February 2005 - Party with the Arts!

The word “community” is something that is taken very seriously at Poughkeepsie Day School. Seventy years ago PDS was founded as the result of a concerted community effort, involving educational theorists from Vassar College, local parents whose children would be the school’s students and creative and ener-getic teachers recruited to help implement the exciting, shared vision. The Day School would be a special place. At its heart: young children with diverse talents and interests coming together to discover the joy of learning and the rewards of hard work.

Today, we are still “a community of learners where everyone matters.” Finding the balance between individual needs—be they of students, teachers or parents—and the overall good of the school is not easy. In fact, it is more complicated than ever. With the doubling of enrollment over the past ten years and the acquisition of a beautiful—but not inexpensive—campus of our own has come an ever-growing wish list, kept in check by the reality of our finite budget. We would like to offer more courses, introduce additional athletic opportunities, improve our facilities. At the same time, to generate the necessary revenue to do so, we have to carefully consider the effect of increasing tuition and, as a result, we are often forced to put our dreams on hold. So it is no surprise that time and time again everyone is asked to pitch in, get involved, and help make this community as vibrant and dynamic as it can possibly be. This was the case in 1934 and it is the case now.

Watching lower school assembly on Wednesday morning helps me literally to “see” the word “community” in action as well as its remarkable results. Whether singing a song in praise of Harriet Tubman as part of our annual peacekeepers’ celebration, reciting an original poem about the stunning Shawangunk Mountains across the river or performing a classic Scottish dance, students contribute diverse perspectives and experiences for the enrichment of the larger group. It brings to mind a similar and equally important upcoming community endeavor that will benefit all: the PDSPO spring auction, Party with the Arts: Celebrating 70 Years at PDS.

Like our young students during Wednesday assembly, parents from throughout the more than 48 communities comprising the PDS family are being asked to come together and to contribute their ideas, knowledge and talents to this larger, essential experience. Create a “must-have”gift basket; donate frequent-flier miles or a trip to an exotic destination; or purchase a program booklet ad to promote your business or recognize your child. These are just a few of the hundreds of ways you, as parents, can contribute to the common good of the larger community that is Poughkeepsie Day School.

The spring PDSPO event is the major fundraiser of the entire school year, so I cannot stress enough how important its success is to our ongoing financial health and well-being. But, if any of you have participated in similar past PDS extravaganzas, you know that the value of such an event goes way beyond the bottom line. The fundraiser is also a “friendraiser”—a community-builder where we get to know each other a little better and have a lot of fun in the process.

If feels that life is busier than ever. Sometimes we forget just how lucky we are to be affiliated with such a remarkable institution and where “giving” makes all of us richer, stronger and proud. With all that we tend to day after day, it is refreshing to have an opportunity to let our hair down a bit and have fun as a community. PDS is our school, it is your children’s school and, as such, deserving of your full attention and support. I ask for your wholehearted commitment—financially, creatively, personally—to our upcoming spring celebration. Get your dancing shoes out and your fancy-dress outfits ready for what promises to be a great, community-wide party on Saturday, April 16th. I know that I am truly looking forward to it and hope you will be there with bells on!

Sincerely,

Mary Jane