Reducing Stress at Scarsdale High School
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According to the experts, there has never been a more stressful time to be a high school student. Faced with a demanding workload, time pressure from extra curricular activities and sports and the ever-present need to excel at everything they do, many students feel like there are just not enough hours in the day or night. A 2014 study by the American Psychological Association found that teens stress levels surpass those of adults and that teens' stress levels exceed what they believe to be healthy. As a result of stress, the 1,018 teens in the study reported feeling overwhelmed, depressed, sad and fatigued.
In order to address this issue, Scarsdale High School is studying sources of stress and what can be done to alleviate it. Their initial findings were the subject of a meeting of the SHS PTA on the morning of Thursday May 7th.
The school has begun by identifying itself as one of a teen's many sources of stress and has asked the faculty to study institutional practices, teacher practices and students perspectives on stress. Three groups, each with about 50 teachers, studied the stressors and presented their findings. 
English teacher George Olivier identified the institutional practices of the school that cause stress. Based upon research that he and his group of teachers had done, and based on personal experiences that teachers had with other schools that their own children attend, they identified some practices that Scarsdale could improve. Mr. Olivier began by examining teen stress and why it is rapidly approaching, if not surpassing stress among adults. Unlike adults, teens don't have the same mechanisms to deal with stress, and sometimes suffer more than their parents. According to Olivier, one way to address the problem of stress would be to change the atmosphere in the high school. He said that Scarsdale is a competitive school, with a "business like" feel. Students may feel that rather than entering a school they are coming into an office complex. His group of teachers looked for small ways the school could change, reduce, or manage student stress. They recommended lengthening the lunch period, beginning the day later, implementing mandatory study periods and even mandating lighter or nonexistent homework on weekends and vacations. While at this point these are just ideas they are a good starting point.
Fellow English teachers Benjamin Sawyer and Rachel Warshowsky focused on what teachers can do to help students reduce or manage stress. They suggested that teachers make the classroom feel more like a community and recommended that teachers make an effort to relate to students and demonstrate that they "aren't just robots that disappear at the end of the day," as Warshowsky explained. In a humanized teaching environment with better student-teacher relations, students might feel less stress while doing their typical daily work. In order to improve relations, the teacher panel suggested that teachers attend students' sports and musical events and take an interest in their students' extracurricular activities.
The teachers examined the difference between stress reduction and stress management. Teachers believe that their students will face stress in the future, so that stress at school will help them develop good coping skills and stress management techniques. At the same time studies are showing that students have very high stress levels, and so the added stress put on them by teachers may actually be more of a hindrance than a help. Teachers are discussing how to teach stress management and determining whether this should be the subject of a new class or taught in every class. They felt that this deserved further inquiry as the school begins to fix the issue.
English teacher Seth Evans and Dean Oren Iosepovici presented the student's perspective on stress. Dean Iosipovici contended that this was the hardest topic, saying, "Our challenge as teachers and adults is to look at it the way students look at it." In order to meet this challenge, this group of teachers got students involved in the process early, having discussions and posing panel questions to student volunteers, to delve into the issue of what causes stress for the students, and how they react to and deal with that stress. The group found that some students were handling their stress using good techniques while others have a great deal of stress and lack the skills to deal with it.
As part of a group exercise, teachers attempted to return to their teenage selves and to experience stress as a teen would perceive it. Mr. Evans led the committee of teachers through a "memory chain," a technique to stimulate the recollection of past memories. He used the technique to "transport" the teachers back to their high school years, in order to better help them understand some of the typical teenage stress. According to Mr. Evans and Dean Iosepovici, the technique worked, and the teachers determined that the stress that they dealt with as teens was due to personal difficulties in their lives and seemed to be socially induced.
As a teen and a student at Scarsdale High School, I experience this stress firsthand. I juggle demands from many different sources, all at the same time. Though I want to do well at everything I do, I am forced to divide my time between studying and preparing for six classes, attending sports practice and participating in extracurricular activities. I also need to sleep in order to grow. I always feel as if I am sacrificing one activity for another and don't want to miss out on the fun of being in high school in order to meet all my obligations.
