League Asks for More Democratic Bond Planning Process
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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This statement was read to the Board of Education at their September 25, 2017 meeting by Mary Beth Evans, Chair, LWVS School Bond Study Committee, and Linda Doucette-Ashman, Co-President, LWVS and sent to Scarsdale10583 for publication:
To the Board of Education:
The League of Women Voters has been dedicated since its founding in 1921 to the ideals of the democratic process. As a nonpartisan political organization whose core mission is to promote the informed and active participation of citizens in government, the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale has a long history of studying and commenting on local government engagement of community input into the decision making process.
While not without precedent, it is unusual for the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Board of Directors ("League Board") to issue statements in advance of a League member consensus meeting; however, after discussion, we determined that the following major concerns about the current School District facilities bond process do warrant a League Board statement at this time:
• The School District has made available to the public an extraordinarily large volume of data during six public meetings over the past four months; yet, this information has neither been presented in a digestible format, nor has it remained constant, with plans and priorities, and even the numerical ranking and definition of priority work items, subject to change from meeting to meeting.
• At the same time, the community has yet to be provided with a framework for understanding what our school buildings need in order to preserve and enhance a high quality Scarsdale education.
• The community also has not been provided a clear statement of the School Board's overall objective for this bond as it relates to the quality of our schools and Scarsdale educational values.
• Meanwhile, major bond related decisions have already been made over the summer with insufficient opportunity for public input and insufficient School Board deliberation to fully inform the public in a manner that allows the community to engage, question, challenge and/or support the School Board's educational rationale and fiscal assumptions.
• In addition, a compressed schedule of School Board-directed building and District-wide committee meetings, which did not begin until this month, does not allow sufficient time for the School Board to consider and respond to possible committee recommendations for substantive changes to either the proposed Greenacres School renovation and addition plan or the proposed uses for the remainder of the bond before the October 16 statutory deadline to issue a final bond resolution for a December 2017 bond vote.
• Moreover, given the short amount of time and the absence of School Board meetings between now and October 16, members of the community may reasonably assume that there is no opportunity to significantly modify either the Greenacres School proposal or the proposed uses for the remainder of the bond.
• Finally, although the public was told back in May that there would be a "full blown bond package" and public "forums" in September, a "December 2017 bond vote" timeline now appears to be driving a process that does not allow time for the community to weigh in on a complete bond package before the School Board would need to adopt a final bond resolution.
The League Board maintains that rather than allowing a goal of a particular bond vote date to determine the extent of community participation, a goal of maximum community engagement and input into the bond decision-making process should be a School Board priority in deciding the bond timeline.
In order to develop a school bond that is a product of a District-community partnership, the School Board should proactively encourage such partnership by ensuring the final bond proposal accurately reflects community values and priorities. We further maintain that regardless of the extent of community input since the start of the bond process in 2014, the community has not had sufficient opportunity to weigh in on whether the current iteration of the proposal released to the public September 11 accurately reflects community values.
We also note that as elected officials accountable to the public, members of the School Board should allow themselves time to deliberate fully and openly on all aspects of the bond proposal in order to give the public both insight into their decision-making process and opportunity to weigh in on their deliberations.
We therefore recommend that the School Board:
1) Set a bond vote date that prioritizes community participation, allows for a more deliberative School Board process, and involves the School Board's proactive engagement of the community's input; and
2) Immediately address issues of community engagement by adding multiple dedicated meetings for public presentations and community feedback to ensure the School Board's final decision is guided by community values and priorities.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Linda Doucette-Ashman and Janice Starr, Co-Presidents
Mary Beth Evans, Chair, School Bond Study Committee
League of Women Voters of Scarsdale
Click here to see additional questions from the LWVS raised at the 9-11-17 meeting of the Board of Education.
