Once upon a time there was a sixth-grade class at Pocantico Hills Central School District in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The intrepid group of students were given a writing assignment by their teacher, Laura Garrido, in which they wrote a narrative based on a book in the popular Percy Jackson series.

 

Ms. Garrido said the assignment is part of Pocantico’s adoption of a new Language Arts curriculum, called Expeditionary Learning.

 

“They read ‘The Lightning Thief’ and the culminating task was to create a narrative and develop a character based on a Greek god and imbed that character into a scene from the story,” Ms. Garrido explained, referring to the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” series by Rick Riordan.

 

The students’ writing incorporated dialogue and other characteristics of the narrative form. Students then had to create a presentation and include a Power Point. Parents and friends were later invited into their classroom and students read their narratives and shared other details on their presentations.

 

Ms. Garrido said students loved the book noting they enjoyed how action packed it was, and they also liked learning about the Greek gods. Percy Jackson, she said, is a unique character in that his father was Poseidon and he had a mortal mother. In this particular book the character is on an adventure trying to prevent a war between Zeus, Poseidon and Hades and find Zeus’ lightning bolt.

 

“We could take a chapter and add a character to the story,” explained Nicolas C., adding that his narrative included the god Rhodos and was called “I Launched and Annoying Person.”

 

Amber T. in her narrative, “I Discover the Unexpected,” was inspired by the goddess Atlanta because “she is a hunter.”

 

“I think it was pretty fun to make up your own story from something that was original,” she said.

 

Anthony S. said his narrative “is about a god who goes to a water park.”

 

In “I Begin to Hate Water Parks,” Anthony his characters visit a water park to find Aries and they end up under attack.

 

In Ayan K.’s “A Walk Through the Underworld,” his story takes place in the Underworld where Hermes lives. In it the characters fight monsters in order to get retrieve the lightning bolt.

“It was fun to be able to do whatever you wanted,” Ayan said of the assignment.

 

 

They clapped, they sang, they danced and were having so much fun, they probably did not even realize how much they learned!

 

A visit on Nov. 6 from actor, storyteller and singer Lou Del Bianco was an interactive and silly experience where he presented his show “Make A Good Choice.”

 

The assembly’s message supports the HAWKS initiative, a school-wide program that stresses ways in which students can become kind and caring people as well as best practices to become an effective leader.

 

“It’s all about making good choices,” Principal Adam Brown told students before introducing Mr. Del Bianco.

 

The actor used photos from his past that had been enlarged. He had images of himself as a child, one of his mother, his six sisters and his late dog “Nikki.” Each photo represented an important story in Lou’s past that helped shape him into the man he became. The stories shared examples of respect, kindness, perseverance and more.

 

“One way to make a good choice is to be responsible,” Mr. Del Bianco said. He asked students to share what types of things they do to be responsible.

“Be quiet” and “do my chores,” were things students shared.

 

Mr. Del Bianco then shared the story about his former dog “Nikki,” who he described as mean and “the true terror of the family.”

 

Through a song, he shared how his family did take the best care of their dog and ultimately it needed an operation. Once they learned what the dog needed to be happy and healthy, the dog’s demeanor changed as it became a loving companion who lived to the age of 19.

The message of the song showed how important it is to take responsibility for the care and treatment of those around you.

 

In another song, Mr. Del Bianco shared a story no doubt many in the audience could relate to — having siblings. In his case he has SIX sisters! It made growing up in a small house a challenge.

 

Mr. Del Bianco invited six girls from the audience and showed them how to do a simple dance to accompany his song, in which he sang about the chaos that ensued as all seven children got ready to go so school each morning.

 

“We had to show kindness to each other,” Mr. Del Bianco said. “It’s a song about being kind.”

 

As a segue from one song to another, Mr. Del Bianco led students in a chorus of “make a choice/make a choice/make a what/make a good choice!”

 

In another relatable story/song, Mr. Del Bianco sang about his terrible baseball skills and his desperation to be on a team when none of his playmates wanted him because he could never get a hit.

 

That all changed when one day he not only hit the ball, but it was a homerun!

 

The lesson of the story shared how his perseverance paid off as he practiced for months to improve his skills.

 

“It’s a song about not giving up,” Mr. Del Bianco said, noting how he succeeded by ignoring those who made fun of him, walking away from his distractors, cooling off and not giving up.

 

“Responsibility, kindness and not giving up are all choices you can make,” he said.

 

In his final story and song, Mr. Del Bianco shared a story of how he disrespected his mother’s wishes when he was younger. He had been told repeatedly not to go down into the basement, but curiosity got the best of him. He was especially intrigued with a window that showed another room on the other side of the wall. His imagination convinced him there was something amazing on the other side that he just had to see. His mother caught him trying to sneak through the window and he was punished after he told his mother a lie that he had not been in the basement at all.

 

“I made a bad choice,” he said of the experience.

 

Turns out the only thing on the other side was a dusty baseball bat. His mother eventually gave him the bat after his punishment ended.

