Rivertowns Enterprise Back To School 2013 by The Rivertowns Enterprise

a SpeCial SeCTion oF

The rivertowns enterprise auguST 23, 2013

Page 2A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

SCHOOL CALENDARS DOBBS FERRY 2013-2014

HASTINgS 2013-2014

ARDSLEY 2013-2014

IRVINgTON 2013-2014

SEPTEMBER

3 First Day of School 5-6 Rosh Hashanah Schools closed

OCTOBER

2 14

Early Release Day Columbus Day Schools closed

NOVEMBER

NOVEMBER 5, 12 Half Day for Students Parent/Teacher Conferences 11 Veteran’s Day Schools closed 27 Early Dismissal Drill 28-29 Thanksgiving Recess

DECEMBER JANUARY 1-3 Winter Recess 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schools closed

5 Early Release Day 17-21 Mid-Winter Recess

MARCH 19

Early Release Day

APRIL 14-21 Spring Recess Schools closed

MAY 23-26 Memorial Day Break

JUNE 25 26

Half Day for Students Last Day of School

Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed 11 Veteran’s Day Schools closed 28-29 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

DECEMBER

23-31 Winter Recess

FEBRUARY

Columbus Day Schools closed

NOVEMBER

Veteran’s Day Schools closed 27 Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed 28-29 Thanksgiving Break Schools closed

14-21 Spring Recess Schools closed

MAY

Veteran’s Day Schools closed 28-29 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

DECEMBER 23-31 Holiday Recess Schools closed

JANUARY

APRIL

NOVEMBER

23-31 Holiday Break-Schools Closed

17-21 Winter Recess Schools closed

New Year’s Day Schools closed Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schools closed

1-3 Holiday Recess 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Schools closed

President’s Day Schools closed 17-21 Winter Break-Schools closed

17-21 Mid-Winter Recess Schools closed

MARCH

Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed

MARCH Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed

APRIL

APRIL 14-18 Spring Break-Schools closed

14-21 Spring Recess Schools closed

MAY

23-26 Memorial Day Recess

JUNE

Last Day of School

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

23-26 Memorial Day Weekend Schools closed

Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed Columbus Day Schools closed

DECEMBER JANUARY

FEBRUARY

23-31 Holiday Recess Schools closed

1-3 Holiday Recess Schools closed 20 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Schools closed

Last Day of School

23-26 Memorial Day Break

JUNE 23-26 Early Release Day 27 Last Day of School

*Houlihan Lawrence and the Rivertowns Enterprise are not responsible for any errors to these calendars.

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PUBLISHER Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR Ann Marie Rezen ADVERTISING DESIGN Kathy Patti ADVERTISING SALES Marilyn Petrosa, Thomas O’Halloran, Barbara Yeaker and Francesca Lynch © 2013 W.H. White Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the Publisher’s written permission.

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Back to School – FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | Page 3a

Back to School Fashion

Back to School

Back to school countdown is on!

Be proactive in financial gameplan for college Social media: great for kids’ relationships? College bound: Let go and enjoy the ride Back to Nutrition: Back to healthy eating habits

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School Reports 14A Dobbs Ferry: IB program is a priority 16A Hastings-on-Hudson: Connectivity, communication, curriculum

20A Irvington: ‘Clear vision’ is ahead 22A Ardsley: Excitement, renewal and

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Page 4A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Back to school countdown is on! A last minute guide By MARY LEGRAND

eady or not, here it comes! The start of the 2013-14 school year is just around the corner, and for some parents and their children, the next week or two signals the immediate need to change routines in order to most effectively meet students’ upcoming academic challenges. While it’s no surprise to families that summer is a time for children to relax and not worry so much about getting to bed early or rising at morning’s first light, it can be difficult for some students to readapt to the hours they keep during the school years. Matthew Nespole, head of school at Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford, has some suggestions to make the changeover go easier. Over the summer, video games and television rules often “relax a bit,” Nespole said, but encouraged “parents to put the school year rules back in place at least two weeks before the start of school.” When asked to name some of the basic (and perhaps even some unexpected) things parents can do to get their children ready to return to school, Nespole said that parents should spend the final weeks of summer having

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children readjust, if necessary, or acclimate to a school schedule. In others words, it might be smart to channel Benjamin Franklin, who famously said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” “Rituals and routines in the evenings are very important, as is making sure children get plenty of sleep,” Nespole said. “Research states that 10 to 12 hours a night is essential for children, and a healthy breakfast should also be part of your routine.” Contributors at scholastic.com agree, suggesting that “setting up a regular bedtime and wake-up routine before school starts is a crucial step to prepare your child for class and a practical way to cut down on first-day stress.” Some children may be less enthusiastic than others about returning to the classroom. For them, Nespole said, “Accentuating the positive is a good route for parents to take. Reconnecting with old friends, topics of study and activities that they may like are a few examples of the direction a parent can take.” During the first few weeks of school parents “should create consistent, ongoing opportunities to discuss with their child the events of the school day,” Nespole said. “Parents are extremely busy, but trying to find the time each evening to talk about school, even if your child has very little to say, is important.” Again from scholastic.com experts, advice for parents whose child is feeling anxious about going back to school includes keeping a positive attitude: “Recall the fun and exciting events, field trips, projects and so on from years past, continued on the next page

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 5A

continued from the previous page

and show excitement about the opportunities for learning new things in the coming year.” Bringing younger children into school for a classroom visit can be helpful as well, scholastic.com advises, suggesting that parents familiarize a child “with key places such as the bathroom, gym, library and cafeteria — he’ll feel more confident if he knows where everything is.” Even shopping for classroom supplies can help some children realize that school days are nearing, and, as scholastic.com advises, it can be a “fun way to give him some responsibility. Provide parameters, but allow him to pick out a backpack, lunch box, nap mat, water bottle, new clothes and some basic school supplies (pencils, crayons, etc.).” Assisting children in readjusting to school is often smoother if parents are well organized, which is often easier said than done in the first few weeks of the new year. Thinking out routines ahead of time is the best course of action. “Organization is a cognitive skill that different children will master at different times,” Nespole said, adding that “schools provide wonderful resources that can help parents — Web pages with homework, access to teacher lessons and regular updates about programs via e-newsletters and video postings. Very often parents have access to these resources, and they should take advantage of every opportunity that a school provides, especially if they have a child who

struggles with organization.” The American Academic of Pediatrics’ healthychildren.org offers a checklist that includes a few extremely basic questions (Is your child registered? When is the first day of school? What time does school start?) in addition to other questions that are appropriate for families with particularly hectic schedules or special circumstances (Have any new health problems developed in your child over the summer that will affect his school day? Does the school nurse know about this condition, or is an appointment set up to discuss it?). While the end of August is probably too late to make up for lost time if a child has done absolutely nothing but watch videos all summer, Nespole said he did not “want to get into a research debate about the validity of summer work and retention for children. I think the most important thing to focus on over the summer is to keep your child’s mind stimulated.” Reading should be a regular part of a child’s summer routine, Nespole said, and children should be reading each day for at least 30 minutes. (And, of course, it’s not too late to start that now for the final stretch of summer.) “As for academic activities, I would take your cue from your child or your school,” Nespole said. “At RCS we do require some students at certain grade levels to do some summer work in mathematics, but having your children engaging in activities that they are interested in over the summer will spark their natural curiosity and love of learning.” n

Homework Club: Values shared and taught The Homework Club Program in Hastings-onHudson has been offering working parents a creative, stimulating and safe place for their kids to land for nearly 18 years. Whether it’s Urban Illustration classes, where budding and seasoned young artists are encouraged by master artist Katie Reidy to create “way out of the box” art, or the Authors and Illustrators writing program, magic classes, Power Yoga for kids, jewelry and beading, The Homework Club always seems to reinvent/recreate and offer enriching options for all. The Homework Club, a creative arts-based after-school program for elementary school-aged children, has had a year of creation and compassion. Along with the parents in the community, The Homework Club kids have become a vital and meaningful part of Family-to-Family, a national hunger relief organization founded by Pam Koner, also the founder of The Homework Club Program. Each month, the children at The

Homework Club help box food and clothing for impoverished American families, often decorating the boxes being sent with drawings and kind wishes. This handson experience each month — “living empathy” — has become an integral part of The HC experience. It is a joy to hear the kids speak of the families being helped with kindness and caring, taking the time to reflect on what they have and what they are grateful for on a regular basis. The HC promotes generosity of spirit, mindfulness of others and respectful mediation of feelings, hurts and sensitivities. As one HC mother said recently, “The HC has replaced the old neighborhood feeling… You ARE the new neighborhood!” Homework Club staff teach children on a daily basis to be thinkers and selfmotivators, to find the “process” more rewarding than the “result,” to dream and play, to fantasize and stretch to boundaries of imagination. Call Koner at 478-0756. n

Page 6A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Be proactive in financial gameplan for college

By JOHN ROCHE

iguring out how to pay for college is always a challenging process for students and parents, as is the task of paying off student loans. But given the fact that government-imposed rate hikes have been in the national spotlight over the past few months, handling loans for college likely seems even more complicated and daunting. In late July, a bipartisan bill, which was expected to be signed into law by the president, would lower the rate on federally subsidized Stafford loans from 6.8 percent to 3.9 percent. That measure came just weeks after Washington lawmakers failed to reach a deal to keep the interest rates from doubling, jumping from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent. Under the new plan, rates on unsubsidized Stafford loans would also drop to 3.9 percent, loans for graduates would drop to 5.4 percent and Parent PLUS Loans would decrease to 6.4 percent from 7.9 percent. Interest rates on federal loans would be tied to 10-year Treasury notes, rather than set by Congress. Those rates are expected to rise as the national economy improves, but this plan includes a cap to prevent them from rising higher than 8.25 percent for undergraduates. The threat of doubled rates, moving-target uncertainty and the eventual figures under the new measure could leave college-age students, recent graduates and their parents feeling like they have to cram for a whole new set of finals, but local experts offered plenty of advice to get through the even more tangled web of student loans. “The new measures will keep federal student loan rates low, capped and tied to the 10-year Treasury note rate should inflation resurface,” said Lisa Rodman of Collegistics LLC, a Scarsdale-based firm that has been helping students and their families successfully navigate the college process since 2007. “The problem, of course, is that students and families are still facing enormous costs that have escalated well beyond inflation in the last several decades. But the fundamentals of finding ways to pay for college will not change. Students and families should honestly assess how much debt they reasonably want to assume. The new developments guarantee that there will not be a significant departure from prior policy. The threat of substantial increases in federal loan rates no longer looms.” Gregory H. Raue, vice president of LEXCO Wealth Management, LLC in Tarrytown, said that even with feelings of uncertainty surrounding federal student loans, he believes students and parents should forge ahead with careful planning as early as possible to pay for a college education. “The recent changes to the federal direct student loan program have primarily only affected the cost of

borrowing and not the borrower process per se,” said Raue, a financial planner, Bedford Hills resident and father of three daughters all with, or soon to have, student loans. The government’s move to tie interest rates on federal student loans to financial markets is certainly at least a temporary victory for students, although some advocacy groups fear it could lead to higher costs in the future. “Much of the commotion around the issue related to missing the July 1st deadline, which automatically reset rates to much higher levels,” Raue explained. “I wasn’t personally concerned about the higher rate becoming permanent because retroactive behavior and deadlines mean little in Washington these days and the reset rates were politically untenable. However, ongoing budgetary and deficit issues resulted in a resolution which reset current rates to only slightly higher than before July 1st and tied them to 10-year government borrowing costs. Right or wrong, this now places the interest risk on the borrower.” The area experts urged parents and students to do their homework to find out what options might work best in paying for college. “Our fundamental advice is to be wary,” said Leslie Berkovitz, another key team member at Collegistics (www.collegistics.com). “Use trusted websites and

substantiate any advice given. Information provided by the government or directly from a college’s financial aid office should generally be viewed as reliable. When doing research, make sure you are reading the most recent updates or versions of documents. Websites that offer promises ‘too good to be true’ are generally that — too good to be true. Likewise, if you are asked to pay to get information, do not.” Raue, who after 25 years in commercial and investment banking, last year channeled his academic, professional and life experiences into becoming a financial planner and wealth manager with LEXCO Wealth Management (lexcowealth.com), said it’s never too early to start thinking and planning about college costs. “My general advice is to begin planning and saving early,” he said. “Established early, the cash value of whole life insurance policies and/or 529, UGMA and UTMA plans have the maximum time to compound. With the demise of the defined benefit plan, this advice certainly applies to retirement planning and really aspects of one’s financial life. Almost all financial risk has now shifted to the individual and families and away from companies and the government.” Lillian Hecht, also of Collegistics, stressed being proactive and starting the college planning process as continued on the next page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 7A

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early as possible. “Our best advice is to have the financial conversation up front,” Hecht said. “Look at the entire cost of attendance, not just tuition, room and board. At a minimum, students need money for books, transportation to and from school, and for food when the dining halls are closed. If, as a parent, you have a finite amount to spend on your child’s college education, be honest with your son or daughter about finances from the very beginning of the process.” Her Collegistics colleague recommended getting a clear sense of a college’s costs before deciding on the college or university itself. “Discuss applying to in-state public universities and private schools known for generous financial aid,” Berkovitz said. “Students should consider applying to colleges where their statistics would place them in the top range of accepted students where merit aid is more likely to be offered. Students should also apply for the many available outside scholarships listed on sites such as fastweb.com and cappex.com. “Do not be deterred by additional applications and writing requirements — even scholarships for small amounts add up and can take the bite out of those hidden costs. Be sure to check with each college to which your student applies to ascertain whether outside scholarships will reduce institutional financial aid awards or if scholarships

can be stacked. College is expensive, no doubt, but there is nothing more difficult than to have a student fall in love with a college to which he or she has been admitted only to be told at the end of the process that the financial piece just can’t work.” The area experts also recommend tapping the college of choice and reliable Internet resources for assistance in the planning, although students and their families ultimately have to decide what’s in their best interests. “Much of the work process for federal direct loans is initiated by the financial aid office of the institutions and with submission of the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, form,” Raue said. “Government Internet sites, such as www.studentaid.ed.gov and www.fafsda.ed.gov, also provide a great deal of information. Unfortunately, with the cost of higher education being as high as it is, most simply seek the funding and are less sensitive to cost in the short run. The impact is realized when repayment begins after graduation.” Just as Collegistics utilizes a multilayered approach to the whole college planning process, Rodman stressed the need for students and their parents to be meticulous and thorough in their search for the best route to pay for a student’s collegiate or post-graduate education. “Families should be aware of the extended financial commitment college entails and think carefully about the continued on page

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Page 8A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Social media: great for kids’ relationships? Book, a test-prep app for smartphones, said that this state of affairs is particularly difficult for young people because they’re more impulsive and prone to influence than adults. “It really creates a volatile situation,” he said. He recommended a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics called “The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families” (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/ content/127/4/800.full#sec-6) for more information on helping kids use social media in helpful, not harmful, ways. “Kids are influenced by many more people now, because one person leads to another, to another, to another,” said W. Glyn Hearn, headmaster of Soundview Preparatory School in Yorktown Heights, which serves grades 6–12. Before the proliferation of social media, he said, “we were able to monitor interactions that were going on here at school, and if there was a problem, we could stop it before it went too far. Now, with social media, we have no control over that — especially outside of school.” But the implications of this lightningspeed connectedness are far from all negative for kids. Facebook and other sites make it possible for kids to reach out to one another in ways that really empower them. “For kids who are introverted, the use of virtual empathy — putting out their needs online — helps

By JENNIFER EPEL MULLER

oday’s kids are steeped in social media, and that means their relationships are conducted at a neverbefore-seen speed. While in the past kids needed to speak individually with each one of their friends in order to keep up with one another — and gossip about other kids — now a quick scroll through Facebook can give kids much more information about their social world, in just the five minutes between classes, than older generations would ever expect to be privy to in their school days. Much has been made of the potential for kids to use social media for bullying and negative gossip, but those problems far predated social media. So what’s different about it now, now that students have these websites on which to conduct their social battles? “Where things might have been one to one before, things get amplified very quickly now,” said Jacques Jospitre, a psychiatrist who works mainly with college and graduate students who have psychological issues impeding their performance in school. “It quickly becomes part of the larger community and makes it difficult for young people to escape.” Jospitre, a 1989 graduate of Scarsdale High School who also created eReview

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 9A

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current and future impact of such an investment,” Rodman said. “Tools such as the fafsa4caster at fafsa.ed.gov, the College Scorecards available at the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center at collegecost.ed.gov/scorecard and the required net price calculators provided on college websites since 2011 provide critical data relevant to the decisionmaking process.” And remember that borrowing isn’t the only option. “Scour college websites for scholarship opportunities,” Rodman said. “Colleges do offer need-based and non-need based merit scholarships for academic excellence and special talent. Some scholarships are awarded based on a student’s gender, race and ethnicity, and/or special interest or focus.” The Collegistics team recommends looking at the big picture right from the start. “Factors families might consider in deciding how much debt would be reasonable to undertake include whether the student is a candidate for academic merit aid or other scholarships, the possibility that a student’s future might include the expense of professional or graduate school, and whether there are younger children in the family slated to attend college in the future,” Berkovitz said. Raue reminds students and parents that student loans still provide lots of

bang for the buck. “Student loans are just one of numerous sources of funding for college and, unlike some such as scholarships, Coverall, etc., are not sensitive to income,” he said. “Further, despite the new increased cost, governmental direct student loans are still a relatively inexpensive way to help finance higher education especially with potential interest deductibility.” The number of students obtaining federal Stafford loans has increased significantly over the past decade, as have enrollment and tuition costs. About 35 percent of undergraduate students nationwide took out Stafford loans in the 2011-12 school year, up from 23 percent in 2001-02, according to the College Board’s most recent report on national trends in student aid. The majority of students take out a combination of subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The interest payments on subsidized loans, which are awarded to students based on income, are covered by the government while a student is in school. The local experts said they advise parents to stay calm and clear-headed when tackling the tough job of addressing the rising costs of college for their kids. “We know college costs seem to rise inexorably and well ahead of inflation,” said Raue. “This is an untenable situation and could lead to a more bifurcate society between the haves and have nots. It isn’t clear how this will play out. Somewhat offsetting this is, as I understand it, that financial aid is at an alltime high.” n

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Page 10A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

college bound

Let go

and enjoy the ride

By BETH GELLES and NANCY STUZIN

f you have a son or daughter heading to college this fall, you’ve probably spent the past 12 months agonizing over college applications, combating the onslaught of “senioritis,” and finally, this summer, packing up all the supplies needed to magically transform your high school graduate into a college freshman. No doubt, you’ve also spent the past 17 years schlepping your kids to school, sport, and other activities, entertaining posses of pals from playdates to the prom, advising them on matters of homework and even love, and sharing in the daily ups and downs of their lives. Now here you are, and it feels like no amount of counseling, coaching or celebrating has adequately prepared you for the imminent departure of a son or daughter for college. Whether it’s your first or last child about to leave the nest, you’re most likely in a state of awe, gratitude, bewilderment, terror or all of the above. One minute, you may feel the urge to hug your child and the next moment, you may feel the need to scream. Please take a deep breath: you are NOT alone. As college advisers and co-partners of Acceptance Ahead — a college counseling business that serves families throughout Westchester — we have witnessed parents experience the full range of emotions when it comes to kids leaving for college and this extraordinary rite of parental passage. “As soon as my son started completing his college applications, I began to experience feelings of happiness about his future, but intense sadness about my own,” admitted a mother who is sending her son off to the University of Pennsylvania. “I never worry about whether he can handle the academic or social pressures of college, but I worry about how I will handle the loss when he leaves.” Another mom who has a daughter starting at the Univer-

sity of Michigan this fall told us that she surprised herself because she’s become “an emotional basket case since the prom” and she is trying to figure out how to cope. The habit of serious parental involvement runs long and deep, and it is common for parents to feel anything from overwhelming relief to devastating loss when they confront the idea of letting go. On one hand, parents feel burned out from high school teenage angst and they might be counting the minutes for college to start. On the other hand, these parents are also hoarding boxes of Kleenex for the car ride home post-drop off at the dorm. Despite the elation and pride that invariably accompanies the college acceptance, fear and despair can quickly compete for emotional space. Parents may ask themselves: “Will there be a gaping hole in my family once my child leaves for school?” and “What will happen to me?” Even the most rational parents quickly confessed that as soon as the college application season commenced, they were plagued with worry about their shifting role as parents and their potential loss of identity. “These feelings are totally normal,” said Julie Stonberg, a family therapist in Hartsdale. “This process of ‘launching’ your children into the world is a huge transition for a family. The years of active and physical parenting can be all-encompassing. It’s easy to forget that you were a person with interests before you had kids and that you will be one again as you begin to renegotiate your relationships with your spouse and with your soon-to-be young adult children.” One thing to keep in mind, Stonberg says, is that it is usually a more gradual transition than you anticipate. If you

