Scarsdale High School PTA

Each e-mail sent out by the SHS PTA in 2009/2010 to the Email Distribution list is archived here, with the most recent e-mails listed first. 

Please click HERE to go to emails sent out in 2007

Dear High School Parents,

The SHS PTA communicates often with the parent community by email.  Most of the time, the emails sent are for all high school parents.  Sometimes, there is information sent out that is grade specific.  For that reason, when you registered to receive email, you indicated the grade(s) of your child/children in high school.  As we prepare for the 2009/2010 school year, please be aware of the following:

1.  The email system has automatically moved the grades of 2008/2009 students up to the grades they will be in 2009/2010.

-8th graders are moved to 9th grade
-9th graders are moved to 10th grade
-10th graders are moved to 11th grade
-11th graders are moved to 12th grade

2.  If your child has just finished the 8th grade and you have already registered to receive SHS PTA email, your child's grade is now indicated as 9th grade.  You do not need to do anything further.  If you have not registered your just graduated 8th grader/going to be 9th grader to receive SHS PTA email, please do so now by going to www.shspta.org, and click E-mail Registration.  Complete the information, and indicate your child's grade is "9th grade".

3.  If you have a child that has recently graduated, Congratulations!  Your 12th grade email will discontinue.  Your general email, and grade specific email for your other children at the high school will continue.  

4.  If all of your children are no longer at SHS, you will be taken off of the email distribution list automatically as of July 31, 2009.  We recognize that some of you might still have an interest in receiving high school information via email from the SHS PTA.  To continue receiving emails, you must re-register.  Go to www.shspta.org and click E-mail Registration.  Complete the information, and indicate your child/children's grade as "Graduate".  

If you have any questions about SHS PTA email procedures, please send your questions to shspta10583@gmail.com.  Thank you.

We are looking for a very limited number of parents who would like to volunteer at the College and Career Center at the high school next year, 2009/10.

The College and Career Center (CCC) is a PTA funded service for the students, parents and faculty. We work closely with the guidance department and are a source of support for them.

The CCC is open from 9am to 3pm daily, except Fridays, when it closes at 1pm.

Volunteers are required to work a two-hour time period every four weeks. There are four volunteers per time slot. These times are from 9 - 11am, 11 - 1pm and 1 - 3pm. It is difficult to predict how busy you will be at the CCC - at times it is very busy and at times it is very slow!

Volunteer responsibilities include, among other things, sorting and filing mail from the colleges, updating college information in the office, showing parents who visit the office how to use the Naviance system, and interviewing college reps when they visit the school.

As many more people like to volunteer than we can accommodate, and we are a support system for the deans, we ask that you only consider this volunteer opportunity if you are able to truly commit to the required time. We do understand that last minute issues crop up, and we have systems in place to find volunteers at the last minute. We are required to keep the office open during the above-mentioned times.  If the CCC is something you feel you would like to become involved with please let us know ASAP.

Listed below are the remaining available slots. Please choose three times that would work for you and send your response to either Ellen Brodsky at e.brodsky@yahoo.com or Debra Funt at debra.funt@verizon.net as soon as possible.

Monday: 9-11 and 1-3
Tuesday:  9-11 and 1-3
Wednesday:  1-3
Thursday:  9-11 and 1-3
Friday:  11-1

Another option is to sign up to be a substitute who would be called (sometimes at the last minute) to replace a volunteer who cannot make their time slot.

Additionally, we have a mandatory meeting on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 9am in the Little Theater.

If you are interested, please let us know by email, and include the following information.

Name

Address

Email

Home phone

Cell phone

Child's name and grade

3 times you would prefer to volunteer


Many thanks for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you.
Ellen Brodsky    e.brodsky@yahoo.com
Debra Funt    debra.funt@verizon.net

It is almost the end of the school year and hard to believe that another academic year is done.  Each year PT Council kicks off the year with the annual Sports Swap.  It now has a new name the "Sports Smart."  All proceeds will go to PT Council.

We need volunteers for the Sports Smart next fall , Saturday, September 12, 2009. This is a great fundraiser for PT Council and it is a lot of fun. We need help with pricing items, selling items and cleaning up at the end.  We also need a few volunteers to help collect the items on Friday, September, 11, 2009 as well.

Please click on the attached link and sign up for a time slot to help out.   http://www.shsonlineregistration.com/

Thank you for helping out.

Lauren Rimland
lrimland@gmail.com

The SHS Library is looking for volunteers for the next academic year.  By volunteering, you could work in the Library twice a month.  Each volunteer session is one hour long.  You could sign up with a friend and pick the day and the hour that you would like to volunteer.  Duties includes shelving books and  laminating paperback books.

There is an short orientation at the beginning of the year led by Head Librarian, Phyllis DiBianco, and a thank you lunch at the end of the year. This is a great way to volunteer during school hours.  If you are interested, please  Click Here to register as a volunteer.

Thank you,

Jodi Gordon
SHS PTA Library Chair

Over the summer and during the upcoming academic year, there will be new families joining the Scarsdale High School Community.  When they register at SHS, they will get a Welcome Folder that will help acquaint them with the Scarsdale Community.  We also want to pair up each new family with another SHS family to help them make a strong and positive connection to the Community.  You can help a new family make that connection by volunteering to be a Buddy.

We will match up families based on neighborhood and grade level of the children.  Once we have matched you up with a new family, you will be asked to contact them.  The rest is up to you.  You can meet for coffee, arrange for your children to meet, or have them to your home. Please click this link http://www.shsonlineregistration.com/ and register to be a Buddy Volunteer.

Thank you,

Marie Posthumus
New Families Committee Chair

 
 
 Advocating for Yourself
 Learn to successfully promote your best interests. This life skill will be useful both academically and socially. Skills will be learned through dialogue/conversations, role-playing situations, acting out skits, and problem solving together. Students will leave the class with a general understanding of how to get the best of their college experience, and with the skills that are needed to succeed in a college environment. Teacher LAUREN POMERANTZ has been a Youth Outreach Worker at Scarsdale High School with Scarsdale Family Counseling Service for four years. She received a Bachelor of Science from University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a Masters in Social Work from New York University.
Class meets on Thursday, July 9th at the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Building, 5 Weaver Street. Cost is $30.

Cooking 101 and Eating Healthy
Preparing a simple chicken dinner will demonstrate basic cooking skills and offer meal preparation tips.  Students will learn about handy equipment needed in a kitchen/dorm room and healthy foods to stock up on. Teacher TERESE HUNERSEN owned her own meal preparation business and helped novices find their way around the kitchen.
Class meets on Thursday, July 16 at the teacher's home. Directions given upon registration. Cost is $30.

 Auto Maintenance and Safe Driving Techniques
Learn the basics about cars, simple auto maintenance, and safe driving tips.  Students will leave this class with an understanding of how to regularly maintain a car, fix a flat tire, and safely navigate the road when in an emergency situation. Teacher AL PORPORA is the owner of Heathcote Gulf and has been maintaining and repairing cars for more than 35 years.
Class meets on Thursday, July 30 at the Heathcote Gulf Service Station, Heathcote 5 Corners in Scarsdale. Cost is $30.

Managing Your Money
Here's an opportunity to get a basic understanding of personal finance and how to manage money responsibly.  Learn the fundamentals of budgeting, managing banking and credit card accounts, and building personal savings and a credit history. Discuss "smart" shopping, insurance, and taxes in everyday life. Teacher RUTH SUZMAN has been teaching budgeting and personal finance in Westchester for 8 years. She has an MBA from Yale University
Class meets on Thursday, August 6 at the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Building, 5 Weaver Street. Cost is $30.
 

Throughout the school year, the High School has been sending out Departmental Updates.  You receive these updates via the email system.  They can also be found on the SHS PTA website,  www.shspta.org,  "Department Columns"

Please Click Here  to see the latest update - The High School Art Department 2008-09.

Congratulations to Mary Beth Evans, Barbara Josselsohn, and Mindy Tucker,  the newly elected members of the  High School Compact for Learning Team.

Thank you to all candidates who participated in the election, and to all those who voted.

REMINDER!
Please remind your senior that Monday, June 1st is Transition Day - all  
seniors should be at school for 8:00 a.m. meetings with their Deans.   
After the presentations, lunch will be served to all seniors and they  
will be able to pick up their Yearbooks!

THE CLASS OF 2009 PRESENTS:

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

WHEN: FRIDAY, MAY 29TH and SATURDAY, MAY 30TH @ 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, MAY 31ST @ 3 p.m.

WHERE: SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL

TICKETS: $10 FOR STUDENTS/ SENIORS
$15 GENERAL ADMISSION

To read Principal John Klemme's letter, please Click Here

One-third of us will have used blood or a blood product by the time we reach age 72. One blood donation can save several lives. Join us in our efforts at the Scarsdale Teen Center, 862 Scarsdale Ave, on Friday, June 5, 2009 from 3PM - 8:30PM.

--Blood Donors must be between the ages of 17 and 76 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. In New York State you can donate blood at the age of 16 with written parental consent.

--People age 76 and over can donate blood providing they meet all other criteria and present a physician's letter annually.

--All donors must present identification with signature or photo. All seventeen-year-olds must show proof of age.

--Donors should eat at regular meal time and avoid food high in fat content for a few hours prior to donation.

We strongly encourage you to register in advance by calling 722-8358, emailing scarsdaleteencenter@gmail.com, or visiting the New York Blood Center website at New York Blood Center.

In the last few days, you were invited to register your current 8th grader on the SHS PTA website, to enable you to receive emails from the SHS PTA.  When you registered, you were asked to register your 8th grader as an 8th grader on this website.  

We want to clarify what needs to be done if you already have other children in the high school.  Please DO NOT change their current grade status.  This will be done automatically at the end of the school year.  Your current 8th grader will move to 9th grade, 9th grader to 10th, 10th grader to 11th, and 11th grader to 12th.  If you have already changed your current high school student's grade status, please go back to
www. shspta.org and do the following:

1. Click on Email Registration
2. Click the "Join Now"
3. Enter the email address that you have already registered
4. Confirm your email address and click "Submit"

Instructions will be sent to your email address about how to update your child's profile.  Make sure you register your current 8th graders as 8th graders.  Keep other children in high school at their current grade level.  

If you have any questions, please send them to shspta10583@gmail.com.

Please plan on attending our year-end
PTA luncheon meeting

Wednesday, May 27th
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
rooms 170-172 at the high school.

An exciting program will follow the business portion of the meeting. Members of our SHS English Department, Chair, Chris Renino, Ben Sawyer, and Sue Silver will discuss The Great Gatsby.

Lunch will be served.  Click Here to RSVP so that we can determine how many people
will attend.

We will vote on the following slate of incoming PTA officers:

President                                   Julie Hoofnagle
Vice President                           Beth Zadek
President-elect                          Nan Berke
Staff Vice Presidents                 Ernie Collaboletta
                                                  Adam Weisler
Secretary                                   Lauren Rimland
Treasurer                                  Geralyn Della Cava
Scholarship Treasurer              Irene Drivas
Communications Secretary      Lauri Carey

We will also vote to elect three new representatives for the High School Compact for Learning team. A ballot will be provided at the meeting.

You may cast a vote for three of the 7 candidates running for the Compact position. 
Click Here to access the profiles of the candidates.
 
If you are not able to attend this meeting, you can file an absentee vote. Drop off the form in the Main Office, Tuesday, May 26th at 8:00 a.m. through Wednesday, May 27th at 11:30 a.m. 
Click Here for an absentee ballot.  Please remember to include your name, which can be detached from the rest of the ballot, and both parts should be placed in the box in the office.

If you have any questions, please contact the HS Nominating Committee Chair, Kim Meyers at kimschles@aol.com.

The Teen Center Presents:

The Teen Center and AAA New York will team up to host a Bicycle Rodeo to help promote bike safety for young riders.  Participants bring their own bikes and helmets and run through a riding skills course, get their bikes and helmets checked by bike technicians, and learn about the rules of the road.  Registration begins  at 4PM and rodeo begins at 4:30PM.

Enjoy food, fun and performances by local bands and teen talent from 6- 11PM in Chase Park.

For more information please visit our website, www.scarsdaleteencenter.com, or call
Tashica Clarke, Interim Director at 722-8358

THE CLASS OF 2009 PRESENTS:

THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

WHEN: FRIDAY, MAY 29TH and SATURDAY, MAY 30TH @ 7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY, MAY 31ST @ 3 p.m.

WHERE: SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL

TICKETS: $10 FOR STUDENTS/ SENIORS
$15 GENERAL ADMISSION

    The Scarsdale Union Free School District Board of Education will hold a public hearing on Wednesday evening, July 1, 2009.  The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on any proposed changes to the District Safety Plan and the Code of Conduct received at the Board meeting on June 1, 2009.

    The July 1, 2009, hearing will take place at 8:00 p.m. in Room 170-172 in the Board of Education wing of Scarsdale High School, 2 Brewster Road, Scarsdale, immediately prior to the regularly scheduled Board business meeting in the same room.
    
The Board expects to take action at the business meeting following to approve the District Safety Plan as revised or to re-affirm the current plan.  The public is also invited to communicate comments in writing by addressing them to the Board of Education at 2 Brewster Road.

    For further information or copies of the plans, please call the District Clerk at  721-2410 or check the District website (www.scarsdaleschools.org), Board of Education page).
 
Lois Q. Rehm
District Clerk
Scarsdale Board of Education

Dear Parents of SHS Class of 2009,
 
     The Pre-Prom reception invitations have gone out by mail and by email.  The Pre-Prom reception is scheduled for June 4, 2009 at the SHS Brewster Road entrance (rain location: Gyms 1 & 2).  We look forward to great photo opportunities and refreshments as we celebrate this milestone in our seniors' lives.
 
     Buses to the prom, Gotham Hall, will depart promptly at 5:30p.m. from the SHS parking lot.  All prom goers must be on the buses.  Please be sure to arrive on time to the reception at 4:00p.m., so that your senior will have plenty of time to enjoy the festivities before the 5:30p.m. departure!
 
     Thank you!
 
Pre-Prom Committee Chairs
Sharon Morris
Rachel Chalchinsky

 
Do you wonder how your special needs child will:

    * Find his/her own career path and navigate the workplace

    * Attend college away from home

    * Learn the social and domestic skills to live independently and otherwise manage without you?

Come join our discussion and Q&A about the options parents have above and beyond their child's school day.  If you have ever asked "Then what?" when considering your child's life options, join us to find out more.

Harriet Weinberger has more than 20 years of experience working as a teacher, special educator and family trainer. Being a parent of children with special needs and having parented a teenager in crisis, she has experienced what you are facing first hand.
 
The meeting will not be filmed by Scarsdale TV

Principal's Coffees

         Parents of Freshmen are invited to attend the fourth and final in our  series of grade specific Principal's Coffees.  Please come for an informal discussion with Principal, John Klemme on Friday, May 29th at 9:30 a.m.    Talk about your child's transition to the high school and share thoughts and concerns about the years ahead.

          The coffee will be held at the home of Sharon Morris, 17 Hampton Road.


Please R.S.V.P.  to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

The High School PTA urges you to support the proposed  2009-2010 school budget and VOTE tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19th.  Polls are open from 7AM - 9PM at the Middle School Gym.

The Budget reflects a growth of 1.95% which is the lowest in decades.  This translates into a 1.72% tax increase for Scarsdale, which is at or below the regional median, and a 9.03% tax increase in Mamaroneck.  The proposed budget economizes significantly without harming educational quality or services in 2009-10.

Because 2010-11 may be even more economically difficult than 2009-10, the BOE is taking a multi-year approach to the current economic downturn.   The Board will review all programs and engage the entire community in comprehensive discussion about educational and financial priorities in order to prepare a 2010-11 budget.  Several community-wide budget discussions have already taken place.

If a school budget doesn't pass after two attempts, it will be subject to a mandatory cap.  This year, that cap is several percentage points higher than the proposed budget.  Under a cap, a Board can decide to spend less, but with state-imposed restrictions on how money can be spent.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS!  We urge you to VOTE YES on May 19th!
The SHSPTA Executive Committee
Lauri Carey
Geralyn Della Cava
Irene Drivas
Liz Gruber
Alice Herman
Julie Hoofnagle
Beth Zadek

Dear  Fellow SHS Parents,

This is the week for parents to sign up to run for three open slots on the Scarsdale High School Compact Committee. As parents who have served on that Committee, we would like to encourage anyone with an interest to apply. The Compact Committee, led by Principal John Klemme, has become a great opportunity for parents, faculty, administrators, and students to work together to address issues that affect the students at our school and their quality of life. Together we have begun a promising new initiative that we know will continue to grow in the years ahead.

Two years ago, when most of us were starting our terms, the Committee decided to focus on a problem all parents are aware of: the level of stress at Scarsdale High. Tackling this issue involved a meaningful dialogue between Principal Klemme, ourselves as parents, and our fellow Committee members. The Committee now includes Assistant Principal Sue Peppers, Dean Mitchell Thompson, teachers Ronnie Braun and Tom Conrad, secretary Louise Ciffone, and seniors Caroline Herman and Laura Guggenheimer.

The Committee has served as an advisory group for the Administration's efforts to combat stress at the school. We began by working to understand the problem. We conducted a student survey on stress that was reported on the front page of the Inquirer last year, met with high school parents to discuss the results, met with parents from the Middle School Compact Committee on the 8th-to-9th-grade transition, and engaged with the student government and other students to brainstorm ideas.

The SHS Administration has now taken several steps to begin to reduce stress at
Scarsdale High, including:

   - Developing a policy that minimizes homework over vacations.
   - Setting up an appeal process for students who are scheduled to have too
     many tests in one day.
   - Bringing in outside resources and speakers - most notably Madeline
     Levine, the author of The Price of Privilege who spoke to hundreds of
     parents last month.
   - Reducing the conflicts between major research projects - in English and
     Social Studies - in the junior year.
   - Conducting a survey of 9th graders to better understand the stress of
     the high school transition.

As parents, we have been very happy to see these positive steps and have continued to discuss other opportunities with Mr. Klemme and the other members of the Compact Committee. The Committee will continue working on these issues next year and will be looking at several options, including:

   - Ways to reduce scheduling conflicts regarding tests and major
     assignments.
   - Student-to-student advice sessions - with older students helping
     freshmen.
   - New ways to help students develop the study skills needed to succeed in
     high school.
   - A short transition period at the beginning of freshman year to help
     students adjust.

We're proud that we have been able to play a role in bringing about these changes. The next three parents to join the Compact Committee will have a chance to build on this work and add whatever new directions they believe are most important. We urge you to consider this unique and satisfying opportunity to work together with the administration, teachers, and students
- and other parents - to help improve this already excellent school for the benefit of all our children. (For information on how to apply Click Here or contact the High School Nominating Committee Chair, Kim Meyers, at 725-2017 or kimschles@aol.com. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 15th.)

