Research often shows that learning does not begin and end in the classroom. Parent involvement is extremely important to early literacy and future academic achievement. 

“PARP stands for Parents As Reading Partners,” said Raina Silver, Chairperson of PARP.  At Coman Hill, the entire school read the same book that was chosen by the PTSA in collaboration with Principal, Mrs. MaryBeth Crupi.  Parent volunteers visited each classroom to read the book, facilitated a guided discussion, and conducted activities planned around the theme of the book. “The goal was to choose a book that aligned with age-appropriate, school-wide objectives,” Mrs. Silver said.

This year the book was The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill.  “It tackled the issue of bullying and friendship while providing a positive lesson of choosing kindness.  This book helped our students learn about regulating emotions and the basic act of being kind to one another,” Mrs. Crupi said.  It also reinforced Coman Hill initiatives like Kelso’s Choice, The Buddy Bench, and the District-wide goal for emotional wellness.

Students listened intently as PTSA parent volunteers from each class read the book in their child’s classroom.  During discussion time, every grade had something to offer and students participated eagerly in all of the activities. For example, kindergarten students were asked to draw their favorite character from the story by using their imagination.

“This year’s topic focused on friendship and how to be a good friend. I think PARP was a good way for parents to have that dialogue with their children,” said Mrs. Silver.

The students were buzzing with enthusiasm as they spoke of the book and its important themes.  “The children absolutely loved PARP,” said Mrs. Crupi.  “This is just one example of how the PTSA helps support us academically, emotionally, and socially.  We are so grateful for their assistance in creating the home/school relationship for the betterment of our children.”
 

Twenty Byram Hills High School seniors were honored for their academic achievement as they were inducted into the Cum Laude Society during a ceremony on Thursday, October 24, 2019.

Byram Hills High School Principal, Mr. Christopher Walsh, pointed out the importance of the event for three main reasons.  He said, “First, it allows us to focus on and celebrate these students whose GPA are within the top 10% of their class.  Next, we get to honor faculty members who are being inducted into Cum Laude and gain inspiration from their remarks. Finally, inductees have invited teachers who have had a positive impact on their learning and this tradition represents the best of Byram Hills.”

Mr. Walsh continued by sharing that the class of 2020 was special to him because they were incoming freshmen the year he started as Byram Hills High School principal.  The first time he met with them that year, he asked them to write down on index cards something special about themselves.  Mr. Walsh salvaged the inductees’ index cards and read their responses to the audience.  Along with their academic growth over the years, the cards demonstrated tremendous growth in the inductees’ character, personalities, and identities.  
The faculty addresses were given by high school math teacher, Mr. Chris Lewick and Social Studies Chairperson, Ms. Jen Laden, who were inducted into the Cum Laude Society during last year’s ceremony.

Mr. Lewick delivered his address in the form of an audience participation song with an impactful message - Create your own opportunities, never set limits and enlist all the people you can in your life.

Ms. Laden offered the following advice, “My wish for the honorees is that you can experience learning opportunities that help you to develop empathy and that you never lose the desire to engage with others.”

Dr. Sandra Abt, Chapter President of the Byram Hills Cum Laude Society, said, “Perspective will help you become happier, more successful and more self-fulfilled. Try new things and don’t judge in advance.”  Dr. Abt closed by saying, “Your future lies before you - make the most of it.”

The two 2019 staff inductees were English teacher, Ms. Lisa Squadron and Byram Hills Superintendent, Dr. Jen Lamia.

The students inducted into Cum Laude were: Samuel Aberman, Christina Ferrari, Victoria Ganeles, Benjamin Hammond, Madison Higgins, Kallie Hoffman, Sarah Ilany, Spencer Karp, Caroline Kelly, Alison Lehman, Elena Lowe, Ella Manners, Meredith Mayers, Isabelle Nelson, Dominic Picca, Arielle Ragals, Bryan Roden, Allison Stillman, Reese Tateo and Michael Vaquero.

The Cum Laude Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1907 to recognize scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Today it has over 350 chapters.
 

