Heart spring 2015

SPRING 2015

From the Heart Mount Pleasant — The Heart of Westchester County

Volume 14, Issue 3

Science Success!

Marino and peers put Westlake on the map It all adds up. A medal here, two medals there and pretty soon you have … lots of medals — and some pretty sweet recognition.

That is what’s happening with science students at Westlake. The middle and high school Science Olympiad teams and the high school science research students entered regional competitions in February and March and came back with lots of … well, you know.

The steady interest and growth of both schools’ Science Olympiad teams has upped their competitive spirit and brought notable success with that growth. And, despite its infancy, the high school science research program has produced medal-winning research by all of its upper class students. There’s a lot to be excited about!

Research trifecta

Just three years young, Westlake High School’s dedicated science research program sent its three upperclass members to the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) held on March 7 at Sleepy Hollow High School and all three came

The Mount Pleasant Central School District Newsletter

away with some impresive awards!

Senior Sarah Marino was named an international I-SWEEEP finalist and Grand Prize winner at WESEF. Her medal-winning research on preventing the collapse of bee colonies was one of four projects selected to go on to compete at the International Sustainable World Project Olympiad in Houston, Texas this May. The I-SWEEEP competition focuses on energy, engineering and the environment, with the goal of advancing the awareness of sustainability. It is the largest science fair of its kind. The Cornellbound senior will compete against 400 top-ranking student researchers from over 70 countries all competing for thousands of dollars worth of awards.

Her fellow science research colleagues Adam Catto and Steven Brunetto, who presented for the first time, also earned WESEF honors. Adam, a senior who joined the science research program just last year, was one of five students to receive the special ASM Materials Education Foundation

Teams from the high school (left) and middle school (right) took home quite a few medals at the NYS Science Olympiad regionals this winter. Science research student Sarah Marino, center, was one of four Grand Prize winners at WESEF who will compete for thousands of dollars in prizes at the International I-SWEEEP Olympiad in Houston, Texas this May.

Continued on page 2

The Westlake Players present

A funny thing happened on the way to the

fORUM

April 17,18, 24, 25 at 8 p.m.

April 19, 1 p.m. at WHS (Complimentary senior citizen lunch w/ ticket purchase prior to matinee)

See back page for tickets

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Science success Continued from page 2

Award that recognizes the best materials engineering projects.

Steven, a junior, took fourth place in the Environmental Science category.

They were excited about their success and the success of Westlake’s emerging program. “It was awesome that we all won,” said an exuberant Sarah as the WESEF winners shared their experiences with first-year science research students.

Their teacher Lawrence McIntyre made it a point to say that it is huge to win any prize at WESEF and was obviously proud that his Westlake students went three for three.

Science Olympians

2

Students explain their research to attendees of the fifth grade Celebration of Learning on March 9.

Fifth grade science researchers get their feet wet The fifth grade Celebration of Learning on March 9 was a celebration of everything science. Tri-fold poster boards filled the gym as excited 10-and 11-year olds began their first formal foray into science fairs. Using the scientific method, student spent weeks researching, experimenting and then collecting and analyzing their data.

On the evening of the fair, students stood beside their boards waiting to explain their fieldwork to parents, relatives and teachers. And, with the poise of seasoned presenters, they carefully

explained their research — in full detail — without the use of notecards.

Project topics ranged from vegetable conductivity and the fat content of foods to hydraulics and salt water fuel.

As in all science research fairs, medals for “Best Overall Project,” “Grossest Project” and “Most Surprising Result” were voted on by attendees. For winners and more on the fair, visit the Columbus website: ces.mtplcsd.org.

Judging by the enthusiastic students, the next wave of science researchers are ready to hit Westlake!

In another competitive realm, Westlake’s Science Olympiad middle and high school teams attended the NYS Science Olympiad regional tournaments this winter. The teams attend these tournaments annually, but this year their success has exceeded expectations.

Advisers Tom Hall and Ray Szczerba work with both teams on contest events, which include both knowledge-based and performance tests. Students generally choose two events to enter.

