Our District > Current News

4/4/08
PINE BUSH SCHOOL BOARD HOLDS COMMUNITY FORUM FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

The Pine Bush Central School District Board of Education recently selected Dr. Lee Peters, senior consultant of LeaderFind, to coordinate the search for the district's next superintendent. LeaderFind, a consulting firm based in Cortland, New York, has conducted searches for a wide range of school districts including Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District, Southern Cayuga Central School District, Waterloo Central School District, and East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District.

Dr. Peters, with 36 years experience in education, tailors the search process to reflect the needs and desires of the community. School administrators, staff, and community members will play an important role in the selection process by assisting in developing a candidate profile. A community forum is scheduled for April 16 at 5:30 P.M. in the Pine Bush Central School District Central Administration Office to give residents an opportunity to identify important assets required of the successful candidate. School administrators and staff are scheduled to meet earlier in the day. Suggestions may also be e-mailed to superintendentsearch@pinebushschools.org.

Once a profile is established, Dr. Peters will conduct the recruiting and screening process, validate credentials, hold preliminary interviews, and assist the school board with the evaluations.

The application deadline for the leadership position is June 1. The selection is expected to take place sometime in August. In the meantime, Dr. William Bassett will continue as interim superintendent, a position he assumed upon the retirement of RoseMarie Stark in January.

3/20/08
PINE BUSH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOLD BUDGET FORUM:

On Saturday, March 29, 2008 the Pine Bush Central School District will be hosting a public forum on the 2008-2009 school budget. The agenda will include a review of budget requests followed by a question and answer session. The forum will run from 10 a.m. until noon in the Pine Bush High School cafeteria. The Board of Education will have the opportunity to hear from community members before adopting next year's proposed budget on April 17. The annual budget vote will take place on May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

2/21/08
PINE BUSH STUDENTS PARTNER WITH AREA RESTAURANTS FOR CHARITY

Pine Bush High School art students are anxious to swap 400 handmade soup bowls for $10 donations to help feed the hungry. In cooperation with The Restaurant Repast, Culinary Creations, Cup & Saucer, Winding Hills Golf Course, and Panera Bread the students are sponsoring Empty Bowls, a fund-raising event to support the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.

On February 27 and 28, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., participants will gather in the high school cafeteria to choose their favorite bowls and share a meal of bread and soup. “Our students have been making bowls for the past three months. They hope people will keep the bowls as a reminder that there is too much hunger in the world and that we need to do all we can to change that,” said art teacher Donna Fraser. “We’re hoping for a large turnout of very generous community members,” Fraser added. At the conclusion of the meal, participants are invited to attend the Pine Bush High School Pops Concert scheduled for both evenings at 7 p.m.

For more information, call 744-2031 ext. 3741. Click here to view/print Empty Bowls Poster

2/21/08
PINE BUSH HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL RESCHEDULED

Pine Bush High School's spring musical, originally planned for March has been rescheduled for April 4 at 8 p.m. and April 5 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens.

April 2 is Senior Citizen Night. Seniors have the option of attending the dress rehearsal for free or enjoying dinner and the performance for $13 per person. Dinner is at 5 p.m. The curtain rises at 7 p.m.

To buy tickets for the regular performances or make reservations for Senior Citizen Night call Liz Weisz at 744-2031, ext. 4016, no later than March 28. For more information visit the school Web site at www.pinebushschools.org. Click here to view/print High School Musical Poster

2/20/08
PINE BUSH SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES:

The Pine Bush Central School District is awaiting State Education Department review of a $4.6 million energy performance project. The project was approved by the Board of Education in June 2007 when the district entered into an 18-year contract with Ameresco, Inc. to reduce energy consumption.

The project includes replacing all mercury vapor light bulbs with florescent bulbs and upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in school facilities through measures such as installing summer boilers, providing new computerized temperature controls, and replacing inefficient heat recovery units with new technology. The investment in the project will be paid for out of the energy savings that Ameresco guarantees over the life of the contract. The long-term benefits of the project are energy-efficient facilities, maintenance and repair services, capital improvements, and reduction in fossil fuel use.

"Not only does this project save the taxpayers money and enable the district to operate more efficiently, it also sets a good example for our students and teaches them to recognize the importance of energy conservation," said William Bassett, interim superintendent of schools. The projected net saving is more than $56,000 a year. Work is expected to begin this spring and will continue through the 2008-2009 school year.

2/11/08
PINE BUSH CHEERLEADERS TO HOLD ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

The Pine Bush High School Cheerleaders will be hosting their 4th Annual Cheerleading Competition on February 16, 2008 with a snow date of February 17. The competition, being held in the Pine Bush High School gymnasium, will start at 10 A.M. with a second session starting at 2 P.M.

More than 30 squads from around the region will be entertaining spectators with a display of their athletic skills and complex routines as they vie for first place. The Pine Bush squad, as host of the event, will not be competing but will perform a special exhibition.

