Brian Murphy Named 2012 SUNY Cobleskill Sportsmanship Award Recipient
The SUNY Cobleskill Department of Sport & Exercise announced on May 14 that senior Brian Murphy, Cross River, N.Y., John Jay High School, a member of the men’s lacrosse team has been named the 2012 recipient of the athletic program’s Hugh D. Grace Award for Sportsmanship. The award was presented to Murphy at the college’s annual Athletic Awards Convocation and is given to the Fighting Tiger male student-athlete who by his action on the playing field, in the classroom and in the campus community has exemplified the code of sportsmanship and leadership.
This season the John Jay High School alumnus earned Second Team All-North Eastern Athletic Conference honors becoming the Fighting Tigers’ first three-time All-NEAC honoree after being named to the league’s First Team in 2011 and the conference’s Second Team in 2010. The talented midfielder scored 24 goals and passed out 17 assists for a season total of 41 points to go with 38 groundballs picked up in 14 games.
A four-year performer for the Fighting Tigers; Murphy will leave Cobleskill as the program leader in games played with 85 and goals scored with 81, while serving as one of the team’s captains for the past two seasons.
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2012 - Municipal Compliance Certification & Annual Report - DRAFT
In conformance with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) General Permit GP-0-010-002, the Municipal Compliance Certification and Annual Report are available for public review and comment by clicking the link below. All comments should be direct to the Local Public Stormwater Contact as identified on Municipal Compliance Certification.
Click Here to View the Report
Official Voting Results for May 15, 2012
Click Here to View the Results
Second Annual John Jay Student Film Festival
Katonah-Lewisboro ArtsALIVE! http://klartsalive.org/ in partnership with Caramoor, Jacob Burns and the Katonah Museum of Art, presents the
Second Annual John Jay Student Film Festival on Friday May 18th, from 7-9 p.m. at Caramoor. We are honored to announce that the evening’s festivities will open with Keynote Speaker James Spione, Academy Award Nominee in 2012 for
Incident in New Baghdad and winner of a Student Academy Award for his first film,
Prelude, in 1986. This will be followed by an hour of juried short films by John Jay students. The evening will be moderated by Diane Nerwen, who teaches video and photography at John Jay High School. We invite you to join us for this spectacular evening, in our own backyard, so together we can celebrate the talent of our JJHS student filmmakers.
Tickets must be purchased online at:
http://artsalivejjhsfilmfestival2012.eventbrite.com
Thank you!
Donna Walsh
President, K-L ArtsALIVE!
Sustainability and Wellness Fair
The Katonah-Lewisboro School District Sustainability Committee’s fifth annual Sustainability and Wellness Fair was recently held at John Jay High School, where many booths and activities were featured. This informative and engaging event brought together over 25 different groups, clubs and organizations, all concerned with personal and environmental health and wellness. The day kicked off with a morning walk/run for fitness and fun, sponsored by friends of the fair.
Katonah Elementary School Assistant Principal and fair coordinator Terry Costin stated, “This is a wonderful event celebrating Earth Month. There is a great deal of passion around wellness and sustainability in our schools and our community.”
While visiting booths, students, individuals, families and even Lewisboro Supervisor Peter Parsons were entertained by music performed by the group, “Halfway To Sanity.” Members of the professional band all reside within the Westchester area, and two of them are Katonah-Lewisboro teachers. Other groups scheduled to perform included John Jay High School’s fabulous “Rolling Tones” and the talented “John Jay Notables.” Rolling Tones Advisor Chris Ferrarone reported, “They are fantastic, both musically and personally!”
Attendees enjoyed the various learning opportunities and activities as they visited booths representing the featured organizations. There were many opportunities to connect art with the day’s sustainability theme; at the Katonah Museum of Art’s stand, children created “stick men” using materials found in nature. Children enjoyed other Sustainable Art activities as well, and Increase Miller and John Jay High School art teacher Marijane Hamren explained the importance and fun that can be attained by reusing, reducing, and recycling. Artist Henry Fair displayed his photographs depicting toxic waste and pollution, and students from Lewisboro Elementary School exhibited their works created from outdoor items.
