2020 National Blue Ribbon School
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THE OFFICIAL BYRAM HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT MAGAZINE FALL 2020 | VOL 58, NUMBER 1 SPECTRUM A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE 2020 National Blue Ribbon School 2020 BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL NAMED BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL VIEWSONIC OPTIMIZES HYBRID LEARNING GLOBAL SCHOLARS STUDENTS TAKE ACTION CREATING COMMUNITY AT COMAN HILL INVESTIGATIONS AT WAMPUS ELEMENTARY H.C. CRITTENDEN FINDS THE SILVER LININGS NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS AT BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL BYRAM HILLS NURSES ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR SCHOOLS THE BYRAM HILLS MEDIA CENTER ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY INSIDE FALL INDUCTION CEREMONIES WELCOME PETE PAULIKS DIRECTOR OF FINE ARTS THIS PUBLICATION IS PART OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATION, FOUNDED 1961 FOUNDED COMMUNICATION, TO COMMITMENT CONTINUED OF EDUCATION’S OF THE BOARD IS PART THIS PUBLICATION PAGE 2 | BYRAM HILLS SPECTRUM BYRAM HILLS HIGH SCHOOL NAMED BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL Byram Hills High School was recognized nationally as a 2020 Blue Ribbon School. This award was based on student achievement and Byram Hills’ commitment to education. Byram Hills is one of nine public high schools in New York State to receive this award in the “Exemplary High Performing” category. The United States Secretary of Education recognized 367 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2020. VIEWSONIC The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families, and communities OPTIMIZES HYBRID LEARNING in creating safe and welcoming schools Dr. Andrew Taylor, Director of Technology and Professional Development, where students master challenging introduced teachers and staff to the ViewSonic platform, a technological system and engaging content. Now in its 38th established to help with synchronous and blended learning throughout the District. year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools The technology enables teachers to develop interactive lessons with students in Program has bestowed almost 10,000 the room, in another room, or at home (for secondary students). awards to more than 9,000 schools. “There was a need for a ‘command center’ where a teacher could reach students remotely from their homes or down the hall,” said Dr. Taylor. “ViewSonic “Byram Hills High School is so incorporates a document camera and a laptop to provide a productive teaching successful because of the alignment environment.” The set-up becomes an interactive display, so students can follow between the expectations of the along on their computer screens and listen to real-time audio. They can see community, the professionalism of the everything in the classroom, hear what their teacher and classmates say, and faculty, and the engagement of the actively participate and collaborate from different locations. students,” said Byram Hills Principal Mr. Christopher Walsh. “This is a “I have found the ViewSonic to be extremely helpful with my management of tremendous honor.” the hybrid synchronous teaching model, said Steve Borneman, Byram Hills High School science teacher. “It allows me to see my students at home and in class National Blue Ribbon Schools are and simultaneously engage in a lesson.” In chemistry classrooms, cameras can be honored at an annual awards ceremony pointed downward, directly into beakers and test tubes, providing incredibly close views of experiments. “In one class, the camera showed that when baking soda where each school receives a plaque and vinegar combine, bonds are broken, and new bonds are formed,” said and a flag to signify its admirable Mr. Borneman. “This was apparent in the visible carbon dioxide which created a status. The flag gracing a school white bubbling foam that all students viewed up close, thanks to ViewSonic.” entry or flying overhead is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary The Technology Department trained teachers to become proficient with this teaching and learning. These schools new technology tool. It allows elementary teachers to maximize their time with serve as examples for other schools students. Teachers can facilitate art projects, read poems, and even solve math throughout the nation, and details problems all from a desktop in one room, while students in a different classroom of their achievements are shared on participate concurrently. the U.S. Department of Education’s website. “Using a Google Meet and ViewSonic, we can observe the students in another room while manipulating the digital presentation in real-time,” said Mary Beth Devery, Coman Hill kindergarten teacher. “Through Wonders lessons, we can read The 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools interactive stories, use the drawing tools to highlight, circle, or find words, and Awards Ceremony was held virtually on model letter formations.” The system can simply display their daily schedule or November 12th and 13th. play a video so the integrated class can view and respond to the material together. Article continued on page 8. FALL 2020 | PAGE 3 GLOBAL SCHOLARS developed social media campaigns to STUDENTS TAKE ACTION raise awareness about their issue. The Global Scholars Program is a three- They were required to conduct research, year interdisciplinary course that focuses interview stakeholders, collect data, on global awareness, critical thinking, identify problem areas, and develop a and leadership skills for the 21st century. realistic action plan. Each year centers around project-based learning with relevant topics drawn Student groups wrote emails, made from the United Nations Sustainable calls, and scheduled appointments Development Goals. Students develop for interviews with various local global competency skills and work organizations. “This was one of the best Skyler Silverstein, Class of 2021. toward understanding growth mindsets, elements of the process,” said Mr. Duane Skylar Silverstein, Byram Hills senior, dispositions, and design thinking skills by Smith, Byram Hills English Chair. “Rather focused on the increase of current investigating the world and taking action than viewing their teachers as the sole adolescent mental health issues. “The through research and authentic tasks. purveyors of knowledge, the students most important thing I learned was how used interviews to learn from various to be flexible and professional while The requirements to enter the program individuals in the field.” working virtually,” expressed Skylar. are an interest in global issues, a desire She is currently creating activities and to engage in authentic learning, and One successful outcome of the project workshops about youth mental health a willingness to take action to make came from a student group that created and socialization. a difference. Year 1 of the program a public service announcement video focuses on an introduction to the most targeting an immigrant community in significant issues facing our world today Mount Kisco. The five group members including poverty, human rights, and the collaborated with the Advanced Via environment. This seminar-style class, Individual Determination (AVID) class taught by an interdisciplinary team at Fox Lane High School to identify of teachers, helps students recognize and reach out to trusted community multiple perspectives on both local and members. Neighbors Link, an global issues, and helps develop skills organization that provides services and needed to take action. education for the immigrant community, Alexa Tusiani, Class of 2021. helped make the decision to produce the During Year 2, students continue to video in Spanish with English subtitles to Alexa Tusiani, Byram Hills senior, chose expand their global understanding effectively reach their intended market. the topic of how factory farming impacts through group and independent projects various systems within our society and and develop an individual learning plan government. “Many people are not to investigate a global issue of their aware that this system involves raising choosing. Through the utilization of livestock under harsh and confining design thinking, they cultivate empathy, conditions or the negative stigma conduct in-depth research, and take surrounding becoming vegan,” said Alexa. action to address their chosen universal “I wanted to change that perception challenge. and demonstrate the many positive aspects of a plant-based lifestyle.” Alexa The 2019-2020 school year included learned the importance of researching Census PSA Global Scholars students: three projects for Year 2 students. The Lindsey Noel, Dylan Green, Nick Varsemes, various perspectives of an issue, and how first was to study Hurricane Dorian’s Andrew Zimmerman, & Max Berman valuable it is to listen to others. effect on the Bahamas and was used primarily to practice empathy interviews. “What I got most out of this project was “Seniors explore their leadership abilities “Although students could not conduct how impactful design thinking can be. and hone their skills using the leadership interviews themselves, they viewed This is a fool-proof way to be successful,” practices of Kouzes and Posner as a interviews conducted by others. They said Lindsey Noel, a Global Scholars framework,” said Ms. Melissa Stahl, began to understand that if you want to student. “I will take these skills with me World Languages Chair. “Year 3 students help people, you first must learn from through the rest of my education and into culminate the year by synthesizing all of the people you are looking to help,” the workforce.” their learned mindsets, design thinking, said Ms. Jen Laden, Byram Hills Social and leadership skills and develop a global Studies