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have more than one child, you are still parenting when the first one leaves for freshman year, still ensconced in the rhythms of the school year and the day-to-day routine of dinner and homework. By the time the last one leaves you have begun already to shift more toward the next stage of development in your family. “I was able to focus on my younger child when my daughter left for college,” informed one mother. “In fact, my son was so relieved that she was no longer ‘center stage’ and for once, dinner conversations revolved around him. He began to blossom more academically and socially.” Even if you have only one child, the idea that he or she leaves for school in August or September and turns into a grown-up is hardly the case. In fact, many parents report that between parents’ weekends on campus and a long winter break, parents have ample time to stay connected. “It feels like I won’t even have time to miss my son,” said one mom whose son will attend SUNY Binghamton. Either way, we are told that this is an ideal time to explore interests and passions that have been put on hold for 18 years. Many parents we spoke with have spent the past spring and summer plunging into new activities as a way of managing the pending separation. A mom who is sending her daughter to the University of Southern California insists that discovering activities outside the realm of “parenting” has become her priority. “I am working more and exercising more so that I can be happy before and after she leaves,” she said. “I’m trycontinued on the next page

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continued from the previous page

ing to separate myself from her for short periods of time so that I can prepare myself for when she is really gone.” Another mom who is sending off her daughter to Washington University told us that she took up golf lessons and stepped up her commitment to yoga as soon as high school graduation was over. One thing to remember is that kids are in transition, too, and this can cause tensions in the house to run high. Senior year itself is an interesting transition for both parents and kids. “Once my son’s college decision was made, a heavy weight was lifted. But while the stress was gone, the ‘I’m an adult and I don’t need you now’ attitude kicked in,” reported a mom whose son is attending the University of Rochester this fall. “We were dealing with not knowing our son’s schedule and his assumption that he could come and go as he pleased. He’s earning money now and he’s responsible for his own laundry. We nudge him about his responsibilities, but we are trying to let some of it go, knowing he will be off very soon.” For the most part, despite feelings of insecurity or ambivalence about their changing roles as parents, most believe that they have successfully prepared their sons and daughters to enter this next and exciting phase in their lives. “I remember the day when I handed the car keys to my daughter and I just watched her drive down the street,” described a soon-to-be NYU parent. “I knew she was going down the path of independence

and that this moment would prepare me for when she ultimately leaves the house for school.” Parents conveyed that in the weeks preceding their child’s departure for college, they had candid conversations about finances, safety issues, dating, nutrition, exercise and how to seek guidance from older students, faculty and useful campus resources. One mother proudly shared that she believes her daughter is very well adjusted, and that her hope for her during her college years at Washington University was “to continue to be her own person and to make good decisions.” Another father told us that he recently spent hours lying in bed in his son’s room, looking at photos and old mementos and reminiscing about his son’s childhood and adolescence. This process helped Dad recognize and feel good about what he himself had accomplished as a parent along with his son, and ended with his feeling confident that his son was “ready” for the next four years of adventure, exploration and learning once he departed for Tulane. “It is important to allow yourself the space to feel sad and it is okay to do whatever it is you need to do, whether it’s sit in their room and cry or take comfort in the fact that they are about to enter an important new phase,” Stonberg said. In fact, many parents report that once they get past the existential angst of dropping their “baby” off at school, things actually settle down fairly quickly into a “new normal” in terms of daily routines at home. continued on page

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Page 12A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Back to Nutrition Back to Healthy eating habits By JOHN ROCHE

he beginning of a new school year offers kids and their parents a fresh start to either kick off healthier eating habits or nutritionally get back on track after summer vacation. “It is actually a great time to start a family conversation about food and physical activity,” said Erica Leon, a registered dietitian in Ardsley with over 25 years of professional experience working with adults, children and families, who specializes in nutrition therapy for eating disorders, obesity and weight management. “Topics can include when to buy lunch at school, how often, what some healthy choices might be, how to plan for snacks after school as well as input from kids about meal planning. When kids are involved in the planning and even preparation of meals, they often try a wider variety of foods. It’s also a good time for parents to reflect on the importance of family meals as a time for communication, togetherness and healthy role modeling.” Kathleen Schoen, a clinical nutritionist

based in Katonah, agrees: “Back to school is a great time for parents to speak with their kids about nutrition. Food has a huge impact not only on your child’s health, but on their academic performance. There are many topics for parents to discuss with kids about their eating habits, but what stands out most to me is teaching mindful eating; learning to know when you’re hungry and not just bored, chewing your food and eating without distractions. This teaches serious life skills.” Linda Arpino, MA, RD, CDN, also urges parents to start the school year off right with their children, no matter what grade level, regarding healthy lifestyle choices. “Helping children learn how to plan meals ahead to assure nutrient density that fuels the brain and helps in school and all sports and activities,” Arpino said. “Focus on nutrient dense meals with lots of color from fruits and vegetables and whole grains, not Fruit Loops.” While the local nutritional experts encouraged parents to take an active role in the dietary lives of their growing children, they also realize it can be a challenge for mothers and fathers to balance actually telling their kids what to eat and enabling them to make healthy choices on their own. Schoen urges parents to include their continued on page

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Let Go continued from page

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While most parents clearly miss children who have left home for college, they often also find themselves enjoying the greater freedom and relaxed responsibility. Despite the common worry that long-married couples will find themselves staring at each other across the dinner table with nothing to say once the kids leave, a growing body of research shows that marital satisfaction actually improves significantly when the children begin to take their exits. How much to be in touch?

As much as we sometimes want to hold on, giving kids the necessary space to spread their wings and grow comfortable in their new lives is paramount. Experienced empty-nesters advise first-time college parents to “loosen the reins” and caution them not to intervene every time a child calls home with a problem. “Express support but give them time to solve their issues,” advised a mother of three college students. Every family communicates in different ways, and certain kids may communicate with their parents more or less than the siblings in their own family. “Texting and emailing can be a wonderful thing that our own parents didn’t have, but it’s important also to understand who your child is,” explained Stonberg. “Chances are if your child told you every little thing in her life at home, she will still keep in touch more than a child who tended to

keep things closer to the vest. But you can’t always predict. Sometimes distance and excitement can cause a child to keep in touch more or even less than you expect, and that can be OK, too.” One day at a time

The families and professionals we work with at Acceptance Ahead advise parents to recognize that college is a gradual transition into full independence and that the separation process doesn’t happen overnight. Go easy on yourselves, caution the experts. Maintain a sense of humor. While not everyone is running to convert their child’s bedroom into a gym, it’s important to plan lots of things to look forward to, both with and without your collegeaged children. Do continue to talk about your feelings with friends and family and support each other. Before you know it, your child will be home for his or her four-month summer break. Chances are that as good as that feels, a part of you may also be clamoring for the peace and quiet of your not-quite-so empty nest! Beth Gelles and Nancy Stuzin are the co-partners of Acceptance Ahead, a Scarsdale-based college advisory firm that provides valuable insight, expert guidance and genuine compassion to students and their families as they navigate the complexities of the college admissions process. Julie Stonberg is a clinical social worker in private practice in Hartsdale who often works with families around times of transition and change. n

(Standing): Ben Giampaglia, PT; Lynn Voeste, Kerri Demitrovic, MSPT; Barbara Schulz, Abby Morgan and Jessica Concepcion. (Seated): Janice Nesbeth, PT, DPT

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 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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Applying for college in 2014? The Common App has changed By CAROL GILL

elcome to the new C o m mon Application. The class of 2014 will be the first to use the new version called CA4. For years students knew CAROL GILL what to expect on the application, which is accepted by 488 colleges. Now the Common App is different, and students should understand the changes, which took place beginning Aug. 1. What’s new? n The Personal Statement may be up to 650 words. It is now cut and paste, not uploaded. That means essays may not exceed the word limit by even one character. n Prompts for the Personal Statement have changed. Students are no longer given the option of Topic of Your Choice (see below). n The Activity Essay is gone. Some colleges may, however, ask that question on their supplements. n The Common App officers assure us that the technical aspects of filling out the application will be easier. We’ll see.

New essay prompts Answer one of the following: n Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. n Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn? n Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again? n Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you? n Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. What’s not new? n College admissions are more competitive than ever. n You have to give colleges a reason to accept you and writing a great essay is the perfect way to do that. Unlike scores, grades and classes taken, essays are the single part of the application that you can control. Use it wisely. Contact Carol Gill Associates/College Consultants at www.collegesplus.com or 693-8200. n

Page 14A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

School Reports IB program is a priority for Dobbs Ferry schools By Dr. LISA BRADY Dobbs Ferry Schools Superintendent

he 2013-14 school year promises exciting things to come for students in the Dobbs Ferry schools. Middle school and high school students will be elated to see the transformation of the former cafeteria into the newly renovated “Commons.” The redesigned space will serve as a multifunctional cafeteria, learning center and gathering place for the school and Dobbs Ferry community. The construction is progressing on schedule and the project is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the school year. The Commons “makeover” includes brand new furniture, a serving counter, pizza ovens, wireless access and a completely redesigned kitchen and layout similar to a college campus. The district hopes that this new inviting atmosphere will serve as a hub for student activities and community meetings. In July, administrators traveled to New Orleans for the International Baccalaureate (IB) World Conference, where

Technology is important for Dobbs Ferry students.

they had an opportunity to attend multiple workshops and to network with other IB schools around the country and the world. Details of this professional development experience can be found on the district’s website, www.dfsd.org, under the “Points of View” quicklink

(superintendent’s blog) for those who are interested in a more in-depth view of this important learning experience. In the fall, the district will again pick up discussions with the school community about the IB Middle Years Program (MYP). The International Baccalaure-

ate Organization has made important changes to the Middle Years Program that will be critical for the board of education and community to consider in their decision making about MYP. It is clear that the education offered through the International Baccalaureate Program is a “crown jewel” for the district and sets Dobbs Ferry apart from most other public schools in the state and the nation. The IB curriculum has provided a framework for the development of the Common Core Learning Standards and is fully aligned with the goals of any 21st century path for teaching and learning. This fall, high school students will have the opportunity to participate in the OC21 curricular offerings. Dobbs Ferry has a dozen students who will be taking online classes via this blended coursework. Blended coursework consists of both face-to-face time with an instructor and other students, as well as work that is done online. Students from 13 school districts in Westchester County participate in the OC21 program in conjunction with Putnam-Westchester BOCES. Students will be taking courses continued on page

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Back to School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 15A

Page 16A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

School Reports

Hastings’ 3 Cs: connectivity, communication, curriculum By DR. ROY R. MONTESANO Hastings-on-Hudson Schools Superintendent

s we open our doors on Sept. 3 to welcome students to the 2013-14 school year, the Hastings-on-Hudson School District has embarked on new initiatives that will take the district to the next level of learning, opportunities and accountability. Several of these initiatives are in the areas of connectivity, communication and curriculum — the 3 Cs. During the summer months, the district enabled wireless connectivity throughout each building. Students and teachers will now be able to connect to online resources from a variety of mobile devices and computers from a range of locations. Teachers will be able to provide instruction in real time by having immediate access to resources via the Internet, students will be able to gather in small groups in different areas to work and the “classroom” can be taken to different locations. By providing students with access to wireless devices at all grade levels, we will prepare them to succeed in a rapidly growing connected world and allow them to use devices that they will need to be able to use in their post-secondary education and workplaces. Last year, the district made a commitment to the second C, to improve communication with parents, students and staff. Main components of this plan include a new website, www.hohschools. org, and its “Parent Portal,” which is an easy-to-use web-based tool that communicates student academic performance and attendance. Work on these initiatives began over the summer and we expect full implementation by the early fall. The district will also explore a more thorough communications plan using Facebook, Twitter and possibly YouTube.

The third C is for curriculum. This year, New York State’s Department of Education is moving toward the full implementation of the national Common Core Learning Standards in grades 9-12 and will now have the Regents exams aligned with the new curriculum. In effect, all testing across grades 3-12 will reflect the shifts in the Common Core Learning Standards. The Hastings-on-Hudson schools are preparing for this change. Our middle school teachers will continue their work with Dr. Nancy Sulla in developing and implementing the model of a learner-active, technologyinfused classroom that is central to the “new” New York State teaching standards. Thanks to a grant from the Hastings Education Foundation, teachers in this program will have their classrooms redesigned to reflect the fundamental shift to student-centered instruction. The classrooms will use technology hubs and furniture reflecting the active learning environment central to this model of learning. At the high school, computer programming in Java will be offered to expand course offerings in science and technology, and the middle school is starting an after-school program for select seventh- and eighth-graders to strengthen students’ skills in math, technology and engineering. At the elementary level, the k-4 report cards have been rewritten to directly align with the new Common Core Learning Standards. Additionally, the school district will continue to invest in security initiatives to provide the safest environment possible for our students and staff. We have installed video cameras at all school door entrances, buzzer systems to gain entrance into the buildings, a manned signin desk and telephones placed in each of the classrooms. These measures, plus training and review of safety practices with teachers and school personnel, will continue throughout the school year. n

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 17A

TCH Adult Tennis Programs •Adult Clinics • Moms on the Move • Tennis Boot Camp • Cardio Tennis • Seasonal Court Time • Lounge • Café • Member Socials • USTA Teams • Nursery

Our Diamond Membership ($1049) This annual membership gets you: • Unlimited house arranged matches • Complimentary can of balls with every arranged match • Unlimited walk on with other diamond members • Towel service • Free weekly cardio tennis classes • 3 Diamond guest passes • 15% discount on all programs and lessons • 10% off on all pro shop items

invitations to all club events limited to 50 members ~ sign up now!!!

TCH Junior Programs Registration is now open for our Fall Junior Programs. • Sessions start 9/16 and go through May 18th, 2014 • A fantastic staff • Flexible make up policy • All levels welcomed • Match play • Junior Team Tennis and much more ...

Upcoming events We will be holding our next ADULT rOUnD rObin on August 24th. Our last Round Robin was a HUGE success so please don’t wait.

Labor Day Adult Doubles Tournament Mens & Womens 2.5 - 3.0 3.5 - 4.0

Monday September 2nd Starting at 11am Form your own teams or we will find you a partner

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Phone: 914-478-4400 www.tennisclubofhastings.com

Page 18A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Hastings PTSA fighting for students, families and district

he Hastings PTSA thank the amazing community for its unwavering support, through participating in fundraisers, attending parent-liaison meetings, volunteering at Pizza Friday and all events, contacting legislators to support advocacy, and so much more. This coming year, the PTSA looks forward to continuing all the great work it has done in the past, maintaining what it knows works and what the community likes, and trying out some new and innovative ideas as well. As always, the PTSA’s efforts are aimed at issuing grants to teachers and administrators, supporting students with scholarship funds and educating parents on many key initiatives related to PTSA advocacy efforts. Grants This past year the PTSA was thrilled to approve a record dollar amount of grants, thanks to the community’s generosity. Grants ranged from the simple, such as a new flagpole and upgraded bird feeders for Hillside to over $10,000 in extras for the athletic department (new treadmill, portable scoreboard, portable public address system, soccer equipment). The PTSA approved over $10,000 in cultural arts grants, facilitated transportation to a young writers’ conference and supported the model United Nations (WestMUNC). The PTSA purchased numerous books for the Hillside library, and supplied books and technology for middle school stu-

dents needing help with reading. And the list goes on. Scholarships 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, SATs, APs, and so much more. Sadly, 2012-13 showed that the need for this financial support was higher than ever. Through the support of the parent community, the PTSA was always able to say “yes.” This work is of the highest priority and the PTSA is committed to continuing to help in this way, and therefore welcomes donations earmarked as “scholarship.” Advocacy Unfortunately, with all of the new education mandates and policies, the PTSA realized the need to substantially increase its advocacy work, both within the district as well as at the state and federal levels. Within the district, the PTSA will continue to monitor class sizes, an effort launched four years ago when class sizes began to grow as budgets grew tighter. The PTSA also held several events this year to educate the parent body on changes in state law that are having a significant impact on education, like the Common Core requirements and the new teacher evaluation plan (called APPR). In addition to this local work, current New York State policies led us to advocate

around specific policies — aiming to slow down and/or undo reforms that the PTSA believes hurts quality public education, such as excessive amounts of student testing; over-reliance on test scores; rushing into the Common Core curriculum when districts don’t have the funding, support and materials for success; and storing students’ private data in an insecure digital cloud without parental consent. The upcoming school year The PTSA will continue fulfilling teachers’ and administrators’ requests for grants, providing new and creative programming and much-needed supplies. To do so, the PTSA will continue the community’s favorite fundraisers, like the Knicks tickets raffle, membership drive (complete with calendar) and — of course — the new and used book fairs. And the PTSA is working on new creative fundraisers, such as possibly a 5K fun run in the spring. The PTSA always welcomes fundraising ideas from the community. The PTSA is also excited to continue its joint work with neighboring Rivertowns, through the now 1-year-old Rivertowns Parents group, where the PTSA provides speakers and works on advocacy issues together. This year, the PTSA also plans to form an advocacy committee comprising interested parents from each of the three schools. The focus of this committee will reflect the PTSA’s passion and hopes for the best education for the children. The

PTSA welcomes discussion around these ideas, aiming to include all members of the community. The PTSA will continue to fight against the reductions in state and federal aid that force cuts to the already spare budget — and will continue to tell the government that it must stop requiring schools to spend new money in the form of unfunded mandates. The PTSA will be meeting with state and federal legislators to urge that harmful practices be ended and that new initiatives be set into action in a measured way, with adequate funding and with the input of educators. In addition, the PTSA continues to reach out to the community to email and call the powers that be on specific issues that are harming education. The PTSA hopes that those who have the time and inclination will reach out and become involved in whatever speaks to community members, who may want to help support the grant and scholarship funds; volunteer at a book fair; work on crafting an email campaign to the governor to protect privacy; or head up a new community event. Members of the community are encouraged to attend parent-liaison meetings that take place every six or so weeks at each school. They are a unique opportunity to get closer to what happens in each school, build relationships with the administrators and have a voice. Please feel free to contact the PTSA with ideas, comments and questions at hastingsonhudsonptsa@gmail.com. n

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 19A

Hastings Education Foundation: 3 schools, 1 mission

he 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 enrichment programs in the 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 schools. Each year the foundation raises money through an annual fundraising letter to the community, as well as an event in the spring. The eighth annual gala party and auction, held last May at Alder Manor in North Yonkers, raised well over $60,000 for the foundation. 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 as well as the board of education. Recent grants include: • $10,000 to purchase Smart Boards for ESL classrooms at Hillside Elementary School • $24,000 to establish learner-active,

technology-infused classrooms at Farragut Middle School • $13,068 to purchase iMacs and editing software for the high school film studies program • $6,132 to purchase acoustic shells to reflect sound in the auditorium • $2,300 to fund an assembly and workshops focused on the traditional arts of Chinese culture for the 10th grade • $3,000 to purchase a 3D printer and filament for the middle school art and technology programs • $2,060 to expand the nonfiction science and social studies collections at Hillside Library • $2,275 to purchase equipment for the AP environmental science class to study invasive plants and the exploding deer population on Hillside Woods • $2,790 to purchase steel drums for the music program. 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. Call either of the foundation’s co-presidents, Jill Dietz (478-5012) or Nina Hogan (478-3477), if you have any questions or would like to get involved. n

Bring your summer reading books back to the library and pick out some good books to read this fall.