Gardening and healthy food was another popular highlight of the fair. The Katonah Elementary School PTO Greenhouse and Edible Garden booth sold tomato seedlings to raise funds for the school’s greenhouse and garden. Lewisboro Elementary School presented Lewisboro Salad Day, Increase Miller Elementary School shared a Learning and Growing Garden, and potted herbs were sold from the Meadow Pond Herb Garden. Doug Decandia enabled visitors to grind their own oatmeal, and explained that he donates homegrown products to local food banks. The Town of Lewisboro Garden Committee provided sunflower seeds, John Jay High School cafeteria volunteers offered a variety of healthy foods thanks to Aramark, and John Jay Middle School Girl Scouts sold cookies and smoothies.
Other organizations and volunteers provided health and wellness screenings. Gorilla Yoga presented a Calculate Your Heart Rate activity involving trampolines, while Katonah-Lewisboro School Nurses checked pulse rates and blood pressure, and Northern Westchester Hospital representatives checked blood pressures as well.
Environmental conservation was another major focus of the day. Volunteers from the Wolf Conservation Center discussed the facility for endangered wolves and the need for conservation education. Westmoreland Sanctuary displayed environmental items such as animal pelts. John Jay High School students discussed the AP Environmental Science class and how it has made them more aware of environmental issues, and the John Jay Middle School Environmental Working Group shared information on skin care and the avoidance of carcinogens. The Town of Lewisboro Stormwater Committee discussed concerns with the protection of lakes, streams, wildlife, and more. The Town of Lewisboro Sustainability Committee, and Energize Bedford and Energize Lewisboro explained where your home may be losing energy and presented pertinent information on energy saving sources such as lighting renovations. Lewisboro Supervisor Peter Parsons stated, “It’s exciting to see so many residents reducing energy that may have been wasted in their homes.”
Many more participants were present at this event, including the following:
JJMS Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD)
Livestrong Lance Armstrong House Project Volunteers
Katonah/Bedford Hills and Lewisboro/Cross River Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES Environmental Center
Madden Environmental Program (part of BOCES)
Westchester County Department of Health and Public Works
Lewisboro Recreation Department
Safe Routes to School
Slow Food of Westchester
Pound Ridge Land Conservancy
Westchester Land Trust
KL Foundation
A big thanks goes out to all who came out for this event in support of sustainability and wellness.
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Nicole Loscri Named BOCES Valedictorian
John Jay High School Senior Nicole Loscri has been named Valedictorian of the Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES Class of 2012. Nicole is a John Jay High School student who studies Fashion Design and Merchandising at BOCES. She is one of hundreds of students from throughout Putnam and Northern Westchester who attend BOCES, and was recently recognized as one of two BOCES ACE (Advanced College Experience) scholars as well. Congratulations to Nicole on this achievement!
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JJMS Student Pete Miller Earns Music Award
Eighth grade student Pete Miller, a piano player and percussionist, has won the nationwide Student Music Award sponsored by
Down Beat, a jazz magazine. He submitted two jazz standards for competition:
Five Hundred Miles High, by Stan Getz, and
There Is No Greater Love, by Isham Jones.
Pete began playing piano at age five. He wanted to quit, but his mother persuaded him to complete a minimum of eight lessons. After the eight lessons, Pete was hooked. “I loved it,” he explained. For many years, the young musician was playing on an old upright piano. He has very recently acquired a brand new baby grand piano.
Pete has studied music with Rusty Cloud from the Lagond Music School. He is a member of the JJMS band and jazz band and he assists various high school and middle school bands. Pete is currently composing orchestral pieces and he is a fan of jazz musician Jamie Cullum and composer Danny Elfman.
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JJMS Student Zury Cutler Receives Science Award
Eighth grade student Zury Cutler is the recipient of two incredible science awards. Zury won the first place award at the JJMS science fair for his project involving the properties of a heron's fin. He then continued on to compete in the Tri-County Science Fair, where he was judged four times. At the award ceremony, Zury learned that he had won first place in the chemistry category and then first place in a combination of all categories. This was not a first time first place achievement, though; Zury took the lead in last year’s competition as well for his creation of a bionic hand.
Last year, Zury also entered the 3M and Discovery Kid contests. He was the NY State winner and was categorized as “The top new scientist in NYS 2011.” His entry was a working model of a mostly self-sustaining vehicle. The vehicle possessed solar panels, wind turbines, a generator, etc.