At the high school regional competition held on January 31 at Byram Hills High School, Westlake placed 15th out of 40 teams. They competed in 18 events and half of the 15-member team medaled in at least one event: 3rd Place: Bridget McCusker and Maria Popp, Bungee Drop (closest to target) 5th Place: Amanda Sabha and Jennifer Hutnik, Wright Stuff (longest flight) 6th Place: Steven Brunetto and Jennifer Hutnik, Geological Mapping (reading and constructing topographic maps) 8th Place: Steven Brunetto and

Charles Panzarella, Air Trajectory (closest to target) 9th Place: Dean Perkins and Xavier Varga, Astronomy (math and physics of star and planet formation) Five weeks later, the middle school team competed in the Lower Hudson Regionals at Scarsdale Middle School also with impressive results. Medalists were: 2nd Place: Helen Michael and Luke Kramer, Bottle Rocket (longest flight) 2nd Place: Paul Gschneidner and Arianna Pellegrini, Can’t Judge a Powder (test and characterize substances) 3rd Place: Pranav Vadapalli and

Justin Yuan, Fossils (identification and knowledge of) 5th Place: Bryan Mesquita and Andy Cartano, Write It, Do It (describe and build objects).

Sixth graders Justin Yuan and Pranav Vadapalli at the “Air Trajectory” event at the middle school Science Olympiad.

Xavier Vargas watches Jennifer Hutnik and Amanda Sabha prepare for their “Wright Stuff” flight event.

Science researcher Adam Catto took home a ASM Materials Education Foundation Award at WESEF.

One part inspiration …

Not just the teachers, but science students themselves hope that their work, as well as their success, will help recruit for the programs. They would like to see more students come out and be part of the growing family that is bringing science succes to the forefront of Westlake.

That recognition, they say, would be pretty sweet.

Susan Guiney, Ed.D Superintendent

After a long winter, spring is here! It is a time of rebirth and in the Mount Pleasant schools we too are renewing our district’s commitment to excellence.

In each of our school buildings, students are engaged in activities centered on them. As they work on their reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as science, social studies, the arts, physical education and health, our students are challenging themselves to reach higher, to persevere, and to share a “can do” attitude. They are learning how to showcase their strengths and to address areas of weakness to achieve success.

In the pages of this newsletter, I am excited to share with you all that Mount Pleasant students can do. From recognition in the sciences, an expanding science research program and the plans for an IB Middle Years Program at Westlake Middle School, to the annual K-12 Visual Arts Festival and honors for our Westlake Blenders who returned from a choral competition in Disney World with a second place trophy, Mount Pleasant renews its commitment to all-around excellence.

Assessments and advocacy

April is assessment month throughout the State of New York. Please know that by NYS Education Department regulations, each public school district is required to administer the NYS assessments in mathematics and English Language Arts in grades 3-8, and science in grades 4 and 8. The topic of assessments is one that is hotly debated at present,

as the governor’s budget links education funding to teacher evaluations and student performance on these assessments. On the district’s website is a link to advocacy information, including how to reach our elected officials. Senator Terrence Murphy and Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti are Mount Pleasant’s voices in Albany. Reach out to them through our web links and let them know your concerns.

Perseverance and participation

As superintendent and a resident of Mount Pleasant, I was obviously disappointed by the outcome of the March bond referendums. As much as the district and the facilities committee were in agreement that bonding the projects was the most cost-effective solution to remedy a major portion of the district’s infrastructure and campus issues, it did not resonate with the community.

At this time, however, the annual budget is our priority and will be our focus for the next six weeks.

It is our intent to stay within the tax cap as we look for ways to move forward. After the budget vote, attention again will be turned to addressing the failing infrastructure of the Westlake campus. I encourage you to attend school board meetings and other events where important conversations — and your voice to shape the district’s actions — can be heard.

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Our commitment to excellence continues

As always, it is my honor to be your superintendent and I look forward to seeing you at the many upcoming spring events.

Music headliners Liz Melito High school music teacher Liz Melito was honored by fellow Westchester County School Music Association instructors by being selected to conduct the 2015 Westchester All-County Intermediate Chorus at SUNY Purchase last month.

As the conductor, Ms. Melito was responsible for selecting the music for the program, preparing and rehearsing with the students and conducting the nearly 200-member chorus of 7th through 9th graders at the concert hall.

