Pine Bush Central School District

Dear Pine Bush Community, I am sorry to report that hybrid students in grades 7-12 will not be able to return for in-person instruction on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. Students will remain on a 100% remote instructional model through Monday, Nov. 30, 2020 with hybrid students in grades 7-12 expected to return on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. We have received reports about multiple parties that were held this past weekend across the Pine Bush community. We learned of some students who ...gathered in large groups and did not wear masks or practice social distancing. Thus far, at least 10 high school students who attended one or more of these parties have tested positive for COVID-19. We are working with the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) to confirm these cases. If these reports of parties are accurate, this practice adversely impacts our ability to expand to in-person instruction, potentially leads to community spread, and poses a risk to our students, faculty, and staff. Once again, I ask that we observe gathering limits, wear masks, and practice social distancing during any gatherings. I am deeply concerned that some of our families are withholding information regarding positive cases which puts our whole community at risk. When a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, those exposed to the affected individual must quarantine for 14 days from the last exposure date. The OCDOH determines the individuals who need to quarantine. Understandably, the OCDOH requires stringent health and safety protocols to mitigate risks for all members of our learning community. Therefore, it is imperative that if your child tests positive, you must be honest with the contact tracers and provide the names of all of the individuals that your child had contact with in the 48 hours prior to the positive test results. Otherwise, it will be impossible to contain the spread. As this school year unfolds, the District is committed to safely addressing challenges, expanding successes, and increasing in-person learning if conditions permit. However, the safety of our faculty, staff, and students must always come first. See more

Dear Pine Bush Community, Over the past two weeks, the Pine Bush Central School District has been discussing Back to Play because we feel strongly that participating in athletics allows students to develop positive relationships with peers and coaches. Athletics also develops team building, improves communication skills, develops resilience and a strong work ethic, while improving physical fitness. Since COVID-19 has created many restrictions that require safety protocols a...Continue reading

The Town of Crawford PBA and police department are hosting a Trunk or Treat on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Pine Bush High School and the Bullville Fire House. Get some treats while meeting members of the police department, the school resource officers, Pine Bush Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Bullville Fire Company and Pine Bush Fire Company. Drive your vehicle to either location, roll down your car window and get your treats! For more information, check out the Town of Crawford Police Facebook page or call 845-744-3300.

Over the past two days, the district and the Orange County Department of Health conducted simultaneous investigations into the first positive COVID-19 case at Circleville Elementary. As a result, we have learned about four additional positive cases and other possible direct contacts outside of school. Therefore, CES students will transition to all virtual learning starting tomorrow, Oct. 28, and return to school for hybrid learning on Tuesday, Nov. 10 (an A day). All CES ...staff will report to the building and conduct instruction from there since the other staff direct contacts have already been quarantined. The district also learned of two additional positive cases, one at PAK and one at CVMS. Both of those cases were already quarantining due to previous contact tracing. No other action is needed at this time for those buildings. I regret that I have to share this difficult news with you but wanted to keep all of you updated so that you are aware that we are dedicated to keeping everyone as safe as possible. Thank you. Acting Superintendent Donna Geidel

STARTING NOV. 2, PBHS STUDENTS CAN TAKE THEIR LEARNER PERMIT TEST RIGHT AT SCHOOL. Pine Bush High School students who are at least 16 and looking to get their learner permit have something to cheer about. While others have to make an appointment at the local Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) and possibly wait months for that appointment, PBHS students can take their learner permit test right here at Pine Bush High School, thanks to Principal Aaron Hopmayer and School Resourc...e Officer Dan Boyd. Last year Dan came up with the idea that we should be certified to administer the tests, said Hopmayer. That way, our kids can take it right here in our offices. The procedure is the same, but without the wait time or much of the test anxiety. Both Hopmayer and Boyd applied to DMV, took the training and are certified to administer the testing. It didn’t happen last school year because of COVID-19 but Hopmayer and Boyd are ready to put this into place starting Nov. 2. Boyd said the process is the same as if the students were going to the DMV except they make an appointment with him or Hopmayer. Only one student is allowed to take the test with each of them at any one time. Boyd or Hopmayer would verify the student’s identity, age and residence with the same documents that are needed by DMV and enter them into the system. After verification, they would log on to the testing website through the DMV and take the test. There is no extra cost involved; all students would pay the same state fee as they would at DMV. The benefit here is a quicker wait time to actually take the test, said Boyd. And if they fail, they can sign up very quickly to take it again. No long wait time. Also, they are taking the test in a place in which they are familiar, Hopmayer added, helping them get rid of some test anxiety, if they have it. The test is available in both English and Spanish. For those with testing accommodations, there is an audio button so the test can be read aloud to them. Boyd, who is a Town of Crawford police officer, said he would help the students prepare by going over vehicle and traffic law in advance with them as part of their studying. The learners’ permit manual is online for students to study on their own. Hopmayer, though, views it another way. Yes, there are great benefits for our students and their parents by providing this service. In addition to that, it further reinforces the collaborative effort between our school district and the Town of Crawford Police Department. This is a great outreach and I hope many students take advantage of it. Anyone wishing to get more information about taking the learner permit test at the high school or to set up an appointment, contact Mr. Hopmayer or Officer Boyd via email at [email protected] or [email protected], or call Boyd at 845-744-2031, ext. 3184. See more