Greenacres Families Celebrate the New School Year at the Back to School Picnic
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The weather was perfect for the Greenacres Back-to-School Picnic on September 11. Students played and picnicked with their families, friends and teachers on the school field. The fun evening also featured a bake sale and glitter tattoos. (Photos by Toni DiMartino-Stebich)
Back to School Guide to Programs and Activities for 2017
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Enjoy the waning days of summer ... school begins for everyone on the Tuesday after Labor Day – September 5 – with Grade 9 orientation on Wednesday August 30th. Many are already practicing with their sports teams for the fall season and everyone's thinking about what the new school year will bring for kids from 2 to 17. We contacted local organizations to see what they are offering this fall – and here is what they shared. Whether you're looking for a nursery school or seeking out opportunities for dance, school enrichment, or sports training, you'll find many good options below:
For the Youngest Set:
The Early Childhood Program at Congregation Kol Ami is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate curriculum teaching and modeling Jewish values. We believe that children learn best through experiential play and provide for these rich experiences within warm, accepting, and nurturing surroundings. All of our Head Teachers have Masters Degrees in Early Childhood or N-6 or related educational fields. We offer a wide range of programs for children (from 1 to 5 years old) and their families. Our A Step Ahead! program for Fall 5 year olds provides full day Pre-K learning. For more information, contact: Nan Blank, ECP Director at [email protected] or call her 914-949-4717 x107.
KIDS Base/Little School: Open enrollment for the 2018-19 school year begins on October 1st at the Little School. We offer Half-Day Two's program in the morning and in the afternoon; Half-Day and Full Day Three's and Full Day Four's as well as early drop-off at 7:00am and Extended Day Child Care until 6:30pm. Our facility includes 8 large classrooms and a newly renovated enclosed playground. We focus on cognitive, linguistic 
and social-emotional competencies in our efforts to educate the whole child. We strive to make each child's first school experience a positive one that inspires a lifelong love of learning. We are proud to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) meeting rigorous standards for health, safety, teacher qualifications, curriculum and ongoing training. We work closely with Scarsdale Schools to ensure that our children are well prepared for kindergarten and future years.
The Little School Pre-K Academy is a transitional 4s program for children who want the "gift of time" prior to entering kindergarten. The class is a blend of play based learning, through the Project Approach with an academic curriculum that challenges children who are waiting to enter kindergarten. Registration for this class and all Little School classes for the 2018-2019 school year begins October 1, 2017.
The Little School is located at 307 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale in front of the Pool Complex. For further information or to request an application, please call 914-472-5409, email [email protected] or visit our website at www.kbls.org.
Mazel Tots® at Scarsdale Synagogue provides a
warm and stimulating environment, which encourages children's curiosity and helps them to grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Our warm and nurturing staff will guide the children through a curriculum filled with a variety of child-centered and developmentally appropriate activities that are safe, fun and friendly. The children's spiritual growth will be enriched by the study of Jewish holidays, traditions and family values. We also offer a group of special activities such as sports and games, music, creative movement, sign language, nature, yoga, karate, science, art and more! We have two beautiful new playgrounds and gardens, plus a newly equipped indoor play space featuring ride-on toys, gym equipment, giant blocks, stepping stones and the like! Our Early Childhood Program serves children from 18 months until Kindergarten-bound! We also have afternoon Enrichment Programs and a Parenting Program! For more information please contact Jody Glassman, Early Childhood Program Director at 914-723-3001 or [email protected]. You can also visit our website. Scarsdale Synagogue is located at 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. 914.725.5175.
The Early Childhood Center of Westchester Reform Temple is dedicated to guiding, supporting and enriching young children's lives spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically. Our warm staff of experienced educators, along with Temple clergy and specialists, work in partnership to implement our program. Using developmentally appropriate best practices, we prepare our students for the demands of kindergarten readiness. Our pre-school curriculum reflects continuity of content and skills, subsequent growth at each age level, and is responsive to children's interests and individuality in the creation of emergent curriculum. Our facility offers beautiful indoor classrooms, play spaces and two age-appropriate outdoor playgrounds, filled with light and surrounded by nature.
