Pocantico third graders received a rousing amount of inspiration during a performance by actors from Pleasantville-based ARC Stages. The troupe of actors visited the school as part of the theater’s Vision and Voices Playwriting Residency.

 

The class is in the process of learning how to write their own plays. During the performance, they were introduced to the elements that contribute to creating a script and ultimately an exciting story.

 

Aspiring writers were asked to “show us the art that is in your heart,” during a musical performed by ARC Stages staff.

 

The story shares how one writer struggles to come up with an idea for a story. That is until “Steve,” the Muse, appears.

 

“Steve” then helps the writer learn how to ask questions that will then inform what their story is all about. He asks writers to consider WHERE their story takes place, WHO their hero is, WHAT is the goal for the protagonist and also WHAT is the PROBLEM that the main character must solve.

 

When asked for ideas, the third graders determined their original play would be about Cactus Man, who lives in a garbage can who wants to avoid an evil raccoon all while being confronted with a garbage avalanche.

 

Finally, the students were asked to consider what it is their story is trying to say?

 

“Don’t worry if it’s silly or bizarre, be creative, be amazing and ask ‘why not?” the students were told.

 

After the show, the students engaged in a creativity workshop with the teaching artists from Arc Stages. They guided the students through brainstorming activities to begin to compose a play. Students were invited to share their work with their peers, explained teacher Marina Pisto.

The next step will be for students to write a play of their own. The actors will return in a few weeks to help students with their original plays.

Eventually the students will submit their plays to ARC Stages and its possible one, or more, will be selected by the theater group to be performed live on stage!

 

 

 

Pocantico students embraced their creativity during the district’s Hour of Code, diving into projects like coding music, games, and dance parties. The room was buzzing with energy and excitement as students explored the endless possibilities of programming.

 

Hosted by Educational Technology Director Alana Winnick and the district’s Technology Committee, the Hour of Code was offered as a special after-school event. Separate sessions for elementary and middle school students ensured every participant had the chance to explore and innovate.

 

“This isn’t just about learning to code—it’s about learning to think,” said Ms. Winnick. “Hour of Code helps students see themselves as creators, innovators, and problem-solvers, skills that will serve them in any career or challenge they face.”

 

Throughout the school year, Pocantico students engage in structured coding workshops to learn foundational skills. But during the Hour of Code, those skills came to life as students used them to pursue their own creative ideas.

 

Sixth-grader Ronan K. shared how he used Tynker and Code.org to bring his ideas to life. “You can make songs and code different things,” he said.

 

Eric L., another sixth grader, talked about how he’s taken his coding journey further by using AI on his own to learn python and even coded projects like a calculator.

 

“There was no one there telling you what to do,” added classmate Archer W. “You could design anything with code.”

 

Fifth-grader Riley P. loved the freedom to explore. “In Hour of Code, we could do whatever we wanted—like a dance party,” she said. For sixth-grader Nate M., it was an opportunity to combine music with creativity and design his own monster.

 

“Coding teaches students resilience, creativity, and critical thinking,” said Ms. Winnick. “Hour of Code is our way of showing them that with a little patience and imagination, they can bring their dreams to life, create solutions to real-world problems, and shape the future.”

 

Students also reflected on how coding is like learning a new language. “If you’re bilingual, it’s easier to learn another language,” Eric said. “Coding is a language of commands to a computer. It’s a little tricky—you just have to figure out the patterns.”

 

Eric pointed out that patience is key, adding that mistakes are part of the process and can always be fixed. Riley agreed, offering advice for new coders to stay patient while learning.

“With coding, you have an equitable environment,” said Sofia A. “No matter how much you know, it’s easy to learn with a good instructor.”

 

“It’s a fun way to express yourself,” Archer added.

 

“You could even become the next Elon Musk,” Eric chimed in.

 

For many elementary students, the best part of Hour of Code was having the freedom to choose their own projects.