FERRY FESTA

SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN: Crafts for Kids Program

Saturday, October 5 from 2 - 4 p.m. Once a Month on Tuesdays Program

Halloween Crafts and Stories Tuesday, October 22 from 4 - 5 p.m. Pre-school programs will resume in the fall. Check our web site and calendar for Toddler Time, Story Time and Nursery Rhyme Time programs.

September is Library Card Sign Up Month If you haven’t gotten a library card, yet come in and register. It’s easy.

Get out and experience all your library has to offer! Call or visit our website for more information about programs and events. www.dobbsferrylibrary.org

Dobbs Ferry Library 55 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY

Interactive White Boards

693-6615

Learn About Birds of Pr Learn About Birds of Pre Learn About Birds of Pr

Arts and Crafts Dramatic Play

Smart Boards Laptop Computers Integrated Phonetic

Montessori Based Materials and Activities

Approach to Reading & Writing

Physical Education in gymnasium

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Page 20A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

School Reports

‘Clear vision’ is ahead for Irvington school community By DR. KRISTOPHER HARRISON Irvington Schools Superintendent

he Irvington School District is eager to welcome the 2013-14 school year. This year, the board of education and administration are committed to outlining plans for the future of our schools. Together, with the school community, the district’s leadership will engage in a long-range planning effort to plan for the educational and financial future of our schools. This collaboration will seek to engage stakeholders and will provide for the development of a clear vision defining what is desired for our students’ learning experiences, while informing future decision-making and budget development. Throughout the summer months, our staff has steadily worked to prepare for the arrival of our 1,800 students. Our teaching staff has spent a significant amount of time collaborating over the past months to revise and renew our curricula to provide our students with a rigorous and enriching learning experience. Included in these efforts is the continued alignment of our teachers’ instruction across all grade levels with the new, more challenging Common Core Learning Standards and the revitalization of the k-5 technology

program, which will expand upon traditional classroom lessons. The important work to update our curricula is being supported by a thorough, professional learning initiative that will engage all educational leaders and teachers to expand their capacity to deliver academics that will prepare students for success in the 21st century. To help guide our efforts to expand upon the high quality learning experiences that our children will enjoy, the Irvington school community is pleased to welcome three new leaders to the district. Joining Irvington as the new principal of Irvington High School is Mr. David Cohen, from the well-known Midwood High School in Brooklyn, where he served as the principal for the past seven years. Mr. Cohen brings with him a great deal of knowledge and experience that will serve our school well. Having arrived in July, Mr. Cohen spent the summer months acclimating himself to our community and is already collaborating with the staff to build upon Irvington High School’s noted success. Also joining the high school and middle school is a new guidance counselor and chairperson, Mr. Michael DiGennaro. Mr. DiGennaro has extensive experience in the field having served as a guidance counselor and director of guidance,

working most recently at Canandaigua Academy in Canandaigua. Mr. DiGennaro will work closely with our staff and parent community to guide our students through a successful secondary learning experience and to assist in the preparation for their collegiate studies. To support the learning needs of our students and to provide more assistance to our teachers, the 2013-14 school district budget restored a full-time assistant principal at Dows Lane Elementary School. We are excited to welcome Mrs. Margaret Benedetto to our leadership team in this role. Mrs. Benedetto has impressed the Mahopac Central School District for the past 17 years, where she worked as an elementary school teacher and held the position of building coordinator. During her career in Mahopac, she demonstrated great leadership skills leading multiple building and district-level initiatives. These experiences, coupled with a rich knowledge of teaching and learning, will clearly be an asset to the Dows Lane community. Many other budgetary initiatives will provide for enhanced student experiences including additional course offerings at the high school, the implementation of a wireless network at the middle school and high school campus, continued commitment to the arts, music, athletics and

co-curricular learning, and an expanded effort on school safety and security. Additionally, through an improved school lunch program, our students will have healthier and more enticing options in the school cafeteria. Also, for the first time, kindergarten students will be able to purchase lunch in the cafeteria. Parents are encouraged to have their children try the new, improved school lunch experience where there are significant changes for students in all grade levels. The Irvington Union Free School District remains committed to the maintenance and enhancement of its school facilities. This dedication was reinforced with the 2013-14 school district budget, which provides the funding necessary to address a number of needs. The following buildings and grounds projects are examples of the many being addressed this school year: replacement of a number of fire doors, classroom and corridor painting, installation of window shades, field maintenance, numerous school safety projects, repair of walkways and significant boiler repairs. The Irvington community is dedicated to providing its students with a physically and emotionally safe environment to grow and learn. To this end, the teachcontinued on the next page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 21A continued from the previous page

ers and staff continue their dedication to character education and the promotion of a culture of inclusion and mutual respect. The district is proud to partner with the Irvington Diversity Foundation (IDF), the Irvington Education Foundation (IEF) and the PTSA to provide for powerful character development experiences for all students. These partnerships will help to expand upon a longstanding commitment to character education. The district will continue to seek opportunities to expand students’ appreciation of the role each individual plays in a community and the responsibilities each plays in our collective success. Through these lessons, the Irvington staff believes that each individual will assume greater ownership for their community which results in an inclusive, productive environment. As in years past, the PTSA’s fundraising efforts afforded Irvington’s students many unique opportunities. The PTSA will once again collaborate with our teachers and principals to provide academic, extracurricular enrichment opportunities and sponsor special events for both students and parents this year. Additionally, the Irvington Education Foundation has continued its longstanding reputation of funding outstanding experiences for the students of the Irvington schools. This year their fundraising efforts will continue to enrich learning for every child in the Irvington schools. The Irvington School District is also pleased to partner with the Village of Irvington in two initiatives that will have positive impacts on our school communi-

ty. First, through the village’s Safe Routes to School grant, we will see improved walkways leading to the middle school and high school campus and Dows Lane Elementary School, and walkway lighting will be improved near the campus. Another partnership will improve the district’s video broadcast capabilities that will introduce new opportunities to develop student video production at the high school and will allow the board of ed to produce better quality recordings of its meetings. As always, the district welcomes both the input and the involvement of the parents and the community. We encourage you to stay informed by attending board of education meetings, which are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of every month in the Campus Presentation Room (CPR) on the secondary campus. Board meetings can now be seen on the Village of Irvington’s cable TV channels, generally at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. These meetings can also be viewed on the district’s website, www. irvingtonschools.org. In addition, information about the district is updated on an ongoing basis on the website. To be well informed throughout the year, community members are also encouraged to register to receive the weekly electronic newsletter and by “liking” us on Facebook (Facebook.com/IrvingtonUFSD). As always, parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s education, remain in frequent contact with teachers and attend as many school functions as possible. We wish everyone a very successful 2013-14 school year! n

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Page 22A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

School Reports

Ardsley 2013-14: ‘excitement, renewal and revitalization’ By DR. LAUREN ALLAN Ardsley Schools Superintendent

or all of us, the start of the school year is a time of excitement, renewal and revitalization. It’s a time to reflect on the accomplishments of our children and our district and build plans for continued success and improvement. We have been busy getting ready to welcome our students on Sept. 3, and look forward to an exciting 2013-14 school year and reconnecting with our families. We have two main goals for this year. First is the continued alignment of our k-12 curriculum to the current Common Core Standards in all subjects. We are anticipating final new standards documents from New York State in social studies and science and curriculum leaders and teachers will analyze the new requirements and make any necessary adjustments to our courses of study. Our second goal is to finalize our three-year strategic plan and create a districtwide roadmap designed to meet the changing needs of our students. Working with the staff and the Strate-

gic Planning Committee, each school will develop strategic objectives and goals with measurable results. The plan will not only focus on long-term goals regarding curriculum and course offerings, but also on facilities and grounds, fiscal management, community relationships and professional staff development. We look forward to sharing this ongoing work with the community. With a focus on 21st century readiness and the feedback we received on educational priorities from over 1,200 parents, students and faculty members through the Strategic Planning survey, we are happy to announce the following new offerings. At the high school we continue our focus on research skills with 18 highly motivated 10th-graders enrolled in a new three-year science research program. In year one, our students will learn about research methods, choose a topic of personal interest, identify and work with a mentor and develop a research proposal. They will then spend two years doing research, applying knowledge and critical thinking skills to solve problems, and writing a final research paper in their senior year. In addition,

the Global Perspectives and Research curriculum that is offered through Cambridge University will enter its third year — a program only offered in four other schools in Westchester. Changes in schedule and new classes at the middle school have been designed to address student development, enrich the current curriculum and maximize student-teacher collaboration. Most notable are the addition of For Leadership, Innovation & Problem-solving (FLIP) seminars which include academic extensions in ELA, math, science and social studies as well as redesigned physical education, health and other nonacademic classes. Class periods will be extended with each period lasting 43 minutes and there will be more time for students to meet individually or in groups with their teachers for added support. All the changes are designed to further connect our curriculum to the school’s vision for tenacity, resilience, empathy, curiosity, communication, innovation and the joy of learning. Similarly, nurturing creativity, encouraging perseverance and inspiring motivation to learn are the driving forces behind Concord Road’s plans for the

2013-14 school year. As we continue to implement the Common Core Standards, students will delve more deeply into fractions at all grade levels. They will also expand their thinking and questioning skills, encouraging the development of even higher order mathematical processes. In the area of English Language Arts there will be an added focus on persuasive writing at the primary level. This extends work currently being done in upper elementary and secondary English Language Arts classrooms. In addition, to enhance specific learning experiences, we have purchased another cart of iPads that will be used at both the middle school and Concord Road and installed a new Mac lab at the middle school. At the high school, the video production facility has been enhanced with the donation of five studio cameras and monitors and a new advanced video production course has been added to the syllabus. Many thanks to the generous support of the community in making advanced technologies available to our students. We are welcoming many new faces continued on the next page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 23A continued from the previous page

this school year. Thus far, 123 new kindergartners will join our district and begin their school careers in Ardsley. An additional 25 students will be joining our learning community, 13 at Concord Road, seven at the middle school and five at the high school. We also welcome 11 new staff members. At Concord Road part-time art teacher Alana Devito; school psychologist Adam Welsh; reading specialist Ellen Borenstein; speech and language teacher Jaclyn Grigoli; special education teachers Deborah Ostreich; and two classroom teachers, Laura Kilgallon and Deborah Keane. In addition, we are looking forward to introducing a second special education teachers to the Concord Road community in the near future. At the middle school, English teacher Doug Weitz will be joining our staff and at the high school we welcome two new social studies teachers, Christopher Di Gregorio and Danielle Reinert. Please join us in welcoming all our new staff members at the board of education meeting on Sept. 10, at the high school at 7 p.m. We are always looking to improve communications with our parents and community. We will continue “Sharing Successes” and time sensitive updates through eBlasts. If you have not done so, please log onto our website, www.ardsleyschools.org, to access K12 Alerts, our emergency notification system. Select the “Parents” tab and then the “K12 Alerts Emergency Notification System.”

By completing and/or updating this information, you will receive all eBlasts regarding emergency closings and/or delayed openings, school news, community events, etc. This year we are launching a new district website which has been redesigned to be more informative, easier to use and an effective “go to” place for information. Last year we introduced a quarterly districtwide electronic newsletter, The Scoop, and will continue that throughout this school year. In addition, we will be sharing information through social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. Board of education meetings will continue to be held Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. and are open to the community. Every month we discuss a specific aspect of the curriculum or new initiative within the district. We will continue to make the agendas available to the community in advance so that parents may attend meetings of particular interest. The meetings will continue to be broadcast on Cable TV for those not able to attend in person. You can also stay informed by reviewing the minutes, which are always posted on our website. Our first meeting of the school year will be held on Sept. 10. The first day of school is less than two weeks away and we eagerly await the return of our students with excited anticipation. As we look forward to reconnecting with the community, we also hope everyone enjoys the last few hazy, lazy days of summer and the extra time with your children. n

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Page 24A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

ArdsleyCares: 5 years of making a difference

rdsleyCares Day will celebrate five years of community service with a growing slate of activities scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 26. This day of giving coincides with National Make a Difference Day, the nation’s largest day of community service. ArdsleyCares Day began as a partnership between the Ardsley PTA and Ardsley schools to create hands-on volunteering opportunities for Ardsley families. Since its first year, ArdsleyCares Day has doubled its number of participants and quadrupled the number of activities benefiting a broad range of organizations. This year, nearly 700 community members — including kids from preschool to high school — are expected to join 20 countywide activities. In addition to new projects added last year, such as Tea Time with senior members of the community and Habitat for Humanity with our high school students, this year will see a brand new program donating a wide range of sporting goods to children in need. The new event, Sporting Goods for Good, will collect and recycle gently used sports gear and bicycles to be delivered to surrounding underserved communities. Continuing favorites will include Meals for the Homeless, a visit to the Andrus Senior Center, a Halloween Party for homeless kids at the Coachman Shelter in White Plains and improvement projects at Concord Road Elementary School, Ardsley Middle School and the PEAK youth center

in Mount Vernon. “We are thrilled to celebrate five years of giving in Ardsley,” said Anju Kurian, co-chairman of the 2013 Ardsley Cares committee. “It is a testament to the values of our community and the desire to give back to those who are underserved in and around Westchester.” Among the other events ArdsleyCares has created to generate awareness for the cause and to give the public the opportunity to give back throughout the year is a communitywide book swap in the spring to fund local literacy scholarships. Another year-round service opportunity has been arranged with the Sharing Community in Yonkers, where families serve meals to the homeless. ArdsleyCares has also partnered with the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla, so Ardsley families can cook on a monthly basis for families of children being treated at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla. “Cooking for the families at the Ronald McDonald House was an experience our family will never forget,” said Rachel Whitehead, Ardsley mom and Ronald McDonald House volunteer. “It planted a deep seed in our hearts about what it means to help those less fortunate, and hopefully inspired a lifetime of giving for our children.” Here is a sampling of what the community has accomplished since ACD began in 2009: • Over 2,000 volunteers

• 362 contractor bags of children’s clothes have been donated through the clothing drive • 1,800 bag lunches have been donated, prepared and delivered with loving care to the homeless • 15,000 pounds of food have been sorted and stacked at the Food Bank for Westchester • 93 bags of village trash have been collected • 350 flowers have been planted throughout Ardsley • 180 home-cooked meals have been made for families at the Ronald McDonald House. “We could not make this happen without our partners in the community,” said Linda Weber, co-chairman of the ArdsleyCares committee. “Everyone from the parents who run our events to the teachers and administrators in the schools to the organizations we serve to community partners like our friends at Home Depot, DeCicco’s and the Ardsley Congress of Teachers, who provided essential supplies and worked hand-in-hand beside us, make this event happen.” 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. n

Ardsley PTA:

Another great year together

s we look back on another wonderful year, the Ardsley PTA thanks the community for its generosity and support. Thanks to this support, the PTA is able to provide those “extras” — in the classrooms, in the auditoriums and in our community — that help make this school district truly remarkable.

Elementary school: cultural arts The PTA gives large cultural arts grants to let the Concord Road Elementary School teachers and administrators provide enrichment programs. These include schoolwide assemblies, grade-level initiatives and curriculum enrichment to educate students, while helping build a strong CRS community. Programs such as “Bash The Trash,” “Around The World,” “Trio of International Workshops” and “Colonial Man” brought in experts, artists and acclaimed authors with presentations that ranged from music and stories from around the world to hands-on workshops. Spotlight on 3-D Geography: A PTA/Ardsley Education Foundation grant enabled Concord Road to create terrain models to enhance students’ geography study. Instead of teaching geography through continued on the next page

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 25A continued from the previous page

definitions and pictures, CRS now has 3D models to help students touch and explore geographical concepts.

A N lo r E c ds W A l ti Ey o N

Middle school: trying new ideas By the time students get to middle school, there is a focus on smaller workshops and seminars, and a “deeper dive” into skills such as writing and research and into topics from the historical and academic to the social and moral. PTA grants give Ardsley Middle School teachers and administrators the flexibility to try new ideas and formats, with both grade specific and schoolwide applications. This year’s programs exposed AMS students to speakers covering topics from art and culture to the moral challenges they face in school and those we face as a society. The PTA was also proud to support the Principals’ Book Clubs, programs modeled after adult book groups that continued to generate excitement in each grade for good books and the pure pleasure of reading. PTA grants purchased books for each grade — “Every Day,” “Super,” “Unwind” and “Wonder,” as well as pizza lunches to share views on the characters and stories. Spotlight on Project Adventure: At the request of the physical education teachers and the AMS administrators, a PTA grant funded the expansion of the team-building Project Adventure equipment for use by all gym classes and Ardsley Day Camp. They added components to the indoor challenge course, including the multiswing, the centipede, the firecracker ladder and the prusik climb.

