Children's Author Dan Gutman Explains How to Write Your Story in Nine Simple Steps at the Young Writers' Workshop
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Author Dan Gutman addressed the group in the Greenacres gym.On Saturday, March 26, 2022, Scarsdale held its 27th Annual Young Writers workshop from 9 am to 12 pm at Greenacres Elementary School for 3rd through 5th graders. Second graders also had the option to virtually connect with keynote speaker Dan Gutman for an introduction to the Young Writers’ Workshop.
Dan Gutman, an American author of primarily children’s fiction, began the day’s event by delivering a presentation to the young students over Zoom. Gutman first talked about how he never loved to read as a young child, but soon discovered how fun it could be. He showed the students the variety of books he has published and taught them how to write their own stories in nine simple steps. Gutman read the first chapter of his newest book My Weirder-est School #11: Mrs. Stoker Is a Joker as well, which will be released in June. He concluded his presentation by showing the students a series of his rejection letters to deliver messages of perseverance.
The students then had the option to spend the morning at two workshops, which they selected from a list of seventeen offerings.
From residents like designer Chip Rich and journalist Ines Rodrigues to award-winning authors including Jacqueline Friedland as well as Laura Schaefer, the students had the opportunity to learn about all forms of writing, art, and multimedia. The sessions were scattered around the newly renovated Greenacres—the four-classroom addition, rearrangement of interior spaces, and the renovation of eleven classrooms contributed to the school acting as the perfect space for the event.
In the “Diary of a Bunny: Storytelling Furry Perspective!” Laura Schaefer, the author of The Crumbles Chronicles: Tails of a Nervous Dog and owner of Scattered Books Bookstore, led the students in a postcard story-telling activity. As the students developed their own stories with creative titles and interesting drawings, Schaefer brought around her bunny Pumpkin, who serves as her bookstore's mascot, for the children to pet.
Schaefer brought around her pet bunny Pumpkin to the workshop.
Dan Gutman’s “My Weird Writing Workshop!” allowed the children to collectively craft a story about a mermaid named Kevin who wants to make a robot friend in a robot factory—the students alternated giving suggestions for a character, setting, and a goal and many laughs were had along the way.
Local pop artist Michael Albert allowed the students to dive into the world of art as they crafted collages made from recycled cardboard food boxes while listening to the Beatles. One student even took the opportunity to create a flag of Ukraine with the words “Stop the War” for her project. The students left the “Famous Pop Artist Lead Collage Workshop” with a new art project as well as postcards and bookmarks of Albert’s most famous prints. The elementary school students even learned the craft of commercials with local Creative Director Chip Rich.
The Young Writers’ Workshop proved to be an enjoyable and exciting event yet again for the students, guest participants, and volunteers alike.
Commenting on the event, organizers Jill Casal and Georgina Sforza said, "
Commenting on the event Casal said, “We had 350 students participate this year, in grades 2-5 (grades 3-5 in person, and grade 2, we piloted an "Intro to YWW" session virtually, where the children could watch the keynote with Dan Gutman livestreamed at home, to get a taste of the event before attending next year as third graders!).
It was truly wonderful to see all of the children back together. They reveled in the keynote with Dan Gutman, then moved from classroom to classroom for the various workshops. We thank Sharon Hill and Sharon DeLorenzo for allowing us to use the beautiful new Greenacres space for the event (it was the perfect spot for this event). And we also thank our wonderful community of volunteers -- over 50 parents from all five elementary schools helped the day of the event to make sure the event ran smoothly for the kids. It takes a village, and the village, as always, was present!
Student's in Michael Albert's workshop crafted collages from recycled carboard food boxes.
Heathcote Elementary Celebrates Blue Ribbon Award
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Heathcote Elementary School was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2020 by the U.S. Depatment of Education, a designation that lasts for 5 years.
The program recognizes schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Now in its 39th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed more than 10,000 awards to over 9,000 schools. The award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging conent.
Due to COVID, the ribbon cutting ceremony was postponed until March 11, 2022, when a new sign proclaiming the award was unveiled. PTA board members, the Principal and Vice Principal led the ceremony and cut the ribbon. There was also a guest appearance of the school mascot, the Heathcote Husky, which thrilled the kids.
Scholarships Available for Scarsdale Students
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College scholarship funds are available for graduating high school senior and for Scarsdale students currently attending college. See below for details on how to apply.
Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College
Scarsdale seniors may apply for a one-year grant from the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund. To learn more about the Scholarship Fund, who is eligible and how to apply, please refer to Fund Facts linked here.
Applications can be accessed through the link to a google form from the Scholarship Fund Webpage.
Completed applications must be submitted by Monday, May 2nd.
For additional information regarding the Scholarship Fund, please contact Laurie Medvinsky at lauriemedvinsky@gmail.com.
Scarsdale Foundation Offers Scholarship Aid
Students who graduated from Scarsdale High School or lived in Scarsdale during their high school years and who have completed their first, second, or third years of college are invited to apply to the Scarsdale Foundation for tuition assistance. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the Foundation awarded need-based grants totaling $139,000 to 31 students attending private and state-supported colleges and universities.
Applications for the 2022-2023 academic year should be submitted online from the Scarsdale Foundation’s website: www.scarsdalefoundation.org (click on the College Scholarships link). Completed applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Questions should be directed to Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs Anne Lyons or B. Kathleen Munguia at: scarsdalefoundationscholarship@gmail.com.
