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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 June 2014

Created: 17 June 2014

Last Updated: 17 June 2014

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The Scarsdale Public Library's widely popular annual Summer Reading Game kicks off on Friday, June 27, between 11 a.m. and noon with a performance by the National Circus, a center ring extravaganza packing a panoramic presentation of circus skills into a bundle of comedy and variety routines with audience interaction and participation. The theme this year is Science Circus.

The Summer Reading Game encourages children from infants through 4th grade to read or be read to during the summer months. Awards are given based on the number of books read or listened to. After two books, the participating children receive a sticker, after five books, they can dig into the "Treasure Chest" for a fun prize and after 20 books they receive a book. As an incentive to come to the library, children will receive a raffle ticket each visit for a drawing for day passes to WeeZee World of Chappaqua, a play, fitness and learning facility for children 0 to 12 of all abilities. WeeZee is also donating toys for prizes

"When the children come to the library, we like to have them discuss the books they have read with a librarian or have someone read a book to them," says Karen Zielinski, head of Youth Services. "The program has also become family event with older children reading to their younger siblings."
Online registration begins on June 27. Parents or children should go to the library website, www.scarsdalelibrary.org, and click on the Summer Reading Program link.

Last year, 317 children participated in the program. They read a total of 6,899 books, just shy of 22 per child. In 2012, 267 children read 4,799 books, or about 18 per child.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 12 June 2014

Created: 12 June 2014

Last Updated: 12 June 2014

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Students, family, and friends enjoyed the evening of Wednesday June 11th when the Great Hall at Scarsdale Middle School was transformed into a museum gallery filled with exhibitions of over 200 primary sources from the Civil War. Seventh graders from all four houses worked in teams to research topics and analyze primary sources. Each team then created an exhibit including a large color copy of the primary source, a written piece explaining its significance, and a QR code which visitors could scan to hear an audio tour; both the QR code and the linked audio tour were created by the students. A group of 11 members of the Jazz Band came together to form the SMS Civil War Players and performed "Battle Hymn of Freedom, Battle Hymn of the Republic," and "Dixie" during the exhibition.

Seventh grade Social Studies Teachers

• Steve Goodman - Butler House
• Meghan Troy - Cooper House
• Marci Rothman - Fountain House
• Meghan Lahey - Popham House

Thanks to contributor Tracy McCarthy for text and photos.

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Written by: Deborah Skolnik

Published: 05 June 2014

Created: 05 June 2014

Last Updated: 05 June 2014

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Here's a mother/daughter movie review of a summer film both you and your teen will want to see.
Mom Deborah Skolnik: Sixteen-year-old Hazel spends her days at the doctor's office or on the couch, her delicate features washed out by fluorescent bulbs or a television's glow. It's a match for the harsh light in which she views her plight: She has terminal cancer, and though a miracle drug has prolonged her life, she's ceased to appreciate the miracle of life itself. Thus begins The Fault in Our Stars, a movie that starts with a whimper and ends with a bang, after many tears and unexpected laughs. Based on the wildly popular young adult novel of the same name, it's the flick your adolescents will beg to see this week. Take them, and stay to enjoy this profoundly moving film yourself.

Things start looking up when Hazel meets charismatic Augustus Waters, 18, via a hilariously cheesy support group. Augustus has lost a leg to bone cancer, but still stands up to fate, armed with wit and a Rat Pack's worth of charm. Soon, Hazel is pinching her cheeks, checking her tests, and strolling with this handsome young man in the sunshine. In one brilliant scene, the pair flirts while a mutual pal, who's just been dumped by his girlfriend, throws a tantrum in the background—a perfect metaphor for joy in the midst of sorrow.

Augustus opens new worlds for Hazel. Together, they travel to Amsterdam to meet the author of Hazel's favorite novel, who's promised to reveal what happens even after the book's conclusion. Will Hazel get answers? More importantly, has she asked herself the right questions?

While the movie is often delightful, it's heavy, too; I heard adults sniffling along with the teenyboppers during the tough scenes. And parents be warned, there's a bit of non-graphic sex as well. Personally, I don't begrudge gravely ill older teens a taste of life, and any middle-schooler who's watched Romeo & Juliet has seen more skin than is shown here. What does trouble me is the movie's implication that this intimacy is long overdue; that healthy teens have sex much earlier, as a matter of course. You'll want to talk that one over with any tween or teen you take along to the theater (and I wouldn't take anyone younger than 12).

But you'll have plenty more to talk about besides, from the wonderful acting (Divergent's Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort play the leads; Laura Dern is Hazel's warm and worried mother) to the numerous quips and thought-provoking scenes. This may just be next generation's Love Story. So go see this cultural touchstone in the making—if you don't, the fault's not in this reviewer.

