Poughkeepsie Day School Head of School Letters

News and Events >Press Releases > July - August 2003

Poughkeepsie Day School Gains Reaccreditation

August 8, 2003
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Communications

Poughkeepsie, NY-The trustees of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) recently voted to renew Poughkeepsie Day School's accreditation, according to Frederick C. Calder, the organization's executive director. To be granted accreditation, a school must be a member of NYSAIS and complete a comprehensive self-study and report, which demonstrates that its educational practice clearly reflects its stated mission and philosophy. Poughkeepsie Day School conducted its self study during the fall of 2002 and was visited by a team of eight NYSAIS evaluators--all teachers and administrators in a variety of independent schools throughout New York State--in March.

Mary Jane Yurchak, Ed.D., head of Poughkeepsie Day School, said, "The entire Day School community worked very hard to critically examine every aspect of our program--from our safety and security procedures to our academic standards and school culture. The Day School mission speaks to the value of ongoing reflection and we have always been committed to being the best school we can be. All of us were heartened by NYSAIS's recognition that we do what we say we do and, in fact, do it very well." Yurchak was appointed head of the Town of Poughkeepsie school in February of 2002, after a year as interim head.

NYSAIS is a voluntary association of 160 independent nursery, elementary and secondary schools enrolling approximately 65,000 students. It is affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools, the New York State Coalition for Nonpublic Education and the Council for American Private Education. Founded in 1947, the Association is incorporated under New York State Education Law. Among its other activities, NYSAIS advocates for independent education and provides professional development for faculty, administrators and trustees as well as legal and institutional counsel and a wealth of information on legislation, regulations, statistics, educational developments, and administrative practice.

Founded in 1934, Poughkeepsie Day School enrolls 350 students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12 from 48 communities in the mid-Hudson Valley. It is distinguished by its interactive and interdisciplinary approach to learning and emphasis on the development of creative and critical thinking skills. For more information, contact the Office of Communications at 845-462-7600, extension 110.

New Development Director Joins
Poughkeepsie Day School

July 28, 2003
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Communications

Poughkeepsie, New York--Mary Jane Yurchak, Ed.D. has announced the appointment of Penny Page as Poughkeepsie Day School's new director of development. A native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, Ms. Page most recently served as director of development and alumni relations at Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. Prior to that, Ms. Page lived in Texas, where she headed up the development efforts at both the the Regis School of the Sacred Heart in Houston and the Post Oak School in Bellaire. She began her development career at Mount Holyoke College, holding a variety of positions there over a fourteen-year period. She is a graduate of Westfield State College.

Dr. Yurchak said, "Penny Page brings over 20 years of fundraising expertise to her position at Poughkeepsie Day School, including notable success with major gifts and planned giving--two areas in which we expect to see signigicant growth over the next few years."

Poughkeepsie Day School was recently granted full re-accreditation from the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). Under Dr. Yurchak's leadership, it has developed a strategic plan, Sustaining our Vision through Academic Excellence, which identifies technology and the sciences as among the school's highest priorities within the area of program enhancement.

Founded in 1934, Poughkeepsie Day School currently enrolls 350 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 from 48 communities in the mid-Hudson Valley. For more information, contact the communications office at 845-462-7600, extension 110.

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PDS Awarded Heritage Education Grant

July 9, 2003
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Communications

Poughkeepsie, New York--The National Park Service, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area and Hudson River Valley Greenway recently announced that Poughkeepsie Day School has been awarded a Heritage Education Grant for the 2003-2004 academic year. The grants are part of a pilot program to help educators develop curricula using historic sites, museums and other public places in the Hudson River Valley to teach key themes related to New York State's standards for students in kindergarten through grade nine.

Poughkeepsie Day School's winning proposal revolves around a year-long study, Life along the Hudson River: Exploring its Nature and Culture, designed for children in its lower school. Classes will study the river, its environment and its people, including the area's geology, ecology, native peoples, explorers and settlers, transportation, technology, scientists and conservationists and artists and writers. Throughout the year, the school will collaborate with the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center of Vassar College, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Institute of Ecosystem Studies and Mid-Hudson Children's Museum. Students will also engage in off-campus field work, including research on zebra mussels and the ecology of the Hudson River, in conjunction with Poughkeepsie Day School middle school students and faculty. The study will culminate in eight traveling exhibits for young children, including a collection of artifacts called "Henry Hudson's Steamer Chest."

Mary Jane Yurchak, Ed.D., head of Poughkeepsie Day School, said, "We are grateful to the sponsors of this initiative for the opportunity to share our faculty's enthusiasm for and commitment to place-based learning with educators and students from throughout the Hudson Valley. We are fortunate to live in such a magnificent area, so rich in history and natural beauty--a truly ideal learning environment. It will be an exciting year for all."

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