Community Organizations Welcome You to a New School Year

Scarsdale is back in the swing of things – and our wealth of community organizations invites you to get involved, volunteer and participate.

Here are just a few local groups who asked us to reach out to you. If you’re involved with a group you would like to add to the list, email us at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com.

Maroon and White

Maroon and White is the volunteer booster organization for Scarsdale High School Athletics. When you join Maroon & White, you're investing in the experience of every student-athlete!
M&W supports athletics and promotes school spirit. We fund projects, programs, and traditions that enhance our athletes' experience beyond what the school budget can provide.
Most recently we have donated:
✓ A State-of-the-Art Scoreboard for Butler Field
✓ A Video Scoreboard for Gyms 3 & 4
✓ State Champions Sign and Light Post Banners for the Athletic Entrance
✓ Scoreboard & Wind Screens for Supply Field
✓ Weights for the Fitness Center
✓ Team Championship Banners in the Gym.
And every year we fund end-of-the-season dinners for all teams and the Spring BBQ, which brings together athletes from all seasons for a community celebration before Senior Awards Night.
Whether your student is playing on the field, competing on the court, running on the track, or cheering from the sidelines, your membership helps create opportunities and experiences that benefit all Scarsdale athletes.

Join today at maroonandwhite.org. More Than A Membership. It's Raider Pride!

SAY Scarsdale

Parents Hold the Key at SAY Scarsdale: Scarsdale teens are smart, but they are not always “resist temptation smart.” When alcohol is easy to access, it increases a teen’s chances of making a risky choice. But Scarsdale parents “Hold the Key” and by locking up their liquor, and securing the alcohol they keep in their homes, they can keep their teens and often, their teen’s friends safe.

Data from the 2024 PRIDE Survey revealed that 20% of Scarsdale Middle School 8th graders reported alcohol use, compared to 12% nationally; and 67% of SHS 12th graders reported alcohol use, compared to 41% nationally. The survey further revealed that 40% of middle school students reported that parents either never or seldom discussed problems with drug and alcohol use with them while another 37% reported that parents discussed the repercussions of alcohol use “only sometimes.”

Through the “KEY” campaign, the Scarsdale Action for Youth (SAY) outlines the pitfalls of early alcohol use and reminds parents that teens face pressure, curiosity, and opportunity, often right at home. SAY encourages parents to talk with their teens about alcohol and how it hurts their wellbeing. Locking up alcohol isn’t just a physical action. It’s a powerful way to protect your teen from serious harm.”

S.A.Y. is a community coalition dedicated to building resilience among our youth, including reducing underage use of alcohol, marijuana and other drugs that negatively impact the health of our youth. Since its founding in 1984, the DATF has worked to convene all sectors of our community to create positive change for our young people. In July 2015, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service (SFCS), an accredited family service agency, assumed the role of Lead Agency and Fiscal Agent for S.A.Y. Please check our website for more info: www.sayscarsdale.org/ or call 914.723.3281.

SHS PTA Scholarship Fund Benefits College-Bound Students

Since 1948, the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund for College has provided grants to graduating SHS seniors for their freshman year of college, and has been a source of vital financial assistance for student applicants each year.

The loss of a job, a divorce, unexpected illness or death may have devastating effects on a family's ability to pay for their child's college education. In addition, the increasing costs of college tuition and expenses, as well as the decrease in available government loans and college assistance, could make attending college an unattainable goal for some students.

This past year, the Scholarship Fund raised over $100,000 and was able to award grants to thirteen graduating Scarsdale seniors towards tuition for their freshman year of college. Without these grants, many of those students might not have been able to attend college this fall.

The scholarships are funded solely by donations from the Scarsdale community. Each fall, an appeal is sent to every household, business, and educator in Scarsdale. In addition to the community-wide mailing, funds are raised through generous donations from the district PTAs and PTC, and through the sale of Educator Appreciation cards and e-letters in honor or memory of District educators and/or graduates. Every dollar raised goes directly toward funding the grants.

Scarsdale is a community that has consistently demonstrated commitment to its youth and their education. Because of these contributions to the SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College, it is more likely that all Scarsdale students who wish to pursue higher education will be able to do so. Please know that these gifts, whether large or small, have a very real impact.

Donations, which are tax-deductible, are accepted throughout the year. They may be mailed to SHS PTA Scholarship Fund for College, 1057 Post Road, Scarsdale, NY, 10583; or made online at http://www.scarsdaleschools.org/scholarship. The fund is administered under strict rules of confidentiality and is managed by volunteers from all five Scarsdale neighborhoods. Questions may be directed to chair Lauren Grossberg at shsptascholarshipfund@gmail.com.

Scarsdale Public Library

This back-to-school season, all Scarsdale residents are encouraged to sign up for a library card! There are no fines, and digital materials are available 24/7. Library cards provide access, connection, independence, and responsibility, and parents can sign up their children (of all ages) either in-person or online through the library website (https://bit.ly/LibCardMonth26) Students can reserve study rooms up to a week ahead of time using their Scarsdale Public Library card, and all residents have access to the library’s Makerspace where they can create and design their own projects. Students also have access to great resources including CQ Researcher, Novelist, Mango Languages, LinkedIn Learning, and Tutor.com.

The Children’s Department will be offering two great author visits for school-aged children this September. The first is From Small Moments to Big Stories with author Rin-Rin Yu on Friday, September 18 at 4:30 PM. Join author and Scarsdale alumna Rin-Rin Yu for a hands-on writing workshop that helps young writers discover how everyday experiences can become unforgettable stories. Students will develop an idea, add vivid details, and create a finished story of their own.

The second author visit is with Tracey West on Friday, September 25 at 5:30 PM. Tracey West, author of the popular Dragon Masters series, is visiting the library! Children will experience how Tracey creates a dragon for her famous series and participate in a Q&A session.

Teen Services will start the school year off with two programs to support teens. The first is Scarsdale High School 101 on Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 PM. Students can get honest advice and tips to help navigate high school from current high schoolers. They can learn about the hidden opportunities and programs these Scarsdale High School students wish they knew about when they were freshmen.

The second is Teen Toolkit: Mental Health 101 for Teens on Monday, September 28 at 7:00 PM. This interactive workshop introduces teens to the fundamentals of mental health and emotional well-being. Participants will explore the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while gaining a better understanding of stress, emotions, and common mental health challenges that many young people experience.

During the school year, teens can join the Teen Advisory Board to earn service hours and share their interests and talents with their community. They can also participate in events like Bling’s the Thing where they craft earrings to donate to domestic violence shelters across the country.

For those who are not yet in school, the library offers a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to encourage literacy from birth and up. And parents have access to programs that offer support, from the Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Group, to Beyond Baby: A Support Group for Moms of Toddlers-Preschoolers. The BookBrowse app is a great resource for book suggestions and reading guides. Parents can also download books through CloudLibrary to listen to or read digitally while on the go.

All programs can be accessed on the library’s calendar here: