US History Field Trip

On Monday, December 9th, Mrs. Horn, Ms. Yurt, and student teacher Ms. Wong took their 11th grade US History class to the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park to participate in the 3rd Annual Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) Conference.  While at the conference, students did a close read of the UDHR and made current and community connections, explored the legacies and the lessons of the Holocaust, visited select museum exhibits, examined the political evolution of the Roosevelts regarding racial justice, and participated in transformative conversations with students from other districts.  It was a rewarding, meaningful educational experience!

        

Chess Tournament of December 7th

On Saturday, December 7th, seven members of the Pawling High School Chess Club attended the Mid-Hudson Scholastic Chess League tournament at Middletown High School.  
 
The players were:   Gentrit Kabashi, Sebastian Jaeger,  Ava Abagnale, Jake Mercado, Aeden Zoller, Riley Fiske, Mathew Lin
 
We finished in third place behind Monroe-Woodbury and Middletown High Schools and ahead of Goshen and Cornwall. Our top players were Gentrit and Sebastian who each won three of their five matches. Not coincidentally, they were the only two of the seven who were 'veterans' and had appeared at tournaments in the past. A good development this year is that we have several new and first-time players both in our after-school club and now attending our Saturday tournament season as well. 
 
Our next tournament will take place on Saturday, January 11th at Goshen High School. 

On November 12th, 35 students in grades 10-12 from Spanish 4 and 5 and ELL classes visited the Museum of Natural History's MesoAmerica and Hall of South American peoples.

           

Pawling's 3rd Annual Talent Show

  

Parking Application Procedures 2024-2025

Red Car

Dear Parent/Guardian/Rising Seniors: 

Due to the number of students who request parking and the limited availability of spaces, parking spaces will be issued to Seniors first for the 2024-2025 school year.  In order to accommodate seniors who may be getting their license/or car during the first semester, we will not accept applications from Juniors until January 2025.  At that time, depending on a variety of factors (Construction, # of approved Senior drivers, available spaces), Juniors may be considered for a parking space.   

Completed parking applications may be submitted via email to: Buccia@pcsdny.org or dropped off to the High School Main Office between 8:00am and 2:00pm by August 28, 2024. Students emailing or bringing in applications after this time will be placed on a waiting list in the order they are received.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted.  The following MUST be submitted along with application:

  1. A copy of student’s driver’s license.
  2. A copy of the Vehicle Registration.
  3. A copy of current insurance.

Once a completed application is received, student will be assigned a numbered parking spot for the 2024-2025 school year and will be issued a parking sticker which must be displayed on the driver’s side of the rear window.  Students may only park in their own designated space.  Only students who drive daily will be considered for a parking space.  Spaces that are not being utilized on a consistent basis will be revoked. Spaces are non-transferable.

Parking stickers will be assigned and available for pick up in the Main Office to those students who submitted their application on time beginning August 29, 2024, between 8:00am and 2:00pm.

*IMPORTANT NOTE*

  1. Students issued a parking sticker must arrive to school on time.
  2. Student drivers should leave themselves enough time to ensure that they are arriving at school with enough time to be considered present in the classroom when the bell rings for their first class.
  3. Students must be responsible and take into account weather related conditions, speed limits and the walk from their designated space into the school building when planning their morning drive to school.
  4. If a student is late due to a medical appointment, a doctor’s note must be provided.
  5. Students should check their phone for possible messages before entering the building. In the event of an emergency (drill or actual) student drivers will be contacted via the Remind app. On the student parking application, students should provide their cell phone number so they can stay informed with updates and which directions to follow.

 Any student not obeying the parking regulations will lose parking privileges for two (2) weeks.  A second offense will result in a loss of parking permit for an entire semester.         

 2024-2025 PARKING APPLICATION              

Sincerely,

Helen Callan, Principal

Ean Titus, Assistant Principal

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

 Lisa Farrand, a Spanish Teacher at Pawling High School, has received a Fulbright Teacher Exchange award for the 2024-2025 cycle from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Farrand is among over 800 U.S. citizens who will teach, study, and/or conduct research abroad for the 2024-2025 academic year through the Fulbright Program.

Notable Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Prize laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize recipients, 78 MacArthur Fellows, and 41 who have served as a heads of state or government. Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries – chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – with the opportunity to exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to challenges facing our communities and our world.

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the United States and partner countries around the world. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program.

More than 800 U.S. Fulbrighters – teachers, artists, and professionals from all backgrounds – teach, study, or conduct research overseas through the Fulbright Program annually. Approximately 400 master teachers and administrators participate in the Fulbright Teacher Exchanges each year.

Attend Today...Achieve Tomorrow

School attendance for kids clipart

The education of today’s youth requires a collective effort involving families, schools and communities.  By supporting regular school day attendance, we help lay the foundation for a lifelong commitment to learning.  When students attend school consistently, they develop routines and habits that carry forward into adulthood, equipping them with the tools needed to pursue higher education and career opportunities.

Missing school days can lead to gaps in learning, making it harder for students to keep up with the curriculum.  In fact, starting as early as preschool and kindergarten, regular attendance is essential for students gaining the academic and social skills they need to thrive.  Research shows that when students are chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year or 18 days over an entire year), they are less likely to read proficiently by third grade, achieve in middle school and graduate from high school.

Here’s what you can do to help your student build good attendance habits:

  • Stay informed. Understand your student’s attendance to be sure absences aren’t adding up.
  • Talk about it. Start a conversation about the importance of showing up for success in school and in life.
  • Set expectations. Unless your child is sick, they should be in school every day.
  • Sleep matters. Set a regular bedtime and morning routine to help your student be rested and ready.
  • Be prepared. Get ready for the school day the night before and build in a little extra time in the morning.
  • Make a backup plan. If something comes up, have a family member, neighbor, or another parent help you get your student to school.
  • Schedule carefully. Try to plan medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session.

The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow.  Regular engagement in school equips youth with the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and diverse perspectives needed to make informed decisions and drive positive change in their communities and beyond.

 

Attendance Matters!

 

When Am I Too Sick for School?