Fall 2019 Vol. 68 No. 1

Published by the Board of Education, Pleasantville Union Free School District, Pleasantville NY

Dear Community Members,The rush of September – with its whirlwind of Super-intendent’s Conference Days; K, 5th and 9th grade Orientations; Back to School nights; Homecoming Weekend; and more – is over and we have all begun to settle into the rhythms of the school year. Although some aspects of being a student are similar to what we experienced “back in the day,” the current rate of change – in technology, in science, in information, etc. – is exponential. We know that today’s students will have multiple careers over their working adult

lives. We, as educators, must have and must help our students cultivate a growth mindset whereby we acknowledge and embrace our weaknesses; view challenges as opportunities for growth; remember that the brain has the ability to change throughout life; prioritize learning over seeking approval; focus on the process instead of the end result; reward effort, actions and perseverance; and learn to give and receive constructive criticism.

Pleasantville Schools 2026, Phase 2 – our new Five-Year Strategic Plan – is an integral part of this growth mindset. It’s an opportunity to push our thinking; to try new approaches; to visit other schools and conduct research; and to think “what if…” Last June, the Board of Education adopted six strategies or goals pertaining to Leadership, Curriculum, Wellness, Com-munication, Infrastructure & Resources, and Partnerships. Since then, members of our greater school community – students, staff, administrators, parents, community members, board members – have been volunteering for six Action Teams that will focus on developing specific operational plans of action to implement these strategies. The sign-up form is available on the District website (News & Announcements>Action Team Sign-Up). We will hold a kick-off meeting for the Action Teams at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 22, in the High School Library Media Center.

Thanks to your overwhelming support of the Capital Project Bond last May, we have begun working with our architects to secure the necessary State Education Department approvals so that construction can begin by late spring 2020. We look forward to the safety, security, and infrastructure improvements at all three schools and upgrades to various District facilities that this bond will finance. Our buildings and grounds are a major com-munity resource; I thank you in advance for adhering to the posted rules governing their use.Sincerely,Mary Fox-Alter, Superintendent of Schools

Use of District FacilitiesTo ensure the safety of our students, the health of all users, and the maximum life expectancy of our facilities, it is important that we all understand and adhere to the rules governing their use.•Like our school buildings, our track & fields may be used only by students and staff during the school day.•Please do not walk the track while schools are in session, during practices, or during interscholastic athletic events. It is a breach of security and a safety concern. •Skateboards, scooters, bicycles, strollers, chairs, metal spikes, golf equipment, and other items that might damage the track & fields are not permitted.•Pets are not allowed anywhere, at any time, on school grounds (including the parking lots). Anyone accompanied by a service animal must contact the school’s main office before visiting.•Water is the only beverage al-lowed on the turf fields. Also, please refrain from bringing food onto the turf fields. Sunflower seeds are a major no-no. The seeds and their husks get in between the grass blades and can’t be easily removed by the machines used to keep the fields in good shape.•Group use of the track & fields requires a permit.

Mary Fox-Alter

School News

PHS Students Earned 119 AP Scholar Awards

Over 2.8 million students took college-level Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in 2019 and approximately 25% earned AP Scholar awards. At PHS, 107 (or 42%) of 254 students who took AP Exams were recognized as AP Scholars.

AP Exams are graded on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest grade. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement, based on the number of AP Exams taken and the scores earned. AP Scholar (scored 3 or higher on 3 or more AP Exams). Class of 2019: Kathryn Andersen, Cyrus Ansari, Charlotte Biggar, Annabelle Bresnahan, Justin Corcoran, John DiGilio, Rebecca Graham, Jack Howe, Daniel Keon, Ryan Kwiat, Samuel Lord, Michael Matica, Katherine Moore, Hayley Moses, Chloe Peters, Callie Sullivan, Daniel Wallen. Class of 2020: Elsa Ammirati, Riley Bates, Delaney Cotter, Christian DeJesus, Lauren Drillock, Victoria Figueiredo, Charlotte Goralski, James Hands, Hana Krouse, Nevan Lewis, Ethan Lin, Lara Marks, Kieran Moran, Devin O’Neill, Elliot Powell, Christopher Santos, Isabella Shender, Carly Vavolizza.AP Scholar with Honor (scored 3 or higher on 4 or more AP Exams, with an average grade of 3.25 or above). Class of 2019: Eli Cunniffe, Grace Hammond, Robert Marco, Madison Murray, Anthony Pepdjonovic. Class of 2020: Amber Alirahi, Daniel Bucci, Ryan Burton, Scott Castillo, Cole Catalano, Brendan Connelly, Ryan Dirgins, Norah Foley, Katerina Gusarova, Edward Huerster, Kyle Largey, Lucas Lee, Aidan Lynch, Leif Martens-Wallace,

