Seven senior AT 2D Art students under the direction of teacher Janna Johnsen, have each painted a large planter that now adorns the Dine the Dale tent in the Scarsdale village center. Please take the time to stop by and enjoy their creative work. A special thank you to the project’s sponsor, the Scarsdale Business Alliance, with support of the Scarsdale Village Arts Advisory Council. Flowers for the planters were donated by the Village Flower Shop on Harwood Court.This endeavor follows our previous community based project, “Wing the Dale.” We look forward to continuing this collaboration, bringing more art into the heart of Scarsdale.

Please enjoy our virtual galleries and help us celebrate our students’ creative accomplishments.

As another year draws to a close, the Counseling Department would like to express our gratitude to so many in our school community.

We thank our colleagues, the teachers at SHS, for their collegiality and collaboration in the service of our students. We have worked together to support the students in our care, consistently emphasizing their progress and well being. Our mental health support staff - psychologists, youth outreach workers, and social workers - for providing invaluable counsel to students and parents, and for working so closely with us in helping those in need of personal support. Our building administration, whose careful planning and student centered approach ensures the finest experience for our students. Our assistants, often the first individual students see or parents speak to, for always being there and whose effort is so important to our success. The entire support staff at SHS - secretaries, aides, and custodians - you are the unsung heroes, and we know how invaluable your work truly is. The parents we work with, we are thankful for our partnership, and hope this year brought much success to your child.

And of course, our students. You are the reason we are in this profession, bringing so much joy to our daily work, and we are so grateful to be part of your SHS experience. Congratulations to our graduating seniors - we will miss you! And to our returning students - we hope the summer offers you some much needed rest, and we look forward to another year together.

In the English Department, the fourth quarter has found our students reading stories that span the timeline from the classic (Macbeth) to the contemporary (Jacqueline Woodson’s Another Brooklyn). To conclude their study of American literature, Amanda Filley’s 11th-graders read Jenny Offill’s novel Weather, published in 2020, which explores how concerns about climate change affect the mood and behavior of a New York City librarian and her family. Meanwhile, Frank Ceruzzi’s sophomore class finished their year with a book club unit. Each student had the opportunity to choose a dystopian novel, such as Orwell’s 1984, from a list prepared by Mr. Ceruzzi. Over the course of a few weeks, students periodically met in small groups with classmates who chose the same text to discuss their books and share reactions. Ms. Conklin’s sophomores also had the chance to choose an independent reading book at the end of the year, selecting from a list of contemporary works such as Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere. Through these encounters with thought-provoking texts old and new, students are invited to examine the human experience from different perspectives, deepening their understanding of what it means to be human.

At the same time, the fourth quarter has been a time of closure and celebration. At the end of May, our ninth-graders had the chance to spend the afternoon with their English/Social Studies/Guidance cohorts for team-building activities. Many groups used this time to act out scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which students were studying in their English classes.

This past quarter we continued the trend of students engaging virtually with peers from around the world about issues important to us all. In May, several students spent a Saturday discussing and problem solving issues around civil discourse and the impact of social media. In April, the pilot of the Global Entrepreneurship Challenge wrapped up. Students shared their action plans and programs for making their communities better. SHS students were particularly interested in the cultural differences between how the elderly in Italy and Hong Kong are treated in comparison to in the US. Students from Argentina and Italy joined SHS students in a Scarsdale Sustainability Summit with global and local speakers. Amir Dossal of the UN and Global Partnerships and Manjula Dissanyake shared their social entrepreneurial experiences. They were then joined by local sustainability leaders Ron Schulhof and Michelle Sterling. It was amazing how similar our communities and needs are. As we wrap up this school year, we are planning for the next and hope to add travel back into our rich programs of virtual global experiences. If interested please watch your school emails, check the global bulletin board on the 2nd floor, or email hwaters@scarsdaleschools.org.

The semi annual health fair is the culminating activity for all Health Classes, replacing a traditional pen and paper final exam. This semester we retooled the Health Fair by combining what was used pre-pandemic and what we learned from our modified COVID versions of our pedagogy. Our biggest takeaways were finding new ways of integrating additional technology and being “greener” in the process.

