PDS Blog

Spring Benefit Auction Launches Green Future Capital Projects Campaign

The magical evening of Saturday, April 9 at PDS was filled with suspense, thrills and fun – all for a great cause. The 2016 PDS Spring Benefit Auction launched the Green Future Capital Projects Campaign and was the biggest fundraising…

Learning and Assessment in Grade 5

By Dorothy Luongo, grade 5 teacher This month, 5th graders were busy preparing for family conferences, which happened on Thursday, April 21. Each student had a chance to select work from the entire year, which represent both successes and challenges,…

Preparing to Lead a Conference

I kinda like it. It’s nice to have some responsibility. It’s good to show my parents my perspective. Leading a conference sounds like an ambitious undertaking. The leader has the responsibility for making sure that all attendees learn and all…

Choice Empowers and Engages ESL Students

By Malorie Seeley-Sherwood, HS ESL, MS English teacher The element of choice is a vital component to feeling like an empowered and engaged learner. With this in mind, ESL juniors and seniors have recently embraced self-directed learning in literature circles.…

Skills for College Success

On May 1st., seniors will make their final decision as to which college to attend in the fall. We know that as they leave PDS, they do so with the ability to think critically, to engage in thoughtful dialogue, pursue…

Call for Books – PDSPA Used Book Fair

Spring cleaning? Need to make more space? The PDSPA requests donations of books for its annual USED BOOK SALE in May. Monies raised at the Used Book Sale fund various PDSPA activities, including the PDSPA Faculty Grant in Honor of…

High School Action Council Off To A Great Start

By Ed Martin, high school history teacher This year’s High School Action Council, formerly the Standards Committee, is off to a great start. After officially changing their name, in order to better reflect the groups intentions as representatives of the…

April 7: Students Serve at the Capitol Area Food Bank

Our last day, and it was eventful even with hours on the bus. We woke to rain. Even if this was the worst weather ever, for this trip, at least it didn’t pour on Tuesday or Wednesday when we were…

March Mathness in Third Grade

By Michelle Holmes, Grade 3 teacher While the whole country was consumed with the NCAA  Basketball Tournament, the third grade was busy figuring out where each college was located and how far each college was to their respective tournament.  Our…

April 5 – PDS Students Tour DC Monuments with a Twist

We had an ambitious day today, and it is late, but we are extremely well accomplished. For the first time since we have been running this trip, our class finished all the monuments tours in one day! And not by…