Middle school teacher awarded two prestigious grants

April 14, 2006
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Development and Communications (extension 110; smoore@poughkeepsieday.org)

Poughkeepsie, NY -- Poughkeepsie Day School's Trace Schillinger, a member of the middle school humanities faculty, has been awarded two grants to underwrite "The Ophelia Project." She developed this year-long course as a part of Poughkeepsie Day's School innovative central study program, in which middle and upper school students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of interdisciplinary courses that focus on particular themes or subjects.

In response to the wealth of research that demonstrates a significant drop in girls' self-esteem as they enter young adolescence, "The Ophelia Project" encourages girls to explore the societal norms and expectations of being female. By reading a variety of texts and source materials, girls research girl-related topics and create a professional-quality magazine that is produced through the Student Press Initiative of Columbia University's Teachers' College.

The Community Foundation of Dutchess County awarded Ms. Schillinger a Partnership in Education Grant to support publication of the magazine in the 2006-2007 academic year. This grant was one of the only 15 that were funded out of 64 requests. She also received a Teacher as Researcher Grant from The International Reading Association, one of only four awarded nationwide, which will be used to collaborate with The Washington Middle School for Girls, an inner-city all-girl school in Washington D.C. Girls at both schools will read and discuss shared texts through a Web site and blog. A spring 2007 conference at Poughkeepsie Day School with the girls from Washington D.C. will be filmed and be available to share with other schools.

Founded in 1934, Poughkeepsie Day School enrolls 325 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.

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PDS holds summer program open house

April 14, 2006
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Development and Communications (extension 110; smoore@poughkeepsieday.org)

Poughkeepsie, NY-Poughkeepsie Day School will hold an open house on Friday, April 21for parents interested in finding out more about its summer program, PDS Summer, as well as an on-campus recreational sports program offered by Blue Streak All-sports Camp. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the school's Elizabeth C. Gilkeson Center, 260 Boardman Road.

PDS Summer welcomes campers from throughout the Hudson Valley and consists of six one-week sessions for children in pre-kindergarten through middle school, including Fun with Drama, Music and Movement, Acting Workshop, Summer Arts and Crafts, Theatre Discovery and Musical Theatre Intensive. Blue Streak All-sports Camp will offer one two-week session for
children, ages 4 - 14 (July 10-21).

Registrations are currently being accepted for all of these programs. For more information, contact the Poughkeepsie Day School at 845-462 - 7600, ext. 110, or visit the school's Web site: www.poughkeepsieday.org/academics_files/summer.shtml.

Founded in 1934, Poughkeepsie Day School enrolls approximately 325 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 from 48 communities. It is distinguished by its interactive and interdisciplinary approach to learning and emphasis on the development of creative and critical thinking skills. Typically 100% of the school's graduating seniors are admitted to colleges and universities each year.

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Poughkeepsie Day School's middle school magazine, Made-You-Look (2005, Volume 2), has won the prestigious Gold Crown Award for Middle School Magazines from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). The awards were announced on March 17th at Columbia University, New York City, with the winners selected from the 1,472 magazines, newspapers and yearbooks of the current CSPA members eligible to enter the competition. Publications were judged on writing/editing, design, content, concept, photography, art and graphics. The highest awards given to publications by the CSPA each year are its Crown Awards.

The magazine is created as a part of Poughkeepsie Day's School innovative central study (CS) program, in which middle and upper school students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of interdisciplinary courses, which combine group work with independent, in-depth explorations. Advisors for the magazine are middle school arts and technology teacher Laurie Giardino and middle school humanities teacher Trace Schillinger. To view the magazine, click here.

The Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) is a program of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in the City of New York. It was organized in 1924 and since then more than 125,000 newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks representing the work of students from middle school through college have been entered into the annual critiques for evaluations and more than 240,000 delegates have attended its annual conventions. Services provided by the CSPA include written evaluations of individual student publications as well as the planning and conducting of the four conferences and workshops.

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 Sandra Moore, Office of Development and Communications at 845-462-7600, extension 110.

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Poughkeepsie, NY - Poughkeepsie Day School once again will offer a summer program for children called PDS Summer. The program welcomes campers from throughout the Hudson Valley, whether or not they are currently enrolled at Poughkeepsie Day School.

Designed to encourage active, hands-on learning in a relaxed, child-centered and fun-filled environment, the program features small classes taught by experienced PDS teachers. The one-week sessions for children, ages 4 - 14, beginning on June 19 and ending on August 7, include full-day as well as half-day sessions. Held on the school's thirty-five acre campus, which is located in the Town of Poughkeepsie on Boardman Road, the program utilizes the school's facilities, including the James Earl Jones Theater. They include "Fun with Drama, Music and Movement," "Acting Workshop," "Summer Arts and Crafts," "Theatre Discovery" and "Musical Theatre Intensive."

In addition, the school will host a number of in-residence programs, including Blue-Streak All-Sports Camp, Children's Media Project, Summer Strings and The Wayfinder Experience.

Registrations are currently being accepted. For a PDS Summer flier and registration form and more information on the school's in-residence programs, call 845-462-7600, ext. 110. or click here.

Founded in 1934, Poughkeepsie Day School enrolls approximately 325 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 from 48 communities. It is distinguished by its interactive and interdisciplinary approach to learning and emphasis on the development of creative and critical thinking skills. Typically, 100% of the school's graduating seniors are admitted to colleges and universities each year.

Josie Holford Named Head of Poughkeepsie Day School

March 7, 2006
Contact: Sandra Moore, Director of Development and Communications (extension 110; smoore@poughkeepsieday.org)

Poughkeepsie, NY- Julie Stevenson, president of the Poughkeepsie Day School Board of Trustees, and Dr. Robert Strauss, chair of the school's Search Committee, have announced the selection of Josie Holford as the 14th head of Poughkeepsie Day School. Ms. Holford was selected unanimously by the board upon the committee's unanimous recommendation. Ms. Holford'sappointment, effective July 1, 2006, follows a seven-month national search, under the auspices of the independent school consulting firm of Carney, Sandoe & Associates.

Ms. Holford was a founder of the high school program at Trevor Day School in Manhattan and since 1991 has served as the high school division director there. From 1987 through 1991 she was the middle school division director at Trevor Day. Throughout the past decade she has been active within the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), most recently as a director of the Beginning Teachers Institute and for many years as a leader during the annual NYSAIS Assistant Heads/Division Directors conference. Born and raised in England, Ms. Holford began her teaching career in London in 1970 and has since taught English at the Anglo-American School, York Preparatory School, Prep for Prep and New York University's Expository Writing Program (all in Manhattan) as well as at Trevor Day School. She received a BA with honors in English from the University of Wales, a PGCE in English Education from London University's Institute of Education and completed extensive graduate work in NYU's PH.D. program in English Education.

Said Ms. Stevenson, "We believe that Josie Holford will provide visionary leadership in moving Poughkeepsie Day School forward. We are confident that with her clearly demonstrated ability and wealth of wisdom, she will be a most positive and inspirational force at the school." Dr. Strauss added that "Josie Holford possesses a multitude of personal and intellectual qualities that will contribute to her success in the PDS community. She has a calming and inclusive manner and is a person of the highest integrity. She is widely admired for her intelligence and thoughtfulness and her leadership in independent school education is well known. Indeed, her peers in the New York City and State educational establishment regard her as one of the deepest thinkers in the education of adolescents."

Founded in 1934 by members of the Vassar College faculty and local community, Poughkeepsie Day School enrolls 325 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 from 48 communities in the mid-Hudson Valley. The school is distinguished by its interactive and interdisciplinary approach to learning and emphasis on the development of creative and critical thinking skills.Typically 100% of the school's graduating seniors are admitted to colleges and universities each year.

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