SHS Junior Makes a Splash for Pine Ridge Youth
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On April 26, 2015 Scarsdale High School Junior Steven Berke, a member of the Scarsdale Congregational Church Youth Action Committee (YAC) organized and ran a Car Wash to raise money for Lakota Children's Enrichment, a nonprofit organization that amplifies the voices of Native Youth living on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. This was the second year that Steven led the annual YAC fundraiser.
Steven brought together a team of about 20 
car washers of all ages, including YAC members and volunteers from surrounding communities who learned about the event. The YAC team and others rolled up their sleeves, got drenched for the cause and in less than two hours, with two shifts of enthusiastic washers cleaning at three stations, they raised over $800.
Steven has a personal commitment to the Pine Ridge Reservation in SD. He visited Pine Ridge as a freshman in High School on a service trip with YAC. He said, "I saw the daily 
hardships that the people living there had to endure, and it really hit me how much they needed help. As soon as I heard about the opportunity to run the car wash at the Scarsdale Congregational Church to benefit the Lakota, I immediately volunteered. This was my second year doing the car wash... and the atmosphere was absolutely wonderful. It was amazing how hard people worked, and the turnout was great!" Steven said he looks forward to being "more involved" and to an even more successful event next year!
Steven Berke is the incoming President of Scarsdale High School's STEP Club, which in the fall will welcome Summer Montileaux, LCE's Youth Board Vice Chair from the Pine Ridge Reservation. The Berke family currently hosts STEP student Robert Lee, who will enter Vanderbilt University in September.
LCE President Maggie Dunne said "The kids who participate in our programs on Pine Ridge are as talented and hopeful as children anywhere. We help turn their ideas into action, help them find leadership roles, provide community service opportunities and, most importantly, identify avenues of support to help them attain their dreams. The incredible successes of our YAB members coming up in the ranks is a testimony to the exceptional abilities of the rising generation of Native Youth, and to our collaborative approach. It's inspirational to see young people in NY like Steven rally to support our work. Under Steven's leadership in the last two years, dozens of NY teens have taken action, and their contributions of time and energy have helped fill large gaps in essential services that if left unaddressed would create an un-level playing field for their peers in SD. At LCE we say 'Why wait until tomorrow if you can change the world today?' Steven's team isn't waiting for others to step in, they are taking action to become part of the solution right now -- it doesn't get much better than that."
About the Youth Action Committee
The Youth Action Committee (YAC), run under the supervision of Senior Minister Frances Grenley at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, is a group of High School students from across Westchester County who volunteer time towards community service projects. YAC supports a diverse portfolio of projects that include many local hunger and homelessness initiatives. YAC bi-annually devotes Spring Break to a service trip on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota and holds an annual car wash to raise funds for Lakota Children's Enrichment, a nonprofit founded by former YAC member Maggie Dunne.
About Lakota Children's Enrichment
Lakota Children's Enrichment is a for-purpose nonprofit that provides leadership and mentorship opportunities to youth from the Pine Ridge Reservation in SD. LCE works collaboratively with community groups and a Youth Board to create and produce opportunities for community service, arts, literacy, leadership and mentorship. LCE's premiere programs include: an annual Writing and Art Challenge, which has the support of renowned panel of judges; Youth Summits that provide opportunities for expression in the arts, education, mentorship, leadership and always incorporate community service; and a Youth Advisory Board from across the Reservation, who help create new programs. LCE further provides essential support and services to help community members implement programs benefiting Native Youth, and educates people about the obstacles facing America's first peoples today.
News from School: Ass't Superintendent Hired, Technology Update, Budget Comments and More
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The district has found a replacement for Linda Purvis. At the May 5 BOE meeting, Assistant Superintendent Joan Weber announced the probationary appointment of Stuart Mattey as Assistant Superintendent for Business effective July 6, 2015. Dr. Weber described an extensive search and exhaustive interview process that included all district stakeholders. Mr. Mattey is an experienced and accomplished business administrator with 21 years of experience in education. He comes to Scarsdale from Briarcliff Manor where he served as Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations for the past 5 years. He has a B.S. from SUNY Cortlandt in Management and Economics as well as Physical Education. He holds an MBA from SUNY Binghamton with a concentration in Finance. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in School Business Administration from SUNY Brockport. She concluded by stating "that we are fortunate to have Mr. Mattey join the Scarsdale Public Schools" and asked him to stand for a warm welcome from the community.