Admission is $5 per person or $15 for a family of four or more. The proceeds will cover the expense of the Pine Bush squad's trip to the Eastern Cheerleaders' Association National Level Competition in Williamsburg, VA, and generous donations will be made to the Children's Cancer Fund and Children's Tumor Foundation for Neurofibromatosis.

2/8/08
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

The Pine Bush Central School District is preparing for kindergarten registration and screening for students who will be attending school in the 2008-2009 school year. To receive registration information, parents of eligible children should contact the main office of the elementary school designated for the attendance area in which they reside:

  • The Pine Bush Elementary School will be holding kindergarten student registration and screening at the school on April 16, April 17, and April 18 from 9:15 AM - 1:15 PM. The school is located on Ulsterville Road in Pine Bush. To schedule an appointment call 744-2031, ext. 4300.
  • The E. J. Russell Elementary School will be holding kindergarten student registration and screening at the school on April 28, April 29, and April 30, from 9:00 AM - Noon. The school is located on Holland Avenue in Pine Bush. To schedule an appointment call 744-2031, ext. 4200.
  • The Circleville Elementary School will be holding kindergarten student registration and screening at the school on May 6, May 7, and May 8 from 9:00 AM - Noon. The school is located on Route 302 in Circleville. To schedule an appointment call 744-2031, ext. 5500.
  • The Pakanasink Elementary School will be holding kindergarten student registration and screening on April 30 and May 1 from 8:45 AM - 2:00 PM at the Circleville Presbyterian Church located on the corner of Route 302 and Goshen Turnpike in Circleville. To schedule an appointment call 744-2031, ext. 5700.

To be eligible for admission:

  1. The child must reach the age of five on or prior to December 1, 2008. If the child's birthday falls between September and December, the parent has the option to register the child the following year.
  2. An official document verifying the child's date of birth (preferably the child's birth certificate) must be presented. This document must be an original (a photocopy will not be accepted).
  3. The child must have all necessary immunizations in keeping with New York State law. No child is allowed to enter school without proper immunization. Doctor verification is required. New York State legislation recommends that students six years-of-age or younger be screened for lead poisoning.
  4. Two proof of residency items are required (i.e. tax bill or rental agreement plus utility bill or telephone bill).

Anyone uncertain of attendance areas should call Tricia Zito at 744-2031 ext. 4029.

1/15/08
PREKINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

The Pine Bush Central School District is conducting prekindergarten registration now through May 30th. To participate in the prekindergarten program, a child must be 4-years-of-age by December 1, 2008.

The prekindergarten experience engages children in activities that promote intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth through books, puzzles, art material, dramatic play props, and math and science manipulatives.

New York State certified teachers and teaching assistants provide carefully planned instruction with lots of opportunities for children to make friends, be considerate of others, experience new things and, by the end of the school year, be prepared for kindergarten.

Enrollment is limited to 72 children for the 2008-2009 school year. Participants will be chosen through a lottery process in June and parents will be notified of the lottery results in July.

For more information or to register your child call Joanne O'Brien at (845) 744-2031 ext. 5751.
Click here to view/print Prekindergarten Registration Flyer

1/11/08
PINE BUSH STUDENTS RAISE $12,000 FOR THE NEEDY:

Once again, the students of Pine Bush High School have demonstrated strong character and a sincere concern for others by raising funds throughout the holiday season to support local charities and non-profit organizations. This year's lunchtime collections and special fundraising activities, which included the school principal eating bugs, brought in over $12,000.

A Friend's House, Habitat for Humanity, Orange County Safe Homes Project, St. Margaret's Soup Kitchen, American Cancer Society Relay for Life Campaign, Pine Bush Ambulance Corp., Town of Wallkill Ambulance Corp., Tuberousclerosis Alliance, Friends of Olivia Beam Foundation, and Pine Bush High School Toy and Food Drive and Midnight Run for the Homeless are the recipients. Presentations took place January 11, 2008, in the Pine Bush High School Library.

11/27/07
PINE BUSH HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVES EXXONMOBIL GRANT:

Pine Bush High School was recently awarded a $500 ExxonMobil Educational Alliance Grant through the sponsorship of Hit or Miss Mobil of Bullville and Van Etten Oil Co., Inc. of Monticello. The grant will fund the purchase of additional scientific calculators for Pine Bush High School mathematics and science students.

The ExxonMobil Educational Alliance program is designed to provide Exxon and Mobil retailers with an opportunity to invest in the future of their communities through educational grants to neighborhood schools.

8/16/07
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC SIGNS:
To ensure student safety and accessibility to school buildings and sports facilities by emergency vehicles, the Pine Bush Central School District Board of Education announces that there will be strict enforcement of the policy that states that all "No Parking" and other traffic signs posted on school district property must be obeyed. Tickets will be issued to violators by local policing agencies.