Kindergarten Cutoff Date Moved Back in Connecticut: What Does It Mean for Scarsdale?
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A change in the law regarding the minimum age for entry into Kindergarten in Connecticut will likely have little impact here.
In June, the Connecticut legislature passed a bill that rolled back the cutoff date to enter Kindergarten from January 1 to September 1. Now children must be five years old by September 1 to enter kindergarten for that school year. Before this, four year-olds could enter the system.
In New York State the cutoff date remains at December 31 and four year-olds are permitted to start school in September. However in Scarsdale many parents with children whose birthdays are in the second half of the year voluntarily choose to delay entry into Kindergarten and keep their children in nursery school of an additional year. These kids are then 5 ½ or even 6 by the time they begin school. The financial burden of educating these kids is assumed by the family for an additional year.
Parents choose this option because they feel their four year-olds when be at an academic and social disadvantage if they are in the same class with children who are an entire year older.
There are potential disadvantages to the date change. For those in need in Connecticut, the change in the cutoff date will mean that children will be unable to benefit from services offered by the school system before the age of five.
We asked Scarsdale’s Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh for his thoughts on the issue along with data on how many Kindergarten eligible children are held back for an additional year of preschool. He was unable to provide the stats at this time but shared the following on the issue.
He said, “As far as I know, there are no talks at the NY state level to change from the current cut-off.
From my perspective (both in my current role and as a former Kindergarten teacher) I feel strongly that it is our responsibility as educators to meet students where they are developmentally, including academic level and social-emotional development. Each child's profile is unique and we strive to create learning environments that support, inspire, and appropriately challenge all learners. We welcome and encourage students to join our wonderful Kindergarten classes as they are eligible.
I do share some of the concerns expressed in the article about what it would mean to some families to change the date and delay opportunities to benefit from the special education services within the elementary school setting, and/or for those students just plain ready to move on from preschool. The additional financial burden could also be a concern for families. I understand that CT is taking it on a case-by-case basis and will be making exceptions.”
(Photo Credit: Steven Schnur)
Tips and Tricks for Dorm Design
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Attending college gives young adults a new level of freedom and autonomy in their day-to-day lives. For many, a dorm is the first space that young adults can truly make their own. However, for those who don’t have experience in interior design, coming up with a coherent vision for your space can be daunting.
Graduating Scarsdale High School seniors Jadyn Susanke and Cate Bellesheim recently completed a six-week internship at Homestead Advisors, where they learned about various interior design concepts and strategies. As a final project, they created design spreads of college dorms for each other and would like to share not only their designs but also some decorating tips.
Design 1
For her project, Cate designed this “floral-boho-nature” spread for Jadyn’s dorm. To convey this vibe, the design includes patterns such as flowers and butterflies, as well as some different textures, like fringe and woven baskets. To help keep the room cohesive, Cate stated, “I kept the main color different shades of green with some subtle pops of blues, yellows, and other colors in things like the duvet cover.” But since the spread is intended for a dorm room, she wanted to make sure it was still cozy by adding “fuzzy blankets for the bed, lots of throw pillows, and even a floor pillow to provide more seating space and comfort.”
Design 2
For Cate’s dorm, Jadyn designed the room around a calming aesthetic that would help her unwind after a long day. She specifically chose to use warm-toned colors to help create a relaxing environment. Jadyn used the comforter as a vocal point of the design scheme and then based the rest of the decorations and accessories around it. She also made sure to include practical aspects in the design, such as a lamp and storage unit. Jadyn also added wall decorations and “…did one piece that’s more fun with a disco ball to bring more ‘personality’ to the room and spice things up.” Ultimately, she struck a balance between calming and fun for this dorm design.
The two reflected on the steps they took and strategies they employed to create these design boards. And according to the pair, the first step of designing your dorm is to “Choose what ‘vibe’ you want to have, and then base all your furniture and accessories around it.” Then you should keep a few basic interior design “rules” in mind:
- Less is more.
- Don’t mix too many patterns; either use a patterned duvet and more plain pillows/blankets or vice versa.
- Mix materials (ex. Wood and metal) to give the room more depth and texture.
But their advice extends beyond the more technical aspects of interior design. The pair suggested personalizing your dorm room:
- Fill it with things that make you happy.
- If you don’t think you’re going to use something, then don’t get it—your dorm room is small anyway, so why add clutter?
- The more fuzzy blankets, the better.
- Think practically and buy things that will have built-in storage.
Jadyn and Cate also shared a list of where to buy dorm furniture, supplies, and decorations:
- Dormify.com
- Target
- Urban Outfitters
- Amazon
- The Container Store
- Crate and Barrel
- Anthropology
- PotteryBarn
Seniors Look Forward and Back on Transition Day
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As the school year draws to an end, graduation is fast approaching for high school seniors. This year’s graduation is planned for Thursday, June 22, at 6:30 pm on Butler Field. To commemorate their K-12 careers and celebrate a bittersweet end, seniors gathered for Senior Day on the morning of Monday, June 5th.
Seniors began the day by reporting to the auditorium for a Senior Transition Panel with Scarsdale High School (SHS) alumni. The school invited current college freshmen to speak at the panel and share their experiences with the graduating class. Although some responses were seemingly comedic, like finding a therapist early, all contained important pieces of information. Panelists suggested setting a timer for your laundry, scheduling small deadlines for yourself, communicating with your roommate, finding quiet spaces, and finding a work-life balance.
