Year begins with new challenges for new principals at several local schools

PS 7

Renee Cloutier is starting her second year at the helm of the school with a community- building exercise.

At the end of September, PS 7 students and teachers will join together, paint-inhand, to transform the Kingsbridge Avenue school's front door into a mural of images that symbolize what PS 7 means to them. Then, joined by parents and families, the students will paint the school's main entrances - four doorways on Corlear Avenue and two doorways on Kingsbridge Avenue.

Parents are also invited to come to the school to speak with parent coordinator Birmania Rodriguez, who for the first time has her own office. She is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to answer parents' questions.

PS 24

After a 15-year tenure at PS 24, Principal Mark Levine left his post this summer to retire. He is succeeded by Philip Scharper, who graduated from the city Department of Education's Leadership Academy for training principals on May 31. Art education is a priority for the new principal, a former professional ballet dancer.

Mr. Scharper isn't the only new face on campus - PS 24 welcomes six new teachers this fall. Each has been assigned a buddy teacher for orientation to the school and a teacher mentor.

The Spuyten Duyvil school, on West 236th Street, is one of two schools in District 10 opening a new gifted and talented first-grade class with 28 students. The very competitive program will grow each year to include grades one through five.

The parent association continues to be very active this year, serving a breakfast for staff the first day back. The parents' group's annual candy sale will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 18. Boo Bash, a family Halloween party, is slated for Saturday, Oct. 27. The parents association has also planned a tribute night for former principal Mark Levine on Thursday, Oct. 11.

Other events on the calendar include Laps for Learning, a book fair and Springfest - a large carnival attracting more than 1,000 people.

"All in all this promises to be an exciting and learning-filled year at PS 24," Mr. Scharper said.

PS/MS 37

PS/MS 37 is yet another Riverdale- Kingsbridge area school to welcome new leadership. Ken Petriccione is a familiar face on campus and will take the helm this fall as principal.

Mr. Petriccione, a math coach at the school for five years, most recently served as assistant principal of grades three through five.

When asked how it felt to take the big chief's chair, the principal said, "I'm looking forward to it."

The students have several activities to look forward to, as well.

This year the West 230th Street school will start a new music outreach program for young children, thanks to funding secured by City Councilman Oliver Koppell. The councilman will visit the school in mid-September to officially announce the program.

Mr. Koppell launched the program in a number of local schools, and principals have stamped them a success.

This fall, the school will continue its annual Penny Harvest to benefit St. Luke's Hospital, and students will celebrate Hispanic heritage with educational and fun activities held from mid-September to mid- October.

Bronx New School, PS 51

PS 51 Principal Paul Smith said he's looking forward to his school's new learning support organization.

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein announced in March that all city public schools are required to join one of three types of school support organizations.

Mr. Smith chose Learning Support Organizations - the selection of more than half of public schools citywide - which is led and operated by four city Department of Education regional leaders who develop "packages" of support around specific themes.

Principal Smith chose the "Integrated Curriculum and Instruction" organization for his school, which will prepare students to enter a global economy. Judith Chin, former superintendent of Manhattan's Region 3, leads the organization.

"I have great respect for the work of Judith Chin and I'm looking forward to making our students global citizens," Mr. Smith said.

The Bronx New School also welcomes its first assistant principal, Scott Schneider, who will assist Mr. Smith in overseeing the school's instruction.

The focus of this year's curriculum will center on social studies.

The Robert J. Christen School, PS 81

PS 81 teachers will get an Ivy League boost this fall when they enroll in online courses at Harvard University. Thanks to the efforts of Assistant Principal Anne Curran, the teachers will delve into courses on differentiated instruction, social studies, data management and Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory.

The teachers will also collaborate with Columbia University's Teachers College to improve reading and writing at their Riverdale Avenue school.

For the students, this year there will be a lunchtime music club starting in the fall, thanks to funding by the parents association. Principal Melodie Mashel also announced that the school's lobby will be transformed into a reading room with $4,000 worth of books and magazines available for children who do not want to play outside during bad weather.

Much of the school's curriculum will be linked to social studies this year, including a new music appreciation class, taught by one of two new music teachers with the other teaching clarinet, flute and recorder.

The school's "cluster" classes - science and arts - will continue this fall with an additional "project-based learning" cluster. Linked with social studies, the project-based learning cluster will focus on theories from the George Lucas Foundation.

PS 81 also hired a new data coach, Rebecca Rodriguez, who will evaluate the school's data to monitor progress and develop strategies with teachers for continued progress.

