Scarsdale High School PTA

As part of our continuing effort to provide information about the Scarsdale Advanced Topics Program, this report details the work of students in AT Art History and AT Studio Art.

(Maria DeAngelis, Chair, SHS Fine Arts Department)

In the AT Art History classes, students work with primary sources of art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and other NYC art museums. Their research into subject matter has less to do with memorizing names and dates and more to do with placing  students in the role of art historians, investigating and comparing primary sources and art objects as representative of a culture in a given time and place.

Thus far, typical projects assigned have included investigating the origins and iconography of a chosen Egyptian work in the collection, working with essential questions about the object's purpose and meaning, gender representations, funerary practices, and stylistic changes of the Amarna period.

A lesson in Greek art, based on the collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, asked students to choose works representing the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic styles.  Students investigated the similarities and differences among the periods and  located works that show the contrast between Greek idealism and Roman realism, the hallmarks of the two respective periods and styles.

In another branch of the Museum, Dutch Baroque still life and genre paintings were analyzed to see what insights they provide into the culture and the values of the affluent merchant class in Holland in the seventeenth century.

As part of the Early Renaissance unit, students viewed and discussed how Ghiberti's bronze gilded panels from the Gates of Paradise (as they were first called by Michelangelo) are consummate expressions of that style in Florence, capturing the new mastery of perspective, space, and the classical figure.  Students had the unique opportunity to view these art treasures on loan to the Metropolitan for the very first time.   

In Advanced Topics Studio Art, the curriculum has been extended to include problems dealing with creative investigations of three-dimensional works, Students are no longer limited to creating two-dimensional works of art as required by the AP portfolio.  

Students have just completed an assignment based on sculptural installations. They were each given a school locker in which to base their installations. Working with sculptural concepts and a variety of materials, students created an extremely diverse collection of installations based on themes that are personally meaningful to them. The completed installations included a mini-gallery, a winter landscape with ski slopes, a basketball court, and a street scene (Click here to see photos).

Comparable to a college foundation curriculum, students keep daily sketchbook journals where they record their creative responses to their visual research, reflect on significant issues, and document their expressive directions.

Dear Scarsdale High School Seniors and Families:

The Scarsdale Teen Center is proud to announce its first spring break trip.  This trip is exclusively for Scarsdale and Edgemont High School seniors.  It is an opportunity to help rebuild a city that is still recovering from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.  In short, this is the ideal trip for high school seniors looking for a fun and meaningful spring break experience.

While in New Orleans our group will work with Habitat for Humanity in the Musicians’ Village, an area dedicated to providing affordable housing to professional musicians and families with young children displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  When not at the construction site, we will enjoy first-class jazz music, Cajun cuisine, bayou wildlife, and all the beautiful sights of New Orleans such as the French Quarter, Audubon Park, and Congo Square coordinated by Rustic Pathways, a travel program committed to providing high quality community service programs for high school students.  I hope you’ll join us!

Please visit www.scarsdaleteencenter.com for more information.  

Jessica Edelman, Director
Tashica Clarke, Assistant Director

20 year old Justin was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma  a bone cancer in June of this year.  He is currently being treated at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center.  In his treatment, Justin is using blood and blood products.  

Few people realize how much blood is needed by patients in our community.  Also, this time of year when we all become preoccupied with the holidays, school vacations and family events, the blood supply can drop to dangerous levels.   

Family, Friends and the community are encouraged to donate for Justin.  

Please email Linda P. Nussbaum at lindapnussbaum@gmail.com or Max Shutran at mss2119@columbia.edu to let us know if you can donate blood or help out in any way.

Walk-ins are always welcome, but Appointments are encouraged at mroberts@nybloodcenter.org or 914-784-4633.  

Blood Donors must be 17 - 75 (16 years old with Parental Consent), weigh at least 110 lbs, be in good health (free of cold or flu) and have identification.  More complete eligibility details are available at www.nybloodcenter.org or if you have specific questions about eligibility, you may call New York Blood Center Community Health office at 1-800-688-0900

The number one place adolescents say they get their alcohol from is their own homes and the number one place they drink alcohol is at other people's homes.  
    Office of the Westchester County District Attorney
    Teenage Parties

Please plan on attending the joint PTA/PT Council Meeting on January 8th at 7:30 p.m. at the Middle School.

Elections for School Board Nominating Committee will be held.  Support your area nominees and VOTE!
 
An exciting program featuring Brandon Steiner will follow the business portion of the meeting.  Details are below.


Brandon is the founder and chairman of Steiner Sports Marketing, the largest company of its kind in America. Its inventory of collectibles includes more than 10,000 items and the company currently maintains relationships with over 5,000 professional athletes of today and yesteryear from virtually every sport.

Brandon has become a permanent fixture in the media and is commonly utilized as an expert commentator on all issues involving sports.  He is regularly featured on national news networks including CNBC, CNN, MSNBC, ESPN and in newspapers such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.  Brandon has guest lectured at some of the top business schools in the country including: The Harvard Business School, The Kellogg School of Business, Columbia and Yale among others.

He also devotes his time to several charities including sitting on the board of Camp Sussex, a camp for underprivileged children.  Brandon is also actively involved with Family Services of Westchester, which recently opened up a home for boys and helps to provide quality social and mental health services to strengthen families, children and individuals.

Brandon's book, The Business Playbook:  Leadership Lessons from the World of Sports, will be available for purchase.  All proceeds to benefit The Jerome Wagner Youth Residence for Boys in White Plains.

Join PT Council and Brandon for an interesting discussion and Q & A session.

Exciting door prizes including sports collectibles and Last Licks gift certificates!

CHILD invites you to join
Dr. Michael Mendelson, Director of Special Education &
Kristen Calderola, pediatric Occupational Therapist, for a discussion on Occupational Therapy

Tuesday, December 18, 7:30 pm
Fox Meadow Multipurpose Room

Topics will include:
What is occupational therapy?
What is my child doing during his or her sessions?
What is sensory integration and are sensory related activities part of Scarsdale's occupational services?

The Gift of Education

The SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College has served a crucial role in helping to finance the college education of many Scarsdale High School graduates.

Once again this year the Scholarship Fund is asking for your help in providing grants to help fund freshman-year costs to those students whose families are facing financial hardship. We all recognize the skyrocketing costs of college combined with unexpected illness, divorce, loss of a parent or loss of income; paying for college could become an impossibility...it could happen to any of us, and it does, even in Scarsdale.

The Scholarship Fund is dependent on your generous support, so please help ensure that our students who have worked so hard for college acceptances have the opportunity to attend. Donations can be made directly to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 147H, Scarsdale, New York 10583. You may consider ordering gift cards by filling out and mailing the form below, for a special teacher, friend or family member and give the gift of education for this holiday season.  The forms are also available at shspta.org.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tara Tyberg at tst1123@aol.com

Thank you so much for your support.

SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 HAPPY HOLIDAYS      
Give the Gift of Education for the Holidays   

This holiday season, instead of giving the standard teacher gifts, 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 taxdeductible. To order your cards, please complete the form below.  

School_________________________________________________  Name__________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ Email____________________________Phone_________________   

A packet of Holiday cards includes 4 cards and envelopes.
Each packet is a $60.00 donation.    

I would like to order______packet(s) @ $60 each totaling $______. Mail this order form, along with your check payable to the SHS PTA  Scholarship Fund, to: PO Box 147H, Scarsdale, NY  10583  

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC 10 TH   

An email will be sent to you when your order is available for pick up from your school PTA.  Questions?  Tara Smith Tyberg, 723-0589 or tst1123@aol.com

Dear Parents,
 
   The Scarsdale High School Senior Options Committee is trying to expand the sponser database. In case you are unfamiliar with the Senior Options Program, Senior Options is a program that every Scarsdale High School senior partakes in during the last quarter of senior year. In this program, seniors of SHS will become interns for various different companies or individuals who have occupations that interest the seniors. The Senior Options Committee is trying to recruit more sponsers, such as businesses or individuals, who are willing to take on SHS seniors as interns for a few weeks at the end of the school year. We want to provide a meaningful and educational experience for SHS seniors, and by expanding our sponsers we would be able to provide a larger array of choices that could be of genuine interest to the students. Since the Scarsdale PTA is very organized and is filled with many parents who are interested in the affairs of the community, we thought that reaching out to the parents would be a very effective way of recruiting new sponsers.
 
    Being a sponser would mean giving a 12th grade SHS student an intern-type of role at your place of business. To be in the database, all sponsers must provide their name, a brief description of the job, their phone number, and email address.
 
   If any of you parents are willing to help out or know anyone who is willing to help out in our search for more sponsers, please email Jennifer Nowierski, an SHS Senior Options Committe senior representative at jlnowierski@gmail.com.   Also, if anyone has any questions, feel free to email as well!
 
 I sincerely hope that we can continue expanding the Senior Options program in order to help students understand their interests and life goals. With the help of all of you, I know we can make that happen!
 
Thank you!
 
     - SHS Senior '08  Jennifer Nowierski

The Gift of Education

The SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College has served a crucial role in helping to finance the college education of many Scarsdale High School graduates.

Once again this year the Scholarship Fund is asking for your help in providing grants to help fund freshman-year costs to those students whose families are facing financial hardship. We all recognize the skyrocketing costs of college combined with unexpected illness, divorce, loss of a parent or loss of income; paying for college could become an impossibility...it could happen to any of us, and it does, even in Scarsdale.

The Scholarship Fund is dependent on your generous support, so please help ensure that our students who have worked so hard for college acceptances have the opportunity to attend. Donations can be made directly to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 147H, Scarsdale, New York 10583. You may consider ordering gift cards by filling out and mailing the form below, for a special teacher, friend or family member and give the gift of education for this holiday season.  The forms are also available at shspta.org.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tara Tyberg at tst1123@aol.com

Thank you so much for your support.

SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 HAPPY HOLIDAYS      
Give the Gift of Education for the Holidays   

This holiday season, instead of giving the standard teacher gifts, 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 taxdeductible. To order your cards, please complete the form below.  

School_________________________________________________  Name__________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________ Email____________________________Phone_________________   

A packet of Holiday cards includes 4 cards and envelopes.
Each packet is a $60.00 donation.    

I would like to order______packet(s) @ $60 each totaling $______. Mail this order form, along with your check payable to the SHS PTA  Scholarship Fund, to: PO Box 147H, Scarsdale, NY  10583  

ALL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC 10 TH   

An email will be sent to you when your order is available for pick up from your school PTA.  Questions?  Tara Smith Tyberg, 723-0589 or tst1123@aol.com

Over the last ten years, we have all experienced concern for our family's safety with the emergence of the West-Nile virus, SARS, and most recently the fear of a bird flu pandemic. A pandemic event would alter how we live - our jobs, our children's schooling, and our social interactions. How do you protect your family? What preparations are being made on the local, state, and federal level in the event of a pandemic? Ms. Levin will be speaking to us about these issues following a two-month assignment to India, where she will have developed a health needs assessment during and post disaster.

KAREN L. LEVIN is project manager for Columbia University's Center for Public Health Preparedness and National Center for Disaster Preparedness. She was Regional Bioterrorism Epidemiology Coordinator for the Metropolitan region of the New York State Department of Health. Ms. Levin served with the World Health Organization's Polio Eradication AFRO team in Ethiopia. She was active in the New York City Department of Health response to the World Trade Center attacks and subsequent Anthrax release investigation. Earlier in her career she participated in the first response teams to West Nile Virus in New York and SARS in California. Ms. Levin has a degree in nursing and a Master's in Public Health. She is a certified Health Education Specialist and maintains her disaster responder status with Health and Human Services.

Date/Time:    Tuesday, 12/4; 7:30-9:00 pm
Location:    Scarsdale High School
Cost:    FREE

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME _____________________________________________

ADDRESS _____________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP _______________________________________

DAY PHONE   _______________ EVE PHONE _________________
                
EMAIL (internal use only) __________________________________________

Please complete the form and mail it to the address below, with a check made to Scarsdale Adult School.

You may register online using a credit card.

Scarsdale Adult School
P.O. Box 205
Scarsdale, NY  10583

MAROON AND WHITE HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT- Nov. 29, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1, 2007
 
The Maroon and White Holiday Basketball Tournament featuring the SHS Varsity Girls' and Boys' teams will be held at Scarsdale High School on Thursday, November 29th at 5 pm and 7 pm, Friday, November 30th at 6 pm and 8 pm, and Saturday, December 1st at 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm .  FREE terry cloth wristbands will be given away to students at the Friday evening games, while supplies last.  Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for students and children 5 and under are free.  Come and support Raider Basketball!
 

What are your children planning to do this summer? Need some ideas?
Here's the perfect opportunity...

THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES FAIR

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
7:30-9:30 PM
SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

Meet representatives from a wide variety of summer programs:
Pre-college enrichment, sports, music, theater, travel, community service, language immersion, outdoor adventure, environmental studies, travel in U.S.A. and abroad, leadership and more...

Speak with students who have participated, see videos, pick up brochures and get lots of great information!

Bring your friends!

ADMISSION IS FREE


sponsored by the SMS and SHS PTAs

As part of our continuing news about developments in Advanced Topics classes, we are featuring this summary of the work of Social Studies courses during the first quarter of this school year.   

