Scarsdale Schools Education Foundation Hosts Relaunch Event
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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When the going got tough during school budget discussions this year, we wondered what happened to the Scarsdale Schools Educational Foundation (SSEF). Launched in 2012, the SSEF was established to allow for the use of private funding to fill in gaps in the school budget when tax dollars alone would not suffice. Their mission is to “enhance innovative learning in our classrooms, expanding creative uses of technology and add new equipment and facilities.”
In the intervening years they raised substantial funds that facilitated major improvements in the schools. Most notable is the vast fitness center underneath the gym at Scarsdale High School which is used for physical education classes and team training. The state of the art Design Lab, which is the setting for STEM instruction is another standout addition to the school funded by the SSEF. At the elementary schools, the SSEF funded makerspaces and at the middle school was the beneficiary of renovations to the library. Annual social entrepreneurship grants financed innovative work by Scarsdale students.
However in recent years, several factors aligned to slow the progress of the foundation. First, the leadership that fueled the effort aged out of the schools after their children graduated and moved on. The COVID crisis forced the district to overcome great obstacles to continue to deliver an education to the students. Last, a crisis in the district administration that resulted in the resignation of the superintendent temporarily took the focus off community collaboration.
Now the effort is being relaunched by a group of community leaders, headed by Megan Simon, Scott Zemachson, Elinor Etkes, Erica Crisses and Dave Shuster.
On Wednesday evening May 29, 2024 they held an event to announce the relaunch and to enlist community support. On hand was the district administration who outlined the importance of the foundation and their visions of what it may allow the district to accomplish. Simon introduced the initiative and welcomed a large group of supporters and the administration.
Superintendent Drew Patrick showcased the district’s new strategic plan which is illustrated below and will guide future initiatives funded by the SSEF.
Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh stressed the district’s focus on teaching students “to adapt, collaborate across cultures and conflicts and approach challenges with resilience, tenacity and empathy.” He said, “We look to prioritize learning experiences that foster these qualities.” At the high school this now translates into the science research program, project-based learning and the international learning and exchange programs. He said, “We are interested in designing more opportunities for students and to scale them to reach more students including design experiences, bringing global thought leaders to the district and incentivizing student led design.” He suggested that the support of the SSEF could allow changes to learning spaces to support innovative thinking.
At the middle school he called for “SMS Pathways to Passion.” This initiative would reorganize the quarterly courses to allow students to identify an area of passion and learn about it in well suited spaces.
He noted that many of the elementary school playgrounds are outdated and the equipment is aging. He proposed a student design challenge to come up with innovative equipment which could then be built and installed at the schools.
He concluded with, “Thank you for your partnership and commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators. Through your ongoing support, we can make a significant impact on their futures and the world they will inherit.”
Scott Zemachson urged everyone to get on board, welcoming even the smallest donations. He said, “Pennies, nickels and dimes equal quarters. Please make this part of your annual contribution. Everything we donate makes a difference.
He announced that QR codes had been set up to making giving easy. Learn more here about the SSEF here and click here to start giving.
AFYA Foundation Receives Medical Equipment from Cape Cod
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Supplies were loaded in Cape Cod.
Walkers, crutches, hoya lifts, wheelchairs, boots, hospital beds and canes were donated.
Over the Memorial Day weekend AFYA Foundation, a Yonkers-based global healthcare charity, received a large donation of durable medical equipment from Cape Cod. It is symbolic that it was organized by a war veteran Lt. Colonel (Ret.) LTC(R) Jason Cullinane, who both collected the supplies and drove the truck to AFYA.
Danielle Butin, a Scarsdale native, is Founder and CEO of AFYA Foundation. AFYA has a large base of support in the Scarsdale community. The non-profit provides healthcare supplies globally to areas affected by conflict and disaster. This batch of supplies is destined mostly for Ukraine, where ongoing conflict has created a critical need for medical assistance. “The AFYA Foundation is dedicated to supporting Ukraine over the long term. These durable medical equipment items will significantly help in meeting the rehabilitation needs of thousands. By combining donations of supplies and funding, AFYA can achieve its most substantial and supportive impact."-Danielle Butin, Founder and CEO AFYA Foundation.