The school's technology also got a boost, with new SMARTboards - interactive blackboards that are controlled with the click of a mouse.

The Sheila Mencher Van Cortlandt School, PS/MS 95

Serge Davis, the new principal at PS/ MS 95, will strive for student achievement his first year. The Haiti-native said he is "quite pleased" to have several successful after-school programs back at the Van Cortlandt Village school this fall.

DreamYard, sponsored by Councilman Oliver Koppell, integrates arts into everyday curriculum. The school's former principal, Elizabeth Lopez, was a champion of arts education and Mr. Davis would like to continue that tradition.

The Bronx-based DreamYard partners professional artists and teachers to teach kids to write and perform their own stories, promoting creative thinking and expression.

PS/MS 95 will also continue afterschool partnerships with Pace University as well as the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center's after-school program.

Mr. Davis said the school will create health awareness by partnering with Montefiore Medical Center.

But, as new principal, Mr. Davis' top priority is student achievement.

"We will definitely create opportunities for learning for parents and community at large," he said.

The David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141

This year the David A. Stein Riverdale/ Kingsbridge Academy, MS/HS 141, celebrates 50 years educating the neighborhood's youth. The school functioned as a junior high for more than four decades until the high school was added six years ago. To celebrate this milestone, the parents and teachers have established a joint committee and plan to coordinate activities to celebrate the anniversary throughout the year.

To start the second half of the century, the West 237th Street has a new leader.

Lori O'Mara replaced Daniella Phillips as principal of the school this summer. Ms. O'Mara already has a year of experience under her belt at MS/HS 141. During the 2006-2007 school year, she served as the achievement manager for the school's empowerment network, working with a small group of administrators at 11 schools to help students' progress.

Ms. O'Mara noted that the school will expand its guidance department this year. In addition to six guidance counselors, the school has added a new counselor specializing in middle school concerns. This frees up one counselor as a designated college advisor, something the community and parents specifically requested.

"We hope to be able to offer more personalized and specialized service in this area," Ms. O'Mara said.

The high school will expand its selection of advanced placement courses by offering world history, Spanish literature and English literature. New electives include computer programming, public speaking, genocide and genetics.

PS 207

Calls to Principal Maria Rosado were not returned.

The New School for Leadership and Journalism, MS 244

To prepare students for higher learning, the New School for Leadership and Journalism, MS 244, has named each classroom after a college. The administration office bears a Harvard banner on its door. Principal Dolores Peterson and her assistant principals attended the Ivy League school for a summer institute. In addition, MS 244 students will be known as "scholars."

A "college first" program will take sixth-graders on a tour of Yale and the continuation of Lehman College's GEAR UP program in the seventh-grade will prepare students for college as well.

The school's journalism program continues to grow. This year Jerald Hoover, sportswriter for the New York Knicks, will teach aspiring journalists the basics of sports writing three weeks each month.

The drama program will produce Seussical and West Side Story this year.

The school's junior cadet program continues to expand. Every morning, residents will hear a drum roll in the schoolyard at 8:15 a.m. and the march of the color guard.

Ms. Peterson said this year's focus will be "proficiency for all" including students, parents and teachers.

PS 310

As part of Schools Chancellor Joel Klein's science initiative, PS 310 is busy implementing a science curriculum for its third- and fourth-graders.

Last March, Mr. Klein announced the city Department of Education would invest $30 million in classroom materials and support for the first-ever core science curriculum for grades three, four and six.

The Kingsbridge Heights school is also celebrating the inaugural year of its new preschool program. The preschool will offer two half-day classes to neighborhood tots.

Elizabeth Cardona, assistant principal, will continue her role as acting principal this year. Former principal Judy George left her post in November 2006 due to illness. A new assistant principal, Michael Califano, has joined the ranks as well as "many new teachers."

In its second year as an empowerment school, PS 360 will focus its curriculum on vocabulary building. In teacher and professional development, PS 360 faculty will be trained on data assessment and analysis.

A new software application, Edusoft, will help the Kingsbridge Terrace school collect, analyze and act on student performance data to improve classroom instruction. Students can track their own progress at school as well as at home.

This will be the second year PS 360 will offer a pre-K program.

IN-Tech Academy, MS/HS 368

Every classroom at IN-Tech Academy, MS/HS 368, will be outfitted with a SMARTboard this school year, fulfilling the school's technology focus.

The interactive white boards are the gadget of choice for many local schools.