What's New in the Social Studies Department Advanced Topics Classes  
First Quarter - 2007   

Comparative Government  

The Advanced Topics Comparative Government class has spent the last quarter in an intensive investigation of  globalization and its impact on India and within Europe.  In their study of India, the Comparative Government class has done extensive reading of scholarly periodicals such as Foreign Affairs and other publications as they examine the impact of outsourcing on India. In particular, the AT Comparative Government classes have investigated the impact that globalization has had on the Indian village system that is such a vital component of Indian political and social structure.  Furthermore, during the first quarter, the AT Comparative Government class debated the relationship between Britain and the European Union.  With the political ascendancy of Gordon Brown in the United Kingdom and Nicolas Sarkozy in France, the AT Comparative Government class conducted a number of spirited debates about the future of the European Union as both a political and economic force within Europe.          


AT Western Civilization  

The Advanced Topics course in Western Civilization over the past quarter has included a vastly expanded roster of readings including many primary documents such as Jonathan Swift's landmark essay "A Modest Proposal."  Further, the course now includes close readings of noted historiographic works written by experts in the field.  Most recently, AT Western Civilization students read excerpts from the work of the noted economic historian Joel Mokyr of Northwestern University.  As for the current events component of the curriculum, Advanced Topics in Western Civilization also included an expanded coverage with students writing two in-depth news analyses this quarter about current global economic and political events.       


AT United States History  

Advanced Topics U.S. History students in the first quarter have participated in activities that have deepened and enriched their learning. Some of these activities have included participation in the Lincoln Center Visiting Artists program which including a performance of the play "Fly" dramatizing the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen and the civil rights struggles of the 1940s and 1950s.  Work with Lincoln Center program also coincided with the visit of Dr. Terrence Roberts, a member of the "The Little Rock Nine" who were the first students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.  Other AT United States History classes have done an extensive investigation of slavery.  Using over 80 primary documents, students wrote their own history of slavery in the United States.  Incorporating current events into the curriculum, some classes began the year with an in-depth investigation into the history of Iraq and U.S. involvement in the region. At the beginning of the second quarter, teachers and classes will also have an opportunity to meet and dialogue with Professor Virginia Drachman (SHS class of 1967) of Tufts University who is a noted scholar in American history.         


AT Economics  

Students in the Advanced Topics in Economics have addressed many of the current issues facing the United States economy.  Students have conducted in depth investigations of issues such as the federal minimum wage and the current state of the U.S. macro-economy.  In particular, students have studied the impact of the recent collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market and its impact on the U.S. economy.  The quarter ended with students writing a state of the U.S. economy paper which required them to synthesize the conflicting data from the third quarter of 2007.       


AT United States Government  

Students in the Advanced Topics course in U.S. Government have had a rich array of experiences this past quarter focusing closely on contemporary foreign policy issues facing the United States.  Students this past quarter studied the rise of Islamic militancy and the United States' responses to the threat posed by fundamentalist Islam.  To this end, AT U.S. Government students read the Pulitzer Prize winning book The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright.  Study of this text was then followed up by a lecture from Professor Fawaz Gerges of Sarah Lawrence College who is one of the most noted scholars on the rise of jihadism within the Islamic world.   This past quarter, classes have also expanded their study of campaigns and elections and drawn links to the upcoming Presidential primary elections in January.   


AT Psychology  

The Advanced Topics Psychology class began the year with an investigation of bio-psychology, neuropsychology and the role of perception and sensation.  As the first quarter progressed, students moved into the creation and execution of their own psychological studies.  Based on the seminal research of Abraham Maslow and Stanley Milgram on conformity and obedience, AT Psychology students have learned the necessary steps of formal psychological research, including the creation of a study that required a preliminary presentation to an institutional review board.  At the beginning of the second quarter, students have continued their study of psychology while also conducting the subsequent steps of their self-designed conformity and obedience studies. The class also continued close readings of contemporary psychological research in scholarly publications.
     

This holiday season, the Scarsdale High School Government is
sponsoring a canned food drive between November 19th and November
30th.  In an effort to combat hunger in our county, we are asking all
students to donate food items, which will ultimately be donated to the
Westchester Food Bank. The food should be deposited at the Brewster
and Post Road entrances. Please remind your kids about this event, so
we, as a school, can take one step towards ending hunger.

School Government

Over the last ten years, we have all experienced concern for our family's safety with the emergence of the West-Nile virus, SARS, and most recently the fear of a bird flu pandemic. A pandemic event would alter how we live - our jobs, our children's schooling, and our social interactions. How do you protect your family? What preparations are being made on the local, state, and federal level in the event of a pandemic? Ms. Levin will be speaking to us about these issues following a two-month assignment to India, where she will have developed a health needs assessment during and post disaster.

KAREN L. LEVIN is project manager for Columbia University's Center for Public Health Preparedness and National Center for Disaster Preparedness. She was Regional Bioterrorism Epidemiology Coordinator for the Metropolitan region of the New York State Department of Health. Ms. Levin served with the World Health Organization's Polio Eradication AFRO team in Ethiopia. She was active in the New York City Department of Health response to the World Trade Center attacks and subsequent Anthrax release investigation. Earlier in her career she participated in the first response teams to West Nile Virus in New York and SARS in California. Ms. Levin has a degree in nursing and a Master's in Public Health. She is a certified Health Education Specialist and maintains her disaster responder status with Health and Human Services.

Date/Time:    Tuesday, 12/4; 7:30-9:00 pm
Location:    Scarsdale High School
Cost:    FREE

#-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME _____________________________________________

ADDRESS _____________________________________________

CITY, STATE, ZIP _______________________________________

DAY PHONE   _______________ EVE PHONE _________________
                
EMAIL (internal use only) __________________________________________

Please complete the form and mail it to the address below, with a check made to Scarsdale Adult School.

You may register online using a credit card.

Scarsdale Adult School
P.O. Box 205
Scarsdale, NY  10583

In an ongoing effort to educate parents and children about the dangers of underage substance abuse, the Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol will start posting  monthly factoids for the parent community. Each month you can read an item that either gives a little nugget of knowledge, or is a good taking off point for a discussion between parent and child. You will find the factoid and details about the item on their website: www.scarsdaletaskforce.com/index

This month's factoid:

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that is responsible for a person's memory and learning ability. In an underage drinker the hippocampus can be 10% smaller than that part of the brain in an underage non-drinker.  Underage drinking affects the brain development of 12 to 21 year-olds.


If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions, please contact the Task Force.  Their email address is scarsdaletf2003@aol.com
 
--Ann Sacher & Melpo Fite
Co-chairs Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol

In case you were wondering..... it's not too late to become a member of the PTA!

We are trying to avoid spending $ on another snail mail membership request.  Almost  75% of you have already responded.  If you are among those who have not, please join now!


