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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 04 August 2015

Created: 04 August 2015

Last Updated: 04 August 2015

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In honor of the Greenacres School centennial year the PTA is collecting memories and photos about Greenacres over the past 100 years to share with current students and commemorate the school. Alumni are invited to click here to submit their contact information to stay informed about the100 year events and share their memories. The PTA encourages you to send photos of your time at Greenacres to share or email them to the PTA at [email protected] and they will scan your photos and return them to you.

Alumni are invited to join the Greenacres School PTA on Friday, November 20, 2015 (7-11pm) for the Greenacres Centennial Diamond Jubilee Fundraiser Gala. Normally, this is GA's community's social event of the year but they are hoping to make it the event of the century! In order to help them prepare, they are asking for your support. As in past years, generous and creative donations help the PTA to fund critical programs that make Greenacres a special place for children. Those programs include cultural arts assemblies, technology donations, school field trips, author visits, artists-in-residence, and grade grants meeting teacher requests.

How can you participate?

- Donate auction items here such as tickets to sporting events, tv shows, theatre, concerts, vacation homes or weekend getaways, airline miles, wine, catered experiences, kid's parties, unique gifts for the home, group events, donate special items, bicycles, musical instruments, jewelry, hand bags, cosmetics etc. If you have other ideas, we are happy to take any appropriate items.

- Attend what is sure to be a fun day with the Greenacres School community.

- Bid on our auction items and win something special for you or your child.

The Greenacres PTA is a 501(c)(3) and your contributions may be tax deductible.

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Written by: Zoe Frishberg

Published: 28 July 2015

Created: 28 July 2015

Last Updated: 01 August 2015

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The Scarsdale High School class of 2016 government is considering changes to the long beloved tradition of senior class "chalking" after students were upset over the results last year. The class of 2015's chalking left many unhappy, prompting the government to discuss how to better execute the tradition.

The Scarsdale High School custom happens annually during the start of the school year. Seniors show up early in the morning to cover the Brewster road entrance with drawings, names and decorations. The excitement caused by chalking is felt every year when seniors join together as a class to beautify the school with colorful markings. Chalking is an opportunity for the senior class to bond and collaborate before beginning their last year together. Oftentimes groups of friends will draw designs together, usually choosing to name their group and draw the name on the sidewalk.

Last year, many felt the practice promoted cliques and exclusivity rather than unity. "The event promotes the existence of separate friend groups rather than a more united class," reported Sarah Weintraub, secretary of the class of 2016 government. The habit of designating, naming, and then publicly labeling groups of friends made many uncomfortable. "[Chalking] seems to invite exclusion and make for awkward attempts to define groups," remarked former class president of the class of 2015 Matt Mandel. "I feel like people without solidified groups felt uncomfortable," He continued. Aside from the pressure to design exclusive friend groups, many were put off by one friend group showing up in the early hours of the morning to claim a large central spot. "Some of the problems that have been brought up in the past have to do with one clique getting a 'better spot' or a more central spot while others can be made to feel less important," stated Weintraub. Many felt that the ability to claim the central spot for one friend group created an uncomfortable hierarchy within the senior class.

Because of discontent with last years chalking, the class of 2016 government has begun discussions to try and minimize the exclusivity for next year. "We definitely did not like the 'cliquey' feeling of last years chalking and want to address it for this year," reported Stephanie Strek, secretary of the class of 2016. "We may try to block off the center section of the school's sidewalk to create a piece that the entire class would work on together," continued Strek. Many feel the change would be welcome, helping to promote a united senior class instead of divided friend groups. "Chalking should be about coming together as a senior class," expressed Sami Meyers, an incoming SHS senior. The government hopes that creating this minor change in the tradition will make chalking a more positive experience for everyone. "We want to make chalking something that brings the class together," remarked Strek.

No official changes have been made yet, however, and the government is still discussing whether changes should be made to the tradition. "In terms of next year, we are planning on meeting at the end of the summer to discuss the possibility of changes," reported Strek. "We haven't made any final decisions yet but our ideas have been well-received," elaborated Weintraub. Many hope that the minor change will bring about a more inclusive environment. "Our goal is to potentially make chalking a fun event that helps to bring together the senior class," concluded Weintraub.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 July 2015

Created: 15 July 2015

Last Updated: 15 July 2015

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New York Times columnist Frank Bruni packed a room of concerned parents, high school deans, empty nesters and grandparents when he came to the Scarsdale Library on Tuesday July 14th to discuss his book, "Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania." As the number of applications rise and admission rates to selective colleges falls into the single digits, panic has ensued about the process of getting into the "right " college. From the time they can read, kids see college stickers plastered on family cars – advertising the schools that their children attend. What message is that sending to our kids? Is college admittance the goal of a Scarsdale education?

Parents feel pressure to hire tutors and private college counselors to give their child every advantage. Students are focused on grades and "getting in" rather than enjoying high school and developing a love of learning and intellectual curiosity.

To what end? Bruni contends that those who attend the Ivy's or other highly selective schools are no more likely to succeed or find happiness than their peers who attend less selective institutions. Siting statistics about the resumes of the CEO's of the Fortune 500 companies, recipients of MacArthur "Genius Awards," and Fulbright scholarship winners, he demonstrates that where you attend college does not define future success. Even among his colleagues on the editorial staff at the New York Times, only a few sport degrees from an Ivy League School. Furthermore, a 2011 study by a Princeton economist and mathematician found that there was no earning differential between those who attended an Ivy League school and those who applied to, but had not attended an Ivy.

He asked the audience, ""If you are getting kids private SAT instruction, paying for summer experiences, paying for college counselors, what are you telling your children? Are you saying they can't do it on their own and everything can be bought? Bruni predicted that college admissions officers will soon pay little attention to the essay portion of the application, as they know that so many are written by professionals.

