May 2010
District Leadership Team Looking for Community Member Representation
The Pine Bush Central School District is currently looking for community members who are interested in joining the District Leadership Team
(DLT). Made up of representatives from various constituency groups throughout the District, including administrators, teachers, and parents,
the DLT is a shared decision-making committee that meets four times a year (usually from 12 - 2:30 PM) to discuss issues that affect the District
such as the budget process, special events, academics, and capital project updates.
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the DLT for the next two years must submit a letter of interest by May 31 to:
Superintendent Philip Steinberg
Pine Bush Central School District
P.O. Box 700
Pine Bush, NY 12566
All letters will be reviewed and individuals will be asked to come in for a brief interview with a DLT sub-committee. Members will be chosen based on factors such as availability and interest level.
5/5/10
Pine Bush Sends Four Odyssey of Mind Teams to World Finals and Makes Competition History
After conquering the regional competition, where five of the 13 District’s teams advanced onto the State level, our students have done it again! This time, four of our Pine Bush teams qualified to compete at the World Finals, which will be held this May at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
“No other school in New York State has qualified this many teams,” beams OM coordinator Jim McIntyre, who is now hard at work fundraising to cover the cost of taking the four teams to the competition. “In fact, only one other New York school qualified a second team for the World Finals.”
Sweeping the Division II Column Structure event were Circleville Middle School, who won a Division II State championship, and their classmates from Crispell Middle School, who came in second place. The teams’ faced off in a challenge that consisted of building a balsa wood structure to balance and support as much weight as possible. “This is the first time in state history where two teams from one District qualified for the OM World Finals in the same problem,” Mr. McIntyre proudly proclaims.
Also qualifying for the World finals were the Pine Bush High School team in the Nature Trail’r event and the Crispell Middle School team in the Return to the Gift of Flight event.
3/30/10
“Getting Ready for Kindergarten” Workshop to Offer Guidance to Pine Bush’s Universal Pre-K Parents
PINE BUSH – For young children, advancing to kindergarten can be one of the most significant transitions they will experience in their lives. With all the new expectations to meet, the transition can be challenging and one that requires certain adjustments; not only for students but for parents as well.
To help make things easier, the Pine Bush Central School District is hosting a “Getting Ready for Kindergarten” workshop for its universal pre-kindergarten parents in the Circleville Elementary School library on Thursday, April 8 at 9:15 AM and 1 PM and in the Pine Bush Elementary School library on Friday, April 9 at 9:15 AM and 1 PM.
Led by Paula Spector, Home-School Liaison for the Pine Bush Universal Pre-K program, and Donna Geidel, Universal Pre-K Director and Pakanasink Elementary School Principal, the workshops will focus on teaching parental support and involvement as well as school readiness skills. During each workshop, parents will learn how to read with their children and how to foster writing and math skills that will help their children to be more prepared for their first day of kindergarten.
Following the 45-minute workshop, parents will be invited to join their children in the classroom, where they will be treated to a special visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog, who will be providing free Clifford books to students.
3/3/10
Pine Bush Elementary Students Use Winter Recess to Read
PINE BUSH -- When Lisa Ruyack, Pine Bush Elementary School Library Media Specialist, challenged Grade 2-5 students to read a chapter book over the two-week winter break and then create a project based on the book, she could never have guessed that more than 175 students would take her up on her offer!
Students of all ages read their books and then created projects ranging from posters of all kinds, to reports, scrapbooks, dioramas, board games, puzzles, mobiles, models, and more. The students’ projects were displayed at the school for all to admire.
“I had no idea how many students would participate, and we were all blown away by the number of students that took the challenge and by the quality of their projects,” Ms. Ruyack says. “Any time a child gets excited about reading and being creative is a day we teachers live for.”
With the world becoming more and more technologically connected and media based, getting children to read is a bigger and bigger challenge. According to the Nielson ratings organization, television viewing among American children is at an all-time high. Youngsters, ages 6-11, are estimated to spend about 28 hours a week in front of the TV. This does not include the use of computers, video games, and personal game systems.