The Foundation welcomes contributions from the community to augment the funds available for distribution each year. Contributions may be donated to a specially earmarked Scholarship Fund of the Scarsdale Foundation, enabling the Foundation to carry on the tradition of helping students in need pursue a college education. Donations may be made online by visiting the Foundation’s website or mailed to the Scarsdale Foundation at P.O. Box 542, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
The Foundation also hosts the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner where Scarsdale individuals are recognized for their volunteer service to the community. The Scarsdale Bowl will be presented to the 2022 recipient on Thursday, April 28 at the Brae Burn Country Club. The 2020 and 2021 Bowl recipients will be honored at the April dinner as well.
Judges Needed for SMS Speech Contest
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The Scarsdale Middle School Speech Contest will be held on Thursday March 24, 2022 and judges are needed. Will Maldarelli, a teacher and coordinator of the event is inviting interested adults in the community and high school students who are members of the Speech and Debate Club to serve as judges.
Here is the schedule
4:00-4:30 judges sign in and rounds begin with the preliminary rounds ending at approximately 7:00 pm.
A light buffet dinner, courtesy of the PTA, will be served after these preliminary rounds
Finals to end by 9:00 pm.
To register, please use the Google form:
If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact Steven Scharf at sscharf@scarsdaleschools.org.
Administration Proposes 4% Increase for 2022-23 Scarsdale School Budget
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With a proposed increase in staffing of 10.5 full time employees for the 2022-23 school year and a projected decline of $1.9 million in the projected fund balance as of June 30, 2022, this could be a challenging year for the Scarsdale School budget.
At a budget study session on Monday February 14, 2022, the administration presented their first draft of the proposed 2022-23 school budget. Though projected revenues from the 2021-22 school year were up $2.9 mm or 1.82% over the prior year, expenses were also up by $3.7 mm or 2.31%. Assistant Superintendent Stuart Mattey projected that the district would end this financial year with $1.96 mm less in fund balance then they had on June 30, 2021, completing the year with $23,577,258 in fund balance which is 3.05% of the 2022-23 draft budget. State law allows the district to maintain up to 4% of the subsequent year’s budget in fund balances.
The most significant change in the proposed budget is staffing. In this initial budget the district is proposing to add 10.5 full time employees, including psychologists and social workers in the middle and high schools, two special education teachers, clerical support for the high school psychologist, a half time CPSE Chairperson for case evaluations along with an elementary school math teacher, a computer science teachers, a grounds person, a cleaner and the transition of clerks from part time to full time.
District enrollment is estimated to decline by 63 students from a total pupil population of 4,609 in 2021-22 to 4,546 in 2022-23.
The initial proposed budget for the entire district is $174,379,876, which is 4.5% higher than the 2021-22 budget and would mean a 4.04% increase in the tax levy. This translates to a 3% increase of Scarsdale taxpayers and a 4.28% increase for those in the Mamaroneck strip. The projected tax cap is 3.5%, so this would exceed that limit and be a good deal higher than the 2.54% increase for 2021-22.
However, that same night, realizing that this increase may be too high for some to support, the district also presented a list of reductions to consider, including $141,000 in efficiencies, $547,483 in new items that would not be included and another $168,501 in savings from the Employee Retirement System from a refined calculation. Combined, these three savings lines total almost $857,000 and would reduce the budget to $173,291,393. That would mean a tax levy increase pf 3.45% which falls just below the estimated tax cap.
Commenting on the proposed budget, both the presidents of the high school and middle school PTA’s supported the additional mental health staffing.
High School PTA President Joey Silberfein said, “The pandemic has left its mark on students and faculty. We strongly encourage the board to keep all resources in the budget. We are advocating for mental health professionals who are district employees ... and staff to conduct more in depth IEP’s. Current staff is stretched beyond their band width… Having someone who can work with students and staff can lead to resolution in a timely manner.”
Leah Dembitzer, speaking on behalf of the PTA executive committee concurred. She shared the following remarks for publication:
The Scarsdale Middle School PTA Executive Committee (SMS PTA EC) and Budget Study Chairs strongly support the increase in staffing related to Mental Health support at Scarsdale Middle School as requested by Principal Troy at the January 10th Board of Education meeting.
These needs include staffing for an Emotional Support Program as well as an in-house Social Worker.
As Principal Troy previously explained, “we have seen a rise in the number of students managing depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, which limits a student’s ability to access an equal education.” The support and structure that the High School Emotional Support Program has given students for six years is a model for the Middle School. Bringing this program down to the Middle School will give students who are struggling to access the general education curriculum due to emotional difficulties the support necessary to succeed.
Principal Troy also requested an in-house social worker as a result of the significant rise in students currently struggling with mental health issues. Through the addition of a social worker to the SMS staff, the Middle School would be able to foster a greater degree of familiarity, continuity and a consistent touch point for both families and students. Due to the increase in mandated counseling and the significant, growing mental health needs, current social workers do not have the time to focus on proactive, preventative work, rather they are addressing students in crisis.
The impact of living through an ongoing pandemic upon our student community is immense. Our Middle School students require more mental health staff time and support than is currently available to them. The SMS PTA EC and Budget Study Chairs strongly support an additional school-based social worker in order to meet the mental health needs of students before they enter crisis mode.
Thank you for your time and consideration and we beseech you to contemplate the very real and immense mental health needs at Scarsdale Middle School in your budget process.