Brought to you by the PTA in October and November ALONE:

Parent Teacher Conferences
Multicultural Thanksgiving Lunch
Summer Activities Fair

Ongoing:
College and Career Center
Y.E.S. Office


These activities are administered by volunteers and are funded by your DUES.   We count on your support.    Please download the membership form and become a member today.   In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are very thankful for your support.

What are your children planning to do this summer? Need some ideas?
Here's the perfect opportunity...

THE SUMMER ACTIVITIES FAIR

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
7:30-9:30 PM
SCARSDALE HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

Meet representatives from a wide variety of summer programs:
Pre-college enrichment, sports, music, theater, travel, community service, language immersion, outdoor adventure, environmental studies, travel in U.S.A. and abroad, leadership and more...

Speak with students who have participated, see videos, pick up brochures and get lots of great information!

Bring your friends!

ADMISSION IS FREE


sponsored by the SMS and SHS PTAs

As advocates of our student theatrical artists, we are writing to urge you to attend this weekend’s SHS Drama Club annual musical production, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Please urge your children to attend as well. We’re hoping for a very full house because we want to show the kids how much the community values, respects and appreciates their efforts.

 Performances are: Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, November 18th at 3:00. The kids have been working really hard, there’s a lot of great talent, and it makes all the difference in the world to them when seats are filled. So please mark your calendars and be prepared to be entertained well beyond your expectation.

  Tickets are available at the door, $10 students, $15 adults. Thank you.

  Sincerely,

  Sandy Failla & Margo Kornfeld, Co-Presidents
  Friends of Music and the Arts

Another Epi-pen has been turned into the nurse's office. If your child has lost his/hers, it's here!

The last lost one was claimed by 2 students and was given to the first claimant. Perhaps this one has been missing for a while and belongs to the 2nd??

Send the owner to me.
Thanks,
Karen Steefel

What's coming up this week:

Wednesday, November 14th.  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.  All are welcome.

Wednesday, November 14th.  College Financial Planning for Parents of Seniors and Juniors.  7:30 PM in the Little Theater.

Thursday, November 15th.  Joint PT Council/ C.H.I.L.D. meeting featuring speaker, Jonathan Mooney.  Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer and activist who learned to read when he was 12 years old.  He since earned an honors degree in English Literature at Brown University and has written and published two books.  He will discuss how parents and teachers can help empower their student's educational experience.  This promises to be an interesting evening.  7:30 PM at the Middle School.

Thursday, November 15th.  Corrections to the directory are due.

Friday, November 16th,  Saturday, November 17th , and Sunday, November 18th. Drama Club Musical:  "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
 Performances are: Friday, November 16 and Saturday, November 17 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, November 18th at 3:00
 Tickets are available at the door, $10 students, $15 adults.

Dear Parents of High School students,  

Alcohol Edu for high school is a Web-based prevention program that engages students with facts and skills-based content and proven prevention techniques.  The program was developed by leading prevention experts at Outside the Classroom in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  
Any parent who would like to experience Alcohol Edu firsthand may do so with the following information. The survey takes between 1-2 hours to complete and works best from Internet Explorer.  You may take the survey in small increments of time and simply enter as a returning user. The survey includes a final exam.  All entries and responses are strictly confidential and no one has access to this information.  

Go to:  http://highschool.alcoholedu.com/login.asp
Use the following login:  7HH28443PARENT

You will be prompted to enter a user name and password and then simply follow the instructions on the screen.  

If you have any questions you may contact me.   
Emelie Sciarpelletti, District Health Coordinator 721-2321
 esciarpelletti@scarsdaleschools.org.  

Please plan on attending our next  SHS PTA meeting on Friday, November 2nd at 7:45 a.m. (morning meeting) in Room 170-172.

Following the business portion of the meeting, you'll hear from members of the math department about acceleration in the district and in particular, what to expect in math beginning with your student's entry from middle school through his/her freshman year.  There will be time for questions from parents.

For those of you who are unable to attend, the meeting will be broadcast on Channel 77.

Reminder from Maroon and White:
 
As the Fall Awards Dinner for athletes (November 7) approaches, we would like to remind you to send in your RSVP and check to reserve a seat or seats at the dinner.  We cannot accept checks or cash at the door.  If you can’t find your reply form, please send and e-mail to whytehill@aol.com.
 
Maroon and White
Fall Awards Dinner Committee

Please plan on attending our next  SHS PTA meeting on Friday, November 2nd at 7:45 a.m. in Room 170-172.

Following the business portion of the meeting, you'll hear from members of the math department about acceleration in the district and in particular, what to expect in math beginning with your student's entry from middle school through his/her freshman year.  There will be time for questions from parents.

Dear Students and Parents.

 With Halloween approaching in only a few days, I want to take this opportunity to enlist your support of a safe and responsible event for elementary school children.  As you are aware, two years ago there were several instances of unruly middle and high school students in the Edgewood School area in particular.  Last year, the Scarsdale Police Department was especially vigilant in the neighborhood and throughout Scarsdale, and the community enjoyed an incident-free Halloween. Your cooperation again this year can repeat that experience. 

 Please respect this special event for elementary children and display the kind of behavior that represents us at our very best.  I remind you that the Standards for Extracurricular Participation at SHS governing sports and club membership remain in effect, and will be enforced accordingly.

 I have provided messages below from Chief of Police John Brogan regarding Halloween as well as an invitation from the Scarsdale Teen Center for special activities on Halloween night.

 Thanks for making Halloween 2007 an evening in which we can all take pride.

 Sincerely,

 John Klemme
 Principal, SHS


A Halloween Message from the Police Chief 

 In stark contrast to our experiences of October 31, 2005, the community enjoyed a safe, secure, and festive holiday on Halloween, 2006.  This was due largely to the efforts of many segments of the community including various neighborhood associations, the Mayor and the Board of Trustees, the Scarsdale PTA, the Scarsdale PBA, the Scarsdale Board of Education, the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Fighters and numerous other groups that worked closely with the Police Department to foster that environment.

 Obviously, the Police Department is hoping that Halloween 2007 brings a repeat of the 2006 experience.  However, we are not relying solely on hope for the outcome.  Once again, the Scarsdale Police Department will have an enhanced police presence on Halloween night, will take a zero tolerance approach to unlawful activities and will aggressively react to any displays of public disorder.  Numerous volunteers will assist the Police Department in its mission to maintain order and will be stationed in strategic positions throughout the Village to report acts of disorderly conduct.

 We ask that all parents be particularly pro-active in the supervision of their children on Halloween night.  Please know where they are going, what activities they are planning, whom they are planning to be with and what they are carrying with them.  Also, tell them clearly what time they are expected to be home.  Our Deployment Plan, which can be found on the Village website, recommends that children under the age of eleven (11) should complete their trick-or treating by 7:00 PM and ALL trick-or treating should be done by 9:00 PM. 

