Board Accepts $210,499 of Foundation Grants

The Bronxville School Foundation continued its tradition of strong support for educational innovation by presenting the Board of Education with a roster of 22 grants totaling $210,499. The Board accepted the gift "with gratitude." Asked how many teachers participated in the grant application process, Superintendent David Quattrone said that most proposals involved team collaboration. Teachers in grades K-2 submitted a bookbinding project. High School science teachers requested additional digital microscopes.

Other faculty members also pursued the acquisition of technology - long a priority for the Foundation. The second grade team proposed an expansion of SmartBoard installations, as did Middle School special educators. Bolstered by successful experience with "response clickers" that support instant feedback in classrooms, the fourth and fifth grade teams requested additional Senteo systems.

The Foundation also approved grants that extended the School's global initiative in new ways, including a partnership with the Asia Society aimed at improving the "global competence" of all students and leadership development, K-12 language arts development through ongoing work with a consulting organization, LitLife; and support for international travel and service projects. (The LitLife grant was approved in anticipation of the loss of state funding for Bronxville's Teacher Center.)

Bronxville Students Soak in Ancient History at New York City Museum

The region separating China from Europe and Western Asia is not the most hospitable, yet for more than 7,000 years, the Silk Road, which runs through much of it, was the means by which silk and other exotic goods were transported.

While visiting the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibition, “Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World,” approximately 200 ninth- and 10th-graders from the Bronxville Schools had the opportunity Feb. 1 to get a glimpse into the sights and sounds of this ancient route.

The exhibit takes visitors along the Silk Road, which began in Xi’an, capital of the Tang Dynasty, to Turfan, a bustling oasis at the edge of the desert, to Samarkand (in present-day Uzbekistan), the home of prosperous merchants, and on to Baghdad, a meeting place for scholars, scientists and philosophers.

The excursion was organized by instructors Dr. Lee DiTullio, Dana Landesman and Christina Reidel to highlight the importance of the Silk Road and to incorporate the various activities students have been doing in all disciplines these past few months.

Life-size camels laden with worn canvas sacs greet visitors entering the exhibit. It wasn’t difficult for the students to imagine the animals and their owners stretching out across the harsh Taklamakan Desert of Central Asia, often traveling part of the journey at night to avoid the scorching heat. The Silk Road passes through regions whose temperatures range from minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit to more than 120.

As the students moved ahead, they came across bowls of mulberry leaves on which scores of white worms were gnawing. An exhibit on silk production drew their attention, and they learned that about 5,000 years ago, the Chinese Empress Hsi Ling Shi, while drinking tea in her garden, discovered a small cocoon in her teacup. As she fished it out, the cocoon unwound into a single shimmering silk strand. Gathering more cocoons, the Empress decided to plunge them into hot water, unravel the strands and begin to weave the world’s first silk cloth.

Later, students came across what looked like an outdoor market with barrels filled with the scent of rose petals, jasmine oil and the patchouli plant. Dazzling gemstones, fresh fruits and aromatic spices, luxurious furs, and an assortment of fabrics were commonly sold at such markets, they learned. Further on, they gathered around an interactive map to get a bird’s eye view of the Silk Road.

Throughout the exhibit, students were required to complete a travel journal of their experiences, collecting various stamps along the way and answering a variety of questions on different areas of the curriculum. Naming three famous Arab mathematicians and briefly describing their achievements was one, as was describing the contributions of Arab mathematicians to the development of the field, and calculating how many possible routes travelers could take along the Silk Road.

Other fascinating aspects of the exhibit included its focus on the evolution of various scientific instruments, such as the water clock, and the transportation of paper, which opened up a “remarkable age of writing, reading and learning,” noted the exhibition. Its mention of the Baghdad scholars whose studies of math and astronomy “helped form the foundation for science in the West” was also an important lesson for the Bronxville students.

Tenth-graders Catherine Bianco, Christina Dave, Ally Malamut, and Caroline Willis all enjoyed visiting the exhibit. “It was also very useful and informative for us because it basically enabled us to recap a lot of what we learned in the ninth grade,” said one of them.

