Putnam Valley Central School District

Virtual College Visits at PVHS happen on Mondays. Check the Guidance Page for info and links. MONDAY, December 7 - Per. 6 - West Chester University of Pennsylvania 11:11am Assistant Director of Admissions [email protected]... Students interested in applying for free to Westchester Community College can easily do so, by attending a virtual admissions meeting on either Tuesday 12/8 or Wednesday 12/9. For students who are present in the building on either day, we will host a socially distanced in-person meeting in the PAC where the Guidance Counselors will be on hand to help you complete the application. For those virtually attending we will still be able to help, but make sure your Guidance Counselor knows of your desire to attend so we can invite you. Please be sure that you have access to Zoom on your laptops. The application fee will be waived for all who attend. Make sure you speak with your Guidance Counselor if you are interested in applying to WCC. PVHS Parents Class of 2022 PVHS PARENTS - Class of 2021

Disney Settles in at Fox Meadow and Walden Schools Her favorite class is definitely Physical Education. Her favorite time of day? Lunch. But when it comes to s...tudents and staff at Fox Meadow High School, Disney doesn’t play favorites. She loves everyone! Disney Putnam| Northern Westchester’s new therapy dog is slowly settling into life at school. Since joining PNW BOCES earlier this fall, Disney has split her week between Fox Meadow and the Walden School. In the last month, she has gradually taken on more roles at both schools and, in the process, has won the hearts of her handling team, teachers, therapists, support staff, the students she officially helps and the students who drop down to their knees to say hello. The kids love her and the staff loves her, said Work Based Learning Coordinator Jane Thorpe, who, along with school Psychologist Jessica Wayte, supervises Disney at Fox Meadow. It’s been amazing to see how many bridges a dog can build. She really is a comfort. At Fox Meadow, Disney regularly attends Phys Ed classes. The dog sees it as a chance to chase balls and race between students. Staff, however, see it differently: With Disney in class, students seem calmer and more likely to participate. Disney also has been incorporated into work-based learning sessions overseen by Thorpe who also has opened her home to the easy going, intelligent Labrador. Students participate in activities linked to her care, such as brushing her coat and teeth or taking her for walks. There are also less structured parts of Disney’s day, such as when she drops by classrooms during lunch or free periods for what Thorpe calls spreading joy visits. Spreading joy is also part of her day at Walden, where she is guided by the rest of her team, Social Worker Brandy Haight and Crisis Team member Christina Lennon. Students passing her in the halls call out Disney, Disney, and ask to pet her. The students love her, said Haight. They LOVE her they get so excited to see her and want to hug and pet her. But Disney is not just at school to be loved. Because there are rules around interacting with Disney, students wanting to pet her must ask permission, use hand sanitizer and accept that sometimes the answer will be No because Disney is on the job with a classmate. The word ‘No’ is a big trigger for a lot of our students, Haight explained. By dealing with Disney, students are learning to manage their frustration and disappointment. Students have proposed solutions such as asking if they can visit the dog later or have her come to their classroom another time. Haight also has been having Disney join her for certain therapy sessions where she has proved to be a calming influence for students being asked to take responsibility for negative behavior. She is in demand for certain physical therapy sessions as well. Walking Disney around the halls encourages students to become more aware of their own bodies, said physical therapist Daniela Campbell. Instead of me saying ‘slow down’ to students who usually rush, the kids themselves slow down and notice where their bodies are in relation to the dog and others. Before coming to PNW BOCES, Disney underwent extensive training at the nonprofit Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities. Her training included 150 hours dedicated to becoming a certified ‘facility dog.