 Some of the traditional items that have been used or misused to cause mischief on previous Halloweens include eggs, shaving cream, "silly string", books of matches, cigarette lighters, toothpaste, bars of soap, chalk, hair spray and toilet paper.  Please be sure your children are not carrying these items with them when they leave their homes on Halloween night as these items may be confiscated by the Police and if they are used in an unlawful manner, enforcement, including arrests, may occur.  

 As it did in 2006, the Scarsdale PBA is sponsoring a food drive for My Sister's Place, a domestic violence shelter in Westchester County. We strongly urge parents to encourage their children to take whatever funds they might expend on the aforementioned items and purchase canned goods and non-perishable food items for donation to this worthy cause. Donated goods can be dropped off in the lobby of the Scarsdale Police Department at any time of day or night from October 23rd to November 1st.  Shelter administrators and residents alike were grateful for the generous response from the Scarsdale Community in 2006 and we look forward to a more successful drive this year.

 Last year, as I drove through the streets of Scarsdale on Halloween night, it was most apparent to me that a tenor of respect, for neighbors, neighborhoods and fellow celebrants, permeated the evening and enhanced the good time had by the many hundreds of teenagers, parents and young children who walked and mingled in the streets.  We are confident that this same tenor will dominate this year's festivities, but the Police Department is nonetheless prepared if this is not the case. 

 Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

 John A. Brogan
 Chief of Police


 The Scarsdale Teen Center is committed to providing a safe and fun
 alternative for teens this Halloween. Throughout the afternoon on
 October 31, teens are welcome to stop by STC for some Halloween  treats and cider. Beginning at 6:30 PM, bands from both Scarsdale
 and Edgemont will be playing live music for everyone to enjoy.
 Please encourage your teens to follow the guidelines set by the police to ensure a safe and fun Halloween 2007 for everyone. The
 Scarsdale Teen Center as a safe and fun alternative for teens for
 Halloween. 

 If you have any questions please contact Jessica Edelman, Director at 722-8358 or ScarsdaleTeenCenter@gmail.com. For information about all of the STC programs, join our mailing list by visiting the STC website at www.ScarsdaleTeenCenter.com.

On Monday, October 29th, at 7:30 pm, an exciting program will be presented at Scarsdale High School in the auditorium. 

Most of your students have read the book, Warriors Don't Cry, by Melba Pattillo Beals, in either 7th or 8th grade.  The book is about the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.  The  nine students who became known as "The Little Rock Nine"  were met with resistance from the Governor of their state and from many residents of Little Rock.  After much violence, President Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock to accompany these students to school. 

Ask your students if they remember the book or anything about "The Little Rock Nine".  Most likely they will have a clear memory of that moment in U.S. History.  Terrence Roberts was one of these students and he will be speaking about the experience and how it relates to the world today.  It promises to be an enlightening evening that should spark interesting dialogue.  We strongly encourage you to attend with your children.

"My choice to join this group of nine was an act of bearing witness to
the sacrifices of all those who have spilled their blood in the ongoing
fight for equal rights in this country."
-Dr. Terrence J. Roberts


The event is open to the entire community and is made possible by Facing History and Ourselves.
Co-sponsored by: Scarsdale PT Council, Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote, Quaker Ridge, Middle School and High School PTAs, the High School Compact Committee, the Scarsdale District Equity and Access Committee, and STI

For parents and students who were unable to buy directories at P-T Conferences, copies of the 2007-2008 student directory are available for sale in the principal's office with Sandy Skalaski, Mr. Klemme's assistant.  Directories cost $5 each.

Jonathan Mooney, author of Learning Outside the Lines and The Short Bus will discuss how parents and teachers can help empower their student's educational experience.  Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic writer and activist who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old.  He is a graduate of Brown University's class of 2000 and holds an honors degree in English Literature.  Jonathan is founder and President of Project Eye-To- Eye, a mentoring and advocacy non-profit organization for students with learning differences.

"Jonathan Mooney is an uplifting, rebellious voice who will strike a chord with anyone who has ever had a hard time marching in step in a culture of conformity."
Edward M. Hallowell M.D., author of "Delivered From Distraction"

Thursday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m.
Scarsdale Middle School

Middle School & High School Students Welcome

Dear Fellow Parents & Arts Enthusiasts:

 We are writing to urge you consider joining Friends of Music and the Arts in the Scarsdale Schools.

As you know, we have a wonderful music and arts curriculum in the Scarsdale Schools. Thanks to passionate parent volunteers and contributors, “Friends” helps provide the added value that you may be unaware of...from refreshments at chorus and band concerts to special purchases like video displays, digital cameras, i pods and musical instruments to sponsoring visiting artist programs.

 We’re a parent run organization - with actively involved faculty liaisons at the the school and district levels. Part of our task is to fund music and art “extras” for all Scarsdale Schools that are outside the school budget but can make a great difference. The other part is to continually advocate and promote music and arts education and enrichment.

 The membership fee is only $20. Please consider an additional gift as well.

 Members will be e-mailed updates on our activities, accomplishments and gifts throughout the academic year. And, we welcome you as a volunteer.

 Please print the attached membership form, complete it and mail it today. We need your help and the school district depends on it. Thank you.


Warmly,
 
Sandy  &  Margo
Sandy Failla, 723-5350 SDPF5321@aol.com, Margo Kornfeld, 725-1042, margok@a-teamadvisors.com
Co-Presidents

2007-2008 Membership Form

Please print clearly and complete all information

Name:___________________________  Phone:__________________

Address:__________________________  e-mail:__________________

Enclosed is my $20.00 membership    $_____
Additional contribution                          $_____
                                    Total                 $_____

I have children in:
___ Edgewood      ____Greenacres      ____SHS       ____SMS
___ Fox Meadow  ____Heathcote         ____Quaker Ridge

My children are involved in:
___ Band              ____ Chorus            ____Drama
___ Orchestra       ____ Art

I would like to help and actively be involved in:
___ Program        ____ Hospitality       ____ Other

Comments: ______________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Thank you!

Please mail this sheet with check to:
Friends of Music and the Arts, P.O. Box 171H, Scarsdale, NY 10583

To all parents of Winter Sports participants.

Winter sports are just around the corner. Today is the first day that
Ice Hockey players (except the Modified team members) can get their Gold
Cards.

All other Varsity and J.V. players (and Modified Ice Hockey) can get
theirs from  Monday, October 28th.

Freshman team members can get their Gold Cards from November 14th.

Please send your child in to my office during a free period (or
before/after school)  to inquire as to what they need to do to make this
a painless procedure.

Very often coaches tell their players that they need a Physician's
Physical exam when they don't.  (and only  my office knows for sure)
Because of this, needless calls/visits to or work for the doctors is
made. This causes a backlog of paperwork for their office workers and
those athletes who really  do  need their services are unduly delayed
and occasionally miss practices because of this delay.