For most Scarsdale students the prospect of getting into college looms heavily over everything we do. We put pressure on ourselves to do our best, parents set goals that may not be attainable and each year we learn that it is harder and harder to get into the "right" school. That's why I was happy to learn that SHS is studying stress and looking for ways to make the school a happier, more productive learning environment.
An Evening in Monte Carlo to Support SFCS
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- Written by Nan Berke
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Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling Service celebrated An Evening in Monte Carlo at the Scarsdale Golf Club on Thursday May 7th. Attendees circulated throughout the club and had the chance to enjoy a spectacular May evening on the patio, socialize inside, or hit the gaming tables. The international cuisine was served buffet style for guests to enjoy.
Croupier's patiently explained the rules of gaming to novices and played skillfully with the card sharks. All winnings from the tables were redeemable for coupons to win a wide variety of enticing prizes.
Jay Genova, who is completing his first year as Director of Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling, crystallized the agency's mission down to "helping families" and spoke of how the evening's theme paralleled the new direction of the agency.
Kathy Steves, President of Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling acknowledged the hard working co-chairs for this event, Peter Strauss and Elise Flagg. Steves also gratefully accepted a generous check to SEFC from the Rotary Club. All in all a relaxing, fun evening was enjoyed by everyone in attendance.
The mission of Scarsdale § Edgemont Family Counseling Service is to strengthen family and community life by providing individual, family and group therapy; outreach to youth; services to older adults; and public programs relating to family life issues. SFCS works in cooperation with other organizations for this purpose.
Co-chair of the event Elise Flagg released this message after the event:
On behalf of my co chair, Peter Strauss and myself.I want to thank the hardest working fundraising committee I have ever had the pleasure to work with..Denise Koslowsky, Wendy Berk, Angela Manson, Emily Vallario, Nancy Steinberg, Sandie Badger, Bill and Stephanie Miller, Deena Rosenthal and our phenomenal Journal editors,JohnWerner and Ed Feinberg. And a very special THANK YOU to SFCS Office Manager Joan Caputo. This group of people lead the effort to ensure the success of this fabulous event.
And I would be remiss if I did not thank the entire Benefit Committee and Board of Directors:
Benefit Committee: Board of Directors:
Wendy Berk Kathy Steves,President
Lisa Bezos Susan Greenberg, Vice President
Sharon Charles Deena Rosenthal,Vice President
Ed Feinberg Dr. Ed Feinberg, Secretary
Beth Gelles Bill Miller, Treasurer
Jennifer Gruenberg Sandie Badger
Steven Kessner Nivedita Bajaj
Denise Koslowsky Wendy Berk
Tracey Lee Susan Friedman
Clarissa Lefkowitz Frances Galloway
Tracey Novick Marcia Helbling
Nina Ross Jacqueline Irwin
Janice Starr Denise Koslowsky
Emily Vallario Angela Manson
John Werner Jane Nussbaum
Harriet Sobol Nancy Steinberg
Carolyn Stevens Peter Strauss
Yanjing Wei-Lu John Werner
Thank you all and the entire Scarsdale and Edgemont communities for your time, your effort and the constant support of SFCS. We are constantly thankful and always grateful.
Photos and text by Nan Berke
WJCS Gala Honoring Karen Blumenthal, Emily Grant Raises Record $730,000 For Westchester
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Karen Blumenthal, second left, and Emily Grant, were honored by WJCS at Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison April 21 by WJCS executives, from left, Board President Barry Kaplan, CEO Alan Trager and COO Bernie Kimberg. The more than 250 Gala guests included Westchester's Deputy County Executive Kevin Plunkett and Mike Kaplowitz, vice-chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, who presented Blumenthal and Grant with proclamations lauding them for their outstanding contributions to the County. The honorees applauded WJCS for the many programs that benefit 20,000 people in Westchester every year.