Although he has several years before it is time to make plans for college, Zury hopes to attend Cornell University in order to become a Material Physicist. He is excited by the idea that this occupation is a conglomeration of many types of science. He would be “utilizing various manipulations in order to create new properties.”
Zuri's other interests include school plays, cooking, the arts, and video editing. He is currently working on a documentary and novel based upon a video game.
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KES Nurse Karen Greenwood Earns Award
Katonah Elementary School Nurse Karen Greenwood has received the Nurse of the Year Award from the Westchester Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) for her work with diabetic students. Mrs. Greenwood has been at KES for 19 years, and on a daily basis monitors the blood sugar levels of three students between 12-18 times. Mrs. Greenwood will be the guest of honor at the JDRF’s annual Meeting and Scientific Research Update on June 25th, when she will be presented with the Nurse of the Year Award in addition to a Volunteer Leadership Award for her past support of the JDRF.
“Karen Greenwood is a valuable asset to Katonah Elementary School,” stated Katonah Elementary School Principal Jessica Godin. “Her work and dedication to our students health and well-being is commendable. We are so proud of her for winning this award! It is well-deserved.”
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JJHS Ranks 39th in State, 238th in Nation
John Jay High School achieved a noteworthy ranking on
U.S. News and World Report’s list of the Best High Schools across the nation. John Jay High School ranked 39th out of all public high schools in New York State, and 238th out of almost 22,000 public high schools ranked across the nation. Schools are recognized based on how well they prepare students for college, test performance, and other factors.
John Jay High School Principal Ellen Doherty stated, “I am proud of our staff and faculty who work with such dedication on behalf of our students and I am proud of our students who so often distinguish themselves, as scholars, athletes, artists and all around great kids.”
“This national distinction is an accomplishment our entire community can take pride in, as it reflects the outstanding work and dedication that our staff and students demonstrate throughout the year,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Kreutzer. “Congratulations to all who contribute to the excellence of our high school and district.”
Katonah-Lewisboro Public Notice of Auction of Surplus Assets
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Inter-Generational Day at JJMS
John Jay Middle School recently held its annual Inter-Generational Day, during which thirty inspirational local senior citizens visited and presented to students. The event placed an emphasis on the World War II era, and kicked off with remarks from Assemblyman and Vietnam War veteran Bob Castelli. Organized by JJMS Principal Rich Leprine, Lewisboro Senior Adult Director Pam Veith, and JJMS PTO Vice President Carolyn Kingston, the program offered an extremely informative, eye-opening, and entertaining afternoon.
Sixth grade students greeted the seniors as they arrived and spent time with them during lunch. Next, the seniors were escorted to the seventh grade classrooms where they were able to share some conversation. Students then showed their visitors the way to specific areas of the building where they were scheduled to speak.
Assemblyman Castelli offered credit to “this great generation that saved the world for democracy.” He continued, “It is not good to honor war, but always good to honor warriors. (WWII) was the largest conflict in history. It cost millions of lives. At the end, the world was changed, mostly for good. We have the ability to protect our thoughts, ideals and freedoms...we must thank these men who sacrificed and literally changed the world. They are truly the greatest generation.”
Al Vieira, World War II Navy veteran whose grandson just returned from serving in Afghanistan, was next to speak. He asked everyone to rise, face the flag, and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Viera described some of his experiences and emotions, stating, “We listened. That's how we learned.” He also shared excerpts from a letter he had saved from the US Commander of the European forces, Dwight Eisenhower.
Bob Quentin was the third to speak. Mr. Quentin was an army veteran stationed throughout England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He served for two and a half years as a combat engineer. Among other responsibilities, his job involved removing land mines. When asked if he was frightened, he responded, “You did what you needed to do.”
Harry Maroncelli and Yvonne See also presented to students. Mr. Maroncelli was an American gunner who flew missions into France. He discussed life and hardships during the American depression. Ms. See was born in England. She explained that during the war years, British families boarded evacuees or soldiers. At eight years of age, Ms. See was forced to flee the city and was sheltered by others in the countryside.