As this was her first time conducting an All-County event, she admitted to being both excited and a bit scared. (She had just three rehearsals with the students to nail the performance.) “It’s a lot of work, but in the end we had a lot of fun,” she said afterward. “It was worth it.” Watching the students come off the stage at the end of the concert and hearing them say that they couldn’t wait to do it again was music to her ears. “I feel like I accomplished

Liz Melito

what I wanted — to get them to feel excited about singing.”

Claudia Grispin This March, Hawthorne’s talented teacher, musician and songwriter Claudia Grispin added “author” to her list of accomplishments. Last month her childrens sing-along book “O Mommy, O Daddy” was published by Strategic Book Publishing Rights Agency.

The idea for the book, she said, was based on a lullaby that she wrote in 2002 after reading the childrens book “The Monster Bed.” Her song “O Mommy, O

Claudia Grispin

Daddy” was written to comfort kids at bedtime and was popular with her preschool and elementary students who loved to sing it. “I knew I had to work the song into my book,” said Ms. Grispin.

Her story is about Olive, an owl with an imagination that runs wild at bedtime.

In the book, Olive learns how to turn her scary thoughts into something silly and ends up conquering her fears. And with the help of Ms. Grispin’s lullaby, “everyone got to sleep,” she smiled.

Her book, including the downloadable song, is available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNobel.com.

3

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Left, Aaron and his team Charlie Gstalder, Joe Calandrucci, Chris Steccato and Brian Mynes are the catalysts for the Robotics and Engineering Club. Below, Aaron Blizard goes over a club project.

Middle schoolers start Robotics and Engineering Club On a crisp February afternoon, every seat in the middle school tech ed classroom was taken. Kids were sharing seats and there were more students than available computers.

Fortunately this was not a scheduled class, but a club — a robotics and engineering club — and it was brimming with students and activity.

The popularity of the newly formed entity (it began in January) can be traced to two reasons: fun, student-generated projects and Aaron Blizard.

Aaron is an eighth grader who likes to dabble in technology and building.

He and his friends are frequent visitors to the tech ed room during their lunch period where they like to further explore what they learned in class and help their teacher, Tim Raney, with projects. Aaron mentioned to Mr. Raney that he wished there was a club where he and other interested kids could really explore technology.

The two began imagining what that club would look like.

Aaron approached Principal Bob Hendrickson with his idea. He wrote a formal proposal, which Dr. Hendrickson and Su-

perintendent Dr. Susan Guiney approved and sent to the Board of Education. By January they had a club.

The new Robotics and Engineering Club meets every week after school and is run entirely by Aaron and fellow eighth graders Charlie Gstalder, Brian Mynes, Joe Calandrucci, and Chris Steccato.

Ideas for projects are floated by Mr. Raney, the club’s adviser.

“We find ideas in random places,” said Aaron who along with his team researches and suggests the projects. Mr. Raney teaches Aaron and company what they need to know to complete the project, then Aaron puts together a power point and essentially teaches every aspect of the project to the club members. The founding eighth grade members assist students with their questions and help them navigate the power tools and computer programs.

Unlike most after-school activities, membership in the Robotics and Engineering Club ebbs and flows on a projectby-project basis. The club advertises the next month’s project and students come if they’re interested. The club’s first

Visual art show a hit

4

Elementary through high school artists were represented at the show including clockwise: Kate Ryan (gr. 7), Anthony Nigrelli (gr. 1) and Daniella Scampone (gr. 11).

Hundreds of parents, students and staff turned out for the second annual Mount Pleasant Visual Arts Festival on March 24. The show, curated by the art teachers, showcased the talents of each grade level and art area. Awards were given to “Best of Show” and second and third places were voted on by gallery viewers. A complete list of winners can be found at mtplcds.org.

undertaking was to design mousetrap cars. From there they went on to design keychains on a 3-D printer and last month they built and raced CO2 cars.

On average the club attracts 20-25 kids.

Mr. Raney was not expecting 40 in February when they did 3-D printing. “With only 30 laptops, some of the kids had to double up. It was completely packed,” he said with a wide smile, “I was completely blown away!” Also interesting, he finds, is the mix of students in the club. He sees many girls who come on a consistent basis and, during the 3-D printing project, they even outnumbered the boys.

The success of the club only fuels Aaron’s aspirations. Since he will be moving up this year, Aaron is hoping to start a similar club at the high school level. But he is also making plans for the middle school club to continue. “We’re bringing some kids on for next year to take over the club.”

