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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 January 2014

Created: 15 January 2014

Last Updated: 22 January 2014

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Scarsdale High School Science Teacher Beth Schoenbrun announced that not one, but two students in the high school’s science research program have been named semi-finalists in this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. SHS Seniors Archana Ram and Zubin Koticha were two of 300 students selected as semi-finalists in the 2014 competition. From this select pool, 40 finalists will be invited to Washington, DC in March to participate in final judging, display their work to the public, meet with notable scientists, and compete for the $100,000 award. The announcement of the finalists will be made on January 22.

Zubin Koticha’s winning research project is in the field of economics and examined risk tolerance for those managing money from different sources. His study is titled, "Monetary Risk Preferences as Influenced by Source of Money and Salience" and he explained, "My research examines the risk preferences of individuals managing their own money, others' money, and borrowed money. Allegedly, the financial crisis was catalyzed by an excessive amount of risk taken on the part of money managers (individuals who invest money on behalf of other people.) I aimed to determine whether this was true from the perspective of psychology. I found that the way the financial system is set up lends itself to extreme risk-taking in good economic times and excessive risk aversion in bad economic times.”

He continued, “As a lover of the science of Economics, I was filled with shock when I was named a semifinalist; I thought it was only going to be biologists, chemists, physicists, and mathematicians. I am grateful to Intel for realizing the vast value of Behavioral Economics, which is uncharted territory that needs to be traversed.

Trust me, I couldn't do it myself. I know it's cliche, but it was all because of my parents, my mentor, and Ms. Schoenbrun."

We asked Koticha where he got the inspiration for his idea and he told us that he has had a passion for economics since sixth grade and reads the Financial Times and the Wall Street Journal.  He will continue his study of economics in college and is considering a career in academics. Koticha is also a violinist, a composer and “lover of Bach” and draws parallels between his passion for economics and music, saying they both are intellectual and creative pursuits.

Archana Ram was awarded for her molecular biology research that focused on the regeneration of heart muscle tissue.  Her study is titled "Cyclin A2 Mediates Dedifferentiation and Subsequent Mitosis in Postnatal Cardiomyocytes" and was done under the direction of Hina Chaudry at Mt. Sinai. According to Ram, "My work supports the notion that heart muscle cells, under the influence of a protein called cyclin A2, become younger (like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) and are able to divide, which lets them repair the cellular damage caused by heart attacks. I'm so honored to be a semifinalist (I still can't believe it!) and am so grateful to everyone who's helped me with my work. It's been a long three years of work and I'm so glad that my efforts were recognized."

Ram’s inspiration came from a book about cardiac regeneration that her father brought home. She felt fortunate to be able to work in Dr. Chaundry’s lab for the past two summers where she made tissue cultures from mouse heart cells. During the school years she spent a minimum of five hours per week on her research study.  She plans to study both science and math in college. Ram is also a photographer who has created her own photo blog.

Teacher Beth Schoenbrun said,  "I am very proud of all of our science research seniors who went through the process of entering Intel STS.  In addition, I extend my congratulations and best wishes to Archana and Zubin for having been chosen, and I wish them luck in the next (Finalist) round."

Here is the link to Archana's blog: archanaram.tumblr.com

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Published: 30 December 2013

Created: 30 December 2013

Last Updated: 15 January 2014

Hits: 9534

The election for the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee will be held on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 with polls open from 7 – 10 am and 2 – 9 pm in the lobby of the auditorium at Scarsdale Middle School. Residents will also vote on a proposed change to the Non-Partisan Resolution governing the SBNC.

Two nominators will be elected from each of Scarsdale's five districts. The biographical information for the candidates for the SBNC slate for the January election is below.