Meghan McLane, Michael Promisel, William Promisel, Michael Rufino, Owen Stone, Anahita Subramanya. AP Scholar with Distinction (scored 3 or higher on 5 or more AP Exams, with an average grade of 3.5 or above). Class of 2019: Jonathan Albaum, Amber Alesawy, James Anderson, Olivia Ashton, Guy Barzilai, Iman Behbehani, Charlotte Berg, Andrei Captan, Anisha Chandy, Akimoto Cornelius, Patrick Doherty, Maureen Ederer, Julia Goodman, Rosa Hahn, Charlotte Harter, Jonathan Hayes, Ciara Hickey, Garrick Hoadley, Daniel Igielski, Mark Indriolo, Melanie Ipyam, Devin Juros, Catherine Kauber, Shannon Kauber, Evelyn Lee, Julian Loring, Alexander Marshak, Emma Murphy, Brendan O’Neill, Kaylei Raefski, Adrian Rippstein, Lily Rosenbaum, Jack Roye, Amanda Santos, Andrew Scardina, Daniel Schuster, Samuel Selesnick, Andrew Skrzypczak, Asher Stein, Sofia Tomé, Sarah Whynott, Sarah Wike, Jodi Zizmor. Class of 2020: James Blasdell, Phoebe Luciano, Fiona Promisel, Maya Sauthoff.

Anisha Chandy, Akimoto Cornelius, Daniel Igielski, Mark Indriolo, Devin Juros, Julian Loring, Emma Murphy, Jack Roye, Amanda Santos, Daniel Schuster, Andrew Skrzypczak, and Sarah Whynott – all members of the Class of 2019 – also received the National AP Scholar Award, given to students who scored 4 or higher on 8 or more AP Exams and had an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken.

Reporting errors sometimes occur. Anyone who is aware of one should contact The College Board directly.

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School News

Commended Students

Owen Stone, Maya Sauthoff, Edward Huerster

PHS seniors Scott Castillo, Edward Huerster, Phoebe Luciano, Maya Sauthoff, and Owen Stone were named Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They placed in the top 50,000 scorers of the over 1.6 million students nationwide who entered the 2020 competiton by sitting for the PSAT/NMSQT in October 2018. Students who achieved a Selection Index (score) of 212 or above qualified for either Commended Student or Semifinalist status. Because Semifi-nalists are designated on a state representational basis, there is a different qualifying score for each state. This year’s qualifying score for Semifinalist status ranged from 212 to 223 and was 221 in New York State.

PHS Student Ambassadors Carolyn Lee (Costa Rica), Ryan Burton (Thailand), and Ella Agabob (Ecuador) described their summer experiences abroad at Pleasantville International Association’s annual Ambassadors Night.

Speech & Debate SocietyIsabelle Goodman and Sarah Schuster were inducted into the National Speech and Debate Honor Society last June at the Speech & Debate team’s year-end dinner. Isabelle Goodman,

Sarah Schuster

Middle School MuralsHigh School student Devin O’Neill designed and painted two murals at the Middle School over the summer for his Eagle Scout project. Last May, Devin held a car wash to raise funds for the supplies that he would need. Middle School Principal Don Marra noted in his weekly message and via

tweet his appreciation to Devin for the “beautiful murals” and for “dedicating your service to the MS.”

Devin O’Neill

This mural is in the fifth grade wing. The other, a Pleasantville Panther, is in the stairwell at the far end of that hallway.

School News

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K-12 District Art Show

National & All-State Musicians

Choral teacher Kathleen Donovan-Warren, Kyle Largey, Anahita Subramanya, Scott Castillo, Ryan Dirgins, Owen Stone, Ethan Lin, band teacher Jon Vercesi

PHS senior Kyle Largey has been accepted into the All-National Honors Ensembles (ANHE) Mixed Choir and will perform with the “best of the best” at the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) gala in Orlando, Florida, November 7–10. Kyle’s selection to All-State last year, as a junior, qualified him to audition.

Kyle is one of 240 seniors nationally, one of 18 from New York State, and one of three from Westchester County in the Mixed Choir. He is the third of Mrs. Donovan-Warren’s students to have been selected; the others were Justin Maldonado (PHS Class of 2014) and James McCarthy (PHS Class of 2016).

Five other PHS students have been recognized by the NYS School Music Association (NYSSMA). Scott Castillo and Anahita Subramanya were selected to perform in the All-State Chorus and Ethan Lin is first trumpet in the All-State Symphony Orchestra. Ryan Dirgins and Owen Stone are All-State Chorus alternates.