On the day of the Health Fair, students had the opportunity to visit more than forty different student generated presentations ranging from safer sex, mental health, and prescription and non-prescription drug abuse, just to name a few. The purpose of the assignment is for students to take an analytical and critical look at specified health related topics. Students worked cooperatively in small groups of 4-5 students and each group was responsible to comprehensively research their topic and to make connections to longevity, quality of life and personal family and community health care. As students work in their groups, they are also honing their skills in the digital world, critically analyzing health content, making real world connections, and learning to make informed conclusions. This format is a universally designed learning component of the Health Department’s evaluation process.

As the start of the fourth quarter arrived, our Physical Education classes were outside moving and learning in the fresh air and sunshine once again. One highlight from our 9th & 10th grade PE experience included a four-week Indian cultural dance experience focused on Bollywood dance. For this year's 9th and 10th grade multicultural dance residency, we invited Bina Bora, Classical Indian Dancer, to share her expertise of both Classical and Bollywood dance with some of our 9th and 10th grade classes. Students learned the basics of these two dance styles, which were then put into a three part dance choreography depicting a typical Bollywood dance. Our students had the opportunity to perform this near 5-minute piece to their peers in their PE period. The piece started out with beautiful classical Indian dance moves, and then the beat picked up with some fun and exciting Bollywood steps! Our choreography ended with partner and small-group dancing using sticks to create rhythm and energy! It was magnificent!!

Our eleventh grade students took part in our annual spring golf unit. This unit included lessons on the full swing (drivers and irons), the short game (pitching and chipping), and putting. The physical education teachers offered challenges that engaged the full spectrum of abilities in our classes: the beginners, the part-time players, and the golf fanatics. These challenges were designed to improve students’ current skill levels, and, ultimately, for the students to receive enjoyment from the game now and in the future.

As we transition into the summer months, we encourage all of our students to remain active in ways that are both enjoyable and meaningful. Have a healthy and active summer!

We were pleased and honored to participate in the first Non-Sibi Day on May 27. Along with English teacher Natalie Farina, we presented a session on Book Banning and the Power of Public Outcry. Providing historical context, including an eight year battle right here at Scarsdale High School during the Cold War, as well as the current state of this topic, we focused on the powerful ways in which ordinary citizens have stood up to this dangerous form of censorship. Students then had a chance to look at some classic titles which have been challenged repeatedly and report back on what they found. This presentation grew out of a yearlong study of this issue and the ways in which school districts have met these challenges.

Tangentially connected to this, more and more English teachers have brought their classes in to select books for independent reading and consequently, we have had the opportunity to present book talks covering the gamut of genres and topics.

The SHS Drama Club closed out the year with their annual Actor’s Showcase. Enjoy recorded

excerpts here: Actor's Showcase 2022 Thanks for watching!

In the fourth quarter, social studies students engaged in a variety of hands-on learning experiences. Seniors in Carine Thompson’s City 2.0 class left Scarsdale for a wonderful day in the Central Park Zoo. Students evaluated the exhibitions at the Central Park Zoo to see if they align with projections for zoos of the future. The class also hiked from Belvedere Castle at East 79th Street through the Ramble before crossing Bow Bridge and ending at Bethesda Fountain. This hands-on experience gave students an opportunity to draw their own conclusions about park management while bonding with their fellow seniors.

Students in Michelle Britto and Elizabeth Harris' ninth grade classes presented their "Disruptions & Interactions" museum projects, using self-selected topics displaying global connections and communication. Students presented their "pitches" to the "board at the Smithsonian" for why their museum and its artifacts were worthy of funding and expansion.

The ninth grade students of Kami Wright and Kendra Claussen used map analysis in their study of the Age of Exploration. Comparing maps from before and during this period with maps of the modern day, students identified impacts of this age in areas such as language, religion and trade. Students engaged in research to further understand the ways in which the Age of Exploration laid the foundations for much of the modern world.

In AT Psychology, students examined the research that underpin the theories of positive psychology regarding the difference between happiness and wellbeing, and then explored ways to apply these theories to their own lives.

“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard” – AA Milne, Winnie the Pooh

If we take a moment to reflect upon the work we do in the LRC, it is clear that the relationships we build with our students is key to guiding them to become the best versions of themselves. The once nervous, yet excited freshmen are now prepared to forge ahead to the next phase of their journey. We are so proud of our seniors and we look forward to hearing about their successes. We were able to host our Senior LRC Luncheon for the first time since 2019 and it was a lovely afternoon filled with lots of laughter and celebration. We wish all the graduates the best of luck in all of their future endeavors. You will be missed.