Sincerely,

Lisa Cristal
Liz Gruber
Joel Gurin
Chris Peruski
Rena Schwartzbaum

VOLUNTEER CERTIFICATES: Congratulations to all of the students who earned certificates for volunteer service.  For those of you who were unable to attend the awards assembly, you may pick up your certificates from Sandy Skalaski in Mr. Klemme's office beginning on Wednesday, May 13th.

The College and Career Center will be closing for the year on FRIDAY, MAY 15
and reopening AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, SEPTEMBER,  2009.

If anybody would like to use the center from May 15 through June 26 please contact us;
Sharon: Priceresearch@aol.com   725-2152
Diane: dile100@aol.com   725-1440

Give the Gift of Education

SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College

          There is no better time than now to honor a graduate, special teacher, Dean or other personnel than by making a donation, in their name, to the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College.  You will be given lovely announcement cards designed for either graduates or teachers to send to your honoree(s).  What better way to celebrate education than by supporting this cause?

     To order your cards, please complete the form below.
All donations to the Scholarship Fund are fully tax-deductible.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
School district:          E       FM       GA      H      QR       MS       HS

Name_______________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
Email__________________________________ Phone_______________________

Please CIRCLE your preference for either teacher or graduate cards:

          _______ Packet of 2 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $30 _______
          _______ Packet of 4 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $60 _______
          _______ Packet of 10 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $100 _______

_______ Total packets                      $$ enclosed _______

Should you choose to honor a graduate, teacher or Dean with a gift in excess of $15, a letter from the Scholarship Fund will be sent on your behalf directly to the recipient notifying him/her of your donation.  Please clearly state on this form the name of the teacher, Dean or graduate (and indicate which), as well as the address to which the letter should be sent.

Please mail this form, along with a check payable to:
SHS PTA Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 147H, Scarsdale, NY  10583

All orders must be received by June 10th.

*    *    *    *
In lieu of, or in addition to, purchasing cards, I would like to make a contribution to the Scholarship Fund to help more Scarsdale graduates continue their education.  Please send my tax receipt to:

Name and Address:_____________________________________________________________

Please contact Susie Rush at 472-7797 or by email: srush76@gmail.com with questions.

There are 3 vacancies for parent representatives on the High School Compact for Learning Team.  To place your name in nomination for a position, please Click Here to apply online.
Read the description, fill out the application, and at the bottom,  Click Here to place your name and biographical information in nomination.

The Compact for Learning is a New York State mandated team whose mission is to provide opportunities for parents, teachers, students, support staff and administrators to participate in shared decision-making regarding educational policies and issues.  Compact teams have been in place in all seven of the Scarsdale Schools since 1994.  The Compact team meets regularly throughout the year, typically in the early morning before school.  This year, the Compact team at SHS has been discussing student stress and ways to address it in our school.

If you have any questions, please contact the High School Nominating Committee Chair,
Kim Meyers at 725-2017 or by email at  kimschles@aol.com.

CAR WASH
             TYE-DIE
                   BAKE SALE
                               AND MORE...

Scardale Alternative School Students are running a charity car wash.  In addition there will be family carnival including face painting, water games and more!  Also, there will be a sizzling barbeque and a bake sale to wet your appetite.  Any child that comes in a sports jersey can get a free hot dog, so stop by after your games.  If you're looking for some great family fun or your car could use a good shine, make sure to come by!

All proceeds go the the Smile Train.  This organization raises money to provide free cleft lip and palate surgery for children in developing countries.

For more information, contact:  Melanie Flaxer or Marissa Gelb, juniors at the Scarsdale A-School (sascarwash@aol.com).

REMINDER:

SHS College Night
Monday, June 1, 2009
SHS Cafeteria
7:30-9:15 p.m.

Dear Parents of SHS Juniors:

          Last week your child received a letter explaining College Night -- a new, exciting and informative evening for the Junior Class.  Over sixty SHS alumni from the classes of 2007 and 2008 will meet with members of the current Junior Class to candidly discuss their college experiences.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore colleges that might, or might not, be on their lists.  During four 20-minute sessions, SHS Juniors will have the chance to learn about college life at these schools.  Attendance is not mandatory. This evening is intended for current Juniors only; parents may not attend.   

         Students will register online for six (6) schools that they would like to meet with.  When they arrive on June 1st they will receive a schedule that will include four of the six schools they requested. For your information, we are including the link to both the letter referred to above and the registration material.
http://www.shspta.org/shscollegenight.htm

          Below is a list of the schools that will be represented.  Please feel free to review this list with your child before he or she registers.   The deadline for registration is Wednesday, May 6, 2009.  Registration is online and in advance only.  Space is limited.

          We look forward to a rewarding night for both our Juniors and for the enthusiastic alumni who are representing their schools.   We hope to see your children there.
     
Thank you,

SHS PTA

ATTENTION ALL SENIOR PARENTS

WE NEED COPIES OF THE FOLLOWING
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS PHOTOS:

FOX MEADOW:
                        KINDERGARTEN: ROTH
                        1ST GRADE: MCGINNIS
                        2ND GRADE: HATCHER
                                             MARRONE
                                             ROSENGARTEN
                        4TH GRADE: BERGER
                        5TH GRADE: KNEZEVICH

QUAKER RIDGE:
                        KINDERGARTEN: COOK
                        5TH GRADE: ECKSTEIN

IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE CLASS PHOTOS, PLEASE
CONTACT TINA ADLER AT tinaadler15@aol.com ASAP!

THANK YOU.

Students and their families are formally invited to the Volunteer Service Recognition Assembly which will be held in the High School Auditorium on Monday, May 11th at 7:30 p.m.  Those students who have already submitted their applications and have volunteered at least twenty hours with a community organization, student service club or in-school volunteer job will be recognized by Mr. Klemme.  Students should arrive at the HS no later than 7:15 for check-in.
 
Please contact Gail Dobosh, Gldobosh@gmail.com or Sheri Young, Smyoung1160@aol.com with any questions.

An update on the AT program will be presented at tomorrow night's 
Board of Education meeting.  The report will include a review of data 
collected since the November AT presentation.  Department chairs from 
Science, English, World Languages, and Math will present their reports 
on AT development in those subjects.

BOE Meeting, Tuesday, May 5th, 8:00 PM, Rooms 170-172

Dear Parents of SHS Juniors:

          Last week your child received a letter explaining College Night -- a new, exciting and informative evening for the Junior Class.  Over sixty SHS alumni from the classes of 2007 and 2008 will meet with members of the current Junior Class to candidly discuss their college experiences.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore colleges that might, or might not, be on their lists.  During four 20-minute sessions, SHS Juniors will have the chance to learn about college life at these schools.  Attendance is not mandatory. This evening is intended for current Juniors only; parents may not attend.  

         Students will register online for six (6) schools that they would like to meet with.  When they arrive on June 1st they will receive a schedule that will include four of the six schools they requested. For your information, we are including the link to both the letter referred to above and the registration material.
http://www.shspta.org/shscollegenight.htm

          Below is a list of the schools that will be represented.  Please feel free to review this list with your child before he or she registers.   The deadline for registration is Wednesday, May 6, 2009.  Registration is online and in advance only.  Space is limited.

          We look forward to a rewarding night for both our Juniors and for the enthusiastic alumni who are representing their schools.   We hope to see your children there.
    
Thank you,

SHS PTA

An exciting program will follow the business portion of the meeting.  Four members  of our
SHS English Department will discuss The Great Gatsby, part of the Junior year curriculum.  Reread it, read it for the first time, buy the Spark notes, or watch the movie in anticipation.  Be prepared to be enlightened.

Lunch will be served.  Click Here to RSVP so that we can determine how many people
will attend.

          The Friends of the Scarsdale Library have generously provided funds to renovate the
Young Adult area of the Scarsdale Public Library. The Library is currently collecting input from students (grades 6-12) by means of a brief survey.   We'd love to get as many viewpoints as possible.

          Parents, if your child has not already done so, please encourage your child to visit the
High School Library, where surveys are being distributed and collected. If it's more convenient, you can download a survey for your child by clicking here, and return it via fax (722-1305) or email (LibraryYA@gmail.com).  You can also drop it off or mail it to the Scarsdale Library
(54 Olmsted Road), or return it to the High School Librarians.

          All surveys must be returned by Tuesday, May 5th.

          Thanks for your assistance.

Dear Parents of SHS Juniors:

          Earlier this week your child received a letter explaining College Night -- a new, exciting and informative evening for the Junior Class.  Sixty SHS alumni from the classes of 2007 and 2008 will meet with members of the current Junior Class to candidly discuss their college experiences.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore colleges that might, or might not, be on their lists.  During four 20-minute sessions, SHS Juniors will have the chance to learn about college life at these schools.  Attendance is not mandatory. This evening is intended for current Juniors only; parents may not attend.

          Students will register online for six (6) schools that they would like to meet with.  When they arrive on June 1st they will receive a schedule that will include four of the six schools they requested.

          Below is a list of the schools that will be represented.  Please feel free to review this list with your child before he or she registers.  Juniors have received a link to the College Night registration page.  The deadline for registration is Monday, May 4, 2009.  Registration is online and in advance only.  Space is limited.

          We look forward to a rewarding night for both our Juniors and for the enthusiastic alumni who are representing their schools.   We hope to see your children there.

Thank you,

SHS PTA

A Matter of Principal-John Klemme

Dear Parents,

With summer-like weather upon us, we would appreciate your assistance in monitoring the clothing that students wear to school.  We have a dress code which helps to assure that students are exercising modesty in their spring apparel.  Please review the code below and take note of the clothing your children are wearing to school.

Many thanks,

John Klemme
Principal


Dress Code-Scarsdale High School
Students are expected to dress modestly.  Clothing that is revealing or distracting is unacceptable.  In particular, students should be aware of the following requirements:

Women:  No tops with spaghetti straps or halter tops with bare backs;
     No bare midriffs;
     No "form-fitting" shorts;
     No shirts that are especially revealing;
     No visible undergarments.

Men :  No visible underwear, especially boxer shorts
      No cut-off or "muscle" shirts.

Men and Women:  Footwear must be worn at all times (Health Department requirement)

No clothing or jewelry with sexual or alcohol themes

Over the past few weeks, several cases of lice infestations have been brought to my attention.

Please check your child(ren)'s head if they exhibit any signs of a possible issue or if close friends are found to have lice.

Please reinforce sound behaviors to make spread less likely such as:
Pony tails - not long, flowing locks
Not sharing grooming aids/ headwear
Refraining from hugs/embraces for the moment

Also, if your child is found to have lice, even though you might have already found  appropriate treatment, please notify my office so that I can gauge the progress/regression of the outbreak. (914)721-2551

Thank you.
Karen Steefel

Supported by Scarsdale PT Council, Scarsdale Public Schools and Scarsdale High School, SHS PTA, and SHS Compact Committee.

BLOOD DRIVE
GYMS A and B
Scarsdale High School

Thursday April 23, 2009
Donate- 8:30 am to 2pm

All donors receive a pint of ice cream for a pint of donated blood courtesy of Last Licks

Eat a nutritious meal before- drink plenty of water

More info: Karen Steefel at 721-2551

Must be 17 or older to donate
(16 with written parental permission)
Bring photo ID and know SS#

Friends of Music & the Arts is developing a new web site and we would like to sprinkle student artwork throughout it. If your child has artwork that they are particularly proud of, we'd love to exhibit it. Please scan it and send an electronic file to margok@a-teamadvisors.com (High resolution JPEGs). Or, you can make arrangements with me to scan the artwork for you.  We are also looking for audio and video to add to the site. No guarantees that we will be able to use it, but if a student would like to submit original music or video, we'd love to have it.

Thank you.

Submissions are due by May 1st.

Margo Kornfeld, Co-President
917-597-3879, margok@a-teamadvisors.com

 
Westchester County registration-by-mail forms are available in the general office of every school.  Anyone who delivers one of these registration forms to the County Board of Elections will be registered with Westchester County and also considered to be registered with the school district.  The mailed registration form has to be received by the County Board of Elections in time for it to be processed by May 19, 2009.  Or you may access the form at  www.NYS Board of Elections Home Page.mht.   Click on "voting information" on the left and scroll to "Registering to Vote."
 
In addition, anyone may register for school district voting with the District's Board of Registration at the offices of the Board of Education located in the High School (Brewster Road side of the school) as follows:

                         Tuesday, May 12, 2009  - between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
                         and on
                         Thursday, May 14, 2009 - between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
 
The deadline for registration at the Board of Education office is May 14, 2009.
 
 
ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION AFTER MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009
 
        1.      Anyone who is registered and will not be in Westchester County for the vote on May 19, 2009, may apply for an absentee ballot by mail or in person.  The applications are available from Lois Rehm, the District Clerk, in the Board of Education offices in the High School (contact her at 721-2410 or lrehm@scarsdaleschools.org).
 
       2.      If the application is to be mailed to the voter, the voter must return the completed application in time for it to be received by the Clerk seven days before the election (Tuesday, May 12, 2009).
 
      3.      If completed applications are delivered personally, they must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. the day before the election (Monday, May 18, 2009).
 
      4.   All absentee ballots must be delivered to the Clerk's office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote (Tuesday, May 19, 2009).
 

SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL

 
This program features a panel of admission professionals who will address specifics of college admission. Be prepared for a provocative discussion.
 
 
Marjorie Torchon, Director of Admissions, Bryn Mawr College
Shawn Felton, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, Cornell University
James Colman, Senior Associate Director, Undergraduate Admissions, Georgetown University
John Latting, Dean of Admissions, Johns Hopkins University
Mabel Freeman, Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions, Ohio State University
James O'Hara, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Rider University
Judith Burke-Berhannan, Director of Admission, SUNY Stony Brook
John Nesbitt, Admission Counselor, Vanderbilt University
 

"Numerous studies show that privileged adolescents are experiencing epidemic rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse -- rates that are higher than those of any other socioeconomic group of young people in this country.  Levine offers thoughtful, practical advice as she explodes one child-rearing myth after another. With empathy and candor, she identifies parenting practices that are toxic to healthy self-development and that have contributed to epidemic levels of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in the most unlikely place -- the affluent family."  Publishers Weekly

Supported by Scarsdale PT Council, Scarsdale Public Schools and Scarsdale High School, SHS PTA, and SHS Compact Committee.

April 16th, 2009

INFORMATION for the PARENTS of 16 YEAR OLD STUDENTS:

The annual Junior Class Blood Drive will take place next Thursday, April 23rd, 2009.
Recent legislation now permits our 16 year old students to become first-time
blood donors. This is the perfect time for our young people to begin what could
become a life-long habit. The generosity of a gift of blood is infinite: there is no
substitute nor alternate  means of procurement.

I urge you to discuss this with your child and encourage him/her in this selfless
act.  Questions should be directed to me at (914)721-2551. Attached please find a
copy of this consent form which could be returned to me in advance (mail, fax to
721-2443 or hand carry) so there's no delay next Thursday.

As this is a Community Event, all are encouraged to donate. Appointments are
optional but photo ID and knowledge of one's social security number are
required.  Please call me with questions.

Thank you on behalf of the Class of 2010.

Karen Steefel

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

April 23, 2009 - Blood Drive - Scarsdale High School
(BLOOD CENTER COPY)

This is to certify that______________________________________
is 16 years old. I give my permission for my son/daughter to participate in the blood drive.

This may include donating blood.

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE:

___________________________________

DATE:___________________

HOME PHONE:____________________________________

PARENT'S CELL PHONE: _______________________

Reminders
· All student donors must show proof of age
· Eat well before your donation
· All donors must present identification with signature or photo.

The Scarsdale High School PTA Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following proposed slate of officers for the Scarsdale High School PTA for the 2009-2010 school year:

    President                                   Julie Hoofnagle
    Vice President                           Beth Zadek
    President-elect                          Nan Berke
    Staff Vice Presidents                 Ernie Collaboletta
                                                       Adam Weisler

   Secretary                                     Lauren Rimland
   Treasurer                                     Geralyn Della Cava
   Scholarship Treasurer                 Irene Drivas
   Communications Secretary          Lauri Carey            

This slate will be presented for election at the High School PTA meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 27th from 11:20am - 1:00pm at the High School in rooms 170-172.  Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at that time.

The members of the Nominating Committee, Kim Meyers (chair), Laura Fratt, Debra Lagapa, Heather Panessa, and Susan Rokito are pleased to present this excellent slate.

On Monday, April 20, 2009, at 8:00 p.m., the Board of Education is conducting a study session with the community on the topic of alternate sources of income for the District. We plan to discuss several possibilities, including a central Foundation, a new gift policy, and tuition students from outside the District. During the evening we will break out into focus groups to study questions related to these items and others.

Please join us. The Board is very interested in the community's ideas and reactions to expanding revenue sources. This is a chance to both make your opinion known and to raise critical questions.

Please note that this is a study session, not a regular Board meeting. There will be a great deal of opportunity for community input.

                                                                                                               Linda Hillman Chayes
                                                                                                               President, Board of Education

          There is no better time than now to honor a graduate, special teacher, Dean or other personnel than by making a donation, in their name, to the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College.  You will be given lovely announcement cards designed for either graduates or teachers to send to your honoree(s).  What better way to celebrate education than by supporting this cause?

Name_______________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
Email__________________________________ Phone_______________________

Please CIRCLE your preference for either teacher or graduate cards:

_______ Packet of 2 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $30 _______
_______ Packet of 4 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $60 _______
_______ Packet of 10 cards & envelopes - teacher or graduate @ $100 _______

_______ Total packets                      $$ enclosed _______

Should you choose to honor a graduate, teacher or Dean with a gift in excess of $15, a letter from the Scholarship Fund will be sent on your behalf directly to the recipient notifying him/her of your donation.  Please clearly state on this form the name of the teacher, Dean or graduate (and indicate which), as well as the address to which the letter should be sent.

*    *    *    *

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol met on March 11, 2009

Click Here to see the March Meeting Notes.

DEADLINE EXTENSION:  The deadline for Volunteer Service Recognition applications has been extended to Monday, April 20th to accommodate those students who may need to get supervisor signatures over the weekend.  Completed applications may be left in the box in Mr. Klemme's office or faxed to the office at 722-2821 by April 20th. 

Click Here for your application, or you may download it from the PTA website at http://www.shspta.org/communityservice.htm.

Any questions - please contact Gail Dobosh, Gldobosh@gmail.com or Sheri Young, Smyoung1160@aol.com.

Reminder...

Parents of Sophomores are invited to attend the third in our series of Principal's Coffees.  Please come for an informal discussion with  Principal, John Klemme on Wednesday, April 15th at 9:30 a.m.  All thoughts, comments, and suggestions are welcome. 

The coffee will be held at the home of Meg Goodman, 12 Cooper Rd.