High school: providing the extras From teachers’ grants to seminar field trips to a schoolwide wellness fair, the PTA works to provide the extras that enrich the experience of students at Ardsley High School and give them the technology, skills and healthy framework to enter the world. The PTA welcomes AHS teachers’ requests for grants, which this year included materials for the Science Olympiad team to compete in regional and state competitions, new videos and programs for the health department and a new leveled library for the Latin classes. And every June, the PTA gives $8,000 in scholarships to acknowledge the impressive contributions of graduating seniors, ranging from academics to sports to community leadership. Spotlight on iPad Cart: iPad carts, from PTA/AEF, provide flexible access to technology with a set of iPad tablets that move on a mobile cart from classroom to classroom. The AHS cart has given students immediate and continuous access to a rich variety of educational content. Ardsley PTA: 2013-14 goals

Anything and everything to enrich education, support teachers and schools, and maintain the Ardsley school district’s well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and community spirit. A special thank you to the many volunteers for their hard work and sincere appreciation to the Rivertowns community for its partnership. n

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Page 26A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Dobbs Ferry continued from page

14A

in architecture, engineering, geology, sports management and sustainable futures, just to name a few. In addition, Dobbs Ferry and the Ardsley School District have partnered with Mercy College to offer computer programming for our high school students. This will consist of blended coursework with students attending classes both at Mercy College and in their own schools. It is the first time that the two schools are partnering together with the college to offer a new course. Students from both districts worked directly with the Mercy College professors to develop the content for the computer programming course. Students in the high school will be able to select from a new journalism elective and a financial literacy elective this year. The IB Math program is also expanding with the addition of the rigorous IB Math HL course. The science research program continues to grow as enrollment in this three-year course of study has tripled over the last two years. This is following last year’s impressive showing at local, national and international science fairs. Dobbs Ferry had an Intel semi-finalist, a WESEF finalist and a student representative at the ISEF competition. For freshmen, the high school is increasing higher level course offerings including honors geometry and honors

global studies in an effort to prepare more students for the challenging IB courses in grade 11. After more than doubling the number of IB diploma recipients in 2013, the high school expects one-third of this year’s senior class to graduate with the full IB diploma. The middle school begins phase two of the mathematics pilot program this fall, which will now encompass grades 6-8. Last year the middle school went through an extensive vetting process to identify a math program aligned with the Common Core and New York State learning standards. The result yielded the Glencoe Math Program, which a number of other districts are presently piloting or have already adopted. Glencoe nicely linked with Primary Math at Springhurst and also clearly articulated the Common Core requirements. The full implementation of the program also includes complete online access to textbooks and support materials, as well as extensive professional development training for teachers. In the spring, the middle school will analyze and review the merits of the math program and decide whether to adopt Glencoe or continue the search. On the facilities front, in addition to the new Commons, additional lockers have been added to accommodate student population growth in the middle school so that each grade’s lockers can be grouped in the same area of the school building. At Springhurst, there are a number of new developments for next year. The

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wonderful Building Bridges: Celebrating Differences program, which was piloted last year in two grades, will now include all grades. Building Bridges is a hands-on experience for students resulting in greater awareness, sensitivity and understanding of a variety of physical and learning disabilities. The reading curriculum has been enhanced and improved with “Fundations” being rolled out in kindergarten and first grade for September. Fundations is a research-based, multisensory approach to learning phonics and how words work. “Wordly Wise” and “Grammar Workshop” are additions to support literacy in the upper elementary grades. The district has added a cart with 25 MacBooks as a “creation station” for use by students, as well as an additional cart with 25 iPads. This cart will be in addition to the two iPad carts already being used in grades 1 and 3. Across the district in the area of technology, the email system has been switched over to gmail to allow greater functionality and capacity, especially as teachers and students increase their proficiency with the use of Google Drive as part of teaching and learning. In an effort to continue to move toward 1:1 computing for all students, the district is considering a Chromebook pilot for students in grades 7 and 9. Chromebooks have already been purchased in anticipation of the state-mandated PARCC assessments scheduled for 2014. Allowing students to use these

devices this year will enable the district to monitor student use and collect data on the effectiveness of this technology in the classroom. The district is also in the process of redesigning the individual school websites for a fresh, new streamlined look that will be more userfriendly. Last year the district revamped the district’s homepage and navigation and also created Facebook pages for both the district and high school. In an effort to continue to enhance safety and implement security upgrades across the district, “pass-through” windows are being installed at both the middle school and Springhurst entrances. These windows will allow for visitors to pass identification and materials through an opening in a window prior to gaining access to the buildings. As part of a personnel realignment, security personnel will be on site to monitor the doorways and hallways at the middle school and high school campuses. Beginning in September there will be a significant change to the schedule for all teachers and students. In order to allow teachers to continue the important curriculum work needed to realign teaching and learning to the Common Core Learning Standards, students will be dismissed one hour earlier every Wednesday throughout the school year. In addition to the necessary curriculum work, teachers will also use this time to meet in grade level teams, professional learning communities and to pursue other professional development opcontinued on the next page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 27A

Dobbs Ferry

Education foundation aids Ardsley schools

continued from the previous page

portunities. To learn more about what teachers do on early dismissal days you can access my blog “21st Century Link” at www.dfsd.org and click on the quicklink for “Points of View.” This change reflects and supports the district’s ongoing commitment to improve the quality of instruction in our classrooms. Finally, the district is pleased to begin the 2013-14 school year with a new vision statement, mission statement and three-year strategic plan in place. The Strategic Planning Committee, made up of parents, teachers, students and administrators, worked diligently over the last year to identify and articulate the community’s core educational philosophy, and lay out an instructive “road map” for our students and teachers to follow. The areas of focus include instruction, curriculum, technology, high performing workforce and partnerships. The district is currently putting together specific action plans for each of these key categories. Our Dobbs Ferry schools’ values are reflected in the vision statement “Independent thinkers prepared to change the world.” While the mission statement encompasses the attributes of 21st century learners… “The Dobbs Ferry School District strives to develop independent, curious and open-minded learners who think critically, work collaboratively and are knowledgeable about the world around them.” n

Forgotten

lunch?

The Ardsley Education Foundation (AEF) works to fund projects that enrich Ardsley students’ lives and which may be outside the traditional scope of the schools budget, especially in tough economic years. AEF is working closely with school administrators and PTA to identify and fulfill funding requests in all three Ardsley schools. These requests have been reviewed by the administration to ensure that they align with the district initiatives, especially in the technology arena. AEF continues to focus on innovation and technology moving into the 2013-14 school year. Encouraging everyone to think outside the box raises new and exciting ideas to enrich the educational experience. Working with the principals of each school and the technology specialist, AEF continues to support the expansion of technology as well as its integration into our educational system. We are excited about these new enhancements and the vast potential educational opportunities. AEF has recently funded technology purchases including new Smart Boards, Kindles, Kindle Library, document cameras, scanners and imaging equipment, digital voice record-

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At Ardsley Middle Schoo, The Kindles and Kindle library have excited students about reading. ers and sound systems. Additionally, at Concord Road, AEF has funded a Geography Terrain Project, where students can learn about the features of the earth with a 3D model. The Living Wall and Garden, installed at the end of the 2011-12 school year, with a grant secured by the AEF and funded by the Carvel Foundation, continues to teach the children about healthy eating habits and how to bring sustainable living into current life, minimizing carbon footprint. At Ardsley Middle School, the Kindles and Kindle library have excited students about reading and have increased their vocabulary — with the point-and-click word definitions right at their fingertips. At Ardsley High School, the arrival of an iPad cart and educational applications (purchased

jointly with the PTA) have inspired students in all different subjects to learn with excitement. AEF believes that supplementing technology in the district will keep students engaged and ultimately have them be ready to face the challenges of today’s world. AEF is enthusiastic about the fundraising efforts and events in place for the coming school year. The foundation plans to host a fall fundraiser, and — mark your calendars — the annual Auction and Gala will be April 26, 2014, at The Coliseum in White Plains. This event can be supported through participation, donations or sponsorships. 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. AEF 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 visit www.ardsleyeducationfoundation.org. n

Page 28a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

Beacon

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The Spire School recognizes that all students can leverage their strengths to enhance their own lives. Students in grades 6-12 receive an individualized education that is integrated with a health and wellness curriculum. At Spire, students come to realize their academic potential and develop skills to overcome social and emotional difficulties. Our accredited, co-ed school emphasizes self-care through effective coping skills, exercise, nutrition and academic empowerment.

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Back to School – FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | Page 29a

Back-to-School Fashion

now or (a little) later, IT’S TIME TO SHop! By MARy LEGRAND

coNtiNuED oN pAGE

o glasses... time contacts... o surgery.

Taylor is wearing an MM Couture top and Tractor black pants; Madison a BB Dakota top, BB Dakota leather jacket and black Lysse leggings; Hannah a Freeway apparel top, Tractor high-waisted denim pants, and a wrap bracelet by Indigo Chic in Hartsdale.

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JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

ike the lunchtime staple peanut butter and jelly, “back to school” and “fashion” go together perfectly. and now that the 2013-14 scholastic year is just a week or two away depending on your district’s calendar, it’s time for students of all ages to check out their closets and bureau drawers to make sure everything’s in order for that big first day. But, truth be told, it could be a tad bit difficult to think about clothes for school when mid- to late-august weather is often warm — even hot — and children may prefer to spend each and every day in swimsuits, tank tops and flip-flops. Kathleen Luparello, owner of the Preppy Turtle in Bedford hills, a consignment boutique that serves the needs of growing families and stocks items sizing from newborn to women’s and men’s large — with adult sizes appealing to teens — said her shop typically does not see back-to-school shopping until late august. “however, i have noticed that over the past few years many parents wait until the end of september when cooler temperatures prevail and they are better able to gauge growth spurts,” Luparello said.

Page 30a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

Back-to-School Fashion

IT’S TIME To SHop!

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

2 JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

coNtiNuED fRoM pAGE

COURTESY OF LESTER’S

29A

in spite of that, Luparello said she is already seeing customers “snagging every denim jacket that comes into the store. as a consignment shop we receive a wide variety of washes and styles, so toddlers, tweens and teens can find a jacket that is most appropriate for their age and personality.” The bonus, according to Luparello, is that denims purchased at the Preppy Turtle are “already washed, worn and comfy. denim jackets look great over dresses or paired with fun colored jeans.” of course students come in more than just the female form. “The Preppy Turtle is a great resource for jeans for guys and girls alike,” Luparello said. “if your school doesn’t require a uniform, then jeans are probably your uniform. we take in all the best designer and mall brands and don’t sell the ‘over-ripped’ style, so parents can walk out with jeans that look neat and meet dress codes.” For students who do wear a uniform, the Preppy Turtle stocks khaki pants, solid polo shirts and navy blazers. Luparello said she hasn’t seen much yet in the way of customers looking for specific colors, but

she has seen “more of a trend toward solids, rather than patterns. solids are very versatile — easy to mix and match. we sell a lot of scarves and accessories to add personality without the price commitment.” she also said that cardigan sweaters are popular because they help with “transitional weather” and add polish to a basic tee or tank. gaynor scott and sydney schwab of Boo girls, formerly a bricks-andmortar shop in Katonah and now an online retailer at boogirlshop. com, said parents of younger girls will typically start looking for their daughters’ school clothes when kids come back from camp, which is late august. older girls, they said, often will wait until the first day of school to see which fashion trends are the most popular among their peers. “once they have an idea they will shop,” scott said. “it is also still so hot during the first few weeks of school that the girls aren’t shopping for their fall wardrobe yet.” and perhaps more importantly, “customers have different habits now,” schwab acknowledged. “They enjoy shopping all year long instead of two big shopping trips for spring and fall. Fashion changes at a fast pace, and girls like to stay on top of each emerging trend.” Boogirlshop.com carries clothing that is “school appropriate except for the dressier items,” scott said. “we are seeing a lot of trends this fall; to name a few there are graphic tees, printed leggings, vegan leather jackets, stretched denim with vegan leather inserts, sweaters and fit-and-flare skirts.” when asked if comfort is more popular with kids than style, Schwab said it is “definitely a combination of both. Clothing designers, who have a huge variety of fabrics to choose from, create clothing with attention to the feel of each item. so the clothing offered to our customers is already a mixture of style and comfort.”

Back to School – FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | Page 31a

8 JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

From Neil’s, with stores in Scarsdale

1 and Mount Kisco, Will is wearing a

LeBron James Nike tee and Adidas pants; Mia a Kiddo British flag tee and SoLow bootleg leggings; Jared a Retro brand Cornell tee, a Quicksilver flannel shirt and Volcom jeans. Alyssa is wearing a Jacaranda lace

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

2 dress and Go Max patent pumps at Yogi’s Paw unique Clothing Boutique, with locations in Mount Kisco and Mamaroneck. A stylish pair dressed by Lester’s in

3 Rye: Chris sports Joe’s Jeans plaid

long sleeve woven shirt, Lucy folk rock tee and Seven For All Mankind rhigby jeans, while Lucy’s look consists of Blank NYC vegan leather motorcycle jacket, Blank NYC plaid shirt, Blank NYC denim/vegan leather jeans and Steve Madden ‘Melody’ wedge sneaker.

5 COURTESY OF LESTER’S

Ali goes with the 525 America cable

4 boyfriend sweater, Joe’s Jeans skinny

with target customers ranging in age from 13-25, scott said she is seeing a “nice amount” of color this fall, including eggplant, red, lavender, ivory and cobalt blue “for pops of color,” along with metallics and, of course, black. Lauren dunn is district manager with denny’s Childrenswear in scarsdale, with other locations across Long island, new Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. dunn said parents typically begin purchasing school clothes for their children in august. This year, she said, there is a lot of camouflage “for both boys and girls,” along with neon trims on other fabrics. “For girls, pleather and prints are big,” dunn said enthusiastically, noting that “colorful prints for girls leggings” are popular as well. denny’s, which stocks clothing and accessories for girls and boys of all ages, also stocks backpacks, lunch bags, messenger bags and totes. “There are various prints for girls and boys along with ProTeam merchandise,” dunn said. “we also sell supplies to decorate lockers and novelty items like charms for pencils.” elaine andriotis, owner of

COURTESY OF LESTER’S

ankle ripped jeans and Echo chunky rib newsboy hat outfit available in Rye at Lester’s. The little darling and bigger darling

5 are dressed in clothing from So Nikki,

JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

Beginnings in scarsdale and Beginnings Bleus in armonk, said parents start getting their children ready for the school year “as soon as kids get home from camp.” andriotis said her stores stock “a huge selection of premium denim” appropriate for students to wear to school, including “skinny jeans and coated denim,” along with leather, camouflage and the biker look. For girls, “wedged sneakers are very popular. we have brand-new arrivals of ash sneakers in both our locations,” she said. when asked if comfort has become more popular with students than style, or whether it’s a combination of both that appeals the most, andriotis said, “now that we carry men’s items in our armonk location, we find that guys tend to look at comfort first, then style. Girls look more at style, then comfort.” This year’s favorite back-to-school colors and fabrics include “denim with denim [denim tops with denim bottoms],” an-

driotis said. “olive and wine are among the favorite fall colors, and army colors are also very popular, along with the motorcycle [biker] look.” andriotis’s shops are for “mother/daughter, father/son from teenager and up,” she said. “we have clothing for everyone.” in addition, there are basic polo shirts for boys and men from vince, splendid and velvet, usable for students who attend independent schools. “For girls, we have basic white button-downs from vince and Theory,” andriotis said. so it seems as though, no matter when and where students and their parents start looking for back-to-school clothes and accessories, there are plenty of sources and lots of advice available at shops throughout the area. now all the kids will need to do is wake up early enough on school-day mornings to get dressed and out the door in time for class. it’s the time of year where you want to be fashionably on time. n

available at Lester’s in Rye. On the left you have a pleather sleeve denim jacket, camp heart hi lo tee and pleather insert legging while on the right is an outfit of a vegan leather vest, camo long sleeve shirt and distressed jeans. F rom Indigo Chic in Hartsdale, Han-

6 nah is wearing a Nalley and Milley

sweater, Evleo leggings and jewelry by Indigo Chic; Madison a Joie top, Evleo leggings and a necklace by Indigo Chic; Taylor a Luxe junkie T-shirt, Joe’s camouflage jeans and jewelry by Indigo Chic. Mia is wearing a So Nikki tee, Tractor

7 Jeans, a North Face hat and a North

Face backpack; Will a Miami Dolphins jersey, Adidas pants and an under Armour backpack; Jared a Nike sweatshirt, Adidas fleece sweatpants and a Volcom backpack, available at Neil’s, with stores in Scarsdale and Mount Kisco. At Yogi’s Paw unique Clothing Bou-

8 tique, with locations in Mount Kisco and Mamaroneck, Alyssa is wearing a Pinc zipper accent skater skirt with a Better Be open-backed striped top

Page 32A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School continued from page

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children in every step of the food choice process. “Parental control with eating can backfire, so I suggest that parents and kids work together and build a solid plan,” she said. “I think it is important that the kids be involved in preparation, shopping and learning themselves about proper nutrition.” Arpino, the author of the lifestyle guide “Eat Fit, Be Fit: Health and Weight Management Solutions,” believes parents should cater their approach to good nutritional parameters based on a child’s age and other individual factors: “I think it really depends on age, but in general I say parental control, no, but setting healthy boundaries, yes!” Leon, who has written many professional articles on nutrition and is a frequent speaker on topics such as eating disorder prevention and childhood weight issues, concurs. “No matter how old your child is, there is a division of responsibility with eating that should be respected,” she explained. “Parents and/or caregivers are responsible for providing regular and structured meals and snacks to meet kids’ and teens’ basic nutritional needs. Children, however, are responsible for deciding what and how much they will eat. When parents try to control kids’ food intake, power struggles around food inevitably occur. This can set the stage for eating problems later on.” Leon, like the other experts, encourages parents to set reasonable boundaries with their children about food. “This means

early on having a reasonable structure for meals and not being a short-order cook for every different family member,” she said. “With kids’ input, plan meals that everyone can enjoy and perhaps offer one simple alternative such as cereal and milk or a nut-butter sandwich occasionally. Also teach your children that the kitchen is closed between meals and snacks, and pay attention to times of extra hunger, such as growth spurts or high athletic participation where your child might need several snacks between meals.” Healthy dialogue is also essential for nutritional health, according to the area experts. “Strive for open communication with your kids and teens about healthy eating,” Leon said. “Be a good role model, which may entail reflecting on your own nutrition and exercise habits and seeking help for yourself, if needed.”

Arpino, founder and CEO of Linda Arpino & Associates Inc. and the Life Focus Nutrition Centers serving clients throughout Westchester and Connecticut, echoed that point. “Parents need to be good examples themselves,” she said. “Have foods available in the house that are nutrient dense and limit the ‘junk food, high fat, high sugar’ that can often replace more nutrient-dense foods. Also, make cooking fun and involve your child. Eat meals together as much as possible.” Schoen urges parents to make sure healthy eating remains a healthy topic to discuss, rather than create a struggle about it with your kids. “Don’t add additional food stress to your child,” said Schoen, who holds a master’s in clinical nutrition from New York Medical College, is certified by the American College of Nutrition and is licensed by New York State. “Shop well, have your home be a food sanctuary with good nutritional choices and please take a deep breath and remember school, friends and activities are stressful enough to your children, so don’t make food a source of contention.” Arpino believes parents should consider how they use food, both themselves and with their kids. “A relaxed, but healthy eating environment is key,” said Arpino. “Parents should never force feed children foods they think they have to eat, or reward their kids with food.” Avoid the possibility of linking certain foods or eating choices with “bad” behavior or guilt, Leon pointed out, and instead focus on the positive when it comes to healthy choices. “Parents need to create a healthy, but not depriving food environ-

ment for their children,” she explained. “This means bringing mostly healthy foods into the home, creating structure around meals and snacks, but allowing for the inclusion of ‘fun’ foods. Dieting is the worst way to lose weight. Forget low carb or high protein, or no dairy rules. Make sensible choices that you and your children can live with forever. Labeling foods as good or bad places tremendous guilt and blame on children.” Leon, who will be expanding her practice and adding a White Plains office this fall, said she believes there are some guidelines to help your child develop good eating habits for a lifetime. “One is to teach your children early on about listening to their bodies and recognizing hunger and fullness,” Leon said. “For example, if your child is constantly snacking, explore with them whether they are actually hungry, or if they are feeling something else such as boredom, perhaps thirst or even being tired. See if their previous meal left them feeling satisfied.” Another might sound simple, but it’s the foundation for healthy eating and lifestyle. “Teach your children the basics of a healthy diet,” Leon said. “Parents are important role models for their children when it comes to eating and activity. Take stock of your own dietary habits and practice what you preach. Make sure your own diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy carbohydrates. Although our lives are filled with work, homework, after-school activities and more, try to find time for family continued on page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 33A

GREENBURGH UNITED SOCCER CLUB

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Page 34A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Nutrition continued from page

32A

meals. This is the time that children try new foods, connect with families about their day, and generally eat a higher quality diet. Teens in particular eat healthier — having more fruits, vegetables and calcium-containing foods — when they eat with the family. Studies also show that teens engage in less risk-taking behavior when they have regular contact with parents through family meals.” Parents, and sometimes their kids, often grapple with the decision between bringing in a homemade lunch or eating what’s offered in the school cafeteria. There also, it comes down to making healthy choices. “The choices in cafeterias may not be as nutritionally beneficial for a young child who has to make that selection,” Arpino pointed out. “And even older children may opt for less nutrient-dense foods.” “Even if a child brings their own healthy lunch, vending machines and bake sales in schools often compete with healthy choices,” Leon said. Schoen and the others said that parents should take an active role in the nutritional offering in their child’s school. “It would be great for parents to be involved with school food programs and learn what the kids are eating, as well as to guide your child to make good choices with the options available,” Schoen said. “Parents might also be able to help change those options to healthier choices.” Leon said, “Parents can have a bigger

impact on foods and snacks available in schools than they think. Public schools that receive federal funding for school lunch programs are required to have a nutrition committee comprised of parents, teachers, administrators and the school food service director. Parents can choose to be a part of or reach out to members of these committees with suggestions for improvement.” The most important meal?

