Greetings Pearl River School District Families and Staff,

The 2023-24 school year is quickly drawing to a close, and our K-12 students and educators are hard at work finishing out the academic year strong. Across each subject spanning STEM, literacy, and the arts, learners are preparing for and taking exams; engaging in exciting lessons, activities, projects and labs; and celebrating all that they’ve accomplished. Our District has also continued its work in expanding opportunities for our students to explore what makes us all so unique - through character education programming, world culture events, and student presentations. May and June prove to be busy months, as the PRSD prepares for its 2024-25 School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election which takes place tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21 (from 7:00AM - 9:00PM at Pearl River High School’s Pirate Cove), and for our Arts in the Park event which takes place on Saturday, June 1 from 10:00AM - 2:00PM at Central Avenue Field. More information regarding both the upcoming budget vote and BOE election, as well as Arts in the Park can be found on our District website at www.pearlriver.org.

At each of our school buildings, art and music educators are collaborating with administrators, principals and students to efficiently plan for Arts in the Park - rehearsing musical performances and carefully curating visual arts collections that will be on display. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, much preparation has taken place for Arts in the Park, and I applaud the dedication and efforts of all involved in its highly-anticipated success. I am looking forward to the event, and I hope you are too! You can view a recap of the 2023 Arts in the Park event at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGJ9E6p6ZNU. In addition, many spring concerts were on the calendar for the month of May - which provided a peek into the hard work of our teachers and students. Reflecting on the jam-packed spring months, high school and middle school students also showcased their talents in shows including The Little Mermaid Jr. and The Music Man. Bravo to all those involved!

Over the past two months, we’ve shined various spotlights on positions in our District including: our five PRSD Instructional Coaches (Regina Zito, Katie Gruffi, Jess Kearns, Kim Ulrich and Dana Silver), our four School Social Workers (Norma Canals, Jessica Bersani, Natalie Cervantes-Libassi and Eric Borcherding), our Assistant Principals (Edith Ramirez-Lopez, Jacqueline Lividini and Aaron McCasland), our ENL educators (Karen Jedlicka, Kristen Perez, Beth Toubin, AnnMarie Pinneri, Jill McGuire, Leah Pisaniello, Michelle Olinsky, Lynn Schneider, Danielle Sens-Castet, Jennifer Ortiz and Denise Murphy), and our School Nurses (Fiona Burke, Roseann Daly, Ellen Moreno, Debra Sens-Castet, Alece Ayers and J.Sara Dworkin). Our ongoing social media campaigns aim to highlight the invaluable work of these important individuals - and all that they do to support the success and well-being of our K-12 students. During May, Teacher Appreciation Week also took place - and I applaud each of our educators who lend their passion and skills to educating our children. Thank you!

With the conclusion of the school year in sight, I look forward to many upcoming events and end-of-year celebrations that will soon take place in May and throughout June. This edition of our PRSD Pulse e-newsletter reflects on much of what’s taken place, as we continue our mission of student achievement. Stay tuned for our PRSD Pulse: 2023-24 Wrap Up which will showcase our various ceremonies that celebrate our students' progress and achievements...

Sincerely,

Marco F. Pochintesta, Ed.D.

Across our elementary, middle and high school buildings, K-12 students excitedly rehearsed for Spring Concerts that took place throughout the month of May. Welcoming family and friends to attend the live musical performances, our student-musicians displayed their talent and all that they've learned throughout the 2023-24 school year - thanks to the guidance and direction of our talented music educators. Bravo! More on Facebook and Instagram.

May 6-10 marked Teacher Appreciation Week and the PRSD shined a light on the hard work and dedication of our English as a New Language (ENL) educators at each of our school buildings! Serving as caring and committed individuals, these teachers work closely with English Language Learners (ELLs) to provide tailored lessons for students at varying levels - celebrating their cultural identity while enhancing their biliteracy and understanding of the English language. The District expresses its gratitude for ALL teachers - and their crucial role in shaping our children. More on Facebook and Instagram.

The PRSD celebrated 14 individuals including teaching assistants, teachers and administrators who've achieved tenure during a recognition ceremony held on May 7! Presented by Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources & Community Services John Piscitella and with congratulatory words from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marco Pochintesta and Board of Education President Jackie Dubil Craig, each tenure recipient took to the podium for well-earned esteem. We congratulate each of these individuals for their continued commitment to education: Janet Beckerle, Michael Spallone, Angela DeRosa, Andrew DiDonato, Michelle Esposito, Katie Gruffi, Emily Jamett, Monica Price, Kara Quinn, Molly Servello, Dana Silver, Keri Velardo, Jamie Haug and Aaron McCasland. More on Facebook and Instagram.

