PRSD Pulse

Fifth grade PRMS Pirates have set sail towards a new and exciting school year at Pearl River Middle School - and thanks to Team Building Days planned by grade 5 teachers, students are bridging connections with one another, meeting staff members and familiarizing themselves with the building! With the purpose of easing the shift from three different elementary schools to one middle school through fun-filled, collaborative activities, fifth graders engaged in Speed Friending, Rock Painting, Scavenger Hunts, Blindfold Challenges, Kickball, Charades and Pick Up Sticks in rotational color teams. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Pearl River High School showed off school spirit during a Homecoming and Fall Sports Pep Rally on September 27 as the varsity football team prepared to take on Westlake High School! PRHS students, teachers and administrators gathered together to excitedly celebrate the successes of student-athletes and gear up for a busy weekend of festivities. Following cheers for fall sports teams and their senior athletes, PRHS Pirates were selected to compete in sports challenges including ball catch, soccer and field goal kick, and scooter race. Disguised as the Pirate mascot, Principal Dr. Robert Zegarelli also kicked a field goal! More on Facebook and Instagram.

Pearl River High School hosted its annual Club Fair on September 26 as students browsed each table set-up located in Pirate Cove - exploring the various co-curricular opportunities they can participate in! Speaking to student representatives and club advisors, PRHS Pirates posed questions about signing up for meetings, member expectations, and community outreach. It's strongly encouraged for students to participate in clubs since it not only looks good on college applications and resumes, but showcases interest and involvement in the school community! More on Facebook and Instagram.

"Belong By Being You!" is the ELF focus for the 2024-25 school year - and through read alouds, monthly clinician lessons, assemblies and exciting activities tying into social-emotional learning and positive-behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) initiatives, K-4 students are learning how they help build our schools through their strengths, unique qualities, and choices! Throughout the month of September, elementary principals paid visits to all classes at Evans Park Elementary School, Lincoln Avenue Elementary School and Franklin Avenue Elementary School to read "I Am Human" by Susan Verde - discussing how each person's individuality plays a key role in what makes our community so special. Students and staff members (pictured: Laura Sheridan's fourth grade class at Evans Park Elementary School) then worked on designing 'tiles' - selecting a word from the book that helps them express themselves.

In addition, specials teachers focused on 'spots' of respect, responsibility and safety - sharing "A Little Spot" books during their class periods across all grade levels. Students will also have the opportunity to earn "You're in the Spotlight" awards for showcasing positive behaviors based on the current theme/focus. Those who earned recognitions will also be celebrated at school-wide assemblies taking place at the end of each month. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Using just index cards and their knowledge of problem-solving, these Franklin Ave Stars are building their collaborative skills during Makerspace time! Third graders at Franklin Avenue Elementary School (pictured: Samantha Guzman's class) worked in small groups to tackle a challenge presented by teaching assistant Beth Granelli: build a tall standing structure with 50 index cards. With a goal to surpass the record of 60 inches tall, students worked carefully through brainstorming, and trial and error, to successfully construct their card towers from the ground up to the best of their ability. Makerspace encourages learners in grades 3 and 4 to use their imagination while also developing STEM skills, talents and creative thinking - working both individually and in groups using a variety of materials. More on Facebook and Instagram.

We stopped into Pearl River High School teacher Darcie Pickering's General Music class as students gained an understanding of editing, mixing and mastering audio through use of MusicFirst and Soundtrap on their Chromebooks! Following a lesson on Gregorian chant - a form of monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song originating in Europe during the Middle Ages - these PRHS Pirates incorporated its non-metrical rhythm and melismas into remixed beats using digital audio workstation (DAW) software. Each student developed their own unique sound - with the ability to add various instruments, loops, and a patterns beat maker. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Throughout the month, K-12 learners across the District engaged in read-alouds, lessons and activities that celebrate the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States. Inside Ms. Girling's classroom, student artists will soon delve even further into a variety of vibrant projects tying into the ongoing month's focus. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Grade-level chorus time serves as the perfect opportunity for students to improve their vocal skills, music reading ability and musical memory! During Arts in Education Week, we stopped into Music teacher Sarah Gill's classroom at Evans Park Elementary School to capture the exciting lineup of music activities taking place! Settling in, these first graders began with a 'vocal air guitar' warm up before delving into renditions of the Evans Park song "Together We Can" and "This Land is Your Land". With fall festivities soon approaching, Ms. Gill led Evans Park Tigers through a Halloween playlist of spooky tunes and a Thanksgiving-themed song "Smart Turkey" - reminding all to practice proper breathing and pacing when singing along. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Pearl River Middle School Band teacher Brianna Hensley worked with sixth graders during clarinet lessons to practice proper instrument positioning, note reading and scale/chords! Students first noted characteristics of the clarinet and the bass clarinet, as Mrs. Hensley discussed the differences between their sizes, ranges and timbres. Following their warm up, these PRMS Pirates opened their Essential Elements books for rehearsal of the tune "Frere Jacques" before playing along to a number of pop songs of their choosing. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Because of arts education, young learners are developing key skills while exploring their creativity! Under the direction of Art teacher Tom Price, these Evans Park Tigers are learning the fundamentals of painting through vibrant projects using different mediums. Second graders at Evans Park Elementary School worked on their relief paintings - taking the time to carefully add color and detail to the background, middle ground and foreground. Mr. Price emphasized the importance of individuality...reminding student artists that their work is a reflection of what makes them so unique! Meanwhile, kindergarteners delved into the fundamentals of how to paint using various brushes and strokes. These Tigers mixed hues to add to their creations, and developed tactile perception and hand-eye coordination while doing so. More on Facebook and Instagram.