Guests also heard compelling stories of help and hope about two individuals in whose lives WJCS has made a difference. One client was a teen girl whose suicidal tendencies were halted after receiving leading-edge behavioral therapy and the other had been a passenger in the first car of the Metro-North train that erupted in flames after colliding with a car on the tracks in February. He sought counseling treatment from WJCS immediately after the crash and is recovering from the traumatic experience.
A children's emotional support program that Blumenthal pioneered at WJCS was just one of many achievements for which she was honored. Her tireless advocacy for children was highlighted as well as her sterling service as a WJCS Board member.
Grant, a former Board member, also won praise for her continuing commitment to enhancing life in Westchester through her numerous philanthropic efforts.
The gala raised more than $730,000 to enable WJCS to continue providing more than 80 mental health, home care, residential, special needs, educational and other programs to the Westchester Community.
"We are gratified by the overwhelming support of our donors, sponsors and attendees who gave generously," said Susan Lewen, director of development at WJCS, "and who value the vital impact WJCS is making to strengthen the lives of Westchester residents."
WJCS is one of the largest non-profit, non-sectarian human services agencies in Westchester, serving 20,000 people annually at 80 clinic, school, community and home-based locations throughout the county. The agency's integrated network of services includes mental health treatment and counseling, child and youth development programs, residential and non-residential programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, home health and geriatric services. The highest level of professional development and training is offered through the WJCS Educational Institute. For more information on WJCS, go to www.wjcs.com.
Additional Gala photos click here.
Please contact Colleen Brathwaite, 914-761-0600 x204 or cbrathwaite@wjcs.com for identification information.
Boy Scout's Honored by Cardinal Dolan, Scouts Tour Village and Distribute May Baskets
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Troop 2 Boy Scouts and Scarsdale residents Aiden Connolly, Edward Gruber, Matthew Taylor and Joseph Tesler received the Pope Pius XII Emblem on April 26 at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The boys received their award from His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, who officiated the ceremony that saw 70 scouts from the New York Archdiocese, along with the four from Troop 2, receive awards for their efforts in the church-related ministries and vocation program for scouts who are active Catholics.
The Pope Pius XII program teaches scouts about life and occupations in the church, including ministries, while discussing life choices and current issues facing the church and society. The program is run under the guidance of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, a group that uses Scouting to help shape future Catholic leaders. As a part of the program, the boys participated in a one-day retreat, and completed a service project.
Along with the four scouts from Troop 2, Troop Chairperson Edward Mann received the Saint George Award for his significant contributions to the development of Catholic youth through scouting. The award is also a part of the National Committee on Catholic Scouting, and requires a nomination after contributing significantly to Catholic youth development, whereupon a board of review must approve the nominee.
Scouts Take Field Trip to learn about Government
Girl and Boy Scouts from four troops from Scarsdale and Edgemont got an excused absence from school on May to get a civics lesson on local government. Dressed in uniform, the scouts started the day with juice and donuts at Scarsdale Village Hall where they were greeted by Trustee Matt Callaghan and Assistant Village Manager Justin Datino, who explained some of the functions of Village Government in Scarsdale.
The morning was spent on a tour of Village landmarks including the Weinberg Nature Center, the sanitation building and central garage, Boniface Water Tower and the Public Safety Building. At each stop the scouts learned how Village Government works to serve the residents. Troop Leader Andrea Economos arranged the day and supervised the troops.
May Baskets:
May Baskets with cookies, paperflowers and original artwork were put together and distributed to community volunteers this week. Daisies and Brownies make these baskets for people who have been outstanding volunteers in the community. Scarsdale10583 received a beautiful gift basket from Troop 1956 and we want to thank the troop and its leaders.
Annual Carnival is a Hit in Scarsdale
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- Written by Justin Doyno
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The annual carnival took place on Friday and Saturday April 17th and 18th at Scarsdale High School. The weather was beautiful and brought out many families. There were fabulous rides and colorful booths and everyone seemed happy and excited to be there. Popcorn, hot dogs, funnel cakes and cotton candy were also part of the mix. Once again the carnival was a major success.Proceeds from the day will be donated to Afya International, Heifer International and the Peter C. Alderman Foundation.