May 8 marked National Association for School Nurses' School Nurse Day - and in the PRSD, we're expressing gratitude for our dedicated nurses who work to bridge healthcare and education. Thanks to the efforts of these individuals, our K-12 buildings remain healthy learning environments where students can evolve and grow. Through quality student-centered care, our school nurses work to provide first aid and health assessments, and collaborate with teachers and staff to ensure the well-being of each and every student. Thank you for all that you do: Fiona Burke, RN - Franklin Avenue Elementary School; Roseann Daly, RN - Evans Park Elementary School, Ellen Moreno, RN - Lincoln Avenue Elementary School; Debra Sens-Castet, RN - Pearl River Middle School; J.Sara Dworkin, RN - Pearl River High School; and Alece Ayers, RN - District-Wide Float Nurse. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Second graders in Nancy McCarthy and Gina DiMartini's class at Evans Park Elementary School worked with K-12 Instructional Technology Coaches Kim Ulrich and Jess Kearns to complete Typing Club activities that enhance typing knowledge/ability and meet NYS Digital Fluency Standards! As these Evans Park Tigers prepare to soon become third graders at the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year, they must ensure that they're ready for all that the next grade level brings...including correct hand posture when typing on a keyboard and the ability to efficiently type when accessing and completing assignments online. Through various lessons, second grade students are honing an understanding of all letter keys and their location on the keyboard, as well as limited punctuation marks - through a fun, accessible, standards-aligned approach. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Elementary school counselor Morgan O'Donohue has routinely visited classrooms for push-in lessons centered on flexibility - and tying into students' understanding of 'A Little Spot of Flexible Thinking: A Story About Adapting to Change' written by Diane Albers. Working with Marie Walmsley's third grade class at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School, Mrs. O'Donohue explored a number of strategies that Lincoln Ave Lions can use to find new ways to solve problems and look at things in a different way. Students discussed rigid thoughts (which can cause frustration) versus flexible thoughts (which can help in remaining calm) - and how in times of preparing for change, a good back up plan can assist in developing flexible thinking skills. Students engaged in word and sentence challenges that promoted thinking flexibly when there are multiple meaning options present (for example: 'hitting the road' and 'duck'). Flexibility is one of many school superpowers that Mrs. O'Donohue is arming students with as they grow and evolve as students! By becoming flexible thinkers, learners take different perspectives, can solve problems in different ways, and shift their mindset in a positive way when confronted with unexpected change. More on Facebook and Instagram.

The Pearl River Middle School Music Department paid visits to Evans Park Elementary School, Lincoln Avenue Elementary School and Franklin Avenue Elementary School - discussing band, orchestra, chorus and general music elective options for soon-to-be fifth graders. As our buildings prepare for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, much preparation is in order for students across the District to ensure that they are on track...and these ELF students now have the knowledge needed to make important decisions about their enrollment selections! General music/chorus teacher Rene Dalandan, orchestra teacher Danice Claud-Desir, and band teachers Brianna Hensley and Brian Evans each took to the front of the music classroom to demonstrate various instruments - showcasing a variety of options for students to choose ranging from cellos, to clarinets, to tubas. More on Facebook and Instagram.

The PRSD celebrated each of our School Social Workers - integral in ensuring the well-being and success of our K-12 students - during School Social Work Association of America (SSWAA)'s National School Social Work Week! At the heart of student support, these dedicated individuals are committed to fostering positive school environments and enhancing our District’s ability to meet its academic mission. Each bringing unique knowledge and skills to our school system and Student Services team, our four social workers serve as trained mental health professionals who assist with mental health and behavioral concerns; positive behavioral, academic and classroom support; consultation with administrators, teachers and parents; and provide individual and group counseling/therapy. We extend gratitude to: Pearl River High School Social Worker Norma Canals, LMSW; Pearl River Middle School Social Worker Jessica Bersani, LCSW; Franklin Avenue Elementary School Social Worker Natalie Cervantes-Libassi, LMSW; and Lincoln Avenue Elementary School/Evans Park Elementary School Social Worker Eric Borcherding, LCSW. More on Facebook and Instagram.

Do you know our PRSD Instructional Coaches? These dynamic individuals work together as integral facets who support the important academic work of our District and help to move forward initiatives. Our coaches pair with our administrators and teachers to enhance our mission of sustained learning - 'building' us up and strengthening our student outcomes. "Our District's Instructional Coaches continue to represent an invaluable resource through their work in support of our teaching staff and District objectives for education and learning," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marco Pochintesta. "The Instructional Coaches combined with the desire of our staff to be at the cutting edge of pedagogy allow us to keep improving. A steadfast commitment to continuous improvement is a critical component of remaining a preeminent school district." On our social feeds, we spotlighted their vital roles as we highlighted all that they do as the 'behind-the-scenes' as the building blocks of the PRSD'. Our campaign highlighted the important work of K-4 Instructional Coaches Regina Zito and Katie Gruffi, K-12 Instructional Technology Coaches Jess Kearns and Kim Ulrich, and Gr. 5-12 Literacy Coach Dana Silver. More on our Facebook and Instagram pages!