So please encourage your child to start this process now.

Call 721-2550 with questions.
Thanks, Karen

If you need to make a correction in the high school directory,  please go to the SHS PTA website and click on Corrections for the SHS Directory.  Mail your correction form by November 15 to:

Wendy Weinstein
41 Butler Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

 Dear Parents,
 We would like to sincerely thank all 216 volunteers for the Parent/Teacher Conference nights along with the 18 members of our committee. Such an enormous event could not possibly happen without the commitment of so many SHS parents. Thank you all!
 Sincerely,
 Melanie Spivak and Marina Chen Huang

October 2007

Dear Parents,

A parent recently spoke to me and conveyed that now seems to be the time when many seniors are contemplating travel over spring vacation.
Although I agreed earlier this fall to write a letter later in the year in support of the Drug and Alcohol Task Force's recommendation for vacation plans during Spring Break, I am instead sending that message now.

I am convinced, like many members of the parent community, that unchaperoned travel to Spring Break locations constitutes a significant threat to our students. These trips have the potential to place students in compromising situations, including physical and legal jeopardy, and in point of fact, those dangers have unfortunately been realized for many students in the United States over the years.  It could happen to your child.  

You should know that the majority of our students do not travel unchaperoned over break, and I hope you will take seriously the recommendation of the Task Force to establish clear limits for your children on this issue.

There are alternatives available for your teenagers:  traveling with you and a few friends, having an adult accompany students to Spring Break destinations, sharing vacation plans with other families, or staying home for a family vacation in Scarsdale.

Student safety is our highest priority at the High School.  I urge you to exercise that same concern as you consider vacation plans for your teenager over Spring Break.

Sincerely,


John Klemme

Announcement of Eligibility for Tenure


As part of the ongoing evaluation of professional performance, the Scarsdale 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,
2 Brewster Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583.  

Written comments from parents should be received by February 1, 2008.


Teachers Eligible for Tenure at Scarsdale High School

James Borgia
Julie Chen
Stacey Dawes
Judy Hochberg
Maria Moreira
Olu Omoloju
Michael Riccardo
Adam Wagner
Jennifer Wagner
 James Williams

Little Rock Nine speaker event - Oct. 29, 7:30 PM at SHS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Activist Terrence Roberts of  the 1950's Little Rock Nine, who pioneered desegregation in the South, will speak at  a special community-wide assembly at the High School auditorium on Monday, October 29th  at 7:30 PM. This exciting and enlightening program is open to all ages, and we hope it will inspire many parent-child discussions about history and human rights issues.
 
Terrence Roberts is one of the nine students who desegregated Central High in 1957.  The nine students were met with resistance from the Governor of their state and from many residents of Little Rock.  After much violence, President Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock to accompany these students to school.  Terrence's story is one of courage and perserverance in a time of turmoil.  It encourages all people to be the change and to continue to make a positive difference. 

"My choice to join this group of nine was an act of bearing witness to
the sacrifices of all those who have spilled their blood in the ongoing
fight for equal rights in this country."
-Dr. Terrence J. Roberts

The speaking engagement is made possible by Facing History and  
Ourselves.  Co-sponsored by: Scarsdale PT Council, Edgewood, Fox  
Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote, Quaker Ridge, Middle School and High  
School PTAs, the High School Compact Committee,  the Scarsdale District Equity and 
Access Committee, and STI.

 

Parents,

At Friday night's football game,  the SHS senior class will jump start the school's yearlong campaign to "Go Orange".  Food Bank for  New York City is asking  organizations and individuals to "Go Orange"- the color of hunger awareness-  to fight hunger.  The senior class will give away a free bag of chips to anyone who brings a can of food.  Please encourage your students to participate!

 Feed the Hungry, Support the Raiders, and Support the Senior Class!


-The School Government

Join the community effort to “GO GREEN”

The Scarsdale School District began its Sustainability Initiative, vowing to measurably reduce our negative impact on the environment.

SHS PTA is taking a first step with the sale of reusable grocery bags.

    o    The production of plastic bags consumes millions of gallons of oil that could be used for fuel and heating.
    o    Paper bags, which many people consider a better alternative to plastic bags, carry their own set of environmental problems.
    o    Just one cloth bag, can eliminate the need for hundreds, even thousands of paper and plastic bags.


Bags will be on sale at P-T Conferences on October 18th.  Please support the environment and the PTA by making a purchase!  (one bag for $6 and 2 for $10)



Directories will also be on sale that evening and PTA membership dues will be collected so please be prepared.

IMPORTANT REMINDER- PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES


Thank you for volunteering to be a timekeeper for Parent-Teacher Conferences.  We are counting on you to be at the Brewster Road lobby between 6:15-6:30 pm on Thursday, October 18 to get your teacher assignment.

 As the PTA strives to continue improving this event, please make sure we have an accurate record of your service by making sure your information is correct and the teacher's name is entered on our roster at the check-in desk.

 Please review the timekeeper's instructions  carefully.

 If an emergency arises and it is impossible for you to come, please be sure to arrange for a substitute and notify Melanie Spivak 725-3770 or  mel47b@aol.com immediately.

 Once again, we thank you all so much for helping to make these evenings possible.

 Conference Co-Chairs:
 Marina Chen Huang (722-9342 or marinahuang38@gmail.com  )
 Melanie Spivak (725-3770 or mel47b@aol.com )

 

CHILD meeting Tuesday October 23 - featuring Dr. Paul Folkemer
7:30 pm at the Fox Meadow Multipurpose Room, 2nd Floor

Dr. Folkemer will discuss details on Scarsdale's collaboration with Windward and other professional development initiatives in the areas of reading and writing instruction. 

He will also update us on the future of Trailblazers and the pilot math programs being tested in our elementary schools.

Attention: Parent/Teacher Conference Update

If your assigned parent-teacher conference evening is October 18th, appointments can still be made online until 5:00 pm on Monday October 15th. If you miss this deadline, or if your assigned night was not 10/18, you can still go to the conference and sign up on site, we have purposely left open slots every 10 minutes just for this purpose.

To all of the 110 timekeepers who worked last night, please accept our sincere appreciation. This evening could not have proceeded without your generous contribution of time and effort. If you have already had your conferences but not yet registered as a timekeeper, please volunteer for next Thursday, October 18 and register or please contact Melanie Spivak at mel47B@aol.com.

Parent/Teacher Conference Committee

Attn SHS Parents,

Tomorrow night is the first night of conferences and we are still short volunteers. It is unfortunate that we must come back to you 24 hours before the evening and let you know that we still cannot fill the positions needed to make the evening run adequately.  If you cannot volunteer, please ask other SHS parents. There must be more parents in our high school community who can participate so that we may ALL benefit from this important evening.
Please contact Melanie Spivak at mel47b@aol.com to volunteer for tomorrow night October 10th.
Thank you.

