City School District of New Rochelle

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NRHS Wins Spot
In News 12
School Spirit Showdown
Purple Pride came through!

New Rochelle High School is one of the four winners in News 12's School Spirit Showdown. Reporter Nikita Ramos from News 12 visited the school today - a Purple Pride Friday - to talk with students about why they are proud of their school.

The segment will run on the cable station on Monday.
News 12's Nikita Ramos talks with New Rochelle High School students.
ALMS Math Night
Adds Up to Fun
Albert Leonard Middle School students found the math in basketball, color-mixing techniques and politics recently in the second annual Family Math Night last week.

Through games and activities, teachers, volunteers and others at the Oct. 17 event showed the students and parents from about 50 families the real-world applications of numbers.

"It was a beautiful event that showed how families can engage with children in a fun way outside of the classroom to enhance mathematical achievement in school and support a strong math culture at home," said Mathematics Chairperson Xiomara Gonzalez.

The event was organized by Kay Khusial and Omer Uzun, who lead the ALMS PTA STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Committee. They use a program designed by National PTA and Mathnasium. 

ALMS Coach Don Ross used basketball statistics to answer questions about game strategy. Khusial hosted an activity measuring and mixing colored fluids.

Volunteers from New Rochelle High School - seniors Maddie Bamberger and Eva Winston from the AP Government class and Math Honor Society member Anabelle Phillips, also a senior - taught students about gerrymandering political districts and how the process affects elections.

"It was exciting to see young kids understanding a complicated topic through the game I created," Bamberger said. "I learned a lot and so did they."

In all, several NRHS volunteers helped out, all from the school's chapter of the National Honor Society and the Math Honor Society.

In other activities:
  • Mathnasium hosted several games.
  • Jem Games designed a math game called Bullseye for young students. 
  • National Scholastic Chess Foundation moderated chess games.
  • Uzun designed an activity making a mosaic image using Rubik's Cubes.
"We are grateful to our ALMS PTA STEAM Committee for their hard-work and effort to coordinate our second annual Math Night," said ALMS Principal John Barnes. "The event came together thanks to a village of supporters, including the ALMS PTA, New Rochelle High School faculty and students, our local community members, ALMS faculty and the ALMS Student Council. There was something for everyone who attended, and it was a lot of fun."
Hello, Geico!
Columbus Iguana Has a New Name
Say hello to Geico!

Remember the iguana that Columbus Elementary School received as a gift from Board of Education member Chris Daniello? Students have been caring for their reptilian pet for several weeks. They also took great care in choosing a name for him (and yes, they now know it's a him.)

This week, they held an election on what to call him. Geico was the winner. The final results:
  • Geico: 234
  • Spiderman: 145 votes
  • Lizzy: 145 votes
  • Iggy: 84 votes
  • Christopher: 78 votes
  • Greeny: 48 votes
  • Total Votes: 734
Now visitors will know how to address him when they see him in the terrarium in the school lobby.
Sports Schedule
For upcoming New Rochelle athletic competitions, check out  NewRochelleAthletics.org*

* This link connects to an outside website
Dates to Remember
Saturday, October 26:  ACT, 8 a.m.
 
Monday, October 28:  IEYMS Spirit Week Begins
 
Monday, October 28:  PTA Council Meeting, 7 p.m.
 
Tuesday, October 29:  Davis Picture Day
 
Tuesday, October 29:  Trinity Book Fair , through November 1 -- OKAY
 
Tuesday, October 29:  Board of Education Meeting, Boys and Girls Club - Remington Unit (Lincoln Attendance Zone), 7 p.m. (public portion.)
 
Wednesday, October 30:  Davis Picture Day

Wednesday, October 30: Trinity Book Fair
 
Wednesday, October 30:  Health & Safety Committee, Central Administration, Carew Room, 3 p.m.
 
Wednesday, October 30:  Planetarium Show, NRHS Planetarium, 7 p.m.
 
Thursday, October 31:  Rapid Dismissal
 
Thursday, October 31: Trinity Book Fair

Thursday, October 31:  Jefferson Halloween Parade, K-2
 
Thursday, October 31:  Davis Halloween Parade, 8:45 a.m.
 
Thursday, October 31:  Trinity Everybody Reads Breakfast, 9 a.m.
 
Thursday, October 31:  Trinity Halloween Parade, 9:30 a.m.
 
Thursday, October 31:  Webster Halloween Parade, 1:45 p.m.
 
Friday, November 1:  Columbus PTA Fundraiser Ends
 
Friday, November 1: Trinity Book Fair
 
Friday, November 1: Ward Spirit Day
 
Friday, November 1: Webster Read-a-Thon Fundraiser Begins
 
Saturday, November 2: SAT, 8 a.m.
The New Rochelle High School varsity football team at practice this week.
NRHS Athletes Triumph
On Field and Court
New Rochelle High School athletes have triumphed this season on the field, the court and the gridiron.

The NRHS Football Huguenots finished the regular season last Saturday, undefeated for the fourth time in the past five years. Two days earlier, the Girls Soccer team finished its season undefeated in its league, 8-0, with an overall record of 14-1-1.

The Girls Tennis team also won its league conference with an 8-0 record. (Overall record: 9-3.)
 