Teachers from several other departments accompanied the group, including biology teacher Amy Bastone, art teacher Joanne Dalsimer, Spanish instructor Patrick Miele, and others. The trip also ties into the district’s efforts to infuse global education throughout all three schools. Students will be required to create individual projects based on what they learned during the trip. It will culminate in a “Silk Road Symposium” scheduled for later in the spring.

Also on Feb. 1, juniors and seniors back at the high school participated in a special initiative on the world’s water problems. Activities included watching the movie “Blue Gold: World Water Wars,” and listening to a presentation from Heidi Paul, corporate vice president of the Nestle Water Company. The students later divided into smaller groups to hear Tobias Siegfried of the Columbia University Water Center; Peter Crowther of IBM, who talked about the “Great Rivers Project;” Amy Hurley, head of the Westchester County Recycling Program; a representative from Green Waste Solutions; and a farmer who grows “green crops” and sells produce at the Bronxville Farmers Market.

This was the fourth consecutive year of Bronxville High School’s “Education & Awareness Day” series, which is planned each year by both the students and their teachers. Previous years have focused on global warming, human rights and world hunger.

Drop by Drop You Make a River

On Monday, November 9 the Bronxville School is hosting a School-Family Partnership workshop from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the auditorium. "One person can make a difference" is the organizing theme of the evening, based on the book Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson. Mortenson's book describes his vision, setbacks, and success in building schools in rural Pakistan and Afghanistan.

A panel of student speakers, moderated by Dr. Viji George, President of Concordia College, will use the book as a springboard for discussing their own experiences in service projects across the world. The evening, aimed at secondary school students and their parents, is part of a broader global education initiative, linked to a number of related activities throughout the school year. At the Elementary School students will read Listen to the Wind, a picture book version of Three Cups of Tea, and the High School Student Faculty Legislature is planning its third annual special event exploring global problems.

Enrollment and Class Sizes Remain Stable

K-12 student enrollment nudged upward by 1%, reported Superintendent David Quattrone at the September Board of Education meeting, with most of the increase at the Elementary School. The total K-12 population on September 9 was 1,542, up from 1,527 last year. The Elementary enrollment is 723, the Middle School enrollment is 363, and the High School enrollment is 452. Official enrollment figures will be finalized as of October 1st.

Class size patterns are also similar to previous years: The average class size for grades K-5 is 20.8, and the comparable figures for the Middle and High Schools are 18.9 and 19.3, respectively. The class size summary can be found here.

Six Achieve Tenure

The Bronxville Board of Education awarded tenure to five faculty members and one administrator at its April meeting, based on the recommendations of Superintendent David Quattrone. BTA President David Katz also offered his congratulations to all. The six will also be recognized at the PTA-sponsored Recognition Tea on June 3rd.

As probationary teachers, faculty members are observed formally at least three times annually, with multiple evaluators in their tenure year. Tenure recommendations indicate a combination of proficient and distinguished ratings, supplemented by administrative assessments of capacity for future growth, leadership, and contributions to the department and school. Quattrone gave brief testimonials about each person.

Terry Barton, High School Principal
Mr. Barton has established a positive school climate, making decisions from a student-centered perspective and supporting numerous student-initiated projects. He has implemented improvements in school facilities, the master schedule, and expanded applications of technology. Through communication with students, parents, and teachers, he solves problems by listening, encouraging communication, and flexible approaches designed to help each student succeed.

Brian Senior, Elementary Physical Education
Mr. Senior brings to his teacher a strong foundation in child development. His teaching relates physical activity to other subject areas, and his team participation indicates strong connections with other faculty members and the broader interests of the students. Senior has also served as Boys Varsity Basketball coach.

Jean Windels, Middle School Science
Ms. Windels has distinguished herself as school leader and forward-looking teacher. She has represented the Middle School on the staff development Policy Board and served as 8th grade team leader. She has transformed the science club into a competitive and successful Science Olympiad team. Her teaching is characterized by a solid inquiry approach designed to foster thoughtful analysis and reasoning by her students.

