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Published: 22 October 2013

Created: 22 October 2013

Last Updated: 22 October 2013

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Jeff Koslowsky, Captain of Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 3 and Volunteer Lieutenant Charlie Swift were just two of the many volunteer and career firefighters who visited Scarsdale elementary schools on Friday October 18 to educate children about fire safety. As they have over years past, the local Scarsdale Volunteer Firefighters, spent the day visiting our local Elementary Schools first grade classes to teach the ABCs of fire safety. Over 375 children participated in the program. This years' theme was preventing kitchen fires. Children got to interact with the firefighters, watch Sparky TV videos, check out one of the town's Fire Engines, and bring home their fire safety checklist to share with their family at home.

See these photos of the events at Heathcote and Quaker Ridge elementary schools taken by Jon Thaler, and view more of his photos at www.jonthaler.com.

At Edgewood School Scarsdale firefighters Lou Mancini, Jeff Goodwin, Mark Bezos, Michael Apcar, James Marinello and Jeremy Stemple visited first graders and taught them about fire safety. Here are some of the key facts they shared about fire safety:

• If the fire alarm goes off in the house, the children were told to move away from the area of the alarm and find an adult.
• If there is actually a fire, the children learned that they need to get out of the house as quickly as possible.
• Each family should determine a meeting place outside the house where they can find each other and call 911 in the event of a fire.

After showing the first graders how to stop, drop, and roll, firefighters showed a video called "Sparky's Kitchen Rules" that outlined four rules for kitchen safety:
stay at least three feet from the stove;

• Do not use a microwave unless a grown up gives you permission;
• Open containers with hot food slowly and keep them away from your face
• If you do get a burn, put it under cool water and find an adult right away.

After the video, one of the firefighters crawled into the room in all of his gear and the children learned about the clothes worn by firefighters and the equipment they use. Finally, the children went outside and saw Engine 54, a pumper engine. They learned about the parts of the fire truck, including the jaws of life and the hoses. With the help of first-grade teacher, Mrs. Lamonaca, the firefighters sprayed water from the fire hose and the deck gun on top of the truck. The children asked many questions and seemed eager to attend the Fire Fair at the Crossway firehouse on October 19th.

(thank you to Edgewood correspondent Maura Lee and photographer Jon Thaler)

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Published: 15 October 2013

Created: 15 October 2013

Last Updated: 17 October 2013

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Scarsdale High School Principal Ken Bonamo gave the first education report of the year at the October 7 Board of Education meeting and, based on his presentation, the high school is thriving. Teachers are making great use of the professional development programs available to broaden their horizons and deliver improved product for their students. Students are able to choose from an array of exciting and innovative course offerings, including multi-disciplinary courses and additional technology classes, and are also benefitting from low student-teacher ratios. The counseling system provides ample support to students, and the principal-to-student ration is in sync with other high performing school districts.

Mr. Bonamo pointed to average SAT scores as a measure of success, although one could make the argument that that this is as much a hallmark of Scarsdale parents' willingness to make a financial commitment to their children's success on the SAT as it is an indication of high school superiority. Similarly, the extremely high level of enrollment in 4-year colleges can be attributed to our population.

Regarding the Advanced Topics program, a topic no longer as controversial as it was during its conception and roll-out, Mr. Bonamo was convincing as to its superiority to the AP curriculum. Drawing on his experience as an AP History teacher, he was able to provide concrete examples of where students missed out when forced to adhere to a strict curriculum, rather than apply course concepts to relevant topics. As to the impact that not offering Advanced Placement classes has on Scarsdale High School's place in the popular U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek high school rankings, Mr. Bonamo downplayed their importance, and he explained just how easily those rankings can be manipulated.

