PHILOSOPHY
As reflected in its mission statement, Poughkeepsie Day School
is dedicated to the full development of each individual child,
with a specific commitment to academic excellence within the
progressive tradition. The school seeks to challenge each student
to the limits of his or her abilities academically; a student’s
artistic, physical and social development is also highly valued.
The school program is carefully crafted and the faculty thoughtfully
selected to ensure that these essential tenets of the PDS philosophy
are effectively and consistently put into practice. Grounded
in progressive theory, the school de-emphasizes competition
for the sake of competition and, instead, values the achievement
of one’s “personal best.” Learning is viewed as a process, continuing
throughout one’s lifetime. |
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| Academics
don't just happen during the school year; click
here to view the 2007 summer camp flier (PDF). |
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PDS is also mindful of the importance of community. Cooperative learning,
collaboration and community building are hallmarks of the PDS approach
to education. Throughout the school’s history, learning as a shared
experience has been at the center of the school’s philosophy and practice.
Teachers and students learn together and from each other in a variety
of ways. Giving back to others–through the sharing of experience and
knowledge as well as service–has also been part of the PDS ethos since
the school’s inception in 1934.
Ultimately, the school seeks to promote curious and independent
learners: critical thinkers who know how to ask questions and solve
problems—individuals who can write and reason well; appreciate beauty;
develop and express passions; and live their lives as good and thoughtful
citizens within a larger community.
ORGANIZATION
The academic program at Poughkeepsie Day School is organized by
division: lower school (pre-k-grade 4); middle school (grades 5-8);
and upper school (grades 9-12). Oversight of curriculum, faculty
and students for each division is provided by the appropriate division
head: Mary Ellen Kenny
(lower school); George
Swain (middle school); and Liz
Vinogradov (upper school).
The lower school is divided into four mixed-age classroom levels:
pre-kindergarten; kindergarten; 1st and 2nd grades; and 3rd and
4th grades. The middle school includes mixed-age groupings of students
in grades 5-6 and 7-8, with most academic classes configured in
these ways and some organized by single-grade level. Upper school
students are grouped in two-year, mixed age groupings (9-10 and
11-12) in English, history and science; in language and mathematics,
they are placed according to their experience level.
In keeping with the school’s ethos, there are many opportunities
throughout the year for students in various mixed-age groupings
as well as at different grade levels and across divisions to work
together in and outside of the classroom.
PDS also utilizes a departmental structure as part of school-wide
curriculum oversight. Department heads, along with faculty representatives
from all three divisions, comprise the school’s academic council.
The council as well as division heads, department heads, divisional
faculty and school-wide faculty meet regularly.
CALENDAR
The academic divisions follow a semester system.
To view a PDF version of the PDS school calendar for 2007-2008,
click
here.
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