A School Graduation Day

On Friday June 18, 28 seniors graduated from the Scarsdale Alternative School. Founded in 1972, the Scarsdale Alternative School is one of the longest running alternative schools in the country. The school calls itself a community of learners where students and teachers benefit from interactions with one another. The weather was very warm as was the atmosphere, and a supportive group of teachers, family, students and friends participated in and watched a unique and personal graduation ceremony.

The event was held on the front lawn of the Scarsdale Alternative School, with speakers addressing the group from the porch. Underclassmen from the SAS decorated the venue with flowers and set up a beautiful space for the celebration of the upperclassmen.

Graduating senior Jeff Kosofsky served as the Master of Ceremonies. He welcomed the group and introduced the speakers. In the spirit of the Alternative School he provided tongue and cheek evaluations of the Alternative School teachers who in turn made graduation speeches about the their students.

SAS Director Howard Rodstein thanked audience members in attendance including Linda Chayes of the Scarsdale School Board, and two devoted SAS PTA mothers, Rebecca Dulit and Linda Shapiro. Since it was his last chance to impart advice, he offered eight suggestions to the graduating class from which we can all benefit.

Here are his words:
1) Practice good listening skills
2) Spend more time being engaged than locked behind a closed door
3) Making mistakes is the key to learning and mistakes are the building blocks of insight
4) Distrust packaging and embrace individuality
5) Kindness matters
6) Courage matters even more than kindness
7) Democracy requires hard work
8) Think outside the box

Reminding the students that they chose to attend the A-School because they wanted something different, he encouraged them to go beyond conventional boundaries in the future. He ended by telling the students, “It has been a joy to get to know you” and assured them that they "graduate with the love of the entire community.”

Next up was Assistant Principal Sue Peppers who offered her congratulations and best wishes and said that graduation was a time to reflect on the past and see into the future. She provided her own list of the “Five C’s essential for effective learning.”

They are caring relationships, cognitive challenges, a culture of support, community contribution and connections to quality post learning opportunities. She credited the A-school with providing these elements for 30 years and complimented the group for learning to work in groups, run their own schools and work in the outside world as interns as part of their education.

Quoting Dr. Seuss, she closed by saying, "Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!"

Each of the 28 students was given a personalized tribute by one of the A-school faculty and the affection between students and staff was evident. Speaking for the student body, Laura Petschek thanked the student who gave up her spot on the A-school student list three years ago and allowed her to benefit from an A-School education. She felt lucky to receive a serious education in a wonderful setting and told the group she was proud to be a member of this class of outstanding seniors. In her words, “We will never forget what it meant to be part of the Scarsdale Alternative School. We owned it!”

Rodstein returned to the podium to give a glowing tribute to math teacher Linda Rich who will be returning to teach at the high school after many years of service to the SAS.

Following graduation, the Adler family invited A-School students and their families to a reception at their home. It was a joyous and memorable day for all.