As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year, the Board of Education would like to take a moment to reflect upon our outstanding Pittsford Schools community. At the center of our work are always our Pittsford students who lead us to do our best work and be our best selves. The strength of our District relies heavily upon our network of partners, working collaboratively to provide the best educational experience. We are grateful to have a community that shares our District’s vision to be the leader in realizing the promise of public education.

Our school year started off with a focus on relationships. A reminder to treat each other with respect, compassion, and gratitude for all. To care for and inspire those around you to always give their best. The foundation for a supportive environment is based upon these characteristics and without them we cannot succeed. Our community members play an important role in fostering a welcoming environment for our students to thrive in. The Board of Education values the close relationships that we have with our community, depending upon one another for support when needed. We find inspiration all around us, especially from our students, who continually demonstrate integrity in all they do. 

At our last Board meeting, we recognized nine exceptional Pittsford students who demonstrate excellent citizenship and serve as role models for our community each and every day. The Pittsford Pride Student Citizenship Award is presented by the Board of Education three times throughout each school year in November, February and May. A comprehensive selection process brings forth the best candidate for recognition at each of our nine buildings. Honorees are invited, along with their families, to attend our school Board meeting to receive their award and celebrate their grand achievement. It is one of the many highlights we enjoy as Board members to present the Pittsford Pride award.

While we acknowledge our fortune to be surrounded by many extraordinary students in Pittsford, having the ability to showcase a few of our incredible student leaders with the Pittsford Pride award is a privilege that we take great pride in. We are grateful to our students and their families for continually raising the bar, pushing one another to achieve greatness, and having a positive impact on those around you. Thank you for teaching all of us lessons in good citizenship.

In pursuit of our Board mission to promote positive and productive relationships with our community, we held our first PCSD ‘Power Hour’ of the school year in October. During the discussion, panelists shared recent updates to District safety and security measures, including both physical and social-emotional well-being. We understand the value of having opportunities for community feedback and encourage all residents to attend our public events to learn about important topics in our schools. Together, we continue to look for new ways to foster positive relationships with our Pittsford community. Our next PCSD ‘Power Hour’ is scheduled for Monday, December 5^th. District leaders will present on the topic “Strategies to Support Student Worry and Student Anxiety.” We encourage all to attend!

To quote our District’s vision statement, “Our families and community will be welcomed and engaged in educational experiences that dissolve the lines between business, society, and schools. Students will not only view adults as resources but will themselves be recognized as resources to our community, matching their interests with opportunities to create solutions for real needs.” As we continue to develop new ways to accomplish our goals, our gratitude extends to the entire Pittsford Central School District community for their continual support.