Rivertowns Enterprise Back to School

A Special Section of

The Rivertowns Enterprise August 24, 2012

Page 2A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

ScHOOl cAleNDArS DObbS Ferry 2012-2013

HAStiNgS 2012-2013

September 4 School Opens 17-18 Rosh Hashanah Schools closed 26 Yom Kippur Schools closed

October 8 17

Columbus Day Schools closed Early Dismissal

November 12

Veteran’s Day Schools closed 21 Early Dismissal Drill District Wide 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

December 24-31 Winter Recess Schools closed

January 1 2 21

New Year’s Day Schools closed Schools Re-Open Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Schools closed

February 6 Early Dismissal Day 18-22 Mid-Winter Recess Schools closed

March 25-29 Spring Recess Schools closed

April 17

Early Dismissal

May 27

Memorial Day Schools closed

June 21

ArDSley 2012-2013

irviNgtON 2012-2013

September

September

September

4 First Day of School 17-18 Rosh Hashanah Schools closed 26 Yom Kippur Schools closed

4 First Day of School 17-18 Rosh Hashanah Schools closed 26 Yom Kippur Schools closed

5 School Opens 17-18 Rosh Hashanah Schools closed 26 Yom Kippur Schools closed

October

October

8

8

Columbus Day Schools closed

Columbus Day Schools closed

October 8 9

Columbus Day Schools closed Superintendent’s Day Schools closed

November

November

6

Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed 12 Veteran’s Day Schools closed 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

12

Veteran’s Day Schools closed 21 Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

November

December

December

24-31 Holiday Recess Schools closed

24-31 Holiday Recess Schools closed

21 Early Dismissal 24-31 Holiday Recess Schools closed

January

January

1

1

21

New Year’s Day Schools closed Martin Luther King Day Schools closed

21

New Year’s Day Schools closed Martin Luther King Day Schools closed

12

Veteran’s Day Schools closed 21 Early Dismissal 22-23 Thanksgiving Recess Schools closed

December

January 1 21

New Year’s Day Schools closed Martin Luther King Day Schools closed

February

February

February

18-22 Winter Break Schools closed

18-22 Winter Break Schools closed

March

March

25-29 Spring Recess-Schools closed

25-29 Spring Break Schools closed

25-29 Spring Break Schools closed

April

May

May

27

Memorial Day Schools closed

Memorial Day Schools closed

June

June 21

27

Last Day of School

21

Last Day of School

18-22 Mid-Winter Recess Schools closed

March

1

May 27

*Houlihan Lawrence and the Rivertowns Enterprise are not responsible for any errors to these calendars.

TRUST. INTEGRITY. FOR OVER 100 YEARS. THE AREA’S MARKET LEADER.

Memorial Day Schools closed

June 21

Last Day of School

Superintendent’s Conference Day Schools closed

Last Day of School

Back to School

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

A SpeciAl Section of

The Rivertowns Enterprise AuguSt 24, 2012

4A

Learning locally: History lessons in your own backyard

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 3A

4A

6A Family TV fare: Is wholesome content still on the viewing menu?

9A

Kids bullying adults?

What to do, why it happens

11A Getting ready for the college visit

A special section of

The Rivertowns Enterprise 95 Main Street Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (914) 478-2787

www.rivertownsenterprise.net

PUBLISHER Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR Ann Marie Rezen ADVERTISING DESIGN Kathy Patti ADVERTISING SALES Marilyn Petrosa, Thomas O’Halloran, Barbara Yeaker and Francesca Lynch © 2012 W.H. White Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without the Publisher’s written permission.

Health & Wellness

11A

33A Immunization update: HPV

vaccine approved for boys

35A Fostering healthy teen dating relationships 36A Trampoline fitness pilot program for teens this fall

37A Tips for fighting fall allergies 38A ‘Safe at School’ diabetes

program for kids and teachers

39A A fun, nutritious school lunch

33A

News & Notes

18A Ardsley schools to focus

on trio of ‘major initiatives’

19A Hastings-on-Hudson

prepared for another outstanding year

2 1A Dobbs Ferry preparing students for 21st century 2 4A An extraordinary future for Irvington schools

29A BTS FAshion

29A-32A

Arts & Enrichment

41A-45A

EArly Learning

47A-48A

Parents Guide

51A-56A

End Paper

57A

Page 4A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

Learning locally:

History lessons

in your own

A n ative american living history re-enactment at Phillipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

backyard

By JACKIE LUPO

E

Sign at the entrance to the Stony Point Battlefield, a state historic site in Stony Point, N.Y.

Sunnyside in Tarrytown, N.Y. was the home of famed 19th century “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and “Rip Van Winkle” author Washington Irving.

John Jay Homstead in Katonah features interactive exhibits and activities including a teaching garden.

ducational outings can be fun for families (yes, really!) if you match the trip with the age of the kids, with what they’re studying in school or with some special interest. History can come alive with a visit to a 200-yearold house, a working farm, a famous battleground or a local museum. Residents of Westchester and environs are lucky to find dozens of historic and educational sites nearby, some close to home, others within a drive of a few hours or less. Many of these attractions are perfect for families, offering tours, hands-on activities and special events. Here are some of our favorites: At the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, art lovers enjoy the changing schedule of exhibits in the modern galleries overlooking the Palisades. But kids of all ages love to return again and again to the original part of the museum, the fascinating Victorianera mansion called “Glenview.” Formerly the home of the Trevor family, the SecondEmpire style house has been meticulously restored to give visitors a sense of what life was like in the late 1800s. A perennial favorite with kids is the giant Victorian-style dollhouse, based on a composite of actual Second-Empire style mansions that were favored by wealthy merchants living along the Hudson. The dollhouse has real slate roofs, reproduction furniture, a haunted attic, and a doll family involved in a romantic adventure.

While you’re in Yonkers, check out the Phillipse Manor State Historic Site, originally the home of Frederick Phillipse III, Lord of the Manor of Phillipsburg. Phillipse was a Loyalist who remained faithful to King George III during the Revolutionary War. He was arrested by George Washington and, after the war, his property was confiscated by New York State and sold at auction. Today, the manor house is a museum of history, art and architecture.

A few miles up the Hudson River in Continued on the next page

In Tarrytown, N.Y., the gothic Lyndhurst “castle” was home to 19th century railroad tycoon Jay Gould.

The Husdon River Museum in Yonkers, N.Y. features hands-on exhibits and learning for all ages.

Bronze sculpture in the garden of the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, N.Y.

The Rivertowns Enterprise Continued from the previous page

Sleepy Hollow is Philipsburg Manor, a completely different site with a different story.

This attraction is a recreation of colonial life in the mid-1750s, when the Philipses, a family of Anglo-Dutch merchants, operated a farm, mill and trading center here, with the help of 23 enslaved Africans. Today, costumed guides are on hand as visitors tour the 300-year-old manor house, walk through the working gristmill operated by “Caesar,” the enslaved African miller, and visit the wharf where “Dimond,” an enslaved riverboat pilot, carried goods up and down the Hudson.

Kids can enjoy hands-on activities: thresh some wheat, shell some beans, work flax into linen, and make some biscuits.

It’s easy to make a day of it at Philipsburg Manor alone, but families with a lot of energy can double up on their touring with an additional visit to Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate where Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller and his descendants, through the era of Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, lived in palatial luxury in an art-filled mansion with formal gardens and panoramic Hudson views. Visitors to Kykuit are required to park at Philipsburg Manor and buy Kykuit tickets in the welcome center there, then go by jitney bus up to Kykuit. The mansion itself is impressive, but probably more interesting for older kids. However, the stone Coach Barn, filled with antique carriages and cars, is fascinating for all ages.

Also in Sleepy Hollow is Washington Irving’s Sunnyside, home of the creator of Rip Van Winkle, Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. The romantic landscape and the beautiful riverside house, which Irving expanded from a small cottage starting in 1835, are beautiful places just to walk

Back to School

around, or to take a tour from a costumed guide. There are also beautiful picnic spots.

Don’t miss Children’s Book Day, a special event on Sept. 15.

A short hop down Route 9 in Tarrytown is Lyndhurst, the Gothic “castle” built in 1838. Lyndhurst was home to politicians and merchants throughout the 19th century; railroad tycoon Jay Gould was probably the most famous resident. The house can be visited by guided tour only. The grounds are beautiful for exploring or picnicking; dogs must be kept on-leash. On Sept. 21-23, the grounds of Lyndhurst are given over to family fun as the site hosts its annual crafts fair.

Hundreds of crafts artists are here displaying and selling their wares. There are food vendors, music and activities for kids. Come early for the best parking.

If your family is interested in organic farming, fall is a great time to visit the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture a few miles north in Pocantico Hills. Visitors to this real, working farm can get up close and personal with a variety of farm animals, help collect eggs from some of the free-ranging hens, and learn how food is grown the natural way. The Harvest Fest on Oct. 6 includes music, a farmers market, farm demonstrations, workshops for adults and children, and visits by food experts.

If you’re interested in farming the oldfashioned way, pay a visit to the John Jay Homestead in Katonah. John Jay was one of the Founding Fathers, serving as president of the second Continental Congress and as a foreign minister and negotiator during the Revolution. After the Revolution, he was the nation’s first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Today, Jay’s family home sits on a

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 5A

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Continued on page 14A

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Page 6A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

Family TV fare

Is wholesome content still on the viewing menu?

By LAURIE SULLIVAN

I

s the age of innocence long gone on the small screen? Or are there still TV shows for your family to watch together? The answer is yes. And no.

When my own kids said goodbye to “Sesame Street,” Mr. Rogers and the “Electric Company,” they graduated to shows targeted at families with older young kids. Back in the day, there was plenty of appropriate familyfriendly TV shows for all of us to watch, shows I didn’t have to worry would be filled with foul language or adult themes.

We moved into the era of the adorable Olsen twins on “Full House” and the fictional, ultra-nerdy Steve Urkel on “Family Matters.” And, of course, who could forget know-it-all Alex Keaton played by Michael J. Fox on “Family Ties”? And let’s not forget “Seventh Heaven” and the wholesome “Partridge Family” from back in the day.

Those days may long be gone, but there are still some family shows to watch together in 2012. Maybe not just the variety and quantity of the shows that existed back in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s and even as recently as a decade ago — although you can still find plenty of these old school shows on cable TV. If you can tear your kids away from their handheld devices, computers and cell phones — which can all be a challenge for parents — and set aside a specific time for family viewing, you might just find there are still some interesting, appropriate and fun shows you can all enjoy, especially with the help of cable TV, DVRs,

DVDs and on-demand programming, which has made family TV time certainly much easier.

Thumbs up for TV Scarsdale’s Julie Gerstenblatt, who writes the column “On The Verge” for The Scarsdale Inquirer, recently published a “humorous novel” titled “Lauren Takes Leave.” Gerstenblatt is the mother of a 7-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son and monitors what her kids watch “once they’ve finished their work,” much the same way she was raised. She explained that there are TV shows she approves of that she lets them watch “while I’m cleaning up the kitchen.” One of these shows called “Victorious ” is described on the Nick/Nickelodeon website: “[the show] follows the journey of Tori Vega, a 15-yearold” who escapes the shadow of her talented singer/performer older sister, who discovers her own star power. Gerstenblatt also allows her daughter to view anything on Nick Toons, which is on cable.

“One of the good things about recording a show first is that they can do all their work and we can schedule a time where we sit down together to watch together,” Gerstenblatt said. She and her children generally watch TV together about three times a week.

She gets recommendations from friends on shows to watch and doesn’t prescreen the shows, but feels that some shows are too sophisticated for her kids, including shows like “Modern Family.”

Gerstenblatt said the closest show to old school family-friendly shows is called “Good Luck Charlie” on the Disney channel that they watch together. She described it as a “wholesome show about

a family.” “Charlie” is the nickname for Charlotte, the youngest of four Duncan kids, who is about 2 or 3 years old. Older sister Teddy tries to show Charlie what she might go through when she is older by making video diaries for future reference.

At the end of each video Teddy or another family member always says, “Good luck, Charlie.” On one of the last episodes of the show that Gerstenblatt’s son watched before leaving for camp for the summer, it was announced that a new baby was expected. He made his mom promise to let him know whether the baby would be a boy or a girl.

“The show really captures them,” Gerstenblatt said. “It’s very ‘Full House’-ish — there’s still humor and the family really works together and they’re very close.

The teenage boy works at some food place and you learn about work ethics. It’s about family dynamics.”

She added, “Everyone I know watches reality competition shows.”

Gerstenblatt and her son watch “Chopped.” “At the end of each show you’ve seen people work really hard and you’ve seen a winner,” she said. “I think it’s an OK way to watch [TV] with your kids.”

After her daughter goes to sleep, she and her son watch something educational. “I don’t think she could sit through an hour of something, [although] she has watched the Food Network’s ‘Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.’” Her kids are now watching a “new or newish” show from Australia called H20 about three mermaids in “either middle or high school” who keep their mermaid identities hidden from everyone except one friend. Gerstenblatt said her friend’s daughters who are aged 7-11 like it.

Once her kids are off to sleep, it’s Mommy time, when Gerstenblatt gets to watch her shows that she’s previously recorded on DVR. When asked what parameters she uses to decide what shows are age appropriate for her children, she said, “I think it has to do with the channel it’s on. Nickelodeon and Disney [are appropriate]… most of those history shows, as long as they’re not bloody, I think are interesting.” She stressed that she will never let them have a TV or computer in their room. They have a laptop that can move around. “By setting those parameters, I’m in control,” she said.

“I Like TV,” Gerstenblatt concluded.

“It’s a nice mental break, especially since kids are so overscheduled, especially in the winter.”

Thumbs down from watchdog According to the nonprofit Parents Television Council’s website, PTC uses a simple traffic light guide to rate the 90-plus shows on the five TV networks (NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC and CW) that it tracks in prime time now being shown in the 8-11 p.m. slots. Only one show has been given its “green light” seal of approval: “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

In a typical weekly TV lineup that PTC rated, 22 shows were given a yellow designation, indicating shows that contain adult-oriented themes and may be inappropriate for children. Red lights are shows it deems as having gratuitous sex, explicit dialogue, violent content or obscene language and are unsuitable for children.

Continued on the next page

Back to School

The Rivertowns Enterprise Continued from the previous page

PTC’s Melissa Henson said the stoplight guide is intended for kids in “grade school and older.” Its Family Guide for Primetime TV profiles every sitcom and drama on the five networks. Henson said the PTC doesn’t have the resources to monitor cable TV. In addition to ratings, the PTC, a grassroots organization established in 1995, also pressures TV networks to show more family-oriented shows, but Henson said networks want to make the shows more edgy, more like cable TV. “But my argument is that cable only accounts for a fraction of the viewers,” she said.

When asked where the PTC draws the line between green and yellow ratings, Henson said it applied to “anybody that is in grade school or older.” The PTC criteria includes the “frequency of violence, profane language, pro-social content, not just inappropriate content.”

In response to whether there are any family-friendly TV shows, Henson said, “The picture is fairly bleak right now on network TV during prime time.”

She continued: “There isn’t a whole lot left on network TV, except for game shows and competitions. You take a program like ‘American Idol.’ We encourage people to steer away from the early stages of the show and encourage people to watch the later stages after the final selections are made.”

The same holds true for “America’s Got Talent.”

“Once they narrow down to the final contestants, then it becomes a much more suitable environment for families to watch,” said Henson, noting that these shows are appropriate for ages 10 and up.

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 7A

Henson lamented that “as recently as just a few years ago they were offering ‘The Wonderful World of Disney,’” which is now only available on cable.

Henson, who has been with the PTC for 15 of its 17 years, said there has been a dramatic shift in TV programming over the last 10 years. “It’s not that our standards have changed. It’s the networks that have,” she said. “There are a handful of cable shows … with more original TV programs and reruns of ‘Early Edition.’ It’s more family programming.”

So does she have any hope for the future of the TV networks offering family shows?

Despite the fact that Hollywood has a history of governing itself for family shows, Henson said she believes that “under the right circumstance, programs [like ‘Full House,’ ‘The Cosby Show’] … could come back.”

Henson said, “We need someone who wants to bring back the Golden Age of TV, like a Grant Tinker.” Till that time comes, she noted, “Parents have to decide what’s appropriate for their kids.”

Educational fare: a bright light Lynn Kestin Sessler is senior producer of digital media for Random House Children’s Books and works on the website for “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That” — the very same cat from the Dr. Seuss book series published by Random House. She described the show as an educational program shown on PBS and geared for younger viewers (ages 2-6). The program, which recently won a Parents’ Choice Award, features the perennial Cat and his pals Sally and Nick as they explore the world of science.

Continued on page 16A

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Page 8A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

Back to School

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 9A

Kids bullying adults? What to do, why it happens

By EVE MARX

B

y now you’ve heard of or seen the video of the young male adolescents on a school bus who bullied their bus monitor. It’s painful to watch. Three or four boys, aggressive, bold, and completely confident, for over nine minutes harass, insult and verbally abuse an older woman whose job was to keep order on the bus. Before the video is over, the woman is in tears.

While many articles have been published about bullying, most people associate bullying with children and adolescents bullying other kids. Not much is known or talked about children who bully grown-ups. Is this a new phenomenon? And what can be done about it?

Dr. Jill Silverman is a Ph.D. clinical health psychologist in Greenwich whose practice focuses on adults and adolescents.

She said that the incidence of children who bully adults is underreported. “Typically more teenagers bully adults than young adolescents,” Dr. Silverman said. She did not see the bus monitor bullying video, but knew about it. “Those children were young adolescents, not teens,” she said. “And that made it somewhat unusual.”

Silverman said that if a parent suspects a child of bullying anyone, whether it’s another child or an adult, the first thing the

parent must do is not respond aggressively.

Aggression only leads to more aggression.

“If you find out that your child has been involved in or is witnessing an ongoing bullying situation, you must remove the child from the aggressive situation,” she said. In the case of younger teens or children, the parents should use this time as an opportunity for education.

“Older kids know differently and have different capacities,” Silverman said. She said that in the case of an older child

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known to be engaging in bullying behavior, the parents must take whatever action is needed to put an end to the behavior, even if it means calling on the authorities.

“But first you have to be able to re-establish yourself as a parent,” she said.

Silverman said it is typical, normal teen behavior to push limits. At the same time, she said parents are often very resistant to hearing that their child has pushed too far.

“A parent’s gut response is to protect their kid and keep them from getting in trou-

ble,” she said. “But a bullying child is going to push that parent, and if the parent does not do something to stop the bullying, the parent will lose confidence and control.”

She said the current literature on bullying says that bullying can be a learned behavior; it can grow out of the child’s environment; it can be an outgrowth of a kid becoming involved with alcohol and drugs. Some youthful bullies suffer from emotional problems that cause them to become bullies. She said that when kids bully adults, including their own parents, the bullying itself can be physical, emotional, even financial.

Some ways parents can interfere with or prevent bullying is to be more present at their child’s school. The school environment, Silverman said, is the most common place where bullying happens: “If you can’t be around and your child tells you that he or she is witnessing bullying, talk to your child about the importance of getting an adult who can help right away. Speak to the school about any incidents.” In other words, teach your children that if they see something, they need to say something.

Some children, Silverman said, have never learned how to “temper their aggression.” “Learning how to temper one’s aggression is an issue of social preparedness,” she said. A person does not have to be the victim of a bully to be traumatized. Merely witnessing an incident of bullying can be traumatizing.

Continued on page 10A

Page 10A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Bullying adults Continued from page 9A

Silverman said that bullying almost always comes out of someone’s desperate need.

“That need might be for group identification, or money, or drugs, or the bully already feels out of control and is hoping for someone else to step in to control a situation,” she said. Bullying can be a cry for help.

What are the signs that your child might be a bully? Silverman suggests if your child exhibits extensive oppositional behavior, is threatening, uses intimidation to get their way, has physical or emotional outbursts that are repeated or is a cyberbully, it’s time to seek professional help to counter the behavior. “If your child sends anyone, including yourself, bullying texts, intentionally destroys your property, is using drugs or alcohol in the house, these are all problem signs,” she said. “Children who make fun of their parents in front of other people.

Using credit cards without permission.

Threatening siblings or pets in the household. This kind of behavior has to be addressed as bullying.”

Beth Thompson, LCSW-R, and program director for the Joe Torre Safe At Home Margaret’s Place Program under the auspices of Westchester Jewish Community Services in Hartsdale, said that models of disrespect abound for teens and adolescents who use these models as a bar for acceptable behavior. Many popular TV shows and movies geared toward a young audience portray disrespectful, even humiliating behavior as funny. “People laugh when someone in a TV show or a film is

There’s all kinds of abuse, and abuse and bullying are a way of gaining and securing power. It’s important to teach kids how to be assertive about getting their needs met without being disrespectful.”

– Beth Thompson, LCSW-R

being humiliated or bullied,” Thompson said. “There’s a mass approval for unacceptable behavior.”

