York Prep Winter 2015 Newsletter Highlights Variety of Student Activities

2 Winter 2015
CONTENTS
SCHOOL NEWS:
News From Our Head
News From Associate Head
Class of 2015 - Class of 2016
Class of 2015 Early Decision
Class of 2014 Colleges Attending
Class of 2015 College Applications
Upcoming Dates
York Scholars 2015
Pre-Scholars Course Sched. 2014-15
Junior Scholars Program
York Technology Infrastructure
Constitutional Law Classroom
Adolescent Girls Group
Peer Tutoring
Visit from the NY School for the Deaf
News from the Library
Farewell to Dear Friend Felix Fibich
TRIPS & TOURS:
Escape the Room Field Trip
Dodge Poetry Festival
Metropolitan Museum of Art
New-York Historical Society
NYC Tours
Museum of Mathematics Field Trip
SPECIAL EVENTS:
The Drowsy Chaperone
International Buffet/Music Celebration
Underground: The Musical
Halloween at York Prep
Battle of the Bees
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS:
Student Government Organization
The Beekeeping Club
Model United Nations
York Celebrates Superbowl XI
York Prep Bake Sales
D.E.A.R. Book Club
Open Studio
Writers by the Park 2014
WYRK
Upper School Book Club
Opera Talk
The Paw
Genesis
York Prep Math Club
Yearbook Club
Jewish Heritage Club
Chess and Games Club
Glee Club
Ukulele and Guitar Club
Zumba
Field Day
Swim Club
Fitness Room
Madden Club
Performing Arts Electives
Same Sky Club
Women in the Arab World Club
Young Doctors Club
Gay-Straight Alliance
Out Loud Club
Faculty News
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT:
York Prep Athletic Program
Lady Panther Scores 1000th Point
York Prep Intramurals
Girls Varsity Volleyball
Boys Varsity Volleyball
Girls Middle School Volleyball
Girls Varsity Soccer
Boys Varsity Soccer
Middle School Soccer
Girls Varsity Basketball
Boys Varsity Basketball
Boys Junior Varsity Basketball
Middle School Basketball
Varsity Cross Country
Girls Varsity Softball
Varsity Baseball
Varsity Golf
Middle School Track & Field
Varsity Track & Field
Varsity Winter Track
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NEWS FROM OUR HEAD
January 2015
Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends,
I hope you enjoy this Winter Newsletter from York Prep. Like all
previous newsletters, it focuses on supporting and celebrating the
people who matter most to us, the stars of our school - our students.
It is primarily written by our wonderful faculty, who share the vision
of taking students to their highest potential by nurturing their strengths
and getting to know them as people.
The variety of activities we provide, speak for themselves. Our
athletic teams continue to be competitive and demonstrate sportsmanship. We try to expand each
year on the number of curricular and extra-curricular programs we offer. This year we added a new
videogame design and coding class. We installed 50 ultra-fast wireless ports so that, along with our
universal use of interactive whiteboards, every room in the school is a place for state-of-the-art
learning. Our library was rebuilt over the summer to provide more portable computer stations and
space, making it the most popular location in the school for students who have any free time in their
schedule. Students can use the library laptops or connect their own devices to our wi-fi network.
Edline continues to be the main portal through which we communicate with our parent body. I
am proud of our faculty in the way they consistently maintain this invaluable tool. It helps our stu-
dents with classroom organization and, perhaps more importantly, keeps parents informed on a
weekly basis of their child’s progress.
While I hesitate to pick out one area of excellence in the school, I should recognize that our Fall
Musical Underground, was written and scored by two members of our performing arts faculty, Tho-
mas Hodges and John Viscardi. Our students gave the musical its New York debut, and it served as
a great vehicle to showcase the students’ talents in both performance and technical production. For
the Spring Musical, the Performing Arts Department, under the leadership of Fiona Hutchinson, are
already forming the cast for Legally Blonde.
Safety is of paramount importance to any school. In these uncertain times, we have added new
security measures. Thus we have bullet proof glass protecting the front desk, two security guards,
security cameras and new photo identification cards for all of our community that provide swipe
access to the building.
This is the eleventh year of my “Headmaster’s Thoughts” and we now have a blog from which
you can get the “reflections” I have written over the past decade: www.yorkprepheadmasterblog.com.
To those of you who actually read them, I am grateful for your humorous feedback.
So let me return to the topic of my first line, which is that I hope you enjoy this newsletter. It is
difficult to express in print the energy and joy of our community. I thank those of you who have
entrusted us with your children. Together, as a collaborative team, we work to nurture and empower
our students as thinkers and leaders. I look forward to many years of association and friendship.
Sincerely,
Ronald P. Stewart
Head

York News 3
NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATE HEAD OF SCHOOL
January 2015
Dear York Prep Community:
I was very fortunate to have had an inspirational teacher when I was in high school. I say
fortunate because all too often children are left uninspired during their educational career.
With high-stakes testing, stanines, and teacher evaluation linked directly to test scores, it’s
no wonder that education becomes an arduous task rather than a passion for knowledge. So
much time is spent “covering” material that rarely do students have a chance to “uncover”
what’s in front of them. So yes, I was fortunate to have had one inspirational teacher when I
was in high school. His concern for his students was that they engaged with material, asked
why, and never settled for just the right answer. Through his class, students learned to love learning; teaching science was
only the medium he used to engage us. Not surprisingly, his test scores were always among the highest as well. I contacted
him recently, through Facebook of course, and let him know that his approach to education made a profound impact on me
as a lifelong learner. I, too, wanted to instill a love of learning in my students. History for me was only the vehicle in which to
begin the journey. From there, students could find adventures, make connections, and realize that learning does not only
occur within the walls of a classroom.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” This simple, but profound statement made by the Irish poet
W.B. Yeats is how I think about every lesson I teach. That lesson can be in the classroom, in the hallways, or on a school trip.
What I treasure most about being a member of the York Prep Community is that I see that dedication towards education in
every faculty and staff member here. I had one inspirational teacher, whereas students at York Prep are surrounded with
motivational educators. The community is focused on helping students “uncover” material and develop an individual mind.
Guiding students in this way can often be difficult. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to understand “why” and easier to just give
the “right answer.” However, if we want our graduates to be agents of change, then we have to get them thinking differently
about why they learn.
This newsletter is a perfect representation of how York Prep creates life-long learners. Many of the clubs and activities
found in these pages were developed because of student interest. Clubs like Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.), the Gay
Straight Alliance, and the Young Doctors’ Club, showcase a variety of student interest and passions. Opportunities to extend
learning outside of York Prep, such as the Dodge Poetry Festival and Model U.N., indicate that we are constantly bringing our
students into the world. None of these opportunities would be available if our students and faculty did not work together to
create a culture of learning at York Prep. It is our hope that this culture of learning extends well beyond our students’ years at
York Prep.
Please sit back, flip through the pages, and enjoy the path that our students are taking to light their fire for learning.
Best,
Art Viscusi
Associate Headmaster

4 Winter 2015
Class of 2015
This year’s seniors began college classes and private counseling last January 11, 2014. We believe that their artistic and
academic talent is excellent, but at first their curiosity led to nervous “over-shopping” and anxiety. This coupled with a still
difficult roll out of The Common Application added to the already tense “final stretch” pressure. But we stuck with it, and Ms.
Rooney and a few techno-seniors worked out all the glitches, so our students met all the original deadlines. Thanks Ms.
Rooney!
While only forty-four percent (44%) of the seniors applied ED (see Edline College Guidance for explanation) to college,
almost 100% of the seniors also sent at least one EA, and many sent all of their applications EA. We are still convinced ED
applications are the best way to improve a student’s chances at their top choice. Even more so now that colleges need to
fill up as early as possible for financial reasons. Many seniors have received scholarships without applying for financial
aid. We have kept a list of these particular colleges!
The results began coming in early-November from some schools (not all Common App!), but the excitement really ramped
up by early to mid-December when decisions came rolling in! Congratulations to all of you who know where you are going
next fall! Bravo! To those of you who were deferred, make sure your third quarter and final grades are your best. We will
continue to watch and “nudge” admissions on your behalf! Be patient, and whatever you do, keep studying because mid-year
grades really count and colleges can reverse their decisions if your grades drop 10% or more. Really! Good luck, Seniors
and Senior Parents!
See you at Graduation, May 20, 2015, 3:00 pm sharp!
Class of 2016
This year, College Guidance for Juniors began a month earlier than ever before on December 11, 2014. We hope this will
established a calming atmosphere for the approach to the senior year college process. We always stress, without overcon-
fidence (!), that our program has a proven track record of success, and that parents who trust us better enjoy their child’s
junior and senior years. College Guidance class began in earnest after Christmas vacation. This program lowers anxiety, oddly
enough, by breaking the process down into small specific steps.
We must impress upon you that our entire collection of junior and senior notes is on Edline in the College Guidance
folder. Please take the time to look over these two sections to see how comprehensive we are. Please try to find your
answers at least once before calling or emailing! Also, please read all emails we send you as well as nag letters. They
really do help if you print and display them and urge your student to check off steps taken in a timely manner. We also sent
out an announcement that we are using Naviance Search Engine for college research. Please explore this website at your
leisure.
We ask all junior parents to email us your important questions, to answer our requests quickly and fully, and to tell your
child to stop by any time to ask questions. This is the beginning of the transition from passive child to proactive adult: the
student is our client!! Please keep emails short and specific! Make certain your child’s name is in the subject line.
Please also take the time to decide on this summer’s activity—preferably a college program and not a teen-tour or even a
“volunteer or community service” teen-tour. Please consider skill improvement courses if your child could benefit from them.
Visiting colleges with your child should not begin too early, so you do not over-raise expectations. Please let us make our “long
list” early in the new year, then plan some travelling. Keep reality in mind while choosing to visit colleges. Overreaching adds
pressure on students! Check the website for our suggestions with your child to try to find a good fit. Keep looking, but be
finished by September 2015. By orientation in September, 90% of students should have visited at least 8 colleges and
decided on ED for one. Of course, nothing is written in stone, but beginning your search after school starts is always a bad way
to begin the toughest academic year. Remember, Orientation is mandatory for seniors!

