Dear PDS Families,

I love Poughkeepsie Day School. And I was once a hard sell. My husband and I were seeking an elusive something in educational options for our two sons, but couldn’t put our finger on what was missing. On the advice of friends, we took a tour and felt immediately drawn to the school.

Was it the welcoming but close-knit sense of community? That was instantly noticeable and attractive. But so were the varied student interests and pursuits. Students loved being at school. Not one was going through the motions. Focus and fun were equally at work.  All around us were examples of student life rich with the pleasures of learning. One student was nestled in a quiet corner with a book, another was walking morning laps with buddies. They were learning new musical instruments, deep in philosophical discussions, peering through a microscope, wrestling through Steve the Math Guy’s brain twisters, singing songs with Bill Fiore, unlocking the secrets of reading with Ruthie Shaw, bringing a play to life, learning to knit with Julie O’Sullivan, outside throwing a frisbee, kicking a soccer ball, or exploring a magical sliver of forest.

It was no surprise to hear that PDS alumni are thriving in careers spanning engineering, academia, the sciences, public service, and the arts. The typical day of a PDS student is vibrant, creatively stimulating, engrossing, and full of adventure. From pre-schoolers to seniors, students are absorbed and actively engaged in their learning.

As we’ve become part of this community I’ve seen such engagement deepen with each passing year. It is especially striking in those who’ve overcome challenges such as lacking confidence or motivation in the early years. Over time they begin to take agency for their own learning, individually and collaboratively. Through exposure and exploration they discover their own interests, and their teachers consistently encourage them to follow where they lead, in a purposeful direction, nurturing them into lifelong, irresistible passions.

Just before our tour a friend and parent of three PDS alumni said, “At PDS they will really get to know your child.” Whether it be their learning strengths and challenges, quirky sense of humor, athletic prowess, personality, or which subjects get their hearts beating faster – the teachers pay close attention to what makes each child a unique individual, and they encourage the student to go more boldly in that particular direction.

Since its founding in 1934, with three faculty members and thirty-five students, Poughkeepsie Day School has weathered various storms and changes. Three moves of physical location and many more changes in leadership, along with ebbs and flows in student population, have only solidified the vision and mission that is the heart of PDS, and is lived out day to day by the people of this community.

Creative and adaptable thinking is a distinctively Poughkeepsie Day School quality. This trait enables us to rise to the challenges Ben mentioned in his letter on Wednesday. And when we direct this kind of thinking into reimagining what we are becoming, that change will lead somewhere very exciting. The Board of Trustees, along with Ben, is actively engaged, working overtime, and seeking your input. We are not alone among schools, especially independent schools, wrestling with such matters.

A simple but sobering fact: the full tuition of one PDS student does not cover the cost of her education. You may or may not have heard this before, but let each of us reflect on what it means as we are asked to step up in whatever ways we can, not only financially, but as a volunteer or simply a positive presence. Our school has numerous ways of investing in our children’s education – programming expenses, the buildings and grounds and their maintenance, financial aid, staff costs. But our number one priority is our teachers. Our steadfast and exceptional faculty are the shining star that make this school great. They deserve every kind of support we can offer them.

It takes all of us. As Ben Chant mentioned in his letter, we reached out to the faculty and staff earlier this week, soliciting their ideas and input on the work we need to do. In the coming days you will be hearing more from Ben and from us on the progress of this work.

In the meantime please consider what you can do to help. We could use all hands on deck in the coming weeks and months.

It is gratitude for what Poughkeepsie Day School has meant to my family, along with my deep desire to make these opportunities available to future generations of families, that motivates me to write all of this to you.

Offered respectfully,

Courtenay Budd Caramico
PDS Trustee and Mom of Alexander ’26 and Asa ’24