Technology Update:
At the May 5th Board of Education meeting Director of Technology Jerry Crisci and his staff took the group on a virtual tour of how technology is impacting learning in elementary, middle and high schools.
From the presentation, it appears that going to school today is more fun than when I attended decades ago. Chrome books, iPads, and smart boards are all far more interactive than the blackboards that formerly served as the teacher's primary visual aid. And according to Crisci, it's only going to get better. In fact, he say, "the technology that students are using today is the worst technology they will use in their lifetimes."
Thanks to advances in technology, you can watch the hour-long presentation live on your computer. If you want to know how your children are learning and how technology has changed the process, watch this update. You are sure to be impressed.
Here are a few notes from the presentation that I found engaging:
The presentation opened with first graders taking a virtual field trip to Australia. They came to school wearing sunglasses and dressed for the journey. Using Google Maps the teacher took them on an aerial tour, an underwater tour and even inside museums where they could zoom in on exhibits.
Chrome Books are now available to all fourth and fifth graders who use them to do research, work collaboratively and for digital publishing. Using Google Docs, students and teachers can track all versions of an assignment and observe how work is edited and perfected and students learn and grow.
Gone are the days of learning to type on a typewriter. 
Software is provided on computers to help kids learn keyboarding, learn to code and enrich their mathematical skills. The school provides "Typing Club", "Tynker" (to learn to code) and "Manga High" for math enrichment in a game format.
Technology continues to enhance education at the Middle School where it is embedded into all the disciplines.
In sixth grade, each student creates his or her own public service announcement, using iMovie to produce it.
Minecraft is used to create systems and models and students have used it to design a model of civil war battles and to map the parts of a cell.
Software is used in the music department for composing.
Kids are writing and designing publications online and creating multimedia presentations to present their work.
At the high school, the library is the nexus for accessing databases, e-books and periodicals online. Gone are the days of doing research by searching the stacks for hard-to-find volumes. The school is purchasing e-books rather than paper versions to allow many students to access them at the same time. New software helps stdent to write annotations and citations in their papers. Students can bring their own computers to school, and on a typical day 850 students are using their own computers and accessing the district's network.
These are just a few of the ways that technology is enhancing education, and individualizing learning while helping students to collaborate at the same time.
PT Council Supports the Proposed 2015-16 School Budget
This statement on the proposed 2015-16 school budget from the PT Council was read by Claudine Gecel at the BOE meeting.
Since this may be the final budget discussion before Voting Day, on behalf of The Scarsdale PT Council's Executive Committee, representing Scarsdale's PTA Presidents, I would like to make a few closing remarks concerning this year's budgeting season:
1.) Teachers' Professional Development is important to the district, and this budget shows improvement here compared to the past several years.
2.) The addition of Professionals such as the English Language Arts Helping Teacher, the Reading Specialists and the Middle School Special Ed Teacher should help move the district towards uniformity and consistency across all schools.
3.) The shoring up of the district's specific financial reserves should reduce the need for carrying an outsized undesignated fund balance - and should demonstrate to both Moody's and S&P that the Scarsdale School's Budgeting Process now warrants a Positive Outlook.
4.) Though there will always be issues to resolve, and while we've begun discussing many of them during this budgeting season, we're all benefitting from the range of opinions which surface during these discussions - and we'll pick up where we left off when we return in September.
Finally, I'd like to echo PT Council President, Pam Feuhrer's comments: As parents, we are fully committed to supporting our children. Parents in Scarsdale regularly bend over backwards to volunteer their time and energy to ensure the best academic, social, athletic and overall experiences for our children, and neighbors' children.