York News 5
We will continue to cover SAT vs. ACT, test tutoring, test-optional colleges, students’ passions and enthusiasm, and much
more for the juniors … just to mention a few points! This is a team effort; we urge you to let us work with your child and with
the colleges. Parents who “over-hover” do a disservice to us all and often offend their colleges if they get involved! This
also includes making appointments for interviews and signing up for SATs and ACTs. Your child needs to learn to be
independent in this process and realize they can do this! Please refrain from creating College Board (SAT)/ACT accounts
for your child. They will learn to do this in class and it prevents creating confusion when a student accidentally creates a
second account.
We are excited to begin working with your child and hope we all have a great 2015-2016 College Season. Ms. Rooney and
I are an unrivalled team when it comes to sound and creative college guidance with amazing results. We pledge to
continue our strong efforts to find every individual’s “perfect fit” for college.
Jayme Stewart Janet Rooney
Co-Director of College Guidance Co-Director of College Guidance
1970-2015 2002-2015
American University
Babson College
Barnard College
Bennington College
Cornell University
Franklin and Marshall College
George Washington University
University of Miami
University of Pennsylvania,
Wharton School
Vassar College
Wake Forest University
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Johns Hopkins University
Muhlenberg College
New York University
Quinnipiac University
Skidmore College
Syracuse University
CLASS OF 2015 EARLY DECISION APPLICATIONS
American University
Bard College
Baruch College
Bennington College
Bentley University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Chelsea College, UK
City College
Dickinson College
Drew University
Eckerd College
George Washington University
Hofstra University
Ithaca College
SUNY Binghamton
SUNY New Paltz
Syracuse University
University of California, Los Angeles
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Delaware
University of Michigan
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Richmond
University of Rochester
University of Tampa
University of Wisconsin
Vassar College
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson and Wales University
Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University
Marymount Manhattan
Muhlenberg College
New York University
Pace University
Penn State University
Pitzer College
Richmond, UK
Rhode Island School of Design
Rochester Institute of Technology
Roger Williams University
Savannah College of Art and Design
CLASS OF 2014 COLLEGES ATTENDING

6 Winter 2015
New Paltz*,
Oneonta,
Purchase*,
Stony Brook
Swarthmore College
Syracuse University*
Towson University
Trinity College
Tulane University*
Union College*
University of Arizona*
University of California - Irvine,
Los Angeles, Santa Barbara,
Santa Cruz, Merced
University of Central Florida
University of Colorado, Boulder*
University of Connecticut*
University of Delaware*
University of Hartford*
University of Hawaii, Manoa
University of London, UK
University of Manchester, UK
University of Massachusetts, Amherst*
University of Miami*
University of Michigan*
University of Mississippi
University of Montana
University of New Haven
Univ. of North Carolina, Wilmington
University of North Dakota
University of Oklahoma
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton
University of Pittsburg
University of Rhode Island*
University of San Francisco
University of Southern California
University of Tampa*
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Vermont*
Vassar College
Vaughn College
Villanova University*
Virginia Commonwealth University*
Virginia Technological University
Wake Forest University
Webster University
Western Michigan State Univ.
Wheaton College*
Hobart and William Smith Colleges*
Hofstra University*
Indiana University*
Ithaca College*
Jacksonville University
Johns Hopkins University*
Johnson & Wales University*
Julliard School
Kenyon College
Laboratory Inst. Merchandising
Lafayette College*
Lehigh University*
Liverpool Inst. Performing Arts, UK
Loyola Marymount University*
Lynn University
Marist College
Maryland Institute of the Arts
Monmouth University
Muhlenberg College*
New York University*
Northeastern University*
Nova Southeastern University
Pace University
Parsons*
Penn State University
Point Loma Nazarene Univ.
Pratt Institute*
Quinnipiac University
Rhode Island School of Design*
Ringling College of Art and Design*
Roger Williams University*
Rutgers University
Sacred Heart University
San Diego State University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art & Design
School of Visual Arts*
Seattle University
Sewanee University
Skidmore College*
Smith College
St. Edwards University
St. John’s University
Suffolk University
SUNY - Albany*,
Buffalo State*,
Univ. of Buffalo*,
Binghamton*,
Geneseo,
Adelphi University*
American University*
Babson College*
Baldwin Wallace University
Bard College
Barnard College*
Bates College
Bennington College
Bentley University*
Boston University
Brandeis University*
Bucknell University
California Institute of the Arts
Cal State - Channel Islands,
San Marcos, Sacramento
Central School of Drama, UK
Chapman University
Clark University*
Clemson University
College of Charleston*
Connecticut College
Cornell University*
CUNY - Baruch*, Hunter, City*
Curry College*
CW Post
Dickinson College
Dowling College
Drew University*
Drexel University*
East Carolina University
Eckerd College
Elmira College
Elon University*
Embry Riddle University
Emmanuel College
Emory University
Eugene Lang College
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida State University
Fordham University*
Franklin & Marshall College*
George Washington University*
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Guild Hall School Music Drama, UK
Guilford College
Hamilton College
Hampshire College
Haverford College
CLASS OF 2015 COLLEGE APPLICATIONS
(* = more than 1)

York News 7
Upcoming Dates
February 4:
Feb. 16-20:
February 23:
February 27:
March 2:
March 4:
March 6:
March 8:
March 13:
March 14:
March 16-27:
March 30:
April 1:
April 3:
April 4-5:
April 6:
April 29:
May 1:
May 2:
May 4-7:
May 6:
May 7:
May 8:
May 14:
May 19:
May 20:
May 25:
May 27-29:
May 29:
June 1-5:
June 6:
June 8:
June 10:
July 31:
Deadline - Documentation for Extended Time SAT/ACT
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Mr. Roper’s Adult History Program: John Quincy Adams - “Before and
After” - Room 309
Mid-Winter Break - No Classes
Classes Resume
Quarter 3 Ends for Seniors
Quarter 4 Begins for Seniors
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Mr. Roper’s Adult History Program: James K. Polk - “It was Said - it was
Done” - Room 309
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Parent-Teacher Conferences - No Classes
Daylight Savings, Set Clocks Forward One Hour
Quarter 3 Ends for Grades 6-11
SAT
Spring Break - No Classes
Classes Resume, Quarter 4 Begins for Grades 6-11
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Mr. Roper’s Adult History Program: Chester Allan Arthur - “A Presidency
of Redemption” - Room 309
Good Friday - No Classes
Passover
Easter Monday - No Classes
Field Day - Mandatory Attendance
Last Day of Senior Classes, Quarter 4 Ends for Seniors
SAT
Senior Final Exams
6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Mr. Roper’s Adult History Program: John F. Kennedy - “Profile or Courage”
- Room 309
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Evening of the Arts
Senior Exam Make-Up Day
Prom
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Graduation Rehearsal
1:00 p.m. Dismissal
3:00 p.m. Graduation
Memorial Day - No Classes
Review for Final Exams
Last Day of Classes, Quarter 4 Ends for Grades 6-11, Awards Assembly
2nd Semester Final Exams - Grades 6-11
SAT
Exam Make-Up Day
Summer School Begins
Summer School Ends

8 Winter 2015
York Scholars 2015
English Department Chair and Director of Scholars Program: Paul Sturm
Seven students in our 2014 graduating class successfully completed the York Prep Scholars Program, a special three-year
enrichment sequence that addresses the needs of York Prep’s most academically capable students with a rigorous and
exciting curriculum. These students received diplomas indicating that they have graduated with Honors.
The Scholars Program aims to deepen and expand students' understanding of their standard honors curriculum and to
introduce new and exciting ideas, concepts, and themes. Topics such as the golden ratio, the art of the Italian renaissance,
evolution, and the performance of Shakespeare are presented independently in mini-courses taught by members of the faculty
who want to focus on their particular intellectual passions and specialties.
Entry into the program is selective: 10-15 percent of our sophomores, juniors, and seniors are invited to join. Participating
students satisfy certain general criteria and develop individual scholarly and creative projects. Scholars Program students
attend two ongoing special seminars each quarter, meeting once per week. Those who engage the whole sequence will have
completed 21 seminars by the time of their graduation. Among those seminars are a number with Mr. Paul Sturm, Director of
the Scholars Program, where participants workshop their Senior Scholars’ Projects.
A special luncheon ceremony the day before York Prep’s 2014 graduation marked the outstanding achievements of that
year’s senior Scholars, whose names as well as the titles of their senior projects are as follows:
Alexander Butler: Identity – A Film
Deianni Galloway: The Effects of Temperature on the Rate and Duration of Luminol Chemiluminescence
Nina Line: Using Photography to Explore Light’s Effect on the Psyche
Anny Lutwak-Schneider: An Exploration of 3D Photography
Sky Singer: An Inquiry into the Ethics and Efficacy of Enhanced Interrogation and Gitmo: Is It All Worth It?
Sean Tarzy: Prep Fiction – A Film
Rosette Zarzar: The Effects of Bottled Water on the Environment and Public Health
Most of these graduating Scholars had completed the full three years of the program, which continues to receive highly
positive feedback from previous Scholar graduates who have gone off to college. Clearly, the program offers our most aca-
demically capable students the opportunity, the motivation, and the support to work at the upper range of their potential. The
best part is that they seem to be having a good deal of fun doing so.
This year, in addition to established classes, we are offering some exciting new seminars: The World of Opera: Spotlight on
Bizet’s Carmen, Exploring Microbiology, When Comedy Was King; and “We Hold These Truths.”
York remains very proud of its Scholars, and the staff continues to take great satisfaction in watching them stretch their
academic and creative muscles. In addition to the intrinsic benefits of their enhanced curriculum, our Scholars also receive a
gratifying degree of recognition in the form of college acceptances. Our graduated Scholars have attended or are now attending
such schools as Barnard College, Brandeis University, Brown University, Colgate University, Cornell University, Harvard Col-
lege, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, NYU-Tisch, Oberlin College, Pomona College, Stanford University, The University of
Edinburgh, The University of Pennsylvania, and Williams College. Go Scholars!
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York News 9
The York Scholars and Pre-scholars Course Schedule for 2014-15
Director of Enrollment: Elizabeth Norton
York Prep’s Junior Scholars Program is off to a spectacular start. In Junior Scholars, seventh and eighth grade students are
offered a unique set of courses that supplement their regular curriculum if they are doing well academically and are able to
manage the extra work. Students must have at least an 88% average, a good attendance record, and strong effort grades to be
accepted into the program.
Ms. Ruby Disko introduced seventh grade Junior Scholars to Exploration of Crystals, a course in which students learned
not only to identify and understand crystals but also how to grow their own. The students finished the course with a trip to the
Guggenheim Hall of Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History.
Eighth grade Junior Scholars learned robotics under the guidance of Mr. Jeremy Arnstein. Students began by building the
frames, sensors, arms, and wheels of the robots. Once the students had created their hardware designs, they moved on to
programing the robots to interact and manipulate their environments.
Currently, Mr. Thomas Henson is teaching The Graphing Calculator to the seventh grade Scholars group. This course
encompasses training in the features of the graphing calculator, focusing primarily on topics covered in seventh grade math.
In Tour of Microsoft Excel, Ms. Ruby Disko teaches eighth grade Junior Scholars to go beyond “the tip of the iceberg” by
learning how to make tables and convert them into graphs, using formulas to gather information, and learning shortcuts.
For the final Junior Scholars session in the spring, both 7th
and 8th
grade students will choose from three courses: Italian,
Poetry, and Debate.
11th Grade:
Session 1
1) Italian Renaissance Art I – Dr. Reese
2) A Seminar in Modern Poetry – Ms. Umansky
Session 2
1) Lincoln’s Second Inaugural – Mr. Roper
2) Polar Coordinates – Ms. Povshko
Session 3
1) An Introduction to the History of Art (20th Century
and Beyond) Ms. Kolosso
2) The Golden Ratio - Mr. Misiak
Session 4
1) Multi-Variable Systems of Equations – Mr. Preston
2) Exploring Microbiology – Dr. Viscusi
12th Grade:
Session 1
1) When Comedy Was King – Mr. Tull
2) Senior Thesis Seminar I – Mr. Sturm
Session 2
1) Dada, Surrealism, and Fantasy – Ms. Kolosso
2) Senior Thesis Seminar II – Mr. Sturm
Session 3
1) Senior Thesis Seminar III - Mr. Sturm
10th Grade:
Session 1
1) An Introduction to the History of Art
(Pre-20th Century) – Ms. Kolosso
2) Lincoln’s Second Inaugural - Mr. Roper
Session 2
1) Logic - Ms. Povshko
2) The World of Opera: Spotlight on Bizet’s Carmen
– Mrs. Weschler
Session 3
1) Performing Shakespeare - Mr. Tull
2) (Double Session)
Session 4
1) Considering Evolution - Mr. Misiak
2) “We Hold These Truths” - Mr. Viscusi
9th Grade Pre-scholars (begins in the 3rd Quarter):
Session 3
1) Poetry Workshop - Ms. Umansky
2) Sequences and Series - Ms. Povshko
Session 4
1) Mandarin Calligraphy - Ms. Jin
2) Google+ Documents - Mrs. Minaudo
Junior Scholars Program