Edgewood:

Karen Brew: 29 Ferncliff Road. Resident for 9 years.
Education: Cornell University (BA), Northwestern University, J.L.Kellogg Graduate School of Management (MBA)
Occupation: Executive Recruiter
Civic Activities: PT Council Secretary (2012-2014); Scarsdale Forum Education Committee (2011-2013); Junior League of Central Westchester (October 2005-present); SMS Compact Committee (2011-2013); SMS Nominating Committee (2011-2012); Edgewood PTA President (2010-2011); Edgewood Compact Committee (2009-2011); Edgewood Nominating Committee (2008-2010); Edgewood Class Parent (2004-2010); Edgewood Colonial Fair Co-Chair (2008-2009); Edgewood PTA Treasurer (July 2006-June 2008); Edgewood Membership Chair (2005-2006); Edgewood Task Force on Drugs & Alcohol Liaison (2005-2006)
Children: 14 and 12
James M. Felix: 21 Hamilton Road. Resident for 24 years.
Education: Union College (BA), New England School of Law (JD)
Occupation: Attorney
Civic Activities: Scarsdale Youth Lacrosse Association Board; Scarsdale Maroon and White Board; Scarsdale Parks and Recreation Committee; Scarsdale Bowl Committee; Scarsdale Youth Hockey Association; Scarsdale Citizens Nominating Committee; Scarsdale School Board Advisory Committee on Legislative Issues; United Way of Scarsdale and Edgemont
Children: 24, 22, 19, and 17
Laurie D. Medvinsky: 54 Taunton Road. Resident for 7 years.
Education: Union College (MS), Columbia Business School (MBA)
Occupation: Homemaker
Civic Activities: Edgewood PTA President (2012-2013); PT Council Member (2012-2013); Edgewood Compact Committee Member (2011-2013); Edgewood PTA President Elect (2011-2012); Edgewood PTA Executive Committee Member (2011-2013); Edgewood Fair Co-Chair (2011); Edgewood Classical Café Co-Chair (2008-2011); Berkeley-in-Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Secretary (2009-2011); Edgewood Girls Recreation Soccer Coach (2009-present); Scarsdale Girls Travel Soccer Assistant Coach (2012-present)
Children: 11 and 9

Fox Meadow:

Gerlayn Della Cava: 22 Oak Lane. Resident for 11 years.
Education: SUNY at New Paltz (BS in Marketing); Fashion Institute of Technology (Associate Degree in Buying & Merchandising); Fordham University (MS in Education)
Occupation: Stay at home parent
Civic Activities: The Auxiliary at White Plains Hospital Executive Committee/Correspondence Secretary; Parents Board at Bucknell University Vice President; Colgate University Steering Committee Member; SHS Scholarship Fund Chair; SHS Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol Co-Chair; Maroon and White Booster Organization Executive Committee/Journal Chair; SHS PTA Treasurer; SMS PTA Secretary; SMS Kitchen Tour Co-Chair
Children: 21 and 19
Kamal Mehta: 12 Rochambeau Road. Resident for 12 years.
Education: Columbia University Engineering (BS); Cornell University School of Operations Research (MS)
Occupation: Financial Professional
Civic Activities: Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association; Recreation Soccer Boys Coach; Council on Technology; Scarsdale Forum
Children: 17 and 18
Stephanie P. Miller: 50 Popham Road. Resident for 52 years.
Education: Smith College, (cum laude)
Occupation: Retired. Previously, an account manager for 20 years, in sales and education at West Publishing and Thomson Corp.
Civic Activities: Current: Co-President and Member of Founders Committee, At Home in Scarsdale Village; White Plains Hospital Caregiver and Ambassador programs volunteer. Previous: Board of Architectural Review; Advisory Council on Human Relations; Advisory Council on Technology; Heathcote PTA President; PT Council; Educational Priorities Committee Chair; League of Women Voters Vice President; Voter Services Chair; Editor "This is Scarsdale"; American Field Service President; SHS Scholarship Committee Chair; Served on both Village Board Nominating Committee and School Board Nominating Committee
Children: 6 adult children and step-children
Antonia New (Zipursky): 9 Church Lane. Resident for 18 years.
Education: Swarthmore College (BA); Weill Cornell Medical College (MD)
Occupation: Professor of Psychiatry
Civic Activities: Sulam, Leadership Program at Westchester Reform Temple; Founder, Faculty Advisor Committee on Mentorship of Women at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS); Member Institutional Review Board of ISMMS and James J Peters VAMC; Faculty Advisor, Psychiatry Interest Group at ISSMS; Director of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry at ISMMS; Scarsdale Schools Health Advisory Committee
Children: 22, 20, and 14