It’s often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but most parents are well aware what a challenge eating a healthy morning meal can be in the mad rush to school and work. “Starting the day with breakfast is very important for fueling the brain and body, and keeping our weight stable,” Leon said. “If you are constantly rushed in the morning, prepare the night before or try to get up a little earlier. Hard-boiled eggs, nut butters and yogurt are all good and quick sources of protein. Healthy carbohydrates can include whole grain bread or cereal, and a piece of fruit. Examples of quick breakfasts include a peanut butter sandwich, banana and a glass of milk, or a hard-boiled egg, toast and yogurt, or lowsugar cereal and milk with fruit or perhaps a cheese stick, whole grain crackers and juice. With my own teens, it’s often been a meal replacement bar with a glass of milk or yogurt.” Arpino said a little planning can go a long way with breakfast, and suggests that everyone just slow down instead of rushing out the door. “Pick simple meals that your child likes and focus on teaching them time

management and the importance of eating sitting down,” she said. “Planning ahead is also important. The Dairy Council suggests the Grab and Go to encourage eating breakfast, but I disagree with grab and go concepts because we are not teaching our children the importance of down time and how that affects the body.” Snack attack With school-age kids especially, it’s not just what they eat at mealtime, but at snack time. The nutrition gurus again encourage some thoughtful planning to make for healthier snacking. “Snacks are very important for children at all stages of growth and development and help prevent overeating at meals,” Leon said. “The best snacks provide a balance of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats, and should be considered ‘minimeals.’ Snacks should match the hunger and activity levels of kids, however, so if your student-athlete is staying for practice, a portable snack such as nuts and dried fruit or an energy bar would be a good option. At home, afternoon snacks might include cheese and crackers, vegetables and hummus, fruit and yogurt, whole grain chips, salsa and cheese. Help children learn portion control and self-regulation by putting items into bowls rather than eating out of the bag, turning off the television during meals and snacks, and eating in one designated spot.” According to Arpino, snack choices might differ depending on the timing of meals and many other factors. She suggests fresh fruit and vegetables and lower

sugar/lower fat foods in small portions as health-smart choices. But, she also said to be cautious about some prepackaged snacks. “For some small children, 100-calorie snack packs may be too much and so are not recommended,” she said. Down the hatch There’s been a lot of talk lately about the nutritional impact of beverages, whether it’s the sugar or calories in juice, for people of all ages. The nutrition professionals stressed that what one drinks can be just as important as what one eats in terms of health. “The most nutritious beverages are water, skim and low fat milk, and small portions (between 4-6 ounces) of 100 percent fruit juice,” Leon said. “Calories from liquids are empty calories, meaning they supply low levels of nutrients and high amounts of sugar. These include coffee drinks, sports and energy drinks and nondiet sodas. Even healthy smoothies contain calories, so pay attention to portion sizes and consider them a snack choice.” Arpino said, “Water is the best, but parents might want to add their child’s favorite fruit for more flavor, or maybe make a smoothie with plain yogurt and fruit.” Need help? Parents might be unsure when it might be a good idea to consult with a nutritionist or dietitian for their child. Is that kind of professional help for kids with eating disorders, obesity, allergies/restrictions or is it right for every child? continued on the next page

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 35A continued from the previous page

“Any time a parent has a concern about their child’s growth and development, contacting their physician is an important first step,” Leon said. “The doctor can help determine if a problem exists and refer you to the appropriate health professional. Certain medical conditions will benefit from the assistance of a qualified dietitian/ nutritionist including allergies, diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure. “When parents contact me as a nutritionist, I will often ask for permission to speak with their physician. It is not wise to put a child on a diet, or to go on a diet as a family. Instead, talk about making healthier choices, learn to respect our body’s natural shape and encourage more physical activity. These are the best ways to achieve a healthy weight in the long run. Studies show that dieting often leads to the development of disordered eating, including bingeing and sneaking food as well as low self-esteem.” Arpino added, “Everyone can benefit from a consult with a registered nutritionist or dietitian. If your child’s cholesterol is high, if your child is overweight, if your child has a developmental delay, neurological issues including autism or Down syndrome, or has attention problems, is an athlete, a vegetarian, a picky eater, has restrictive eating behaviors, is preoccupied with body image or has a food allergy or sensitivity, I’d recommend consulting with a professional.” Leon and the other experts said there is help available for parents and children,

whether it’s to eat healthier or to deal with a serious nutrition-related problem. “Eating disorders are on the rise in our weightfocused society and families are seeking treatment for children at younger ages than ever before,” Leon said. “Be on the lookout for signs of eating disorders, such as skipping meals, talking about weight loss and diets and general body dissatisfaction. Inquire why your teen suddenly chose to become a vegetarian. Males are not immune to eating disorders either. Do not be afraid of seeking the assistance of a mental health professional as well if you are concerned about any sudden changes in eating behavior.” With the seemingly ever-changing guidelines and advice and the abundance of nutrition information available on the Internet and elsewhere, parents and kids can easily become overwhelmed with information overload. “Parents and children are definitely overwhelmed by the conflicting messages they hear in the media,” Leon said. “Last year’s South Beach Diet is now overshadowed by quick fixes such as green tea extract and raspberry ketones. The bottom line is if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.” Arpino said that a professional can also help parents and children navigate through all the tips and “facts” that are out there regarding food and eating. “Finding a dietitian who is sensitive to the needs of a child and family as well as providing evidence-based research is key,” she said. n

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Page 36A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS Guide N Early Learning Ardsley Community Nursery

Creative Ways

Celebrating more than 50 years

Creative art as a guide for life

Ardsley Community Nursery School has been serving families from the local area for more than 50 years with a funloving environment run by caring staff and a strong enrichment program consisting of music, dance and movement, nature study and Spanish. The Ardsley Historical Society has written ACNS up as 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 until 5 p.m. Early drop-off is available for working parents. Programs for kids 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 follow both the NYS and Common Core learning standards for preschool. ACNS is diaper-friendly. We also have the ability to include children with special needs. The school curriculum centers around integrated activities based on weekly themes that reflect the interest of our students, such as dinosaurs, outer space, the Wild West, circus, animals, oceans and farms. Fun days include our Halloween and spring carnivals, Valentine’s Day brunch for parents, Thanksgiving feast, holiday puppet show, beach day and Chinese New Year parade. All cultures are celebrated. 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

Starting its sixth year in the Rivertowns, Creative Ways is an “out of the box” studio art program for kids offering a series of exploratory art classes for children ages 5-9. Artist in residence Emily Gosweiler, a multimedia artist trained in the “art” of teaching art to kids, comes to the community with a constellation of inspiring ideas and methods. Beginning in the fall, classes in maskmaking, puppetry and a class in multimedia art will be offered at the South Presbyterian Church Hall in Dobbs Ferry. Creative art gives children the opportunity to expand their sense of self, take risks and gain confidence as they are challenged to produce something original and beautiful. Kids build problem-solving and compromising skills as they discover that in art, as in life, there’s usually more ways than one to solve a problem. Perhaps most importantly, making art helps children to express and define their individuality guiding them on a path that leads to a strong spirit and a happy heart. Gosweiler describes her classes as “a venue for children to express themselves through puppetry and mask making using paper, fabric, foam, clay and many mixed media. Our young artists will create a constellation of masks and puppets depicting people, animals and crazy creatures, some as tiny as our fingers and others as large as our chests. Along with the creation, our young artists will be encouraged to use their newly made art in imaginative collaborative play. Our multimedia classes are filled with multicultural art explorations using clay, wood, plaster, papier-mâché and found objects.” She added, “Our projects are process oriented and take a few weeks to complete. We introduce children to the basic skills of drawing and painting, too, introducing new materials and processes, encouraging our older children to experiment with technique.” Call (484) 802-7558. n

Fun time at Ardsley Community Nursery

Beginners Club

A place for families to rely on Irish Step? Yoga? Cooking? Woodworking? What a way to spend the after-school hours. The Beginners Club program offers an afternoon program rich with creativity, inspiration and socialization. Opening in 1998, The Beginners Club program has been helping working families with kindergarteners and first-graders with their after-school child care needs for over 15 years. Located in The First Reformed Church Fellowship Hall in Hastings-on-Hudson, The Beginners Club starts the school term each year — to the relief of working par-

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to view Testimonials and Register online. ALL Classes held at the James Harmon Recreation Center, Hastings. Serving the Rivertowns since 2006.

— x #%+—x=#%+—x=#%

Ardsley Community Nursery School

ents in the Rivertowns — by opening its doors at noon for the early kindergarten dismissal throughout the month of September. Director Mary Cahill and her staff of nurturing and care-giving teachers meet the district’s school bus each day with warm open arms, gathering the little ones and ushering them into the BC space, which is a delightful, open kindergarten/ first-grade roomlike environment. Afternoons are filled with woodworking, clay, cooking, music, dance and plenty of opportunity for creative dressup fantasy play. Recently added are Irish Step Dance classes. Over the years The Beginners Club has been a safe and welcome haven for families in search of a reliable and “just a little more than child care” resource. Beginners Club families can depend on someone from the BC to be available if their child becomes sick at school and needs a pickup, while waiting for mom or dad to get back into town from work — a truly unique and stress-reducing offering. As the summer ends and the school year begins, the community is certainly lucky to have this wonderful resource available to its families. For more information contact Cahill at 478-2334.

%#=x—+%#=x—+%# x —

and classroom pets, and hatching butterflies and chicks every spring. Our goal is for every child to feel good about themselves, make friends and love school. ACNS is located at 21 American Legion Drive in Ardsley. Children from all local areas are accepted. Call 693-4932, visit www.acns.us or visit Facebook. Call to obtain an application or arrange a visit.

+%#=x—+%#=x—+%#=x—+%#=x—+%#= x-

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 37A

BTS Guide N Early Learning Five Corners Nursery

Loving environment for 2s, 3s, pre-k Five Corners Nursery Program 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 the different areas of development, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social. Five Corners has an accredited music teacher and an accredited dance teacher who come twice a week. Five Corners, at 18 Farragut Ave. in Hastings-on-Hudson, offers 2s, 3s and pre-k programs. Your child will love this introduction to group play. This is a teacher-led introduction to an educational playgroup which will feature music and movement, story time, messy art and much more. The Tiny Steps 2s program runs two, three, four or five mornings per week. The 3s program offers two, three or five days. This program builds upon the Tiny Steps class, while incorporating new activities and adventures for the children as their character and individuality grow and mature. The pre-k group meets five days a week and is focused on each child and their own

developmental needs as they prepare for kindergarten. The Tiny Steps 2s, 3s and pre-k programs all encourage active, hands-on learning with a mixture of self-directed and teacher–directed activities. There are opportunities for children to explore and discover through various activities. In all programs the children are encouraged to experiment with different art media, participate in music and movement, enjoy children’s literature and story time, develop math and science skills while measuring, mixing and cooking in our professionally equipped kitchen, enjoy imaginative and dress-up play, develop independence through classroom centers and free choice time, and participate in active outdoor play on our state-of-the-art playground. Five Corners’s 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 selfconfidence 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. n

FULL TIME

7:30 am - 6:00 pm 18 MONTHS - 5 YEARS a progressive approach to childcare with a strong emphasis on each child as an individual in a caring, kind environment. director: Jennifer dawber serving the community since 1972 Licensed by NysoCFs open 12 months a year Non-denominational website: www.daysofwonderchildcare.com

343 Broadway, doBBs Ferry, Ny 10522 914-693-2980 • email: days_of_wonder@verizon.net Let’s face it, school can be difficult. Kids don’t need pain and symptoms making life even harder.

Now is the time to take control of their health so they can achieve the excellence they’re capable of. Schedule your appointment today!

The Beginners Club Join our unique, fun-filled After-School Program For Kindergartners and First Graders Creative Playtime, a Healthy Snack, and a Kaleidoscope of Enrichment Activities Creative Arts Games utdoor O & Woodworking & Clay r indoo Karate

Cookin g music & mov ement

September through June Open Daily 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Plus snow days, holidays & school closings by arrangement

“Just September” Kindergarten Only Why: Kindergarten days end at noon in September. If you need us to help... a short school bus ride will bring your child from Hillside to the First Reformed Church in Hastings. (we pickup Dobbs kids, too!). There they’ll enjoy the afternoon with a healthy snack and playful, enriching activities. Our cheerful space mirrors the Kindergarten experience for a smooth transition in your child’s day. When: September 2013

Hastings on Hudson Chiropractic and Wellness 603 Warburton Ave Hastings on Hudson

Dr. Caitlin Pietrosanto: 914-274-8530 www.hohchiro.net ~ cpietrodc@hohchiro.net

Time: 12-2:00 pm or stay on until 6:00 pm

For registration, call: 478-2334 Patti Otivich: 478-4122 or Judith Rotiroti: 478-0538 18 Farragut Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson

beginnersclubprogram@gmail.com

Page 38A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS Guide N Early Learning Rivertown Preschool Program

15 years and counting for area preschool The Rivertown Preschool Program in Hastings-on-Hudson is a full day (7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.) preschool program for children 2.9 months to 5 years old. You’ve just found the “nanny alternative.” Having celebrated its 15th anniversary last fall, The Rivertown Preschool at Grace Church has been a steady, dependable and consistently popular full day creative arts-based child care program serving hundreds of families over the years. Right at the 5 corners intersection of Broadway and Main Street, The Rivertown Preschool is a first step for many into the world of child care. Children spend their day dancing, painting, building with clay, doing gymnastics, practicing yoga and meditation, and beginning the basic tasks of learning. Director Pat Palfy has a steady, devoted and highly trained staff. Her more than 30 years’ experience with the preschool set and her expert, instinctive skills in helping little ones find their words, emotions and gifts make this program rich in meaning and value. For more information, contact Palfy at 478-6181.

Greenburgh Hebrew Center

Preschool serving Jewish community Living in the Rivertowns? Moving to the Rivertowns? Greenburgh Hebrew Center Early Childhood Center in Dobbs Ferry is the preschool for you.

Selecting an appropriate preschool is an important decision for any parent to make. Your child will benefit from being a member of the GHC ECC family for many reasons: your child will be nurtured, taught and valued by licensed, seasoned, skilled and caring teaching staff; the teachers follow a secular and Judaic play-based curriculum while engaging in constructivist practices that

will respond to your child’s natural curiosity of learning; the curriculum follows the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and benefits from membership to the Jewish Education Project as well as Project SEED, which is designed to support synagogue-based preschools via a mental health consultant with parents on topics of mutual interest; and GHC ECC has entered into a partnership with the Hudson River Museum where the 2s, 3s and 4s will receive differentiated instruction based on the museum’s permanent collection. Your child will arrive home after singing with their music teacher and their cantor; relaxing from yoga techniques taught by a yoga instructor; repeating stories enacted by their rabbi, as well as a plethora of other experiential school events. GHC ECC ends the day with afternoon enrichment of project-based learning through literacy, art, math, science, music and movement for 3s and 4s. Mommy and me classes offer preschool preparation while building relationships for both adults and children. Exciting things are happening at the Greenburgh Hebrew Center Early Childhood Center. Contact director Gloria Smith at 479-1421 or gloria@g-h-c.org to schedule a personalized tour. It will probably be your last stop in your search for the perfect Jewish preschool. n

Customized lessons for all ages and skill levels Classical, jazz, rock, pop

Don’t miss a beat ~ call us today!

Composition, songwriting, theory, ensembles Young children’s classes 80 accomplished, inspiring teachers Recital hall with digital recording equipment Mention or bring in this ad and receive a FREE lesson when you sign up for a full semester!* *Terms and conditions apply.

New students only.

216 Central Avenue White Plains, NY (914) 761-3900 musicconservatory.org info@Musiced.org

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 39A

continued from page

them to open up and grow emotionally,” Jospitre said. “It’s a rich forum for growth intellectually and emotionally that didn’t exist in this way before.” Hearn echoed that sentiment: “When new people come into the school, social media becomes a great way for them to get to know other students and become accepted into the community. I think, especially for the younger ones, they get to know each other better and in different ways.” Because Soundview’s students come from all over Westchester and beyond, it’s hard for those who are too young to drive to get together outside school — but nowadays, they can hop online and all their friends are there. “I think the kind of relationships they have with each other have changed because they’re in so much touch outside school,” Hearn said. Also, being hyper-connected makes it easier for kids to stay in touch with people they care about. “You’re forever connected to people you’re friends with,” Jospitre said. “Before, people would have gaps because they lost touch with people. No matter how distant you are, you have this virtual small town.” Meanwhile, at Soundview, Facebook has become a forum for alumni to stay in touch through the school’s page on the site. It’s alluring to stay in constant touch, so kids tend to spend more time on social media than perhaps the adults in their

lives would like. “We’ve gotten to the point where the teacher will be taking cell phones at the beginning of class,” Hearn said — in fact, that’s a new policy he plans to implement at the start of the coming school year, for all classes. At the beginning of class, students will be required to drop their cell phones into a box, and can pick them up at the end of class. The onslaught of communication may continue between classes, at free periods and outside of school, but this way it won’t distract students from what’s going on in class. “You can’t keep your child away from it, but you can teach them how to use it responsibly,” Jospitre said. “A parent should be present online, but do it in a way that’s trusting. If a parent is ‘liking’ everything their kid puts up, that’s too much. A healthy balance of being present tells the child, I trust you and am monitoring from the sideline, and I’m here if I see something that’s really problematic.” To counteract bullying and gossip that take place on social sites, communication with parents and school is key, said both Hearn and Jospitre. “We call the students in and confront the situation very honestly, and go from there in counseling them,” Hearn said. Jospitre said that with online bullying, he advocates taking “the same approach that would have been taken pre-social media” — teaching assertiveness, gathering emotional support from friends and family. But other pitfalls exist for kids using social media that weren’t there in the past. For instance, if you really would rather not stay in touch with everyone

you’ve ever met — say, you’d like to reinvent yourself or shed a bad reputation from an earlier time, as kids have always wanted to do as part of growing up — Facebook and other social media make it much harder to bury the past. To ease that problem, Jospitre recommends using the feature on Facebook that allows you to divide your friends into “groups” and filter certain groups out of certain posts, so that even if you are Facebook friends with someone who knew the old you, you don’t need to make them privy to details about your current life that might make you vulnerable in the present. “Substance abuse is a great example of when it’s critically important,” Jospitre said. “Peer groups will drive someone’s behavior, or help their recovery. It can be damaging if you don’t manage the virtual world.” Kids need to be smart about managing their reputations online. “People think things are private that aren’t private,” Hearn said. “We talk with our seniors about the fact that they have to be careful about what they’re posting.” Jospitre said he’s seen a lot of that type of regret among students graduating from college and starting their careers. “College is very internally facing, and then all of a sudden there’s this massive flip where social interactions are externally facing: Now I care about what the world thinks because I’m trying to find a job,” he said. “People start unfriending people, deleting images. There’s cleanup that goes on between college and postcollege. Your insight and perspective changes.” And potential employers will do online searches on job applicants, so

incriminating photos on Facebook can cost you a job. Then there’s the matter of whether you’re using social media in a way that’s healthy for you. Jospitre said you can tell a lot about how someone uses Facebook by how many friends they have. Someone with thousands of friends, he said, may be “driven by a narcissistic impulse — but too few friends means they’re having trouble connecting. Having a good number of friends with meaningful interactions, in there is the healthy zone.” However, he said, he couldn’t name a specific numerical range that is the “healthy zone” — it differs from person to person, depending on their life circumstances and what their relationship actually is with the people they count as “friends” on Facebook. For instance, a kid who’s moved around a lot and attended several different schools can have a circle of friends from each, increasing their friend count. And ultimately, social-media-fueled friendships should serve as supplements to real-life friendships, rather than substitutes for them. “If someone is ‘liking’ a thousand things, but not going out and doing anything,” Jospitre said, that may indicate an unhealthy relationship with social media, as can a situation in which someone reads their friends’ status updates and doesn’t interact, using the website as a way to fuel alienation and envy of other people’s lives. In other words, all this constant connection can be socially and emotionally beneficial for young people — as long as they learn to use it judiciously. n

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Page 40a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS guide

Parent Services

Many perks to having a personal assistant Lambent services, an agency that has been supplying part-time personal assistants to people needing help in their homes and home offices in New York City since 2006, has a branch in dobbs Ferry to serve Fairfield and Westchester counties. Lambent services was founded by Jill glist, a westchester resident who lives in Pelham Manor. For years, glist has been using personal assistants in her own home to help her with the running of her household with a husband and two children. “i realized there is a big need for a company like ours in Fairfield and Westchester counties,” glist said. she created her company so that personal assistants could be available to the average person. “They are not just for the rich and famous anymore,” glist said. “using a personal assistant once or twice a week can really help take up the slack in your personal life.” As a working mom, Glist finds that her time with a personal assistant (once a week) really helps her keep on top of things. “women have a huge amount of responsibility,” glist said. “even though we live in an era of equality of the sexes, the majority of the accountability for home still rests on women.”

