Scarsdale Alternative School Graduation 2015

On Friday June 19, the Scarsdale Alternative School celebrated the Class of 2015, its 42nd graduating class. The A-School is one of few academic institutions, high school or college,that personally recognizes each senior in its graduation ceremony. Howard Rodstein, the A-School Teacher-In-Charge, described the A-school community by observing, "Being human means that you can be smart and articulate but at the same time vulnerable and a tad insecure." Because the A-School is a tightly knit, democratic community, students are encouraged to step out of their comfort zones, a leap of faith that requires courage. Mr. Rodstein reminded his students that "vulnerability is complement to rather than opposite to strength." He addressed the seniors' anxieties about the uncertainty of the fall, when they will be thrust into the new environment of a college campus. With unequivocal reassurance, he promised the graduates they are prepared to face the challenges that lie ahead.

In the Alternative School, the real world is the textbook. Each January, students proactively seek out an internship, learning responsibility and independence. Thus, they are exposed to challenges in the workplace before most other high school students. The internship is one way teachers advance their students' confidence. While independence is valued in the A-School, there is also an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and teamwork. Students, rather than teachers, often work in committees to organize A- School events like "Outing," which serves as orientation and bonding for the incoming class. Interested students are chosen at the end of freshman year, selected randomly by a lottery. Many freshmen are attracted to the prospect of being included in a small, close community. Students address teachers by their first names, a physical manifestation of the close friendship they often develop.

During the ceremony, Principal Ken Bonamo reminded the graduates that they come from a community that values education, civic engagement, and volunteerism. He urged them to share their gifts with the world, a challenging but worthwhile undertaking. Each student was personally addressed by their advisor, one of the four A-School teachers. Amanda Clark, a graduating senior and the Master of Ceremonies, introduced each advisor with an anecdote. She explained that only for her beloved math teacher, Sheilah Chason, would she find herself standing knee-deep in the brook, a murky bacterial soup, at 7:30 on a Monday morning to learn about derivatives through river flow. Ms. Chason then presented Sara Calderon, Marcus Halloway, Joey Katz, Zoe McDonald, and Michael Robins with their diplomas. She wittily described one of her students, Joey Katz, as an "increasing exponential function" because she witnessed a transformation in him from a reserved student to a leader unafraid to pose questions to the entire class. She is proud to have seen the questions posed by her sophomore students transform into profound conversations by the time they reached senior year.

01/10 

   

Jeanne Cooper celebrated this diversity. In a group setting, there naturally exist introverts and extroverts, detail-orientated learners and big-picture planners, bold speakers and students who process information quietly. Together, they create an eclectic, well-rounded group of learners. Everyone seems to have a place in the A-School; even those who do not speak regularly at meetings have other special roles, like heading committees and organizing socials. Ms. Cooper recognized Thomas Brady, Steven Brightman, Jordan Frankenthaler, Lauren Hartman, Mari Kawamura, and Carla Lionti. She commended Lauren Hartman for taking honors classes outside of the A-School, which is especially demanding. She added that Lauren chose challenging works for research papers and broached sensitive subjects. This ambition is contagious in the small learning environment, where students are well aware of their peers' endeavors.

Michael Robins and Jordan Frankenthaler were presented with the Tony Award, the highest A-School honor, for upholding the school's values of integrity and inclusiveness. Ms. Chason described Michael as a self-aware, honest, true friend who takes social risks in order to set an example. Jordan was honored for his outstanding character and ability to embrace opportunities. Ms. Cooper urged Jordan, an optimistic, insightful student, to keep dreaming of utopia.

Nelson DaSilva saw his first class of students graduate, as he is new to the A- School this year. Mr. DaSilva says his students are "as cool as ammonium chloride in water," which is a sincere compliment from a chemistry teacher. He recognized Jake Abrahams, Natalie Keith, Pedro Miranda, Nicole Root, Jason Miller and Delilah Chamlin. Mr. DaSilva shared that Delilah Chamlin had taken the initiative to get involved and accompany Jim Williams on a trip to Long Island to visit other Alternative Schools and explore the future of the institution. Mr. Dasilva found a special connection with Pedro Miranda because of their common Brazilian heritage and a love for the same soccer team. Their relationship is a testament to the A-School's success in fostering a close collaboration between students and teachers.

Jen Maxwell addressed Scott Ballan, Ali Farfel, Katie Frohman, Emerson Riback, India Stachyra, and Hannah Wolloch. She says Scott Ballan is not afraid to say what he thinks. His confidence and humor are contagious, sparking meaningful conversations among classmates. The A-School derives its youthful exuberance from such students. Ms. Maxwell noted Ali Farfel's penchant for following directions, an act that may be perceived as boring and un-rebellious, but is actually an art form, her own unique way of creating order from chaos.

This untraditional ceremony, where caps and gowns were nowhere to be seen, was an affirmation of the values of community and friendship. Judging by the graduates' smiles, these students really did win the lottery.

Text by Carly Glickenhaus, Photos by Rebecca Schwartz