Details

Written by Michael Mancusi

Published: 23 June 2022

Created: 23 June 2022

Last Updated: 06 July 2022

Hits: 2106

In a fitting end to a tumultuous four years at Scarsdale High School, uncertain weather caused the A School to move their ceremony, which is traditionally held on the steps of the school, inside to the high school auditorium. The decision was made just an hour and half before the Friday afternoon event.

The ceremony marked the A School’s fiftieth year – a milestone!

And it was also the final A School ceremony for two beloved A School teachers. English teacher Jeanne Cooper will retire at the end of the school year, and Social Studies Teacher Jen Maxwell will leave her post at the A School to take the role of Social Studies Department Chair at Scarsdale High School.

Introductory remarks were made by A School Director Fallon Plunkett who said goodbyes to Cooper and Maxwell. Then each of the 25 graduating students received personalized remarks from the advisors, followed by this address from Sam Dresher, member of the graduating class.

Greetings class of 2022! For those I haven’t met, my name is Sam Drescher, and thank you for the honor of allowing me to speak before you today. A special hello to my mom and dad, who I realized about an hour ago have no idea what’s going on right now as I neglected to tell them I was speaking today.

So, I’ll start real with you all. These past three years have been nothing short of insane. It’s been the most wild ride, going virtual to in-person to virtual again more times than I can count. We’ve gone through the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. But somehow, here we are, in all our glory: the 50th graduating class of the Scarsdale Alternative School. It’s nothing short of a miracle.

Actually, scratch that: there’s one thing that has brought us through these tumultuous years, and it’s the idea that I want to discuss with you all today. It’s the reason we are all here, and the reason I’m forcing you guys to listen to me after all these hours. That idea is community. It’s a word we’ve heard countless times over our A-School careers. it’s the very bedrock of the institution from which we are now departing. But what is community? Why is it so essential to the human experience? And why does this short kid standing in front of me care so much about it?

Community is such a multi-dimensional, convoluted concept that I couldn’t possibly address all its facets in a short speech. In fact, community is so complicated that I, as a sophomore, didn’t know what it meant. I mean, I literally could not tell you what the word “community” meant; I had to look it up in the dictionary for one of my first papers in Jeanne’s class in tenth grade.

Nevertheless, community remains crucial for all people because of one thing, and I first realized this a couple days ago talking to Micah Arenstein. He told me how he enjoyed being held accountable for his actions. And then it hit me like a truck: accountability is at the core of community. It was accountability to everyone here that made me write this speech 23 hours before graduation instead of 2. And it’s accountability that binds us all in a pattern of upward growth. Accountability mandates that you be there for others: in a community like ours, and in a class like ours, we have all been there for each other when we needed it most.

Even more importantly, accountability gives you not only an option, but an imperative to turn to others when you need them. It forces you to acknowledge your mistakes and realize your shortcomings. It makes it OK to ask for help, like asking your core group for advice or crying in Mike’s office during the significant figures unit.

Accountability forces you to see the people around you; not just to know their names, but to know their stories and their backgrounds. And wow, do we have some diversity among us. From captains of sports teams to genius engineers, from international expats, to musical virtuosos, from Warriors fans to Celtics fans. It’s been an enormous joy to get to know and learn from all of you, but also to recognize my obligation towards each and every one of you. It’s this sense of accountability that has allowed us to have the deepest of relationships. Members of our class have turned to each other for guidance, advice, and late night drives to Jeanne’s house.

And last but definitely not least, accountability requires that we live in the moment. As I’m sure we all know, Scarsdale High School is often a cesspool of competition, where people one-up their friends for what they see as a better chance at getting into a good college, so they can get a good job, so they can be successful…the list goes on. But accountability for each other means that you can’t be living three or four years in the future. The reality is that this community doesn’t function properly if even a single one of us isn’t fully present and committed to the mission. The direct democracy and obligation to each other that are so deeply entrenched into our A-School structures mean that the community needs you here, and now.

Of course, the reality of the situation is that come next year, the community won’t need us. The A-School will go on, and our leaving will make room for 28 other kids to have the same phenomenal experiences we did. Therefore, for once, we find ourselves looking towards the future. And if there is one thing you take away from today, I want it to be this:

Our time in the A-School was not just a high school experience. We weren’t just part of this program to pass our classes, or even to make an impact on this community. No. Our aim is far more ambitious. We have a responsibility to the new, wonderful places we are going next year to be the architects of community. When you step foot on that campus, and for the rest of your life, it is your duty to build community in your footsteps. Whether that community is a sports team, a club, a group of friends, or an entire university, we must dedicate the skills we’ve learned here to bind that community closer together.

