First graders at Bronxville Elementary School have been using creativity, collaboration and technology to address common recess challenges. Through a partnership with The Picture House, they’ve been learning simple camera and video techniques to create their own engaging “How-To” videos, showcasing their problem-solving and storytelling skills. 

The project tied directly into the first grade curriculum as students have been exploring solutions to recess challenges in social studies and honing their writing skills by crafting how-to stories in writing. The lessons served as the foundation for the students’ videos on topics such as how to use the Peace Path and Buddy Bench, how to stay safe on the playground and safely use the swings, and how to Be3 (Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe). 

“After researching solutions to common recess problems, the students collaborated with the Picture House to bring their ideas to life,” first grade teacher Kathryn Westerheim said. “They planned, scripted and filmed their how-to videos.”

The project will culminate in a special screening at The Picture House, where all first graders will view their videos. In addition, the videos will serve as resources during the school’s Be3 assemblies. The experience allowed the students to see the impact of their work beyond the classroom. 

“The students created something that will go out into the world and educate others,” Westerheim said. “It is a way for them to see themselves as engaged citizens even at a young age.”

The enriching experience was made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Bronxville School Foundation. 

Bronxville High School orchestra students have stepped back in time to the Baroque era by performing music with Baroque bows. Under the guidance of their teacher Matthew Dell, the students are exploring Baroque performance style in a deeper and more meaningful way than they could with conventional bows. 

Traditionally, students practice Baroque music using modern bows and instruments, which differ significantly from those of the Baroque period. However, thanks to a generous grant from the Bronxville School Foundation, the students can deepen their understanding of the music and its context by learning how Baroque bows impact sound and technique.

“A number of small differences between conventional and Baroque bows add up to a different sound and feeling when playing,” Dell said. “Of all the differences, the single most impactful is the bow; Baroque bows are shorter and have different tension than modern bows. Playing with a Baroque bow changes the way a musician performs this music, leading to a deeper understanding of and connection with the composition and the composer.”

Over the next few months, the students – violinists, violists, cellists and bassists – will refine their techniques using exercises written during the Baroque era. They will rehearse “Hallelujah Chorus” from “Messiah” by George Frideric Handel, culminating in a performance with the high school chorus at the winter concert on Dec. 18. Additionally, a Baroque piece will be the focus piece of the spring orchestra concert on April 30. 

“Getting a set of Baroque bows for my students has been a dream of mine,” Dell said. “There is nothing like them, and I could see the students noticed the difference immediately. I hope the students will find a new enjoyment in performing Baroque music. Though it is old, it should not be stuffy, and the Baroque bows can help bring out the fun and excitement of Baroque music.”

By Mike Dimitri, Board Member Bronxville School Foundation  

The Bronxville School Foundation will accept nominations through February 3, 2025 to fill open positions on its Board of Directors for the upcoming year.  Candidates are village residents who would work with current board members to raise funds and support grants that will enhance educational programs in the Bronxville School district. Parents of current students and graduates, alumni, and community members without children are encouraged to express interest. The directors reflect a broad and diverse cross-section of the community.  

The Foundation was established as a nonprofit in 1991 by the Trustees of the  Bronxville School Board of Education, citizens in the community, and  supporters of the school who understood that raising private funds from school families and village residents to supplement the district’s budget was important to maintaining excellence at the Bronxville School. The Foundation’s Board of Directors consists of thirty people, including one member of the Board of  Education, the Superintendent of Schools, and the Vice President of the PTA.  

The primary role of the Foundation’s Nominating Committee is to identify  motivated, hard-working leaders for possible nomination to the Bronxville School Foundation. The Committee considers recommendations from within the board itself as well as from individuals who express interest through the Foundation office. To express your interest, propose candidates, or learn more about the Foundation, please contact Executive Director Helena McSherry at 914-395-0515 or via email at hmcsherry@bronxvilleschool.org. Written correspondence should be forwarded to Helena’s attention at The Bronxville School Foundation, 177 Pondfield Road, Bronxville, New York, 10708 and  include specific information about involvement in the community and the school. Other details regarding background or relevant experience should also be included.  

Additional information about the Bronxville School Foundation can be found at  www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org.

Photo: Bronxville School Foundation Board (September 2024), courtesy of Lisa Rao.