Charlie Gstalder has a theory why the club is so popular. “There’s nothing like it at school. This is just a club where you can come and work on a project. Whoever wants to come can.”

The road to ‘IB World School’ designation Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mary Ellis, explains the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and the District’s application for consideration to initiate the Middle Years Program.

What is IB? As described on its website, the International Baccalaureate program is “a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.” Simply put, IB gives member schools a structure to provide a rigorous education that helps students to connect what they’re learning to the world they live in.

Isn’t IB just for high school?

The IB program has three levels: primary (K-5), middle years (6-10) and diploma (11-12). Our district has applied for the Middle Years Program for grades 6-8 to lay the foundation for students as they move into the high school. IB allows school districts to utilize a model that fits its grade level distribution, so our middle school can implement a grade 6-8 model as a standalone program.

Is IB an optional program for middle school students?

Whereas students in grades 11 and 12 can opt in to the IB diploma program with its prescribed curriculum and mandatory assessments, the Middle Years Program is a wholeschool inclusive model. Every student will benefit from the program.

What does the Middle Years Program look like?

IB places a strong focus on the idea that students need to feel connected to what they’re learning. They need to believe that how you learn and why you learn is as important as what you learn. There is an emphasis on students’ understanding and managing their own learning through inquiry, action and reflection. In the Middle Years Program students are also required to demonstrate their learning through action and service in the form of a community project in eighth grade.

What does an IB learner look like?

At the core of the IB Middle Years Program is the IB Learner Profile, which describes the 10 attributes that the program seeks to develop in students.

IB students are: • Inquirers • Knowledgeable • Thinkers • Communicators • Principled

• Open-Minded • Caring • Risk-Takers • Balanced • Reflective

What are the steps to becoming an IB school?

The first step is to inform IB of the intent to apply for consideration. Once that has been done, but before a district can apply for candidacy, it must show that it has taken the proper steps to be in compliance with the tenets and educational structure of IB (for instance, an IB candidate school must show that it begins world languages in 6th grade) The next step is to apply for consideration. Once accepted for consideration, districts have 18 to 30 months to complete the application. An IB consultant is assigned work with districts to support them through the application phase.

Has Mount Pleasant started the application process?

The district sent its application for consideration for the Middle Years Program on April 1. During the application phase, the district will be looking closely at curriculum and instructional practices to ensure that they align to both IB and New York State Common Core Learning Standards.

How is the district preparing for the IB program at the middle school?

The middle school has convened an IB committee made up of administrators, teachers and parents that is responsible for completing the application process.

The committee is looking at the middle school curriculum as well as its internal assessments of student learning and is analyzing to what degree the assessments are real world, authentic and allow students to demonstrate their knowledge as it pertains to the world around them.

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Q&A

Aligning the curriculum with IB means identifying the real world contexts for what students learn in school.

The district has already been providing professional development for all of its teachers to shift classroom learning from teacher centered to student centered as part of its established strategic goals.

This will continue regardless of whether our schools receive IB designation or not.

However, using the IB framework will help the district to accelerate the process.

How are we preparing the students?

The Middle Years Program has at its core, 10 attributes of a successful learner.

(See box above.) Each of the attributes will be introduced to students next year and discussed, one attribute each month, during their advisory periods.

What will an IB designation do for our district?

IB is associated with high-quality rigorous programs that encourage knowledge and inquiry. An IB world school designation shows a district’s commitment to educating the whole child for life in a 21st century, global community.

How can I learn more about IB at WMS? There will be a Curriculum Coffee held on Tuesday, April 28 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the middle school LGI. Ms. Ellis, Principal Robert Hendrickson and Assistant Principal Christine Parrottino will be on hand to discuss what it means to be an IB middle school and to answer any questions. The community — especially all preschool, elementary and middle school parents — are encouraged to attend.

For more on IB, visit ibo.org.

5

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

And kudos to …

Spanish scholarship awardee Mike Morales, a senior in AP Spanish Language and Culture, was one of 40 seniors nationwide to win the La Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (SHH) Joseph Adams Scholarship.

Michael received a $1,000 college scholarship based on academics, activities and Mike the quality of his persuaMorales sive essay and video interview — which was done completely in the Spanish language. Michael is vice president of the Lazarillo de Tormes chapter of the National High School Spanish Language Honor Society. He plans to study international business in college.