Encourage discourse yet foster consensus. Have difficult conversations, but make sure every voice is included. Take care of the people who sit next to you in English because they could be your best friends. Meet and get to know your teachers, because they just might be some of the most important people in your life. Never be afraid to sacrifice your time and energy for the greater good. Trust and rely on the people around you. And most importantly, be accountable. Hold your friends accountable, hold yourself accountable, hold the community accountable.

This was practice. Now we’re ready for the real thing. So, thank you for being a friend. Thank you for holding me accountable.

We were all in this together, and I’m so unbelievably proud of the ways we’ve grown. I love you guys so much. Congratulations, class of 22!

2022 Graduates

Abby Fine
Aiden Pierson
Alex Horvath
Allison Coburn
Audrey Gendel
Carolina Vittori
Claire Kaufman
Jacob Zik
Jayho So
Jonah Dichter
Jonathan Wallach
Juliana Zraick
Maya Zilberstein
Mackenzie Harpster
Micah Arenstein
Michael Mancusi
Nick Mangieri
Olivia Cohen
Robin Glicker
Ryan Gerson
Sam Dresher
Sydney Rothschild
Sedna Ghandi
Talia Levenson
Will Bunzel
Will Reed

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 06 July 2022

Created: 06 July 2022

Last Updated: 06 July 2022

Hits: 1928

(Scarsdale Village Deputy Mayor Randall Whitestone provided this historical perspective at the Arthur Manor July 4th Celebration)

Hello friends and neighbors, and happy Fourth of July. It’s great to be back with you again.

Each year I’m not sure how the parade can get better, and each year it seems we outdo ourselves – such amazing marchers, bicycles and floats – and such great spirit! I’m glad we can share this great day. Thank you to Matt, Margaret Marcus and the Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association, the police and fire departments, and to all of YOU for helping make this celebration happen.

We know we live in challenging times. We’ve dealt with a pandemic, we have a swirl of social and political issues on our minds, and gas prices and broader price inflation are doing us few favors. On a not-so-distant horizon, we see the specter of the first major land war in Europe since 1945.

Yet right here in this place we call home, there are some timeless treasures and reminders of just how special Scarsdale is, how we have been through so much as a nation and a village, and how we walk in the footsteps of our forebears.
Some of you who patronize our elegantly updated library may have noticed a small bronze plaque affixed to a rock adjacent to the side parking lot. That plaque celebrates our own James Fenimore Cooper and commemorates the centenary of the “The Spy,” an 1821 novel whose central action spans British and Colonial battle lines in and around Scarsdale during the Revolutionary War. It shows the figure of Harvey Birch, The Spy, as he tramped the Hills between the Hudson and the Sound.

That “Cooper Memorial” plaque was dedicated exactly 100 years ago today. So, in essence, those of us gathered here can take the opportunity to mark the bicentennial of Cooper’s creativity and artistry and contributions to the life of both our young village, and our young nation.

During the dedication ceremonies on that mild July day in 1922, those gathered heard remarks by another remarkable Scarsdalian, Columbia University History Professor Dixon Ryan Fox of Greenacres, President of the Town Club and later President of both the New York Historical Society and of Union College, and biographer of Caleb Heathcote. Professor Fox’s speech, “The Heritage of History,” focused on the importance of community, and I think it’s worthwhile to quote a few lines today:

Said Professor Fox, “On this birthday of the nation, as on so many that have gone before, the drumbeat and the song of patriotism are following the sun from Plymouth Harbor to the Golden Gate. We add our voices to this hymn of pride and gratitude and dedication, yet our festival is easily distinguished from most of those which mark the day.”

The spirit of Independence Day, he said, is celebrated in communities as “its spirit rests upon the larger group, the community, as the symbol of the nation. The things that quicken the group life seem appropriate to it. A community is made of men and women with a common interest. In Scarsdale where all but a few are but recent immigrants from the four corners of the land, it is especially desirable to develop common interests as we may. It is by such influence that Scarsdale becomes a home ...”

Deputy Mayor Randy Whitestone is currently serving his second term as Scarsdale Village TrusteeHistory, said Professor Fox, served to help bind the community – a vivid history that includes “the sturdy colonist, the English grenadiers in dazzling scarlet and the embattled farmers, who finally outmatched them in shrewdness and in fortitude. The associations of our hearthstones are enriched by tales of other, different ways and battles long ago.”

“A hundred years have come and gone,” Professor Fox said in 1922, referring to Fenimore Cooper, “since a resident of Scarsdale, like most of us, an immigrant, felt the charm and power of this great tradition and gave America its first authentic masterpiece of fiction.…Suitable it is then that we set up here a monument to him who caught the spirit of old Westchester and gave it the eternal body of a classic.”

In closing, the Professor predicted that the Memorial “will bring to our children’s children a clearer understanding of a by-gone age. It illustrates, if I may say so, a civic spirit of honorable pride... today it is my privilege to give to the community a memorial of those brave days and of a citizen of Scarsdale who saw in local history the material of a masterpiece.”

