Backstage Talent

Edgewood produces three lunchtime talent shows each year. Needless to say, the staff and students involved put a premium on production value. It's one thing for students to invest time and creative energy into their performances, as former student Caroline Cavalier once reported. Or to host the shows as our student emcees do with fearlessness, humor, and style. But behind each performance is a highly coordinated team of students and teachers working as Balcony and Backstage crew. They balance music and microphone sound levels. They accentuate moods with stage lighting and lighting effects. They photograph and videotape performances. They coach performers. They open and close curtains. They coordinate and distribute wireless handheld and body microphones. They make sure that performers are patiently waiting in the "on deck" position. They interview performers backstage. They assemble and break down production sets. And this is the short list of our job responsibilities.

If the audience only notices the performers, then for us in the Balcony and Backstage, our job has been well done. If the audience and the emcees aren't forced to wait uncomfortably as the backstage crew sets up the next act, then our job has been well done. Let's take a peak behind the curtains at our final February talent show this year, as the backstage crew (and performers) take about 40 seconds to set up for the next act. And notice how the adults, purposely step aside, so that students pursue and achieve a shared objective. Go team! -- Paul Tomizawa

Frosty Unveiled

Yet another wild surprise at the annual Edgewood Winter Assembly. This year's mystery Frosty the Snowman turned out to be Mrs. Pagel. But for days, students had wondered aloud and in online voting "Who will be this year's Frosty?" Since 2008, a member of the Edgewood School community has snuck into the Frosty costume and danced to "Let It Snow" after coming alive when the magical hat was placed on its head.

During the assembly, the build-up to the Frosty reveal typically features a nutty... circa 1980s madcap, sitcom storyline that draws out the mystery. Dr. Houseknecht is the ringleader, sending teachers off the Gym floor, one by one, to provide assistance to some strange backstage incident. And as each teacher disappears backstage, the suspense builds. After all, in the mind of a K-5 student, one of those teachers is bound to be this year's Frosty...right? Right?!

This year's Frosty was accompanied by the Frosty Dance Troupe featuring Mrs. Ross, Ms. Rosado, Ms. Benitez, Ms. Peterson, and Ms. Marques. Happy Holidays Edgewood!
 -- Paul Tomizawa

Frosty is flanked by the Frosty Dance Troupe.

This year's Frosty is revealed!

Forever Edgewood

Ever year at this time, first graders step into the spotlight for one of Edgewood's grandest and most endearing traditions, the Thanksgiving Assembly.  The energy is palpable as the first graders spill into the hallway, just minutes before their performance in front of family members and the entire school.

In a matter of minutes, they will experience something that they will remember for many years to come and will forever define them as Edgewood students. In a matter of minutes, they will sing the classic song Hey Pilgrims, and be joined by older Edgewood schoolmates in the audience, who will sing and tap along because it takes them back to their first grade.

Edgewood students donated 28 boxes
of food to the Salvation Army.

The Thanksgiving Assembly is about reflecting on our many reasons to be grateful and remembering those in need. The fourth and fifth grade chorus sang songs of gratitude and hope. And Edgewood students collected 28 boxes of food and presented them to a representative of the Salvation Army. But it's the song Hey Pilgrims that provides the soundtrack for the day. It's a song that lyrically tells the story of the first Pilgrims and their journey to freedom, but musically reminds us that we are forever Edgewood. - Paul Tomizawa

Mr. Brown (cello) and Ms. Forte (piano) lead
the fourth and fifth grade chorus.

Collaborative Kickoff

Our Specials teaching team (art, music, PE, library, technology) met with the entire student body on the first day of school. We introduced students to aspects of our subject areas, while reinforcing the ideas of teamwork, empathy, and perseverance that are so important to learning successfully at Edgewood School.

The Specials teaching team planned activities for group sessions with classes from grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5. Each activity required students to think on their feet... but really together with lots of feet! Collaboration was essential to completing these tasks.

The Technology and Library team featured Mr. Tomizawa (me) and our awesome new librarian Mrs. Alison Turner. Students were challenged with engineering tasks such as building tall and strong structures and for our youngest students, reconstructing a familiar story, the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Ms. Houston, along with Ms. Forte, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Orengo (strings), created their own mash-up with Spanish and Music, combining Spanish vocabulary with the knowledge of instruments and familiar songs.

