Jack Briody-trumpet Concert Band: Harrison Lucas-bassoon, Jack Briody-trumpet, Michael Ramsey-tenor 1, Andrew Aldous-percussion, Jack Skiera-cello Mixed Chorus: Michael Ramsey-tenor 1, Jack Skiera-bass 2 Treble Chorus: Julia Violone-soprano 1, Juliana Zepf-soprano 2, Isabelle Chong-alto 1, Sabrina You-alto 2 NYSSMA Solo Festival At the NYSSMA Solo Festival in May, Byram Hills High School musicians earned Gold (I) ratings, the highest level of

1. SPECTRUM
Byram Hills School District
FA L L 2 0 1 6
A C O M M U N I T Y O F L E A R N E R S C O M M I T T E D T O E X C E L L E N C E
Founded 1961 Volume Fifty-four, Number One
SPECTRUM
Students Program Robots to
Rap, Duel, Do a Little Dance
F
red was doing a good job spinning and dancing to Katy Perry’s “Firework”
for Dawn Selnes’ class, which was pretty impressive considering Fred is a
small, plastic-armored robot.
The Lego Ev3 doesn’t exactly “hear” the music, but his seventh-grade handlers
in the robotics class at H.C. Crittenden Middle School gave him just the right
timing.
“We program him and hopefully, he stays on beat,” said Arantza Suarez. It
was a little tricky, Arantza and her partner Hannah Rippy said. At first, Fred kept
stopping in the middle of the song.
“We said he had stage fright,” Arantza said. But really, it turned out he needed
only a small adjustment to allow his arm to complete a lifting movement that was
part of the dance. With that small tweak completed, Fred was soon entertaining the
class with his performance in the classroom called The BOT (Best of Tech) Spot.
The students were in the second year of a three-year robotics course of study
that ties into the STEAM curriculum. Students begin the program in sixth grade
learning the basics – how to program the robots to go straight and turn, and
maybe use its sensors that detect objects in front of it, sound or color, Selnes said.
Hall of Fame Honorees
Now Have Their Own
Dedicated Space
Every face on the wall could tell a story. The 18
individual athletes and two teams from years
past mounted on the new Byram Hills High School
Hall of Fame illustrate sports highlights from the
school’s five decades.
There’s Francine Ward who broke a
staggering 35 records in track while at Byram Hills
High School, before graduating in 2003. Then
there’s the 2007 soccer team that became the
district’s first state championship team. Among
them is Marty Durkin, who aced football, basketball
and lacrosse before graduating in 1982.
“He was one of the best all-around athletes
Byram Hills has ever seen,” said Matt Allen, the
high school coach who spearheaded the creation
of the hall. The project was the brainchild of Mike
Gulino, the longtime athletic director who retired
last year. The first group of inductees were chosen
in that year.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
THIS PUBLICATION IS PART OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATION
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Seventh-graders (from l.) Ben Dreilinger, Owen Kirkwood and Dylan Haber prepare robots Mr. Darth (l.) and Larry
for a light saber duel.
High school coach Matt Allen, who spearheaded the
creation of the Hall of Fame stands by the plaques of the
inductees.

2. 2  B Y R A M H I L L S S P E C T R U M
In the second year, they apply the teachings in tasks that fall into
two categories – those that are more advanced uses of the basics,
including collecting and moving several pieces of “cargo.” The
second category takes the lessons to a more creative realm,
including Fred’s dance.
The tutorials that the students watch show them what
the robots can do, but don’t give them specific step-by-step
instructions for each task. That’s up to them.
“I like the way it puts the onus on them to figure out a
solution,” said Selnes, who trained in teaching the program
two summers ago at the Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy in
Pittsburgh. “I can help them out if they’re really stuck, but I do
encourage them to think of other ways to solve their problems
before they come to me.”
The more advanced activities also included the
programming of another robot, Sheldon, to use a Crayola marker
to write out “Hi!” complete with exclamation point.
“It requires math to make them move forward and
backward and to know how many rotations” the wheels should
make, said student Gina Schiliro. She was working on the
robot with her teammates Olivia Addeo and Beth Corelli (who
suggested Sheldon’s name.)
A third team was teaching two robots – Mr. Darth and Larry
– to engage in a light saber battle.
“It’s fun seeing what you imagine in your head really
happening,” said Owen Kirkwood, one of the teammates
planning the light
saber duel.