Peter and Marian Senatore (Mrs. Kingston’s parents) and Jack Whelan addressed a group of students as well, discussing the American experience during the war and sharing some interesting stories. Ms.Senatore described a child's life during the depression.
Following the speeches, the eighth grade jazz band performed and refreshments were served for the seniors to enjoy. The students returned to classrooms to view a short video about the “greatest generation."
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Katonah Elementary School Awarded for Composting Efforts
Katonah Elementary School has been recognized for its efforts in helping the environment – particularly for its new composting program. The school was selected for a grant from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse & Recycling Green Schools Grant program, and also received a Green Award from the Town of Bedford during a presentation on May 1. The school’s Sustainability Committee piloted a composting program this past fall for cafeteria waste, and the grant money will be used to transport the compostable materials.
The Sustainability Committee discovered that more than 30% of the school’s trash is generated in the cafeteria. The Committee established a relationship with Suburban Carting, which brings compostable materials to a facility in Connecticut, where it is converted into feedstock for a new product. Composting reduces the volume of garbage generated, the amount of material going to landfill, and dependence on synthetic fertilizers.
Since the program was initiated, Katonah Elementary School has reduced its garbage from the cafeteria by more than 60%. Staffed members and students have all chipped in to make this effort beneficial and efficient. Head custodian George Cook painted green bins that are used to collect the materials, art teacher Chris Eckler worked with students to create signage and helped them learn to sort materials, and custodians and monitors provide ongoing support. About 50 fourth and fifth grade students help in leading the composting initiatives, which include classroom snack composting in addition to the cafeteria composting.
Students are directly seeing and learning how waste can be transformed into useful products and recycling adds up to have a big impact. The District plans to eventually bring this program into the other five buildings as well, to play an even bigger role in helping preserve the environment.
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KES First Graders to Hatch Chicks for Local Egg Co-op
InterGenerate and the first graders of Katonah Elementary School hatched a plan for heritage breed chicks at John Jay Homestead. For the past year, the new non-profit’s Egg Cooperative raised hens at the local historic site. For the first time this spring, members will work in partnership with the students of KES to hatch heritage eggs and then raise them into laying hens.
InterGenerate is a growing organization dedicated to building strong communities on a healthy planet. Over the last few years they spearheaded the creation of four community gardens and most recently, a heritage breed egg cooperative at John Jay. Members of the co-op work together to harvest and care for almost fifty hens in mobile coops at the site.
Students in our district have been hatching eggs for years with the help of 4-H but this is the first time they have hatched the eggs of heritage breeds alongside the traditional breeds. “Many heritage breed chickens are endangered due to the prevalence of selective breeding at large agricultural farms, but the heritage breeds are often more nutritious and resistant to disease,” says Kathy Moreau, Director of InterGenerate’s Heritage Egg Co-op at John Jay.
The collaboration between InterGenerate and KES was organized by co-op members Li Lai Luongo (who also happen to be a KES parent), and teachers Libby Grasso, Judy McCormick and Sheryl Carini with support from Melina Brown, Founder of the So. CT/Westchester Poultry Meetup. After the students hatch the eggs in the classroom, the chicks will be raised with other hens in the one-year old Heritage Egg Co-op. The students and all in our community are encouraged to visit the John Jay Homestead this summer to see how the baby chicks have grown.
According to Roseann Rutherford, Co-Founder of InterGenerate, “We are proud of the growth in our outreach programs based on our egg co-op. Not only do our members get to enjoy lots of fresh eggs, but we offer a hands-on learning experience for the entire community on healthy, local foods and sustainable farm practices.” True to their name, InterGenerate’s projects are intergenerational. Rutherford adds, “An important facet of our programs is that they involve all generations. As a matter of fact, children from KES whose families are members of the Egg Co-op, will be making special presentations to their first grade classes about the advantages of using heritage breeds.”
Anyone interested in joining the Heritage Egg Co-op should visit InterGenerate’s website at
www.intergenerateny.org or call 914-232-8072.
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JJHS Modern American Culture Class
Panel Discussion on Alternatives for Senior Year
John Jay High School offers an illuminating class, led by teacher Mike Guarini, entitled “Modern American Culture.” During their March 27 meeting, students in the class tackled an interesting and pertinent question: how could senior year be more worthwhile for students? The group recognized that the latter part of senior year following the busy and stressful college acceptance process can become a time when students simply coast. The panel led an intelligent discussion concerning alternative programs to help remedy the situation.
