The Dobbs Ferry School District is ringing in the New Year with great excitement and anticipation!
This fall, our students have already produced remarkable accomplishments both on and off the field. Most notable is the fact that Dobbs Ferry High School has six seniors who have qualified as National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists and/or Commended students. “Kicking off” a stellar athletic season, our football team captured the New York State Class C Championship with a dominating win in the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University over Thanksgiving weekend. Two members of the varsity cross country team also set new school records and qualified for the State Tournament and Federation Championship, a first in track and field. Our facilities and physical plant have grown as well, with the refurbishment of our science classrooms. Construction is complete and students are now exploring science in brand new state-of-the-art labs where teaching and learning is being elevated to new heights.
Thanks to the generosity of the Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation, our students and teachers are the recipients of over $35,000 in fall grant monies targeted toward innovative learning experiences, technology integration and professional staff development. This is one of the Foundation’s largest grant cycle allocations in recent years, as a result of the submission of 22 teacher grant applications. Examples of funded grants include a grades 5 – 8 Writing Enrichment Center, grades 6 -8 Robotics Club, iPads for grade 3 teachers, iPads for Middle and High School Social Studies teachers and the purchase of a MacBook Pro computer for an expanded on-line Middle School Newspaper. A multitude of extracurricular trips and programs are also funded through Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation grants including “Happy Birthday Springhurst” – an upcoming celebration of 50 years of educational excellence in our elementary school.
Since mid-November, many Dobbs Ferry parents have taken the opportunity to meet with me in our PTSA Parent Book Chats hosted by a number of Dobbs Ferry families in their homes. Parents were invited to read Tony Wagner’s The Global Achievement Gap and although we began each “chat” talking about the interesting challenges raised in the text, we quickly “digressed” to discussions about our experiences and hopes for our students in our schools. Preparing our children to meet the demands of a 21st Century world are complex and compelling. As the Superintendent, it is clear to me that we have the parent, school and community commitment and support to undertake this important work.
I have quickly come to learn that Dobbs Ferry is a unique and special community.
I think of Trailguides, our parent-directed group who advocate for students and parents receiving special services. I think of other parent/community organizations like SPRING Community Partners who work tirelessly to ensure that equity and access exist for all students and families. We have an extraordinarily active PTSA who provide support for our schools in every way imaginable. And of course, the Dobbs Ferry Foundation which contributes significant resources to the School District thanks to the generosity of countless community members.
These partnerships are fruitful because of the talent and dedication of the teachers in our schools. Dobbs Ferry teachers are engaged and excited about new opportunities for teaching and learning and eagerly look forward to the changes ahead. Our District technology assessment, which will be completed in February, will provide a “roadmap for the future” and help the District approach technology integration in a thoughtful, purposeful and cost-effective way.
Within a few months, we will begin work on a new five-year Strategic Plan. The result of the strategic planning process will help to crystallize the School District’s vision and operationalize plans for the years ahead.
In this New Year, we are grateful for the partnerships that enhance our work as stewards of the education of our community’s children. Have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to continuing to collaborate with staff, students, parents and the community on the important initiatives we have set in motion in order to make our instructional programs, services and schools even better in 2012.
Dr. Lisa Brady
Superintendent