Mr. Stan Steele

Principal

Hello and welcome to the Pocantico Hills School web site. You have come to one of the best schools in America and one of Westchester's best-kept secrets. We are small enough that "everyone knows your name and everyone is glad you came". Our size is such (approximately 310 students with and average class size of 15 students) that we really get to know every student as an individual. We value each student at Pocantico Hills and strive to nurture their unique strengths. Our challenge is to integrate the positive attributes of our small size with an instructional scope that takes into account all the amazing technological advances and instructional methodologies to prepare our students for their future success.

We are proud of many things here at Pocantico Hills School: our diverse student body, our committed faculty, our strong parent involvement, and our academic programs with high standards and achievement. However the one point that I am most proud of and that makes Pocantico Hills special is the school climate of unconditional support and acceptance. Pocantico Hills is a small caring, nurturing community of learners. Our students know us and we know them. We are also fortunate enough over time to form supportive relationships with parents and family members. Parents are in our building on a daily basis. If something happens during the school day, teachers and administrators can pick up the phone and call parents or parents are free to call us.

In addition to being part of our school for ten years, (Pre-K through eighth grade) many students attend our Summer Day Camp and graduates often choose to come back and work as counselors at the summer camp. This leads to long-term relationships that are very similar to a large extended family. All of these many ways of being connected lead to a proactive approach when dealing with student needs and contribute to an optimal learning environment for our students.

This is not to say that we are without challenges. All grade levels are working to surpass the high scores already achieved at Pocantico Hills. Our seventh and eighth graders are challenged by intense schedules. Each week they have six periods of the five main subject areas. Our students in first grade begin computer instruction. Starting in second grade they take a Foreign Language. Students have substantial amounts of homework on a daily basis. School days here are busy and work focused.

It is the school climate and the sense of belonging that makes this a unique learning experience. I will work to continue to help make Pocantico Hills the unique type of school that provides this sense of belonging to all our students.