Jill Glist of Lambent Services

Lambent services specializes in assistants who are an elite group of intelligent, motivated and personable individuals and who are graduates of some of the country’s best universities. They can be hired for as little as three hours. Many assistants on the roster work for Lambent services part time while they pursue other interests. This has allowed Lambent to attract very experienced assistants. “everyone needs some personal help, and the best person to get it from is someone who is efficient and intelligent,” glist said. “Most of our assistants are from highly competitive, top tier and sometimes ivy League schools, and are available to work part time because they have elected to follow a nontraditional career path.”

when placing assistants, Lambent services thoroughly assesses each potential client to ascertain what skills they will need in a personal assistant, what kind of personality they like to work with and their preferred work schedule. next, Lambent sends the client three dossiers of potential personal assistants. This gives the client an opportunity to choose which person they feel would work best for them. all assistants go through a rigorous interview process and a thorough background checked by Lambent services. shifts are typically four hours or more and can be a one-off session or ongoing. among the many things a Lambent personal assistant can do are: set up a home office; health insurance reconciliation; file medical claims; sort through boxes of paperwork, business cards or photographs; computer set-up and maintenance; Internet research; figure out a purging and filing system for documents; set up auto-pay billing; tax prep; bookkeeping; writing school and grant applications; composing letters; editing; organizing closets and kitchens; cleaning out a garage; set up a yard sale; decorating; party planning; running errands; booking flights; retrieving dry cleaning; buying groceries; diet design and supervision; meal preparation; exercise enforcement; estate management; hiring other staff; overseeing construc-

tion and renovations; packing and unpacking for travel or a move; and second home maintenance. Lambent services has been featured in The daily news, The new york Post, Cnn Money.com, Pulse, worth, Maxim, Radar, urban daddy, daily Candy, wallet Pop, smart Money and on television on Fox 5 news. Call director geraldine sheridan at 338-7225 or visit www.lambentservices.com.

JuMP START TuTORING

Motivating students Jump start Tutoring, which has long provided one-on-one tutoring for eastchester, Bronxville and scarsdale students, has recently opened a new tutoring facility in ardsley at 631 saw Mill River Road to service the Rivertowns school districts. Led by its founder, Matt warshay, a graduate of Fordham university and new york university’s stern’s school of Business, Jump start Tutoring motivates students to succeed with carefully selected tutors, diagnostic testing and personalized instruction. Both offices have private study rooms fully equipped with the latest teaching technology. visit www.jumpstarttutoring.com. n

A Tradition of Excellence Since 1944

Comprehensive music education for all ages in a warm, familial environment Private Instrumental and Vocal Instruction Four Orchestras • Three Choruses Chamber & Jazz Ensembles Musicianship Classes Performance Opportunities Prestigious Faculty Music Programs for Young Children

25 School Lane, Scarsdale, NY 10583 www.hms.org • hb@hbms.org • Tel: (914) 723-1169 Joan Behrens Bergman, Executive Director

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 41A

SEPTA caps exciting school year The Special Education PTA in Hastings-on-Hudson concluded the 2012-13 school year with many highlights, including: • Hosting a moving evening with Priscilla Gilman, the renowned author of “The Anti-Romantic Child,” for a reading and discussion about her child with special needs. • Funding grants to special education teachers at Hastings High School and purchasing books on autism for the Hillside Elementary library in recognition of World Autism Day. • Sponsoring and subsidizing a monthly support group which tripled its membership and addressed a wide range of important issues to parents of children with learning differences. • Organizing private movie screenings of “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Epic” for the Hillside community, raising over $300 for SEPTA grants and programs. • Together with Farragut Middle School, collaborating on a successful experiential Walk in My Shoes program, targeted at last year’s sixth grade. • Hosting a session with a special needs attorney to answer questions about parents’ rights in the special education system. • Organizing a pet therapy program

for preschool and elementary school children on approaching dogs safely and appropriately. • Launching a survey to gather constructive feedback from parents about their views and experiences with the special education services in the district. SEPTA expects to remain very active during the 2013-14 school year on various projects, including: • Continuing to sponsor a monthly parent support group. • Working with the district to develop some concrete plans to address the feedback received from the parent survey. • Funding teacher grants. • Sponsoring educational programs for families on various topics, including ADHD, executive functioning and auditory processing. • Hosting movie screenings for the community. • Continuing outreach to families of children with learning differences, teachers and administrators. SEPTA has many opportunities for those wishing to get involved, even if only on a part-time or limited basis. Areas include programming, outreach, technology, fundraising and membership. Email Mia Johnson at hastings.septa@gmail.com. n

he Play Place has it all. Designed for children 12 months and up, our facility offers a wide range of physical activities that ensures your child is learning, growing, and most importantly having fun. At the Play Place Students and Siblings always play FREE during Class times.

After School Program Customized Birthday Parties Tennis and Soccer Programs Summer Camp

All NEW Students Receive 25% OFF With This Ad

Indoor Play ALL year round! Programs start September 9th so call to sign up now!!! 11 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, New York 10523

914.347.5291 www.theplayplace.net

Page 42A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS Guide

Parent Services

Students in driver’s seat with CA4’s ‘Dashboard’

Tips from Huntington Learning Center

When rising high school seniors go to fill out the new Common Application, they will be pleasantly surprised to find themselves in the driver’s seat, thanks to the new Dashboard feature. So says Maxene Fabe Mulford of Uniquely U. College Essay Consultants, now in its 16th year. By now, everyone knows about the five great new essay questions (https:// www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/ default.aspx). Now, get ready for clarity, organization and ease of use with the newly overhauled, all-electronic application now used by 527 member colleges. Here’s what to expect, according to Mulford, who took part in a CA4: First Look webinar in late May. As of Aug. 1, when you create your CA4 account, students will quickly notice that the new application is organized into three sections: 1) The Common Application itself, the grouping of questions ALL applicants have to answer. These fall into the following familiar categories: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing. 2) The new Member section, which replaces the Future Plans section. Here, you’ll find consolidated a college-specific set of questions further organized into

It’s back-to-school time and if your student’s summer has been filled with leisurely activities, now is the time to transition from summer to school mode. There are several things you can do toward the end of summer break that are immensely helpful in getting students ready to return to the classroom. Laura Gehringer of Huntington Learning Center offers these six back-to-school tips: 1) Set goals: Goal-setting is a great way to help your child reflect on last school year and think ahead about what he or she wants to accomplish and avoid this year. Talk with your child about the things he or she is excited and anxious about and have him or her set several goals and measurable milestones. You can do this just before classes start or during the first week of school. 2) Organize the desk and home: Get your house back into school shape by designating spots for important school papers that come home, a family calendar, backpacks, shoes and jackets, and a homework station. Your child’s homework station could be a desk in a bedroom or other room. Make sure it is stocked with the supplies he or she will need for the school year.

four sections: General, Academic, Contacts and Family. You’ll complete this information and electronically submit it with the Common App, along with your application fee. 3) The new Writing Supplement, where you’ll find any additional short and long essays each individual school requires beyond the Common App main essay. Many colleges will ask questions of the “Why is our school a perfect match for you?” variety. Others — like the University of Chicago, Wake Forest and Tufts — are apt to continue asking quirky additional questions. Some schools may forego them. Some colleges may also additionally request résumés, research papers and graded assignments. You’ll sub-

mit these separately, after you’ve sent in the main part of your Common App, the Member Page and your application fee. Sound complicated? More like thorough. Once you’ve registered, CA4 will ask you to compile your list of colleges from its newly centralized College Search screen. Doing so automatically activates the Dashboard, your personal electronic spreadsheet with a pull-down informational screen containing the requirements for each of your schools. It gives you the power to stresslessly keep track of everything. And, if you get too overwhelmed, said Mulford, as usual, Uniquely U. will be on hand with its famous free consultation. Visit www.uuessay.com.

continued on the next page

3:00-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

After School New York State Licensed Childcare Program at Hillside School, Hastings-on-Hudson Beginning our 27TH Year • Grades K-6

Sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer, Floor Hockey, Tennis, Kickball) Wii and Playstation Cooking • Creative Arts & Crafts Homework Help Reasonable Fee • Limited Enrollment All Day Programs During School Holidays

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 43A

BTS Guide

Parent Services

continued from the previous page

3) Re-establish a schedule: Talk with your child about the school day routine, including wake-up time, school hours, homework time, dinner time and any extracurricular activities. In the week or two before school, try to have your child go to bed and wake up at approximately the same times as during the school year. 4) Review schoolwork and information: Being prepared will help your child ease into the first weeks of school. Review assignments, spelling words and other work from the previous school year. Amp up the reading these final few weeks of summer. 5) Set a positive tone: A child who struggled last year might dread going back to school, so it is important to help him or her get into the right mindset for school success. Let your child know that you are there to support him or her no matter what. Talk about things he or she is looking forward to this year, offer ideas if he or she needs some encouragement and point out some of the good parts of last year. Be optimistic and encourage your child to embrace the same outlook. 6) Arrange for tutoring help if needed: If last year was difficult, don’t wait to reach out for help this year. Help your child build his or her skills, preparedness and confidence with a cus-

This California Closets-designed bedroom is ideal for a young student.

tomized, one-to-one tutoring program. Founded in 1977, Huntington Learning Center is a pioneer and leader in the tutoring industry. Visit www.huntingtonhelps.com.

Bringing multipurpose home for your family When you think of California Closets you probably already know that they are the leader in designing custom dressing

rooms and wardrobes. California Closets continues to create amazing and functional closet and storage space using imported Italian finishes. Typically you wouldn’t think of California Closets when considering your kids furniture, but since they build and manufacture locally, California Closets can custom design and install a room to suit your function and aesthetic. California Closets combines unique and functional elements to deliver a one-of-a-kind room to your growing

home. They have been serving Westchester for 18 years, bringing custom storage and expanded offerings to storage furniture. Back to school means back to homework and back to earlier bed times. The pictured state-of-the-art room includes a bed that effortlessly doubles as a couch and a curved desk with drawer storage. This will change the typical feeling of homework drudge and, keeping with California Closets’ reputation, allows deep drawer storage for clothes and linens providing a neat space for all your things. To make the space youthful California Closets installed bright high gloss doors, which are available in many different colors and feature a new addition to the premium Italian finishes in Bianca White. The material offerings are so architecturally beautiful and are custom fitted to your space to reflect your style and accommodate your belongings. California Closets’ research in furniture trends keeps moving forward and allows them to always make sure customers have the best selections to choose from. California Closets will create a place that offers some hidden spots for your child’s special treasures. Visit 16 Saw Mill River Road in Hawthorne to see all California Closets products. n

She’arim/Gateways Hebrew School mishkanhaam.org

Meets:

• Thursday Afternoons 4-6pm • Sept. 12, 2013 May 15, 2014 • Monthly Shabbat family program

She’arim/Gateways: Mishkan Ha’am’s innovative approach to Hebrew School is now registering students K-5th grade. Our intimate, relationship-based, project-oriented, community-building educational program for Jewish young people throughout Westchester, Yonkers and Riverdale located in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY.

Limited space available in our multi-age K-1, 2-3 and 4-5th grade classrooms. High Holiday services for members and non-members!

Looking for something different?

Find Your Narrative; Write Your Future!

Page 44A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS Guide

Arts & Enrichment

Studio B Dance Center programs are creative and new

very year, Studio B Dance Center in Eastchester adds new and different classes to the 100-plus class schedule to provide children with opportunities to explore different styles of dance. This year — Studio B’s 18th season — is no exception. Creative new classes and exciting dance companies for the tiniest ballerina to the trendiest teen dancer have been added. Contemporary for grades 4-7: This style, made popular from “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dance Moms,” borrows from jazz, modern and even funky hip-hop. Contemporary dance encourages natural and spontaneous movement, personal interpretation and self-awareness. This beautiful style of dance develops technique, stage presence and storytelling skills. Acro/Tumbling: This class teaches fundamental acrobatic and tumbling moves similar to gymnastic floor routines without an apparatus. Conditioning and control of the muscles are obtained through a balanced exercise program and progressive training. Benefits include flexibility, strength, balcontinued on the next page

Studio B company dancers perform ‘Snow White & The Apple.’

Creating Champions for Over 75 Years Experience the Difference • • • • • • •

Private and Group Lessons Adults & Children Indoor and Outdoor Rings Boarding/Training Horse Shows Sales/Leasing Summer/Winter Camp

Now registering for Fall lessons

Audrey Feldman Vanessa Roman 291 Mamaroneck Road • Scarsdale 914.725.3912 • www.boulderbrook.org (Conveniently located off Exit 22 Hutchinson River Parkway)

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 45A

BTS Guide continued from the previous page

ance, timing and increased self-confidence. LeapNTurn: This class is designed for the serious dancer who wishes to perfect and refine his or her skills of turning, jumping and leaping. Classes are taught with an emphasis on technique and correct body placement. The class will help dancers increase stamina, endurance and energy levels. Back by popular demand are their Hip-Hop Starz and Teen Hip-Hop Company classes that are high energy, great fun and feature exciting choreography. Of course, you can find Angelina Ballerina Dance Academy™ (Westchester’s only and official Angelina Program) at Studio B. This ballet-based curriculum is specifically designed to focus on vocabulary and technique at an early age. This program has been taught in some of the most prestigious schools in England, Ireland and Australia. Only about a hundred schools in all of North America have been chosen to teach the program. Angelina Ballerina author Katharine Holabird visited Studio B this past spring to read and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved tiny mouse with big dreams. Call Studio B at 793-2799 or visit studiobdance.com. Classes start on Sept. 16. n

Arts & Enrichment

MCW: a center for lifelong learning

or more than 80 years, the Music Conservatory of Westchester, a community music school and performing arts campus, has been a leader in arts education in the greater Westchester region. Students of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate in high quality programs that cultivate lifelong learning and a sense of community through the joy of music making. MCW has an experienced and dedicated teaching faculty of 85 performing artists from across the New York metropolitan area. Master classes, concerts and workshops featuring nationally known performers, which have included artists such as Richard Cross (Yale University), David Kim (concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra) and Mindy Kaufman (New York Philharmonic), augment the school’s core curriculum. MCW is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. Private instruction is offered in all instruments and voice. In addition, MCW offers music therapy, chamber music and ensembles, classes in music skills, music theory, musical theater, jazz, rock and pop. The Music Therapy Institute has been the largest provider of professional music therapy services in the Westchester region, working with over 2,000 children and adults

Clarinet lessons with MCW faculty and Assistant Dean Justin Stanley.

each year. Individual and group sessions are offered in dedicated studios at the conservatory and at partner locations across the county. Classes for the youngest students include music skills (sequential music and movement classes for pre-k through grade 3), introductory group classes and Suzuki instruction in violin, cello, flute and guitar. Young children can also learn about music through MCW’s celebrated educational concert series in the White Plains Public Library. Ensembles form an important part of the school’s curriculum for students of all ages, including adults. Both small (trios, quartets and quintets) and large ensembles are offered for many combinations including strings, winds, brass and voice. Known for their excellence, MCW’s string, wind, brass and choral ensembles perform

frequently both on campus and throughout the community. Ensembles improve individual skills and foster a sense of camaraderie amongst peers. All of MCW’s ensembles are also open to students who take private lessons outside of the school. The conservatory’s Honors Program is a comprehensive precollege course of study for serious high school students. It includes private instruction, AP music theory, premiere performing ensembles, recitals and master classes. Honors performances and recitals are free and open to the public. Graduates have been accepted at competitive conservatories and double-degree programs at Oberlin College/Conservatory, Columbia/Juilliard, Eastman School of Music/University of Rochester and Johns Hopkins University/Peabody Conservatory. Other students have chosen to attend prestigious universities including Cornell, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt and Yale. This performing arts campus has something for everyone. It is home to Steffi Nossen School of Dance, Faust Harrison Pianos, New Westchester Symphony and the Westchester Choral Society. The fall semester begins Monday, Sept. 16. Visit MCW’s website at www.musicconservatory.org to view the 2013-14 course catalog or email info@musiced.org for more information. n

The Right Day or Boarding School Makes All The Difference... We can help you make the best choice!

Child-Centered Solutions That Make Learning Possible Greenwich Education Group’s Collaborative Center for Learning & Development offers an integrated array of services across professional disciplines, customized to address individual learning differences and leverage each student’s strengths. We are a student-focused, family-friendly practice committed to helping each student to thrive academically, emotionally and socially.

Our Day and Boarding School Advisory Services team at Greenwich Education Group knows that choosing the right educational program or independent school for your child is a decision that carries lifelong implications. We understand that going through the admissions process can be overwhelming. From interview tactics to supporting essays that make each student shine, we prepare and position your child in the strongest possible light. We get to know your family and make it our mission to identify the target schools that meet your expectations. Paying close attention to every detail throughout the process, we present each student optimally to Directors of Admissions. Victoria C. Newman, MS Ed & Muffy Fox, MS Ed Day and Boarding School Advisory Services Greenwich Education Group 6 Riverside Avenue, Riverside, CT 06878 203.742.1230 • www.GreenwichEdGroup.com

• Assessment and Support Services: Neuropsychological, Speech and Language, Reading, Social/Emotional/Behavioral, Writing, Executive Function Skills, Psychological, Gifted • Coaching Services: Social Skills, Executive Functions, Test Taking, 1:1 and Groups • Tutoring Programs: 1:1 academic support and remediation for students with learning differences (LD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Medical) • Educational Program Review: IEP, 504, Testing Review, School Observations, Program Recommendations

44 Commerce Road, Stamford, CT 06902 | 203-409-0069 Email: TheCollaborativeCenter@GreenwichEdGroup.com www.GreenwichEdGroup.com

Page 46a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

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Arts & Enrichment

CenTral park danCe: best of Westchester top pick

he news is out! Central Park dance is thrilled to congratulate Christina donohue for being voted the winner in westchester Magazine’s annual Best of westchester editorial Pick for Best Ballet Program. For over 30 years, Central Park dance has been providing all types of dance instruction in a caring and nurturing environment. “we believe that superior teaching and a supportive atmosphere go hand in hand,” director of operations Mario Lastrada said. “dancing is not just our business — it’s our way of life!” with over 175 weekly classes to choose from, including ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, Latin jazz and boys’ break dance, as well as fitness classes like pilates ball, boot camp workout, aerobics, Zumba, Latin fit, hiphop fit and our latest, MuZe, CPD believes that personal attention is essential for student growth. Talent is carefully nurtured and developed, allowing every dancer to feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, whether your child is bound for Broadway or ready to be introduced to dance for the first time. CPD combines a fun environment along with a studio focused on teaching proper dance technique. with

Central Park Dance: where every student is special

over 30 years of extensive dance experience, CPd is led by artistic director Maria Bai, who has developed a dance syllabus that reflects every age ability and commitment level for each student studying ballet, pointe, jazz, tap and street jazz. in the preschool program, which is regarded as the finest in the area, children as young as 2 years of age delight in Tot + i, an introduction to dance, the popular Fairytale Ballet and the latest addition, our very own hip hop Princess for ages 3-5.

The opportunity to be anything, the freedom to be yourself.

Upper School Open House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, October 23 All School Open House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday, November 2 Barat Center Open House. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Friday, November 15 In the close knit community at Convent of the Sacred Heart, girls are surrounded by supportive peers and faculty who help develop their potential. Our Middle School girls emerge well prepared for the academic rigors of high school. More importantly, they feel valued and confident, have a strong sense of spirituality, and feel free to be themselves as they prepare to challenge the world.

