This is an important transition year for our community as we welcome many new faces to our district.

We look forward to working with our new Superintendent, Lisa Brady, as she brings a wealth of
experience and knowledge to our district. We welcome our wonderful new Springhurst Principal, Julia
DiSalvo Drake and we’re excited to learn and collaborate with our new High School Principal, John
Falino.

For the PTSA, this will be a year of community building, communication and collaboration with parent
groups across our district. We have renewed focus on streamlining our functions and working together
to give our community the best possible school-year experience.

We are excited to build on the enrichment programs already in place, find new ways to fulfill the needs
of the whole child and continue to create a sense of community within our district. We will work closely
with the Board of Education on communication to the public and we’ll keep you abreast of what’s
happening in education statewide.

We urge all of you to reach out and communicate with us directly. Let us know what the PTSA can do
for you. Volunteer your time. Get to know your fellow parents. Enrich your children’s lives.

We look forward to meeting each and every one of you and to working with you to reach and exceed
our goals of creating the best educational environment for the children of Dobbs Ferry.

Have a wonderful year!

Lisa Ferrara
DF PTSA President
president.dfptsa@gmail.com

The Dobbs Ferry PTSA has continued in its mission of working together with parents, teachers, and the community to be advocates for creating the best educational environment for our children. Our membership continues to increase and our volunteers worked hard all year to provide support for our schools. From greeting new parents in the district at a breakfast in September to providing a floral arrangement at graduation and stepping up ceremonies in June, the PTSA is involved in all our schools all year long.

 

The PTSA utilized emails of our members to send out our bi-weekly newsletter, the Current Bulletin. Large copies of the Bulletin were posted at the entrance of our elementary and middle schools for extra communication.

 

At Springhurst, all our students enjoyed a month long “Readers are Leaders” program that encouraged the entire school to share their current reading material. Our Kindergarten classes participated in a Sign Language program. First graders completed another mosaic mural to add to the beauty of the outdoor classroom. Second grade science was enriched with a Biome Sweet Home program. Our third graders enjoyed a year with the Chinese Cultural Center. The PTSA provided transportation for our 4^th graders to the Clearwater ship, and they also had a nature awareness hike with Ranger Rick. On Earth Day, the band Solar Punch entertained all students.

 

The students at our Middle School also enjoyed many enrichment programs thanks to PTSA funding. The 6^th grade met a medieval peasant via 21^st century technology. Some birds of prey visited our turf field to entertain and teach the 7^th grade who later attended a math show called “Eureka.”  Our 8^th grade studied Shakespeare then enjoyed a day long residency with a theater group. Drama club students were transported to Broadway to enjoy West Side Story. Many students were honored as ‘student of the month’ throughout the year and given a gift card from the PTSA.

 

PTSA is also very active in our High School. The students got to play The Admission Game to learn how to be more attractive to college admission offices. Many parents attended an evening session of the same program. The PTSA paid for our Model UN club was able to participate in extra competitions. Transportation was provided to the senior prom by the PTSA, saving additional costs for our students. Healthy snacks were provided during mid term exams.

 

In partnership with the school district and the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation, the PTSA has funded a community wide reading program for the 2010-11 school year. We hope everyone is reading “Three Cups of Tea.”

 

Funding for all these programs comes through our events—Pumpkin Fair, gifts and wrapping paper sales, book fairs, school photos, and others. Thanks to all community members who supported the PTSA—it allows us to support all our students. 

As another successful school year draws to a close, and as our two year term as PTSA Co-Presidents comes to an end, we want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support of our organization. 

• year long Hudson River celebration
• organic gardening supplies purchased for outdoor classroom
• laminator for Special Education teachers purchased
• 3rd grade field trip to Carnegie Hall
• 1st grade field trip to Teatown
• 5th grade field trip to Westchester Food Bank
• entertainment at family nights during book fair including a Laser Light Show
• Parent Ed program on how to answer the tough questions about sex

• new software purchased for science department
• new bike rack and bench for outside school entrance
• band students' field trip to jazz program in Manhattan
• drama club students' field trip to Broadway
• 6th grade newspaper residency and author visit
• 7th grade poetry cafe
• 8th grade enjoyed visits from DF seniors and Shakespeare troupe
• T-shirts purchased for students receiving President's Council on Physical Fitness awards

• $ 5000 in community service awards to graduating seniors
• Students of the Month received gift cards
• dictionaries purchased for French classroom
• online interactive magazines purchased for Spanish classes
• two art teachers attended workshops
• "How to Communicate with your Teen" parent ed program

Check back often for updates on events planned by the DF PTSA

This is a new feature on the DFPTSA website - come back for latest news!

Thanks -

DFPTSA