York Prep School Winter 2013 News

NEWS FROM OUR HEADMASTER
York
Preparatory
School
WINTER 2013
Ronald & Jayme Stewart
College Guidance
York Scholars Program
Tech Upgrades at York
MSA Accreditation Process
Peer Tutoring
Jump Start Coffee Talk
Honeybees & Scholars
York Government & Law
Model U.N. Team
Mock Presidential Election
York Historical Tours
Student Writers
Super Bowl IX
Grade 8 Justice System
Dodge Poetry Festival
Domestic Uncertainties
York Clubs & Organizations
Sixth Grade Bowling Party
York Celebrates Diversity
Performing Arts Department
Exciting Faculty News
Athletic Department
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January 2013
Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends,
This new edition of our newsletter focuses, as always, on our wonderful
students and teachers and their activities at York Prep. We certainly have had
a busy year, and it will continue to be one, as the faculty and administration have
been hard at work completing York’s self-evaluation for the Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA), whose Visiting Committee is
scheduled to assess us this fall for renewal of our accreditation. Instrumental in
helping us define our school’s mission, the MSA fully accredited York Prep in
1973. We continue to refine and review our mission statement; here is our latest
version produced with unanimous faculty approval:
Looking ahead, we plan to expand to the upper school our mentoring class,
conducted by Mrs. Evelyn Rowe-Cosentino, who has been very successful in
interacting with our middle school students for several years; we are developing
an initiative to bolster the writing process across the curriculum in the upper school,
and we are currently looking at tablets to help us achieve our goal of producing
confident and proficient writers; collaborative team teaching of math skills in the
middle school (another success this year) will increase; we will furnish our new
classroom on the second floor with state-of-the-art ergonomic student chairs;
and–I say this with some sadness–we will be adding a second school security
guard in response to the tragic news events of December 2012.
Every year in this letter, I stress the importance of Edline as an essential
way for parents to stay in touch with their children’s education. It is a tribute to
our faculty that they are so dedicated in maintaining and continuously updating
the plethora of information provided by this communication tool.
To all of you who have entrusted us with your children: Thank you!As you
can see from the articles that follow, there is an abundance of energy and
exuberance at York Prep. We look forward to many years of friendship and
association with all of you.
Yours sincerely,
Ronald P. Stewart
Headmaster
York Preparatory School is a New York City independent school
committed to guiding students in grades six through twelve to reach their
maximum potential—intellectually, socially, and physically—and to
prepare them for college and beyond. Compassionate educators
creatively address the needs and interests of a diverse community, thereby
appropriately supporting and challenging students as they progress
through a traditional curriculum within a structured environment. York
Prep encourages the development of lifelong learners who are
responsible members of their community.

2 Winter 2013
J. Stewart
Director of College Guidance
News From The College Guidance Office - Class of 2013
The Class of 2013 began College Guidance at Orientation on September 6, 2012. Several eager seniors
applied to well-known universities the next week using the Rolling Decision Plan and were admitted
by early November. It was a nice way to start a year which thus far has been outstanding for York Prep
seniors. We had 33 seniors apply Early Decision and over 30 apply EarlyAction (see Edline under College
for definitions). Eight applied ED II. It is clear that Early Decision applications are very successful.
We hope more students will make this commitment sooner every year.
We are still awaiting two ED I decisions and eight ED IIs as well as four ED I deferrals. All in all,
this has been an exceptionally exciting and positive season so far. We have heard nothing yet from SUNY
and CUNY colleges, where more than 20% of the class applied. Almost 90% of all applications were
submitted before Thanksgiving. Go Seniors!
Associate Director of College Guidance Janet Rooney and I are very proud of this year’s seniors.
During our Fall Semester Senior College Class (now in its third year), scheduled twice a week, seniors
have learned to navigate the complex computer-based Common Application, and they all worked fast and
diligently to finish early. This gives us more time to “nag,” “tweak,” and “plead.” As always, we urge
parents to stay calm, not to callAdmissions or College Board directly, and use pull after consulting with us
(and only if your child has made a commitment and has met with your contact)!
Junior Class Parents - Class of 2014
Junior parents, we look forward to seeing you January 24, 6-8 p.m.; plus, our favorite Financial Aid
Advisor, Kal Chany, will be there to answer questions and outline the process. Ms. Rooney and I try to
answer every question; we hand out updated, unofficial college transcripts and make suggestions for
summer—preferably a college course and not an expensive community service project abroad. After we
meet all the juniors and create a “long list,” please plan a spring break college tour or summer college road
trip. The final list should be 8 to 9 colleges.
Anything you do before we have created this long list (based on statistics) may mislead your child
and ultimately break his/her heart. Our list is totally malleable, so keep an open mind and encourage your
child to keep improving!
Because of the large number of applications made possible by the Common App, we are carefully
assessing and spreading the acceptance risks for individual colleges. York Prep knows how its graduates
are doing at their colleges and this, too, helps us guide your child. We also keep a very close watch on
which colleges offer York Prep students the most financial aid as well as the best academic supports.
We have already begun our Spring Semester Junior College Class, and we hope to meet most of
the juniors individually during our initial private conferences by Junior Parents’ College Night, January 24.
Parents: Please begin thinking about tutoring for SAT/ACT. Take a diagnostic test on each type,
and then decide which format best suits your child. Do not waste time prepping for both! Aim for SAT in
May or June or ACT in April or June. Please plan summer school for make-up credits and for college
credits.
Please read what we send via mail and email. Also, 99% of your questions are answered on
Edline under College Guidance. You can always email us at jstewart@yorkprep.org and
jrooney@yorkpep.org. Please copy both of us at all times! BE SURE TO PUT YOUR CHILD’S
NAME IN THE SUBJECT BOX!
Ms. Rooney and I are an unrivalled team when it comes to successful college guidance, so
rest easy and have confidence that we will work hard for your child’s success.
We are very happy that so many good colleges are now SAT/ACT optional! Check websites!

