Winter 2016 Vol. 64 No. 2

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

A Call to Act NowLegislators in Albany characterize New York State’s high property

tax problem as spend-crazed school districts VS a fiscally responsible state government; this is simply not the case. The actual reason for our high property taxes is the reallocation of our region’s state income taxes to other parts of the state.

This is how it works. New York State has a formula with multiple variables that dictates how much each school district receives in educa-tional base aid (AKA foundation aid). This formula is supposed to provide fairness and equity in school district funding, giving higher need districts more and lower need districts less. The formula is not being followed.

The governor’s 2016-2017 Executive Budget (currently being debated by the legislature in Albany) earmarks 91% of a $267 million increase in foundation aid for “high need districts.” The Pleasantville School District receives, like most districts in our region, no increase.

So, how can we change this? We have to let our state legislators know that we do not approve of our region being used as a piggy bank for the rest of the state. 1) Tell our legislators that the New York State Budget must follow the state educational aid formula to be passed. When there is an increase in state educational funding, all districts should receive some benefit. 2) Tell our legislators that they must end the Gap Elimination Adjust-ment (GEA). Faced with a $10 billion deficit in 2010, the state decided to withhold a percentage of state aid from school districts (GEA) until its budget was balanced. New York State has now had two straight years of budget surpluses, but continues to withhold these funds from our schools. Pleasantville has lost close to $3.7 million due to GEA over the last four and a half years. There is simply no justification for withholding district funds to fill a budget deficit that no longer exists.

Your voice matters. Please go to pleasantvilleschools.com and click on the Advocacy tab in the top left-hand corner of the page. There you will find letters that, with just a few seconds of your time, can be emailed directly from the site to our legislators. Together we can make a difference. Let’s remind our state legislators that they have a responsibility to their constituents: to follow the formula, end GEA, and deliver a fair share of our tax dollars back to us.Sincerely,Shane McGaffey, Board of Education President

Presidential Scholar Candidates

PHS seniors Laura Chapman, Kim Chia, James McCarthy, and Sophie Dora Tulchin have been selected to participate in the by-invitation-only Presidential Scholars Program.

Laura, Kim, and Sophie Dora are among the approximately 4,000 students nominated in the academic component, based on their excep-tional scores on the SAT or ACT. James is one of 60 nominated in the arts component by the National YoungArts Foundation.

A total of 35 Westchester stu-dents attending 20 public and 3 private schools received invitations. Pleasantville and Scarsdale had 4 each; Fox Lane had 3; Briarcliff, Byram Hills, Chappaqua, Irving-ton, Mamaroneck, and Yorktown had 2 each.

Approximately 800 semifinal-ists will be chosen by mid-April. In May, the Commission on Presi-dential Scholars will name up to 161 Presidential Scholars.

Sophie Dora Tulchin, James McCarthy, Kim Chia, Laura Chapman

School News — Achievements & Awards

National Science Honor Society Inductees

The Science National Honor Society inducted twenty-three new members at ceremony held on Novem-ber 17 in the High School cafeteria.Front: Doug Crocitto, Michael Bloom, Seher Hussain, Aisling Mooney, Divya Ramakrishnan, Silpaa Gunabalan, Hanna Kapoor, Riley Kennedy. Middle: Adriana Fuccillo, Vincent Ferraiuolo, Ian Esliker, Jack Demaree, Samantha D’Angelo, Henry Cunniffe, Sonja Meberg, Jeremy Stone. Back: Husnaat Malik, Ana Malfa, Jillian Labruzzo, Eddie Tu, James Grom, Philip Rountry, Raquel Sammartano.

2

MS Geography Bee

Fifth grader Richik Acharya was the winner of the Middle School’s fourth annual National Geographic Bee, held on January 4. Eight final-ists — two grade-level winners per grade — competed for the school championship.

Front: Amina Fayaz, Kyle Largey (runner-up), Richik Acharya (1st place), Summer de Luca. Back: Brendan Cooper, William Serlin, Daniel Kauber, James Blasdell.

Financial Whizzes!

Dermot McSpedon, Joseph Reinharz, Emily Sokich, Itaty Galarza

The fourth grade team of Itaty Galarza, Dermot McSpedon, Joseph Reinharz, and Emily Sokich placed first of 82 Westchester teams in the Elementary School division (grades 4 & 5) of the Stock Market Game. Extended Learning Coordinator Lisa Rodriguez facilitated the activ-ity with the assistance of T.A. Tina Ianotti and the fourth grade teachers.

Art & Writing Awards

English teacher Leigh Meyer, Violet Fearon, Jacob Butcher, Emily Harter, art teacher Jim Maron

Submissions by three PHS students were recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program. In writing, Violet Fearon received two Gold Keys, two Silver Keys, two Honorable Mentions, and a Voices of America nomination. In art, Emily Harter was awarded five Gold Keys, two Silver Keys, and an Honorable Mention; Jacob Butcher received two Honorable Mentions.