Chris Yi, Middle School Mathematics
As Middle School curriculum leader, Mr. Yi has strengthened the communication and coordination with both Elementary and High School teachers, so that there is shared knowledge about expectations and clear criteria regarding placement. His leadership has also led to more consistent use of technology and and common assessments for common courses. His high expectations of students have contributed to our long-term effort to increase the number of students who have completed algebra by the end of eighth grade.

Dana Landesman, High School Social Studies

Ms. Landesman emphasizes collaborative group work in her classroom, with students taking responsibility for presenting information and learning from each other. Technology is well integrated into her teaching. Her dedication to content mastery is balanced with her genuine regard for young people. Her lessons are highly organized. She has collaborated successfully with colleagues, and is active in professional work beyond the school.

Ann Meyer, High School Science

Ms. Meyer has brought rigor, commitment, and enthusiasm to her work as a classroom teacher and as a positive force on the faculty. She has played a vital leadership role both within her department and across the school. As an advisor to the Student-Faculty-Legislature she has help launch and sustain school-wide events on global warming, human rights, and world hunger. She has also organized and implemented science seminars designed to interest students in careers in math and science. She brings a global perspective to her teaching, and as such she has been a strong advocate of high academic expectations, interdisciplinary approaches, and service to others.

Foundation Considers 2009 Grant Applications

The Bronxville School Foundation meets next week to consider a variety of grant applications aimed at supporting, enriching, and improving the Bronxville Schools. Applications include requests for student leadership development, professional development, technology, instructional equipment, and supplementary classroom materials.

The photo shows a wind turbine project in the AP Environmental Science course, funded by the Foundation.

Board Approves 2009-2010 Calendar

After a second reading, the Bronxville Board of Education approved the school calendar for 2009-2010. Patterned after the calendar adopted by the Westchester County Chief School Administrators, the next school year begins on Tuesday, September 8th for teachers and Wednesday, September 9th for students. The school year ends on Friday, June 25, 2010. There are 182 student days and 185 teacher days.

The approved calendar is here.

What's New in Fifth Grade?

This year's fifth graders are experiencing some exciting innovations in their academic program, including a partnership with a school in Ecuador, student-led parent conferences, a monthly spirit day, and an opportunity to make guided choices during part of the school day.

At the January Board of Education meeting, the fifth grade team explained how these new approaches strengthen their students sense of community, self-reliance, and social responsibility. Curriculum Leader Adrienne Laitman and Erin Cramer, representing their colleagues, made the presentation. In addition to Laitman and Cramer, the fifth grade team includes Lisa Britvan, Stephanie Kennedy, and Bruce Meyers. Micki Kennedy and Karen Albers provide special education support.

The teachers highlighted the most significant aspects of their work together. The students developed five guiding principles ("Try your best.") as a fifth grade community, not by individual classes. This approach has led to a positive identity and fewer behavior problems. The organization of the daily schedule reflects a planned transition between the self-contained classroom at grade four and the secondary model in which the students change teachers every period. During a portion of the day the students have an opportunity to select activities that best meet their needs, ranging from extra help, to technology enrichment, or time to work on long-range projects. The student-led conferences have given parents, teachers, and the students themselves a new perspective on student's assuming responsibility for their own learning. These programs - and others - reflect the benefits of team planning and collegial support among the teachers.

Students and Faculty Plan World Hunger Event

Throughout the fall a group of interested high school students and faculty have been planning "World Hunger Awareness and Education Day", patterned after the 2007 Environmental Awareness Day (sponsored by the Student Faculty Legislature) and the 2008 Human Rights Awareness Day (sponsored by the Human Rights Coalition). Principal Terry Barton commended the planners, saying "I applaud the students' initiative and leadership, especially their efforts to connect new information to constructive action."

