Center for Innovation Wows Board with Design Thinking and Game Based Learning Initiatives
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- Written by Melissa Hellman
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What makes the Scarsdale educational experience so exceptional? There are many elements that comprise Scarsdale's success and the recent addition of the Scarsdale Center for Innovation (CFI) is an important ingredient. Within the CFI construct are incredible examples of our district's administrative leadership, passion and engagement of our teachers and collaboration among all the various parties required to make innovative changes within a public school district.
At the November 17 Board of Education work session, Lynne Shain, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction/Co-Director, The Center for Innovation and Jerry Crisci, Director of Technology/Co-Director, The Center for Innovation presented a progress report highlighting several CFI projects that have had impact in the classroom.
CFI was founded three years ago with the following mission statement:
In order to be better prepared for the future, Scarsdale graduates must:
• Think critically and creatively in order to solve complex, non-standard problems
• Understand their role in an interdependent world
• Use evolving technologies for research, communication, and innovation
The Center is focused on reimagining education for all students. It is empowered to develop, nurture, and provide feedback for innovative ideas relating to teaching and learning. The Center links educators throughout the community to develop, test and implement, and evaluate innovative ideas and methodologies in order to imagine a future that has yet to be invented. By focusing on large-scale educational change and partnering with members of our community, CFI intends to demonstrate how public education can be transformed to prepare students for the future.
CFI projects are being implemented in all grades and schools throughout Scarsdale.
One of the examples presented on Monday evening was the use of "game-based learning" at the Middle School. Research shows that play stimulates the tenacity and persistence required for effective learning. Games give players permission to take risks that would not be permitted in a traditional academic setting, and inspire students to create, share, mix, modify, curate, critique, and comment on content to which they might otherwise be indifferent. Game-based learning includes group work, interaction and a high degree of student engagement. This approach was contrasted against the idea of a teacher standing in front the classroom providing information. SMS Librarian Sharon Waskow and SMS Social Studies Teacher Meghan Troy led the members of the Board of Education through a lesson that was used in class this year. The BOE members were tasked with finding the meaning of a political cartoon from the Civil War. They were broken down into teams and given the rules of play. Individual players were given playing pieces for wagering on their ideas as well as limited veto powers in case of disagreement. Board members were fully engaged and the audience could easily picture how a group of 7th graders would be very excited to explore history in this fashion.
Christine Boyer a fifth grade teacher at Heathcote, presented another example of innovative teaching. She talked about the concept of Design Thinking (rudimentary definition: design-specific thought processes that designers apply during the process of designing) and applied it to her class rocketry module. Many parents who have had a child attend fifth grade in Scarsdale will remember the rocketry lesson and launch fondly as it is considered a highlight of the fiifth grade year. In the past, students were given very specific instructions about how to build the rocket and each student came to school with an identical rocket. Instead, Ms. Boyer provided students with design parameters so that the rockets would launch, but let the students use their creativity to make them. No two rockets were alike. Another change was that instead of just one launch where some rockets worked better than others, students had the opportunity to evaluate the results of the initial launch and make modifications for improved outcomes at a 
second launch. Finally, the students created animated books to document their processes. Ms. Boyer wrote "These books represent their learning, not only of rocketry, but of non-fiction narrative writing, the writing process, design thinking and Google presentations." Click here to see the student's books:
A third example of innovation was provided in a short video of Edgewood kindergarten school students learning about circuits with music and art. If you do not watch any other piece of the presentation, find three minutes to watch this inspiring video! Go to the Board of Education Video-on-Demand site and watch at 0:49:41 "A Short Maker Movie" at :49:41 minutes.
Other schools districts in the U.S. and abroad are using Scarsdale as a model for creating their own Centers for Innovation. Shain and Crisci stated that they are inundated with tour requests from other schools.
The Board of Education members and audience were impressed by the passion and creativity on display. It was evident that CTI sets Scarsdale apart as a leader in educational innovation.
