The 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Halloween Dance is set for Friday, Oct. 26, from 7-9:30 p.m. at Port Chester Middle School. Tickets are $5 apiece and will be sold in the main lobby starting Oct. 22. Refreshments and drinks will be sold. Costumes are optional. See you there!
Please read the letter linked here to parents/guardians of Middle School students on the subject of the school's Safety Plan and a planned Emergency Evacuation Drill this Friday, Oct. 12.
The Middle School Drama Club and Junior International Thespian Society present "An Evening of Dinner Theatre," featuring Melissa Delancey, Friday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at Port Chester Middle School. View the attached flier for details, and purchase tickets at www.showtix4u.com.
Beginning with the 2018-19 school year, the Rams will use FamilyID, a new online sports registration clearance program. Scroll down page for registration links and a presentation on FamilyID. Registration for high school winter sports beings Oct. 8; middle school winter sports registration begins Oct. 8.
We hope everyone has had a restful and enjoyable summer. The first day of school is Wednesday, Sept. 5. We're looking forward to a productive school year of learning and growing together!
Plan for the upcoming school year with the new 2018-2019 calendar! Every family will receive a printed copy in the mail before school begins. Until then, preview the important dates by clicking on the calendar PDF below.
How are you feeling today? Do you need some self-confidence or patience? Maybe you need kindness or faith? Teacher Candace 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!
Attached is the 3rd and final issue of our school newspaper for this school year, the Ram's Ramble. Enjoy!
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).