Thompson said that every youngster needs to be taught positive ways to handle disappointments and aggression. “Kids who are already stressed by what life has dealt them, be it their parent is unemployed, there could be a death in the family, a downsizing move, financial difficulties, these kids are more at risk to use aggression as a way of getting what they want or to feel better,” Thompson said. “There’s all kinds of abuse, and abuse and bullying are a way of gaining and securing power. It’s important to teach kids how to be assertive about getting their needs met without being disrespectful.”

Friday, August 24, 2012

It’s now known that girls are just as likely now to be bullies as are boys. Girls tend to use different methods. “Girl bullies are likely to be social bullies,” Thompson said.

“They use social exclusion and humiliation as their tools, although some girl bullies use physical and verbal aggression as well.”

All children, Thompson said, need positive reinforcement to overcome any tendencies they might have to be bullies. Bullying a bullying child won’t work. Giving the child models of respectful behavior will.

Watching popular shows and films with your child and discussing the themes provides a teaching opportunity to talk about bullying. “You can talk about how everyone is laughing, but how the bullied victim feels,” she said. Empathy for others, not abasement or ridicule, is an important learned behavior that parents must instill in their children.

Commenting on the school bus video, Jim Chillemi, owner and director of New York Goju Karate in Hastings-on-Hudson, immediately asked what were the qualifications and training for the bus monitor.

It’s not a bad question. “How could that school district send that woman into that job without giving her some training?”

Chillemi said. “The aftermath of not training someone you’ve hired to chaperone children is evident in that video. I’m sure their hall monitors are trained. There has to be some awareness on the part of that school board and district of what could happen on a bus.”

Chillemi is an advocate of zero tolerance for children who bully or abuse. “Those children need to know that kind of behavior can’t and won’t be tolerated and that

the consequences will be severe,” he said.

“Adults in that kind of situation have to be protected.” As a way of directly addressing the bullying issue, Chillemi, or Shihan Chillemi as he is known at his dojo, is offering a special seminar on bullying at his New York Goju Karate school. The seminar will take place on Sept. 8.

“A lot of us don’t understand bullying,” he said. “I have case studies of it at my school. I’ve been doing this for many years and I’ve seen all kinds of bullying.”

Chillemi said he wondered how many times that bus monitor kept quiet and did nothing and let those children bully her.

“How many times did that woman say nothing until those kids felt they could get away with anything?” he said.

He said that when he talks to young students about bullying, he often talks to their parents, too. “Parents of a bully have to ask themselves, are they being bullied by someone at home? Are they being bullied by a domestic partner — or are they the bully themselves?” Bullying behavior, he said, is often learned at home.

Karate and martial arts, he said, are useful tools for teaching children about character: “I only have high character kids in my program. Character is part of what we teach here.” Karate can be a weapon, Chillemi said, but it can be the kind of weapon that helps keep us safe.

“America has nuclear weapons so we don’t have to use them,” Chillemi said.

“Martial arts gives you the confidence to learn to protect yourself so you never have to.”

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The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 11A

Getting ready for the college Visit Important college decisions often call for campus visits

By JOHN ROCHE

C

ampus visits are an integral part of the college selection process, but some planning, preparation and focus can go a long way in making the most out of a firsthand look at any school, according to area experts.

“Visiting a particular college enables the student to consider if that environment and community match his or her evolving criteria and is a place that he or she might like to apply to,” said Jane C. Hoffman, a college admissions and educational consultant who runs College Advice 101 based in Larchmont. “In addition, information and impressions gleaned from the visit will help the applicant articulate a targeted and comprehensive answer to the ‘why I want to attend x college’ essay prompt that can be a part of that school’s application and so can help increase the likelihood of gaining admissions.”

Carol Gill, whose educational consulting firm Carol Gill Associates is based in Dobbs Ferry, said that visiting a college a student is considering is imperative. “You wouldn’t buy a new pair of shoes without trying them on, nor would you buy a car without test-driving it first,” Gill said. “Likewise, a student needs to make a college visit before making a sound decision about a school. You simply cannot get a feel for a college from its catalog or website alone.”

On average, a high school student will apply to nine colleges, but their initial list of schools they might be interested in could Continued on page 12A

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The College visit Continued from page 11A

be higher. Traveling to colleges as part of whittling down your wish list could prove costly and time consuming, so what are some ways to ensure college-bound students and their parents can get the most bang for their buck during a campus visit?

Choosing when to schedule a college visit is one important consideration, local experts say, since it can help narrow down the schools a student will apply to. And for Westchester students and their parents, visiting a few relatively nearby colleges can assist in the decision of what type of college the student might prefer.

“Touring colleges before applying helps students in their decision-making,” said Betsy Woolf, who offers customized counseling and advice through her Mamaroneck-based firm Woolf College Consulting. “Initially, students can visit colleges and universities that are nearby in order to get a sense of what feels right. I often tell students to visit NYU if they want to see what an urban university is like, or the University of Connecticut for a big state university experience, and a nearby small liberal arts college---there are a number from which to choose.”

Leslie Berkovits, a partner in Collegistics headquartered in Scarsdale, which provides a team approach to personalized college advising, said the timing of a campus visit is important for a number of reasons. Seeing a college as a high school sophomore, for instance, would likely result in very different impressions than would be gleaned from a visit late in a student’s junior year of high school.

“It’s important to recognize that seeing a campus in tenth grade may provide a dif-

Back to School

ferent perspective than looking a campus as an informed high school senior,” Berkovits explained. “In our experience, most students begin and are best prepared to take full advantage of formal tours and information sessions during their junior year in high school.”

The local college application consultants agreed that while there might be preferred time to aim for to schedule a college visit, there are a number of factors that play a part in when visits are feasible for a prospective applicant and their parents.

“It certainly is helpful to visit when school is in session so that high school students can see the college students and make a better determination regarding fit,” Woolf said. “But schedules don’t always work out, and many families find that summer visits are more suited to their schedules. Visiting at any time is better than not visiting at all.”

If you want to interact with students at a college, it might be a good idea to keep in mind when students are likely to be on campus, according to Woolf. “It’s better to visit during the week and not first thing in the morning,” she said.

The Collegistics team also encourages tapping into informal conversations with students and faculty whenever possible during formal or informal campus tours. “Although it may not always be possible visits should take place when school is in session,” said Ellen Golden, another partner at Collegistics.

“Interacting with college students is a good way for prospective freshmen to get a sense of whether they can see themselves living on that campus.”

Golden said that high school students and parents should consider asking a college to tailor their visit to include a more personalized look into the academics and other offerings of a particular school.

Friday, August 24, 2012

“To get more in-depth insight, students may want to arrange sitting in on a class, staying overnight in a dorm or meeting with professors,” Golden said. “The upside of visiting during formal preview days is that there are special events, such as student panels and faculty presentations. The downside is that crowds of visitors make it difficult to sense the day-to-day atmosphere on campus.”

Gill cautions students and parents not to try to cram too many college visits together, particularly on the same day, and suggests allowing time before and after formal tours or information sessions in order to take in the campus at their own pace or revisit highlights from the tour.

“Give yourself time to roam the campus before or after an interview, tour or information session,” she said. “Pick up a copy of the college’s newspaper or other publications to take home with you. Also, scan bulletin boards around campus. This is all really great evidence of what’s really happening on campus, and it will help you get a feel for a school’s atmosphere and tone.”

How a campus “feels” for a student should not be overlooked, according to Gill. “Ask yourself, ‘Can I see myself here as a student a year from now?’” she said. “Most important of all, trust your gut feeling.”

Is more than one campus visit recommended for a college or university high up on a student’s list? ”It’s a good idea if you can do it,” Woolf said. “Typically, students narrow their choices and revisit the top two, especially if they are applying early decision.”

The consultants from Collegistics agree.

“Whenever possible, a student should see a school at least once before accepting an offer of admission,” Berkovits said. “Certainly, if a student elects a binding admissions option, at least one visit tot hat campus is warranted

prior to applying. Once decisions are in hand, we recommend students then take advantage of ‘accepted student days’ to visit often. What seems desirable in the fall may seem less desirable in the spring, and some students do change their mind about which college they prefer to attend.”

There are some misconceptions about college visits that students and parents might want to keep in mind. Woolf said that often students and parents mistakenly think that all students at a school are as bright, cheery and spirited as their tour guide. “That’s not necessarily true,” she said, reminding applicants and parents to try to talk to students on campus who aren’t leading the tours, if possible.

Gill also recommends that students try to speak to college students one-on-one. “Talk with students on your own, without parents or others around,” she said. “Their answers may be more candid and a better barometer of the campus.”

While parents should ask their own questions, the professional consultants point out the importance of allowing and encouraging the high school students themselves to embrace the college exploration process, since it enables them to be more invested in the decision-making.

“Let the students take the lead to allow them to form independent impressions,” Golden said. “This is a time to explore, not necessarily make final decisions. “The student can record their impressions of a school by jotting notes or sending themselves a quick email during the visit. Sometimes the little things on a college visit end up being the tipping point in choosing one college over another. And it doesn’t hurt to have a few specific examples from those observations when answering why you’re interested in that school Continued on the next page

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The Rivertowns Enterprise Continued from the previous page

that is often asked on college applications.”

Gill also stresses the importance of taking notes during each visit. “You make think you will remember each campus, but trust us---they do begin to blur together in your mind,” Gill said, encouraging both students and parents to record their impressions during or immediately after each campus visit on a notepad, smartphone or whatever way is convenient.

All the experts stress that the simple act of asking questions during a college visit is the best way to get information and answers. But they also suggest thinking about what questions to ask beforehand.

“The best questions come when students and parents do their homework before visiting,” said another Collegistics partner, Lillian Hecht. “We suggest investigating academic offerings and degree programs. Ask meaningful questions, regarding, for example, interdisciplinary study options, certificate programs and research opportunities, which can be addressed by admissions staff. In addition, ask about career, professional and graduate school placement, academic advising and support, counseling services and social life. It might also be helpful to listen to the questions asked by other visitors.”

Ms Woolf noted that casual questions can also provide helpful information. “A student might consider asking a college student ‘How well do you know your professors?’ or ‘What did you do last weekend?’ or even ‘How does college compare with high school?’” Woolf said.

Students should also remember to check out the town or area where a college is located. “Visit the surrounding community,” Gill said. “What kind of appeal does it have? Are

Back to School

stores or movie theaters accessible without a car?”

Ms. Hoffman also pointed out that a campus visit is important from the college’s perspective, since it’s one indicator that the student has a strong interest in that particular school. “Research by colleges shows that applicants who visit are more likely to enroll,” she said. “Therefore, many colleges treat the visit as proxy for ‘likely to enroll’ and as a positive factor in their admissions deliberations.

Visiting is one of the elements of demonstrated interest that many colleges like to see.”

Woolf generally concurs that schools themselves take into consideration whether a student has visited. “As a rule of thumb, private colleges within a reasonable driving distance like to see that students who are applying have taken the time to visit, and it does make sense that one needs to step foot on campus before making a commitment to apply early decision,” Woolf said. “But there really are no set rules. Every case is different, and I help students make those decisions.”

Gill suggests making sure that each college is fully aware that you visited. “Sing in with the admissions office, and make sure there is a record of your visit,” Gill said. “Complete a visitor’s evaluation form if one is provided.

Some schools use ‘demonstrated interest’ as an admissions factor, so makes sure they know you have been there. Also, note the name of the admissions representative you meet during the visit. Send a thank you note or email, and plan to use that contact for any future correspondence.”

The Collegistics team also pointed out that college visits are an opportunity for parents and students to spend some quality time with each other. “Be informed, be observant, be open-minded, but also enjoy this time together,” Berkovits said.

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 13A

An I.E.C.’s integral role

I

By JANE C. HOFFMAN

wish that more was written about the integral role of college admissions advisers and independent educational consultants (IECs) as educators. In the current, complex, and often competitive terrain of college admissions in 2012, we teach. The arguments about us often seem to range from “we are all about college fit” to “they are pariahs who package and promote.” Personally, I think those two poles miss the integral role we play as educators.

I teach students about college curriculum, general education requirements, what it means to declare a major, the opportunities and options, how college differs from high school, the differences between liberal arts colleges and universities, and so much more. I teach parents how the college admissions terrain is so different than when we applied and the large role of enrollment management. I decode how colleges think and the importance many place on demonstrated interest and that some expect that families have nothing more to do than “college shop.”

I explain that the student will have options and so the challenge is to first self-assess and determine his or her

goals, to next identify appropriate college choices based on an understanding of the student’s admissibility and the competitive terrain and to then apply and gain admission to those schools. Particularly as the college search process needs to start earlier and earlier in the lives of high school students, I often find myself talking to 15-year-olds about what it means to be in college, which can feel like a remote abstraction. I teach students and parents how to quiet all the relentless “noise” out there and what to pay attention to, such as the student’s learning style and the family’s values, and to look within rather than to start with a focus on any particular colleges.

I also believe that IECs have an opportunity and a responsibility to educate college representatives about the tremendous stress students and families experience as they conduct the college search and application process. As we translate to students and families how schools interpret applicants, we should also advocate on behalf of the public for more sanity in college admissions.

Jane C. Hoffman runs College Advice 101. Visit www.collegeadvice-101.com or 833-1573.

Page 14A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Local learning Continued from page 5A

beautiful 62-acre site where visitors can focus on the history of the site, or learn about cold frame farming, backyard chicken raising or beekeeping.

Once you’ve learned about life on John Jay’s farm, you’ll also want to pay a visit to the Jay Heritage Center in Rye. This grand columned mansion on the Post Road dates from 1838 and is considered one of the country’s finest examples of the Greek Revival style of architecture. John Jay grew up on this property in the 1700s, but the mansion was built by his grandson, Peter Augustus Jay, on the location of the original house, using timbers and nails from it. There is a 23-acre park with walking trails on the site.

If you’re in the mood for a drive up the Hudson (fall foliage, anyone?), travel up to Hyde Park, N.Y. for a visit to the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the FDR Presidential Library and Museum. The site includes “Springwood,” the lifelong home of FDR, our country’s only four-term president, and the presidential library and museum housing the president’s archives. Also on the site is First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt’s beautiful guesthouse, Val Kill, with its lovely gardens and grounds.

Also in Hyde Park is the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, an estate modeled on an English country house, with 211 acres of parkland and gardens, and magnificent views of the Hudson. It takes about two hours to tour this site, and cell phone tours are available. While you’re in Hyde Park, plan a visit to America’s most famous cooking school, the Culinary Institute of America. CIA visitors can take a tour, visit

Antique cannons are perched high above the Hudson River at West Point Military Academy, in West Point, N.Y.

a bookstore that features everything for the passionate chef, and eat at one of the five student-staffed public restaurants (reservations are suggested).

For those whose interests are more historical than culinary, a fun “upstate” day trip is the Stony Point Battlefield on the west side of the Hudson River, where the American Light Infantry made its famous assault on a British garrison in 1779. Also on the site is the Stony Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River. Visitors can tour the restored 1826 lighthouse and learn what life was like for old-time lighthouse keepers.

The views from the top of the tower go on forever!

While you’re across the Hudson, make a stop at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, N.Y. Although many historic sites call themselves “Washington’s Headquarters,”

Visitors can tour the Gristmill at Phillipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.

Washington spent the most time at this location during the eight years of the Revolution. It was here that Washington lived with his wife, his officers and his servants, making many important decisions and, finally,

Friday, August 24, 2012

drafting the armistice that ended the war.

One of the area’s most fascinating tour sites is the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Visitors are only allowed to enter the academy grounds by guided tour, and tours are not given during days when there is a home football game, during graduation week and on certain other specified days, so it pays to call first. A visitors center includes exhibits on cadet life, including a full-scale cadet barracks rooms and a cadet uniform room. The West Point Museum has galleries with artifacts of famous military campaigns and illustrious graduates of the academy. There are centuries of weapons, military uniforms and artifacts on display, from George Washington’s pistols to the last message sent by General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Visitors over the age of 16 must show a valid photo I.D. to enter West Point.

Another attraction that takes a few hours to get to, but is worth the trip, is the Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Mashantucket, Conn. Housed in an ultra-modern building are exhibits depicting centuries of Native American and natural history. Learn how North America was sculpted by the glaciers 20,000 years ago, see how native people first arrived in this area, learn about Pequot daily life and see native artifacts found in the area. The museum contains research facilities, including a children’s library.

And that’s just a sampling of what’s in your own backyard.

The hours of operation of many of these attractions varies from month to month, and some do not offer tours during the winter.

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Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 15A

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Back to School

Family TV fare

his pants off during a performance and judge Paula Abdul “walked out in disgust.” Urbanski agrees with the PTC’s Henson, saying that the music reality shows are fine — once through the audition stage and it gets down to the finalists. And “Glee,” unless viewed by older, more mature kids and their parents, is freighted with very adult themes and not meant for the 6-11 set.

Continued from page 7A

Kestin Sessler, who started her career at Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., had her own production company (Show and Tell Productions) from 1995 until last year when she joined Random House. She previously produced shows for “Sesame Street,” worked on many specials and also “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” on HBO Family for which she was awarded the prestigious Peabody Award. Kestin Sessler produced the TV show “Word Girl,” which still airs on PBS. The mission of the show’s namesake is to “shower the world with words,” and is geared for 6- to 8-year-olds and their families. Also geared for that age group is the newly reconstituted “Electric Company,” which has been updated for the 21st century and picks up where “Sesame Street” left off. A Web animated series on pbs.org, “Noah Comprende,” teaches Spanish to older children and, according to Kestin Sessler, it is presented “in a very humorous way.” Also in the educational department is a show called “Cyber Chase” that Kestin-Sessler described as “a fun math show for older kids.”

Something old, something new “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” a Disney creation, is targeted to tweens, but is OK for younger viewers, according to Melanie Dee, an online Yahoo! Entertainment contributor. The show is reminiscent of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” which still airs in reruns. Wizards is about a family of five with three kids who have magical and wizard powers, inherited from their dad, who lost his when he married their mortal mom.

“Throw magical powers into children’s hands though, and it leads to a lot of fun, quirky and interesting events … the show pretty much has a moral lesson which is taught at the end of nearly every episode,” Dee said.

And, of course, parents can bring back those wholesome, old school shows of yore on reruns to enjoy with a new generation of kids — their own — on a cable channel called Fave. Parents will find the Oldie Goldie Network on Fave with shows dating back to the ’50s like “Lassie” and

Friday, August 24, 2012

Good news for parents!

“Rin Tin Tin” to the shows of their generation. Fave also features the Hallmark channel, Halogen and Family Net. In the new department, Lana Iny of HBO said in an email that although the cable network doesn’t offer family sitcoms, a new show for older children about divorce produced by Rosie O’Donnell will air in mid-September around 9:30 p.m.

Family shows: some not exactly According to TheBlaze.com entertainment contributor Dave Urbanski, for a brief time back in the mid-’70s the FCC pressured the top three networks to start a “family viewing hour” from 8-9 p.m. While the policy only stood for a few years before the courts struck it down, he said, “That it existed at all would seem to demonstrate the gradual shift in what’s defined as ‘family friendly’ to the present day.”

At first blush, what could pass for family fare, shows like the music-filled “Glee” and reality shows like “American Idol” and “The X-Factor” and others, may seem appropriate. But, in fact, Urbanski said that during the pilot program of Simon Cowell’s “The X-Factor” a contestant took

The good news for parents is that there is some good family fare on TV, according to Urbanski, like ABC’s “The Middle,” starring Patricia Heaton, who played Ray Romano’s wife in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and ABC’S “Once Upon a Time,” about a mother and daughter who mix fairy tale fantasy with reality. Urbanski quotes David Weingand of the San Francisco Chronicle: “The [program] is not only great, fluffy fun, but it occupies a traditional family time show on Sunday nights… ABC is clearly looking to revive that tradition… ‘Once Upon a Time’ is both family-friendly and smart enough to win viewers of any age and level of sophistication.”

On basic cable, parents can find Disney XD, a TV network part of the Disney/ABC Television Group division of the Walt Disney company, which airs children’s TV series, with some live-action programming and movies aimed primarily at kids aged 6-14. It also airs family-pleasing shows that include “Zeke and Luther,” “Kickin’ It,” “I’m in the Band” and “Pair of Kings.”

Also look for the upcoming “Wander Over Yonder” airing soon on Disney XD. The show is an animated comedy series about “best friends and epic enemies set in surreal places across the universe” from Emmy-winning producer Craig McCracken, according to Greg Isaac on the website DCFans.com.

Another upcoming show for kids and families is an unscripted reality show featuring a hidden camera and special effects titled “Code 9,” with kids playing pranks on parents, also on the Disney Channel.

So parents don’t abandon hope quite yet. Those shows you’d love to share with your kids are out there. It just takes a bit of channel surfing to find them. Stay tuned!

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 17A

Online saftey advice for children Academic performance expectations, attendance at school functions and balancing extra-curricular activities with time for homework — parents and children have a lot to talk about at the beginning of the school year. Few conversations, however, will be as important — or as fraught with tension — as discussing how children should, and should not, behave online.

While many kids look forward to reuniting with school friends from last year, they’ll be meeting new people, too. Many of those interactions will take place, in part, in the digital world, bringing online child safety front-of-mind for parents as back to school season arrives.

