Establishing benchmarks for music, determining essential skills for different levels of English, refining syllabi for Regents science courses and addressing the challenge of teaching ideas and not just assigning tasks. These are just some of the areas that Mamaroneck teachers are meeting about and working on, department chairs told the school board on Tuesday, May 19. This is the second year that chairs have provided formal reports.
Sharing is Standard
A common theme in the presentations was collaboration — between teachers at a given grade to assure consistency, across content areas, and from one grade to the next or even between buildings. Music teachers shadowed one another to improve teaching and visited other schools, while special education teachers focused on alignment of curriculum and transitions from one school to the next.
Liz Clain, the high school social studies chair, explained that teachers share regularly, in their common prep times, at lunch, and “even in the bathroom.” She and other chairs noted, however, that the opportunity to meet across a department during new 1½-hour faculty meetings has been invaluable.
Hommocks English teachers have been working with the literacy coach, also new this year, to develop writing curricula for middle school students. The “bottom up” approach they used has been employed by other departments, including the high school English department, which has been using electronic folders and other technology to share lessons and to address the sequencing of tasks for grades nine through twelve. This is all to assure that students are well prepared for college as well as for future jobs.
Technology is Typical
The use of technology was a common theme during the presentations. Teachers are using technology not only to share lessons and ideas, but also to enhance student learning. Document cameras facilitate middle school social studies lessons based on current political cartoons, while Smart Boards provide high school students the opportunity to work with interactive periodic tables and to do “virtual dissections.” Pod-casts and computer labs allow for interactive learning in multiple disciplines, and sophisticated graphing calculators allow math students to explore relationships between various three-dimensional shapes.
Technology itself sometimes drives goals, as in high school art classes, where teachers have had to learn – and then teach students – how to shift from 35 mm slides to digital portfolios to send student work to colleges.
Many chairs noted that the generosity of the Mamaroneck Schools Foundation funded the purchase of some of the technology described in the reports.
Board members expressed appreciation for the work presented. Trustee Nancy Pierson wondered how to get the word out to parents, who are concerned about teaching and curriculum but were noticeably absent from the meeting. The program was taped by LMC-TV.
Student Honors, Awards, Celebrations & More
The district announced the list of students initiated into the Honor Society for this year and also those who received special awards.
The annual MHS Celebration of the Arts on May 19 showcased all facets of the arts curriculum. Students came into the library during free periods and with their classes and were treated to an array of offerings including PACE improv, a poetry jam, numerous musical performances, and the Force’s percussion magic. The day also featured a special guest speaker: Victor Nelli, a Mamaroneck district parent who is the co-executive producer of the television show “Ugly Betty.”

photo by LInnet Tse
MHS sophomore Theo Bodor was honored for his diving. In the two years he has been on the varsity team, he has been undefeated in individual diving competition.
Jan Northrup of the Kemper Memorial Park Preservation Fund and Eileen Mason from LMC-TV presented the district with a video highlighting various activities at the high school’s Kemper Park.
Superintendent Paul Fried expressed appreciation for a new scholarship offered by community members in honor of the work of MHS Guidance Counselor Pete Williams. In addition, the three benefactors who have funded Small Treasures, the district’s program for children aged 0-3, have offered to fund the program for another year.
Dr. Fried also indicated that he is in touch regularly with the Westchester Department of Health to track swine flu information and recommendations.
Seth Weitzman, principal of the Hommocks Middle School, announced significant happenings this week for both of his assistant principals. Larry Keane, who is retiring effective July 1, has been elected to serve on the school board in Mahopac, where he lives, and Nora Mazzone has just been awarded her doctorate in instructional technology from PACE University.
MAMARONECK, NY 10543
NHS Inductee List for 2009 – 2010
The National Honor Society of Mamaroneck High School is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to those students who meet the required standards in four areas of evaluation: scholarship, leadership, service, and character.
