Dobbs Ferry School District

TBT...Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges visited Springhurst Elementary School in February 2013 to kick off Black History Month! See Principal Drake's video (click link below) about meeting her and listen as Mrs. Drake reads aloud to students this morning about Ruby's experiences. In November 1960, sixty-one year ago, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges became the first Black student to integrate an elementary school in the South. https://drive.google.com//1sFHTYCm82cQb8xhvd227l5f7Zv/view

In celebration of Black History Month the High School's BIPOC Student Union and the Middle School's Racial & Social Justice Alliance Club have created this video highlighting important black voices past and present. Thank you to the club's advisors and students for honoring these outstanding Americans!

Board of Education Agenda Snapshot- - January 12, 2021 at 7PM Livestream Virtual Meeting The meeting will be livestreamed on our website www.dfsd.org Agenda Items:... Statement by BOE President, Louis Schwartz regarding factual information related to The Landing on the Water at Dobbs Ferry Condominium v. Town of Greenburgh BOE Committees: School & Community Relations Curriculum & Instruction Facilities Finance SE Subcommittee Personnel Retainer Agreement - Shaw Perelson representing the District in P.C v. Dobbs Ferry School District and Dobbs Ferry High School until such time as the insurer can retain different counsel Budget Transfer -$50,000 legal fees Special Education Settlement Agreement Additional Refund of Taxes from a Previously Settled Tax Certiorari Proceeding Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation Grant - Middle School Parent Workshops - $1200 Personnel: Retirement Doug Berry - Assistant Superintendent Curriculum & Instruction Retirement Clark Poccia MS Social Studies Teacher

January 6, 2021 is a day that will be etched in our minds forever. How do you talk to your child about what happened in a way that is emotionally supportive and age appropriate? Zoom in to "Big Conversations with Little People: Parenting in Challenging Times this Thursday evening January 14th at 8:00 PM. Co-sponsored by Springhurst Elementary School and the Dobbs Ferry Public Library. See details below:

Happy Groundhog Day! Springhurst Assistant Principal Ray Cavallo has a special video message for students about this exciting annual event. In case you're wondering... at 7:25 am this morning, Phil saw his shadow, so six more weeks of winter! No surprise there. Thank you Mr. Cavallo for this breaking news!

TBT... Springhurst students have learned the basics of yoga and meditation in school over the last few years to help build healthy minds and bodies and relieve stress! Some great skills to have now!

ALL REMOTE LEARNING Tomorrow- Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Due to the large amount of snow and cleanup efforts that will be required on our campuses, we will have an all remote learning day tomorrow, Tuesday, February 2nd. Students will follow their regular schedules remotely.

This fall Giusy Versace, the world famous Paralympic runner from Italy, sent an amazing message of hope and support to DFHS students and the Senior Class of 2021. She is an inspiration to everyone who is facing hardship. Her words of encouragement are especially meaningful now that we are sprinting toward the finish line! Listen to her message and her story. We can do this.

Schools CLOSED Tomorrow- Monday, February 1, 2021 The Dobbs Ferry School District will be CLOSED tomorrow, Monday, February 1st due to the impending snow storm bringing icy, snowy conditions to our area. This is NOT a remote learning day since schools are closed. Please stay safe. Parents will be notified tomorrow about the status of schools for Tuesday.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT for parents/students: Return to School Tomorrow 1-4-2021 We will return to school tomorrow, January 4th on our regular hybrid schedules. ... We are NOT on a remote only schedule as we were prior to the holiday break. For Springhurst, this is the AM/PM schedule. For the Middle School, this is the blue and white cohort model. For the High School, this is the student choice remote hybrid schedule. We look forward to seeing our students and staff tomorrow!

REMINDER- The virtual BOE Work Session tonight is on Exploring Bias and we hope you will join us at 7 PM. This is a great opportunity for our community to learn together... parents, teachers, students, administrators and BOE members. If you have been attending the Work Sessions this year, we are looking forward to welcoming you back. If you are planning to attend for the first time, we are delighted that you can join us. To prepare for the discussion, please take a few minute...s to read the article, Only White People by Topher Sanders . We will also watch two short videos and examine a definition of bias as part of our workshop. You can use the link below to access the Work Session: https://meet.google.com/wwx-ozeb-ssb

Holiday Video and Letter from the Superintendent December 22, 2020 Dear Parents and Community Members,... The holiday break is upon us and, despite this roller coaster year, I am grateful for the support and grace that so many of you have extended to us throughout this unprecedented time. We have struggled through situations and changes that we could never have dreamed of at this time last year. I know that with some distance, there are many lessons that we will learn from 2020, but for now we must still soldier on and continue to provide the educational program and emotional support that our children and families need. Many of us are still blessed beyond measure, and the inconveniences and individual challenges we face pale in comparison to what many others have had to endure. As we face this New Year together, let’s focus on the hope that we see on the horizon. On a personal note, I hope this video expresses how much we appreciate and admire our Dobbs Ferry school family and community. https://ensemble.lhric.org/Watch/NewYearVideo_2020 Best wishes for the holiday season and the New Year! Sincerely, Lisa Brady, Ed.D. Superintende