June 20, 2025

Dear Pleasantville Families,

Dear Pleasantville Families, 


Please see below for a recap of Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting. You can watch the meeting video here


Pleasantville Fund for Learning Awards Over $40,000 in New Grants 

To begin, Pleasantville Fund for Learning leaders Andi Busch and Danielle Kaley thanked teachers and students for their thoughtful grant-writing efforts and announced the approval of seven new grants totaling over $40,000 for the 2025–26 school year. 


The funded grants include: BRS Library Revitalization, BRS Self-Regulation Kits, BRS Self-Regulation Room, PHS Maker Space, PHS STAR (Students Talking About Resilience), a student-written grant, PMS Project Lead the Way, and PMS Class Pack of Art-Specific iPad Supplies. 


These innovative projects represent a commitment to enriching learning experiences across the district. Thank you to the Pleasantville Fund for Learning for their continued support and investment in our schools. 


Student Recognition

We celebrated nearly 100 students for their achievements in academics, the arts, athletics, and leadership. From Science Olympiad champions and spring athletes to BRS Bucket Fillers, international science scholars, and performers honored at NYSSMA and the Metro Awards, we continue to be inspired by our students' accomplishments.


BRS Student Leadership: Two student clubs were recognized for their contributions to school life. The Fill a Bucket Club, advised by Mrs. Hunger, Ms. Benanti, and Ms. Flatley, led the school’s first-ever MLK Day of Service. The Student Council, led by Ms. DiSalvo and Mr. Bramswig, helped design a program preparing fourth graders for middle school cafeteria life.


Performing Arts Honors: The cast and crew of The Music Man earned two Metro Awards—Outstanding Chorus Performance and Outstanding Costume Design (Jacqueline Cerrati)—among 10 nominations. At NYSSMA, Zoey Lin and Adriana McGarry were selected for the All-Eastern Treble Chorus, a first for Pleasantville.


Science Research Recognition: Juniors Adam Fayaz and Tung Lam Nguyen earned national honors for presenting at major medical conferences, and Adam’s research will be published in Chest. Camilla Broward, Lexi Busch, and Tung Lam also presented internationally in French at the Sèt’Expo Science in Sète, France.


Science Olympiad Success: The High School Science Olympiad team advanced to the state tournament. The Middle School team, with over 50 members, earned 1st at regionals and finished 3rd in New York State—its highest-ever placement. Thank you to our advisors, parent volunteers, and HS mentors.


Spring Athletics: All varsity spring teams were named Scholar-Athlete Teams, earning PHS a NYSPHSAA "School of Excellence" title. Notable highlights:


  • Boys Tennis: Jack Saldana & Joey Peccoraro and Hudson Palacio & Christian Benevides qualified for the Section 1 Doubles Tournament.
  • Girls Lacrosse: 17–3 season, League and Section 1 Class D Champions (first-time in school history!); Coach Hannah Tiso named Coach of the Year.
  • Track & Field: Clara Shingler earned All-Section honors and was crowned Section 1 Champion in the 2000m Steeplechase.

  

ParentSquare Communications Platform Transition 

As a reminder, the district is preparing for a full transition to the ParentSquare platform for all district and school communications beginning July 1. Parents and guardians received their personalized invitation links via email on June 17. Community members who would like to stay informed are encouraged to sign up here. Please visit pleasantvilleschools.org/parentsquare for more information. 


During the Superintendent’s Update portion of the meeting, I shared the following points of Pville Pride: 


Spring Concerts – The spring concert season has finished up, and our musicians continue to impress their audiences. 


BRS Family Fun Night – During the BRS family fun night, Mr. Pinkava and Ms. Hunger enjoyed being in the dunk tank before the rain fell out of the sky and drenched everyone. Prior to the rain, the event was attended by over 700 people, and they were able to enjoy pizza, cotton candy, face painting, balloon animals, arts and crafts, games, and more. A big top thank you to the BRS PTA for organizing and running such a wonderful school-wide event! 


Science Research Symposium – Six seniors presented their original research projects at this year’s Science Research Symposium. The evening showcased the rigorous work our students have completed over three years of study. Guests were invited to explore detailed research displays outlining students’ literature reviews, hypotheses, methodologies, and conclusions.  


Prom at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill – The high school prom was a memorable and elegant evening for the Class of 2025. Mr. Fonde shared that it was “one of the best ever,” and we’re grateful to the staff and families who helped make it so special. 


Kindergarten Circus at BRS – A true Pleasantville tradition and community favorite – the kindergarten circus took place last week. The students practiced diligently and put on a delightful performance. Thank you to the entire kindergarten team and all BRS staff for bringing the circus to town. 


Western and Eastern Hemisphere Days at PMS – Western and Eastern Hemisphere Days took place at the MS. These interactive and immersive days brought global learning to life. A big thank you to the PTA for their incredible efforts in organizing educational and engaging activities for our middle school students. 


Senior Internship Presentations and Celebration – The weather held out Monday night just long enough for the seniors to enjoy a BBQ and Mr. Softee treats outside, before heading indoors to present their internship experiences to family, friends, and faculty.  


Looking ahead to the final days of school, we are excited to celebrate several milestone events: 


UPK and PHS Graduation – This week, we are proud to celebrate both the beginning and culmination of the student journey in Pleasantville. Our youngest Panthers were honored at the UPK graduation on Wednesday, and this evening, we will celebrate the Class of 2025 at the HS commencement ceremony. 


4th Grade, 8th Grade, and Lab School Graduations – The remaining graduation ceremonies for 4th and 8th graders, along with the Lab School students, will take place throughout next week, each marking an important transition in our students’ educational journeys. 


As we round the end of the school year, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Pleasantville community—students, staff, families, and community members—for the incredible partnership, support, and shared commitment to excellence that defines this district. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy summer! 


For the youth, 

Dr. DeSa 

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