 Parent/Teacher Conference Committee

Several members of the SHS faculty and I had the opportunity last month to share progress on the implementation of the Advanced Topics Plan.  At the first PTA meeting of the year, Assistant Principal Kelley Hamm presented a summary of the work of the College Information Task Force (which includes parent representation) with specific examples of the communication we have initiated with colleges about the plan, including an updated high school profile and letters to admissions offices about the AP/AT  transition.

Kelley also spoke about the college and university partnerships we are developing in each academic department and the work of teachers over the summer and in the 2007-08 school year.  He also noted that while the real work of the AT Validation Task Force (which also includes parents) will focus on an analysis of college admissions data in December and April, we have already scheduled a meeting of the group in October to define protocols and criteria for evaluating AT implementation.

Social Studies and Art Department Chairs John Harrison and Maria DeAngelis next reviewed the new focus in each of their departments and were supported in their presentations by teachers Adam Weisler, Tom Maguire, and Beth Colleary.  Each teacher described the activities for students in AT U.S. History, AT Government, AT Studio Art, and AT Art History that are underway and explained how those tasks encourage students to work in ways that emphasize the skills that university teachers say they will need in college.  We concluded the evening with a question and answer period with parents that further clarified our strategies for successful implementation and preparation for AT courses in other disciplines in future years.  If you were unable to attend the recent meeting, you may wish to see it on Channel 77; a schedule of broadcasts can be found on the district website.

Meanwhile, along with three other deans, Director of Counseling Barbara Sarullo recently returned from the annual conference of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) in Austin, Texas.  Barbara chaired a session on our AT program and was assisted by Ted Spencer of the University of Michigan and Bill Fitzsimmons of Harvard.  Both college officers cautioned a standing room audience that the AT initiative was not for every school, but were quick to observe that districts with Scarsdale’s reputation should be moving in the direction of providing students with curricula that go deeper than the traditional AP program allows.  Both admissions officers were extremely supportive of the goals and strategies of our work in Scarsdale and acknowledged that we were a pioneer in the development of rich courses of study that prepare students for the realities of college academics.

Prior to speaking in Austin, Barbara and her SHS colleagues toured several colleges in the Chicago area.  At the University of Chicago, professors suggested to an audience of counselors from across the country that a movement away from AP courses would be in the best interest of students considering application.  

Although we are only a few weeks into the implementation of our AT curricula, we are gratified by the strong support we have received thus far from students and their parents.  Our teachers are energized by the freedom they enjoy in designing meaningful courses, and work will continue throughout this school year in preparation for the next phase of the transition. After conducting the evaluations I’ve described, we will make a recommendation to the Superintendent for 2008-09, and the Board of Education will subsequently hold a public discussion.

We are committed to providing transparency to the first year of implementation of AT courses.  I will provide another update to parents at the November 3rd PTA meeting, and we plan a formal Education Report to the Board in February or March.  At this point, if you have any questions about AT implementation, the new AT courses, or any facet of the AT Program, please direct them to the appropriate department head or to the administrative team.  We would be pleased to meet with you or talk to you by phone at your convenience to clarify how the process is going.  We know the important responsibility we have to the SHS parent community, and we would be happy to respond to any comments or questions you may have on this subject.

John Klemme

 IMPORTANT REMINDER- PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Thank you for volunteering to be a timekeeper for Parent-Teacher Conferences.  We are counting on you to be at the Brewster Road lobby between 6:15-6:30 pm on Wednesday, October 10 to get your teacher assignment.

As the PTA strives to continue improving this event, please make sure we have an accurate record of your service by making sure your information is correct and the teacher's name is entered on our roaster at the check-in desk.

Please review the timekeeper's instructions carefully.

If an emergency arises and it is impossible for you to come, please be sure to arrange for a substitute and notify Melanie Spivak 725-3770 or  mel47b@aol.com immediately.

Once again, we thank you all so much for helping to make these evenings possible.

Conference Co-Chairs:
Marina Chen Huang (722-9342 or marinahuang38@gmail.com )
Melanie Spivak (725-3770 or mel47b@aol.com)

 

Reminder to save the date:
 
The annual Maroom and White Dinner honoring our fall athletes will be held on Wednesday,  November 7, 2007 at Lake Isle Country Club.  Invitations will be arriving in the mail shortly.  Please remember to RSVP and pay on time since no money will be collected at the door.

Dear SHS Parents,

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled beginning next week. We still do not have enough volunteer timekeepers to proceed with the evenings. We urge you to please consider giving your time for one evening so that YOU may have the opportunity to meet with your child's teachers.
Please contact Melanie Spivak at mel47b@aol.com to volunteer.
Thank you for your support.

Parent Teacher Conference Committee

The Fall 2007 Westchester-Putnam College Conference
Monday, October 15, 2007
Details:
Colleges and their representatives from all over the country gather under one roof for high school students and their parents to meet and discuss students college needs.
Hours:
Mon. 6:30pm-9pm
Cost:
Admission is free. parking $4
Location:
Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains , NY  10606
For additional information:
 914-995-4050
Westchester County Center
Website: http://wpccc.org

Just a reminder that online signup for Parent-Teacher Conferences begins tomorrow, Thursday, October 4!

Make sure you recheck the  teacher station directory: Mr. Ginsberg and Ms. Silver will now be available for conferences on both evenings. Also please note that Mr. Vaughan  will be available for conferences on October 10th only, starting at 6:30pm and will stay until 9:30. Ms Johnson will be available for conferences on October 18th only and will start at 6pm.

Please go to www.shspta.org  and click on

NEW! Parent-Teacher Conferences -- Information and Tutorial  and proceed to

Sign Up System.

 

The Parent-Teacher Conference Committee

Dear Parents

 By now you have received  a letter by school email from Mr. Klemme concerning Parent-Teacher Conferences .  Online sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences will be ready for use on Thursday, October 4.  In advance of registration, please take the time to complete the online tutorial that is available through the PTA website, www.shspta.org  .  Also check the FAQs on this website for answers to common questions.
 
 Before you go online to register for your conferences, please:
 

      •     Familiarize yourself with your student's schedule .  You will need to know the names of each of your child's teachers and their conference room assignments.  This information can be found in a document called " Teacher Station Directory. "  This directory was  updated  on Oct 2 with new information regarding teachers who can only attend one evening. Please note that teachers' room locations on conference night may be different from their usual classroom locations. 
           *If your child has Mr. Vaughn  for Science,  he will be seeing parents on Oct 10 only but will start early at  6:30pm and stay late until 9:30 to accommodate all parents.
           *If your child has Ms. Johnson for Social Studies, she will be seeing parents on Oct 18 only but will start early at 6:00pm to accommodate all parents.

