Students Concerned About SAT Timing Error
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- Written by Geoffrey Fitzgerald
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For many juniors around the country, the scariest and most difficult part of the school year is preparing for and taking standardized college admission tests. Most take the tests more than once, and prepare for months in advance and use their weekends to take full-length practice exams. Taking the practice exams can consume entire days and are dreaded by the students involved. Students have little control over the process, and are often anxious and stressed. That's why an error on the timing of the tests by the College Board on June 6 has caused so much anger.
The SAT is structured into 10 sections; three written sections that are divided into one essay and two multiple choice sections, three math sections, three reading sections, and one experimental section which does not factor into the student's grade. The first seven sections of this exam are 25 minutes each, and are comprised of two math sections, two reading sections, two writing sections (one multiple choice and the essay), and the experimental section. The final three sections are shorter; a math and reading section that are 20 minutes each, and a ten-minute writing section. During the exam on June 6, due to a misprint on the exam and confusion with the exam proctors, some students received 25 rather than 20 minutes to complete the last two reading sections. As a result, the College Board has decided not to score those two sections.
As can be expected, students, deans and parents are concerned. Two sections un-scored means that 22% of the true exam --that is the exam that goes towards a student's score -- would be lost. So in addition to losing the results of these two sections, the scored sections will be more heavily weighted. Some people are calling for the College Board to arrange a makeup exam, at their own expense. The College Board has said, "The SAT is designed to collect enough information to provide valid and reliable scores even with an additional unscored section." Even if this is true, the unscored section would still have the potential to change the student's score by some margin. Unfortunately, for most juniors, there won't be another opportunity to improve their scores, so the incorrect score they receive has even more potential to affect their futures.
This mishap could also affect future students, as sophomores begin to decide which standardized test they want to take in the future ... the SAT, or ACT? Since 2006, fewer high school students have taken the SAT each year, while at the same time more students have opted to take the ACT. From the students we sampled, more juniors in Scarsdale appear to take the ACT exam, and more sophomores seem to be considering the ACT.
We asked Scarsdale High School Dean Andrea O'Gorman for her advice for students who took the flawed test. She said, "My advice to students is not to panic. Testing is a process, not a one-shot endeavor. Students should wait to see their individual scores and compare them to their practice scores and ultimate test scoring goals. If the scores are in line with these measures, that's great. If not, they can look to future test dates for other opportunities. Regardless of their scores, the deans are available to help students fine tune their testing plan."
In other news on the event, a student from Long Island has filed a class-action lawsuit against the College Board for "breach of contract and negligence", arguing that the abbreviated test does not properly represent the SAT, calling it instead "SAT with an asterisk." Read more about the suit here.
Over the Moon Music to Expand in Scarsdale
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Over the Moon Music and More LLC, featuring Music Together classes in Scarsdale, Chappaqua, Mount Kisco, Tarrytown, and Tuckahoe, will celebrate its 10th year in business on June 20, 2015. In conjunction with the anniversary and the continued success of the company, owner Jackie Freimor has announced that she is expanding the Scarsdale storefront location -- Over the Moon Music's headquarters at 78 Garth Road – with 3,000 additional square feet and new offerings including birthday parties, parent-child art classes, a children's imagination play space, an area for Music Together concerts and other special events, and a retail shop for art and music supplies.
According to Freimor, "I started the business with 25 Music Together classes, four locations and five teachers with about 200 families enrolled. Now we have five locations and offer close to 40 classes a week. I am so proud of our growth, and most importantly how Westchester county families have embraced the value of Music Together and the gift of making music with their children for the past ten years!"
In addition to Music Together classes for children and their caregivers, Freimor also teaches Music Together Guitar for Grownups, as well as Uke U., a mommy-and-me beginner ukulele program developed by Freimor. With these offerings, Over the Moon now averages between 350 and 400 families enrolled each semester.
Earlier this year, Freimor brought on co-manager and co-director Nicole Zinn, to help support the company's expansion. Zinn has more than 20 years of experience as an executive in corporate communications and advertising. She will be bringing her expertise in the visual arts to parent-child art classes in the new space.
Freimor explains, "By bringing on a business partner and constructing a space three times the size of our original studio, we are taking Over the Moon to where I had always hoped it would go -- to become a Westchester destination for fun family play through music and art. I am thankful to the community here in Scarsdale, as well as at our teaching locations in Chappaqua, Mount Kisco, Tarrytown and Tuckahoe, who have greatly contributed to our success."
Zinn adds, "I am so excited to be part of Jackie's dream of expanding Over the Moon to bring additional family offerings to the Westchester community."
Freimor has been performing as a singer and guitarist 
since she was a child in Queens, NY, and played her first professional gig at age 15. She is a self-taught pianist, and also plays the lute and the viola da gamba. Most recently, she was the rhythm guitar player and backup vocalist in a Manhattan-based alternative rock band, Liquid Scintillation Cocktail. She first experienced Music Together when she enrolled her daughter in the program in 2003 and she remains eager to share her and her daughter's experience and deep love of the program with other families. Freimor began her first semester as a licensed Music Together center director in 2005.
Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, big kids, and the adults who love them. Launched in 1987 the Music Together curriculum, coauthored by Kenneth K. Guilmartin and Dr. Lili Levinowitz, is based on the recognition that all children are musical. All children can learn to sing in tune, move with accurate rhythm, and participate with confidence in the music of our culture, provided that their early environment supports such learning. Music Together offers programs for families, schools, at-risk populations, and children with special needs, in over 2,500 communities in 41 countries around the world. The company is passionately committed to bringing children and their caregivers closer through shared music-making and helping people discover the joy—and educational value—of early music experiences.
More information visit www.OverTheMoonMusicAndMore.com or contact Jackie Freimor, 914-722-2025, jackie@overthemoonmusicandmore.com
Party!
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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With summer upon us, and birthdays, graduations and celebrations on the calendar, you may have parties to plan. We surveyed friends to come up with ideas for party venues sure to please kids and adults of all ages. Consider these local spots –and if you call – let them know you read about them on Scarsdale10583.
Birthday parties at Chelsea Piers Connecticut are action-packed, entertaining and hassle-free. We help plan the party, provide the space, supervise the activities, serve the food and clean up afterward. Available activities include baseball, basketball, batting cages, GaGa, gymnastics, dance, rock climbing, ice skating, soccer, swimming, tennis, trampolines, water slides, water sports and more. Two-hour party packages are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays with limited availability Monday - Thursday. For children's parties, packages include enthusiastic staff and world-class facilities, as well as balloons, paper goods and candles. Packages are also available that include pizza, beverages, invitations, party favors, cake and catering services. Phone - 203.989.1004, Email - parties@chelseapiersct.com or click here.
The Gaga Center is located at 365 Central Park Avenue in Scarsdale, New York. With high ceilings, lots of sunshine, three permanent pits and a kicking sound system, the energy is boundless. We offer weekly after school classes, programs for days off from school, Open Gaga on weekends, and birthday parties! We even have a fabulous private party room for all your happy celebrations. And the best part is, we'll take care of it all — from food to paper goods to party favors and everything in between. The Gaga Center, 365 Central Park Avenue Scarsdale, NY 10583, (914) 368 – 9889, www.gagacenter.com.
The House of Sports is the ultimate birthday party destination! The House of Sports combines a 120,000 square foot state-of-the-art indoor, climate controlled facility with professional, higher energy coaches to provide the best sports themed birthday parties in Westchester County. Located just minutes from Scarsdale, the House of Sports is the ideal location for your sports fanatic's next birthday bash. Visit the House of Sports' website or call 914-479-5419 for more information.
Scarsdale Pool: It's easy to host a summer party at the Scarsdale Pool Complex. The staff will set aside an area just for your group and assign a host to help you organize, plan and coordinate the event. They will also conduct games and sports for the guests. Food and beverages are supplied by O'Neill's Concession Stand and the birthday boy or girl will receive a special T-Shirt. To sign up, click here:
Westchester Skating Academy: Experience the COOLEST 
place to have your child's Birthday Party at WESTCHESTER SKATING ACADEMY! We plan your party, provide the space, and supervise all on and off ice activities. Many different packages are available, including Karaoke, Hockey and Frozen. All parties include, admission to public skating, skate rentals, private party room, pizza and choice of beverages. You can even make your own Ice Cream Sundae with unlimited toppings and order custom favors. Many food options are available as well as Kosher. Skating instruction available. We do Parties the right way! Inquire about Private Ice Rental. They are ideal for corporate functions, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Sweet 16's and Adult Birthday Parties. 91 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford, NY 10523, http://www.skatewsa.com/
Also Keep in Mind:
Bounce U, inflatables: 150 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY, elmsford.ny@bounceu.com, 914-874-5200
Great Play of Scarsdale, Interactive Gym for Kids, 969B Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 914-713-3470, www.greatplay.com/scarsdale
Imagine Candy, 22 Harwood Court, Scarsdale, www.imaginecandy.com, 914-723-7887
Paint Your Own Pottery, 969 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, www.paintyourownpot.com, 914-472-7281
Rockin' Jump, the ultimate trampoline park in Mt. Kisco, 333 North Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, http://mtkrockinjump.com, 914-743,5730
YMCA in White Plains for gym or pool parties, 250 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, 914-949-8030
If you have suggestions for party places, share them in the comments section below.
Scarsdale Baseball Club Hosts Baseball Classic
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On Memorial Day Weekend, Scarsdale Baseball Club (SBC) hosted its 13th annual Westchester Baseball Classic. This invitational event drew 18 teams from across Westchester to compete in 3 age brackets: 14u, 15u and 16u. Teams came from as far as Ossining and as near as New Rochelle. SBC entered 2 teams in15u and 16u and Scarsdale Little League entered a team in the 14u bracket. In all, over 300 players were involved in the 3-day event.