The touch-sensitive board connects a computer and digital projector to allow teachers to control computer applications and write notes in digital ink.

Principal Rose Fairweather-Clunie said she was excited for the new technology.

"It's the wave of the future," she said.

Ms. Clunie said this year she hopes to continue to develop the Tibbett Avenue school's relationship with software giant Microsoft.

This summer, 16 IN-Tech high schoolers competed in a six-week summer challenge sponsored by the software giant.

The career awareness program exposed students to the work environment at Microsoft's office and taught them to solve business problems. At the end of the program, the students presented their projects.

"The kids gained a lot of confidence," Ms. Clunie said. "They also benefit from being in a business setting like that all summer. It prepares them for the business world once they graduate."

This year, Ms. Clunie hopes the school will "become more sophisticated in how we look at [student] data."

After graduating its first class of seniors, Ms. Clunie said she is looking forward to a new "cohort" of seniors as the school enters its eighth year of existence.

Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy

Principal Rashid Davis declined to comment.

Bronx High School of Science

In alignment with its mission for college prep, the Bronx High School of Science is expanding its advanced placement program by offering more seats in AP classes and introducing a new AP music theory class.

For students seeking instruction beyond AP classes, Bronx Science will offer a college-level math course, linear algebra and differential equations, this year.

Through a new partnership with the Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership organization (LEAP), Bronx Science drama students will have a chance to write their own play and one will be picked to be produced on Broadway.

The school's numerous science labs, especially the nutrition lab, were revamped with new furniture and equipment.

Although the school's focus is science, arts education got a boost this year. Thanks to a generous alumni donation, a new digital music lab will open at the school this fall. Students will also enjoy new lockers, one for every student, installed this summer as a result of another alumni donation.

Every classroom will house a smartdesk, complete with a computer, document camera and projector to allow teachers and students to present multimedia.

The school's more than 700 juniors will benefit from a PSAT prep class, given after school until October when the test is administered. The test not only prepares students for the SAT but also determines recipients of National Merit Scholarships.

"Our end game is the college process," said Principal Valerie Reidy.

That's why Ms. Reidy more than doubled her staff of guidance counselors - from four to nine - to assist students in their college search.

Ms. Reidy said for parents to keep the October open house night on their calendars this fall.

Bronx School of Law and Finance

Coming on the heels of its first graduation, the Bronx School of Law and Finance, housed within John F. Kennedy High School, is "looking to build on successes in the past," said Principal Evan Schwartz.

Mr. Schwartz was happy to note that 95 percent of last year's graduating class moved onto college. Many of the school's upperclassmen interned at major finance and law firms in Manhattan this summer as well.

In July, two students presented at a National Academy Foundation conference in Washington, D.C. Speaking to hundreds of educators, the students discussed how their finance courses implement literacy. They mentioned two books their class read - The World is Flat and Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

Bronx Theatre High School

Talent abounds at the Bronx Theatre High School, which graduated its first class of seniors this spring (at Studio 54 appropriately).

"We're looking forward to another terrific year," said the school's principal, Debi Effinger.

Last week, the school invited incoming freshmen to the campus for a multiday orientation. Ms. Effinger said the junior class will produce two full plays this year - Shakepeare's Twelfth Night and Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men. The senior class will present their original ensemble work.

The 432-student school will offer two new courses this year - advanced placement American history and vocal music.

"We plan a busy year," Ms. Effinger said. "We're very excited."

Slated activities include a dance concert, vocal concert, fashion show and annual poetry slam.

Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Students at Fieldston lower school will enjoy a brand new library this school year, which is more than double the size of the old one. The new facility boasts new computers and windows overlooking gardens.

The private school is winding down its massive capital renovation project. Middle schoolers not only have a new principal, Luis Ottley, they will learn and study in a new building. Located between the upper and lower schools, the building features a vegetative roof open for teaching and research purposes. Each grade has its own floor with a central academic center for study and group work.

With the construction of the new building, Fieldston is seeking silver LEED certification, a top grade given to environmentally sound construction.

High schoolers will have a chance to take several new electives this fall including, A Life in Time: The Art and History of Biography; Advocacy for Social Justice: A Case Study Approach; and Seeking the Highest: a History of Fieldston. The last will explore the history of the school from its founding in 1878 and its place as a pioneer in progressive education.

Other summer construction on the campus brought a new center for the performing arts, with separate rooms for band rehearsal, a new recording studio, dance/theater classroom and costume shop. The school also built a new, twolevel dining room.