Greenacres:

Heather T. Gilchriest (Meili): 89 Walworth Avenue. Resident for 5 years.
Education: Duke University (BA), Polytechnic School, Pasadena CA
Occupation: Mother at home and performing artist
Civic Activities: Greenacres School parent; Hitchcock Church member; 3 years as a Girl Scout troop co-leader, Greenacres
Children: 8 and 3
Peter E. Haller: 10 Sage Terrace. Resident for 12 years.
Education: Boston College Law School, Bentley College
Occupation: Attorney
Civic Activities: Coach, Scarsdale Little League (2007-2009)
Children: 15, 13, and 9
Sharon Kass Higgins: 5 Sage Terrace. Grew up in Scarsdale. Current Resident for 8 years.
Education: George Washington University (M. Ed); University of Vermont (BA)
Occupation: Stay at home parent
Civic Activities: Current: Greenacres After School Clubs Chair; GA Executive Board; SMS 6th Grade Rec Nights Co-Chair; GA Math Olympiad Chair; GA Spirit Day Chair; SMS Store Volunteer; Parent Member, Committee on Preschool Special Education; Past: GA Spirit Wear Chair; FMA Liaison; Class Parent; GA Pizza Wed Chair; Rec Basketball; Softball Coach
Children: 11, 10, 8 and 7
Jon Singer: 8 Montrose Road. Resident for 9 years.
Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS and MS in Electrical Engineering)
Occupation: Asset Management
Children: 10 and 5
Harriet Sobol: 10 Claremont Road. Resident for 48 years.
Education: Skidmore College; Boston University (BA); New York University (M. Ed.)
Occupation: Author of 12 books for children and young adults; Book Group Facilitator; Co-Author with Tom Sobol of two books for parents; Writing Group Leader; Teacher at Scarsdale Adult School; Freelance editor
Civic Activities: Village Board Nominating Committee; Procedure Committee; Education Committee, Scarsdale Forum; Friends of the Library Board; Heathcote PTA President; Vice President and Voters Service, League of Women Voters; Friends of the Parks; Former teacher at Alternative School; Member of Committee that created the Alternative School
Children: 52, 50, and 47

Heathcote:

Gwen E. Finger: 19 Innes Road. Resident for 8 years.
Education: Simmons College (BA)
Occupation: Senior Manager, Deloitte
Civic Activities: PTA Member
Children: 5 and 2
Wendy K. Gendel: 100 Brookby Road. Resident for 4 years.
Education: Syracuse University
Occupation: Media Executive
Civic Activities: Heathcote PTA; Scarsdale Rec Soccer; Scarsdale Youth Soccer
Children: 10 and 9
Sethu Palaniappan: 4 Mohican Trail. Resident for 4 years.
Education: California Institute of Technology (BS); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS)
Occupation: Consultant
Children: 10, 7, and 7
Zhixin (Julie) Zhu: 53 Palmer Avenue. Resident since August 2013.
Education: Ramapo College (BA); Columbia University (MA); University of Phoenix (M.Ed.)
Occupation: Stay at home parent; former corporate executive of an apparel company and teacher
Civic Activities: Heathcote 3rd Grade Class Parent (2013-2014); Member of the Hong Kong Island Stingrays (swim club) Event Committee (2008-2013); Member of the Parent Advisory Group, Hong Kong International School (2007-2010)
Children: 10 and 8.

