The district has reactivated its annual Budget Web Page. It will be updated regularly, until the May 15 budget vote, with information on budget presentations, the tax levy cap, state aid, and the challenges of developing the 2012-13 budget.

Port Jervis facing $1 Million Revenue Shortfall
Governor Cuomo's 2012-13 executive budget proposal gives the impression that state aid to education is increasing. That is not true. State aid is actually decreasing next year for Port Jervis - by $111,000. This reduction, combined with budgetary restrictions created by the new tax levy cap, are creating a huge revenue shortfall for Port Jervis. In a special report provided to the Board of Education, Assistant Superintendent for Business Lorelei Case estimated the 2012-13 budget shortfall could be as large as $1 Million dollars.  This calculation is based on preliminary figures that are being used to develop next year's budget. MORE
Click here to view Case's PowerPoint Presentation.

"This is only a test"
School News Notifier testing system today at 4 pm
Like Port Jervis, many school districts use the School New Notifier system to send important information to parents and community members who have requested it. So when bad weather strikes, tens of thousands of SNN emails and cell phone text messages are sent out within a few minutes of one another, sometimes resulting in delays in the messages getting through. To prevent delays, Capital Region BOCES recently upgraded the SNN system and now needs to test it before our next big storm. 

Anyone who has signed up for the "School Closings & Delays" alert will receive an SNN email and/or cell phone text message at approximately 4 p.m. today - February 9. You can disregard these messages because they are only to test the system.
 

Four School Board seats up for election
Meet the Candidates Night set for April 25
Four of the nine seats on the Port Jervis School District Board of Education are up for election May 15. Board President William Onofry, Thomas Sexton and Michael Bello are completing their three-year terms. The term for temporary appointee Earl Walker is also ending. Petitions to nominate candidates for the school board must be filed with the District Clerk no later than Monday, April 16.  MORE

HS junior attending Brown Leadership Institute
High School junior Victoria Blancato was selected to attend the prestigious Brown University Leadership Institute this summer. Ranked in the top five percent of her class, Blancato was awarded a merit-based scholarship to attend the two-week program. MORE

Kara Raap publishes novel - HBE is setting for story
Carly Sage has crossed the threshold into sixth grade at Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School. But you won’t find the 11-year-old on any class roster. She’s the inspirational character in the coming-of-age novel written by Port Jervis elementary teacher Kara Raap.  MORE

Volleyball team wins State Scholar-Athlete Title

The Girls Varsity Volleyball team has won the Fall 2011 Scholar-Athlete Championship title for New York State. The Raider team members qualified for the state title by achieving a composite grade point average of 96.53. Five other Raider fall sports teams received an award for earning a composite grade point average of 90 or higher.  FULL STORY

Kindergarteners celebrate the 100th Day of School
Port Jervis Kindergarten classes had fun celebrating the 100th Day of School. Students in Melissa Haight's class are pictured creating the perfect 100th Day shirt! With the help of classroom aide Nancy Farr and volunteer parents and grandparents, the students painted their handprints on the t-shirt 10 times.

ASK celebrate teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King
ASK celebrated the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by practicing Habit 5 on our 7 Habits Tree - Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. As a sign of solidarity, everyone was asked to wear tie dyed items and/or peace signs.

Board approves 2012-13 Student Calendar
The 2012-13 Student Calendar was approved by the School Board. Click here to view next year's holidays, conference days and Regent exam schedules.  
 

Science teachers connect digital games to learning
Fun. Addictive. Awesome. That’s what Port Jervis seventh graders are saying about the Nintendo game they got to play recently in science class. The students spent hours playing a game called The Ruby Realm. But, the class was more than just fun and games. The game was developed to provide Middle School students with a better understanding of  photosynthesis. FULL STORY
 

HS students can now earn varsity academic letter
Port Jervis High School students who excel in the classroom will now have the opportunity to earn an academic letter. The new varsity letter is similar to what is presented to Raider athletes. Fifty nine seniors, who earned a 90 or higher average for their first three years of high school, received their Varsity Academic Letter Dec. 22.
LIST OF RECIPIENTS Congratulations to all!
 

Eighth graders receive basic CPR training
Port Jervis Middle School students are learning how to save lives. On December 14, 67 eighth grade students were trained in the basics of CPR by the American Heart Association. Along with the hands-on training, each student received a CPR training kit, which included an educational DVD, booklet, and an inflatable “Mini-Annie” resuscitation mannequin. MORE

Indoor Community Walking Trail open for winter
The Indoor Walking Trail at Port Jervis High School has re-opened for the season. Offered free-of-charge to all district residents, the indoor course was developed last year to provide community members, teachers, staff and students with a safe, convenient location to walk during the cold winter months.  The 1/5 mile indoor trail is open to the public weekdays, 4 to 5:45 p.m., through March 16.  MORE