They found
a benefit in
working together.
By collaborating,
“we come up with
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Byram Hills High School typically makes a strong showing
when the National Merit Semi-Finalists are announced, and
this year was no exception. These eight students were chosen
for the honor when the semi-finalists were announced in
September. They are, from l. Noah Jacobs, William Amorosana,
Timothy Eng, Indra Dan, Sabrina You, Thomas Daillak, Juliana
Zepf, and Isabelle Chong. Together, they comprise about 4
percent of the senior class of 2017. Nationwide, fewer than
1 percent of high school students are chosen. The honor
bestowed, based on their PSAT scores, allows those chosen to
compete for about 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth $33
million that will be offered next spring.
Students Program Robots to Rap, Duel, Do a Little Dance
Students (from l.) Gina
Schiliro, Olivia Addeo
and Beth Corelli coax
Sheldon to write out the
word “Hi!”
Teacher Dawn Selnes talks with eighth-graders Talia Dinstein (middle) and Ana Whelley
as they program Bob
more ideas,” said one of his partners, Dylan Haber.
“Three brains,” explained the third teammate, Ben
Dreilinger.
“Three brains, more mind power,” Dylan said. “Everyone
has all these different ideas, so we try all of them to see which
ones are good. And it’s more fun because I get to work with all
my friends.”
Eighth graders get to advance to working with two
“humanoid” NAO robots, Bob and Cat. In a recent class, Bob
greeted students Ana Whelley and Talia Dinstein with a “Hello
Ana and Talia.” They were programming him to rap the opening
number to the Broadway show Hamilton. Singing, it seems, was
too intensive for the class time they had to work on it.
“We thought that rapping would be easier; we just speed up
the talking,” Ana said.
Throughout those and other activities, the class is a natural
for engaging the students. Selnes pointed out the way the
students rushed into the class and began putting their heads
together to meet their challenges before the class officially began.
“Look,” she said. “The bell hasn’t even rung and they’re
already getting to work.”

3. 3F A L L 2 0 1 6 
Inspirational Speaker Geri Mariano,
Byram Hills Alumnus, Brings Positive Message
to Wampus Students
As an inspirational speaker, Geri Mariano is used to addressing large groups. But
each year, she makes time to speak in a more intimate gathering – the classrooms
of The Wampus School in the district that accepted her as a child when others would
not.
Times were different when Mariano was ready to begin school in 1972, and some
districts would not admit a student who was born with diastrophic dysplasia, known then
as diastrophic dwarfism.
Byram Hills was different.
“When other districts said ‘no,’ Byram Hills said ‘yes,’” she told a group of rapt fifth-
graders at The Wampus School during a recent visit. “How cool is that?”
Now, three decades after she graduated from Byram Hills High School, Mariano
uses the motto “Just Call Me Geri” to encourage people to focus on her as a person,
rather than focusing on her condition, which affects bone and cartilage development,
resulting in short stature with short arms and legs.
Teacher Janet Thompson said Mariano is a fun and loveable visitor who delivers
an important message.
"Geri has a wonderful rapport with children,” Thompson said. “She amazes and
connects with the children through her knowledge of professional sports and events
that are of interest to the age of her audience. Her inspiring presentation teaches the
importance of acceptance and inclusion of someone who may look different but has all
the same desires and needs.”
While talking to the students recently, Mariano told about the friends she made in
school who invited her to join their games and activities, and defended her from the rare
attempt by others to tease her. She showed a photo of herself as a child holding a jump
rope for her friends to hop over.
“I found that it was more fun to be part of an activity than to feel sorry for myself,”
she said.
Other photos showed her as a bridesmaid and in a Charlie’s Angels pose with
friends. Some show a trip she took to Italy to celebrate earning her master’s degree in
therapeutic recreation and turning 40 – a trip she called her "Master's Achievement-
Turning 40-Honeymoon for One ('cause I can't wait forever) Adventure."
Her adventures don’t end. She enjoys waterskiing and is considering bungee-
jumping. Her advice to the students: “Don’t be the rule, be the exception. Don’t let
people tell you that you can’t do something.”
At her 30-year Byram Hills High School reunion last year, old friends were happy to
see her.
“You know what they said to me?” she said to the current students. “They said,
‘We’re better off for knowing you. Thank you for teaching us.’”