Starting in March LTC(R) Cullinane organized and spearheaded a community-wide donation drive on Cape Cod. The initiative received an overwhelming response, with residents and the Local Freemasons at Cape Cod HELP (capecodhelp.org) contributing lifts, hospital beds, wheelchairs, bandages, and other essential medical equipment. The effort collected over 100 walkers, over 50 pairs of crutches, 3 hoya lifts, 5 wheelchairs, dozens of boots, hospital beds, canes, and over a dozen large bins filled with essential medical items. David Hill of the Local Freemasons said “Cape Cod HELP always has plenty of donated durable medical equipment available for free to anyone who needs it. We were delighted to participate in this medical equipment drive.”
"Seeing the community come together to support those in need has been truly inspiring," said Jason Cullinane. "As a veteran, I understand the devastating impact of war, and I am grateful to everyone in Falmouth who contributed to this cause. It's our way of showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine and providing them with the necessary resources to save lives and alleviate suffering."
The effort received wholehearted support in Scarsdale. Max Grudin, Ph.D has helped to coordinate the delivery to Afya. Says Dr. Grudin: “Afya Foundation is a charity with local roots and a global reach. Many thanks to Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Cullinane for his energy to raise awareness on Cape Cod and to drive the medical supplies himself with his wife and two young children. It is symbolic that they have done it over the Memorial Day weekend. I was frankly astonished to hear how many Cape Cod residents and organizations have answered the call. Every single donated item is a story of human support and care. Cape Cod - thank you very much! We are also grateful to Nick Buchen for helping with unloading the truck, to the Village administration for coordinating the parking as well as to the Congregational Church for providing the parking space”.
The Cullinane-Honjo family extends their heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the donation drive, the Masons, The Falmouth High School Cheerleaders, individual donors as well as those who donated their time to load and organize the supplies. This initiative is a testament to the power of community and the profound impact collective action can have in addressing global crises.
Click here to donate. And for more information on how to contribute to future initiatives, please contact:
Jason Cullinane
Email: jason.cullinane@gmail.com
Phone: (650) 776-1052
AFYA Foundation
Website: www.afyafoundation.org
Email: info@afyafoundation.org
Phone: (914) 920-5081
About AFYA Foundation:
Afya Foundation is a non-profit organization that collects and delivers medical supplies, hospital equipment, and humanitarian provisions to healthcare facilities in regions experiencing dire need due to conflict or disaster. Founded in 2008, Afya has made a significant impact by bridging the gap between surplus in the U.S. and urgent needs across the U.S. and worldwide.The Cullinane-Honjo family extends their heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in the donation drive, the Masons, The Falmouth High School Cheerleaders, individual donors as well as those who donated their time to load and organize the supplies. This initiative is a testament to the power of community and the profound impact collective action can have in addressing global crises.
Legally Blond Jr.: A Hit for the SHS Class of 2024
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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The SHS Class of 2024 presented three performances of Legally Blond Jr. on the weekend of May 17-19, 2024 and it was a hit for those who participated and those in the audience. The musical was the work of the students – with student directors, student choreography, set design, production and a student led orchestra.
In lead roles were Ariana Koenig as Elle, Dillon Harris as Emmet, Peter Silver played Warner, Matthew Kolb played Callahan and Kyle Pidedjian who brought down the house as the heart throb UPS man.
The play was directed by SHS Seniors Oryna Bludova and Jack Finegold who managed 90 of their classmates who participated in the production.
Commenting on how it went, Bludova said, “Jack and I are overwhelmed with how well the play went. We've directed together before in the winter, directing Return of the Script as one of Drama Club's winter plays, but directing the senior show is a completely different experience.
As people who are pursuing theater in college, we obviously cared about the quality of the show, but that wasn't our main objective. The senior show is about bonding with the grade, we wanted to make the show the best that it could be without sacrificing the fun. We were over the moon to see how proud everyone looked in their final pose on stage.