By Helena McSherry

Dec. 4, 2024: In its eighteenth year, turnout for the Katie Welling Memorial Run/Walk was truly extraordinary.

To view this year’s photo album and race time results, CLICK HERE.

This beloved Thanksgiving tradition, which honors the memory of Katie Welling from Bronxville High School’s Class of 2002, was held in person on Saturday, November 30 and offered a virtual option for out-of-towners. The event, which benefits the Bronxville School Foundation, drew over 400 participants and donors.

With the help of more than forty community volunteers, the event also honored Tom Welling, Katie’s dad who passed away in March 2022. Tom led the planning for Katie’s Run/Walk for fifteen years since its inception in 2007 and was a wonderful friend and asset to the Bronxville community.  

Despite the cold temperature, Bronxville residents, school families, current and former school staff, alumni, and many friends of the Welling family gathered together to honor Katie and Tom. Helen Welling, as well as Kurt and Thomas, Jr. and their families, were in attendance and welcomed runners and walkers at the front entrance of the Bronxville School. 

Mayor Mary Marvin and Jim Agnello, who retired last year after 26 years working as a guidance counselor at the school, shared opening remarks at the flagpole. Agnello,  who has been a great friend and supporter of the Welling family for many years, shared that as part of the school’s larger beautification project, a new tree has been planted in honor of Katie at the corner of Pondfield and Midland Roads, and the Foundation has installed a plaque at the base of the tree with the inscription ‘Katie’s Tree – Live, Laugh, Love.’ 

The Foundation’s Chairperson, Wendy Fahy, also spoke and expressed gratitude for the continued support of Bronxville’s school staff, alumni, community members, and town merchants. “Many generous merchants contributed to the event,” said Fahy. “We are grateful to Lange’s Deli, Park Place Bagels, Mrs. Morgan’s Flower Shop, and Tryforos & Pernice for donating refreshments and beautiful flowers for the event and to Bronxville’s Fleet Feet for lending their space to us for registration and bib pick-ups ahead of the in-person event.”

With assistance from the Bronxville Police Department, community volunteers lined the race route through the village, many with their children as helpers.  Jack Pasquale dressed up for the third year in a row to greet runners and walkers passing by.  Members of the Welling family and friends welcomed participants at the finish line, and Thomas Welling, Jr. handed out medals to the winners. Katie Ryan and Jaime Valdes, both Bronxville School alumni, finished with the best times.

The virtual option continued to allow friends from far and wide to participate even though they were not in Bronxville on Thanksgiving weekend. “Many friends come in person while others submit photos to show their virtual participation,” said Philippa Freeman, the Foundation’s Public Relations Chair.  “The Williams family was with us in spirit, sending photos from Cape Cod of a post-run polar plunge!” Beyond the Bronxville area, people from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. showed their support. 

This year, the Foundation invited all clubs and teams from the Bronxville School to participate, awarding a prize to the group with the largest participation rate.  Runners from Cross Country and Track as well as the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team had fantastic participation rates.  

Thanks to the support of the Bronxville community, Katie’s Run/Walk has generated over $300,000 since its inception.  Contributions to Katie’s Run allow the Foundation to fund grants for facilities improvements and equipment, faculty training, curriculum development, and specialized programs at the Bronxville School.

The event was established by Katie Welling’s many friends and her family to commemorate her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laugh, and love of life. Katie died in an off-campus fire at Miami University in Ohio in 2005. She had just turned 21.

For more information on Katie’s Run/Walk and to view this year’s photo album and race time results, CLICK HERE.

Special thanks to Vivek Shah and Carson Kochansky for their photography.

A group of motivated students from Bronxville High School are sharpening their coding skills through an interdisciplinary, project-based artificial intelligence course, taught virtually by graduates from Stanford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other prestigious universities. 

The students’ exploration into AI is supported through a generous grant from the Bronxville School Foundation, which funds an AI Scholars introductory course and the Deep Dive advanced course, and a one-on-one AI mentorship program for students who have completed the advanced track. 

Eleanor Fahy, a sophomore, expressed her enthusiasm for applying AI to her passion for science. 

“I want to do something in science, specifically in biology, and AI is so important,” Fahy said. “It’s going to be involved in every aspect of our lives. I’m really excited to learn and understand it more so I can apply it to my future.” 