The current Byram Hills students appreciated her as well. When it was over, Izzy
Jacobs said Mariano was “really fun,” and she was happy to hear that Mariano had
good friends in the district.
“It’s nice that her classmates stuck up for her,” she said.
When Mariano invited students to come up and shake her hand or give her a
fist bump, student Gianna Sirchia asked if she could give Mariano a hug instead. The
answer was yes.
“She’s really nice,” Gianna Sirchia said. Gianna also took a lesson from the talk.
“People with disabilities are part of our world,” she said.
Inspirational speaker Geri Mariano, a 1985 graduate of
Byram Hills High School, gets a hug from fifth-grader
Gianna Sirchia after speaking with students at The
Wampus School.
Inspirational speaker Geri Mariano, a 1985 graduate
of Byram Hills High School, speaking with fifth-grade
students at The Wampus School.
Inspirational speaker Geri Mariano, a 1985 graduate of
Byram Hills High School, speaking with fifth-grade students
at The Wampus School.

4. 4  B Y R A M H I L L S S P E C T R U M
Byram Hills High School Artists Show Work in
Armonk Outdoor Art Show
When national and international
artists displayed their works
at the annual Armonk Outdoor
Art Show in September, Byram
Hills High School students were
well represented. Two dozen of
the school’s students displayed
their paintings, sculptures, graphic
designs and photographs in the 55th
installment of the popular show.
Art aficionados viewed the fine
arts and fine crafts in the juried show
on the grounds of the North Castle
Community Park at 205 Business
Park Drive on the weekend of
Sept. 23 and 24.
The juried show was sponsored
by the Friends of the North Castle
Public Library. Proceeds benefit the
North Castle Public Library and its
Whippoorwill Hall theater.
Erin Adler, Thornwood, graphic design
Briana Feldman, Bedford, photography
Danielle Fliegel, Armonk, sculpture
Miranda Getreu, Armonk, digital art
Carley Hershaft, Armonk, sculpture
Ellie Hooker, Pleasantville, drawing and painting
Sarah Huang, Armonk, drawing and painting
Abby Kaiser, Armonk, photography
Michelle Katz, Armonk, digital art/graphic design
Gabrielle Kleinbeg, Armonk, drawing and painting
Benjamin Matza, Armonk, sculpture
Brianna McArdle, Chappaqua, sculpture
Taylor Morgis, Armonk, digital art
Zach Mykytiuk, Armonk, photography
Sydney Palotta, Armonk, sculpture
Rianna Rabinowitz, Armonk, digital art
Andie Reichenbaum, Armonk, photography
Michael Rosenstein, Bedford, digital art
Allegra Samsen, Armonk, photography
Julianna Segatti, Armonk, sculpture
Chloe Sider, Armonk, digital art
Julia Violone, Armonk, digital art
Cooper Weiss, Armonk, digital art
Juliana Zepf, Armonk, sculpture
Parents Join Coman Hill Classrooms as
Reading Partners
It seems like such a simple question:
Is that creature in the drawing a
duck or a rabbit?
But it’s trickier than it sounds,
with a cleverly simplified drawing
– it could be a rabbit with long
ears or waterfowl with a long bill.
Fortunately, the students at Coman
Hill School had plenty of help to
work out their answers. Fifty parents
came to the school recently to join the
teachers in teaching the book “Duck!
Rabbit!” and talk about it afterward.
The point of the discussion was
not to find one “correct” answer, but
to understand that it’s OK when other
people have opinions different from
yours.
Is it a duck or a rabbit? Second-grade students in Terry Hanrahan’s class show how they see it during the Parents as
Reading Partners program
Byram Hills High School students whose work was displayed were:

5. 5F A L L 2 0 1 6 
Pages from the Armonk Outdoor Art Show listing Byram Hills High School participants
“It’s not always black and white,” said Anissa Klein, one of several parent volunteers
helping out in Terry Hanrahan’s second-grade class with her son Charlie Klein. “It’s nice to
show these kids that they can have their own opinions.”
The annual program, called Parents as Reading Partners, brings in the adults to help in
the kindergarten-through-second-grade classes at the school. It is sponsored by the PTSA.
“It really lets the children know that the parents are invested, and that they love reading
and they want to share that love of reading,” Hanrahan said. The students enjoy seeing the
parents in the classrooms – either their own or their classmates – because it’s comforting
“knowing that the parents are involved. It helps children see that there is a connection
between home and school.”
In an activity after the book, Charlie drew a duck, which he prefers to a rabbit “because
they can fly and they can also swim.” Student Daniela Marder drew a rabbit, which she
prefers “because they’re fluffy.”
Darby Schlosser, in teacher Michelle See’s class, also chose a rabbit because they’re cute,
and she explained their lesson: “Maybe you see it was a duck, but I see it as a rabbit, too.”
Of course, it’s not just the students who benefit. The parents enjoy the chance to see
their sons and daughters learning and interacting with others.
“I get to be part of her activities and to see her interact with her friends and her
teachers,” said Alyson Schlosser, Darby’s mother. “It’s nice that they have these activities.”
The teachers appreciate it as well. As See explained; “We’re all working together to make
them the best learners they can be.”

6. 6  B Y R A M H I L L S S P E C T R U M
Byram Hills High School’s musicians played and sang their way to honors at
all levels, including four students who were chosen to be members of the
New York State School Music Association’s All-State Honors Ensembles.
All-State
The All-State musicians – about 900 statewide each year – are chosen based
on their performances at NYSSMA solo and ensemble festivals. Last spring,
6,500 high school sophomores and juniors across the state prepared for All-
State evaluations in hopes of being chosen. The musicians selected will play
in concerts in December at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, NY. The Byram
Hills High School students chosen are:
Jack Briody, trumpet. All-State Symphonic Band
Harrison Lucas, bassoon. All-State Symphonic Band
Jack Skiera, cello. All-State Symphony Orchestra
Michael Ramsey, tenor l. Alternate
Byram Hills High School Make All-State, Other Honors
Byram Hills High School students chosen to play in the All-State Honors Ensembles,
from l. Michael Ramsey, Jack Skiera, Jack Briody, Harrison Lucas
Westchester County Area All-State
Nineteen Byram Hills High School Band, Choir and Orchestra members were
selected for the Area All-State Festival at the SUNY Purchase College on
November 10. They were:
Symphonic Orchestra: Andrew Aldous-percussion/timpai, Jack Briody-
trumpet, Alan Chang-violin, Timothy Eng-oboe Harry Lucas-bassoon,
Jack Skiera-cello
String Orchestra: Stella Li-violin
Band: Emma Fruhling-bass clarinet, Arjun Goyal-alto sax, Tyler Harp-trumpet,
Jason Katz-French horn. Lian Mitzian-euphonium, Brent Perlman-trombone
Mixed Chorus: Shea Gordon-bass, Brendan Higham-tenor,
Michael Ramsey-tenor
Women’s Chorus: Charlotte Cohen-soprano, Rebecca Freedman-soprano,
Dominique Karanfilian-soprano
Tri-M Music Honor Society
Ten student musicians were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the
only honor society in the country for school musicians in grades 6 through 12:
Wind Symphony: John Duarte, Emma Fruhling, Arjun Goyal, Eleanor Hooker,
Dylan Mack, Mio Shimizu.
Concert Choir: Dominique Karanfilian
String Orchestra: Max Levy, Jonathan Mui, Jack Skiera
Byram Hills High School Principal Christopher Walsh was inducted as an
honorary member.
Wampus School fifth-
graders visited North Castle
Community Park for 'Metric Measurement Day.' Metric-
based activities included determining where to position starting
points for racers on an oval track, exploring the connection
between circumferences of spheres and straight lines, and
measuring objects found in a scavenger hunt.

7. 7F A L L 2 0 1 6 
Starting
this year,
the honored
athletes have
their own wing
– and actual
hall where
their faces
are mounted,
looking across
the hall to a
dynamic red,
white and blue
mural depicting
every sport in which the school athletes compete.
“It’s mind-blowing,” said one inductee, Dan Cherico, a member
of the class of 1983, who was chosen for his achievements in soccer.
He also ran track and played baseball, but soccer was his primary
sport, he said, because “I was always willing to work really hard to be
fit. I’m just in my element when I play.”
Cherico was surprised that the organizers had dug back far
enough to find him more than 30 years after he graduated. But Allen
said the aim was to find the old guard before moving to the more
recent players. Indeed, an athlete must have graduated 10 years
earlier to make the wall; a team must have played more than seven
years ago, Allen said.
