The Inside Press

Teens Show How to Have Fun While Social Distancing

May 7, 2020 by The Inside Press

Mount Kisco, NY–Hoping to make a difference during COVID-19 quarantine and concerned their peers were getting antsy to get out and socialize, Northern Westchester Hospital’s (NWH) President’s Junior Leadership Council (PJLC) produced a video encouraging teens to social distance and have fun at the same time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0-9yp54HZU .

The video stars students at high schools throughout Northern Westchester– enjoying at home activities that include dancing, painting, playing basketball and cooking.

“We’re hoping to motivate teenagers to find interesting and enjoyable activities they can do in quarantine,” says 15-year-old Byram Hills High School sophomore Sydney Levy. “Ultimately, staying home is the answer to ending the spread of this pandemic, and it is important to physically distance whenever it is necessary to leave home.”

If you want to be cool, follow one simple rule: Stay home, the video begins. It concludes by saying, We know everyone is feeling FOMO from COVID-19 and ends with students, each in their home, holding a word to collectively spell out The Shorter It Will Be Is Up To You And Me.

“Physical distancing contributes to the safety of the community and the health and wellbeing of the doctors, nurses and staff at Northern Westchester Hospital,” says 17-year old Sacred Heart junior Madison Mezzatesta, “We hope our video inspires others in the community to find things that they love doing at home to make the most of this difficult experience.”

PJLC is currently working on more COVID 19 videos, in an effort to create a series of inspirational messages for teens.

The NWH PJLC is a leadership organization that helps high school students in northern Westchester connect to their community; promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of adolescents and young adults; and engages them on issues that matter to them and affects their lives. Its members include 50 high school students from communities served by the hospital: Chappaqua, Armonk, Yorktown, Byram Hills, North Salem, Bedford, Katonah-Lewisboro, Somers and Pleasantville.

NWH relies on the PJLC to help hospital administrators understand issues facing teens and adolescents, and the students provide input on health-related educational programming that the hospital offers at local schools. Each year, students from the PJLC identify a major health concern within their peer group and develop creative, relatable ways in which educators can inform students, parents, and the community.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital

The Byram Hills Virtual Choir Stands Together

May 6, 2020 by The Inside Press

Byram Hills District choral teachers met with the Director of Fine Arts, Mr. Deepak Marwah, on ways to connect with the community through music during the pandemic. “Students had recently performed in the District Choral Festival with great spirit and success, therefore, we decided to coordinate a similar all-inclusive choral virtual performance,” said Mr. Marwah.

The student response was overwhelmingly high. Fifth-grader Brett Kaplan said, “This project was special to me because it felt like we were all together again, singing the song that everyone loved and practiced for so long.”

The project was compiled and edited by Brian Melso of the District’s Media Center and featured 44 individual videos submitted by students that delivered an inspiring and timely message.

“We chose the song ‘Stand Together’ by Jim Papoulis for its message of unity,” said Dana Celestino, Wampus chorus teacher.

“We had no idea it would become an anthem for our community during COVID-19,” said Jonah Piali, Byram Hills High School Choir Director. “The text expresses the powerful belief that when we are united together with one voice, our potential for greatness is stronger than when we stand alone.”

High school senior Alex Dempsey shared, “Being able to sing about the power of community and togetherness, while also being present with my own community, helped me feel optimistic.”

“Nothing feeds the soul like the joy of making music,” said Kate Smith, H.C. Crittenden chorus teacher. “We continue to find ways to support one another to make beautiful music, and look forward to the days when we can be together again.”

Links to Video:

Youtube Link

Facebook Post

Chappaqua Kids’ Band Virtually Records Cover of Home Sweet Home

April 17, 2020 by The Inside Press

Seven Bridges students’ effort intended to encourage people to #stayhomesweethome

Chappaqua middle school students accept the challenge! They answered their district’s call to pursue a Passion Project during the shelter in place spring break and launched a music video to encourage people to get inspired by music and to #stayhomesweethome

For months the four members of Alien Paradox had been preparing for their school’s March talent show. As outgoing 8th graders it was going to be their final act and they had prepared a three-song setlist. Sadly, the Seven Bridges Middle School show was cancelled due to the shutdown of New York schools from the rapid spread of Covid-19.