Making reading fun and finding a way to get children excited also took some of the onus off parents to get their kids away from the screens and reading a book. For a number of the students who worked on book-related projects over winter break, getting excited about reading was no problem.
For example, one third grade student who accepted Ms. Ruyack’s reading challenge is Kristi Zelonis. “I knew I had to read over the winter break anyway, so it didn’t seem too hard to add a project,” Kristi explains. So she went to the town library and borrowed the book “Frindle,” by Andrew Clements, an award-winning novel which tells the story of fifth grade student, Nick Allen, who decides to make up a new word for pen. He calls it “frindle.”
For her project, since the subject of her book was the origin of words, Kristi put together a dictionary consisting of one word for each letter of the alphabet, displayed along with pictures she drew of characters from the book and, of course, a real-life “frindle.” Asked what it is about reading that she enjoys so much, Kristi says, “I like to read chapter books with an adventure or books about school, because school books can be realistic.”
A fifth grade student who accepted the challenge, Michael Troiani did his project on the book “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules,” by cartoonist and video game designer Jeff Kinney. Michael picked his favorite scene in the book, and illustrated it in an imaginative diorama.
Michael, who reads nearly every day, says he likes fantasy books about worlds that don't really exist, such as the Harry Potter series. He also likes to read books that “take you to places where you haven’t been.” As to his reasons for accepting Ms. Ruyack’s challenge, Michael notes, “I wanted to do this project because I thought it would be funny and creative.”
All 175 students also received a prize for completing the challenge. They did not know what the prize was going to be, but when they handed in their project they got to choose from an assortment of used books and magazines. “Not one child balked at the prize, and all happily took home something else to read,” says Ms. Ruyack.
3/1/10
Advance tickets are available beginning on March 5 at all district schools or by contacting the play’s director, Brian Flint at 845-744-2031, extension 3194. Advance tickets cost $8 (adults) and $5 (students and senior citizens). Tickets purchased at the door are $10 (adults) and $7 (students and senior citizens).
A special performance for the district’s senior citizens will be held on March 17 as part of the annual Senior Citizens’ Dinner and Play Night. For information or reservations, senior citizens should contact Debbie June at 845-744-2031 x 4023 by March 12.
2/9/10
“The pre-kindergarten experience engages children in activities that promote intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth through books, puzzles, art materials, dramatic play props, and math and science manipulatives,” says Pine Bush Universal Pre-K director and Pakanasink Elementary School principal Donna Geidel. “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. We believe that a head start now can lead to greater academic success later.”
The projected enrollment for the 2010-2011 school year is 102 students. Participants will be chosen through a lottery process conducted in June, and parents will be notified of the lottery results in early July.
For more information or to register your child, call Joanne O’Brien at 845-744-2031, extension 5751, or e-mail her at jobrien@pinebushschools.org.
1/15/10
Come to the High School and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast in support of a number of worthy local organizations. In addition to the sumptuous breakfast fare, much of it donated by local community groups, there will also be a “sports fair” running throughout the day in the High School gymnasium. Children (ages 6 to 16) will be able to show their skills as they compete in a variety of games to raise funds for Pine Bush High School and community groups.
All of the proceeds from this first event of its kind will benefit the following:
Other exciting activities that are planned for this “fun-raising,” fundraising event, include a “tricky tray,” as well as other raffles and giveaways. Among the prizes to be available that day are a set of golf clubs, a golf foursome, various college jerseys, dinner for four at a Manhattan restaurant, and an autographed helmet from New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning.
Pine Bush Schools Superintendent (and new Rotarian) Philip Steinberg is chairing this event, with assistance from a “cast of thousands,” as he puts it. Among those helping in this effort are Aaron Hopmayer, High School Principal; John Egan, "the pancake king"; Frank Giannino, President of Rotary Club of Wallkill East; Mike Swenson, Pine Bush Relay for Life; Bill Bassett, former Orange-Ulster BOCES Superintendent and member of the Rotary’s planning committee; as well Pine Bush Youth Football representatives Bob Martinelli, Head of Football, and Ron Przybocki, President.
As Superintendent Steinberg observes, “This event provides an opportunity to bring community groups and other concerned Pine Bush citizens together to raise money in support of some very worthwhile causes. It will be an outstanding community event, providing those good folks who attend with great food and lots of fun, all for the common good.”
Admission to the breakfast is $7 for adults in advance and $8 at the door. For seniors and children 10 or under, admission is $5 in advance and $6 at the door. Prior to the event, tickets are available through the Rotary Club of Wallkill East, the Pine Bush High School Interact Club, the Pine Bush High School Academy Program, Pine Bush Youth Football, or Pine Bush Relay for Life.
For more information, please call 845-744-2031, extension 4023.
1/14/10
Mr. Steinberg observes, “Looking ahead to this year’s budget cycle, we need the people in the community to help us make some critical choices as part of a shared decision-making process. With expenses up and revenues down, our joint challenge is to craft a budget that represents the type of educational program we want to provide, while bearing in mind the considerations of the taxpaying public.”
As Superintendent Steinberg explains, the “focus question” that will form the basis for these community forums is, “How can we maintain the high quality of education for an affordable price in the seven towns and three counties that comprise the Pine Bush Central School District?” In addition to Mr. Steinberg, the district’s front office team of assistant superintendents as well as Board of Education members will attend the community budget forums.
The current schedule for the budget forums is as follows:
1/8/10
According to PBE Library Media Specialist Lisa Ruyack, who hosted Mr. Brown’s visit, his new book (Micro Mania: A Really Close-Up Look at Bacteria, Bedbugs & the Zillions of Other Gross Little Creatures That Live In, On & All Around You!) details the fascinating and sometimes disgusting world we cannot see.
“In his presentation to the third grade classes, he spoke to us about many unseen creatures, such as dust mites, germs, and viruses,” Ms. Ruyack said. “We all learned how important hand washing is and how to do it properly. But Mr. Brown also noted that not all microscopic organisms are bad, and that indeed many help to keep us alive.”
Classroom visits by authors such as Jordan Brown help inspire students to expand their reading choices, excite them about the learning process, and in this case, tie into the District’s science curriculum – they help to celebrate the value of literature, and are also just plain fun. Reflecting on some of the typical reactions of Mr. Brown’s young listeners during his spirited presentations, Ms. Ruyack observed, “As Mr. Brown spoke about the remarkable microscopic world that surrounds us, many of the children squealed with horror and delight over those tiny, creepy creatures we can't even see.”
Brown has written many award-winning books, articles, and websites for children, teachers, and parents. His nonfiction work includes Robo World, a biography of a robot designer (Joseph Henry Press, 2005); his children’s fiction includes Just Kidding! (2001) and Animal E.R. (1999). He has also published numerous science articles, games, and humorous songs about astronomy, paleontology, marine biology, and much more for the American Museum of Natural History’s children’s website, OLogy.
1/6/10
"We've made an immediate impact in a very short amount of time" says Heidi DiPonio, art teacher and coordinator of the school cafeteria’s recycling project.
Last year, with 725 students enrolled in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, a staggering 11,880 plastic garbage bags were used at Crispell during the 180 days that school was in session. That computes to 66 bags used daily during the school’s breakfast and lunch periods. But beginning in September, with students and staff working and learning together, Crispell has cut that number to 10-12 bags a day, which will reduce the total number used for the 2009-2010 school year to around 2,000.
“There’s a fiscal savings of course, but what’s really exciting is the fact that we’re keeping 9,880 bags out of a landfill,” Ms. Diponio says.
