Putnam Valley Elementary School

Dear PVES Families,

Thank you so much for all your support as we begin the 2023-24 school year! The past week has been wonderful, and our amazing students have adjusted quickly to their new classrooms, friends, and teachers. Thank you to our amazing faculty and staff for their preparation and daily efforts. We have a strong and positive learning community, and the year ahead looks to be a great one!

Parents and guardians of students in Grades 1 through 4 should be reminded of our Back-to-School Nights this week. These evenings are for adults only, and we hope that you can make every effort to attend. Tomorrow, Monday, parents of students in Grades 3 and 4 are invited to arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 PM. On Tuesday, parents of students in Grades 1 and 2 are invited to arrive between 6:30 and 7:00 PM. This will allow you time to meet some of our Special Area teachers and Professional Support Staff before our whole-group meeting in the Auditorium at 7:00. By 7:20, you will be invited to your child’s classroom for important curriculum presentations. The evenings will end at 8:00 PM. We look forward to seeing you there.

Please be sure to join the PTA and the Putnam Valley Education Foundation! Thank you to our PTA for the joyful school decorations, and for hosting the wonderful Family Picnic this past Thursday, complete with the Bubble Bus and lots of treats! Thank you also to the PTA for hosting Coffee & Kleenex for our Kindergarten parents this past week, and for providing the faculty with a wonderful “Welcome Back Breakfast.” We appreciate your efforts so very much!

The school year has been a hot and sticky one so far, but we look forward to finally having some outdoor recess in the coming days. We are so fortunate to have air-conditioning throughout our school, but the fall weather days should be coming soon!

Thank you for making sure that your child’s dismissal plans are up to date for the new school year. All Emergency Contact information should also be reviewed. If your child’s Immunization Records are not complete, please take care of that immediately. We thank you for attending to these important details at the beginning of the school year, in the best interests of our students.

As I begin my 11th year as principal of PVES, I am so very proud. Together, with our new Assistant Principal, Mrs. Robey, an amazing faculty, and a terrific parent community, we are working each day to provide our elementary students with top-notch instruction in a student-centered, positive, and supportive learning community. Thank you for being part of these efforts. If you ever have any questions, please be sure to reach out. My email is mpodesta@pvcsd.org.

Have a wonderful week ahead! We will see many of you at our Back-to-School Nights this week!

Sincerely,

Dr. Margaret Podesta

Principal