Maroon and White Celebrates Fall Athletes
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Maroon and White broke with tradition and hosted their fall dinner for hundreds of student athletes, coaches, parents and guests at the Crown Plaza in White Plains this year, rather than at Lake Isle in New Rochelle which is being remodeled. Commenting on the evening, Maroon and White President Kathy Coleman said, "We had 754 attendees at the new venue and the event went off without a hitch. We were in seven rooms as opposed to three which allowed the coaches to speak in further detail about each player. Many of the team coaches and parents have commented that they enjoyed having a room dedicated to just that sport."
Senior athletes from each of the fall teams gathered for photos –here are Scarsdale's young stars:
Turn Your Clock Back Saturday Night
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Here are two safety notices from the Scarsdale Fire Department: As the time change approaches on Sunday, November 2, the Scarsdale Fire Department wants to remind residents to make another change that could save their lives: Changing the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Communities nationwide witness tragic home fire deaths each year. An average of 75 percent of child fire fatalities occur in homes without working smoke detectors. Non-working smoke detectors rob residents of the protective benefits home fire safety devices were designed to provide. The most commonly cited cause of non-working smoke detectors is worn or missing batteries.
Changing smoke detector batteries at least once a year is one of the simplest, most effective ways to reduce these tragic deaths and injuries. In fact, working smoke detectors nearly cut in half the risk of dying in a home fire. Additionally, the International Association of Fire Chiefs recommends replacing your smoke detectors every 10 years.
To save lives and prevent needless injuries in Scarsdale, the Scarsdale Fire Department has joined forces with Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs for the 26th year of the Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® campaign. The program urges all Americans to adopt a simple, lifesaving habit: changing smoke detector and carbon monoxide batteries when changing clocks back to standard time each fall, this year on November 2.
"The peak time for home fire fatalities is between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. when most families are sleeping," says Fire Chief Thomas Cain. "Smoke detector maintenance is a simple, effective way to reduce home fire deaths. Children and senior citizens are most at risk, and a working smoke detector can give them the extra seconds they need to get out safely."
In addition, Chief Cain recommends residents use the "extra" hour they save from the time change to test smoke detectors by pushing the test button, planning two ways out of their home, and practicing escape routes with the entire family. Families should also prepare a fire safety kit that includes working flashlights and fresh batteries.
Tragically, fire can kill selectively. Those most at risk include:
➢ Children – Approximately 500 children under the age of 14 die each year in home fires.
➢ Seniors – Adults 75 and older are 2.8 times more likely to die in a home fire.
➢ Low-Income Households – Many low-income families are unable to afford batteries for their smoke detectors. These same households often rely on poorly installed, maintained or misused portable or area heating equipment – a main cause of fatal home fires.
Fire Department Installing Fire Hydrant Markers for Winter
On November 1, 2014 the Scarsdale Fire Department will begin installing red markers on every fire hydrant in the Village, to assist the Department in locating the hydrants during heavy winter snow accumulations. Installation of these highly-visible three-foot tall metal rods will be performed by career and volunteer firefighters working together to ensure that each of the nearly one thousand fire hydrants in the Village is properly marked. The flag markers will be removed by the Water Department in the spring during their annual hydrant maintenance program, to be re-installed again prior to the next winter.
These markers are being installed to enhance public safety. Fire hydrants serve an extremely critical role in the rapid and successful extinguishment of fire, and accumulated, drifting or plowed snow often results in difficulty locating hydrants, especially at night and/or during inclement weather. Precious time can be lost searching for a hydrant buried by snow, and the intent of these tall flag markers is to assist firefighters in locating the hydrant quickly.
Residents with fire hydrants on or near their property can assist the Fire Department in this regard by shoveling snow away from the hydrant. Clearing the snow away from your fire hydrant is a quick and easy way to assist the Fire Department toward helping you and your neighbors. Your assistance is appreciated!
For more information about fire safety, contact Fire Inspector Albert Mignone with the Scarsdale Fire Department at 914-722-1215 x 3.