A logical extension of that love and dedication is to support the District Budget, and Vote!! This opportunity happens only once a year. Parents should exercise their responsibility to vote in the same way they attend meetings, volunteer in classrooms and support the PTA's. We get our children to practice, we ensure they're doing their homework and we must vote on the district budget! Please take your friends with you to the Middle School, stop by before or after work – and continue to support your kids in spectacular Scarsdale fashion.
Honor a Graduate, Teacher, Dean or Retiree: As the end of the year approaches, please consider honoring a graduate, teacher, dean or retiree by making a contribution in their name to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College. Each year, this fund grants freshman-year tuition aid to SHS students in need. This is a gift that celebrates education and helping others – what better way to show your appreciation or pay tribute to someone's accomplishments. To order announcement cards or simply make a donation, click here. Donations to the Scholarship Fund are fully tax-deductible. All orders must be received by Friday, June 12th. You will receive an email when your order is available for pick-up. Please contact Monica Rieckhoff at [email protected] with questions.
Good Work From Backyard Sports Cares, Lifting Up Westchester, the UJA Federation and the Autism Science Foundation
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Backyard Sports Cares held its third annual Basketball Tournament on Sunday April 19th at Purchase College with 30 teams participating. Attendees enjoyed appearances by Walt Frazier, Langston Galloway, and the Knick City Dancers.
The winning teams were:
- 35+ Category: Tommie Copper
- Rec Category: Metro North Transfers
- Open Category: New Rochelle
The Backyard Cares All Star teams, which included special needs players were assisted by teen volunteers played during half time.
Through the Hooping and Helping booth, participant families bought and autographed 20 basketballs that will be donated to Backyard Sports Cares programs throughout Westchester County.
This year BYSC introduced a new charitable project called Dunk Your Kicks which is a part of the Max Cure Foundation. 142 pairs of athletic footwear were donated and then collected by five 10th graders Leah Glucksman, Liza Brecker, Willow Malsch, Haley Sontag, and Jilly Mehlman who attend Scarsdale High School as well at Tripp Lake Camp. The Dunk Your Kicks campaign is intended to raise awareness of the fight against pediatric cancer while also helping the environment by keeping old "kicks" out of the landfills. The money raised through the resale of this affordable footwear helps low-income and military families living in the U.S. with a child battling this disease.
Lifting Up Westchester
Grace Church Community Center, the 36 year-old Westchester County social services organization, has announced its re-launch with a new, comprehensive brand identity and tag line: Lifting Up Westchester: Where Hope Takes Flight – One Person at a Time. The unveiling of the new brand took place at the organization's Oasis of Hope spring gala at Leewood Golf Club in Eastchester on April 17, with more than 200 patrons and supporters in attendance. A community-wide celebration open to the public is slated for late spring.
"This is a major milestone in our organization's long history," remarked Paul Anderson-Winchell, Lifting Up 
Westchester's Executive Director. "For 36 years we have been a hidden gem in this county. A more identifiable name is integral to increasing our impact in Westchester. That said, our mission remains intact: to restore hope to our neighbors in need." Chris Schwartz, Director of Development, added "Our vision is to continue our legacy of providing people in need with food, shelter and support and lift them to greater self-sufficiency with dignity and respect. Equally important is that we focus on the individual – helping one person at a time."
Lifting Up Westchester provides the following assistance to Westchester County's neediest and most at-risk residents:
· Homeless Individuals
For the 2,000 homeless in the county, services includes Grace's Kitchen which annually provides over 20,000 free and nutritious weekday and holiday meals, Samaritan House Women's Shelter and Open Arms Men's Shelter, in addition to housing services to prevent eviction and homelessness.
· Youth
For disadvantaged and homeless youth in the county, Lifting Up Westchester offers five weeks of summer day camp, an after-school mentoring program and college scholarships to help them to be the first in their families to get a college degree and the last to live in poverty.
· Seniors/Disabled Individuals
Lifting Up Westchester's Neighbors Home Care Services, a licensed home healthcare services agency, offers quality homecare to over 400 homebound seniors and disabled individuals annually.