Please R.S.V.P.  to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

"Numerous studies show that privileged adolescents are experiencing epidemic rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse -- rates that are higher than those of any other socioeconomic group of young people in this country.  Levine offers thoughtful, practical advice as she explodes one child-rearing myth after another. With empathy and candor, she identifies parenting practices that are toxic to healthy self-development and that have contributed to epidemic levels of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in the most unlikely place -- the affluent family."  Publishers Weekly

Supported by Scarsdale PT Council, Scarsdale Public Schools and Scarsdale High School, SHS PTA, and SHS Compact Committee.

REMINDER:  Applications for Volunteer Service Recognition are due on Friday,
April 17th.  Completed applications may be left in the box in Mr. Klemme's office
of faxed to the office at 722-2821.  Click Here for an application or you may download
it from the PTA website at http://www.shspta.org/communityservice.htm.

Parents of Sophomores are invited to attend the third in our series of Principal's Coffees.  Please come for an informal discussion with  Principal, John Klemme on Wednesday, April 15th at 9:30 a.m.  All thoughts, comments, and suggestions are welcome. 

The coffee will be held at the home of Meg Goodman, 12 Cooper Rd.

Please R.S.V.P.  to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

To:    Parents/Guardians of sophomore and junior students
From:    Gwen Johnson, Interdependence Institute Coordinator
                  for the East-West Center Programs
Re:    "Partnership for Youth (P4Y) 2009 - Cambodia: Reporting for Change"
            East-West Center's Student Program

SUMMER OPPORTUNITY FOR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS IN CAMBODIA

The East-West Center is offering a wonderful program for students this summer to immerse themselves in Cambodian culture from June 29 to July 22 with pre-orientation and post debriefing to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The program offers leadership experience, hands-on-learning, and community service opportunities including working on a "Green School" project outside of Siem Reap. It also provides a unique environment and opportunity for personal growth and cross-cultural relationships.

This will be our fourth summer participating in the P4Y student program.  Over the last three summers ten Scarsdale students have been to Thailand and Cambodia and three have returned as interns for a second summer.  Currently there are three P4Y alums at the high school who would be very glad to talk with you about the trip: Matt Salant, Nikita Lalwani, and Monica Rajan.

Namji Steinemann, Director of the EWC's K-12 educational programs, organizes the trip and the itinerary in Cambodia herself.  She would like six or seven Scarsdale students to participate this summer, especially since we are in the process of raising funds here at school to help bring electricity, edible planting and uniform/school supplies to the students through the "Green School" project.  Not only will the students connect with Cambodian students throughout the experience, but they will learn about Cambodia and its dynamic culture, and fast-changing society.

Please contact me as well for further information @ school, 914-721-2562 or @ home, 212-874-4370.  I will be the teacher/resource person for the student and teacher groups in Cambodia and will travel with the students during the entire trip as I have for the past four summers.

Check the EWC's "AsiaPacificEd" website www.asiapacificed.org for further information, and the application and reference forms.  I am going to ask Namji if she would extend the deadline for the application since it is our spring break.  Please call me if you have questions and let me know if your son/daughter is thinking about applying for this opportunity.   If so, please let me know before vacation if possible, so that I have an idea as to how many students might be interested.

Thank you,
Gwen Johnson

The PT Council Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the proposed slate of officers for the PT Council for the 2009-2010 school year, as follows:

This slate will be presented for election at the PT Council community meeting scheduled for April 27th at 7:30pm at the High School.  Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at that time.

The members of PTC Nominating Committee, Joy Brownstein, Michele Murphy, Karen Brew, Valerie Malsch, Lisa Eisenstein, Lauren Mintzer and Julie Hoofnagle (chair) are proud to present such an excellent slate.

Arthur Miller's, "The Crucible"  takes place in a Puritan New England town in Salem, Massachusetts where madness results from accusations of spirits and witchcraft amongst the townspeople.

--
Tashica Clarke, Interim Director
Scarsdale Teen Center
862 Scarsdale Ave.
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 722-8358 (phone)
(914) 722-8357 (fax)
Visit our website @ www.ScarsdaleTeenCenter.com

If you missed the PTA meeting on March 18th and would like to view the presentation by The New York Times columnist, Nicholas Kristof <http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/>, the cable schedule is listed below.

For Scarsdale:  Channel 77 on Friday, March 20: 6:00 p.m., 7:30p.m., 9:00p.m. and 10:30p.m.

For Mamaroneck: Cablevision Channel 77 and Verizon Channel 34 on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 at 4:00p.m.

Applications for Volunteer Service Recognition are now available. 

Click Here for an application or you may download it from the PTA website at
http://www.shspta.org/communityservice.   Applications will also be available
in the Dean's office. 
 
Please note that students who volunteer a minimum of 20 hours during the course of the
school year will be honored at this year's Volunteer Service Recognition Assembly on
Monday, May 11th at 7:30 pm.

Additional eligibility criteria for the Volunteer Service certificates are as follows:

    * The student has completed at least  20 hours of volunteer service to one job at school or one community  service organization/service club during the current school year. This  should be 20 hours of service to one job or organization, not 5 hours at 4  places.

    * The service can be performed on  school days, on weekends, or during school holiday breaks; service during the  summer months is not eligible.

    * The volunteer work is  non-religious in nature.  For example, helping with religious instruction  is not eligible for this recognition, but working at a church soup kitchen or  for a temple-based social program is eligible.

    * The volunteer work is not done as  part of another recognition program.

    * Additional recognition will be  given to students who volunteer more than 40 hours or more than 70 hours with  one organization.

Completed applications may be left in the box in Mr. Klemme's office or faxed to 722-2821 up until Friday, April 17th.  For questions or additional information, please contact Gail Dobosh, Gldobosh@gmail.com, 472-8938 or Sheri Young, Smyoung1160@aol.com, 472-4904.

Ticket Prices:
Advance Tickets: $12-students and seniors
                                $15-general admission
At-the-door: $15-students and seniors
                        $18-general admission

Tickets are on sale now!!
For tickets: Contact caclark77@yahoo.com
                                      -or-
                    www.harlemwizards.com/schedules
                                      -or-
                    Call (914) 722-2880 to reserve a ticket

Arthur Miller's, "The Crucible"  takes place in a Puritan New England town in Salem, Massachusetts where madness results from accusations of spirits and witchcraft amongst the townspeople.

The College and Career Center now has a great deal of information on the 'Gap Year'.

Please feel free to stop by and do some research.

For more information contact:
Tashica Clarke, Interim Director
Scarsdale Teen Center
862 Scarsdale Ave.
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 722-8358 (phone)
(914) 722-8357 (fax)
www.scarsdaleteencenter.com

Please join the Board of Education on Monday evening, March 16th, at  7PM before their regularly scheduled meeting.  Each year the Board dedicates time for each school to answer parents' questions and hear any comments or concerns.  A representative from the Board will also give a presentation explaining this year's budget proposal.

We look forward to your participation and input.

    Twice a week, millions of readers of The New York Times turn to Nicholas Kristof's column for firsthand insights into breaking news from around the world. His travels as a reporter have taken him to 140 countries, including multiple visits to hot spots such as Darfur, Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Kristof uses his column to illuminate issues of poverty, global health, and human rights violations. He believes in doing more than writing about the abuses he uncovers, personally intervening to buy the freedom of two enslaved women in Cambodia. In the course of his travels he has survived wars, plane crashes, malaria, and in Indonesia, a mob carrying human heads on pikes.

    Join us for a truly memorable evening and hear firsthand about Kristof's current work and how we as individuals and families can establish our own "do-it-yourself" foreign policy in order to make a positive impact in the world.

We are planning the Transition Lunch for seniors that takes place at the school on Senior Transition Day-      Monday, June 1. 

We need parent volunteers to coordinate the following:

Photos from each elementary school/middle school
Invitations
Signs/Banners
Food
Bakers
Trivia info
Set up/Clean up

An informational meeting will take place shortly.
If you are interested in helping out, please contact me at:
 tinaadler15@aol.com

You know the story, you know the music and now you will have a chance to see BEAUTY AND THE BEAST performed by our own 8th grade SMS Players.

Reserved seats are $10 and are on sale from Thursday, March 5-Friday March 13  during the lunch periods in the Great Hall.   Any remaining tickets will be sold the nights of the show.

Buy a B & B chocolate bar and you may win 2 free tickets to the night of your choice.  Don't forget to tell your friends and family.

Support BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.  Buy a light-up rose and bring it to the performance  or buy one the night of the show.   The cost for a long-stemmed red rose is $5.00 and the money will be donated to a charity.

The cast and the directors thank you.

Calling all Graduates

Remember how much you loved going to the elementary school fair? Now you have an opportunity to help run the fair. Once again, we are opening the volunteer opportunities to Middle School and High School students who are graduates. Help make popcorn or cotton candy, sell tickets, or work at the prize table. Come with an old buddy and work a booth together. See old friends and maybe a few teachers too. This is an opportunity to give back to your elementary school. Plus working the fair is fun.

If you need time for community service, we will give you a letter as needed. 

The Fair is Saturday, May 9th from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.  

If you are interested, please email the fair contact for your school below.
Thank You.

Edgewood - Maria Varrichio, mariavarrichio@yahoo.com or 722-6535

Fox Meadow - Loryn Kass, lckass@optonline.net or Mara Felder, marafelder@gmail.com

Green Acres - Heidi Andersen, sunnybeach@mindspring.com

Heathcote - Dayna Novenstein, dnovenstein@gmail.com

Quaker Ridge - Beth Nabi, bethnabi@optonline.net

PROM INFORMATION

To Parents/Guardians: 

Please be informed that checks to purchase prom tickets must be made
payable to "Scarsdale High School." Those who have already submitted a
check made out to "Scarsdale Union Free School District" will be
contacted individually to reissue a check if the bank determines that it
cannot be accepted. 

Also, it has come to our attention that many parents/guardians are
unfamiliar with the tentative itinerary for the senior prom.  Please be
aware that we will begin with a pre-prom event at the High School (time
TBA) where families are welcome to come for pictures.  Each student will
then board a coach bus to travel to Gotham Hall for the prom. 

There have also been many discussions in regard to the procedures
following the end of the prom. There will be transportation provided to
return to the high school via coach bus upon conclusion of the event. If
a student plans to leave the prom using alternative means, he/she will
need a consent form signed by the parents/guardians.  Without a consent
form, the students must return to school on the coach bus.  Principal
Klemme will be sending out a letter to all parents in regard to this
matter. 

Another important question that has come up is in regard to purchasing
tickets for a prom date.  We feel that each member of the senior class
should purchase individual tickets.  If a student wishes to bring
someone outside of the senior class, they both should discuss the
purchase of the ticket together.   

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at
sazor@scarsdaleschools.org or nroemer@scarsdaleschools.org.

Sincerely,

Serge Azor
Nicole Roemer
Senior Class Advisors

The Class of 2009 Government presents:

The Harlem Wizards vs. The Scarsdale All-Stars
When: Friday March 20th, 2009 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: Scarsdale High School Gyms

Ticket Prices:
Advance Tickets: $12-students and seniors
                           $15-general admission
At-the-door: $15-students and seniors
                    $18-general admission

Tickets are on sale now!!
For tickets:Contact caclark77@yahoo.com
                                      -or-
                    www.harlemwizards.com/schedules
                                      -or-
                    Call (914) 722-2880 to reserve a ticket

Click Here to read John Klemme's latest communication to parents.

Join us for Scarsdale High School's

GAP YEAR FAIR
for juniors, seniors and their parents

GAP YEAR: A post-high school opportunity for self-exploration and
personal growth, leading to clearer direction and motivation for
college studies and for your life.  May include travel, cultural
immersion, directed study, service or conservation projects,
internship opportunities and more.
GAP YEAR:  THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
AUDITORIUM
Scarsdale High School, Brewster Road Entrance

Program begins promptly at 7:30 P.M. in the Auditorium with keynote speaker:
Holly Bull, President, Center for Interim Programs.

The Gap Year Fair, featuring a wide array of domestic and international programs, will be held in the cafeteria following the keynote address.

The Board of Education invites High School parents for a
Community Meeting and Budget Discussion

Monday, March 16th at 7 PM
HS Rooms 170-172

Please join the Board of Education on Monday evening, March 16th, at  7PM before their regularly scheduled meeting.  Each year the Board dedicates time for each school to answer parents' questions and hear any comments or concerns.  A representative from the Board will also give a presentation explaining this year's budget proposal.

We look forward to your participation and input.

    Twice a week, millions of readers of The New York Times turn to Nicholas Kristof's column for firsthand insights into breaking news from around the world. His travels as a reporter have taken him to 140 countries, including multiple visits to hot spots such as Darfur, Iraq, Iran and North Korea. Kristof uses his column to illuminate issues of poverty, global health, and human rights violations. He believes in doing more than writing about the abuses he uncovers, personally intervening to buy the freedom of two enslaved women in Cambodia. In the course of his travels he has survived wars, plane crashes, malaria, and in Indonesia, a mob carrying human heads on pikes.

    Join us for a truly memorable evening and hear firsthand about Kristof's current work and how we as individuals and families can establish our own "do-it-yourself" foreign policy in order to make a positive impact in the world.

Missy Lapine, the nationally known, NY Times best-selling author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals and The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (in the Kitchen!) will be appearing at Heathcote on Wednesday, March 11 at 7pm.

The evening will include a 45 minute demonstration, a Q&A session and a sampling of baked items made from both published recipes and a preview of some brand-new, never-before published recipes.   Ms. Lapine will also be available to sign her books, which will be for sale at the event.  All proceeds from the event will go to support KidsCafe, a program of the Food Bank of Westchester, to which Ms. Lapine is an advisor.

Ms. Lapine is donating her evening to share her secrets, stories and tips to help improve the diets of our loved ones as part of Heathcote Compact Committee's "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds" initiative.

This event was rescheduled from the original date in January, which was canceled due to snow.

Please go to www.ptaheathcote.org/missylapinersvp.htm <http://www.ptaheathcote.org/missylapinersvp.htm>
to RSVP - seating is limited.

WELCOME BACK!

As your children head back to school from Winter Break, we wanted to direct your attention to the growing presence of Friends of Music and the Arts in the Scarsdale Schools, which your children are undoubtedly benefiting from. Our success is a direct result of increased membership support, and we thank you if you've been a part of this.

If you have not yet joined our organization this academic year, please understand how important your support is in this challenging economy.
We urge you to join today!

In addition to our yearly school gift program, which enables all K-12 graders to benefit from donations to their arts and music programs, FMA also offers donations to school clubs, allowing them to offer even more enrichment, and provides awards and certificates to students whose achievements in music and the arts have been recognized. This academic year, FMA has provided promotional support and manpower to the Middle School's incredible, multi-disciplinary hyperbolic reef project. We are also launching our first annual Scarsdale Young Writers Review, a book of elementary school student creative writing, in conjunction with the Young Writers Workshop. You will also soon see a Friends of Music and the Arts website that will provide the entire community with information about what's going on in the arts and what scholarships, grants, awards and contests are available to students each year.
 
A sampling of FMA's contributions this year include: $800.00 for a machine that converts photographic slides into digital files for the high school art department; $500.00 for Fox Meadow's Annual Art Show, enabling them to have a permanent show banner and display materials; $500.00 for a special Gathering Drum with mallets for Edgewood; $350.00 for the newly launched National Art Honor Society at Scarsdale High School. Of course, there's much, much more too.
 
FMA provides information to the community at large regarding music and art events and new programs at the schools, we advocate for the arts in the district and we keep an open dialogue with the arts and music faculty and administrators system-wide.  We also provide the delicious treats at concerts.
 
PLEASE JOIN THE "FRIENDS"
This year, we are striving to achieve 100% membership among Scarsdale families. Membership is just $25 and we welcome your support at this or at any of the participation levels. Click Here to access the membership form.  With your help, we can raise many thousands of dollars for each school in the district.

And, that's not all. We need your voice, your talents, and your participation.
Please get involved! We nurture the music and fine arts programs by maintaining an
ongoing dialogue with the school arts faculty and administration. We continually advocate for the support of the district's arts programs at our community school board and budget meetings. We help promote district music and arts activities. We introduce special music and fine arts initiatives to the district. And, much more. Just indicate the best way to reach you, and we'll be in touch.

Thank you.
 
Warmly,
 
Margo                                                        Ann
Margo Kornfeld, 725-1042                         Ann Fraser, 715-9875
Co-President                                              Co-President

Scarsdale Adult School 2009 Spring Term
Registration is now open!
-Courses, lectures and trips run through March, April and May.

A wide array of interesting and timely courses are being offered.  These include:

How Much is My House Worth?  Essential Elements of Pricing
-A panel of real estate professionals including local experts Mark Nadler and Linda Haber (moderator) discuss the components you need to know in the current marketplace.                                                                               Thursday, 3/19 7:30-9pm at Scarsdale High School, Cost: $35
 
The Shrinking Economy
-Led by Louis Uchitelle, senior economics writer for the New York Times. Find out how the current economic crisis happened and how it compares to The Great Depression.
Thursday 3/11 7-8:80pm at the Scarsdale Library, Cost: $35
 
Family Ties: Heartache and Humor in Personal Memoirs
-Taught by Lori Rotskoff, cultural historian and author, this interactive discussion group will explore recent memoirs.
Five Wednesdays, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15, 4/29 and 5/13, 10-11:30am, Scarsdale Library (Jaffin Room), Cost: $125

Philadelphia Flower Show: "Bella Italia"
-Take a trip to see breathtaking floral and landscape designs, learn about floral design, watch master chefs at work and eat lunch in Philly's Little Italy.
Monday, 3/2.  Departs 8:30am from Scarsdale Swimming Pool parking lot and returns approximately 8pm, Cost: $140 for transportation. admission, lunch, gratuities

Additional classes and registration forms can be found on the SAS website, Click Here.

Join us for Scarsdale High School's

GAP YEAR FAIR
for juniors, seniors and their parents

GAP YEAR: A post-high school opportunity for self-exploration and
personal growth, leading to clearer direction and motivation for
college studies and for your life.  May include travel, cultural
immersion, directed study, service or conservation projects,
internship opportunities and more.
GAP YEAR:  THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009
7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
AUDITORIUM
Scarsdale High School, Brewster Road Entrance

Program begins promptly at 7:30 P.M. in the Auditorium with keynote speaker:
Holly Bull, President, Center for Interim Programs.

The Gap Year Fair, featuring a wide array of domestic and international programs, will be held in the cafeteria following the keynote address.

The Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence is a committee made of teachers, members of the community, and other professionals who share the common goal of raising awareness and providing education about unhealthy or abusive relationships. The Coalition on Family Violence works with SHS on an annual program for 9th graders. On Monday, March 2nd all 9th graders will be on an in-school field trip 1st Period to see a short dramatization (performed by the SHS Drama Club) that focuses on warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Later that day, English/Social Studies teachers, Youth Outreach Workers, your child's Dean, and Civ-Ed advisors will conduct discussion forums based on the scenario as well as general information on the topic. Hopefully parents will also use this program as a way to discuss this important issue at home.
 
