Rivertowns Enterprise - BACK TO SCHOOL 2015 by The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back tO School Help for high schoolers

Family Time! BTS Fashion Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall!

SCHOOL REPORTS

Parent's Guide AND MORE > A SPECIAL SECTION OF

The Rivertowns Enterprise

AUGUST 21, 2015

PAGE 2A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Back to School is a special section of

The Rivertowns Enterprise 95 Main St. Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (914) 478-2787 www.rivertownsenterprise.net PUBLISHER Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR Ann Marie Rezen ADVERTISING DESIGN Suzanne Brown ADVERTISING SALES Marilyn Petrosa Thomas O’Halloran Barbara Yeaker Francesca Lynch © 2015 W.H. White Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the Publisher’s written permission.

Inside Back to School

COVER PHOTO BY JOHN MEORE

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 3A

Feature Stories

40A

Sensory Processing Disorder: Hard to pin down, important to diagnose

High School Help: Every student is different

The Family Connection: Creating more quality time with your kids

10A

Martial Artists: Empowering kids against bullies

27A

BTS Fashion: Goodbye summer (vacation), hello fall (fashion)!

School Notes 6A 10A

10A

27A

15A

Dobbs Ferry: Technology creates opportunities for students

17A

Hastings-on-Hudson: TV production, Makerspaces and student-centered classrooms

20A

Irvington: Irvington relies on faculty, rich programs

22A

Ardsley: Students head back to the future at Ardsley schools

News & Notes............ 31A-39A Arts & Enrichment ....40A-47A Parent's Guide ........48A-49A

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PAGE 4A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Sensory Processing Disorder:

Hard to pin down, important to diagnose By Jackie Lupo

s some kids approach nursery school age, parents may notice behavior that’s hard to explain. They may be children whose reactions to everyday stimuli — touch, light, sound, taste, smells, temperature — are out of proportion to the situation. Some overreact to things that typical kids wouldn’t even notice, like the feel of clothing against their skin, the sensation of being in a crowd of people or the aroma of food in a restaurant. Others under-react to stimulation, such as not noticing when the water is too hot or not being able to catch a ball. And some, whose ability to receive normal stimuli is low, may seek out sensation, becoming hyperactive. If these descriptions seem vague or much too general, they still may be symp-

toms of an actual neurological disorder that may affect 1 in 20 children, called Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD. It’s a malfunction of the nervous system in which sometimes one, sometimes many of the senses send messages, but they don’t get organized into appropriate responses. Children with SPD may act fearful, anxious, uncooper ative, clumsy or out of control. Unfortunately, parents — and often, doctors — can see only their children’s behaviors, which could be symptoms of any number of other problems. That’s why a correct diagnosis is so difficult, but so important. “Sensory Processing Disorder often gets mistaken for a behavioral problem, like Oppositional Defiant Disorder,” said Robbie Levy, an occupational therapist who is the owner and director of Dynamic Kids, an occupational and speech therapy practice in Hartsdale. Levy has been working with kids who have SPD for 33 years. She

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said that SPD is often misdiagnosed as a parenting problem, a general disability, Attention Deficit Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). And complicating diagnosis still further is the fact that SPD often coexists with those conditions. It can accompany Autism spectrum conditions and can even affect children who are gifted. “Every child’s different,” said Levy. But in diagnosis, doctors “don’t always look at the sensory processing piece of what’s going on in the behavior, they go to the behavior piece. They may try a quick fix with medication.” She said sometimes, it’s not until after kids are medicated but still show puzzling behavioral differences that a good diagnostician figures out that the solution to the puzzle is SPD. “A lot of our kids are on medication, but they’ll display those kinds of issues,” said Levy. “So that’s why we know it’s more than one thing. With a course of the right

therapy for the right child, with the right equipment in the right office, they do really, really well.” She explained that with the therapy methods used to treat SPD, it’s necessary to work with therapists who have lots of training and who work in an office with specialized equipment developed for SPD. Levy said a general occupational therapist who makes house calls would probably have limited effectiveness and would not be able to offer the same equipment, because “you really can’t carry it around with you in your car.” Joan Cornacchio, an educational advocate for students with disabilities who lives in Hastings and has a 23-year-old daughter with special needs, said that SPD “is often a highly misunderstood kind of condition, and it can look like so many other things. So the most important thing is for the child to have an occupational Continued on next page

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 Continued from previous page

therapy evaluation and a neurological workup to make sure there are not other things informing that. You can get a lot from an occupational therapist at a very young age.” She also advises parents who are puzzled by a child’s behavior to have the child’s hearing tested “to make sure there’s not an auditory processing issue involved.” She also stressed that when choosing an occupational therapist, the family needs to find one who specializes in sensory integration issues. She noted that an occupational therapist in a school system might be more interested in providing therapy such as improving a child’s pencil grasp or practicing other motor skills directly involved with classroom activities. Therapy for SPD is focused on helping kids cope with their environment rather than avoiding triggers. For kids who are hypersensitive to touch, the therapist would develop a program that involves using different kinds of equipment that would help retrain the child’s nervous system in a way that creates a permanent change. “It’s really incredible, the lives that we’ve changed,” said Levy. With kids on the other end of the SPD spectrum, their neurological systems are under-responsive. “If you give them an average amount of stimulation, they’re not feeling what we would feel,” Levy explained. “So they don’t have good motor output. You have to have good sensory processing for motor output. When children don’t have a neuro-motor disorder and they’re really clumsy, it could be that they have sensory processing problems.” The behavioral patterns that form around SPD are a child’s way of coping

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 5A

with a world that’s often confusing, painful or threatening. “We have kids who have a lot of quick meltdowns,” said Levy. “They’re quick to change their behavior. They’re emotionally volatile; they have problems with self-regulation. They have difficulty with transition from one activity to another. They have difficulty with flexibility. They really like things to be routinized, which is why it sometimes gets mixed up with OCD. With SPD, the more stable your life is, the more stable you can be emotionally.” When SPD involves the motor system, children may have difficulty performing everyday tasks and parents may be surprised when these children can’t learn new motor skills such as riding a bike or tying their shoes on the same timetable as typical children would learn to do these things. “If it’s really severe, things like getting dressed and undressed can be affected,” said Levy, explaining that the child may insist on wearing one specific kind of clothing that they are capable of getting into and out of themselves. Unfortunately, this behavior may also be confused with OCD, when it’s actually the child making decisions about what to wear based on what clothing they know they can handle. Left untreated, SPD can affect every area of a person’s life. “The disorder never really goes away,” said Levy. “A lot of kids end up with behavioral issues and difficulty with friends. It could interfere with learning at school. Certainly they’re less happy. It’s kind of like feeling uncomfortable in your own skin.” Parents who suspect their child may have SPD should talk to their pediatrician,

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PAGE 6A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

High school help: every student is different By Anthony R. Mancini

iguring out how to whip a slacking high schooler into shape is a tough job, especially if college is a goal for them (or you). It can be especially frustrating when graduation is inching ever closer and a student seems completely unmotivated to complete coursework and improve their grades. If no improvement has been made, the student and parents alike might begin to wonder if it is too late for a change. One of the first steps parents can take is recognizing if their high schooler has a problem with advancing him or herself. Lisa Rodman, a co-founder and partner at Collegistics LLC, an organization based in Scarsdale that offers personalized help for college applicants, said that the beginning of the academic year is the best time to judge how a student is handling his or her workload. “Certainly by early fall, following teacher-parent conferences, parents should have a good idea of how their children are managing academically,” she said. “Often, if a student is struggling academically, he or she may appear unmotivated, as poorperformance becomes self-fulfilling. Parents should work with their children to break that cycle by having honest conversations with teachers and guidance counselors at school.” Collegistics helps students one-onone with the college application process, working with them to ease the burden of applying. The organization focuses on the topic, such as effective college essay writing and seeking the best school to attend. Greg Quirolo, the director of school counseling at Iona Preparatory School, a Catholic, all-boys’ school founded in 1916 and based in New Rochelle that shares a history with the college of the same name, said that sometimes it is obvious to parents if a student has been underperforming. “I think their gut can tell them a lot of that if they think their student is lacking motivation,” he said. The prospect of becoming accepted into a choice college might become a sudden motivating factor for some students who have not been so serious about academics as a freshman or a sophomore. Quirolo said that Iona Prep uses Naviance, a data platform created by Cincinnati-

based technology company Hobsons, which specializes in college enrollment software. Naviance allows students to see which schools Iona Prep students applied to around the country and see which students were accepted. He said the platform allows students to compare their grade point average to the grade point averages of students who were accepted to a particular college to compare how they might be seen in the eyes of college admissions staff. Quirolo said that if a student’s grade point average is far off from the average accepted by a particular school and they still want to apply, then the student has his or her work cut out for them. Rodman said there are multiple ways for students to bolster their résumés, which would give them more leverage during the application process. “Students mature at different rates and once they do will take ownership of their precollege process,” she said. “Perhaps this will manifest as an upward trend in their grades in the latter half of junior year, or being elected to a leadership position in a club. Students test scores may not match

up with their GPAs, but there are many available options when applying to college.” It is important for parents to steer their high schooler toward a college that he or she can reasonably expect to become accepted to if they work hard enough for it, according to Rodman. “Seeing schools that feel right, from a social point of view, whose academic requirements are just slightly above that student’s statistics, can be incredibly motivating because they are within reach,” Rodman said. “Parents should be cognizant that the college landscape has changed dramatically in the years since they applied to college, but Harvard is still Harvard. Using schools in the elite upper band of selectivity as a motivating tool can backfire, given the overwhelming odds against admission.” Once parents decide to intervene on behalf of their student to try to motivate their child toward academic success, they must find an appropriate way to attempt to reach their child. Tutoring a student in a particular subject is one method of trying to boost grades and have the child en-

gaged in learning. Quirolo said Iona Prep has its own after-school study center and tutoring teachers are required to open their classroom doors for extra help sessions regularly. Quirolo said that students could possibly benefit from being tutored in one particular subject such as chemistry or math, but that it could also help to use a tutor who works with a student to improve his or her performance overall. He said a good place to start within a school is with the school’s guidance counselor. “There is an academic intervention out there for every kid, but you need a savvy school counselor or adult to have the parent or the student find what that intervention is,” he said. Rodman said that clubs and other extracurricular activities could also help to motivate a student and that it works best to communicate this to the student earlier rather than later. “As college advisors, we at Collegistics think it’s helpful to begin this discussion early, before students begin high school,” Continued on next page

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 Continued from previous page

she said. “Parents should encourage their children to get involved in activities. This is a great way to make new friends and explore new horizons. This can bring a sense of connection to a new environment, and with that an excitement for a new academic year. Joining clubs early on also gives a student a chance to build relationships with faculty outside the classroom. Parents should also encourage their children to meet with their teachers regularly.” Rodman said part of intervening on a student’s behalf means getting him or her involved in searching for colleges on the early side of high school as well, so that the student will continue to have a reason to score high marks in high school. “Do a little research and make visiting colleges, especially in the early high school years, just a part of the process,” she said. “Take an hour and visit nearby schools if you are on vacation or even those in your own backyard. Getting a sense of what college is and what it will take to get there may be all the motivation a student needs.” Quirolo said behavioral-based methods of parenting students such as rewarding them with gifts or an allowance when they succeed and grounding them and taking away television and video games when they are slacking might work for some students, but not everyone. He said that he prefers to reach a child on the mental level. “It totally depends on the student,” Quirolo said. “That type of parenting is very behavioral and sometimes it can work wonders. I’m a big believer in trying to reach the kid cognitively and trying to

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 7A

address their belief systems. Sometimes all the grounding doesn’t accomplish the outcome.” Quirolo said he believes in a method where a parent or educator works with a student to try to connect with them on a values-based level to see if studying behavior can improve, rather that using extreme methods such as sending a student to a therapeutic school or military school. He said a student might realize by himself that he has to improve if he has put himself in a negative situation due to a lack of focus on schoolwork. “I think true change and motivation really comes from cognitive change,” Quirolo said. “The student has to cognitively break from old belief systems and embrace new belief systems. That takes weeks and months for that student to have that moment. Sometimes it doesn’t happen until the kid wakes up in summer school and says ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m here.’ Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but it’s usually a change in the student’s belief system that gradually happens over time.” Rodman said determining how a student is not fully participating in her coursework is an important factor, such as whether she is having trouble learning or is growing weary of a high school environment. “First and foremost, it’s important to assess a student’s performance in the context of his or her potential,” she said. “For the student who does not seem intrinsically motivated to learn, or for whom high school is proving difficult to navigate academically, the prospect of college may seem intimidating. For students who are bored or otherwise have one foot out the Continued on page 12A

A car broke his bones, but not his spirit. Sean Hughes Car accident survivor / High school sophomore

A mother’s worst fear — your boy has been hit by a car. Sean suffered from a traumatic brain injury, broken legs and a spine fracture. But thanks to the advanced care and support the Hughes family received from Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a mom’s worst fear turned into her greatest appreciation, for saving the life of her son.

PAGE 8A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

WESTCHESTER SKATING ACADEMY

– Back to School

FALL METRO HOCKEY LEAGUE

The Family Connection

Creating more quality time with your kids 2015/2016 SEASON

By Laurie Sullivan

won’t be home for dinner — I have basketball practice tonight. I’ll grab something to eat later.” This refrain may sound all too familiar to parents in some form or another. As kids get older it gets harder and harder for families to sit down and enjoy dinner and conversation together. Dinnertime, once considered the cornerstone of traditional quality family time, has been eroded by kids’ schedules — and sometimes our own. In today’s fast-paced world, with our are lives jam packed with work, activities, sports and time spent online and social media, it seems finding quality family time is nearly impossible. But there are ways to create family time, and it doesn’t mean you have to be together 24/7. For years we’ve been hearing about quantity vs. quality time that families should spend together. Research suggests that how families spend time together matters more than the quantity. Even busy working parents can find time to spend with their kids. There are some simple solutions to connecting with your kids. Set aside the first hour after you come home to give your children your undivided attention. Invite them to talk about their day — what was difficult, what was the highlight of the day, anything. If you pick them up after school, stay off your phones and listen to your kids, giving them your full attention, no matter when or where it is. Take advantage of every slice of time you spend together. Set a minimum number of nights the family must have dinner together — screen-free meal for you and your kids! Plan family game nights in which everyone participates. Let your children take turns choosing the game, even if you’d rather be doing something else. For little

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interested in the things they enjoy. Get down on the floor and play a game of their choice with them — blocks, Twister, a board game or pretend to be a superhero or go outside and kick a ball around with them. It’s fun! With an established bedtime routine, Brett said, “It means you’ll always have the chance to spend a half hour or so together at the end of each day,” which could be spent sharing books and stories or chatting.

Undivided attention Giving your children your undivided attention when you are together is one way to show them that they matter and how much you value them. Turn off your cell phone when you’re together, and if they’re old enough to have their own, insist they turn off theirs. As a parent, you’re the grownup and you have to enforce some boundaries for them — and yourself. In a recent article in The New York Times by Jane Brody she quoted Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, a Harvard-affiliated psychologist, who cited two common parental behaviors that can strongly influence a child’s tendency to abuse electronic media. Some parents are perpetually tuned into their own devices, responding to every ping of their cell phones and tablets, receiving and sending message at times that would “enrage Miss Manners.” She suggested that parents text, make phone calls or check email before kids get up, while they are at school or after they go to bed — not when they’re together. It’s easier said than done, but makes sense. Of the 1,000 kids Steiner-Adair interviewed for her book (“The Big Disconnect:

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 9A

Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age”), one girl said, “ I feel like I’m just boring. I’m boring my dad because he will take any text, any call, any time, even on a ski lift.” A 4-year-old called her father’s smartphone a “stupid phone.” Quite a wake-up call for parents who are addicted to their phones! Steiner-Adair stressed that school pickup “is a very important transitional time for kids, a time for them to download their day.” She advises parents not to be on the phone to avoid having to ask the kids to wait till they are finished talking. Brody noted that parents can be directly or indirectly at fault when children and teenagers “become hooked on electronic media… instead of interacting with the real world.” And the more time they spend online the less time they can spend with the family. Family therapist Susan Stiffelman, as quoted in The Huffington Post, said today’s parents are unprepared “to deal with the intense pull and highly addictive natures of what the online world has to offer. As parents, we have an opportunity to guide our kids so that they can learn habits that help them make use of the digital world, without being swallowed whole by it.”

Pay attention In the same article, Dr. Jenny S. Radesky, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, along with two colleagues, observed 55 groups of parents and children at fastfood restaurants, noting that 40 of the adults immediately took out mobile devices and used them throughout most of the meal. Often more attention was paid to the devices than to the kids. And the

more parents were absorbed with their devices, the more likely children were to act out, in an attempt to get their parents’ attention. And from Steiner-Adair’s perspective, “The art of dining and the connection between delicious food and nourishing conversation is being lost, not just in restaurants, but at home as well.”

Setting boundaries Setting boundaries can also extend to deciding whether your child is engaged in so many activities they take too big a chunk out of family time. Let your child decide which one(s) to drop. By letting him or her choose, it shows you value their judgment and gives them control. To help establish a deeper relationship with your child, be fully present when you are together, suggests author David Klassen in an article on FamilyLife.com. Klassen said parents should really listen to their kids and ask questions about their daily lives, their friends, their fears and their triumphs. Listen and ask them about his or her dreams and aspirations. According to the author, it just might give you surprising insight into what makes them tick. Klassen asks his kids individually (he has five!) what would they do if they had a million dollars. Also, if they could choose to have any superpower, what would they choose and of all the sports they play, what is their favorite and why? Klassen notes that parents can learn a lot about their child’s values, their dreams, their desires and aspirations by asking question like these. He suggests on the weekend to take out one child at a time, just the two of you,

to do errands or have a lunch date. Let your child pick the place (within reason). If you’re available on a weekday, pick one of your kids up from school (getting permission first from the school) and take him or her to lunch. If their selection is within your parameters, don’t complain if you don’t like their choice. The point of the lunch date is to spend one-on-one time and connecting. And allowing them to choose helps to build confidence and independence. Lunch dates with one child at a time makes them feel special and lets you focus solely on him or her.

Priorities and family rituals Author Ansley Roan in an article on Parents.com, “9 Ways to Maximize Family Time,” suggests that parents make a list of what absolutely must get done in the house and what can wait. But most importantly, find ways how you can involve your kids in doing “the musts” and take the burden off you, which also can create bonding time. Even little ones can help you clean up. Have them put toys away in a basket, find their shoes and put them together, ready to wear. Older kids can help set the table and help you cook, even help with laundry. Folding doesn’t have to be perfect — the point is teaching them new skills and spending time together! Look at things that can be delegated, freeing up time to spend with your family. Ask your babysitter to prep dinner, pick up toys or restock the diaper bag. Find out if your dry cleaner picks up and delivers. Schedule that family game night or dining out with the kids on the same night each week or Sunday breakfast every week and stick to it. Together.

