Poughkeepsie Day School graduates students who: Are intellectually curious, active seekers, users and creators of knowledge Curiosity is the natural stimulus to learning and small children have it in abundance. The upturned Frisbee in the picture below is full of the playground gleanings of a kindergartener at lunch-time. What happens to that curiosity as children grow older? We live in…
Among other key attributes Poughkeepsie Day School graduates students who: Think globally with awareness and understanding of complexity and multiple perspectives That’s in our vision. But how do we pursue global perspectives and teach awareness of complexity? And just how well informed are we about the world and how do we distinguish between what we think we know and what…
The exhalations whizzing in the air Give so much light that I may read by them. Julius Caesar Act 2 scene 1 The annual Perseid meteor shower was not quite that spectacular but the shooting stars were out last night as our planet sailed through a stream of ancient cosmic dust emanating from the constellation of Perseus. Out in the…
This July marks the ninetieth anniversary of the start of third Ypres – better known as the battle of Passchendaele . It was an offensive designed to break out of the stalemate of the salient – the bump in the line that bulged around the Flemish town of Ieper, known in French as Ypres and to the thousands of English…
Is classical music dead? Or does everyone love classical music? Does it matter what we say? What does it mean to play the piano with one buttock? Is anyone actually tone deaf? What is success? Can your life be transformed? Here is a master teacher – conductor Benjamin Zander – and his TEDtalks answers to all that and more. Like…
The morning glories and lilies are in bloom in the courtyard garden. The thistles bloom at the edge of the woods where the blackberries are ripening. The soccer pitch is silent and no-one is cheering from the bench. The flag droops in the heat and the car park behind Kenyon is empty. It is summer at school. But the owl…
Do you like eating nuts? You do? And so do squirrels, but even squirrels can eat too many. Tippety Nippet was a squirrel and he was VERY fond of nuts; but once he ate far too many, as you shall see. (Uh oh! Moral lesson about to be delivered.) And he had to admit to himself that the awkward feeling…
Here’s a link to today’s Poughkeepsie Journal about the grants awarded to upper school history teacher Bernadette Condessa. Congratulations Bernadette.
The view from Huckleberry Point in the Platte Clove Preserve just before the rainstorm. Saturday June 17th …and along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Sunday June 18th.
When you have an idea don’t keep it inside you. Speak up and say what you have to say. Even if you don’t think it’s a good idea, it might be to others once they hear it – Clare If you eat your veggies at dinnertime you get dessert – Mark While you’re working you get more done when the…
There was no fanfare of trumpets or marching band but the PDS Strategic Plan arrived on Monday. Victoria accepted delivery of the bound copies for distribution to the Board of Trustees. The Board unanimously approved the plan at its meeting on Monday. This plan represents months of community-wide discussion and data gathering and an intensive period of hard work by…
You see, there are all those early memories; one cannot get another set; one has but those. Willa Cather, Shadows on the Rock I sometimes think of Cather’s words when I visit the classrooms or the playground or attend the performances and events at PDS. It is there that our teachers are helping students build their storehouse of memories. And…
King Kong meets Mosca Humana – the human fly. Well – they don’t quite meet as they are in different plays. It was the 7th and 8th grade Scene night: Eight new student plays. King Kong on trial, pirates in love, the Human Fly seeks fame, life in the kindergarten, intravenous chocolate pudding – the miracle cure, family arguments, love…
Some came from New York City and much further – including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Denmark. Other came from closer to school but all were welcome at the annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day. We gathered in the dining room for breakfast and after brief remarks of welcome our visitors went to classes and then to a command performance…
Over one hundred lower school children having a wonderful time – bursting with joy and pride of accomplishment. More coming soon on this wonderful performance.