10 Winter 2015
York Technology Infrastructure Upgrades Highlights
Director of Technology: Richard Abba
York Prep’s wireless pilot project was successfully completed this past year with the installation of about 50 wireless access
points, both in the main building and in our satellite site. These access points support the latest, fastest wireless standard,
“ac”, which is approximately three times faster than its predecessor. A strong signal is available everywhere.
Between 400 and 500 wireless devices attach to the network each day. We have adopted the BYOD (bring your own device)
model, allowing students to use laptop computers, tablets, and phones of any type. Laptops kept in the library also can be
checked out by students as needed. Faculty also received laptop computers, permitting them to work from anywhere, inside or
outside of the York Prep school buildings. We are continuing to research new ways wireless devices can be integrated
effectively into the educational program of the school.
Through our newly-implemented online application procedure, available through our website, applicants to the school
now can submit all materials electronically. A checklist feature enables both the applicants and the Admissions Office to
monitor the status of the various steps required to complete the application process.
Lastly, the acquisition of a new library software system, Alexandria, is helping to analyze the current holdings to facilitate
a major revamping of the York Prep collection.
History Teacher: Michael Roper
Written by seniors Daniel Durocher and Ascari Chotoosingh
Afew weeks before midterms or finals start, Mr. Roper’s classroom is transformed into a
courtroom. Each student takes a turn standing behind the podium in the middle of the
room. Here, Mr. Roper becomes something of a lead prosecutor, questioning his students
about their Constitutional Law term papers. Legal terms fly back and forth as this formidable
teacher tests his students’ knowledge of the constitution and the Supreme Court cases they
have researched and studied. This is the oral defense of Mr. Roper’s class term papers.
Those who know Mr. Roper are well aware of his unorthodox teaching methods, with daily
quizzes and long lectures often punctuated by humorous anecdotes. The oral defense is a
signature requirement of Mr. Roper’s classes, especially in his law class. This year, 12 of Mr.
Roper’s students chose cases from the past decade, such as Georgia v. Randolph (2006),
Morse v. Frederick (2007), and Roper v. Simmons (2005). Despite the stress from research,
writing, and preparing for the oral presentation, students still felt incredibly lucky to stand at
that podium and defend the theses that they worked so hard on developing.
Adolescent Girls Group
Social Therapist and School Counselor: Evelyn Rowe-Cosentino
The Adolescent Girls Group is a didactic, interactive, and task-focused group. Girls of all ages are welcome to come and
develop techniques such as mindful mediation, peer sharing, providing feedback, and social self-appraisal. The group
helps girls with social-emotional maturation, self-acceptance, communication, and interpersonal competence.
Issues addressed include, but are not limited to, a broad range of emotional and physical changes—puberty, stressors,
relationships, self-esteem, social belonging, peer pressure, body image, anxiety, fitting in, academic strain, increasing social
and emotional resources, and familial conflict.
The group meets once a week during lunch and is open to all interested girls.
Constitutional Law Reimagined in the Classroom

York News 11
Peer Tutoring
Advisors: Ruby Disko, Thomas Henson, and Ethan Pennington
Throughout the year, students can be seen signing in and out of the
library to log their peer tutoring hours. Under the leadership of fac-
ulty advisors Ms. Ruby Disko, Mr. Thomas Henson, and Mr. Ethan
Pennington, peer tutoring remains a successful program here at York
Prep.
The peer tutoring program embodies York Prep’s mission to pro-
vide top-notch education within a supportive and empowering environ-
ment where students assist one another rather than compete against
each other. During the week, students meet throughout the building
with peer tutors to work on all kinds of assignments.
The program encourages students to take charge of their learning,
self-advocate, and make use of the resources York Prep makes available to them. “Peer tutoring is beneficial for both students
involved,” said Ms. Disko. “The student being tutored receives extra explanation in language that is familiar to them, and the
student tutoring reinforces his or her own understanding by explaining concepts to peers.”
If you are interested in participating in the peer tutoring program, speak with a faculty advisor and join us.
A Visit from the New York School for the Deaf
ASL Teacher: Kate Logan
York Prep’s American Sign Language (ASL) students had the extraor-
dinary opportunity this past November to spend time with 14
students from the New York School for the Deaf. The students were from
a myriad of faraway countries, including India, Guatemala, and Jamaica.
Despite the apparent differences, York Prep students developed mean-
ingful connections through the common bond of ASL and a shared
admiration of deaf culture.
Sophomore ASL student Anna Sporn said that she used to think
deaf people were “so different” from hearing people. Meeting with the
students from the
New York School
for the Deaf helped
her realize that this was far from true. “This was an amazing experience
I will never forget, and I feel so fortunate to get to learn ASL and commu-
nicate with deaf friends,” Anna said.
Another ASL student, junior Kayla Gartenberg said, “One kid told me
he was excited to come so he could be exposed to the hearing world and
make hearing friends. When he told me this, I was very happy because
we both shared that excitement and the meeting was a learning experi-
ence for both of us.”
ASL classes will continue to promote occasions for York Prep
students to utilize their ASL skills and expand their understanding of deaf culture.

12 Winter 2015
News from the Library
School Librarian: Joanne Walsh
“What is the History homework?”
“I don’t understand this math. Can you help me?”
“I’ve got to get my homework this afternoon before I go home.”
“Oh, good. There is a table free over here. Let’s work there.”
Stop by the library any afternoon after dismissal and these are a few of the comments you will overhear among the students.
Most afternoons, every seat is filled and students are working, both independently and collaboratively. There is a hum of
activity, learning, and tangible energy. Some days, you will find students seated on the floor in groups discussing books,
working on assignments during a free period, or cranking out homework during lunch.
The library’s revitalization is a direct result of its renovation over the summer. Gone are the desktop computers and carrels;
instead, we have new tables and chairs making the room more open and bright. It now can accommodate more than 30
students on laptops, far more than the number that could be seated prior to the renovation.
It isn’t just the library’s physical appearance that has changed. Bibliophiles will be happy to learn that we are also expand-
ing our fiction section for pleasure reading. The first order of 400 new books just arrived with something to tickle everyone’s
fancy—from tales of adventure and time travel to historical fiction and fantasy. As the school year progresses, there will be
additional books, author visits, and more.
Librarian Ms. Joanne Walsh’s warmth with students can be felt in the air in the new library space. “This is my first year at
York Preparatory School and I am so excited to be here,” she said. “I have been a librarian for 15 years now and, as I tell all the
students, it is the best job ever. Of course, when I was younger, I thought librarians got to read books all day—we don’t, darn
it!—but I do get to work with books and recommend them to eager readers. In my opinion, it can’t get much better than that.”
Please stop by to study, to work, or even chat with Ms. Walsh about any book recommendations you have for her or to
request book purchases for the library.
A Farewell to our Dear Friend, Felix Fibich
History Teacher: Michael Roper
Written by senior Miles Liu
When staring into the eyes of oppression and tyranny, few people
can truly fight for their freedom. Felix Fibich was one of those
people. Mr. Fibich was a Polish modern dancer, choreographer, and
teacher who specialized in Jewish dance and theater. He was also an
icon in the York Prep community. Mr. Fibich’s story is one of great
sacrifice, sorrow, and victory.
He was born on Aug. 5, 1917, in Warsaw, where his mother owned
a restaurant and his father was a cantor. Felix thrived as an artist in
Yiddish theater companies in Poland and in 1936 he met his wife, Judith
Berg.
In 1939 Poland was invaded by the Germans and Felix’s parents both died in the Holocaust. After witnessing the horror of
the massacre and subjugation of the Jewish people at the hands of the Nazis, Felix decided to escape Poland in 1940 and
travelled to the Soviet Union. Felix then moved to New York in 1950 and continued his escapades as an artist.

