PDS

We asked…they told: 100% feel safe in school

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100% of PDS high school students agreed with all of these statements on the HSSSE : I  feel safe in this school I am treated fairly in this school There is at least one adult in this school who cares about me I feel supported by the teachers in this school Adults in this school … Read more

Tests that matter: Measuring the PDS Difference

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We asked….They told. The High School Survey of Student Engagement (known as the Hessie) is a highly regarded survey measuring the academic, social, and emotional engagement of high school students across the United States. It is administered annually by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University. Since the survey’s inception, over 500,000 … Read more

I love my job

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Some days just stand out. And this was one of them. First there was breakfast in the new dining room and conversations with high school athletes (there were two games from yesterday) and parents. Then the always weekly standout lower school assembly. Since last year we have taken away the 1960’s era sunken pit. Interesting … Read more

The Welcome Back Assembly

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Ever wonder what happens in an all-school assembly when all students and faculty pre-k through 12th grade gather in the James Earl Jones Theater? Along with all-school activities we we have these regularly scheduled throughout the year including Thanksgiving and the annual Peacemakers Assembly every winter. The welcome back assembly last week did not include … Read more

Life on the Farm

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Learning about Sprout Creek Farm is a big part of the kindergarten curriculum but what exactly are they learning?  Readers of this blog know I am a  supporter of all things kindergarten but some things just go too far. Take this morning for instance. In the active play area hay bales and straw were being … Read more

Pete Seeger and A Hudson River Journey

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Pete Seeger came to PDS yesterday. He came for the lower school musical – an original production on a subject dear to his heart – the magnificent Hudson River for which he has done so much. The show – A Hudson River Journey – was written and produced by lower school drama teacher Dorothy Penz … Read more

Everyone is cranky

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A school in May is like a two year old deprived of a nap.  That’s how my colleague Liz describes it. Everyone is stressed out, too busy and cranky. The weather is unpredictable with storms and frost one moment and sunshine and blossoms the next. The calendar is stuffed with culminating events, showcases, performances, final … Read more

Scoundrels alive! High school play streamed to the world

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April 23rd 2010 – Shakespeare’s birthday and Poughkeepsie Day School begins live streaming Diary of a Scoundrel – Alexander Ostrovsky’s cynical play about hypocrisy and the trouble with literacy! You can see it here. Thank you David Held- for the live streaming and the videography. David assures me that it only takes half an hour … Read more

Science and technology heroes

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It was Dean Kamen –  the inventor of the Segway and a version of the artificial heart – who established F.I.R.S.T.*  His vision was: “To transform our culture by creating a world where science and technology are celebrated and where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes.” Last year we introduced lego robotics … Read more