 

"I like how I can go into Tynker and start with a blank space. I can add a background and characters and make them move! It's lots of fun" said second grader Matthew Y.

“You could work together and help one another,” said Ipsa V. “If you ran into a problem, it was easy to ask a friend who might have had the same issue.”

Fourth-grader Kai-an W. appreciated the opportunity to code during Hour of Code, something she wishes happened more often during regular school hours.

 

“It’s fun because it’s not like we’re doing something they assigned us,” added classmate Gwynna F.

 

“It helps you open up your imagination,” said Kent K. “With coding, there’s no right or wrong. That’s what I loved about Hour of Code.”

 

The Hour of Code not only sparked creativity but also fostered collaboration and confidence in students, proving that when given the tools and freedom to explore, their potential is limitless.

The 2025 One Poco Night celebration was so jam-packed with activities, performances, games and food, it truly outdid itself.

 

“It’s a great way to spend a cold night in January,” Music Teacher Sheila DiPaola told the crowd who had gathered in the auditorium to watch cultural performances by students.

 

And she was right. There was a ton to do, and even more to eat in what has become one of the largest community events at the school.

 

The evening began with several student performances. First on stage were a group of friends who performed two mediterranean fusion dances, one to Sting’s “Desert Rose,” and the other to John Lennon’s “Imagine,” sung in Arabic.

 

Students Layla and Noah performed the “bachata,” a popular dance from the Dominican Republic.

 

Claire wowed the audience with her performance of “The Sun Shines Over Jinggang Mountain,” a tune she played on the guzheng, a Chinese instrument that goes back more than 2,000 years.

 

The cafeteria was transformed into a museum, game room and learning center, all developed by the school’s diversity committee. Guests had an opportunity to view several artifacts from around the world. They could also engage in some fun games relating to different cultures and languages. There were books to read, written in a language other than English and guests could also try their hand at learning some basics in Croatian and Italian.

 

Then there was the gym, which was transformed into a multi-cultural diner. Families celebrated their cultural heritage by sharing food and treats from all around the globe.

 

Parent Ashley Margolis had a spread on her table of pastries, representing France.

 

“She loves France,” Ms. Margolis said of her daughter, second grader Emery, who inspired her to share. “And its where my family is from.”

 

Ms. Margolis said she and her family visited France two years ago, and Emery was intrigued with all things culinary, even taking a class to learn to make some of the specialties.

 

“We made crêpes,” Emery said.

 

Pre-Kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Lapore was there with her family, sharing Irish Soda Bread.

 

“It’s always a good day to be Irish,” her mother noted.

 

“One Poco Night is the highlight of the year, because more than any other event, it brings all of our cultures together,” Principal Adam Brown said. “It lets us break bread and appreciate each other.”

 

This year he said it was not only Pocantico families who helped make the event special by sharing their cultural food, but teachers and staff who shared food and helped organized the games, crafts and hands-on experiences that were also part of the evening.

 

One afternoon while checking her email third grade teacher Marina Pisto-Lombardo saw one from the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education. It was not unusual for her to receive correspondence from this organization, as she has attended and even spoken at their conferences. This particular email, however, was different.

 

“It was a nice surprise,” she said.

 

This email informed her that she had been selected as the NYSCATE Teacher of the Year.

Pocantico’s Educational Technology Director, Alana Winnick, nominated Ms. Pisto-Lombardo for the honor. In her letter to the selection committee, she wrote, “Marina is an educator who consistently thinks outside the box and embraces innovation with open arms.”

Ms. Winnick continued, noting “she is unafraid of experimentation and is quick to recognize that true growth often comes through embracing challenges and learning from setbacks. She has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to integrate technology in a meaningful and purposeful manner within her classroom. What sets Marina apart is her unwavering commitment to using technology as a powerful tool to enhance the educational experience of her students. She meticulously designs lessons that leverage technology to achieve deeper and more engaging learning outcomes.”

In addition, Ms. Winnick said the teacher has integrated technology into her classroom by teaching her students how to code and instructing them on the ethics of artificial intelligence all done through hands-on activities integrated into the existing curriculum.

 

Since 2020 Ms. Pisto-Lombardo has been presenting workshops at NYSCATE conferences and in 2022 she participated in their TEDTalk master class, later using this experience to present a TEDTalk of her own.

 

“I feel like this organization has brought me a lot of unexpected moments,” Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said, adding that at the 2022 conference, she was selected to deliver her TEDTalk before the keynote speaker, which came as a complete surprise to her, as her presentation was scheduled to be in front of a smaller group.

 

“This organization is validating the work I do and the person I am,” she said. “It’s a safe space for educators across the state to have a voice.”

 

“I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Marina,” Principal Adam Brown said. “She has been a strong supporter of the work NYSCATE does and it’s so appropriate for them to recognize her for all her contributions to them and her students.”

 

“I am so happy Marina was selected as the NYSCATE Teacher of the Year,” added Superintendent Rich Calkins. “She has grown so much in her work and has embraced technology in her classroom, learning right along with her students. She finds the latest technological tools to enhance her student’s learning, preparing them for the future. Congratulations Marina!”

 

Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said being a member of NYSCATE has helped her with the work she does with her students and has helped inform her of what is available to educators to become better teachers.

 

“I feel that it’s an organization that gives you that space to say, ‘go ahead and do that,’” she said. “They’ll help make it better for you and your students.”

 

She said too that the organization focuses on what is relevant to students including social/emotional learning and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. And, she added, that the organization benefits all those involved across the education spectrum, from school administrators to teachers.

 

“The more I went to their sessions, the more I felt this is where I belonged,” she said. “With 17 years of teaching, I found a space in this professional life that helped me grow.”

 

Having a relationship with these types of organizations, Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said, is a great way to learn new things and not become stagnant.

 

This year Ms. Pisto-Lombardo has also done volunteer work with NYSCATE, saying she has helped other educators develop presentations and developed curriculum for the TED-Style Talk program.

 

“I feel like I am giving back because they have given me so much,” she said.

 

While the organization’s focus is on technology, Ms. Pisto-Lombardo encouraged other educators to become involved even if their focus and interest is not technology.

 

“It all comes back to honoring our kids, honoring the world they live in,” she said, adding that this is especially true as children grow in a world full of AI.

 

“We have a responsibility to understand this is their world,” she said.

 

 

ENL teacher Joy Scantlebury recently was named the New York Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Elementary School ESOL Teacher of the Year.

 

She first joined the organization while in graduate school and has attended or presented at several of their conferences through the years.

 

“That first conference changed my life,” Ms. Scantlebury said. “I was a novice teacher, still learning. I love conferences anyway, because I like to learn new things. I’ve made some really good friendships and connections. It’s a good support system for me.”

 

She said the honor meant more to her because of the decades-long affiliation with NYSTESOL.

 

“I hold this organization in such high esteem,” she said. “This came as a complete surprise for me.”

 

“We are so excited for Joy,” Superintendent Richard Calkins said. “We know how dedicated she is to her students and how hard she works to help them succeed. Truly, this honor could not have gone to a better person.”

 

Ms. Scantlebury received her award at a reception held on Friday, Nov. 15 in Rochester.

 

“There is something very important about being and staying connected with other educators in this field, we help each other and learn from each other,” she said.

 

Laptops were on, ideas were flowing, questions were answered, as the classroom transformed into a buzzing newsroom while members of the new Pocantico Newspaper Club, The Hawk, shared their ideas and got to work.

 

“Pick a topic and do your research,” prompted club advisor and third grade teacher Marina Lombardo.

 

Club members brainstormed what their vision for “The Hawk” and what it might look like and agreed that they had creative license to make it whatever they decided would be best. They were not confined by the traditional showcase of words on a page but could put together videos or podcasts too or even include poems.

 

“I joined because it allows us to create something without it just being an essay,” said eighth grader Olivia R. about joining the club. “I was also interested in showing why it is important to speak up for yourself in any environment like the cafeteria, club or classroom.”

 

Ms. Lombardo told the club members that the paper will be a platform for them to use their voice.

 

“It’s for if you have something important you want to say,” agreed sixth grader Sofia A.

 

The goal for the club is to have the first issue out in December, before the holidays and Ms. Lombardo has been encouraging them to select a medium of their choice, giving them the freedom to explore any format they desire.

 

“We are merging the creative writing space with the journalism space,” she said.

 

Some of the club members already have a considerable amount of writing under their belts as co-authors of the “Aquawagomingo” series, an adventure story written by a group of students and shared throughout the school.

 

“It’s about having the confidence to get your work out there,” Grace I., one of the Aquawagomingo writers said.

 

Being part of the club, Nina A. said, was a way to grow your confidence in yourself and “to share with others what you are interested in.”

 

“I think it will be great to use different media,” Olivia said. “It’s all about putting them all together.”

 

“It will also show people that it is OK to bring attention to things,” she continued.

 

Ms. Lombardo said her role is to guide the club members in their work and to assist them in bringing their vision to life. She said too, the club will provide an opportunity for members to learn new skills, such as media literacy, researching and effective communication.

 

“It will teach kids new things,” agreed seventh grader Alana S. “And it will show other kids all the things they can do too.”

Children’s author Christina Sharkey Geist told a group of first and second graders she was there to speak to them “author to author.”

 

“Authors are just like us,” she said, noting that they are neighbors, she doesn’t live too far from Pocantico Hills, they look like regular people, just like she does, and they write stories just like the students do.

 

When speaking to the fellow authors she said she recalls writing her first story in the third grade, it was all about a mouse.

 

“I was always a writer,” she said.

 

Ms. Geist is the author of three children’s books, which she shared with the youngest elementary students on Dec. 9, including a group of junior pre-k students and kindergartners. Among her books are “Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School!” “Buddy’s Bedtime Battery,” and “Buddy’s New Buddy.”

She was described by music teacher and event host Sheila DePaola as “an author, mom and super cool person.”

 

“I think books should be fun,” Ms. Geist told students.

 

One of the ways she makes her stories fun is to take events she has experienced and incorporate them into her stories.

 

“Sometimes authors get stories from their own life,” she said, explaining how her book “Sorry, Grown-Ups, You Can’t Go to School,” developed from the time when she was helping her daughter, Lucy, get over her nervousness about going to summer camp. When she teased that she was going to go to camp too, her daughter said she could not go because they didn’t allow grown-ups. In the story, the scenario is changed a bit, when the parents of Lady and Buddy, along with their grandparents, want to go to school. They are told, repeatedly, “school is only for students and teachers!”

 

In her book “Buddy’s Bedtime Battery,” she was inspired by her son, George, who when little had robot pajamas he loved to wear. In addition, like so many young children, he didn’t want to go to sleep. The story shares how Buddy turns himself into a robot named “Ro-Buddy” who has fun getting rid of some energy before his parents settle him down by reading books and tucking him into bed.

 

“He’d put his jammies on, and we’d pretend,” Ms. Geist said of when her son was three.

 

Ms. Geist also explained how stories develop from an idea to an actual book readers can buy and enjoy. It’s not an easy process and can take up to three years. She said that a valuable lesson she likes to share is how she works as part of team that includes her illustrator, Tom Bowers. Sometimes the two go back and forth until her vision comes alive in the sketches and paintings Mr. Bowers shared with her.

 

The author made a deal with the students, asking them to write their own book with a promise to read it to her when she visits again in the future.

 

She offered this advice to the aspiring writers: The first page sets the scene and draws you in!

 

Captain Joshua Tarrant, of the United States Air Force, beamed into two third grade classrooms on Dec. 10 from outer space. Well, he was actually sitting in his office in Washington, D.C. speaking remotely, but much of his work is focused on space in his role as a Program Director for Enhanced Space Systems.

 

Cpt. Tarrant was speaking with students as part of the STEMtoSpace initiative, an outreach program encouraging students to consider careers in the STEM field. His meeting with students corresponded with Computer Programming Week, which ran Dec. 9-15.

 

When Cpt. Tarrant attended NASA’s Space Camp while in middle school and he knew then that his future would be out of this world.

 

“Space Camp was so much fun,” he said. “It inspired me into working in the space field, we did mission reversals, mock flights,” he recalled of the experience.

 

These days he is a member of Space Force where he works as a program director for Enhanced Space Capabilities, leading a team of more than 100 people across 21 government agencies.

 

If that was not enough, in his off hours he is a drummer in a band.

 

“I wear this uniform but everyone in this uniform is different and unique,” Cpt. Tarrant said, pointing to his fatigues. “You can be an engineer and have other interests.”

 

Cpt. Tarrant began his presentation by showing a slide on the screen and asking the students to look, and remember, the images they were seeing. When asked what they had seen, students said, “binary code,” “scientist,” “rockets,” and “a person on a computer.”

 

“Each one of these pictures represents what people work for now and in the future,” Cpt. Tarrant said, adding that they are all part of STEM, science, technology, engineering and math.

 

When Cpt. Tarrant had an opportunity to join Space Force, he said “it was the easiest decision I ever made because space is cool.”

 

He continued, noting that starting on the ground floor was an exciting prospect to be a part of launching the program, which was created in 2019.

 

“Being there is a blast,” he said.

 

Curious students wanted to know more about what Space Force is,

 

Ultimately, Cpt. Tarrant said Space Force “protects and defends outer space,” this includes protecting satellites, the internet, cell phones, banking and GPS. He explained that the force does this by monitoring the movements of satellites and making sure they are not hacked. He described it as “a branch of the U.S. Military and is part of the Department of Air Force and is a small, specialized force with 8,000 guardians.”

 

“Space operations is a 24-hour gig,” Cpt. Tarrant said. “There are always guardians, and we are always doing these missions.”

 

The captain explained how students can one day work in the Space Force, as there are both military and civilian jobs, including those in computer science, engineering, space operations and research.

 

“I wanted to introduce you to the people in Space Force who have other interests, this is a career option,” he said. “It’s an incredible journey.”

 

Teacher Marina Pisto-Lombardo thanked Cpt. Tarrant for his time and reminded students that like him, many people find their passion in a certain field when they are young, just like the captain did when he attended Space Camp.

 

Once upon a time there was a sixth-grade class at Pocantico Hills Central School District in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The intrepid group of students were given a writing assignment by their teacher, Laura Garrido, in which they wrote a narrative based on a book in the popular Percy Jackson series.

 

Ms. Garrido said the assignment is part of Pocantico’s adoption of a new Language Arts curriculum, called Expeditionary Learning.

 

“They read ‘The Lightning Thief’ and the culminating task was to create a narrative and develop a character based on a Greek god and imbed that character into a scene from the story,” Ms. Garrido explained, referring to the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” series by Rick Riordan.

 

The students’ writing incorporated dialogue and other characteristics of the narrative form. Students then had to create a presentation and include a Power Point. Parents and friends were later invited into their classroom and students read their narratives and shared other details on their presentations.

 

Ms. Garrido said students loved the book noting they enjoyed how action packed it was, and they also liked learning about the Greek gods. Percy Jackson, she said, is a unique character in that his father was Poseidon and he had a mortal mother. In this particular book the character is on an adventure trying to prevent a war between Zeus, Poseidon and Hades and find Zeus’ lightning bolt.