Scheduled for Monday, February 2, the day will feature a keynote speaker and an opportunity for students to participate in a variety of action activities. The keynote speaker, Joel Berg is the executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger and a former Clinton administration official. He is also author of a new book, All You Can Eat: How Hungry is America? The afternoon activities will encompass such activities as letter writing, further study, fund-raising, and a food drive.

This event is also direct outgrowth of the global education initiative that began with seven teachers' trip to China in 2007 and has since become a major theme for professional and curriculum development in the district. The Middle School faculty is planning a related event in April.

School Sponsors Science Seminars

The Bronxville School District is doing its part to create the next crop of critical thinkers by organizing a series of lectures on a variety of scientific topics intended to prepare students for the 21^st century workplace and the increasingly global, knowledge-based economy. Superintendent David Quattrone cited the science seminars as an excellent example of the District's effort to adopt a global perspective and focus on application of knowledge and real-world problem solving skills.

In October, the Science Department invited Dr. William Macaulay, the director of the Center for Hip and Knee Replacement at New York-Presbyterian The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell, who spoke about his work and showed the students a video of one of his hip resurfacing surgeries.

On Dec. 8, Bronxville resident Dr. Lou Massa, who is a professor in the Chemistry and Physics Department of Hunter College, will speak to high school biology and Chemistry II students on the “Quantum Biology of the Ribosome” and its role in protein production in the body. The lecture will take place in the high school auditorium. On Feb. 13, Stuart Firestein, professor of neurobiology at Columbia University, will be speaking about olfactory reception (how we smell).

“Our plan has been to schedule a speaker about once every month or two,” said Ann Meyer, a science teacher at the high school. “The goal is to expose students to careers in science and math and to connect current research to what they are learning in class here in Bronxville.”

Environmental Club Spreads the Word

Earlier in the fall, the High School Environmental Club installed several LiveRoof modules of grassy plants as part of their Green Roof Project. These modules are 1 by 2 foot plastic containers, approximately 4 inches deep. As group raises the funds to install more modules they will gradually cover part of the school's roof.

The students followed up a few weeks later with visits to fifth grade classrooms to talk about the Project and school recycling programs. Senior Alexa Jackson orchestrated the entire event. Club members came with posters and other props, and the fifth graders quickly became engrossed, asking questions and sharing their own ideas with the older students. Faculty members Clare Gorman and Amy Bastone helped bring the two groups of students together. Fifth Grade teacher Adrienne Laitman commented, "Beyond learning about the benefits and costs of Green Roof modules, fifth graders got a real-life lesson on how initiative, determination and cooperation can lead to positive changes in the community. You can’t beat that for an afternoon at school!"

What Do You Know?

Dr. Martin Brooks, executive director of the Tri-State Consortium, gave the Bronxville Board of Education an overview of the Tri-State Consortium accreditation program, which emphasizes a continuous improvement process.

The Consortium brings together forty-two school districts in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Visiting committees of educators from member schools evaluate the quality of specific programs on a three-year cycle. The Consortium last conducted an evaluation of Bronxville’s K-12 mathematics program in 2005 and is slated to assess K-12 science in the fall of 2009. Dr. Brooks contrasted the limits of standardized testing with performance assessment: “Standardized tests ask ‘Do you know this?’”, he said. “Performance assessments ask, ‘What do you know?'”

Board members asked questions about what the District will learn from the K-12 science review, how best practices are identified and shared, and whether our current scope and sequence will be validated. Dr. Brooks said the report would be organized around essential questions developed by the faculty.

Superintendent David Quattrone said the essential questions under consideration address curriculum alignment, inquiry skills, technology applications, and the educational needs of diverse learners. These questions dovetail nicely with the professional development themes that have been adopted for the next three years. Over this period of time, he said, he expects achievement levels to remain high and stable, but the faculty will design new units of study and develop technology applications that promote depth of inquiry, authenticity, and engagement with real-world problems.

Sophomore Showcase

Bronxville High School students display and demonstrate their work for parents and teachers

Class Size

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