Not Your Usual Spring Break: SHS Students Travel to China
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When the SHS spring break came to a close, some students gushed about tans from the Bahamas, family adventures in Europe, and a lot of Netflix at home. But a few select students were able to share their memories of a far more exotic excursion to China with the Chinese Exchange Program. For about two weeks, from March 27 to April 11, 14 SHS students traveled to China, and had the experience of a lifetime. On this fourth ever Chinese Exchange Program at SHS, students ventured through Beijing's historical sights, while staying with host families and attending a local school--Ping He Bilingual. ESL teacher Barbara Reef and Social Studies Department Chair John Harrison accompanied the students in China.
Students who applied to participate in the exchange were selected through a lottery. According to Mandarin teacher Wenhui Gu, "The American students and the Chinese students were matched according to their interest. The China exchange program is important is because it is a cultural and language exchange, instead of just a language exchange. Therefore, students who are not enrolled in the Mandarin program can still apply for it, to explore and enjoy the authentic Chinese food, the historical and modern buildings, and the lifestyle and education system of the Chinese people."
Though ,at first, the trip may have been a bit intimidating to many students, it was comforting that the SHS students had already been acquainted with their Chinese exchange students. In the fall, the same Chinese students visited Scarsdale and stayed for two weeks, alternating between sightseeing in New York City and attending SHS. Going to China was the second half of the exchange program, so SHS students knew their Chinese exchange students fairly well and this alleviated some of the anxiety. "I wasn't really nervous about going on the trip because I knew I was going to have so many amazing experiences and I was really excited to become closer with my exchange student and make a lot of new friends," shared Scarsdale senior Julia van Zwieten.
Students came back from the trip with very positive reactions. James Baker, a senior who spent his sophomore year in China, was still in awe of the memorable trip. "I'm never going to forget all the connections I made with the Chinese students--it was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said. Scarsdale High School sophomore, Jessica Waldman added, "a really special part of the trip was that we were staying with people who stayed with us in the fall so we got to bond even more with them while learning and experiencing their culture."
Maybe equally as memorable as living with Chinese host families was all the sightseeing in China. Students spent the first four days in Beijing, where each day they traveled to see some of China's most spectacular historical sights, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Palace of Heaven. "I think that the Great Wall was the coolest part of the trip because you always hear about it and you think of this big wall but when you actually get there its way bigger than anything you could have ever imagined," shared Scarsdale sophomore Corey Waldman.
Though everyone seemed to have gotten along with their host families, there were bound to be some cultural differences. "I thought the biggest cultural difference were the eating habits," commented Corey Waldman. "But what we learned was that their eating habits were not weird or wrong, just different," added Jessica Waldman. Some students also noted that another difference was the Chinese student's intense work ethic. "My exchange student would come home every single day and just do work all afternoon, and all night, and then go to sleep super late," said Baker. "Her parents were pretty strict too, but it paid off because she is one of the smartest in her class."
Not only did eating manners and work habits differ from those in Scarsdale, but the teaching style was different in some ways as well. "At Ping He all the students stayed in the same classroom the whole school day, which started at around 7:50 A.M. and ended at 4:30 P.M.," noted Baker. "Unlike Scarsdale, the teachers were the ones who would switch classrooms and come to the students."
However, despite the differences in the education system, there were also many similarities. "All the classes were taught in English because Ping He is a bilingual school, and in many of the classes they were using similar learning materials to what we use in Scarsdale," shared Baker. "In fact, I noticed that in World History they were using the same exact textbook that Scarsdale uses!"
Because Ping He is a bilingual school and all the classes are taught in English, SHS students did not find it difficult to communicate even though most who came on the trip did not speak a word of English. "I know about three words in Chinese but I was totally fine at school and with my family," said Corey Waldman. "There was really only one kid on the trip who spoke Chinese well so whenever it was necessary he translated for all of us."
