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Port Chester Middle School

Address: 113 Bowman Avenue, Rye Brook, NY 10573
Main Office: 914‑934‑7930
Fax: 914‑934‑7886
Co-Principal: Patrick Swift
Co-Principal:
Bryant Romano
Asst. Principal: Kristin Pascuzzi
Asst. Principal:
Christine Rascona

 

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Welcome! A National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence serving about 1,000 students in grades 6-8, we offer a solid educational and nurturing environment in which learning and the personal growth of each student are given the highest priority. Our students can take advantage of a range of academic experiences including foreign language instruction, physical sciences taught in our unique Planetarium, hands-on experimental science courses in our state-of-the-art science labs, and accelerated English, math and science strands for gifted students. Our rigorous curriculum is supplemented with living history days, school trips to theaters, historic sites and visits to cities such as Washington, DC. We also hold an exchange program with a middle school near Madrid, Spain.

Character education plays a significant role in our school. Our students and faculty have given much time and resources to many successful community service projects.

Finally, most of our students are active in extra-curricular activities, including band and orchestra, drama, choral groups, sports teams, yearbook, school newspaper and other clubs and groups.

 

School Updates

 

School News

PCMS Commemorates Black History Month

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Port Chester Middle School students participated in a series of engaging, hands-on activities in recognition of Black History Month. Spearheaded by a dedicated committee, led by Juanita Mitchell, the monthlong celebration in February sought to educate, inspire and celebrate the rich contributions of the Black community.

Throughout the school, eye-catching posters adorned the walls, featuring impactful messages of Black innovation and leadership. The posters, displayed in both English and Spanish, aimed to create an inclusive environment that celebrated diversity and fostered cross-cultural understanding.

At the beginning of each school day, a wide range of music echoed through the hallways and served as a reminder of the powerful impact of Black artists on the music industry. As a way of honoring the accomplishments and contributions of Black individuals throughout history, the students and teachers expressed their creativity and decorated several classroom doors. Adding a competitive interactive element to the celebrations, the students played Blooket games, which provided them with an engaging way to learn more about Black history, culture and achievements around the world.

The festivities reached their peak with a scavenger hunt that required students to pay attention to all activities that took place around the school throughout the month. The challenge encouraged active participation and teamwork to ensure that students were fully immersed in the multifaceted celebrations while reading on a variety of topics.

The activities, which integrated music, art, interactive games and educational initiatives, not only paid homage to Black history, but cultivated an atmosphere of inclusion and appreciation that resonated throughout the school. They also fostered an environment that celebrated diversity, encouraged learning and instilled a sense of unity among students and staff.

Students said they were inspired by many people’s accomplishments, talent, knowledge and contributions to the Black community, including Sarah Breedlove, Ruby Bridges, Roberto Clemente, Bessie Coleman, Celia Cruz, Dr. Dre, Langston Hughes, Lonnie Johnson, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Reggie Showers, Robert Smalls, Harriet Tubman and Levi Watkins, among others.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 3/8/2024

Four PCMS Students to Perform for American Brass Quintet

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Four talented student musicians from Port Chester Middle School will perform as a quartet at the American Brass Quintet concert on March 10.

Seventh graders Aiden Escobar (trombone), Angel Gonzalez (French horn) and Alan Grande (trumpet) and eighth grader Adam Van Der Wateren (trumpet), who exemplify extraordinary commitment to the band program at Port Chester, will have the memorable musical experience.

“These students demonstrate a hunger to go above and beyond,” band director Ulysses Torres said. “They are the first musicians ready to begin at our morning rehearsals, they request to meet at lunch and after school to work on their music, and above all, they all model and exemplify what it means to be part of our music program at PCMS.”

In addition, the students will engage in a coaching session with the American Brass Quintet prior to the concert. They will perform for the highly trained and successful musicians and receive feedback from them, which will enhance their own musical journey.

“Having the opportunity to perform for world-class musicians and receive feedback and constructive criticism from them in a masterclass setting will provide them an invaluable experience that they can bring back to the music community in Port Chester,” Torres said. “I hope this experience is a lasting memory in all of their lives.”

Torres described the students as kind, inquisitive and helpful musicians in the school community.

The American Brass Quintet, one of the premier chamber music ensembles, has been in residence at the Julliard School since 1987. The concert will be held on Sunday, March 10, at the Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester in Rye, New York.

Date Added: 3/5/2024

Letter Exchange Enhances PCMS Students’ Language Skills

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In a heartwarming language learning exercise, Port Chester Middle School students exchanged handwritten letters with students from France, Belgium and Quebec. Under the guidance of their French teacher Rebecca Peters, the collaboration expanded the students’ vocabulary and language skills, and fostered connections that broadened their horizons.

“The students, through reading letters composed in the language they are learning, discover new words and phrases that go beyond the confines of classroom lessons,” Peters said. “This organic and immersive approach to language acquisition adds depth to their understanding and helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.”

Peters challenged her students to incorporate cursive writing in their letters to their French counterparts. Armed with fountain pens and a newfound appreciation for the elegance of cursive, they were not only capable of reading their pen pals’ letters but also embraced the joy of adding a personal touch to their letters by creating their own signatures in cursive.

“Through this cross-cultural exchange, Port Chester Middle School students are not just learning a new language; they are building connections, breaking down barriers, and cultivating a global perspective,” Peters said. “The power of pen and paper, coupled with the artistry of cursive writing, has transformed a simple exchange of letters into a transformative educational experience that goes beyond the confines of traditional language learning.”

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 2/29/2024

Talented Port Chester Students to Perform at All-County Festivals

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Sixteen students from the Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District have been selected to perform with All-County music ensembles by the Westchester County School Music Association for its 2024 festival concerts in March.

“Being selected to perform in Westchester’s All-County Music Festivals is a momentous musical honor,” Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Katherine Sinsabaugh said. “Students go through a rigorous selection process. Our students competed against the best music students in Westchester County. We are very proud of our students and their hard work.”

John F. Kennedy Elementary School fifth graders Valentina Tiu and Sarah Salcedo, Thomas Edison Elementary School fifth graders Michael Calle and Gabriella Diaz, King Street Elementary School fifth graders Emma Weinstein and LJ Sherwood, Park Avenue Elementary School fifth graders Ethan Horwitz and Jacob Perez, and Port Chester Middle School sixth graders Olivia Klauck and Isabella Sanchez, seventh grader Scarlet Virella and eighth graders Melquisedec Gonzalez and Annalise Gouedy have been selected to perform with the All-County choir.

Port Chester Middle School eighth graders Laila Builes and Ryann Onofrio-Franceschini have been selected to perform with the Intermediate All-County band, and Port Chester High School junior Camilo Mamani has been selected to perform with the All-County Jazz band.

The All-County Band concert will take place on Saturday, March 9, at 5 p.m. at New Rochelle High School. The All-County Chorus concert will take place on Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m. at New Rochelle High School. The All-County Jazz concert will take place on Friday, March 15, at 7:30 p.m. at Hammocks Middle School.

Date Added: 2/20/2024

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