Now it’s obvious that that memorial has been moved and lost its place of prominence over the years. Still, I hope that the next time you visit the library you will take a moment to stop by the memorial tablet and think about our rich history and local legacy, how it informs our lives to this day, and how it continues to breathe life into our vibrant, dynamic, and resilient community. Thank you and Happy Fourth!

Details

Written by Adam Katcher

Published: 14 June 2022

Created: 14 June 2022

Last Updated: 14 June 2022

Hits: 1214

With time a luxury, on-paper problem solving is a huge part of Quiz BowlAre you a Jeopardy fan? Do you like to test your knowledge on random facts about any topic under the sun? Try these challenge questions below!

Questions:

A)    For each of the following 10 countries, name their capital and their biggest cities by population: hint – the capital city and most populous city are different. 1) USA 2) Brazil 3) Belgium 4) China 5) Morocco 6) Australia 7) Canada 8) India 9) Switzerland 10) Turkey.

B)    The Dedham Lock and Mill painting from the early 19^th century of the British countryside was created by which British artist, whose last name can also be a word to describe the governor or warden of a royal castle or fortified town?

C)    What is the name of the 13-string instrument frequently played in Japan during the Edo period?

D)    The sum of 4 consecutive odd integers is zero. If the absolute value of each of these integers is taken and are then multiplied together, what is the final value?

*Answers to above questions can be found at the conclusion of the article.

These were just a few of the questions posed to the Quiz Bowl team at their national qualification match on June 3^rd.

Scarsdale High School’s Quiz Bowl team has been one of the clubs most directly impacted by the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person tournaments had to make way for virtual tournaments indefinitely. Still, after over two years with the virus, the vast majority of tournaments remain online. Though for quiz bowl, this might not seem like a big deal, it drastically changes the pace of matches. Rather than buzzing in for answers on a first-come, first-serve basis, both teams now get an equal opportunity at answering questions from given categories before their opponent has the chance to steal from incorrectly contested questions.

This school year with the majority of quiz bowl members onto college, the future of the club was at risk. Only a small handful of seniors and others remained. As the year passed, students from all grades were recruited: seniors already committed to college joined in, juniors came in to revitalize the core of the club, and even some underclassmen started going to meetings, signaling a bright future for the team. Club faculty advisor Michael Egan charged the students with recruiting team members, which proved to be a shrewd choice.

Training for matches is grueling, but not without its fair share of fun. Meetings consist of question after question after question, testing who already knows the answer and drilling in new information to those who were clueless. The questions are from old tournament packets, so every question students ever hear either will be or has been an official question. Upperclassmen, however, frequently bring food and refreshments to make the practice environment welcoming to all and not too intimidating.

On Friday, June 3^rd, the first portion of the National Tournament was held. Scarsdale fielded an A and B team, both with the opportunity to head onto the next round. They both had six matches: all teams that won four or more matches automatically qualified to head to the next round, contested on the weekend of June 11^th.

Unfortunately, neither the A nor B the Quiz Bowl teams were able to make it past the grueling contest on June 11^th. The B team secured one of their highest single-round point totals of the year, but lost to a Catholic school, who were able to answer what felt like a disproportionate number of Bible questions. Nonetheless, making it to the second weekend of nationals was a unique accomplishment in its own way, demonstrating both teams depth of knowledge for seasoned veterans and newer members.

Club President Ned Kronenberg reflected on his time both as a club member and leaders,  explaining, “Overall, I had an amazing experience in Quiz Bowl and it was a great club to be a member and leader of. Although this season remained impacted by COVID, it was my favorite as the team saw so much growth, both competitively and in terms of team camaraderie.”

In his eyes, proceeding to Nationals was a resounding success. “We were able to win a tournament [this season], and our A and B teams had a combined record of 10-2 in national qualifying, leading to strong finishes in bracket play for both teams.”

For those interested in joining the team in the next couple of years, Kronenberg feels as if the future is in good hands. “I am very optimistic,” he explained, “and I know that the club is in good hands with our faculty advisor Michael Egan and our next officers and underclassmen.”

For the club’s leadership, it is now out with the old and in with the new. Fortunately, the “new” does not look to be a step down from the “old” – it might actually prove to be an upgrade. Only time will tell.

Answers:

A)    1) Washington DC and New York City. 2) Brasilia and Sao Paulo. 3) Brussels and Antwerp. 4) Beijing and Shanghai. 5) Rabat and Casablanca. 6) Canberra and Sydney. 7) Ottawa and Toronto. 8) New Delhi and Mumbai. 9) Bern and Zurich. 10) Ankara and Istanbul

B)    John Constable

C)    Koto

D)    9