This is Mike Pacella, Assistant Superintendent for Business with an important announcement. Tonight, the Board of Education has approved a leave of absence for Tim Mains, Superintendent of Schools, commencing October 14, 2020. During the period of Mr. Mains’ absence, Donna Geidel, has agreed to return to the District, as Acting Superintendent, so that the District’s other central office assistant superintendents, myself and Amy Brockner, can focus our full attention on the myriad of responsibilities related to the District’s reopening plan. Thank you and have a good evening.

60% of teens say prescription drugs are easy to obtain from a parent's or relative's medicine cabinet and will most likely go unnoticed. That's why Tri-County ...Community Partnership and the Town of Crawford Police Department are participating in National Drug Take Back Day! Details below. #prevention #ItTakesAllOfUs #drugtakebackday See more

Dear Pine Bush Central School Community, On Oct. 9, 2020 the district was informed that an employee at Pine Bush High School tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday, Oct. 5, 20202 we were notified that two staff members at Pine Bush Elementary School also tested positive prior to students returning to the building for the start of in-person hybrid learning. We have contacted the Orange County Department of Health (OCDOH) to assist them with the identification of the staff mem...bers who were probable direct, close or proximate contacts with the infected individuals. The OCDOH will make the final determination as to who is considered to be a close or proximate contact and will inform those individuals for further direction. We are working cooperatively with the OCDOH to provide them with contact information for those who may have been exposed. Both schools have been cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the guidance of the New York State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Accordingly, all students and staff may report as usual. Please know that we are prohibited from releasing any personal identifiable information. For future notifications, please refer to our website under the Return to Learn section where we will post daily updates on reported cases by site. Also, please trust that we are following every directive and protocol given to us by the Department of Health. See more

Dan Aktas has an excitement about him when he starts talking 3D printing. And engineering. And all things art. It doesn’t go unnoticed. Aktas, an art and technology teacher at Pine Bush High School, was named the High School Art Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020 from the New York State Art Teachers Association, Region 7. I am so honored to receive the Region 7 New York State High School Art Teacher of the Year recognition. I received this recognition in large part for the 3D... printing art class I developed here at the high school called Art & Fabrication, said Aktas. I am very excited to continue working with all of the teachers and administrators who feel so strongly about supporting students through our art and manufacturing programs. DAN IS AN AMAZING TEACHER WHO IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO CREATE AUTHENTIC PROJECTS TO KEEP HIS STUDENTS ENGAGED. PBHS Principal Aaron Hopmayer A man with very short hair and beard stands at a large red and white machine. An art teacher heard Aktas speak at a conference and was so impressed by him, his passion about art and technology and his skill that she nominated him for the distinction, noting that he developed and implemented the first fine art 3D printing course at Pine Bush called Art & Fabrication to support students’ creativity with digital manufacturing equipment. Aktas received his bachelor of fine arts in Ceramics at SUNY New Paltz while exploring digital printing technologies and his Masters at NYU Steinhardt for Art Education with an emphasis on social justice. Dan is an amazing teacher who is always looking to create authentic projects to keep his students engaged, said Aaron Hopmayer, principal of Pine Bush High School. Annually he works with the elementary and middle school students to expose them to the exciting opportunities that await them in high school. See more