On Patriot Day, the PRSD remembered and honored the countless lives lost due to the tragic events that took place 23 years ago on September 11, 2001. Throughout the District, K-12 students paused to reflect - through moments of silence, informative morning announcements, and age-appropriate discussions and lessons. Seventh graders at Pearl River Middle School (pictured: Kevin O'Connor's class) learned about the story of Nyack native Welles Crowther - known as 'The Man in the Red Bandana' - who selflessly saved as many as 18 lives during the attacks on the World Trade Center before tragically losing his own. Tying into their Congressional Medal of Honor program, these PRMS Pirates discussed the invaluable impact of voluntary service and listed positive characteristics that heroes like Welles displayed through their incredible actions, that they'd like to emulate in their own lives. In groups, students brainstormed words like self discipline, trustworthiness, bravery, resilience, respect and pride - before writing their selected words on paper to display on the classroom board. Mr. O'Connor encouraged learners to explore volunteer opportunities - including AmeriCorps, National Park Service and Volunteer New York - where they can make their own impact both big and small. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Student-artists in Lauren Zaccardo's Art class at Pearl River Middle School put the finishing touches on their watercolor Keith Haring-inspired paintings that colorfully depict actions and activities that represent themselves! With design and shape in mind, fifth graders first began with listing at least ten verbs/action words that they can sketch in the style of Haring's famous take on abstract art. Once sketched, these PRMS Pirates brought their pop art to life with color and added 'action lines' indicating movement. Through this project, students are creating their own animated imagery and showcasing their passions through art education. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Tying into the ELF focus on 'belonging by being you', Franklin Avenue Elementary School third graders got to know one another - and how each individual contributes and helps build our school community through their strengths and unique qualities! Following a reading of the book, "Alma and How She Got Her Name" by Juana Martinez-Neal, these Franklin Ave Stars explored the stories behind their names - completing a project at home with the help of parents/guardians to determine the origin and significance of their monikers. Just like the character Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela (who has six names!), students shared the vibrant stories of what they've learned about their family history and their names - and who they may be one day with their peers. Illustrating a name template with colorful drawings that best represent them (like foods, hobbies and cultural designs), these Stars made important connections with their classmates - embracing what makes them both similar and different! More on Facebook and Instagram.

Take a look at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School first graders (pictured: Ali Stone's class) as they engage in everyday reading and writing comprehension review as part of the 'Daily 4'! During this timeframe, students rotate through four stations located throughout the room for effective small group instruction. These Lincoln Ave Lions put their honed knowledge of letters and words to the test - completing puzzles, using alphabet magnets and writing red words. This literacy framework promotes independent behavior and cultivates a classroom of highly-engaged readers and writers. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Knowledge of school bus safety is the driving force behind ensuring that students remain out of harm's way when waiting for, boarding and departing school transportation! As the District settled into the 2024-25 school year, elementary learners developed an understanding of proper actions/behaviors aboard the bus and how to handle emergency situations...thanks to routine bus drills led by Chestnut Ridge Transportation. These practice sessions help K-4 students know how to respond safely and confidently in critical situations - as they locate all emergency exits including doors, windows and hatches, the first aid kit, seatbelt buckles, and the bus driver's two-way radio. Second graders at Franklin Avenue Elementary School (pictured) also worked together to safely exit the bus in under two minutes in the case of a fire on board - clearing out the bus from back to front, staying calm and composed, and using the hand railing when stepping off the bus to safety. More on Facebook and Instagram.

First day happy faces, and exploring classroom spaces and procedures - Tuesday, September 3 marked an exciting start to the 2024-25 school year! K-12 students were warmly welcomed by administrators, teachers and staff as each of our buildings opened their doors for new and returning learners. Between unpacking backpacks, to organizing supplies, to learning about specials like physical education and music, to practicing locker combinations, to maneuvering new schedules, it was a busy day for all in the District. We're ready to embrace new adventures as we begin another chapter...here's to a year of growth, learning and success! More on Facebook and Instagram.