Our ECC is unique among preschools in our area. We provide families with opportunities to participate in and appreciate their Jewish heritage. Equally as important, we create a warm, positive environment which fosters social connections among children as well as their parents. We are known as a Center for families with young children. There are many opportunities for families to participate in some of the fun and often free events we offer throughout the year.
Classes are offered for ages toddler to four-year-olds, and we offer half day and full day options for older children. For information, and to schedule a visit to our pre-school, please contact ECC Director [email protected] or call us at 914 723-5493.
For Kids of all Ages:
Education at the JCC of Mid-Westchester: Feeding the Minds and Bodies. Pre-school learners all benefit from the full service nursery schools, fitness and sports facilities and professional teaching staff throughout the JCC. A year round indoor pool, fitness programs, arts programs and Special needs programs. 
All under one roof! Early drop off late pick up available. The JCC's Summer Art Center (SAC), a one of a kind program that provides a non-competitive, nurturing and flexible environment for all children with a passion for the Arts, continues throughout the year! Classes are all taught by professional artists and teachers and offers high quality instruction in Fine Arts, Dance, Theatre and Music. The Dance School provides extensive programs for pre-schoolers, teens, and adults. The Academic Center offers everything you need to prepare your kids for college entrance. One of the best things about having more than 250 programs for the whole family is that we can offer discounts to our members and patrons. For example, Nursery school families get significant discounts on the fitness packages, camps, and even pre-registration priority for programs that sell out like gymnastics. NEW this year is a pre-K Spanish immersion class! Contact the JCC for more information or to schedule a tour: 914-472-3300, www.jccmw.org.
The JCC is expanding their STEAM offerings. The JCC STEAM program is filled with exciting new classes including LEGO Mathematics, which brings the joy of math to children in grades K-1 and TEKI Tynker, a coding and programming class for children in grades 2-3. Favorite classes from last year, including our very popular Robotics and Jr. Robotics teams where participants work together to design and build a number of increasingly complex robots, as well as Animation and Video Game Creation, will also be offered. Classes are limited to 10 students so register early at jccmw.org we are also adding STEAM birthday parties for your child at the JCC of Mid Westchester.
Shaarei Tikvah, the Scarsdale Conservative Synagogue,
invites your children, from Kindergarten through b'nei mitzvah age and beyond, to join in our vibrant and fun Jewish learning. The Anna and Louis Sheriff Religious School seeks to inspire our children with an appreciation of Judaism's rich traditions and culture. Our Teen Engage program offers a unique, elective-based curriculum, that combines experiential learning with our Jewish Debate Club (taught by Rabbi Adam Baldachin). Our weekday-only program (Monday and Wednesday) provides a strong foundation in Hebrew language and prayer, incorporating music and the arts that make learning fun. At Shaarei Tikvah, children experience mitzvot, Torah, Shabbat, holidays, Israel and Jewish history. Please find us on the web here or contact us with questions at [email protected] or 914-472-2013 ext. 300.
The Arts:
Right here in Scarsdale – Starlight Starbright Music offers Music Together®, the international early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 8—and the grownups who love them®. In addition to our Babies (0-6 months), Mixed-Age (0-5 years), and Guitar for Grownups classes, new this fall are Rhythm Kids—Music Together with drumming—for preschoolers (4-5 years) and grade schoolers (grades K-2), and Sing Shalom—Music Together with Jewish songs—for mixed ages (0-5 years). Non-Music Together offerings include Uke U., parent-child beginner ukulele for 3- to 6-year-olds; Ukulele Party, for adults and teens; and private guitar lessons for 6- to 10-year-olds. For information about classes and free demos, please visit www.slsbmusic.com or call (914) 924-0995. 78 Garth Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
Steffi Nossen School of Dance (White Plains) has a class for you! We offer classes for dancers of all abilities. Through the discipline and joy of dance in a nurturing environment, students develop grace and fitness, build confidence and poise, and experience the creative process. We offer classes for tots to teens;
from Parent and Toddler to a Pre-Professional Program. Parent and Toddler for 1 – 3 year olds, is a fun-filled opportunity for youngest dancers to express themselves through movement while working on balance and coordination. Pre-schoolers chose from Creative Movement, Tap-Ballet Combo, and an energy filled Boy's Movement class. Core Programs in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hip-Hop and a Pre-professional Program and Moving Wheels and Heels – an adaptive class for dancers with special needs - something for everyone who wants to dance. White Plains and Chappaqua. Visit our website, www.steffinossen.org or contact us at [email protected] or (914) 328-1900.