The MAC (Modern American Culture) classes are designed to help students seek opportunities and delve into conversations that may be intriguing and controversial. The panel on March 27 consisted of the following participants: Cliff Seiferheld (Marist Senior), Caryn Gilbert (JJHS Attendance Administrator), Danny Winefeld (JJHS Senior), Lisa Kor (JJHS Assistant Principal), Howard Rodstein (Director, Scarsdale Alternative School), Loring Allen (Mother of JJHS Senior), Ben Garbow (Senior, Ridgefield HS), Lucy Liberatore (JJHS Guidance Counselor).
The group discussed various types of activities that could make a difference in the lives of the students, while concurrently improving society in general. The universal belief was that community service, directly relating to the student's individual passion, would encourage the student to be more motivated and thus, feel happier. Examples of successful programs were discussed, as were experiential and internship programs.
Another suggested idea was that students focus on learning new, specific skills enabling them to be proficient in things they have not explored. This would be something “beyond the textbook,” making senior year a time to pursue a passion. All agreed that it was an exciting idea.
As the meeting proceeded, additional conversations, which included student participation, included the stress of leaving the familiar and entering the college environment. While many students appear to be comfortable with the idea, many others feel quite hesitant and overwhelmed. Conversations about these concerns were encouraged.
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Lewisboro Elementary School International Day
The Lewisboro Elementary School Cafeteria was transformed into a multicultural celebration during an International Day presented by third graders. Upon entering the room, guests were greeted by flags representing 74 different nations. Various stations were assembled throughout the cafeteria, each representing a particular country. On the desks were brochures and pamphlets, dioramas and replicas, artifacts, and delicious, aromatic, food samples, and more. Many students were dressed in clothing representative of their assigned countries as they stood by their booths, ready to share information and answer questions.
Each third grade student was assigned was to research a specific, randomly selected country. They spent many hours compiling and organizing facts on everything from climate and geographic location to culture and travel tips. Parents and excited second graders visited each center and sampled the goodies. The second graders were armed with “passports” which the third grade guides would stamp when their countries received a visit.
Ben Howard researched Israel and prepared hummus. According to Ben, The Dome of the Rock is the place to visit. Michaela Harris, who studied Spain, suggested visiting the capital. Nick DeVincenzo researched Sri Lanka, and prepared rice and salsa. He suggested that a visit to the western side of the country would be interesting. Michael Oddo recommended a visit to Easter Island in Chile, where there are thousand year old castles. “The Moraccan Casaba” is the best place to visit in Moracco, according to Cole Fergusson, who prepared couscous. Julia Rossi studied Romania and prepared a dish called Resmeticu Lamiie, with the help of her mom. As part of her research, Julia interviewed her Romanian soccer coach.
The annual event was orchestrated by the third grade teachers, Mrs. Bremner,Mrs. Choolfaian, Ms. Meza, and Mrs. Abisch. They were grateful for the support of Mrs. Moller, Mrs. Pidgeon, Mr. Eldridge, Mrs. Kirshenbaum, Mrs. O'Malley, Mr. Sloss and the custodial staff, and the third grade parents.
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Capital Project Video
A second proposition on the May 15th ballot asks that the District be authorized to use $5.9 million from its reserves/fund balance to address prioritized capital projects. See our special short video on the project’s details.
Daniel Fulop and Sydney Glenn Participate in Senator’s Student Advisory Council
John Jay High School juniors Sydney Glenn and Daniel Fulop have been invited to participate on New York State Senator Ball’s Student Advisory Council, due to their demonstration of leadership and ethics.
The Council meets once a month to discuss various school programs. Sydney and Daniel meet with approximately a dozen other students from around the state in order to share ideas and integrate programs. The meetings take place at the State District Attorney's Office in Brewster, and will continue throughout the 2012/2013 school year.
Sydney and Daniel credit their guidance counselor, Ms. Travis, for providing them with the Outstanding Student Youth Award application. The students were required to write an essay pertaining to ethics and leadership. One to two students were selected from participating high schools.
The two juniors each have unique interests and backgrounds. Daniel is the Vice Speaker of Campus Congress, of which he's been a member since the tenth grade, and interacts with fellow students, administrators, staff and teachers in an attempt to solve school related problems. He is also a member of the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and is the only student member of “Spirit Builders,” an organization that builds ramps and other structures for people who are in need. He recently built a 90-foot-long wheelchair ramp that traversed a stream. During the summer, Daniel takes part in the Appalachian Service Project, providing community service to people in that region. Also a Varsity Swimmer and Varsity Tennis player, Daniel hopes to enter a pre-med program after graduation.
Sydney, a scholar athlete, is a member of the Varsity Volleyball Team and is Captain of the Varsity Basketball Team. She was invited to join the renowned All-League Basketball Team. Sydney volunteers her time coaching recreational basketball. She has coached third and fourth grade boys as well as boys in the seventh and eighth grades. This year, she proudly led her team into the playoffs. Sydney participates in the Young Scholars Architectural Program and hopes to study architecture and/or engineering in college.
John Jay High School is extremely proud to be represented by such inspiring young people.
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Increase Miller Elementary School Colonial Museum
Fourth graders at Increase Miller Elementary School recently transformed their cafeteria into a Colonial Museum. Within the room, colorful signs designated different sections, which included Colonial Housing, Schooling, Cooper and Smith Shops, Farming, Games and Toys, Spinning, Weaving and Needlework, Wig Making, Candle Making, Surgical Instruments, Musical Instruments, Fashion, Church, Sports and Recreation, Shipbuilding, History and Famous Colonists, and Cooking and Foods. Dressed in Colonial attire, students offered tremendous insight into the lives of the early American Colonists. Each “station” displayed a facsimile of an artifact from that time period as well as a detailed report.
Periodically, a bell would ring. The room would hush as the Town Crier, Daniel Zitomer, would deliver the “current” news. A few rows down, spectators could hear the melody of “Yankee Doodle” as Julia Nolan expertly played the fife. Younger students were eagerly trying out the provided quill pens and ink. They sat amongst handmade candleholders, weaves and additional artifacts. Students learned about everything from historical individuals from Colonial days to Colonial traditions and much more during their museum event.
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Increase Miller Elementary School Fifth Grade Production The Jungle Book Kids
Increase Miller's fifth grade class recently presented two spectacular productions of Disney's “The Jungle Book Kids.” Under the direction of Mrs. Jennifer Fraczek, the students enthralled their audience of children, staff, parents, and administrators with sixteen musical numbers before an impressive set. Over forty cast members acted, sang, and danced as they brought “The Jungle Book” to life.
The actors recanted the tale of the lost Mowgli (portrayed by Paige Griffiths), who finally found the home where he belonged, with the aide of Bagheera (played by Caroline Williams), Baloo the Bear (performed by Cameron Polemeni-Hegarty), and Kaa (played by Robert Hammond, James Lucassen, Max Pojednic, Sabrina Zapson, Jonny Sutton, and Isaac Gordin). Mowgli’s journey included many adventures as he and the group sought to avoid the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan, (portrayed by Elias Waill). The rest of the cast included King Louie, Shant/Coconut Tree, Colonel Hathi, Bees, Tree/Bush, Elephants, Baby Elephant, Monkeys, Old Monkey, Wolves, Prickly Pear, Rocks, and Vultures.
Within the written program, Mrs. Fraczek addressed the students. “You have all dedicated your time and energy into the performance,” she stated. “I am extremely proud of you, as you should be of yourselves. Enjoy tonight, for you have earned the applause.” Due credit was also given to the stage crew, assistant director, sound technicians, curtain operators, prop manager, lighting designers, costume designers, set designers, the set club, Principal Kerry Ford, Andrew Galotti, Paul Crivelli, Sheila Navarra, the Increase Miller teachers, staff and PTA and very helpful parents.
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Nicole Loscri Named ACE Scholar
On May 15th, John Jay High School Senior Nicole Loscri will be honored during a reception at Westchester Community College. Nicole's family will be in attendance as she is recognized as one of two ACE (Advanced College Experience) scholars. A fashion design and merchandizing student at the BOCES Tech Center (as well as the captain of the Varsity Bowling Team), Nicole plans to continue her studies at WCC and later transfer to a school specializing in fashion design.