The anonymity of the Internet makes meeting strangers seem appealing and safe.

But kids should use at least the same level of caution when meeting someone new online as they would in the real world. Explain to kids why they should never initiate or accept online contact from someone they haven’t first met in person.

Employ tools like SafetyWeb to help keep kids safe online. The tool helps parents monitor online activity, and includes an active blog/forum that allows parents and pros to discuss the latest child-rearing challenges of the digital age. Review the privacy settings on your child’s social media accounts so that your son or daughter understands what’s visible to friends, and what is visible to everyone else (preferably, nothing).

Create the social media accounts with your child so that you know what sites she uses and who her online friends are.

Establish designated times when children are allowed online for social media use and

times when they can use the Internet for schoolwork. Never allow children to use the Internet behind closed doors. Yes, they’ll probably say everyone else does it and that you’re ruining their lives, but keeping Internet-enabled devices in a common area can help make it easier for you to protect your child.

The digital world makes communication fast and easy, yet its drawbacks are many: it’s highly conducive to impulsive behavior, it’s difficult to accurately convey tone and intention and it’s nearly impossible to erase something once it’s posted online. Children need to understand the limitations of this form of communication, and that missteps online can have a long-term impact in the real world.

In addition to monitoring your child’s online behavior, encourage him to have a robust social life in the real world — the environment in which we really learn how to behave with others.

While you’re teaching about appropriate online behavior, it’s important to reinforce lessons about being a good person in face-toface interactions. Bullying has been around as long as people have; teach children how to recognize instances of in-person bullying, and help them learn techniques for coping with bullies.

Being a good citizen of the digital world starts with being a good person in the real world. Reinforce with kids the importance of good behavior both online and in person, and — most importantly — lead by example.

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Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

School Reports Ardsley schools to focus on trio of ‘major initiatives’

I

By DR. LAUREN ALLAN Ardsley Schools Superintendent

hope that you have been enjoying the summer and the extra time you have to spend with your children. We have been busy in the district getting ready to welcome our students to the 201213 school year. While our custodial and maintenance staff has worked to prepare the buildings for a new year, many of our teachers and other staff members have been involved in curriculum work throughout the summer. Teachers have been busy preparing for new electives and course offerings at the high school and teachers K-12 have been working to align our curriculum to the new Common Core Standards. Administrators and curriculum leaders met to review and reflect on the past year and prepare for the new year.

There are three major initiatives we will be working on this year. The first is the continued alignment of our curriculum to the Common Core Standards. We will continue to use the mapping tool Rubicon Atlas to track our changes and enable all staff K-12 to easily see what the curriculum looks like at each grade level, how the curriculum spirals in each content area, the assessments used for the various units of study and how

we are differentiating our instruction to best meet the needs of our students. We will be sharing more information about our implementation of the Common Core Standards at an upcoming board of education meeting.

A second goal is full implementation of the State’s APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review). All teachers across the state will now be evaluated using this new system. Each professional will be rated on a 100 point scale. Twenty percent of the total score is based upon their students’ performance on State assessments, 20 percent is based on their students’ performance on local assessments and 60 percent is a composite score based in part on teacher observations and the progress they made toward achieving their student learning objectives.

We will be discussing APPR with the board of education and the community at future board of education meetings.

Our third goal is the development of a long-term strategic plan for the district. This plan will include a vision and mission statement for the district, long-term goals regarding curriculum and course offerings, and plans to maintain our buildings and grounds.

We will be seeking input from the community in the development of this plan. Several meetings will be scheduled during the first half of the year to gather input and feedback from staff, students and community.

The opening of the new school year includes welcoming Concord Road’s new principal, Mrs. Amanda Blatter. Mrs. Blatter has been a principal for the past six years in New York City. Mrs. Blatter has been both an elementary classroom teacher and a Reading Recovery teacher in grades K-3.

She holds a B.A. in early childhood education from Kean College, a master’s in special education from St. John’s University and her license in administration from New York University.

We also welcome Mr. Rudy Arietta to AHS. Mr. Arietta is our new assistant principal. Mr. Arietta was the assistant principal at Nyack High School for the past three years. Prior to that, he was a social studies teacher and department chairman in Nyack. He holds a B.A. in history and African American studies from Fordham University, a master’s in social studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, and his administrative license from SUNY New Paltz.

In addition, we welcome eight new teachers to our staff, four at Concord Road and four at the high school. We invite you to meet our new staff members at our board of education meeting on Tuesday evening, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

We are pleased to announce that our board of education meetings will be broad-

cast on cable TV beginning in September.

The meetings will now be held on Tuesday evenings in the high school library and will begin at 7 p.m. The first meeting of each month will be a business meeting and the second meeting will be a workshop session focused on some aspect of curriculum and instruction. All agendas and minutes will be posted on our website (www.ardsleyschools.org). I do hope you will take time to either attend or watch our workshop sessions as they are very informative.

The first day of school for our students is Tuesday, Sept. 4. We anxiously await the return of the children and look forward to meeting and welcoming our kindergartners. We also look forward to seeing you at the back-to-school nights scheduled throughout September.

If you have not done so, please log onto our website, www.ardsleyschools.org, to access the Student Emergency Contact Information. Select the Parents tab and the K-12 Alerts Emergency Notification System. By completing and/or updating this information, you will receive all BLASTS throughout the year which contain emergency closing/delay information, school news and community events information, etc.

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer and be sure to spend some time reading to or with your children.

Providing Pediatric Care to the Rivertowns

David Siegler, M.D. FAAP Katherine E. Hough, M.D. FAAP Ellen M. Whalen, M.D. FAAP Leslie E. Liberatore, NP-BC Kathleen A. Shea, CPNP

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

School Reports

Hastings-on-Hudson prepared for another outstanding year

By DR. ROY MONTESANO Hastings-on-Hudson Schools Superintendent

T

he start of a new school year is always an exciting time, not only for students, but for educators and parents as well. Our district is coming off of a very successful year that saw a 97 percent graduation rate with over 80 percent of our graduates attending a fouryear college. We were also very pleased that Hastings High School was 227th in Newsweek’s rankings of America’s Best High Schools, along with being ranked 41st among the top 200 High Schools for Science and Math.

As we look forward to another outstanding year, the Hastings-on-Hudson district’s faculty and staff are hard at work preparing to welcome over 1,500 new and returning students. Preparations for the new school year include improvements to our education programs, modernizing our network infrastructure and much needed updates and repairs to our facilities.

At Hastings, we are dedicated to continually improving the educational experiences of every student. Instructional highlights for this upcoming year include: • Incorporating a K-6 web-based social

studies/ELA curriculum that integrates with each classroom’s Smartboard.

• Ongoing training of faculty for the new math standards for grades 3-6.

• A director of curriculum and instruction was appointed to assist in the implementation of the Common Core Curriculum Standards which are part of the Regents Reform Agenda adopted by New York State.

• Hillside Elementary will host the “Walk in My Shoes” program. This program helps children relate to other children that live with a disability such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder or visual impairments.

• Hillside report cards will be computerized, allowing for more detailed evaluation of student progress.

Over the summer, the buildings and grounds staff has been hard at work making much needed repairs and improvements to our facilities. At Hastings we believe the physical environment is crucial in maintaining a healthy atmosphere for learning. Highlights include: • The front entrance to the high school has been completely renovated. The cracked and deteriorating steps leading to the high school entrance have been replaced, as well as repainting and replaceContinued on page 20A

Riverspa thanks you for your years of loyal patronage and support.

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 19A

Page 20A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Temple Beth Abraham David K. Holtz, Rabbi

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Hastings-on-Hudson Continued from page 19A

ment of railings in the vestibule.

• The path down to Reynolds Field has been completely refurbished. Repairs included replacing a collapsing retaining wall, new fencing and the removal of several dead trees.

• Hazardous conditions around numerous window wells have been remedied by new fencing and safety gratings.

• The deteriorating floor of the middle school gymnasium has been replaced by a much improved engineered wood flooring material.

• Improvements have been made to the cafeteria layout and kitchen equipment has been upgraded.

On the technology front, the school district continues to recognize the value of technology in education, as well as the importance of keeping abreast of technological advances. We are in the process of upgrading our network infrastructure and are excited to be implementing wireless connectivity in certain key locations of the school district. As we go forward, wifiequipped computer carts and tablets will be used in conjunction with the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process.

The Hastings-on-Hudson school district takes pride in providing a high quality ed-

ucation while not ignoring the importance of fiscal responsibility. Many of the building repairs and upgrades that have taken place this summer were done in-house to save taxpayer money. Upgrades to lighting and increased efforts in energy efficiency have also led to increased savings. This past year the board of education, administration and the business office worked tirelessly to keep the school budget under the legislated 2 percent tax levy cap. We were quite pleased that the community recognized these efforts by passing the school budget and by voting to add additional money to the capital reserve fund so the district can start saving money now rather than incur the additional expenses of borrowing. The goal of the Hasting-on-Hudson School District will always be to keep expenses down while ensuring the high standard of quality education the Hastings community expects.

The school district is acutely aware of the integral part that the schools play in the larger Hastings community. We will continue to strive to be an active participant in the quality of life that makes up the wonderful town of Hastings-on-Hudson. I am very excited about my first year as your superintendent of schools and I invite the entire community to become an active partner in the education of our children. I hope you have had an enjoyable summer and on behalf of everyone in the Hastings-on-Hudson School District, we look forward to welcoming your children back to school.

Intervillage program continues education Westchester Community College is proud to be collaborating with the Rivertowns communities to administer the Intervillage Continuing Education program. Westchester Community College provides accessible, high quality and affordable education to meet the needs of a diverse community. WCC is committed to student success, academic excellence and lifelong learning.

It has been one year since the college was asked to take over administration of the Intervillage program and WCC wants to celebrate. WCC has worked hard to offer a blend of popular courses and some new ones that you’ve requested. Comments, suggestions and inquiries are always welcome. WCC has brought back many of the courses

that residents have come to love, including courses in swimming, senior fitness (in a new location), trips with The Upper Class LLC and many more.

The program will be celebrated on Sept. 20 from 7-9 p.m. at Ardsley High School. The community will have a chance to see what others have been up to, enjoy demonstrations of classes past and present, meet neighbors as well as past, current and future instructors and staff. Enjoy refreshments, raffles and a free tote bag. Fall catalogs and enrollment will be available. RSVP by Sept. 13. The celebration is free, but preregistration is required to hold your spot. Call 606-6800 or email Intervillage@sunywcc.edu.

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The Rivertowns Enterprise

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 21A

School Reports

Dobbs Ferry’s preparing students for 21st century

By DR. LISA BRADY Dobbs Ferry Schools Superintendent

A

s we welcome students and staff back to school on Sept. 4, the 201213 school year promises significant changes for everyone. With the full implementation of the regulations associated with APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review), the district has spent significant time and resources devoted to negotiating agreements, training administrators and preparing teachers for the transformation ahead.

September marks a new age of accountability for schools and elevated expectations for student and teacher performance. The State of New York is assuming a leadership position on the national front in education.

It is now time for schools to embrace the opportunities embedded in these initiatives and focus on areas such as the redesign of curriculum and assessment, where these modifications have the potential to dramatically alter the learning experiences for all children. We wholeheartedly support our teachers as they embrace professional development opportunities with enthusiasm, and expect that we will see continued collaboration across grade levels and curricular areas.

I believe that by working together with our teachers, parents, students and members of our board of education, we can meet these

Our high school was recognized in 2012 by both U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post as one of the top high schools in the nation.

challenges and realize results that will increase academic success for every student.

At the high school, principal John Falino shares that there are some new courses for fall including Natural Disasters and the Environment, a science elective and International Baccalaureate (IB) Math HL. Students also have the opportunity to take IB Physics and IB Biology through an expanded partnership with Mercy College. These two courses have been approved for six college credits each (dual credit opportunities already exist in IB Spanish and IB Italian).

In addition, teachers have spent time over the summer revising the ninth and 10th curriculum so that it better aligns with the challenging 11th-12th-grade IB Diploma Program. Preparing all students in the high school for the rigor of the IB curriculum remains a top priority. We are extremely proud of the performance of our students last year on IB exams where students’ scores

rose significantly in eight out of 11 courses to mark the strongest performance in nine years. In 2012, we surpassed the IB world average in almost every subject area while increasing the number of students who sat for an IB exam. In 2013, we project that this figure will further increase and that the percentage of students who pursue the IB Diploma will more than double.

Our high school was also recognized in 2012 by both U.S. News & World Report and The Washington Post as one of the top high schools in the nation and Dobbs Ferry High School continues to receive praise for its ability to prepare all students for success in the IB Program. The “value” of these rankings for us is that it helps measure our college and career readiness based on the district’s inclusive philosophy whereby all students are encouraged to participate in the most challenging courses.

The district is currently in the process of searching for a replacement for high school assistant principal Sandra Intreiri, who will become principal at Millbrook High School in September. All of us in Dobbs Ferry wish her the very best of luck. We are interviewing top-notch candidates and hope to fill this position as quickly as possible. Our new assistant principal will provide support to the high school curricular program, in particular the teacher observation process, curriculum redesign, professional development and oversight of the counseling pro-

gram, including college and career services.

In the meantime, principal Falino is ready for the opening of the high school and will be joined by Scott Patrillo in his new role as dean of students. Scott will still be teaching social studies, but will assist with student discipline at the high school.

At the middle school, exciting curricular changes await. Principal Patrick Mussolini announced in June that a new writing curriculum is in the works and that all middle school students will have more opportunities to study and improve their writing skills. In the sixth grade students will have the option to participate in a new elective called Writing Fundamentals. This class will reinforce the building blocks of writing such as grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, punctuation, spelling and conventions. In seventh and eighth grades, students will spend every fourth day in a split class working in smaller groups to focus on intensive writing enrichment. The eighth graders will also have the option to take a new elective entitled Writing for the Real World.

The middle school will also be piloting Glenco Math for grades 6-8 in the fall.

Glencoe Math is a toolkit designed to let teachers use their own unique teaching style to support math instruction. This program incorporates the latest technology, differenContinued on page 22A

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Ardsley PTA works to enhance all 3 schools

The Ardsley PTA is looking forward to another year working collaboratively with the parents, teachers, administrators and students in this wonderful school district.

The PTA is grateful for the enthusiastic support received, allowing for critical contributions to education.

The PTA has a three-pronged approach — supporting the individual schools, the Ardsley school district family and the broader Westchester community.

The PTA supports schoolwide, gradewide and individual classroom programs throughout the three Ardsley schools.

At Concord Road School, the PTA supported: C = Chicks! The PTA purchases chicks and equipment so every second-grade class can observe the day-by-day development of the eggs and study the hatching chicks.

R = Reduce-Reuse-Recycle Concert!

The PTA gives each school a cultural arts grant. Concord Road celebrated Earth Day with a special live performance by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark.

S = Science! The PTA purchased new balance scales for the science classes to give students better data — critical for budding young scientists.

At Ardsley Middle School, the PTA supported: A = AV equipment! The PTA purchased a new state-of-the-art audio/video system for the auditorium with a highdefinition projector and screen.

M = Master classes! In June, local author Laura Dower came to AMS to lead a series of fifth-grade master classes focusing on inspiration, motivation and the fine art of revision.

S = Supplies! The PTA purchased materials for the elective Fashion 101 and Art You Can Sit On classes, culminating in a fantastic show highlighting our students’ talents.

At Ardsley High School, we supported: A = Amazing Wellness Fair! With a focus on stress reduction and months of planning, the fair featured over 30 activities for students, with information on healthy eating, fitness, substance abuse, tolerance and much more.

H = Horseshoes! And other classic recreational games for a new gym unit highlighting retro games like baggo, blomgoball and bocce ball.

S = Student Lounge! High school students now have an alternative space to spend their lunch period, with the opportunity to play games, socialize and form new friendships.

The Ardsley PTA also sponsors programs for the whole district. From a town hall-style principals’ panels to community lectures, the Ardsley PTA is dedicated to communication, education and advocacy. The PTA celebrates our community with thousands of dollars in scholarships for graduating seniors, as well as highlighting the contributions of the many individuals — from teachers to parents to

community leaders — who go above and beyond in their service to Ardsley youth.

The Ardsley PTA is dedicated to strengthening the bonds within our district and our ties to the broader community. The PTA reaches out to individual students and families in the district who may be struggling. Part of the mission is helping ensure that every student has the chance to participate in the many opportunities the district offers.

For several years, the PTA has developed ArdsleyCares activities to share the love of community service with students and to impact communities throughout Westchester. Last fall the PTA held its third annual ArdsleyCares Day, offering 16 hands-on family volunteering opportunities to over 600 people. Other ArdsleyCares programs include the second annual Hunger Awareness Week — with food drives, educational materials and volunteer projects — the Concord Road Book Swap and monthly volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla.

What are the Ardsley PTA goals for this year? Anything and everything to enrich Ardsley’s education, support the teachers and schools, and maintain the Ardsley school district’s well-deserved reputation for academic excellence and community spirit. A special thank you to the many volunteers for their hard work and sincere appreciation to the Rivertowns community for its partnership.

Dobbs Ferry Continued from page 21A

tiated instruction and the Common Core Standards, while still making lessons informative and fun for students. It harnesses the power of digital tools to help students learn and love math. It allows them to take ownership of their learning. The use of technology to benefit instruction has been a thrust this summer as 26 teachers across the district have been participating in a pilot laptop program which will enable faculty to increase regular technology access as we further develop plans for a fully integrated student 1:1 computing model.

At Springhurst, the co-teaching model (supported by co-teaching workshops over the summer) has grown and expanded to include one co-taught class at every grade level. This effort is designed to further support and enhance the inclusive special education model that is unique to our Dobbs Ferry Schools. Springhurst principal Julia Drake was thrilled that almost 70 percent of the faculty participated in at least one or more professional development opportunities this summer at the elementary school.

Five teachers recently spent the week at Confratute, an annual workshop on meeting the needs of advanced learners, which took place on the UCONN campus.

The big theme of the summer work has been aligning the curriculum to the Common Core Standards and utilizing ATLAS online curriculum mapping. Springhurst has been home to our extended school year Continued on the next page

The Beginners Club

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Join our unique, fun-filled After-School Program For Kindergartners and First Graders Creative Playtime, a Healthy Snack, and a Kaleidoscope of Enrichment Activities Creative Arts Games utdoor O & Woodworking & Clay r o indo Karate

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September through June Open Daily 12:00pm to 6:00pm

Plus snow days, holidays & school closings by arrangement

“Just September” Kindergarten Only Why: Kindergarten days end at noon in September. If you need us to help... a short school bus ride will bring your child from Hillside to the First Reformed Church in Hastings. (we pickup Dobbs kids, too!).

There they’ll enjoy the afternoon with a healthy snack and playful, enriching activities. Our cheerful space mirrors the Kindergarten experience for a smooth transition in your child’s day.

When: September 2012 Time: 12-2:00 pm or stay on until 6:00 pm

mary Cahill, Director: 478-2334 For Registration, call Pam Koner: 478-0756 18 Farragut Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson www.TheHomeworkClubProgram.com

The Rivertowns Enterprise Continued from the previous page

(ESY) program for special education students to help them maintain their skill base over the summer months. For 2012-13, the special education staff is planning disabilities awareness training for students in the elementary school. A districtwide Dignity for All initiative, based on the new Dignity for All Act legislation, will also be a priority.

Students will participate in simulations or “walk in my shoes” scenarios to build sensitivity and awareness.

Phyllis Conley will spearhead this effort and will continue to work with our district this year as our dignity act coordinator, a new mandated position. Dobbs Ferry is fortunate to be working with Ms. Conley, who has spent many years at the forefront of anti-bullying efforts. She will be coordinating this initiative with the school-level teams in each building, and training for staff and students will be a priority as we begin the school year. In another important change in personnel, I am very excited to introduce Ms. Erin Vredenburgh as the new director of special education for our Dobbs Ferry Schools. Ms. Vredenburgh joins us from the Hyde Park School District where she served as the special education coordinator. She has been working all summer with interim director Phyllis Conley to ensure a smooth transition for our special education students and their families.

Lastly, the district will begin working this fall on the development of the strategic plan to guide our efforts as we move ahead.

With so many important priorities for all schools, it is critical that we use a clear process to define our main goals for the Dobbs Ferry schools that will result in success

Back to School

based on our core mission — to provide access to the curriculum for all students and improve student learning at all levels. The district will identify a cross-role group of representative people from the community to engage directly in the strategic planning process. A great deal of parent input was solicited last year via the superintendent book chats and coffee chats which will help to frame the conversation.

We know that Dobbs Ferry parents want to see a strong focus on 21st century skills within the academic program, along with opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know and are able to do, in ways that make sense. Student assessment is critical to a successful instructional program and we will work closely with our teachers this year in the development of local assessments designed to measure student learning and meet the requirements under APPR. We will also continue our curricular efforts in developing ongoing formative assessments that provide meaningful feedback to both students and teachers every day.