York News 13
Felix Fibich became a close friend of history teacher Michael Roper. Through that friendship, he became acquainted with
the York Prep community. Felix would come to talk to Mr. Roper’s U.S. History students about escaping near death and fleeing
Poland and the great tribulations Jewish people faced throughout Europe. On March 20, 2014, after enduring and witnessing
monstrosities, yet continuing to live a vital life, Felix Fibich died peacefully at the age of 96.
Over the years, Felix had become so close to the York Prep community that Mr. Roper and his students were invited to
attend a service for Felix at the Holocaust Museum. Mr. Roper, in an emotional and captivating speech at the service, spoke
about Mr. Fibich’s philosophies and about how he once told a class that “until you become a minority of one, you will never be
free.” Those few words were powerful enough to even set some of the students in the classroom free.
Felix was known for more than just his exceptional art. He was respected for his courage and his sacrifice. York Prep best
knew him as a man who had witnessed so much violence but still sought to uncover the beauty in the world. With the power of
art, Felix Fibich brought enjoyment amid wickedness and—with the power of wisdom—sought to overcome ignorance. Felix
never failed to smile and gift us with his ever-burning light. Let each of us keep Felix’s dream of happiness and freedom alive
and celebrate the life of a man who fought for all to be free by becoming a minority of one.
Escape the Room Field Trip
Chair of Reading and Writing: Sammantha Farkas
Freshmen and sophomore students taking Fundamentals of Reading and Writing participated in a team-building mystery
field trip in early December to celebrate the conclusion of the course’s mystery genre unit. “Escape the Room” is a mystery
game located in two different locations of New York City; York Prep students visited the midtown location. Participants are
placed into a room and have an hour to escape. Each room harbors a different mystery, and participants work together to solve
the mysteries in each room. Every piece of furniture, picture, and
prop plays a role in the game. The clues may include reading a
cryptic message on the wall, rearranging a map, or solving a puzzle.
Once you have solved one clue, you are provided with a key or a
code that will unlock another clue; the key may unlock a filing cabi-
net or even open a hidden passageway leading to another room.
Half of the York Prep students were placed in the Agency
mystery room, while the other half attempted to solve the Office
mystery room. Students practiced team building by seeking out
clues and working together to dissect and analyze them so they
could determine the importance of each clue. They also used their
critical thinking skills to make deductions and their persuasive rheto-
ric to convince their teammates of their viewpoints.
Only 20% of all participants actually solve all of the clues and
make it out of the room in under an hour. The York Prep classes
did not to get out within an hour, but both groups were very close, only one or two clues away from escaping.
In the mystery genre unit of the Fundamentals of Reading and Writing course, students learned valuable strategies in
reading comprehension and written expression which improved their higher-order thinking skills. Their active reading chal-
lenged them to seek out suspects and motives and to differentiate clues from red-herrings. The field trip to “Escape the Room”
brought the students to a live mystery!

14 Winter 2015
Dodge Poetry Festival
English Teacher: Leah Umansky
The Dodge Poetry Festival is a biennial event that draws approxi-
mately 155,000 people from 43 states into an environment in which
everyone adores the spoken and written word of poetry. Visitors par-
ticipate, free of charge, in what is widely acknowledged as the largest
poetry event in North America.
Six York Prep students joined in at the festival grounds near New-
ark, NJ, for the Dodge Poetry Festival’s Student Day on October 4, 2014.
Sophomore Victoria Laboz; juniors Carlos Bello and Daniel Arias; and
seniors Molly Model, Cody Corrall, and Sarah Calaman attended. York
Prep English teacher Ms. Leah Umansky (a published poet) was thrilled
to share the festival with the students, as she too first attended the
festival when she was in high school.
The York student participants gave the festival rave reviews. “This
trip made me feel inspired to go to poetry slams in the city and explore
poetry even more,” said one student. Another said, “Being in a space
with well-known writers, young writers, and inspiring people all around, I now have a better understanding of why poetry is so
special and why I enjoy it so much.”
Metropolitan Museum of Art: A Treasure Trove of Learning
History Teacher: Eric Tull
At York Prep, traveling 5,000 miles across the globe and 3,000 years back in
time is possible with just one half-hour walk. This fall, the short hike through
Central Park transported Mr. Tull’s 7th
grade Ancient History classes back to the
Egyptian realm of the pharaohs and to the Golden Age of Greece. In October, the
group visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they capped off their
understanding of the Egyptians by entering their powerfully built tombs and
temples and admiring their precision-made tools and stunning jewelry. In
December, they sharpened their “archeologist’s eye view” of the Greeks by touch-
ing bronze and marble statuary and by examining the preparatory equipment of
an Olympic athlete from 2,500 years ago. They also admired the murals painted
on the inside of a Roman nobleman’s home and, upon encountering a Greek
statue of the mythical Sphinx, contemplated its age-old riddle while peering into
its eyes.
Mining the Metropolitan Museum’s educational treasures doesn’t stop there
for students at York Prep. Every spring, York Prep’s sixth graders visit the
museum to enjoy artwork from the many cultures they study in Mr. Tull’s World
Geography class and World Language classes. As with the seventh graders,
taking in the treasures of the Chinese dynasties or the Spanish Golden Age is
just a walk in the park for sixth grade York Prep students.

York News 15
New-York Historical Society
Advisor: Michael Roper
Written by senior Winston Freeman
Iattended two lectures at the New-York Historical Society to
fill a requirement for my history class. Originally, I believed
that it would be a chore, and the knowledge that I would have
to take copious notes during the lectures did not overcome my
worries. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the lectures I
attended. While the stress I had envisioned was present, the
interesting material of each lecture more than made up for the
stress.
The first lecture I attended was “Jefferson Davis: Embattled
Rebel” given by historian Mr. James McPherson. Jefferson
Davis was the president of the Confederate States during the
Civil War. Through the lecture I learned that the short history of
the Confederacy is inseparable from the Civil War. This history
extends to Davis, commonly thought of as incompetent, for no other reason than his being on the losing side. Mr. McPherson’s
lecture focused on the strained relationship between President Davis and General Joseph E. Johnston. Davis wanted Johnston
to continue fighting, while Johnston had no qualms about retreating and giving up land to fight another day. As McPherson
humorously noted about their relationship, “Johnston’s hatred of Davis amounted to a religion.”
As the lecture progressed, I realized that it was not what I had imagined—it did not solely follow Jefferson Davis’ presi-
dency during the war, but rather honed in on Davis and Johnston’s association during the war. By focusing on two people,
McPherson didn’t cover as much ground, but I think it was better that way. He kept the lecture interesting, lively, and free from
the constraints of a syllabus. Overall, these lectures were enjoyable and I would advise attending at least one, especially if you
are interested in history.
Written by senior Daniel Caragiulo
Going to the New-York Historical Society (N-YHS) is more
than just an honor, but a privilege. I was skeptical at first
about visiting this American history museum and library. I was
worried that I would be unable to stay awake during the lec-
ture, but I was also very excited to be in such a prestigious and
intellectually stimulating space. My first trip to the N-YHS blew
all of my expectations out of the water and proved to be one of
the most riveting experiences of my life. This could be due to
my love of history, but I don’t think so. I see all my fellow peers
bright eyed, excited, and focused every time we visit.
The speakers are always top notch and often have incred-
ible insight to offer. Someone displaying passion for what they
do is very captivating and this is something one witnesses when
attending the Bernard and Irene Schwartz Distinguished Speak-
ers Series at the N-YHS. Junior Kayla Gartenberg agrees, “Every visit to the N-YHS captivates and fascinates me. Every speaker
has lots of great wisdom to impart on the audience.” Each speaker brings a mastery to the stage that is unmatchable. On these
visits Mr. Roper’s exponentially elevates the experience with his incredible joy and humor. I know I speak for my peers when I
say that a trip to the N-YHS is something looked forward to and loved.

16 Winter 2015
NYC Tours
Advisor: Michael Roper
Written by junior Daniel Arias
Throughout the years I have lived in New York City, I walked
along the streets every day not knowing the history of my
home town. I walked daily by historic landmarks not knowing
that my strolls were taking me through our nation’s past.
History teacher Michael Roper’s New York City tours have
presented students like me with the opportunity to truly appre-
ciate every city block. The most vivid memory I have of one of
Mr. Roper’s tours was when we were walking through
Woodlawn Cemetery and came upon the graves of Miles Davis
and Duke Ellington. As a big fan of jazz with a large amount of
music from these two artists, I found that to be a great
moment. Being able to see the final resting place of these great
artists was an immense honor, especially considering that I
have passed Woodlawn Cemetery on multiple occasions without knowing such influential people were buried there.
Along with visiting famous sites, my fellow students and I are required to give a report on a notable person found on the
tour. On the tour through Woodlawn, my assigned notable person was Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the civil rights activist who
organized the Seneca Falls Convention with Lucretia Mott and wrote her Declaration of Sentiments. The Declaration of Senti-
ments is often credited with initiating the first organized women’s rights and women’s suffrage movements in the United
States. Learning about Elizabeth Cady Stanton was not just some school project; I actually used the information I learned by
giving a presentation about her in class when we covered the topic.
Junior Trevor Viscardi described his experience on Mr. Roper’s tours as fascinating and truly exciting. “Having heard of
Mr. Roper’s tours for years, I was anxious and excited to finally attend one of them,” said Trevor. “Our walk took us through
and around what was once New Amsterdam. Mr. Roper has
this brilliant way of bringing history to life by using just the
right amount of hard facts as well as silly anecdotes, which are
always the right amount of tangential. Suddenly, the cobbled
streets weren’t just a novelty; rather, they offer commonly over-
looked relics. The tours connect on a very personal level as
well; it brings us back to the roots of our city, my city. Having
been born and raised in New York, finding out Pearl Street was
named after the pearl color created by the plethora of oyster
shells the citizens of New Amsterdam cast down was elating.
Although the trip was exhausting and cold, it wasn’t by any
means unpleasant.”
On the trip to Woodlawn cemetery, where we walked for
hours viewing the graves of many famous New Yorkers, Trevor
found the most interesting thing about that tour to be that, despite the fact that we were a huge group of high school students,
we “retained—for the most part, at least—a respectable demeanor.”
It has become clear over time that the tours, as well as Mr. Roper himself, tend to bring out the best in people. The tours
are just as interesting and fun as many have professed them to be and, although it is hard getting up early on those Sundays,
it really is worth it. Nowhere else will you find such a knowledgeable and passionate tour guide as Mr. Roper.

York News 17
The Museum of Mathematics Field Trip
Math Teachers: Erica Millado and Ted Preston
The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) on the lower east side is a beacon for mathematicians and math-lovers
alike. MoMath’s location only 20 minutes away from York Prep made it an ideal location for teachers Ms. Erica Millado, Ms.
Maria D’Angelo and Mr. Ted Preston to broaden their students’ perception of math.
Last September, a class of seventh graders and a class of seniors embarked on a collaborative exploratory visit together to
the museum. Students engaged in many of the hands-on exhibits at the museum, which highlighted different areas of math-
ematics. Throughout the museum visit, students uncovered many real-life applications of the mathematical concepts they were
learning in class.
Mr. Preston’s seniors served as chaperones for Ms. Millado’s seventh graders. The students all agreed that there is
something for everyone to learn at the Museum of Mathematics.