Young authors High school students Allison Brunetto, Terence O’Brien, Arianna Palmiero, Emily Rubino, Isabelle Joseph, Philip Markuszewski, Victoria Aviles, Divya Mundackal, Talin Bedonian, Kiera Donnelly, Michael Farina, Brian Kelly, Katelyn Murphy and Christine Sharabun attended the Young Authors Conference on March 16, at Pace University’s Graduate Center.

The conference is held each year for outstanding high school students who have demonstrated a talent and interest in writing and pairs students with professional novelists, poets, editors and journalists in targeted writing workshops.

Students were selected to participate

Italian Honor Society Inducts 40 The Italian Honor Society introduced its new members a ceremony on March 12. High-achieving Italian language students are inducted based Italian scholarship, cultural leadership and integrity. Congratulations to: Michelle Barbero Marissa Carpentieri Analisa Caso Thomas Castro Maria Ciraco Vito Ciraco Alexandra Clemente Brianna DiLiberti Angelina DiNota Anthony DiVenere

Sophie Epstein Heather Ferrante Melissa Fierro Jessica Grassi Sean Kelly Anthony Laricchia Matthew Latino Giuseppe Mastandrea Oscar Mellado Escobar Jessica Nguyen

based on their proficiency and interest in writing.

All-County festival performers The All-County Music Festival, held on March 14 at SUNY Purchase, included musicians and vocalists from our elementary and intermediate music levels. All-County Elementary Chorus members were Emma Finkel, Cara Curtin, Jordyn Kratz and Lauren Salvi.

Selected to play with the All-County Elementary Band were Deanna Reynolds (clarinet), Olivia Cartano (trombone), Isabella Graci (clarinet), Luca Sica (percussion) and Joseph Miele (baritone).

Missing from the All-County Intermediate Chorus list in the last issue of From the Heart was Vince Lariosa (9th grade).

Media Arts Award Winners Forty-six high school art students received “Exemplary Awards” in darkroom photography, digital photography, digital media, graphic design, and video media at the 45th Annual Media Arts Show held March 18, at Westchester Community College. Winning students are:

6

Maria Castellaneta Rachel Stasolla Theresa Alberti Laura Bombace Annisa Camacho Kelsey Cardona Victoria Zefi Natalie Alfieri Sabrina Galletti Casie Galletti Emily Giuseffi Alexa Irizarry

Gabrielle Lia Matthew Marcella Kelly Martin Amanda Sabha Katie Sanders Brenda Servin Adriana Pereira Katarina Maric Ariella Ruggiero Kaia Sherman Joey Sinapi Austin Tucker

Lauren Unger Adrianna Carpentieri Gianna Cafaro Dylan Wilson Marissa Carpentieri Deanna Frustaglio Erica Casarella Steven Weaver Taylor Garritano Julia O’Connell Emma Schulze Diana Pellegrino

Karina Contreras Chris Paniagua Matt Zefi Laura Bombace Danielle Walpole Nick Rivello Thomas Olszewski Elyssa Eliseo Larry Gardner Joe Tagarelli

Carina Papa Alex Pasieka Ariana Passiatore Rachel Pezzulo Loredana Pizzuti Rebecca Poole Alyssa Prauda Jessica Resciniti Briana Ricci Thomas Roell III

Peter Romandetto Ariella Ruggiero Michael Sala Katherine Sanders Daniella Scampone Nicholas Sica Alyssa Spampinato Victoria Tinelli Briana Tradito Mark-Anthony Zulli

Published poets Victoria Aviles, Chloe Burns and Divya Mundackal had their poetry selected for publication in the BOCES digital anthology “Write On Time.” The online magazine-style booklet is a compilation of student prose and poetry that is put out annually by Putnam/Northern Westchester.

Award-winning artist Senior Julianne Farella received honorable mention in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2015 presented by the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers. Her art portfolio entry entitled “Surreal Portraiture” was selected from more than Julianne 300,000 works nationwide.

Farella Julianne was also won “Best in Show” at the district-wide Visual Arts Festival in March. She will be attending SUNY New Paltz in the fall and will be studying art education.