Gone are the 22 garbage cans in the Crispell cafeteria. Now lunchtime revolves around an impressive recycling station featuring dedicated receptacles for each of the following: organic matter (fruit, vegetables, grains, cereal, pasta, napkins, paper bags); meat and cheese; milk cartons; plastic and aluminum; and juice pouches. Students have learned to separate these items into the color-coded, labeled bins. They are very much aware of the work involved, as well as the difference they are making.
“It’s a lot of work, but in the long run, it’s a good thing; it will help the environment,” says seventh grade student Becka Storms, summing up her thoughts about the new recycling program. Michael Badman, also in the seventh grade, agrees. “If everyone recycles, it will save the Earth,” he says.
The cafeteria project is just the beginning of Crispell’s green efforts. Students and teachers are working hard to ensure our environmental future and hoping to inspire others along the way.
“We’re using Crispell’s organic matter to create garden compost,” explains Ned Roebuck, science teacher in the district’s STARS program and a certified organic farmer. Crispell’s recycling project fits well into Mr. Roebuck’s lesson plan as he covers environmental issues with his students. Last fall, they built two compost piles out of the organic matter from the cafeteria. In the spring, they will be using the decomposed material as a natural fertilizer in a garden project.
Students are recycling Capri Sun juice pouches in a project organized by Crispell’s “Green Girls” (8th grade students) along with the school’s guidance counselor, Shannon Meland. So far this year, the students have sent 1,400 pouches to TerraCycle, a New Jersey company that turns them into awesome school gear including tote bags, lunch boxes, and pencil cases. An added bonus is the two cents that TerraCycle gives the school for each pouch collected.
Students and staff also use recycling bins for paper products (cardboard, brown paper, newspaper, magazines, and envelopes) in all classrooms and offices, which students collect daily – a project organized by Nadine Carmody, eighth grade math teacher. “We’ve been doing this for many years,” she says. “Hopefully it will encourage others.” The school newsletter also carries “green” messages to parents encouraging recycling at home and in the community.
In the art classrooms, students are incorporating bottle caps – collected in the cafeteria from water bottles and juice containers – into a yearlong recycling project.
“We are going to build a mosaic using the caps to create an image on a plywood frame,” Ms. DiPonio says. “Students have designed the image and every student and teacher in the building has filled out a small sheet of paper to fit inside each bottle cap noting one thing they can do to change the world.”
The installation of the artwork is planned for June and it will be hung on one of the walls in the school’s cafeteria. Crispell Principal John Boyle is building the frame for the student work.
“All of this would not be possible without all of us working together,” adds Ms. DiPonio. “We have a lot of support from the custodial staff and the administration. Teachers are incorporating recycling into their lesson and curriculum planning. Best of all, the students get it – they are really into it!”
For more information about keeping our planet green, please visit:
12/18/09
2/9/09
Wallkill East Rotary Club intends to make the donation of dictionaries to Pine Bush third-graders an annual event.
8/1/08
After an extensive six-month search, the Pine Bush Central School District Board of Education made the decision to appoint Philip Steinberg as Superintendent of Schools, effective September 1, 2008. The appointment took place at a special school board meeting held August 1 at the District Office. Mr. Steinberg will be leaving his current position as Executive Officer for Instruction/Superintendent of the New York City Department of Education to take on this new leadership role. In his current position, he oversees 21 schools, 60 administrators, 1,650 teachers, and a budget of $157 million.
Mr. Steinberg’s experience in education and curriculum development is supported by skills he gained as a businessman. Mr. Steinberg holds an M.S. Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Pace University and a B.S. Degree in Marketing/Economics from Long Island University. He is an adjunct professor at Fordham University Graduate School of Education and Administration, teaching School Finance and Leadership Perspectives. Mr. Steinberg started his career in education in 1968 as a teacher of Accounting, Mathematics, and Business at Flushing High School in Flushing, New York.
