Pine Hills Elementary School
Prekindergarten-Grade 6

41 North Allen St., Albany, NY 12203 (click here for directions)
Phone: 475-6725
Fax: 475-6729

Web site: http://phes.albany.k12.ny.us/

Vibetta Sanders, Principal

e-mail: vsanders@albany.k12.ny.us

About Pine Hills Elementary School
Completely rebuilt in 2005-06 as part of the district's sweeping facilities project, the former Public School 16 reopened in the winter of 2007 as Pine Hills Elementary School. Pine Hills is a neighborhood school serving students in Grades K-5 with 50 full-time and 14 part-time staff. Our students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences.

The school's mission is to provide a community of support for the “whole child” as it strives for academic excellence on the journey of life-long learning. To achieve that mission, administrators, faculty and staff work hard at establishing a learning community that actively develops and implements best practices.

School times

• Before-school child care begins: 7 a.m.

• Breakfast begins: 8:45 a.m.

• School day begins: 9:05 a.m.

• School day ends: 3:35 p.m.

• After-school child care ends: 6 p.m.

Points of distinction

• Full-day prekindergarten and kindergarten

• Voluntary school uniforms

• Recognized by the New York State Department of Education in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for strong academic improvement

• One of 11 schools in the nation certified for environmental stewardship through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program

Upcoming events

• Tuesday, Sept. 7-- First day of school

• Thursday, Sept. 9 -- Rosh Hashana, no school

• Monday, Sept. 13 -- Cookie-dough fundraiser begins

• Wednesday, Sept. 15 -- PTA meeting, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, Sept. 16 -- Meet the Teachers Night, 6:15-8 p.m.

• Friday, Sept. 24 -- Ice Cream Social, 6:30-8 p.m.

• Monday, Oct. 11 -- Columbus Day, no school

• Wednesday, Oct. 13 -- PTA meeting, 6-7 p.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 14 -- Hispanic Heritage Night, 6-8 p.m.

• Friday, Oct. 15 -- Fall Picture Day

• Friday, Oct. 29 -- Report card day, grades 1-6

• Friday, Oct. 29 -- Harvest Fest, 6:30-8 p.m.

News and information

• Check out the Pine Hills Elementary PTA's monthly newsletters:

  • June edition

  • May edition

  • April edition

  • March edition

  • February edition

  • January edition

• Pine Hills sixth-graders share leadership lessons learned in Washington, DC -- Four Pine Hills Elementary School students who attended a Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington this spring passed on what they learned to their classmates at a May 4 presentation at the school. The students, Xhuliano Brace, Shaun Franklin, Annie Okichy and Sara Popp spent several days in Washington undergoing this prestigious and rigorous leadership training program sponsored by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council. Principal Vibetta Sanders and teacher Art Eastman nominated the students, who raised money to offset the cost of their trip. Click here to see photos of the students in action. 

• New education commissioner takes oath of office before Pine Hills students -- Emphasizing a commitment to high standards and accountability, new State Education Commissioner David M. Steiner, Ph.D., was sworn into office Oct. 1 at Pine Hills Elementary School, with fifth-and sixth-graders playing prominent roles. New York State Court of Appeals Judge Victoria Graffeo administered the oath of office in the school's cafe after Dr. Steiner engaged about 100 students in a discussion about the important role of an oath or promise in professions and in life. Dr. Steiner pledged to make New York an international model for excellence in education. To read more about Dr. Steiner's visit, click here. To see more photos of Dr. Steiner and his involvement with Pine Hills students, click here.

• Click here to visit the City School District of Albany Photo Gallery.

Absence from school
If your child is absent from school for any reason, call the school at 475-6725 during the morning and provide a written excuse when your child returns to school.