Board member Linda Gallo, who spearheaded the rebranding initiative, noted that "The prevailing perception of the organization as a church and/or community center is inaccurate. Board executives, patrons and staff members expect the Lifting Up Westchester rebrand to change this perception and significantly boost awareness of our organization." In addition to the new name, tagline and logo, a year-long marketing program is underway with multiple public events to showcase the services provided by the organization in an effort to drive awareness, increased donations and volunteers.
For more information, please visit www.liftingupwestchester.org or contact Chris Schwartz at [email protected] or (914) 949-3098.
UJA Federation Honors Shari and Joel Beckman of Scarsdale:
More than 350 guests joined UJA-Federation of New York's Westchester Region as it honored the Beckman family of Scarsdale and the Rieger family of Bedford. At this Westchester Celebration, Yoav Cohen of White Plains was recognized for his contributions as Westchester's first shaliach, or Israeli emissary, who serves as a cultural bridge between the local community and Israel.
The event took place on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, where guests came together as a community to applaud the achievements of the honorees for their committed leadership in the Westchester Jewish community and to support UJA-Federation and its network of nearly 100 local and global nonprofits.
The evening's theme focused on the families' legacy of transmitting values — including commitment to their Jewish heritage, philanthropy, caring for those in need, and collective responsibility — and recognized the honorees for their dedication to making a difference through their actions.
"In the rich narrative of Jewish history, the Beckmans and Riegers continued the chain by passing these meaningful values to their children," said UJA-Federation's Westchester Regional Chair Martine Fleishman of Purchase. She encouraged guests to view an exhibit at the event, a colorful timeline that showcased UJA-Federation's response to the events that have shaped the Jewish community around the world.
"You'll see that UJA-Federation's history may very well mirror your family history in many ways," she continued. "For nearly 100 years, we've responded in times of challenge — during the Great Depression, the darkness of the Holocaust, and the Six-Day War — and in times of joy and opportunity, such as the establishment of the State of Israel and the opening of the Iron Curtain to Soviet Jews."
An interactive drumming experience kicked off the program and enlivened the evening.
Shari and Joel Beckman, who were honored with their sons, Steven and Jacob, have embraced the values of UJA-Federation for the past 30 years. Shari has served the organization in many capacities, including as Scarsdale area chair and as a member of both the Board of Directors and the Westchester Program Services Cabinet, which provides funding to programs that further the Westchester Jewish community's efforts to address needs and support new approaches to successful models. Shari's professional career as a college advisor to high school students has extended to volunteer opportunities, such as working with the Off the Street program, which is run by UJA-Federation beneficiary agency Westchester Jewish Community Services.
Co-founder of Greenbriar Equity Group, a private equity firm in Rye, Joel serves on the Board of Directors for UJA-Federation and the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. A past board member of the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, he is vice-chairman of the Chordoma Foundation and active in other philanthropic organizations.
Benefit for the Autism Science Foundation:
On Thursday April 23 through Sunday April 27 the Golden Horseshoe and select stores will raise money for the Autism Science Foundation. There will be sales promotions as well as T-shirt giveaways at participating stores. The Scarsdale High School Autism Science Foundation club will be on site handing out literature and raising money.
Stores participating and running promotions and sales include:
All Good Things, Beginnings, Chefs Table, Cheers Wine and Spirits, Cheryl's Closet, Eye Q Optometrist, Infinity, Italian Village, Leah's Salon, Neil's, Platinum Drive Realty, Physique 57, Seven Woks
Cocktails, Movie Night and Mah Jongg: All for Good Causes
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Drinks at Chat: The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) will hold a fundraiser at Chat American Grill in Scarsdale on Thursday April 30th at 7 pm. DJ David Gage will be spinning tunes while Scarsdale moms Andrea, Jodi, Stephanie, Lisa and Debbie are behind the bar. There is no charge to attend and all tips will go to CCFA, a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to finding the cures for Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis. Since their founding over four decades ago, CCFA has remained at the forefront of research in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Today, they fund cutting-edge studies at major medical institutions, nurture investigators at the early stages of their careers, and finance underdeveloped areas of research. In addition, our educational workshops and programs, along with our scientific journal, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, enable medical professionals to keep pace with this rapidly growing field. The National Institutes of Health has commended CCFA for "uniting the research community and strengthening IBD research."
