SHS Students Use Electromagnets to Create Spiderman Wall Climbing Technology
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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As a final project for their Computer Science course, SHS students Aron Frishberg and Joshua Im created functional Spider-Man wall climbing technology. The Spider-Man technology uses very strong electromagnets magnets that can lift great amounts of weight when powered, but without power, are completely deactivated. The two use the magnets to climb metal structures and continue to work on many other gadgets including Thor's hammer and Spider-Man webshooters.
In the pictures shown, look under the climber’s feet and hands to see a magnet connected via yellow wire to a battery.
We asked the two a few questions, and here is what they shared:
Tell us about yourself and your partner Joshua Im - how did you become interested in climbing wall technology?
Josh and I go to SHS and we take a computer science class. We both love superheroes especially Spider-Man and decided to bring Spider-Man to life. We were brainstorming one night and the idea just popped into our heads. We did a ton of research and we did it.
What class are you taking, who is the teacher and what was the assignment?
We are taking Computer Science 913, which is taught by Mr. Leong. The assignment was to create a project for the STEM fair at the end of the year. It could be anything tech related, including engineering or coding.
Are you using any of the equipment in the new Design Lab to do your project?
We did not use the design lab for the wall climbing technology, but we are using the 3d printers for our next addition to this project, which is functional webshooters.
Please describe your project - what does it do?
We use 12v lead acid batteries to power four 275lb 12v electromagnets. They are all controlled by buttons individually so you can climb with ease. It allows anyone to climb a magnetic surface.
What metal structures have you climbed? How much weight do the magnets hold?
We haven’t really done that many tests but we’re able to climb a magnetic stair support at Greenacres School. Each magnet can hold up to 275lbs.
What practical use does this project have?
We believe it has some very promising possibilities, such as climbing buildings.
What does Mr. Leong think about the project?
He believes that this project shows great promise and has a good chance of winning the STEM fair.
Carnival Cancelled Friday Night - Extended Hours on Saturday
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Due to the weather, the carnival at Scarsdale High School has been cancelled for Friday night April 26th. However there will be extended hours on Saturday April 27 when the carnival will run from 12 - 7 pm.
Here is the note from Scarsdale High School Principal Kenneth Bonamo:
Because of the weather, the SHS carnival will not run tonight.
The hours of the carnival tomorrow will be extended from 12 noon through 7 p.m. All pre-sold bracelets will be honored tomorrow.
Here's to a great carnival tomorrow!
Regards,
Ken
Kenneth Bonamo
Principal
Scarsdale High School
Welcome Chris Coughlin, the Next Assistant Principal at Scarsdale Middle School
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Chris Coughlin will become the next Assistant Principal at Scarsdale Middle School when Larry Chatzinoff retires at the end of the school year. Coughlin, who currently works at the Bedford Schools, attend the April 8, meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Education when his appointment was announced. Coughlin is the third administrative hire to move south from Bedford along with Assistant Superintendent Drew Patrick and interim Fox Meadow Principal Karen Eldon who retired as principal of Bedford Elementary School.
We asked Coughlin to tell us about himself and here is what he shared:
Tell us something about your educational and professional background.
I have worked in the Bedford Central Schools since 1999 as a teacher’s aide, and intern, a social studies teacher, a coach, a Dean of Students, and the Director of Health Physical Education and Athletics. The fifteen years I spent as a social studies teacher and a coach were among the most rewarding professionally. I hold a M.S.E. in Educational Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University, an M.S. in Criminal Justice from Suffolk University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Hartwick College.
Why did you decide to make the move?
This past year was my 20th year working in the Bedford Central School District which is a place I love. To be honest I was not looking to make a move until I saw the posting for the position at SMS. I have several former colleagues and friends that work in Scarsdale and have always talked highly about the mission and vision of the district. When I started to investigate further I saw a district that states in multiple ways a great pride in helping to create balanced independent leaners and leaders. I viewed the interview process as part of my research into whether I would be a good fit for Scarsdale. At every juncture in the process I met committed professionals, invested parents, and kind and polite students. After seeing the operation and meeting the people up close the decision became an easier one. I count myself extremely fortunate to be selected as the candidate for this position.
What were your responsibilities in Bedford and will you have a similar role in Scarsdale?