18 Winter 2015
A Look Back at The Drowsy Chaperone
Performing Arts Department Chair: Fiona Hutchison
All we can say is “I’m sorry” to those of you who missed
York Prep’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone last
spring. Drowsy was unquestionably one of the best produc-
tions to ever come out of York Prep in its 46 years. “Some-
times things just line up,” said Ms. Fiona Hutchison, Chair of
the Performing Arts Department. “Nobody could’ve predicted
how well Drowsy would be received. We didn’t know as little as
a week before we opened. All we knew is that the kids were
having a blast at rehearsal. [We] knew it would be fun. We just
had no idea how much fun it would be for the audience. But,
wow, did it deliver”.
Drowsy told the story about the “man in the chair,” a lov-
able, musical theater buff, who whenever feeling down about
life, pulls out his vinyl copy of a fictitious 1920’s roaring Broadway musical aptly titled The Drowsy Chaperone; and when he
does this, the musical comes to life in his living room.
Mr. Ronald Stewart, our school’s co-founder and head-
master, recommended the show to the Performing Arts
Department. “Mr. Stewart told us it was funny and short and
that he loved it when he saw it on Broadway,” said the show’s
director Mr. John Viscardi. “So, I ordered a copy and I have to
admit after I read it, I thought it was one of the funniest books
and scores I’d ever come across.”
After reading the play, Mr. Viscardi went over to the
Library of the Performing Arts to view a digital archive of the
original 2006 Broadway show. He was surprised by what he
found. “It wasn’t that funny,” shared Mr. Viscardi. “I mean,
there were moments, but so much of it was long and drawn
out. I just thought they missed a bunch of stuff.”
Mr. Viscardi wasn’t the only one who felt this way. He made
changes to the play and after the evening’s first performance,
a woman came up to him. She said that the production she had just witnessed was one of the best she had ever seen of
Drowsy. The woman thought Mr. Viscardi’s creative team had
even managed to find jokes that weren’t in the original produc-
tion. That woman was no ordinary audience member. She was
Ms. Lisa Lambert, the composer and lyricist of the actual Broad-
way show!
“We were all floored,” said Mr. Viscardi. “That kind of thing
just doesn’t happen. I mean…it just doesn’t happen.”
Ms. Lambert went on to attend the remaining three York
Prep performances and on the evening of last performance,
she even brought along the choreographer from Broadway’s
Book of Mormon and the original musical director of Drowsy.

York News 19
“She loved it,” beamed York Prep Musical Director Mr.
Thomas Hodges. “We loved the music from the beginning, and
the students had so much fun singing the songs. Honestly, it
wasn’t hard to provide musical direction for this show. I mean,
it’s always hard, but the students were so enthusiastic and
passionate that it was truly nothing but fun. And meeting the
original musical director of the show was such a treat –not to
mention meeting Ms. Lambert herself. It was magical”.
“It’s really a testament to Ronnie and Jayme Stewart and
their love of the arts,” said Ms. Hutchison. “All they ever want
to do is look to make the school the best in its field. And now,
with their support of the arts (and more specifically in the
performing arts) I can honestly say we are right up there with
the best performing arts high schools, not only in the city, but
in the country. And that is something to be proud of.”
Not being a Performing Arts school has led to remarkable opportunities for many of York’s students. “I never imagined I
would ever be in a musical!” said senior Sam Kay. “Everyone knew me as a student and basketball player, but I felt in a rut. I felt
I needed a new challenge, and when Thomas Hodges asked me to be in the The Drowsy Chaperone, in a leading role, no less,
I just said yes! I didn’t know I’d be tap dancing and singing as well as acting! But I worked hours with Thomas and on my own,
learning to sing well above my range, and I worked literally hours learning to tap dance. Honestly, it was one of the most
amazing experiences of my life!”
Senior Eli Krauss, who hopes to pursue a career in filmmaking, has been involved in the Drama Department from his first
years at York. With regard to how easy it is to get involved, he said, “When you think of auditioning, you normally think it’s a big
threat. But at York it’s the most comfortable, friendly, relaxed process. And if you’re not interested in acting, all you have to do
is ask if they need any help. There are so many different angles, from set building to back stage to stage-managing. The Drama
Department has been such a big part of my experience. I don’t know where I would be without it.”
Sophomore Joseph Newman-Getzler said, “Doing Drowsy Chaperone was the biggest role I’ve ever been given and the
most satisfying! It was the first time I ever looked really deeply into a character to what motivates them, because the play
doesn’t give you everything. The experience was just so warm and inviting. The people I worked with--Ms. Hutchison, Mr.
Hodges, Mr. Viscardi, Molly [Model], and Trevor [Viscardi] and everyone--were so kind to me. It was one of the most invigo-
rating and rewarding experiences of my life!”
The cast of The Drowsy Chaperone included 7th
grader Sariah Johnson, 8th
graders Breaker Novogratz and Gabriel Squitieri;
freshmen Olivia Heskett and Caroline Watters; sophomores Joseph Newman-Getzler, Felix Sanchez, and Andrew Vella; juniors
Daniel Arias, Emma Benten, Nieve Ferguson, Callam Kurtz, and Trevor Viscardi; seniors Cody Corrall, Isabel Greenberg, Sam
Kay, Eli Krauss, Molly Model, and Gayla Kornbluh (Class of 2014).
International Buffet and Musical Celebration
Director of Community Relations: Sherry Grand
The International Buffet and Music Celebration was a night to remember. On November 13, 2014, the York Prep gymnasium
was transformed into a festive bistro complete with candle-lit tables. The event hosted approximately 100 students, fami-
lies, and faculty members. Students and their families prepared an array of delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts from
around the world.
The musical highlight of the evening feature student performances by the Glee Club as well as the cast of the York Prep’s
original musical, Underground. The terrific evening was enjoyed by all!

20 Winter 2015
UNDERGROUND: The Musical – A York Prep Original
Last December while waiting for students to arrive to class,
Music Director and teacher Mr. Thomas Hodges sat at a
piano and played a song called “Underground” that he had
written some years earlier for Drama Director and teacher Mr.
John Viscardi. Less than one year later a musical was born.
Mr. Hodges wrote the music and lyrics; Mr. Viscardi the book.
At the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater on December 4-6, with
a cast and crew of over 30 students, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart
produced Underground to stellar reviews.
“I love teaching at York,” said Mr. Hodges. “I love working
with the students and the faculty, but I really cherish working
with John and Fiona. We are all so supportive of each other
and the students, and we are all always thinking of ways to
create and engage the students in the arts. Underground came
out of that passion”
Underground chronicles the journey of teenagers who live underground in the NYC subway tunnels. It follows them as
they try to survive and follow their dreams.
“Underground is really three stories,” says Mr. Viscardi. “It tells the story of Grace, a young girl who lives underground
with her mother Althea and who tries to pursue her dreams as a singer. It tells the story of Maddie who, along with her brother
Max, pursues her dream of being a documentary filmmaker. And it tells the story of Doormat, one of our most likable under-
ground hooligans, as he pursues his dream of making friends and leaving behind something meaningful in the world. Really,
it’s all about dreaming and what it takes to make your dreams
a reality. It’s quite special.”
Working closely with Mr. Viscardi and Mr. Hodges was
Ms. Fiona Hutchison, the third of this powerful Performing Arts
creative team. “I love what John and Thomas bring to the table.
They are creative, supportive of each other, and just have great
ideas. They just go, go, go.”
Underground was not only a first for collaborators John
Viscardi and Thomas Hodges, but it was a first for many in the
cast as well. “The role of Doormat was the biggest role I’d ever
been given, and I wasn’t originally going to play it,” said senior
Gabe Icikson. “I had a smaller role in the play, but two weeks
before opening I asked Mr. Viscardi and Mr. Hodges if I could
go on in the understudy performance, and they said if I could really get the role down and prove to them I was ready, they
would let me. So I worked day and night studying the lines with my father and during lunch with Mr. Hodges, and honestly, it
was one of the greatest things I’ve done in high school. It meant so much to me. And it meant so much to my mom and
grandmother as well.” But it didn’t come easy to Gabe. “I was nervous, but Ms. Hutchison told me to try out for the play. She
really made me believe I had the potential to do it. The Drama Department is great at encouraging the kids, to show them it’s not
as scary as they think”.
Senior Lucas Mollod thought Underground “was really cool. It was different from any other show I’ve been in. Normally I
read the play, then try to see a video of the production, but I couldn’t do that with Underground. It was the closest thing to

York News 21
originating a part that I’ve ever had. And I’m really glad I had
that experience before going off to college since I’d like to
pursue acting professionally. It was a great experience.”
First timer to the stage, senior Ascari Chotoosingh didn’t
know what to expect but wanted to give it a try. “It was a very
positive experience. I had a lot of fun working with my fellow
cast members. I learned a lot about acting on stage and I got a
lot of experi-
ence. I was ner-
vous about get-
ting such a big
role at first, but
as time went on,
and once I
memorized all
my lines, I gained confidence. Working with [senior] Sarah Calaman helped a
lot. She was in a lot more shows than I was and she was so friendly. In fact,
everybody was really friendly and really welcoming. It was just a very positive
environment!”
The cast of Underground included freshmen Olivia Heskett and Caroline
Watters, sophomores Joseph Newman-Getzler and Felix Sanchez, juniors Daniel
Arias, Emma Benten, Nieve Ferguson, Trevor Viscardi, and Brandon Young, seniors Sarah Calaman, Ascari Chotoosingh, Ellara
Chumashkaeva, Cody Corrall, Michael Demos, Isabel Greenberg, Gabriel Icikson, Eli Krauss, Molly Model, and Lucas Mollod.
Student Government Organization
Advisors: Melissa Feibusch, Brittany McKinney, and Jillian Schmidt
Through York Prep’s Student Government Organization (SGO), a group of elected student representatives organize events to
give back to their school and community. Under the senior leadership of Presidents Edward Haddad and Samuel Kay, the
SGO expanded this year with the addition of four new cabinet members. Seniors Jared Axelowitz, Miles Liu, and Lucas Mollod
serve as vice president, treasurer, and parliamentarian, respectively. The cabinet is rounded out with Charles Stevens, a junior
who serves as the SGO’s secretary.
This year, the SGO chose different philanthropic organizations to sponsor each month. October was devoted to raising
money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization committed to finding a cure for breast cancer. The SGO sponsored
a raffle during the faculty dodgeball game to raise funds for the Foundation. During November and December, the SGO teamed
up with the NYC Cares Winter Wishes program to give holiday presents to inner city students in need. The York Prep commu-
nity shone throughout this initiative, as our students, parents, and faculty fulfilled many holiday wishes.
In addition to supporting various charitable causes, the SGO hosted the Halloween Spooktacular, headlined for the second
consecutive year by magician Gary the Great. Gary again dazzled both students and faculty. The event concluded with the
annual costume contest; this year’s winners included 6th
graders William Mansouri and Charlotte Soiefer; sophomore Liam
Mandelbaum; and junior Emma Benten.
The SGO’s commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, supportive, and fun environment is seen in all aspects of their
agenda. The advisors and elected officers hope to engage the entire community at York Prep, from sixth grade through
graduating seniors, in supporting one another on the fields, courts, stages, and wherever else an extra dose of camaraderie
might be needed. We hold fast to the notion that there is no better place to show and exhibit pride than at school. York Prep
pride begins with us. Go Panthers!