The Physical Education and Art team was led by Coach Weigel and Mr. Fitzpatrick. They combined physical activity with an understanding of the composting process at Edgewood.

These Specials team events were all fast-paced and fun. At times, the gym was as raucous as a stadium. So while classroom teachers took this opportunity to meet and plan together, their students chanted and cheered on their teammates. And everyone, students and teachers alike, took away great memories from the first day of school. - Paul Tomizawa

Talent Show Season Begins

It's Talent Show season at Edgewood. Each February, Edgewood organizes the first of these lunchtime showcases, followed by two additional performances in the spring. It's an amazing display of talent and courage as students stand in the spotlight to perform live for peers and adults. In their corner helping these performers look and sound their best, is an all-student backstage and balcony production crew, flanked by plenty of teacher advisors. For an insider's look at our talent show, watch this piece by Caroline, a former Edgewood student. -- Paul Tomizawa

The Frosty Diversion

The Edgewood Winter Assembly is never without surprises. But this year's was probably the most stunning of them all. There were outstanding performances from vocalists Christina Semple and William Goh, as well as the Edgewood String Ensemble. And there was Sajiv Mehta, this year's Teacher-in-Charge for a Day, who tag teamed with Teacher-in-Charge Mr. Yang to emcee the program with Dr. Houseknecht. But let there be no mistake. The Winter Assembly has become known for one haunting question-- "Who do you think will play Frosty in this year's Winter Assembly?"

Edgewood News runs an online poll in the days prior to the assembly. The voting is wild and never predicts the actual winner, but it's fun to watch the tallies roll in! Among the highest votes went to Nurse Duffy and 3rd grade teacher Mrs. Nedwick. In the end, our Frosty turned out to be Mrs. Pinto's teacher's aide, Mr. Destefano, who called in "sick" that day giving us this one unforgettable moment as Mrs. Pinto's students erupted in sheer jubilation after Frosty's identity was revealed onstage. Happy Holidays everyone!
- Paul Tomizawa

Watch Video of Frosty Dancing

Classical Cafe: Tablas

For the first time in the history of Edgewood's Classical Cafe, we heard a performance featuring the Indian percussion instrument called tablas. Our Edgewood reporter, Christina Semple, sat down with Ronak Sheth and compiled this piece for Edgewood News.

Have you ever heard of the Tablas? Our friend Ronak in Mr. DelMonaco’s fifth grade class has not only heard of them, but he plays them beautifully!! Ronak recently performed at Classical Cafe on the Tablas, and of course, he was amazing!! We spoke to Ronak after his performance. He talked about about the Tablas and his personal experiences with them! Listen here.

Our Song

At the Moving Up ceremony, graduating 5th graders sang the Edgewood School Song one last time. It's always moving and fascinating to see Edgewood students singing their school anthem from memory and with pride. Mostly because Edgewood is the only school in Scarsdale where students routinely sing their song. In fact, it's believed that only two of the elementary schools have their own songs. Former Edgewood music teachers Dorothy Bench and Ernest Villas wrote this song in 1979 to commemorate the school's 60th anniversary. Little did they know that the song they had written to honor Edgewood's history, would one day become a beloved part of it. -- Paul Tomizawa

The Edgewood School Song
Words and Music by Dorothy Bench and Ernest Villas (1979)

Ernest Villas (1979)

In Scarsdale town there’s a special place called Edgewood

Where friendly people live on tree-lined streets

And children’s voices fill the air with laughter and in play

About a place that we would surely say…

Edgewood School is the finest place to be
Edgewood School kids and teachers all agree

That we’re number one both in school and fun

Edgewood School’s the place to be

Edgewood School where our friendships grow each day

Edgewood School both in class and where we play

And our friends we’ll see by the rock at three

Pals forever we will be

All these memories we will cherish

And in future years we’ll sing:

Oh Edgewood School you’re the best of everything!

Edgewood School where our talents all have grown

Edgewood School through the teachers we have known

Dorothy Bench (2008)

And the Fair in May by the PTA

Is the highlight of the year

Edgewood School we will someday say goodbye

Edgewood School and in junior, senior high

We will hail the fame and salute the name 

Of our dear old Edgewood School!

