Thank you for an excellent 2017-18 academic year. On behalf of the entire Port Chester Public School District, we wish you a wonderful summer, filled with relaxation and happiness.
The 2018-19 academic year begins on Wednesday, Sept. 5. See you then!
Spend time at the theater with your family this summer, watching popular story lines come to life on stage.
The Port Chester Council for the Arts, in cooperation with the Village of Port Chester’s Recreation Department, is hosting three plays in late-July. They are:
“In the Heights”
July 20 (Friday) & July 21 (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m.
“Guys and Dolls Jr.”
July 27 (Friday) & July 28 (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m.
“Broadway Babies”
July 28 (Saturday) at 2 p.m.
Click on attachments below for additional information.
How are you feeling today? Do you need some self-confidence or patience? Maybe you need kindness or faith? Teacher Caroline Calabrese’s eighth-grade class can help.
Throughout the spring months, the group created a “Take What You Need” bulletin board that pays tribute to Port Chester Middle School’s late assistant principal Byron Womack. The board features giant, open envelopes, labeled with different virtues and stuffed with inspirational quotes. Students and staff are invited to approach the board and select a quote from the envelope they need.
“You take what you need,” said student Kyle Stellate. “If you need love, you take from the ‘love’ envelope. It will help your day out.”
When Mr. Womack died in February, the school community was shocked and saddened to hear the news. To honor his generous legacy, Ms. Calabrese discussed with her students Mr. Womack’s lasting impact on the school. They spoke about his actions and how he shared his love of education and community.
“Mr. Womack motivated us to be better people,” said student Pedro Silva. “We’re honoring him with this. If you’re having a bad day, you can pick out what you need and have a better day.”
The project, which encourages others to feel good, helped the students deal with the loss, said Ms. Calabrese. The children added that they were heartened when they saw their classmates approach the bulletin board and select a quote.
Ms. Calabrese worked alongside teacher Jeannie Iantorno to create the bulletin board with the eighth-graders. The students who participated were: Jackie Soto, Janeth Garcia, Samantha Mendoza, Aracely Monroy, Joel Flores, Alejandro Levy, Alejandro Duran, Ruben Zamano, Pedro Silva, Junior Vizhco, Kyle Stellate and Giovanna Greco.
Byron Womack, the former Port Chester Middle School assistant principal who passed away in February, made a lasting impact on students and staff members. In remembrance, the school celebrated his life and personality with a dedication ceremony of a tree and bench on June 20.
Port Chester community members passed the school district’s $11.025 million Bond Project by 60 percent. This now allows the district to begin emergency safety improvements at Port Chester Middle School.
With over 1,600 residents voting on June 5 in the PCMS gymnasium, 966 were in favor and 646 were opposed to the bond.
“We are thankful and express our sincere appreciation for the community’s support of this repair bond,” said Superintendent Edward Kliszus. “Your support permits us to bring the middle school into the 21st century with new windows, the removal of the concrete panels and scaffolding, and the installation of electronically controlled heating ventilator systems.”
The bond was created in response to a cantilever failure at the middle school in October 2017, which resulted in building damage and the school’s closure for six days. It resolves these vital safety concerns and ends the $30,000 monthly rental of scaffolding to stabilize the building’s current cantilevers. It also funds the replacement of 50-year-old windows with energy-efficient and insulated windows that will save 8 percent annually in energy costs.
“It is the community’s ongoing support of the schools,” said Dr. Kliszus, “that has enabled our students to enjoy not only academic success but beautiful school buildings in which they can be nurtured and educated in a safe environment.”
This is the second time that Port Chester residents voted on the PCMS Bond Project. It was initially put up for a vote in February at $12.5 million; however, was defeated by 51.4 percent.
For 6th graders- Assignments are due 9/18. Late assignments will lose 5 points each day they are late.
For 7th graders- Projects are due no later than 9/24. This is a test grade!
For 8th graders- This is your first graded assignment and is due 9/24!
This will be your first graded assignment when you come to school in September!
Use this list if you will be an incoming 7th grader on either Columbus Academy, Lifesaver Academy or Washington Park Academy in September of 2018!
The Guidance Counselors will be available on the following days this summer!
Mr. Ortiz- July 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 & August 28, 29
Mrs. Piccolino- July 23, 24, 25, 26 & August 27, 28, 29
Mr. Sarcone- July 2, 3, 9, 10, 11 & August 28, 29
Ms. Smook- July 2,3 & August 22, 23, 27, 28, 29
Attached is the 3rd and final issue of our school newspaper for this school year, the Ram's Ramble. Enjoy!
The Port Chester School District asks community residents to vote on a vital, comprehensive $11.025 million BOND PROJECT for much-needed renovations to Port Chester Middle School’s building exterior on TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2018. This project addresses the 2017 cantilever failure and necessary reconstruction of pedestrian bridges at Port Chester Middle School for a long-term, safe and cost-effective solution.
For more information, click here to visit our PCMS Bond Project (June 2018) page.
Virtual field trips, a coding club and peer-to-peer teaching. These are a handful of innovative ways that children in the Port Chester School District are increasingly receiving an education rife with integrated advanced technology.
Our district is dedicating itself to dynamically improving the digital skills of students and teachers so that they can handle the new world that technology is shaping. It helps them broaden their academic opportunities and reach their scholastic goals.
Over the past few decades, classrooms have changed technologically – and they will continue to evolve. No longer do students sit through a “computer class;” technology is now used throughout the day and in most classes as a versatile tool. It helps students better understand concepts, think more critically, expand their creativity and adapt to new situations.
The Port Chester School District community passed the 2018-19 budget, ensuring that vital academic programs are funded for another year.
On May 15, nearly 2,000 residents headed to the polls to cast their votes. The proposed $97,227,468 budget was passed by 1,197 to 729 votes. Community members Christopher Wolff and Luigi Russo were elected to the Board of Education.
“We deeply appreciate the community’s support of the budget’s passage,” said Superintendent Edward Kliszus. “This will permit us to fund our schools adequately and to provide for the academic needs of the many children in our care.”
The budget fulfills its pledge of remaining under the tax levy cap by using existing revenue and implementing budget cuts. It retains vital academic programs that students need for their success and achievement. It also prioritizes general and humanities offerings, athletics, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, and numerous support programs for our most vulnerable children.
“It is the community’s ongoing support that has enabled our students to enjoy significant successes,” Dr. Kliszus said, “as recently memorialized in U.S. News & World Report’s national and state school rankings.”
The Flag Football Tournament, which was originally scheduled for May 31, has been POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
It’s never too late to start! Port Chester Middle School students took a glimpse into the future as they learned about professions and higher education.
On May 11, the children participated in the College Fair and Career Day. The school was visited by college representatives and career pros who shared knowledge about their lives post-high school.
The Del Bianco Academy is named for Luigi Del Bianco. Mr. Del Bianco was the chief stone carver of the Mount Rushmore Memorial in South Dakota. He settled in Port Chester in the 1920's, perfecting his craft. In 1933, he took on the challenging task of carving the "refinement of expression" on the faces of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Our academy is honored to be named after Luigi Del Bianco, an artist of extraordinary talent.
Special Area classes include World Languages, Art, Music, Technology, Astronomy, Physical Educaiton, and Family and Consumer Science (FACS).
