New Teacher Orientation
Teacher mentors helped new teachers in the District prepare for the opening of school at the annual breakfast icebreaker. Administrators and Board of Education members introduced themselves and then it was two full days of orientation. Welcome to the Dobbs Ferry School District!
Dear Parents and Community,
Each year the summer seems to fly by at breakneck speed, and here we are already at the beginning of the new school year! As always, our work is guided by our Strategic Plan and District Vision - Independent Thinkers Prepared to Change the World - which provides the framework through which we consider all change and new initiatives.
First and foremost, the District is eager to introduce the community to the details of the proposed Capital Project. Dobbs Ferry residents will vote on the bond on Tuesday, October 22nd.
Capital Project improvements will include:
○ District-wide safety & security enhancements
○ Renovations to the High School Auditorium (including air-conditioning)
○ Replacing roof and HVAC at the Middle School
○ Completing HVAC at the High School
○ Additional access to the Aqueduct from the High School/Middle School campus
○ Renovation of the Springhurst Library Media Center
○ Upgrades to the Varsity Softball field at Springhurst
There will be a number of community forums scheduled in the fall, and Board of Education members will be available to parents and the community at all Back-to-School Nights, as well as the Ferry Festa in October to answer questions and discuss the project.
On the safety and security front, the District is partnering with Altaris Security Group to provide dedicated, on-site security consultant services three days a week. The security coordinator will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of safety, security and emergency preparedness management. Working closely with school administrators and the Dobbs Ferry Police Department, this increased level of oversight will help to ensure the District is in compliance with all State Department of Education regulations, as well as support prevention, response, and safety team protocols for all three schools.
The District is very excited to announce the continued growth of our recycling and composting efforts. Beginning in September, our food service provider Aramark will be using all compostable service wear (including cups, bowls, to-go containers and utensils) in the Commons and Springhurst cafeterias. We will also be replacing individual ketchup packets, which contaminate our compost, with pump bottles that will be available at the condiments’ station. Additionally this fall, the plan is for the District to begin carting all food waste from the High School/Middle School Campus and from Springhurst, above and beyond the compost we already use in our gardens, to an off-site commercial facility for the first time. This is a huge step toward creating a greener, more environmentally friendly and waste-efficient campus.
As part of our focus on mindfulness and our commitment to social and emotional learning, we are making a change to our Middle School cell phone policy beginning in September. Over the course of last year, we were meeting with representatives of HeadsUp Dobbs, a group of parents that are raising awareness about issues related to screentime and health. Students in 6th-8th grades will now have “phone-free” days while they are in school. Although students may bring their phones to school for use before and after the school day, they will no longer be permitted to use phones during lunch and recess. We believe that this change will reinforce with our Middle School students that it is important to be “mindful” of their time while they are in school.
Last but not least, we need to remind everyone at this time of year that pedestrian safety becomes more important than ever as students return to school. Over the summer, we have had numerous discussions with the Dobbs Ferry Police Department and the PTSA Safe Routes Committee about ways to improve the walking and biking experiences for our children. Drivers on our Village roadways are reminded that the School Speed Zone in front of the High School/Middle School campus is 20 miles/hour from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Children who walk and bike to school are participating in important experiences that support health and wellness, affect the environmental footprint and reduce traffic and congestion. Let’s encourage this positive behavior by modeling safe driving practices at all times in the Village of Dobbs Ferry!
I look forward to greeting all our students and parents at the opening of the new school year on Tuesday, September 3rd, and want to thank the community for their continued support of the Dobbs Ferry School District.
Sincerely,
Lisa Brady, Ed.D
Superintendent