Stop by Chat and have a drink for a great cause.
Family Movie Night at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
The Scarsdale Elementary Schools are working together to host their first annual "Kids Helping Kids" family movie night FUNdraiser on Wednesday, May 20th at 5pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Yonkers. The movie screening is the family-friendly; "Cheaper by the Dozen 2".
The event is sponsored by the Alamo, and all proceeds from the event will go directly to help Starfish Greathearts Foundation build a school in South Africa. Five raffle prizes, donated by each of the elementary schools, can be won, with raffle ticket sales adding to the fundraising efforts.
Alison Litofsky, Quaker Ridge Community Service Co-Chair, said "The individual Scarsdale elementary schools work throughout the year on many projects to help our communities close to home. How exciting that all of the schools are working together on this movie night event to benefit the children in South Africa!"
"The Alamo family movie night FUNdraiser is a great way for Kids to help Kids - Scarsdale families will come together to enjoy dinner and a movie and support an incredible cause. This year our goal is to build a school in South Africa. We'll choose a different international charity that supports children in need every year," added Sherri Marrache, Heathcote Community Service Co-Chair.
Nicola Atherstone, Executive Director of Starfish USA, said, "I recently visited many of the rural schools that Starfish supports in South Africa and was struck by how little they have, and how much we as a community in Scarsdale could do to make a big difference. These schools teach children in corrugated iron shacks, without electricity or running water. The children are well cared for and love to learn and receive two hot meals a day. The teachers are making an impact, despite their lack of resources."
"Kids Helping Kids" Community Service Chairs are: Sherri Marrache and Deb Smith (Heathcote) Moira Crouch and Maura Lee (Edgewood) Jackie Wolfson and Michelle Miller (Fox Meadow) Rickie Broff and Alison Litofsky (Quaker Ridge) Eva Wilson and Nicola Atherstone (Greenacres)
Mah-Jongg Tournament at Scarsdale Synagogue:
The Women of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El will hold an all day Mah-Jongg Tournament on Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the synagogue at 2 Ogden Road in Scarsdale. The event is open to the community. The all-inclusive entry fee is $50 if you RSVP by May 21. After May 21, the entry fee is $60 if space allows.
Mah Jongg (or "Maajh", as it is usually called) is a fascinating rummy-like game played with tiles rather than cards. The game originated in China, dating back to the time of Confucius. The tournament will follow National Mah-Jongg League rules.
The order of the day is as follows:
9 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. - Registration and a light breakfast)
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Tournament begins, Play Rounds 1 - 3 (55 minutes/round)
12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. - Lunch and Dessert (Included in fee) 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Play Rounds 4 – 6 (55 minutes/round) 4 – 4:15 p.m. - Awards / Cash prizes
To register and for more information contact Randee Horowitz at 914-472-3420 or email her at [email protected].
Not Your Usual Spring Break: SHS Students Travel to China
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When the SHS spring break came to a close, some students gushed about tans from the Bahamas, family adventures in Europe, and a lot of Netflix at home. But a few select students were able to share their memories of a far more exotic excursion to China with the Chinese Exchange Program. For about two weeks, from March 27 to April 11, 14 SHS students traveled to China, and had the experience of a lifetime. On this fourth ever Chinese Exchange Program at SHS, students ventured through Beijing's historical sights, while staying with host families and attending a local school--Ping He Bilingual. ESL teacher Barbara Reef and Social Studies Department Chair John Harrison accompanied the students in China.
Students who applied to participate in the exchange were selected through a lottery. According to Mandarin teacher Wenhui Gu, "The American students and the Chinese students were matched according to their interest. The China exchange program is important is because it is a cultural and language exchange, instead of just a language exchange. Therefore, students who are not enrolled in the Mandarin program can still apply for it, to explore and enjoy the authentic Chinese food, the historical and modern buildings, and the lifestyle and education system of the Chinese people."
