Latest News Headlines

• Preliminary Spending Plan for 2010-11 
  Budget includes close to $1 million in cuts
  The preliminary 2010-11 budget is far more optimistic than what’s being forecasted by most New York school districts. While the district is preparing to make close to $1 million in cuts, unlike many other school communities, Port Jervis won’t need to make drastic staff or program cutbacks to cover the projected loss of state aid revenues. The $59,464,574 budget proposal would eliminate three elementary teaching positions through attrition, reduce summer school and BOCES services, and cutback athletic, student, and technology supplies. The proposed cuts, combined with over $500,000 in cost saving initiatives, represent a decrease in spending of 2.42 percent or $1.4 million over the current year. MORE
  • Preliminary 2010-11 Budget • Fund Balance Planning
   

• HBE Journalism 101 with Tracy Baxter
  News veteran teaches students the write stuff
  After covering Read Across America events at Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School for countless years, veteran reporter Tracy Baxter was on the other side of the camera last week. At the request of school administrators, Baxter spent the day at the school teaching fifth and sixth graders the basic journalistic skills needed to enhance their writing. FULL STORY
   

• Bus Drivers complete Advanced Safety Course
  Twenty-three bus drivers who serve the Port Jervis School District recently completed the advanced 10-hour New York State School Bus Drivers Advanced Course, which is designed to help experienced bus drivers continue to do their jobs safely. The drivers were recognized for their accomplishment March 4 by the Board of Education. MORE
   

• Filing Deadline is April 19
  Three School Board seats are up for election  
  Three of the seats on the Board of Education are up for election May 18. Vice President Cathy Sadaghiani and Steven Doss are completing one-year terms. Patrick Witherow is finishing his three-year term. The three seats each carry a three-year term, which will begin June 30.
  
  Petitions to nominate candidates must be filed no later than Monday, April 19 with the District Clerk at 9 Thompson Street, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PTA Meet the Candidates Night is set for May 4 at 7 p.m. in PJHS cafeteria.
   

• Registration for fall kindergarten classes
  Kindergarten registration is being held on the following dates for students who will be 5 years old on or before December 1:
  Wednesday, March 24:  Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School
  Tuesday, April 6: Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School
  Wednesday, April 7:  Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School
  Thursday, April 15: Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School
  Monday, April 19: Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School
  Registration times are from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
  List of documents required for registration.
   

• Deadline for private school bus requests
  Parents of students seeking transportation for their children to a non-public school for the 2010-2011 school year must submit a written request for transportation by April 1, 2010. The request form can be obtained from the non-public school your child attends or by clicking here.   
   

• AIDA performances set for March 19-21
  The Tony award-winning rock musical, Aida, is coming to Port Jervis High School March 19-21.  The musical score created by Elton John and Tim Rice brings excitement to the stage with music ranging from reggae and gospel to zealous rock ballads to express the characters' emotions and celebrate their diversity.   
  Dates: Friday, March 19 & Saturday, March 20 - 7:30 p.m.
  Sunday, March 21 - Matinee at 2 p.m.
  Tickets: $12/adults and $10 students/seniors. For advance tickets, call 845-858-3122. Tickets also sold at the door. MORE 
   

• Voters pass both propositions
  District residents overwhelmingly approved both of the proposed capital renovation projects Feb. 23. In spite of the harsh weather, residents came out to support the propositions, which passed in all four voting districts. The passage of Proposition 1 - a $11.5 million school safety and security project - will allow the district to address several critical safety, security, and energy efficiency issues.
  Proposition 2, a $3.1 million school renovation project, will allow the district to upgrade its telephone system, renovate five science classrooms, and make other needed upgrades at Port Jervis High School.   MORE INFORMATION ON PROPOSITIONS 
  THANK YOU LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT JOHN XANTHIS
   

• Spelling Bee finalists advancing to Tri-States
  The district's top five spellers in grades 5-8 will represent Port Jervis schools at the 2010 Tri-State Spelling Bee at Delaware Valley High School March 14.  Robert Cal (MS), Daniel Kurdlya (HBE), Jeffrey Mackin (ASK), Shane McCooey (MS), and Katelyn Tobey (MS) earned coveted spots at the regional tournament by excelling at the district Spelling Bee Feb. 18. They went up against 26 of the strongest spellers from HBE, ASK, and the Middle School. On March 14, the five students will be competing for the opportunity to represent Port Jervis at the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC. The students are pictured with advisor Barbara Cathy. 
   