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PAGE 10A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Martial artists empowering kids against bullies By Todd Sliss

ullying has no limits — it can happen from preschool to the nursing home, involve males and females and have serious repercussions for victims. When taught properly, martial arts have proven to help children with things like discipline, respect, hard work and even schoolwork, but bullying has also been a big focus. In addition to teaching martial arts since 1991 in Hastings-on-Hudson, Shihan Jim Chillemi of New York Goju Karate Association has been educating both victims and bystanders on the ins and outs of dealing with bullies at a young age, something he, too, experienced. “There’s nothing more empowering than to empower a child to learn to stand up,” Chillemi said. “Is there anything more important than standing up for yourself? For what you believe in? And believing in yourself is what it’s all about. And if you have that ability as a child, do you know how successful you will be? Standing up for yourself is worthwhile at any cause. That’s how I coach kids and that’s why I’ve been around for 25 years.” It’s never too early to start educating kids about the four types of bullying: physical, verbal, cyber and the more hidden bullying which, according to Australia’s National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB), includes things like “lying and spreading rumors,” “mimicking unkindly,” exclusion and “damaging someone’s social reputation.” The importance of talking to kids in preschool and kindergarten early is because 1) they may be currently in a bully situation and 2) if it hasn’t happened yet, it could soon. Chillemi’s Mission Bullyproof starts with words. “The first thing we do is we teach them what violence and abuse is,” Chillemi said. “If someone threatens to use or does use physical force, that’s violence. We make that

clear. Abuse is the threat to use. They need to know that. Then we teach them what bullying is. If you humiliate or intimidate or use physical force it’s bullying. We clearly define it for them. It’s important for them to know that.” Physical defense is a last resort, but an important one for youngsters. The first solution for Chillemi’s students is to tell an adult about a bully situation. However, sometimes a child will need to get out of that situation first. “Self-defense in the way we teach it is never to hurt or to harm,” Chillemi said. “Any of the techniques you would use physically in a bully situation — which is what we’re trying to avoid — is to escape. You need to escape the situation so you can go tell someone and get some help. That’s most important. We don’t teach to hurt someone.” Other key skills for Chillemi are the ability to look a bully in the eye and speak firmly in standing up for oneself. For older kids he gets into judging the state of mind of the bully and knowing when it’s best to avoid that person altogether. Being a witness to bullying can also be intimidating for a youngster. “What if you are a bystander? What are your responsibilities?” Chillemi said. “We try to clearly define these for children so they have more tools in their toolbox.” Those responsibilities are: 1) If you know the victim, get the victim out of there and 2) if you know the bully, get the bully out of there. If you know both bully and victim, Chillemi hopes the choice is clear to side with the victim and not be entertained by the bully. Chillemi, who refers to himself as a “child advocate,” sees a breakdown in how some public schools handle bullying from educating to eradicating — as in not enough is being done. “In the public schools alone, where most of this ocContinued on next page

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 Continued from previous page

curs, why aren’t they told they need to tell someone?” Chillemi said. “Why don’t adults in the public school system take some responsibility and not allow it, to tell people it’s a bullyproof zone and you need to tell us so we can help you? That kind of frustrates me, that more is not being done for these children. It’s controversial, but it needs to be said.” According to a report on stopbullying. gov from 2014, 49 percent in grades 4-12 reported being bullied in the previous month. Overall, 28 percent of students in grades 6-12 have been bullied, while that number drops to 20 percent for high school. “We’ve heard all the horror stories,” Chillemi said. “We introduce kids to soccer balls, to t-ball, to all these other skills that we’d like our children to have, so why wouldn’t we want them to know as soon as possible that there are some people out there that maybe are not so nice? We need to know how to handle that when it happens.” At Steve Sohn’s Krav Maga Muay Thai & Fitness Training Center in Scarsdale, bully prevention is also a major focus. Instructor Erika Beintrexler said that she’s seen bullying in the facility and it gets addressed right away. It’s easy when she and the other mentors are there to address the topic. When it happens outside of the center’s reach it becomes a much tougher situation. “We have a child involved with us who is getting bullied in daycare,” Beintrexler Continued on page 13A

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 11A

Is your child being bullied? Emotional and behavioral signs • Changes in sleep patterns • Changes in eating patterns • Frequent tears or anger • Mood swings • Feels ill in the morning • Becomes withdrawn or starts stammering • Becomes aggressive and unreasonable • Refuses to talk about what is wrong • Begins to target siblings • Continually “loses” money or starts stealing.

Physical signs • Has unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches • Comes home with missing or damaged belongings or clothes • Comes home hungry.

School signs • Doesn’t want to go to school • Changes their route to school or are frightened of walking to school • Doesn’t want to go to school on the bus • School grades begin to fall.

Other signs Sometimes bullying can be far more hidden. The signs include: • Often alone or excluded from friendship groups at school • A frequent target for teasing, mimicking or ridicule at school • Unable to speak up in class and appears insecure or frightened. — National Centre Against Bullying website

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PAGE 12A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Sensory processing disorder

High school help Continued from page 7A

door, college can be the carrot at the end of the stick. The former group of students needs to know that there is a college for everyone who wants to attend college, each with its own personality, academically and otherwise.” Quirolo said he does not believe that a lack of motivation is what is hurting underachieving students. Instead, he said every student is motivated to do something within the scope of their life. The driving force that motivates some students might not involve schoolwork, so he said these students in particular need the most intervention to straighten their priorities. “I think every kid is motivated,” Quirolo said. “I absolutely believe that sometimes they are motivated to succeed in school, sometimes they’re motivated to avoid it. Every kid is complex. To help a kid is complicated. That’s why you need school counselors and support staff.” Quirolo recommends parents read a book, “The Shut-Down Learner: Helping Your Academically Discouraged Child,” written by graduate professor and child psychologist Dr. Richard Selznick, if they are dealing with a student who might be underperforming in school. The book details subsets of students who are “spatial thinkers,” meaning that they tend to learn and think visually. Selznick argues that spatial thinkers, the so-called shut-down learners, are able to excel in hands-on careers later in life such as architecture, engineering, computer programming, dentistry, interior decorating and business to name a few examples.

– Back to School

Continued from page 5A

Selznick says the spatial thinkers often face problems with reading, writing and spelling, which causes low self-esteem. He said they might seem shut down in the sense of being increasingly disconnected, discouraged and unmotivated. Spatial thinkers might seem to dislike reading, hate writing, avoid homework and find little to no gratification with school and maybe feel angry toward it. Selznick thinks that this might lead to parents becoming frustrated with their children for not being up to speed academically, which can lead to children feeling worse about their experiences with school. Quirolo said “The Shut-Down Learner” provides a great example of students who learn differently that what academic standards usually expect and what is motivating these students. “It’s a refreshing look at what’s going on

with kids who shut down academically and what’s underneath that,” Quirolo said. “It really paints a picture of the academically discouraged child and gives parents a new way to look at them. I don’t really believe that there is any such thing as an unmotivated kid, I just think it’s trying to find the right intervention for the right kid.” All in all, Rodman and Quirolo stressed that for students who might seem unmotivated or slacking in school, it is important to try to understand what is driving them in everyday life so it can be applied to how they are learning in school, and that early intervention methods are often a great way to help a student thrive academically, change negative opinions about school and help them pursue their goals, no matter what they are.

but if the doctor refers them to an occupational therapist, it’s important to ask whether the therapist works with a large number of kids with SPD in their practice. Levy said it’s important to begin therapy for SPD when kids are young because it can make a big difference in just a few years, preparing kids with SPD for the new sensory challenges of school. Levy said she has worked with most of the directors of special education programs in local school systems to educate them about the special needs of students with SPD. Although SPD is not considered a learning disability, it can be a highly disabling condition, and it’s important for parents to advocate for their kids with both the classroom teacher and with any specialists that may work with their child in school, and to coordinate information between outside therapists and the school. SPD can be managed with a team approach. There are also excellent resources out there, including the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation (www.spdfoundation.net) and an increasing number of useful guides to the condition. Cornacchio recommends that parents read “The Out-Of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder” (Perigee, 2005). “This was one of those books that I went to time and time again, because it breaks down all these sensory issues into different categories, the different systems of the body,” she said.

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Bullying Continued from page 11A

said. “The parent picked him up with a black eye. He’s 4.” An experience at such a young age can have a lasting negative impact, so starting anti-bully work with the kids at a young age can have a positive impact through general martial arts classes and a special booklet the center has put together. “Our No. 1 go-to is we really try to teach the kids to go to their parents,” Beintrexler said. “Every parent has a different rule and I wouldn’t want to say something to the child and it’s against what the parent teaches them. Our personal belief is if feel like you are in harm’s way and you can’t get an adult’s attention, you should defend yourself the way we teach here. “No parent would want their kid to come home with a black eye or being pushed or shoved. When your words aren’t enough and when you can’t get the attention of an adult, you have to defend yourself when you feel it’s necessary. There shouldn’t be any gray area with kids. Kids should have a black and white situation and that’s where the parents come in.” There are five things a parent can do to help a bullied child, according to NCAB: 1) Listen to your child’s story 2) Have a conversation about what happened 3) Make a record of events 4) Work with your child’s school to find a solution 5) Find other ways to support your child. “Really the most important part of bul-

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 13A

lying is creating a relationship between the parent and the child and the teacher and the child and dealing with it in an age-appropriate manner,” Beintrexler said. Beintrexler understands the struggle some parents have with whether to allow their children to defend themselves against a physical bully or not. After all, sometimes this gets the child being bullied in more trouble than the bully, which she also knows is wrong. But she has great respect for the parents who allow their children to take control of the situation. “A lot of people turn to martial arts because their kids are getting physically picked on,” Beintrexler said. “It’s not just verbal abuse. They want their kids to have more confidence, to feel that they can take care of themselves if the situation ever arose. Sometimes it’s preemptive. Sometimes if they are being bullied it can be too late. “Bullying creates of vicious cycle of losing self-confidence. Once you have the dips in self-confidence they start to bully you more. Because of that sometimes here it will take us so much longer to bring a kid up to their normal personality that it could even take a year or so. It’s not a quick fix.” At Steve Sohn’s Krav Maga Muay Thai & Fitness Training Center, it’s a team approach to making the world better for kids. “We’ll work with parents and kids individually,” Beintrexler said. “For the majority of our students it really isn’t an issue because they do a lot of anti-bullying at schools. On top of that I think they get this innate confidence from coming here.”

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PAGE 14A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

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THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 15A

School Reports Technology creates opportunities for Dobbs Ferry students By Dr. Lisa Brady Dobbs Ferry Schools Superintendent

he watchword of the summer was “technology” and this translates into increased learning opportunities and an exciting new school year for students and staff in the Dobbs Ferry School District. Technology continues to expand across the district, but significant changes are under way for students at Springhurst Elementary School. Fourth-graders will be greeted in September with new individual student Chromebooks as part of the district’s student 1:1 computing initiative. Currently, all students in fifth through 10th grades have received individual Chromebooks. Teachers have been engaged with extensive professional development in Google Apps for Education, with more than 10 teachers becoming specially certified over the summer as Google Certified educators. Our teachers across the district have spent countless hours these past months engaged in professional development and preparing for technology rich classrooms. In July, each Springhurst classroom in grades k-3 was equipped with four desktop computers, creating classroom workstations for students. These individual classroom workstations in our early grades will decrease the dependence on the computer lab and give teachers more flexibility in using technology to support instruction. When whole group use of technology is required, there will be new laptop carts available for each grade level, in addition to the iPad carts already in place. The new model will enable students to develop and practice keyboarding skills at an earlier age and allow for the use of technology for learning in real time instead of having to wait for

computer lab time. Springhurst technology teacher Jessica Bauer was instrumental in planning for the increased technology opportunities at Springhurst and has played a key role in the deployment of the technology roadmap over the years. She will be joined this year by an emerging technology specialist from the Lower Hudson Regional Information Center (LHRIC) who will be assigned two days each week to Springhurst to support teachers and students in the use of technology for teaching and learning. This is an important cog in the wheel as the district bolsters the technology goals for Springhurst. Our youngest learners need our strongest support in this area. Traditionally, in most districts technology sup-

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port has nested with high school and middle school teachers and students. I believe that, although important, we need to start at the elementary level at the outset. Our very youngest children are coming to us with a startling familiarity with technology. We need to meet them where they are and enhance those introductory skills. The new emerging technology specialist will also be working with the middle school on an exciting new Design Technology course as part of the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) curriculum for students in sixth and seventh grades. The new course will be an algebra-based coding and gaming class that will be project-based and provide exciting hands-on learning for students. The middle school continues to make exciting strides as part of the candidacy phase toward the IB MYP accreditation. A site visit last spring by the IB confirmed that the district is well on its way toward a successful Middle Years Program designation by 2017. In the high school, there are new opportunities for learning including a student/teacher co-facilitated computer science class, as well as a proposed new app for the high school yearbook. A product of the high school’s inaugural yearbook class, the 2015 yearbook delivered an incredible memory-filled publication for both students and teachers. The Herff Jones Plus One Digital app allows students and staff to take the yearbook with them anywhere on their tablet or phone. This kind of very cool technology is helping our students to re-imagine the meaning of their Dobbs Ferry High School memories and class connections. Our district administrators were very busy traveling and sharing their professional knowledge and expertise Continued on page 16A

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PAGE 16A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

John A. Coleman School honored by NASET for 8th straight year The John A. Coleman School, with campuses in White Plains and Yonkers, was selected as a 2015-16 National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) School of Excellence. This is the eighth consecutive year that the Coleman School has received this honor. Selection as a School of Excellence is the highest level of recognition a private special education school can achieve through NASET. In order to be honored with this recognition, private special education schools must meet rigorous professional criteria and have demonstrated truly exceptional dedication, commitment and achievement in the field of special education. Only a few select, qualified, licensed, private special education schools in New York State have received this distinction. “We are thrilled to have been honored with this prestigious award, once again,” said Maureen Tomkiel, executive director of the John A. Coleman School. “It recognizes our commitment to rigorous standards of excellence and to living our mission every day. Coleman School staff collaborate with our families to ensure that each student achieves his or her greatest potential. Our compassionate team of educators, therapists, nurses, social workers, psychologists and other learning specialists make sure that our children receive the highest quality of care and educational opportunities needed for them to learn, grow and become as independent as possible.”

Dobbs Ferry schools Continued from page 15A

this summer. At the IB Conference of the Americasin Chicago, Dobbs Ferry administrators presented to educators from around the world on the intersection of technology and the IB Learner Profile as part of a standing room only session titled “How 1:1 Technology Can Support Students.” I also journeyed to Turkey with five superintendents and the former president of the New Jersey Board of Education as part of a cultural exchange with Peace Islands Institute (www.peaceislands.org) to learn and understand more about educaThe John A. Coleman School is featured tion and health care in Turkey. as a School of Excellence on the NASET These experiences map our commitwebsite at naset.org/4238.0.html. ment to the IB program and our determiAbout the school nation to serve as a global partner with The John A. Coleman School is regionschools around the world. In the school ally recognized as a school of excellence year ahead, we hope to reintroduce stuand provides community and centerdent travel and exchange programs into based special education and therapeutic the curriculum for all students with an programs to children from over 50 school interest in practicing language acquisition districts in Westchester, Putnam, the Bronx and cultural awareness. and Manhattan. The White Plains camOn the faculty front, the school district pus serves 145 children in 12 classrooms has a new director of health, physical and the Yonkers campus serves the 137 TWIN LAKES FARM education and athletics, Andrew Klaich. residents of the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric This is an administrative position that inCenter, a nationally recognized pediatric cludes not only athletic department and long-term care facility, in 15 classrooms. interscholastic sports responsibilities, but The school is sponsored by the Sisters also encompasses k-12 curriculum deof Charity of New York and is part of a velopment and evaluating teacher perContinuum of Care known as the St. Elizaformance. Look for a new DFHS Athletics beth Seton Children’s Foundation, which Facebook Page and enhanced sports webalso includes the Elizabeth Seton Pediatsite in September, as well as hearing from ric Center and the Children’s Rehabilitaour new largest AD on Twitter. Farm is Westchester’s and most diverse tion Center. LearnTwin more Lakes about the John A. Ferryand High also expandequestrian center, offering bothDobbs boarding a School robust is riding Coleman School at www.colemanschool. academy. The riding academy starts at age 6 with private lessons ing its guidance department for next year org and find the school on Facebook at before moving up to groups; adults ride daily and takecounselor advantage William and welcomes new facebook.com/jacschool. of the 8pm adults-only classes. For the more serious equestrian Twin Lakes TWIN Farm offers Drill Teams, Interscholastic Teams, LAKES FARM Horseshowing and Summer Leasing while also offering yearround boarding. Camp is coeducational and runs 8:30am to 4:30pm all summer and includes riding, camp activities and the very popular camp horseshow.

– Back to School

Palmer to the staff. With the addition of another full-time counselor, high school students will be able to have one counselor follow them throughout their four years providing continuity for our students. He also brings experience in helping student/ athletes navigate the college process and daunting NCAA eligibility requirements, in addition to being very familiar with the web-based Naviance system that students regularly use for career and college planning. Finally, each of our schools will be unveiling their own online video library. We thought it would be a terrific idea to collect and house all of the school videos in one virtual location and make them readily available to parents and students. Now you can view a snapshot of the many activities going on at our three schools, both in and out of the classroom, and be able to share them with family and friends. Check out the latest and greatest videos featuring concerts, events, enrichment programs, cultural arts, curriculum highlights and much more this fall. The administration, faculty and staff are eagerly looking forward to the 201516 school year as we all continue to work hard to meet the challenges of the Common Core Learning Standards, and to prepare our students for college, careers and beyond. Many of these new initiatives will help the district to grow with the times and the changing educational landscape. We are extremely proud of our progress and the depth and breadth of education that the Dobbs Ferry School District offers our students. We remain confident in our district vision… “Independent thinkers prepared to change the world.

Set on two campuses each has its own indoor arena, 55 stalls each, lighted outdoor arenas, paddocks with hay feeders, heated tack rooms and wash stalls. The North Barn is home to the Riding Academy, Drill Team and Therapeutic Riding Program while also hosting the interscholastic (IEA) shows and schooling Twin Lakes Farm is Farm Westchester’s largest most win Lakes istheWestchester’s largest and shows. The South Barn houses boarders andand show teamdiverse whilemost diverse equestrian center, offering both equestrian center, offering both and a robust riding boarding andeach a robust riding academy. The riding academy starts at age 6 with private leshosting nine USEF shows year.boarding academy.sons The riding academy starts at age 6 with private lessons before moving up to groups; adults ride daily and take advantage of the 8pm adults-only before moving up to groups; adults ride daily and take advantage Whether it's children's lessons, adults lessons, riding teams, classes. For the moreclasses. serious equestrian Twin Lakes Farm offers Drill Teams, Interscholastic Teams, of the 8pm adults-only For the more serious equestrian showing competitively orSummer recreational riding there is something for Horseshowing and Leasing while also offering Twin Lakes Farm offers Drill Teams, Interscholastic Teams, year-round boarding. Camp is coeducational everyone at 8:30am Twin Lakes Farm which is why we areincludes "Where riding, camp activities and the very popular and runs to 4:30pm all while summer Horseshowing and Summer Leasing also and offering yearWestchester Learns To Ride!"® round Camp is coeducational and runs 8:30am to campboarding. horseshow. 4:30pm and includes riding, camp activities and the 55 stalls each, lighted outdoor arenas, padSet all onsummer two campuses each has its own indoor arena, very popular docks withcamp hayhorseshow. feeders, heated tack rooms and wash stalls. The North Barn is home to the Riding

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 17A

School Reports TV production, Makerspaces and student-centered classrooms By Dr. Roy R. Montesano Hastings-on-Hudson Schools Superintendent

he Hastings-on-Hudson UFSD will be off to an exciting start this September. A television production studio facility has been added to Hastings High School and an Introduction to Television Production course is being offered for our students. Unlike most other classes in high school, almost all the work in the television production class will involve hands-on training and experimentation. When we watch television, we are often ignorant of the enormous number of factors that shape what we see: the camera position and movement, the impact of the lighting, the editing decisions, the set, etc. Our students will explore these issues by being introduced to the technological, philosophical and practical aspects of TV production. Through hands-on training in video software, editing techniques, camera operation, lighting decisions, interview skills, the exploration of narrative structures and audience impact, students will investigate the physical operation of a TV studio and the creative process required to develop news-based programming. At Hillside Elementary School and Farragut Middle School, Makerspaces will be introduced. The introduction of Makerspaces in schools came from the “hacker” culture that inspired technology develop-

ers to gather in a location and work on idea generation, technological experimentation and software and hardware development. In Hastings, these spaces will allow students to gather to brainstorm ideas, create projects and learn together. The unique locations will provide a community-like environment for the students and teachers where highly collaborative and multi-disciplinary learn-

ing can occur. Students will have access to computer software, a 3D printer at Farragut, electronics and other supplies and tools. The district will also continue its embarkation on student-centered classrooms and increasing the use of technology in learning. This work is a continuation of the effort the district began two years ago under the guidance of Dr. Nancy Sulla of

the IDE corporation and author of two recent books, “Students Taking Charge: Inside the Learner-Active, TechnologyInfused Classroom,” and “It’s not what you Teach, but how.” Implementing these learning practices to date have been successful as reflected in our students’ performance. We look forward to opening our doors to an exciting school year.