Sports!
House of Sports is a 100,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility located in Ardsley. The facility offers a wide variety of sports programming options for athletes of all ages. House of Sports offerings include Learn to Play classes for children ages 2 to 7, sports training, leagues and teams for athletes 8 years old through High School and fitness classes and leagues for adults. We also offer a range of Open Play and rental options for basketball courts and turf fields. Visit us online for more information at www.houseofsportsny.com. Or contact us via email at: [email protected], or (914) 479-5419 for more information.
Kids In Sports is a dynamic specialized sports program for children 12 months through 12 years old. Founded in 1999, Kids In Sports instructs children in multi-sport classes including Basketball, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer and Volleyball. Headquartered on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, we recently opened our newest location in Scarsdale on Central Park Avenue.
Offering benefits that go beyond the game, Kids in Sports classes are designed to offer a combined learning experiencing energizing the mind and body of your children. With participation and separation options available, Kids In Sports has it all. With a 1:5 coach to child ratio, we focus on teaching the fundamentals of sports in an organized, safe, fun, and supportive environment with emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, and communication. With a change in sports every 2-3 weeks, your child is sure to master the technique of each individual sport, while getting the experience and excitement of them all!
With bountiful options to choose from, Kids In Sports offers everything from multi and sport specific classes to summer and day camps, afterschool programs, pre-school alternatives, and birthday parties. We offer free trials for all new students so be sure to check us out at https://scarsdaleny.kidsinsports.com/ give us a call on 914-358-9732 or visit us at 365 Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale.
Westchester Skating Academy is a year-round, twin-rink ice skating Learn to Skate facility offering recreational, hockey, and figure skating for all ages and abilities. WSA programs include public skating, learn-to-skate classes, group events, birthday parties, summer/holiday camps and clinics, adult and youth hockey leagues and instruction, and much more. Visit us online for more information at www.skatewsa.com. Or contact us via email at: [email protected], or (914) 347-8232 for more information.
Local Sports Organizations:
Scarsdale Sharks: Please go to Scarsdalesharks.com to read up about this great opportunity to play travel basketball, in house
leagues and clinics in Scarsdale. Train and play games locally with our exceptional coaches. Fall season starts in early September. For more info, email at [email protected], visit: www.scarsdalesharks.com or email: [email protected].
Scarsdale Youth Lacrosse Association is now accepting registrations for K-8 Boys and Girls in our Fall lacrosse programs. Fall lacrosse is about improving skills, game IQ development, playing games against other town teams, and having fun playing lax in the beautiful Fall season. The intent of the programs is to offer an alternative in the Fall for those who may not play traditional fall sports or who would like to continue to play lax during the off-season in a fun and competitive environment. SYLA programs are for all levels of players from beginner to advanced. We offer lacrosse programs in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. SYLA is dedicated to promoting lacrosse at the youth level for families residing in the Village of Scarsdale. We strive to develop strong fundamental skills and teamwork while adhering to the standards of sportsmanship and fair play. If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. Visit our website to register today!
Maroon and White is the Scarsdale parent organization supporting interscholastic athletics, physical education, and health at the high school. All Scarsdale families are welcome as members and can join through our website, www.maroonandwhite.org.We regularly raise funds through membership, from the sale of Raider 
merchandise and spiritwear, and from family and business ads in the M&W SHS Sports Journal. We are presently accepting ads through our website or by emailing Kate Conlan at [email protected]. Ads placed by October 30, 2017 will appear in all three printings of the Journal (i.e., Fall, Winter, and Spring). Please come out and support our fall athletes. The schedule of games and matches is available on our website.
