Twelve Faculty Members Attain Tenure
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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There were smiles all around at the opening of the May 13 meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Education when 12 teachers attained tenure. Schools Superintendent Dr. Hagerman thanked Scarsdale’s faculty and said that getting tenure was an achievement and an accomplishment. To the awardees he said, “You have believed in us and we believe in you.”
Assistant Superintendent Drew Patrick called tenure, “a significant accomplishment in the career of an educator,” and reviewed the rigorous process for evaluating teachers including classroom observations, ratings, mentoring, year-end conferences, a portfolio of artifacts as well as feedback from the school community and an administrative review panel.
He said, “the rigors are commensurate with the achievement.”
Here is the list of the twelve faculty members who were awarded tenure on May 13, 2019. Congratulations!
Lacrosse Team Loses to Rival From Mamaroneck in Close Game
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- Written by Anna Cho
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Senior Will Maybaum, is seen heading down field with the ball.The Scarsdale Boys Varsity Lacrosse team had a very competitive match on Tuesday against Mamaroneck High School. The boys played a great game, but unfortunately lost 10-8 to Mamaroneck. However, there was never a lack of spirit or enthusiasm from either the players or the fans. The boys constantly cheered for one other, in a display of teamwork and support. Despite being an away game, countless animated Scarsdale students appeared in the stands, and outnumbered the amount of Mamaroneck fans. In spite of this loss, the boys have been having a wonderful season with an 11-3 record. Don’t miss their next game Saturday, May 11th, at Nyack High School!
The raiders are celebrating a goal made by senior Andrew Bernstein.
New recruit, Andrew Greenspan, wins the faceoff against Mamaroneck’s Shane Smith.
Sophomore goalkeeper, Sam Silverman, leaves the crease to transition and stops a goal.
Sophomore Ben Miller, can be seen outrunning two Mamaroneck players.
Carnival Cancelled Friday Night - Extended Hours on Saturday
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Due to the weather, the carnival at Scarsdale High School has been cancelled for Friday night April 26th. However there will be extended hours on Saturday April 27 when the carnival will run from 12 - 7 pm.
Here is the note from Scarsdale High School Principal Kenneth Bonamo:
Because of the weather, the SHS carnival will not run tonight.
The hours of the carnival tomorrow will be extended from 12 noon through 7 p.m. All pre-sold bracelets will be honored tomorrow.
Here's to a great carnival tomorrow!
Regards,
Ken
Kenneth Bonamo
Principal
Scarsdale High School
SHS Students Use Electromagnets to Create Spiderman Wall Climbing Technology
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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As a final project for their Computer Science course, SHS students Aron Frishberg and Joshua Im created functional Spider-Man wall climbing technology. The Spider-Man technology uses very strong electromagnets magnets that can lift great amounts of weight when powered, but without power, are completely deactivated. The two use the magnets to climb metal structures and continue to work on many other gadgets including Thor's hammer and Spider-Man webshooters.
In the pictures shown, look under the climber’s feet and hands to see a magnet connected via yellow wire to a battery.
We asked the two a few questions, and here is what they shared:
Tell us about yourself and your partner Joshua Im - how did you become interested in climbing wall technology?
Josh and I go to SHS and we take a computer science class. We both love superheroes especially Spider-Man and decided to bring Spider-Man to life. We were brainstorming one night and the idea just popped into our heads. We did a ton of research and we did it.
What class are you taking, who is the teacher and what was the assignment?
We are taking Computer Science 913, which is taught by Mr. Leong. The assignment was to create a project for the STEM fair at the end of the year. It could be anything tech related, including engineering or coding.
Are you using any of the equipment in the new Design Lab to do your project?
We did not use the design lab for the wall climbing technology, but we are using the 3d printers for our next addition to this project, which is functional webshooters.
Please describe your project - what does it do?
We use 12v lead acid batteries to power four 275lb 12v electromagnets. They are all controlled by buttons individually so you can climb with ease. It allows anyone to climb a magnetic surface.
What metal structures have you climbed? How much weight do the magnets hold?
We haven’t really done that many tests but we’re able to climb a magnetic stair support at Greenacres School. Each magnet can hold up to 275lbs.
What practical use does this project have?
We believe it has some very promising possibilities, such as climbing buildings.
What does Mr. Leong think about the project?
He believes that this project shows great promise and has a good chance of winning the STEM fair.
Welcome Chris Coughlin, the Next Assistant Principal at Scarsdale Middle School
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Chris Coughlin will become the next Assistant Principal at Scarsdale Middle School when Larry Chatzinoff retires at the end of the school year. Coughlin, who currently works at the Bedford Schools, attend the April 8, meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Education when his appointment was announced. Coughlin is the third administrative hire to move south from Bedford along with Assistant Superintendent Drew Patrick and interim Fox Meadow Principal Karen Eldon who retired as principal of Bedford Elementary School.
We asked Coughlin to tell us about himself and here is what he shared:
Tell us something about your educational and professional background.
I have worked in the Bedford Central Schools since 1999 as a teacher’s aide, and intern, a social studies teacher, a coach, a Dean of Students, and the Director of Health Physical Education and Athletics. The fifteen years I spent as a social studies teacher and a coach were among the most rewarding professionally. I hold a M.S.E. in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Hartwick College.
Why did you decide to make the move?
This past year was my 20th year working in the Bedford Central School District which is a place I love. To be honest I was not looking to make a move until I saw the posting for the position at SMS. I have several former colleagues and friends that work in Scarsdale and have always talked highly about the mission and vision of the district. When I started to investigate further I saw a district that states in multiple ways a great pride in helping to create balanced independent leaners and leaders. I viewed the interview process as part of my research into whether I would be a good fit for Scarsdale. At every juncture in the process I met committed professionals, invested parents, and kind and polite students. After seeing the operation and meeting the people up close the decision became an easier one. I count myself extremely fortunate to be selected as the candidate for this position.
What were your responsibilities in Bedford and will you have a similar role in Scarsdale?
My present responsibilities as the Athletic Director are diverse. To name a few I am the supervisor of health and physical education department for the school district responsible for the delivery of instruction for our 4,000 students. I oversee 60 athletic teams and 71 coaches with an annual budget of over $800,000. I help to schedule and staff over 600 athletic and community events per year.
My new role in Scarsdale will have some similarities. I will be tasked with building the master schedule for the school which will be a new challenge however my current job revolves around complex scheduling. Building leadership requires both approachability and visibility two qualities I have a great deal of experience with. Additionally, SMS’ approach is a team one between students, staff, and parents which fits with my approach toward education.
What were some of the challenges faced by the district during your tenure?
Bedford Central School District like many districts struggled with budgetary issues when the tax levy cap came into effect. We lost a good amount of teachers and support staff due to budgetary realities. Doing more (or even the same) with less is a challenge for any profession however in the educational setting the decisions made can have a direct impact on students. BCSD is in a better place financially and the new and great challenge I have been a part of has been a restoration and addition of new programs.
How does Bedford’s security system compare to Scarsdale’s? Are they also making changes to their procedures and technology?
I would say they are comparable as both Scarsdale and BCSD are guided by the same security consulting firm.
What do you look forward to in your new position in Scarsdale?
I always would tell my students that teaching is the best job in the world because in essence you get paid to learn new and exciting things and share them with students. I will be embarking on a whole new journey of learning, learning about the students and their families, learning about the community, learning about my colleagues at SMS, and learning where I can get a good lunch.