24 Winter 2015
The Beekeeping Club
Advisor: Ms. Janet Rooney
The Beekeeping Club was launched five years ago at York Prep after it
became legal again to maintain an apiary in the borough of Manhattan.
While the hives are quite dormant during the cold winter months, the Bee-
keeping Club remained busy every Tuesday of the fall semester under the
leadership of Ms. Janet Rooney, an aspiring beekeeper herself. Students
spent time learning how to use a smoker, manipulate the frames, treat the
hives for mites, feed the hives with sugar water and fondant, and wrap the
hives for the winter.
In September, Ms. Rooney and several of her top beekeeping students
were invited to attend the Waldorf Astoria’s second annual Battle of the
Bees. This honey-tasting contest included competitors from the Waldorf,
Brooks Brothers, the Durst Organization, the NYC Beekeepers Association
and York Prep.
Although the first prize went to the Waldorf, York Prep students had an
amazing time competing. Headmaster Ronald Stewart and Mrs. Jayme
Stewart both attended to offer support. The impressive list of judges
included top chef Eric Rippert from Le Bernardin; James Oseland, editor of
Saveur magazine; and Tim Gunn, a mentor from “Project Runway.” Top
chef and TV personality Alex Guarnaschelli hosted the event. The beekeep-
ing club would like to
give special thanks to
Ms. Elizabeth Norton
from our Admissions
Office, who was especially helpful in creating swag bags for the event!
Last spring, Ms. Rooney reached out to professional beekeeper Mr.
Danny Senter of Teaneck, New Jersey, to help teach students the basics of
beekeeping. Danny’s interest in beekeeping began when he visited a friend’s
farm. After conducting extensive research on caring and cultivating bees,
he started beekeeping on his own. By the next spring, he had two of his own
hives. Danny now manages three small apiaries and is called upon regularly
to rescue honey bees from some of the oddest places. Danny gets extra
help from Dr. Ray Aarons of New Jersey, another aspiring beekeeper with
two hives at his school.
The club will resume meetings in January for some classroom discus-
sions and presentations on beekeeping. We will head back to the roof in
March to see which hives survived the winter and to introduce new hives.
This spring, the club will undertake a new endeavor – honey harvesting. In
the past, an outside beekeeper collected the honey; this year, however,
students will learn the process of collecting honey from hive to jar.
The club would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Stewart for their generosity
in supplying brand new bee suits and for the materials needed to maintain
our rooftop garden and the apiary.

York News 25
York Prep Model United Nations Club
Advisors: Brendan Buckley and Anthony diSalvo
The York Prep Model United Nations Club is in the midst of another excit-
ing competition season. In December, the club’s more than 20 mem-
bers attended the first-ever Model UN conference held at the United Nations
International School in New York. They all did an exemplary job. Senior Max
Fleischman and junior Evan Torma-Rookley made the York Prep commu-
nity beam with pride when they won awards within their committees.
This January, the club will
attend the 31st
annual Ivy
League Model United Nations
Conference in Philadelphia, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania. With more
than 3,000 delegates from around the country scheduled to attend, this
conference always attracts excellent Model UN teams and interesting guest speak-
ers. This year, York Prep will be representing South Korea, Mauritius, and the
Netherlands. Additionally, three York Prep students will have seats on Crisis
Committees, where they will deal with issues surrounding the historical events
of the Treaty of Westphalia and the Knights Templar during the Crusades.
“York’s Model UN team is made up of some of our best, most committed, and hardest working students,” said the club’s
faculty advisor, Mr. Brendan Buckley. “It is an absolute pleasure to work with these students and watch them grow personally,
socially and academically.”
History Teacher: Eric Tull
Every February, the York Prep Pantherdome hosts the annual York Prep
Social Studies Superbowl. 2015 marks the 11th
anniversary of the event
(hence “Superbowl XI”), which takes place every year on the day after the NFL
Superbowl. The four high school classes compete fiercely against each other,
answering questions about history, geography, government and current events.
Representatives of each grade chose questions from three categories based
on difficulty, with accompanying point values to match each set of questions.
History teacher and moderator Mr. Michael “Walking Textbook” Roper writes
and poses all the questions, with new features and new categories of questions
added each year, including quotes and images of flags or famous figures for
students to identify. Mr. Roper is assisted by History Department Chair Heather
Marshall and the history team. York Prep’s reliable Physical Education coaches handle the officiating.
York Prep Principal Stefanie Lopez presents the winners with bestselling books on a variety of historical topics. The victors
also earn bragging rights for an entire year.
In last year’s contest, the sophomores barely squeezed past the freshmen in a suspenseful tie-breaking overtime round.
The sophomores were then beaten by the senior class of 2014 in the final round.
The York Prep Superbowl has been won by seniors, sophomores, and even freshmen. The eleventh grade has yet to win a
championship. Could this be the year the juniors finally claim victory? We’ll have to see.
York Celebrates Superbowl XI

26 Winter 2015
York Prep Bake Sales
Advisor: Sammantha Farkas
The tight-knit community of York Prep comes together during our weekly
bake sales, sponsored by our many student-led clubs. These bake sales
not only raise money for the clubs—for example, the Student Government
Organization, Same Sky on Campus, and the Gay/Straight Alliance—but also
increase awareness about important activities which these clubs undertake.
Hungry students devour delicious baked treats while learning about the
accomplishments of the club sponsoring that week’s bake sale.
Bake sales take place every Friday in the Lobby and offer a sweet
addition to life at York Prep.
D.E.A.R. Book Club
Advisors: Lynn Butterworth and Martha Caruso
To start off the academic year, the Drop Everything And Read (D.E.A.R.) Middle School
book club read and discussed Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, which tells the story of
Meggie and her father Mo, who has an extraordinary ability. When Mo reads aloud
from books, he can bring characters to life. Mo discovers his power after reading from
the book Inkheart and seeing a few of the book’s wicked characters come to life right on
Mo’s cottage floor. Mo’s discovery is made all the more terrifying when he realizes that
by freeing some of the characters from the book, he had accidentally read Meggie’s
mother into the book.
In exploring the book Inkheart, D.E.A.R. book club members had a wonderful time
discussing the books they would like to “be read into” and the various novel characters
they would love to see “read into our world.” With the start of the second semester, the
middle school book club began reading Black Beauty, Anna Sewell’s 19th
century
classic.
Open Studio
Advisors: Cora Kolosso and Karl Hartman
Open Studio is an art club that meets after school in the Art Room, Monday through Thursday. The club opens a space that
encourages all interested high school and middle school students to explore new artistic mediums. Students also can
come to work on any art-related projects for their classes.
A number of students have been working diligently on
painting and drawing projects in Open Studio, including sopho-
mores Samantha Newmark, Dana Kornfeld, Haewon Lee, and
Victoria Laboz. All are welcome!

York News 27
Writers by the Park 2014
English Teacher: Ethan Pennington
Writers by the Park held its fourth consecutive summer session, led by
faculty members Ms. Leah Umansky, Ms. Lee Pinkas, and Mr. Ethan
Pennington. Writers by the Park enables sixth through eleventh grade
students to explore multiple genres of writing within the many resources
of Manhattan.
In “News Makers,” students took a trip to the New York Times building
in midtown and spoke with author and journalist Dan Barry. The Pulitzer
Prize-winning author has
written three books, in-
cluding Bottom of the
33rd
: Hope and Redemp-
tion in Baseball’s Long-
est Game, which won the 2012 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports writ-
ing. Barry discussed his writing process with the group and even shared
stories from his career.
Students in Ms.
Umansky’s “Seminar on
Contemporary Poets”
studied the works of
Anne Sexton, Walt Whitman, and Frank O’ Hara. They traveled to Poets House
in Battery Park and produced pieces to be featured in York Prep’s literary
magazine, Genesis.
Led by Ms. Pinkas, students in the “Artists Influencing Artists” work-
shop wrote poems and stories inspired by visual art and text. Practicing the
art of erasure, students began with a page of text and erased portions until
their own poems emerged—these were both visually appealing and linguistically innovative. They added their own voices to
classic poems and used “found text” to assemble new poems. Students continued to be inspired by art when they visited the
Frick Museum and wrote poems based on paintings, sculptures, and furniture there. Class activities and the trip laid the
framework for a collection of written pieces ready for publication. Join us next summer to explore the many genres of writing.
WYRK
Advisors: Lance Choplin, Sebastian Pinaud, and Karl Hartman
We are happy to announce that WYRK, York Prep‘s weekly video production club, is back in full swing. With a new team of
sponsors, a seasoned group of seniors, and a rabidly enthusiastic set of new club members, WYRK is making more than
just morning announcements.
Weekly shows have included interviews, live action short films, animations, public
service announcements, and a trailer for a horror movie that doesn’t exist (but should).
Students learn how to write, film, edit, act, and direct videos as a collaborative team. To help
them along their way, the team has just received a brand new set of video production equip-
ment.
WYRK airs on Friday mornings and meets on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Everyone is welcome to
attend. We encourage all kinds of creativity and talent at WYRK, whether on camera or behind the scenes.