In the introductory course, students delve into machine learning algorithms and techniques through an engaging, hands-on approach, eventually applying their knowledge in live coding labs. They will also develop valuable skills in Python, machine learning and artificial intelligence. As a culminating project, they will complete an instructor-led group project, where the students will use AI to solve problems in the discipline of their choice, putting their programming abilities to practical use. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a firm understanding of AI concepts, such as computer vision, natural language processing and neural networks. 

In the advanced course, the students engage with cutting-edge technical ideas through lectures and programming notebooks and discussions about ethical challenges in machine learning systems. The course also features workshops to help students design their own AI projects, and panel discussions from AI experts. As part of a multiweek final project, the students will apply innovative machine learning techniques to model real-world systems. Projects may include building a reinforced learning model for self-driving cars, preserving privacy in natural language processing models or using AI to detect skin cancer from photographs. 

Vincent D’Amato, a junior, said he is excited about applying AI to sports analytics. 

“AI interests me because it’s a new market, it’s untapped and it’s something that people could make a lot of innovations with,” D’Amato said.
 

From art creation to role-playing and collaborative activities, Bronxville Middle School educators are focused on helping sixth, seventh and eighth graders explore who they are, strengthen connections within their community and prepare for real-world challenges. As part of an enhanced middle school advisory curriculum, under the leadership of Julia Brogan, Alyssa Dioguardi, Connor Mitchell and Jennifer Zopp, the district has incorporated lessons on belonging, developing an inclusive school community and anti-bullying. 

During a recent eighth grade advisory activity, students created “Identity Art,” or a piece of artwork that showcased a part of their identity they wanted to share with others. In addition, they created social scenario role-plays that a typical eighth grade student would encounter.  

“By having students act out these scenarios, we created a way for them to come to life so that students have a firsthand experience with learning how to navigate these situations,” Mitchell said. “We also took the opportunity to overhaul the eighth grade portfolio building section to allow students the chance to showcase how their involvement in middle school connects to all aspects of the Bronxville Promise.”

The seventh grade advisory curriculum was updated to create an engaging and relevant learning experience for students that covered topics like the impact of texting and bullying through social media. In addition, educators incorporated more role-playing scenarios to encourage active student participation and real-world application. 

“We emphasized practical life skills, such as organizational techniques and effective group work,” Zopp said. “This included lessons on decluttering binders, working collaboratively in class, and developing effective study schedules for final exams.”

In their sixth grade advisory classes, students participated in a hands-on, interactive activity called “Common Thread,” during which the advisor would make a personal statement while holding a ball of yarn. Students who related raised their hand and the yarn was passed to them, creating a physical web as they held onto the thread. The goal of the activity was to highlight how shared experiences connect people, symbolizing the strength of community. The student enjoyed a visual representation of their connections and how the web showed the strong bond they share. It served as a discussion starter about the importance of unity. 

“Our community will become stronger when we connect and find common interests or stories,” Brogan said. “The group discussed how the web is symbolic of a community, what they learned about themselves and others, and how making connections makes a community stronger.”

The lessons were developed over the summer through a generous grant from the Bronxville School Foundation.

From hearts and a lighthouse to a book, paintbrush and trees, a new wall mural at Bronxville Elementary School serves as a dynamic reflection of student creativity. The colorful work of art, designed and painted by artist Bren Bataclan, was brought to life in one week while capturing the spirit of the Bronxville Promise. 

The process began with a series of school assemblies, where Bataclan taught students how to draw his signature characters. He invited them to explore their own creativity and draw designs based on themes like kindness, environmental care, global citizenship and creative thinking. The students filled pages with hearts, characters holding hands, flowers, globes, magnifying glasses, pencils, paintbrushes, lightbulbs and the beloved Bronco mascot. After reviewing 685 drawings, Bataclan began working on the layout and incorporating the students’ visuals into the final design. 

“His mission of spreading joy through art was evident throughout the elementary school during his weeklong residency,” Principal Rakiya Adams said. “He engaged students in creating images that represent the Bronxville Promise and symbolize our unity as a school community. Mr. Bataclan most importantly encouraged students to embrace the artistic process and challenged them not to erase their work. He exemplified this philosophy by leaving his pencil marks visible on the mural, demonstrating that he, too, values the process.”  

The students were actively engaged throughout the process as they watched closely, asked questions and saw their own artwork take form on the school walls. Bataclan’s approach encouraged the students to trust their artistic instincts. He said the purpose of the mural was to bring joy, make students, teachers and families smile when they walked by and feel proud, knowing they were part of something meaningful. He also hoped that the mural inspired students to keep creating their own characters. 