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Hastings PTSA gearing up for an exciting new year The Hastings PTSA thanks parents and teachers for their involvement and support. Their annual membership and participation in fundraising activities enables the Hastings PTSA to offer grants and scholarships and to do advocacy work. Here’s an overview of some of our recent activities:

ing for full and fair funding for all schools, as well as for a fair teacher evaluation system; met with state legislators urging that the Common Core standards, which were never tested, be reviewed by educators to assess what works and what doesn’t; and advocated against basing teacher evaluations heavily on standardized tests. The PTSA will continue to advocate at the local, state and federal level for what is best for the children.

Grants Every year, the Hastings PTSA provides grants to enhance the academic and cultural offerings at the three schools. This year, the PTSA sponsored a visit by Kathleen Krull, who gave wonderful talks to grades 1-4 about writing nonfiction. In the fall, Marla Frazee, an award-winning author and artist, will visit Hillside. Claudia Heitler, a news producer, worked with the third-graders to explore current events in terms they understand, including the Keystone XL pipeline, Supreme Court cases, the midterm elections and New York City’s proposed ban on horse carriages. Collaborating with Girls Inc., the PTSA sponsored a Made w/Code workshop to inspire middle school girls to explore their interest in technology and coding to help bridge the gender gap in that profession. The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival returned to conduct workshops on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with the eighth grade. Mary-Louise Miller conducted a fairy tale workshop, encouraging the children’s creativity and imagination. The PTSA also brought yoga to high schoolers, a salsa band to a fifth-grade

The 2015-16 school year

The Hastings PTSA raises funds through sales of spirit wear including t-shirts, flannel pants and hoodies, socks and the Yellow Jacket magnet for lockers or car bumpers.

festival, and the Bash the Trash music/recycling program to elementary students. The PTSA is particularly excited that the TV studio in the high school, for which a full grant was provided, was open for business as of the spring. Students are already learning all aspects of production, from being behind the camera to being in front, plus editing, writing and more.

Scholarship One of the most important parts of the PTSA’s mission is to provide funds to those students whose families struggle to afford school-related costs, such as class trips, musical instrument rentals,

(Front): Christine Colonna, MSPT and Julliana Fernandez. (Back): Lynn Voeste, Barbara Schulz, Abigail Morgan and Ben Giampaglia, PT, MTC

OrthoCare Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation is a well-equipped, outpatient orthopedic physical therapy facility, conveniently located on Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley. All therapists are licensed by New York State and continually update their manual therapy skills and knowledge base to provide their patients with proven and reliable treatment strategies. Patients are assigned to a primary physical therapist to assure continuity of care, and treatment plans are individually designed to meet each patient’s specific needs. We provide physical therapy for treatment of overuse and traumatic injuries including, but not limited to: tendonitis, bursitis, sprains and strains, fractures, cervical and lumbar dysfunctions and pre- and post-surgical care. We participate in most major insurance plans including Medicare, workers’ compensation and no-fault. Ample parking is available. At OrthoCare Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation, we take great pride in the fact that our No. 1 priority has always been providing patients with superior physical therapy care. Hours: Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

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testing fees for the SATs and APs, as well as social events like 8th Grade Recognition Night and the high school proms. Donations earmarked as “scholarship” are welcomed.

Advocacy The advocacy team was very busy this year on a range of issues, asking secretary Arne Duncan to adopt more appropriate testing standards for children whose learning issues prevent them from performing at grade level. The PTSA spoke against stand-alone field tests; testified before state legislators asking for a reduction in testing; had op-eds published ask-

The Hastings PTSA will continue to fulfill requests for grants and provide scholarship funds to students. To do so, the PTSA will hold popular fundraisers like the PTSA membership drive (complete with indispensable calendar!), and the new and used book fairs. This fall, the PTSA plans to repeat the free mock ACT/ SAT test for high school juniors, followed by a personal assessment of results. PTSA encourages the community to become involved in whatever speaks to them, whether it be help with the Newcomers’ Dinner; sorting titles at a book fair; handing out slices at Pizza Fridays at Hillside; or heading up a new community event. A good way to get started is to attend the general meeting in September and the PTSA parent meetings that take place every six weeks or so at each school (check the district website for exact dates). Contact hastingsonhudsonptsa@ gmail.com.

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 19A

Hastings Education Foundation over $1 million in donations The Hastings Education Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1997 to offset declining state aid which over the years forced the elimination of many fine programs in public schools. HEF’s mission is to enrich and enhance the curriculum and facilities of the Hastings Public Schools while increasing the community’s awareness of and support for our schools. Each year the foundation raises money through an annual fundraising letter to the community, as well as an event in the spring. To date the foundation has awarded over $1 million to the Hastings Public Schools thanks to donations from a wide cross-section of Hastings residents. Contributions to the foundation benefit every student in the school system. Grant applications from teachers, administrators, staff, students and occasionally parents are carefully screened and must be approved by the principal, superintendent, foundation grants committee, foundation board and the board of education. Recent grants have included: • $25,000 to create Makerspaces at Hillside Elementary and Farragut Middle School. • $2,500 to fund Syracuse University’s Project Advance’s Reading & Writing for College, a one-day professional development workshop for English and social studies teachers, grades 6-12. • $10,500 to purchase Adobe software and memory upgrades for art department

A R T !

iMacs. The software is used in the media arts, computer graphics and animation curriculums. • $2,273 to purchase 30 sets of snowshoes to create a new physical education program. • $4,100 to hire ArchForKids to bring their Hands on History program to the fourth-grade team at Hillside. • $4,015 to fund resource materials and solar-electric machine kits for use in seventh-grade Hastings Sustainability Investigation. • $2,940 to purchase a 3-D printer for the geometry and calculus programs. • $2,000 to fund a Spanish/Latin American film. • $2,500 to purchase ELA Playaways for expansion of Hillside Library’s collection of recorded books in self-contained units. The Hastings Education Foundation is committed to the idea that strong public schools strengthen communities. A public schools foundation is a proven way to bridge the gap between severely reduced state aid and a continuing need for innovative programs. All donations are tax deductible and grants are generally divided among the three schools to ensure fair distribution. The Hastings Education Foundation welcomes your contributions as well as your input. Contact either of the foundation’s co-presidents, Jill Dietz or Nina Hogan, at hefpresident@gmail. com, if you have any questions or would like to get involved.

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PAGE 20A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

School Reports Irvington relies on faculty, rich programs for success By Dr. Kristopher Harrison Irvington Schools Superintendent

s we welcome our students and faculty back to school this fall, the Irvington School District can look forward to another outstanding year that will be long remembered for remarkable student accomplishments and growth, as we build upon our existing record of high student achievement, supported by our dynamic school community. From the board of education and administration to the faculty and staff, the district maintains a powerful commitment to providing all of our students with engaging and rigorous learning experiences that are designed to provide a solid foundation for academic success while broadening their horizons and making education exciting and enjoyable. The evidence for this commitment can be seen in our exceptionally strong educational programs which, when coupled with the talents of our students and faculty, have continued to garner New York State Reward School designation, an honor marking the highest achieving schools in the state. The core of the Irvington School District’s success lies in the strength of our

faculty and rich academic programs. To support continued growth, the district is committed to continually expanding these programs and co-curricular opportunities to better serve our students’ needs, interests and abilities. One exciting example of these initiatives in the coming school year is a significant spotlight on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — known as STEM — across the elementary and secondary schools. We will expand STEM offerings at the secondary level and introduce deep learning experiences at both Dows Lane and Main Street School. Irvington students will gain new STEMrelated knowledge and skills, furthering their curiosity and enhancing their preparation for attending the most competitive colleges and achieving impressive careers and bright futures. Reflecting the community’s overwhelming support of this growth initiative, the Parent Teacher Student Association has provided financial sponsorship of all related teacher training and the purchase of additional iPads for STEM program use. Additional new initiatives include the expansion to second grade of the Fundations program, which was introduced in kindergarten and first grade in 2014-15. This phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling program will support the development of our students’

skill sets as they grow as successful readers and writers. At the middle school and Main Street School, we are adding student clubs to enrich learning, while at the high school a number of new electives will be introduced to expand student options and improve preparation for college. To support all areas of instruction, the district remains committed to providing its faculty and staff with ongoing professional development to support their growth and desire to provide an outstanding learning experience for every student, every day. At the secondary level, the district is pleased to introduce a secondary instructional coach who will collaborate with all teachers to support instruction and continued integration of high-quality, purposeful writing across the curricula. Technology also remains a major focus in all of our schools. Using the district’s technology plan, we will continue to enrich learning through the integration of technology and provide explicit instruction to our students with critical technological skills to support their learning. These efforts will be complemented by a continued upgrade of the technology infrastructure as well as the purchase of 180 additional Chromebooks, 50 new computers and updated Smart Boards, projectors and computers. Utilizing the New York State Smart Schools Grant, the district will then install a wireless network at both

elementary schools. At the high school, we will expand technology course offerings by adding AP computer science as an option for our students. The district will also continue to support Irvington’s impressive arts program, which offers a wide array of visual and performing arts experiences and an exemplary instrumental and vocal music program. We are proud of the comprehensive learning experience that we provide for our students, which we continue to expand at all grade levels through strong parent and community partnerships. Both the Irvington PTSA and the Irvington Education Foundation are staunch advocates for teachers and students. Through their collaboration with the school district, and with the support of the broader Irvington school community, the PTSA and IEF have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to enhance our students’ education through enrichment of our curricula. These special relationships, when integrated within the supportive Irvington community, provide an excellent scholastic experience for each of our students. A number of key staffing changes have been made that will strengthen our leadership team in 2015-16. In the spring, the district announced that Deborah Mariniello, aformer assistant principal at Irvington Continued on next page

The Beginners Club Join our unique, fun-filled After-School Program For Kindergartners and First Graders Creative Playtime and a Kaleidoscope of Enrichment Activities

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WHY: Kindergarten days end at noon in September. If you would like after school enrichment... a short school bus ride will bring your child from Hillside to the First Reformed Church in Hastings. (we pick up Dobbs kids, too!). There they’ll enjoy the afternoon with their healthy snack and playful, enriching activities. Our cheerful space mirrors the Kindergarten experience for a smooth transition in your child’s day. WHEN: September 2015 TIME: 12-2:00 pm or stay on until 6:00 pm

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015 Continued from previous page

High School, would join Dows Lane School as its principal in July. Having served the district for three years as an assistant principal at both the high school and Dows Lane, she has established strong connections with the Irvington school community. Ms. Mariniello is a talented, proven leader with a deep knowledge base and possesses a comprehensive understanding of our programs at all levels. The district also named Steve Corbett to the role of assistant principal at the high school. With a diverse professional career, starting as a teacher and including time as the founding principal of the Harlem Scholar Academy and as a high school dean in New Orleans, La., Corbett brings strong instructional leadership skills and a passion for working with students to our high school. In addition to these new administrators, we are also pleased to welcome new faculty and staff at all of our schools. They bring with them a tremendous amount of talent and passion that will surely enrich the community. The Irvington School District remains dedicated to providing an optimal learning environment for its students, and performed numerous school maintenance projects over the summer. To address challenges with the conditions of our facilities and athletic fields, the bond referendum, approved by voters on Oct. 7, 2014, will fund the necessary improvements and ensure high-quality, energyefficient facilities for educating students. Unfortunately, due to approval delays at the New York State Education Department that were beyond the district’s control, the

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 21A

majority of these projects will not commence until the summer of 2016. However, one approved project is expected to be completed over the summer. The recent construction of new office space for the Dows Lane Elementary School administration and school nurse will allow for the closure of district offices that were previously housed in modular buildings. As the year progresses, we look forward to announcing a timeline for the completion of the remaining projects, which include: • Resurfacing and improving drainage and irrigation at East Field. • Replacing Meszaros Field with organic artificial turf and replacing the Oley track. • Updating heating and ventilation systems at Dows Lane. • Restoring the roof at Main Street School. • Converting oil boilers at Main Street School to gas. • Building entry vestibules at the entrances to Irvington Middle School. • Converting gymnasium lights to LED lights at the high school, Dows Lane and Main Street School. The board of education, administration, faculty and staff extend their very best wishes for a successful 2015-16. We also encourage the entire school community to be involved by attending our board of education meetings or watching them on the Village of Irvington’s cable stations (Cablevision channel 75 and Verizon channel 40), as well as by attending the district’s many worthy artistic, academic and athletic events throughout the year.

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PAGE 22A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

School Reports

Students head back to the future at Ardsley schools By Dr. Lauren Allan

and students. At Concord Road School, Dan Sheridan and Alexandra DeLello will be teaching fourth grade, Jodie Brenner third grade, Roisin O’Rourke first grade, Rebecca Phillips kindergarten, Jenifer Chin and Michelle McStine reading, and Petra Tovisova-Serafini is a new school psychologist. In addition, English teacher Kimberly Perillo will join the staff at Ardsley Midddle School, while psycologist Natalie Folloro, physics teacher Peter Lee and earth science teacher Yuko Ashida will be joining our high school staff. Thus far, approximately 125 new kindergartners will join our district and begin their school careers in Ardsley. An additional 56 students will be joining our learning community — 20 at Concord Road, 28 at Ardsley Middle School and eight at Ardsley High School. Please join us in a warm welcome and enthusiastic congratulations to all our new families and faculty.

Ardsley Schools Superintendent

n a couple of weeks, we will welcome the classes of 2016 through 2028 to the 2015-16 school year. We are looking forward to reconnecting with returning families, beginning our journey with new families and greeting over 2,200 students as they return to our schools on Sept. 2. We begin this new year with some significant new hires guiding our schools and our classrooms. At Ardsley High School, Rudy Arietta and Jon Hirsch formed a new leadership team on July 1. Rudy, who has served the high school as assistant principal since 2012, was promoted to principal upon the retirement of Dr. Jim Haubner. Jon comes to the district from Horace Greeley High School, where he taught special education and social studies and for the last nine years had been the director of the LIFE (Learning Interdependently From Experience) School, a lab dedicated to student-centered learning. Together they will build upon our foundation of success, implement innovative new programs, inspire student engagement and enhance education instruction aligned with our strategic plan. At Ardsley Middle School, Stu Horlacher was appointed assistant principal replacing Dr. Adam Bronstein, who left to become principal at Westlake Middle School

Chromebooks are part of an Ardsley education.talents

in Mount Pleasant. Stu has been with the district since 2001. During his tenure, he served as a science teacher and as an administrative intern working closely with the leadership team on initiatives including teacher observations, school building management, scheduling, staff development and strategic planning. His experience with the district will help ensure a smooth and seamless transition for both our students and faculty at Ardsley Middle School. Similarly, Edgar McIntosh took the next logical step in his career and was ap-

A Dancer in All of Us

FALL 2015

pointed director of curriculum and instruction in the Briarcliff Manor School District. We are happy to announce that Dr. JoAnne Januzzi has been appointed interim principal for the 2015-16 school year. Dr. Januzzi brings nearly 30 years of educational leadership experience to the district and will work closely with the students, faculty and families of Ardsley Middle School to ensure a positive learning experience for all our students this year. Throughout the district, we also welcome a number of new teachers, faculty

Student choice is guiding principle to busy summer This summer, we have engaged in several professional development programs designed to help our teachers incorporate more student choice in our classrooms. Over the course of last year we asked teachers to log examples and provide feedback on assignments that involved student choice. We reviewed over 200 of these reflections in order to refine best practices Continued on page 24A

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 23A

Technology just one focus for AEF The Ardsley Education Foundation (AEF) works to fund projects that enrich children’s lives and ones that may be outside the traditional scope of the school’s budget, especially in tough economic years. AEF works closely with Ardsley School District administrators and the PTA to identify and fulfill funding requests in all three schools, and to ensure that the initiatives funded align with district initiatives, especially in the technology arena. Over the past few years AEF has increased its focus on innovation and technology and continues to support these areas moving into the 2015-16 school year. Encouraging educators and AEF members to think outside the box raises new and exciting ideas to enrich the children’s educational experiences. Working with the principals of each school and the district technology specialist, AEF continues to increase available technology, as well as its integration into the educational system. AEF recently funded iPads and Chromebooks, including a dedicated set of iPads to the Concord Road Elementary School science team, which enhances the research and learning options for students. The use of iPads promotes classroom collaboration amongst students and allows them to observe, investigate, record and share results. Chromebooks purchased in support of health classes at Ardsley Middle School offer a program that touches all students in the building. Additionally, the use of 3-D printing is growing as AEF has added another printer this year for technology classes. At Ardsley High School, the Science Research Program has begun to create and prepare their presentations for competi-

tion on their new wide format printer and did exceptionally well in the 2014-15 year. Moving into the 2015-16 school year, AEF is excited to fund the first phase of Concord Road’s new Makerspace, a creative, out-of-the-box program where our elementary students will gain hands-on experiences. The Makerspace supports STEM initiatives and is intended to create passionate learners through innovation using construction, woodworking, robotics, electronics and more. For AMS and AHS, AEF is adding Chromebook carts, as well as probes for AHS science classes. AEF looks forward to funding many more exciting and inspiring programs and technology. AEF’s 2015 Spring Gala was great fun and extremely profitable. AEF is enthusiastic about the fundraising efforts and events in place for the coming school year. The 2016 annual Spring Gala & Auction will be Saturday, March 5, at The Coliseum in White Plains. The Ardsley Education Foundation was formed in 1995 and is comprised of parents, school administrators and community members who are dedicated to enriching public education in the Ardsley Union Free School District. The Ardsley Education Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) nonprofit educational organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Grants or special projects selected for funding by the Ardsley Education Foundation’s board of directors may be single events, pilot projects or ongoing programs. For more information, to make a donation or to get involved, visit www.ardsleyeducationfoundation.org. Like AEF on Facebook to receive updates.

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Once-A-Week Program Meets: Thursdays from 4-6PM, October through June First Class and Free Open House: October 15th Free High Holiday Services —All are welcome! Mishkan Ha’am is a warm, non-traditional Jewish community in Hastings-on-Hudson. She’arim/Gateways is our innovative approach to Hebrew School: A FUN and project-oriented, community-focused Jewish educational program. Now registering students pre-K through 6th grade! FREE TUITION for new students preK-1st grade!