Directing had its ups and its downs, but we were really proud of how increasingly committed the cast grew to the show throughout the process. We remember how hard it was to get through the first couple of run throughs, making the cast remember something they learned over a month ago. But eventually we started getting videos from cast members practicing their parts on their breaks at senior options.
The energy that the cast brought out during the Friday performance was electric and they were able to keep it up there all the way through Sunday. We are so proud of the way that it turned out and are thankful so many seniors decided to take part in it.”
Directors: Oryna Bludova and Jack Finegold
Choreography: Caitlin Higgins and Lily Quirke
Vocal Musical Direction: Rebecca Gross and Samantha Loeser
Costume Designer: Ava Shandler
Producers: Mr. Kevin Viviano and Maya Orad
Pit Orchestra Direction: Vasilije Dragovic
Technical Director: Dr. David Graybill
Cast
Margot-Drew Siegel
Serena-Randee Smith
Pilar-Monica Afran
Kate-Caroline Calvert
Gaelen-Sasha Levenson
Elle Woods-Ariana Koenig
Saleswoman-Kay Fitzgerald
Store Manager-Taylor Mann
Warner-Peter Silver
Grandmaster Chad-Thomas Kronenberg
Winthrop-Matt Rothenberg
Lowell-Yelena Sahakyan
Emmett-Dillon Harris
Aaron-Matthew Margolin
Padamadan-Etel Malka
Enid-Julia Kosakowski
Vivienne-Abby Underweiser
Callahan-Matthew Kolb
Paulette-Rachel Coplan
Whitney-Ella Mulfinger
Dewey-Matthew Knudson
Brooke Wyndham-Taylor Mann
Sabrina-Sydney Geringer
Prison Guard-Constance Argenson
Kyle-Kyle Pidedjian
Kiki The Colorist-Maya Regenstreif
Cashier-Etel Malka
Stylist-Ariella Fishman
Judge-Constance Argenson
Chutney Wyndham-Lana Wesier
Ensemble: Lola Ansell, Constance Argenson, Harmony Bowes, Abby Etra, Sammy Fenigstein, Kay Fitzgerald, Will Gettinger, Sydney Geringer, Ellis Geringer, Sophie Hoffman, Shayna Klingsberg, Thomas Kronenberg, Jade Kraut, Matthew Knudson, Tamara Latzman, Ella Mulfinger, Matthew Margolin, Julia Kosakowski, Etel Malka, Braden Matsuz, Griffen Miller, Riley Meltz, Abby O’Conell, Kaitlyn Perry, Yelena, Sahakyan, Kate Sanchez, Ava Schnipper, Hadley Shearer, Dylan Stein, Arianna Makrakis Toniolo, Cameron Weismer.
Photos by Michelle Sterling
Vote for Leah
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(This letter was written by Tracy Tang)
Dear Scarsdale10583,
I'm writing to express my enthusiastic support for my friend and neighbor, Leah Dembitzer, in her candidacy for the Board of Education.
When I first moved to Scarsdale six years ago, Leah was the first neighbor I met. Her kindness and consideration quickly made her a good friend. Our bond deepened as we discovered that her two boys, Lucas and Noah, are the same age as my two boys, Harry and Charley. However, beyond our personal connection, I want to highlight Leah's remarkable dedication to volunteerism in our community.
Leah introduced me to the Scarsdale League of Women Voters, where she served as the president. Attending a lunch event she hosted for the league, I was immediately impressed by her meticulous organizational skills. Despite the immense effort she put behind the scenes, Leah made everything look effortless. Her leadership inspired me to become a member right away.
Five years ago, when our older boys, Lucas and Harry, started 7th grade, Leah stepped up as the PTA president for the middle school. I volunteered as the co-chair for the PTA’s Multicultural Committee, and Leah's support was invaluable. Our largest event, the annual international luncheon, was a testament to Leah's dedication. With over 1200 attendees, Leah ensured everything ran smoothly with her kind and encouraging emails and hands-on assistance during the event.