Talent Show Collaboration

Each successful talent show act
depends on teamwork

   At the last Talent Show, brothers Andre and Eian performed Pachelbel's Canon, side by side. Andre on violin, Eian on cello. While I'm sure at home they have their sibling rivalry moments, when you listen to their backstage interview, you know this performance was all about collaboration. That's a theme that runs through all of our talent shows. Without the team effort from the entire production or performance crew, our shows would certainly flounder. But when our stage hands and performers are locked in together, we all make beautiful music, like Andre and Eian. --Paul Tomizawa

New Talent Show Technology

Talent Show production crew silently
communicates with Today's Meet

In the final February Talent Show the production crew experimented with new technology. It's a site called Today's Meet. The audience didn't see or hear it, but it kept the adult and student production team on the same page. Today's Meet is an online "backchannel" tool. The balcony and backstage crew used it to silently share information through on screen texts. For instance, the backstage "projector" light is still on or the emcee is causing feedback when he talks into the mic while underneath the PA speaker or giving the whole crew a heads up on an unplanned stage entrance. In a live show, scripted events change and the production crew needs to be ready to jump in, make adjustments, and keep the show rolling. People come out to watch our talented young performers, but the behind-the-scenes work of the backstage and balcony crew is in itself a performance worth seating an audience. Whether their work involves adjusting wireless microphones on stage or balancing vocals with recorded music through a mixer in the sound booth, each production crew member, working outside the spotlight, contributes to the show's successes. And Today's Meet, I think, will make our jobs this much easier. -- Paul Tomizawa

Lunar New Year Celebration

     Edgewood celebrated the Lunar New Year with the traditional Chinese Dragon parade led by our first graders. Throughout the building, teachers and students spilled into the hallway, lining the parade route to greet students chanting "Gung Hay Fat Choy." Festivities continued in the New Meeting Room where our wonderful parents adorned the room with festive red streamers and table stations that invited visitors to see how the new year is greeted in China and Korea. What an entertaining event! And thanks for the delicious dumplings! Xièxie! Kamsahamnida!
-- Paul Tomizawa

The Annual Chinese Dragon Parade

Celebrating the Year of the Monkey
with "Fireworks"

Science Fair

     Edgewood’s first student-initiated Science Fair took place during lunch on Wednesday, January 27th. The event, which was conceived by members of the school’s Student Involvement Council, took place during lunch and was attended by the entire student body.

     The idea for the show came from students, who wanted to find an outlet for students interested in Science, similar to the opportunity provided to students through the Talent Shows. Students then designed an event that would be non-competitive, student organized, and supported through student run jobs. A planning committee, composed of teachers and student volunteers, developed an application for interested students, held interviews for

students or groups to present their ideas, and then developed a schedule for the event. On the day of the show a student run committee helped set up the room, greeted participants as they arrived to direct them to their assigned area, took photographs of the event in progress, and presided over the event by directing the audience.
     The success of a venture such as this is less the science expertise that was demonstrated by participants, although that too was impressive, but more the ability of our students to come up with an idea for an event, figure out an organizational plan to make it happen, and preside over it all during their lunch time. -- Scott Houseknecht

The Frosty the Snowman Intrigue

Who played Frosty this year?

    Each year the holiday assembly is cloaked in one simple intriguing question. Who is Frosty the Snowman? Typically, a mystery staff member slips into the Frosty outfit and stands perfectly still on stage, until a magical hat brings him/her to life. But students and most staff members have no idea who is in the costume until Frosty's true identity is revealed near the end of the assembly. A week before the event, we run an online poll asking students who they think it will be. They'll vote early and often in favor of who they want it to be or who they have deduced it will be based on previous Frosty selections. And as one might expect, the polling data never reflects the actual outcome. This year's dancing Frosty? It was Bryan LaBoy, our ubiquitous custodian. In the end, after multiple staged plot twists and storytelling head fakes during the assembly, orchestrated by Dr. Houseknecht, in which students are teased with the possibility of Frosty being "this person or that person," children and adults alike are always joyfully gratified, when the mystery is revealed. This is Edgewood School. Always tantalizing. Always imaginative. Always fun.

Watch Frosty come to life with the help of our Principal for a Day and holiday singers Annie Cavalluzzi and Shoshana Levine. - Paul Tomizawa