High School of American Studies at Lehman College

What's the newest thing about the High School for American Studies at Lehman College this fall?

"I'm not new anymore that's one thing," joked Principal Alessandro Weiss, who is starting his second year in the post.

The school graduated its first class of seniors this spring and had a very strong college acceptance rate, Mr. Weiss reported.

Students can choose from a variety of new course offerings this year including Shakespearean dramaturgy, advanced placement chemistry, comparative anatomy, forensic science and solar astronomy.

While the school offers a bevy of social studies electives, they will add courses in modern ethics, advanced art portfolio workshop and a film track - documentary film history, film-making and foreign film.

The 335-student school has also expanded its foreign language offerings. Classes in French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Greek, Russian and Spanish will be offered at Lehman College, allowing students to jump ahead on college credit.

Mr. Weiss said a tentative date of Wednesday, Oct. 10 has been set for the school's open house for students interested in enrolling next year.

Horace Mann School

Horace Mann School will continue long held traditions this year but a shuffling of faculty brings a sense of newness to the campus.

Late last school year, the school announced these appointments - Dr. David Schiller, head of the Upper Division; Dr. Eric Eilen, Upper Division dean of faculty; Dr. Susan Delanty, Upper Division dean of student life; Dr. Barbara Tischler, director of curriculum and professional development; and Wendy Steinthal, acting head of the Lower Division.

The total enrollment of 1,756 students at Horace Mann includes 131 students from the Riverdale community.

This year Horace Mann is once again hosting many events including the College Board AP Conference Workshop in March and the Kids for Kids Special Olympics in April.

The school's Book Day event, now in its 14th year, will take place on April 3, 2008. The school will read Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, the Book Day selection. Added to the calendar this year are two allschool chess tournaments scheduled for a Saturday in November and in April.

Theater productions including Aspects of Lear, Comedy of Errors and Damn Yankees have been announced and are already in rehearsal schedules.

A new slate of courses will be offered in the Upper Division including The Fat Lady Sings: The History of Opera, which is centered on four genres of opera as well as on renowned composers. The Upper Division Languages Department has extended the Intermediate Latin and Chinese programs.

Using a new Web site program, the Upper Division faculty now reports their grades and attendance through electronic communication.

Jonas Bronck Academy

A paint job is not the only thing new and fresh at Jonas Bronck Academy.

"The kids wanted color," said Principal Maria T. Esponda. "We got blue and misty lilac."

The students will also surf the net in style with new laptops, thanks to a $40,000 donation from Councilman Oliver Koppell. Mr. Koppell will also continue to support the school's music renaissance program, which funds a chorus and band.

Two new teachers will open their classroom doors this fall - Sarah Hunko, seventh- grade humanities and Debora Rivera, a collaborative team teacher and sixthgrade math and literacy coach.

Last spring the school opened a new library and media center which Ms. Esponda said is a great asset to the school, housed in Manhattan College.

The school will offer electives in chorus, art, journalism and technology.

"I'm really looking forward to this year," Ms. Esponda said, adding that she was "confident" the academy, seeking a new building, will find a new home soon.

"I know the DOE is looking for us and supporting us."

John F. Kennedy High School

When Principal Anthony Rotunno entered John F. Kennedy High School as principal five years ago, the eight-story building housed more than 5,100 students.

Under Mr. Rotunno's leadership and the formation of four separate in-house high schools, this year's enrollment tops out at around 2,500.

And that's just a start. Mr. Rotunno's goal is to cut that number to 1,600 students.

Futhermore, looking to offer a small school environment in large school surroundings, Mr. Rotunno divided each grade into a separate community last year, each with its own assistant principal and guidance counselors to follow the students for four years.

Last year, Kennedy earned a Career and Technical Education certificate, allowing them to offer four-year sequence courses in various technical arts - digital photography, digital music video production and computer repair. The school recruited qualified professionals to teach these courses, which will be available to this year's incoming freshmen. Ali Shama, the school's new assistant principal, will oversee the program.

Mr. Rotunno also noted the school's ever-advancing technology scene, saying that all data is electronic, and students can submit homework online in some classes. This year students will not only take home a yearbook but also a digital yearbook with photo slideshows.

Last year's students posted an attendance rate of 82 percent, no small feat according to Mr. Rotunno who is a "product of a large high school" as well.

"This school had a very bad reputation over the past couple of years," he said. "A lot of people have the perception this is an unsafe place and the kids are crazy and wild."