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PAGE 24A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

Ardsley schools Continued from page 22A

and support teachers in incorporating more student-guided learning in their lessons. We held our second annual Writing Institute. During an intensive two-day schedule, we engaged in a study of all the genres we teach by looking at the assignments we give, the rubrics we use and student work samples. This analysis of k-12 writing assignments allowed us to take note of the balance in our curriculum and how much choice we are giving our student writers. We identified strengths and opportunities to nourish our studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; passion for writing and will now begin work on analyzing assessment and instructional strategies. This summer we continued alignment of our k-12 curriculum with the current Common Core Standards in all subjects with a special focus on social studies. We also prepared for a tri-state review in social studies scheduled for the fall. In January of this year, we began a pilot on Thinking MapsÂŽ, a set of eight visual organizers linked to specific thinking skills that help students organize information. They provide a common language and structure that promotes student-centered and cooperative learning, reflective thinking, creativity, clarity of communication and continuous cognitive development. The use of Thinking MapsÂŽ in our k-12 classrooms will provide consistency and help our students develop good writing skills as well as lifelong skills to help them study. Thinking MapsÂŽ offers a powerful tool set for supporting effective instructional practice and improving student performance. We are very excited about adopting this model into

our work and are confident it will help our students on their journey to become independent, reflective, lifelong problem solvers and learners.

Community is cornerstone to success Thanks to the support of the community and the passing of the 2014 bond referendum, implementation of facility improvements and repairs have continued. In our efforts to improve safety and security, special lighting, updated cameras, a new PA system and new classroom doors have been added this summer. New sidewalks and additional paving repairs have also taken place at all three sites to ensure the safety of our students. Our Ardsley Middle School students will welcome improvements and upgrades to the locker room facilities while high school students will enjoy repairs to the gym floor. We again thank the community and we will continue to implement the facilities plan in a way that minimizes impact to our students and teachers during the school day. Many thanks to the PTA and AEF for funding many educational initiatives, improvements in technology and new programs which bring unique learning opportunities to our students. The donations of Chromebooks, voice recorders, powerful hand-held microscopes, science probes, 3D printers, software and more are invaluable additions to classroom resources. Long hours and hard work by many parents result in programs such as International Day and ArdsleyCares Day. Special assemblies and sponsored class trips expose our students to extraordinary people and distinctive experiences. We cannot thank the PTA, the AEF and community

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back to School

enough for your ongoing and meaningful support.

Staying connected We greatly value the strong partnership we have with our community and we encourage your active participation and feedback at board meetings and in school/districtwide committees. We also offer many electronic ways that you can stay connected to our district and to your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s teachers and classrooms. If you have not done so, please log-on to the K-12 Alerts Emergency Notification System and complete and/or update your contact information. This will allow you to not only receive emergency information, but blasts including Sharing Successes, Noteworthy News and other information regarding special programs and student successes. Social media is increasingly important to our communication strategy. We invite you to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Likeâ&#x20AC;? us on Facebook by clicking on the link on our district website. To connect students and parents to their classrooms, eChalk and the Parent Portal are online systems providing class schedules, current homework assignments, progress reports, grades and links to learning resources. Parents should obtain the login for eChalk from their children and register for the Parent Portal under the Parents tab on the district website. On behalf of the board of education, the district office and all the teachers and faculty in the district, we again welcome you to the 2015-16 school year. We know this will be another year of great learning highlighted by many student achievements. We hope you have enjoyed a happy and healthy summer and we look forward to reconnecting in the coming weeks.

Ardsley High School students use the miniPCR.

Ardsley PTA: bringing learning to life Through the generous support of the community, the Ardsley PTA has had another amazing year helping provide resources and experiences for Ardsley children that go above and beyond the school curriculum. Thanks to the many fundraisers and big-hearted volunteers, each school in the district has benefited from materials, speakers, technology and events that keep Ardsley schools truly remarkable.

Hands on at Concord Road International Celebration Day, planned and run by parents and families, brought over 45 cultures to life through music, food, games and performances, broadening the understanding of our global community. Earth Day was personified Continued on next page

BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 2015

dd Water and Stir

T S H providing children with an opportunity to be a creative asset of a very unique community of learners and explorers.

Now offering after-school child care plus enrichment workshops. Sign up for daily childcare options offered to grades 2nd - 7th grade. We spend our after school hours at Hillside school We begin our time with outdoor free play. Once done, we head inside for snack, workshops and homework. Our workshops range from basic science to funky crafts and book writing. Staffed by a group of warm, caring and intelligent professionals, we look to instill positivity, conďŹ dence and creativity in your child. Childhood goes by so quickly and it is our mision to help you give your child the best one they can have.

Katie and Eryn Reigner Licensed NYS Childcare Providers 912.655.9701 addwaterandstirink@gmail.com

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 25A

Continued from previous page

by a performance from the legendary Tom Chapin. The One School One Book initiative concluded with a professional performance of “Charlotte’s Web” by TheatreWorks USA. Fourth-graders got to experience early American life through the Colonial Man workshop. Second-graders won a grant to make their solar energy unit real by purchasing a solar birdbath. First-grade classes were treated to the Thinking Through Art program with the Katonah Museum of Art, which enriched their learning in visual arts, literacy and ELA. These and many other efforts were made possible by grants from the PTA and the generous time of parents and teachers.

Getting real at AMS The PTA was able to furnish an added dimension to classroom learning in several different ways at Ardsley Middle School. The Wellness Fair brought in a host of professionals to a lunchtime extravaganza that covered everything from nutrition to stress relief to physical and mental well-being. Seventh-grade students were able to Skype with author Paul B. Kaneczko after reading his poetry novel and had writing workshops with author and playwright Jeff Baron. Fifthgrade students learning about Mexico were treated to a Viva Mexico assembly by the Calpulli Mexican Dance Co. Students studying the Holocaust got to hear from two guest speakers who shared their personal experiences of survival.

Above and beyond at AHS Some of the PTA contributions to Ardsley High School included the purchase

of a miniPCR and MiScopes for science classrooms so students can connect with the very building blocks of life: examining their own DNA molecules. “Macbeth” was performed by the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival as an addition to the 10th-grade English unit on Shakespeare. A SmartMusic pilot program was kicked off to transform the way students learn music by making it more interactive and individualized. The PTA helped support student publishing with funding for The Panther Voice newspaper and the Criterion magazine. The Wellness Fair was expanded to include topics relevant to high schoolers, such as drug and alcohol dangers, skin care and exercise. All this was in addition to the monetary scholarships the PTA provides to deserving AHS graduates.

Partnering with Rivertown Parents In association with the Rivertown Parents group, the PTA was able to offer such informative sessions as an evening with Jacques Steinberg on college admissions; March Mathness to review k-6 math with local curriculum leaders; It’s About Time organizational and time management skills at every age; and incorporating STEM with Meg Käufer.

Coming up What are the Ardsley PTA goals for this year? Anything and everything the PTA can think of to enrich education, support our teachers and schools, and maintain the Ardsley School District’s well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and community spirit. Learn more, sign up for our email blasts or get involved at www.ardsleypta.org.

Ardsley to reuse, recycle, and give back at annual event The seventh annual ArdsleyCares Day (ACD) Saturday, Oct. 24, will be a day for families to come together and recycle, reuse and give back to those in need. This day of giving — with over 20 events across the county throughout the day — coincides with national Make a Difference Day, the nation’s largest day of community service. More than 650 individuals are expected to work together to help less fortunate members of the community. Over the years, more and more families are focusing on reusing and recycling clothes, books, sporting goods, toys and more that go to others in need. Additionally, families will come together throughout the day to participate in activities across the county, including preparing meals for the homeless, projects for Habitat for Humanity, collecting used equipment for Sporting Goods for Good, improvement projects at Concord Road and more at the PEAK Center for youths in Mount Vernon. Additionally, Ardsley families will help disadvantaged kids, bring an afternoon of enjoyment and activity to senior citizens, prepare meals and sort donated clothes, and beautify local towns and parks. ArdsleyCares has new chairmen this year with Linda Weber and Kanan Chheda, both longtime committee members, taking the helm. Weber co-chaired the event two years ago and chaired the Ronald McDonald House efforts for years, providing meals to families with

children at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, another returning event. Chheda has chaired clothing donations for a number of shelters for the last several years, as well as led other committee efforts, including the Concord Road Book Swap, another annual ArdsleyCares event that produces scholarships for kids. “I am thrilled to once again lead this group of dedicated families in a day of giving back,” Weber said. “The work that we do means so much to the communities in Westchester and we simply could not do it without the support of so many people, including the families, sponsors, the school district, the village and many more.” ArdsleyCares Day began as a partnership between the Ardsley PTA and Ardsley schools to create hands-on volunteering opportunities for Ardsley families. ArdsleyCares Day continues to attract a broad swath of the community to volunteer at activities benefiting a broad range of organizations. There are activities available for the youngest children, teens and adults. This year’s event again strives to provide families with even more meaningful experiences and opportunities to help others. For up-to-date information on the schedule and to register for an event, Ardsley families are invited to visit www. ardsleycares.org or email ArdsleyCares@ gmail.com. Follow on Facebook at ArdsleyCares.

THE

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON PTSA Five Corners Nursery

A balanced creative arts based enrichment program for 2,3,4 and 5 year old children Our “Home-Away-From-Home” nurturing environment will enrich and secure your child’s journey through their early years with our highly qualified teachers. Our accredited music and movement teacher and accredited dance teacher visit us twice a week throughout the year.

Pre-K Class - fully enrolled Three’s Class - fully enrolled Two’s Class - very limited space available Meet Other Mommies

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Children 18 months and up Come sing, dance, snack, play and read with us! Call for more information 18 Farragut Avenue, Hastings – On – Hudson Director: Mary Cahill

Administrator: Judith Rotiroti

Questions? Call us at 478-2334 www.hastingspreschool.com fivecornersprogram@gmail.com

WISHES EVERYONE A GREAT 2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR! REMEMBER: Become a PTSA Member and get your indispensable 2015-16 PTSA Calendar at the Farmers Market on Labor Day weekend and at all back-to-school events.

Our membership and fundraising dollars go directly to programs for our schools.

Grants funded in 2014-15 included:

• Current Events in the Classroom program at Hillside • Visit from renowned non-fiction author Kathleen Krull to Hillside and FMS • Coding workshop for girls at FMS • 5th grade Salsa Festival • HHS Student Playwriting Festival • Scholarships for class trips, musical instrument rentals, test fees and other class-related events

PAGE 26A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Another year, another size larger... or two perhaps! Come to Affordables to save money and the environment.

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back to school clothes arriving daily toys, skates, boots, cleats, books, car seats, high chairs, toddler beds, cribs, swings & strollers too! 10 main street, dobbs ferry • 693-3610 regular hours: mon-sat 10-5, thurs 10-6 pm closed mondays 8/24 & 8/31

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Show your calculator love, win big, meet a celebrity (NAPSI)—American parents spend about $26 billion a year on school supplies for their kids, according to the National Retail Federation. If one of the things you’re getting your student this year is a graphing calculator, it may pay to heed these three hints on choosing the right one: • Ask the teacher: A graphing calculator may be the most important purchase you make for your student, so ask your child’s teacher what he or she recommends and what will be used in class. • Check high-stakes exam acceptance: All major exams, national and state, have specific calculator acceptance policies. Check to make sure the calculator you plan to buy is accepted before you make the purchase. • Think long term: Quality graphing technology will last students from middle school through high school and into college. Think about what math and science courses your student will be taking, be it geometry, algebra or advanced-level chemistry, so that the purchase can last a good long time.

Love your calculator, win big Students who share a photo or video showing why they love their TI calculator and using the hashtag #ilyTIcontest have a chance to win a classroom visit from Mayim Bialik, star of the hit comedies “Blossom” and “The Big Bang Theory.” Bialik not only plays a scientist on television, but she is a neuroscientist in real life. “Math and science are fun, especial-

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ly with the right tools to succeed in the classroom,” Bialik said. “I look forward to seeing how students and teachers use their creativity and imagination to showcase what their TI technology means to them.” The grand prize winner of the “ILYTI” contest will also receive a classroom set of 30 TI-84 Plus CE graphing calculators, TI’s brand new calculator for back to school 2015. From now through Sept. 18, anyone over the age of 13 can submit a photo or video highlighting his or her favorite TI technology on Twitter or Instagram. Entrants must include the hashtag #ilyTIcontest. Only video submissions will be considered for the grand prize of having Bialik for a school visit. Ten runners-up will each get a TI-84 Plus CE in the color of his or her choice, be it Radical Red, Positively Pink or Plum Pi. You can view the official rules and see all the submissions at ilyTIcontest.com.

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 27A

Back-to-School

Goodbye summer (vacation), hello fall (fashion)! By Mary Legrand

At Indigo Chic in Hartsdale, Taylor, left, wearing a sweater from Nally & Millie, jeans by My Tribe and Steve Madden Boots. Madison, right, sporting a top by Chaser, sweater jacket by Nally & Millie and shoes by Ashe.

Continued on page 28A

JOHN MEORE PHOTO

he phrase “Back to School” means many things to parents and their kids. For some, it means a return to regular routines, like going to bed earlier in the evening and getting up earlier in the morning. For others, it means needing to get into the habit of wearing something other than a variety of summertime tees, shorts and bathing suits. Merchants throughout Westchester are more than happy to help outfit kids of all ages so they look their best in the classroom and on the playground. And the coolest trends for back-to-school fashion are first and foremost on the minds of merchants. Phyllis Samuels of Neil’s, which has locations in Mount Kisco and Scarsdale, says comfort is important these days. “Everything is super-soft, with brushed stretch fabrics that feel unbelievable when they’re being worn,” she said. “Kids are tactile crazy these days — if a seam doesn’t feel good they don’t want to wear it.” Using that basic advice as a jumping off point, SamuAnnabelle looks great in Gap overalls and a Jacadi top from the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills.

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• Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Hip-Hop • Performing Groups and Choreography Opportunities • Toddler – Adult • Moving Wheels & Heels for dancers with special needs Providing the best dance education in Westchester County since 1937 Online registration now available at www.steffinossen.org or call 914-328-1900

Bill Bramswig Photo

PAGE 28A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

BTS Fashion

Hello Fall!

➊ At Lester’s in Rye Brook, boys look stellar in a Quiksilver plaid shirt and logo tee, and Hudson Slim Jeans. For the girls, a Rebel Yell sienna rainbow zip-up, track and field madison raglan and rainbow zoe sweatpant, plus a Butter emoji tote.

➋ ➋ Juliette, left, wearing a plaid cardigan from Cozy Casual, rip skinny jeans from Kan Can and a cami tank from Zenana Outfitters and Caroline, right, is rocking a thermal hoodie from Vintage Havana and black leggings from PopShop Style at PopShop Style in Dobbs Ferry.

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JOHN MEORE PHOTO

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els added that the “hot statement print for girls is the emoji — anything with an emoji is hot right now; they’re everywhere.” Leggings are being offered in lots of prints — denim, snake and space-dyed, even striated. The high-low silhouette in tops is back again, stronger than ever, Samuels said, and a perfect match with leggings, mostly because the longer back “covers the tush.” Boys still prefer wearing sports-related clothing. “It’s all about the players, and everyone wants dry-fit,” Samuels said, adding that bright colors — orange, teal and bright blue — are popular for late summer and early fall. Zip-front hoodies complete the look when boys are wearing sweatpants. Jon Shapiro, founder of Mixology Clothing, headquartered in New York City and with a shop in Rye Brook, said high school and college girls are his business’s most loyal and vibrant customers. He’s seeing “lots of sued, fringe and flare denim for this season’s students,” adding, “Color palettes range from olives to burgundies, but black is always essential.” Once again, comfort is key. “The hand of the garment must speak to the customer and be stylish and easy to wear and style,” Shapiro said. “We are launching a full and dynamic ‘athleisure’ collection in all our locations and have an exciting partnership with Rebecca Minkoff to launch their athletic collection.” As for trends, Mixology’s Shapiro says that “boho chic is still hot. Hats are unconstructed and wide, and jewelry is trending towards spirituality. Dainty rings adorn hands this season.” Returning fashion trends include denim, with dresses, overalls and skirts all being shown. “The ’70s inspiration is being felt at retail,” Shapiro said. At LF Scarsdale, stylist and store manager Allison Batty said she is seeing a lot of the soft bell bottoms as “a big trend for the summer continuing through the fall. There are cool patterns, also a lot of new fabrics, different ribs and textures.” Crop tops “are coming back,” according to Batty, being paired with lowerand higher-rise pants, “making for two different looks — showing more skin or covering up more.” What Batty calls “border prints” are “almost a pattern within a pattern, emphasize animal prints, florals and paisleys amid thick stripes.” Favorite colors are deeper for the late summer and early fall, including maroon, olive and burnt orange. New trends include dressing rompers in different patterns and shapes, Batty said. For the colder weather the rompers could be paired with leggings for additional warmth, but in the transitional season when the weather can still be warm, rompers are perfect with knee socks. Accessories making fashion statements this season are layered bracelets and “rings on every finger,” Batty said,

COURTESY OF LESTER'S

Continued from page 27A

➌ At the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills, Caitlin is ready for school in a Chaps plaid top and Gap jean skirt. ➍ Elenore is wearing a dress from Mini Boden at the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills.

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

adding that coin necklaces and jewelry with “really big stones including chunky quartz” are very hot. Jessica Harris, owner of & James in Katonah, offers fashionable and comfortable clothing for the younger students. One trend she’s seeing is for “bright and bold colors, vivid graphic prints,” while on the other hand there is still strong demand for natural fabrics and earth tones. “It seems like companies are either going one way or the other,” Harris said. “Our shop is mostly traditional, but we also add the fashion pieces. Children have such a point of view, especially the girls, and they want to mix and match.” Harris says she emphasizes clothing that’s age-appropriate at & James, knowing that’s what parents want for their kids. “We don’t offer things that are too short or too tight,” she said, and her shop is very popular as a result. “Never in a million years did I think it would be as busy as it is. I’m satiating a need that’s out there. Parents and grandparents are hungry for good products at the right price.” Julie Zegras, owner of Bubble & Tweet in Bedford Village, offers infant sizes all the way up to size 14. She also carries women’s clothing. “Fall fashion trends are cozy sweaters, jeans, plaid shirts and casual tees for the 7 to 14 age group,” she said. “For the younger sizes 2T to 6X there are leggings with fun tunics and dresses.” Once again, comfort is at the top of everyone’s fashion wish list. “For example, I carry Vintage Havana, which has a lot of fleece sweatshirts and sweatpants with fun prints or solids,” Zegras said. “I don’t carry a lot of accessories for kids other than tights — fun printed tights are always a big hit.” As far as trends go, “Bubble & Tweet doesn’t get too trendy,” Zegras said. “I try to have a nice balance of classic pieces that can work with a few trendy pieces. I find I have to keep a balance to make moms and kids happy. Kids these days have such an opinion on what they want to wear, so I find moms and kids making a lot of compromises.” Maisha Stephens-Teacher, owner of Yummy Yummie Goodness in Hastings-on-Hudson, carries clothing for newborns to size 14. She’s seeing a lot of prints and vibrant colors, along with hipster harem pants and furry outerwear. “Most of our designers use 100 percent cotton and

JOHN MEORE PHOTO

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 29A

➑

➎ Ready to read, Ava models a Gap skirt and a les Parrotinez top from the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills.

➏ At the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills, Nyla, left, is wearing a Gymboree dress, Erin, right, a Bon Point jumper and a Gap jacket.

➏ ➐ Taylor sports Blank Jeans, a James Perse tank, BB Dakota jacket and Edelman boots at Indigo Chic in Hartsdale.

➐ ➑ Caroline, left, is wearing a PopShop Style hoodie and Celebrity Pink jeans, while Juliette goes with the striped sweater from Tea n Rose and Celebrity Pink jeans from PopShop Style in Dobbs Ferry.

JOHN MEORE PHOTO

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Continued on page 30A

PAGE 30A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

BTS Fashion

Hello Fall!

➒ At the Preppy Turtle in Bedford Hills, Zoey is wearing a Tea dress and William looks great in a shirt from the Gap and shorts by Charlie Rocket.