Beijing is infamous for it's air pollution, something that worried some of the students.. "In Beijing the pollution was pretty bad," admitted Baker. "You couldn't really see the sun and a lot of people were wearing masks." Van Zwieten agreed, and said that she "could literally feel it [the pollution] in [her] hair and on [her] skin and it just made me feel dirty." Although Beijing's air may not have been the best, both Baker and Van Zwieten agreed that the air in Shanghai, where they spent the majority of the two weeks, was much better.
Though the complete exchange program has now come to an end, many hope to keep in touch with their exchange student. "I'm definitely staying in touch with my student," asserted Baker. "If I go back to China, which I really hope to do, I want to meet up with her again and we have already been chatting through the app WeChat." Likewise, van Zwieten also believes she will stay in touch with her exchange student. "I think we will definitely stay in touch, especially now that we have more ways of communicating!"
Overall, everyone on the trip gained some kind of new insight from China, and came back with exciting stories, whether it was about sliding down the Great Wall of China, showing the Chinese students Häagen Daz for the first time, or bragging about strange foods they ate. Even though the students may have missed out on a classic spring break in the Bahamas, "going to China was definitely worth it and I don't regret it at all," exclaimed Baker.
Junior League Seeks Applicants for High School Volunteer Awards
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Do you know a female junior in your school who is making a difference? Is she a leader in school or in her community? Is she someone who cared enough about an issue to take a stand and make a difference? However she has done it, she is making a contribution and the Junior League wants to hear about her!
The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) is offering three $500 Volunteer Service Awards to female high school juniors. The recipients of this award will be young women who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to volunteerism within their community and/or school. The purpose of this award is to promote volunteerism and to support the development of young women.
Award Criteria
The JLCW will consider all applicants who meet the following criteria:
• Female
• High school junior
• Student in Ardsley, Eastchester, Edgemont, Greenburgh Central, Scarsdale or White Plains School District
• Has demonstrated a commitment to volunteerism between September 2013 and March 2015
Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by May 4, 2015.
To download an application, please visit www.jlcentralwestchester.org.
Questions? Email jlcwcommunitydevelopment@gmail.com.
Scarsdale Police Receive Top Accreditation
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A national law enforcement commission has awarded the Scarsdale Police Department its highest accreditation standard.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has awarded the Scarsdale Police Department an "Accreditation with Excellence" under the "Gold Standard Assessment" program. The award was given on March 21st at the commission's conference in Reno, NV.
The program is voluntary and requires an agency to comply with 484 sets of standards in such areas as policies and procedures, crime prevention, management, support services, community advocacy and personnel practices. The agency is required to submit periodic reports to CALEA, and undergoes a comprehensive onsite inspection by a team of CALEA assessors.
The Scarsdale Police Department was first accredited by CALEA in 1990 and has continuously maintained its accreditation status since then. This is the first time the agency has been awarded "Accreditation with Excellence," which requires compliance with 100 percent of mandatory standards and 80 percent of optional standards. The Scarsdale Police has previously been awarded "Flagship Agency" status, and has been designated as a "Meritorious Police Agency" for maintaining national accreditation status for more than 15 years.
Only 5 percent of agencies in the nation are CALEA-accredited, according to the Commission. Of those, only 20 percent receive "Accreditation with Excellence."
The Scarsdale Police Department has also been continuously accredited by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services since 1990.
Scarsdale Chief of Police Andrew A. Matturro said the accreditation "is an outstanding honor and achievement for the men and women of the Scarsdale Police Department. This is a validation of their exceptional work ethic and the highest level of professionalism."
Scarsdale Teen Organizes '"Save The Tiger" Weekend at the Bronx Zoo
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Scarsdale Senior Girl Scout Samantha Lawless is partnering with Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo to present a "Save The Tiger" weekend. On April 18 and 19, visitors will learn why the wild tiger is endangered and find out what they can do to help stop it from disappearing in our lifetime. Activities will include talks and video presentations about the tiger and its habitat. Children will make tiger masks and visit real tigers at the zoo's Tiger Mountain exhibit.