But, noting the decrease in enrollment and increase in student attendance and Regents passing rates, Mr. Rotunno added: "I'm very proud of what we've accomplished over the last five years."

"As we get smaller, our attendance and passing rate will increase dramatically," he said.

Kinneret Day School

This year second-graders at Kinneret Day School will play games, read books and make crafts with an assigned "grandparent" from the neighboring Riverdale Senior Center in the Century building.

The intergenerational program has been a success at the school, said assistant principal Mickey Krakowski, so they will continue the tradition this year.

"Often the children keep in touch with their grandparent," she said.

The school also plans to take kindergartners to pick apples this fall as well. But the little ones aren't the only Kinneret students with travel plans. The fifth-grade classes will camp in the Catskills for two nights in May, and the seventh-graders will take a traditional trip to Philadelphia.

A consultant from Australian United States Services in Education (A.U.S.S.I.E) will become an integral part of instruction this year, visiting weekly to coach the students in creative writing.

A resident from Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP) will visit the school to discuss conflict management with the older students.

The school will also introduce an afterschool chess program, which Ms. Krakowski predicted will be very popular.

But for September, the school will focus on important Jewish holidays.

"They are approaching fast and furious," Ms. Krakowski joked.

Marble Hill High School for International Studies

Iris Zucker, founder and principal of Marble Hill High School, announced her resignation from the post on Aug. 30. Ms. Zucker will serve as a leadership development facilitator for the New Visions for Public Schools organization and mentor six principals.

She will still remain active on the John F. Kennedy High School campus, where the International School is housed, by mentoring principals at her former school, the Bronx School of Law and Finance and Bronx Theatre High School.

A new principal has not been named. The school will continue its world language program and, in a partnership with Lehman College, students can take firstyear Chinese this year.

The school will continue its mandatory community service program for upperclassmen. To graduate, students must serve two hours a week.

Exchange students from Senegal and China will attend Marble Hill this fall, as part of the school's membership in the Transatlantic School Alliance.

Ms. Zucker also mentioned the school's project-based focus. Marble Hill students are expected to complete a minimum of 24 projects a year in their classes.

Marie Curie High School for Nursing, Medicine and Health Professions

Marie Curie, a public school in Kingsbridge Heights, is accepting enrollment for the next school year.

There are openings in the seventh and eighth grades, and several in the high school classes, too.

The Marie Curie School is a New Visions school that partners with the Mosholu Montefiore Community Center and the Lehman College nursing program. It offers a strong internship program, an after-school program and summer leadership program.

The school is located on the fifth floor of the former John Peter Tetard School, MS 143, at West 231st Street, off Sedgwick Avenue.

For more information, call 718-432- 6491 or visit the school.

Calls to Principal Rodney Fisher about the new school year were not returned.

Riverdale Country School

This fall marks the centennial anniversary for Riverdale Country School, founded in 1907. The school has been celebrating the event all year, and will conclude its festivities with a Homecoming/ Reunion/Founder's Day Weekend, the weekend of Friday, Sept. 28. Sunday, Sept. 30 marks the 100th anniversary of the school's first day of classes.

The Fieldston Road campus will enter its second century with a new headmaster, Dominic A.A. Randolph at the helm.

Sandy Shaller, head of the Lower School said his division is "excited to be adding assistant teachers to all of our second- grade classrooms this year."

"This will allow us to do more small group work and to give students in a primary skill grade more one-on-one attention," he added.

Head of Middle School Milton J. Sipp reported that the middle school is participating in the September Concert (www. septemberconcert.org), an international program run and founded by Veronica Kelly, wife of New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

This program is designed to remember the horrific events of Sept. 11 through music. Four alumni of the Riverdale school died in the terrorist attacks.

This summer the hilltop school hosted New Heights at Riverdale, a new program for disadvantaged middle school students that promotes academic, athletic and leadership growth. During the summer, about 40 seventh- and eighth-grade students spent five weeks on the Hill campus, familiarizing themselves with a rigorous high school environment.

The school plans to continue the partnership next summer.

St. Gabriel's School

St. Gabriel's School refurbished its library this summer. Students will find their favorite reads easier with custombuilt shelves and repainted walls.

The West 235th Street school will also welcome two new teachers. Corey Scagliola will teach fifth grade and Antonio D'Itri will head up the gym program.

In early fall, the school will prep for an evaluation by the Middle States Commission in hopes to receive accreditation.

Principal Deborah Pitula said a big focus of the year will be on creative writing. Grades one through eight will be writing personal narratives, biographies, poetry and persuasive essays all year.

