Here at Pocantico Hills

  • Eighth-graders take part in a virtual visit of Briarcliff High School.

    A representative of Briarcliff High School gave Pocantico eighth-graders information and a virtual tour of the school Nov. 17 as they consider which of three partner high schools to attend next year.

  • Eighth grade remote learners participated virtually.

    Normally, eighth-graders visit each high school during the decision-making process, but Pocantico and partner districts decided to do them virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Eighth-graders take part in a virtual visit of Briarcliff High School.

    The virtual visit for Pleasantville High School takes place at 9 a.m. on Nov. 18. The presentation for Sleepy Hollow High School will be rescheduled.

  • Eighth-graders take part in a virtual visit of Briarcliff High School.

    Virtual visits for parents of eighth-graders take place Dec. 8 (Sleepy Hollow); Dec. 9 (Briarcliff); and Dec. 10 (Pleasantville).

  • Five students and custodian and gardener Jose Zamora gather squash from the garden on Harvest Day.

    Students show off the butternut squash they harvested with custodian and gardener Jose Zamora. Children in grades 1-4 helped gather vegetables on Oct. 6.

  • Five students show off the beans they harvested from the garden as their teacher looks on.

    Students collected beans and carrots in addition to squash on Harvest Day. Chef Kassie Keehn and Mr. Zamora supervised the harvesting, with help from with Principal Adam Brown and teachers. 

  • Two girls and one boy harvest beans from dried out pods to be planted for next year's garden.

    Children also harvested seeds from marigolds and beans from dried pods to be planted in the garden for next year's Harvest Day.

  • A boy enjoys grilled cheese and vegetable soup on Harvest Soup Day.

    The Garden Harvest Soup that Chef Kassie Keehn and her staff made from the vegetables got rave reviews from students who enjoyed it during lunch Oct. 7.

  • A young girl talks with custodian and gardener Jose Zamora about the vegetable soup.

    Mr. Zamora checked in with students in the cafeteria to see what they thought of the soup.

  • Two girls pose for a photo in the cafeteria as they eat their soup.

    Younger students were excited to eat soup with the vegetables that they picked from the garden. They also liked the macaroni noodles in the soup.

  • Two girls eat vegetable soup in the cafeteria on Harvest Soup Day.

    Thank you to Chef Kassie and her staff, Mr. Zamora, Mr. Brown and everyone who helped make this year's Harvest Soup Day a success!

  • One of two "Welcome Back" to school yard signs at Pocantico.

    The 2020-21 school year got off to a smooth start, thanks to a lot of planning and preparation by staff. “What struck me was the happiness from the kids and the teachers and the excitement of being together again,” Principal Adam Brown said on the first day of school.

  • Two female students walk into school on the first day.

    On the first day of school, teachers greeted students (those learning at school and online), went over mask-wearing and social distancing rules, and took care of first-day housekeeping tasks like assigning mailboxes.

  • Principal Adam Brown welcomes students getting off their bus on the first day of school.

    About 20% of Pocantico's students, or roughly 70 children, are learning remotely, and the rest are at the school five days a week.

  • A brother and sister pause for a photo while walking into school the first day.
  • Science teacher Vincent Cook speaks to students on the first day as everyone adjusts to the new three-sided carrels with see-through panels atop everyone's desk.
  • A mother takes a photo of her son and daughter on the first day of school.

  • Our amazing Health & Safety Committee has prepared a Return to School Safety Video that reviews our reopening plans and expectations for families.  Please click here to view: Return To School Safety Video

  • Two male custodians apply stickers to school floors to remind children about physical distancing.

    Faculty and staff have been arranging classrooms, setting up technology, putting social distancing reminder stickers on floors, planning curriculum and making other preparations for the start of school.

  • Four female teachers plan curriculum for the year in a classroom.

    Classrooms have desks that are well spaced out, with markings on the floor where desks, stools and chairs need to be positioned. Three-sided, see-through carrels that will sit on students’ desks will arrive soon.

  • Superintendent Richard Calkins gives a thumbs-up as he stands in a tent outside the school.

    There are two tents outside – a blue and white one for pre-k through grade 4, and a yellow and white one for middle school classes. They will be used for recess and classes.

  • Photo of the art classroom, with social distancing stickers and less furniture.

    Each classroom has a stand-alone HEPA filtration system, and there are units in hallways. Teachers’ laptops have document cameras to assist with remote learning.

  • Photo of the cafeteria, with long tables and room for two students only.

    The cafeteria now has long rectangular tables with a chair on each end; see-through dividers are arriving soon. Stickers and arrows on the floor show students where to walk and in which direction.

  • Family and Consumer Science teacher Denis McGraw in her classroom.

    Family and Consumer Science teacher Denise McGraw said students will cook independently, rather than collaborate. She bought large plastic mixing bowls so students can have their own. 

  • Kindergarten teacher Christina Povemba sets up her classroom for the year.

    Kindergarten teacher Christina Povemba’s classroom no longer has community tables. She has yoga mats and lap desks. Children will have the option of using a small desk.

  • Social distancing/Poco Strong stickers like this one are on floors throughout the school.

    The school and staff are ready, Superintendent Richard Calkins said. “Our faculty and staff are phenomenal and have a can-do, we’ll-figure-it-out kind of attitude,” he said. “We know there will be challenges, but we’ll figure it out together.”

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