If you have questions, please call Lauren Pomerantz at 721-2468.

GOLD CARDS are now available to all qualified athletes wishing to try-out/practice for Varsity or J.V. Spring sports teams, including the position of "Manager".  Interviews can be done during one of your child's free periods, except 5th period.  Blank forms are available (24/7) outside my office and Physician's Sports Physical forms are also available on the SHS Athletics Website along with detailed information on this process.

THE LONGER YOUR CHILD WAITS TO GET A GOLD CARD, THE LONGER THE WAIT TO SEE ME FOR AN INTERVIEW!!

If you are not sure that there is a valid "Sports" Physical on file in the Health Office, please send your child to inquire or call 721-2550.  Only my office can make this determination. (Coaches may misdirect a student to obtain a copy from his/her pediatrician.  This unnecessarily taxes already over-burdened office staffs and may delay students who really do need new Physicals from getting theirs in a timely manner).

School Physicians will be available on three dates to do Sports Physicals.  The first visit will be 5th Period on March 4th.   If you wish your child to get a physical at school, please send him/her in advance to my office during a free period  (not 5th), to make an appointment.

FRESHMAN team players can get their GOLD CARDS starting March 9th, but are advised to wait until March 12th for their interviews.  Advance inquiries can be made at any time.

SOPHOMORES who have yet to respond to requests to fulfill their Vision and Hearing requirement for this year may be delayed in obtaining their Gold Cards.  To avoid this delay, please send your child to my office this week (not between 11am and 1 pm).

Student's whose schedules don't permit sufficient free periods, can come before and on most afternoons, after school for an interview and/or Vision and Hearing screening.

Thank you,

Karen Steefel

CHILD (Children Having Individual Learning Differences) Presents:

The WHY and HOW of
ADHD and Executive Function

Have you ever wondered why organization, foresight, inhibition and brakeless behaviors are so hard to manage - especially for someone with Attention Deficit Disorder?

Dr. Martin L. Kutscher, M.D., pediatric behavioral neurologist, will be sharing his insight on understanding and managing behavioral challenges and ADHD, empathically summarizing the four non-medical rules of ADHD treatment:
                                             (1) keep it positive
                                             (2) keep it calm
                                             (3) keep it organized and
                                             (4) keep doing (1) to (3)

Dr. Kutscher has more than 20 years of experience diagnosing and treating families affected by ADHD, autistic spectrum, LD, tics, and other neurobehavioral disorders. The doctor has lectured internationally on the topics, and has published five books including: Organizing the Disorganized Child (with Marcella Moran; in press); ADHD: Living without Brakes, Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, LD, Asperger's, Tourette's, Bipolar and More:  The one stop guide for parents, teachers, and other professionals and The ADHD BOOK: Living Right Now! His website is www.KidsBehavioralNeurology.co
                                                                                            Tuesday, March 10th
                                                                                            7:30 pm

                                                                                            Fox Meadow School
                                                                                            2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Dear Members and Friends of Scarsdale CHILD:
 
Please visit our new website http://www.scarsdalechild.org/. Click on the "Join Our Mailing List" button to join the mailing list.
 
You can specify your areas of interest and age groups so that you receive the information from us that is tailored to you.  We will no longer be using the existing list.  If you want to get emails from CHILD covering all that is happening in special needs and education in Scarsdale and beyond,  you must go to our website and click to join.
 
On this new website www.scarsdalechild.org you will have access to the CHILD community calendar, listing not only CHILD meetings, but all the events in Special Education that CHILD has information on, including training, conferences, advocacy bulletins, and lecture series.
 
Please note our new email address: scarsdalechild@gmail.com
 
Finally, as a new feature, the website has a separate section called "In the News" to post links of media coverage relating to Special Needs.  It will be a place for TV clips and print articles that cover medical findings, ongoing treatment debates, legislation and regulation updates, and of course "human interest" stories.  Again, if you have any of these items to share, please forward them to scarsdalechild@gmail.com .
 
 --Miriam Beveridge
 Chair of Scarsdale CHILD

This is a brief note to update you on the progress of school calendar discussions for the academic year 2009-10.
 
The calendar is established each year through discussions between the School District and its collective bargaining units.  We are currently trying to see if it is possible to schedule a two-week break in December 2009 in order to conserve energy and save money.  Discussions so far have been productive, but the process is taking a little longer than usual.  We anticipate a resolution in the near future and will be in touch with parents and staff as soon as possible after the Board of Education acts on a proposal.
 
I appreciate the forbearance of both community members and staff as we try
to take an approach that will be both educationally and financially productive for all.

MAROON AND WHITE
SCARSDALE PARENTS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 124, SCARSDALE, N.Y.
www.maroonandwhite.org

ATHLETES: NO CHARGE
PARENTS: $30 PER PERSON, MEMBER
PARENTS:  $35 PER PERSON, NON-MEMBER

PLEASE RETURN THE RSVP AND YOUR CHECK BY FEBRUARY 20TH
NO PAYMENTS ACCEPTED AT DOOR
QUESTIONS?  CONTACT IRENE DRIVAS: Idrivas@AOL.COM

SOS4EDUCATION:
Community Service Trip to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Help in Gulf Coast Reconstruction

Kids who have gone in the trip have called it "Unbelievable," "Worth it in so many ways," and "a rewarding, life changing experience."

" The work rebuilding the gulf coast is not done. Together, we may be able to rebuild the homes, and the lives, of those who have still yet to recover from Hurricane Katrina. This 5 day trip will be an incredible experience for those involved, and I would hope your son or daughter does not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Why Bay St. Louis?
August 29, 2006, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Katrina. The New York Times, CNN, and the US Government reported Bay St. Louis, MS, as the hardest hit city by Hurricane Katrina, both physically and economically.

What do we do?
Similar to Habitat for Humanity, the students help rebuild the homes of local residents who are now spending their 4th year in FEMA trailers. Students have a chance to interact with students and residents of the BSL community, share their experiences and understand their situation.

When is the trip?
June 15th-20th. This trip will NOT interfere with your son's or daughter's senior options; the trip will only cut his/her program shorter by one week and will take place the last week of Senior Options. They will give their Senior Option presentation, including the trip, at the appropriate time before graduation.

Where do we stay?
We stay at the Lagniappe Presbyterian Church. The church, after being knocked out by the storm, was rebuilt into a volunteer shelter, to house those coming from across the globe to work in the local area. They provide bunk-bed type housing as well as one meal for $22 a night per person. We have stayed with the Lagniappe Church each of the three previous years of our trip. The accommodations are clean and well-kept and it is an opportunity to meet other volunteers from around the country and around the world who are helping rebuild Bay St. Louis.

The Church is located at 647 Demontluzin Street in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi and can be contacted at: (228) HOPE-887 (467-3887)

How do we pay for the trip? What will the trip cost?
Last year our fundraisers were able to defray the cost of each participant. Ultimately, the total cost for the trip was $175 per person. This year, we have two main fundraising events to coincide with the annual Harlem Wizards game at the High School, a silent auction and sale of ice cream. We hope to match the same fundraising goals but we must also be realistic in today's economy and hope to keep it to approximately $250 per person. In addition to the game, we have several other fundraising ideas in the works already. We are always open to suggestions from the parents for other venues and ideas to fundraise.

This year, we already have 6+ teachers willing to be chaperones and 11 kids committed to coming on the trip.

Contact:
President/Founder, Russell Spivak: (914) 393-8918, Russell.Spivak@gmail.com
Club Advisor: James Borgia: jborgia@scarsdaleschools.org

Click Here to read about the safety issue addressed by John Klemme

The Teen Center Presents
The Annual Art Show
Saturday, February 28th
12:00pm - 7:00pm

Calling All Artists
We Are Accepting All Forms of Art
Bring your submissions to the Teen Center
862 Scarsdale Ave - Basement
Submission Deadline: February 25th

For more information contact:
Tashica Clarke
Interim DirectorScarsdale Teen Center
862 Scarsdale Ave.
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 722-8358 (phone)
(914) 722-8357 (fax)
www.scarsdaleteencenter.com

PT Council Seeks Candidates for the 2009-10 Slate of Officers

The PT Council Nominating Committee will be meeting to propose the slate of officers for
PT Council for 2009-10, consisting of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
If you would like to suggest an individual for nomination, please contact any of the following members of the Nominating Committee as soon as possible.  Thank you.

PT Council Nominating Committee 2009-10
Julie Hoofnagle  High School       698-0394        julienh@optonline.net

Joy Brownstein   Middle School   725-8388        jbrownstein@ccapr.com

Karen Brew           Edgewood        723-5723      kbrew1989@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Lauren Mintzer    Heathcote         723-9197       lbmtexas@optonline.net

Michele Murphy  Fox Meadow     723-1306        michele.murphy12@verizon.net

Valerie Malsch     Greenacres        472-7452       vjmalsch@yahoo.com

Lisa Eisenstein     Quaker Ridge   834-1288        lisa.eisenstein@gmail.com      

Periodically the High School will send out Departmental Updates.  You will receive these updates via the email system.  They can also be found on the SHS PTA website,  www.shspta.org,  "Department Columns"

Please Click Here to see the latest update on Advanced Topic Music Theory.

SENIOR OPTIONS PARENT MEETING

Reminder....There will be a Senior Options Orientation Meeting for Parents on Monday, 2/2 at 7:45PM                     in the Little Theater.

Feel free to contact Ann Liptak with any questions or concerns. aliptak@scarsdaleschools.org  or  721-2324

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
invites you to  our annual Parent Coffees

            Parents of 10th graders are invited to attend a conversational coffee sponsored by the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol. These conversations will be facilitated by the Scarsdale High School Youth Outreach Workers. This format is a great opportunity to learn about the adolescent social scene and alcohol and illicit substance abuse and how it affects our children.  Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts, ideas and experiences.  The Youth Outreach Workers will offer drug and alcohol prevention strategies, and advice on helping parents remain connected with their children.
Space is limited, so please respond promptly. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

2009 Parent Coffee Dates
Tuesday, February 3  9:00 -10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 4  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 10  7:30 -8:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 12  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
 
To sign up, please contact Diane Levy at:  Dile100@aol.com
Please include the following:
--Your name
--Two choices of preferred dates/times
--Your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade(s)
--Your e-mail address and phone number
--Your assigned date and location will be confirmed by e-mail.
 
Join us to share ideas on how to keep our kids safe, healthy and on the right track.
 
The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
www.ScarsdaleTaskForce.com
 
Ann Sacher, Tina Adler Co-Chairs
Jill Serling, Melissa Hellman, Robin Gottlieb and Kathy Cutlip

SBNC SEEKS CANDIDATES
Click Here to connect to the SBNC Website.  

The School Board Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for nomination to the Scarsdale Board of Education. This year the SBNC will nominate two candidates to the board to fill the seats of Marc Carter who will be completing his second term and David Yaspan who will be completing his first term and is eligible for re-nomination.

The SBNC invites all residents to propose candidates for the school board. Candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a qualified voter in the Scarsdale school district for at least one year prior to May 19, 2009, the date of the school board elections.

Candidates should complete a biographical information form, Click Here to download the form,  and submit it to the SBNC Chairman as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00 PM on March 3. Forms are available at Scarsdale Village Hall, the Scarsdale Library and the main offices of the seven schools.

For more information about the school board nominating process, please contact the SBNC chairman, Andy Simon (472 2620 or email asimon@imshealth.com).

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol met on January 13, 2009 Click Here.
to see the January Meeting Notes.

Principal's Coffees

Parents of Juniors are invited to attend the second in our series of Principal's Coffees.  Please come for an informal discussion with  Principal, John Klemme on Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m.  This will be an opportunity to talk about juniors and stress, but all thoughts, comments, and suggestions are welcome. 

The coffee will be held at the home of Beth Ehrich, 11 Cooper Road.

Please R.S.V.P.  to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

The Social Studies Department is pleased to be offering a day of special events to celebrate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to be held next Tuesday, January 20th, at the High School.  The events of the day are as follows:
 
1.     Starting at approximately 10:10 a.m., there will be 31 teach-in sessions that focus on the specific work of Dr. King, as well as other materials related to the Civil Rights movement.  
Click Here a list of teach-in sessions.
 
2.     At approximately 11:15 a.m., students will be ushered to two separate locations (freshmen/sophomores to the large gymnasium and juniors/seniors to the auditorium) where students will watch a segment of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech and then the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President.
 
3.     At approximately 1:00 p.m., lunch will be provided to the entire student body and staff.  Students should NOT bring lunch to school that day, unless they have special dietary restrictions.  Everyone will be offered a choice of sandwich (chicken, tuna salad or vegetable), an apple, a cookie and water.
 
Four periods of classes surrounding these special events will be held. 

                                                                          Tuesday, January 27
                                                                          7:30 pm
 
                                                                         Fox Meadow School
                                                                         2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Late last Friday a Diabetes testing kit was brought to my office having been found in the Commons area. A PA announcement was made 6th period but it was not claimed.

If your child is supposed to be carrying one, please check that he/she has it on his/her person. If not, it can be collected from my office.

Thanks,
Karen

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
invites you to  our annual Parent Coffees

            Parents of 10th graders are invited to attend a conversational coffee sponsored by the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol. These conversations will be facilitated by the Scarsdale High School Youth Outreach Workers. This format is a great opportunity to learn about the adolescent social scene and alcohol and illicit substance abuse and how it affects our children.  Parents will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts, ideas and experiences.  The Youth Outreach Workers will offer drug and alcohol prevention strategies, and advice on helping parents remain connected with their children.
Space is limited, so please respond promptly. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend.

 
2009 Parent Coffee Dates
Tuesday, February 3  9:00 -10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 4  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, February 10  7:30 -8:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 12  9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
 

To sign up, please contact Diane Levy at:  Dile100@aol.com
Please include the following:
--Your name
--Two choices of preferred dates/times
--Your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade(s)
--Your e-mail address and phone number
--Your assigned date and location will be confirmed by e-mail.
 
Join us to share ideas on how to keep our kids safe, healthy and on the right track.
 
The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
www.ScarsdaleTaskForce.com
 
Ann Sacher, Tina Adler Co-Chairs
Jill Serling, Melissa Hellman, Robin Gottlieb and Kathy Cutlip

Missy Lapine, the nationally known, NY Times best-selling author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals and <http://www.thesneakychef.com/book2_the_sneaky_chef.php>  The Sneaky Chef: How to Cheat on Your Man (in the Kitchen!) will be appearing at Heathcoteat 7pm on Wednesday, January 28.  Ms. Lapine, a local mom, is donating her evening to share her secrets, stories and tips to help improve the diets of our loved ones as part of Heathcote Compact Committee's "Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds" initiative. 

The evening will include a 45 minute demonstration and Q&A session.  There will also be a bake sale of items made from both published recipes and also from some of Ms. Lapine's brand-new, never-before published recipes.   Ms. Lapine will also be available to sign her books, which will be for sale at the event.  All proceeds from the event will go to support KidsCafe, a program of the Food Bank of Westchester, to which Ms. Lapine is an advisor.  We ask that all attendees bring a can of food to donate to the Food Bank of Westchester; these will be collected at the door.

Seating is limited.  Please go to www.ptaheathcote.org/missylapinersvp.htm <http://www.ptaheathcote.org/missylapinersvp.htm>  to RSVP.

Community Service Opportunities List

Please refer your students to the SHS PTA website for a list of community service opportunities.  Contact names and phone numbers have been updated.  Hard copies of this list as well as a list of service oriented student clubs have been distributed throughout the high school.  Students can find them in the main office, the Principal's office, the Dean's offices, the library circulation desk, and outside of Neil Ginsberg's office.

SHS PTA Volunteer Services Committee

The Scarsdale High School Drama Club

presents their annual student directed play

The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket

Friday    Jan. 16th at 7:30 pm

Saturday Jan. 17th at 7:30 pm

Scarsdale High School Auditorium ,(Brewster Rd. entrance)

Admission is $10 for students/seniors and $15 for adults

a brief synoposis is below:

In the beginning of the show the characters are 12 years old. One of the students, Daniel Rocket, is convinced that he can fly. Most of his classmates tease him endlessly. The only person who tries to understand him is Daniel's only friend, Richard. However Daniel really longs for the affection of Richard's girlfriend, Alice. He longs to prove to Alice that he in fact can fly. At the end of the first act the audience sees that Daniel can in fact fly. The second act takes place 30 years later. Daniel is an international superstar, and his former classmates live in the same town, and their kids go to the same school. After 30 years Daniel comes back to his old town, but finds his gift of flight vanishing. At the end of the show, Daniel suffers a fatal crash.

 Parents of Juniors are invited to attend the second in our series of Principal's Coffees.  Please come for an informal discussion with  Principal, John Klemme on Wednesday, January 21st at 7:00 p.m.  This will be an opportunity to talk about juniors and stress, but all thoughts, comments, and suggestions are welcome.  

The coffee will be held at the home of Beth Ehrich, 11 Cooper Road.

Please R.S.V.P.  to:

esgruber@earthlink.net.

JUNIOR PARENTS COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT

Thursday, January 15, 2009

7:30 PM

High School Auditorium

An informative introduction to the college planning and admission process for the parents of juniors. There will be a general session in the auditorium followed by a group meeting with your child's dean

Joint SHS PTA Meeting/PT Council Meeting/SBNC Vote

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - 7:15 p.m.

at the Middle School

Please mark your calendars for the next High School PTA meeting scheduled prior to a program featuring thoughts from our new Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Lynne Shain, with a panel discussion on How Scarsdale Teaches Kids to Write, featuring:

Jim Sullivan (K-5 LA Helping Teacher)

David Wixted (English Dept. Head - MS)

Chris Renino (English Dept. Head - HS)

The program is sponsored by the PT Council.

Join us for the business portion of the meeting which begins at 7:15 PM at the Middle School in room T-8.  We will be voting on the following proposed slate for the PTA Executive Board Nominating Committee:

Susan Rokito

Laura Fratt

Debra Lagapa

Heather Panessa

Kim Meyers

***Elections for School Board Nominating Committee will be held.  Support your area nominees and VOTE!***

2009 Election for School Board Nominating Committee

Sixteen residents are running for election to the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee, and two from each elementary school district will be elected. This is your opportunity to participate in the process of determining nominees for  the Scarsdale Board of Education.

SBNC elections are scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2009, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. and from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m.at the Scarsdale Middle School, 134 Mamaroneck Road. 