“Project ME grew out of the idea that we wanted to celebrate the accomplishments and growth of all students at the end of the school year,” said H.C. Crittenden Middle School Principal, Ms. Kim Lapple.  “We were striving to acknowledge students’ individual growth in addition to the traditional achievement-based model.”

This plan was centered on the collaboration with Challenge Success, an organization that works to help foster learners who are healthy, motivated, and better prepared for adult life.  Ms. Lapple and her staff knew they aspired to integrate the concept of ‘growth over grades’ and honor all students.  

The year-long search of how to define student success was set in motion.  There were many discussions with the HCC faculty who looked at various prototypes before determining the most beneficial one for their student community.  Project ME  transpired after thoughtful research and consideration from stakeholders.  The project’s goal is to build and foster a community where personal growth and self-reflection are foundational values.

“Project ME benefited from a vision that came from professional development that some of our HCC teachers were engaged in,” said Ms. Lapple.  “Members of our faculty participated in a year-long workshop experience that centered on the work learned at High Tech High (HTH).  The HTH concept began in a single high school in California and has grown to include a network of schools where students pursue their passions through project-based learning.”  

As teachers were developing their own units, they were inspired by the impact of HTH and wanted their students to have an empowering middle school experience.  Their vision propelled Project ME to be an innovative way to culminate the year.  They felt the components of this project would go hand in hand with their mission while complimenting the District initiative of emotional wellness.

Project ME focuses on the idea of becoming an active learner.  The goal is to allow students to explore what active learning means to them. As a result, students will be more present in their own learning, make their own decisions and then reflect upon their decisions. 

The process will begin with each student identifying a behavior, disposition or mindset that they feel is necessary to become a more active learner.  To aid in this work, there will be monthly meetings where students will be placed in squads, consisting of small student groups of mixed grade levels, and a faculty facilitator who will share and support each other through their work.

“Last year, in our Voice Circles, students expressed a desire for more opportunities to interact with other grades.  Project ME honors this feedback, said ” Mr. Angelo Ancona, H.C.Crittenden Middle School’s Assistant Principal.

Students will track their personal progress throughout the year and document their advancements in a digital portfolio.   They will also collect and retain artifacts as evidence during the process.  “At the end of the year, Project ME will be shared through the student’s digital portfolio and the ‘Presentation of Learning’ about their growth through time,” Ms. Lapple said.  Students will present to their squad and other audience members which helps to build confidence and strong communication skills.

“Students will reflect on their successes and struggles and celebrate their hard work and accomplishments.  They will also be asked to consider other ways they can grow into the next school year,” said Ms. Lapple. Through the exploration of Project ME, HCC students will have a better understanding of themselves both personally and academically.  This is a very positive way to end the school year.
 

On Thursday, October 17th,  Byram Hills High School held its first Community Book Read.  In an effort to make the student experience more positive, the District has worked closely with Challenge Success, an organization that collaborates with schools with an emphasis on student wellness and engagement.  During a spring workshop, other districts mentioned the success of holding community book clubs.  A popular read at other schools was, Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be - An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni.  The Challenge Success Steering Committee thought that it would be the perfect book for the Byram Hills community.     

“The book choice dovetailed nicely with several of our district-wide initiatives,” said Greg Quirolo, Byram Hills High School Guidance Counselor.  “Our work with Challenge Success supports activities that allow our students, parents, and staff to reflect on how we engage our students in the most comprehensive and healthy college exploration experience.”  

The format of a book club discussion was new for many participants. “This is the first book club that I have had time to attend,” said Byram Hills High School Principal, Mr. Christopher Walsh.  “I liked reading this book knowing we would be discussing it and debating back and forth.”  Some members of The Challenge Success Steering Committee, an organized group of parents, teachers, administrators and students, helped guide the discussion by choosing relevant quotes from the book to explore.  The attendees were responsive, engaged and enthusiastic as they shared stories and asked pertinent questions.

“This is an important topic in our community,” Mr. Walsh continued.  “It is not a one size fits all in the college admissions process.  This book expands the realm of possibilities for our students and makes the process transparent.”