Artists in exhibits Westlake student artists were represented at the Pace University high school invitational show “Small Works” this winter. Nicolette Shkreli, Kelli, Kinlen, Gabrielle Sanchez, Lauren Sugantino, Elena DiDomizio, Avery Lessing, Kaia Sherman and Jessie Bernard had their work displayed in Pace’s Choate Gallery during February.

At the Concordia College StART exhibit, also in February, Jacqueline Siry, Caleigh Carr and Theresa Alberti had their work included at the annual high school art show.

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Blendors Rock Disney

PE award recipients Fifth graders Julie Lyden, Justin Silva, Isabella Leite and Luke Losito have been selected to receive the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYSAHPERD) annual physical education award. The four were selected by their physical education teachers for demonstrating leadership, sportsmanship and good citizenship in physical education class. They will be recognized at a ceremony next month.

PTA ‘Reflections’ winners “The World Would Be a Better Place If …” was the theme of the 2015 National PTA Reflections Program that encourages student creativity in the areas of visual art, photography, music, dance, film and literature. Elementary students submitted original work to be judged on the school level. Winners are: Photography: Ava DiSalvo* (grade 5) photo titled “Happiness” Literature: Ava Raguso* (grade 2) writing piece titled “The World Would Be a Better Place If …”

Jon Paul Cerone (grade 3), writing piece titled “My Solution, No More Pollution” Visual Arts: Gavin Malone (grade 3), drawing titled “Roller Coasters to School” Thomas Fiskaa* (grade 2), drawing titled “Protect Our Waters”

Back row: Kiera Torpie, Analisa Caso, Lauren Sugantino, Erika Pennini, Ryan Murphy, Kyle Empey, Joe Tagarelli, Aidan Glendon, Billy Reeves, Sophie Epstein, Katarina Maric, Stephanie Rizzo.

Front row: Gabbi Lia, Katie Cullen, Lauren Martelli, Stanford Bennett, Martin Mundackal, Mark Lariosa, Mat O’Brien, Larry Gardner, Carina Papa, Olivia Schettino, Rina Manginelli and Liz Melito.

Music: Gianna Rotunno* (grade 5), composition titled “The New World.”

Julia Ostroff (grade 2), composition titled “Together” Honorable mentions in Visual Arts went to: Giuliana Malaj (grade 1) and Jason Papini (kindergarten). * These students had their work go on to the next level of competition.

New Eagle Scout Senior Larry Gardner earned the rank of Eagle Scout this year with the Boy Scouts of America. A member of the Westlake Players theater group, Larry’s project benefitted Westlake High School’s thespian program through his construction of shelving Larry and stalls to organize and Gardner create easy access to the prop room and storage areas behind the stage.

Animal lovers and helpers Members of Westlake Middle School’s All Fours on Paws Club held a bake sale and raised over $100 for the Briarcliff SPCA. The club does various activities throughout the year to raise money and awareness of the importance of pet adoption. Earlier this year the club also held a blanket/toy drive for the animal shelter.

ALUMNI CORNER

Westlake’s select choral group Blendors placed second in the jazz choir category at Festival Disney, a national music competition held March 19-21 at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The Blendors garnered a “superior rating” from the judges for their performance of “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To,” The Way You Look Tonight,” and “Everybody’s Boppin.”

After the competition, the group was treated to a vocal workshop with Delisa Dean, a Julliard trained singer and teaching artist who performs with The Voices of Liberty at EPCOT. The following day, the Blendors hit the recording studio and recorded two songs from Disney’s “The Lion King.”

“The students performed well at the competition and represented Westlake both musically and as a terrific group of high school students,” said Blendors director Liz Melito.

2014 Kiersten Leone, a freshman at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, made the deans list for the first semester. Deans list at Towson requires a minimum GPA of 3.5. Kiersten has successfully completed 16 credits.

Gerald Alfieri, a freshman at Keene State in New Hampshire and Conor Glendon, a freshman at Providence College in Rhode Island, achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at a ceremony held on January 4, at the Thornwood American Legion.

For his Eagle project, Gerald used his appreciation of the arts to create a “Window of Intentions,” at Rosary Hill Home to promote art as a form of healing.

Conor’s project to beautify the entrance at Stonegate Park in Valhalla included building a vehicle barrier and plantings.

****

Hey alums! Will you be graduating college in May? Did you earn recognition at school or land a new job? Share your success with us! Send alumni information to efarrell@mtplcsd.org.