At the election, you will have the opportunity to choose two candidates from your district.  Check theJanuary 9th issue of the Scarsdale Inquirer for background details of the following candidates, listed by district in alphabetical order:

 Edgewood                  Fox Meadow                 Greenacres

Jyoti Ruta                  Junaid Chida                Sean "Jack" Buckley

Mark Tullman             Lisa Haber                   Joshua Glantz

Patricia Zucker           Alice Herman               David Henkoff

Heathcote                  Quaker Ridge   

George Hahn              Tara Casey-Irwin

Jay Musoff                  David Lawless

Lisa Rodman              Marie Venezia

Nina Ross

If the schools are closed on January 14 due to inclement weather, the election will be held the day the schools reopen.

Absentee ballot applications are available on the SBNC website http://scarsdalesbnc.blogspot.com.  Completed absentee ballots must be received in the SBNC mailbox (SBNC Administrative Committee, P.O. Box H172, Scarsdale, NY  10583) by Tuesday, January 13.

In the event of a tie vote, a run-off election will be held on Wednesday, January 21, at the Scarsdale Middle School.

Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College
Applications for a one-year grant from the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College are now available.  The application form and the dean's evaluation form may be downloaded from the Scarsdale High School PTA website, www.shspta.org - Click Here, or may be obtained from the Dean's offices at the high school.  Completed applications must be submitted by May 8, 2009. For additional information regarding the Scholarship Fund, please visit the PTA website or contact Susie Rush, srush76@gmail.com.

Joint PT Council/PTA Meeting on Wednesday, January 14th/SBNC Vote

Please mark your calendars for the next High School PTA meeting scheduled prior to a program featuring thoughts from our new Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Lynne Shain.
The program is sponsored by the PT Council.

Join us for the business portion of the meeting which begins at 7:15 PM at the Middle School. We will be voting on the following proposed slate for the PTA Executive Board Nominating Committee:

Susan Rokito
Laura Fratt
Debra Lagapa
Heather Panessa
Kim Meyers

Elections for School Board Nominating Committee will be held.  Support your area nominees and VOTE!

Scarsdale School Health Services

Body Mass Index Notification Letter for 2008-2009 School Year

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her
height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student's body mass index or 'BMI'.  The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student's weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low.  Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student's school health examination.

The Scarsdale School District has been selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health.  We will be reporting to New York State Department of Health information about our students' weight status groups.  Only summary information is sent.  No names and no information about individual students are sent.  However, you may choose to have your child's information excluded from this survey report.  The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child's weight status group information included as part of the Health Department's survey this year, please print and sign your name below and return this form by December 18, 2008 to the school nurse.

Scarsdale High School Health Office
1057 Post Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Please do not include my child's weight status information in the 2008-2009 School Survey.

______________________________            ____________________________
Print Child's Name                                                         Date  


_______________________________            _____________________________
Print Parent's Name                                                          Parent's Signature

WANTED:
CROCHETERS FOR SCARSDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL'S
HYPERBOLIC REEF PROJECT.

Scarsdale Middle School needs crocheters of any age who can contribute their skills and about an hour's time to help create a permanent, interdisciplinary project called "Saving the Coral Reef: A Hands-On Approach to Eco-Activism." The school will supply the patterns and yarn. The Crochet Club meets Fridays after school but crocheters can work on their creations any time, anywhere. The finished reef will be installed at the end of April and will be a permanent display. It will also be an interactive experience as students can listen to music and information at the site through their i-pods. As supervisors of the project, Mary Jane Modell, Sharon Roscoe, and Maureen Ball explain it, this unique creation utilizes hyperbolic crochet techniques, incorporating non-Euclidean geometry with environmental science and aesthetics. Very cool.

Please help the Scarsdale Schools and be part of a groundbreaking project:
 
Interested parties please contact:
Ann Fraser, co-President,
Friends of Music and the Arts in the Scarsdale Schools
715 9875
afraser_2000@yahoo.com

To all 9th grade parents:

If anyone is interested in participating in an EVENING 9th grade Parent Support Group please contact Emily Vallario 721-2642  erllinden@aol.com.  This group will be held at the offices of Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service

FYI - THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED.


CHILD Presents:

Managing through the Holidays
A Group Discussion
with Allyson Aborn, LCSW
 
                                           The discussion will include strategies to deal with:
                                               ·        Changes in routine for your children
                                               ·        Over stimulation and down time
                                               ·        Holiday expectations
                                               ·        Seeing extended Family
                                               ·         Setting priorities for your holiday demands on yourself and others

Tuesday, December 9
7:30 pm
Fox Meadow School
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Periodically the High School will send out Departmental Updates.  You will receive these updates via the email system.  They can also be found on the SHS PTA website,  www.shspta.org,  "Department Columns"

Please Click Here to see the latest update on Science Clubs at SHS.

Earthlinks
 
Sponsored by Scarsdale Schools Interdependence Institute
Speaker:  Anisa Mehda
Topic:  Teaching About Islam in Public Schools in an Era of Change
Where:  SHS, Room 170
When:  Wednesday, December 10,   3:30 to 5:30 PM

This program is free and open to the public.
Presented by Interdependence Institute

CHILD Presents:

Managing through the Holidays
A Group Discussion
with Allyson Aborn, LCSW
 
                                           The discussion will include strategies to deal with:
                                               ·   Changes in routine for your children
                                               ·   Over stimulation and down time
                                               ·   Holiday expectations
                                               ·   Seeing extended Family
                                               ·   Setting priorities for your holiday demands on yourself and others

Tuesday, December 9
7:30 pm
Fox Meadow School
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

The Maroon & White Holiday Basketball Tournament will take place on Thursday, December 4 through Saturday, December 6 at the Scarsdale High School Gym.  The SHS Varsity Boys & Girls teams will compete, as well as six other high school teams from the surrounding  area.

                                        Thursday, December 4th      Games at 5pm and 7pm

                                        Friday, December 5th            6pm - features the SHS Boys Varsity Team
                                                                                    8pm - features the SHS Girls Varsity Team

                                        Saturday, December 6th        2pm - Girls Consolation
                                                                                   4pm - Boys Consolation
                                                                                   6pm - Girls Championship
                                                                                   8pm - Boys Championship

  ***The Scarsdale High School Cheerleaders will also be on hand.***

Friday and Saturday games will feature Tri-County Basketball League exhibition games at half time. Come out and cheer for our Scarsdale teams!

Yummy refreshment items will be available for purchase each day of the tournament, including delicious turkey, ham & cheese, or mozzarella & tomato "sliders" from Michael's Gourmet catering, delectable "Wicked Whoopies" from Maine, fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee, and delightful hot chocolate from Dunkin' Donuts.  Fresh fruit and an assortment of cold beverages will also be available.

This year's terrific tournament raffle includes an iPod Touch, a Blackberry Curve, Knicks Tickets, a chance to meet NYJets Running Back Leon Washington, gift certificates to your favorite Scarsdale eateries, and many more prizes.  Don't miss it!

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol met on November 17, 2008

Click Here to see the November Meeting Notes.

Click Here to read Mr. Klemme's recent email regarding Advanced Topics

                                        Thursday, December 4th      Games at 5pm and 7pm
                                        Friday, December 5th            6pm - features the SHS Boys Varsity Team
                                                                                    8pm - features the SHS Girls Varsity Team
                                        Saturday, December 6th         2pm - Girls Consolation
                                                                                    4pm - Boys Consolation
                                                                                    6pm - Girls Championship
                                                                                    8pm - Boys Championship
 

***The Scarsdale High School Cheerleaders will also be on hand.***

Friday and Saturday games will feature Tri-County Basketball League exhibition games at half time. Come out and cheer for our Scarsdale teams!

Yummy refreshment items will be available for purchase each day of the tournament, including delicious turkey, ham & cheese, or mozzarella & tomato "sliders" from Michael's Gourmet catering, delectable "Wicked Whoopies" from Maine, fresh-brewed Starbucks coffee, and delightful hot chocolate from Dunkin' Donuts.  Fresh fruit and an assortment of cold beverages will also be available.

This year's terrific tournament raffle includes an iPod Touch, a Blackberry Curve, Knicks Tickets, a chance to meet NYJets Running Back Leon Washington, gift certificates to your favorite Scarsdale eateries, and many more prizes.  Don't miss it!

The Maroon & White Holiday Basketball Tournament

is a ton of fun for both families and students, so mark your calendars!

SHS PTA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Celebrates 60 Years
with

A MONTHLY RAFFLE!

It is getting cold outside and your children have the opportunity to buy a raffle ticket for a parking spot right next to the school!!!  Please send cash so they can participate.

Students can win a RESERVED PARKING SPOT for one week in the Post Rd. parking lot (there will be 3 winners this month) or a lunch for two at a local restaurant.  Tickets, $1 each, will be on sale November 24th and 25th during lunch period.  Winners will be announced after lunch on November 25th(winners need not be present to win).

Raffle sales and drawings for the reserved parking space and lunch for two will be held at the end of every month for the following month during the entire school year.

For those parents participating in "Conversations with the Deans" that are taking place on these dates:

Tuesday, November 18
Tuesday, November 25
Tuesday, December 2

Please park in the gravel lot on the Brewster Road side of the building and not in the faculty lot.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

With the advent of new technologies, bullying isn't just happening on the playground any more.  Instant messaging, online communities and cell phones have created new arenas for childhood aggressors.  How can you stay on top of it and prevent it?  Learn how to role play bullyproofing strategies with your children.  Teach your children how to say the "right" phrases when confronted by a bully.  What not to say to your child.  And how to build resilience within your child.

Give the Gift of Education for the Holidays

This holiday season, instead of giving the standard teacher gift, honor your child's teacher by making a contribution, in the teacher's name, to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College. What better way to express your holiday wishes while contributing to a cause that will help a Scarsdale graduate continue his or her education?

The Scholarship Fund has printed lovely holiday cards for you to personalize. All donations to the Scholarship Fund are fully tax-deductible. To order your cards Click Here.  Once you are on the SHS PTA website, click on Holiday Cards to download the order form.

All orders must be received by December 12th.

An e-mail will be sent to you when your order is available for pick-up from your school PTA.  Any questions?  Contact Susie Rush 472-7797 or srush76@gmail.com.

Summer Activities Fair

The Scarsdale High School PTA will host its annual Summer Activities Fair on Wednesday, December 3rd, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM, in the High School cafeteria. Students and their families can meet representatives from a wide variety of exciting summer programs, including pre-college enrichment, teen travel, internships, outdoor adventures, performing arts, language immersion and more. Admission is free.

What's coming up in the next two weeks:

Wednesday, November 12th.  Principal's Coffee for Parents of Seniors-
9:15 AM at Liz Gruber's house, 18 Richbell Road.

Wednesday, November 12th.  Financing a College Education: A program for Parents of Seniors and Juniors- 7:30 PM in the Little Theater.

Wednesday, November 19th.  Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by the High School and Middle School Multicultural Committees.
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM at the Girl Scout House on Wayside Lane. 

Thursday, November 20th.  PT Council presents:  Joel Haber, PHD.
Learn how to Bullyproof Your Child
7:30 PM, Scarsdale Middle School Band Room

Friday, November 21st, Saturday, November 22nd,
Sunday, November 23rd.  Drama Club Musical:  "Anything Goes"
Performances are:  Friday, November 21st and Saturday, November 22nd at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 23rd at 2:00 PM.

Principal's Coffees

We are introducing a series of Principal's Coffees.  Parent's of  students from each grade will be invited to an informal discussion with SHS Principal, John Klemme.  A topic might be suggested but all  thoughts, questions, suggestions are welcome.

Parents of Seniors are invited to the first coffee in the series on
November 12th, 9:15 AM at the home of Liz Gruber, 18 Richbell Road. 

This will be an opportunity to discuss the prom.

Please R.S.V.P.  to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

With the advent of new technologies, bullying isn't just happening on the playground any more.  Instant messaging, online communities and cell phones have created new arenas for childhood aggressors.  How can you stay on top of it and prevent it?  Learn how to role play bullyproofing strategies with your children.  Teach your children how to say the "right" phrases when confronted by a bully.  What not to say to your child.  And how to build resilience within your child.

Principal John Klemme addresses the issue of parent communication to faculty.

Please Click Here to learn about the procedures to follow in discussing concerns with the faculty members.

PTA Meeting-Friday, November 7th, 7:45 a.m.
 Election Analysis with members of the SHS Social Studies Dept.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHAT HAPPENED ON ELECTION DAY?  Join a discussion with members of the SHS Social Studies Department at  the next PTA Meeting.

Please plan on attending our  PTA breakfast meeting scheduled for Friday, November 7th, at 7:45 AM in Rooms 170-172.

See first hand what it's like in a Social Studies classroom at Scarsdale High School.  Following the business portion of the meeting, members of the SHS Social Studies Department will provide some insight into the Presidential Election.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Holiday cards for the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund will be on sale at the meeting. These holiday cards make great teacher gifts!

For those parents participating in "Conversations with the Deans" that are taking place on these dates:

Thursday, November 6
Thursday, November 13
Thursday, November 20

Please park in the gravel lot on the Brewster Road side of the building and not in the faculty lot.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

SHS PTA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Celebrates 60 Years
with

A MONTHLY RAFFLE!

Students can win a RESERVED PARKING SPOT for one week in the Post Rd. parking lot (there will be 3 winners per month) or a lunch for two at a local restaurant.  Tickets, $1 each, will be on sale October 30th and 31st during lunch period.  Winners will be announced after lunch on October 31st(winners need not be present to win).

Raffle sales and drawings for the reserved parking space and lunch for two will be held at the end of every month for the following month during the entire school year.

ATTENTION PARENTS OF FALL SPORTS ATHLETES

MAROON & WHITE FALL SPORTS AWARDS DINNER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 6:30 PM

ALL PARENT DINNERS MUST BE PAID FOR IN ADVANCE

PAYMENT  DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED

NO PAYMENTS ACCEPTED AFTER  WEDNESDAY, 10/29


IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT: rsvplease@me.com

ALL Winter Sports Varsity/J.V. team members may get their Gold Cards starting today, Monday, October 27th.  (Gold Cards for Varsity Ice Hockey have been available since last week.)
Please do not delay!!
Send your child to my office, with the necessary paperwork,  for an interview any free period except 5th..
If your child needs a  Physical Exam by  the school M.D., send him/her to my office during a free period ASAP.
Questions? Call 721-2550. Thanks, Karen Steefel

What happened on Election Day?  Join a discussion with members of the SHS Social Studies Department at  the next PTA Meeting.
Please plan on attending our  PTA breakfast meeting scheduled for Friday, November 7th, at 7:45 AM in Rooms 170-172.
See first hand what it's like in a Social Studies classroom at Scarsdale High School.  Following the business portion of the meeting, members of the SHS Social Studies Department will provide some insight into the Presidential Election.
Holiday cards for the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund will be on sale at the meeting. These holiday cards make great teacher gifts!

Dear Parents,
We would like to send a sincere thank you to all of the parents who volunteered as timekeepers for each of the conference nights. We understand the time and effort you have put in to make these evenings a success and for that, the entire SHS community is grateful.
For those parents who did not get a chance to volunteer this year, we look forward to seeing you next year!
Sincerely,
Melanie Spivak and Marina Chen Huang
Co-Chairs Parent/Teacher Conference Committee

At Parent/Teacher Conference Night - Thursday, October 23rd, the SHS Student Directories will be available for sale for $5.00 each (this is not part of the PTA Membership).  Also, look for "S Go Green" Reusable Grocery
Bags -1 for $6.00, 2 for $10.00.

Meet your children's teachers, get your directory, keep Scarsdale green, and support the PTA-all in one night!!

To all those parents who have volunteered to be a timekeeper this Thursday, Oct 23rd, please make sure you come to the high school at 6:15. Come to the Brewster Street entrance where you will pick up your folder with instructions and a time sheet for the teacher you will be timekeeping.

It is most important that you bring a timer or watch with a second hand to keep track of the 2-minute conferences. Please also bring a pen.

Thank you so much for your support, we obviously could not hold this event without your help. If, for some reason you must cancel, you MUST be responsible to find a replacement.

If you have any questions, please contact Melanie Spivak at mel47b@aol.com or call 725-3770.

Thanks again.
Melanie Spivak and Marina Chen Huang
Co-Chairs P/T Conference Committee

Back by popular demand---

Task Force Parent Coffees for Parents of 8th & 9th Graders

Parents of 8th & 9th graders are invited to a conversational coffee hosted by the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol and facilitated by SMS Youth Outreach Workers.  These conversations are a great opportunity to talk about the social scene during the middle school years, how it affects our children, and how we, as parents may respond to new issues and situations.  These coffees are an excellent chance to learn from the experiences of other parents and the Youth Outreach Workers. Space is limited so please respond promptly. Both parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

2008 Parent Coffee Dates:

          Monday, Oct. 27           9 -10:15 a.m.
    Wednesday, Oct. 29           9 -10:15 a.m.
        Thursday, Oct. 30           9 -10:15 a.m.
     Wednesday, Nov. 5           9 -10:15 a.m.
         Thursday, Nov. 6           7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
To RSVP- Contact Kathy Cutlip via e-mail
at cutlipmk@msn.com  (if necessary, call 725-4363)

Please include the following information:
1.    Your name
2.    2 choices of preferred dates/times
3.    Your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade(s)
4.    Your e-mail address & phone number

Your assigned date and location will be confirmed via e-mail
Join us to share ideas on how to keep your kids safe, healthy and on the right track.

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
Melpo Fite and Ann Sacher, Co-chairs
Tina Adler, Kathy Cutlip, Robin Gottlieb and Suzanne Seiden

Parents please note that the online sign up system will be closing  on Tuesday, October 21 at 6pm for October 23rd Conferences.

There can be no exceptions. If you do not sign up on line in time, you will be able to sign up on site on the  night of your conference.

Thank you so much for your cooperation.

Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

The upcoming testing dates have been revised.  The new dates are
 listed below:

Monday, October 27 and Wednesday, October 29----English and Mathematics

Thursday, October 30 and Monday, November 3---Social Studies and World Languages

Thursday, November 6 and Friday, November 7---Science, Art, Computers, Health, and Music

These changes and other calendar information are listed on the SHS Daily
Calendar that can be found on the High School website www.shspta.org.

As part of the ongoing evaluation of professional performance, the
School District annually publishes the names of professional staff eligible
for tenure.  Any parent wishing to comment on a teacher's performance is
invited to provide communication to Joan Weber, Assistant Superintendent for
Personnel and Administrative Services, or to Michael McGill, Superintendent of Schools, 2 Brewster Road, Scarsdale, NY  10583.

Written comments from parents should be received by February 2, 2009.