The project culminated in a mural unveiling of the final piece on Oct. 25, showcasing not only Bataclan’s vibrant art, but the imagination of every student in the school.  

The experience was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Bronxville School Foundation. 

Article written by Philippa Freeman, Board Member, Bronxville School Foundation  

October 25, 2024: The Bronxville School Foundation is excited to announce the launch of its fall fundraising campaign, along with the addition of seven new board members and a new slate of officers for the 2024-2025 school year. Since its inception, the nonprofit has funded 916 grants, totaling more than $13.3 million. The BSF has significantly enhanced the district’s education by financing new curriculum, technology, faculty training, facilities projects, and specialized materials and equipment. Last year, the Foundation provided $702,884 through its grant program.

The Foundation actively collaborates with the district to identify high-priority needs beyond the school’s budget. Each year, it relies on the fall campaign to support these critical grants. The generous contributions from alumni, Bronxville community members, school families, and corporate matching gifts through the fall fundraising campaign enable the Foundation to fund grants that bridge the gap between the school budget and the demands of a transformative education. The Foundation is also extremely grateful to the entire school administration team for their personal donations. This year, the Foundation’s goal is to achieve 100% participation from Bronxville School families in the fundraising campaign. 

Please consider contributing to the Foundation this year. 

The Foundation is also excited to welcome our newest board members for the 2024-2025 school year. “We are thrilled to welcome these new board members from our community to the Foundation,” said Nominating Chair, Mike Dimitri. “Their diverse perspectives, deep commitment to education, and passion for our school’s success will be invaluable as we continue our tradition of innovation and excellence”.

Jonathan Barnes

Jon and his wife, Joyce, have lived in Bronxville since 2011 and have three girls in the Bronxville schools: Elizabeth in 10^th grade, Abigail in 7^th, and Catherine in 2^nd.  Jon grew up in the Boston suburbs in an education-focused family, his mother a middle school teacher and father a high school Principal.  He has coached each of his girls in EYSA soccer for the last 10 years and Joyce has been an active member of the PTA at the Bronxville Elementary and Middle Schools. Jon is a Managing Director at Star Mountain Capital, a private credit and private equity firm where he leads investments in and serves as a Board Director for portfolio companies primarily in the technology, media and business services sectors.  Jon graduated from Harvard University and received an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Satpal Brainch 

Sat Brainch and his wife, Zahabia, have lived in Bronxville since 2018 and have two boys at the Bronxville Schools – Rishaan, a rising 10^th grader & Jai, a rising 8^th grader.  He currently works as the Chief Business Officer at NBCUniversal News Group, which includes NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, Telemundo, and Local Stations. He also is on the board of Acorns, a fin tech investing app focused on financial wellness for the up-and-coming. Prior to moving to Bronxville, Sat held various leadership roles at NBCUniversal in London & Singapore.  Sat grew up in Cincinnati and graduated with a BBA from Emory University. 

Susan Frehse (PTA President Elect)

Susan and her husband Woody have lived in Bronxville for the past five years, and Woody was raised in Bronxville. They have a son attending the Bronxville High School, and twins in Elementary School. Prior to having children, she worked in the technology sector in sales and business development for companies including Xerox and later got her degree from Parsons School of Interior Design and transitioned into that industry. She has served as a deacon at the Reformed Church of Bronxville and at the Brick Presbyterian Church of New York, and taught Sunday School in both locations. She has served as the Elementary School Council chair, and is currently President – Elect of the Bronxville School Executive PTA.  She was also the previous Middle School PTA 8^th grade co-chair, and the High School PTA new families 9^th grade chair and many other roles. Her volunteerism also includes roles at The Brick Church School, St. Bernards School in New York, Central Park Women’s Committee, New York Presbyterian, and Young Audiences New York.

Deanna Kuhn

Deanna Kuhn is a long-time resident of Bronxville and two of her grown children attended Bronxville School. She holds a B.S. from University of Illinois and a Ph.d. from University of California Berkeley, and was elected to the National Academy of Education. She currently is Professor Emerita of Psychology and Education at Columbia University Teachers College. As a cognitive, developmental and educational psychologist, her concern is with how best to educate students for their adult roles as life-long learners and as citizens. Her work has been published widely in outlets ranging from Psychological Review to Harvard Educational Review. Her books include Education for thinking, The skills of argument, The development of scientific thinking skills, Argue with me: Argument as a path to developing students’ thinking and writing, and, most recently, written directly to teens, Building our best future: Thinking critically about ourselves and our world.

Eddie Lennon (Ex-officio member, School Board representative) 

Eddie and his wife, Lauren, have lived in Bronxville since 2018 and have two kids in the Elementary School – Hunter, a 3^rd grader & Parker, a 1^st grader and a third – Ford, at RCNS in the 3’s. Eddie was born and raised in Bronxville and graduated from BHS in 1999. He owns and operates a 90-year family business in the construction supply industry with a focus on building  materials and architectural and industrial coatings. Eddie currently chairs the Bronxville School  Board of Education Facilities Committee and sits on the Professional Development and Health & Safety committees. He is passionate about his family and the community and has a political  science degree from Fordham University. Eddie is an active member of the Campfire Club of America which promotes wildlife conservation efforts throughout the country. 

Jack Meyercord

Jack and his wife, Michelle, have lived in Bronxville for 14 years. They currently have two students in Bronxville High School and another child who graduated in 2024.  During his time in Bronxville, Jack has been a Den Leader and the Treasurer of the Bronxville Pack 5 Cub Scouts, as well as a BYLA and TYA coach for many years. Jack is also a member of Christ Church Bronxville.  Professionally, Jack is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Conscious Endeavors LP and Impower Investment Holdings LP. Jack is responsible for allocating portfolios for multiple family offices across asset classes and assists families in developing frameworks for impact investment strategies and philanthropic endeavors. Prior to his current role, Jack was Head of Impact Investing at Bienville Capital, a multi-family investment firm from 2016-2019. Prior to Bienville, Jack spent 16 years as a long/short analyst and portfolio manager focused on Asian markets. Beginning in 2009, Jack founded Straight Wharf Capital Management, LLC, an Asian long/short fund which was seeded by Tiger Management. Jack graduated with a BA in Political Science from Duke University in 1995 and an MBA with Honors from Columbia Business School in 2000. In addition, he is a CFA^® charter-holder.

Christopher Nay

Chris graduated from Vanderbilt University and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is currently the Head of Investments for the Financial Institutions Group at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Since moving to Bronxville in 2013, Chris has been involved in the community as a boys basketball coach at The Reformed Church and a boys and girls soccer coach through EYSA. His other volunteer interests are in various roles with Vanderbilt University and as a board member for Friends of Karen, an organization that helps Tri-State families who are coping with a child’s life threatening illness. Chris and his wife, Katrina, have two children attending The Bronxville School.

The other directors and officers for 2024-2025 are Wendy Fahy (Chairperson), Anthony Civale (V.P. Development), Anabella Davis (V.P. Grants Program), Catherine O’Connor Williams (V.P. Alumni Affairs), Philippa Freeman (V.P. Public Relations), Mike Dimitri (V.P. Nominating), Deirdre Doheny & Amy Krause (V.P. Social Events), David Lewis (V.P. Legal Advisory), Amy Atkeson (Secretary), Heather Miner (Treasurer), Alex Bici, Joe Burke, Mary Gay, Mike Heraty, Christopher Horvers, Emily Liggitt, Carrie Long, Sam Patterson, Mary Preusse and Katie Shah. Dr. Rachel L. Kelly, Superintendent of the Bronxville Schools, is an ex-officio member. Helena McSherry is the Executive Director and Lisa Rao is the Finance Administrator.

For more information about the Foundation or to support our fundraising efforts, please visit https://www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org.

By Phillippa Freeman

Oct. 2, 2024: Thanks to a generous grant from the Bronxville School Foundation, students in the Bronxville School’s Special Education classes experienced the transformative power of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) as part of their summer camp program this summer.

This innovative approach to learning and personal development is gaining popularity in the educational community, offering students unique opportunities to enhance their social-emotional skills, build relationships, and gain confidence.

What is Equine Assisted Learning?

Equine Assisted Learning is an experiential program that creates a safe environment for participants to interact with horses, fostering personal growth and skill development. Unlike traditional horseback riding lessons, this “unmounted” program takes place entirely on the ground, allowing students to learn about horses and their behaviors through a variety of exercises and activities.