Do you have a program you would like to add to the guide? Email us at s[email protected].
Composting Comes to SHS
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Composting has come to Scarsdale High School, the first high school in Westchester County to undertake the program. Michelle Sterling and Ron Schulhof of the Scarsdale Forum Sustainability program are on site everyday, showing students how to use the bins to sort and recycle the remains of their lunch.
Ninth graders are already familiar with the program which was initially launched in 2012 and is now in practice at Scarsdale's five elementary schools and at Scarsdale Middle School.
Kids are very receptive to the fact that in just two months time, all the contents of the bins will be recycled into compost which can be returned to the earth.
More volunteers are needed to man the compost bins during lunchtime at the high school. If you are interested in lending a hand, please email Michelle Sterling at [email protected].
Starlight Starbright Music in Scarsdale Offering New Fall Programs and Lessons
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Starlight Starbright Music in Scarsdale now offers Music Together® Rhythm Kids, Music Together Sing Shalom, Ukulele Party for adults and teens, and private guitar lessons for children, it was announced today by director Jackie Freimor. Freimor has been offering Music Together classes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their parents and caregivers since 2005 and a mommy-and-me beginner ukulele class since 2013.
Music Together Rhythm Kids is an exciting music, movement, and drumming class created by Tom Foote and developed with Kenneth K. Guilmartin, Founder/Director of Music Together. It follows through on Music Together's vision to help children complete the pathway of early childhood music development. The curriculum is segmented into two levels: Level 1 for 4- to 5-year-old preschoolers, and Level 2 for 5- through 8-year-olds in grades K-2. Both 10-week classes run once weekly for 45 minutes, and both are designed to help children integrate and assimilate rhythm by learning multicultural drumming patterns, developing new repertoire on various percussion instruments, exploring movement and dance while singing songs, and playing games based on music and drumming.
According to Guilmartin, "Enrolling your older child in Rhythm Kids is an important educational choice. The program is designed specifically to support your emerging young musician's progress toward basic music literacy, but it is also firmly embedded in the Music Together tradition of family music—supporting the fundamentally musical nature of all children by increasing the music awareness and active participation of the adults who love them."
The other new Music Together program, Music Together Sing Shalom, is a pilot program being developed in collaboration between The Jewish Education Project and local Music Together centers in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, with funding provided by UJA-Federation of New York. This program has been uniquely designed using the Music Together program 
enriched with songs from throughout the Jewish world. Each week for 10 weeks, a community of families comes together to sing, dance, and play along in a 45-minute class led by a trained Music Together teacher.
Freimor says, "The beautiful thing about Music Together Sing Shalom is that like all Music Together programs, it helps families learn lots of ways to interact musically with their children, but it also helps them connect specifically with the Jewish music tradition. Best of all, it's fun!"
The new non-Music Together offerings at Starlight Starbright Music include Ukulele Party, a 45-minute weekly jam session for adults and teens that runs for 8 weeks. Ukulele Party was developed by Jill Geddes, who started the program to teach ukulele technique and develop a more extensive song repertoire. Says Geddes, "The ukulele is becoming more and more popular among adults and teens. I developed Ukulele Party to give them a chance to learn new techniques and songs in a relaxed, fun setting."
The final new offering this fall is private guitar lessons for 6- to 10-year-olds at the Starlight Starbright Music studio in Scarsdale. The 30-minute lessons are taught by Freimor, whose former Music Together students are now old enough to receive private instruction on an instrument. Says Freimor, "I thought it would be helpful for children to take lessons from a teacher they already know and trust."
Adds Freimor about the new class offerings this fall, "Our other classes at Starlight Starbright Music have been an enormous success, and we know that parents and caregivers will enjoy deepening their and their children's music-making experiences even further both in class and at home. And singing and moving with your kids is a wonderful way to bond and will make lifelong memories for your family!"
For more information, visit www.slsbmusic.com or contact Jackie Freimor at (914) 924-0995 or [email protected].