➓ ➓ Caroline struts in a burgundy dress by Poetry from PopShop Style in Dobbs Ferry.

JOHN MEORE PHOTO

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JOHN MEORE PHOTO

are really big on quality fabrics where the color is maintained and the garments retain their shape,” Stephens-Teacher said. “The hipster harem trend is a comfy look hitting the fashion scene heavy this fall.” Designers are having fun with accessories Stephens-Teacher said: “The colors are vibrant for tights, and look for hats that look like masks, plus fun headphone-like earmuffs. Shoes are beautiful in colored leathers — no more boring basic browns, blacks and blues!” Returning fashions are hooded, oversized capes and hooded vests, which “are continually being made unisex, which is great if you have multiple kids to pass along items to. The jeans are also unisex.” Clearly there will be no problem getting children outfitted and looking their best for school. All would be perfect if the merchants could also help parents figure out how to wake their kids up extra-early and get them to the bus stop on time — that would solve a lot of family issues during the first few weeks of classes!

JOHN MEORE PHOTO

Continued from page 29A

Madison is happy in a Lola & Sophie top, J. Brand jeans, Dolce Vita boots and a bag by Brave from Indigo Chic in Hartsdale.

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 31A

Fall fashions at Affordables

oyal Affordables customers know that back to school shopping starts at 10 Main St. in Dobbs Ferry because they can always find current and stylish children’s clothing at a fraction of the cost at regular retail stores. Affordables carries all the popular brands that kids love, gently worn, often new with original tags. Parents rely on the quality and wide variety offered, all at one store. If your child’s school has a dress code or requires uniform clothing, you can find navy blue and tan slacks, skirts, jumpers and skorts, as well as solid polo shirts, uniform shirts and blouses in various colors. Fall and winter clothing begins arriving in early July with new inventory on the racks daily. Holiday and dress wear has always been an Affordables staple since special occasion clothing is usually worn once or twice before it is outgrown. Good quality Halloween costumes are also very popular items, arriving at the end of August. Don’t forget to look for gently worn or new sneakers, shoes, boots, cleats, backpacks and purses, as well as fashion accessories such as belts, hats, scarves and hair accessories. Affordables will help you and your children transition easily from season to season because some clothing from the previous season is still available at reduced prices. Many of Affordables consignors are also the store’s most enthusiastic shop-

Clothing for all occasions at Affordables in Dobbs Ferry.

pers, using their earnings to purchase new clothing painlessly. Earning while saving money has always been the Affordables motto and continues to attract new followers every day. Call 693-3610 or visit to find out more about the Affordables way to shop, save money and recycle your children’s gently worn clothing and other items. Visit www.affordablechild.com.

Five Corners Nursery offers a stimulating environment Five Corners Nursery Program in Hastings-on-Hudson provides a warm, loving, stimulating environment that allows preschoolers to develop self-worth and a positive attitude toward learning. Each class has a developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes different areas like physical, cognitive, emotional and social. Five Corners has an accredited music teacher and an accredited dance teacher who come twice a week. Five Corners offers the Tiny Steps 2s, 3s and pre-k programs. This is a teacher-led introduction to an educational playgroup, which will feature music and movement, story time, messy art and much more. This program builds upon the Tiny Steps class, while incorporating new activities and adventures for the children as their character and individuality grows and matures. The pre-k group is focused on each child and their own developmental needs as they prepare for kindergarten. All the programs encourage active, hands-on learning with a mixture of self-directed and teacher–directed activities. Five Corners offers opportunities for children to develop math and science skills while measuring, mixing and cooking in a professionally equipped kitchen, enjoy story time

imaginative and dress-up play, and participate in active outdoor play on our state-of-the-art playground. Five Corners’ schedule allows ample time for free play and exploration, while also including more structured group activities and circle time. We believe this is the best way to develop a child’s self-confidence and sense of community. The teachers at Five Corners Nursery Program hold degrees in early childhood development. Moreover, they are mothers who know the importance of giving children a warm and loving environment in which to learn, grow and develop. Call 478-2334, email fivecornersprogram@gmail.com or visit www. hastingspreschool.com.

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PAGE 32A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opens first boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;/menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outpost store Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the fashion retailer known for more than 65 years as a destination where top trends from the best brands are delivered with exceptional service, opened a brand new space dedicated to boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sizes 8-20 and menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clothing, footwear and accessories on Aug. 4. The new Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boys & Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store will be adjacent to the Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 11,000-square-foot Rye Brook location at 18 Rye Ridge Plaza, which opened one year ago and has led to significant growth of the business and reach to a larger Westchester demographic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The opening of our new boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store emerged out of a dialogue with our customers about how better to meet the specific style profile of under-served, style-conscious high school through 20-something young men,â&#x20AC;? said Perry Schorr, Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s owner and CEO. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We applied what has been a successful model for our kids, juniors and womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contemporary business and created a unique and dynamic environment all their own with all the latest styles and brands they seek from everyday casual cool to well-tailored styles for going out.â&#x20AC;? That space, handsomely outfitted in cool textured grays and metal, has

been designed and merchandised to feel sleek, masculine and easy to navigate. Lesterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cornerstone service and selection are ever-present in the new location and features activewear, everyday casual, going out styles and basic essentials. Anything but basic are the highprofile brands carried across every department and which represent what this customer seeks most: style and a laidback cool sophistication. Favorites include Tailor Vintage, Vineyard Vines, Original Penguins, Vince, Chaser, Jacks and Jokers Herschel, Vanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, and 47 Brand along with perennial big-performing favorites Adidas, Nike, Under Armour, Quiksilver, Retrobrand and more. Back to School shopping season kicked off Thursday, Aug. 20.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back to School

ACNS proud of long history The Ardsley Community Nursery School has been serving families from the local area for more than 50 years with a fun-loving environment run by caring staff and a strong enrichment program consisting of music, dance and movement, nature study and Spanish. Recently, the Ardsley Historical Society declared ACNS the oldest nursery program in the area. ACNS maintains the outstanding quality of a nursery school from 9 a.m. until noon, and additionally offers limited spots in a variety of afternoon sessions. Early drop-off is available for working parents. Programs are offered for ages 2-5 years old. A three-week precamp program runs in June, and a six-week summer camp program runs from the end of June through the first week in August. Children learn through carefully planned play experiences that include songs; arts and crafts; language, phonemic awareness and literacy; science and exploration; computers; multicultural humanities; and independence and social skills. ACNS is New York State accredited and follows both the NYS and Common Core learning standards for preschool. The school curriculum centers around integrated activities based on weekly themes that reflect the interest of students, such as dinosaurs, outer space, the Wild West, circus, animals, oceans and farms. Fun days include Halloween and spring carnivals, Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day brunch for parents, Thanksgiving feast, holiday puppet show, beach day and Chinese New Year parade. All cultures are celebrated. ACNS is diaper-friendly and has the abil-

Outdoors and indoors, ACNS provides a wonderful environment for children.

ity to include children with special needs. Children from all local areas are accepted. The school has a beautiful, shady playground with sandboxes, swings, climbing equipment, playhouses and mobile toys. Field trips are taken to the nearby police and fire stations, the local supermarket, the library and the Greenburgh Nature Center. Children experience science and nature daily through taking care of plants and classroom pets, and hatching butterflies and chicks every spring. At ACNS, the goal is for every child to feel good about him or herself, make friends and love school. ACNS is located at 21 American Legion Drive in Ardsley. Call 693-4932 to obtain an application or arrange a visit or visit www.acnus.us or Facebook.

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THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 33A

Clubhouse Friends adds playgroup Clubhouse Friends started a new class this year for 3-to-5-year olds, in addition to their existing Social Stars program for ages 5-9 and Clubhouse Girls for ages 9-14. The Playgroup filled quickly and will continue this fall. The Playgroup is designed to explicitly teach the skills necessary leading to successful relationships with others through play. It is important to a child’s well-being to develop friendships for emotional health. Social competence not only develops self-esteem, but impacts school readiness, academic competence, adult success and judgment. Some children may have well developed social skills in some areas and not in other areas. At Clubhouse Friends, skills are taught, practiced and reinforced and strategies are utilized to help children overcome a wide range of challenges. The more children understand and express their emotions, the more they are accepted by their peers. Clubhouse Friends was started by Fran Pawlak and Maryanne Reda, two certified special education teachers. Throughout their extensive teaching careers, Pawlak and Reda found that children and young adults often have difficulty navigating through social situations. Children were being taught academics, however social skills were not being addressed. Although social communication challenges are experienced by individuals with certain disorders, many children who have not received any diagnosis experience social learning difficulties. Developing positive peer relationships and navigating social situations are lifelong skills that are impor-

tant to function appropriately in our daily lives. With technological advances — email, smart phones and social media — children and young adults are not interacting faceto-face with their peers and are not learning the nuances of social communication and interaction. Busy schedules and structured activities are also interfering with the time children can play and engage informally with their peers. “We are seeing more young children being diagnosed with social anxiety than ever before,” Reda said. “Clubhouse Friends was developed to help individuals learn important social skills and practice these skills in a structured, nurturing environment.” Pawlak added, “The goal of Clubhouse Friends is to teach children and young adults the social dynamics of various situations.” The ability to adapt to a social environment is as important to future success as academic learning is. In order for an individual to become independent, they must utilize social thinking and interact appropriately with others. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage emotions in positive ways to communicate effectively, empathize with others and overcome conflicts. At Clubhouse Friends, Pawlak and Reda work with participants to recognize the emotional state of others and respond appropriately in a situation in order to increase the emotional intelligence of an individual. The planning and development of Clubhouse Friends had its inception years before the first class in 2013. Pawlak and

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Reda developed a multisensory program that teaches social skills, utilizing direct and indirect teaching. “An emphasis on the importance of reading faces and determining the feelings of others by reading body language is incorporated in all the lessons,” Pawlak said. Practicing the skill through role-playing and then through an activity or game to put the new skill into effect is utilized as an important teaching tool. Through collaborative games, art, music, stories and structured activities, each individual is taught to become a more effective communicator. Some of the most important skills taught are cooperation, self-control, confidence, empathy, communication and social thinking skills. Pawlak and Reda collaborate with families to incorporate specific needs of individuals into the program. They reach out to the individuals’ teachers or guidance counselors when requested, and work closely with families to discuss progress and the ongoing needs of individuals. What sets Clubhouse Friends apart from other programs is the support given outside the classroom. Clubhouse Friends offers classes in Ardsley, yet serves children from all the Rivertowns, and surrounding areas. The program offers your child another opportunity to make friends outside of his or her hometown. Clubhouse Friends is the place to connect. Visit www.ClubhouseFriends.com for more information about classes and the Facebook page, www. facebook.com/ClubhouseFriends, for social skills ideas.

The Beginner’s Club is a home away from home for our kindergartners and first-graders. Beginner’s Club provides a warm, safe and healthy environment for children, rich with age-appropriate stimuli. Beginner’s Club aims to see that each child feels loved, respected, comfortable and appreciated, striving to build mutual trust between teachers and children. Beginner’s Club believes this is necessary for each child to benefit most from all the program has to offer. The Beginner’s Club is theaterarts based, enriched with dance, music and movement and believes strongly in its emphatically professed and often repeated No. 1 rule: “To come here to The Beginner’s Club, you don’t have to be big or small, fast or slow, happy or sad. The one thing you must be to join us, is nice. You have to be nice.” Children are like snowflakes: no two are alike. Beginner’s Club truly understands and enjoys the uniqueness of each child with different wants and needs. At Beginner’s Club at 18 Farragut Ave. in Hastings-on-Hudson, children are always moving and playing, always growing and learning. Call 478-2334.

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PAGE 34A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Jump into kindergarten handwriting skills By Cathy Collyer, OTR, LMT

Dynamic Kids, dynamic space Robbie Levy and the staff of Dynamic Kids are pleased, proud and excited to announce the opening of a new, larger location starting this month in Hartsdale at 210 N. Central Ave., Suite 340A. The new location, with ample parking, offers more space to better meet the needs of children and their families: additional gyms, additional private treatment rooms and more office space. In addition to occupational, physical and speech therapy Dynamic Kids will also offer new services and classes beginning this fall as part of a multidisciplinary approach. New services include music groups, infant massage, Reiki, parent support groups, tutoring and more. Stay tuned for continued updates. Call 428-5151, email admin@ dynamickidsny.com or visit www. dynamickidsny.com.

Kindergarten is a huge step for a 5 year old — a longer day, a larger classroom and the expectation for more academic activities than we remember from our kindergarten days. More and more kindergartens expect that your child will be able to write uppercase (capital) letters and some even expect a few lowercase letters. But what if your child isn’t excited about handwriting or has an issue like low muscle tone or attention/behavior problems and did not really participate in preschool handwriting activities? The beginning of kindergarten is a great time to fine tune eye-hand coordination for writing. Good early hand control and writing skills will directly affect their handwriting in later grades. Bad habits will put your child at risk for slow or poorly controlled handwriting as early as first grade. Here are some essential prewriting skills that will jump-start your child’s skill development as they enter kindergarten: • Teach your child how to hold a crayon. If your own grip is not standard, then try to model a more appropriate grasp. Avoid using a pencil grip unless your child is almost 5 and still has real difficulty with their grasp. • Teach your child the names of his fingers. Knowing which fingers to use for grasp speeds learning. Sing songs and do finger play games like “Where is Thumbkin?” Instead of saying, “Use this one here,” try saying, “Place your thumb on the wavy lines of the crayon paper, and your pointer finger on the top of the crayon.” • Provide activities that require the use of

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two hands. Tracing on the edge of a ruler, sturdy stencils, lacing and small chalkboards all support steadying one surface while moving the other hand. This is an important skill in writing. • Use prepositions when you describe actions or locations. Your child needs to understand the concepts of up/down, in/ out, on top/under, next to, in front/in back, etc., to follow handwriting instruction. Try saying, “I put your car on top of the ramp,” instead of, “I put your car up here.” • There is a developmental order to drawing lines and shapes. Your child will start at 3 with vertical, horizontal and circular scribbles, followed by lines that have a distinct start and stop. Drawing a circle that closes but may over- or under-shoot the connection is seen around 3 years old, and a vertical plus sign is seen after 3.5 years old. • The best way to draw a circle or a line is in the direction that matches how they write their first letters. Teach your child to draw a circle beginning with the letter “C,”

start vertical lines from the top to the bottom and horizontal lines from left to right (except lefties). This develops faster speed and better pencil control for writing. English is a top-to-bottom and left-to-right language and you want to make this orientation so automatic that your child will follow it without thinking when they are reading and writing. • Teach your child to shake hands. No, this isn’t about manners. Awareness of laterality organizes the brain for reading and writing and helps your child develop perceptual awareness. Name the hand you use to shake with as your right hand. Once your child knows that he shakes hands with his RIGHT hand, then name the other one, his left hand. • Use uppercase letters for your labels, signs, nameplates, etc. Use the easier-torecognize and easier–to-write capital letters first. Teaching two forms of each letter together makes it more frustrating for struggling beginning readers and writers. If he or she wants to know what those letters are, feel free to read them and assure your child that he or she will be writing them as soon as his or her fingers are strong enough to make them. By the end of kindergarten, children learn to use the title case pattern to capitalize the first letter of their name and use lowercase for the rest. Cathy Collyer, OTR, LMT is a pediatric occupational therapist in Southern Westchester. She provides private in-home treatment and tutoring for both handwriting and keyboarding. She can be reached at tranquilbabiesny@gmail.com or 282-2326.

Back to School

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 35A

Paper, learning bound together

s technology continues its expansion into every aspect of our lives, a new survey from the Paper and Packaging Board has found the best-performing students are still actively choosing to learn on paper. According to 3,200 students, parents and educators surveyed for the just-released 2015 Annual Back-to-School Report, paper encourages focus, rather than distraction. An overwhelming majority of students - 94 percent - said it was easier to concentrate when reading on paper. The Paper and Packaging Board released the survey results in the 2015 Annual Backto-School Report. The search revealed an increasing awareness among students and educators that while digital technology is useful for transmitting some information, deep learning and comprehension is often best done on paper. "Print is tailor-made for helping us read continuously, concentrate, puzzle out concepts and contemplate the significance of what we have read," wrote Dr. Naomi Baron, a professor of linguistics who contributed her research to the report. "Students reported multitasking more than three times as often when reading on a screen as when reading print." Students that chose paper to study for exams were significantly more likely to selfidentify as "hardworking," "successful" and "focused." Teachers' responses echoed those of their students. Eighty percent of K-12 teachers say their students seem to comprehend information better when they read on paper. Seventy-four percent of college edu-

cators say their students are more likely to stay focused when taking notes on paper than on a laptop. "With the advent of so much technology that makes learning more interactive and vibrant, we forget that sometimes the best way to remember things is by simply writing them down," said 2012 National Teacher of the Year, Rebecca Mieliwocki. "Unlike typing, the act of writing down information increases retention of that information and stores more of it into working and longterm memory." Parents, too, continue to embrace paper as the preferred medium for helping their children study. Three in four parents responded they were more comfortable helping their children with homework on paper than on a screen. In addition, 98 percent of parents surveyed said they believe teachers should encourage certain tasks that require paper, like arithmetic, spelling, textbook navigation and dictionary usage. Also noteworthy was that students' reliance on paper didn't end with high school graduation. Even on campuses with broad access to technology, 59 percent of college students said they would rather read textbooks in print than online. Fifty-three percent said they believed that reading a printed book helps them focus. As more distractions compete for students' attention, the advantages gained from learning on paper will likely increase. The 2015 Annual Back-to-School Report uncovers paper's unique and vital role in learning and highlights the everyday interactions with paper. — Brandpoint

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PAGE 36A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

College search Make a well-informed decision about choosing college Choosing a college can be difficult for many high school students. With so many factors to consider, Eileen Huntington of Huntington Learning Center encourages teens to go about the process systematically: “Narrowing down colleges can be overwhelming, but by thinking through priorities and goals, teens can make the process easier and make a well-informed decision.” Huntington offers seven tips for parents helping their teens choose their college carefully: 1) Write down the five most important factors in a college: Some teens might have their hearts set on a small college, a big university or a college that’s close to home. Other teens might already have specific majors in mind or be looking into certain academic programs, such as an honors or leadership program. Have your teen think about five (or more) things he or she is looking for in a college. This list may change over time, but the exercise is worthwhile. 2) Talk about the future: Talk openly with your teen about his or her ideas for a major and career. Is your teen still figuring things out or clear on his or her path? Students who seem certain about their direction might want to consider colleges based on the availability of academic programs in their area of interest. Those who are still unsure might be wise

to choose colleges with plenty of options and a great career center that can help them decide. 3) Discuss cost and scholarships: Whether you have a college fund set aside for your teen or he or she will be funding some of the cost, it’s important to discuss the cost of college and start exploring financial aid options. Keep in mind that the tuition and fees listed on a college’s website aren’t likely the net price you’ll pay. Loans and financial aid are available to most students and parents, and depending on your financial situation, your teen may qualify for grants or work-study as well. Arrange a meeting with your teen’s high school guidance counselor early in the search process to talk through scholarship options and your teen’s chances of receiving some merit-based assistance. The earlier the better, so even if your teen is just starting high school, start familiarizing yourself now with financial aid options. 4) Start searching for colleges: The instate colleges and universities are obvious options, but encourage your teen to search far and wide. Tools such as Peterson’s, the College Board’s College Search and College Navigator help you research schools based on just about any criteria you can think of — college type, size, fields of study, average percentage of financial need met, setting, sports and

activities offered, and more. 5) Go back to your teen’s “five most important factors” list: Once your teen has spent time researching colleges online and with the help of the school guidance counselor, return to that list of important factors. What colleges do not meet most of those criteria? If your teen’s list included small college, warmer climate, affordable/scholarship opportunities, strong engineering program and study abroad opportunities, peruse your teen’s list of colleges to see if any can be ruled out. If your teen found the perfect private liberal arts college in Florida, but it doesn’t offer engineering as a major, cross it off the list. If a school seems too expensive, perhaps you can keep it on the list while you explore financial aid and scholarship options that would lower the net cost to your family. 6) Plan a visit: It can be immensely helpful to spend time on college campuses to get a feel for student life and the community. If possible, plan a trip when college is in session to a few schools that are high on your teen’s list. Take a tour, check out the dorms, sit in on a class and even talk with a few students or faculty members. 7) Ask around: It can be helpful to get the perspective of a few alumni or current students of a college to understand what it’s like to be a student there, pros

and cons, information about classes and more. If you know any family friends or relatives who have attended a college, perhaps they would be willing to share their insight and experience. If you’re exploring a college where you don’t have any contacts, the college’s admissions office may be able to connect you with a student. “Students should come up with their priority list, research their options and, most importantly, consider how their top few contenders each make them feel,” Huntington said. “In the end, teens must choose a college that seems to be the best fit on paper and the place where they’ll be the happiest.” About Huntington Learning Center Huntington is a tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math (algebra through calculus), chemistry and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence and motivation to help students succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible.