Eighth Grader Clara Enders: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves." To many generations, this quote brings to mind grueling hours of Shakespeare and crazy English teachers. However, to this generation, it means a lot more. It represents John Green's best selling novel, The Fault In Our Stars, which is about Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old cancer patient who falls in love with Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor and amputee. The highly anticipated movie adaptation comes out June 6th 2014, with a special screening June 5th. I had the privilege of attending an advance screening, and I found that the movie more than lives up to the hype (but I may have been slightly biased considering the fact that I have read the book eleven times back to front). Hazel, played by Shailene Woodley, is depressed because of her cancer, so she goes to a support group recommended by her doctor. There, she meets Augustus (Ansel Elgort) who is philosophical and charming (and not to mention insanely handsome). As they become friends, they go through the ups and downs of life, and embark on an adventure to Amsterdam to meet their favorite author. As their situation takes a turn for the worse, they realize that it doesn't matter if you leave a mark on the world for something extraordinary; it matters if people remember you for being you.

I thought that the acting in TFIOS was very good. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort were both able to convey believable emotions without over doing it. Nat Wolff, who played Isaac, Hazel and Augustus' friend with Oster coma (Isaac= eye-sick), had some of the funniest lines said by him and directed towards him. The music in the movie went very well with what was happening: sad music in sadder parts and lighter music in happier parts. The scenes in Amsterdam were my favorite, because of the way they were filmed and because it is the best part of the story. As I said before, the emotions were very real. VERY REAL. I don't think I have ever been at a theater with so many people in the audience simultaneously crying. If you're thinking of seeing this movie, bring tissues. MANY TISSUES. You were warned.

Fans of the book have been wondering how the movie would stack up to the book. In my opinion, the movie was able to capture the spirit of the book and what it's all about. The point of the story isn't the cancer; it's the relationship between Hazel and Augustus. Sure, some scenes were omitted, but the ones that were included were done beautifully and mirrored the book, and the new scenes exclusive to the movie went with the story and made sense.

In conclusion, I think this is the best book-to-movie adaptation I have seen so far. So many young adult books are being converted to movies (Shailene Woodley just starred in Divergent), but this one stands out because of the unique story and the emotional connection people have with the book. I highly recommend this movie to fans of the book or any of John Green's other books, or anyone who enjoys love stories.

Deborah Skolnik is a Greenacres mother of two—including her favorite movie critic Clara Enders.

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Written by: Marie Ceske

Published: 29 May 2014

Created: 29 May 2014

Last Updated: 30 May 2014

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The Scarsdale High School auditorium will rock to the sounds of the 50's and swoon for summer lovers this weekend when the senior class puts on their production of Grease, based on the original 1971 version about teenage love. A perennial favorite, the show was last seen at SHS in 2010 when the senior class also chose it as their class play and at Edgemont High School in 2011.

150 seniors auditioned for the musical, which will feature 120 students at "Rydell High School." The leads include Jonathan Potter as Danny; Sarah Mar as Sandy; Eric Berman, Wyatt Chamlin, Alex Benitez, and Daniel Markowitz as the T-Birds; and Veronica Dickson, Clara Belk, Allie Miller, and Abby Greenberg as the famous Pink Ladies.

The musical is being directed by Bianca Rogoff with assistance from Rebecca Primoff and the audience is sure to recognize the score that includes popular favorites like ""Summer Nights," "We Go Together," "Greased Lightening" and "You're the One That I Want."

The directors are usually drama club veterans and have experience in musical theatre. They serve as the experts and teachers in the field since this production is the first theater experience for several seniors. Both Rogoff and Primoff have directed plays, but this is their first time directing a musical. "I'm learning a lot in the sense that I now know how to conduct a musical. And it's really nice to be able to work with my peers," stated director Bianca Rogoff, who also added that the production team is "phenomenal." Rebecca Primoff agreed, stating: "The process has been a lot of fun. It requires a lot of grunt work like copying scripts and taking down notes. But being assistant director, I've gotten to do more." As director and assistant director, Rogoff and Primoff are in charge of organizing and perfecting lines, stage blocking, and choreography.

The play's music director is Josh Kaufman. While not a drama club veteran, Josh is an accomplished musician and conductor. He is responsible for the musical aspects of the show, including recruiting and running the pit. He will also conduct the entire show. "Working with so many of my peers is certainly challenging, but I am always proud to see how much effort they are putting into the production," he commented.

Although the play, which was cast in March, takes a great deal of time and effort (recent rehearsals have been running three plus hours everyday), it's a really fun experience and bonding activity for the outgoing seniors. As Alexa Pappas, a member of the cast, commented, "It's a lot more fun than I expected."

The show really makes an effort to include all cast members, splitting up the ensemble so that everyone has a turn being in a song. "It's a really new experience and it's getting me really into acting. And I'm really stepping into my role," stated Alex Faegenburg. "It's such an honor to be part of it." Not only are the seniors excited about their new acting experiences, they are also excited about the play itself. "I think it's a really relevant play. It's a high school setting that I think everyone can kind of relate to," remarked Devon Kerr. As the cast is in its final week of rehearsal, dubbed "hell week," the excitement and anticipation has been building up. "I'm truly excited for the finished product!" exclaimed Kaufman.

Why should everyone go to see the SHS production of Grease? Because students have worked hard preparing the show, and it promises to be a fun event full of great music and dancing.

The play will run from Friday May 30th to Sunday June 1st. Performances on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30, while Sunday begins at 2:00. Sunday's performance will feature a meet and greet with the cast after the show. Tickets are available online - click here to buy yours today.