After the Senior Transition Panel, seniors broke into small groups to attend workshops led by the deans. There, the deans shared a few final words of advice, had students write thank-you letters to at least one of their favorite teachers, and received letters they had written to their future selves. These years-old letters allowed students to see how they’ve progressed and grown throughout high school and to reflect on the memories of years past. Some students wrote about their goals for the future—doing well in school, making new friends, meeting new people—and others simply jotted down their favorite quotes, movies, and TV shows. Regardless of the depth of the content, each student was able to see how they changed over the years.
Finally, students gathered at the Brewster Road entrance to receive their copies of Bandersnatch, followed by a yearbook signing and lunch. There, seniors grabbed sandwiches and snacks and sat together to sign yearbooks. A hectic energy filled the lawn as students flitted from friend to friend and book to book, writing heartfelt messages and wishing their peers the best. After the yearbook signing, some students ended the day by visiting their favorite teachers and asking them for their signatures.
Fenigstein and 16 Others Receive NYS Youth Leadership Awards
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SHS Junior, Samantha (Sammy) Fenigstein was one of 17 Westchester students awarded the NYS Senate Youth leadership award for a combination of academic achievement and community service. Sammy’s community service project was her development and continued leadership of a program called Skip the Straw Scarsdale. The program has helped the environment by decreasing plastic straw use and by beneficially changing habits and practices around the use of single-use disposable plastics.
The Skip the Straw program has two parts.
First there is the Skip the Straw “Business Pledge” where restaurants and food establishments take a pledge to serve beverages without plastic straws and only provide reusable or non-plastic straws upon request. Sammy has been going door to door, speaking with restaurants, and convincing them to help the environment and take the pledge. Several Scarsdale restaurants have signed on and switched from plastic to compostable straws.
Second, the Skip the Straw “Individual Pledge” is where individuals take a pledge to choose not to use single-use disposable straws and to frequent local establishments that are part of the Skip the Straw program. People who have taken the pledge attest to realizing that in most instances they don’t need a straw, and are now using less disposable plastics. If you would like to help the environment and Sammy go to her website and take the Skip the Straw Scarsdale pledge!
Here is an announcement from State Senator Shelley Mayer about the program.
State Senator Shelley Mayer awarded 17 students throughout Senate District 37 with the 2023 New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award on Monday, June 12. The NYS Senate Youth Leadership Award recognizes outstanding high school students for excellence in the classroom, athletics, and extracurricular or community activities.
In addition to presenting each student with a certificate for their achievement, Senator Mayer led an open discussion to learn more about each student’s work and to allow student leaders to learn from and inspire one another.
Senator Shelley Mayer said, “I am pleased to present Youth Leadership Awards to these tremendous students from high schools throughout District 37. We are fortunate to have many hard-working students dedicated to inspiring and leading others. Whether they achieved high marks in academics, gave hundreds of hours of community service, or led their peers to success, as a community we benefit from their leadership, empathy, and determination every day. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, I especially appreciated hearing their stories and learning more about what they have done in their schools and their future plans. I thank Superintendent Dr. Eric Lutinski and the Rye Neck High School for hosting this ceremony.”
“We are proud to host the 2023 Youth Leadership Recognition Awards this year. Our five nominees exemplify the quality and character of our Rye Neck student body and we are gratified that they have been recognized by Senator Mayer for their efforts,” said Dr. Eric Lutinski, Ed.D., Superintendent of Rye Neck Schools.
Students from Bronxville, Harrison, Rye, Rye Neck, Scarsdale, Tuckahoe, and White Plains were recognized. Each student was nominated by a teacher or school administrator for their outstanding leadership.
17 Students received the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Award
Chris Coughlin Named Interim Principal of Scarsdale Middle School
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(This just in from Superintendent Drew Patrick)
Since the announcement of current principal Meghan Troy’s appointment to the position of Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, we have been engaged in a search process to identify an Interim Principal for Scarsdale Middle School. I am pleased to tell you that the search has concluded, and that Chris Coughlin, Assistant Principal of Scarsdale Middle School, has been selected to fill the role for the 2023-2024 school year. Chris will be recommended for appointment at the June 5, 2023, Board of Education meeting. Please join me in extending our congratulations to Chris, along with our thanks and appreciation for his interest in helping to continue the outstanding work that takes place every day at SMS. Since joining the Scarsdale community four years ago, Chris has been able to draw upon his wealth of experience to make important contributions to the school while learning with and from the amazing SMS community. His passion for students, knowledge of teaching and learning, and strong commitment to collaboration will ensure a successful transition and a positive year ahead. Once approved, Chris will officially assume the role of Interim Principal on July 1, 2023.
Of course, appointing Chris to the role creates a new vacancy. We will begin the process of searching for an interim assistant principal for the 2023-24 school year immediately upon his appointment on June 5. I also want to acknowledge the feelings of uncertainty that a change in leadership can conjure. In addition to the supportive transition conversations Meghan Troy will have with Chris, I will also be actively supporting Chris, Assistant Principal Rochelle Hauge, and the entire SMS community throughout this transition year. The goal of this support will be to ensure that the needs of the school community are met. Even as Chris commences his service in the role of Interim Principal, we will begin to organize ourselves for the search process for the permanent leader of Scarsdale Middle School. That process will include collaboration with and input from the SMS community to define desired characteristics, describe strengths and practices that should continue, and identify opportunities for growth and improvement. I am confident that with this process, and with Chris’s leadership, SMS students will have a fantastic year, and the school will be set up for success going forward.
Read our interview with Coughlin when he came to Scarsdale from Bedford in 2019.
