Scouts Earn Merit Badges and Travel to the U.N.
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Scarsdale Troop 4 held a Court of Honor on Sunday to recognize Scouts’ advancement in rank and earning merit badges. The Troop also honored Eagle Scout Zachary Weitzman for earning the Eagle Bronze Palm Award and Delfina Kirkendall-Rodríguez for earning the Shoot! Nova Award. The Bronze Palm is awarded to Eagle Scouts who have earned five additional merit badges beyond the 21 required for the Eagle Scout rank; Weitzman earned 30 merit badges in 4 years. Shoot! is the Scouts BSA Nova Award for investigating astronomy and projectile science. Kirkendall-Rodríguez attended a Scout camp where she researched and conducted experiments related to astronomy, space exploration and robotics. She also earned a merit badge in Space Exploration.
Twenty- seven Scouts earned a total of over 110 merit badges and awards in such diverse areas as the arts, citizenship, life skills, outdoor activities, sports, and STEM, The badges are American Cultures, Archery, Architecture, Art, Canoeing, Chess, Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in Society, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Cooking, Disabilities Awareness, Emergency Preparedness, Engineering, Family Life, Fire Safety, First Aid, Fishing, Geocaching, Inventing, Kayaking, Leatherwork, Mammal Study, Mining in Society, Music, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Robotics, Rifle Shooting, Search and Rescue, Safety, Space Exploration, Textile, Signs, Signals, and Codes, Swimming, Weather, and Wood Carving. Many scouts also earned the Totin’ Chip, a certification that grants a Scout the right to carry and use wood tools after scouts demonstrate that they can properly handle, care for, and use a pocket knife, ax, and saw.
The recipients of the various badges and awards were:
ZacharyFinkel and HeatherKolb
Stella Bowman
Aidan Copeland
Tian Dong
Michelle Fenyves
Zachary Finkel
Anthony Ge
Lucas Houpt
Kent Mazza
Delfina Kirkendall-Rodríguez
Christian Kirkendall-Rodríguez
Robert Kolb
Janghee Lee
Ibrahim Mansouri
Charles Morris
Henry Morris
Aarush Nagpal
Aidan Ostermiller
Dylan Ostermiller
Jason Ren
Kenneth Ren
Steven Ren
Tiago Rodríguez
Julia Ruiz Fraile
Matthew Teitscheid
Zachary Weitzman
Troy Wong
Harry Zheng
Julia Ruiz FraileLast week, eleven Scouts went on a tour of the United Nations to complete requirements for the Architecture, Art, Citizenship in Society, and Sustainability merit badges. The Scouts learned about the history and mission of the United Nations and were fortunate to see the General Assembly Hall and Security Council Chamber. In the art gallery, they viewed “Responsibility for Memory: The Role of Art in Holocaust Remembrance,” an exhibit featuring the works of Holocaust survivor and educator, Yehuda Bacon. They also viewed the historical timeline exhibit “The Question of Palestine- Timeline of Events” and a tapestry by Belarusian artist Alexander Kishchenko, which commemorates the Chernobyl tragedy of 1986. Afterward, the scouts had two enlightening sessions with Senior French Interpreter and Scarsdale resident Laurence Viguier and Cecilia Naddeo, Chief of the Human Rights and Gender Section, United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism. The Scouts were able to ask questions about these two professionals’ roles at the United Nations.
Troop 4 is a non-denominational troop that meets every Sunday at 6:00pm. Troop 4’s Scouts develop character, civic mindedness, and physical fitness. The troop achieves these aims through camping, outdoor activities, and community service, all while having a lot of fun. Middle and high school-aged Scouts, with support from volunteer adult leaders, create and lead activities such as hikes, outdoor games, community service, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities. Troop 4 embodies the values of inclusion, tolerance, and mutual respect for all people. Interested 11 - 17 year-olds may contact Scoutmasters Ted Mazza and Mayra Kirkendall-Rodríguez at [email protected].
Send Letters to Santa
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Board Invites the Community to Share Out Program on November 8, 2023
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In a meeting with a packed agenda, here are some additional highlights from the Board of Ed meeting on Monday night October 23, 2023.
