The social, ethical and intellectual values of Poughkeepsie Day School are interwoven within the contexts of the curriculum and school community. As stated in the school's mission statement, PDS believes that students and staff members are curious and creative individuals who thrive when challenged in a supportive environment. We seek to create lifelong and enthusiastic learners, achieved through careful consideration of the curricula and pedagogical practices through which the curriculum is implemented.

Creating Community
Creating a cohesive community of learners is a critical piece of the school's mission. Citizenship is developed through authentic experiences of community living. From the very youngest children to the seniors, students take an active role in the daily life of the school. Within individual classrooms, lower school students develop guidelines by which they agree to abide throughout the year. Middle school students recently formed a brand-new student government and, in the upper school, the Standards Committee acts as a student advisory group for the head of school.

As part of a central study course, students organized a Holocaust Remembrance Day. Here an alumni parent, who spoke about the Armenian genocide in 1915, is presented with flowers by head of school Josie Holford.

As we expect students to engage in dialogue with the "complexities of self, society and the universe," students engage in the greater community as well. Community service experiences are offered to students in many ways. Middle and upper school students may elect to participate in elective or central studies courses with a community service theme while others structure individual experiences and internships. Within the lower school, social service activities are often integrated within the classroom either through curricular connections or as an outcome of student interests and concerns. Pre-k - grade 12 activities have included making "stone soup" for a local soup kitchen, food drives for Native Americans, bake sales to show appreciation for community workers and collecting toiletries for homeless teens. Concern for their community extends beyond human members; students have adopted Boardman Road and are responsible for keeping it clean and other students have rescued and cared for abandoned horses.

These activities demonstrate students' active engagement with their community and the importance of being responsible citizens as well as the development of values. Students engage with these topics intellectually and theoretically as well in their academic classes. For example, through the middle school life skills program, recently revamped and reshaped by the middle school faculty, students examine topics such as decision-making, peer pressure and communication. Time and stress management are topics that have been identified by the faculty as topics that are important and have been recently incorporated in the life skills program. Upper school students approach these topics and others through their academic coursework and through the advisory system.

The faculty utilizes active observation and dialogue to create meaningful intellectual and social experiences for PDS students. It is through the fostering of positive, caring relationships between staff and students that the work of the teachers is implemented successfully. The lower school classroom teachers are responsible for facilitating the social-emotional development of their students as well as their academic development. The middle and upper school advisory system enables each student to work closely with an adult, who is responsible for coordinating and communicating with his or her teachers as well as with the student's family.

Among the school's most beloved traditions is the annual Winter Festival, held the Friday before the winter holiday break.

Traditions
Traditions at PDS reflect the school’s personality and encourage the building of a close-knit community. They include:

Welcome-Back-to-School Family Picnic – A wonderful opportunity to meet new people and/or renew acquaintances; sponsored by the Poughkeepsie Day School Parents’ Organization (PDSPO).

Thanksgiving Feast – A school-wide event enjoyed by students, faculty and staff the day before the Thanksgiving break. View photos of the 2004 event.

Winter Festival – An annual event that acknowledges and celebrates traditions from around the world through poetry, song, art and instrumental music. It is scheduled for the last school day before winter break begins. Parents are welcome to attend.

Original School Musical – Written and performed by upper school students as part of a year-long central study course. Begun more than 20 years ago, the original musical is a unique, community-building event.

Art and Music Festival –This celebration in May includes studio art and musical performance work from students of all grade levels and is open to the public as well as PDS families.

Junior Meetings – A rite of passage for juniors each spring when they present their plans for satisfying graduation requirements to the faculty and reflect on their PDS experience.

Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day – A fun-filled morning when grandparents accompany their grandchildren to classes and are treated to a special student performance.

Eagle Society – To become members of the Eagle Society, lower school students recite poetry learned throughout the academic year at a year-end assembly. Older students are also encouraged to participate.

Moving-Up Ceremonies – In June the lower and middle schools each hold a special ceremony to mark the transition of fourth-grade students moving into the fifth-grade and eighth-grade students moving into the 9th grade.

Commencement – Witnessed by the entire PDS community, the ceremony features speeches, music and a special luncheon for family and friends.