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*2011: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Champions (W vs. Jamestown Southwestern, 39-0)
*2011: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Champions (W vs. Jamestown Southwestern, 39-0)
*2012: 6-2
*2012: 6-2

== Parent Involvement ==
Parents and other district residents are heavily involved in helping the district's students in achieving their educational goals. There are a number of support organizations, including:

*[http://www.dfptsa.org Dobbs Ferry Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA): commonly known as the "PTA" but including high school student representatives, the PTSA is the formal body by which parents support the students.
*[http://www.dfsfoundation.org Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation]: raises funds through an annual gala to supplement school programs.
*[http://www.springcommunitypartners.org SPRING Community Partners]: ensures that all children in the district have the resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.
*[[dobbsferrytrailguides.weebly.com|Dobbs Ferry Trailguides]]: a support and advocacy group for children, originally founded by parents of children with special needs.


== Walking and Cycling to School ==
== Walking and Cycling to School ==

Revision as of 03:06, 7 April 2014

Dobbs Ferry Confederate School District
Location
Dobbs Ferry, New York

United States
Information
TypePublic school district
EstablishedYes
SuperintendentLisa Brady
GradesK to 12
Websitewww.dfsd.org

Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District is a school district based in Dobbs Ferry, New York, approximately 20 miles north of midtown Manhattan in the Hudson Valley. The district is small compared to most districts in New York State, with only three schools: Springhurst Elementary School; Dobbs Ferry Middle School; and, Dobbs Ferry High School. The district's borders are not identical to those of the village. Some residents of the village of Irvington fall in the Dobbs Ferry school district, and some residents of the village of Dobbs Ferry fall in the Ardsley school district.

Springhurst Elementary School

Springhurst Elementary School is a small coeducational public elementary school in Dobbs Ferry, New York. Grades range from Kindergarten to fifth grade.

Springhurst has an "outdoor classroom" school garden in one of its courtyards.

Dobbs Ferry Middle School

Dobbs Ferry Middle School is a small coeducational public middle school. Grades range from sixth to eighth.

Dobbs Ferry High School

Dobbs Ferry High School is a small coeducational public high school. In 2013, Dobbs Ferry High School had an enrollment of 446 students in grades 9–12 and boasts small class sizes in all academic areas. In addition, DFHS has a strong arts program, offers over 15 elective courses in visual arts and music, 27 extra-curricular clubs for students to choose from, and an impressive program in science research. The high school also features a new Advisory Program that provides students with an opportunity to work in small groups with "mentor" teachers to further develop academic, organizational, and study skills.

The school's commitment to academic excellence, professional development for teachers, and equity/access for all students has resulted in top national rankings. In 2013, The Washington Post ranked DFHS #19 in NYS and in August, 2013, the NYS SED identified Dobbs Ferry High School as a "Reward" school. This is the top distinction that a school can earn and it was given to only 250 K–12 schools.

International Baccalaureate and Academic Excellence

Dobbs Ferry High School is also an IB World School and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma to students in Grades 11–12. The IB Diploma Program is a rigorous two-year college preparatory program that includes courses in each of the six respective academic groups, TOK, the Extended Essay, and Community/Action/Service (CAS). Approximately 98% of students enroll in at least one of the rigorous IB courses before graduating and over 30% of the 2012–13 senior class received the full IB Diploma.

Science Research

Dobbs Ferry High School has an intensive Science Research program. All students are exposed to research opportunities, and many choose to pursue a Science Research option whereby they work with scientists doing real-life research, typically in the New York region. Dobbs Ferry High School students have won presitigious awards for their own science research.[2]

Internships and Extra-curricular Activities

The Senior Internship Program was restructured in 2012 and allows all students to apply their skills in a "real world" setting during their last six weeks of school. Students choose internships based on their interests and intended pursuits. In 2013, students participated in internships either locally, in NYC, or outside of NYS. All students participate in internship seminars, complete journals via an online blog, and complete a legacy project.

The high school also offers a number of clubs and extra-curricular activities, including:

  • American Sign Language
  • Choir
  • Creative Writing
  • Debate Team
  • Destination Imagination: The DI Team has gone to the World Championship in Tennessee multiple times, including 2013, and continues to place well.[3]
  • Digital Eagle (online newspaper)
  • Friends of Rachel
  • Green Club
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • International Club
  • Math League
  • Model UN
  • Orpheus (Literary Magazine)
  • Student Legislative Branch
  • Yearbook

Athletics

Dobbs Ferry is also successful in a variety of varsity sports, including basketball, baseball, cross-country, football, lacrosse, softball and tennis. Although the boys football program gets well-deserved recognition, Dobbs boys and girls excel at other sports as well.