Looking ahead, our most immediate charge is to prepare each student for the 21st century future of their choice by rigorously honing their ability to think critically, collaborate and communicate, and become productive citizens. Looking back 50 years, our 35th president shared the same philosophy in his vision for students: “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation.” — John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 23A

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Page 24A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Friday, August 24, 2012

School Reports

An extraordinary future for Irvington schools

By DR. KRISTOPHER HARRISON Irvington Schools Superintendent

T

he Irvington Union Free School District is primed for a successful launch to the new school year.

Throughout the summer months, staff has worked steadily to prepare for the students’ arrival. With a tremendous focus on curricular initiatives, the children of Irvington will be exposed to rich, challenging learning experiences that will prepare them for a bright future.

Thanks to the support of the community, as well as the fundraising efforts of the PTSA and the Irvington Education Foundation, a wide range of academic and extracurricular opportunities as well as a number of enrichment programs will again be available to its nearly 1,800 students.

The Irvington community is pleased to welcome many new, talented professionals to the district. The schools are thrilled to have welcomed a number of dynamic teachers and staff who will work diligently to provide outstanding learning experiences for every student, every day. Beyond the classroom, the board of education welcomed a number of new leaders to the administrative team.

New superintendent Dr. Kristopher Harrison is thrilled to join the Irvington Schools after enjoying many successful years in New

Jersey as a teacher, principal and superintendent. Dr. Harrison has been busy working with district and community leaders to establish the groundwork for an extraordinary future for our schools.

Also new to the district leadership team is Dr. Raina Kor, who enthusiastically assumed her position as the assistant superintendent of instruction and human resources on July 1. Dr. Kor’s experience as the assistant principal of Irvington Middle School and most recently as principal of Main Street School has prepared her well for her new role. Based upon the many new initiatives introduced statewide, coupled with the district’s goal to enhance student achievement, the impact of her work will have an immediate impact on our excellent schools.

Due to Dr. Kor’s promotion to the central leadership team, the community is pleased to welcome Ms. Eileen Casey as the interim principal of Main Street School. Ms. Casey retired from a long career as an elementary school teacher, coordinator of a mastery teaching program, principal and an assistant superintendent for curriculum. Ms. Casey served as the superintendent of schools in the Monticello Central School District for 13 years. Since retiring, she has been an interim principal at both the elementary and middle school levels. We are very excited to have Ms. Casey join our leadership team.

Her strong background, coupled with a deep knowledge base and passion for education,

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The board of education welcomed Mrs. Robyn Kerner and Mrs. Maria Kashkin as new members in July. Mrs. Kerner is no stranger to the board of education as she served on the board from 2005-11, including leading the board as vice-president and president. Mrs. Kashkin also brings substantial experience working in the Irvington schools, having been highly involved in the Parent Teacher Student Association, recently serving as the president. The community extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to outgoing board of education members, Mr. John Dawson and Mrs. Robyne Camp, for their service to the schools and their dedication to enhancing each aspect of school operations.

This year, Irvington will maintain a significant focus on the implementation of the Common Core Curriculum Standards, Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), and the Dignity for All Students

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Act. Through ongoing professional development, implementation of new practices and use of different materials and pedagogy, district staff will be well equipped to effectively fulfill each initiative. The Common Core Learning Standards have increased the expectations and rigor of both the English Language Arts (ELA) and math curriculums. To prepare for this challenge, throughout the summer teachers worked diligently on curriculum revisions to prepare for the new school year. Additionally, our district is ready for the implementation of the new APPR. Working successfully with both our administrator and teacher unions, we have met the New York State deadlines, developed new systems and will begin the new year with a more comprehensive approach to teacher and administrator evaluations.

The Irvington community is dedicated to providing its students with a physically and emotionally safe environment to grow and learn. To this end, staff welcomes the Dignity for All Students Act as it reinforces the community’s dedication to character education and the promotion of a culture of inclusion and mutual respect. The district is proud to partner with the Irvington Diversity Foundation (IDF), the Irvington Education Foundation (IEF) and the PTSA to provide for powerful character development experiences for all students. These partnerContinued on page 26A

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The Rivertowns Enterprise

School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 25A

News & Notes

ArdsleyCares Day expands volunteer opportunities, events ArdsleyCares Day, which began as a partnership between the school administration and the Ardsley PTA to put handson volunteering opportunities at the fingertips of Ardsley families, has a growing slate of activities for the fourth annual day of community service to be held Oct. 27.

Additionally, the ArdsleyCares committee has expanded volunteer opportunities throughout the year, making give-back moments a more consistent part of the community calendar. The ArdsleyCares committee has significantly grown the number of volunteers it attracts to this special day from a couple of hundred volunteers at six events when it first began in 2009 to more than 600 people at 16 events in 2011.

New events this year include opportunities in Ardsley — working on improvement projects at Concord Road and Ardsley Middle School — as well as options throughout Westchester, including a project with Habitat for Humanity and a WestHab Garden Project at WestHab’s PEAK Center in Mount Vernon. Every year Ardsley families have the chance to share a fulfilling day by helping disadvantaged kids; bringing an afternoon of enjoyment and activity to senior citizens; donating children’s clothes and books; preparing meals and sorting clothes for Westchester families in need; and beautifying local town and parks.

“Four years in and ArdsleyCares Day has become a tent-pole event that the entire

community looks forward to,” said Anju Kurian, co-chairman of the 2012 ArdsleyCares committee. “We all cherish this day that provides our families with the opportunity to reinforce the values of kindness, gratitude, good citizenship and community responsibility. This year we are especially proud of our efforts to make ArdsleyCares a year-round effort.”

What began as one day to give back to the surrounding communities has now become a yearlong initiative where local families can participate in a broad number of

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initiatives, including cooking for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House while children are treated at the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, donating books for a communitywide book swap, and a Hunger Week food drive to collect resources for Westchester families in need.

These new activities build upon existing activities that have become part of the fabric of this annual event. Here is a sampling of what the community accomplished during last year’s ArdsleyCares Day:

• The Children’s Clothing, 2nd Chance for Fun and iCare Drives collected and sorted 79 contractor bags of children’s clothes, 78 boxes of children’s books, 49 boxes of children’s games, puzzles, backpacks and crafts, and 150 toiletry kits.

• The team at the Food Bank of Westchester sorted and stacked approximately 6,000 pounds of food to be distributed to those in need throughout Westchester.

• The Animal Shelter Project included two shifts of volunteers that made trays of dog biscuits and catnip toys for hundreds of homeless animals.

“We could not make this happen without our partners in the community,” said Linda Lee, co-chairman of the ArdsleyCares Committee. “Everyone from the parents who run our events to the teachers and administrators in the schools to the organizations we serve to community partners like our friends at Home Depot, who provided essential supplies and worked hand in hand beside us last year, make this event happen. As we’ve always said ‘Our community cares, our families deliver.’”

This year’s event again strives to provide families with even more meaningful experiences and opportunities to help others.

For up-to-date information on the schedule and to register for an event, Ardsley families are invited to visit www.ardsleycares. org or to email ArdsleyCares@gmail.com.

Back to School

Page 26A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

CHRISTIAN PRE-SCHOOL Dobbs Ferry Lutheran Church

“where faith and learning connect”

• Impressive Classrooms • Newly Renovated Playground areas • Creative Play areas Changed Monthly according to Unit Themes • Separate Music/Story & Discovery Rooms • New Foreign Language Program • An Inclusive Environment Encouraging Empathy for God’s World and its People • Caring & Supportive Staff • Families Welcome at all times!

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Irvington Schools Continued from page 24A

ships will help to expand upon a longstanding commitment to character education.

The district will continue to seek opportunities to expand students’ appreciation of the role each individual plays in a community and the responsibilities each plays in our collective success. Through these lessons, the Irvington staff believes that each individual will assume greater ownership for their community, which results in an inclusive, productive environment. These efforts have positioned the district well to meet the mandates associated with the Dignity for All Students Act which went into effect on July 1. As part of the act, all district administrators, faculty and staff will receive additional training this year on how to recognize, prevent and act upon incidents of harassment, discrimination and bullying.

The Irvington Union Free School District is committed to the maintenance and enhancement of its school facilities. This dedication was reinforced with the 2012-13 school district budget, which provides the funding necessary to address a number of needs. The following buildings and grounds projects are being addressed this school year: • Improved flooring • Painting • Replacement of vertical blinds with shades (new wing) • Field maintenance • Repaving and restriping of some parking lots and driveways • Window improvements

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Friday, August 24, 2012

• School safety projects • Installation of solar panels for instructional value and energy conservation • Installation of new walkways.

As in years past, the PTSA’s fundraising efforts afforded Irvington’s students many opportunities in 2011-12. The PTSA will once again provide academic, extracurricular enrichment opportunities and sponsor special events for both students and parents in the 2012-13 school year. Additionally, the Irvington Education Foundation has continued its longstanding reputation of funding outstanding experiences for the students of the Irvington schools. This year their fundraising efforts will continue to enrich learning for countless learners.

As always, the district welcomes both the input and the involvement of the parents and the community. We encourage you to stay informed by attending board of education meetings, which are generally held on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of every month in the Campus Presentation Room (CPR) on the secondary campus.

Board meetings can now be seen on the Village of Irvington’s cable TV stations, generally at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The meetings can also be viewed on the district’s website, www.irvingtonschools.org. In addition, information about the district is updated on an ongoing basis on the website. To help the community to be well informed throughout the year, the board and administration are collaborating on a plan to enhance communication. Early this year, the district will introduce new communication tools to better inform and engage our community.

We wish everyone a very successful 201213 school year!

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The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

AEF focuses on technology The Ardsley Education Foundation (AEF) works to fund projects that enrich children’s lives and which may be outside the traditional scope of the school’s budget, especially in tough economic years. AEF is working closely with school administrators and with the PTA to identify and fulfill funding requests in all three schools. These requests have been reviewed by the administration to ensure that they align with the district initiatives, especially in the technology arena.

AEF’s focus for the 2012-13 school year is INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, encouraging everyone to think outside the box with new and exciting ideas to enrich our children’s educational experience. In support of this initiative, AEF is funding a Teacher Appreciation Program, granting an allocation of funds across each of the schools to introduce new and exciting educational programs. AEF is reviewing the expansion of technology within the schools, such as iPads and Kindles, and how they can be integrated into the educational and technological direction we are moving. AEF is excited about these new programs and the potential educational opportunities they will bring.

AEF has recently funded the purchase of new Smart Boards, Kindles, Kindle Library, document cameras, scanners and imaging equipment, digital voice recorders and sound systems.

AEF facilitated the installation of the Living Wall and Garden at Concord Road School, a project to benefit the entire community by teaching the children healthy eating habits, how to reserve valuable natural resources and to understand how important

(and how easy it can be) to integrate sustainable living into our current life and thus, minimize our carbon footprint.

Concord Road has also received this year new standing desks, which have proven to help focus and improve behavior of students. The document cameras, recorders, scanners and imaging equipment are being integrated into classroom learning at Ardsley Middle School and Ardsley High School.

The Kindles and Kindle Library are also funded as part of the advances in technology implementation and promise to enhance the children’s educational opportunities. AEF continues to look into additional enhancements and funds for special projects and pilot educational programs.

AEF is enthusiastic about the fundraising efforts and events in place for the coming school year. The foundation will host its first Ladies Night Out boutique on Nov. 15, and the annual auction and gala in April. So many more exciting ideas are to come! AEF hopes the community will support these events through participation, donations or sponsorships.

The Ardsley Education Foundation was formed in 1995 and is comprised of parents, school administrators and community members who are dedicated to enriching public education in the Ardsley Union Free School District. AEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization. Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Grants or special projects selected for funding by the Ardsley Education Foundation’s board of directors may be single events, pilot projects or ongoing programs.

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 27A

ROLLING ADMISSIONS

Ages 2 years 9 months and older CALL FOR A TOUR Phone (914) 591-6614 Fax (914) 591-7806 16 North Broadway Irvington, New York 10533 Early drop off and extended day available

Back to School

Page 28A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Forgotten

lunch?

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sing?

6th & 7th

a Stuck on

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Grade Int ern

Program? ?

THE HOMEWORK CLUB PROGRAM

CREATIVE ARTS-BASED AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE!!!

For children 2nd thru 7th grade Monday - Friday 3:00pm - 6:30pm “Designed to serve the needs of our community's working families... we're here when you can't be.”

Staffed by warm, caring and mature professionals, we go beyond the basics, focusing on building self esteem, self reliance and creative problem solving through "out of the box" enrichment activities.

Our days begin with outdoor play and a healthy snack...then it's homework in a "library quiet" environment. Multicultural art activities, free play with a focus on creating "community", “Urban Illustration”, Add, Water & Stir, Ink and writing projects round out our afternoons.

Open full day 8:00am - 6:30pm for select school closings.

And... "stay on til 9pm for "Dinner and a Movie" Fridays!!!

Pam Koner 478-0756 www.thehomeworkclubprogram.com

Friday, August 24, 2012

HW Club: values shared, taught The Homework Club Program in Hastings-on-Hudson has been offering working parents a creative, stimulating and safe place for their kids to land for quite a while now.

Whether it’s Urban Illustration classes, where budding and seasoned young artists are encouraged by master artist Katie Reidy to create “way out of the box” art, or the Authors and Illustrators writing program, magic classes, power yoga for kids, jewelry and beading, The Homework Club always seems to reinvent/recreate and offer enriching options for all.

About to begin its 18th year, The Homework Club, a creative arts-based afterschool program for elementary school aged children, has had a year of “creation” and compassion. Along with the parents of our community, The Homework Club kids have become a vital and meaningful part of Family-to-Family, a national hunger relief organization founded by Pam Koner, also the founder of The Homework Club Program.

Each month, the children at The Homework Club help box food and clothing for impoverished American families, often decorating the boxes being sent with drawings and kind wishes.

This hands-on experience each month, this “living empathy,” has become an integral part of The Homework Club experience. It is always a joy to hear the kids speak of the families being helped with kindness and caring, taking the time to reflect on what they have and what they are

grateful for on a regular basis. It is a value at The Homework Club to promote generosity of spirit, mindfulness of the others, and respectful mediation of feelings, hurts and sensitivities.

As a Homework Club mother said, “The Homework Club has replaced the old neighborhood feeling... you ARE the new neighborhood!”

Homework Club teaches children on a daily basis to be thinkers and self-motivators, to find the process more rewarding than the result, to dream and play, to fantasize and stretch to boundaries of imagination.

Contact Koner at @pam.thehomeworkclub@gmail.com.

Good Shepherd

Early Childhood Center 25 North Broadway Irvington-on-Hudson A Non-Sectarian Program Registered with the University of the State of New York Licensed by NYS Office of Children & Family Services Accredited by National Academy of Early Childhood Programs

Nursery School Programs TWO YEAR OLDS 2 Mornings THREE YEAR OLDS 3 or 5 Mornings

With Optional Extended Day (Thurs.)

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Kavita Kohli, DDS Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

495 Central Park Avenue, Suite 208 ~ Scarsdale, NY 10583 www.rivertownspediatricdentistry.com ~ 914-725-9620

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 29A

BTS FAshion

sporty, funky & loud...

T

By MARY LEGRAND

o many families, Back to School means a return to shopping for clothes after a summer spent at camp or lounging around the pool in swimsuits and flip-flops.

Luckily, there are tons of shopping options here in Westchester County, and storeowners and staff are in the know about all the latest fashion trends.

Phyllis Samuels, co-owner of Neil’s in Scarsdale and Mount Kisco, predicted a “great fall season following a great spring.”

NFL or NBA jerseys “with all the new players on them” are at the top of many boys’ must-have lists. In addition, “We’re doing an unbelievable business in lacrosse shorts with crazy prints,” Samuels said. “Dri-FIT tops from Under Armour, Nike and Adidas are also very popular. This is a fabric which,

Madison is wearing Free People top and Mother jeans; Hannah looks great with a Free People shirt, Work Custom jeans and Recover tank; and Taylor is sporting a My Tribe sweater and Work custom jeans.

They are all wearing jewelry by Indigo Chic of Hartsdale.

Continued on page 30A

It Takes a Lot of Heart to Educate a Mind Individual. Personal. Unique. It describes each of our students… and all of our teachers.

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Page 30A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

BTS FAshion

sporty, funky & loud...

1 Continued from page 29A

as opposed to cotton, wicks the perspiration away from you and has an unbelievable comfort level.”

High NBA-type socks are making the rounds with Westchester County boys, Samuels said: “They come in prints and teams and colors and they’re really fun. The whole gist is that boys have fashion now; it’s not just for the girls. But boys are very tactile sensitive, so if something doesn’t feel good in addition to looking good, they’ll pass it by.”

Girls are flocking to Neil’s for the latest early fall colors: “plums, charcoals with a royal blue to pop,” according to Samuels. “We’re still seeing some peeks of neon, to pop a charcoal or to pop a plum. And the cutout shoulder is continuing from spring, mostly for ages 7-16. Worn over a tank, it’s called a ‘cold shoulder,’ and is almost literally a circle cut on the shoulder of a sweatshirt, for example.”

Animal prints, leggings, jeans and jeggings are still big with girls, and, as with boys’ clothing, comfort is key. “Everything has more and more stretch in it,” Samuels said. “We have sweats that look and feel like cashmere — there are no cotton sweats anymore — they’re washed and washed and washed before we get them. There are even sherpa-lined sweatshirts, soft and stretchy.”

Lindsey Isanberg, owner of Infinity in Scarsdale, describes her shop as “fashion forward, very trendy. We set the trends that others follow.”

Infinity’s target customers are preteen and teen girls, who are buying up printed and/or colored denim pants, shirts with elbow patches and more.

Skinny jeans, which hit big time this past spring, are still the rage, as is clothing with imprinted skull patterns, Isanberg said.

There are lots of options for tops at Infinity, and plenty of accessories as well. “Zipper bracelets are a very hot item for back to school,” Isanberg said. “They come in metallic, tie dye and with charms, and they would be great gift items.”

For weekends, special occasion party dresses and skirts are popular at Infinity, as are patterned or neon overnight bags for sleepovers, plus “great

soft plush pajamas and the coziest pajama pants,” Isanberg said. “The patterned bags are cool, trendy and new instead of regular old-time backpacks.”

Lester’s in Rye has “exactly what you’re looking for,” according to Marilyn Werner. “Although we are seeing neons offered for fall, we feel as though we’ve given the customer enough of the neon colors for spring and summer, so we will transition into jewel and deeper tones for the fall.”

Skinny jeans are the only way to go, said Werner, who added, “We are not offering boot cut at all.”

For the rare occasions when they want to dress up a bit, girls ages 7-14 prefer short, body hugging knit skirts, with the 4 to 6x size girl “also accepting a longer and less mature version of the body hugging knits,” Werner said.

As for tops, Werner said that chiffon prints are “very important” for the fall, especially in animal and python prints. “Solids are selling as well, with sequin pocket trims,” she said. “In tees and sweatshirts, skulls, stars and stripes are the rage.”

Animal prints are “by far” the most popular now, Werner said. “We’re seeing them in printed chiffons and bottoms. Printed jeans, printed pants and jeggings are very popular. We’re also seeing the trend in dresses.”

Again, girls find comfort to be important, with “soft and comfy sweat fabrics” and “cashmere-feel fabrics” popular at Lester’s. Another important trend for fall is “faux or vegan leather in jackets and bottoms; also faux fur in vests and vest/ sweater combos,” Werner said, adding that layering is still big, with sheer tops over bandeaux or camisoles.

For boys, tees are top sellers at Lester’s. “The trends in tees for boys are rock bands, retro looks and, of course, sports done in updated graphics,” Werner said. “For little boys, superheroes like Superman and Spiderman are happening.”

Up in Pound Ridge, Silhouette, owned by

Merri Virgilio, caters primarily to girls and the adults who purchase clothing and gifts for them.

“We run the gamut from jewelry to journals to bags, handbags or small little totes, wristlets, things like that,” Virgilio said.

Any kind of “nontraditional tote such as a cross-body bag or hobo bag” is proving popular for back to school, Virgilio said. Silhouette sells custom bags with school names embroidered on them — green and white for Pound Ridge Elementary School; black, red and white for Fox Lane middle and high schools. Alternatively, initials, names or symbols can be custom embroidered in just a matter of days.

Girls wanting to accessorize an outfit are in good hands at Silhouette. “They’ll come in looking for necklaces that have a specific symbol, like a ballerina, frog or peace sign,” Virgilio said.

“These are really popular, whether they buy them for themselves or as a gift. We also have chokers on elastic, sometimes with a bottle cap or some other type of symbol or token on them. They come in bright colors and are not tight.”

Fashion trends “come and go,” Virgilio said.

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 31A

1

At Denny’s in Scarsdale, Robert is sporting all Under Armour — zip hoodie, wide side stripe pant, collegiate thermal top and backpack — while Ray has on a Volcom Inyoface fleece hoodie over a neon Quiksilver tee and Quiksilver skinny jeans. The Flow Society backpack completes his look.

2

Hannah is sporting Seven’s gold colored jeans, a Vince tweed sweater and Frye boots, while Andreas has a Vince sweater, John VarVatos tee, AG jeans and Converse sneakers.