Approximately 900 All-State musicians were chosen from the over 6,500 high school sophomores and juniors who auditioned last spring at 43 solo festival sites throughout the state. They will perform at NYSSMA’s annual All-State Festival in Rochester, December 5–8.

Follow Us on Twitter

@galottip: How does our garden grow? With lots of love, happiness, and parent volunteers.

@pvillemsny: MS student Joe Reinharz is the featured artist for Sept-Oct at The Black Cow in Pleasantville.

@MrPalumboPHS: The band sounds great and our teams are being introduced at PHS. A great pep-rally as part of our homecoming festivities, Go Panthers!

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New Staff MembersOur new staff members fill positions made avail-able through retirements, leaves of absence, and resignations. Some have previously worked in our schools in other capacities.

At Bedford Road School, Mary O’Malley (who taught first grade from 2005-2013, then left to raise her family) joins the second grade team, Samantha Tanner is a tenure-track kindergarten teacher, and Alison Fox is the leave replacement for Sara Natlo in English as a New Language. In the Main Office, Ze-Enna Jenkins is the new member of the clerical staff and physical education teacher Tom Micucci is the acting assistant principal for Rachel Hunger, due to return from child-rearing leave in Novem-ber. Keith Gardener, a PHS teaching assistant and coach, is Mr. Micucci’s replacement.

New staff members at the Middle School include teacher Genevieve Johnson (5th & 6th grade special education) and teaching assistants Mimi Sillings and Briana Zuccaro.

Pleasantville High School welcomed math teacher Kelly Bentson, school nurse Ina Carey, and teaching assistant Stacey Isenberg. Tanner Diebold is the science/special education leave replacement for Stephanie Marra, who is on child-rearing leave.

We also welcomed eleven psychology interns, who work under the supervision of Dr. Rukmini Bhalla and the school psychologists in the buildings to which they are assigned. Pleasantville is the only public school district in New York State to have a psychology internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Other ChangesBRS teacher Jen Picco moved from kindergarten

to second grade and Martha Coffey is secretary to Principal Peggy Galotti, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Donna Loprieno. Three special education teachers have new assignments: Michele Compito is at Bedford Road School, Dora DiBiase is in the Middle School, and Cara Padovani is at the High School. Last, but not least, PHS psychologist Dr. Jackie Russo is now Dr. Jackie Mancari.

District News

Tanner Diebold, Kelly Bentson, Briana Zuccaro, Genevieve Johnson, Alison Fox, Mary O’Malley

Psychology Interns, front: Jessica Prizer (BRS), Samantha Birkenholz (PHS), Gabriela Irizarry (PHS), Monique Ross (MS), Carly Schuller (MS); back: Chase Deutsch (BRS), Alana Flynn (BRS), Christine O’Brien (PHS), Anna Habib (PHS), Jenna Lalia (MS); not pictured: AnnaMarie Nardone (BRS)

Tom Micucci, Ze-Enna Jenkins, Keith Gardener, Samanth Tanner

Ina Carey Stacey Isenberg

Mimi Sillings

District News

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Annual NoticesTo read the District’s Asbestos Management Plan and/or to obtain a Pesticide Application Notification form, go to the District website and click on Departments>Buildings & Grounds>Annual Notices. For more information, contact Steve Chamberlain, Director of Facilities, at 914-741-1400 x.50510 or chamberlains@pleasantvilleschools.org.

Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter recognized teachers Bob Jordon, Tom Micucci, and Mary Prevost, teach-ing assistant Tina Iannotti, and teacher aide Maria Rende for their twenty-

five years of service to the District at the first Su-perintendent’s Conference Day of the school year.

25 Years of Service

Maria Rende, Mary Fox-Alter, Tom Micucci, Bob Jordon

Mary Prevost, Tina Ianotti

By the Numbers…Enrollment numbers as of October 7:BRS K/118 1/109 2/118 3/112 4/110 567MS 5/115 6/141 7/131 8/143 530PHS 9/152 10/120 11/154 12/171 597Total 1,694

K-12 District Art Show

Many thanks to the Mount Pleasant Public Library for hosting our annual K-12 District Art Show.

PHS Alumni Plaza

Twenty-three bricks honoring alumni and retirees were installed in Alumni Plaza at a Bricklaying Ceremony held during Homecoming Weekend. The Pleasantville Fund for Learning sells the bricks as one if its fundraisers and hosts each Bricklaying Ceremony. Visit phsalumniplaza.org to purchase a brick, as well as for pictures of this and previous ceremonies.

PHS Performing Arts has chosen The Little Mermaid as its spring musical production. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 6, 7, 13 & 14 and at 2 p.m. on March 8.

