Dear PVMS Families,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We are extremely excited to see your children back in our classrooms and it has been a smooth transition thus far. All of our students will be back starting on Wednesday, September 3rd as our 5th and 6th graders had at least one day prior to become acclimated with our building. Please be patient with our bus runs as transportation settles into a new year and bus routes. It has been wonderful to see new students and fifth graders in our building getting familiar with their new surroundings. Our sixth graders are getting used to memorizing their combinations and opening their lockers. Our seventh graders will be getting used to transitioning more often with more teachers. Finally, we look to our eighth graders as the role models of our building who have the most experience with our systems.
I know you are full of emotions as well! Some of you may be excited, hopeful, curious, nervous, and wondering what this year will look like. Please know that your children are in good hands and that we all work together for what is best for all students. Be sure to partner with us to ensure that your child has a successful experience. We have an exciting year planned!
In accordance with recent amendments to New York State Law, school districts must notify parents/guardians of upcoming evacuations drills and lockdown drills. Our district is required to hold at least eight evacuation and four lockdown drills each school year. These drills provide students and staff with an opportunity to practice our security and safety protocols in a trauma-informed and age appropriate manner. All drills will be announced prior to commencement so that students and staff are aware of the current situation.
As previously mentioned in our August Newsletter, to comply with NYSED Regulations, our school district has adopted a policy with regard to internet enabled devices.
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES/ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
This policy has been established to ensure compliance with Section 2803 of the New York State Education Law and to promote fewer distractions in the learning environment for all students. Except as otherwise specified in this policy, the use of internet enabled devices by students is strictly prohibited during the school day on school grounds.
As defined by Section 2803 of the Education Law:
- Internet-Enabled Devices shall mean and include any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content online when the device is not supplied by the District for an educational purpose. The law specifically excludes from the definition of “internet-enabled devices” devices supplied by the district for an educational purpose.
- School Day shall mean the entirety of every instructional day as required by subdivision seven of Section 3604 of the Education Law. This includes all instructional and non-instructional time, such as homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and time between classes.
- School Grounds shall mean in or on, or within any building, structure, athletic field, playground, or land contained within the real property boundary line of any school in the District.
At the Middle School, students who use these on the bus to and from school are required to turn them off and leave them in their lockers during school hours unless approved by administration.
Enforcement, Consequences and Reporting
For students out of compliance with this policy, the device may be securely locked, confiscated for the day, and/or stored until a parent/guardian is able to pick it up.
Students found in possession of an Internet enabled device, covered by this policy should expect the following:
Device will be securely locked away for the duration of the school day
Device will be securely locked in a pouch for the duration of the school day
Device will be confiscated and held in main office for the duration of the school day
Device will be confiscated and held until a parent or guardian is able to pick it up
At PVMS we have not typically had major issues with cell phones but please keep in mind that we must enforce this policy with regard to smartwatches as well and with fidelity. Families may get in touch with their children on a daily basis by calling our school at 845-528-8101.
To start our school year, it is imperative to establish a routine that will help to promote success. Please create time where your children can focus on school, inclusive of your busy schedules outside of our school day. An academic planner will come home soon for those students and families that prefer them and should be used on a daily basis for students to write down homework, take notes, and schedule their busy lives. In addition, please check Google Classroom for assignments that may be posted by classroom teachers. For those who would like assistance with technological needs such as updating demographics and/or looking at grades on PowerSchool, please see our technology website. You may also contact Mr. Poust at cpoust@pvcsd.org or Mrs. Sherwood at lsherwood@pvcsd.org for assistance as well.
Student grades will be posted on PowerSchool. Please work with your children and partner with us in checking assignments and grades so that everyone stays up to date on work. We will use an opt in system to send home paper report cards twice a year if you choose this option. Otherwise, report cards can be seen electronically at the end of each marking period. We will send home reminders of these calendar dates with reminders when interim reports are posted as well as end of the quarter postings. You may check your child’s grades as often as you would like.
Please note that if you ever have any questions regarding grades, an event that took place in class, or you just want to share information; please contact your child’s teacher directly. If you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teachers then you may arrange to do so through a grade level team leader (7th or 8th Grade) or classroom teacher. We encourage you to do this at any point of the school year. The start of the school year is a nice opportunity for you to schedule a meeting and share how your child is as a learner or and details that may help in partnership for a productive school year.
Please see below for a list of each grade level team leader.
2025-2026 Team Leaders
5th – Dorothy Nadell – dnadell@pvcsd.org
6th – Lee Ann Johnson – ljohnson@pvcsd.org
7th – Kim Thyrre – kthyrre@pvcsd.org
8th – Priscilla Lutz – plutz@pvcsd.org
Please join our Putnam Valley PTA as they help to partner with us and support many events in our schools. We are looking forward to a continued relationship that brings experiences beyond our classrooms.
To purchase a PTA membership, go to https://putnamvalleypta.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true&category=Memberships
As always, if you have any questions/concerns please reach out to the PTA at putnamvalleypta@gmail.com
In addition, please consider joining our Putnam Valley Education Foundation. They partner with us as well as provide funding for our teachers and students.
Please give your support this 2025-2026 school year.
If you haven’t done so already, please make sure to read and complete the following three important student and parent agreement documents found on this page as they are the Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, and Laptop and Mobile Device Agreement. You must then complete the Online Middle School Agreement Permission Form. We will not issue a laptop unless this form is completed in full and returned electronically. Laptop distribution will take place during school hours.
Mark Your Calendar
September 9th – 10th – Fall iReady Assessments – More to come!
September 16th – Back to School Night 5th and 6th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 – More information to come!
September 17th – Back to School Night – 7th and 8th Grade 6:30 – 9:00 – More information to come!
September 23rd & 24th – Rosh Hashanah – No School
Please stay involved and partner with us in your child’s educational journey. Contact us with any questions, feedback, or stop by and schedule an appointment to meet with us.
We look forward to an outstanding and exceptional year!
Sincerely,
Travis W. McCarty
Principal