Arike, Kristina Badner, Rebecca Bellin, Eric Benudis, David Chess, Rachel Chiappetta, Nina Clark, Taylor Clarke, Caroline Comerford, Sarah Cooney, Daniel Coretto, August Cuba, Julianne D’Alba, Kristin Davidowitz, Shanni De Carvalho, Simon Devane, Nicole Diacovo, Natalie Foster, Elisabeth Gaffney, Brendan Galan, Juan Gerkis, Catherine Gersh, Nicholas Girsky, Seth Goldenstein, Michael Gordon, Eri Gould, Zoe Gray, Maria Gross, Robert Hill, Christian Holiber, Max Jacobson, Zoe Jurish, Madelyn Karson, Samuel Katz, Adam Lewis, Mara Maller, Gregory |
Marr, Meghan Matz, Jake McEvily, Megan McMillan, Neil Miller, Elissa Miller, Jacob Miller, Jodi Millman, Robert Mistriel, Liana Neier, Alexander Panicker, Rahul Pawloff, Hunter Plaut, Caitlin Pomeranz, Michael Punnapuzha, Joseph Quinn, Justin Rauschkolb, Noah Rosenfeld, Michael Roth, Robert Rubinstein, Suzannah Sadowsky, Carly Saporito, Kevin Seife, William Siegel, Katy Silberbush, Victoria Silverman, Samuel Sobel, Louis Stuntz, Katherine Teboul, Natalie Troeger, Hugh Vanderpool, Joseph Weinberg, Adam Weitzman, Emily Wharton, Emily White, Marina Wilens, Allison Wrobel, Adam Yaverbaum, Cole Zell, Rebecca Zucker-Scharff, Ilana Zuckert, Benjamin |
Special Awards
Smith College Book Award – Rebecca Badner
University of Pennsylvania Book Award – Daniel Cooney
Yale University Westchester Alumni Book Award – Brendan Gaffney
Princeton Book Award – Simon DeCarvalho
Bryn Mawr College President’s Book Award – Elissa Miller
Wellesley College Book Award – Emily Wharton
Harvard-Radcliffe Book Award – Kristen D’Alba
George Washington University Book Award – Megan McEvily
Vassar College Book Award – David Benudis
Cornell University Alumni Book Award – Nicholas Gersh
Oberlin College Award – Emily Weitzman
Brown University Book Award – Zoe Gould
American Association of University Women – Lily Goodspeed
Mamaroneck Federation of School Secretaries’ Scholarship Award – Kayla Romanelli
Sogetsu Houka Study Group Scholarship – Lindsay Naughton
Garden Club of Mamaroneck – Benjamin Viagas
P.E.O. Scholarship – Elise Geithner
To the Top with Laptops – Victoria DeAndrea, Karina Pedraza, Diana Rogiero, Ana Ruano, and Sagirah Wheeler
Joseph Markowitz Award – Sagirah Wheeler
Certificate of Merit for Community Service from the office of Suzi Oppenheimer, State Senator – Jade Mandel
Peter Williams Scholarship – Ken Burr
New York State Comptroller Achievement Award – Peter Gelman
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition – Anna Reddicliffe
Town of Mamaroneck Police Benevolent Association – Patrick Joyce
Susan R. Norman Memorial Award – Natalie Rodriguez
Larry Armstrong Memorial Award – Michael Rubin
Daughters of the American Revolution, Larchmont/Mamaroneck
Chapter – Daniel Luzzi, Taraneh Moussapour, and Sagirth Wheeler
University Club of Larchmont – Andrew Katzenstein and Jennifer Fasman
The New York Lottery Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship – Jade Mandel
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. Award – Jennifer Fasman and Antonia Lloyd-Davies
Mamaroneck American Legion, Post 90 – Victoria DeAndrea, William Goodenough, Raymond Gualano, Daniel Luzzi, and Samantha Humphrey
Thomas DeLitto & Sons Scholarship – Raymond Gualano, Daniel Luzzi, Karina Pedraza, and Sagirah Wheeler
Knights of Columbus-Justice Martin King Scholarship – Antonia Lloyd-Davies
Department Awards
Mathematics Department
The John Genereux Award – Nikhil Kumar
AB Calculus Award – Lily Goodspeed, Matthew Kanterman, Andrea Plate, and Isobel Tanner
American Mathematics Competition 12 – Noah Rauschkolb
Honorable Mention to Zoe Jacobson, Ying Tang, and Adam Wrobel
American Mathematics Competition 10 – Troy Whittemore
MHS Math Team – Max Hinchcliffe and Joe Taafe