Scarsdale High School Teachers

Susanne Conklin
Don  DiDomenico
Judith Hochberg
Oren Iosepovici
Jose LaMela
Eric Rauschenbach
Nicole Roemer
David Scagnelli
Mark Semioli
Amedee Williams

Back by popular demand---

Task Force Parent Coffees for Parents of 8th & 9th graders

Parents of 8th & 9th graders are invited to a conversational coffee hosted by the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol and facilitated by SMS Youth Outreach Workers.  These conversations are a great opportunity to talk about the social scene during the middle school years, how it affects our children, and how we, as parents may respond to new issues and situations.  These coffees are an excellent chance to learn from the experiences of other parents and the Youth Outreach Workers. Space is limited so please respond promptly. Both parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend

2008 Parent Coffee Dates:

          Monday, Oct. 27           9 -10:15 a.m.
    Wednesday, Oct. 29           9 -10:15 a.m.
        Thursday, Oct. 30           9 -10:15 a.m.
     Wednesday, Nov. 5           9 -10:15 a.m.
         Thursday, Nov. 6           7:30 - 8:30 p.m.

To RSVP- Contact Kathy Cutlip via e-mail
at cutlipmk@msn.com  (if necessary, call 725-4363)

Please include the following information:
1.    Your name
2.    2 choices of preferred dates/times
3.    Your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade(s)
4.    Your e-mail address & phone number

Your assigned date and location will be confirmed via e-mail
Join us to share ideas on how to keep your kids safe, healthy and on the right track.

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
Melpo Fite and Ann Sacher, Co-chairs
Tina Adler, Kathy Cutlip, Robin Gottlieb and Suzanne Seiden

Principal's Coffees

We are introducing a series of Principal's Coffees.  Parent's of  students from each grade will be invited to an informal discussion with SHS Principal, John Klemme.  A topic might be suggested but all  thoughts, questions, suggestions are welcome.

Parents of Seniors are invited to the first coffee in the series on
November 12th, 9:15 AM at the home of Liz Gruber, 18 Richbell Road.
This will be an opportunity to discuss the prom.

Please respond to:
esgruber@earthlink.net

ATTENTION PARENTS OF FALL SPORTS ATHLETES

INVITATIONS WERE MAILED LAST WEEK

MAROON & WHITE FALL SPORTS AWARDS DINNER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 6:30 PM

PLEASE RSVP ASAP

Please note that you will receive only one invitation, even if you have more than one fall athlete


IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INVITATION, PLEASE REPLY TO: rsvplease@me.com

The first round of P/T Conferences are Tonight - Wednesday, October 15.
This is a message to parents who are Timekeepers for tonight.

Please arrive promptly at the high school (Brewster Entrance) at 6:15pm to pick up your teacher's folder. Please remember to bring a pen and a watch or a timer to keep the 2 minutes conferences running smoothly. Timekeeper instructions may be found on the PTA website and are also included in the folder you will receive TONIGHT.

If you need to be reminded of the teacher for whom you will keep time, you can login to view the confirmation. If for some reason, you cannot attend, it is YOUR responsibility to find a replacement.

Thank you very much for your help.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, we are very appreciative of your time and effort, and sorry for any confusion.

Regards,
Melanie Spivak and Marina Chen Huang
Mel47b@aol.com      marinahuang38@gmail.com

Reminder:

The Scarsdale Teen Center brings you an
Internet Safety and Abduction Prevention Workshop

 The Carlie's Crusade Foundation was created to protect children and families from predators through knowledge, education and training. This internet safety class teaches young people how to avoid the dangers and risks of life on the information superhighway. The objective of this program is to teach young children and young adults how to enjoy the World Wide Web while minimizing their risk, danger and exposure to predators. This program combines a lively lecture with class participation, hands-on demonstrations and video instruction.
 
Instructor: Carlie's Crusade Foundation Representative
Fee: Free
Location:  Scarsdale Teen Center

Date:  October 18th
Parents & Children ages 5-10
10am-12pm

Parents & Children 11 & up
1pm-3pm

Please call 722-8358 or email ScarsdaleTeenCenter@gmail.com to reserve your seat at this important program.  Registration is not required but strongly encouraged.
 --
Jessica Edelman, Director
Scarsdale Teen Center
862 Scarsdale Ave.
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 722-8358 (phone)
(914) 722-8357 (fax)
Visit our website @ www.ScarsdaleTeenCenter.com <http://www.ScarsdaleTeenCenter.com>

By popular demand---
Task Force Parent Coffees now offered to 11th & 12th grade parents

                                 Wed., Oct. 15  9:30 -10:30 a.m.         Thurs., Oct. 16 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
                                 Wed., Oct. 22  11 a.m. - 12 p.m.        Thurs., Oct. 23 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
                                 RSVP by Oct. 10 Diane Levy                 RSVP by Oct. 10 Melpo Fite
                                 dile100@aol.com                                melpovf@gmail.com
                                 (if necessary, call 725-1440)               (if necessary, call 725-6042)

                                Please include the following information:
                                          1.    Your name
                                          2.    Preferred date
                                          3.    Your child(ren)'s name(s) and grade(s)
                                          4.    Your e-mail address & phone number

Your assigned date and location will be confirmed via e-mail.

Join us to share ideas on how to keep our kids safe, healthy and on the right track.

The Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
Ann Sacher and Tina Adler, Co-chairs
Kathy Cutlip, Robin Gottlieb, Melissa Hellman and Jill Serling

Dear Parents,

It has come to our attention that some social studies classes have 2 teachers per class- they switch mid-year. When the school district provided the data base we use for the students’ schedules, the second semester teachers were listed instead of the first semester teachers. Therefore, the schedule that appeared for the on-line conference schedule was incorrect for these courses, and the correct teacher didn’t appear on the screen.

Please note that the social studies conference you have registered for is incorrect if your child has the following courses taught by:
•    Mr. Tallevi, World Hist 622  listed incorrectly as Minchillo, Nicola
•    Mr. Tallevi, US Hist 632 listed incorrectly as Semioli, Mark
•    Ms. Favretti, Public Policy 642 listed incorrectly as Claussen, Kendra [Note: Ms. Favretti will not be available on          Oct 15, please call her for an appointment if necessary].
•    Mr. Semioli,  Public Policy 642 listed incorrectly as Meyer, William

Please confirm with your child who his/her social studies teacher is, locate their room on the teacher directory found on www.shspta.org  and schedule your conference with that teacher on site, on the night of your conferences. If you have made an appointment with the incorrectly listed teacher, please cancel that appointment to free up the time slot.

We apologize for the inconvenience. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at mel47@aol.com or 725-3770.

Thank you.
Melanie Spivak

Parents please note that the online sign up system will be closed on the following dates:

Oct 15th Confernces- closing Monday October 13 at 6pm
Oct 23rd Conferences – closing Tuesday Oct 21 at 6pm

There can be no exceptions. If you do not sign up on line, in time, you will be able to  sign up on site on the  night of your conference.

Thank you so much for your cooperation.

Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

Mark Your Calendars!
 
The Scarsdale Middle and High school PTAs will host the Annual Summer
Activities Fair, Wednesday, December 3rd, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.,
in the High School cafeteria. Representatives from dozens of pre-college
enrichment, teen travel, volunteer, internship programs and outdoor,
performing arts and other specialty camps will be on hand to discuss
their programs and answer questions. Parents and students are welcome to
attend. Admission is free. 

Did your child have a great summer experience? We would love to hear about
it! We would particularly like to hear about programs not previously represented at the summer fair. Please email bkss200@aol.com with your suggestions.
Thank you!

CHILD Presents:
What SPEECH THERAPY Can Do
 
Elaine Dolgin-Lieberman will speak about Speech Language Therapy from preschool through school age.
 

·      What are the red flags parents should look for?

·      What does it mean if your child is experiencing weakness in social communication, phonological awareness, memory, word finding, narratives, language processing, and grammar?

·      What are the implications and what can parents do about them?

·      What are some techniques and approaches currently used to help children's communication and linguistic development?

Ms. Dolgin-Lieberman, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech language pathologist in private practice and lecturer in the graduate program of Mercy College in the Communication Disorder Department. Ms. Dolgin-Lieberman has a specialty in evaluation and treatment of children with speech sound disorders and its impact on literacy, language development, and social communication through the school age years.  
Tuesday, October 28
7:30 pm
Fox Meadow School
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Parents please remember that the online sign up for conferences begins tomorrow Tuesday Oct 7th.  Go to www.shspta.org  and click on Parent/Teacher Conferences. Make sure to print out the teacher layout and directory of teacher’s rooms before you make your conferences and have your student’s ID# (each child’s conference must be registered separately under his/her ID#). Click on the conference sign up.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact :
Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

Marina Chen Huang
Marinahuang38@gmail.com

Attention Parents,

Please be advised that the on-line sign up for teacher conferences will begin on Tuesday, October 7th. Please have your child’s student ID#, the school layout (map) and the teacher directory in hand before you begin. When you register, make sure you allow enough time in between conference times to allow for teachers that might run late in addition to travel time between classrooms. There is a tutorial and a list of FAQ’s to answer any questions you may have if you go to www.shspta.org and click on Parent Teacher Conferences.
.
To all of the parents who have registered to volunteer as a timekeeper for the evening, please accept our thanks. We are looking forward to two very successful conference evenings because of you. If you must cancel, you are responsible for finding a replacement.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

Marina Chen Huang
Marinahuang38@gmail.com

 
All parent discussions with the Deans are scheduled for the morning.

Tuesdays- October 14th, 21st, 28th

8 AM-8:45 AM
9 AM-9:45 AM

Thursdays- October 16th, 23rd, 30th

8 AM- 8:45 AM
9 AM-9:45 AM

Dear Parents,
Please be advised that we need 25 more parents (moms and dads) to volunteer on the first night of conferences (Oct 15th).
To all of the parents who have already signed up to volunteer, thank you so much.
Parents who have not already signed up and who are available on Oct 15th, we are counting on you to step forward so we may open up conference registration.

SHS asks very little parent participation, if parents want to continue with conference nights, they must participate.

Thank you.
Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

Persons interested in continuing the tradition of excellent education in Scarsdale's schools are urged to run for the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC).  Candidates for election to the SBNC are invited to obtain  petitions and biographical info forms.  These forms can be downloaded from the School Board Nominating Committee blog,
http://scarsdalesbnc.blogspot.com

Obtain ten signatures on the petition, fill out a short biographical statement, and submit both by Friday, November 14, to be on the ballot.
     
Two candidates from each of Scarsdale's five school areas will be elected in a nonpartisan election January 14.  At least four candidates for each area are sought.  Candidates must have lived in Scarsdale for 30 days prior to the January 14 election.
      
Also, the SBNC needs your help to cover costs this year.  The election is financed by public contributions alone.  The cost of preparing and mailing candidate information and running the election is over $4,000.  Please consider a contribution of $50, but any amount would be appreciated to help cover costs.
            
Volunteering to run in this year's election and/or making a contribution is an  opportunity to serve your community and have important input in selecting those individuals who have ultimate responsibility for policy decisions that directly impact our schools.  Excellence in education is highly valued in Scarsdale.  To maintain that tradition, consider seeking a position on the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC). 

To contribute and help cover costs, please send a check payable to Administrative Committee and mail to SBNC Administrative Committee, PO Box H172, Scarsdale, NY 10583, or log onto the SBNC blog, scroll down, and make a donation using PayPal.
  
For further information, contact David Brodsky, Chair, Administrative Committee, at dmbrodsky@verizon.net , or Geetha Subbakrishna, Vice Chair, at geethasu@optonline.net, or download the nominating petition and bio form from http://scarsdalesbnc.blogspot.com and e-mail completed forms to either David or Geetha, or mail to SBNC Administrative Committee, P.O. Box H172,
Scarsdale, NY  10583.

To Parents of Seniors:

Yearbook Ads will be accepted up until Wednesday afternoon, October 
8th.   It would be greatly appreciated if ads are turned in as soon 
as possible.  The ads will be laid out for publication next week and 
the deadline cannot be extended beyond Wednesday.

Please click here to read Mr. Klemme's "A Message to Senior Parents"

Time is of the essence.
Please be advised that the Parent/Teacher Conference committee still does not have enough volunteer timekeepers to move forward with on-line conference registration.

Before this Friday, Oct 3rd, we must have a minimum of
  40 more timekeepers to work on October 15th, and
  16 more timekeepers to work on Oct 23rd.

The committee members will no longer be making phone calls to solicit volunteers, as this has become an unfair, unpleasant, and very unproductive exchange between the callers and the parents.

Our high school community has grown but the number of volunteers has not. In light of this, if parents do not step forward voluntarily, the P/T conference will become a mandatory 2-night event, and parents will serve as timekeepers according to a rotation by student ID numbers.  Please log on to www.shspta.org <http://www.shspta.org>  and click on Parent/Teacher Conferences to volunteer. Thank you.

For those of you who have already volunteered, please tell your friends. We thank you so much.

Melanie Spivak
Mel47b@aol.com

Marina Huang   
marinahuang38@gmail.com

SHS PTA SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Celebrates 60 Years
with
A MONTHLY RAFFLE!
Students can win a RESERVED PARKING SPOT for one week in the Post Rd. parking lot (there will be 4 winners per month) or a lunch for two at a local restaurant.  Tickets, $1 each, will be on sale October 2nd and 3rd during lunch period.  Winners will be announced after lunch on October 3rd (winners need not be present to win).
Raffle sales and drawings for the reserved parking space and lunch for two will be held at the end of every month for the following month during the entire school year. 

Dear Parents,
The parents of Scarsdale High School are counting on their peers (men and women) to volunteer to be a timekeeper for Parent/Teacher Conference nights on Wednesday October 15th and Thursday October 23rd.  Serving as timekeepers is part of the responsibility of every member of the high school parent community.
We are urging you to volunteer online at the PTA website at www. shspta.org.   As you know, this year our new policy dictates that we cannot open up the conference registration on line until 200 parents have committed to volunteer one of the conference nights.  Please go online and signup now.
 
Thank you for your cooperation
Melanie Spivak and Marina Chen-Huang Co-Chairs
Mel47b@aol.com    marinahuang38@gmail.com

In-School Student Tour Guides

For any sophomore, junior or senior student interested in becoming a Student Tour Guide, applications forms are currently available in the Counseling Center/Dean's Office.  (Forms are also available from  ccperuski@optonline.net)  As a Student Tour Guide, you will be asked to give tours of the building and answer questions from prospective students and/or parents during a free period.  Students may give only 2-3 tours per year.  Tours are expected to begin in mid-October.  All completed forms should be returned to the counseling office by Friday Oct. 3rd.

Revisions to the SHS Student Directory
If you need to make changes, additions, or deletions to the Student Directory, please Click Here to go to the SHS PTA website.  Then select "Change your listing in the SHS Student Directory" to download a Change Request Form.  The form needs to be sent by this Friday, September 26th to:
                                     Wendy Weinstein
                                     41 Butler Rd.
                                     Scarsdale, NY 10583
Thank you.
SHS PTA

SHS PTA Meeting Tuesday, September 23rd
and
New Families Welcome Coffee
 
Please plan on attending our first SHS PTA Meeting for the 2008/2009 academic year
Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater
Following the business portion of the evening we are excited to welcome Sue Peppers: Assistant Principal for Student Life.
Sue will introduce herself and her ideas for enhancing student life at Scarsdale High School.  Come prepared with comments, questions, ideas, and concerns.  One aspect of student life that will be discussed is the prom.
A Welcome Coffee for new families will precede the meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Theater.
We look forward to seeing you!

C.H.I.L.D.
(Children Having Individual Learning Differences)
WELCOMES all
to the first meeting of the year
featuring Dr. Michael Mendelson, Director of Special Education
Find out about current special education programs & initiatives in Scarsdale
 
  Tuesday, September 23 at 7:30 pm
  Fox Meadow School, 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

SHS PTA Meeting Tuesday, September 23rd
and
New Families Welcome Coffee
 
Please plan on attending our first SHS PTA Meeting for the 2008/2009 academic year
Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Little Theater

Following the business portion of the evening we are excited to welcome Sue Peppers: Assistant Principal for Student Life.  Sue will introduce herself and her ideas for enhancing student life at Scarsdale High School.  Come prepared with comments, questions, ideas, and concerns.

A Welcome Coffee for new families will precede the meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Theater.

We look forward to seeing you!

What is In-School Service?
·    Student volunteers use one free period or study hall each week to help teachers or staff members who request a student volunteer for that time slot·  Many individual teachers request student volunteers; volunteers are also usually needed in the library, the computer center, the offices, and the audio-visual department·In-school volunteering is especially convenient for freshmen, who are not allowed to leave the school grounds during the school day·  For those who cannot volunteer after school, this is a chance to volunteer during school hours·  This is a great opportunity for students to get to know teachers and staff, and to quickly feel part of the school, while contributing a meaningful service to the school·  Some students choose to continue their In-School Service volunteer positions throughout their years in the high school, having established rewarding working relationships with teachers and staff·  Students who fulfill their volunteer assignment conscientiously and for at least 20 hours during the school year, are invited to participate in the Volunteer Service Recognition Assembly on Monday, May 11
For More Information and an In-School Service Student Volunteer Form Click Here

Other questions or concerns-contact me.
Jane Och, In-House Volunteer Coordinator, 472-7370, Jcapoch@aol.com
 

Please come to the Scarsdale PT Council

26th Annual

SPORTS SWAP

Saturday, September 13, 2008

10:a.m.-12noon

MIddle School Gym - Rain or Shine 

 Click Here to see more Sports Swap Information

School Board Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates
Would you like to have input in Scarsdale Board of Education policy...but are unable to devote the substantial amount of time a position on the School Board demands?  Consider being a member of the committee who selects the candidates for Scarsdale's school board.
 
The School Board Nominating Committee, which meets several Sunday afternoons in mid-winter, is the group that identifies, proposes, and nominates qualified candidates to run for Scarsdale's prestigious school board.  In a community whose priority is the outstanding quality of its schools, we need volunteers for this important job.
 
Comprised of a diverse group of community leaders, the School Board Nominating Committee consists of 30 voting members, representing each of the five school districts.  Each member serves a three-year term; meetings are held on select Sunday afternoons in January, February and March.  The atmosphere is professional and congenial.  The goal is to identify and nominate candidates to serve on the Scarsdale Board of Education.
 
The School Board Nominating Committee is looking for volunteers to run in this year's election.  Elections take place in January.  This is your opportunity to have input in selecting those individuals who have ultimate responsibility for policy decisions that directly impact our schools.  Excellence in education is highly valued in Scarsdale.  To maintain that tradition, consider seeking a position on the School Board Nominating Committee.
  
Contact: David Brodsky - Administrative Committee Chairperson
                 School Board Nominating Committee
                 David.Brodsky@LW.com
                 E-mailing enables a prompt response with detailed information.

Scarsdale Adult School, Fall 2008
Special Event - Free Admission
    Theives of Baghdad: 
The Looting of The Iraq Museum
Colonel Bogdanos, the leader of the team that recovered thousands of history's most priceless antiquities, will detail the ongoing efforts of the international community to return these treasures
Wednesday, September 10
7:30 p.m.
Scarsdale Highschool
Please click the link below for more details and to register to attend.  Registration is requested to accomodate for seating.