The Home School Association has packed the calendar with fun activities this fall.

The annual back-to-school meeting and meet-the-teachers event will take place Wednesday, Sept. 12. Parents of children in grades five through eight will benefit from a high school information night held Wednesday, Sept. 19. A family game night is slated for Saturday, Sept. 22.

Ms Pitula said she is looking forward to the school's annual Irish night, on Friday, Sept. 28.

St. John's School

When St. John's School students return to school Sept. 6, two new teachers and a new librarian will greet them.

Jill Fontana and Gina Galatioto will teach grades five and six, respectively. Colleen Hayes will take over as librarian and art teacher. The parent teacher association will be led by two new women as well - Terri Colon and Maria Colon.

Parents will have a chance to meet the new faculty and greet other families at the Kingsbridge Avenue school's Back to School night, scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m.

Principal Ray Vitiello reported that the school's enrollment continues to be "very good" and the pre-K program is growing as well. Last year, the school placed 90 percent of its graduates in Catholic high schools, a number Mr. Vitiello is proud of.

He said, "We will continue teaching in the Catholic faith" this year.

St. Margaret of Cortona School

Sister Kathleen Marie Gerritse will lead St. Margaret of Cortona School as principal this year. Sister Dorothy DeYoung left her post to pursue teaching in Scarsdale, N.Y.

St. Margaret's introduced a new early childhood program for 3 and 4 year olds last year. The program was a success and will continue this year with the waiting list growing quickly.

Project LEAP, a program sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York, will provide a health counselor who will spend 10 weeks training students grades five to eight in areas of stress management, conflict resolution and the dangers of smoking and alcohol.

The program will run from September to November.

October will bring a walk-a-thon event, which will raise money for the school's technology program.

Curriculum-wise, Sister Gerritse will promote critical thinking, technology use and writing in all grades. She would also like to use the school's Web site as a way to connect with parents more.

Salanter Akiba of Riverdale Academy

This year marks the 60th anniversary since the creation of the state of Israel, and the Salanter Akiba Riverdale Academy will celebrate by connecting curriculum to the event.

As part of a fellowship program, SAR will bring six Israeli students to its campus to meet with students.

SAR Academy will also welcome a new music director, Naomi Katz Cohen, to its faculty this fall.

Ms. Cohen specializes in the Kodály method of teaching which combines reading literacy with music literacy. In addition to weekly music classes, Ms. Cohen will also lead two choirs at SAR Academy.

Principal Rabbi Binyamin Krauss said the school is also expanding its technology use, with half of the school classrooms equipped with SMARTboards. Thirteen new boards will be brought in and 20 teachers will be trained how to use the interactive white boards.

With help from the Gruss Foundation, a New York-based Jewish education initiative, SAR will introduce a math and science enrichment program to its middle schoolers.

After school, SAR will offer new clubs including aviation, choir and chess.

SAR kindergartners will learn chess one day a week.

Salanter Akiba of Riverdale High School

After graduating its first senior class last spring, Salanter Akiba of Riverdale High School is "moving out of the infancy stage," as Assistant Principal Rabbi Jonathan Kroll put it.

"This is the first year of a new cycle," he said. "We are in our second stage of growth."

Physical growth will continue with construction of a new auditorium adjacent to the Riverdale Avenue building.

Rabbi Kroll said the new building will boost the school's arts program. Currently drama productions are held in a shared space with the Riverdale YM-YWHA. Construction is expected to be completed by January 2008.

Seniors can choose to take a new science elective in forensics this year.

A large group of SAR students and faculty will run in the Susan G. Komen 5k Race for the Cure on Sunday, Sept. 9. The team was formed in honor of Sandra Rotter, mother of student Abby, who died from breast cancer when Abby was a child.

As of press time, SAR High School was among the top 10 highest fund raisers, raking in more than $19,000.

Visitation School

The Visitation School will enhance its art curriculum this year with two new art teachers. Technology also got a boost with the addition of 14 new flat-screen computers in the school's computer lab.

Eighth-grade math whizzes can enroll in the school's honors algebra class, which aims to have its students take the Regents math exam by the end of the school year.

Combining funds from an Archdiocese of New York grant and a parent association fund raiser, Visitation School installed a brand new lighting system in its auditorium this summer.

Enrollment remains stable, reported Sister Rosemarie Connell. The Cardinal Scholarship, provided by the Archdiocese, helps fund the enrollment of many Visitation students, which, Sister Connell said, is "a big plus."