As for our returning students and families, we hope that you have a restful summer and find time to recharge and have some well-deserved fun. We look forward to the continued partnership and collaboration in the next school year.

Happy Summer!

We would like to introduce the community to our new STEAM website. Here you will find descriptions of all the STEAM courses, a chart to navigate through them, as well as examples of projects that have been done in the past in each course. We hope this will provide clarity for students and families. Our program continues to grow, with 64 students being accepted into next year’s entrepreneurship program.

This semester, Design for Modern Production students created projects for blind users. They chose to make either raised dot dice or finger mazes, which are similar to a fidget spinner for the blind. They 3D modeled them and then either 3D printed them or laser cut them. They are being given to a teacher of the visually impaired to use with her students. You can see some of the items below.

AT final pitch night was successful with ten teams pitching to a large audience of parents, community partners and faculty. Their entrepreneurship projects ranged from a mentoring program matching Scarsdale High School students with younger non neural typical students in the area to a reminder ring that would assist a young woman in remembering to blink so she would not lose her vision. We challenged all the groups to create projects that would live on beyond this year through finding systems or community partners to continue their work. You can view this year’s pitches here. We would like to introduce the community to our new STEAM website. Here you will find descriptions of all the STEAM courses, a chart to navigate through them, as well as examples of projects that have been done in the past in each course. We hope this will provide clarity for students and families. Our program continues to grow, with 64 students being accepted into next year’s entrepreneurship program.

This semester, Design for Modern Production students created projects for blind users. They chose to make either raised dot dice or finger mazes, which are similar to a fidget spinner for the blind. They 3D modeled them and then either 3D printed them or laser cut them. They are being given to a teacher of the visually impaired to use with her students. You can see some of the items below.

AT final pitch night was successful with ten teams pitching to a large audience of parents, community partners and faculty. Their entrepreneurship projects ranged from a mentoring program matching Scarsdale High School students with younger non neural typical students in the area to a reminder ring that would assist a young woman in remembering to blink so she would not lose her vision. We challenged all the groups to create projects that would live on beyond this year through finding systems or community partners to continue their work. You can view this year’s pitches here.

The Student Government held our annual carnival for the first time in three years, creating an opportunity for students and the wider community to come together in a fun environment. We were able to raise approximately $15,000 for charity, and we provided our school clubs an opportunity to fundraise for themselves while raising awareness about their causes and interests. As testing week approached, Student Government handed out Munchkins and chewing gum with the design of “take one and share one with a friend,” in an effort to encourage students to reach out to each other and build a broader sense of community.

Students and teachers in World Languages have completed the end of the year assessments of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills as we headed into the final stretch of the academic year. Some students completed integrated performance based assessments which address the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of language usage while incorporating a unifying thematic framework.

Many of our French students have been paying close attention to this year’s election season in France. The AT students researched topics from the French perspective, such as inflation, the War in Ukraine, the environment and immigration. Based on their findings, students created statements of intent, campaign posters, debated and held mock French elections as their final portfolio project. AT Spanish students have completed their final portfolio projects and presented to one another in small groups on global topics such as solar energy in Mexico, healthcare in Cuba, the political system in Venezuela, women’s rights in Ecuador and many others. Students in Spanish 342 completed their final projects and participated in the second annual Fairy Tales Story Telling Day via zoom with elementary Spanish students at Greenacres. AT Mandarin students researched, created and presented their final portfolio projects on an aspect of Chinese culture, such as martial arts, Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese traditional clothing and others. Latin students in 334/344 have been working on hypothetical and conditional statements and created original videos of stories from Virgil’s Aeneid retold with their own imaginative adaptation.

The language clubs have also remained active though the end of the year. The French club held its final activity of French pictionary and ice cream sundaes outdoors in the BOE breezeway. The Latin club had a successful Floralia Spring festival, also outside, in which they participated in games such as musical chairs and human wheelbarrow races. The Spanish club’s final activity was also held outside, at the Brewster entrance with complimentary churros for all and a sampling of popular music in Spanish. And last but certainly not least, the clubs have once again collaborated to produce the third edition of the highly anticipated World Languages Literary magazine, The Polyglot 2022. Check it out online, it is indeed espectacular, formidable, spectaculi, 棒 !