On the performing arts side, Scarsdale students engage in instrumental music from third grade onward. “We have students who are in the band or orchestra all the way through, who are composing and who are youth leaders in music, even performing at places like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center,” illustrates Dr. Patrick. On the subject of visual arts, he remarks, “A real hallmark of our visual art program is they are among the most collaborative teachers I’ve ever encountered. We often have high school and elementary school collaborations. When the younger kids see those high schoolers, they just light up and are able to collaborate in a way that’s different from what they would do with a peer or with a teacher.” At the middle school level, a no-cut athletics program allows seventh and eighth graders to try out a new sport.“That’s what middle school is about,” Troy emphasizes.“They are trying out these different sports so that when they get to high school, they can hone their skills and be a part of some of the great things that are available.” This approach is mirrored in exploratory programs like art, music, and computer science, where students rotate through courses, establishing the experience to launch themselves into more focused pursuits later. Seventh Grade students also participate in an expressive communication class meant to hone public speaking skills.“They’re really learning those important skills of engaging with one another and with adults, through the written and spoken word. Those all are skills that we’re trying to foster, and they really come out in a lot of these different programs when they get to the high school and beyond,” Troy depicts. By high school, students can join Model UN, or Scarsdale’s acclaimed Speech and Debate program, competing at regional and national levels.“ There’s a really robust offering of extracurricular activities, even in the non athletic component, that certainly is supported by the Board of Education, but also through the commitment of our teachers to meeting students’ special interests outside of the classroom. It’s really remarkable the number of activities that we have for them,” Dr. Patrick touts. A FUTURE VISION Looking ahead, Dr. Patrick says one area of focus is artificial intelligence, and the district is working to understand AI’s implications for students and teachers, and how to best utilize it in the education experience.A“belonging survey” has been introduced to gain more knowledge of student needs and interactions, in support of student well being.Along 270 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 12
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