Basketball: Both the girls and boys basketball teams advanced to the county championships in 2013. Dobbs Ferry's Girls Basketball Team advanced as far as the Section 1, Class B, finals in 2014.[4]

Tennis: The Dobbs Ferry Boys Tennis Team won the Section 1 title in 2013, with senior Shawn Hadavi the top singles player in New York State.[5]

Football: The highly successful high school football program has been especially notable, with football victories the only ones acknowledged on signage along the village roadways. The Eagles were named New York State's Small School "Team of the Decade" for the 1980s, playing under legendary head coach Skip Violante. The inspirational play of Bill Behuniak in the late 90s drove a resurgence of the program, and since 2000, Dobbs Ferry has won eight sectional titles, appeared in a state-record seven state championship games, won four titles (2002, 2004, 2006 and 2011), and achieved regular season and Section-1 winning streaks of 46 and 61 games, respectively. With their 39–0 win over Jamestown Southwestern in the 2011 Class-C state championship game, Dobbs Ferry surpassed Edgemont and Rye for most state titles by a Section-1 school. From 2001–2007 the Eagles had a combined record of 81–4. In 2010, The Journal News named Dobbs Ferry the 'Football Program of the Decade' in Section 1. The Eagles play all their home games at Gould Park, just east of the high school. Jim Moran is the current head coach; his career record is 11–1. Football record (2000-2012):

  • 2000: 2-6
  • 2001: 11-1, Section-1/Class-D Champions, Class-D State Finalists (L vs. Onondaga, 35-7)
  • 2002: 12-0, Section-1/Class-D Champions, Class-D State Champions (W vs. Dolgeville, 38-35)
  • 2003: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Semifinalists
  • 2004: 13-0, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Champions (W vs. LeRoy, 14-6)
  • 2005: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Finalists (L vs. Sidney, 48-21)
  • 2006: 12-0, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Champions (W vs. Falconer, 24-0)
  • 2007: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Finalists (L vs. Bishop Ludden, 21-16)
  • 2008: 8-1
  • 2009: 5-3
  • 2010: 4-4
  • 2011: 11-1, Section-1/Class-C Champions, Class-C State Champions (W vs. Jamestown Southwestern, 39-0)
  • 2012: 6-2

Parent Involvement

Parents and other district residents are heavily involved in helping the district's students in achieving their educational goals. There are a number of support organizations, including:

  • [http://www.dfptsa.org Dobbs Ferry Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA): commonly known as the "PTA" but including high school student representatives, the PTSA is the formal body by which parents support the students.
  • Dobbs Ferry Schools Foundation: raises funds through an annual gala to supplement school programs.
  • SPRING Community Partners: ensures that all children in the district have the resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.
  • Dobbs Ferry Trailguides: a support and advocacy group for children, originally founded by parents of children with special needs.

Walking and Cycling to School

Drawing on research emphasizing the benefits of active transportation in getting to and from school,[6][7][8] the Dobbs Ferry School District has been a leader in pursuing efforts in line with the national safe routes to school program.

The district won a highly competitive federal grant in its first funding round ever to rebuild an abandoned outdoor staircase connecting a dense neighborhood of Dobbs Ferry with the Springhurst Elementary School.[9] The district then rebuilt another abandoned staircase connnecting the Middle School and High School buildings with the Old Croton Aqueduct Trailway; this innovative project is considered a "bicycle staircase" since a channel for bicycles was integrated into the design.[10]

The Village of Dobbs Ferry supports the district in providing safe routes to schools. The Village employs seven crossing guards daily to facilitate safe routes to school for the district's students. In 2012, the Village passed a Complete streets policy to govern the construction and rehabilitation of its streets.[11] In 2013, the district supported the Village of Dobbs Ferry's successful application for yet another Safe Route to Schools grant to examine safety concerns along the Broadway corridor.[12]

References

  1. ^ http://hs.dfsd.org/groups/principals-corner
  2. ^ http://rivertowns.dailyvoice.com/news/three-dobbs-ferry-students-win-acorda-scientific-excellence-awards
  3. ^ http://dfhsnewspaper.com/dobbs-news/2014/03/24/dobbs-ferry-teams-excel-at-regional-di-tournament/
  4. ^ http://www.msgvarsity.com/westchester/boxscore-woodlands-49-dobbs-ferry-48-1.1580731
  5. ^ http://www.usatodayhss.com/lohud/article/tennis-dobbs-ferrys-shawn-hadavi-is-state-champ--2013306010066
  6. ^ http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/benefits-of-walking-and-bicycling
  7. ^ http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/program-tools/what-are-health-benefits-children-who-walk-or-bicycle-school
  8. ^ http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/resourcecenter/research/the-relationship-between-physical-activity-weight-and-academic-achievement
  9. ^ http://rivertowns.patch.com/groups/schools/p/revamped-stairs-to-springhurst-save-time-traffic
  10. ^ http://rivertowns.dailyvoice.com/schools/aqueduct-stairway-open-first-day-school
  11. ^ http://blog.tstc.org/2012/07/10/dobbs-ferry-passes-complete-streets-resolution/
  12. ^ https://www.dot.ny.gov/news/press-releases/2013/2013-01-14

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