Ten County Mathematics Education Association Award – Diego Cabaleiro, Violeta Contraras, Irene Dambriunas, Melanie Halbout, and Samantha Stillman
World Language Department
Spanish AP Language and Literature Award – Carlos Chinchilla
Spanish AP Language Award – Carla Staffaroni
French AP Language Award – Andrew Katzenstein
ELL Award – Carmen Castaneda
Chinese Award – Jordan Gratch
Science Department
Bausch & Lomb Award – Natalie Diacovo
Ciba High School Science Award – Karly Wentz
Rensselaer Medal – Catherine Gerkis
George Washington High School Medal – William Seife
AP Biology Award – Audrey Lorberfeld and Yuni Sameshima
AP Chemistry Award – Daniel Crowe and Jacob Ward
AP Environmental Award – David Adler and Samantha DiBiccari
AP Physics B Award – William Seife
AP Physics C Award – Matthew Habig
Forensic Award – Carmela Ortiz and Samantha Stillman
Science Research Award – Jennifer Fasman, Sarah Henkind, Alex Mendez, Jack Miller, and Robert Towle
Interscholastic Athletics
William E. Warren Scholar/Athlete Award – Jennifer Fasman and Andrew Katzenstein
SEZ Fitness Awards – Christian Degenhardt, Elise Geithner, Sara Hess, Kenji Kaneshiro, Erika Romagnoli, and Christopher Tofalli
Art Department
Rhode Island School of Design Book Award – Tae Jun Park
The Elise M. Herz Ceramics Award – Dana Dotti
Home & Career Skills, Technology and Business Education Department
Photo 1 – Kaitlin Gerringer, Elaine Kung, and Josh Zoland
Photo 2 – Liz Foster and Melanie Keating
Advanced Photography – Lindsay Naughton and Adrienne Szamotula
Independent Studies in Photography – Melanie Halbout and Carly Kriss
Engineering – Stephane Moise and Kyle Rudge
Digital Photography – Justis La Manna and Dylan Rose
Introduction to Architecture – Bryan Cummings
Architecture 1 – Peter Fanelli
Architecture 2 – Ryan Gerspach
Digital Animation/Web Design – Aaron Bendich
Advanced Digital Animation/Web Design – Rebecca Gottfried
Fashion Design – Alessia DeFrancesco, Melissa Pizzol, and Marianna Rudelic
Family and Consumer Science – James Reddicliffe
American-European Cuisine – Sarah Scudder and Kayla Sherwood
Child and Adolescent Psychology – Shanni Davidowitz and Emily Silver
Social Studies Department
Thomas F. Rock Merit Award – Elise Geithner and Jade Mandel
Lorna Minor Award – Rebecca Zell
Columbia Book Award – Nicholas Gersh
Social Studies Award for Excellence in U.S. History and Government – Suzannah Rubinstein
Music Department
Joseph T. Downey Award – Dan Garfield and Sarah Hess
MHS Band Award – Andrea Plate and Dan Smith
MHS Band Director’s Award – Jeff Dobronyi and James Rohman
Carl Strommen Stage Band Award – Jeremy Forsyth
Orchestral Studies Award – Jocelyn Baumgarten, Julia Bilbao, William Carlyon,
Yuni Sameshima, Carla Staffaroni, Ying Tang, and Jonathan Williams
MHS Concert Choir Award – Sarah Colburn and Evan Thompson
MHS Choir Director’s Award – Erica Arace and Melissa Pierson
MHS In Treble Award – Nia Lugo, Christine Marsico, and Casey Moretti
Music Department Award – Kate Rainey
English Department
Margaret Reich Award – Elise Geithner
American Association of University Women Excellence in Writing – Williamena Granger
Sophomore Awards in English – Matt Conley, Eric Sadler, Oliver Shirley, and Alyssa Slater
Freshman Awards in English – Sarah Blunt, Lily Goldstein, Max Gersh, and Sarah Meister
PACE
Acting Awards – Billy Berger-Bailey and Zsuzska Beswick
Playwrighting Award – Madeline Hendricks
Theatre Classwork Awards – Rebecca Kitsis, Charlotte Gardiner, Joanna Lyons, and Charlotte Wiesenberg
NYSTEA (New York State Theatre Education Association) Award – Sara Stevens
Dance Performance Award – Katie Feller
Choreography Awards – Sarah Hadi and Jessica Madris
Music Classwork Award – Abby Brammer
Songwriting Award – Phoebe Hanley
Musical Theatre Award – William Carlyon
I have never seen students more deserving than this Special List! Take A Bow!!