 

“Remember everybody, making a good choice is up to you,” he said.

 

 

History is fun, math can be complicated but also rewarding and learning a new language opens doors.

 

These are just some of the lessons three new Pocantico teachers are imparting to their students.

 

Tom Ruhl, who is teaching 7^th and 8^th grade social studies said he was inspired by some of the teachers he had as a student himself.

 

“I wanted to be a teacher my whole life, since the age of 10, thanks to the great teachers I had,” Mr. Ruhl said. “And I just love people.”

 

So far this year, his classes have covered the beginnings of the United States with his seventh graders and the Civil War with his eighth graders.

 

He said he tries to use some of the techniques his teachers did to make the subject more interesting and relevant for his students.

 

“There’s a way to take stuff that on the surface can be dry and boring,” he said. “I told my eighth-grade social studies class ‘history is just like the pop culture of their time.’”

 

Prior to coming to Pocantico, Mr. Ruhl was teaching on Long Island where he grew up before earning degrees at Siena and SUNY Albany.

 

“I have really enjoyed it,” he said of transitioning to Pocantico. “I was at a small school prior to this in the Hamptons where I taught seventh grade social studies and AP high school history. Poco is a bit smaller and has a vibrant school community.”

 

Mr. Ruhl has an adventurous spirit. He taught English in Malaysia in 2020 at a secondary school, an opportunity in which he was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship to go overseas while at Siena.

 

“It expanded my horizons,” he said. “It was about as different a place as I could be on the planet. It was a culture shock in every way imaginable — the day to day and the way they do education over there is radically different.”

 

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic cut his stay short, but Mr. Ruhl said he’d love to go back, at least to see the friends he made there.

 

Across the hall from Mr. Ruhl’s classroom is where Jacqueline Santilli has settled in. She is the new middle school math teacher and teaches Operations with Imagers, Transformation, Intro to Geometry and for the first time she is teaching Algebra, something she said she has come to enjoy.

 

She too has teaching experience, having taught math in the Marlboro Central School District, where she also served as the math department chair. She is also an adjunct professor at Marist where she teaches education.

“Now I am really happy to be here,” she said. “It’s a small community where you can get close to your colleagues and students.”

 

Ms. Santilli said her plan was to study to become an ELA teacher. However, when she got to college at SUNY Geneseo, she began to take more difficult math classes and discovered something she did not know about herself, she likes math and she earned her degree in the subject, later earning her Master’s in adolescent education at SUNY New Paltz.

 

“Oh, this is something I can do,” she remembers thinking. “I can help students feel more confident in it.”

 

Her goal for her students, she explained, is to break the math concepts down for her students.

 

“We start at a level zero, and go through things until they feel that confidence,” she said. “I’d like to think I make it engaging.”

 

One way to do that, she explained, is to create a student-centered classroom and to build a students’ perseverance through challenging problems.

 

The result?

 

“Their confidence grows,” she said.

 

Ms. Santilli said she tells her students that mistakes are OK and a part of learning and how they grow.

 

Like her history colleague, Ms. Santilli said she’s always known she wanted to work with children. She was a camp counselor and later a director during summer breaks.

 

She said middle schoolers are at a unique age, they are figuring out themselves and developing their personalities.

 

“I’ve always known it was an age group I wanted to work with,” she said.

 

When away from the classroom, Ms. Santilli likes to be active, enjoying skiing, biking, running and traveling. She also plays softball and hopes an opportunity will open up where she can coach the sport at Pocantico.

 

World Language teacher Paula Bernal’s classroom is around the corner from her colleagues. She was born in Colombia and came to the U.S. when she was six months old. She grew up speaking Spanish at home, and admits she went through a phase where she disliked it so much, she stopped speaking it. She said when she got to high school, she began to embrace her Hispanic heritage and culture and ever since then, she said, “I love Spanish.”

 

She began her teaching career as a teacher’s assistant before a friend suggested she go back to school to earn her teacher’s certificate. She said one of her professors at Manhattanville College inspired her to become a Spanish teacher.

 

“Since being a TA, I’ve grown to love teaching kids,” Ms. Bernal said.

 

She began her career in the White Plains Public Schools where she worked for the past eight years.

 

She explained one of the things she enjoys most about her work is seeing her students, who start the school year not knowing the language at all, and “seeing how much they end up learning, writing and reading.”

 

At Pocantico, she’s working with students from pre-K through eighth grade. She said younger students are like sponges, they absorb everything and as students get older, it becomes more about repetition and soon students learn phrases such as asking where something is or if they can use the bathroom.

 

“It’s nice hearing them use the language,” she said.

 

For Ms. Bernal knowing a second language is a gateway to helping other people and learning about the world.

 

“You can communicate with everyone,” she said. “It’s such a great thing to have. When you learn a second language, your brain expands. I encourage everyone to learn a little bit.”

 

She said too, it helps individuals to connect with one another and to learn about other cultures.