Bronxville staff members who led the program, Jenna Fanelli, Patrick Clarke, Melissa Wood, and Alexa Vafeades, described the program and its benefits:

“Our Special Class students loved working with Ms. Heather and her staff this summer during EAL sessions. The students enjoyed completing various activities such as greeting, grooming, and leading the horses through obstacle courses. The students also were able to enjoy and complete follow-up art projects.

The grounds program gave the students an opportunity to work on improving their self-confidence, executive functioning, social-emotional learning, and physical motor skills. With this program, we saw students grow and challenge themselves, allowing them to step out of their comfort zone.

The EAL sessions provided a multi-sensory approach to capture students’ engagement and target the underlying skills that Bronxville teachers and therapists are working on. Various recreational/leisure opportunities were provided in the program to facilitate skill development. We hope to partner with Ms. Heather in the future.”

The Impact on Students

The program has already shown remarkable results, as evidenced by the enthusiastic response from both students and parents. Tara and Spyros Makras, parents of Jax, a student participant, shared their experience:

“At summer camp, our son Jax is thoroughly enjoying the equine therapy sessions he’s participating in. He talks animatedly about the horses, expressing his love for them and his desire to keep coming back for more sessions. It’s heartwarming for us as parents to witness Jax petting the horses and gradually building a bond with both the gentle animals and his dedicated trainers.

Seeing him eagerly anticipate each session and witnessing the positive impact it has on him fills us with joy and gratitude. Equine therapy has truly become a special and cherished part of Jax’s summer camp experience. We hope to continue it even when camp is over.”

This testimonial highlights the program’s ability to engage students on multiple levels, fostering emotional connections, building anticipation for learning, and creating lasting positive memories associated with educational experiences. Soheil, a student who participated in the program, said “I love to brush and pet the horses. It makes me feel happy and excited.” And another student, Luis, said “when visiting the horses I enjoy greeting and brushing them.”

As the program concludes its successful summer run, the Bronxville School community extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Bronxville School Foundation. The Foundation’s commitment to supporting innovative educational initiatives continues to make a significant impact on the lives of Bronxville students, with the Equine Assisted Learning program serving as a shining example of the power of experiential learning.

To learn more about the Foundation’s work, watch our latest video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITeNvSNDyTI. To see past grants or make a donation, please visit www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org.

As fourth graders called “quiet on the set,” they took on the roles of actors and filmmakers to create anti-bullying public service announcements. Equipped with professional-quality camera equipment and lighting, they partnered with Mike Feurstein, a filmmaker, educator and DON’T WAIT to UnMake a Bully program creator, to model a movie set and fulfill their chosen jobs.

Through the program, which focused on anti-bullying, the students created, wrote, produced and filmed their own PSAs. Prior to filming, they brainstormed ideas and discussed real-life scenarios while writing their PSA scripts.

“Each year, the program excites and engages the fourth grade students in a dynamic way,” teacher Lauren Wright said. “The best part of the experience is watching them during the filming day. The students get behind the camera, hold up the boom mikes, say ‘cut,’ ‘action’ and ‘quiet on the set.’ They get to act and direct. They do one take after another, working together to get one that is just right. They come together to work through challenges, all for the final product.”

The experience, which ran from May 20-June 3, allowed the students to be involved in every aspect of the process and be creative while fulfilling their chosen job of director, actor, sound or slate. Throughout the process, they also learned how to use a camera and discovered new hobbies and passions.

“The joy on their faces at the end of the day when the assistant director calls, ‘That’s a wrap!’ is incredible,” Wright said. “Our Bronxville fourth graders are so incredibly lucky to have this program available to them.”

Wright said she hoped the students took away a new understanding for what others might be going through as the program doesn’t villainize the bully. Instead, the program explored why people would bully, whether they feel insecure about themselves or are trying to have control when they feel their life is out of control. In addition, she said she hoped the students gained the necessary tools to stand up for themselves and others, as well as gain a new hobby from the program.

The anti-bullying PSAs first started as a pilot program at the Bronxville School courtesy of a Foundation grant back in 2018. The work has proven to be so valuable that the school has continued to fund it each year out of the district’s budget.

The entire fourth grade will view their PSAs during a red-carpet premiere party in the auditorium on June 18.

Photo courtesy of Plamena Quintavalla.