This "Save The Tiger" weekend is part of Samantha's Girl Scout Gold Award Project which is the highest award a girl scout can earn by working more than 80 hours on a community service project to improve the world and be sustainable beyond her involvement. Samantha is also talking with the zoo's guest programming and education departments about helping them create a Tiger Conservation Patch Program for scout troops to earn at the zoo.
Samantha, who feels strongly about helping protect wildlife, held several successful events in Scarsdale two years ago while earning her Girl Scout Silver Award. Her most dramatic event was a tiger-themed fashion show held at The Center @862, which raised awareness in her community about the endangered tiger as well as over $1000. She used the money to purchase GPS equipment for Panthera, a conservation group working in the forests of Asia to protect the tiger from extinction.
Through Panthera, Samantha was introduced to a National Geographic author who is writing a book to encourage kids to get involved in wild animal conservation. The book will be published this summer and will include information about Samantha's tiger projects.
"I'm hoping that my new project at the Bronx Zoo will reach even more people than the event to raise awareness in Scarsdale. I want to inspire others to take action to prevent the loss of this beautiful animal," says Samantha. "I especially want to teach other kids and teens about the issues of wildlife trafficking and deforestation. There are only about 3,200 wild tigers left on earth today. Young people hold the future of this planet in their hands and will make the right choices if they know what is at stake."
Samantha's "Save The Tiger" activities will be included with admission to the Bronx Zoo on April 18 and 19.
Elliot Rose and Peggy Garfunkel Honored by the Westchester Jewish Council
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Elliot Rose and Peggy Garfunkel of Scarsdale were among 19 community volunteers honored at the Westchester Jewish Council (WJC) 2015 Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards (JYBDSA) Ceremony on Wednesday, March 11th at the JCC of Harrison. The event attracted over 350 attendees.
The 2015 recipients and their nominating organizations were:
- Scarsdale residents Elliot Rose (AJC Westchester/Fairfield) and Peggy Garfunkel (Jewish Women's Foundation of New York)
- New Rochelle residents Gregg Mashberg (Anti-Defamation League) and David Simhon (Congregation Anshe Shalom)
- White Plains resident Susan Hope Davis (Congregation Kol Ami)
- Armonk residents Richard Koh (Hillels of Westchester) and Jessica Morganthal (Rosenthal JCC)
- Dobbs Ferry resident Michael Maron (JCC on the Hudson)
- Rye resident Robert Miller (Jewish Community Center of Harrison)
- Mamaroneck residents Sarene Shanus (Jewish Education Project) and Richard Alter (Temple Israel of New Rochelle)
- Brewster resident Michael Salpeter (Jewish Family Congregation)
- Bedford Hills resident Vivian Cohn (Temple Shaaray Tefila)
- Bronx resident Trudy Cummings (The Mollie and Jack Zicklin Jewish Hospice Residence of MJHS)
- Larchmont resident Susan Miller (Westchester Jewish Center)
- Harrison resident Robert Mensch (Westchester Jewish Community Services)
- Carmel resident Ruth Greenfield (Temple Beth Elohim)
- New York City resident Lisa Rosenshein Todes (Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center)
- Lanesborough, MA resident David Rolle (Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester)
The Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award is named after Julian Y. Bernstein a former Westchester Jewish Council board member, who was a visionary communal leader.
Prior to the awards ceremony, Paul Warhit, President, Westchester Jewish Council, Rabbi Eytan Hammerman, Senior Rabbi, JCC of Harrison, Congressman Sean Maloney, Michael Kaplowitz, Chairman, Westchester Board of Legislators, Kevin Plunkett, Deputy County Executive and Michael Bernstein, son of Julian Y. Bernstein, shared remarks, followed by a performance by HaZamir Westchester, The International High School Choir.
Honorees received the award for their service from members of the JYBDSA Committee. A dessert reception followed.
The Westchester Jewish Council connects Westchester's Jewish communities and strengthens relationships among Jewish organizations and other ethnic and faith based groups, elected officials, Israel, and the community at large. For more information, click here.