3

School News — Achievements & Awards

Elementary & Intermediate All-County MusiciansThe Elementary (grades 4–6) and Intermediate (grades 7–9) All-County Music Festival is set for March 5 & 6 at SUNY Purchase. The annual event is a showcase for outstanding student musicians from schools throughout Westchester County.

Front: Elementary Chorus members Haiden Boehmer, Lucia Impomeni, Elsie Sabol, Daniel Picart; Elementary Orchestra member Kaavya Girdhar (viola). Back: music teachers Katherine Hughes, Barbara Berg.

Front: music teacher Hillary Johnson, Elementary Chorus members Sally Kim, Ava Portmore, Lily Vidra, Erin Weitzman. Back: Intermediate Chorus members Kyle Largey, Meghan McLane, Anahita Subramanya, Ryan Burton, Ariana Copland. Not pictured: Intermediate Chorus member Charlotte Ward.

Far left, front: Elementary Orchestra member Angela Berg (violin); Intermediate Band members Ella Furniss (flute), Daniel Bucci (percussion) . Back: teachers Mary Anne Meade (orchestra), Dorian Nuccio (band). Left: Intermediate Orchestra member Charlotte Berg (violin); Intermediate Band members Andrew Skrzypczak (bassoon), Daniel Schuster (trumpet); band teacher Dr. Thomas Heintzelman.

7th & 8th Grade Musical: Guys and Dolls

In December, seventh and eighth grade cast and crew members staged Guys and Dolls, directed by BRS music teacher Katherine Hughes. They were assisted by teachers Hillary Johnson, Dorian Nuccio, and Jon Vercesi and a number of MS PTA volunteers. (Photos: Betsy Hill, MS PTA)

School News — Achievements & Awards

4

Fall Varsity AwardsBoys’ Cross Country.* All State: Drew Dorflinger, Aidan McDer-mott. All Section: Drew Dorflinger, Aidan McDermott, JC Yahia. All League: Will Blasdell, Dylan Bronkema, Drew Dorflinger, Aidan McDermott, Declan McDermott, JC Yahia. All League Honorable Mention: Max Coleman, Robert Feeney. Journal News Coach of the Year: Brett Alcantara. Journal News All-Stars, First Team: Drew Dorflinger; Second Team: Aidan McDermott, JC Yahia.

Girls’ Cross Country. All League: Ashlin Leen, Mary Beth Whalen. All League Honorable Mention: Kaylei Raefski.

Field Hockey.* All Elite: Jackie Bendeson. All Elite Honorable Mention: Kathleen Passabet. All Section: Jackie Bendeson. All League: Jackie Bendeson, Alexis Moskowitz, Kathleen Passabet, Callie Sullivan, Lauren Turenchalk.

Football.* All Section: Jack Dril-lock. All Conference: Jack Drillock. All League: Jack Drillock, Ian Esliker, Michael Hammond, Jack Howe, Logan Schneeweiss. All League Honorable Mention: Jeff Barile, Lucas Cohen, Doug Croc-itto, Eric De Loughry, Ryan Dril-lock, Greg Driscoll, Tim Driscoll, Milton Esliker, Ben Marshak,

Charlie McPhee, Jack Minerva, Brian Reda, Nick Salzarulo, Javaun Smith, Tim Stelzl. Most Valuable Defensive Lineman, Class B: Jack Drillock. Section I Football 12th Man Award: James Bathon. Golden Dozen Honorable Mention: Jack Drillock.

Boys’ Soccer. All State: Jonathan Kyriakidis. All Section: Jonathan Kyriakidis, Patrick McPhee. All Section Honorable Mention: Dany-lo Yanovskiy. All League: Jonathan Kyriakidis, Patrick McPhee, Liam Perrine, Greg Santora, Danylo Yanovskiy. All League Honorable Mention: Adem Becer, Esteban Calle, Mark Damboragian, Owen Juros, Patrick Killion, Nolan McAn-drew, Ryan Onuma, Ian Ward.

Girls’ Soccer.* Elite 12: Remi Manna. All Section: Remi Manna. All Section Honorable Mention: Alexandra O’Brien. All League: Bianca Balducci, Erin Egan, Remi Manna, Alexandra O’Brien, Claire Pickens, Rachel Van Sise. All League Honorable Mention: Kristie Guttridge, Lyndsey Minerva.

Tennis. All Conference: Olivia Ashton. All League: Olivia Ashton, Laura Chapman. All League Honor-able Mention: Lizzie Gellman.

Swimming.*

Volleyball. All Conference Honor-able Mention: Annie Stockel. All League: Annie Stockel. All League Honorable Mention: Jaclyn Aloia, Natalie Dell, Lianna Gagliardi, Carolyn Meaney.

* NYS Scholar/Athlete Team

PHS S.O. Rookies Medal in 7 Events

Front: Iman Behbehani, Anisha Chandy, PHS science teachers/coaches Keisha Mathews and Filiz Becer. Middle: Megha Patel, Conor Sweeney, Rohan Chandy. Top: Kayley Lewis, Principal Joe Palumbo, Chloe Peters, Pasquale Noce, Julia Goodman, Aki Cornelius, Logan Varga, Jonathan Hayes, Rithvik Subramanya. (Photo: Friends of STEM)

PHS fielded its first Science Olym-piad team at a regional competition held in late January. While the team entered with the goal of “learn[ing] from the first PHS SO experience,” they also medalled in seven events: 2nd place in Wright Stuff (Julia Goodman and Logan Varga), Ro-bot Arm (Rithvik Subramanya and Logan Varga) and Optics (Rithvik Subramanya); 3rd place in Fos-sils (Julia Goodman); 9th place in Forensics (Jonathan Hayes and Connor Sweeney); 10th place in Invasive Species (Kayley Lewis and Chloe Peters) and Anatomy & Physiology (Iman Behbehani and Anisha Chandy). PHS entered 17 of the 23 events offered and came in 22nd place out of 43 teams.

The impetus to form a Science Olympiad team came from the stu-dents themselves, many of whom were involved in S.O. in the Middle School. With a solid first year ex-perience to build on, the team is looking forward to 2016-17.

Any community members with a STEM background who are inter-ested in coaching should contact Mr. Palumbo (palumboj@pville.k12.ny.us) or Pleasantville Friends of STEM (martha@pfostem.org).

5

Kneeling: Jack Cooper, Hayden McBride, Robert Feeney, Max Strober, Andrew Scardina, Shane McBride, Steven Jara, Max Coleman, Benjamin Trombetta, Jared Rosen, Justin Lupo. Standing: Thomas Watts, Phil Yahia, Ethan Balletta, Greg Hunter, Estuardo Mejia, Tirdod Behbehani, Jacob Freiheit, JC Yahia, Michael Bloom, Jack Geier, Will Blasdell, Aidan McDermott, Kevin Largey, Drew Dorflinger, Declan McDermott, Dylan Bronkema, John Bentley, Kent Arnold, Coach Brett Alcantara. (Photo: PHS Yearbook)

The top seven runners (names in italics) competed in the Section and County meets, earning a third consecutive Section I championship and second consecutive County championship. The same group plus an alternate competed in the New York State finals and placed fourth in Class C.

Boys’ XC Repeats as League, Section, & County Champions

Kneeling: Kiernan McCarthy, Maddie McKinney, Kayla Proctor, Sydney Levine, Kristie Guttridge, Susu Al-barghouthy, Ana Malfa, Bianca Balducci, Erin Egan, Lyndsey Minerva. Standing: Head Coach Chris Osterhoudt, Gwen Whalen, Riley Kennedy, Alex O’Brien, Nicole DiFabio, Remi Manna, Caitlin O’Neill, Rachel Van Sise, Claire Pickens, Janna McPartland, Rebecca Lord, Julia Serret, Sophia Maldonado, Assistant Coach Nick Robitaille. Not pictured: Karina Roye. (Photo: PHS Yearbook)

Girls’ Soccer Takes League Championship

School News — Achievements & Awards

A Sampling of Events from October–February

6

Fourth graders experienced some of the challenges faced by people with handicapping conditions through a morning of activities offered by the BRS PTA’s Walk in My Shoes program.

Seventh graders enjoyed a variety of hands-on curriculum-related and team-building activities during their Sharpe Reservation Environmental Trip. (Photo: Betsy Hill)

PHS and Middle School French students celebrated National French Week in November with a variety of activities (pictured: Dress French Day) and a crêpe sale fundraiser.

Students in all three schools had the opportunity to participate in Computer Science Education Week’s Hour of Code, an introduction to computer science “designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.”

In December, kindergartners learned about “Holidays around the World” (pictured: Chinese New Year) through a variety of hands-on activities.

The BRS Student Council sponsored a drive that collected 202 new pairs of pajamas and 185 new books for the Pajama Program, a nonprofit organization that delivers these items to children living in poverty, in homeless shelters, or waiting to be adopted.

The 7th & 8th grade Jazz Band performed at a Clinton Street Senior Center luncheon in February, then mingled with the audience before returning to school.

The Middle School Art Show (two pictures at right) featured artwork by all students scheduled for art in the first two quarters of the school year. The exhibition was on display at the Mt. Pleasant Public Library from February 10–25.