Though parents and students believe that the most selective school is the right school to attend, in fact highly competitive schools may not be right for all. Many students fail to flourish in an environment that Bruni called "overpopulated with overachievers.". Bruni says that studies show that students who do best in college are deeply engaged in a research assignment or a student organization – which may be easier to do at a school where a student is able to make personal connections with faculty and a diverse student body. He said, "we need to redirect the conversation from how to get into college to how to best use the college experience to succeed later on."

Though many in the room nodded their heads in agreement with Bruni, they wondered how they could adopt his view without putting their own children at a disadvantage. If classmates go to SAT and ACT tutors and hire college counselors to assist with their applications, can they deny their own children these same advantages? As one mom said, "I can't make a guinea pig out of my own child."

A parent commented, "Stanford and Harvard were always there – why is there this focus on getting into these schools now? Bruni said, "Now these same schools are getting applications from a much wider demographic area. All sorts of people who never aspired to those schools now aspire to go there. Applications from foreign students are up as well.

Another woman in the audience sounded a hopeful note, saying, "What makes me feel good is that there was a waiting list for hearing you speak – meaning that many want to get off this hamster wheel!"

At the end of the talk, a long line of attendees waited to buy Bruni's book, speak to him and ask him to sign their copy. Perhaps he influenced at least some parents to change the way they define success for their children.

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Written by: Carly Glickenhaus

Published: 29 June 2015

Created: 29 June 2015

Last Updated: 08 July 2015

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The Scarsdale High School Class of 2016 tossed their caps under sunny skies on Friday June 26th. The weather was expected to be dreary, but like the senior class, Mother Nature defied expectations and decided to bring out the sunshine instead. The 401 grads assembled in the gym together for one last time where they posed for a class photo and classmates Morgan Lawless and Jordan Green were given the "Henry David Thoreau award" for marching to a different drummer and assisting the class. They lined up in alphabetical order, marched through the school and streamed onto Dean Field to the sound of Pomp and Circumstance played by the Symphonic Band. These Raiders certainly deserved lots of "pomp" after four years of hard work.

Board of Education President Mary Beth Gose was the first to address the class. She reminded them that life is too short to preoccupy themselves with regrets. Students will have to adapt to new environments where there will be less structure and more choices. She also noted that teenagers possess the gift of time; youthful exuberance opens doors and leaves room for mistakes and do-overs. Teens tend to forget that one blunder, a B on a report card or a shameful loss in a football game, will not doom their careers. She advised the grads to "use this time to learn about the world, to think of others, serve, lead, take risks and retain their sense of curiosity. She thought it was fitting that the senior class advisors were health teacher Ms. Jessica Levenberg and psychologist Dr. Ernie Collabolletta. When Ms. Levenberg addressed the Class of 2016, she described her role as advisor as a blend of mother, older sister, and cheerleader. Dr. Collabolletta then told the crowd that as a school psychologist, his role is to teach people how to be happy. He explained that one way to be happy is to be involved with other happy people. For many SHS seniors, it had been easy to stay connected to happy people in a school where many students have known each other since kindergarten and best friends sit together in class. In a few months, however, they will find themselves in classrooms across the country, perhaps knowing no one else. Some will attend institutions up to twelve times as large as SHS. Nevertheless, parents can rest assured that their energetic seniors will be well prepared to seek out happiness at their new schools. Dr. Collabolletta made a distinction between happiness and pleasure, which is often derived from material "things." Pleasure is an ephemeral gratification. Friendship and love, he reminded them, continue to satisfy eternally.

Senior Class President Angela Coco began her speech by reminiscing about elementary and middle schools. Coco said, "We are certainly not the people we started out as- eating glue, spilling juice on ourselves, or accidentally calling our teachers "mom". We've changed."

Many find comfort in being surrounded by familiar faces in the classroom each day. Next year, however, mundane high school routines will be replaced by a less predictable lifestyle. Ms. Coco brought to the forefront a fact that is well-known but perhaps takes time to sink in: in two months, the graduates will be scattered across the U.S. and the globe. She kindly reminded her classmates that their rooms will likely be turned into exercise rooms that "empty nest" parents will rarely use. Though humorous, the observation is painfully real. It is scary to let go, both for kids and parents. Ms. Coco told her classmates, "When we look back to this time in our lives, when we remember, we should be happy. Because what's 120 million seconds, a handshake and a diploma worth if we can't remember what made us happy while we were working so hard to get here."

She reminded them that it was not easy to get to where they are now, and that everyone ought to be proud of their success.

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Come the fall, laundry will not magically journey from the bathroom floor to a neat folded pile in the bedroom. For these students, the reassuring comfort of their own beds may be a continent away. As the seniors prepare to abandon the familiar and venture into the uncertain territory of the college campus, Principal Kenneth Bonamo reminded them to make sense of the world in their own terms as their safety net becomes remote. He urged the graduates to set realistic goals that inspire, but do not debilitate. Coming from a competitive high school where the pressure is high, it will be a challenge for many rising college freshmen to learn to give themselves breathing room and create a balance between hard work and fun. Mr. Bonamo left the seniors with a reminder of the school motto, "Non Sibi," which means "not for oneself." He told them their good fortune requires them to make the world better for others. For many teenagers, Scarsdale is a bubble that provides shelter from certain harsh realities of the outside world. To make sense of these realities requires stepping out of comfort zones. The graduates are bound for colleges in starkly diverse settings across the nation, and beyond. Inevitably, they will be shocked by the diversity they encounter, but also pleasantly surprised by their abilities to forge relationships with people who appear to be their polar opposites. Ambitious and excited to meet the real world, Scarsdale graduates are each armed with a pin to pop the bubble and become active citizens in new communities.