Available at Beginnings in Scarsdale and Armonk.

3

5

4

2

3

6

“Tie dye’s not so big now; girls are mostly going for bright neon colors. But then again, we always thought that peace signs would be gone, but they’re not.”

The ever-popular Pound Ridge sweatshirts, in children’s and adult sizes, are big sellers at Silhouette, with pullover and hoodie styles available. Pound Ridge tees should be back in stock soon, Virgilio said.

Gaynor Scott is owner of Boo Girls in Katonah, a popular store that attracts scores of girls from 7-12 all the way through high school and college. “For pants, it’s still all skinny jeans and cords, in jewel tones, lots of really bright colors — emerald greens, purples, blues, reds — every color you could possibly imagine,” Scott said. “Sweaters are not as oversized as they were last year. This year they’re V-necks and crewnecks, in a heavier yarn. I have quite a few cable knits, with the weave a little bit looser in between the cables.”

Jean jackets are back, Scott said, “but they’re inlaid with different fabrics in the sleeve or shoulder. We’re still seeing graphic tees with rock and roll screen prints on them, going back to the days of Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, that sort of thing.”

Boo Girls also has a lot of “really pretty chiffon blouses, animal prints and floral prints,” Scott said. “They button up with a collar, but are very drapey. When you have that skinny bottom in terms of the jeans, it’s very nice to have something flowing on top.”

Dresses for sweet 16 parties, bar and bat mitzvahs and other special occasions bring area shoppers to Boo Girls. Dress fashions, Scott said, “have changed a lot over the years. Instead of girls’ dresses being very fancy, everything is now fitted to the body.

It’s a fairly uniform style, so we have some really pretty fabrics in the store right now.

There’s one with elbow-length sleeves that’s Continued on page 32A

Ava is sporting JBrand denim jeans, Busy Bees ruffle blouse and Hartford metallic jacket at Bubble & Tweet in Bedford Village.

4

At Bubble & Tweet in Bedford Village, Ava is wearing JBrand jeans, Pink chicken floral dress and Naturino ballet flats.

5

Morgan is in Vintage Havana purple denim jeans and a Ragdoll & Rocket plaid long shirttail shirt topped with a Pinc crocheted fringe vest, and Sydney is all set in her Vintage Havana dip-dyed skull sweater over bright dyed Flying Monkey jeans. The down vest is lightweight enough to be stored in a backpack.

Available at Denny’s in Scarsdale.

6

At Indigo Chic in Hartsdale, Taylor is wearing a Free People top, Work custom jeans and a vest by Tempo Paris; Hannah has a BcBg top, Lysse leggings, a My Tribe leather jacket and jewelry by Indigo Chic; and Madison rocks leggings by David Lerner, a top by Kokua and jewelry by Indigo Chic.

Photos by Jim McLean

Page 32A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

BTS FAshion Continued from page 31A

a fairly conservative dress. It fits well on the body, and that’s what the girls like.�

Yogi’s Paw, in Mount Kisco, has seen girls buying basics in the past few weeks, said owner Leslie Bijoux. “Color is going to be really big,� she said. “A lot of times you see colors toned down a bit in the fall, but we’re still seeing bright tones. The point is that color is going to be a big part of fall, as opposed to gray and black.�

Feminine, sheer blouses, “with a lot of lace,� are flying out of the store, Bijoux said, adding, “a lot of the tops we’re selling and buying right now are not exactly cropped but on the short side. They’re not particularly long. Right now in the store we have mostly short-sleeved tops, a little oversized and extremely feminine.�

Bold prints — floral, Aztec, geometric, abstract — often come in black and white and serve as a great contrast to all that color.

Dresses Bijoux is seeing for fall continue a trend from the spring. One of them she called a “twofer,� which, she said, looks like a skirt with a blouse. “It’s all put together and is the look that everybody wants,� she said. “It’s just one piece. You put it on and it’s done. Having said that, we do sell a lot of separates to get the same look, like the little black skirt with blousy top.�

Across the state line, Butterflies & Zebras in Ridgefield, Conn., caters to shoppers 7-14 “all the way through contemporary, cool mom clothes,� said owner Shari Harowitz. “Colored jeans are going to continue to be hot for fall, paired with crop tops and plaid shirts, but with more fitted silhouettes, not your father’s plaid shirts.�

Knit blazers are a “nice way to change it up a bit, but not so structured and not in a stiff fabric,� said

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Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

Harowitz. Butterflies & Zebras stocks gray and navy knit blazers with sleeves that can be rolled up to expose a jacketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s striped lining. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Skirts will always continue to be popular,â&#x20AC;? Harowitz said, describing the bestselling one offered at her shop as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;pull-on, one-size-fits-all skirt that they wear with leggings. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a super-mini; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why the leggings are so great.â&#x20AC;?

Butterflies & Zebrasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; signature seamless tank, available in an array of colors, goes well under any top or sweater, Harowitz said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Honestly, denim jeans are what the girls all wear, with some kind of a cute crop top,â&#x20AC;?

Harowitz said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Layering is very important.

They like to wear what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been wearing, and then mix it up with accessories, which include chunky bracelets, denim bracelets and anything that has zippers.â&#x20AC;?

With Labor Day rapidly approaching, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to go shopping to make that Back to School wardrobe fresh and its very best. To get there, all the shop owners agreed that Uggs remain the footwear of choice for most girls â&#x20AC;&#x201D; certainly for those in the middle school and high school crowd â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re perfect for tucking in those skinny jeans everyone loves.

At Beginnings, with locations in Scarsdale and Armonk, Hannah is wearing a Cindy Press T hand-painted tee, with Rich skinny black coated jeans, Suzi Roher black belt and Frye boots, and Andreas goes with a Local celebrity tee, AG match box jeans and Converse sneakers.

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 33A

BTS Health & Wellness Immunization update: HPV vaccine approved for boys

P

By TRACI DUTTON LUDWIG

Since genital warts cause symptoms in both men and women, the HPV vaccine directly protects boys’ and men’s health in this way. This, of course, is in addition to the vaccine’s help in preventing the transmission of high-risk HPV virus strains to female partners.

Research has proven additional benefits. Scientists are discovering links between vaccine-targeted HPV strains and other genital cancers in both men and women. These include cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile and oropharyngeal cancers (cancers of the base of the tongue, tonsils and back of the throat). Based on these associations, as well as cervical cancer statistics, the CDC projects that the HPV vaccine may prevent up to 7,000 HPV-associated cancers in men and 15,000 HPV-associated cancers in women each year.

The HPV vaccine is a three-dose series. The second and third shots are respectively given at 60-90 days and six months after the first shot. While the vaccine is approved for ages 9-26, the CDC website recommends girls and boys receive the first dose of the vaccine at age 11 or 12 because “the vaccine produces higher antibody that fights infection when given at this age compared to older ages.” For full protection, recipients must complete the series before becoming sexually active.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The CDC estimates that 20 million Americans, ages 15-49, currently have HPV. Alternatively stated, this means that at least half of all sexually active men and women will get genital HPV at some time in their lives — most of the time without any outward symptoms.

The association of HPV and sexual activity caused some

arents take note: your boys’ annual physicals may include one more jab of a needle. However, according to doctors, all those extra pinches from the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine will be worth it, for the prevention of cervical cancer, genital warts and other genital and oropharyngeal cancers.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded their guidelines on the HPV vaccine to make it a “recommended vaccine” for both genders. At the time of the vaccine’s approval five years ago, the focus was on immunizing girls against two high-risk HPV virus strains that cause 75 percent of all cervical cancers — HPV 16 and 18. According to CDC statistics, about 12,000 new cervical cancer cases appear each year in the United States, from which approximately 4,000 annual deaths will result.

The vaccine is commonly available under the name “Gardasil,” manufactured by Merck. In addition to Gardasil, the Food and Drug Administration has approved a second HPV vaccine — Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline — but it has not been licensed for use in males.

Gardasil also immunizes recipients against the low-risk HPV strains 6 and 11, which are responsible for 75 percent of all genital warts. Cervarix does not prevent against infection

by HPV strains 6 and 11.

Approximately one in every 100 sexually active adults has genital warts at any given time, according to the CDC. Warts can grow on the genitals or groin anytime from weeks to several years after sexual contact with an HPV-infected partner.

THERE’S A PERFECT SCHOOL FOR EVERY CHILD. WE’LL TAKE YOU T HERE.

Continued on page 35A

Hastings Co-op Nursery School A child-centered, cooperative preschool founded on respect for the spirit of young children and dedicated to encouraging their natural talent for learning.

We offer: • Classes designed to help children mature socially, emotionally and intellectually • A progressive, process-oriented teaching approach for 2, 3, and 4 year olds • A curriculum that supports learning through hands-on & minds-on experiences • A collaborative environment where parents are involved in their child’s educational journey • Experienced, knowledgeable, and nurturing teachers • A wonderful first school experience for both children and families Your child, your community, your co-op.

We welcome students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin.

School Search Solutions Experts in:

For more information, please call or email: Co-Directors Cindy Nibur and Irene Wemer

(914) 478-3777 • cindy@hastingsnurseryschool.com

• School admissions and placement • Private, public, specialized, boarding and therapeutic schools

Registration Now Open for 2013/2014

• Placing children in schools where they will thrive

www.schoolsearchsolutions.com 1-866-881-5959

www.hastingsnurseryschool.com

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Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 35A

Health & Wellness

Fostering healthy teen dating relationships

By SHARON CHARLES, LCSW and BETH THOMPSON, LCSW

E

ach of us wishes to have an enjoyable, meaningful and healthy relationship with someone we love and we wish the same for our teen and young adult children.

Children learn about relationships in multiple ways: their parents’ and familial relationships, gender roles in their family and media representations of relationships on the Internet, television, movies, videos and music. As a result, children can sometimes get distorted ideas about relationships. They may believe relationships are fraught with peril and danger, a rollercoaster of ups and downs or an idealized romantic notion of Prince Charming. So how do children become knowledgeable about what is realistic so they can engage in healthy dating relationships?

It’s simple: our children learn from us!

They discover how to handle social and emotional events by watching us. They learn from the way we treat our partner, our interactions with other people and our interactions with them. When we show respect, patience and positive assertiveness in how we deal with life’s issues and handle disagreements, children will follow suit and deal with their frustration in healthy

ways. Put downs, contempt and blaming are poor skills that are sometimes used to express anger and frustration. It’s better to fight fair and handle conflict with respect by using healthy coping skills such as speaking calmly, deep breathing, taking time outs or walking away.

Children also learn a great deal from their relationship with us. When we willingly listen to their point of view and value their thoughts and feelings, they see a model for a healthy relationship. Showing respect and personal regard helps them feel valued and fosters their ability to solve problems, take responsibility and have healthy relationships even when disagreements occur.

Another influence on children’s social development is the bombardment of media messages about relationships and gender roles. Parents have to guide them through this barrage by helping them dissect the many stereotyping messages disseminated through the media.

One of the strongest “unhealthy relationship” messages portrayed in the media, and the most pervasive issue in abusive relationships, is control. Many young men think that “being a man” is equated to “being in charge.” Young girls are faced with a flood of messages that overvalue their sexuality, sometimes leading them to equate sexuality with desirability and value, and to be confused about their role

L’dor Va-dor ...

in intimate relationships. That’s why it’s important for parents to foster gender fairness and to promote qualities of strength, independence and sensitivity for both our sons and daughters.

We must encourage and allow our sons to express themselves freely without feeling emasculated or ridiculed. It is equally important that we help our daughters to feel confidence and pride in themselves and their accomplishments so that they know they deserve respect and love from their partner.

Every parent knows it is normal development for adolescents to become less reliant on us as they move toward adulthood.

Young people may talk less to us as they relish their independence and rely more heavily on peer relationships. But keeping the lines of communication open is vital.

Ultimately we can best help our children to have healthy relationships by demonstrating respect, fairness, openness and flexibility. Most importantly, be vigilant about keeping the lines of communication open. Only 33 percent of teens in abusive dating relationships tell someone. Have it be you!

Charles and Thompson are social workers at Westchester Jewish Community Services, which provides a wide range of programs and supports for children and youth throughout the county.

HPV VAccine for boys Continued from page 33A

controversy about the vaccine when it was first released. However, increased patient and parent information has tempered skepticism and concern.

According to Dr. Katherine Hough of Pediatrics on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson, “The HPV vaccine has an excellent safety profile. Like almost any vaccine, you may see pain or redness at the injection site. Occasionally, patients may feel faint. But we recognize that the benefits by far outweigh any of these risks. When the vaccine first came out, it was highly political. Many felt that the vaccine would promote sexual promiscuity, and, along those lines, many rather outlandish side effects were attributed to the vaccine, none of which proved to be true. We remind parents that we give the Hepatitis B vaccine, which is also sexually transmitted, to infants. The HPV vaccine is no different — we want to vaccinate boys and girls before they need it.”

The majority of Hough’s patients receive the vaccine without hesitation.

“Most of our boys and girls are getting the HPV series,” she wrote in an email. “When it first came out, there was a little initial hesitancy. But, as a practice, we really promote it and provide our patients with lots of information. It has been an easier ‘sell’ to the boys, as it has been around, and parents come already well informed. We had parents of boys asking for the vaccine even before it received full approval.”

Temple Beth Shalom Nursery School

From generation to generation ✡ An independent Reform congregation of over 400 families ✡ A nursery school, a religious school, teen programs, an elaborate adult education program, and a strong social action program ✡ Shabbat and holiday services, life-cycle events from birth to bar/bat mitzvah to weddings Please call for information:

478-3833

Temple Beth Shalom 740 North Broadway, Hastings-on-Hudson Email: info@tbshastings.org www.tbshastings.org

We’ll help your child grow.

Call about our exciting 2013-2014 program for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds Registration begins November 2012 We welcome Temple members and non-members to join us for all preschool activities including our Tot Shabbats!

740 North Broadway, Hastings-on-Hudson Email: info@tbshastings.org www.tbshastings.org

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Terrific toddler class for children younger than 2 years and their accompanying adult.

Mondays 9:15-10:15am Begins October 2012.

Call for details!

Judith Michael, MSW Executive Director of Education & Programming • 478-3833

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Health & Wellness

Trampoline fitness pilot program for teens this fall Starting this fall, kids in Westchester, Rockland and Bergen counties will have a chance to get fit and healthy by participating in a unique pilot program sponsored by Bounce! Trampoline Sports, well-known New York area sports nutritionist Dr. Michael Wald and the Rockland Farm Alliance.

The pilot program will involve 25 kids ages 12-15 who care about their own fitness and want to develop a program that will help other kids in the future. The program will run for eight weeks and involve exciting trampoline-based activities and games, workshops on creating fun and healthy snacks, and feedback sessions on what the kids like and want to adjust going forward.

“We are very excited about our new Get Fit & Feel Great program,” said Danny Fried, co-owner of Bounce!, located in Valley Cottage across the Tappan Zee Bridge.

“We developed the idea when several parents said, ‘Bounce! is so much fun, my kids don’t know it’s exercise!’ And we’re proud that it fits in with Michelle Obama’s get healthy campaign and we believe this program could change the way these kids think about themselves for a lifetime.”

A NASA study identified working out on a trampoline as “the most efficient, effective form of exercise yet devised by man.”

Head fitness trainer at Bounce! Trampoline Sports and former Cirque acrobat Victor Byrne will lead each class, developing new activities and programs based on feedback

Bounce! Trampoline Sports announced a new pilot program to help kids get fit and feel great.

from the participants. Byrne, who oversees all classes and gymnastics training at Bounce!, is also director of the VBAD Stars, where he trains some of New York State’s best young diving champions at the world class facilities at SUNY Purchase.

Teens will meet one-on-one with Dr. Wald, director of nutritional services at Integrated Medicine of Mount Kisco, in the beginning to talk about their goals and weigh in, and then the focus will shift to having fun and finding activities that kids enjoy as well as how to make healthier food choices.

“It is so important for kids to know that what they take into their bodies affects the way they move, think and interact throughout the day,” said Wald, who has been helping kids eat right and stay healthy for over 20 years. “Regardless of whether they play competitive sports or just want to throw a ball around with friends, we want to change their mindset about living a healthy lifestyle.”

The Rockland Farm Alliance, based at Cropsey Farm in New City, will provide organic and locally grown vegetables for the kids to sample so they can try new, locally

grown foods and see the difference it can make when something is picked fresh and grown without harmful chemicals. A trip to the farm is also planned during the program to talk about how caring for the earth affects the foods we eat.

The class will meet three times a week for one hour beginning mid-September and run for eight weeks. The children in the program will set their own goals and monitor their progress and provide feedback on what is working for them and what they might recommend for other kids for future programs. At the end of the eight weeks they will be able to evaluate their own progress and see how well they did. The fee for the pilot program is only $195 and registration began Aug. 1. A kickoff event is planned for September; visit www.bounceonit.com for details and information.

Bounce! Trampoline Sports is a 25,000-square-foot facility offering all ages the opportunity to play sports, have fun and get fit on enormous courts of interconnected trampolines. They offer aerobics and acrobat classes, Bounce! Boot Camp, pick-up dodgeball games and league play, slam dunk basketball, and gymnastics and tumbling training.

Bounce! Trampoline Sports is located at 612 Corporate Way in Valley Cottage off Route 303, just 2 miles north of the Palisades Center Mall. For questions call (845) 268-4000.

Open 7 days a week !

Twin Lakes Farm “Where Westchester Learns to Ride” • Private & Group Lessons • Summer & Winter Camp • Indoor & Outdoor Rings • Boarding & Training • Horse Shows • Renovated Modern Facility • Miles of Trails • Stadium Lights (for night riding) • Birthday Parties

960 B California Road, Bronxville

914-961-2192 Visit our website for more information

www.TwinLakesFarm.com A Facility of The County of Westchester Parks, Recreation & Conservation

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Back to School

Health & Wellness

Tips for fighting fall allergies As most allergy sufferers will tell you, allergy symptoms can always be bothersome, turning any time of year into sneezing season. A runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat can arise as the days get shorter and the leaves begin to change.

The fall can be especially difficult for people who are sensitive to mold and ragweed pollen. But these seasonal elements aren’t the only triggers that can make symptoms worse this time of year. Here are four things you might not know about fall allergies, courtesy of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: • Hay fever: Hay fever, a term from a bygone era, actually has nothing to do with hay. Instead, it’s a general term used to describe the symptoms of late summer allergies. Ragweed is a common cause of hay fever, which is also known as allergic rhinitis. The plant usually begins to pollinate in mid-August and may continue to be a problem until a hard freeze, depending on where you live.

• Lingering warm weather: While most people enjoy Indian summer, unseasonably warm temperatures can make rhinitis symptoms last longer. Mold spores can also be released when humidity is high, or the weather is dry and windy. Be sure to begin taking medications before your symptoms start. Track your allergy symptoms with MyNasalAllergyJournal.org and visit with your allergist to find relief.

• Pesky leaves: Some folks might find

it difficult to keep up with raking leaves throughout the autumn. But for allergy sufferers, raking presents its own problem.

It can stir agitating pollen and mold into the air, causing allergy and asthma symptoms. Those with allergies should wear an NIOSH-rated N95 mask when raking leaves, mowing the lawn and gardening.

• School allergens: It’s not only seasonal pollen and mold that triggers allergies this time of year. Kids are often exposed to classroom irritants and allergy triggers. These can include chalk dust and classroom pets.

Students with food allergies may also be exposed to allergens in the lunch room. Kids with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may experience attacks during recess or gym class. Help your child understand what can trigger their allergies and asthma, and how they can avoid symptoms. Be sure to notify teachers and the school nurse of any emergency medications, such as quick relief inhalers and epinephrine.

No matter the season, it’s important for those who think they may be suffering from allergies or asthma to see a board-certified allergist. An allergist can help you develop a treatment plan, which can include both medication and avoidance techniques.

Having your allergies properly identified and treated will help you and your family enjoy the season. To find an allergist and learn more about allergies and asthma, visit www.AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org.

— ARA Content

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5 South Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY (at hastings border)

914-478-4448 • email: drparamo@optonline.net

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 37A

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Health & Wellness

‘Safe at School’ diabetes program for kids and teachers

ARA PHOTO

coordinating, monitoring and supervising the care of a student with diabetes. However, in addition to a school nurse, a small group of school staff members should receive training to provide routine and emergency diabetes care, so that someone is always available for younger or less experienced students who require assistance with their diabetes management and for all children with diabetes in case of an emergency, including administration of glucagon.

3) Self management is allowed in all school settings for students with capacity: Children possessing the necessary skills to do so should be permitted to self-manage their disease in the classroom or wherever they are in conjunction with a school-related activity. Such self-management should include monitoring blood glucose and responding to blood glucose levels with needed food and medication.

Safe at School offers many resources for both school personnel and parents that can help in formulating a care plan for children with diabetes and individual expert help in resolving school diabetes care problems when they occur at www.diabetes.org/sas or by calling 1-800-DIABETES. In addition to providing educational resources though the Safe at School campaign, the American Diabetes Association also works to advocate for better policies to help children with diabetes. For example, the association recently successfully advocated for the passage of laws in Connecticut, Louisiana and Georgia that ensure that children get the care they need, whether it’s provided by the school nurse or another trained school staff member. In addition, these new laws permit capable students to selfmanage their diabetes.