 

“We could take a chapter and add a character to the story,” explained Nicolas C., adding that his narrative included the god Rhodos and was called “I Launched and Annoying Person.”

 

Amber T. in her narrative, “I Discover the Unexpected,” was inspired by the goddess Atlanta because “she is a hunter.”

 

“I think it was pretty fun to make up your own story from something that was original,” she said.

 

Anthony S. said his narrative “is about a god who goes to a water park.”

 

In “I Begin to Hate Water Parks,” Anthony his characters visit a water park to find Aries and they end up under attack.

 

In Ayan K.’s “A Walk Through the Underworld,” his story takes place in the Underworld where Hermes lives. In it the characters fight monsters in order to get retrieve the lightning bolt.

“It was fun to be able to do whatever you wanted,” Ayan said of the assignment.

 

 

They clapped, they sang, they danced and were having so much fun, they probably did not even realize how much they learned!

 

A visit on Nov. 6 from actor, storyteller and singer Lou Del Bianco was an interactive and silly experience where he presented his show “Make A Good Choice.”

 

The assembly’s message supports the HAWKS initiative, a school-wide program that stresses ways in which students can become kind and caring people as well as best practices to become an effective leader.

 

“It’s all about making good choices,” Principal Adam Brown told students before introducing Mr. Del Bianco.

 

The actor used photos from his past that had been enlarged. He had images of himself as a child, one of his mother, his six sisters and his late dog “Nikki.” Each photo represented an important story in Lou’s past that helped shape him into the man he became. The stories shared examples of respect, kindness, perseverance and more.

 

“One way to make a good choice is to be responsible,” Mr. Del Bianco said. He asked students to share what types of things they do to be responsible.

“Be quiet” and “do my chores,” were things students shared.

 

Mr. Del Bianco then shared the story about his former dog “Nikki,” who he described as mean and “the true terror of the family.”

 

Through a song, he shared how his family did take the best care of their dog and ultimately it needed an operation. Once they learned what the dog needed to be happy and healthy, the dog’s demeanor changed as it became a loving companion who lived to the age of 19.

The message of the song showed how important it is to take responsibility for the care and treatment of those around you.

 

In another song, Mr. Del Bianco shared a story no doubt many in the audience could relate to — having siblings. In his case he has SIX sisters! It made growing up in a small house a challenge.

 

Mr. Del Bianco invited six girls from the audience and showed them how to do a simple dance to accompany his song, in which he sang about the chaos that ensued as all seven children got ready to go so school each morning.

 

“We had to show kindness to each other,” Mr. Del Bianco said. “It’s a song about being kind.”

 

As a segue from one song to another, Mr. Del Bianco led students in a chorus of “make a choice/make a choice/make a what/make a good choice!”

 

In another relatable story/song, Mr. Del Bianco sang about his terrible baseball skills and his desperation to be on a team when none of his playmates wanted him because he could never get a hit.

 

That all changed when one day he not only hit the ball, but it was a homerun!

 

The lesson of the story shared how his perseverance paid off as he practiced for months to improve his skills.

 

“It’s a song about not giving up,” Mr. Del Bianco said, noting how he succeeded by ignoring those who made fun of him, walking away from his distractors, cooling off and not giving up.

 

“Responsibility, kindness and not giving up are all choices you can make,” he said.

 

In his final story and song, Mr. Del Bianco shared a story of how he disrespected his mother’s wishes when he was younger. He had been told repeatedly not to go down into the basement, but curiosity got the best of him. He was especially intrigued with a window that showed another room on the other side of the wall. His imagination convinced him there was something amazing on the other side that he just had to see. His mother caught him trying to sneak through the window and he was punished after he told his mother a lie that he had not been in the basement at all.

 

“I made a bad choice,” he said of the experience.

 

Turns out the only thing on the other side was a dusty baseball bat. His mother eventually gave him the bat after his punishment ended.

 

“Remember everybody, making a good choice is up to you,” he said.