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JOURNAL Volume 6, Number 2 Spring/Summer 2004 Inside this issue: WISE 30-YEAR CELEBRATION— LINDA GREENE President’s Message 2 On January 10, 2004, Matthews, Andrew Court- pursuing a WISE project in WISE Services sponsored ney, Bruce Bozeman, and forensic science, pointed Graduate Voices 3 a celebration of West- the Brown family – Phyllis, out, this event was an in- chester’s pioneers in expe- Bill, Steven, David, Rich- spirational look into the Annual Conference Report 4 riential learning programs ard, and Gary, all of whom opportunities that an indi- for high school seniors have been instrumental in vidualized senior experi- from four high schools – the success of WISE at ence provides. Building WISE 5 Woodlands, Scarsdale, Woodlands and of WISE Ben Weintraub, a stu- Croton-Harmon and New Services, were honored. dent at Scarsdale High WISE Schools 6 Rochelle. At a gala dinner Almost 300 people School wrote in the Ma- at the Westchester Mar- braved the cold to attend roon, his school paper, that A WISE Family 7 riott, graduates, their par- this event. They dined, lis- “WISE serves as both an ents, mentors, and local tened to music performed opportunity for some stu- Did You Know? 8 business sponsors, joined by WISE graduates, dents to get a head start in together in an anniversary viewed a new WISE video, a possible career and as an celebration. Howard Rod- heard former students de- opportunity for students to stein, Head of the Scars- scribe the impact their pro- work in a field that inter- dale Alternative School, jects have had, and cele- ests them, but which they who helped found Senior brated the achievements of do not foresee themselves Options at Scarsdale High the honorees. Brinda Shah pursuing in the future. School, Toni Abramson noted in the Woodlands WISE and Senior Options student paper, are intended to allow stu- The Falcon, that dents to embrace opportu- for WISE gradu- nities which a standard ates, the night education would not allow. was a chance to Senior Options emphasizes renew friend- something that you may ships and to never do again, in any kind honor former of education.” Woodlands fac- The 30 Years Celebra- ulty members. tion was a very special eve- For current ning and one that will be WISE students, remembered by those who Brinda, who is attended for a very long time. Welcoming guests at the WISE 30-Year Celebration are (l-r): Vic Leviatin, WISE Services President; Brinda Shah and Regina Bediako, Woodlands High School seniors; Emily Mark, Nyack High School senior; and Dr. Linda Greene, WISE Services Executive Director Page 2 JOURNAL WISE Services BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Steven Brown, Chairman Victor Leviatin, President Eric Rothschild, V.P. one conversation for re- 6. Have fun! Use Andrew Courtney, Secretary cruitment, “icebreakers” as a way to Numa Rousseve, Treasurer 2. Recruit a broad Charles Knoblock introduce participants at Michael Mark cross-section of the junior the first meeting. Then Mary Ann Masarech class who may be inter- Elizabeth S. Pforzheimer use them judiciously as Hon. Harry Phillips, III ested in WISE. At the end you “read” your members’ Douglas M. Pravda, Esq. of their junior year, inter- moods. Douglas T. Schwarz, Esq. view every eleventh grader 7. Have an Agenda to determine their possible printed for every meet- ADVISORY BOARD interest in WISE and invite Lovely Billups ing. Focus the objectives of Mildred Brown, Ph.D these students and their the meeting for a specific Richard Brown parents to the last task time period, certain tasks, George Castellanos, Ph.D force meeting in the spring. Anita Cook-Gholston and stay within those pa- Amy Gerstein, Ph.D These guidelines are used Recruit additional parents rameters. Subcommittees Linda Darling Hammond,Ph.D at Rondout Valley High at a spring information Joseph Kaidanow of the Task Force should Eileen Kaufman, Esq. School, whose task force is meeting. Be sure to invite be given important but Sherry King, Ph.D among the most dynamic in all parents! manageable tasks (and not Olga Lara 3. Recruit a broad Ann Lieberman, Ph.D the country. We welcome be overwhelmed with “take Peter F. Mello suggestions from readers cross-section of students. home” responsibilities). for creative engagement of As always, use one-on-one 8. Inform community, STAFF/VOLUNTEERS task force members. recruitment talks and util- staff, and students with Linda K. Greene, Ed.D ize students to recruit fel- Executive Director great communication. Bill Brown The WISE Task Force low students. Provide written notices of Phyllis Brown provides a unique opportu- 4. Recruit educators Steven Cole, Ph.D dates of meetings or meet- Rena Frelow nity to bring together the who are interested in ing changes to all. Robert Frelow, Ph.D various “stakeholders” of Project-Based Learning. 