News from the Nominating Committees: CNC Election on November 12 and Candidates Needed to Run for the School Board Nominating Committee
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The Citizens Nominating Committee Election will be held on Wednesday November 12 from 7- 9:30 am and 2 – 9 pm. Scarsdale residents are eligible and encouraged to vote. For those who cannot come to the polls on Wednesday, mail-in ballots are available at Village Hall and The Scarsdale Library. a mail-in ballot was also sent to each household by mail this week. Those elected to the CNC select a slate of candidates for the Village offices of Trustee and Mayor. Support Scarsdale's non-partisan system by voting on Wednesday at Village Hall.
Candidates Needed for the SBNC (this note was forwarded to Scarsdale10583 by Bennett Josselsohn and Mindy Tucker, Committee Chairs of the SBNC.)
What are you doing Sunday afternoons during the cold, dark winter (end of January through mid-March)? How about meeting some people and serving our community to boot? Join the SBNC!
HELP! SERVE! HAVE FUN! Please help to maintain our excellent Scarsdale schools and serve our community by volunteering to run for the SBNC. It's rewarding and interesting to participate, with a focused time commitment. (Plus you get to sneak in a couple of munchkins and chocolate chip cookies that your spouse can't see!)
HUH? The School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) is an elected group of 30 members who identify, propose and nominate qualified candidates to run for the Scarsdale Board of Education. The 30 voting members represent each of the five elementary school neighborhoods. Each year, ten new members (two from each elementary school neighborhood) are elected to serve a three-year term. The SBNC meets for Sunday afternoons from end of January through the middle of March. (You get to spend time with adults! Make new friends! Need we say more?)
EASY! It's easy to become a candidate – just complete two forms by November 18, 2014 and submit them to either of the e-mails listed below or via mail to the addresses on the forms. The first is a biographical form and the second is a candidate petition, with signatures from ten residents in your elementary school district. These forms can be downloaded from http://scarsdalesbnc.com/join-the-sbnc/ , where further information on the process can also be found. The forms are also available at the Scarsdale Library and Village Hall. (You get to talk about yourself! How does it get better than that?)
MORE QUESTIONS? If you are interested in becoming a candidate or have questions, please visit the SBNC's website at www.scarsdalesbnc.com . Also, feel free to contact the SBNC Administrative Committee Co-chairs: Bennett Josselsohn at [email protected] or Mindy Tucker at [email protected].
NO TIME TO VOLUNTEER? If you are too busy on Sunday afternoons with work, or driving your kids to sports, or watching football on the couch, you can still help. Please consider a contribution to the Administrative Committee's election fund! The Committee organizes and administers the SBNC election at significant expense. The cost of producing and mailing the brochure to every Scarsdale resident is not included in the School budget, the Village budget or any other source of public funds. Donations can be made by Paypal or by check payable to "SBNC Administrative Committee" and sent to our post office box (PO Box 172H, Scarsdale NY 10583). Donations are used solely for running the SBNC election and do not benefit any individual candidate. We rely on the community's financial support to sustain our non-partisan system of robust and contested elections for the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee.
SO, NOW WHAT? Run for the SBNC. Have fun. Donate to the SBNC. Do good. Run for the SBNC and donate to the SBNC. Have fun and do good!
The Class of 1974 - Forty Years Later
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- Written by Michael Blumstein
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Is it really four decades later? Some 102 members of Scarsdale High School's class of 1974 (plus 32 spouses) mulled that (im)possibility at their 40th reunion on October 11th. Classmates relived their youth at the Beckwith Point Beach Club in New Rochelle -- right down the street from the site of their 6/21/74 prom. The evening, no surprise, featured long hugs, funny reminiscences and serial conversations about careers and kids. In a serious moment, George Branche, (pictured front and center) senior class council president and one of the reunion's organizers, recalled the importance of his high school's years and acknowledged the group's generally good fortune. Over the following few days, classmates jammed Facebook with photos of the evening, including this group shot.