• Transportation phone number changes
  The Transportation Announcement Line, 858-5867, and the old transportation office phone, 858-3213, will no longer be in service after April 1.  Quality Bus Service can be reached by calling 858-2150. School closings, delays, early dismissals and other situations that affect transportation services are announced on this web site, and on local radio and television stations listed on the Emergency Closing Page. Parents can also click here sign up to receive SNN (School News Notifier) text messages and/or email alerts about early dismissals, inclement weather delays, and other school emergencies.
     

• Two Port teams win at Odyssey regions
  Two Port Jervis Odyssey of
  the Mind teams won first place Feb. 20 at the regional tournament at Orange-Ulster BOCES. The High School team won by creating and operating a series of aircraft powered by three different propulsions systems. One of the Middle School teams took top honors with its human-powered car that resembled a giant roller skate. Both teams earned a slot at the State tournament on March 27. FULL STORY
    

• Port Jervis Second Quarter Honor Rolls
  Congratulations to all of the students in grades 4 to 12 who qualified for the Second Marking Period Honor Roll.
  • Port Jervis High School
  • Port Jervis Middle School
  • Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School
  • Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School 
   

• Smith crowned Section 9 champion
  Port Jervis finished 11th at the 2010 Section 9 Wrestling Championships. Andrew Smith took first place, earning a slot at the New York State Wrestling Championships in Albany, February 26-27. Isaiah Gillian, Dylan Muller, and John Moriarty placed. Congratulations to all!  MORE
   

• Changes to district calendar
  New dates for In-Service Days for Grades K-8
  The dates for the upcoming K-8 In-Service Days have been changed to accommodate revisions to the 2009-10 NYS testing schedule. 
  March 22: Regular school days for Port Jervis Middle School and both elementary schools. In-Service Days for PJHS students only.
  May 10 & May 17:  New In-Service dates for students in grades kindergarten through eight. Port Jervis Middle School and both elementary schools are closed. Regular school days for PJHS students.
   

• H1N1 vaccine available for general OC population
  Now that H1N1 vaccine can be given beyond the initial target groups, the Orange County Health Department wants residents to be aware that physicians' offices are now receiving H1N1 vaccines regularly, plus OCDH has H1N1 clinics scheduled during the winter break. MORE
  Flu Preparedness & Prevention: The Health Page on this Web site is dedicated to providing families with updated information about H1N1. 
  HEALTH PAGE   H1NI RESOURCE PAGE
  VIDEO - Ways to prevent catching the flu  
   

• When school's out, don't be left in the cold     
  Want to be one of the first to know about school closings and delays? Parents can sign up to receive SNN (School News Notifier) text messages and/or email alerts about early dismissals, inclement weather delays, and other school emergencies. Other sources of this information are this Web site and the local radio and television stations listed on the Emergency Closing Page.
  Click here  to sign-up for School News Notifier   
   

• All Port Jervis Schools In Good Standing
  Port Jervis School District Superintendent John Xanthis announced recently that all Port Jervis schools are now in good standing. The announcement at the Superintendent’s  Conference Day came one week after the New York State Department of Education released Port Jervis Middle School from the Title I “In Need of Improvement” list. MORE

  More News

• Songs for Troops-MS students bring cheer to troops

• First Marking Period Honor Rolls

• Capital Project & Reserve Fund Defeated

• Rotary gives students gift of knowledge

• Port hosts 2009 Orange County Red Ribbon Week Kickoff

• Three honored from District by Mid-Hudson Study Council

• Seven inducted into Alumni Hall of Fame

• H1N1 Influenza Virus Information