“We wanted to make sure we got the elder statesmen first,”
Allen said.
He designed the mural, the wall, and the floor with the school
emblem and the words “Honoring the past, inspiring the future.”
As new as it is, the Hall of Fame is already popular. At the
October 1 dinner, 185 people attended, Allen said.
He is impressed
that so many of
those who excelled
in athletics have
remained in
sports. Durkin is a
basketball coach.
Laura Hemberger-
Chashmore runs
Kansas City
Gymnastics School
in Missouri with her
husband. Cherico coaches an Everton F.C. Westchester soccer team
and two teams in Clarkstown, Rockland County, where Cherico lives.
“Soccer, which was my main sport, remains my passion,”
Cherico said. He intends to continue attending the Hall of Fame
dinners in the coming years.
“There are a lot of special things about being an athlete at
Byram Hills, and even just being a student at Byram Hills,” he said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Hall of Fame Honorees Now Have
Their Own Dedicated Space
Seventh-grader
John Anthony
Laumbas at H.C.
Crittenden Middle
School was having
fun trying to swat the
Frisbee tossed by his
teammate Jackson
Smith to knock it into
the plastic cylinder.
They were
playing Kan Jam,
one of four new lawn
games the school sets
out during recess.
“It’s fun just
to play it with
friends,” John said, playing the game on a sunny autumn day. “It’s
easy to set up and easy to play.”
Assistant Principal Kim Lapple said the games help make the
most of the recreational field.
“It spreads out the field and gives students’ options,” she said.
“In middle school, we want to make sure our kids have time to be
with their friends and to do different things.”
The other games are:
Spike Ball, in which players bounce a ball off a low net that
they stand around.
Corn Hole, which challenges players to toss bean bags into a
hole in a tilted board.
Ladder Golf, in which players toss bolas – pairs of balls
connected by strings – at a three-rung ladder.
They have quickly become popular, Lapple said.
“These games help take a little of the edge off recess and
provide additional opportunities to expend energy,” she said.
While John, Jackson and their friends played Kan Jam, four
other friends played Spike Ball. Jeb Strober, one of the players, said
he liked it because “it includes everyone.”
“You get to focus on hand-eye coordination,” added classmate
Noah Lefkowitz. “And it’s a good way to take your mind off school
work.”
Playground Title ?
Seventh-grader John Anthony Laumbas reaches out to knock the disc thrown by his
teammate Jackson Smith into the plastic can.
Seventh-grade students playing Spike Ball Mural depicting Byram Hills High School sports as part
of Hall of Fame
The floor in the Byram Hills High School
Hall of Fame

8. 8  B Y R A M H I L L S S P E C T R U M
Our Mission
In an environment of mutual respect, the Byram Hills School District and
its community will provide students with the means, the knowledge,
and the opportunity to excel in order to become productive and
responsible citizens of the twenty-first century.
“A great place to learn.”
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
WHITE PLAINS, NY
PERMIT NO. 4402
Board of Education
Mr. Brett Summers, President
Mr. Scott Levy, Vice-President
Ms. Mia DiPietro
Ms. Robin Glat
Mr. Michael Sanders
Mr. Ira Schulman
Ms. Lara Stangel
Superintendent of Schools
Dr. William M. Donohue
Assistant Superintendent for
Business and Management Services,
District Clerk
Mr. Gregory Carlson
Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Timothy Kaltenecker
Assistant Superintendent for
Human Resources
Ms. Jen Lamia
Published by P/NW BOCES
Kenneth Valenti
Byram Hills School District
10 Tripp Lane
Armonk, NY 10504
Twenty-one Byram Hills High School seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society in October.
The 110-year-old organization honors academic achievement. The students shown here are (seated, from l.) Anna Fratta,
Lauren Berman, Sabrina You, Samantha Mayers, Janine Liu, Caroline Silpe, Elizabeth Jankovic, (standing from l.) Timothy
Eng, Zachary Berkman, Jonathan Conte, Indra Dan, Jack Briody, Steven Schlau, Michael Gelb, Elias Stefanopoulos, Jason
Katz, Thomas Daillak, Lauryn Power, Audrey Saltzman, Isabelle Chong. Byram Hills is one of only about two dozen public
school districts with a high school Cum Laude Society, according to the 110-year-old organization. Most of its 382 chapters
are in private schools.