The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Amelia’s Classified 9th Grade Survival Guide Tips for Freshman Year at Greeley

by

By Amelia Abemayor

The past year has taught me so much about life. The scared and shy girl that began Horace Greeley High School last fall has evolved into a mature, confident, and outgoing young adult. My freshman experience was not like the movie “Mean Girls,” but was both one of the hardest and most enjoyable times of my life.

Going from middle school’s “big kids” to high school’s “babies” is a big leap during one summer. Here are 12 tips I’ve learned throughout these 180 freshman days:

1. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!!!

It’s obvious, but important. Even if you think you know the material, review and do practice questions. Flashcards and study guides are great ideas, and websites such as www.regentsprep.org offer great practice for many subjects.

2. DON’T BREAK YOUR BACK!

Most Greeley students do not use their lockers; the campus is simply too big. Get a sturdy backpack with two straps or a comfortable messenger bag to carry those books and supplies. And don’t overbuy; your backpack shouldn’t weigh more then you do!

3. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT COLLEGE!

Yes, I know high school is when grades start to “count,” but don’t get too caught up in one bad grade. Try your hardest, do your best, and things will work out! Strive for improvement, think positive and trust me; you WILL find a college that suits you when the time comes. Do not compare your grades to others’; you are your own person!

4. TALK TO UPPERCLASSMEN!

We are just so intimidating, but finding a nice upperclassman will help you learn the ropes. They can assist with everything from finding a classroom, choosing electives or tutoring you in math. And it’s even better if they can drive!

5. USE YOUR TIME WISELY!

Greeley students have at least one free period each day of the six day cycle. If you have two “frees” on a given day, use the time to get a jump on homework. The library has tables and cubicles where you can get a lot of work done. It’s fun to socialize with friends occasionally, but two hours of homework at night is far preferable to five!

6. DO NOT LOOK FOR “I” BUILDING OR THE POOL

You are, without question, absolutely guaranteed to get lost.

7. RISE AND SHINE!

You thought middle school started early? Greeley starts at

7:45 a.m., so be on time! Unless you enjoy sitting in traffic, you’ll have to leave your house by 7:15 (bus or car). Your parents will not enjoy the emails they receive if you’re late every morning. And get enough sleep; desks do not make comfortable pillows!

8. CHECK BLACKBOARD

What even IS Blackboard, you’re wondering? Blackboard is a website used by many teachers to post information about classes, tests, homework, and even classroom notes. As not every teacher uses it, use the agenda distributed in the fall or a personal organizer to record homework and test dates.

9. NEVER PUT OFF UNTIL TOMORROW . . .

As exciting as those status updates are, Facebook will not help you figure out why a=b. You will regret procrastinating when you can barely pick up your pencil at 2 a.m. when you are still trying to complete work.

10. DON’T SKIP CLASSES!

Global Studies lectures can be thrilling, but are also when useful information for tests and upcoming assignments may be given out, so stay for the entire class. A cut slip will also guarantee you detention after school, which you’d prefer to avoid!

11. FOLLOW THE SIGNS!

A personal GPS is not necessary to get around Greeley! It may be difficult to find your way around at first, but you will get the hang of it quickly by actually looking at the strategically placed signs. This advice is for parents, too; it would be quite embarrassing to be found wandering the Greeley halls the morning after Open School Night!

12. JUST HAVE A GREAT TIME!

High school is a blast, and if you make the right decisions it can be a great experience. Be open to the new people you will meet, and you’ll make new friends. And you might even learn a thing or two!

So welcome HGHS class of 2015! Best of luck with your first year of high school!

Amelia Abemayor is now a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School, having survived freshman year intact.

Beyond Our World: Chappaqua’s Extensive Reading Community

by

By Rachel Schelling

Have you ever wanted to escape from this world into another? Have you ever wanted to solve mysteries, seek adventures, take on the bad guys? Reading is a way to do all these things and more. Each novel is its own reality, with its own rules and its own extraordinary aspect.

Reading has been around since the invention of cuneiform in ancient Mesopotamia, and possibly even earlier. The first book, The Tales of Genji by Lady Murasaki, marked a turning point that changed the world, as the number of books exponentially multiplied to the vast expanse we have today. If you find comfort, relaxation, joy, or any other reason you could possibly have for reading, there is a book out there for you. Besides all the genres from which to choose, we now have the choice between electronic books or real paper, ink and binding books.

What are people reading?

This is a difficult question, similar to asking what flavor of ice cream people are eating. There are simply too many choices, too many answers. Everyone has a different personality and therefore different book preferences. There are travelers who simply need short and sweet novels to get them through grueling plane rides. There is the avid crossword puzzle enthusiast who loves to solve a mystery. There is the stay at home mom who is passionate about historical fiction. Joy can be found in a plethora of places for any reader–that’s the beauty of reading.

Chappaqua Librarian Rebecca Rogan offered insight on today’s most popular genres: mystery is widely enjoyed, and is just one popular genre that is granted its own section in the Chappaqua Library. Certain age groups seem to gravitate towards particular genres, such as romance novels; mystery and science fiction can capture the imaginations of members of all generations. However, there are “renegades” in any group, age or otherwise, making it virtually impossible to pick just a few books to represent everyone’s choices.

To E-Read or Not to E-Read?

What we read on has become a 21st century choice. Besides our choices in novels, we can choose to read an electronic book or a paper book. E-readers are smaller, easier to carry and travel with, can hold thousands of books, and may offer more choices such as language, font size, and font type. However, many hard-core readers complain that e-readers lack a “real book” feel; reading simply isn’t the same when you press buttons instead of turning pages, and curling up with a Nook, iPad or Kindle doesn’t have the same feel as curling up with a paperback. It is also virtually impossible to share a beloved book with a friend.