Ms. Stephanie Buckhaut, Nicole's English teacher, recommended her for this prestigious award. Having already received six college credits, Nicole is considered a scholar in her class and it is expected that she will fulfill her academic and professional dreams. Congratulations, Nicole!
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Michael Rosenthal Receives Fisher Scientific Award in Animal Science
John Jay High School is proud to announce that senior Michael Rosenthal was the recipient of the Fisher Scientific Award in Animal Science at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair. Michael's project involved the calculation of the estimated coyote density within a specific area.
Michael derived an exciting new method for collecting and organizing his data. The project, which was situated at Bedford's Mianus River Gorge Nature Preserve, involved the use of “camera traps.” Michael placed sensors on trees, capturing coyotes in photos. Using various algorithms and analytical techniques, he was able to determine the existence of 0.05 - 0.5 coyotes per kilometer; the average being 0.161 coyotes.
Michael received a variety of prizes and he offers his gratitude to research mentor, Mark Weckel, the Preserve's Director of Research and Land Management. In addition to being an active participant in the John Jay Science Research Program, Michael is the Varsity Wrestling Captain and a Division Champion. He's currently involved with the Campus Congress and he's looking forward to attending Cornell's School of Agriculture and Life Sciences this fall. We wish him all the best!
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Proposition Calls for Completion of Capital Projects with No Tax Impact
When Katonah-Lewisboro residents go to the polls on May 15 to vote on the proposed 2012-13 school year budget, they will also be asked to consider a separate proposition to fund infrastructure improvements at all buildings.
There is no tax impact associated with approval of the proposition.
The proposition asks for authorization for the District to use $5.9 million from its reserves to address prioritized capital (facility) projects. Therefore, funding these projects does NOT require borrowing or increase taxes, as the funding sources exist in the capital fund reserve established in 2009, along with fund balance that became available as a result of the conclusion of employee negotiations.
The $5.9 million in projects addresses approximately 20% of the much larger 5-year capital improvement plan (estimated at $29.6 million) that was completed by an external firm in order to prepare for the future of the district’s facilities. The projects included in this proposition were selected as priority items based on health and safety concerns, as well as the ability to provide greater energy efficiency.
“We have the funds for the projects in our reserves, and are pleased to not have to borrow or raise taxes in order to complete these items, which have been identified as priorities,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Kreutzer. “The administration and Board of Education kept our taxpayers in mind as we developed a below-tax cap proposed budget that maintains our educational program, and we were equally mindful in developing this proposition.”
Although the funds for these projects are already on-hand, taxpayer approval is required in order for the District to transfer these monies for the purpose designated.
Again, taxes will not be impacted as a result of this proposition.
The items included in the proposition are as follows:
• Replacement of both boilers at Increase Miller Elementary School
• Replacement of both boilers at Meadow Pond Elementary School
• Replacement of leaking foam roofs with EPDM (15 year warranty) roofs (roof replacements are needed in various areas at JJMS, JJHS, KES, and IMES)
• Completion of necessary paving of playground areas, painting of classrooms and hallways, improvement of site lighting and replacement of flooring throughout the District in areas identified as high priority
• Installation of occupancy sensor lighting controls to reduce energy costs
All labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental expenses are included in the $5.9 million estimated to cover these projects. If the proposition is approved, smaller projects will be completed beginning this summer, with the boiler replacements and roof replacements scheduled for the Summer of 2013.
KLSD Board of Education Adopts Proposed 2012-13 Budget
The Katonah-Lewisboro School District Board of Education adopted the proposed 2012-13 budget and a separate capital projects proposition at the March 22 Board of Education meeting. The adopted budget of $112,996,167 was reduced from the original Superintendent’s budget presented earlier in March by $66,667.
The reductions were realized through refinancing debt and removing some funds budgeted for a tax anticipation note. The budget-to-budget increase from 2011-12 to 2012-13 is $1,976, 123, or 1.78%, The tax levy is estimated to be $101,865,151, a 2.09% increase over the 2011-12 tax levy. This is below the District’s calculated tax levy cap of 3.52%. The tax levy limit exclusive of one-time expenses is 2.37%.
