BSF Updates

Bronxville School students celebrated their achievements, creativity and talent at the annual Spring into the Arts festival, which ran from March 3-16. With 59 student artworks displayed in 37 participating stores throughout the village of Bronxville, the event highlighted the artistic talents of students in grades 3-12.

The festival kicked off on March 3 with the highly anticipated art stroll and scavenger hunt, followed by an opening reception at the Picture House which featured a curated exhibition of 14 outstanding student artworks. In addition, the High School Arts Society set the stage for the night of live performances with an open mic, during which guests were treated to live music by Will Sousa and Sam Bright. 

One of the standout moments included a performance by a group of talented high school seniors, led by singer and songwriter Madeleine Brandes, accompanied by musicians Wyatt Gravier, Miles Jernigan, Jack Toal and Austin Waggoner. They played “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse, “Love Song” by The Cure and “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5. Their performance earned a standing ovation from an enthusiastic crowd of friends, family and community members. Established six years ago, the High School Arts Society has been instrumental in celebrating the arts in Bronxville and providing students with a platform for creative expression.

The Spring into the Arts festival is made possible thanks to the collaboration between the Art Club, the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce, the High School Arts Society and the PTA Arts Council.

A Bronxville School Foundation grant funded the mics, mic stands, a speaker and amp, and power cables for the Spring into the Arts events.

By Christopher Nay, Public Relations, Bronxville School Foundation

March 6, 2025: The Bronxville School Foundation has provided funding for two key programs that support the mental and physical well-being of student-athletes at The Bronxville School.

In the fall of 2023, the district introduced a Mental Performance Coach for Athletics, providing an invaluable resource for student athletes. This initiative aims to equip athletes with skills to enhance their mental approach to sports, preparing them for peak performance and better handling the pressures that come with competition. 

The Mental Performance Coach led one hour sessions with varsity athletes and coaches across four groups with 20-50 students participating in each session.  Building on the successful rollout, The Bronxville School Foundation provided a grant to expand the program.  As a result of this grant, these coaching sessions were extended to include winter and spring varsity athletes.  Additionally, the funding allowed the number of sessions to increase from one to two for each cohort.  One varsity golf player commented, “I think the coach really helped me focus each shot.”

In addition to mental performance resources, The Bronxville School Foundation has also supported students by providing financial support for physical training through involvement of a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.  A previous grant from the Foundation funded the launch of this initiative for the 2023-2024 school year.  Given the success, the Foundation continued support for this current school year. 

The Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist works directly with both middle and high school students, whether or not they participate in organized sports.  The specialist provides comprehensive training that focuses on year-round conditioning for student athletes, incorporating pre-season, in-season, and off-season phases. These programs allow for the monitoring of students’ training volume and intensity. For non-athletes, the specialist guides students in developing personalized fitness programs, promoting long-term healthy exercise habits.  A member of the varsity girls lacrosse team stated, “Coach has made an impact not only on my skills in the weight room, but my overall goals and motivation while working out.”

Both initiatives reflect the commitment of The Bronxville School Foundation and The Bronxville School to student development by helping to build both physical and mental strength across all athletic levels. These programs not only enhance athletic performance but also play a crucial role in promoting confidence, teamwork, and discipline.

If you have any questions about the Bronxville School Foundation and its grants, please contact Helena McSherry at hmcsherry@bronxvilleschool.org

On January 25, 2025, the Bronxville School Foundation hosted a Winter Fête, welcoming members of the Bronxville School community, past and present, for a wonderful evening of festivity.  Almost ten years since the Foundation’s last large community celebration, over 250 friends of the Foundation came together to enjoy a beautiful evening.  Superintendent Rachel Kelly and many members of the school administration, Board of Education, and PTA attended, as well as current and former Foundation Board members, including Mayor Mary Marvin and Village Trustees Mary Behrens and Helen Knapp. 

The Foundation’s Chairperson, Wendy Fahy, welcomed guests at Siwanoy Country Club and thanked them for attending the event celebrating the Foundation’s work.  Fahy also expressed gratitude to the Fête Planning Co-Chairs, Deirdre Doheny and Amy Krause, and Susan Frehse, who sits on the Foundation Board as the PTA President- Elect, for their collective efforts putting together such a beautiful evening.  “The collaboration and strong partnership the Foundation enjoys with the administration, the Board of Education, and the PTA is extraordinary,” said Fahy.  “We are incredibly lucky to be part of this special school community that is so invested in our students.”

In the months leading up to the Winter Fête, the Foundation’s Development Chair, Anthony Civale, and a small committee have been working with the school administration to establish a Technology Innovation Fund (the “Tech Fund”) to help the school navigate the rapidly evolving world of technology and artificial intelligence, and the Foundation officially launched the Tech Fund the evening of the Winter Fête.  The Tech Fund was generously seeded by twenty families in the community, many of whom were in attendance at the Winter Fête.  Other community members enthusiastically donated to the fund the evening of the event. The Tech Fund has already raised approximately $900,000. 

“We all know in our own lives how rapidly technology has been advancing,” said Civale. “At the same time, we as parents are navigating a complex time – technology is a powerful tool, but also a potential blocker of human connection and creates risks for our kids on social media and technology-related mental health issues. Getting it right has never been more important for the readiness, competitiveness, and safety of our kids. As we look forward, the pace of change is increasing, the complexity is rising, and the investment needs are growing.”

By investing in such things as curriculum redesign, advanced technological tools, teacher training, and facilities enhancements, the Tech Fund will help foster a cutting-edge and forward-thinking educational environment where Bronxville students are empowered to become the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. Please visit the Foundation’s website at https://www.bronxvilleschoolfoundation.org/donate/ to make a donation or email bsfoundation@bronxvilleschool.org if you would like to learn about the Tech Fund in more detail. 

Special thanks to our very generous Winter Fête sponsors including: 

Diamond Sponsor:

• NY Presbyterian – Westchester 

Platinum Sponsor:

• DC Ranieri Insurance
• Iona University
• MK O’Shaughnessy from Houlihan Lawrence
• Pepe Auto Group

Gold Sponsor:

• Bundles of Joy
• Prep Academy
• Wild Vine

Silver Sponsor: 

• Mrs. Morgan’s Flower Shop
• The Picture House

Several of the sponsors attended the Winter Fête including Adrienne Harper of Bundles of Joy, the Ranieris from DC Ranieri Insurance, and Vanessa O’Friel and Sarah Loader from Prep Academy.  Winter Fête cocktails were graciously provided by sponsor and guest MK O’Shaughnessy from Houlihan Lawrence.  The venue was also decorated with exquisite flowers by Bob Krause of Mrs. Morgan’s Flower Shop and a video highlighting the Foundation’s work was produced by Spencer Sapienza of The Picture House.  “Our school community has such strong relationships with our local business owners,” said the Foundation’s Finance Administrator, Lisa Rao. “We are so grateful for their support and many generous contributions that made the Winter Fête so spectacular.” 

“Thank you to the community for making the Winter Fête so special and for supporting the launch of the Tech Fund,” said Fahy. “The energy was amazing and everyone had a wonderful time!”

Please enjoy David Fenner’s beautiful photo gallery of the Winter Fête and Spencer Sapienza’s  “Bronxville School Foundation: The Key to the Promise” video HERE. 

Photographed above: Members of the 2024-2025 Bronxville School Foundation Board, courtesy of David Fenner.

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.