Greenwich, CT 203-532-3534 www.cshgreenwich.org

NEW IN

2013

An independent, Catholic school for girls K-12 with coed preschool and prekindergarten.

The Barat Center for Early Childhood Education

Dynamic coeducational learning for preschool and pre-K

CPd knows that variety and creativity has made them a popular studio for all levels, so the foremost goal is to have the best program to meet the needs and desires of each student by constantly reconfiguring the type of classes they offer, continuously introducing new classes and providing impeccable customer service. Bai, Lastrada and everyone at CPd look forward to meeting and providing you with dance experience that is fun, educational and personally focused on you.

don’t miss out on Miss Talia’s Boutique, located at CPd, open late seven days a week and carrying a wide selection of footwear, dancewear, gymnastics attire and accessories at affordable prices. CPd also offers the ultimate dance birthday parties. For more information on Central Park dance, call 723-2940, email centralparkdance@aol.com or visit www.centralparkdance.com. Come join Central Park dance, where every student is special. n

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

Shaarei Tikvah, the Scarsdale Conservative Congregation, is offering a special promotion for families whose oldest child is starting Kindergarten or First grade. With religious school enrollment, the entire family gets free synagogue membership for one year, including High Holiday tickets! 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. .

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

Back to School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 47A

Page 48A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

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Steffi Nossen Dance School: mind, body, spirit, character

ith studios centrally located in the Music Conservatory of Westchester in White Plains (across from the Westchester County Center) and Chappaqua, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance conducts classes appealing to the interests and needs of a variety of dance students. Core Curriculum modern dance classes for children in preschool through third grade are taught to live music. These classes are followed by fourth- and fifthgrade modern/jazz, and jazz classes for grades 6 and up that introduce and explore the rhythm, styles and music of the jazz idiom. Taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, these classes develop both technique and creativity as they emphasize movement and dance vocabulary. Technique is taught in the form of dances set to a variety of music children love and are appropriate to the physical and educational development of each age level. In addition, the school conducts excellent technique programs in modern, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and a young children’s ballet program beginning with Classical Story Ballet at age 3. “Our program emphasizes the develop-

Steffi Nossen School of Dance meets the needs of a variety of students.

ment of the whole child: their emotions, mind creativity and physical ability,” said Kathy Fitzgerald, Steffi Nossen school director. “Our faculty collaborates to design a sequential, developmental and age-appropriate curriculum that shares their love of dance, encourages creativity, exposes students to a variety of dance

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styles and allows for the opportunity for all to perform.” Faculty members are all graduates of college dance programs and performing professionals. Fitzgerald also noted, “For the dancer interested in developing technical advancement, master classes, ensembles and the preprofessional Steffi Nossen Dance Company are additional possibilities.” Fitzgerald, a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts, has performed as a principal dancer with and teacher for Frankfort Ballet and soloist with Netherlands Dance Theater. Just named by Westchester Magazine a 2013 Best of Westchester, Moving Wheels & Heels, a program of inclusive dance classes for students of all abilities — both wheelchair and stand-up — features movement adapted so that all can experience the joy of moving to music, express creativity and learn dance technique, all to live music. For more information, to plan your dance year, register or arrange a noobligation trial class, contact the Steffi Nossen School of Dance at 328-1900 or info@steffinossen.org. To learn more about classes and meet our faculty, visit our website, www.steffinossen.org. From

Sept. 23-28, all are invited to try all age and level appropriate classes for free. Founded in 1937 by dance legend Steffi Nossen, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance offers a strong community-minded and leadership-focused educational model with developmentally appropriate dance instruction and performance opportunities for all ages and abilities. All students — recreational and preprofessional — are treated with equal attention and respect. Live musical accompaniment for a majority of classes is offered. The school is owned and operated by the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, formerly the Dance in Education Fund, a notfor-profit dance advocacy and community outreach organization, which seeks to foster the arts in Westchester County. Through the support of the foundation, the school enables all students, including those with special needs, the opportunity to participate in their extensive programs and classes in a noncompetitive environment. A generous financial aid and scholarship program supports those with significant economic challenges. With a sterling reputation in the dance world and a rich 76-year history, Steffi Nossen is a leader among dance schools, focusing on the growth of students’ minds, bodies, spirit and character. n

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back to school clothes arriving daily toys, skates, 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 8/26 & 9/2 Your Favorite Brands: Justice, Carters, Baby Gap, Quiksilver, Gymboree, Limited Too, Northface, Abercrombie and Lily Pulitzer

Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 49A

Arts & Enrichment

BTS Guide

Building community at Hudson River School of Music

alk down a hallway at the Hudson River School of Music on any given weekday afternoon and you’ll hear a lot more than chamber music. In one room you might hear the stomping of small feet during eurhythmics class — an opportunity for young students to explore rhythm, structure and musical expression through movement. In another room you could hear a group of parents planning silly games for the end-of-year picnic. Down the hall, a playing group class rips through the bluegrass classic, “Bile ’em Cabbage Down.” And outside, on the green lawn surrounding the school, cries of, “Ready or not here I come!” mingle with scales and arpeggios being practiced between classes. Founded in 1968, the Hudson River School of Music, or HRSM, was one of the first schools in the Northeast to provide instruction by teachers trained by Dr. Shin’ichi Suzuki, a world-renowned pioneer in musical education. But visitors expecting an old-fashioned institution steeped in solemn tradition may find themselves pleasantly surprised by the school’s dynamic atmosphere. “Everyone seemed to be having so much fun,” said parent Sonya Terjanian, remembering her first visit to the school. “The teachers, the students, the parents — it was

By performing regularly, students at the Hudson River School of Music develop confidence, focus and poise.

kind of infectious. My daughter looked around and said, ‘OK, I think I want to be a part of this.’” 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,” director Amy Rosen said. “But we’re also large enough to give students some amazing musical opportunities.” Students from ages 3-18 participate in private lessons, group playing classes,

eurhythmics classes, reading classes and chamber groups. They perform regularly throughout the year, in large and small venues, with professional accompanists. “It’s been amazing to see my son develop as a performer over the years,” said Scott Zaluda, whose son Sam has studied violin at HRSM for 11 years. “It’s translated into real confidence, a kind of self-assured quality that I think will help him in a lot of situations in life.” Public performance is one of the pillars of the Suzuki method, an approach to

musical instruction developed by Japanese violinist Suzuki, who believed that a positive musical learning environment helps foster character in young students. Suzuki based his method on the idea that all children are born with the ability to play a musical instrument — just as they are born with the ability to acquire language. The method encourages collaboration and mutual encouragement among students, 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.” Located in Dobbs Ferry, the HRSM program takes place after school from September through June, and instructs students in violin, viola and cello. A special program for 3-year-olds includes eurhythmics and violin group class. For students ages 3-6, the school also offers a eurhythmics-only group class. Older students participate in private lessons, group classes, reading classes and chamber groups. Contact Amy Rosen at amyrosen.hrsm@ gmail.com, call 693-9481 or visit www. hrsm.org. n

YOUR WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY ART SCHOOL CENTRALLY LOCATED IN WHITE PLAINS

Classes start: September 7 and September 16 OPEN HOUSE: Tuesday, September 10 6:30pm – 8:30pm Meet the faculty, tour the studios and register for classes Art Classes for Adults and Children Call for information

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY C O L L E G E

914-606-7500

www.sunywcc.edu/arts email: arts@sunywcc.edu

Providing excellent early childhood education since 1957

Preschool Classes for Two, Three and Four Year Olds Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten and First Grade ...Continuing the Elmwood Way Loving, supportive environment…unique playgrounds such as Elmville and Climb, basketball courts, ball fields,…well designed, spacious classrooms…music with Anne…rich opportunities for play and learning…full day and half day classes…enrichment classes…

Scarsdale Synagogue/Temples Tremont + Emanu-El Scarsdale Synagogue/Temples Tremont + Emanu-El

Nursery School classes for toddlers Nursery School classes for toddlers and children 2, 3 and 4 years of age and children 2, 3 and 4 years of age Extended day available for 3’s and 4’s Parenting programs

Summer camp for toddlers Summer camp for toddlers through 6 years of age through 6 years of age

For more information about our programs, please call: For more information about our programs, please call: Jody Glassman, Director Jocelyn Gross, Assistant Director Jody Glassman, Director

Jocelyn Gross, Assistant Director

To Join Our Synagogue, call Gary Katz, Executive Director

To Join Our Synagogue, call Gary Katz, Executive Director 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale y 914-723-3001 y mazeltots@aol.com 2 Ogden Road Scarsdale y 914-723-3001 y mazeltots@aol com

• New York State Common Core Learning Standards • Master teachers who encourage decision making and problem solving • Small class sizes • A community of enthusiastic learners • Real materials for exploration, investigation, play and learning Elmwood Day School 900 Dobbs Ferry Road, White Plains (914) 592-8577 • www.elmwooddayschool.com

Page 50a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

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Arts & Enrichment

‘Journey of musical growth’ at Hoff-Barthelson

he hoff-Barthelson Music school, a major westchester center for music education and performance for over 65 years, extends a welcome of warmth and caring to all who walk through its doors and into its musical home. hBMs students embark upon a “Journey of Musical growth” under the guidance of a distinguished faculty, and are 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. 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 levels 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 very youngest students will enjoy hoff-Barthelson’s Music & Movement Program, staffed by dynamic, highly skilled eurhythmics teachers, which features Music & 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. new this year for preschoolers: • Kinderbells for 5s: The colorful sight and sound coNtiNuED oN thE NExt pAGE

HBMS Festival Orchestra final rehearsal at SuNY Purchase this year.

Repertoire Dance Shop • Every Major Line Dancewear/Footwear • Yoga and Pilates Wear • Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern • Expert Pointe Shoe Fittings (Rec. by many studios) • Skating & Gymnastics Apparel • Ballroom Footwear & Attire • Costumes • Gift Items & Gift Certificates

65 Garth Road, Scarsdale 722.2440

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of these charming bells offer a handson group experience to explore pitch and rhythm skills, while learning to play tunes on these delightful bells sized for tiny hands. • Suzuki PreTwinklers: Preschoolers are introduced to violin studies and the joy of making music in a group experience. Rhythm and pitch patterns drawn from the first Suzuki songbook are introduced through the music and movement component of this class. 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. A full Suzuki program for violin, viola, cello, flute and piano completes the roster of preschool programs. Instrumental students will find that Hoff-Barthelson’s Orchestral Training Pyramid is unique among music schools in Westchester County in structure, substance and quality. Students begin their orchestral 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 2013-14 season, the Festival Orchestra will perform with two renowned soloists, Qiang Tu, New York Philharmonic cellist, and renowned pia-

nist and HBMS advisory board member Ann Schein. Student jazz enthusiasts may study with experienced jazz coaches and participate in level-appropriate jazz ensembles. The legendary jazz pianist Dick Hyman has been commissioned to compose a piece for students in the Jazz Studies Program, which will be performed with Hyman on Saturday, May 31. The school’s distinguished tradition of free-of-charge Master Classes coached by world-class musicians continues: Saturday, Dec. 14, at 1 p.m., with Pam Devenport, cello; Saturday, Feb. 1, at 2 p.m., with Andrew Simon, clarinet; Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m., with Gary Schocker, flute; Sunday, March 9, at 2 p.m., with David Dubal, piano; Sunday, March 16, at 2 p.m., with Marc Johnson, cello; in addition to the 18th annual Elaine Stamas New York Philharmonic Residency to be held in the spring. The HB Artist Series (Faculty in Performance) presents the school’s exemplary professionals in 20 chamber music recitals that are open to the public for a nominal fee. Adults who wish to refresh their instrumental technique are invited to participate in the Adult Chamber Program, and the Adult Flute Choir always welcomes new members. At Performers Showcase, avocational players hone their performance skills before a sympathetic audience of fellow performers. School opens Sept. 7. Call 723-1169, email hb@hbms.org or visit www.hbms. org. n

U-TURN AUTO AUTO DRIVING DRIVING SCHOOL SCHOOL U-TURN Main Street, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y. 258Spring

45 Min Lesson: $30 ~ 60 Min Lesson: $40 ~ 90 Min Lesson: $55

PACKAGES: 45 Minute Lessons 5 Lessons - $145.00 7 Lessons - $200.00 10 Lessons- $280.00

5 Lessons - $190.00 7 Lessons - $260.00 10 Lessons - $375.00

SPECIAL PACKAGES Package 1: 5 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $230.00

Package 4: 5 Lessons (1 hour each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $275.00

Package 2: 7 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $285.00

Package 5: 7 Lessons (1 hour each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $345.00

Package 3: 10 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $365.00

Package 6: 10 Lessons (1 hour each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $460.00

5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course: $40.00/Car for Road Test: $50.00 Special ~ 50: 45 minute lessons: $1,000.00/50: 1 hour lessons: $1,500.00

Instructor: Ms. Z. Reyes

(914) 409 -5478 (cell)

PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED INSTRUCTOR 26 25 Years Experience

CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL Dobbs Ferry Lutheran Church 43 Ashford Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 914-693-0026

www.dfchristianpreschool.org 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. GrADeS 6-12 PG ProGrAm wiTh colleGe creDiT 23 Purdy Avenue, Rye, New York (914) 967-2530 E-mail: wdsinfo@optonline.net

www.westfielddayschool.com

“Where Faith and Learning Connect”

Registering Now For 2013 – 2014 Limited Openings Available • Inclusive Environment Fostering Empathy for God’s World and People • Experienced and Dedicated Staff • 5 & 4 Day Programs for 4 yr olds; 4 & 3 Day Programs for 3 yr olds; 2 day Program for 2 yr olds • Kindergarten Readiness : Academic, Social and Emotional • Balanced Curriculum With Time for Meaningful Indoor and Outdoor Play • Daily Rotating Classroom Schedule Including Separate Discovery and Music/Story Rooms • Creative Play Areas Coordinated with Monthly Unit Themes • Large, Newly Renovated Playgrounds

Come Visit Us!

Page 52a | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 – Back to School

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

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Health

Body, mind and spirit: yoga for children at Yoga Station By chAR DAiGLE

Educating and Empowering

Women of Conscience and Action for over 100 years

Open House: Saturday, October 5 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 2225 Westchester Avenue Rye, NY 10580 | 914.967.5622 admission@holychildrye.org | www.holychildrye.org

ant to hop in a rocket ship and float around the moon? how about swim with fish or roar with lions? you can do that and more by taking a children’s yoga class at yoga station in downtown hartsdale. at yoga station we offer yoga classes for people of all ages — especially children! we offer a 10-class series this fall for $200, with a 10 percent discount for siblings. The benefits of yoga for children have been well documented — increased focus, flexibility, a sense of well-being and belonging. Because yoga cultivates a less reactive mind, children learn to manage big emotions like fear, anger and sadness with simple breathing exercises they can practice anywhere. For our youngest students, each class weaves together yoga poses with music, rhythm and animal imagery to create a story where you may find us barking like dogs and swooping through the jungle on a magic carpet. as the students age, the poses slowly become a little more sophisticated. By the teen class, we introduce some of the philosophy behind yoga, including the idea of ahimsa, or nonviolence, and what that means on and off the yoga mat. at yoga station we foster community and creativity by not comparing students with one another. You’ll find no first-, second- or third-place winners here. Thank goodness because don’t children have enough of that in their day-to-day lives? instead, we help em-

power children to feel at home in their bodies and know it is their right to stand tall and take their place in the world — and who wouldn’t want that for their son or daughter? Free trial classes are offered the second week in September. To find out when classes are offered and to schedule a free trial class, email yogastation@ yahoo.com or visit www.Theyogastation.com, where you can also learn more about the adult and prenatal yoga classes we also offer. Char Daigle is the owner of Yoga Station. Besides teaching yoga to children and adults, she holds workshops for educators on how to bring yoga into the classroom. n

Mission Bullyproof a focus at new york goju karate

n Call Dana Natelli, Certified Teaching Specialist, at 914-336-1368 to reserve a spot to guarantee your child’s success!

First Tutoring Session Free! 1214 W. Boston Post Road #220 Mamaroneck, NY 10543

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ew york goju Karate, under the tutelage of shihan Jim Chillemi, has been teaching martial arts to children and adults in hastings-on-hudson for over 20 years. Children are taught about self-defense and awareness at a very young age and the school mantra is always about helping, not hurting others. never has this philosophy been more relevant than in recent times with the increase of bullying throughout the local school systems. Parents often confer with Chillemi about bullying problems their children are facing and how to handle them. This past year, Chillemi decided to take the problem to another level of awareness. nygKa became home of Mission Bullyproof, and Chillemi is its leading advocate. Mission Bullyproof is a complete program which certifies and teaches martial arts instructors how to approach and solve the bullying prob-

lem by teaching parents, caregivers and children the aBC’s of this unfortunate epidemic. Mission Bullyproof empowers children to recognize: a) what is bullying? B) anger management skills C) Conflict resolution d) emotional intelligence e) how to handle a bully event F) Bystander responsibility. Chillemi has given seminars in schools throughout westchester, at camps such as the acclaimed oasis day Camps, and also several times a year at his own dojo. Chillemi continues to hand out numerous posters to local schools and teachers willing to address the problem. he plans to continue on this mission of awareness throughout the coming school year. visit www.nygka.com. n

Back to School – FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | Page 53a

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Health

when head lice attack, experts can help you attack back!

utbreaks of head lice have become a major issue in today’s society and an important part of raising children. in the united sates, the infestation of head lice is becoming more common among all age groups ranging from toddlers to adults. it is highly contagious and can be difficult at times to prevent. However, if parents take the responsibility of checking their children’s heads and screening the entire family often, these human parasites can be detected early and managed with little difficulty. summer camps have now ended and schools will be getting ready for the school year. unfortunately, backto-school can also mean a discovery of head lice. The spread of lice is currently on the rise worldwide as the development of “super lice” continues to be resistant to the various types of over-the-counter pesticides. head lice are small, wingless, parasitic insects, approximately the size of a sesame seed. They can move around and crawl quickly looking for the warmth of the scalp. however, it is not true that they jump or fly. Diagnosis is often made on the basis of finding lice eggs, which are tiny, grayish-white, tan or brown ovals that are glued tightly to a piece of hair. These eggs cannot be washed off or blown away. it takes some effort to remove them from the hair shaft and when removed by hand, they turn brown immediately. eggs today may be found throughout the hair, but often are seen at the crown, cap, behind the ears or on the nape of the neck. another big indication that a child has lice is constant scratching of the scalp. however, not everyone will necessarily itch. Red dot bite marks or scratch marks can sometimes be seen on the scalp, behind the ears and on the back of the neck. an important fact to remember is that the eggs are not contagious; it is the lice bug that is transmittable because it travels from head to head. The best treatment for head lice is the use of a natural, nontoxic enzyme shampoo, not chemical treatments, which kills the bugs on contact and loosens the cement glue that the eggs are attached to on the hair shaft. The essential tool after using a natural shampoo is the manual combing with a metal lice comb and the use of a thick conditioner and baking soda. This method makes the hair gritty and coarse, thus allowing the lice comb to pull out the persistent bugs and egg activity in the head. it is extremely important that you treat with a natural lice shampoo and perform a thorough comb out process until the lice cycle is

broken. Preventive measures are also recommended by doing a natural lice shampoo or a comb out once a week to make sure the child stays lice free. Currently in my head lice removal business, i am using a reformulated “go green” sulfate and pesticide-free shampoo that is working fantastically with positive results in killing louse bugs and their eggs within 30 minutes and only requires a seven-day followup. additionally, when someone in your household is diagnosed with head lice, you must make sure the floors and furniture are vacuumed. all bedding, blankets, comforters, stuffed animals, coats, hats and backpacks must be put in a hot dryer for 20-30 minutes. any items that cannot be put in the dryer should be bagged in a black garbage bag for one week. you can also wash items in hot water before drying. Mega-cleaning is not necessary. expensive sprays, especially the ones that contain pesticides, are not necessary. The lice bug needs a host, also known as a head, and do not live more than 24-36 hours after they have left a head. Furthermore, lice don’t live on pets. Remember the head that has the lice is the most important thing, not the house. Be proactive and use preventive sprays, oils, gels and hair sprays to deter the lice from traveling to someone’s head. also girls should wear their hair up in buns or tight braids with hairspray applied to the head. Lice love clean hair. Make sure your child knows not to share brushes, combs, hats, headphones or bike and baseball helmets. also teach your child to avoid head-to-head contact and teach them to communicate to you or a school nurse, if there are any signs of itching. Remember back-to-school is a crucial time to see head lice infestations so check your child’s head often and if they are showing any signs of itching around the back of their neck, ears or the crown of their head, think “head lice” and don’t worry — there are lice professionals, like myself, that can come to the rescue. Dale Longworth, the Lice Expert of Dobbs Ferry, is a professional natural lice and nit removal technician. She has treated thousands of clients since 1997 and is highly recommended by pediatricians, doctors and school nurses throughout Westchester County. Call 424-1367 or email dlong2758@ aol.com. You can also visit her website and view her tutorial video on how to remove head lice at www.liceoffinc.com or www.logicproductgroup. com for the natural go green head lice products. n

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Page 54A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Potential Nurtured Here.