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District News

Front: Jacinto Sanchez, Edwin Vanegas, Angel Aguilar, Juan Culcay, Baraquiel Andon; Back: Nunzio Liberti, Lonnel (Ray) Beechum Jr., Craig Rodgers, Lonnel Beechum Sr., Trevor Elliott, Reed Walsh, Mike Amodei

Richard Devine, Darrnel Earl

John Riina, Nik Elluzzi

At the Opening of Schools Superintendent’s Confer-ence Day, Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter recognized Director of Facilities Steve Chamberlain and his Buildings & Grounds crew, whose hard work over the summer and throughout the school year “supports our philosophy to have our facilities match the academic excellence that occurs within our schools.” In addition to “giving every instructional space and classroom that special TLC so they look amazing for our teachers and students,” they undertook a number of facility improvements that Mr. Chamberlain described in his annual Facilities Update at the September 24 Board of Education meeting.

Summer Projects (a partial list)• installed new bleachers at Parkway Field• installed new commercial dehumidifiers at BRS• painted the BRS playground with games and a

map of the United States

• installed new lockers at the Middle School, com-pleting the phased-in replacement of all the lockers

• resurfaced the MS outdoor basketball court • installed new fitness center equipment at PHS• built a canopy over an exterior stairwell at PHS

to alleviate flooding• relocated the security door at the main entrance

of the High School

• replaced asphalt throughout the District, including the path to/from the Country Club

• installed a gate and additional fencing at BRS• installed an enhanced security door at the Ashland

Avenue entrance of the Middle School• installed new carpeting in the High School modular

classrooms• replaced the PIP (Poured in Place) rubber surface

of the Middle School play area• stripped and refinished all gymnasium floors• replaced and upgraded the back field irrigation

system at PHS

Taking Care of Our Facilities

The Board of EducationPresidentAngela Vella (769-5729)VellaA@pleasantvilleschools.orgVice PresidentLouis Conte (773-1532)ConteLou@pleasantvilleschools.orgMembersLarry Boes (773-1882)BoesLa@pleasantvilleschools.orgShane McGaffey (409-3487)McGaffeyS@pleasantvilleschools.orgEmily Rubin Persons (747-0136)PersonsE@pleasantvilleschools.orgSuperintendent of Schools Mary Fox-AlterDistrict Websitepleasantvilleschools.orgBoard Meetings and School Closings: 741-1460Editor / PhotographerJulie Schwartz

Board of EducationPleasantville Union Free School District60 Romer AvenuePleasantville, New York 10570

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDWHITE PLAINS, NYPERMIT NO. 7046

Volunteers Needed• Science Olympiad • STEM Career Fair • Science Research • & More

INTERESTED? Go to PantherPartners.org to submit

or update your application.

Did You Know…?• If you click on Show Calendar

at the bottom of the Upcoming Events column on the District website, you can see (and print) the entire month and can navi-gate backward and forward.

• You can subscribe to the Board of Education’s e-blast by send-ing your e-mail address to SheaV@pleasantvilleschools.org; to unsubscribe, select “un-subscribe” at the bottom of the e-mail.

• You can watch Board Meetings and other District programming on pctv76.org, Verizon Channel 32, and Cablevision Channel 77 (simulcast Fridays on Channel 76.)

Board of Education MeetingsTuesday, October 29Tuesday, November 12• School Counseling Report• Testing Report Monday, November 25Joint Meeting with Village Board of Trustees at Village HallTuesday, December 3Joint Meeting with PHS Student GovernmentTuesday, December 17• Fall Athletic Season Recap Tuesday, January 14• Technology UpdateTuesday, January 28• Financial UpdateTuesday, February 11• 2020-21 Budget – Salaries, Benefits, Tax

Levy CapTuesday, March 3• 2020-21 Budget – Technology, Operations

& Maintenance, Athletics • Strategic Plan UpdateTuesday, March 17• 2020-21 Budget – BRS, MS, PHS, CSETuesday, March 31• 2020-21 Budget – Revenue and Reserves• Winter Athletic Season RecapTuesday, April 21• Final Proposed 2020-21 BudgetTuesday, May 5• Proposed 2020-21 Budget HearingTuesday, May 26• Strategic Plan/2019-20 Board Goals UpdateTuesday, June 9• 2020-21 Board GoalsTuesday, June 23• Spring Athletic Season Recap

Seated: Vice President Louis Conte, President Angela Vella; Standing: Larry Boes, Emily Rubin Persons, Shane McGaffey

U n l e s s o t h e r w i s e n o t e d , all meetings of the Board of Education begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Pleasantville High School Library Media Center. Reports scheduled are subject to change. Agendas, reports, and minutes of Board meetings are available at pleasantvilleschools.org (Board of Education>BoardDocs).

Every meeting provides an opportunity for comments and questions from the audience.