When Pawling Central School District’s Orchestra Director Joseph MacEachen began his second year leading the strings program this fall, he didn’t expect any of his novice students to take to the stage. He was pleasantly surprised, however, when he was proven wrong.

Fourth grade students Reina Buonora, Ellie Cole and Dani Moore-Lewis took it upon themselves to show off their brand-new skills during a performance as “The Little Heartstrings” at the district-wide talent show in December – not only representing the first-ever Pawling strings student performance, but also placing third in their age group.

“I was so proud of those students for how brave they were and how much they put into it when they’ve only been playing their instruments for one year,” said MacEachen. “Frankly, I was blown away that they even wanted to try. It was the first time the strings program got exposure in the school and it was a great public introduction to what we’ve been working on.” 

Viola player Ellie smiled broadly as she recounted the feeling of performing with her instrument for the very first time. 

“It was a little scary but it was also really fun,” she said. “We couldn’t believe that we had actually gotten third place! I was really proud.”

Ellie’s mother Courtney Cole praised the strings program.

“Ellie really looks forward to playing her viola and it’s been great to watch her learn and grow,” she said. “As parents we look for ways to expose our kids to different experiences at every level, and it’s awesome that the district offers strings instruction to them so young. It gives them a chance to explore new interests and develop skills that they’d never had the chance to otherwise.”

The advent of Pawling Central School District’s new strings program marked a historic milestone for the district in December of 2022. Now in its second year, the program is gaining momentum as it continues to offer musical opportunities for students in grades three through six under MacEachen’s guidance – and the school community is taking notice.

“We’ve had so much interest from students and support from families in the past year and a half,” he said. “We currently have 65 students in the program and from what I see, it’s just going to keep growing.”

As the program is still in its infancy, students are learning basics and familiarizing themselves with their instruments. MacEachen’s goals for the initial stages of the program were to introduce students to stringed instruments including the violin, viola and cello – and, as a cello player himself, MacEachen also focuses on encouraging students to develop a love and appreciation of stringed instruments and music in general.

Currently the sole strings educator in the district, MacEachen said that he has been collaborating closely with school administrators to offer students as much instruction as possible.

“It’s a challenge because I’m only one person and there are so many students, but we try to get everyone as much face time with me as possible,” he said. “Right from the start I encourage students to practice at home because what they put into it is what they’ll get out of it, and many of them take that to heart.”

To address the scheduling challenges that come with any new program, elementary students in grades three and four enjoy lessons during the school day while middle school musicians are offered classes after school. MacEachen has also gotten creative with providing new experiences to his students – such as a field trip to Dover High School in December to see the Vivaldi Project, a group of professional musicians who have traveled the country and offer masterclasses and workshops to young musicians. His goal was to let the students see what an ensemble looks like and learn how a sense of community can be forged through music.

MacEachen is optimistic about the program's next steps and envisions a credit-bearing ensemble in the middle school, providing students with a preview of what could lie ahead as they progress through their musical journey. Pawling Middle School Principal Megan Gleason said that the district isn’t far off – she hopes to see his vision come to fruition as soon as this fall.

“We love the strings program here; all that it offers to students who participate is so valuable.” she said. “Everything from learning to play a new instrument with proper posture to the social emotional learning that comes with developing confidence in playing and performing is invaluable.

“Our music teachers work so closely and support one another in wonderful ways, and by adding a strings ensemble to our daily schedule we’re really enhancing the whole department,” she continued. “We’re optimistic that we’ll be able to include string instruction in the students’ school schedule in the upcoming school year.”  

Pawling Superintendent Kim Fontana said that she looks forward to seeing the strings program grow in the district and stressed the importance of offering students expanded music education experiences.

“In a world in which so many things quickly come and go and students can get used to instant gratification, learning to make music with an instrument that has not changed much in centuries – requiring the same dedication today as it did for Vivaldi himself – is a special endeavor,” said Fontana. “From the practice of that discipline come lifetime rewards that transcend music.

“I am so proud of our students and grateful for all the staff, the Board of Education and parents who joined me in the leap of faith that a very small district like Pawling could give students this opportunity.”

Pawling High School ninth graders Katie Anderson and Sascha Brightman have laced up their skates to join a game-changing development in girls’ sports in lower New York State: the expansion of a girls’ varsity ice hockey Section 1 league. 

As brand-new members of the North Avalanche, a team combining players from 11 districts throughout the lower Hudson Valley, Katie and Sascha have made history as Pawling’s first student athletes to join an all-girls’ ice hockey team. The league comprises three teams – East Avalanche, West Avalanche and North Avalanche – and has been a driving force in the development of girls' varsity ice hockey in the area. 

The Section 1 league was established in 2020 as a sanctioned varsity sport for girls' ice hockey after two years of operating as a club program. It was created in response to a formal proposal made by a group of educators and athletic directors who wanted to provide more opportunities for girls to play hockey at the high school level.

North Avalanche Coach Stacey Wierl said that the support from Pawling’s Board of Education as well as Pawling Athletic Director John Bellucci was invaluable as the league developed.

"We desperately needed a group of athletic directors to get support around the Section 1 development of girls' ice hockey,” said Wierl. “John was an incredible supporter from the start both at the rink and among Section 1 athletic directors, and we are so grateful for the board’s careful consideration and approval.”

Fast forward to the 2023-24 season, and the North Avalanche has grown both in size and reputation. What started as a modest club has now become a beacon for girls whose hockey careers may have ended in high school; though female hockey players in districts without an girls’ hockey team have historically joined a boy’s varsity team, Wierl said that it’s not always ideal. 