When school resumes on Tuesday, please remind your secondary students (HS and MS) that this Wednesday, Sept. 30, will be their last Wi-Fi Wednesday. Beginning on the following Monday, Oct. 5, all secondary students will switch their flex day to Mobile Mondays, in order to put them in synch with their younger siblings who are in our elementary schools. From that point on, all Pine Bush students will continue to have asynchronous instruction on Mobile Monday. Also when ...school resumes on Tuesday, Sept. 29, some students may be in jeopardy of losing access to their classes, if they have not gotten or at least been scheduled for their required vaccinations. The state requires proof of certain vaccinations to be enrolled in our schools and the legal deadline was Sept. 22. Those families whose children are out of compliance should be communicating with their child’s school nurse if you have any questions. For those of you who have not yet been scared away from following the news, you may be aware that Orange County has seen a recent uptick in the number of positive COVID-19 cases. Despite that recent increase, we are far from the kind of numbers that might lead government officials to mandate closing our schools. We have actually had three positive cases of the virus reported to us two students and one teacher in Pine Bush. However, none of these three individuals have been in our schools over the past 14 days, so we haven’t even had to ask anyone to quarantine. At the end of the day, I am less worried about the number of cases becoming so great as to delay our bringing kids back to our school buildings. I’m more worried about having too many staff members who need to use sick time to deal with a potential infection for themselves or a family member. Staffing rather than the actual rate of infection could delay our plans for in-person instruction. But so far, that has not happened, so I am still planning for the return of K-6 students to our schools for in-person hybrid instruction beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 6. I know the teachers can’t wait to get their students back in school, even if it can only be two days a week for now. Students in grade 7-12 (except for a few special education classes in grades 7 and will continue to be all virtual for the foreseeable future. Finally, if you still need a Chromebook for one or more of our students, you should contact that child’s school. But you should do so quickly, because the deadline to be able to purchase cheap insurance (if anything happens to that device) will expire after Wednesday, Sept. 30. See more

Each year, the Mid-Hudson School Study Council honors those in the education field who display excellence in their field. This year, four nominees from the Pine Bush Central School District are being recognized by the MHSSC for their excellence to our district and our students: Delfina Carvalho Excellence in Support Staff Michael Gillespie Excellence in Administration Gretchen Meier Excellence in School Board Service... Marilyn (Lyn) Prestia Excellence in Pupil Personnel Service Congratulations

The Pine Bush Central School District is making touchscreen Chromebooks available to students of the district. We will be distributing Chromebooks on: Monday, Sept. 21, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.... Thursday, Sept. 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Chromebooks are available for any students who do not have a district-issued Chromebook. Students who borrowed a Chromebook from the district this past spring are welcome to exchange that Chromebook for a touchscreen Chromebook. Parents will need to sign up for a pick-up time at either Pine Bush High School or Circleville Middle School using the following website: https://pickatime.com/PineBushCentralSchoolDistrict. A Chromebook agreement will need to be signed by a parent for each Chromebook being borrowed. Parents can sign the form before they come to pick up a Chromebook or blank forms will be available when they come to pick up a Chromebook. We suggest that parents bring a pen with them if they have not signed the agreement before coming to the distribution. The district will fill in the Chromebook information on the agreement.

Circleville Middle School Assistant Principal Seth Siegel has been named the Upstate Jane Golub Gold Star Educator Award winner by the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate initiative. Each year, the Anti-Defamation League chooses three Gold Star students and an educator from a region for these honor. The Gold Star Educator Award recognizes educators who go above and beyond the expectations in implementing the No Place for Hate program in schools. The means so much to Si...egel, not only for himself but also for the students and teachers who have such an active role in the program. Many of our activities were student-led, said Siegel, pointing to an activity where studnets created classroom rules about being an upstander sticking up for others with respect. This is more about the teachers and students having such an active role in each activity. I wanted to infuse the No Place for Hate program into the day and we have definitely been able to do that. Siegel recognizes the vast benefits of the No Place for Hate program, in part because it emphasizes kindness and respect. No Place for Hate circles back to kindness and respect, said Siegel. We show each other kindness and respect every day, between students and teachers. This program cultivates that respect. For four years Siegel has been assistant principal at Circlevllle Middle School. Before that, he was a school counselor for nearly 10 years. Character development has always been at the forefront of his goals. My goal in both positions has been to help students make personal progress to grow and develop into successful young adults, said Siegel. I feel that character education, social-emotional learning and other programs such as No Place for Hate are crucial to help support our students. Siegel said the NPFH program has absolutely had a positive effect on the students, shown in both data and behavior. We look at the data, our referrals, but more so we hear back from the high school and others who say CVMS kids are so kind, he said. We see the kids helping the younger ones and sticking up for others. That’s where I see the progress. While this is an incredibly positive step forward in the district’s character education, Siegel cautions there is always more to do. This award shows we have done a lot in our building, said Siegel. At CVMS, we emphasize that we don’t want our students and staff to accept or tolerate others. Instead, we celebrate them and their differences. We strive for this. See more

Our community’s amazing partnership filmed this Public Service Announcement. Thank you Tri-County!

Hello, I have four very important updates for Pine Bush families about our reopening plans. 1. Each school has developed a handbook for students and their families with details about what virtual instruction will look like when it begins on Sept. 8. Those handbooks are now posted on our website. They can be found under the News and Announcements section on the landing page for each school. They can also be found on our new Return to Learn page that can be found by c...Continue reading