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 37A

Learn the differences: Liberal arts colleges vs. universities By Jane C. Hoffman, MBA, CEP As high school juniors and sophomores begin to make sense of the college terrain and research and visit colleges to determine where they will apply, understanding the differences between liberal arts and sciences colleges and universities is an important first step.

Liberal arts/sciences colleges Liberal arts and sciences colleges are neither “liberal” nor focused on the arts. In fact, while generally known as liberal arts colleges, they offer sciences in their curriculum. One of the things that distinguish them from larger universities is their general focus on the varied academic disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences as opposed to more specialized or career focused disciplines. Some examples of disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences are biology, psychology, art history, chemistry, political science and English. Liberal arts and sciences colleges tend to be smaller than universities and often, but not always, focus on teaching undergraduate students and do not have programs and schools for graduate students. They can provide opportunities for students to feel like a big fish in a small pond and to connect with faculty members who serve as mentors and whose focus is only on undergraduate students. Generally one applies directly to the college rather than to a specific school within. While the application will likely ask the student to indicate academic areas of interest, one isn’t applying into a specific major. So, for example, a student applies to Oberlin College and indicates interest in but doesn’t apply into neuroscience directly from high school. As such there is generally the flexibility to choose one’s major by the end of sophomore year.

And universities Universities are usually larger institutions that have colleges or schools subsumed under that umbrella. While the specific colleges they include and the names of those colleges vary, they may include a College of Arts and Sciences and additional entities such as a College of Engineering, College of Business, College of Communications, College of Health Sciences and others. The liberal arts and sciences majors found in liberal arts and sciences colleges are typically

available through a university’s College of Arts and Sciences. Beyond those liberal arts and sciences disciplines, a university may offer additional majors that may be deemed specialized or preprofessional. For example, they may offer majors in finance, international business and general management through the College of Business and mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering through the College of Engineering. Students interested in other more specialized majors like sports management will likely need to apply to the specialized college in a larger university that houses that major. When applying to a university one often must decide about major and apply into both the school and the major directly from high school. So, for example, a student applies to Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and specifically to its public relations major directly from high school. Whether an institution is called a university or college doesn’t in itself necessarily identify its structure. Some liberal arts and sciences colleges offer majors in disciplines like engineering and business that are more commonly found in colleges within a larger university. For example, Union College, Lafayette College and Smith College offer engineering as a major and Skidmore College offers business. And some schools that are named university, like Colgate University, are actually a liberal arts and sciences college without schools subsumed under that name. Jane C. Hoffman (member AICEP, IECA, NACAC, HECA, WPRCA) of College Advice 101 can be reached at CollegeAdvice101@aol. com or visit www.CollegeAdvice101.com.

Promoting emotional wellness for adults, adolescents and children Providing individual, family and group therapy Our team provides a range of therapeutic strategies to strengthen a client’s ability to navigate life stages, stressors and psychological disorders. We are offering new therapeutic support groups and workshops for parents, including: • preparing for and adjusting to new motherhood • surviving and enjoying the teen years • fostering independence in young adults 280 North Central Avenue, Suite 40, Hartsdale, NY 10530 914 330-1126 | westchesterpsychotherapyassoc@gmail.com

Is Your Child a Maker, STEM or STEAM lover? Curious-on-Hudson S*T*A*R*T* Maker Academy @ the J

Science-Technology-Art in the RiverTowns Grades K-8, Saturdays, beginning in October Courses: Engineering: Making Things Move Technology: Under the Hood STEAM Art: The Art of Innovation Free Family Kick-Off Event: Building the New NY Bridge with LEGO Saturday Oct. 10 . 1:30-2:20 p.m.

Digital Arts Experience Mobile Lab @ the J Grades K-6, weekdays, beginning in September Computer Courses: Game Programming with Scratch 3D Minecraft Modeling 3D Printing with Minecraft

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PAGE 38A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

New SAT, old SAT, ACT: which college test to take? Beginning in March 2016, there will be significant changes to the SAT. Current high school juniors planning to apply to college in the fall of 2016 will be faced with a critical multiple choice question: Should I take? a) The old SAT b) The ACT c) The new SAT d) A & B e) A & C f) B & C g) A & B & C h) None of the above. As with many decisions confronting students and their families during the college process, the answer is, “It depends!” For the 2015-16 academic year, and for only that year, juniors will have the option of taking one, all or some combination of the following three tests: the current (soon to be old) SAT, the ACT and the new SAT. Some background may help. The current SAT is a three-part exam: critical reading, math and writing. Each segment is scored on a scale of 200-800 with a maximum aggregate score of 2,400. There is a penalty for wrong answers. The new SAT will have two sections: math and evidence-based reading and writing. These sections will be scored on a scale of 200-800 for a total possible score of 1,600. Additional results will be reported for reading, language and writing, and math on a scale of 10-40, along with multiple cross-test scores and subscores. See https://collegereadiness.col-

legeboard.org/sat/scores for more information. There will be no penalty for wrong answers. An optional essay will also be offered and students will receive scores of 2-8 for reading, analysis and writing. Confused yet? The scoring structure of the new exam is only one of many changes. The timing, content and format of questions will also be different from the current SAT. College Board test dates in October, November and December 2015 will offer the current (old) SAT, with the last administration scheduled for Jan. 23, 2016. Beginning with the March 2016 test date, the new SAT will be the only version offered by the College Board. Adding to the confusion, however, is that the October 2015 PSAT/NMSQT (the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) will be based on the redesigned new SAT

and scored on a different scale. More detailed information about the format and content of the new SAT can be found at www.collegereadiness.collegeboard.org. The 2015-16 ACT will reflect some modifications to the optional writing section. Although additional feedback for the entire exam will be provided (via subscores and benchmarks), the substance, structure and scoring of the four main subject areas of the ACT remain substantially unchanged. Colleges that require standardized tests for admission accept either the ACT or the SAT, without preference. For students applying in the fall of 2016, most, if not all, colleges will accept both the old SAT and the new SAT in satisfaction of those requirements, though there is minimal information available on how results of the new SAT will be interpreted. So, what test should a student take, and when? The factors to be considered when deciding which test or combination of tests to take should be evaluated carefully in the context of each student’s academic strengths and weaknesses. What are the benefits of one test over the other? What strategies should be employed when contemplating a testing schedule? The best place to begin is with an open discussion. It’s critical to plan and not shy away from the reality of college admissions testing. Is the SAT or ACT required for admission? Are subject tests required or recommended? Will the ACT be accepted in lieu of subject tests? As a first step, students can access free test prep material and practice tests for

the new SAT at www.kahnacademy.org/ sat and for the ACT at www.actstudent. org. If possible, students should take some diagnostic tests with a tutor or test prep organization. Reviewing the material covered on each exam and taking practice tests under actual testing conditions can help students decide which test — the old SAT, the new SAT and/or the ACT — would be best for them. Sstandardized tests, which include subject tests and AP exams in addition to the SAT and/or ACT, are just one component of a complete college application. Beyond grades and scores, students have much in their control when completing their applications — just ask any senior who devoted some part of this past summer to writing college essays! But this year’s juniors are the ones who will be most impacted by this transition in the testing landscape. For colleges that require standardized tests as part of the application process, all three exams — the current SAT, the ACT, and the new SAT — will be accepted from applicants for the entering college class of 2017. Students who take the time to familiarize themselves with the different exams will be best able to make informed choices and find the testing strategy that is right for them. So, will your correct answer be a, b, c…? Article by Collegistics, a Scarsdalebased college advising partnership. For more information, visit www.collegistics. com or call 282-3820.

Happy New Year, Rivertowns! Make it a sweet one!

High Holidays with Rabbi Julie Danan, PCS’ amazing new Rabbi! “A Hebrew School Your Kids Can Love!” Galit Sperling, Educational Director

Meet-and-Greets in August and Back to Shul Night, Friday, September 11 to start the New Year off with sweetness and joy! For more information: www.shalompcs.com, info@shalompcs.com, 914.769.2672

Welcoming and inclusive, warm and engaged. Everyone can find a connection at PCS. Pleasantville Community Synagogue 219 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY

Joyful Judaism!

High Holiday Tickets Available on Limited Basis

g ar ng

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 39A

Rising Iona Prep college essay boot camp for seniors It might be the most common part of the Common Application, but it’s also arguably the most difficult — the college essay. Striking the right balance between transcendent and trite can be like listening to Matt Damon’s Linus Caldwell get his instructions from Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan in the movie “Ocean’s Eleven,” where he says, “Don’t use seven words when four will do… be specific, but not memorable; be funny, but don’t make him laugh. He’s got to like you then forget you…” “It’s a tall order to ask someone with all of 18 years’ experience to share a piece of himself in such a way that both strikes a chord, but isn’t overdone,” Iona Prep college counselor Katherine Reilly said. “That’s why our new Essay Boot Camp will draw upon the experience of professional admissions counselors to help our seniors crack the content code.” Already with two sessions of the boost camp under its belt, Iona Prep has given rising seniors the opportunity to prepare and complete their Common Application essay before the school year even began. Each session had two parts. On the first day, students worked with college counselors and admissions professionals on content selection and an initial draft. Stephanie Palazzo of Franklin & Marshall was initial guest speaker July 8. The following day, they worked with Iona Prep English teachers to edit their essays and prepare final drafts. “The college application process is all about spacing things out, giving the proper nding element,” time and consideration e are expa to each W lar college counselor d and Miopugraduate y p1995

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our alrea gramming Dance pro with for all ages nal studioFamily foradthe ditioWhole

15 Center St. Ardsley, NY 10502

914-479-5900

www.umacARDSLEY.com ● umacardsley@gmail.com

AFTER-SCHOOL MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM

Essay Boot Camp was a success at Iona Prep.

chael Kiers said. “The summer is the perfect time for seniors to reflect on their education and compose an enrollment-worthy essay that can be checked off their lists when the application crunch hits in the fall.” Iona Prep will also be offering a sevenweek TACHS (Test for Admission into Catholic High Schools) Prep course for eighthgraders starting Wednesday, Sept. 23. Iona Preparatory School (www.IonaPrep. org) for k-12 educates young men to be moral and ethical leaders, developing the whole person in the heritage of Blessed Edmund Rice and the American Catholic tradition to be lifelong learners, responsible to their commitment of service to others and confident in their self-worth, while being supported by a challenging and innovative college-preparatory curriculum in relationship with a dedicated and caring faculty and community.

WITH TRANSPORTATION

at the JCC of Mid-Westchester

CULTURAL ARTS

We ar e exp ole andin ourh Wh e a g l t r o f discoverm / connect /rgrow eady p s D r o a a e r t p n s g u e c ee lar prsotgcrh -W Mid ammi Great Pro f o f C o C r J ng all a e at th Early Childhood additi ges with FITNESS onal s tudio Our school provides a language-intensive, child-centered environment to promote learning

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PAGE 40A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Back to School 

– Back to School

Arts & Enrichment

Central Park Dance continues inspiring dancers Central Park Dance in Scarsdale has been one of the longest running and most respected dance studios in Westchester for over 30 years. Central Park Dance (CPD) won 2013 Best of Westchester Award for having the Editor’s Pick Best Ballet Program. In 2014 and 2015, CPD was named a Top 5 Westchester Family Favorite. CPD has an excellent reputation and once again has planned an exciting curriculum for youngsters and adults alike, with a number of new offerings. There will be many inspiring classes, performance opportunities and events to mark this year. Central Park Dance offers unique and progressive styles of dance and fitness for both adults and children, among an impressive 175 classes per week. Choose from ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, b boys, contemporary, acro-jazz and Latin jazz. In addition to dance, there is a full roster of fitness classes like Zumba, boot camp and kettle-bell kickboxing. Each discipline has an extensive curriculum in a large range of levels. The belief is that personal attention is essential for student growth. Talent is carefully nurtured and developed, allowing every dancer to feel a sense of accomplishment and to reap the rewards of discipline and dedication. Superior teaching is the key to the high quality of programs at Central Park Dance. Artistic director Maria Bai has over 30 years of teaching experience to her credit. CPD’s faculty consists of top dancers and choreographers in the industry, bringing their true professionalism and abundant knowledge to the studio. It is their goal to challenge, motivate and inspire, raising each individual dancer to new heights. In addition, CPD provides a supportive atmosphere while upholding their reputation for fairness and constructive education. The preschool program at CPD is regarded as one of the finest in the area. Children as young as 2 years of age delight in Tot & I, an introduction to dance. Three-to-5-year-

Central Park Dance has made an impact in Westchester County.

olds gain self-confidence and a strong foundation for future dance study. Young dancers are introduced to classical ballet and exposed to the music of “Swan Lake,” “Coppelia” and “The Firebird,” among other favorites in the dance repertoire. At Central Park Dance, even the youngest students feel the sense of freedom and delight that creative movement engenders. The preschool program offers classes every day, including Fairytale Ballet, PreSchool Ballet, Hip Hop Princess and Tap.

Central Park Dance is home to Signature Dance Co., a ballet and jazz company, and ReMiXx, a hip-hop company. CPD now offers a preprofessional company, Signature Elite. All companies offer a premium opportunity for advanced students to work with outstanding choreographers in an intensive dance curriculum. They demand excellence from participants, who must demonstrate a commitment to their art form and a willingness to work as a member of a professionally run ensemble. The Signature Dance Co. is a not for profit company 501c(3). Placement auditions for the Signature Dance Co., ReMiXx and Signature Elite will be held in September and throughout the year. For scholarships, call Bai at 723-2940. Central Park Dance is also the ideal venue for the birthday party of your dreams. Children choose from Fairytale Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Fun-in-Fit parties. Themes may also be custom designed. Studio rentals are also available. Conveniently located within CPD is Miss Talia’s Boutique, which carries an enormous collection of dancewear, body wear, footwear and gymnastics attire, selected for durability, style, comfort and affordability. For your convenience Miss Talia’s Boutique is open seven days a week and late evenings Monday-Friday. This year Central Park Dance is happy to announce new online registration, as well as an online parent portal and official Central Park Dance app. All you have to do is search for Central Park Dance in your iTunes App Store. Registration is easy as 1-2-3. Just log on to www.CentralParkDance. com and follow the prompts. You can also follow on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for the latest deals and news. Bai and Mario LaStrada are a team as well as a family. With your participation, the Central Park Dance family will continue to grow even stronger. Join them for the ultimate dance and fitness experience. Expect nothing but the best

ART CLASSES:

Adults, Teens and Children semester starts: September 10

CLASSES IN: Ceramics Jewelry Drawing Photography Sculpture Painting Digital Arts •

Art Portfolio Class for teens

•

Debate classes for middle school students

Central Location: White Plains, Westchester County Center

For more info: 914-606-7500 Email: Arts@sunywcc.edu www.sunywcc.edu/arts

We’re celebrating our 11th anniversary! Come see our recent renovation! Fluent in English, Spanish, French & Mandarin Also, visit our sister practice: Bridgespan Medicine for Adolescent care

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 41A

Back to School 

Arts & Enrichment

Exciting new dance programs offered at Studio B Voted by Westchester Family Magazine as one of the top five dance studios in Westchester County for a second year in a row, Studio B in Eastchester has more to celebrate than just 20 years of great dancing. To celebrate their 20th season, Studio B is adding four new programs to their roster. Hip Hop & Tumbling for ages 3-5 is a co-ed program that develops locomotive and social skills while building upper body strength through dance and acrobatics. High energy music makes learning fun. Acro/Tumbling for ages 4 and up continues working on developing strength, balance, flexibility and focus for those who want to learn new acrobatic skills that complement and add to their dance training. Contemporary Dance has become a favorite style among the preteens and teens due to the popularity of the shows “Dance Moms” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Studio B recognizes the need to train dancers with proper technique at a younger age so they can dance safely and with more stage presence as they get older and study more complicated choreography. New classes are now available to dancers in third to fifth grades to begin learning this beautiful style that combines ballet, modern and jazz while telling a story. Dancers will gain grace, poise, stage presence and confidence from this program.

Great beginnings at Studio B.

An exciting new Tap & Hip Hop combo class is available to boys and girls ages 7-10. The class teaches musicality, rhythm and tempo while building strong listening skills. Last, but not least, Studio B’s Dance Companies offer different opportuni-

ties to students who want to do more. The companies (ranging from first-12th grades) offer dancers the opportunity to perform at nursing homes, charity events and nearby festivals throughout the year. Older company dancers are invited to mentor younger members and assist

in classes. Company programs are specifically designed so dancers can build their self-confidence and improve their technique and stage presence by participating in challenging classes. These companies give students a chance to experience being part of a team and celebrate their accomplishments together. Studio B’s philosophy is “Dance lessons teach life lessons.” Many Studio B dancers have had great success in college and go on to become leaders in their individual fields because dance teaches discipline, focus and problem solving while building self-confidence. There is nothing more exciting than seeing students improve their social and communication skills while creating lifelong friendships based on their love of dance and the joy of teamwork. Studio B Dance Center has classes for boys and girls ages 2 and up and is an affiliated studio of the More Than Just Great Dancing network that chooses studios throughout the country based on the quality of their teachers, curriculum, dance philosophy and community service. The studio is open seven days a week and classes start Sept. 16. Visit the studio’s informative website, studiobdance.com to learn five things you should know before choosing a dance studio.