Board VP Suzie Hahn reminded those present about the upcoming “Special District Share Out” Program on November 8th at 7:30 pm in the SMS auditorium:
“The PTC, SHS, and SMS Program Committees invite the Scarsdale Community to an informative, two-part program as presented by district administrators. First Dr. Drew Patrick and Dr. Edgar McIntosh will introduce the Belonging Survey. Building on our theme of Connecting our WIDE (well-being, inclusion, diversity, and equity) Community, Dr. Patrick and Dr. McIntosh will outline the District's plan to engage students, parents, faculty, and staff this fall in a survey focused on belonging. They will explain how the survey fits into the district's DEI work, describe the survey measures and elements, and review the timeline for survey administration. They will also discuss how the results will be communicated and utilized to inform next steps in the work. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions during the session.
Next, Jeannie Crowley, Director of Technology and Innovation and William Yang K-12 Coordinator of Digital Learning & Literacy will share a selection of the survey results from the Technology Survey administered in June 2023. The Technology Department solicited survey responses from faculty, parents, SMS students, and SHS students. The anonymous surveys were collaboratively developed by the Technology Department, the PTC, and the STA. In their presentation, Ms. Crowley and Mr. Yang will highlight how the data artifacts can be used by parents, administrators, faculty, and students to learn more about the technology experiences of Scarsdale Public Schools community members.
A short Q & A session will follow the Tech Survey presentation. All are invited to submit questions prior to the presentation via this form:Technology Presentation Question Submission Form”
NYS School Board Recognition Week
Dr. Patrick highlighted that October 16th-20th was New York State School Board Recognition Week. He extended his appreciation for our own BOE members with a gift and by saying, “Our seven Scarsdale School Board Members start their service by taking an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, and that of the State of New York. But, as they each know, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Above the surface are Board meetings and events, but their service as volunteers who provide thoughtful, responsive governance for the education of our youth extends deep below the surface. They take training, serve on committees, act as liaisons, read contracts, memos, and resumes, learn together in Board retreats, and much, much more. Their service to the public is demanding, and they are dedicated to improving the education we provide to our students. They serve as a vital connection between the community they represent, and the educators who carry out the mission. Tonight, we have a small token of appreciation for your service. On behalf of a grateful school community, thank you for your service!”
Varsity A Girls Tennis Team
Dr. Patrick congratulated the Girls Varsity Tennis team on their recent sectional win and wished good luck to those participating in the upcoming state finals.
SAFE Coalition
Board member Jessica Resnick-Ault spoke about her meeting with the Scarsdale SAFE Coalition. She reported that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness and National Bullying Prevention Month. She also spoke about a program that the Safe Coalition is hosting: “Everyone knows Someone: Financial Abuse and the Dynamics of Domestic Violence.” The virtual program will be held on October 27th at 12pm.
School Visits
Board member Jim Dugan reported on the first of many school visits by our Board of Education. During this first visit, BOE members were invited to tour the grounds, building, and classrooms at Greenacres Elementary and Mr. Dugan was “left marveling at how fabulous things at Greenacres are.”
Social Awakening Program
Mr. Schulhof reported on the Social Awakening Program he attended at SMS on October 16th, calling the presentation very informative. For more information about the presentation click here.
Cabinet Updates
Eric Rauschenbach provided an update on the integrated lockdown system and reported that the system will be fully operational on Tuesday October 24th and drills under the new system will begin the first week of November.
Jeannie Crowley, Director of Technology reported on the upcoming “Share Out” program on November 8th and related that the results for the 2023 Tech Survey can be found online. She also noted that the survey results are intended to be a source of “inquiry instead of conclusions” and looks forward to exploring the meaning of the results in greater detail on November 8th.
Assistant Superintendent for Business, Andrew Lennon happily shared his recommendation to appoint Ms. Linda Pisano as the District’s Internal Claims Auditor. Her appointment was approved later in the meeting.
An Innovative Costume Display from the SHS Class of 2024
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The Class of 2024 and their teachers and advisers put on a resplendent costume show just after the sun camp up on Tuesday October 31, 2023.
The class drew inspiration from history, the movies, popular brands, food, Disney classics and musical stars.
Students were dressed as The Founding Fathers and Alexander Hamilton and his wife in a sign of their critical role today.
We found flamingos, menacing gorillas, chickens, and cows along with astronauts, princesses, scarecrows, wizards and blushing brides.
Some looked back at favorite classics like Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and the Beast, Three Blind Mice and Winnie the Pooh while others dressed as the casts of more modern films and television shows such as Aliens, The Joker, Men in Black, Pitch Perfect, Top Gun and South Park.