Though ,at first, the trip may have been a bit intimidating to many students, it was comforting that the SHS students had already been acquainted with their Chinese exchange students. In the fall, the same Chinese students visited Scarsdale and stayed for two weeks, alternating between sightseeing in New York City and attending SHS. Going to China was the second half of the exchange program, so SHS students knew their Chinese exchange students fairly well and this alleviated some of the anxiety. "I wasn't really nervous about going on the trip because I knew I was going to have so many amazing experiences and I was really excited to become closer with my exchange student and make a lot of new friends," shared Scarsdale senior Julia van Zwieten.
Students came back from the trip with very positive reactions. James Baker, a senior who spent his sophomore year in China, was still in awe of the memorable trip. "I'm never going to forget all the connections I made with the Chinese students--it was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said. Scarsdale High School sophomore, Jessica Waldman added, "a really special part of the trip was that we were staying with people who stayed with us in the fall so we got to bond even more with them while learning and experiencing their culture."
Maybe equally as memorable as living with Chinese host families was all the sightseeing in China. Students spent the first four days in Beijing, where each day they traveled to see some of China's most spectacular historical sights, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Palace of Heaven. "I think that the Great Wall was the coolest part of the trip because you always hear about it and you think of this big wall but when you actually get there its way bigger than anything you could have ever imagined," shared Scarsdale sophomore Corey Waldman.
Though everyone seemed to have gotten along with their host families, there were bound to be some cultural differences. "I thought the biggest cultural difference were the eating habits," commented Corey Waldman. "But what we learned was that their eating habits were not weird or wrong, just different," added Jessica Waldman. Some students also noted that another difference was the Chinese student's intense work ethic. "My exchange student would come home every single day and just do work all afternoon, and all night, and then go to sleep super late," said Baker. "Her parents were pretty strict too, but it paid off because she is one of the smartest in her class."
Not only did eating manners and work habits differ from those in Scarsdale, but the teaching style was different in some ways as well. "At Ping He all the students stayed in the same classroom the whole school day, which started at around 7:50 A.M. and ended at 4:30 P.M.," noted Baker. "Unlike Scarsdale, the teachers were the ones who would switch classrooms and come to the students."
However, despite the differences in the education system, there were also many similarities. "All the classes were taught in English because Ping He is a bilingual school, and in many of the classes they were using similar learning materials to what we use in Scarsdale," shared Baker. "In fact, I noticed that in World History they were using the same exact textbook that Scarsdale uses!"
Because Ping He is a bilingual school and all the classes are taught in English, SHS students did not find it difficult to communicate even though most who came on the trip did not speak a word of English. "I know about three words in Chinese but I was totally fine at school and with my family," said Corey Waldman. "There was really only one kid on the trip who spoke Chinese well so whenever it was necessary he translated for all of us."
Beijing is infamous for it's air pollution, something that worried some of the students.. "In Beijing the pollution was pretty bad," admitted Baker. "You couldn't really see the sun and a lot of people were wearing masks." Van Zwieten agreed, and said that she "could literally feel it [the pollution] in [her] hair and on [her] skin and it just made me feel dirty." Although Beijing's air may not have been the best, both Baker and Van Zwieten agreed that the air in Shanghai, where they spent the majority of the two weeks, was much better.
Though the complete exchange program has now come to an end, many hope to keep in touch with their exchange student. "I'm definitely staying in touch with my student," asserted Baker. "If I go back to China, which I really hope to do, I want to meet up with her again and we have already been chatting through the app WeChat." Likewise, van Zwieten also believes she will stay in touch with her exchange student. "I think we will definitely stay in touch, especially now that we have more ways of communicating!"
Overall, everyone on the trip gained some kind of new insight from China, and came back with exciting stories, whether it was about sliding down the Great Wall of China, showing the Chinese students Häagen Daz for the first time, or bragging about strange foods they ate. Even though the students may have missed out on a classic spring break in the Bahamas, "going to China was definitely worth it and I don't regret it at all," exclaimed Baker.