28 Winter 2015
Advisor: Sherry Grand
As a new member of the York Prep community, Mrs. Sherry Grand
has been made to feel very welcome by seven students in particular,
every Tuesday at lunchtime, in Room 307. The Upper School Book Club
meets weekly to discuss all types of literature, ranging from plays to novels.
Each student is an active participant in these weekly discussions, where
they are free to share their opinions and reactions to the literature they read.
This fall, the club read and discussed the 1934 stage play The Children’s
Hour by Lillian Hellman as well as the novel The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.
Club members also spent time discussing the lives of the writers them-
selves and the time period in which they wrote. Upper School students are
welcome to join us in choosing the club’s next piece of literature!
Advisors: Alicia Weschler and Thomas Hodges
What could Luciano Pavarotti, Elmer Fudd, and a gaggle of bullfighting
groupies possibly have in common? It may seem implausible, but
students have had illuminating encounters with each of them along the thrill-
ing voyage of discovery that is York Prep’s Opera Talk.
During Opera Talk, students and faculty come together—regardless of
prior knowledge or exposure—to enjoy opera’s pageantry of music,
theater, elaborate costumes, and intricate sets. In the darkened classroom,
audio and film of memorable performances transport attendees to other
times and places, followed by a free-form discussion of whatever resonated
with anyone.
At the first get-together, the group heard different versions of “Nessun dorma” from Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, starting
with Luciano Pavarotti’s world-famous rendition. Students listened to the piece with no awareness of the words or context.
They then received a translation of the song and a summary of the opera’s story. Participants unanimously agreed that,
although understanding the background of song added interest, the song had moved them even without knowing what the
singer was saying—such is the power of music and the human voice.
The second meeting focused on the award-winning cartoon, “What’s Opera, Doc?” in which Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd
take on roles of characters in Richard Wagner’s “Ring Cycle.” The seven-minute parody features music adapted from several
Wagnerian operas (the short cartoon exploits the stereotype of the big loud lady with the horned helmet). After viewing the full
cartoon, club members listened to some excerpts of the original Wagner pieces.
Georges Bizet’s endlessly popular Carmen engaged the group during two Opera Talk sessions. Carmen’s entrance song,
“Habanera,” wowed students as they appreciated the synergy of good singing and good acting. Some instantly recognized the
melody of the “Toréador Song,” a bullfighter’s rousing tale of fame and victory.
“Something I loved about this segment was how easily accessible opera can be to any audience given the right venue for
exploration,” said Mr. Hodges.
Opera Talk meets every other Monday in Room 324 during lunch. Comments from students have been enthusiastic. “I can
really connect to opera because it’s very expressive,” said freshman Chloe Safra. Sophomore Liam Mandelbaum found a
distinct advantage to belonging to this club. “You really don’t have to sing,” he said.
Opera Talk
Upper School Book Club

York News 29
Advisor: Lee Pinkas
The latest issue of York Prep’s school newspaper, The Paw, rolled off the presses
just in time for Thanksgiving. The array of topics covered by York Prep’s intrepid
reporters featured sophomore Joe Newman-Getzler’s interview with senior Molly
Model, an accomplished student performer; and two strong opinion pieces about
violence in America by seniors Micco Sarno and Miles Liu. Under the editorial guid-
ance of seniors William Magee and Micco Sarno, the issue also featured cartoons, a
photo journal, interesting interviews, and an open letter to director and animator
Hayao Miyazaki.
Writers and artists of The Paw include freshmen Khari Derrick, Alisa Kazarnovsky,
Talya Lubit, and Joshua Schwam; sophomore Joe Newman-Getzler; juniors Joseph
Beyda, Winston Freeman, Max Skidelsky and Dean Zimberg; and seniors Fatimah
Amla, Miles Liu, Ava Kuslansky, and Malcolm Moore. Be on the lookout for The
Paw’s spring 2015 issue!
Advisors: Leah Umansky and Danica Radeka
York Prep’s yearly literary magazine, Genesis, features student-authored poetry,
short fiction, creative nonfiction, and original art. It is always thrilling to see such
a strong student literary voice at York Prep. Our senior co-editors Cody Corrall and
Sarah Calaman are doing a beautiful job conducting weekly meetings and creating a
genuine sense of community among club members. The two art editors, seniors
Fatimah Amla and Ellara Chumashkaeva, are hard at work this winter surveying stu-
dent art from grades six through 12 for publication in Genesis.
Genesis bestows awards and is excited to announce the winners of the fifth
annual Upper School Contest of 2014:
Best Poem - “A Long Time Ago” by junior Nieve Ferguson
Best Artwork - “A Dream World in Midnight” by sophomore Haewon Lee
Best Prose - “The Prohibition Racketeer” by senior William Magee
Genesis editors already have received wonderfully creative submissions for the
next issue to be published in spring 2015. Students from all grades are encouraged
to join and submit their work. The group meets on Wednesdays at lunch in Room 325.
York Prep Math Club
Advisors: Stacy Povshko and Ted Preston
The York Prep Math Club meets twice a month to solve challenging math problems independently and collaboratively to
enhance students’ mathematical minds. The club is open to students of all levels.
The club’s overall goal is to improve problem-solving skills and to make math enjoyable. We use a variety of materials to
prepare students for several contests held throughout the year, including the MAA’s American Mathematics Competitions,
MATHCOUNTS, and Math is Cool. If you have never been to a math club meeting, do not hesitate to attend.
Genesis
The Paw

30 Winter 2015
Yearbook Club
Advisors: Cora Kolosso, Karl Hartman, and Sebastian Pinaud
The 2015 production of York Prep’s yearbook, The Legend, is off to an
exciting start with the submission of senior pages on deadline. The Year-
book Club is made up of three of the school’s most talented digital artists,
seniors Fatimah Amla, Cody Corrall, and Ava Kuslansky, with whom the art
department’s teachers have enjoyed collaborating.
This trio of young women has worked together as joint Editors-in-Chief,
sharing all the responsibilities of editing copy, photos, and art and really
tapping into their creativity and Photoshop skills to make this year’s year-
book one of a kind. Each senior has been given an entire page in the year-
book to create a photographic collage. Parents of seniors were invited to
purchase a family page in The Legend, a longstanding tradition at York Prep.
The Yearbook Club meets every Friday and, along with their faculty advisors, this small group is well on its way to produc-
ing a quite legendary yearbook for the Class of 2015.
The Chess and Games Club
Advisors: Stacy Povshko, Eric Tull and Ted Preston
The Chess and Games Club meets during lunch every Thursday in Room 208.
The club promotes community and team-building through friendly competi-
tion. Club members play popular board games together, such as Backgammon,
Checkers, Chess, Connect Four, Dominoes, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, and Yahtzee.
Ms. Stacy Povshko, Mr. Eric Tull, and Mr. Ted Preston are co-sponsors of the
club. All students and faculty interested in competing are welcome to join.
The Jewish Heritage Club
Advisors: Tirza Kassai and Scott Kornberg
The Jewish Heritage Club allows all students to get a taste of what Jewish holidays and
Jewish traditions are all about. Members meet during lunch at least twice a month, typically
on Wednesdays before or after a Jewish holiday, to discuss the different Jewish customs
associated with that holiday. Students can pose any questions they have about Judaism or
Jewish culture and traditions.
This year, the club enjoyed apples dipped in honey – which symbolizes the hope for a sweet
new year – for Rosh Hashanah. Because it is tradition on Rosh Hashanah to eat different exotic
fruits, the club also brought in a dragon fruit (also known as pitaya) for students to try.
During Succot, students built mini “succahs,” or huts, out of toothpicks and marshmal-
lows. They also discussed what it means for food to be kosher and what the symbols represent
on the packaging of different kosher foods.
We hope to continue delving into the many varied practices of Jewish religious observances and getting to know more
about this rich culture and religion.

York News 31
Advisor: Thomas Hodges
The Glee Club is a wonderful forum for York Prep students of all grades to
come together and sing out with joy. The choral group cultivates community
building as well as experiencing music as a celebration of life. As Glee Club
members will tell you, the words “I can’t” are forbidden in Glee Club meetings;
instead, they are replaced with “I haven’t yet.” Glee Club is a welcoming environ-
ment for students with all ranges of experience in singing.
Club members have worked on Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” Frankie Valli’s
“Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” and the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” which they
performed at the International Buffet and Music Celebration on November 13. In
true Glee Club style, members of the audience were invited to join us on stage
and sing at the dinner performance and many obliged.
The International Buffet and Music Celebration also included individual performances by several Glee Club members.
Sophomore Max Nusbaum sang “It All Fades Away” from the Broadway musical The Bridges of Madison County, and freshman
Olivia Heskett sang “Another Hundred People” from Stephen Sondheim’s Company. The talented cast of York Prep’s fall
musical, Underground, which included Glee Club members, made an appearance at the dinner and previewed selections from
the musical. Glee Club is currently gearing up for impromptu performances at the school this spring. Stay tuned!
Advisor: Adam Chernick
Ukulele Club started the year off strong, with a great mix of returning students
and new members. Club members are very excited to announce that we have
transformed the club into the Ukulele and Guitar Club! We have introduced the
acoustic and electric guitar to the club, alternating weekly between playing the
ukulele and the guitar. The club has a loyal group of students, including juniors
Selim Sabbagh, Allie Falack, Isaac Marcos, Joseph Beyda, Mara Hutton, Eric Ilkiaeiv,
and Jamie Levinson.
Aside from reviewing the basic chords for the ukulele and guitar, the group has learned several songs by major artists,
including hits by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rebelution, Jack Johnson, Bob Marley, and Sublime.
All students are encouraged to join, regardless of musical experience. The door is always open to future ukulele and guitar
masters as well as visitors and listeners. We meet in Room 207 every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. and look forward to seeing you
there!
Advisors: Janine Turcio and Eric Tull
If you pass Room 405 on a Thursday at lunchtime you can hear laughter, shrieks of
delight, and all kinds of Latin and hip-hop music. If you stick your head in, you can
see a professional Zumba trainer in the person of P.E. teacher Janine Turcio leading
students of all ages in a wild and crazy dance exercise routine. But once your body is
in the room, you are hooked and you are moving.
Students from grades 6-12 get a good physical workout, make new friends, and
have an absolute blast. Knowing a good time when they see one, a number of teachers
have joined the fun also, as have groups of students from visiting schools (like the
New York School for the Deaf, pictured here). Let’s face it, no one can resist joining a
club with the motto: “Every meeting is a party!”
Glee Club
Ukulele and Guitar Club
Let’s Get Ready to ZUMBA!

32 Winter 2015
Field Day
Athletic Director and Physical Education Department Chair: Peter Bianco
This fall, York Prep traveled to Tibbetts Brook Park to take part in
Field Day, an amazing opportunity for students and faculty mem-
bers to take time out from their busy schedules and spend a day
together away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park’s
facilities include soccer fields, volleyball courts, baseball and soft-
ball fields, tennis courts, walking trails, and basketball courts.
With help from faculty members, York Prep’s Physical Educa-
tion Department organized and set up activities for the students.
Teachers and staff ensured the safety of the children while creating
a fun environment. Aside from the more traditional sports stand-
bys, activities enjoyed at Field Day this year were KOOB, ultimate
frisbee, football, and hula-hooping. Halfway through the day, lunch
was served with world-famous York Peppermint Patties as an additional treat. Everyone is looking forward to the next Field Day
event in the spring!