The association also provides assistance to families whose children are not getting care at school — such as Latesha Taylor’s 9-year-old daughter Loretta, a Washington, D.C., public school student, who was made to stay home whenever the school nurse was absent. The association is now in the process of resolving the Taylor complaint and working with her school system to develop a district-wide policy to ensure that D.C. Public School students with diabetes will be able to attend and receive care at school even when the school nurse isn’t there.

Before parents of children with diabetes send them off to school, it’s important to communicate with school staff to make sure written plans are in place. The American Diabetes Association is ready to help parents to develop care plans to make certain that your child is getting the proper care and treated fairly at school, which will provide your child the best chance for good health and educational success.

— ARA Content

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W

hen children head off to school, it’s assumed that they’ll be in a safe place where they’ll be well taken care of. For the most part, that’s the truth. But for children with diabetes, the school environment can pose a serious health risk if there’s no one on site to help them manage their disease.

It’s important for schools to make diabetes safety a priority, as 215,000 children in the U.S. under the age of 20 are living with diabetes. Safe schools are those that have staff who are properly trained in caring for children with diabetes and work with parents and students to manage their disease.

“It’s not only important for a child’s health to have a plan in place that designates a school nurse and other trained staff to help manage his or her diabetes at school, but it’s also essential in ensuring children with diabetes are treated fairly and have the same educational opportunities as their peers,” said Linda M. Siminerio, RN, Ph.D., cochairperson of the American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School Working Group.

The American Diabetes Association’s Safe at School campaign works to educate and train school personnel and parents on how to effectively help children manage their disease at school. According to the association, effective school-based diabetes management requires three things: 1) Basic diabetes training for all staff: All school staff members who have responsibility for a child with diabetes should receive training that provides a basic understanding of the disease and the child’s needs, how to identify medical emergencies and which school staff members to contact with questions or in case of an emergency.

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 39A

Health & Wellness

ARA PHOTO

A fun, nutritious school lunch School is back in session and parents and children alike are gearing up for a new year and all the fun and chaos that go along with it. Whether it’s your child’s first ever school day or the last year before college, it’s important to take a moment to check off all the things they will need for a great year — and a healthy lunch is right at the top.

With school supply shopping and new outfit hunting in full swing, it can be easy to overlook planning nutritious lunches.

“But don’t count out lunch,” said Elizabeth Ward, registered dietitian, mother of three, and author of “MyPlate for Moms, How to Feed Yourself & Your Family Better: Decoding the Dietary Guidelines for Your Real Life.” In fact, students who eat a nutritious,

balanced diet are better prepared to learn, reports the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

“School lunch is more than just a meal — it’s an opportunity for good nutrition and teaching during children’s prime learning hours,” Ward said. “Children are always growing and developing, both physically and mentally, so providing them with great lunch nutrition keeps them healthy in and out of the classroom.”

Although many schools serve hot lunches each day, the only way to be certain your child is getting the nutrients he/she needs is to send a lunch with them to school that Continued on page 40A

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email:rjb@autimismspeech.com • www.autismspeech.com

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Nurture talent in your child •

Hudson RiveR scHool of Music

Offering afternoon/evening violin, viola and cello lessons for children ages 3 to 18.

In addition to private lessons: Eurhythmics classes, group playing classes, note reading classes, orchestra, chamber music and toddler yoga classes available.

Oldest Suzuki-based music school in the Northeast.

Established 1968

600 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. Register now for limited available spots.

Contact: Amy Rosen (914) 693-9481 www.hrsm.org ~ amyrosen.hrsm@gmail.com

Friday, August 24, 2012

Health & Wellness

School Lunches Continued from page 39A

you’re sure they will enjoy. Additionally, parents need to remember that while their own bodies are finished growing and developing, a child’s isn’t, and their meals and snacks should be jammed packed with good nutrition. Breakfast and lunch provide the opportunity to make sure your kids are eating the food they need before they come home for dinner with the family.

Ward offers the following tips to help keep your child eating healthy during school hours: • Talk to your children. Ask them what they would like to eat for lunch and teach them where food comes from. Involving children in meal planning will make the process more fun. Packing lunch with their favorite character on their Thermos brand lunch kit will make their meal even more enjoyable.

• Check with the school to see how close snack time is to lunch. This will help you determine how much food to pack for your children. Portion control is important for a healthy, balanced diet. Since children are smaller than adults, they should eat smaller portions, too.

• Lunch can be more than just the traditional milk, sandwich and fruit. Eating the same thing every day may get boring fast. As long as the food is healthy, you don’t need to get hung up on serving a traditional lunch.

Use a Thermos vacuum insulated FUNtainer food jar, which keeps food hot for five hours or cold for seven hours, to pack leftovers from

dinner, a hearty stew or soup, or fruit salad with low-fat yogurt. Alternate cold meals and hot to keep your child’s interest. If your child craves pizza, make one at home with low-fat cheese and vegetables. Use sunflower seed butter or olive oil instead of regular butter, and make sure milk, cheese and yogurt are low or non-fat. If you want to send a sandwich for lunch, try making it on a wholewheat bagel, pita pocket or sandwich wrap.

• Give your child an alternative to sugary soda and juice drinks by packing ice water with fruit slices in a Thermos FUNtainer bottle. The fruit will add the sweet taste your child craves, without the added sugar. There is no nutritional value to sugary drinks, so cutting them out of your child’s diet and helping them understand why you’re doing so early on will benefit them in the long run. As a bonus, the insulated bottle will keep drinks icy cold for up to 12 hours.

• Provide a balanced meal. Keep kids fueled during and after school by offering essentials packed with fiber or protein, which will also help reduce snacking urges.

Fiber, dairy foods, and protein-packed fare are essential to keeping kids fueled during and after school for activities, and reducing the urge to snack. Children eat what is available, so having carrot sticks and hummus available keeps kids’ minds off of cookies, candy, and chips. Send proteinrich Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts or whip up a smoothie made with fruit and milk and send in an insulated straw bottle.

For more information on convenient school lunch products, visit www.Thermos.com.

— ARA Content

SCHECHTER WESTCHESTER AKIVA MERIT SCHOLARSHIP For Students with No Jewish Day School Background • Full Four-Year High School Tuition Now Accepting Applications

Schechter Westchester, a nationally recognized premier K-12 private Jewish day school offers students an innovative, comprehensive dual curriculum infused with Jewish values. With excellent academics, vibrant arts, and competitive athletics, we are like no other school in the area.

Applicants for Merit Scholarship must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement.

To apply go to www.solomon-schechter.com/meritscholar.

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 41A

BTS Arts & Enrichment Jazz, abstract art and creativity at Rye Arts Center

T

he Rye Arts Center will be filled with the pulsating sounds of jazz, wildly colorful abstract art and brand new classes beginning this September at its 51 Milton Road location in Rye. Art classes begin Sept. 24, featuring an array of new classes for children, teens and adults in the fine, music, and performing arts.

Robotics, fashion design and recycled art are just a few of the exciting new children’s classes this fall. Traditional drawing takes a scary turn with a drawing monsters class. The art of puppetry will be explored featuring an end-of-class performance with the puppeteers and their new friends.

Kids may explore media art as well using Google SketchUp for digital architecture or becoming introduced with computer animation. For high school students, the Introduction to AP Studio Art is great for college portfolio preparation.

For those experienced or just beginning adults and teens, there are some great new opportunities as well. Discover watercolor, acrylic, oil or pastel paints this fall. New classes will cover topics of figure from life, conventional to cutting-edge style and abstraction. In Patti Mollica’s new class, Cupcakes, Candies, and Ice Cream-Oh

There are many activities for kids and beyond at Rye Arts Center.

My!, students will paint the textures and colors of pastries and confections. If painting isn’t the medium of choice, dabble in image transferring to create fine art from family photos or practice traditional stone carving.

Creating Champions for Over 75 Years Experience the Difference • • • • • • •

Private and Group Lessons Adults & Children Indoor and Outdoor Rings Boarding/Training Horse Shows Sales/Leasing Summer/Winter Camp

Now registering for Fall lessons

Audrey Feldman Vanessa Roman 291 Mamaroneck Road • Scarsdale 914.725.3912 • www.boulderbrook.org (Conveniently located off Exit 22 Hutchinson River Parkway)

Adults, tone your body while learning the fundamentals of ballet. Your preschoolers can do the same using techniques from ballet, yoga and more to become more aware of their own bodies while having fun. Dance for Parkinson’s Disease will

continue to stimulate the mind, body and spirit starting Sept. 12 thanks to a grant from ArtsWestchester.

Some talented new artists will be bringing their experience and knowledge in the arts to the Rye Arts Center this fall. Francesca Noto will teach traditional stone carving techniques as she has an M.F.A. from the New York Academy of Art and has studied under master sculptor Seiji Saito. The talented pastel artist Rae Smith will teach ongoing workshops and Joy Tobin will apply her watercolor knowledge to teaching painting flowers.

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Sept. 28 performance of “September Sound Explosion” by the John Fumasoli/ Bill Harris sextet, featuring Roger Ball, co-founder of Average White Band. And in the gallery, curator Katherine Dufault has assembled an exciting collection of today’s most talented abstract artists in a show titled “From Where I Stand,” opening Nov. 18.

Register today to be a part of the Rye Arts Center’s new adventures in art, music and performance. Visit www.ryeartscenter.org for more information or call 9670700.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Arts & Enrichment

Music Conservatory is a center for lifelong learning

F

or over 80 years, the Music Conservatory of Westchester, a community music school and performing arts campus, has been a leader in arts education in the greater Westchester region. Students of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate in high quality programs that cultivate lifelong learning and a sense of community through the joy of music making.

MCW has an experienced and dedicated teaching faculty of 85 performing artists from across the New York metropolitan area.

Master classes, concerts and workshops featuring nationally known performers which have included artists such as Richard Cross (Yale University), David Kim (concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra) and Mindy Kaufman (New York Philharmonic) augment the school’s core curriculum.

MCW is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

Private instruction is offered in all instruments and voice. In addition, MCW offers music therapy, chamber music and ensembles, classes in music skills, music theory, musical theater, jazz, rock and pop. The Music Therapy Institute has been the largest provider of professional music therapy services in the Westchester region, working with over 2,000 children and adults each year. Individual and group sessions are offered in dedicated studios at the conservato-

The Music Conservatory of Westchester is a leader in arts education.

ry and at partner locations across the county.

Classes for the youngest students include music skills (sequential music and movement classes for prekindergarten through third grade), introductory group classes and Suzuki instruction in violin, cello, flute and guitar. In partnership with the Steffi Nossen School of Dance, the conservatory offers music and dance packages for pre-K through third grade students on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Young children can also learn about music through MCW’s celebrat-

ed educational concert series in the White Plains Public Library.

Ensembles form an important part of the school’s curriculum for students of all ages, including adults. Both small (trios, quartets and quintets) and large ensembles are offered for many combinations including strings, winds, brass and voice. Known for their excellence, MCW’s string, wind, brass and choral ensembles perform frequently both on campus and throughout the community. Ensembles improve individual skills

and foster a sense of camaraderie amongst peers. All of MCW’s ensembles are open to students who study outside the school.

The conservatory’s Honors Program is a comprehensive precollege course of study for serious high school students. It includes private instruction, AP music theory, premiere performing ensembles, recitals and master classes. Honors performances and recitals are free and open to the public. This year’s graduates have been accepted at competitive conservatories and double-degree programs at Oberlin College/Conservatory, Columbia/Juilliard, Eastman School of Music/ University of Rochester and Johns Hopkins University/Peabody Conservatory. Other students have chosen to attend prestigious universities including University of Chicago, Vanderbilt and Yale.

This performing arts campus has something for everyone. It is home to Steffi Nossen School of Dance, Faust Harrison Pianos, New Westchester Symphony and the Westchester Choral Society. The Center for Aging in Place, in collaboration with MCW, will present a special event for seniors featuring a community sing-along and lecture recital on Sept. 12. The Digital Arts Experience, a new digital arts center in White Plains, will offer classes for MCW teens in recording, film scoring and multimedia presentations.

The fall semester begins Monday, Sept.

10. Visit www.musicconservatory.org to view the 2012-13 course catalog or call 7613900 for more information.

YOUR COMMUNITY ART SCHOOL Centrally located in White Plains

REGISTER NOW!

For Fall Art Classes for Adults and Teens Classes start September 7th and 17th

Community Nursery School of South Presbyterian Church

OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, September 6th, 6:30pm-8:30pm All are welcome!

Established 1945 ~ Celebrating Our 67th Year

OPEN HOUSE FOR REGISTRATION 2013-2014

Saturday, October 13th • 10am - noon

Programs for Twos, Threes & Fours • 67 years of experience with young children and families • Master teachers and experienced staff • Creative Curriculum™ based on a firm foundation of research, the importance of play in developing young minds, and authentic, meaningful experiences • Large outdoor play area with bikes, swings, water, sand, bunnies and gardens • Large well-equipped indoor play area • Nature, Music and Movement • Extended Day Enrichment Option for 3s and 4s • New expanded programs for Twos • Extended year and summer session available • Non-sectarian program

For more information, call 693-9072 • Director: Linda Jo Platt

343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY

www.cnsdobbsferry.com • Email: cnsdobbsferry@aol.com

Call for information

WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY C O L L E G E

914-606-7500

www.sunywcc.edu/arts email: Arts@sunywcc.edu

White Plains, NY ART | DESIGN | CRAFT MEDIA | FILM | PHOTOGRAPHY | GENERAL ED.

RAISE A CAVITY FREE CHILD! A CHILDREN’S & ADOLESCENT SPECIALTY PRACTICE • Complete Preventive Care • State of the Art Sterilization • Interceptive Orthodontics • A warm and Caring Atmosphere • White Fillings • Preventive Tooth Sealants • Fluoride Treatments • Children with Special Needs

Gary D. Heitzler, D.D.S. Hospital and University Affiliations Flexible Hours • Evenings

615 Broadway, Hastings • 478-8585 • www.hastingspediatricdental.com

Back to School

The Rivertowns Enterprise

BTS

Arts & Enrichment

Betz brings life to DTA Dance & Theater Arts Studios (DTA), conveniently located in Dobbs Ferry, has become a favorite for training performers in the Rivertowns. About to embark on its third year, the studio offers a varied and unique assortment of classes. Mom can take a morning Modern Dance or evening Cabaret Singing class and drop off the kids for an assortment of dance classes or Animated Song & Dance in the afternoon. DTA now offers Irish Step for all ages and Brain Dance for kids new to movement and Glee Club or acting/improv for teens. There’s plenty of parking at the newly renovated 145 Palisade St. and updates are being made to the studio as well.

Directing the studio is Janetta Betz, an accomplished professional ballerina and musical theater performer. She has taught, directed and choreographed at public schools and private studios from Bedford to Yonkers and at institutions such as Hoff-Barthelson Music School and the Music Conservatory of Westchester. This well-respected teacher and performer brings her passionate and animated teaching style to students of all ages. Her love of dancing, singing and acting is infused with a devotion to the process of learning and solid technique.

“I’m dedicating my time and energy to this studio’s classes because over the past 15 years I’ve noticed a need for a place to go that has excellent training and support,” Betz said.

“Many want to or are already performing on stage, but have never committed to taking classes in dance, voice or acting. We are attempting to fill that need with high-quality

The Rivertown Pre-School

classes. In order to be confident on stage one must do the training backstage. We also offer fundamental classes to those who are just beginning their artistic journey. All of our teachers are consummate performers who live and work in the Rivertowns area while raising their families here. We’re so fortunate to have them on our staff.”

Call 231-9179, email janettabetz@optimum.net or visit www.danceandtheaterarts. com.

Suzuki Method at HRSM

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 43A

A unique full-dAy creative-arts based childcare program designed to stimulate the growing mind of the pre-school aged child.

daily Activities Include: Pottery • Music and Movement • Theater Arts • Science & Nature

Hudson River School of Music, at Aldersgate Methodist Church, 600 Broadway in Dobbs Ferry, will hold a free information meeting on understanding the Suzuki Method at a TBD date in September. Attendees will be able to see young students play the violin and cello, hear about the programs at HRSM, meet other families who have used the method and register for the school year.

Music programs based on the Suzuki Method of musical instruction were founded by Shinichi Suzuki, who believed that every child can develop talent and excel in life when properly nurtured. The Hudson River School of Music is a communitybased, nonprofit school for children ages 3-18. Founded in 1968, the school was the first in the Northeast to provide instruction by teachers trained by Dr. Shinichi Suzuki in this method.

Limited spots are available for the 201213 school year. Call 693-9481 to register or visit www.hrsm.org.

Hands-on (and in!) Modern Art • Cooking and Baking Imaginative Costumed-fantasy Play

Program Hours: daily from 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

3, 4, or 5 day programs available located in the Parish Hall of Grace Episcopal Church 78 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson

for more information about this “Nanny alternative” childcare program please call 914- 478-6181 Director Pat Palfy, M.A. in Early childhood • NYS Certified www.TheHomeworkClubProgram.com

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Back to School

Page 44A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

BTS

Arts & Enrichment

Steffi Nossen School of Dance opens doors The Steffi Nossen School of Dance (SNSD) will open its doors to the community for a free week of dance Sept. 29-Oct. 5.

With studios centrally located in White Plains (at the Music Conservatory of Westchester across from the Westchester County Center) and Chappaqua, SNSD appeals to the needs of a variety of dance students.

The school’s core curriculum modern dance classes are taught to children in preschool through third grade and are accompanied by live music. These classes are followed by fourth- and fifth-grade modern/jazz and sixth-grade and up jazz classes which introduce and explore the rhythm, styles and music of the jazz idiom.

Taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, these classes develop both technique and creativity as they emphasize movement and dance vocabulary. Technique is taught in the form of dances set to a variety of child-friendly music and are designed to be appropriate to the physical and educational development of each age level.

In addition, SNSD provides technique programs including modern, ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop and a young children’s ballet program beginning with Classical Story Ballet at age 3.

“Our program emphasizes the development of a child’s emotions, mind, creativity, as well as physical ability,” school director Kathy Fitzgerald said. “Our faculty collabo-

Friday, August 24, 2012

BILL BRAMSWIG PHOTO

Scarsdale dancer Emily Schloss, Steffi Nossen School of Dance student and current president of the Steffi Nossen Dance Company.

rates to design a sequential, developmental and age-appropriate curriculum, exposing students to a variety of dance styles and allowing for the opportunity to perform. Faculty members are performing professionals and graduates of college dance programs.”

Community members are invited to participate in Steffi Nossen’s classes during the school’s Week of Dance Open House. All classes are available at no charge.

For more information or to plan your dance year call 328-1900 or email info@ steffinossen.org. To learn more about Steffi Nossen School of Dance, visit www.steffinossen.org.

Founded in 1937 by dance legend Steffi Nossen, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance offers a strong community-minded and leadership-focused educational model with developmentally appropriate dance instruction and performance opportunities for all ages and abilities. The school is owned and operated by the Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, formerly the Dance in Education Fund, a not-for-profit dance advocacy and community outreach organization, which seeks to foster the arts in Westchester County.

Through the support of the foundation, the school enables all students, including those with special needs, the opportunity to participate in their extensive programs and classes in a noncompetitive environment.

A generous financial aid and scholarship program supports those with significant economic challenges. With a sterling reputation in the industry and a rich 75-year history, Steffi Nossen is a leader among dance schools, focusing on the growth of students’ mind, body, spirit and character.

After-school art classes at Creative Ways Starting its fifth year in the Rivertowns, Creative Ways, an out-of-the-box studio art program for kids, is offering a series of exploratory art classes for children ages 5-9.

Artist-in-residence Emily Gosweiler, a multimedia artist trained in the art of teaching art to kids, comes to the community with a constellation of inspiring ideas and methods.

Beginning the week of Oct. 16, classes

pursue

in mask-making, puppetry and multimedia art will be offered at the South Presbyterian Church hall in Dobbs Ferry.

Creative art gives children the opportunity to expand their sense of self, take risks and gain confidence as they are challenged to produce something original and beautiful. Kids build problem-solving and compromising skills as they discover that in art, as in life, there’s usually more ways than one to solve a problem. Perhaps most importantly, making art helps children to express and define their individuality guiding them on a path that leads to a strong spirit and a happy heart.

Gosweiler describes her classes as “a venue for children to express themselves through puppetry and mask-making using paper, fabric, foam, clay and many mixed media.

Our young artists will create a constellation of masks and puppets depicting people, animals and crazy creatures… some as tiny as our fingers and others as large as our chests!

Along with the creation… our young artists will be encouraged to use their newly made art in imaginative collaborative play.

Our multimedia classes are filled with multicultural art explorations using clay, wood, plaster, papier-mâché and found objects!”

She added, “Our projects are process oriented and take a few weeks to complete.