FOOTBALL
In the final game of the regular season, the Huguenots beat Spring Valley 44-19 at home. They will be at NRHS again when they face Arlington High School at NRHS at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday) in the first round of Section 1 playoffs.
The team was not resting on its accomplishments.

"We have to focus on the playoffs," said Huguenot Jessie Parson, a senior. "We have to stay focused."

Head Coach Lou DiRienzo agreed.

"No team enters the field expecting to lose," he said. "Everybody enters the field expecting to win."
 
GIRLS SOCCER
Girls Soccer Coach Francesco Notaristefano chalked up the team's performance to the players' cohesiveness.
The girls soccer team at practice.
"The three captains did a spectacular job this year, and the team as a whole came together as a family," he said. "It was clear from the start that they wanted to play hard, for each other and to represent their community."

The captains said the team members achieved success by working together.

"We're really close with each other," said captain Julia Zaccaria. "We really connected, and because of that, we were able to get as far as we did."

Having defeated Ursuline 1-0 last week in the final league game, the athletes were back on the field this week, practicing for the first round of sectionals. They are taking Port Chester at home, McKenna Field at NRHS, in a game that began at 5 p.m. today.
 
GIRLS TENNIS
The Girls Tennis team's journey to the league title ended with a classic nail-biter of a face-off. Taking on Suffern for the best of seven matches, they lost the first three - then won the final four.

"It was very exciting," Coach Michael Sgobbo said. "There was a real sense of accomplishment for everybody. The team really came together and the girls put in a lot of hard work."

In the first sectional tournament, they entered as the eleventh seed, and defeated sixth seed Fox Lane in the first round. In the second round, they lost to third seed Rye. Two players, Lucia Strack and Soleil Namunyola, qualified for the doubles tournament. They lost to Ursuline on Wednesday.
Isaac E. Young Middle School students serve birthday cake to United Hebrew residents.
IEYMS Monthly Celebration
At United Hebrew Turns 30
Every month, students from Isaac E. Young Middle School join a party at United Hebrew of New Rochelle to help the senior care center celebrate its residents' birthdays. The students hand out cake, dance the Chicken dance, the Macarena and the Limbo, and engage in arts and crafts activities.

Recently, that special relationship between IEYMS and United Hebrew marked an anniversary of its own, turning 30 years old.

"I have continued to bring students for the past thirty years, because I know the positive impact it has for the residents, the students and our community," said IEYMS teacher Martin White, who ushers the students to the nearby center.

The students enliven the party with a youthful touch, and they enjoy helping the residents have a good time.

"Every single time we come, they get smiles on their faces," said IEYMS seventh grader Daniela Vargas.

United Hebrew holds the party to celebrate all its residents whose birthdays fall in that month. In the October party, a performer sang standards from throughout the decades - "Fly Me to the Moon," "Let Me Call You Sweetheart," "I Saw Her Standing there" and more. Sure enough, the festivities took on a new life when the students entered in a conga line.

"It's very nice of them to come," said resident Anna DiPietro. "It cheers everybody up."

"Just by having that intergenerational activity, they light up," said Carrie Deppong, United Hebrew Director of Recreation. "It's just amazing."
Anthony Stirpe teaching in The International School of Azerbaijan.
Students in Azerbaijan 
Learn Filmmaking
From NRHS's Stirpe
Some 5,800 miles from New Rochelle, teacher Anthony Stirpe found a school full of children eager to learn about making movies with technological devices that can easily carry around.

The New Rochelle High School English teacher spent a whirlwind three days in the country of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, teaching students in the International School of Azerbaijan (TISA) and offering a workshop for teachers throughout the capital city of Baku.

They appreciated learning from a teacher who employs project-based learning with his classes.

"They are hungry for these types of experiences," Stirpe said. "Students who were disengaged and reluctant learners, were now invested and so into it in the way we approached the subject matter. Their teac hers saw passion in them that they hadn't seen before."

TISA had contacted Stirpe to invite him to teach his innovative movie-making projects after discovering them online. He left Oct. 16 and returned Monday after a 24-hour trek that included a stop in Istanbul.

"Anthony's visit was very special," said Dan Egorov, the IT Director at TISA, who first discovered Stirpe's work online. "It was amazing and incredible."

Stirpe gave a five-hour workshop to teachers and two four-hour workshops to students. Each student session included about 40 attendees. As part of the workshops, the teachers and students made short videos using cellphones and tablets.

Stirpe and the TISA staff anticipate continuing the relationship, perhaps video conferencing occasionally.

"It's one thing to create something and have your classmates or your teacher critique it," Egorov said. "How cool to be able to connect with students halfway around the globe to share you work with them!"

Edwards-Thomas
To Receive NAACP Award
Camille Edwards-Thomas, Assistant Principal of Albert Leonard Middle School, has been chosen to receive the New Rochelle NAACP's Education Award at the organization's Freedom Fund Awards Dinner Dance.

She will be among several awardees at the event, which will take place Nov. 3 at Mulino's at Lake Isle in Eastchester.

"We are very proud of Ms. Edwards-Thomas and we know that our students are lucky to have her advocating for and working with them," Board of Education President Amy Moselhi and incoming Superintendent Dr. Laura Feijóo said in a joint statement. "The District and Albert Leonard Middle School are enriched by her commitment to and passion for public education and access."