9. Provide food and David Greene Identify those who are sup- Abby Hirsch the WISE “family”: com- drink. Divide the provi- Sarah Knower munity, staff, and students. portive and encourage sion of food and drink Andrew W. Lutz The Task Force makes pol- them to participate with the among the various subcom- Mary Mastro Task Force. Administrators Toni Abramson Matthews icy, creates positive pub- mittees of the task force on Sam Neisner licity, and develops com- and Guidance Counselors a monthly rotating basis. Ernest J. Piermarini, Ed.D who serve on the task force Lynne Silverman munity resources. Here are 10. Emphasize the posi- David Spidal, Ph.D some suggestions on how giving practical sugges- tive! Constantly praise to “nourish and nurture” tions for implementing your Task Force and ex- LEGAL COUNSEL your Task Force for years changes are better “inside press gratitude for their Bruce L. Bozeman, Esq. the tent” than “outside tak- Bozeman, Trott & Savage, LLP to come. efforts! 1. Recruit your personal ing pot shots.” 11. Promote consensus WISE JOURNAL and professional ac- 5. Establish a meeting by allowing all voices to EDITORIAL BOARD quaintances from the time that allows for active be heard. An “agreement Andrew Courtney community. Friends who community involvement. to disagree” can be pro- Charles Knoblock Even though the educators Mary Mastro may one day want their moted by using the phrase: Joe Mastro children to participate in and students may be able to “Can you live with it?” WISE are good choices. So meet after school, it is of- WISE Individualized Senior are the professional and ten difficult for community Experience, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) members. Try to have We mourn the loss of Valerie not–for-profit organization. crafts people in your com- Somersille, a founding member munity with whom you meetings in the evening or of WISE at Woodlands and a have a relationship. Engage schedule supper meetings. Board Member of WISE Ser- each person in a one-on- vices Volume 6, Number 2 Page 3 GRADUATE VOICES - by Jen Scibelli Jen Scibelli, New Rochelle Class of 1994, has recently be- The second part of the job required taking a five-day gun work as a chef at Blue Hill at Stone Barns. Blue Hill, trip into government protected land, very high up in the which opened on the 1st of May, 2004, is described by the Sierras, where I learned how to read topographical maps, New York Times as an “upmarket restaurant.” Classes at lay down transects for future research and of course, Stone Barns will focus on ecology and farming for local study the behavior of grazing cows that have very little schoolchildren as well as adults. Its goal is to show how contact with humans. The hiking was very difficult, the locally grown food can strengthen communities and how temperature at night (although it was May) dropped far small farms can be their foundation. Here is Jen’s Janu- below zero, and I even learned first hand what it is ary 2004 reflection on her WISE experience: like to have altitude sickness. We washed in the rivers, slept and woke according to the time table of the sun. I will never forget how I felt when I made it to the top of the highest mountain in the Sierras. It took all day, we hiked up as a vantage point for where we could find water to drink, and it was physically one of the hardest things I have ever done. Once on top, I stood there with my hands outstretched, surveyed the land, and cried not from sad- ness, but because I was indeed, the happiest person alive. This project greatly impacted my future choices in college, and in life. It was the most valuable thing I have ever done. At age 17, when most of us were floundering about what to study in college and why, I knew. I went to the University of Vermont (a choice made solely from my experiences during my WISE project) and was intrigued by animal behavior. I took classes that related directly to the research and study of wildlife and the outdoors, joined conservation groups, and found myself constantly reflect- ing on my WISE experience. After college, my love of My WISE experience was one of the most important cooking resurfaced, a love that was not known until I journeys I have undertaken thus far, both physically and started cooking for Deep Springs college, apprenticing mentally. I traveled to Deep Springs College in Nevada, with the fabulous chef of the wilderness, Jack. and worked through the National Forest Service to help I am now a line cook in an upscale restaurant in conduct high altitude studies of cows in the Sierra Moun- Manhattan. I attribute my career to my early days in Ne- tains.