York News 33
Swim Club
Advisors: Joyce Perley and Thomas Henson
Whether doing the doggie-paddle or the butterfly stroke, the York Prep Swim Club
made waves when they returned to the water at Asphalt Green on Friday afternoons
in the fall. Freshmen students Khari Derrick and Aaron Pahwa continued to participate in
the club they first joined as novice sixth graders.
The whole group got along swimmingly with a mix of new faces from both the middle
and high school. Advisors Ms. Joyce Perley
and Mr. Thomas Henson took dips in the
pool as well. Everyone enjoyed diving for
objects at the bottom of the pool and prac-
ticing different swimming techniques,
among other swimming-related activities.
Anyone with a swimsuit and an inter-
est in healthy exercise should consider
Swim Club. Members are looking forward to “diving” into this coming spring,
when the club meetings start up again.
Fitness Room
Athletic Director and Physical Education Department Chair: Peter Bianco
York Prep’s fitness area, adjacent to the main gymnasium, continues to en-
hance greatly students’ physical conditioning. In the Fitness Room, students
can learn weight training techniques, body weight exercises, and cardio and
aerobic activities under the guidance of the on-duty Physical Education faculty
member. Equipment available includes state-of-the-art elliptical machines, a Fit
3 Multi-Gym machine, and a Tour de France exercise bike linked to Google Maps
to simulate the climbs and downhills of actual cycling routes throughout the
world.
Students of all ages are welcome and encouraged to work out in the Fitness
Room.
Madden Club
Advisors: Desiree Aaron-Stanton and Julia Gomez
This is the first year of the Madden Club, in which students learn the rules, the
plays, and the tactics from coaches to win big in the NFL. Students in grades
six through 12 gather once a week during lunch to play Madden 2015 on
PlayStation 3, playing four-minute quarters with each win counted towards
entry into the playoffs.
Madden Club members always exhibit good sportsmanship and eagerly
assist others to learn the ins and outs of American football. Despite fierce
competition, students spend most of their time making new friends during club
sessions, older students serving as role models for younger ones. The club
offers students a change of pace during a busy academic day and a chance to
share NFL knowledge and gaming skills with one another.

34 Winter 2015
Performing Arts Electives Tapping Along!
Arts electives have increased exponentially at York this year with multiple offerings in
media and visual arts as well as in the performing arts. This year, Performing Arts
Department Chair Ms. Fiona Hutchison has headed up a new dance elective for 10th
, 11th
,
and 12th
grades. Partnering with Studio Maestro, a dance facility just steps away from
York, Ms. Hutchison teaches a vibrant and fun-filled tap class to our budding York Prep
hoofers.
Set Design is a new addition to the elective choices for juniors and seniors. Mr. Karl
Hartman and Mr. John Viscardi co-teach this hands-on set design and construction class
with real-time application. The students design and construct sets for both main stage
performing arts shows produced at York Prep. In the first semester, this class produced
an extraordinary set for York Prep’s production of Underground, a new musical about
kids who live in subway tunnels. The set included a beautifully crafted subway platform, a vast and ominous subway tunnel,
and a functioning 3D city scape. It was amazing!
Piano instruction and song writing are also new on the scene. Mr. Thomas Hodges, York Prep’s musical director and
teacher, leads the charge. With the addition of eight new electric keyboards, Mr. Hodges has high schoolers across the board
learning how to play piano and compose their own songs. Quite a treat from a teacher who is both a professional musical
director and award-winning composer!

York News 35
Same Sky Club
Advisor: Sammantha Farkas
The Same Sky on Campus club sprung from students’ interests in learning
more about global issues affecting the empowerment, importance, and value
of women and girls in modern society. The Same Sky on Campus was started by
juniors Courtney Cohen and Rebecca Meckler and is connected with the Same
Sky Foundation, a trade-not-aid organization that believes in giving women a
hand-up, rather than a hand-out.
Students in the club have participated in
numerous thought-provoking activities that
increased their awareness of world issues and
inspired them to spread the word about these
topics. For example, students attended a United Nations conference about the prevention of
genocide, where they listened to Canadian humanitarian Lieutenant-General Roméo Antonius
Dallaire speak poignantly about his experiences in Rwanda. Students also skyped with the
Foundation for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Girls School in Kigali to discuss issues
surrounding girls’ empowerment.
While these students are especially inter-
ested in women’s issues abroad, they are also
aware of injustices in our own backyard. Same Sky on Campus club members
travelled to Jersey City to speak with women living at the Most Excellent Way
half-way house. These young women shared their personal experiences with
club members and provided
insight into their struggles and
successes.
Same Sky hosted bake sales
and bracelet sales to increase
understanding about women who, thanks to Same Sky, are now gainfully
employed making beautifully handcrafted jewelry and supporting themselves
and their families. We are so thankful for the enthusiasm students have for Same
Sky on Campus and for the successes achieved thus far in raising conscious-
ness among young people in the York Prep community.
Advisor: Arlette Ostrow
The Women in the Arab World Club met regularly throughout the fall semester. Members of the club have been learning
about the various issues plaguing women throughout the Middle East. Students have explored the historical context of
some of these issues as well as the effect on women in the present day. Members research a variety of different topics, give
presentations, and lead lively discussions.
An outside speaker from Saudi Arabia was invited to join us in our discussion at one meeting. She recounted her personal
experiences and observations to club members, thus enriching the students’ understanding of the conditions facing women of
different socio-economic and demographic groups in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Arab region.
The club plans to continue inviting speakers from similar regions to future meetings. The club has already lined up a
student who is well-versed in the Koran to discuss the status and expectations of women outlined in the Koran.
Women in the Arab World Club

36 Winter 2015
Gay-Straight Alliance
Advisors: Michael Roper, Thomas Henson, and Jeremy Arnstein
Written by senior Jordan Isaacs
The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) meets in Room 305 every Tuesday dur-
ing lunch. Each week, guests from all walks of life visit and interact with
the club. With Mr. Roper as our host, we discuss the roles that LBGT people
play in our society. Each meeting starts off with an introduction of the guest,
followed by the club’s traditional opening question from senior Jared
Axelowitz: “When and how did you come out?” That question always sparks
a beautiful story, which differs from person to person, illuminating who
they are and their personal journey to where they are today. Each individual
sheds light on different things that people experience while coming out and
how it impacts their lives.
In our first semester, Blake Skjellerup, an Olympic speed-skater from New Zealand, met with GSA students during a
meeting. Blake is one of the first openly gay Olympic athletes in history. Blake shared with the students and teachers of GSA
how he used to be bullied in high school and how speed skating helped him manage his anger. Later during the meeting, a
student asked how tolerant the athletic world was of homosexuals; Blake said he found the athletic world very accepting of
gays. Blake’s sexual orientation never prevented him from doing what he loves, speed skating.
Another guest was a former kindergarten teacher named Clint. He was the funniest guest GSA has ever had. None of us
could stop laughing as Clint told us hilarious stories about being a kindergarten teacher, coming out to his mother, and
introducing his gay friends to his family. As is the case with many families, Clint’s family had difficulty coming to terms with
Clint’s homosexuality; however, he said his parents always loved him, and he loved them in return.
The Reverend Gilbert Martinez of the Church of Saint Paul The Apostle was a returning guest to GSA. The members of GSA
have cherished both of Father Gil’s visits to GSA as well as the stories he has shared with everyone. Father Gil answered
questions about how the Catholic Church and the Pope view homosexuality. During his more recent visit, Father Gil told the
GSA how churches around the world may have to start teaching about homosexuality and the beneficial impact homosexuality
has on the world. Father Gil is responsible for creating the “Out @ St. Paul” LGBT group at the church.
Without Father Gil, the GSA would not have had the opportunity to meet all the inspiring, successful, and intelligent gay
men and women that have graced the GSA with their presence.
The Young Doctors Club
Advisor: Melinda Viscusi
This year, members of the Young Doctors Club have been learning how to
properly perform physical examinations. Each student has had the
opportunity to practice various medical skills and techniques in order to
exam their fellow classmates. Every individual is a patient at some point.
Members have thoroughly enjoyed the interactive sessions and are excited
to learn why their own doctors “do the things they do.”
Students are learning how vital it is to stay tuned into their bodies and
to understand why certain tests and exams are performed. They are an
extremely enthusiastic bunch and have expressed their thirst for learning
about the medical profession in every meeting.
Always stay inquisitive about your health!

York News 37
FACULTY NEWS
English Teacher Authors New Book
After first being published in the oldest monthly devoted to verse in the English-
speaking world, Poetry Magazine, English teacher Ms. Leah Umansky’s Game
of Thrones-inspired poems have gone international. Some of the poems have
recently been translated into Norwegian by publisher Beijing Trondheim.
Baby News
Jump Start and writing teacher Mr. Scott Kornberg and his wife, Mrs. Milana Kornberg,
welcomed Jonah Philip Kornberg on March 12, 2014. As handsome as his father,
Jonah weighed in at seven pounds and two ounces. Big sister Chloe is thrilled to have a
baby brother!
We Live Out Loud
Advisors: Ethan Pennington and Jon Serri
Students in the Out Loud Club have gathered in Room 305 during lunch
periods over the past three years to write songs, revise poems, and
recite monologues. Started under the direction of Mr. Jon Serri and Mr.
Ethan Pennington, Out Loud gives students a platform to share their
original stories, poems, and written songs with the school community.
The club’s student leaders, seniors Ava Kuslansky, Molly Model, and
Isabel Greenberg, encourage the participation of their peers by promoting
events and weekly meetings through advertisements posted around the
building as well as in the daily announcements. Ava Kuslansky has written
and directed short films
that celebrate and high-
light the talents of stu-
dents in Out Loud. Fellow senior Jared Axelowitz has been featured in
several of these shorts.
Every January, the club holds a winter showcase, giving club members
a forum for presenting their work. Last year, junior Nieve Ferguson
delivered a powerful poem about the burdens of growing up. Sophomore
Joseph Newman-Getzler had the crowd in stitches as he recited his poem
“The Tragic Story of Missed Opportunities.”
If you are interested in joining Out Loud, speak with Ava Kuslansky or
Isabel Greenberg. All are welcome to join us in Room 305 every Monday during lunch and also encouraged to attend Out
Loud’s 2015 student showcase.

York Prep Winter 2015 Newsletter Highlights Variety of Student Activities

York Prep Winter 2015 Newsletter Highlights Variety of Student Activities

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