My present responsibilities as the Athletic Director are diverse. To name a few I am the supervisor of health and physical education department for the school district responsible for the delivery of instruction for our 4,000 students. I oversee 60 athletic teams and 71 coaches with an annual budget of over $800,000. I help to schedule and staff over 600 athletic and community events per year.
My new role in Scarsdale will have some similarities. I will be tasked with building the master schedule for the school which will be a new challenge however my current job revolves around complex scheduling. Building leadership requires both approachability and visibility two qualities I have a great deal of experience with. Additionally, SMS’ approach is a team one between students, staff, and parents which fits with my approach toward education.
What were some of the challenges faced by the district during your tenure?
Bedford Central School District like many districts struggled with budgetary issues when the tax levy cap came into effect. We lost a good amount of teachers and support staff due to budgetary realities. Doing more (or even the same) with less is a challenge for any profession however in the educational setting the decisions made can have a direct impact on students. BCSD is in a better place financially and the new and great challenge I have been a part of has been a restoration and addition of new programs.
How does Bedford’s security system compare to Scarsdale’s? Are they also making changes to their procedures and technology?
I would say they are comparable as both Scarsdale and BCSD are guided by the same security consulting firm.
What do you look forward to in your new position in Scarsdale?
I always would tell my students that teaching is the best job in the world because in essence you get paid to learn new and exciting things and share them with students. I will be embarking on a whole new journey of learning, learning about the students and their families, learning about the community, learning about my colleagues at SMS, and learning where I can get a good lunch.
Scarsdale Speech and Debate Team Stands Out at State Tournament
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Scarsdale High School’s Speech and Debate Team, coached by Joe Vaughan, Will Maldarelli and Chris Paulison, excelled at the 2019 New York State Forensic League State Championship held at Hofstra University in Hempstead April 6-7. The team had 51 entries across 13 categories and 21 students qualified for elimination rounds.
The following students were in the top four of their categories
Zach Seigel ('21) was a semifinalist in Intermediate Lincoln Douglas
Annie Radin and Rachel Meiselman (both '20) were the runners up in Duo Interpretation
Rowan Haffner ('23) was 4th in Junior Varsity Extemp
Jaden Bharara ('22) was 3rd in Junior Varsity Extemp
Genie Enders ('22) is this year's State Champion in Junior Varsity Extemp
Jack Silvers ('21) was 3rd in Varsity Extemp
Julia McMurray ('19) was the runner up in Varsity Oral Interpretation of Literature
Jocelyn Weiss ('19) is this year's State Champion in Varsity Oral Interpretation of Literature
From here, the squad will take five students to this year's Tournament of Champions in Lexington, Kentucky in late April, 7 students to the CFL National Tournament in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the end of May and 9 students to the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament in Dallas, Texas in June.
We spoke to two students who excelled in extemp and here is what they shared:
Tenth grader, Genie Enders, won the state championship in Junior Varisty Extemp
Genie Enders
When did you start debating and where did you learn Extemp?
I started competing in Extemporaneous Speech, or Extemp, in the beginning of the school year last year, as a freshman. I learned Extemp from the upperclassmen officers who had been doing the event for 3-4 years.
Why did you select Extemp?
The current events aspect of Extemp really captured my attention because I am constantly checking the news. I loved the idea of needing to know everything about everything, rather than just focusing on one topic. The time crunch of having 30 minutes to write and learn a speech seemed like a really cool challenge to take on.
What are some of the skills you use?
Time management is super important. Knowing when to stop looking at articles and writing ideas down and transitioning to “walking out” the speech takes a lot of practice. Skim reading is also an essential skill because you only have 30 minutes for the entire round. It took me a lot of time to learn how to extract key information and cut the excess details.
What were a few of the topics you spoke on at the tournament?
The round topics in Extemp were the domestic economy, the foreign economy, the Trump presidency, Brexit, environmental issues, the far right and the far left, politics of identity, and the final round was issues of New York. I spoke about the low inflation rates in the American economy, the status of the German economy, House investigations regarding the Trump White House, Theresa May, the state of preparation for extreme weather events in the US, white nationalism, the Uighur Muslim crisis, and congestion pricing in downtown Manhattan. In total I gave eight speeches this past weekend.
