Dear Eastchester Schools Community,

The Eastchester Union Free School District is in the process of transitioning to increased in-person learning for students. We are happy to provide you with this link to our website with specific information about our plan to provide more in-person learning. Please know that an important survey is included in the information.

You are also invited to attend the remaining virtual information sessions where you may ask questions about the plan.

*Wednesday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m

*Thursday, March 4 at 6:00 p.m.

Thank you for your continued support as we move together through this transition.

Sincerely,

Dr. Robert Glass,

Anne Hutchinson fourth and fifth graders discovered how both technology and fine arts can inspire each other to create art. Art teacher Gina D'Orazio and Technology teacher David O’Neil collaborated on an interdisciplinary unit to show students how they can utilize both avenues to demonstrate creativity.

Students learned about the work of pop artist Takashi Murakami who designs a very stylized flower that appears on Louis Vuitton bags. The students then created a piece of their own art with Murakami’s influence by drawing and coloring flowers on paper. They used colored pencils, markers and crayons.

In their technology class, the students used a computer program called Tinkercad to make the flower. Tinkercad is a computer-aided design program (CAD). They looked at angles, combined shapes and repeated the design utilizing math skills throughout the process.

“Is it easier to draw or work on the computer?” asked D'Orazio.

Students agreed that both techniques are valid means to create art; some enjoyed working on the computer more while others were drawn to paper and pencil.

“On the computer, I cannot touch it with my hands,” said fifth grader Yukari Sugawara. Her classmate Mariella Petrillo commented, “The computer is more precise, and I feel I am better at the computer than drawing.”

O'Neil used the CAD designs to produce 3D prints of the flowers for each class.

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., teachers at the Waverly School read books to students about the slain civil rights leader and the students also read some of the books at home.

Nicole Ullrich’s kindergarten class focused on the book “Martin’s Big Words” and discussed various “big” words – words that express important concepts – to promote inclusivity, equality, and kindness. These words included kind, love, freedom, peace, equal and respectful.

Students then chose the word they felt was “the biggest” and wrote how acting on the word allows them to live in peace and harmony. They also described an action that they could perform to show that they use those big words in their everyday lives.

“The ultimate focus of the lesson was to remind the students that we all may look different, but we are all unique and all special and should treat each other with respect,” said Ullrich.

When Eastchester High School teacher Alexandra Bloshenko enrolled in an Astronomy class to deepen her knowledge, she never dreamed her efforts would lead to a year-long research project and that her work would appear in an international publication.

“I consider it my personal responsibility to become as informed as possible to do the most good for the students I serve. My philosophy is to present information as an expert in the field, and I wanted my students to see that they are students beyond the classroom as much as they are students within it. When they leave high school, there is more out there, and they can keep learning and growing.”

Bloshenko’s work entitled “Health Threat from Cosmic Radiation During Manned Missions to Mars” is available on the web and can be cited in the Proceedings of Science Journal, but will be officially released after it is presented at the International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC) in July of this year.

Bloshenko teaches Earth Science, Biology and Ethics in Science and said she has always tried to remain current with global scientific developments. She also hoped her students would connect with the topic or want to read about it.

Her work focused on reducing astronauts’ exposure to radiation traveling to and living on Mars. Bloshenko worked closely with Luis Anchordoqui, an astrophysicist who teaches at Lehman College in the Bronx, utilizing NASA data.

During her research, she reflected on her days as a student in the Eastchester Union Free School District, even back to elementary school, and how skills and thought processes develop.

“Diving in, investigating and understanding more, gives my students and me the opportunity to explore a topic for the sake of creating change and thinking at a higher level rather than just learning about it. Students do not see themselves as researchers, although they are, in many ways. I plan to speak about my experience to help them make those connections.”

Eastchester Middle School students have the power to spread kindness throughout their school and the community at large.

School Counselor Anne Schmitt explained how during a recent TLC lesson; Schmitt told students to look within themselves and practice self-care. She suggested that they should ask themselves the questions: Am I getting enough sleep, exercise and healthy foods? Do I find ways to relax and recharge my mind? How positive are my friendships and relationships?

Once this self-assessment was complete, Schmitt asked her students to look outside of themselves, think about being kind to others and act on these feelings.

Middle School students sent virtual Kindness Grams to a friend or peer. Last year, students sent physical notes to brighten someone’s day.

“Especially now, we can all take a moment and do something kind for another person. A small gesture can go a long way for someone who is a friend or someone we don’t even know,” said Schmitt.

When sending a Kindness Gram, students write positive and encouraging statements to each other. “It makes your day, and you feel happy. You want to reciprocate,” noted seventh grader Sam Lauriello.

The final piece to this lesson is reaching out beyond the Middle School walls. Students sent cards and letters to nursing homes and children’s hospitals.

Alex Benveniste said, “I think maybe it will lift their spirits and they will get better faster and get back home.”

The Eastchester School Foundation would like to thank everyone who participated in the Harlem Wizards virtual WizFit Challenge. Your generosity raised funds to support teacher grants in the Eastchester Union Free School District.