7

Transportation RequestsRequests for transportation to private and parochial schools for the 2016-2017 school year must be sub-mitted in writing to the District Office by April 1, 2016. A family moving into the District after this date must submit a written request to the District Office within 30 days of occupancy if transportation to a private or parochial school is required. These deadlines are strictly observed.

A new request must be submitted each year, even if transportation is currently being provided. A Transportation Request Form is available on the District website under the Forms tab. For more information, contact the Business Office at 741-1400, x10521.

Board Meetingsthrough June 2016

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings of the Board of Education begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Pleasantville High School Library Media Cen-ter. Reports scheduled are subject to change. Information on the upcoming Board meeting is available at www.pleasantvilleschools.com and 741-1460. Every meeting provides an op-portunity for comments and questions from the audience.

Tuesday, March 1• 2016-2017 Budget Analysis

Tuesday, March 15• 2016-2017 Budget Analysis

Tuesday, March 29 (if needed)

Tuesday, April 5• Winter Athletic Season Recap• Proposed 2016-2017 Budget

Tuesday, April 19Board votes on adopting proposed 2016-2017 Budget

Tuesday, May 3 Budget Hearing followed by Public Meeting

Tuesday, May 17Annual Board Election & Budget Vote

Tuesday, June 7• 2015-2016 Board Goals Update

Tuesday, June 21• Spring Athletic Season Recap• Financial Update

District & Board News

Unused Snow DaysThe 2015-16 school calendar included four Snow Days. One has been used to date. Should one or more of the four remaining Snow Days not be used, they will be “given back” to our students and staff as non-instructional days in the following order: Monday, March 28; Wednesday, June 29 (staff only); Friday, May 27. If it is necessary to use one or more of the remaining Snow Days, the days would be returned to the school calendar in reverse order: May 27, June 29, and — should the third remaining Snow Day be used — March 28.

A Real-Time Alert SystemThe Pleasantville PBA voted unanimously to provide COPsync911, a “real-time threat alert system,” to the school district. The software program reduces response times between and within the police department and the schools; provides greater situational awareness and building diagrams of the

location where the alert occured; and operates on multiple devices.

The donation was announced at the February 9 Board of Education meeting, at which PBA president Sgt. Sam Caccamise presented BOE president Shane McGaffey with a certificate for the first year’s licens-ing costs. Lt. Jesse Wolman, who previously served as the Youth Officer in the District, saw a demonstration of COPsync911 at a conference and brought it to the attention of the PBA.

COPsync911 is currently in use in nine states, including every school district in New Hampshire. Pleasantville will be the first user in New York State.

Mr. McGaffey and Sgt. Caccamise

SUBSCRIBE to BOEblast, the Board of Education’s email system, to receive timely news on school-related issues. Send your email address to bdofed@pville.k12.ny.us

The Board of EducationPresidentShane McGaffey (409-3487)pleasantboard6@gmail.comVice PresidentAngela Vella (769-5729)pleasantboardav@gmail.comMembersLarry Boes (773-1882)pleasantboardlb@gmail.comLouis Conte (773-1532)pleasantboard7@gmail.comEmily Rubin Persons (747-0136)pleasantboardep@gmail.comSuperintendent of Schools Mary Fox-AlterDistrict Websitewww.pleasantvilleschools.comBoard 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

Kindergarten RegistrationA Letter of Intent was mailed to Bedford Road School’s list of households with children eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2016 (five-years-old on or before December 1, 2016). Those with eli-gible children who did not receive this letter can either print one from the District website (on the BRS home page, click on “Kindergarten Letter of Intent 2016-2017” under News and Announcements) or call the school (741-1441).Important Dates• March 31 at 7 p.m. in the BRS

Little Theater: “A Peek into Kindergarten,” an orientation program for incoming kinder-garten parents

• April 27–28 from 7:45–11:45 a.m. in the BRS library: In-per-son registration (parents only)

• May 16–19 at BRS: Kindergar-ten screening

Carousel Tickets Available Online NowThe cast and crews are busy preparing Carou-sel, the upcoming PHS Performing Arts musi-cal production, for five performances in March. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on March 4, 5, 11, and 12; the matinee performance on March 6 will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets can be pur-chased online at phsplay.org and, if available, at the door one hour prior to each performance.

Carousel, which was adapted by Rodgers and Hammerstein from Ferenc Molnár’s play Liliom, opened on Broadway in 1945 and won the New

York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical (the Tony Awards were not established until 1947). In 1999, Time magazine named Car-ousel the best musical of the 20th century. Songs include “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over,” and “You’ll Never Walk alone.”

Front: Michael Bloom (Enoch Snow), Elena Phethean (Carrie Pipperidge); Middle: James Persons (Jigger Craigin), James McCarthy (Billy Bigelow), Sonya McGaffey (Julie Jordan), Carina Florio (Nettie Fowler); Top: director Kathleen Donovan-Warren.