Announcing the outcome of the search, school board president Jay Anthony remarked, “This was a very difficult decision given the fact that we had two extremely well-qualified finalists. With input from our staff and community stakeholder groups, we defined the needs of the district and carefully examined both candidates’ experiences and expertise. We are confident that Mr. Steinberg’s background as a superintendent, school board member, teacher, and businessman will enable him to lead our district to greater heights. In these days of rising school taxes, little aid relief from the state, and unfunded mandates, the school superintendent needs to be a CEO. Mr. Steinberg fits that model.”
In response to the appointment, Mr. Steinberg stated, “I am truly excited about becoming the Superintendent of Schools for the Pine Bush Central School District and look forward to working closely and collaboratively with the Board of Education, district office staff, building administrators, teachers, students, and all the other stakeholders in the Pine Bush educational community. We will work together to ensure that each and every child in the district attends a great school that develops critical thinking skills and problem solving strategies to meet 21st century challenges while building a love of learning and respect for the diverse cultures that make up our community. I look forward to working as a team to create outstanding educational opportunities for the children of the district.”
Mr. Steinberg and his wife, Gail, have a home in Monticello, New York.
2/20/08
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.
8/16/07 SCHOOL DISTRICT TO ENFORCE TRAFFIC SIGNS:
Pine Bush High School Presents Children of Eden
PINE BUSH—Music will fill the air on March 19 and 20, when Pine Bush High School presents its spring musical, Children of Eden. Shows will be held at 8 PM on March 19 and at 2 PM and 8 PM on March 20. The production, which explores universal themes related to parents, children, and faith, is loosely based on Old Testament stories, including the creation of the world, the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden, and the tragic conflict between brothers Cain and Abel. The story is based on a book by John Caird, with featured music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.
Pine Bush Central School District Announces 2010 Universal Pre-K Registration
PINE BUSH – Now through May 28, 2010, the Pine Bush Central School District is conducting pre-kindergarten registration. To participate in the pre-kindergarten program, a child must turn four-years old by December 1, 2010.
First Annual Wallkill East Rotary Community Pancake Breakfast
PINE BUSH – Rotary Club of Wallkill East, in conjunction with the Pine Bush Central School District, is hosting its first annual Community Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, January 31 from 8 AM to 1 PM in the Pine Bush High School Cafeteria.
Pine Bush Central School District Announces 2010 Community Budget Forum Schedule
PINE BUSH – In an effort to gather input in preparation for this year’s district budget cycle, the Pine Bush Central School District announces a series of Community Budget Forums, to be held periodically throughout the district. Superintendent Philip G. Steinberg notes that the district is hoping to elicit community input as planning for this year’s budget begins in the midst of a tough economy.
Author Jordan D. Brown Visits Pine Bush Elementary School
PINE BUSH – Recently, children’s science book author and parent of two children at Pine Bush Elementary (PBE), Jordan D. Brown, visited with the school’s third grade students. He absolutely mesmerized his young audiences with his talk about the endlessly amazing microscopic world, which exists both on and around us.
Crispell Shows Its Green Side: Students and Staff Making a Difference
Pine Bush--Students and staff at Crispell Middle School know that learning to be environmentally conscious and taking proactive steps to help preserve the planet is an important part of life. They also know that working together to reduce our carbon footprint can make a big difference.
www.greeneducationfoundation.org
http://compost.css.cornell.edu/schools.html
www.cleanuptheworld.org
CAFETERIA NEWS
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ROTARY CLUB DONATES DICTIONARIES TO PINE BUSH STUDENTS:
Representing the Wallkill East Rotary Club, Dr. William J. Bassett and club president Michael Swensen recently presented personal dictionaries to each of the 419 third grade students in the Pine Bush Central School District. This is the first year the Wallkill East Rotary Club has participated in The Dictionary Project, which was started in 1994 by Annie Plummer of Savannah, Georgia to promote literacy. To date, more than 9,730,000 dictionaries have been distributed to children nation-wide through The Dictionary Project. The goal this year is to provide a dictionary for each of the 4,170,598 third-graders presently enrolled in America's schools.
SCHOOL BOARD APPOINTS NEW SUPERINTENDENT
PINE BUSH SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURES:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
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.