“Though these girls could easily hold their own on a boys’ team – and some really enjoy playing on boys’ teams, which is also fantastic – the social elements can make a big difference,” she said. “It’s hard to feel like part of a team when you’re changing in a bathroom or closet while everyone else is hanging out together in the locker room.

“Our team has such an incredible culture; they really enjoy each other’s company on and off the ice and the Pawling girls are part of that.”

As the North Avalanche’s first line right and left wings, Katie and Sascha have already made an impact. Wierl praised the duo for their leadership and chemistry on and off the ice, noting the responsibility, speed and stamina that it takes to be successful in their positions.

"Sasha has a hockey IQ that is so uncommon for a ninth grader and Katie brings such a kindness and coachability to the team," Wierl said. "They're on a line with our only senior on the team and the three of them have demonstrated a unique chemistry together on the ice."

Though Katie spent much of her childhood playing youth hockey, she never expected to be part of a girls’ team in high school. 

“From a young age I thought that I would have to play with boys in high school since it was the only team that Pawling had to offer,” she said. “When I found out about the team, I was so excited.”

“So far my experience has been great,” she continued. “Our team traveled to Lake Placid to play a few games and we bonded over the trip. We are like a family. I’m also excited because it feels like I am participating in the movement of growing girls hockey.”

Katie’s observation is spot-on; Pawling’s involvement in the new Section 1 league happens to come at a significant moment in national women’s ice hockey history; just last month the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) – the first professional league for women's hockey in North America featuring six franchises in the United States and Canada – debuted. The PWHL aims to provide a platform for the best female players in the world to showcase their talent and inspire the next generation of hockey players.

As women's hockey gains traction nationally, the growth of the Section 1 girls’ varsity ice hockey league mirrors the significant step forward for female athletes in the sport. Wierl said that she stresses the importance of being part of this movement with her team.

"We talk about how special it is to be part of anything that’s a ‘first,’” said Wierl. “They can be proud that their decision to join the first rostered team in Section 1 North is also opening doors for younger girls to play all-girls’ ice hockey in high school as well.”

The Pawling boys’ ice hockey team has come a long way since coach Kevin Haggerty entered the picture in 2020. From practicing on a frozen outdoor rink to advancing from the D to B League after their playoff win last year, the team has shown remarkable improvement and resilience under Haggerty’s guidance.

“We had a rough start but winning the D League for the first time in over 10 years was a huge testament to how far Pawling boys’ ice hockey has come,” said Haggerty. “It’s been a few years of building up to all that we can be as a program, but we’re really getting there.”

The B League represents a higher tier in ice hockey, one in which players have more experience and ability than those in the lower leagues. Pawling’s B League status means the team faces tougher competition this year, and Haggerty was sure to get ahead of the game. A former varsity ice hockey player at Suffern High School, Haggerty arranged for the team’s first game of the season to be played against his alma mater – who also happen to be Division 1 champions. His goal was to expose them to the level of hockey they aspire to play. 

Though they lost 6-1, Pawling Athletic Director John Bellucci said that it was an inspired move.

“Bottom line, he wanted to test the kids early to show them what it’s like to compete against the best boys’ varsity hockey players in the state,” Bellucci said. “The idea was to show them that if they can hang on and give a team like Suffern a good run for their money, then nobody’s out of range.”

“They were exhausted afterward, but my hope was that they could see the level of hockey that I think they can achieve themselves,” said Haggerty. “It gave them an understanding of what it will take to elevate our game.“

Haggerty said that a big part of the team’s development has been its three senior athletes – Cole Geiger, Mason Carman, and Noah Lavoie. He praised them for leading the way and setting the tone for the team, which is primarily made up of underclassmen. 

“The older guys have done a great job of becoming leaders and showing the younger guys how to keep on the right path,” Haggerty said. “It’s come full circle now with them being the first freshmen I coached on this team who are now leaders and excellent players in general.

“The team culture is a completely different atmosphere than it was when we first started, and the older kids have been a huge part of that.”

Senior Mason agreed with Haggerty’s sentiments – but also made it clear that he believes the legacy he and his senior teammates will leave behind will outshine the team’s current achievements.

“These younger guys have gotten so good and so close,” he said. “I know they’re just going to keep getting better every year after we’re gone – way better than the three of us.”

Cole put it differently: “These younger kids are ridiculous. I will definitely be coming back to watch them play after we graduate. They’re going to be insane.”

Haggerty said his goal for this year is to make a run for the section championship, which would be the first in Pawling's history. However, he also emphasized the importance of focusing on one game at a time and improving every day.

"My sights are always high but my biggest focus is constant improvement,” he said. “They’re up for any challenge, though. This is an incredible group of kids with a complete turnaround story from playing on a half-frozen outdoor rink to competing with the best teams in the section.

“They've been doing an amazing job and no matter what happens, I'm honored to be their coach.”

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The Pawling Central School District is a great place to work. We have positions open for full-time permanent building substitute teachers, typists and custodial workers. We also have substitute positions open in many other job categories: certified teacher, uncertified teacher, teaching assistant, teacher aide, monitor, bus driver and food service worker. We also have part-time positions open, such as school monitor. Full-time positions earn excellent benefits. As a team of educators, we never doubt that we are making a difference for our community. PCSD offers walk-throughs and orientations for those thinking about working in schools. Our very best employees are often people who live in our community. Diverse and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. See the link below to reach our friendly and helpful Human Resources Team.

https://www.pawlingschools.org/human_resources