Quaker Ridge

Sylvia Dundon:12 Split Tree Road. Resident for 4 years.
Education: SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology (BS, cum laude)
Occupation: Stay at home parent. Eight years as a professional buyer/merchandiser for US and European fashion labels
Civic Activities: Junior League of Westchester, Co-Chair of Holiday Boutique and Assistant Treasurer, as well as volunteer for various community projects; SMS clothing sale co-chair; SMS student store volunteer; Quaker Ridge PTA class parent, volunteer for various committees including Learning to Look, School Carnival, Book Fair, and Global Learning
Children: 11 and 8
Jacqueline Goldstein: 12 Deerfield Lane. Resident for one year.
Education: University of Massachusetts (BBA); CPA (1989)
Occupation: Stay at home parent; former banker, JP Morgan Chase
Civic Activities: Quaker Ridge School: Member Global Learning Committee, Class Parent, Book Fair volunteer, Carnival volunteer, Parent chaperone; Campaign organizer for U.S. Congressional candidate in the Eighth District of Manhattan (2010); Congregation Habonim, New York, NY: Sisterhood Board Member, New Mother's Group Creator, Mitzvah Day Co-Chair; Habonim Nursery School: Auction Fundraiser Co-Chair
Children: 11 and 7
Lori Howard Parks: 30 Swarthmore Road. Resident for 16 years.
Education: Barnard College (BA)
Occupation: Homemaker
Civic Activities: SHS PTA member and volunteer; West Quaker Ridge Association
Children: 19 and 17
Julie Sheppe: 46 Franklin Road. Resident for 10 years.
Education: University of Maryland (BA)
Occupation: Real Estate Sales
Civic Activities: Young Writers Workshop Co-Chair (2012-2014); Quaker Ridge School Play Co-Chair (2013).
Children: 11, 9, and 4

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Published: 11 December 2013

Created: 11 December 2013

Last Updated: 14 December 2013

Hits: 11753

The Principals of the five elementary schools and Scarsdale Assistant Superintendent Lynne Shain took center stage at the Board of Education meeting on Monday night December 9 to present a review of the elementary school program in the district. This presentation is one of a series of special reports that have been presented at Board of Education meetings in preparation for school budget discussions for 2014-15. The Principals reviewed the curriculum, program elements and staffing to give an overview of activities at the five schools, explain what's now being done and the associated costs.

It was an impressive review of many of the elements of the elementary program and it can be viewed on the Scarsdale Schools website on the Video on Demand page here or read the highlights of the presentations below.

Shain explained that the highly professional staff, small class sizes, student support, emphasis on basic skills plus interdisciplinary programs and critical and creative problem solving all contribute to a successful K-8 program that allows students to excel in high school and beyond. In response to new federal and state requirements to teach the core curriculum the district has made modest modifications to the curriculum where needed.

Discussing the new full-day kindergarten program, Heathcote Principal Maria Styles said that full days have allowed for longer periods of instruction and an assessment of the longer days found that feedback has been positive. She explained that many kindergarten classes include 4,5 and 6 year-olds with a range of reading skills. Using a balanced literacy program, the program focuses on building reading and writing skills. The DRA, or developmental reading assessment allows teachers to track individual student progress.

Scott Houseknecht of the Edgewood School explained that the Singapore Math program, developed by the Ministry of Education in Singapore, had been adopted by the Scarsdale School District six years ago. The program teaches young children to understand numbers through the use of pictures and manipulatives and includes fewer math topics that are covered in depth so that students can master math basics and learn to use math skills for thinking logically and solving problems.

The science and social studies curricula were reviewed by Duncan Wilson of Fox Meadow. Though science education used to be about teaching facts, it is now more student-centered and helps students develop thinking and problem-solving skills. They learn to pose and answer questions, use real world data and to present their findings. For example, in the school's garden, children formulate questions about seed growth and record their observations as the plants grow. The social studies program begins with understanding family, traditions and community and extends to the study of Native Americans, Colonial era, immigration, the Constitution and local government. Fifth graders undertake self-directed inquiry projects when they complete their elementary school years with the Capstone Research Project.