 

When not in the classroom, Ms. Bernal said she loves spending time with her family, and especially loves sharing seasonal events with her daughter. She also enjoys reading.

 

Beloved Tradition Blends Nature Exploration, Hands-On Learning, and Community Support to Enrich Student Education

On a gorgeous autumn morning, students from Pocantico Hills Central School District arrived at Rockefeller State Park Preserve for the annual Swan Lake Walk. The event, organized by the Pocantico Hills School Foundation, offers students the chance to explore the scenic beauty of Swan Lake while participating in hands-on learning experiences. For decades, this tradition has been a cornerstone of the school community, reinforcing the values of education, nature, and unity.

During their visit, the Pre-K students made their way along the picturesque trail where they gleefully attempted to catch autumn leaves as they fluttered down from the towering trees. The youngsters were equally delighted by the sight of a turtle basking at the lake’s edge. Their laughter echoed along the path, blending with the rustling leaves and distant sounds of nature.

The yearly walk is an opportunity for students to engage with the natural world and learn about the environment. Various educational stations were set up along the route, which were run by dedicated volunteers and Rockefeller State Park staff. These stations provided lessons on topics ranging from ecology to local geography as the students gained a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Principal Adam Brown, who warmly greeted students at different points along the trail, was an integral part of the experience.

“The walk around Swan Lake is amazing on so many levels,” he said. “The kids are outside enjoying nature at a park that is just right up the street from our school. We also have wonderful learning stations, which makes the whole experience that much more enriching, and it all ties directly back to their science curriculum across all the grade levels.”

One of the educational stations focused on the vital role oak trees play in forest ecosystems.

“We're talking about the importance of oak trees, both in our own history and evolution, as well as forest ecosystems as a whole,” explained Kate Cooper, Flora Project Manager at Rockefeller State Park Preserve. “It’s great to get these kids out here, immersed in nature and viewing and touching the things they’re learning about rather than just reading about them. And it also gives them a chance to ask real scientists questions, showing them what their future could be.”

Beyond the educational value, the Swan Lake Walk also serves as a significant fundraising effort. Families and sponsors make donations in honor of students, with the funds directly supporting the Pocantico Hills Foundation’s initiatives. These donations help finance grants for teachers and seed money for innovative programs that enhance the school’s curriculum.

The Swan Lake Walk is more than just a day outdoors; it is a tradition that blends education, community, and the natural world. It offers students the chance to connect with nature while reinforcing their classroom learning and highlights the strong sense of support within the Pocantico Hills community.

Students at Pocantico Hills received a very important message from some special guests on Friday, Oct. 18. Members of the Hilltop Engine Company 1 from the Pocantico Fire Department visited the school to share fire safety tips, the most important being “get out, and stay out,” of their house in the event of a fire.

 

“Don’t go back for the dog, the hamster or the fish,” Company Officer Jennifer Gill told students.

 

The second most important tip that was shared was for students to discuss with their families where they should meet up once they have left the burning house. Having a dedicated spot will ensure that everyone is accounted for in the event of an emergency.

 

Ms. Gill also told students how to protect themselves should a fire break out. If a fire breaks out overnight, they should feel their bedroom door to see if it’s hot, which would suggest the fire is on the other side of the door. If that is the case, they should grab whatever they can find—a sweatshirt, blanket or towel, and put it at the bottom door to prevent smoke from entering the room.

 

Once that is done, they should open a window, listen for sirens and shout “over here!” to alert fire personnel of their where abouts.

 

If they can leave their room safely, they should get out of the house as quickly as possible and wait for the rest of their family members at the designated spot. Once there, someone should call 911.

 

Fire Fighter Steve Poux was decked out in full bunker gear—boots, masks, air pack and more, and had students listen to him breath through his apparatus. The breathing has a distinct noise, and if the students have never heard it before it can be alarming. Allowing students to listen to the unusual noise will help them understand what it is if they ever find themselves in need of assistance. They should not fear the noise, Ms. Gill assured them, as it means a fire fighter is there to help them.

 

A highlight of the morning was when students had an opportunity to see a fire truck up close. They learned about some of the tools fire fighters use and had an opportunity to go inside the truck!

Students arrived for the first day of school on Sept. 3, 2024! We are so excited to begin a new school year!

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Pocantico's New Garden has become an outdoor learning center

Throughout the summer, our garden was attended by staff and some family volunteers. With students back in school, classes are taking time to learn in the garden--what things are ready to harvest, how they grow, and event helping to plant some late season crops! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Swim in Gym

 

Students at Pocantico have a unique opportunity to learn swim and safety skills in our very own pool. Weather permitting, students enjoy "Swim in Gym" at the start of the school year and later when the weather warms up in the spring. It's a great opportunity for students to practice what they know and learn more about critical water safety skills.

 

 

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Eighth graders begin special art project

Eighth graders have been busy with their annual art projects! They began their work in the garden where they photographed what they saw there or found inspiration in images they found elsewhere. Back in the art room they've begun to sketch out their original pieces. We can't wait to see their paintings when done!