7

FROM THE HEART • Spring 2015

Mount Pleasant Central School District

Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid White Plains, NY Permit No. 9415

West Lake Drive, Thornwood, NY 10594

A funny thing happened on the way to the

fORUM

At WHS April 17-19, 24-25 Tickets $10/12 To purchase, visit westlakeplayers.com

Board of Education James Grieco, President Eric Schulze, Vice President Vincent D’Ambroso Laurie Donato Theresa Fowler Thomas McCabe Christopher Pinchiaroli

* * * ECRWSS * * * POSTAL CUSTOMER THORNWOOD, NY 10594

Superintendent Dr. Susan Guiney Correspondence Phone: 769-5500 • Fax 769-3733 Web: www.mtplcsd.org Editor/email contributions Eileen Farrell/efarrell@mtplcsd.org

Wildcat News … Winter Season Recap BOYS’ BASKETBALL

(8-11)

Sectionals: Semifinal loss to Palisades Prep Coach: Steven Gage All-Section Honorable Mention/AllConference/League: Jesse Boyce All-League Honorable Mention: Harrison Adams JV BOYS’ BASKETBALL

(11-6)

Coach: Felix Nicodemo GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

(17-4)

Scholar Athlete Team Award League Champions Tournament Champs — Sacred Heart Kathy Mayer Classic Sectionals: Ranked #12 in New York State Class B; 3rd seed for Sectionals. Semifinal win vs. Valhalla; quarterfinal loss to #2 Ardsley Coach: Sean Mayer (Coach of the Year, Conf.

3 League A); Asst.: Carrie Mayer All-Section: Natalie Alfieri (League MVP) All-Section Honorable Mention: Faith Lovett All-League: Lauren Holzer All-League Honorable Mention: Katie Cullen (also named to Section 1 All-Tournament Team), Katie Schmid JV GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

(11-1)

FAN-tastic run for Lady Wildcats!

It was a good year to be a Lady Wildcat basketball fan. The 2015 team, led by seniors Katie Cullen, Katie Schmid and Faith Lovett, had its best season in school history with an unprecedented 17 wins. Undefeated in league play, the team was ranked 12th in the state in Class B and secured a #3 seed in sectional play. After defeating Valhalla in the semi-finals, they took on #2 Ardsley in the quarterfinals at the County Center. Though they didn’t advance, the Lady Wildcats gave themselves and their fans a season to remember. Coach Sean Mayer, had a memorable season himself, hitting a 100-win milestone and being voted “Coach of the Year” for Conference 3, League A, by his fellow coaches. He also received honorable mention in the Journal News’ Westchester/Rockland Coach of the Year.

Coach: Carrie Mayer

8

(8-9)

WINTER TRACK

WRESTLING

Scholar Athlete Team Award Sectionals: 3rd in Class C, Section 1 Coach: Devon White All Section: Oscar Mellado Escobar, Mike Matute, Robert Soderquist, Umair Azhar (4 x 200); Adam Catto, Peter Giannini (triple jump); Peter Giannini (weight throw) All Section Honorable Mention: Robert Soderquist (long jump); Umair Azhar (high jump and 55m high hurdles); Peter Giannini (shot put) All League Honorable Mention: Kristen Aviles, Peter Vogel (high jump); George Anastasiou (pole vault)

Coach: Dennis Bencosme; Asst. Coach Randy Rodriguez All League: Rob DiNota, Brendan Birkelbach, Ryan Duffy, John Palmiero, Matt Zefi, Andrew Borrero All League HM: Chris Abbate, Brian Eng, CHEERLEADING Scholar Athlete Team Award 2nd at St. Catharine’s Academy competition 10th UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida Coach: Lauren McNamara Section 1 Cheerleading Scholarship: Diane Zambardi

BOYS SWIM/DIVE

(4-4)

Scholar Athlete Team Award 5th at Conference Finals; 14th at Sectionals Coach: Anthony Pizzolla ICE HOCKEY

(12-7-1)

Scholar Athlete Team Award Co-League Champs with New Rochelle and Rye Town/Harrison Sectionals: Triple OT win in semifinals vs. Horace Greeley, loss in quarterfinals to Mamaroneck Coach: Josh Isenberg All League: Richard Cantwell