The presentation was overwhelmingly positive, and left no doubt that our high school – Scarsdale's crown jewel, as it is so often called -is something to be proud of While the high school deserves its sterling reputation, is it possible that Mr. Bonamo missed an opportunity to point out weaknesses in the current program that could be easily rectified with increased funding? One example that comes to mind is the Civic Education program. Civ Ed, as it is commonly called, is offered to freshmen, and incorporates multidisciplinary English and History curriculum as well as community-building and counseling components. Currently, enrollment in the program is done by lottery, and not all who apply get it. Those who don't get a spot in the lottery, or who don't want to be in Civ Ed, are enrolled in Freshman Seminar, a less robust version of Civ Ed. Why is the school unable to accommodate all freshmen in Civ Ed who wish to be in it? If the issue is purely financial, this would have been an opportunity for Mr. Bonamo to ask for additional support.

Current or former high school parents - what other current programs would you like to see expanded or improved?

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Written by: Deborah Skolnik

Published: 09 October 2013

Created: 09 October 2013

Last Updated: 09 October 2013

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The tension! The shrieking! The tooth-and-nail fight for survival! No, I'm not talking about the last Town Hall hearing on generator-installation rules: I'm taking about the fact that Halloween is rapidly approaching.

Sure, you could tune in to a rerun of Carrie. But if you really want to have the bejeebers frightened out of you, why not watch a horror movie specifically geared to our hamlet? You'll have to check local listings for the flicks below—I'm too busy bagging or mulching my leaves, like all the little signs say, to dial Moviefone for you—but they're well worth seeking out. Like all truly great horror shows, they're based on actual events. Zoinks!

GOOSEBUSTERS: You hit the library for some lit, but you step in goose sh...ahem. Who ya gonna call? In this film's exciting climax, an influx of geese is followed by an even more alarming flock of goose-eradicating "experts" armed with tacky whirligigs, bullhorns, sheepdogs, nuclear warheads, and enough corn oil to either sterilize a gaggle of goose eggs or deep-fry a truckload of Twinkies at the next Scarsdale High School Carnival.

THE B.A.R. GLITCH PROJECT: Despite Scarsdale's iron-fisted rule by a Board of Architectural Review, which supposedly determines the dimension each bathroom tile in our homes, a building rises in front of Balducci's with all the charm of a Jiffy Lube.

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR: Your child's camp friends all turn out to live in Suffolk County, meaning you'll be braving the jam-packed L.I.E. every weekend to chauffeur her to reunions and sleepovers.

DAWN OF THE DAD: Your child earns a spot on an elite softball or football team. Instead of getting to sleep in on the weekends, you suddenly find yourself at a frosty Supply Field at 7 AM sharp, wondering how mosquitos can locate your flesh even through denim and fleece.

28 DAYS LATER, the town still has no electricity following any blizzard, hurricane, gentle rainfall, rainbow, or lunar eclipse. Zombie-like neighbors roam the streets, unable to procure essentials such as gasoline, a hot shower, or Opera Cake from Martine's.

THE RING: It's a cold winter morning. "How am I possibly going to get everything done today that I need to do?", you think as you awaken. Just then, the phone rings. You pick it up and hear the scariest words known to any Scarsdalian parent: "Hello, this is Linda Purvis, Assistant Superintendent of schools. Due to inclement weather, school is cancelled..." EEEEEEEEEK!

Deborah Skolnik is a Greenacres mother of two and the Content Director of Myron Corporation, a large business-gifts company in Maywood, New Jersey. She's expecting numerous sequels to The Ring this winter.

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Written by: Dr. Karen Bergsman

Published: 02 October 2013

Created: 02 October 2013

Last Updated: 02 October 2013

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The beginning of the school year has begun and you find yourself approaching the season with joyous anticipation (you can finally have lunch with your friends, get back to the gym, catch up at work, finish your spring cleaning, etc.) while at the same time experiencing a sense of gnawing trepidation. The kids are back at school! Everyoneʼs happy, right? Well...

Starting a new school year is an exciting endeavor for your middle school and/or high school child. Because your child in this age group is experiencing rapid changes in physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development, it can also be a time filled with more turbulence than previous stages of development. Kids at this stage are trying to figure out how they fit into their environment. Simultaneously, they are adjusting to dramatic body changes, hormonal shifts, and significant academic challenges and expectations. How can we help them and keep our sanity?