Leah is a tireless volunteer who serves in various roles within our community. Despite her demanding position as PTC president this year, she still finds time to contribute to initiatives like the Scarsdale Bowl Committees. Her unwavering commitment to volunteerism and community is truly admirable. I believe the Board of Education would greatly benefit from having more dedicated volunteers like Leah. Therefore, I wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy for the Scarsdale Board of Education.
Sincerely,
Tracy Tang
56 Harvest Drive
Leah Dembitzer's Next Step: The Scarsdale Board of Education
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PT Council President, President of the SMS PTA and President of the League of Women Voters are just a few of the volunteer roles held by Leah Dembitzer during her 15 years in Scarsdale. Now she has set her sights on the Board of Education and has been nominated by the School Board Nominating Committee to serve. With an election coming up on Tuesday May 21, Dembitzer answered some questions about why she would like to serve and what she hopes to do as a member of the Board.
Why did you volunteer to run for the Board of Education?
I decided to run because I love the Scarsdale Schools. The schools are the center of our community and my children have grown and been inspired, challenged and supported throughout their years in the schools. I have been involved as a volunteer in the school community since my high school junior was in kindergarten at Quaker Ridge. As a parent, I see there are so many complex issues affecting and impacting our children. I want to work toward preserving and enhancing the student experience and help to support our school community as it continues to evolve and move forward during these challenging and pivotal times.
What do you see as some of the important issues facing the Scarsdale Public Schools today?
That’s a great question. There are so many complex issues at play in the world around us. For Scarsdale, after watching the budget process this cycle, I really think future budget planning is essential. I would imagine that much will be brought forward and discussed during the roll-out of Dr. Patrick’s strategic plan later this spring but a focus on communicating and bringing the community along in the process of identifying and advancing our shared goals and values is essential work. The school buildings themselves need care, maintenance and innovation. We have a potential bond coming up that may include needed capital projects. Thoughtful planning for the build-out and strategic maintenance of our core programs. Keeping an eye on student mental health and wellness; supporting the growth and development of the whole child with ongoing opportunities for enrichment and exploration. There is so much happening at almost hyper-speed in our complex world, like technology innovations, artificial intelligence, the impact of social media on our children, creating space for civil discourse, and the effects of climate change on our community. These are all important issues facing the Scarsdale Schools.
What about your past volunteer activities qualifies you to be on the Board?
I didn’t know when I moved to Scarsdale 15 years ago that I would find so much joy and edification in the volunteer world. Our community is really special with regard to volunteer participation and the level of professionalism and expertise brought forward. We have such a talented, diverse and creative community. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know so many people through various volunteer experiences. I’ve served as President of the Quaker Ridge PTA, President of the Scarsdale Middle School PTA, and I’m finishing my term as PT Council President. I have chaired the School Budget portfolio for the League of Women Voters Scarsdale and served as President of the League of Women Voters Scarsdale as well. I’ve chaired Young Writers’ Workshop and currently co-chair an incredible program called Running and Winning for the League of Women Voters Westchester. I’ve also served on the Board of Westchester Reform Temple and have done a lot of volunteer work there as well. I really enjoy learning about the schools and being part of the energy and work to move our school community forward during these complex times. I’ve had a lot of experience, through my PTA and PTC work, on district-level committees. Several of my volunteer roles have focused on community and youth engagement, advocacy, civics education, and creating space for student voice.
At this point in my volunteer career, I have knowledge of and experience with school-related issues and understand the importance of engaging the community-at-large. If elected, I will listen, learn, bring questions forward, lean into my strong collaborative and consensus-building skills, and emphasize thoughtful decision-making in my Board work.
What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected as a member of the BoE? Or maybe: What compelled you to want to become a member of the BoE?)
I think that one of the essential roles of the Board is to help facilitate a connection between the community and administration; creating space for input, feedback and clear communication. I hope to develop and strengthen aspects of community engagement. I also hope to use my experience and skills to support the work of educating and empowering our district’s students to meet the challenges of this complex world: to be critical thinkers, thoughtful collaborators and confident leaders.
The Scarsdale Schools’ Budget Vote and Board Election will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at the Scarsdale Middle School Gym, 7am - 9pm.