For the first time since the inception of the tournament, Scarsdale's 16u team claimed the first place trophy. They came from behind to tie the Elmsford Regulators in the Saturday opener 1-1, and then beat House of Sports 5-3 in Saturday's second game to even their record.
On Sunday the Raiders beat Croton Bombers 4-2. Then the Raiders had to face Elmsford again in the Championship game. This time the Raiders jumped on the Regulators early and were up 6-0 after 2 innings. Sophomore Devin McDonald pitched a scoreless game through four innings. Roy Krishnan came in to relieve and Tyler Mandel can in for the 7th to slam the door on the Regulators as the Raiders held on to win 6-3.
The 14u team played their opening game at Dean Field at Scarsdale High School on Friday night. It was their first time these middle schoolers had the chance to play on the big field and they stepped up to play their best. They battled Tuckahoe Crush into extra innings but came up short in the eighth inning in what may have been one of the most exciting games of the tournament. The mostly 13 year-old squad had a great experience as they went 2-2 against the older teams including a tense 3-1 victory over the NY Mayhem in their final game on Sunday.
Other bracket winners included:
15u
Champion - Diamond Buddies Hawks
Runner Up - New Rochelle Braves - Blue
14u
Champion - Larchmont/Mamaroneck Wildcats
Runner Up - Westchester Academy
Scarsdale Middle School Students Create Musical Instruments
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What’s got two doors and is filled with canned food? A musical instrument of course! It sounds strange, but this is just one of the amazing creations that sixth graders in the Exploring Music class at Scarsdale Middle School constructed with the help of the Ototo, and their teacher Dr. Slotwinski.
Mark McKeague, Joseph Pleass and Yuri Suzuki of Dentaku, based in London, UK, created the Ototo. The Ototo is a small device that emits a sound when its sensors are touched. By hooking up “crocodile clip” wires to the sensors and to some conductive material, you can use your fingers to play musical notes, and eventually full-blown songs. For more info on the Ototo, you can see the Ototo website. 
Jessica Slotwinski, who teaches Exploring Music, recognized the creative potential of the Ototo, and applied for a Scarsdale Center for Innovation grant in order to purchase 43 of the devices. Her grant was approved, and she began a 10-week music project with her sixth grade students, to create their own musical instruments. Since the project was so technical, requiring wiring, hot gluing, and woodworking, Dr. Slotwinski enlisted the help of the Technology teachers, Dr. Tuttle and Mr. Rambone, who helped with building the individual projects. Accordingly, whenever technical problems arose, Dr. Slotwinski enlisted help from Computer Teacher Michael Pincus, who had originally helped her with the grant proposal.
The grant itself is a part of the Scarsdale Center for Innovation grant programs, which focus on “research and developmental programs to foster innovative practices." At the center of this program is the “Maker Space” movement, which is based on the idea that the future of the world lies in technology and innovation, two subjects which should be taught in school. While this movement is relatively new, Scarsdale has been utilizing Maker Spaces for several years. Grants like the one used to fund Dr. Slotwinski’s instrument program are being used to supplement the Maker Space programs. This particular grant was funded to create and install “A Music Maker Museum at the Middle School” which should facilitate “a STEAM ecosystem.” STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts + Design, and Math. STEAM is an extension of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) with an added focus on Arts and Design, as exemplified by this program.
The Project itself was well planned for its maiden voyage as a new addition to the curriculum. There were a few setbacks, as to be expected with new, innovative technical projects, but they proved to be very minor, and did not negatively impact the project over the long term. A couple of these included paint that prevented the signal from traveling through the circuitry and decorations on the musical instruments that interrupted the circuits.
The students met with Dr. Slotwinski every other day, switching off with their gym class, and began by learning about other Ototo instruments through the company’s promotional videos, which can be found here. After understanding the capabilities of the Ototo, the students began to create their own instruments. They individually brainstormed ideas and submitted lists of potential group mates. After careful review, Dr. Slotwinski created pairs and trios of students for the project. The new teams then brainstormed with each other, comparing their own ideas, and creating new ones, before deciding on a final idea to build. Once approved, the groups began to build, going through trial and error troubleshooting to fix any errors and optomize designs.
To end the project, Dr. Slotwinski invited Mark McKeague from Dentaku to the school to view the final projects. Mark flew to New York from London to review the projects, take photos and help students resolve outstanding issues. As a bonus, he asked the students and faculty in attendance to pitch him on their ideas for more Ototo add-ons. Some ideas that came up included a removable speaker attachment to enhance the volume of the device, an inverter for sensors, the addition of even more sounds, the ability to add your own sounds to the device, and a case that can prevent drops or other malfunctions from ruining the Ototo. The project will continue at the school as a part of the Exploring Music Curriculum.
To nobody’s surprise, the instruments came out incredibly well. The dedication of both Dr. Slotwinski and her sixth grade students produced some very interesting and innovative results. Some projects are shown below: The Music Mixer, The House of Music, Musical Chess, B-Ball Madness, The Cardboard Keyboard, DJ Max, and the AT&T.