The separate proposition, which was also adopted, asks for authorization for the District to use $5.9 million from its reserves to address prioritized capital (facility) projects. Funding these projects does NOT require borrowing or increase taxes, as the funding sources exist in the capital fund reserve established in 2009, along with fund balance that became available as a result of the conclusion of employee negotiations. It addresses approximately 20% of a much larger 5-year capital improvement plan that was completed by an external firm in order to prepare for the future of the district’s facilities.
All About Science at JJMS
March was a month of science success for John Jay Middle School students. The school’s 29th annual science fair, coordinated by Tri-County Science Fair liaisons Gregg Kastanis and Zach Miller, featured approximately 30 projects created by sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. This event coincided with the Middle School Science Olympiad Team’s recent accomplishments at the Lower Hudson Valley Regional Competition in Scarsdale, where the John Jay students finished in fifth place overall out of 28 other teams from Westchester and Rockland Counties.
The science fair included projects created by individual students as well as pairs and groups, ranging in categories such as Physics, Earth Science, Psychology, Biology, and Technology. Students displayed their work during a public viewing session in the library, where attendees learned about “The Life of a Battery,” “Plant Development,” “Exo Planets,” “Roller Coaster Physics,” “Reactions to Sound,” and much more. Students Mary Debany, Wukkuan Dwight, and Patricia Figueroa worked together on a multi-grade project titled, “Physics and Chemical Reactions.”
Science projects were judged and awards were presented during a reception following the viewing session. Eighth grader Zury Cutler won an Outstanding Award for a project titled, “Properties of a Heron’s Fountain,” as did seventh graders Chas Gilman and Matthew Gentil-Polese for their respective projects, “Dynamo and the Motor” and “Energy Compression.” Honorable Mentions were presented to eighth grader Terrence Levens for his project, “Black Haze: The Horrors of Smoking,” seventh grader Daniel Gordon for “What Makes a Smart Board Smart,” and Dana Marderstein for “Visualization and Taste.” Congratulations to all students who participated in the fair.
About a week prior to the science fair was when the John Jay team of 15 students in grades 6-9 attended the Science Olympiad competition, which was broken down into several events in the categories of Physics, Earth Science, Biology, and General Science. Twenty-nine teams competed in each event, and the John Jay team took home 7 medals, listed as follows:
“Helicopter Egg Drop” – 6th place – Zoë Gordin and Tess Tobin
“Mousetrap Vehicle” – 5th place – Rogelio Giraldo and Willa Tobin
“Dynamic Planet” – 3rd place – Lea Walsh and Zoë Gordin
“Meteorology” – 1st Place – Sam Chen and Joel Faynshmidt
“Forestry” – 2nd place - Ryan Jenkins and Ryan Monasch
“Microbe Mission” – 4th Place – Olivia Chandler and Ryan Monasch
“Experimental Design” – 5th place - Lea Walsh and Zoë Gordin
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First Graders Dig It at Lewisboro Elementary School
First grade students at Lewisboro Elementary School were transformed into junior geologists during a recent visit from Kevin McDonough of “High Touch, High Tech.” “Professor Kevin” presented a program that brought geology to life through hands-on experiments.
The students learned that the Earth, the super-continent known as Pangaea, is composed of four layers. The formation of plates and rocks and the creation of mountains, trenches, earthquakes, and volcanoes were explored through discussion, experimentation, and even human re-enactment. The students were thoroughly captivated by Professor Kevin’s quirky style, humor, and immense knowledge.
One experiment involved the utilization of hard-boiled eggs to simulate an earthquake. The shell represented the Earth's crust, while the interior represented the “mantel and core.” Also intriguing was the search for rocks and gems. The students were presented with cups of dirt and were instructed to flip the contents into tin pans. They were surprised when they discovered the rocks and gems that were hidden within the dirt, and proceeded to identify their findings by matching them with items pictured on place cards. Next, the students tested and charted the rocks and gems by name, color, transparency, luster, hardness, magnetism, and acidity. To top it off, they were encouraged to take home their precious finds.
To culminate the program, Professor Kevin created “volcanoes” right before the students' eyes, surging a distance of several feet.
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