Click Here for SAS Special Event Information and Registration

Please come to the
Scarsdale PT Council's
26th Annual
Sports Swap
Sat., Sept 13, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Middle School Gym
Rain or Shine

Click Here to See more Sports Swap Information

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED !!!
Contact: Maureen Hart  ~ MMHart@optonline.net  & LeeAnn Seiderman ~ NYmenz@aol.com

Multicultural/International Families Committee
invites you to a
Welcome Coffee

9:30 a.m.
 Thursday, September 11
at the home of Liz Whitney
20 Butler Road, Scarsdale
 
Directions:  20 Butler Road is between Fox Meadow Road and Brite Avenue, where Butler Road meets Oak Lane.  Please park your car on Oak Lane.
 
Please RSVP to Shuling Smith, SHS PTA Multicultural/International Families Committee Chair
Shuling_Smith@hotmail.com or 725-5036
 

Y.E.S., we need YOU

The Y.E.S. Office is a non-profit organization, which serves not just as a resource for all Scarsdale teenagers who want jobs, but provides a valuable resource to the entire Scarsdale community. Through our office, residents and businesses (both local and from the surrounding area) are able to post various jobs to a targeted audience.  Now we need YOUR help.

We maintain an office at Scarsdale High School, which is open during the school year from 11am - 2pm Monday through Friday. The office is staffed entirely by community volunteers who work on a rotating schedule of one day approximately every 4 - 6 weeks, depending on the number of volunteers.

If interested in volunteering to work in the office, please contact Wendy Weinstein at wendy59@optonline.net <mailto:wendy59@optonline.net>  with your name, email address, phone number and what day(s) of the week you are available to work.

We thank you in advance for your support.

 Wendy Weinstein, Angelina Lee, Shirley Hom, YES Office Co-Chairs.

The Westchester County Police Department will be hosting a Young Driver Safety Program at the Westchester County Police Academy, starting Monday July 14, 2008 and continuing through Friday July 18, 2008.  Please Note:  Monday, July 14th is closed.

The program will be a one day course, held in the evening time between 5:00 pm hrs to 9:00pm, over a five day period. It will be held at the Police Academy located at 2 Dana Rd., Valhalla, N.Y.  Each course will be limited to twelve, valid licensed drivers and/or permit holders per night. The focus will be on new drivers in the 16-18 year of age range.

 
 The course will consist of a one hour classroom lecture, PowerPoint presentation, and open discussion going over basic safety tips that is similar to the training used for recruit police officers attending the academy.  There will also be a block of instruction on the dangers in distracted driving, which is the number one cause of accidents in young drivers.

 
 The classroom will then separate into groups. One group will utilize the County Police driving simulator to go over safe aspects of driving. The students will be given several scenarios where they can be critiqued and given instruction on every day driving and also shown the dangers in intoxicated driving. They will also be given scenarios that will focus on distracted driving as well.

 
 The second group will be given a vehicle familiarization by an Emergency Vehicle Operator’s Course Instructor. They will go over basic vehicle parts, how to recognize mechanical problems with their vehicles, and what to do during emergency situations, i.e. flat tires, being involved in accidents, etc. Students will then have an EVOC Instructor drive the students around in a vehicle showing them commentary driving and proper driving habits.    

 
 The groups will then switch with one another, giving each group equal instruction time on each topic.

If you wish to sign up for this course, please contact Police Officer Pete Farrell @ (914)864-7872.  Please leave name and call back number. This program will be limited to the first 60 students.

Maryellen Martirano
 Director of Training
 Westchester County Department of Public Safety
 
 

IMPORTANT:  SHSPTA IS CHANGING EMAIL PROVIDERS - This will be the last e-mail sent out using the old system.

The SHS PTA is changing e-mail providers and everyone must re-register on the new email server.  We will start using the new system on July 1st so you must register by July 1st to continue to receive emails from SHSPTA regarding all school activities.  

Click here to register for the new system. Remember to enter your child's grade for next year.

If you want to receive information at more than one email address, each email address must register separately.

All communications for the new school year will be from the new system.  If you have registered with the old system, the e-mail addresses will not be transferred so you must re-register.

Thank you for working with us to keep you informed.

Please sign up as soon as possible.

IMPORTANT:  SHSPTA IS CHANGING EMAIL PROVIDERS

The SHS PTA is changing e-mail providers and everyone must re-register on the new email server.  We will start using the new system on July 1st so you must register by July 1st to continue to receive emails from SHSPTA regarding all school activities.  

Click here to register for the new system. Remember to enter your child's grade for next year.

If you want to receive information at more than one email address, each email address must register separately.

All communications for the new school year will be from the new system.  If you have registered with the old system, the e-mail addresses will not be transferred so you must re-register.

Thank you for working with us to keep you informed.

Please sign up as soon as possible.

A Reminder from the Make It Green Club!

The SHS Make it Green Club is currently selling sustainable school supply packs that will be available for pick-up before school starts in September.  There are three different package options, so they can meet the needs of every student.  All items in the packs are made from recycled materials, post-consumer waste, and/or sustainable materials. Check out the order form below (order forms are also available on the School Government e-board)!  Do your part and make it green by purchasing sustainable school supply packs for your student for next year!

THE MAKE IT GREEN CLUB PRESENTS

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
ALL SUPPLY PACKS WILL BE READY FOR PICK-UP BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS IN SEPTEMBER
o    Don't be part of the cause, BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!
o    Don't spend $150 on school supplies
o    Do spend less than $100 and DO YOUR PART in MAKING IT GREEN!
o    Do purchase top quality, top brands, all made from recycled materials!

CHOOSE YOUR PACK!
Option One - “I only use notebooks!” INCLUDES:
o 6- one-subject wirebound notebooks (assorted colors) o 6- two-pocket folders (assorted colors) o 100 sheets college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens

Option Two - “I only use binders!” INCLUDES:
o 5- 1” vinyl binders (assorted colors; 2 have insert sleeves) o 2- two-pocket folders (assorted colors) o 3- five-tab dividers o 500 sheet college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens
 
Option Three - “I like both notebooks and binders!” INCLUDES:
o 3- 1” vinyl binders (assorted colors) o 2- one-subject wirebound notebooks (assorted colors) o 2- two-pocket folders o 2- five-tab dividers o 200 sheet college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPLETE AND RETURN FORM WITH A CHECK TO Maggie Dunne@14 Edgewood Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 NO LATER THAN JUNE 25TH . Make checks payable to Scarsdale High School Make it Green.

Name:_______________________  Homeroom:______________________  

Phone:_______________________ Email:___________________________

I WANT:
    _____OPTION ONE -NOTEBOOKS     $56  (compare to $87 at most stores)
    _____OPTION TWO -BINDERS          $66  (compare to $101 at most stores)
    _____OPTION THREE - COMBO         $60  (compare to $76 at most stores)

Do your part and MAKE IT GREEN! All materials provided by GREEN MY LOCKER
Questions? Email MakeitGreen.shs@gmail.com  

IMPORTANT:  SHSPTA IS CHANGING EMAIL PROVIDERS

The SHS PTA is changing e-mail providers and everyone must re-register on the new email server.  We will start using the new system on July 1st so you must register by July 1st to continue to receive emails from SHSPTA regarding all school activities.  

Click here to register for the new system. Remember to enter your child's grade for next year.

If you want to receive information at more than one email address, each email address must register separately.

All communications for the new school year will be from the new system.  If you have registered with the old system, the e-mail addresses will not be transferred so you must re-register.

Thank you for working with us to keep you informed.

Please sign up as soon as possible.

Used sports equipment for: Basketball, Baseball, Field Hockey, Football, Fitness, Golf, Ice Hockey, Skating, Lacrosse, Rollerblades, Soccer, Bicycles, Tennis and more!
Computer, Video Game Systems, and Video Games
Musical Instruments, Music Accessories, CD's
Sports and Dress Clothing: Snow and Ski Jackets, Scout Uniforms, Boys Blazers and Girls' Party Dresses

1) 50% of the proceeds of the sale goes to you, and 50% to the PT Council to benefit PTA projects and programming throughout the community OR….  You may also choose to make a tax deductible donation to the PT Council of the entire sale proceeds of a specific item. Please print “DONATION” next to the price of any such item(s) on your 3x5 inventory card.
2) Drop off items at the Middle School Friday 9/12  5:30 pm - 7:00 pm or Saturday 9/13 8:30 am - 9:30 am. No items will be accepted after 9:45 am on Saturday!
3) Label each item with your name, address and phone number, selling price and size.  Please round off sales prices to the nearest dollar.
4) Provide us with a 3x5 index card listing your name, address, selling items and your selling prices.  This is your inventory card and helps to expedite your check.
5) A stamped, self-addressed envelope must be paper-clipped to the index card. This will be used to mail your check.
6)  All items must be in good, safe working condition.
7) Unsold items MUST be reclaimed AT NOON or they will be donated to charity

Our Quaker Ridge construction is complete!  In the center of our brand new building will be a brick courtyard for all to enjoy.  Now is the time to get your personally inscribed brick.
This is a perfect opportunity for end-of-year gifts for:
    o    your family or a graduate
    o    a well-loved teacher
    o    a memorial
    o    the list goes on and on
Bricks are $100.00.   Please fill out the information below and include your check made payable to QRPTA. Mail it to

or place it in the box marked “BRICKS” in the main office.   If you have any questions, please ask Julia Soning at soning4@aol.com.

Name:___________________________  Phone:_________________
Email:_________________________________
No of bricks__________@ $100 =       $___________
                                        Total          $___________

Inscription
(no more than 14 letters per line including spaces, 3 lines max)

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

We are looking for a limited number of parents who would like to volunteer at the College and Career Center at the high school next year, 2008/9.
 The College and Career Center (CCC) is a PTA funded service for the students, parents and faculty. We work closely with the guidance department and are a source of support for them.
 The CCC is open from 9am to 3pm daily, except Fridays, when it closes at 1pm.
 Volunteers are required to work a 2 hour time period every 4 weeks. There are 4 volunteers per time slot. These times are from 9 - 11am, 11 - 1pm and 1 - 3pm. It is difficult to predict how busy you will be at the CCC - at times it is very busy and at times it is very slow!
 Volunteers responsibilities include amongst others; sorting and filing mail from the colleges, updating college information in the office, teaching parents the Naviance system - we train volunteers for this, interviewing college reps when they visit the school.
 If the CCC is something you feel you would like to become involved with please let us know ASAP. We have very limited availability.
 As many more people like to volunteer than we can accommodate and we are a support system for the deans, we ask that you only consider this volunteer opportunity if you are able to truly commit to the required time. We do understand that last minute issues crop up, and we have systems in place to find volunteers at the last minute. We are required to keep the office open during the above-mentioned times.
 Additionally, we have a mandatory meeting on Friday, September 5, 2008, at 9am. The CCC officially opens on September 8, 2008
 If you are interested, please do not hit reply, please *email us at the addresses listed below and include the following information.
 Name
 Address
 Email
 Home phone
 Cell phone
 Child's name and grade
 3 times you would prefer to volunteer
 Many thanks for your interest and we look forward to hearing from you.
 *Sharon Strassberg:  priceresearch@aol.com
 *Diane Levy:  dile100@aol.com

This is reminder that all eligible HS students who have not yet picked up their Volunteer Recognition certificates should promptly do so in the Main Office.  Thanks!

The SHS Make it Green Club is currently selling sustainable school supply packs that will be available for pick-up before school starts in September.  There are three different package options, so they can meet the needs of every student.  All items in the packs are made from recycled materials, post-consumer waste, and/or sustainable materials.  On June 10th, Make it Green will display samples of the packages during a bake sale during lunch in the cafeteria. Check out the order form below (order forms are also available on the School Government e-board)!  Do your part and make it green by purchasing sustainable school supply packs for your student for next year!

THE MAKE IT GREEN CLUB PRESENTS

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY SCHOOL SUPPLIES!
ALL SUPPLY PACKS WILL BE READY FOR PICK-UP BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS IN SEPTEMBER
o    Don't be part of the cause, BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!
o    Don't spend $150 on school supplies
o    Do spend less than $100 and DO YOUR PART in MAKING IT GREEN!
o    Do purchase top quality, top brands, all made from recycled materials!

CHOOSE YOUR PACK!
Option One - “I only use notebooks!” INCLUDES:
o 6- one-subject wirebound notebooks (assorted colors) o 6- two-pocket folders (assorted colors) o 100 sheets college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens

Option Two - “I only use binders!” INCLUDES:
o 5- 1” vinyl binders (assorted colors; 2 have insert sleeves) o 2- two-pocket folders (assorted colors) o 3- five-tab dividers o 500 sheet college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens
 
Option Three - “I like both notebooks and binders!” INCLUDES:
o 3- 1” vinyl binders (assorted colors) o 2- one-subject wirebound notebooks (assorted colors) o 2- two-pocket folders o 2- five-tab dividers o 200 sheet college ruled filler paper o 1 pack colored pencils o 12 - #2 pencils o 3 mechanical pencils + refills o 300 lined 3x5 index cards o 500 sheets printer paper o 4 assorted reusable highlighters + yellow refill o 2 black gel pens o 2 blue gel pens

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPLETE AND RETURN FORM WITH A CHECK TO MR. OMOLOJU'S MAILBOX IN THE SHS ATTENDANCE OFFICE BY JUNE 18, 2008. Make checks payable to Scarsdale High School Make it Green.

Name:_______________________  Homeroom:______________________  

Phone:_______________________ Email:___________________________

I WANT:
    _____OPTION ONE -NOTEBOOKS     $56  (compare to $87 at most stores)
    _____OPTION TWO -BINDERS          $66  (compare to $101 at most stores)
    _____OPTION THREE - COMBO         $60  (compare to $76 at most stores)

IF YOU MUST MAIL YOUR PAYMENT, then mail it to MAGGIE DUNNE @ 14 EDGEWOOD RD SCARSDALE  Do your part and MAKE IT GREEN! All materials provided by GREEN MY LOCKER
Questions? Email MakeitGreen.shs@gmail.com  

The Y.E.S office will be closed from June 20th (normal hours, but closing by 2pm that Friday) and will reopen for the Summer on July 7th. Summer hours, based on volunteer availability, will be Monday and Wednesday from 11-1, and Fridays from 10 -12.  If anyone is interested in volunteering for the Y.E.S office for the summer, please contact Wendy Weinstein at wendy59@optonline.net.

What parents may not realize is that children say parental disapproval of underage drinking is the key reason they have chosen not to drink.

Charles Curie, former Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) administrator, US Dept. of Health and Human Services

YOU ARE INVITED!

Spring Athletes and their Families Wanted!

The Maroon and White Spring Awards  Cook-Out

To honor our athletes

Tuesday June 3rd, 2008 at 6 pm

Rain or Shine

At  Scarsdale High School( outside Brewster Rd Entrance)

Gym (In case of rain)

**Seniors arrive by 5:30

Spring Athletes are our guests

$10 Adults

$5 Children

Please email Gail Leone with questions( leonetg22@optonline.net)

Dear Parents,

The Senior Class has been working hard on the production of Bye Bye Birdie for the annual senior class play. There will be two performances, Friday (May 30) and Saturday (May 31), held at the Scarsdale High School Auditorium at 7:30 pm. The play has been entirely run by seniors, from acting, to directing, to choreographing, despite the fact that the majority of the cast and crew has never performed in a play before.  It is one of the last events that the seniors get to share with each other and the community before they graduate. We would like to invite all of you, your families, and your friends to join us for an awesome night.  Tickets will be sold at the auditorium at $12 for children and $15 for adults.

We hope to see you there!
SHS Senior Class Government

Congratulations to Rena Schwartzbaum, the newly elected member of the HS Compact Team.

Thanks to all candidates who participated in the election, and to all those who voted. 

Our Quaker Ridge construction is complete!  In the center of our brand new building will be a brick courtyard for all to enjoy.  Installation is planned for Fall '08.
You are invited to “BUY A BRICK” and personally inscribe a name on a brick that will be forever part of the Quaker Ridge landscape.  This is a perfect opportunity for end of year gifts: your family or a graduate, a well-loved teacher, a memorial… the list goes on and on.
Bricks are $100.00.   Please fill out the information below and include your check made payable to QRPTA and mail it to Buy A Brick (QRPTA), Quaker Ridge School, 125 Weaver Street, Scarsdale, NY, 10583 or place it in the box marked bricks in the main office.
Any questions: Julia Soning soning4@aol.com

Name:___________________________  Phone:_________________

Email:_________________________________

No of bricks__________@ $100 =   $___________
                                        Total      $___________

Inscription (no more than 14 letters per line including spaces, 3 lines max)

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

Join us Saturday May 24th for our annual Memorial Day Music Fest from 6-11PM. Local Bands and entertainment as well as a bicycle rodeo for kids grades K-5. Registration for the bicycle rodeo will begin at 4pm and live music begins at 6pm. Fun for the whole family.

PLEASE BE SURE TO NOTE THESE UPDATED TIMES!!
 
 
SCARSDALE HGH SCHOOL PTA
cordially  invites you and your family
 to our annual Pre-Prom Reception
  Thursday, June 5, 4:15 to 5:30 PM
    SHS Brewster Road Entrance

 
BUSES DEPART FOR THE PROM PROMPTLY AT 5:30 PM
 
Celebrate this SHS tradition and enjoy great photo opportunities
and refreshments!
 
Thank You.
The SHS PTA Pre-Prom Committee
Nancy Gilbert, Chair
Elise Flagg, Shelley Goldwasser, Susan Livingston, Linda Mantis, Maryann Petrescu, Lisa Rodman, Sandi Schwartz, Nancy Steinberg, Barbara Tartell

May 20

Dear Parents,

I am writing to provide you with an update on yesterday and the state of the school this morning.

None us can say that we felt “good” in an way about yesterday, but we can say that we responded with care and sensitivity to our students, especially to those who needed comfort and support.  Our counselors, our psychologists, our Youth Outreach workers, our teachers, our support staff, and administrators all followed classes throughout the day and provided students with an opportunity to speak about their feelings and to process the death of one of their peers.  Certainly there were students who were closer to Akshay than others, and teachers and other school personnel responded accordingly.  But the most important thing I want to communicate to you is that while “school” did go on, our most important job yesterday was to help teenagers deal with the immensity of death, an awesome task for anyone, and especially for the young.

Today, kids seem to be back to the details of school, although I did observe Akshay's Civ Ed group putting up a bulletin board where they will leave messages about him that will ultimately be presented to his family in book form.  Those are the kinds of kids you send to us, and we are grateful for them every day.

John

Dear Parents,

I know you are aware of the death of one of our freshman students, Ashkay Menon, especially in light of the message you received from me last evening.  I am writing to let you know that the message sent to you was actually intended for our staff. I had the assistance of a technical support person from Connect-Ed, the firm we use to send messages regarding emergency situations who guided me through the message development process.  For whatever reason, the message to be delivered to the staff actually was sent to all high school parents as well.  