Popular foods included a pair of ketchup bottles, Cheetos, a bowl of vegetables with ranch dressing and four cans of seltzer.
We got a kick out of a group dressed as Lois from the Progressive Insurance ad, and teachers dressed as Barbie, Frankenstein and Gamora and Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy and a perennial favorite Captain Hook.
A group of Ed Sheeran look alikes serenaded the group and two sets of leprachauns and seniors sporting Lederhosen brought laughs.
A spirited morning for the SHS Class of 2024!
Halloween Window Painting Award Winners
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7th Grader Yunong Lin took the Grand PrizeScarsdale is awash in color after the annual window painting event on Sunday October 15. Young artists were huddled around retail windows creating al fresco works of art – with comic, political and Halloween themes.
See the artists at work here.
Below is the list of winners and honorable mentions from the Scarsdale Recreation Department. Congratulations to all the talented painters.
Grand Prize
Yunong Lin
3rd Grade Individual 
3rd GradeFirst Place - Christopher Andriopoulos
1st Place – Christopher Andriopoulos
2nd Place- Zane Ahmed
3rd Place- Emilia Rodriguez
Most Comical- Leila Caposella
Honorable Mention- Anastasia Phillibert/ Ashyln Che
3rd Grade Pairs
1st Place- Marcelo Mayta-Sebastion, David Yuan
2nd Place- Blake Braslavsky, Max Forschner
3rd Place- Zoe Brudnick, Jillian Lesser
Most Comical- Freya Sontag, Ella Reader
Honorable Mention- Simran Dhiman, Olivia Matrullo/ Mila Pikover, Lia Ciccarelli
4th Grade First Place: Giovana Bardella4th Grade Individual
1st Place- Giovana Bardella
2nd Place- Kabir Singhal
3rd Place- Beatriz Gonzales
Most Comical- Josh Freundlich
Honorable Mention- Grace Ding
4th Grade Pairs
1st Place- Mabel Schwartz, Zoey Young
2nd Place- Ella Papale, Milena Papale
3rd Place- Caroline Moser, Arya Sahai
Most Comical- Harlie Posternak, Molly Kalish
Honorable Mentions- Kiyomi Shah, Mai Ishikawa/ Shelby Dubin, Jenna Hirsch/ Madeline Rosen, Brooke Biondi
5th and 6th Grade Individual
Fifth-Sixth Grade First Place Victoria Gong
1st Place- Victoria Gong
2nd Place- Teddy Wang
3rd Place- Leticia Schiavinato
Most Comical- Taylor Helman
Honorable Mentions- Emma Freundlich/ Madelyn Reemer/ Alma Kahan/ Irene Etlinger/ Yinan Jiang/ Maia Papale
5th and 6th Grade Pairs
1st Place- Irena Mao, Helen Feng
2nd Place- Jonah Bloomgarden, Teddy Eisenberg
3rd Place- Pehel Mody, Natalia Llosa
Most Comical- Leela Choudary, Vivian Elkhatib
Honorable Mentions- Dillon Soler, Luca Streche/ Marina McMahon, Finley Murtha/ Sofia Vakhraneva, Eliana Maxwell/ Elena Streche, Taylor Sebaski/ Gabriela Silva, Olivia McNally
7th-8th Grade First Place Aaron Pan 7th and 8th Grade Individual
1st Place- Aaron Pan
2nd Place- Natalia Gutierrez
3rd Place- Claire Zhang
Most Comical- Alessandra Morand
Honorable Mention- Brooke Mitchell/ YiLin Jiang/ Iris Zhu
7th and 8th Grade Pairs
1st Place- Sophie Luo, Michelle Peng
2nd Place- Jabez Keh, Jaden Galante
3rd Place- Talia Camhi, Jiya Choudary
Most Comical- Ella Peterson, Kate DiPalma
Honorable Mention- Rowan Baer, Mia Zhou
9th and 10th Grade Individual
1st Place- Sarah Luo
2nd Place- Shuyue Zhang
3rd Place- Julia Barro
Most Comical- Audrey Li
Honorable Mention- Evie Shiff
9th and 10th Grade First Place Sarah Luo
9th and 10th Grade Pairs
1st Place- Skylar Katz, Maddy Duignan
2nd Place- Jocelyn Raposa, Daya Garcha
3rd Place- Victoria Rodriguez-Lecuona, Faye O’Gorman
Most Comical- Charlotte Papir, Sarah Mayer