Will you be participating at more events this year?
For me, the state tournament was the last tournament of the year. But I am eager for next season!
Jaden Bharara, also a sophomore, took third place in the state in extemp and said the following:
When did you start debating and where did you learn extemp?
I started doing extemp shortly after arriving at the high school last year. I learned from two upperclassmen already on the speech team at the high school.
Why did you select Extemp?
At the beginning of each year, speech and debate holds an interest meeting where the different sections of the club pitch their categories to the freshmen. Right from the start, extemp appealed to me above the other categories. There was something about getting a question and then giving a speech thirty minutes later that set a fire off in my brain and made me excited.
What are some of the skills you use?
Performing a good extemp speech requires the effective use of many different skills. First, you need to be able to research and form a cohesive argument on your question in a short amount of time. One of the hardest things about extemp is the time frame you have. Both while formulating the argument and memorizing the speech, you have to work quickly.
Then, when delivering the speech, it’s important to maintain a clear, loud, and confident tone. Because you have not actually memorized a speech word for word, you must be able to form sentences on the spot without stumbling or sounding choppy.
What are a few of the topics you spoke on at the tournament?
Some of the topics I spoke on at the tournament included Turkey’s economic state, climate change, Brexit’s impacts, and Uighur Muslims in China.
Will you be participating at more events this year?
I will be participating at one more tournament this year, the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) tournament, in June.
Varsity Tennis Team Defeats Bronxville 4-3 in First Match of the Season
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- Written by: Anna Cho
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Senior and Co-Captain, Gus Thompson, helps lead the Raiders to victory as he plays 1st doubles.The Scarsdale Raiders Varsity A Boys Tennis team got off to a strong start with a 4-3 win against Bronxville High School on Wednesday April 3. This year’s team has four freshmen, Adin Lamport, Jason Shuler, Ryan Gerson, and Jason Gans, “which is quite unusual,” as Coach Roane remarked. In past seasons there are typically one or two players from the freshmen class, so having four freshmen on the team is uncommon.
“I think the team is pretty strong from top to bottom. We have a lot of youth on the team, a lot more freshmen than usual. I think the roster fills out pretty well,” commented Senior Captain Jordan Ziffer.
While the number of freshmen on the team is greater than usual the team is still as strong as ever. The boys are looking forward to a great season with the hope of finally beating Horace Greeley in the Section Championships. Unfortunately the Raiders lost to Horace Greeley in last year’s finals, but are aiming to bring Scarsdale a Section Championship this year. Catch the boys play on April 8 against Edgemont at Scarsdale High School.
Here are the stats from the match:
Scarsdale 4, Bronxville 3
1st Singles: Jason Shuler(S) vs. Liam Krall(B)- (3-6, 2-6), 2nd Singles: Jose Maronilla(S) vs. Charlie Nordahl(B)- (0-6, 1-6), 3rd Singles: Adin Lamport(S) vs. Jimmy Hennessy(B) (5-7, 3-6), 1st Doubles: Gus Thompson(S) and Jordan Ziffer(S) vs. Nate Kim(B) and Michel Swartz(B)- (6-1, 6-1), 2nd Doubles: Dylan Cohn(S) and Jake Singer(S) vs. Declan Broderick(B) and Harrison Brown(B)- (6-2, 6-1). 3rd Doubles: Ben Rossano(S) and Andrew Broom(S) vs. Spencer Blumenreich(B) and Manu Monogenis(B)- (6-1, 7-5), 4th Doubles: Ryan Gerson(S) and Jason Gans(S) vs. Griffin Patterson(B) and Will Grant(B)- (6-2, 6-1)
Photos and text by Anna Cho.
Jordan Ziffer, senior Co-Captain, is in the process of winning for his team alongside partner Gus Thompson.
One of the new additions, freshman Jason Shuler, is grinding it out in one of his first matches as 1st singles.
Fourth doubles player and freshman, Jason Gans, is pictured working hard to win one of his first matches.
Third singles player and freshman, Adin Lamport is eager to play in one of his first matches on the team.
Freshman and 4th doubles player, Ryan Gerson, is shown warming up to play one of his first matches of the season.
Only sophomore, Andrew Broom, is practicing his backhand as he prepares to play against Bronxville’s 3rd doubles team.