French-American School of New York Academic Excellence in Westchester County 3 years old through Grade 12

Two entry points for non-French speakers into our multicultural community : · Age 3 through Kindergarten · IB Diploma Programme in High School Contact us for more information at 914-250-0401

www.fasny.org

PAGE 42A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

Back to School 

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

Arts & Enrichment

Clocktower Players celebrates community in 38th year The award-winning Clocktower Players, resident theater company of Irvington Town Hall Theater, is thrilled to present a season of all-American musicals giving voice to stories of community as diverse, rich and complex as the great tapestry of America itself. Celebrating its 38th season, the Best of Westchester Children’s Theater Group offers educational theater programs for kids of all ages. Beloved Youth Troupe productions this year include “Annie,” “The Nifty Fifites,” “Seussical” (Kids Troupe), “Guys & Dolls” (Junior Teen Troupe), “Carrie” (Teen Troupe) and “How to Succeed” (Junior Teen and Teen Troupe). Pre-Troupe youngsters (age 3-6) are introduced to the world of theater and imagination through Clocktower’s cornerstone Acting Adventures class and brand new creative dance and singing classes developed just for them. “Clocktower has been an amazing experience for my daughter,” parent Beth Propper said. “It has helped her with her confidence, her energy, her musicality and with her literacy. Yes, it is great to be in a show. It is great to act, to sing, to dance. But there is another level at which my child has had the most enriching literary experience leading her to enjoy reading, memorization and learning new vocabulary, because — fabulously — the artists at Clocktower really make sure that the kids understand the meaning of all that they utter and sing!” Students, families and community the-

Clocktower Players and “The Music Man” kids troupe.

ater patrons can also look forward to kicking off the 2015-16 season at an interactive “Grease” movie sing-along on Oct. 3 (’50s attire encouraged) and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” Oct. 16-25. Upholding a mission of community, diversity and imagination, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” embraces a multi-ethnic cast with musical direction by George Croom and original choreography by Mark Stuart, founder of Mark Stuart

Dance Theatre in NYC. Artistic and executive director Cagle McDonald promises, “This is not your mother’s Oklahoma!” Clocktower has also joined forces with schools to present a special weekday school show to expose students to the art of live theater. A study guide to incorporate the history of the groundbreaking musical and its frontier-life story in their curriculums is included for all schools participating. This classic American musical, appear-

ing for the first time on the Irvington Town Hall Theater stage, is not to be missed. A holiday sing-along on Dec. 6 and in March, a Westchester premiere hit musical (title to be announced in November), round out what promises to be an amazing and exciting season. Clocktower Players Community Theater Adult Troupe has been bestowed with many accolades including Best of Westchester’s Best Local Theater Group for two years running and, most recently, the winner of five OnSTAGE Critic’s Awards: Outstanding Musical Award for “Miss Saigon,” as well as Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Brent McGee), Outstanding Musical Director (Croom), Outstanding Principal Cast (“Miss Saigon”) and Outstanding Hair and Makeup (“Hair”). OnStage honors excellence in theater in the Connecticut and New York metropolitan area. Patrons can enjoy 20 percent savings on tickets with new Clocktower Show Packs (available through Oct 3) at www.irvingtontheater.com. Information on Clocktower Players 2015-16 season ticket and registration for youth troupes can be found at www.clocktowerplayers.com. Said Joseph M. Calahan, director of cooperate communications for Xerox Corp., “Arts education aids students in skills needed in the workplace: flexibility, the ability to solve problems and communicate, the ability to learn new skills, to be creative and innovative, and to strive for excellence.”

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 43A

Back to School 

Arts & Enrichment

Decades of growth at Hoff-Barthelson Music School The Hoff-Barthelson Music School celebrates its 71st anniversary this year as a major Westchester center for music education and performance. In the coming decades HBMS students will continue to embark upon a journey of musical growth under the guidance of a distinguished, professionally renowned faculty and will be encouraged to explore their musical ideas, tastes and potential in a setting of friendship and support. Private musical instruction, sequential musicianship classes and annual performances constitute the school’s core curriculum for ages 5 through adults. The 90-member faculty, comprised of many of the region’s most distinguished performers, offers lessons for all students in both classical and jazz idioms. Students of all ages and skill level may join one of the many chamber, choral, jazz or orchestral ensembles. (Students from outside the school may participate in an ensemble or club for a modest fee.) The HBMS Jazz Studies Program incorporates private lessons, jazz ensembles, jazz improv and arranging and theory into an extensive jazz/pop curriculum. An annual commissioned piece for the Advanced Jazz Ensemble adds excitement to the program. In 2015, the ensemble premiered “I Call That Home” for vocalist and jazz ensemble by Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composers Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey. The very youngest students will enjoy

NY Philharmonic violinist Sharon Yamada coaching a piano trio at the 2015 Elaine Stamas NY Philharmonic Educational Residency.

Hoff-Barthelson’s Music & Movement Program, staffed by dynamic, highly skilled eurhythmics teachers, which features Music and Movement classes for parents/caregivers and children from birth to 5 years. These classes present an opportunity for parents and their little ones to share songs, rhymes and movement games in a nurturing setting. The school’s group recorder classes introduce children to the basic concepts of music on an early wind instrument while they discover the joy of making music with others. New this year for 4- and 5-year-olds is

Looking for a fun, friendly religious school experience for your child?

Suzuki guitar, added to the school’s roster of Suzuki violin, viola, cello, flute and piano lessons and classes. The Suzuki method combines listening, proper technique and posture, reinforcement and active parental involvement during weekly private lessons, group instrumental class and eurhythmics classes. And parents learn to play, too. Instrumental students will find that HoffBarthelson’s Orchestral Training Pyramid is unique among music schools in Westchester County in structure, substance and quality. Students begin their orches-

tral experience in the Young People’s Symphonette, move on to Chamber Orchestra or Wind Ensemble and then may audition for the selective Festival Orchestra, which has been lauded as one of the finest high school orchestras in the country by the New York State Council on the Arts. In the 2015-16 season the Festival Orchestra will perform with two renowned soloists: violinist Ida Kavafian and the celebrated young Israeli-American cellist Amit Peled, who plays on the Pablo Casals cello. Adults who wish to refresh their instrumental technique are invited to participate in the Adult Chamber Program, while the Adult Flute Choir always welcomes new members. At Performers Showcase, avocational adult players hone their performance skills before a sympathetic audience of fellow performers. The HBMS college list routinely includes The Juilliard School, Manhattan College of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Boston Conservatory of Music, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Purchase College Music Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. Other HBMS graduates who are continuing in other fields select universities that have strong avocational music groups so that they may continue with music performance for their own pleasure. School begins Friday, Sept. 11. Call 7231169, email hb@hbms.org or visit www. hbms.org.

@ Sacred Heart greenwich

are powerful.

Our girls are also confident learners, critical thinkers, and creative problem solvers. Shaarei Tikvah offers a special promotion for families whose oldest child is starting kindergarten or first grade. Call for details! Children not yet in kindergarten? Ask about free High Holiday tickets for pre-school families – including our lively children’s services. Come and experience our warm and welcoming, family-friendly environment! Please call 914-472-2013 for more information.

Upper School Open House Wed., Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. K–12 Open House Sat., Nov. 7 at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday Tour Days (PreS–Grade 12) Oct. 7, Nov. 4, Dec. 9 and Jan. 13 from 9:00 a.m.–noon Early Childhood Open Houses Fri., Nov. 13 and Fri., Jan. 22

46 Fox Meadow Road in Scarsdale Two minutes from the Scarsdale train station and eight minutes from Ardsley Middle School

www.shaareitikvah.org 472-2013 ext 300 Email: synagogue@shaareitikvah.org

Convent of the Sacred Heart 1177 King Street Greenwich, CT 203-532-3534 www.cshgreenwich.org

PAGE 44A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

FALL 2015 PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM FALL 2015 PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM

PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM

FALL 2015 Greenburgh PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM United

PRE TRAVEL PROGRAM Greenburgh

United

Greenburgh United are proud to host a Pre Travel Program for local players aged 4-8 whoUnited will beare trained by New York Red Bulls Greenburgh proudexclusively to host a Pre Travel Program foryouth local coaches. players aged 4-8 who will be trained exclusively by New York Red Bulls youth coaches.

Greenburgh United

Greenburgh United are proud to host a Pre Travel Program for local players aged 4-8 LOCATION who will be trained exclusively by New York Red Bulls youth coaches.

LOCATION V E Macy Park Saw River LOCATION V EMill Macy ParkRd Ardsley, 10502 Saw MillNY River Rd V E Macy Park Ardsley, NY 10502 Saw Mill River Rd DATES Ardsley, NY 10502 DATES The Pre-Travel Program will run every Saturday and Sunday morning DATES starting September 19th for 8 consecutive weeks (until 8th November)

The Pre-Travel Program will run every Saturday and Sunday morning 8 consecutive weeks and (until 8th November) starting September 19th forwill The Pre-Travel Program run every Saturday Sunday morning DETAILS

starting September 19th for 8 consecutive weeks (until 8th November)

The Program will run for 1 hour each day sometime between 9am-12pm (exact time TBD). DETAILS Players will be broken into groups taking into account factors such as age/ability, etc.

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Total Cost of Program = $150 ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE : /NYRBTRAININGPROGRAMS Total Cost of Program = $150 https://fcgreenburghunited.sportssignup.com/ site ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE : /NYRBTRAININGPROGRAMS ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE : /NYRBTRAININGPROGRAMS https://fcgreenburghunited.sportssignup.com/ https://fcgreenburghunited.sportssignup.com/ site site

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 45A

Back to School 

The newly renovated Dance & Theater Arts Studios in Dobbs Ferry.

A new home for Dance & Theater Arts Studios Dance & Theater Arts Studios in Dobbs Ferry is anticipating an exciting sixth year with a new professional dance floor, new classes and teachers. Located in the newly renovated, historic 145 Palisade St. building, there is plenty of parking, a pond and glorious Hudson River views. Dance & Theater Arts Studios is a small, affordable yet dedicated performing arts studio, where students from age 3 to adult can nurture and explore their inner artist through a unique variety of classes in dance, singing and acting. The studio addresses all students from wherever they are in their artistic process, whether encouraging new students or coaching and challenging the more experienced. “There are many wonderful theater

Arts & Enrichment

groups in studios/schools throughout the Rivertowns, but we concentrate exclusively on skill enhancement with honest critique,” director Janetta Betz said. “The stage is not the place to try out underdeveloped skills — our classes and workshops are the laboratories where taking risks and making mistakes are encouraged. Producers, directors and musical directors do not have the time to provide the technical training that performers need to improve. Their job is to get the show up and running. Our professional performing/teaching artists are focused on the individual performer as they learn the technique that will carry them through their artistic process. They will then be properly prepared for the demands of the stage.” Some new classes for teens and adults are BYP Dance [Barre/Yoga/Pilates], Group Vocal Coaching and Acting and Swing Dance. Some unique classes for kids include Brain Dance and Animated Classics Song & Dance. For more info or to register visit www.danceandtheaterarts.com.

leads to success. As a student progresses, the importance of setting and achieving goals can only be realized through visualization (seeing with your mind’s eye) and commitment (making a promise to yourself). In martial arts training, respect (treating others the way you would like to be treated), hard work (the ability to always give your best) and service to others (what we do for others we do for ourselves) becomes an imperative. Martial arts teaches life skills and helps to make the world a better place, one person at a time. Life is a battle and it comes in many forms. A martial arts education prepares a student to overcome any adversity that may come their way. This is our mission at NYGKA Black Belt Academy (www.nygka.com). — shihan Jim chiLLemi

Martial arts a key to development

Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains offers a comprehensive music program for youth and teens, including private instrumental or vocal lessons, ensembles, music theory, composition, songwriting and improvisation. Instrumental study is available in over 30 different instruments covering all styles of music. Although Suzuki students begin instrumental instruction as young as age 4, by age 8 or 9 most children are ready for instrumental or vocal lessons in all areas of study.

A martial arts education begins with learning the value associated with believing in yourself. As a child develops through his or her training, personal responsibility and self-reliance become a major component. A positive self-image comes from learning that a solid effort will lead to confidence and confidence

Nurture talent in your child Hudson River School of Music

Afternoon and evening private violin, viola and cello lessons for children ages 3 to 18. Group playing, chamber music, orchestra, note reading and eurhythmics classes available. Established 1968 * Oldest Suzuki-based music school in the Northeast

Contact: Amy Rosen * (914)693-9481 * * amyrosen.hrsm@gmail.com * * www.hrsm.org * 600 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.

Variety for all ages at Music Conservatory

The conservatory also offers a variety of classes for infants, toddlers and young children. Early childhood instruction includes MCW’s new First Notes class for babies and toddlers, Music Skills for pre-k through grade 3, a Suzuki program for instrumental instruction (violin, cello, guitar) and a piano program for pre-k to grade 1. MCW program directors will meet with you to determine the right teacher fit and program of study based upon personality, schedule, age and curriculum. All students receive an individualized curriculum from highly qualified instructors based on their goals and rate of learning. An honors program for advanced conservatory high school instrumentalists and vocalists is offered. Students follow a rigorous course of study similar to that offered at Juilliard Pre-College and Manhattan School of Music Precollege. Requirements include performances, master classes, community service, ensembles and theory. Conservatory graduates have gone to Julliard, Yale, Northwestern University, Oberlin, the Blair School of Music, Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music and many other renowned colleges and universities. Performing ensembles are a wonderful way to develop musicianship and technique while fostering a sense of community with one’s peers. Students learn to perform with others in a friendly environment. There are small and large ensembles for all ages, in all genres from our Suzuki Continued on page 46A

PAGE 46A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

Continued from page 45A

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

Back to School 

pre-twinkle group to rock bands or our opera workshop designed for teen and adult singers. Students who study outside the conservatory are welcome to join the ensembles. The conservatory is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the governing body for college and professional conservatory programs, and has extremely high standards for musical education. MCW teachers are experienced educators and performers from major conservatories and music programs throughout the United States and Europe including Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, Paris Conservatoire (France), the Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan State Conservatories (Russia) and many other renowned music programs. Conservatory students have the opportunity to perform throughout the year in MCW’s 120-seat recital hall with both Steinway and Bosendorfer grand pianos as well as audio/video HD recording equipment. With a piano in every room, teaching studios, classrooms and rehearsal halls have been designed specifically for music instruction. Your child will get the very best in music training at the conservatory in a supportive environment, with outstanding instructors experienced working with young students from preschool through high school and beyond. Visit www.musicconservatory.org.

Arts & Enrichment

PHOTO BY ALEXA BRANDENBERG

Equipping students for success at HRSM Dr. Shin’ichi Suzuki once said, “Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If children hear fine music from the day of their birth and learn to play it, they develop sensitivity, discipline and endurance. They get a beautiful heart.” At the Hudson River School of Music (HRSM) in Dobbs Ferry, the same could be said for the teachers, administrators and parent volunteers who run the school — they are working together to build children’s character through the joy of music. Founded in 1968, HRSM was one of the first schools in the Northeast to provide instruction by teachers trained by Dr. Suzuki, a world-renowned pioneer in

School of the Holy Child An all-girls, Catholic, independent school for grades 5 through 12

musical education. But visitors expecting an old-fashioned institution steeped in solemn tradition may find themselves pleasantly surprised by the school’s dynamic atmosphere. As a nonprofit cooperative school, HRSM offers a close-knit, familylike environment. “We’re a small enough community that we all know each other, and we can give each student very individualized attention,” said director Amy Rosen. “But we’re also large enough to give students some amazing musical opportunities and experiences.” Students ages 3-18 study violin, viola and cello at the school. They participate in private lessons, group playing classes, eurhythmics classes, reading classes, fiddling classes and chamber groups. They perform regularly throughout the year in large and small venues with professional accompanists. “It’s been so rewarding to see the kids performing out in the community,” said Anna Gedrich, whose two children study violin and viola at HRSM. “They always draw big crowds at the Ferry Festa and the Hastings Flea Market. Playing in those less formal situations is a great way to get them used to playing in front of people, while still having fun.” Public performance is one of the pillars of the Suzuki method, which is based on the principle that a positive musical learning environment helps foster character in young students. The method encourages collaboration and mutual encouragement among musicians, and

discourages competitive attitudes. Parents, while not required to play an instrument, are asked to play a big part in their child’s musical development. “Actually, we try to get the whole family involved,” Rosen said. “We like to see brothers and sisters at concerts, grandparents, you name it. We encourage the family to listen to music together, to talk about it, to make it part of the family life. With all of your loved ones cheering you on, playing becomes a joy.” As students advance in the program, they grow to appreciate all the ways their Suzuki training helps them in everyday life. Whether they are speaking in front of a group, collaborating with peers, or applying patience and discipline to a difficult task, HRSM students and graduates are equipped for success throughout life. “The student-centered, caring, nurturing environment allowed me to grow into a musician of poise and confidence,” graduate Alejandro Cruz said. “More importantly, the teachers helped me develop a love of music and the violin that has followed me throughout my life and enriched not only my experience of the arts, but my day-to-day life as well. Great things happen at HRSM, and those great things last a lifetime.” HRSM takes place after school from September through June. For more information about the school, contact Rosen at amyrosen.hrsm@gmail.com or call 693-9481. Visit www.hrsm.org. — BY sonYa terJanian

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– Back to School

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Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 47A

Back to School 

Arts & Enrichment

Share the joy of dance at Steﬃ Nossen Dance Co. Steffi Nossen Dance Co. is delighted to announce an expanded roster of classes. A boys-only class for grades 4-7 includes the foundations of dance conditioning, including exercises in strength, agility, movement, flexibility and coordination, all set to popular music. Dance technique and compositional skills lead to boys creating their own movement. For adults there will be a new Tuesday evening ballet class and a Wednesday evening beginner workshop in modern and jazz, the perfect opportunity for adults to try dance in a safe, nonintimidating environment while getting a great workout. Toddlers have their own morning classes. Dancing Tots for 22-36-month-olds brings together caregivers/parents and littlest movers for a fun-filled class strengthening motor skills and musicality. Creative Movement introduces 3- and 4-year-olds to dance, encouraging imagination and self-expression through elementary dance vocabulary as well as structured free movement to a variety of music. Rounding out the new offerings are pointe classes for beginner and intermediate ballet students. Join us for our free week of dance open house Sept. 28-Oct. 3, a great opportunity to try new classes. With studios located across from the Westchester County Center in White Plains and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin on South Greeley Avenue in Chappaqua, whether a toddler and parent, beginning dancer or a preprofessional, a recreational

BILL BRAMSWIG PHOTO Madison Tiedt in performance with fellow members of the Steffi Nossen Dance Co.

or serious dancer, Steffi Nossen has classes for you. “Our core programs emphasize the development of the whole child — their emotions, mind, creativity and physical ability,” said Kathy Fitzgerald, Steffi Nossen School director. Fitzgerald, a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts, was a principal dancer and teacher for Ballet Frankfurt and soloist with Jiri Kylian’s Nederlands Dans Theater. “Our faculty shares their love of dance

with students and collaborates to design sequential, developmental and age-appropriate curricula,” Fitzgerald said. “Our programs encourage individual creativity and expose students to a broad range of dance styles. Dancers have many opportunities to perform new choreography and create their own compositions.” Faculty members are all graduates of college dance programs and performing professionals, some holding graduate degrees. Fitzgerald noted, “Master classes, a variety

of ensembles, and the preprofessional Steffi Nossen Dance Company offer additional training and performance opportunities.” The core dance includes programs in modern, jazz, ballet, tap and hip-hop. Also offered are technique programs, taught by level, in modern, ballet, jazz and contemporary (a fusion of ballet, modern, post) modern and jazz techniques favored by many current professional dancers and choreographers. In improvisation/composition classes, dancers experience the complete choreographic process, learning how to shape movement into choreography, including music selection, casting, rehearsal process and production preparation. A panel will select the most promising work for inclusion in the November Choreography Showcase, sharing the stage with works of professional choreographers. Moving Wheels & Heels, a Westchester Magazine Best of Westchester pick, gives dancers with developmental and physical disabilities age-based dance classes of their own (wheelchairs welcome). Classes feature movement adapted so that every participant can experience the benefits of moving to music, express their creativity and learn dance technique, all to live music. Call 328-1900 or email info@steffinossen. org for help planning your dance schedule. A no-obligation trial class may be arranged. Visit www.steffinossen.org for more information.

PAGE 48A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

Back to School

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

q Parent's Guide

Tips for taming your child's back-to-school stress Do you or your child have the backto-school blues? If so, you’re not the only ones. Saying goodbye to slower summer days can be difficult. For over two months, you have felt free from the structure of the classroom and the accompanying homework. When the upcoming school year rolls around, it’s common to feel some sadness. For children who suffer from anxiety, this stress may be harder to handle, and it may stem from more than just pop quizzes and earlier bedtimes. These children need extra attention as the new school year draws near. The best thing you can do to prepare your child is to give the gift of your time and attention. Instead of dwelling on things like tests and homework, talk about how to make the transition into the exciting new school year the best it can be. Lauren Zimet, director of the Early Insights Healthy Foundations Program, is a mother herself and has pinpointed the top four back-to-school tips and tricks to make the transition easier. These tips will help to reduce the stress and tension felt by you and your child, not only for the first weeks of school — the hardest time to adjust — but throughout the year as well.

