September 1999

It’s hard to keep up with the juggernaut of change, and once again, there is much to tell you as we begin the new year.

First of all, there are several new faces at PDS. Most are a result of adding faculty members to ensure that our class sizes remain small as our student body continues to grow.  Indeed, many of those faces will be among the new students who will make up a student body in excess of 320 students – the most ever at PDS. 

To meet this growth, we have added an additional 3-4 section, which will be taught by Emily Hayes.  Lisette Holmes (parent of Carl, grade 7, and Lauren, grade 9) will be teaching middle school math and science and Barbara Heiles will teach middle and high school math.  Marcy Webb will be teaching Spanish in the middle and upper schools.  Mike Foley (father of Kevin, class of ’97) will be teaching junior and senior English while Don is on sabbatical.  Two new humanities teachers - Mirangela Buggs and Miquel Melendez - will be joining us.  They will also be teaching one section each of 9-10 English and 9-10 history respectively. 

With the exception of one humanities position and Don’s sabbatical replacement, all are new positions. We recently learned that Rebecca Horowitz will not be returning and are currently looking for a new lower school language teacher to replace her.  
By now you most likely have met Andrea Parent-Tibbetts who began as our new Business Manager on June 1.  The other new staff member is Steve Losonczy, who has replaced Hank as our daily maintenance person.  Please say “hi” to these folks and welcome them to our PDS community.   

Last but certainly not least, I am sorry to report that Pat Prunty, who was instrumental in helping to build our development program during the past six years, has decided to accept a new position as Director of Development at Valkill.  She begins her new job on September 8 and I trust you all will join me in wishing her well in her new endeavor.

There are a few other changes afoot.  If you have been by the school lately, you might have noticed that construction has begun on our theater renovation.  It is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, during which time the former auditorium will be off-limits as a construction site.  And within the next few weeks, our new climate control system will be in place in the new building.

If it hasn’t already arrived, you will soon be receiving an invitation to this fall’s Founders’ Day celebration.  Last year we celebrated the opening of the new building.  This year we will dedicate it to Elizabeth Gilkeson, our founding Director.  Ibby, as she was fondly called, left a legacy not only at PDS, but also throughout the country with her innovative ideas and inspirational leadership.  Among her proteges was our keynote speaker, Sheila Sadler, who taught at PDS under Mrs. Gilkeson and who went on to found the Village Community School, one of the premier independent schools in New York City.  Please RSVP early, as this event sold out last year – and we expect another full house on September 25.

I have spent much time this summer thinking about the heart and soul of Poughkeepsie Day School.  I believe that more than anything else, my job as Director is to do whatever I can to ensure that we remain true to the spirit that brought all of us to this special place.  Given the rapid and seemingly endless pace of change during the past several years, this has not always been an easy task.  To the degree that I have been successful, it is because of your willingness to lend me your guidance, your support and your friendship.  As we embark on this new year that will bring us into the 21st century, I need that guidance more than ever.  I ask for your continued generosity of spirit.

What truly sets this place apart from so many others I have witnessed is a broad-based sharing of the responsibility to keep that spirit alive. It is the sprit of our talented teachers who put in extraordinary hours throughout the year; it is parents who volunteer innumerable hours in the classroom, for special events and projects and, of course, on our Board of Trustees and committees; it is our students who are everywhere and always present; there is a growing number of active alumni/ae; and, of course, there are those who, with their generous contributions to our annual fund, special events and capital campaign, help to ensure that all this remains possible.  The key is that people at Poughkeepsie Day School have not left to others the job that needs to be done.  

Thanks again, and welcome back!   
   

Sincerely,

Tony Buccelli