      •      You will need to know your child's student ID number .  The ID is required both for viewing the school map and to sign up for conference appointments.  Your child's ID can be found on the front of his/her student ID card, on his/her schedule, or on a previous report card. 

      •     Plan the most efficient route from room to room. Please consult with your child and the school floorplans by signing in on the page " Teacher Stations Layout."    Your child's ID is required for viewing this information for security purposes
 .
      •     Remember to allow yourself 10-15 minutes between appointments .
      •     Plan to be at the High School for the entire two hours .
      •     AOL users: if you should encounter any problems, please use an alternate browser such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari.


        For questions or problems please contact Melanie Spivak at mel47b@aol.com

           or Marina Chen Huang at  marinahuang38@gmail.com 


 The Parent-Teacher Conference Committee

First I want to thank all of you who have signed up as members of the PTA.  You have contributed to the many programs that the PTA organizes to benefit your children and your families.  You can stop reading now.

This is a plea to those of you who have not yet joined.
You joined in Elementary School.
You probably joined in Middle School. (you couldn't get a directory without joining)
WE STILL NEED YOU!!!!!
 

So far, in just the first weeks of school, the PTA has organized or has worked on:

The Directory
The Summer Mailing
The College and Career Center (ongoing throughout the year)
Staff Appreciation Lunch
Multicultural Welcome Breakfast
Welcome Coffee for families who are new to Scarsdale
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Volunteer Service Fair
Y.E.S. office (ongoing throughout the year)

Volunteers have represented the high school at various events and committee meetings:

Senior Options
Sports Swap
Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol
Compact Committee

AND MORE!!!

Our programs are funded through membership dues and directory sales, ONLY!!!

Please go to our website, www.shspta.org/jointhepta.htm, and join now!!!


Thank you.

Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol Meeting Summary-September 18, 2007
 
Mission Statement: The Task force is a community action group made up of concerned individuals, representatives of the schools, the Village, local , social and civic organizations and religious institutions. The Task Force educates youth and adults about drugs and alcohol, helps people develop drug-free attitudes and habits, and recommends resources to those whose lives are affected by drugs and alcohol dependency.
 
Parents coffees for 6th-9th grade parents will be held this Fall and Spring. The community will be notified and can sign-up by email.
 
 Paul Folkemer informed the attendees that the Alcohol Poisoning cards will be distributed to 7th and 8th graders and to Freshmen during Civ Ed and Freshman Seminar. Additional cards will be distributed to 10th-12th graders at different times throughout the year.
A new to Scarsdale alcohol education program called AlcoholEdu will be administered to all Freshmen. It is an interactive web-based prevention program that engages ninth grade students with non-opinionated science based content and proven prevention techniques. Eventually, the program will be made available to other HS grades. Emelie Sciarpelletti said parents can also log-on to AlcoholEdu. and should contact her to get log-on information. Mr. Folkemer discussed a parent focused teen drunk driving prevention campaign that is being conducted with some success in Utah. Information on this program can be accessed on PARENTSEMPOWERED.ORG .
 
Mr. Klemme mentioned that the school in conjunction with the Task Force is looking into a Spring speaker for the HS to discuss drunk driving. He also asked that all parents encourage responsible behavior during Halloween. A letter will distributed in the next few months with the schools’ view on Spring break for Seniors. The Teen Center is organizing an alternative trip for Seniors for Spring break.
 
There is a new HS Youth Outreach Worker named Matt Zysman. Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling is staging a Fall Festival in Chase Park on October 20.
 
The Task Force will be offering a monthly factoid online through the website www.scarsdaletaskforce.com. In addition, the website will offer links to relevant articles on an on-going basis.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Beth Ehrich Berkeley, Diane Levy, Ellen Brodsky, Meg Goodman
Task Force HS Representatives
 

"Scarsdale High School and AT: Where are We Now?"  Principal John Klemme, Asst. Principal, Kelley Hamm, and members of the Art and Social Studies Departments give an update on Advanced Topics at the High School. Presented by the High School PTA. Taped Sep. 25.  Debuts Thursday, Sep. 27, 6:00,7:30, 9:00, 10:30 pm and Midnight. On CableVision ch. 77 or Verizon ch. 44.
 

It has come to my attention that several students who attended Kenwood
and Evergreen camps in New Hampshire, brought home more than they
expected- lice.

If your child went there, and has not had his/her head checked yet,
please do not delay in doing so. I am available if you prefer.

Also, it's been reported that there had been outbreaks at certain Maine
camps. If you are aware of which, or know of any elsewhere, please
contact me with the details. You could do this by e-mail (preferably- at
 ksteefel@scarsdaleschools.org) or phone- 721-2551.

Last year at the High School we were quite successful in minimizing the
outbreak. To repeat this success, I need to be made aware of each case
in the school so I can  follow-up with contacts. Confidentiality of
course, will be maintained (although students seem to be less concerned
about this than their parents).

Please take this opportunity to discuss preventative measures with your
child: no sharing of grooming aids, hats, helmets etc. NO BASEBALL CAP
SHARING AT TONIGHT'S GAME! Pony tails decrease likelihood of spread in
undiagnosed cases- both giving and receiving.

Thanks for your assistance,
Karen

Dear Parents,

Parent/Teacher Conference nights are quickly approaching, and signing up for your child's conferences are even closer. Please review the Signup System Tutorial, Frequently Asked Questions, and other helpful information via www.shspta.org . The system will be available on October 4th to sign up for your conferences.

These extraordinary evenings are made possible ONLY through the help of the parents of Scarsdale High School students. Please volunteer - we need 200 parents (dads and moms!) to sit as timekeepers. We appreciate your help on the evening you are not seeing your child's teacher. It is important to remember this year we have alternated the alphabetical order of the evenings as noted in the Community Calendar: Wednesday October 10 (L-Z) and Thursday October 18th (A-K).

These evenings will run smoothly, only with your help. Please sign up as timekeepers online at the Scarsdale PTA website (www.shspta.org) or contact conference co-chair Melanie Spivak at 725-3770.

Thank you so much.

To Parents of SHS Athletes:
The October 5th deadline for submission of ads for the SHS Sports Journal, published by Maroon and White, is quickly approaching.  This Journal is given to all athletes and their families at the 3 Maroon and White Awards celebrations (fall, spring and winter), and your ad will appear in all 3 publications.  The students eagerly look through the Journal for their family's ad, and at the same time, you will be helping to support Maroon and White and our student athletes.  If you need an ad form, please contact either Penny Bauersfeld (Bauersfeld@aol.com) or Nancy Michaels (eatright1@aol.com).  In addition, we will be happy to design an ad for you- just provide us with the specific information you would like to include in your ad.