The theme of the book ties into the work of Challenge Success quite closely. When collaborating with BHHS, Challenge Success hit on three relevant areas that could improve the overall student experience.  The first opportunity lies in examining the community expectations around the college admissions process.  The raised awareness and conjecture about colleges is embedded in a student’s DNA from an early age.  The second opportunity aims at tackling the pressures caused by curricula that the faculty do not control, such as advanced placement classes and Regents exams.  The third opportunity addresses the dynamics related to the new pressures students face due to social media and changes to communication.  Although the book focuses only on the college admissions process the other two points are closely connected in the Byram Hills community.

Debra Goldman, member of the Challenge Success Steering Committee and parent in the community said, “The book was an important reminder of what is truly important about the college search and application process - helping parents and students realize how flawed the system is and reminding us that what is most important about a healthy and successful college experience, goes so much beyond the name of the school they choose.”

The evening was filled with lively conversation and many different points of view. Mr. Quirolo said,  “My biggest takeaway was a greater appreciation for the diversity of opinion that exists among different stakeholder groups in our community.  In addition, the book and follow-up discussion affirmed my opinion that student-centeredness drives our District's mission.”

There were many highlights of the book and the evening but as Mr. Walsh reminded the group, “There is no set formula and no equation for 100% certainty that students will get into the school of their choice.”  

Maybe students need to look at their approach differently?  The Guidance Department is introducing a new idea this year by presenting a different school once a month to expose students to colleges and universities they may not be familiar with but could potentially fit their needs.  This might help expand the often narrow list of schools that Byram Hills students apply to. 

The audience was left with a great deal to think about after an evening of enlightening dialogue.  “It was such a pleasure to have an open and thoughtful book discussion with other parents and with our BHHS faculty and administration.  Such a rare opportunity to hear so many different perspectives in one room,” Mrs. Goldman said.  “We all shared our collective frustration with this process, but most importantly, it is clear how each stakeholder shares the same goal - the happiness and well-being of our kids!”

The intent is to continue book clubs in the future and to choose challenging, thought-provoking books that generate curiosity and conversation.  “I am always interested to find out what people are reading and learning about books that help us as a community,” Mr. Walsh said.  

Please join the next Community Book Read on January 23rd at 6:00 pm in the Byram Hills High School Library.  The book is Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.  
 

Zach has always had an affinity for technology and making ideas come to life.  He developed an app for HCC students when he was in Grade 7 called “Day to Day Homework,” which compiled homework by teams and made it available to all students who uploaded the free app.  “The feeling that people were using my app and benefiting from it felt amazing,” Zach said.

The app received 400 downloads over two years, at a time when apps were not as prevalent as they are today.  The praise he received from then HCC Principal, Dr. Powderly, gave him the confidence to continue looking for ways to help others, through coding and app design.

Upon arrival at the high school, Zach began working with Ms. Marna Weiss, his Web Design teacher, on a new idea that would help the entire student body.  That idea evolved over time into the My Bobcat app.  Zach loved working on the technical aspects of the app and sought the help of others for the layout and practical components.  “When people asked for a specific feature, I always tried my best to give it to them,” Zach said.

The app launched on May 10, 2017, and was an immediate success with over 1,128 downloads.  My Bobcat can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Ansh Arvati, a Byram Hills freshman said, “The My Bobcat app is an amazing tool that I rely on every day. Whether it's writing my homework down, checking my GPA or most importantly seeing when my next class begins, I depend on My Bobcat."

“Given almost every student at BHHS has this app, Zach really created a window for us to showcase student programming at Byram Hills. Students can enjoy innovative content created by their peers,” said Brian Melso, Byram Hills District Communication Strategist.

Zach has received a tremendous amount of support from BHHS Principal, Mr. Walsh, and the high school administration.  They have My Bobcat running on monitors outside the main office and in the cafeteria.  “The My Bobcat app is a perfect example of the types of authentic assessments we value,” said Mr. Walsh.  “It demonstrates his understanding of the topic while having a positive impact on the community.”  Students and faculty use it as a resource and some parents have even installed it on their phones.

Zach always has multiple projects in the pipeline.  Currently, he is working on a new addition to My Bobcat, which is geared toward helping freshmen better understand their schedules. He said, “When I’m passionate about something, it becomes my complete focus.”