We introduce children to the basic skills of drawing and painting, too… introducing new materials and processes… encouraging our older children to experiment with technique.”

For more information about the Creative Ways process and program, contact @pam. thehomeworkclub@gmail.com.

FULL TIME

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7:30am - 6:00pm 18 MONTHS - 5 YEARS A progressive approach to childcare with a strong emphasis on each child as an individual in a caring, kind environment.

Serving the community since 1972 Open 12 months a year Web site: www.daysofwonderchildcare.com

Director: Jennifer Dawber Licensed by NYSOCFS Non-Denominational

343 BROADWAY, DOBBS FERRY, NY 10522 914-693-2980 • Email: days_of_wonder@verizon.net

We love what you love at School of the Holy Child. Whether it’s algebra or the arts, technology or tennis...we want you to become more of who you are.

Upper School Open House: September 29, 1:00 —3:30 p.m.

Middle School Open House: September 29, 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.

Take-a-Look Mornings: First Weds. every month, 9:00—11:00 a.m.

For reservations, call the Admission Office at 914.967.5622 ext. 227.

School of the Holy Child

An independent Catholic School for young women in grades 5-12 2225 Westchester Avenue | Rye, NY 10580 | www.holychildrye.org

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For more information or to schedule an appointment:

Call Anna 914-497-5465 or Email: TheLiceLady@aol.com www.theliceladyofwestchester.com

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 45A

Greenburgh Nature Center: a paradise for young children Back to school is a busy time at the Greenburgh Nature Center (GNC) as it welcomes visiting preschool/school groups, parents/ caregivers with children and the general public. GNC offers a wide array of educational programs and classes, special seasonal events, camp and birthday parties for ages 3 and up.

GNC’s goal is to promote an appreciation of nature and the environment. Its 33-acre woodland preserve has trails, a pond, gardens and outdoor animal exhibits. The indoor exhibits include a live animal museum with over 100 specimens, exhibit areas focusing on nature and the environment, a greenhouse and a gift shop. By being outdoors, interacting with animals and witnessing nature’s seasonal changes, children learn that they are part of a larger ecological community.

Opening soon is the Nature’s Discovery Playground, a unique, nature-themed playground designed to engage children in outdoor exploration and discovery. This recreation area will serve children ages 2-12 and will provide a variety of play elements intended to mimic the natural environment.

GNC is committed to ensuring that today’s generation enjoys creative play in the outdoors, connecting children to the wonder and awe of nature. Stop by and see the beautiful, one-of-a-kind nature playscape come to life before your very eyes. Watch for information on the grand opening celebration.

The GNC has professional educators who gear each program to the appropriate age.

Programs stress hands-on and direct-involvement learning, while teaching children important skills such as utilizing measurement tools and developing critical thinking.

• Look online for details about upcoming special events: Fall Festival (Oct. 21 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.); Scarecrows & Pumpkins Parades (Oct. 28 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.); Turkey Scavenger Hunt (Nov. 11 at 1:30 p.m.); Train Show (Dec. 8-16).

Ongoing exhibits

Preschool weekly programs • Weekday drop-in programs for young children with a parent or caregiver let you enjoy an hour of nature fun together. Except for extreme weather conditions, a portion of each class is spent outdoors. For each class, GNC members pay $5/adult and $4/child, and nonmembers pay $9/adult and $7/child.

No preregistration or prepayment required.

• Nature Bugs (for 2-5-year-olds) meets on Mondays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and provides an opportunity for nature discovery, looking for signs of life on the lawn and in the woods, and meeting a different museum animal each week. There will also be a craft or nature game.

• Critters, Crafts and Kids (for kids 18

Direct Your Future at Sacred Heart.

UPPER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, October 24 ALL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday, November 3 A Sacred Heart education can change a girl’s view of herself. In our Broadcast Journalism classes, students work in a state-of-the-art studio writing, presenting, shooting, editing and composing PSAs, news shows, documentaries, and other video projects—regularly receiving local and national awards for their work. It’s just one of the innovative learning experiences that enables our girls to discover their talents, grow in confidence, and achieve amazing success. They step up, they take aim, they produce—and never again do they see themselves in quite the same light.

Greenwich, CT 203-532-3534 www.cshgreenwich.org

months to 5 years old) meets on Wednesdays from 10-11 a.m. and offers an hour of nature fun. Participants will enjoy wonderful seasonal days at the GNC with walks, live animals and stories.

Special events • Harvest Party: On Sunday, Sept. 9, at 2 p.m., GNC is hosting its annual Harvest Party. Reap the harvest of the nature center’s gardens and hives. Explore our organic garden and help make apple cider using a handoperated press. The harvest from the hives will be extracted indoors, away from the active outdoor beehives. There is free tasting of fresh honey from the hives. Members $4, nonmembers $8.

• Newly expanded butterfly exhibit: Visitors can walk among live butterflies. Compare how diverse adult butterflies are in shape, size and color. Learn about the life cycle of a butterfly — from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly — and about the relationship between specific plants and butterflies. Appropriate for all ages. Runs through Sept. 2.

• Story Walk: Join the fourth annual Story Walk and see how much fun it is to read while you walk. Signage will lead you along a woodland trail and you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy “Box Turtle at Silver Pond,” a favorite children’s storybook, along the way. Free bookmarks will also be distributed. Recommended for children ages 8 and younger. Free programs runs through Sept.

30.

GNC is located at 99 Dromore Road, off Central Park Avenue, in Scarsdale. Parking is free and handicapped parking is available.

The center’s grounds are open daily dawn to dusk throughout the year. The center’s indoor exhibits are open daily except Fridays and a few holidays, from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekends. For more information and to see a calendar of special events, visit www.greenburghnaturecenter.org or call 723-3470.

Empty Nester?

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Take a class, practice yoga, learn meditation, & help heal the world with social action projects.

Wherever you are in your life… you’ll connect here.

Pleasantville Community Synagogue ... with members from twenty towns, villages and cities all across Westchester.

“Getting the Most Out of the High Holidays” a class with Rabbi Mark, Sunday, September 9, 9:30 am

Joyful Judaism!

Celebrating 15 Years

An independent, Catholic school for girls from preschool through grade 12

Fair Share dues means anyone can belong ~ High Holiday tickets available Rabbi Mark Sameth ~ www.shalomPCS.com 219 Bedford Road, Pleasantville ~ (914) 769-2672 ~ info@shalomPCS.com

Page 46A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 47A

BTS Early Learning ACNS caters to local preschoolers

Rivertown Preschool full-day creative care

The Ardsley Community Nursery School has been serving families from the local area for more than 50 years with a fun-loving environment run by caring staff and a strong enrichment program consisting of music, dance and movement, nature study and Spanish. Recently the Ardsley Historical Society has written ACNS up as the oldest nursery program in the area.

ACNS maintains the outstanding quality of a nursery school from 9 a.m. until noon, and additionally offers limited spots in a variety of afternoon sessions until 5 p.m. Early drop-off is available for working parents. Programs are offered from ages 2-5 years old. A three-week pre-camp program runs in June and a six-week summer camp program runs from the end of June through the first week in August.

Children learn through carefully planned play experiences that include songs; arts and crafts; language, phonemic awareness and literacy; science and exploration; computers; multicultural humanities; and independence and social skills.

ACNS is New York State accredited and follows both the NYS and Common Core learning standards for preschool.

The school curriculum centers around

Movement and dance with Audrey at Ardsley Community Nursery School.

integrated activities based on weekly themes that reflect the interest of students, such as dinosaurs, outer space, the Wild West, circus, animals, oceans and farms. Fun days include Halloween and spring carnivals, Valentine’s Day brunch for parents, Thanksgiving feast, holiday puppet show, beach day and Chinese New Year parade. All cultures are celebrated.

ACNS also has the ability to include children with special needs.

The school has a beautiful, shady playground with sandboxes, swings, climbing equipment, playhouses and mobile toys.

Westchester Fashion Academy for Children

Field trips are taken to the nearby police and fire stations, the local supermarket, the library and the Greenburgh Nature Center. Children experience science and nature daily through taking care of plants and classroom pets, and hatching butterflies and chicks every spring.

The goal at ACNS is for every child to feel good about him or her self, make friends and love school. ACNS accepts children from all local areas.

ACNS is located at 21 American Legion Drive in Ardsley. Call 693-4932, visit www.acns.us or visit Facebook.

Searching for a nanny alternative?

How about Hastings’ very own full-day (7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.) preschool program?

Having just celebrated its 12th anniversary last fall, Rivertown Preschool at Grace Church in Hastings-on-Hudson has been a steady, dependable and consistently popular full-day creative arts-based child care program serving hundreds of families over the years.

Right at the Five Corners intersection of Broadway and Main Street, Rivertown Preschool is a first step for many into the world of child care. Children 2 years, 9 months to 5 years old spend their day dancing, painting, building with clay, gymnastics, practicing yoga and meditation and beginning the basic tasks of learning.

Founded by Pat Palfy and Pam Koner of The Homework Club Program, Rivertown Preschool has a steady, devoted and highly trained staff led by Palfy. Her over 30 years’ experience with the preschool set and her expert, instinctive skills in helping little ones find their words, emotions and gifts make this program rich in meaning and value.

For more information or to visit the school contact Palfy at 478-6181 or visit www.thehomeworkclubprogram.com.

Got Kids?

“A Hebrew School Your Kids Can Love!”

Pleasantville Community Synagogue ... with members from twenty towns, villages and cities all across Westchester.

Design Clothes Like the Pros From inspiration to fashion show, children learn how to sketch their designs, make patterns and sew. Come join the fun!

FALL FASHION DESIGNERS DESIGNER I CLASS Ages 9-17 LITTLE DESIGNERS CLUB Ages 6-8 Both classes begin September 22

www.wfac4children.com 914-428-1047 Suite 601, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10601

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, September 9, 11 am

Joyful Judaism!

Celebrating 15 Years Fair Share dues means anyone can belong ~ High Holiday tickets available Rabbi Mark Sameth ~ Ronni Metzger, Principal 219 Bedford Road, Pleasantville ~ (914) 769-2672 ~ info@shalomPCS.com

~ www.shalomPCS.com ~

Back to School

Page 48A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

BTS

Friday, August 24, 2012

Early Learning

Beginners Club for after school fun Irish Step? Yoga? Cooking and woodworking? What a way to spend the afterschool hours! The Beginners Club program, founded by Mary Cahill and Pam Koner, offers an afternoon program rich with creativity, inspiration and socialization.

Opening in 1998, The Beginners Club program has been helping working families with their after-school child care needs for over 13 years. Located in The First Reformed Church Fellowship Hall, The Beginners Club starts the school term each year, to the relief of working parents in the Rivertowns, by opening its doors at noon for the early kindergarten dismissal throughout the month of September.

Director Cahill and her staff of nurturing and care-giving teachers meet the district’s school bus each day with warm open arms, gathering the little ones and ushering them into The BC space, a delightful, open kindergarten/first-grade roomlike environment.

Afternoons are filled with woodworking, clay, cooking, music, dance and plenty of opportunity for creative dress-up fantasy play. Recently added were Irish Step dance classes, offered only at The Beginners Club.

Over the years The Beginners Club has been a safe and welcome haven for families in search of a reliable and “just a little more than child care” resource. Beginners Club families can depend on someone from The BC to be available if their child becomes

sick at school and needs a pickup, waiting for mom or dad to get back into town from work, a truly unique and stress-reducing offering.

Contact Koner at @pam.thehomeworkclub@gmail.com.

Five Corners for kids Five Corners Nursery Program provides a warm, loving, stimulating environment that allows preschoolers to develop selfworth and a positive attitude toward learning. Each class has a developmentally appropriate curriculum that emphasizes the

Artistic Director: DIANA WHITE, former soloist of NYC Ballet

different areas of development, including physical, cognitive, emotional and social.

Five Corners offers a 2s, 3s and pre-K program. Your child will love this introduction to group play. This is a teacher-led introduction to an educational playgroup which will feature music and movement, story time, messy art and much more. The Tiny Steps 2s program runs two or four mornings a week. The 3s program offers two, three or five days a week. This program builds upon the Tiny Steps class, while incorporating new activities and adventures for the children as their character and individuality grows and matures. The pre-K group meets

five days a week and is focused on each child and their own developmental needs as they prepare for kindergarten.

The three programs all encourage active, hands-on learning with a mixture of selfdirected and teacher–directed activities.

Five Corners offers opportunities for children to explore and discover through various activities. In all programs the children are encouraged to experiment with different art media; participate in music and movement; enjoy children’s literature and story time; develop math and science skills, while measuring, mixing and cooking in a professionally equipped kitchen; enjoy imaginative and dress-up play; develop independence through classroom centers and free choice time; and participate in active outdoor play on our state-of-the-art playground.

Five Corners’ schedule allows ample time for free play and exploration, while also including more structured group activities and circle time. This is the best way to develop a child’s self-confidence and sense of community.

The teachers at Five Corners Nursery Program hold degrees in early childhood development. Moreover, they are mothers who know the importance of giving children a warm and loving environment in which to learn, grow and develop.

Five Corners Nursery Program is located at 18 Farragut Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson.

Call 478-2334, email fivecornersprogram@gmail.com or visit www.hastingspreschool.com.

Be a part of the Snip-its experience!

914.725.8754

Celebrating 20 Years!

Westchester’s premier destination for classical and contemporary ballet training for ages 3 through Adult

Open 7 DAYS a week O No appointment needed

The Snip-its experience • Specially-trained stylists • Kid-friendly hair products, including Fairy Tales Anti-Lice Line • Parent chair at cutting stations • Animated shows & video games

• Prizes from the “Magic Box” • Doll Services • Glamour, Hollywood, Rock Star and Magic parties • Specialty toys and other fun birthday gifts

Scarsdale Ballet Studio 696R White Plains Road Scarsdale, NY 10583 www.ScarsdaleBalletStudio.com

450 Central Park Ave • Scarsdale • Next to Central Park Dance (914) 574-5320 • snipits.com 10-SNI-033_Scarsdale_Printad_f_072910_4.833x6.667.indd 1

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 49A

Success for high school freshman

By DR. RAYMOND J. HUNTINGTON If your teen is about to begin high school, you may be concerned about the transition.

High school, after all, brings higher academic expectations and is a significant time of change for most students as they grow into young adults. As a parent, how can you help your teen survive and thrive his or her first year of high school? Here are several tips: Get to know the support staff: Establishing good advocacy relationships at the outset of high school will be important during the next four years. Encourage your teen to stop into the guidance counselor’s office early on.

Your support will certainly be important, but your teen should establish a team of individuals to whom he or she can turn throughout the high school years.

Don’t wait for help: High school isn’t easy for everyone — be sure your teen understands the long-term consequences of falling behind and poor grades, and knows that he or she can and should ask for help. While high school teachers expect students to be more independent, don’t let your teen wrongly assume he or she shouldn’t seek assistance during tough times. He or she should visit the teacher outside of class and get outside tutoring help if needed.

Get organized: If your teen isn’t a naturally organized person, now is the time to improve those organizational skills. Help your teen set up a reliable system of keeping track of papers that come home. If he or she has a desk, teach him or her to keep it tidy and consistently put things in their proper place so that homework time is productive,

not frazzled. Make sure your teen establishes a study routine and sticks to it.

Work on time management: Perhaps your teen has grown used to you helping manage his or her time, giving frequent reminders about outside commitments, homework and project due dates, and the like. Let your teen take the reins now. Teach him or her to make use of a planner or calendar to stay on top of homework assignments, upcoming tests and other obligations — and plan ahead properly.

Guide him or her on this early in high school, but let him or her take responsibility quickly.

Remind your teen to prioritize: High school is a new and exciting social scene for your teen, and there’s no doubt he or she will want to explore it. Hanging out with friends should not take precedence over homework, but with effective time management, your teen can have a social life and keep up with school. Teach him or her about prioritizing to-dos (what assignments should he or she tackle first?) and setting goals and rewarding him or herself for meeting them (Facebook time comes after math homework is done).

High school is sure to bring many changes to your teen’s life — and your entire household — but with your support and encouragement, your teen can make his or her freshman year a great one and lay a positive foundation for the next four years.

Dr. Raymond J. Huntington and Eileen Huntington are co-founders of Huntington Learning Center, which has been helping children succeed in school for more than 30 years.

For more information about Huntington, call 1-800 CAN LEARN.

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Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 51A

BTS Parents Guide Smart habits mean success for your college freshmen Got your extra-long sheets? Check. Flipflops for the shower? Check. What about your school-branded hoodie, hat and tshirt? You may think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve thought of everything for your first year of college, but without a plan to achieve success you are still unprepared.

Sara Rathburn, associate dean of Student Affairs at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and Maximillian Matthews, student engagement advocate and coordinator of academic support at The Art Institute of Washington, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, offer habits to help you make the most out of your college experience and lay the foundation for an academically successful future.

Get involved: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freshmen who feel connected to campus through student organizations and campus events tend to strive for success,â&#x20AC;? Matthews said. Getting involved will not only enrich your college experience, but it will also pay dividends once you graduate. According to Rathburn, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Your college degree will one day show that you have knowledge in a field. Your outof-class experiences will demonstrate that you have a skill base to go along with that knowledge.â&#x20AC;?

Get out of your comfort zone: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid of new experiences. â&#x20AC;&#x153;College is

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Manage your time: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make the most of every minute,â&#x20AC;? Rathburn said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every hour of every day presents a choice â&#x20AC;&#x201D; decide early on in your college experience that you will make the most of your time.â&#x20AC;? Mat-

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thews agreed: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freshmen should get in the habit of prioritizing and planning ahead to balance their workload and increase productivity.â&#x20AC;?

Manage your money: College not only helps you prepare to pursue a successful career, but can also teach you the skills that are necessary for financial success in the future. Rathburn suggests making meals instead of eating out, taking advantage of

free local events and making sure what you want is really what you need. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sacrifice a financially secure future for fleeting fun now,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Go to class: Even on days when you feel like sleeping in, Rathburn recommends making it a habit to go to class. She encourages students to make the most out of their time and financial investments.

Overcome fear of seeking help â&#x20AC;&#x201D; talk to faculty and staff: Both Rathburn and Matthews recommend communicating with your professors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freshmen should get in the habit of letting their professors know when they will be late, absent or have questions about class material,â&#x20AC;? Matthews said.

Rathburn added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Speak up and make yourself known. Building connections can lead to greater opportunities today, tomorrow and in the years to come.â&#x20AC;?

Personal organization: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Develop a system that works for you,â&#x20AC;? Rathburn said.

She recommends starting a filing system that is simple and can be built upon.

Learn about resources: Whether you need a tutor, help with a rĂŠsumĂŠ or have questions about financial aid, campuses offer a variety of resources designed to help guide you through every aspect of your Continued on page 52A

Back to School

Continued from page 51A

college career. Matthews recommends attending campus events, especially orientation: “Freshmen need to know who to go to when they need help, not only in academics but in financial aid and career counseling.

This is why freshman orientation events are essential.”

Remember your goals: “Stay focused,” Rathburn said. “You are starting college for a reason — remember that reason. Let that reason motivate you when you are bogged down with homework or struggling with an assignment.”

Be an active learner:“Active learning means concentrating on the current task, taking notes and asking questions,” Matthews said. He says that if freshmen practice active learning from the beginning, “it will be natural for the remainder of their time in school.”

— ARA Conten

Lambent Services comes to Dobbs Ferry Lambent Services is an agency that has been supplying part-time personal assistants to people needing help in their homes, offices or home offices in New York City. The company has been operating in New York City since 2006. Lambent Services was founded by Jill Glist, a Westchester resident who lives in Pelham Manor. For years, Glist has been using

Jill Glist of Lambent Services.

personal assistants in her own home to help her with the running of her household with a husband and two children. “I realized there is a big need for a company like ours in Fairfield and Westchester counties,” Glist said.

Lambent Services specializes in assistants who are an elite group of intelligent, motivated and personable individuals and are graduates of some of the country’s best universities. Many assistants on the roster work for Lambent Services part time while they pursue other interests. This has allowed Lambent to attract very experienced assistants with varied skill sets.

“The current economy gives us access to amazingly qualified people who are interested and available to work as personal assistants,” Glist said. “Everyone needs some personal help and the best person to get it from is someone who is efficient and

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Friday, August 24, 2012

Parents Guide intelligent. Most of our assistants are often from highly competitive, top tier and sometimes Ivy League schools, and are available to work part time because they have elected to follow a nontraditional career path.”

Among the many things a Lambent personal assistant can do are: set up a home office; health insurance reconciliation; file medical claims; sort through boxes of paperwork, business cards or photographs; computer set-up and maintenance; figuring out a purging and filing system for documents; set up auto-pay billing; tax prep; bookkeeping; writing school and grant applications; composing letters; editing; organizing closets and kitchens; cleaning out a garage; setting up a yard sale; decorating; party planning; running errands; buying groceries; booking flights; retrieving dry cleaning; diet design and supervision; exercise enforcement; hiring other staff; estate management; overseeing construction and renovations; Internet research; meal preparation; packing and unpacking for travel or for a move; and second home maintenance — basically, they do everything they can to make a client’s life run more smoothly.