The band members of Alien Paradox decided that physical distancing could not stop their love of performing together. They answered their school districts call to pursue a Passion Project during the shelter in place spring break and virtually recorded a cover of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home.”

Post-production video and sound engineering by Ollie Baccay using software (Adobe) provided by their district.

The band hopes to encourage people to get inspired by music during these challenging times and to stay safe during the ongoing pandemic, to #stayhomesweethome

The musicians of Alien Paradox are Ciela Elliott (lead singer), Ollie Baccay (guitar), Jayden Holmes (drums), and Finn Franks (piano & bass guitar).

HHREC Student Contest In Progress during April which is Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month

April 15, 2020 by The Inside Press

The 20th Century is often referred to as the “Century of Genocide.” Unfortunately, this trend has continued into the 21st Century. Many of these genocides either began in April or include significant events which occurred in April.

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) would like students to raise awareness about these genocides and remember those who were lost as a result of “man’s inhumanity to man.” To this end, we are sponsoring a special student contest.

Student Contest:

Create an original project in visual arts, poetry, music, or other media of artistic expression that commemorates some aspect of a genocide which has occurred in the 20th or 21st centuries. Examples include the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the Cambodian Genocide, the Bosnian Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, the Genocide in Darfur, and many others.

Deadline for submission of projects: April 30, 2020. Projects, with the simple information sheet, need to be submitted by email to Julie Scallero, Co-Director of Education at jscallero@hhrecny.org

All projects will be evaluated by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center’s Co-Directors of Education, Steve Goldberg and Julie Scallero.

We will select 3 winners (one for grades 7 and 8, one for grades 9 and 10, one for grades 11 and 12) who will receive a certificate and will have their projects announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

Additionally, we will make a donation, on the winners’ behalf, to the AFYA Foundation, whose mission is to improve global health by rescuing surplus medical supplies and delivering them to underserved health systems around the world. Not only is this organization working to provide medical supplies during the COVID-19 crisis, they were a past keynote presenter at our Human Rights Institute for High School Student Leaders.

We look forward to viewing your submissions and hope you stay well during these uncertain times.

Questions:
Email Julie Scallero jscallero@hhrecny.org
Steve Goldberg sgoldberg@hhrecny.org

Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month Student Contest
Name _________________________________________________ Grade ___________

Email address __________________________________________
School________________________________________________
Social Studies teacher ___________________________________
Project Title ____________________________________________

Brief Description of Project (4 or 5 sentences)

A Chorus of Here Comes the Sun Greets Discharged Patients Recovered from COVID-19 at Northern Westchester Hospital

April 11, 2020 by The Inside Press

With little good news these days, Northern Westchester Hospital Nurse Manager Carley Dowd came up with a way to celebrate every victory against COVID-19.

Now, whenever a COVID patient is discharged, speakers play the chorus of The Beatles’ Here Comes The Sun throughout the hospital

This YouTube video shows hospital staff lining the hallway and applauding as Westchester resident Rita Rooney, age 88, is being discharged after a 14-day hospitalization for COVID-19.

“During these dark days, it lifts our spirits to celebrate when a COVID patient is well enough to go home,” says Dowd. “This is a tough time for health care workers on the front lines of the pandemic, so every victory is sweet.”

Since NWH started “Code Sun” this week, the response has been so positive that other hospitals in the Northwell System have instituted the program.

News courtesy of Northern Westchester Hospital.

About Northern Westchester Hospital

Northern Westchester Hospital (NWH), a member of Northwell Health, provides quality, patient-centered care that is close to home through a unique combination of medical expertise, leading-edge technology, and a commitment to humanity. Over 650 highly-skilled physicians, state-of-the-art technology and professional staff of caregivers are all in place to ensure that you and your family receive treatment in a caring, respectful and nurturing environment. NWH has established extensive internal quality measurements that surpass the standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) National Hospital Quality Measures. Our high-quality standards help to ensure that the treatment you receive at NWH is among the best in the nation. For more information, please visit www.nwhc.net and connect with us on Facebook.

About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23 hospitals, about 750 outpatient facilities and more than 13,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 70,000 employees – 16,000-plus nurses and 4,000 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Graduate Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.