Connected communication Engage in a conversation with your child and ask what he or she is excited and concerned about for the upcoming school year. Give your child the freedom to speak

child can visualize her routine(s), the more she will be at ease when the big day finally arrives.

Load up on brain food

openly and avoid asking too many questions at once. You’ll know you are connecting when he starts volunteering information. When you listen to your child, and he can see the genuine interest and attention in your eyes and through your body language, he will feel more comfortable discussing the upcoming year.

Creative calendars Planning ahead makes adults feel prepared, which is a huge de-stressor. The same goes for your child. Younger children only need a day or two to look forward to their big day. Older children may benefit

from discussing the year weeks before the first day, especially if those conversations include working on things like organization, planning, prioritizing, and sequencing (those important executive functions of the brain).

Visualize the goal Get specific and help your child visualize the first day of school. Have your child tell you or draw out the sequence of the day, from waking up in the morning to dressing in an outfit chosen the night before to what she’ll be enjoying as her brainboosting energy breakfast. The more your

Breakfast is coined “the most important meal of the day,” and rightly so! Food is the fuel for the brain and body, and the quality of the fuel matters. Whatever you choose to give your body and brain each morning will enable you to do a certain level of thinking. American breakfasts are often unbalanced, heavily favoring carbs, which are only a tiny part of the good-breakfast equation. Encourage your child to pick a protein each morning, as well as fruit, veggie and healthy fat and carb options. From there, complement his or her diet with an omega-3 fatty acid supplement from a reputable fish oil company like Nordic Naturals. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found to help soothe anxious brains as well as support the entire nervous system, so don’t miss out on this simple improvement opportunity. Research on omega-3 fatty acids can be found at www.omegaresearch.com. The new school year is on its way and while this time of year may cause some children to feel anxious, there are things you can do to help. Employ any of the suggestions above to help your child start feeling more excited about the new school year with each passing day. — Brandpoint

Explore Our 21st Century Approach To Jewish Values And Tradition

Scarsdale Synagogue is an inclusive Reform Jewish congregation that respects Tradition and looks to the future. We welcome all who seek to journey with the Jewish People Here’s why our synagogue may be just what you are looking for:

COME VISIT We would love to welcome you

• Building relationships is at the core of our mission • A variety of dynamic worship opportunities • Our inspiring clergy—Rabbi Jeffrey C. Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker • Innovative Religious education for children and adults • Mazel Tots Pre-School Programs—Jody Glassman, Director

2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 Call or email Executive Director, Roberta Aronovitch 914-725-5175 or roberta@sstte.org

• Come see our beautiful new state of the art playground

www.sstte.org

• Meet our new Director of Religious Education, Rabbi Ilyse Glickman

• Youth engagement programs for all ages—Sarah Metzger, Director • Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Tikkun Olam (Social Action)

Hineinu—We Are Here, Creating a Covenant Community of Shared Lives And Real Relationships

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 49A

Back to School Head lice: prevention is the key to success

With back to school right around the corner, it’s time to prepare for the upcoming year. This means school supplies, clothes shopping and, yes, even hair repellents for head Dale Longworth lice. That’s right — this should be something everyone should be thinking of! Let’s not wait for a letter from school or a phone call from your child’s best friend’s parent letting you know that your child has been exposed. For successful lice prevention, you must take a proactive approach, which begins at your home. Dale Longworth, the Lice Expert of Dobbs Ferry/Westchester, recommends using lice repellents with a variety of essential oils, including peppermint, e Wholerosemary Familyand lavender. These repelestchesterlents should ultimately deter those pesky parasites from entering your child’s head. Longworth has used many different products since she opened her business in 1997 and recommends Boo Leave-inConditioner made by So Cozy and the Licelogic Repel Sprays (Lemon grass, FITNESS Lavender and Rosemary Mint) as the best • Sports & Fitness Center products on the market today. • Pool

earning

day!

n to s

• Swim Lessons • Swim Teams • Gymnastics • Youth Soccer • Baseball Clinic • Karate • Basketball League • Pilates • Zumba • Yoga • Personal Training

Give the lice expert a call if you have any questions regarding the products, head lice or lice removal. Prevention is the best remedy for the upcoming school year.

Alliance Française is located on the sixth floor at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. in White Plains. Call 681-8735 or visit www. afwestchesterny.org.

Dale Longworth, the Lice Expert of Dobbs Ferry/Westchester, is a professional natural lice and nit removal specialist. Call 424-1367, email dlong2758@aol.com or visit www.liceoffinc.com.

Get a smart start to the new school year

Alliance Française: French for all ages Alliance Française of Westchester offers French language instruction for adults, teens, children, pre-k kids and toddlers. All teachers are native-born French speakers. Alliance Française has discussion and book groups and events to celebrate French culture. Alliance Française believes learning French doesn’t end in the classroom and members are ambassadors for the French language and for Francophone culture. The Alliance Française of Westchester is part of the Alliance Française Foundation, established in 1883, currently with 850 member institutes in 136 countries. Alliance Française will hold an open house Thursday, Sept. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be an opportunity to meet with the Alliance Française of Westchester’s teachers. In addition to classes and events, Alliance Française offers preparation for CNED, SAT2, AP and private tutoring.

One of Westchester’s most respected dance schools is growing! All levels of training offered for preschool through adults. NEW: classes in Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip-Hop, plus Hip-Hop for boys. Most ballet classes feature live piano accompaniment.

PLUS • Summer Camps • Summer Center WeArts are expanding our alreadyGames popular • JCC Maccabi Dance programming • Triathlon Clinics/Club

JCC DanCe SChool

for all ages with additional studio

q Parent's Guide

SAT/ACT www.jccmw.org prep courses Great Programs for the Whole Family 914-472-3300, x320 & seminars at the JCC of Mid-Westchester

While the last month of summer can be eaten up by never ending to-do lists, there are plenty of ways to make the transition from the carefree days of summer to the school year a breeze for parents and students alike. The key is getting organized and easing back into a routine so it doesn't feel like such an adjustment for the family. The following tips help both students and parents ease any last minute jitters and instead feel ready to conquer the year. Plan outfits early. Nothing can throw off a morning routine like hearing, "Mom! I can't find my shoes!" The week before school starts, organize your child's closet with them, ensuring shoes, shirt and pants all live in their designated areas. Then, you can easily pick out outfits for the entire first week, allowing your child to infuse their personal style and guarantee excitement for the ever-important first day of school outfit. This will help establish the routine of always laying clothes out ahead of time, so getting dressed is a snap! Conquer the routine. You can't spell lunch without PB&J. Never miss an in-

gredient with your digital personal assistant. With Microsoft's Windows 10 you can have Cortana remind you to get bread the next time you drive past a grocery store. Lisa Gurry, Microsoft's consumer lifestyle expert, says, "With my kids' school 20 minutes away, I rely on Cortana to alert me if traffic is causing a longer-than-normal commute. Cortana is a lifesaver!" With carpool and shopping done, your parent of the year award will be pending! Reschedule bedtime. Long summer days mean later bedtimes. Two weeks before school starts, get your kids back on course by easing into earlier bedtime, but don't forget to wake them up earlier too! Setting daily reminders on your phone will keep you and your kids on track. Upgrade your tech without breaking the bank. The only thing that moves faster than summer is tech innovation. This school year the best tech money can buy just might be free and waiting on your student's PC. Microsoft has made its latest software available for free with Windows 10, bringing users a suite of new features, including Cortana. To upgrade, visit www.Windows.com. Whether it's your child's first year in the classroom or you're a carpool veteran, following these tips will ensure you have a smart and successful start to the school year. – Brandpoint

HASTINGS CENTER

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Specializing in...FRESH SEAFOOD • STEAKS CHOPS • GOURMET DINNERS

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300

EDUCATION

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Special Education, Pre-School and After-School/Weekend Enrichment programs

Nursery School including weekly swim and gymnastics, early drop off/late pick up, extended day enrichment and more…

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Art Dance Theatre Bendheim Performing Arts Center • Jewish Culture and Learning

Early Childhood Our school provides a language-intensive, child-centered environment to promote learning • • • • •

17 months - 5 years Half & full day options Weekly swim instruction Afternoon enrichments Early morning drop-

• Gymnastics • Lunch Bunch • Chaperone children to other JCC programs

For more information and to schedule a tour, contact Julie Dorfman 914-472-7095 | dorfmanj@jccmw.org

FITNESS

• Sports & Fitness Center • Pool • Swim Lessons • Swim Teams • Gymnastics • Youth Soccer • Baseball Clinic • Karate • Basketball League • Pilates • Zumba • Yoga • Personal Training PLUS • Summer Camps • Summer Arts Center • JCC Maccabi Games • Triathlon Clinics/Club

SAT/ACT prep courses & seminars

Call today for a program guide or visit www.jccmw.org 999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale • 914.472.3300

Bring the kids in for daily breakfast, lunch and dinner specials 540 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson 478-3610

PAGE 50A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Back to School

New teachers, new supplies, new clothes, new friends, new pressures. New opportunity to talk to your teen.

Back to school is an exciting time filled with new opportunities. But for many teens, the start of the new year can also be filled with stress, anxiety, and the pressure to fit in. Learn how to talk to your teen about coping with these things safely at www.PowerToTheParent.org

A Message From

iASK-CAB Irvington About Safe Kids Community Advisory Board

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 51A

Greenburgh Nature Center: a paradise for children Back to school is a busy time at the Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC) as visiting preschool/school groups, parents/caregivers with children and the general public are welcomed. GNC offers a wide array of educational programs and classes, special seasonal events, camp and birthday parties (with the option of a green party) for ages 3 and up. GNC’s goal is to promote an appreciation of nature and the environment on a 33acre woodland preserve with trails, a newly restored Native Plant Meadow, a pond, gardens, Nature’s Discovery Playground and outdoor animal exhibits. The indoor exhibits include a live animal museum with over 100 specimens, exhibit areas focusing on nature and the environment, and a greenhouse. By being outdoors, interacting with animals and witnessing nature’s seasonal changes, children learn that they are part of a larger ecological community. The Nature’s Discovery Playground is a unique, nature-themed playground designed to engage children in outdoor exploration and discovery. This recreation area serves children ages 2-12 and provides a variety of play elements which mimic the natural environment. GNC is committed to ensuring that today’s generation enjoys creative play in the outdoors, connecting children to the wonder and awe of nature. Stop by and watch your children enjoy the beautiful, one-of-a-kind nature playscape. GNC has professional educators who gear each program to the appropriate age and programs stress hands-on and directinvolvement learning, while teaching children important skills such as utilizing

by Sept. 12. Members $4, nonmembers $8. Day of event fees: members $6/person, nonmembers $10/person. Children under 2 are free. Look online for details about upcoming fall special events like Fall Festival (Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), Scarecrows & Pumpkins Parades (Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.), Turkey Scavenger Hunt (Nov.15, 1:30 p.m.) and Train Show (weekends only 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Nov. 28-29, Dec. 5-6, Dec. 12-13).

Visit the Story Walk

Fall at the Greenburgh Nature Center is fun for the whole family.

measurement tools and developing critical thinking.

Weekly preschool programs Weekday Nature Series programs for young children with a parent or caregiver let you enjoy an hour of nature fun t ogether. Except during extreme weather conditions, a portion of each class is spent outdoors. Wild Encounters Storytime for 3-5-yearolds is held Mondays from 1-2 p.m. Enjoy a nature-themed story and discover the wonders of the outdoors while exploring fields, forests or landscaped grounds. Let your imagination run wild. Drop-ins welcome. Members $9/child; nonmembers $12/child. Mother Nature’s Storytime for 2-4-yearolds is held Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m.

(see website for sessions dates). Children enjoy seasonal days at the nature center with nature-themed stories, outdoor walks, live animals and/or crafts. Tuition per sixweek session is $50/child for members; $90/child for nonmembers. Preregistration and prepayment are required.

Special events Honey Harvest Party will be held Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. It’s the season to reap the harvest of our hives. Led by GNC naturalists, you learn about the fascinating social network of honeybees, the basics of beekeeping and how honey is harvested from GNC’s hives. Watch as honey is extracted from the hives by beekeeper H. Peet Foster. There is a free tasting of fresh honeyfrom-the-hives and the newly harvested honey is available for purchase. Preregister

Join GNC for the free seventh annual Story Walk through Sept. 27. Take a selfguided walk with your child along the woodland trail to enjoy a favorite children’s storybook, “Red Fox at Hickory Lane,” by Kathleen M. Hollenbeck. Stop by the Manor House to pick up a California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) bookmark, good for one free CPK kid’s meal, an activity sheet and to enter a raffle to win a CPK $20 gift certificate. Recommended for children ages 8 and younger. The mission of the Greenburgh Nature Center is to ignite passion, curiosity and respect for our natural world. The nature center is located at 99 Dromore Road, off Central Park Avenue, in Scarsdale. Parking is free and handicapped parking is available. The nature center’s grounds are open daily dawn to dusk throughout the year. The center’s indoor exhibits are open daily (except closed Fridays and a few holidays), from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org or call 723-3470.

At Soundview Prep, we’ll find your child’s road to success.

An Affordable Jewish Education for your child when you don’t belong to a Synagogue. Enroll your child now for the 2015-16 school year! The Children’s Jewish Education Group offers Jewish cultural studies for grades K-7, with emphasis on tradition, history and holidays. A professional teaching staff is supported by a parent co-op. Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons available. Interfaith families welcome. Classes held Sunday mornings at Purchase College.

Call now for more information or visit our website:

Supported by

914-864-1267 www.cjeg.org

Families choose Soundview Prep because of its rigorous college preparatory curriculum, its strong music and art program, and its personalized learning community.

Soundview Preparatory School

370 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 914 962-2780 • soundviewprep.org

An affiliated member of the

You’re invited!

October Open Houses

Sunday, October 4 • 1 - 3 pm Thursday, October 15 • 9 - 11 am Sunday, October 25 • 1 - 3 pm

PAGE 52A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

'Through a Clear Lens' collaboration unites teens “Several years ago I read an article about a girl who heard a Holocaust survivor speak at her school. His experience touched her profoundly and she went up and spoke with him after the talk. The reason his story resonated with her was because she was a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda — something she did not share with anyone, because she felt people could not begin to understand her experience. “She ended up forming a very close bond with this older Jewish man — she became close with his family as well — and they also did speaking tours together. Although it was something terrible that brought them to each other, I love the image of a young Rwandan girl and this old Jewish man and the friendship they shared and the bonds they forged.” — Laura Kramer, coordinator of Through a Clear Lens Through a Clear Lens, a successful video project at Sleepy Hollow High School formulated by the JCC on the Hudson, teamed up Jewish and Latino teens to produce short videos that examine the commonality and differences between the cultures in their own neighborhood. The effort to break down barriers began with the recruitment of interested students, many of whom came from Sleepy Hollow’s

Through a Clear Lens is a collaboration between local teens at Sleepy Hollow High School and the JCC on the Hudson.

Latin American Student Association. It immediately became obvious that the school’s Jewish students had no central hub from which to recruit, leading them and the school to organize a Jewish Cultural Club. Additional par-

ticipants were drawn from other local high schools. Seventeen students committed to this first round of Clear Lens. The students learned about the art of producing video and did research

about each other’s worlds. They examined language, food and perceptions of each other. Then they collaborated on creating powerful videos, which were edited together and showcased this May to Sleepy Hollow High School students. In June, the film was shown again, this time at the JCC on the Hudson’s annual meeting, at which Through a Clear Lens participants were recognized and spoke about how impactful their experience had been. “I think this project will clear up some of the stereotypes that both of these cultures have,” said participant Alex Torres, a Sleepy Hollow senior. Kramer hoped that the project produced artistic storytellers and better citizens of the planet. “I believe in the power of sharing stories as a way to discover all that we have in common, and as a way in which we can begin to eradicate assumptions and replace ignorance with true human experience,” she said. Through a Clear Lens was made possible by a UJA-Federation of NY Community Connections grant, and is a joint project of the JCC on the Hudson and the Union Free School District of Tarrytown. It is expected that the project will resume this school year. To inquire, contact the JCC at 366-7898.

A Therapeutic Day School for the Underachieving Student Dedicated to helping students overcome academic difficulties and personal obstacles, through carefully designed programs for individual achievement. Students come to us for the following reasons: • Underachievement, despite being bright • AD/HD ; Learning disabilities • Social-emotional problems Offering Regents level classes and exams. NEW: PG Program with college credit 23 Purdy Avenue, Rye, New York 10580 (914) 967-2530 wdsinfo@optonline.net www.westfieldschools.info

College Advice 101 Jane C. Hoffman, MBA, CEP Member: IECA, NACAC, HECA & WPRCA

Expert guidance to help students identify, apply & gain admission to the best colleges for them Examples of personalized services: • Provide resource binder & organization • Advise on high school course selection • Identify & classify schools based on the student’s academic profile, interests & goals • Prepare students for interviews & visits • Provide essay brainstorming & review • Help students complete effective, targeted & comprehensive applications • Teach how to secure merit awards from colleges www.CollegeAdvice101.com Larchmont, NY

Jane@CollegeAdvice101.com 914.833.1573

流練師 DOBBS FERRY KARATE 殿 Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 53A

38 YEARS in the RIVERTOWNS We are the longest running karate school in Westchester.

Join us and you will see why! CLASSES FOR EVERYONE Little Ninjas (ages 3-4) Junior Karate (ages 5-12) Teen & Adult classes (13+) Beginner Adult Class Parent & Child class Weapons class We have classes

6 days a week

Free trial classes always offered

No Contracts!

We are family run, we care about you and your children.

96 MAIN STREET, DOBBS FERRY, NY 10522

(914) 693-3707 • dobbsferrykarate.com Shihan Chris Tortu, Head Instructor Find us on Facebook and Instagram!

PAGE 54A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School

“See How We GROW” CHART

3’ 10” 3’ 9” 3’ 8” 3’ 7” 3’ 6” 3’ 5”

NOTES

3’ 11”

This chart 3’ 4” growth compliments of ...

WILLIAM RAVEIS

3’ 3” 3’ 2” 3’ 1”

REALTY GROUP

“Only The Best Become Legends” 579 Broadway • Hastings • 478-1500 68 Main Street • Irvington • 591-5600 37 Main Street • Tarrytown • 332-6300 1197 Pleasantville Road • Briarcliff Manor • 762-0070

legendsrealtygroup.net

PLACE THIS “SEE HOW WE GROW” CHART ON A FLAT WALL SURFACE 3 FEET OFF THE FLOOR.

Back to School – FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE | PAGE 55A

Celebrating 24 Great Years

New York Goju Karate Black Belt Academy AGE & RANK SPECIFIC CLASSES

Home of Mission Bullyproof • Tiny Tigers • Kali Leadership • All Women • Teen/Adult • Parent/Child

On Hudson Fitness & Dance Studio

Jazz • Hip-Hop • Lyrical • Contemporary • Modern Tap • Pre-School • Pointe • Classical Ballet

Comprehensive Fitness Classes with the finest instructors in Westchester! BIRTHDAY PARTIES

ALL AGES! ALL LEVELS! ALL FUN! 558 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson

914.478.0508 www.nygka.com www.onhudsondance.com

PAGE 56A | THE RIVERTOWNS ENTERPRISE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015

– Back to School