This school year is moving by so quickly and one would have never thought the mounds of snow from this winter would have ever melted away. Fortunately they have and although mother nature continues to give us chilly temperatures at times we have been provided some summer-like temperatures as well and a little bit of rainfall to bring out some vegetation and flowers. This has been wonderful for letting our students outside for recess and after school activities. The month of May is full of events and activities as we kick off the fourth quarter.
We are celebrating teacher appreciation week from May 4th – 8th! Please join me in thanking all of our teachers for all that they do on a daily basis. Teachers make a positive impact on our student’s lives and inspire them to become lifelong learners. Thank you to the PTA for recognizing our teachers and celebrating the impact they have.
Our PTA is still looking for community volunteers who can help out in our schools that week. We have an amazing Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week planned! We need volunteers to help us make sure it happens! Please volunteer here:
I want to thank all of those that were involved with our annual Spring Fling that took place on Thursday, April 23rd from 5-7 PM. We had a wonderful turnout with a 90s theme. Our student council led by Ms. Diaz and Mrs. Hernandez (Turner) did a phenomenal job. Please take a look at pictures from the event.
New York State Assessments will continue to take place over the course of May. Please take a look at the following dates:
New York State Assessment dates:
English Language Arts (5th – 8th) – Thursday 4/30/26 and Friday 5/1/26
Mathematics (5th – 8th) – Wednesday 5/6/26 and Thursday 5/7/26
Science (8th) – Monday 5/11/26
Science (5th) – Tuesday 5/12/26
Please remind your children to come prepared with charged chromebooks (CBT – computer based testing), an independent reading book and sharpened #2 pencils, and calculators (mathematics) for certain grade levels on these days. Students have worked so hard this year and it is an opportunity to show their skills and apply what they have learned. Please note that these assessments are untimed, do not impact teacher APPR, and are a great opportunity to practice standardized assessments that students will need to take in high school. Good luck to all!
Please note that our eighth graders attending the Washington DC trip will be off campus starting on Wednesday, May 13th through Friday, May 15th. All other eighth graders who are not on the trip are expected to attend school and will follow a schedule meeting their daily instructional needs.
The Middle School Career Fair will take place on Thursday, May 21st from 8:00-12:00PM. This event provides our middle school students with the opportunity to explore various professions, learn about different career paths, and gain valuable insights from experienced professionals like you. Your participation would be incredibly meaningful in helping students connect their education to real-world opportunities.
We are looking for community members who can:
- Share their career journey and experiences
- Provide insight into the skills needed for success in their field
- Answer student questions and inspire the next generation
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, May 21st
Location: Putnam Valley High School Wellness Center
Time: 8:00 am- 12:00 pm
If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a lasting impact on our students. We truly appreciate your time and expertise!
As we continue into the fourth quarter, it is vital for our students to stay focused on their efforts toward their academic progress. Please note that some of our seventh and eighth graders will be taking final exams in June and that these will be summative measures for teachers to assess their progress for the entire year. In addition, we still have our Algebra I Regents, and our Checkpoint A exam for those in eighth grade Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. We are hopeful that our students continue to apply themselves, stay focused, and take advantage of opportunities that will strengthen their overall abilities. I want to thank all of those families of students who sat to take the NYS English Language Arts assessments, NYS Mathematics assessments, and NYS science assessments. We use this data to help drive instruction and as a multiple measure for supports that students may need. These are always vital opportunities for students to show their knowledge and prepare for high school Regents exams that they will be taking in the near future, especially for our seventh and eighth graders.
End of Year Details
We are still in the process of organizing end of the year details for our seventh and eighth grade final exams. These will take place during our school day. Our Eighth Grade Moving Up Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, June 24th in our High School Performing Arts Center at 5:00PM. That same evening we will have a Moving Up Dance at Cortlandt Colonial at 7:00PM. Electronic communications with this information will be sent out.
You may always see details for our year by checking the live calendar on the right hand side of our PVMS website page and the Daily Announcements located there as well.
Mark Your Calendar – We are BUSY!
Monday, May 4th – Friday, May 8th: Teacher Appreciation Week – Thank you to the Putnam Valley PTA and families that were able to contribute to all of the events planned for our staff during this week.
Wednesday, May 6th: National School Nurse Appreciation Day – Thank you to Nurse Jacquie LeClech and Nurse Kathy Hill for all that they do for our community.
Wednesday, May 6th – Thursday, May 7th: NYS Math Assessments
Monday, May 11th – Encore #6 Begins
Monday, May 11th – NYS Science Testing – Grades 8
Tuesday, May 12th – NYS Science Testing – Grade 5
Wednesday, May 13th – Friday May 15th – 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip
Tuesday, May 19th – 7th/8th Grade Chorus Concert – HS PAC 7:00-8:00PM
Wednesday, May 20th – 5th/6th Grade Chorus Concert – HS PAC 7:00-8:00PM
Tuesday, May 19th – PVCSD School 2026-2027 Budget & Trustee Vote (6 AM to 9 PM – Putnam Valley Elementary School)
Thursday, May 21st – PVMS Career Fair
Friday, May 22nd: Midpoint of the 4th Quarter – Please check PowerSchool on Friday, May 29th for updated grades and comments. Contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions and concerns.
Monday, May 25th – No School / Memorial Day
Wednesday, May 27th – 6th Grade Trip to Medieval Times
Thursday, May 28th – 7th/8th Grade Band Concert – HS PAC 7:00-8:00PM
Friday, May 29th – 5th/6th Grade Band Concert – HS PAC 7:00-8:00PM
As always, please reach out to your child’s classroom teachers should you have any questions or want to schedule an in person meeting for one reason or another. It is through our partnership that our children are supported in positive ways so that they succeed. We look forward to a busy May and remember to please reach out to the middle school if you have any questions as well.
Thank you,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal