An interest in athletics often begins in the lower school, where physical education is a required component of the academic program, beginning in pre-kindergarten. The program is developmentally appropriate and attempts to expose students to a variety of movement and athletic experiences within an environment of cooperation and teamwork.

After-school team sports opportunities begin in middle school, with limited competitive play in co-ed soccer and coed basketball at the 5-6 and 7-8 levels. At the upper school level, interscholastic sports are offered throughout the year and include boys and girl's soccer and basketball, which are both open to anyone in grades 9-12; additionally, softball is open to girls in grades 7 -12 and baseball is open to boys in grades 8-12. Each of these sports fields a varsity team. Since 1991, PDS has participated in a competitive sports program through the Hudson Valley Athletic League (HVAL). PDS teams were designated HVAL champions in softball in 2001 and 2002 (softball coach Lisa McVey is shown at right with trophies) and in soccer (2001) and boys' basketball (2001). In addition, the school was honored with the league's Sportsmanship Award, which recognized the teams, as a whole, for their good sportsmanship, in the spring of 2002.

photo: Douglas Baz Click here to view photos from the 2005-2007 boys' varsity basketball season.

The teams practice after school and split the field/gym time with other "in season" teams. The facilities consist of a soccer field and a gymnasium with 2 basketball hoops at each end of the court and 4 portable basketball hoops. The coaches come from the faculty and parent body. Transportation for the teams is arranged through the use of two school vans, driven by the coaches.

Recreational Sports

In addition to the school's on-site physical education program, all lower and middle school students are required to participate in a Red Cross-sponsored swim program at a nearby community center; for upper school students, the program is optional and includes opportunities for CPR and life-guard training. Students attend this program once a week for a period of six weeks. In the winter, the school also offers an optional five-week skiing and snowboarding program at Catamount Ski Center in the Berkshires and a skating program at a local indoor rink for students in grades 6-12.