School Notes

BTS Guide

Cultivating 21st century skills By DANNY AVIV and KAREN EVERETT

A Families choose Soundview Preparatory School because we offer a rigorous college preparatory program in a uniquely personalized learning community (grades 6-12) that fosters self-confidence and individuality.

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merican primary and secondary educational institutions are failing our students by not adequately preparing them for the educational and professional realities of the information age. Education has focused on the dissemination of content with the assumption that our students will acquire relevant job skills along the way. Performance assessments have emphasized the regurgitation of facts, figures and formulas, while the education community has struggled to develop accurate measurements for the acquisition of 21st century skills.

STEAM equals Sci-TECH At Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, our multidisciplinary pre-engineering curriculum, which we call SciTECH, is capturing the innovative spirit and innate curiosity of our high school students. Beyond the classroom, it is catalyzing a schoolwide move toward a comprehensive STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art/design and mathematics) culture. Sci-TECH at Schechter Westchester is a selective three-year program beginning in the ninth grade. It counts as a full academic class (as opposed to an elective)

that students take in addition to conventional science and math. In the Sci-TECH classroom, students work independently in teams of three or four to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to solve technical and task-oriented real-world problems. Each year culminates with a final project in which each team conceives, designs and constructs a prototype technological device that fulfills an identified need. Throughout this process, students develop essential interpersonal skills and an appreciation for technological innovation. Not to mention they have a whole lot of fun. The Sci-TECH curriculum was specifically developed to foster the life skills, learning habits and work ethic needed to thrive in a 21st century workforce. Those skills include collaboration proficiencies, digital literacy, critical thinking, perseverance, communication and social skills, teamwork, self-management, time management, as well as media and technology skills that involve accessing and evaluating information. The challenge of Sci-TECH Implementing Sci-TECH into our high school curriculum presented many challenges. Specifically, we had to find the time in our already crowded schedule continued on the next page

Come Meet Our Family and Let Us Meet Yours

t the heart of our Synagogue community, we are a diverse family of families. We define ourselves and our purpose through a wide variety of religious and educational services, social and community activities and other programs that satisfy and seek to inspire people of all ages, including couples and single-parent households, interfaith and LGBT families, and singles, too. Every day, new links in the thousands-of-years-old chain of Jewish tradition are formed: • • • • • •

At our warm and welcoming Shabbat and Holiday Services On the playground of our Mazel Tots® Pre-School In the hallways and classrooms of our Religious School As our students receive a fine Jewish Education During the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Experience With Lifelong Learning as we do our part in Repairing the World

As you look to pass the spark of Jewish identity to your next generation, as well as enhance connections and relationships on your own Jewish Journey, we invite you to stop by to meet our clergy, including Rabbi Jeffrey C. Brown, Cantor Chanin Becker our new Director of Congregational Learning Rabbi Wendy Pein, and our Director of our Early Childhood Program Jody Glassman. Take a tour and learn more about why and how we have become one of Westchester’s leading Reform congregations.

Call or write: (914) 725-5175 or GaryKatz@sstte.org 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 Hinenu – We Are Here, Creating a Covenant Community of Shared Lives and Real Relationships

Visit our website: www.sstte.org

Scarsdale Synagogue is a modern Reform Jewish congregation. Founded in 1961, we take a vibrant, contemporary approach to our heritage and our faith, while honoring the roots of Temples Tremont and Emanu-El that date to the dawn of the 20th century.

Back to School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FRiday, augusT 23, 2013 | The RiveRTowns enTeRPRise | Page 55a coNtiNuED fRoM thE pREvious pAGE

to add another full academic course. we also had to create learning modules which were more consistent with our current block schedule. sci-TeCh, while lively and fun, is also extremely demanding. we have found that a studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s past academic success (â&#x20AC;&#x153;straight Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sâ&#x20AC;?) is not sufficient in itself as a predictor of success in this type of team-oriented, project-based course. our experience reveals that the most successful sci-TeCh students are tinkerers, builders and unrelenting problem solvers. we seek self-declared â&#x20AC;&#x153;geeks,â&#x20AC;? but not necessarily in science or technology. We find that students who begin with genuine excitement, are independent and self-motivated, and can negotiate the challenges of working in teams, are the ones who will benefit most from Sci-TECH. our sci-TeCh classroom is unlike a classic science classroom both physically and pedagogically. Currently sci-TeCh classes meet in a wet-lab previously used exclusively for biology and chemistry. in the future, we hope to create a dedicated sciTeCh space â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a combination electronics/ robotics/computer design/fabrication laboratory where students have the resources to fully develop their final projects. in fact, we see sci-TeCh as the 21st century version of what used to be known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;shop Class.â&#x20AC;? walking into our sciTeCh classroom, you are greeted with tables filled with student projects â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which take months to put together â&#x20AC;&#x201D; in various states of construction. There is an air of controlled chaos as teams of students are

huddled around laptops and everywhere you look there are gadgets, tools, wires, electronics components, art and building materials. Relatively little class time is spent lecturing. students are not spoon-fed information to be regurgitated later on an exam. Rather, they are taught basic scientific and technological ideas and information, given goals, tasks and parameters, then set free to research, tinker and discover largely on their own. Course areas include mechatronics, engineering principles and computer programming. students work almost exclusively in teams to complete laboratory assignments, participate in design challenges, and develop their final projects. students must also keep a course journal, which is modeled after an engineerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notebook. They reflect on the challenges presented by assignments, share thoughts on how well their teams are functioning and develop strategies to work more efficiently and effectively. Many Sci-Tekkers begin the course frustrated by having to work in teams, but by the end of the first year, they have learned to identify key tasks required to meet project goals, how to delegate responsibilities (including the role of team leader/manager), how to present in front of the class and how to manage their time successfully. Evidence of success, outreach as educators, sci-TeCh offers us tangible evidence of the acquisition of 21st century skills. In ninth grade, first-year sci-Tekkers seem tentative, wanting to be coNtiNuED oN pAGE

57A

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Page 56A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

BTS Guide

School Notes

GEG: advancing education for all students

Baking bread at Shaarei Tikvah

A place for families to grow If you are looking for a warm, creative environment where you and your children can all grow Jewishly, come to Shaarei Tikvah’s Anna and Louis Shereff Religious School. Shaarei Tikvah’s weekday only k-7 program provides a strong foundation in Hebrew language and prayer, with hands-on, experiential learning and innovative 21st century programs that highlight Jewish values, holidays, Shabbat and Israel. This past year, Shaarei Tikvah in Scarsdale emphasized the beauty of Shabbat (the Sabbath), bringing families together for a student-led Saturday morning service, pairing families to help each other make Shabbat special and baking challah for the needy. Building on a tradition of engaging children in Jewish texts to address real-life problems such as bullying, this year Shaarei Tikvah will use the famous verse from the end of the Torah, “The Jewish People inherited the Torah and are responsible to pass on its teachings” (Torah tziva lanu Moshe, morasha kehilat Yaakov), as the basis for an exploration of Jewish values and how they can be incorporated in one’s personal life. By creating their own museum, interviewing their parents and working online, students will become aware of themselves as links in the chain of Jewish tradition. Parents will participate through workshops and special weekend programs bringing together all religious school families for informal educational activities. You and your family are invited to join Shaarei Tikvah on this journey, to deepen your familial bonds and find your own connection to Judaism and the Jewish community. For information, e-mail synagogue@shaareitikvah.org or call 472-2013 Ext. 300. n

Victoria Newman, founder and executive director of Greenwich Education Group, feels strongly that identifying the right educational fit for each student is the most important element of the services that GEG provides. For over 10 years, GEG has earned the reputation as the place to go for tutoring and test prep; educational consulting for college, day and boarding schools; finding long-term solutions for children with learning differences; short-term programs for academic remediation or course acceleration; and for three uniquely positioned independent, accredited day schools that meet the needs of their students. Furthermore, as a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, Educational Records Bureau, Small Boarding School Association and Secondary School Admission Test Board, Newman and her team has the right set of skills to address an ever-increasing demand for high level educational services. Choosing the right school Greenwich Education Group knows that choosing the right educational program or independent school for your child is a decision that carries lifelong implications. GEG understands that going through the admissions process can be overwhelming. From interview tactics to supporting essays that make each student shine, GEG prepares and positions your child in the strongest possible light. GEG gets to know your family and make it their mission to identify the target schools that meet your expectations. Paying close attention to every detail throughout the process, GEG presents each student optimally to directors of admissions. 3 independent day schools Greenwich Education Group operates three accredited, independent, co-ed day schools which meet the needs of unique student populations: Beacon is for gifted students in grades 2-12 whose needs are not met in traditional classrooms. Beacon encourages students to pursue their passion and develop their talents in an enriched academic setting. Beacon’s hallmark is individualized education. Students pursue unique courses of study within a community of dedicated learners. Beacon challenges students to develop their gifts, discover their passions and achieve academic excellence. The Spire School recognizes all students can leverage their strengths to enhance their own lives. Students in grades 6-12 receive an individualized education that is integrated with a health and wellness curriculum. At Spire, students come to realize their academic potential and develop skills to overcome social and emotional difficulties. To promote a healthy and secure sense of self, Spire emphasizes self-care through effective coping skills, exercise, nutrition and academic empowerment. Pinnacle School enables students in grades 2-12 who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s, high functioning au-

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tism, PDD-NOS, nonverbal learning disorders and ADHD to excel academically and socially. By focusing on the “whole child” in a safe and supportive environment, students become self-advocates, develop friendships, master skills and truly thrive. Pinnacle’s goal is to help students reach their true potential and to prepare them for the future. Children with learning differences The team at The Collaborative Center for Learning & Development understands learning differences and offers solutions to help children thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Services include neuro-psychological and psycho-educational assessments, executive function coaching services, multisensory academic tutoring, speech and language, behavioral and social skills support and educational program review. The Collaborative Center develops a plan that positions your child to gain competence, independence and confidence. A program that works Links Academy is an accredited, short-term academic program with year-round enrollment. It is ideal for students who have missed school due to illness or relocation, as well as for academic remediation and course acceleration. One-on-one classes and flexible scheduling allow students to explore the curriculum in depth and close any existing gaps in prior knowledge. Links Academy can award transferable credit and a high school diploma. College counseling GEG alleviates the stress in the college admissions process by offering individualized services focusing on finding colleges that offer the right fit for each student. Services include diagnostic SAT or ACT testing with evaluation; career testing to identify majors and careers; test prep; course selection, extracurricular activities and summer plans; school visits and interviews; application review and editing essays; plans for student-athletes or students in the arts and admission support throughout the process. Test prep and tutoring Greenwich Education Group offers tutoring in more than 70 subject areas. Instructors have a gift for helping students master their subjects and develop self-confidence. The test prep services at Greenwich Education Group prepare younger students for the ISEE and SSAT tests, and older students for the SAT, ACT and AP exams. You can be certain that when your child needs educational consulting, college counseling, services for children with learning differences, tutoring, test prep or even a specialized school, that Greenwich Education Group will be able to offer you a program that meets your exact needs. For information, call (203) 661-1609 or visit www.greenwichedgroup.com. n

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 57A

International program at Harvey At The Harvey School in Katonah, director of admissions William Porter is accustomed to admitting students from Bedford or Chappaqua, or even as far away as New York City. This fall, however, the school will be welcoming students from Nanjing, Guangzhou, Guiyang and Shanghai! Thanks to the school’s partnership with the Cambridge Institute of International Education, the admissions office has identified, interviewed and accepted six Chinese students who will be attending school at Harvey when classes begin on Sept. 3. Porter met three of the six students during a trip to China in November, while the others were identified by Cambridge and interviewed via Skype by Porter and Harvey’s director of studies, Robert Cook. The three girls and three boys are ninthand 10th-graders. They will board in the school’s dormitories during the week and live with Harvey families on the weekends. This culminates a year of planning and preparing and ushers in a new era of global education at The Harvey School. To help manage this new program, the school has employed Julia Gooding, most recently Harvey’s liaison at the Cambridge Institute, to serve as the coordinator of the International Student Program (ISP) at Harvey and to double as a part-time member of the admissions staff. Gooding, a graduate of Colgate with a master’s degree

in international education policy from Harvard, was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant to study and travel in China and, most importantly, she is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. She will also teach a support class and serve as the adviser and mentor for these students. Beyond Harvey’s commitment to matriculating five to seven international students each year, school officials envision making Harvey a center of excellence for international study, enrolling students from other nations in future years. Among the suggestions the school is considering are creating partnerships with Chinese schools, introducing an exchange program that would allow Harvey students to visit or study overseas. “The school is already starting to reap the benefits of our new international awareness,” Porter said. “This spring we had a visitor from Guiyang who came specifically to look at Harvey for the 2014-15 school year. It turns out that his English teacher is the mother of one of the six students who will be starting at Harvey next fall. What a small world!” In addition, Harvey has seen an increase in local applicants of Chinese-American ancestry since this new program was announced. This is an exciting time for everyone at The Harvey School. Visit www.harveyschool.org. n

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continued from page

55A

handed the solutions and not necessarily understanding what it means to be part of a professional project team. Students are confronted with having to work with everyone on their team, whether they like them or not (teams are assigned, not chosen by the students). By 11th grade — and in many cases long before that — Sci-Tekkers are excited to jump right into a problem, know how to establish the team protocol and project plan, are able to define critical questions and go out into the virtual and real worlds to gather information to get answers. Final projects require both written and oral presentations and demonstrations in front of not only fellow classmates and teachers, but also professionals in related STEAM fields. Student teams dream up projects that track their own personal interests and experiences. Projects developed this past school year include a school bus tracking device to automatically monitor elementary school children as they get on and off the bus; a SMART merging system to alert cars when it is safe to get on a highway; and an electronically controlled stage prop rose that can be controlled to drop petals for a local theater production of “Beauty and the Beast.” The first two of these address direct concerns in their lives — younger siblings falling asleep on the bus and insecurities of a new driver — and the third beautifully demonstrates the melding of arts and technology (the ‘A’ in STEAM).

School Notes

The Play Group Theatre

BTS Guide

skills

Because we have always viewed ourselves as a community resource, we developed additional programming to foster STEM/STEAM literacy in our greater educational community. That programming includes a distinguished lecture series entitled STEM Talks which brings professionals in STEM-related fields to speak to students, parents and teachers from our own and nearby schools; and the STEM Educators Network which meets for dinner before each STEM Talk for the exchange of curricular and instructional ideas and experiences. What’s next at Schechter Westchester? STEAM is here to stay. At Schechter Westchester that means expanding SciTECH and other forms of STEAM education into the core curriculum at our lower and middle schools. For Schechter Westchester, which is committed to providing outstanding secular AND Judaic academics in addition to full and robust after-school athletic and arts programs, this will continue to be a challenge. The school day is already full, so there is limited time for new courses. And because the majority of our students participate in after-school activities, they arrive home late with a heavy homework load. Adding STEAM courses to current schedules will require creativity and commitment on the part of educators and administrators. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all of our students graduate fully prepared for the demands of 21st century higher education and careers without sacrificing the “menschlichkeit” which is the heart and soul of 21st century Jewish day school education. n

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Page 58A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

“See How We GROW” CHART

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Back to School – Friday, August 23, 2013 | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Page 59A

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Page 60A | The Rivertowns Enterprise | Friday, August 23, 2013 – Back to School

Numbers to KNow ( P L E A S E R E F R I G E R A T E I M M E D I A T E LY ! )

Emergencies — 911

Public Schools ARDSLEY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent of Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6300 Concord Road Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7510 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7564 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-6300

(all villages)

Poison Control Center 800-222-1222

DOBBS FERRY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendents Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1506 Business Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1500 Springhurst Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1503 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7640 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7645

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Superintendent’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6200 Board of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2900 Hillside Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6270 Farragut Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6230 Hastings High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6250

IRVINGTON Superintendent’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8500 Dows Lane Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-6012 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9494 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8500

Parochial Schools

John Cardinal O’Conner School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9330

Private Schools

Hackley School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .631-0128 Masters School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1400

Pre-Schools ARDSLEY

Ardsley Community Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-4932 Ardsley United Methodist Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0204

DOBBS FERRY Alcott Montessori School . . . . . . . . . . 693-4443, 472-4404 or 595-7551 Chabad Pre-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6100 Christian Pre-School, Dobbs Ferry Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . .693-0026 Community Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-9072 Greenburgh Hebrew Center Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5121 Hudson River School of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-9481

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON Five Corners Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2334 Hastings Co-op Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-3777 Rivertowns Pre-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6181 Temple Beth Shalom Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-3833 The Goddard School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-1390 Toddler Messy Art & Movement Morning Nursery . . . . . . . . . .478-0756

IRVINGTON Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-4104 Immaculate Conception Pre-Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-6614

Child Care Ardsley Children’s Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6686 Ardsley Pals -5th & 6th Grades, Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-1222 Around The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479-0762 Aspire - Hastings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-5521 Beginners Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-0756 Days of Wonder Child Care Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-2980

Ambulance, Fire, Police (non-emergency numbers) ARDSLEY Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1700 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-6581 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1700 DOBBS FERRY Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5500 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-3000 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5500 HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 IRVINGTON Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . .591-5151 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9867 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8080

Hospitals

Emergency Rooms Dobbs Ferry Pavilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5187 Phelps Memorial Hospital Center . . . . . . . . . .366-3590 St. John’s Riverside Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .964-4349 White Plains Hospital Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-1155

Recreation

Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-8012 Dobbs Ferry Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5505 Greenburgh Nature Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366-3590 Hastings-on-Hudson Community Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2380 Irvington Recreation Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7736

Libraries-Public Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6636 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6614 Greenburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .721-8200 Greenburgh (children’s) . . . . . . . . .721-8227 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . . . .478-3307 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7840

Chambers of Commerce Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 119 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 444 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 405 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 161

The Arts

The Hudson River Museum......................................963-4550 Irvington Town Hall Theater......................................591-6602 Newington Cropsey Gallery......................................478-7990 Rivertowns Art Council.............................................476-2321

Transportation

Post Offices

Bee Line Bus Information.........................................813-7777 Metro North Railroad From New York City..............212-532-4900 From all other areas ..........................................1-800-METRO-INFO

Dobbs Ferry After-School Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-2406 Homework Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-0756 Irvington Children’s Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 591-8182 Little Village Daycare Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0600

PETER J. RIOLO REAL ESTATE M e m b e r We s t c h e s t e r R e a l E s t a t e , I n c .

Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0476 Ardsley-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . .591-7299 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0451 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . .478-3786 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7172

30 Main Street Hastings-on-Hudson

478-1400 www.peterriolo.com