The tone of the message was essentially informative.  It was designed to alert teachers know that there was a crisis situation and that a group of us would be meeting to discuss next steps on Monday morning.  Clearly I would have developed a very different message for parents with an emphasis on how we planned to care for your children on this difficult day. I hope you'll chalk this up to a technical glitch and that you understand it was not my intention to speak less supportively of our student body to you.  That has been at the forefront of our efforts this morning, and I can safely report that we have mobilized a large group of deans, youth outreach workers, administrators, teachers, and psychologists to attend to the emotional needs of our students on this sad day.

We have reached out to the students' family and they have indicated that while there are no plans beyond a personal service, they would indeed appreciate the calls and visits of students who were friends of Akshay Menon.  I know that a group of students has expressed plans to gather at the train station later to hold a vigil in Akshay's memory.  I personally believe this is not the place to show grief, and I will be encouraging students to call or visit the Menon home.  I would appreciate your efforts to steer students in that direction.  

We mourn the loss of one of our own, and we send our heartfelt condolences to his family.  As I mentioned to groups of students this morning, we ultimately have only one another to rely upon in situations like this.  We are there for your children; they are there for one another; and I know you are always there for them.

John

Please mark your calendar for the 2008-9 school budget vote.
The PTA encourages all eligible voters in your house to vote on:
 
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
7am – 9pm
 Scarsdale Middle School
 
Designated parking provided for voters.
 
Your vote matters!

All are WELCOME to a CHILD FORUM.

Discuss topics of concern and share your feedback on how CHILD can better serve you next year.

Tuesday, May 27
Fox Meadow Multipurpose Room
7:30 pm

CHILD (Children Having Individual Learning Differences) is a committee of the PT Council. 

Please be aware of a change in location for tonight's party in honor of Maureen.
Due to rain, the party will be held in the SHS Cafeteria from 6pm-8pm.

P.S. If you have not yet R.S.V.P.'d, please bring cash or a check payable to SHS in
the amount of $15 per person.

Thank you.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Dear Parents,

At Monday night's Board of Education Meeting, a panel of teachers and administrators along with PTA President Liz Gruber will participate in a study session with the Board about the Advanced Topics Program.  We will review the work of the two committees charged with overseeing the implementation of the program over the past year as well as the “lessons” we've learned from this first year of implementation.  Parent members of the committees will also be on hand to answer any questions Board members might have for them.  

As usual, the meeting will be televised, but if you'd care to join us in the Board Room at 8 p.m., please do so.

Sincerely,

John Klemme

Students and their families are formally invited to the Volunteer Service Recognition Assembly which will be held in the HS Auditorium on Thursday, May 15th at 7:30 p.m.  Those students who have submitted their applications and have volunteered at least twenty hours with a community organization, student service club, or a school volunteer job will be recognized.  Students should arrive at the HS by 7:00 p.m. to check-in.
 
Please contact Gail Dobosh, Ldobosh@aol.com, 472-8938 or Kim Meyers, Kimschles@aol.com, 725-2017 with any questions.

Please plan on attending our last PTA general membership meeting of the school year.
Friday, May 16th, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.,  rooms 170-172 in the high school

An exciting program will follow the business portion of the meeting.  SHS Art History teacher, Beth Colleary, will give a presentation on American artist, Edward Hopper.

Lunch will be served.  Click here to RSVP so that we can determine how many people will attend.

We will vote on the following slate of incoming PTA officers:

President - Liz Gruber
Vice President - Alice Herman
President-Elect - Julie Hoofnagle
Secretary - Beth Zadek
Treasurer - Geralyn Della Cava
Scholarship Treasurer - Irene Drivas
Communications Secretary - Lauri Carey

We will also vote to elect a new representative for the High School Compact for Learning team. A ballot will be provided at the meeting.

Voting for the one open parent position on the Scarsdale High School Compact Committee will take place on Friday, May 16 at the PTA meeting at the High School from 11:30am – 1:00pm.
 
You may cast a vote for one of the 8 candidates running for the Compact position.  The profiles of the candidates are available on http://www.shspta.org/compactcommittee.htm.
 
If you are not able to attend this meeting, you can file your absentee vote by printing a ballot at http://www.shspta.org/compactballot.htm, and dropping off the form in the box in the Main Office during the week of May 12.  Please remember to include your name, which can be detached from the rest of the ballot, and both parts should be placed in the box in the office.  All absentee votes must be cast by 11:30am on May 16.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the HS Nominating Committee Chair, Penny Bauersfeld, at bauersfeld@aol.com.

    The Board of Education of the Scarsdale Union Free School District will hold a public hearing on Tuesday evening, July 1, 2008.  The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on any proposed changes to the District Safety Plan and the Code of Conduct received at the Board meeting on June 2, 2008.

    The July 1, 2008, hearing will take place at 8:00 p.m. in Room 170-172 in the Board of Education wing of Scarsdale High School, 2 Brewster Road, Scarsdale, immediately prior to the regularly scheduled Board business meeting in the same room.
    
The Board expects to take action at the business meeting following to approve the District Safety Plan and the Code of Conduct as revised or to re-affirm the current plans.  The public is also invited to communicate comments in writing by addressing them to the Board of Education at 2 Brewster Road.

    For further information or copies of the plans, please call the District Clerk at  721-2410 or check the District website (www.scarsdaleschools.org, Board of Education page).



Lois Q. Rehm
District Clerk
Scarsdale Board of Education
5/19/08

Very Important Message To All Seniors and their Parents:
 
The time of the pre-prom at the high school and the departure time of the buses from the high school to the prom on Thursday, June 5 have been changed as follows:
 
PRE-PROM WILL BEGIN AT 4:15 AND WILL END AT 5:30 WITH
 
BUSES FOR THE PROM DEPARTING THE HIGH SCHOOL AT 5:30 PROMPTLY.
 
Since the prom will be in Brooklyn, the pre-prom and bus departure times have been changed to ensure a timely arrival at the prom!
 
Parents, please be sure to make your senior student aware of these changes!  The pre-prom begins and the buses depart for the prom earlier than on the printed invitation!!!  PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THESE TIMES!!
 
Thank you.
 
The Pre-Prom and Prom Committees
 
 

In addition to a brief description of some initiatives for the 2008-09 school year by Principal John Klemme, the members of the Compact Committee will present preliminary findings from a survey recently administered to all students about the sources of stress at the High School. 

Following this presentation, parents are invited to engage in a conversation about their own perceptions about the causes and effects of student stress.

Scarsdale high school's Fine and Performing Arts Departments  celebrate the arts by presenting the First Spring Arts Festival, a two week festival which showcases the high school artists.

Tuesday May 6th, from 7-10pm:
    o    The High School Orchestra Concert takes place in the high school auditorium (Brewster road entrance) from 8-9:15 PM.
    o    The High School Art Department will host a Student Art show in the “Positive Space Gallery” on the second floor.
    o    “Open Art studios” with Hands on demonstrations of art by SHS students will follow the     concert from 9-10 PM.  The hands on demonstrations will include:
    *  computer graphics, computer animation, video editing, in Room 206
    *  making photographs in the darkroom, enlarger work, developing images, outside studio, matting, mounting photos in Room 208
    *  drawing, painting, architecture model building in Room 211
    *  hand building clay work, throwing pots on the potter's wheels, glazing pottery, sculptural clay work, glass work in Room 215
    *  drawing, painting in Room 273 and 276

The Friends of Music and the Arts will host a reception on the second floor following the concert.  Admission is free for both concert and art show and all are welcome to attend.

Friday May 9th and Sat May 10 at 7:30 PM in the high school auditorium.
The High school Drama students present "Behind the Curtain:  an actor prepares" a glimpse at the way students learn the art of acting.  High School students will perform exercises, improvisations, stories, songs and scenes.
Admission cost $5.00 and tickets can be purchased at the door.  All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday May 13th, from 7-10pm:
    o    The High School Band Concert takes place in the high school auditorium (Brewster Road entrance) from 8-9:15 PM
    o    The High School Art Department will host a Student Art show in the “Positive Space Gallery” on the second floor. The gallery will be open from 7-10pm..
    o    “Open Art studios” with Hands on demonstrations of art by SHS students will follow the concert from 9-10 PM.  The hands on demonstrations will include:
        *  computer graphics, computer animation, video editing, in Room 206
        *  making photographs in the darkroom, enlarger work, developing images, outside studio, matting, mounting photos in Room 208
        *  drawing, painting, architecture model building in Room 211
        *  hand building clay work, throwing pots on the potter's wheels, glazing pottery, sculptural clay work, glass work in Room 215
        *  drawing, painting in Room 273 and 276

Background music will be performed near the art gallery by high school students and The Friends of Music and the Arts will host a reception on the second floor following the concert.  Admission is free for both concert and art show. All are welcome to attend.

Dear Parents,   

I am writing to inform you of a new program that has just been launched at Scarsdale High School. AskAnything is a student-developed initiative specifically designed to provide students the opportunity to seek help and feel comfortable doing so. Students will be able to seek advice about anything on their minds and receive an answer from one of two sources. They can hear from  a trained, non-judgmental, unbiased student (called a RealKid), or from a school psychologist. It is the student's choice.

You can be confident that students will receive a response from someone trained and qualified to provide this advice. AskAnything is located on the Scarsdale High School website and students may expect a response within one to two days. The school's psychology department will be directly involved in every response. I believe this program has great merit, and I enthusiastically endorse this new resource.     

John Klemme

More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug except marijuana.

www.theantidrug.com/drug_info/prescription_dangers.asp

There is one vacancy for a parent representative on the High School Compact for Learning Team.  To place your name in nomination for this position, please click:

http://www.shspta.org/compactcommitteeapp2008.htm

to apply online.  Read the description, and at the bottom, click to place your name and biographical information in nomination.

The Compact for Learning is a New York State mandated team whose mission is to provide opportunities for parents, teachers, students, support staff and administrators to participate in shared decision-making regarding educational policies and issues.  Compact teams have been in place in all seven of the Scarsdale Schools since 1994.  The Compact team meets regularly throughout the year, typically in the early morning before school.  This year, the Compact team at SHS has been discussing student stress and ways to address it in our school.

If you have any questions, please contact the High School Nominating Committee Chair, Penny Bauersfeld, bauersfeld@aol.com.

Please plan on attending our last PTA general membership meeting of the school year.
Friday, May 16th, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.,  rooms 170-172 in the high school

An exciting program will follow the business portion of the meeting.  SHS Art History teacher, Beth Colleary, will give a presentation on American artist, Edward Hopper.

Lunch will be served.  Click here to RSVP so that we can determine how many people will attend.

We will vote on the following slate of incoming PTA officers:

President - Liz Gruber
Vice President - Alice Herman
President-Elect - Julie Hoofnagle
Secretary - Beth Zadek
Treasurer - Geralyn Della Cava
Scholarship Treasurer - Irene Drivas
Communications Secretary - Lauri Carey

We will also vote to elect a new representative for the high school Compact for Learning team. A ballot will be provided at the meeting.

Wednesday, April 30th at 7:30pm
Fox Meadow  School
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Do you have a student currently at the Middle School or High School?

Please Join our CHILD meeting to learn about SUPPORT for both Classified and Non-Classified students at the HIGH SCHOOL.  

Our speakers are Loryn Solomon,  Department Chairperson, High School Special Education and Susan LaSalle,  CSE Department Chairperson

There will be a presentation on all support services available in the High School followed by questions.  

Dr. Michael Mendelson, Director of Special Education will also be present to answer any questions.

At the Board of Education meeting on Monday April 14th, district administration will provide an education report unveiling recommendations on additional world language instruction in the district. The Board meets at 8 pm in room 170-172 of SHS.  The meeting will also be televised. Check your TV provider for station information.

REMINDER:  All applications for Volunteer Service Recognition are due this Friday, April 18th.  Completed application may be left in the box in Mr. Klemme's office or faxed to 722-2821.

Applications are available to download and print at  www.shspta.org/volunteerserviceinfo.htm.  Applications will also be available in the Dean's office.  

For questions or additional information, please contact Gail Dobosh, Ldobosh@aol.com, 472-8938 or Kim Meyers, Kimschles@aol.com, 725-2017.

Please check on the whereabouts of your child's EPIPEN if he/she uses
the Learning Resource Center. One was found in the LRC this morning.

If your child carries an EPIPEN, please take this opportunity to check
that he/she still has it, that it has not expired and that  his/her name
is on it.

Thanks and please send the owner of this found one to my office on
Monday to claim it.

Karen Steefel

Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out:  The Hidden Nature of Aggression in Girls spoke April10th to parents at SMS.  Her lecture was recorded and will be televised.  Check the www.scarsdaleschools.org television listing section for more information.

SCARSDALE BOARD OF EDUCATION
COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETING AT QUAKER RIDGE SCHOOL
THURSDAY, APRIL 17 AT 7:30 P.M.
 
Come to hear and discuss the 2008-09 school budget and the proposed tax increase in Scarsdale and the Mamaroneck strip. This is an opportunity to ask questions and make your concerns known.

April 2008


Dear Parents of Scarsdale High School Seniors,

On behalf of the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College, congratulations on your student’s upcoming graduation from Scarsdale High School.

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
As your family makes final decisions regarding college, please be aware that the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund provides need-based scholarships to graduating seniors to help offset freshman-year tuition costs.

Financial need, not academic achievement, is the primary criterion used for awarding scholarships. Grants generally range from $1000 to $6000.  To qualify, a student must be a graduating senior of Scarsdale High School and be able to demonstrate financial need.  Should a college reject an application for financial aid, the grant committee may nevertheless determine that the circumstances of the student warrant financial assistance from the Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship applications and Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms are available in the Dean’s office, as well as online.  The scholarship application can be downloaded from a link at www.SHSPTA.com. The SHS PTA Scholarship Fund requires copies of the FAFSA form and tax returns as part of the application package.

Completed scholarship applications must be submitted no later than May 5, 2008.  All applications are handled with the strictest confidence. The applications are reviewed only after all identifying information is removed from the application.

HELP GIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
A flyer is attached describing the Gift of Education. Honor a graduate, a special teacher or a Dean through a gift to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College, and help all SHS graduates to continue their education. The Scholarship Fund gift cards are printed and ready for you to personalize.

Please contact the Fund Chair (Tara Smith Tyberg, 723-0589, tst1123@aol.com) or Vice Chair (Susie Rush, 472-7797, shrush@optonline.net) to answer any questions.

Sincerely,


        Tara Smith Tyberg          Susie Rush            Liz Gruber
                Chair              Vice Chair               SHS PTA President
Give the Gift of Education
SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College  

Honor a graduate, a special teacher or Dean through a gift to the Scholarship Fund.  What better way to honor a special graduate, or express your gratitude to your child’s teacher or Dean while contributing to a cause that will help a  Scarsdale graduate continue his or her education?  

To order cards for graduates or teachers, please complete the form below.  All  donations to the Scholarship Fund are fully tax-deductible. 

School district:   E     FM     GA     H   QR 

Name________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________ Email__________________________Phone________________  

Quantity: please CIRCLE teacher or graduate cards  

____Pkg of 2 teacher/ graduate cards & envelopes @ $30   _____       
____Pkg of 4 teacher/graduate cards & envelopes @ $60     _____        
____Pkg of 10 teacher/graduate cards & envelopes @ $100 _____
 ____Total packs                                               $$ enclosed   _____   

Mail this form, along with a check payable to SHS PTA Scholarship Fund, by May 30, to:  PO Box 147H, Scarsdale, NY  10583           
Tara Smith Tyberg (723-0589 – TST1123@aol.com) for questions. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

I would like to make an additional contribution to this Fund to help more Scarsdale graduates continue their education. 
Name:____________________________________________ Donation:_________________________________________  

Wednesday, April 30th at 7:30pm
Fox Meadow  School
2nd Floor Multipurpose Room

Do you have a student currently at the Middle School or High School?

Please Join our CHILD meeting to learn  about SUPPORT for both Classified and Non-Classified students at the HIGH SCHOOL.  

Our speakers are Loryn Solomon,  Department Chairperson, High School Special Education and Susan LaSalle,  CSE Department Chairperson

There will be a presentation on all support  services available in the High School followed by  questions.  

Dr. Michael Mendelson, Director of Special Education will  also be present  to answer any  questions.

SCARSDALE PT COUNCIL IS PROUD TO PRESENT

RACHEL SIMMONS
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF
ODD GIRL OUT:  THE HIDDEN CULTURE OF AGGRESSION IN GIRLS

THURSDAY, APRIL 10TH
9:30AM
SCARSDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Simmons book explores the phenomenon of bullying among girls.  Her talk will help you develop strategies to address bullying and empower your daughter.

We hope to see you there.

The PT Council gratefully acknowledges the support of
United Way of Scarsdale-Edgemont, our partner in this program

Mark Sterner, a fraternity member at Johnson and Wales University, learned a powerful lesson while on Spring Break.  He was drunk behind the wheel when a crash claimed the lives of three of his friends.  Mark suffered serious injuries and spent almost three years in prison.  Since his release, he has spoken to over a million people around the United States, telling his story and warning of the dangers of drunk driving.  Mark puts real faces to the tragic consequences of impaired driving by showing videotape the friends made of their Spring Break, ending just minutes before the crash.  He has been praised as a powerful speaker whose message is of tremendous importance to young people and to their parents.  In addition to this presentation for parents, Mark will be speaking to all students at SHS on April 14th.  Please join us.


For further information about Mr. Sterner, please go to this link:

REMINDER:  Applications for Volunteer Service Recognition are due on April 18th.  Completed application may be left in the box in Mr. Klemme's office or faxed to
722-2821.

Applications are available to download and print at http://www.shspta.org/volunteerserviceinfo.htm.  Applications will also be available in the Dean's office.  

Please note that students who volunteer a minimum of 20 hours during the course of the school year will be honored at this year's Volunteer Service Recognition Assembly on Thursday, May 15th at 7:30 pm.  Additional eligibility criteria for the Volunteer Service certificates are as follows:
o    The student has completed at least 20 hours of volunteer service to one job at school or one community service organization/service club during the current school year.  This should be 20 hours of service to one job or organization, not 5 hours at 4 places.
o    The service can be performed on school days, on weekends, or during school holiday breaks; service during the summer months is not eligible.
o    The volunteer work is non-religious in nature.  For example, helping with religious instruction is not eligible for this recognition, but working at a church soup kitchen or for a temple-based social program is eligible.
o    The volunteer work is not done as part of another recognition program.
o    Additional recognition will be given to students who volunteer more than 40 hours or more than 70 hours with one organization.

For questions or additional information, please contact Gail Dobosh, Ldobosh@aol.com, 472-8938 or Kim Meyers, Kimschles@aol.com, 725-2017.