The goal is to help kids become self-reliant and develop a positive sense of themselves. Our task is to provide them with a framework and tools to develop the social and organizational skills they need to succeed in many situations. Not an easy mission, since we ourselves are struggling to adjust to our "new" maturing child and are often overwhelmed by the challenges presented to us. As parents, we are in a learning stage and trying to figure out a balance of when to step in and when itʼs time to let kids work things out themselves. The most important task for us as parents is to stay connected to what is going on in our childʼs life as well as to be effective in setting limits and making expectations clear.

School is not only a place for kids to learn academic skills, but it is also the main arena for kids to develop social competence. We can help children of all ages develop the skills to approach new people and initiate conversations.
Remind them that they can connect to new people by:

• Asking an open ended question such as, "What are your ideas about the science project?" or "How do you like your teachers this year?"
• Complimenting someone on something, such as "I like your backpack, itʼs so colorful" or "You are a great basketball player".
• Making a statement about something, such as "The Spanish teacher is so nice" or "I canʼt wait to go on the school trip".

Adjusting to Middle School

Children in middle school are dealing with significant body changes and there is a focus on appearance and trying to fit in with the crowd. Mood and behavior changes are observed. At the beginning of a new school year, tweens often worry about not fitting in, peer pressure, bullying, and the increased work load.

How you can help:

• At this age, there is a sense of security that comes with fitting in with the larger group. Kids may worry about their clothes, accessories, hair, etc. No one wants to stand out. Buy some age appropriate items and clothes that many of the kids have at this age.
• Have discussions about peer pressure at the beginning of the school year. Bring up situations that could arise and explore their take on various responses. Preparation can help kids feel more confident when situations arise. Share with your kids some challenges you experienced at that age.
• Normalize your childrenʼs fears about academic workloads and encourage them to prepare a work space for themselves. Help them get organized by buying a calendar to keep track of assignments and talk about time management. Have a routine for homework and make sure that kids still have time for fun.
• Although schools educate children about bullying, parents should review strategies about managing harassment. Also, teach your child to look confident and review the importance of telling someone if bullying occurs.

Adjusting to High School

Kids in this age group are particularly concerned about friendships and dating as well as increased academic expectations. Teens are likely to be very self- absorbed as they explore new relationships and behaviors. As teens begin to experiment with increased independence from the family, reliance on the peer group becomes more important. Some teens have difficulty transitioning from the carefree summer days to the more organized routine of school.

How you can help:

• Encourage teens to stay connected to you by being interested in their experiences and by teaching them that making mistakes is expected and can be a learning experience. Many teens shut down communication with parents when they feel they will not be understood. Let them know that you are available to listen and assist when they ask for your help.
• Motivate your teen to have a positive outlook on school and the learning process. Focus on the joys of learning about different topics and the satisfaction that comes from challenging oneʼs mind and being productive.
• Allow teens incremental freedom and the ability to make independent decisions regarding school and social life. Teens still need structure and guidance from parents with decision making; however, this is the time to encourage problem solving and making choices. Let them know what your expectations are regarding their behavior, but step back more than when they were younger.
• Encourage teens to join clubs or sports so they can meet people with similar interests. This validates that school can be a place where your teen can feel comfortable and have some fun. It also enhances social interaction.
• Make time for family activities. Although many teens focus on their social group, spending time with parents and siblings helps teens recognize the importance of the family for guidance, support, and enjoyment.

In summary, the beginning of the school year is something parents and children can plan for together. The above recommendations are just the tip of the iceberg. Educate yourself by reading books, attending parenting lectures, taking part in school functions, and talking to other parents so that you can prepare yourself for this exciting time and help everyone make a good adjustment to the new year.

Dr. Karen Bergsman is a licensed psychologist who has a private practice in Scarsdale and Manhattan. She specializes in cognitive-behavior therapy with school aged children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Bergsman can be reached at 914-730-9208 or 212-592-4059.