Jerry Young of Greenacres discussed the balance of the program including Spanish, the arts and physical education. Instruction in Spanish now begins in first grade and language instruction is included in speech, dance, music and art. Children begin by learning to count and by fifth grade are communicating ideas and reading news from the Spanish-speaking world. A study of the program found that children who were introduced to Spanish early performed better in the later grades.

Instruction in musical instruments begins in third grade and by grades 4 and 5 500 students are participating in band or orchestra. The music program also includes visits to the New York Philharmonic and Lincoln Center and performances by visiting artists at the schools. Art classes not only help children build fine motor skills and coordination but teach them to take risks, think creatively and problem solve. The physical education curriculum teaches basic movement in grades K-2 and skills and fitness in grades 3 through 5. The program imparts the importance of lifelong physical activity.

Discussing technology, Quaker Ridge's Robyn Lane said, "It's a constant race to stay on top of new developments. There are talented and skilled computer teachers in each of the five buildings and their roles continue to evolve. They do everything from tech support to classroom instruction. Using computers, students can compose, connect, collaborate and publish for an audience beyond the refrigerator door. With Chrome books and Google apps they video chat across schools, learn to program and are consumers as well as producers."

The presentation then turned to staffing. There are currently only two helping teachers for the district's elementary schools, one for science and one for math, down from six helping teachers in 2008. Helping teachers provide pedagogical support and ensure consistency across district schools. Shain said the schools work to achieve a balance between providing consistency while permitting individual teachers customize the material for their classrooms. Shain also said that Scarsdale has developed common assessments by level that differ from the state's standardized tests. These assessments are embedded in the curriculum and do not require special testing days to administer.

In response to concerns about security at the schools, all schools are locked during the school day with limited exit and entry. New door locks have been installed that allow classrooms to be locked from the inside and procedures for lockdowns have been formulated.

What does all of this cost? Staffing and programming drive elementary schools costs. Class sizes for grades K-2 are limited to 22 students, with a maximum of 24 students in grades 3–5. School psychologists, nurses, learning resource teachers, speech, hearing, and occupational therapists, ESL teachers and staff for special education, provide additional student support. In response to questions about the "Teacher in Charge" position at each of the five elementary schools, Shain explained that many responsibilities are shared between the Principals and the Teachers-in-Charge, though there are key functions performed by the Teachers-in-Charge.

While Principals deal with external relations with the district and parents, provide school-wide leadership and vision, propose programs and justify and allocate resources, and resolve significant issues, the teachers-in-charge focus on the day-to day. Some of their responsibilities include:

• Dad to day support
• Management of operations
• Resolution of friction between children, teachers and parents
• Supporting children,
• Meeting with individual or groups of children for small group work
• Advanced or remedial academic support
• Supervising lunchtime activities and after-school clubs
• Assisting the principal
• Touring new families
• Day to support for PTA committees
• Supporting teachers and the principal
• Evaluating teachers as part of the APPR directive
• Serving as a second set of eyes for teacher performance
• Reviewing assessments
• Working with teacher aids
• Arranging coverage when teachers are out of class
• Supervising student arrival and dismissal
• School security

Shain concluded the presentation by saying that "Our children's future, the spark of their learning and imagination, begins in the earliest grades of elementary school. The journey begins with the building blocks of an early education. In that regard, these building blocks are strong and form the foundation from which emanates nationally impressive results."

During the question and answer period following the presentation, Shain was asked what was needed for the elementary schools if funds became available. She replied, "We are concerned with helping our struggling learners. We need learning resource teachers to diagnose and help students learn new strategies. Currently the number of learning resource teachers is determined by enrollment, but perhaps the number should be determined by need."

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Published: 10 December 2013

Created: 10 December 2013

Last Updated: 10 December 2013

Hits: 8228

This just in from Assistant Superintendent Linda Purvis at the Scarsdale Schools: "Because of the storm, all Scarsdale students will be dismissed early today. Elementary students are already scheduled to be dismissed at noon, the Middle School will be dismissed at 11:20 and the High School at noon. ALL parent-teacher conferences scheduled for today are cancelled, as are all after-school activities. We anticipate opening on time tomorrow morning."