Dear Pieter B. Families,
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary, welcome to a new school year! We are looking forward to continuing to build positive relationships and a productive partnership with you to ensure our learners can achieve their highest potential. I would like to take a moment to introduce the new Pieter B faculty & staff. Please see the list below. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education.
All students (UPK - Grade 5) will attend their first full day of school on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Please note that all students are entitled to free breakfast and lunch for the 2025-26 school year. We encourage families to complete the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application, available in the 2025-26 RCS Printed Calendar and on our website. If you believe your family meets the income criteria for reduced-price meals, please fill out the application. Doing so may provide additional benefits for other state programs.
For any school to be successful, it must have focused goals, and PBC is in its eighth year of focusing on building targets/goals. In short, the targets/goals are to increase the number of students reading on grade level, increase the number of students with mastery of math concepts, and increase our student attendance percentage. The end goal is to create well-rounded, responsible, and productive learners in our school communities.
Throughout the year, it is important to keep abreast of school events and policies. You are encouraged to sign up for Parent Square and check your email and the RCS website for the latest news and guidance. We will again practice being environmentally friendly and reduce paper this year. Click the link for the Pieter B. Parent Informational Handbook, which contains student Code of Conduct information, absent and tardy forms, and the school calendar, among many resources that can be found on our website. If you do not have internet access, a copy of all forms can be picked up at each school building.
As we move towards the start of the school year, take some time to talk with your child about their hopes, goals, and expectations for the first day and the entire school year. Encourage your child to ask questions and to build positive relationships with adults as well as their classmates. Listen to your child and be a part of your child’s learning. Remember, you are your child’s first teacher.
Welcome, Pieter B., new faculty & staff:
Traci Johnson - Elementary Assistant Principal
Laura Jones - Grade 3 teacher
Michael DeBerry - Grade 4 teacher
Jennifer Wallace - ENL teacher
Simon Lindmark - Band teacher
Rebecca Callum - Teaching Assistant
Elissa Chovan -Teaching Assistant
Jennifer Celella - Teaching Assistant
Greg Eckhardt - Teaching Assistant
Happenings at Pieter B.
On Wednesday, September 3rd, from 8:00 - 8:30 am, we welcome families for a walk-through of the building and individual classrooms. This visit is to alleviate any first-day jitters and anxiety in hopes that you may show your child their classroom and the most direct route. Please rest assured that we will have plenty of available staff to assist all students on the opening days, so this is an additional support. Please note that our teachers and staff must be at required meetings by 8:30 am, so this is not a time to conference with teachers. If you have any individual concerns, please reach out to the teacher via email. Teacher contacts can be found here: Contact US
RCS School Calendar 2025 - 2026 (CLICK HERE)
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
If you have not already shopped for school supplies, you will find our grade level lists linked below. We are here to assist if you are unable to provide the items at this time.
School Supply Lists for 2025-2026 School Year (CLICK HERE)
PIETER B. OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION (CLICK HERE)
Open House Message
September 18, 2025 - Pre-K and Kindergarten parents & guardians are welcome to visit during the scheduled time to meet PBC non-classroom teachers and visit the PTO book fair.
STUDENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP
Just a reminder:
Please avoid having your children arrive at school before 9:00 a.m. Supervision is not provided, nor do our doors open prior to that time, except for students going to breakfast at 8:50 a.m. Students report to their classrooms at 9:00 a.m. If you need to contact a teacher, please go to the main office for assistance. Please do not go directly to teacher classrooms at any time.
Elementary Breakfast & Lunch (CLICK HERE)
August 25th: Grades 1 - 5 student placement letters mailed home
August 28th: Pre-K & Kindergarten Welcome Start
9/3 - Families invited to drop off classroom supplies 8:00 am - 8:30 am
9/3 - Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 pm at RCS High School
9/5 - Pre K and K Popsicle and Playground 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
9/11 - PTO Meeting 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
9/12 - Back to School Ice Cream Social (UPK - 5) 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
9/17 - Board of Education Meeting, 6:00 pm at RCS High School
9/18 - Pieter B Open House & PTO Book Fair Night (Gr. 1-5) 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
If we can help with anything throughout the school year, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call the main office at 518-756-5200 ext. 4001 or email me at hjones@rcscscd.org. We eagerly look forward to welcoming our students back on September 4th.
Warmly,
Hakim Jones & Traci Johnson
Principal Assistant Principal