All assistants go through a rigorous interview process and a thorough background check by Lambent Services. The new office, located in Dobbs Ferry, already has an impressive pool of assistants.

They are highly educated (one actually speaks four languages), degree-holding (some have a master’s), exceedingly quali-

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The Play Group Theatre

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fied assistants. These assistants include a former director of media operations, a former assistant editor of Vogue, a former lawyer, a former publisher, a project manager who has handled million dollar renovation projects, a former election campaign adviser, a yoga teacher, a decorative arts expert, a former assistant to a director of a large company, a former celebrity nanny, a marketing analyst, an attorney, a stock trader, a former art director/packaging designer, a health and wellness expert and a former assistant to a CEO. When placing assistants, Lambent Services thoroughly assesses each potential client to ascertain what skills they will need in a personal assistant, what kind of personality they like to work with, and what is their preferred work schedule.

Next, Lambent sends the client three dossiers of potential personal assistants. This gives the client an opportunity to choose which person they feel would work best for them. Shifts are typically four hours or more and can be a one-off session or ongoing.

Simply put, Lambent Services is dedicated to bringing personal assistants to people who value high-quality individualized assistance in their home, business or home office.

To contact the new Lambent Services branch dedicated to serving Connecticut and Westchester, call director Geraldine Sheridan at 338-7225 or visit www.lambentservices.com.

Join Westchester’s Theatre for Children and Teens!

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Contact David Basior, Rabbinic Leader and Education Director mishkanhaamRS@gmail.com or leave a message at 914-478-4996 • www.mishkanhaam.org

914-946-4433 playgroup.org Now in our new theaters at One North Broadway, White Plains, NY

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Parents Guide

School Search Solutions helps find ‘best’ schools Responding to the growing complexity, competition and resulting anxiety Westchester and other local area parents face in the school admissions process, school placement industry leader The School Choice Group officially launched a new division, School Search Solutions. With an initial regional roll-out in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, School Search Solutions consultants will work directly with parents of preschool through college-aged students to help them navigate the school search and admissions process at even the most competitive private and public schools available. With 100 consultants in over 50 locations worldwide, The School Choice Group is now extending its expertise — formerly accessible only to top executives at Fortune 100 companies — directly to local area families through School Search Solutions.

“The level of stress surrounding school admissions is at the highest we’ve seen in years, particularly in Westchester and the New York tristate area,” said Liz Perelstein, noted education expert and founder of School Search Solutions. “It is important for families in this very competitive region to approach the school search and admissions process with accurate information and a strategy in place.”

Speaking to the acceptance rates of elite schools in and around Westchester and the greater New York City region, Perel-

stein notes just how difficult the process has become. Legacy, sibling and other set-asides can bring the acceptance rate at some schools for families with no ties to less than 5 percent, an acceptance rate that is lower than some of the country’s most elite colleges.

Perelstein also commented on the rising costs of education. In the New York City K-12 market region alone, tuition has risen by 48 percent over the past 10 years, adjusted for inflation, according to data compiled by the National Association of Independent Schools. This trend is expected to continue. Tuition at several of the competitive New York City K-12 private schools is poised to cross the $40,000 mark in the 2012-13 school year. Tuition rates of several Fairfield, Conn., and Westchester County schools are not far behind, with tuition at the most competitive schools solidly coming in above the $30,000 mark.

“With tuition costs continuing to rise sharply and the competition more frenetic than ever, ensuring your child is in the right school requires expertise, a calm approach and a tested process,” Perelstein said. “The cost of a private education has transformed over the past several years from a standard expense to a significant investment.”

Founded in 1998 and having achieved close to 6,000 successful school placements, School Search Solutions’ partner division, School Choice International, is the leader in the school placement industry worldwide. Originally, School Choice’s Continued on page 54A

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Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 53A

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Friday, August 24, 2012

BTS

Parents Guide

Continued from page 53A

clients had been relocating families of high-level executives at Fortune 100 and other top corporations. In recent years, however, an increasing number of families have come to The School Choice Group directly, seeking the same level of services enjoyed by corporate executives.

School Search Solutions offerings are outlined in detail at www.schoolsearchsolutions.com. Services range from a onehour professional consultation to the Platinum Placement Service package, which includes a full spectrum of services from school target analysis to school visits, application support and post-placement followup services. A number of add-on services are also available. They include boarding school placement, advocacy and support for gifted children and specialized services for children with learning differences.

Time to plan for college expenses is now

Contact Dale Longworth, Lice Expert 914-424-1367 or email: dlong2758@aol.com Visit our website for additional information at www.liceoffinc.com

When it comes to planning for college, most parents are sure of just two things: they want their child to get a college degree, and they’ll need a smart savings plan in place to ensure college expenses are covered.

For the 2009-2010 academic year, tuition, room and board at a private four-year college topped $32,000 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In 1980, that figure was just $5,594 per year. And even though college expenses

were significantly lower for previous generations, many report they are still burdened by lingering debt. In fact, a recent survey, released by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation found that among the parents of Generation Z (who range from ages 13-22), 58 percent say they took out student loans to fund their own college education, and, of those, 43 percent report they are still repaying those loans.

Considering their parents’ struggles with college debt, it comes as no surprise that Gen Z is eager to ensure they graduate with as little debt as possible. Among this group of young adults, 39 percent cited that paying for college was a top concern, while another 39 percent said they were also concerned about having a large student loan balance.

“Increased tuition costs and a bleak job outlook may be cause for concern for today’s young adults and their parents, but being proactive and coming up with a savings strategy early can help ease these financial anxieties and better prepare them for the Continued on the next page

Come Meet Our Family and Let Us Meet Yours At the heart of our Synagogue community, we are a diverse family of families. We define ourselves and our purpose through a wide variety of religious and educational services, social and community activities, and other programs that satisfy and seek to inspire people of all ages, including couples and single-parent households, interfaith and LGBT families, and singles. Every day, new links in the thousands-of-years-old chain of Jewish tradition are formed:

At our warm and welcoming Shabbat and Holiday Services, On the playground of our Mazel Tots® Pre-School, In the hallways and classrooms of our Religious School as our students receive a fine Jewish Education, During the Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah Experience, And through Lifelong Learning… …as we do Tikkun Olam, our part in Repairing the World.

As you look to pass the spark of Jewish identity to your next generation, as well as enhance connections and relationships on your own Jewish Journey, we invite you to stop by and meet (our new) Rabbi Jeffrey Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker, take a tour, and learn about why and how we have become one of Westchester’s leading Reform congregations. For more information please visit us on our website: www.sstte.org or call (914) 725-5175 or email GaryKatz@sstte.org.

2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583 (914) 725-5175 Hinenu – We Are Here, Creating a Covenant Community of Shared Lives and Real Relationships Scarsdale Synagogue is a modern Reform Jewish congregation. Founded in 1961, we take a vibrant, contemporary approach to our heritage and our faith, while honoring the roots of Temples Tremont and Emanu-El that date to the dawn of the 20th century.

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BTS

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 55A

Parents Guide

Continued from the previous page

future,” said Carrie Braxdale, managing director of investor services for TD Ameritrade, Inc., a broker-dealer subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation.

Braxdale recommends parent start planning and saving for higher education as soon as possible. “It’s never too early — or too late,” Braxdale said. “For example, a 529 college savings plan can be opened as soon as a child has a Social Security number, and contributions to that fund can be made every year until the child goes to college.”

The following tips are for families gearing up for college: Calculate the costs: While a quick online search can give families an idea of college expenses, predicting future costs can be a bit more challenging. There are a number of free online resources available that can help parents and teens estimate how much they’ll need to save for college so they can get a solid plan in place.

Explore your savings options: Parents and teens should work together to research college savings options like 529 college savings plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts and custodial accounts.

Turn talk into action: Once a college savings plan is established, parents and teens should follow through on their planning and make a conscious effort to save. In many cases, regular contributions to savings plans can be made automatically. Once saving has begun, you will have taken steps to pursue your higher education goals.

— ARA Content

Tech tips for collegebound students Just 30 years ago, textbooks, paper and pencils were the main supplies college students needed. In today’s digital world, where more teachers are using technology to deliver a better learning experience, college-bound students need to equip themselves with the latest technology to make the most of their college experience and give themselves an academic edge. But how do students and parents know which technologies can get the job done, and how can they best use them to their advantage?

“From viewing lectures online and getting help from a digital tutor to using one of more than 20,000 education-specific apps now available, today’s college students have many options when it comes to technology,” said Brian Kibby, president of McGraw-Hill Higher Education. “Finding the right tools can enhance the learning experience and improve student performance in class — sometimes by a full letter grade or more. ” Here are some important tech tips for college-bound students and their parents: Get advice and choose the best fit for you: There is no single piece of technology that’s right for every college student.

It’s important to think carefully about your individual needs and purchase only what works best for you. However, it can be helpful to ask current college students Continued on page 56A

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Page 56A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Looking for a fun, friendly religious school experience for your child?

Shaarei Tikvah, the Scarsdale Conservative Congregation, is offering a special promotion for families whose oldest child is starting Kindergarten, First, or Second Grade.

With religious school enrollment, the entire family gets free synagogue membership for one year, including High Holiday tickets!

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Please call 914-472-2013 for more information.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

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Parents Guide

Continued from page 55A

which devices they have found to be the most useful. Talk to recent grads about what it takes to be successful in college and what, if anything, they may wish they had done differently in regard to studying and technology.

Try before you buy: Before you make a purchase, spend some time with the equipment or program and see how it works.

Think of the three things you’ll use it for the most and make your purchase based on those criteria. Before you decide to buy an iPad, try using one to type an email, take notes and view videos to see how comfortable it feels. If not, try another option. In addition to how a device functions, you should assess its portability and battery life since you’ll be using it frequently and in different locations.

Hire your very own digital tutor: Personalized study tools like McGraw-Hill LearnSmart dramatically increase student engagement, retention and achievement through a customized learning experience, making study time more efficient and effective. This adaptive learning program tailors students’ studies to their individual needs by continuously assessing their knowledge and skills, and providing personalized recommendations that help them master course concepts. In a McGraw-Hill Effectiveness Study released last year, LearnSmart was shown to turn C students into B students, and B students into A students. Starting at $24.99 a semester, it’s a simple and affordable way to study more efficiently and help increase your GPA. When it comes to tech, put yourself in your professor’s shoes: Once you’re on campus, don’t be afraid to ask professors for insights about which technologies will help you the most. Many college professors today use a technology called lecture capture that enables professors to record lectures and make them available for replay after class. Most colleges and millions of college students use digital course hubs that house everything from the course syllabus and e-book to interactive, adaptive quizzes all in one location.

Stay connected to your college finances: If you understand how your college finances work, you’re more likely to take college seriously and get the most out of your education. Speak to your parents about yearly tuition totals and the cost breakdown of each individual class. Use tools like Mint.com to understand spending

habits, start a budget, and stay on track.

Use social media for academic and professional growth — not just to post party pictures: College-age students are among the most active users of social media, but many are not aware of the academic and professional benefits. Learn more about how social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn can help build your academic network and market yourself as a professional.

— ARA Content

Scholarship applications at Solomon Schechter Solomon Schechter School of Westchester is accepting applications for its Akiva Merit Scholarship of full four-year tuition to one incoming ninth-grade non-day school student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and would benefit from a Schechter Westchester education. The award, which is granted annually to one new incoming ninth-grader every year, helps the school fulfill its mission of providing a superb secular and Jewish education to as many students as possible.

Akiva students are appropriately supported in Hebrew and the Judaics curriculum. Experience demonstrates that within two years students attain proficiency in these subjects and become fully integrated into the Schechter Westchester environment. The Akiva program is named after Rabbi Akiva, one of the most noted Jewish scholars, who came to his Jewish studies later in life.

Like all Schechter Westchester students, the Schechter Westchester Akiva Scholar will experience a living Judaism, in and out of the classroom, with classes in rabbinics and Talmud which emphasize analytical study from original sources, as well as achieving fluency in Hebrew.

The application process for the Schechter Westchester Akiva Merit Scholar Program includes completion of the application form; a personal essay about why the individual is interested in attending Schechter Westchester and why they consider themselves qualified; recommendations from two teachers and a personal recommendation from an adult other than a parent; and an interview with the selection panel. To apply for the Akiva Merit Scholar Program or to start a conversation about your child’s place in the Akiva program, contact Leora Kalikow at 948-8883 Ext. 8149 or lkalikow@solomonschechter.com.

Ardsley Community Nursery School 21 American Legion Drive, Ardsley

(914) 693-4932

✔ AM and PM classes for children 2-5 ✔ Enrichment programs in dance, music, art & nature ✔ Weekly and hourly rates ✔ Diaper friendly ✔ Beautiful outdoor play area ✔ Local field trips

Celebrating more than 50 Years of Fun!

Back to School

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 57A

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T

From ‘School’s Out’ to ‘Back to School’

By TODD SLISS

here are two very powerful sayings each summer, one at the beginning, one at the end. Let’s just say the one coming up isn’t the topic of an Alice Cooper song. Yes, ladies and gents, it’s “Back to School” time. It’s almost like an entire season of the year unto itself.

Whereas “School’s Out” is a bit of a countdown and a period of winding down before summer, what we are experiencing now is the exact opposite, a time of nervousness and preparation. And that’s on the part of the students, the parents and everyone at the schools.

With my older of two sons entering kindergarten this fall, it’s finally go time. Things are about to get serious. He’s about to embark on a 13-year journey that will lead him somewhere — perhaps to college, a trade school, the working world, traveling, or something I have yet to even know or understand.

And to pilot this journey we have picked a school district in which to live — not just a house, but a house based on a community fit to nurture our kids — and now it all begins.

For us it wasn’t truly Back to School last fall when our son went to preschool for a half day from 9-12 — now we have bus routes, finding out his teacher and (more importantly) his classmates, getting school supplies for the first time, getting him back on a human sleep schedule so he won’t be fighting us in the morning when it’s time to get ready for school, which starts at 8 a.m. and runs to 3 p.m. That’s seven hours, a long day for a 5-year-old. (Note to parents: That’s also seven fewer hours they’re spending with you or seven fewer hours you’re paying someone to teach or watch them in addition to having already paid your taxes. Especially when it’s your first child, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for!)

While my wife is handling many of the BTS logistics — she already did the school supplies order, has been talking to other moms about teacher assignments, bought the new sneakers and plans to take Henry to the bus before she heads to work each morning — I’ve got something on my plate, too.

In addition to the work-from-home-dad thing I’ve been doing for 5.5 years (and have three more on my sentence with my younger son), this past spring I started doing another dad thing — coaching soccer. My unofficial volunteer assistant gig for eight weeks last season has now turned into, “We need you to be a head coach this year.”

Though I prefer more of the backseat when it comes to all of this stuff, it’s an under-6 program, nothing I can’t handle with seven kids after having a good mentor over the spring.

Plus I get to have five or six hours of training in a couple of weeks before I’m even allowed to step foot on the field as a head coach.

Soccer was something we started early for various reasons, none of them truly having to do with soccer (c’mon, it’s the first sport most kids play for a reason — kick the ball and don’t touch it with your hands). My son knew kids from preschool, the town day camp and a cooking class he took through our recreation department, and we figured with this he could run around and meet more kids. It was a win-win for him and for us — as parents we get to know more of the wonderful people in our town.

And so we transition into the real deal, an exhilarating and nauseating experience, depending on who you ask.

The countdown is now at 11 days and with the exception of getting the bedtime schedule in order, I’d say we’re all set for Back to School. Of course, for many that also means that other countdown to Alice Cooper begins on the first day of the school year.

Our little boy isn’t such a little boy anymore.

U-TURN AUTO DRIVING SCHOOL 58 Main Street, Hastings-On-Hudson, N.Y. 45 Min Lesson: $30 ~ 60 Min Lesson: $40 ~ 90 Min Lesson: $55

PACKAGES: 45 Minute Lessons 5 Lessons - $145.00 7 Lessons - $200.00 10 Lessons- $280.00

5 Lessons - $190.00 7 Lessons - $260.00 10 Lessons - $375.00

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Package 1: 5 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $230.00

Package 4: 5 Lessons (1 hour each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $275.00

Package 2: 7 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $285.00

Package 5: 7 Lessons (1 hour each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $345.00

Package 3: 10 Lessons (45 mins each) 5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course Road Test Appointment Car for Road Test Total: $365.00

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5 Hour Pre-Licensing Course: $40.00/Car for Road Test: $50.00 Special ~ 50: 45 minute lessons: $1,000.00/50: 1 hour lessons: $1,500.00

Instructor: Ms. Z. Reyes

(914) 409 -5478 (cell)

PROFESSIONAL/LICENSED INSTRUCTOR 25 Years Experience

Page 58A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Celebrating 21 Great Years

New York Goju Karate Black Belt Academy AGE & RANK SPECIFIC CLASSES

Pre-School Tiny Tigers • Leadership All Women • Teen/Adult • Parent/Child

On Hudson Fitness & Dance Studio Jazz • Hip-Hop • Lyrical • Ballet • Pointe • Modern Tap • Pre-School • Princess Ballet • Classical Ballet

Fitness Classes with the finest instructors in Westchester!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

ALL AGES! ALL LEVELS! ALL FUN! 558 Warburton Avenue, Hastings-on-Hudson

914.478.0508 www.nygka.com www.onhudsondance.com

Friday, August 24, 2012/ Page 59A

Page 60A/The Rivertowns Enterprise

Back to School

Friday, August 24, 2012

Numbers to KNow ( P L E A S E R E F R I G E R A T E I M M E D I A T E LY ! )

Emergencies — 911

Public Schools ARDSLEY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent of Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6300 Concord Road Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7510 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7564 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-6300

(all villages)

Poison Control Center 800-222-1222

DOBBS FERRY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendents Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1506 Business Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1500 Springhurst Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1503 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7640 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-7645

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Superintendent’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6200 Board of Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2900 Hillside Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6270 Farragut Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6230 Hastings High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6250

IRVINGTON Superintendent’s Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8500 Dows Lane Elementary School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-6012 Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9494 High School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8500

Parochial Schools

John Cardinal O’Conner School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9330 Our Lady of Victory Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1633

Private Schools

Hackley School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .631-0128 Masters School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1400

Pre-Schools ARDSLEY

Ardsley Community Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-4932 Ardsley United Methodist Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0204

DOBBS FERRY Alcott Montessori School . . . . . . . . . . 693-4443, 472-4404 or 595-7551 Chabad Pre-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6100 Christian Pre-School, Dobbs Ferry Lutheran Church . . . . . . . . .693-0026 Community Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-9072 Greenburgh Hebrew Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5121 Hudson River School of Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-9481

HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON Five Corners Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2334 Hastings Co-op Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-3777 Rivertowns Pre-School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-6181 Temple Beth Shalom Nursery School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-3833 The Goddard School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-1390 Toddler Messy Art & Movement Morning Nursery . . . . . . . . . .478-0756

IRVINGTON Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-4104 Immaculate Conception Pre-Kindergarten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-6614

Child Care

Ardsley Children’s Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6686 Ardsley Pals -5th & 6th Grades, Middle School . . . . . . . . . . . . . .674-1222 Around The World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479-0762 Aspire - Hastings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-5521 Beginners Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-0756 Days of Wonder Child Care Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-2980 Dobbs Ferry After-School Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-2406 The Happy Harbor Child Care Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-4175 Homework Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-0756 Irvington Children’s Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 591-8182 Little Village Daycare Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0600

Ambulance, Fire, Police (non-emergency numbers) ARDSLEY Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-3673 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 693-6581 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-1700 DOBBS FERRY Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5500 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-3000 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5500 HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2344 IRVINGTON Ambulance . . . . . . . . . . .591-5151 Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-9867 Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-8080

Hospitals

Emergency Rooms Dobbs Ferry Pavilion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5187 Phelps Memorial Hospital Center . . . . . . . . . .366-3590 St. John’s Riverside Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .964-4349 White Plains Hospital Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681-1155

Recreation

Libraries-Public Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6636 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-6614 Greenburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .721-8200 Greenburgh (children’s) . . . . . . . . .721-8227 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . . . .478-3307 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7840

Chambers of Commerce Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 119 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 444 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 405 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P.O. Box 161

Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-8012 Dobbs Ferry Recreation & Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-5505 Hastings-on-Hudson Community Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-2380 Irvington Recreation Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7736

The Arts

Irvington Town Hall Theater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-6602 Newington Cropsey Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .478-7990 Rivertowns Art Council.............................................476-2321 The Hudson River Museum......................................963-4550

Transportation

Post Offices

Bee Line Bus Information.........................................813-7777 Metro North Railroad From New York City..............212-532-4900 From all other areas ..........................................1-800-METRO-INFO

PETER J. RIOLO REAL ESTATE M e m b e r We s t c h e s t e r R e a l E s t a t e , I n c .

Ardsley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0476 Ardsley-on-Hudson . . . . . . . . .591-7299 Dobbs Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .693-0451 Hastings-on-Hudson . . . . . . . .478-3786 Irvington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .591-7172

30 Main Street Hastings-on-Hudson

478-1400 www.peterriolo.com