keep an eye out for these stunning houses that will be installed along our Wellness Trail on the high school/middle school campus this spring!  
PVHS Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian!
We are so pleased to announce our Valedictorian and our Salutatorian for the Class of 2022! Meet Fiona Chen (Valedictorian) and Michael Holowiak (Salutatorian)! We are so proud of these students for all that they have accomplished here in Putnam Valley CSD! Congratulations!
Curriculum and Instruction Spotlight:
Fourth Grade
PVES fourth graders in Marielena McCormack's art class are learning about the element of value in art. Through the use of crayons and color sticks, they are learning how to create value in their artwork by blending values of a particular color. These dragon eyes are the first part of a three project unit. Ms. McCormack is utilizing Artsteps, a virtual art gallery design tool, to create a stunning and interactive virtual display of the beautiful artwork by our students. We can't wait to see what comes next! Check out the entire gallery for Mrs. Iorizzo's class below!
PV Athletics News and Updates

Student-athletes Izabella Albano (8th grade) and Emily Quinn (9th grade) are Division II Champions. Representing Putnam Valley on the Lakeland Panas Putnam Valley (LPPV) merged gymnastic team the girls have enjoyed another successful season. Emily will once again represent Section I and Putnam Valley at the State Championships in early March. Congratulations Tigers!
PVHS Students Part of Katonah Art Show
The PVHS Art Department is proud to announce that our art students will be exhibiting work in an upcoming exhibition. The event is being held at the Katonah Museum of Art in the Young Artists Exhibition. The exhibit will be open until February 27, and it features 10 Putnam Valley students: Sydney Cesarini, Jordan Cuddy, Kayla Earle, Bianca Garcia, Angelina Heady, Christopher Hickey, Gabriela Pacheco, Treat Thorpe, Dylan Travis, and Tyler Wollenweber. Congratulations to our brilliant budding artists on being selected to showcase their work at this event! See examples of our students' work below.
"Skeleton Cat" - Digital Art by Angelina Heady
"A Glimpse of the Brook" - Acrylic on Canvas by Jordan Cuddy
PVEF Grant Opportunity
After a few years of pause, the PVEF is excited to announce that the 2022-2023 grant cycle has begun! Please find the PVEF Grant Application attached. 

All applications are due 2/28/2022

Information about donations can be found on the PVEF website: www.pvefny.org

If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected]
PVEF Mission
To aid the district in its pursuit of excellence in education by generating and distributing private funds that provide opportunities for innovative programs and projects.
Each year the funds raised by the PVEF are used for educationally sound programs and projects that cannot be funded by the district budget. 
Teachers, Faculty and Students, with the support of their building administrator, are encouraged to submit grant applications. Applications are due 2/28/22. Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions. 
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

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