Electronic readers, however, are becoming increasingly popular, especially with the younger generation and travelers. Some book lovers fear that electronic books may someday replace paper books. Ms. Rogan believes that online books won’t take away from real books, but will simply be an addition to the books already out there and the one that have yet to come. The most important thing is that people keep reading, in any and all forms.

Reading continues to be a huge part of our culture. No matter how many genres, forms and authors exist, there will always be a book for each and every person. So go, grab a book (or e-reader!), and prepare to get lost in a whole new and different world.

Rachel Schelling is now a sophomore at Horace Greeley High School.

The New York Times top fiction novels of 2010:

Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen
The New Yorker Stories, by Ann Beattie
Room, by Emma Donoghue
Selected Stories, by William Trevor
A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan.

New York Times top nonfiction:

Apollo’s Angels: A History of Ballet, by Jennifer Homans
Cleopatra: A Life, by Stacy Schiff
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee,
Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) With Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, ­Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes, by Stephen Sondheim
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

Chappaqua Happenings

by

Walk for Food Allergy with Chappakids 4 A Cure!

The 2011 FAAN Westchester Walk for Food Allergy will be held on Saturday, October 1st  10 a.m. at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle.  Join the Chappakids 4 A Cure Team!  Last year, this group ranked as the number one fundraising team of all the FAAN Walks across the nation and are hoping to keep their title.  If you register to join before September 1st, you will be entered to win a 50%-off coupon for a Random Farms Kids Theater workshop, or a Sportime U.S.A gift card. Visit the “Chappakids 4 A Cure”  page at www.foodallergywalk.org/goto/chappaqakids to register and donate!

ECAD Fundraiser

ECAD’s (Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities) second annual friend and fundraising event will be held at the Peter Cadoux designed waterfront home of the Ronald J. McLeod family on Byram Shore Road in Greenwich.  Jeanne McLeod McNaney and her husband, Joseph, are life-long residents of Greenwich and  strong supporters of ECAD. Guests will be treated to a Barbeque Dinner by Outdoor Cookers, live music by TJay, comedic emceeing by Andrew Kennedy, dancing, and a fabulous silent auction, all on the decks overlooking the sound. DHBT is presented by Dale and Lu Picard, Co-founders of ECAD which has its main facility in Dobbs Ferry. Honorees are the seven educators who brought the ECADemy© Program (where at-risk youth are taught to educate future Service Dogs) to the campuses of five alternative schools in Westchester. Tickets are $200 each. Saturday, September 24, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Call 914-693-0600, ext.1950, visit www.ecad1.org.

Temple Beth El  to Screen “Race to Nowhere”

Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester will screen the award-winning documentary, Race to Nowhere on Sunday, September 18, in the temple’s new Social Hall. The movie, by Vicki Abeles, focuses on high-pressure school cultures prevalent in high-achieving school systems.

The event is being sponsored by the Interfaith Alliance on Youth Issues, a group that represents a wide range of synagogues, churches and mosques in northern Westchester.

A panel discussion to follow will probe questions such as: Can our faith guide us towards redefining the meaning of success? How can our spiritual beliefs and religious teachings help parents and children regain balance in their lives?  How can we utilize spirituality as well as religious teachings and values to help us cope with these issues?

The panel discussion will be moderated by Rabbi Geoffrey A. Mitelman of Temple Beth El. Panelists will include Dr. Lyn McKay, Chappaqua Superintendent of Schools and Pastor Paul Alcorn of Bedford Presbyterian Church. For more info, visit www.bethelnw.org.

Great Chappaqua Bake Sale

The 2nd Annual Great Chappaqua Bake Sale on October 1st from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at 1 South Greeley Avenue will help fight the national childhood hunger crisis. Last year’s sale raised almost $6,000 and was one of Share Our Strength’s Top Ten national fundraising teams. Share Our Strength supports a “No Kid Hungry” initiative to end childhood hunger by 2015. Last year, over five million meals were served in “affluent” Westchester County–50% to children, according to the Westchester Coalition for the Hungry and the Homeless. More than 17 million children in America are at risk of hunger. These children have trouble learning, get sick more often and can’t grow, develop and learn like other children. All proceeds fund programs in New York State that feed hungry children. Just $25 can feed one child three healthy meals every day for a month. For more info, call Allison Spiegel, 917-693-3407 or email thegreatchappaquabakesale@yahoo.com

Table Tennis Tournament

The Westchester Table Tennis Center, in Pleasantville, will hold the 1st Westchester Middle-/High-School Table Tennis Championship on Saturday, September 24. Kids will compete in four categories by age: 12 years and under, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18. The entry fee is $20 and is due by Sept. 22.

The newly opened Westchester Table Tennis Center at 175 Tompkins Ave is owned by Pleasantville resident Will Shortz, the crossword editor of the New York Times, and managed by Robert Roberts, three-time table tennis champion of the Caribbean. The center has 18 tables, more than 13,000 square feet, a high ceiling, and a relaxing atmosphere. Paddles and balls are provided. It is open seven days a week, starting at 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. on Sunday. A day pass costs $10 for adults, $7 for kids. Annual memberships are available. Lessons are given for a fee. A room with 3,500+ square feet may be rented for parties involving ping-pong and other recreation.

For more information, visit www.westchestertabletennis.com or call 914-741-0738.