Ohio State University
Pace University*
Penn State University*
Philadelphia University
Pratt Institute
Purdue University
Quinnipiac University*
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Rider University*
Richmond University, UK*
Rochester Institute of
Technology
Roger Williams University*
Rollins College
Sacred Heart University*
Saint John’s University*
Saint Joseph’s University
Savannah College of
Art and Design
Seton Hall University
Skidmore College*
Southern Methodist
University*
Stevens Institute of
Technology
Suffolk University*
SUNY - Binghamton *,
Cortland *, Fredonia,
Geneseo, New Paltz*,
Oneonta*, Purchase*,
Stony Brook*
Susquehanna University*
School of Visual Arts
Syracuse University*
Temple University
Towson University*
Tufts University*
Tulane University*
Union College*
Gettysburg College*
Goucher College*
Hamilton College
Hampshire College
Hartwick College
High Point University
Hobart and William Smith
Colleges*
Hofstra University*
Indiana University*
Iona College
Ithaca College*
Johns Hopkins University*
Lafayette College
Landmark College
Lehigh University*
Lesley University
LIM College
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola University Chicago
Louisiana State University*
Lynn University*
Manhattan College
Manhattanville College
Marymount Manhattan
College*
Massachusetts College of
Art and Design
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
McDaniel College
Michigan State University
Muhlenberg College*
New England College
New York Institute of
Technology
New York University*
Northeastern University*
Northwestern University
Adelphi University*
Allegheny College
American University*
Arizona State University*
Babson College*
Barnard College*
Bennington College
Bentley College
Boston University*
Brandeis University*
Brown University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon*
Catholic University
Chapman University
Clark University*
Colgate University*
College of Charleston
Colorado College
Colorado State University,
Fort Collins
Columbia University*
Connecticut College*
Cornell University*
C. W. Post - LIU
CUNY-Baruch*, Brooklyn*,
City*, Hunter*
Curry College*
Dickinson College
Drew University*
Drexel University*
Elon University
Emerson College
Emory University
Fairfield University*
Flagler College
Fordham University*
Franklin Pierce College*
George Washington
University*
York News 3
Class of 2013 - College Acceptances
Early Decision
College Applied To
Pending Regular Decision
American University
Boston University*
Colorado College
Cornell University
Drew University
Franklin & Marshall College*
Muhlenberg College*
New York University
Pitzer College
Skidmore College
Syracuse University
Hobart and William Smith
Colleges*
Johns Hopkins University
Marist College
Maryland Institute College
of Art
Parents of Juniors will meet Thursday, January 24 (6-8 p.m.). This is a very important meeting and
will include our financial aid specialist, Kal Chany of Campus Consultants.
The meeting for 9th
and 10th
grade parents is Thursday, February 7 (6-8 p.m.), and will include our
financial aid specialist, Kal Chany of Campus Consultants.
University of Alabama*
University of Arizona*
University of California
University of Colorado,
Boulder*
University of Delaware
University of Denver*
University of Florida
University of Hartford*
University of Iowa
University of Kansas*
University of Maryland*
University of Massachusetts,
Amherst*
University of Miami*
University of Michigan*
University of New Hampshire*
University of Notre Dame*
University of Oklahoma
University of the Pacific*
University of Pittsburgh
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island*
University of Rochester
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco*
University of Tampa*
University of Vermont*
University of Wisconsin
Ursinus College
Vassar College*
Villanova University
Washington & Jefferson
College
Wesleyan College
Wheaton College*
Whittier College*
Yale University

4 Winter 2013
The York Scholars Program
Director, Scholars Program and English Teacher: Paul Sturm
Last May, eight senior Scholars were honored both at
York’s graduation ceremony and at a traditional private
luncheon hosted by Headmaster Ronald Stewart and College
Guidance Director Jayme Stewart at their home. Most of these
graduating Scholars had completed the full three years of the
challenging enrichment program, which consistently receives
highly positive feedback from previous Scholar graduates. Clearly,
the program offers our most academically able students the
opportunity, the motivation, and the support to work at the upper
range of their potential. Now here’s the best part: they seem to be having a good deal of fun doing so. Their
teachers are having a good time, too; they get a chance to work with a small, highly motivated group of
students engaged, in most cases, with a topic dear to their instructor’s heart. This is definitely a win/win
situation! The Scholars’ younger siblings, the Pre-Scholars, are thriving as well. They are 8th
and
9th
graders who are getting a taste of Scholars-type seminars in preparation for the “Major Leagues.”
This year's graduating senior Scholars will have taken a total of 22 special six-session seminars
in an impressive variety of subject matter. In addition, they will all have fulfilled the requirement of
designing and completing a Scholars thesis. These graduates will receive diplomas “with honors.”
This year’s graduating Scholars have participated in a rather remarkable set of seminars that
include Art of the Italian Renaissance (a two-part series), Dada and Surrealism, Performing Shakespeare,
Teaching Science, A Playwriting Seminar, Multi-variable Systems of Equations, An Introduction to
Neuroscience, Figures of Speech, and Topics in Philosophy (with Headmaster Ronald Stewart). New this
year are seminars entitled Music and Culture of the Andes, Music Theory, You Are What You Eat, and An
Introduction to Evolution.
English teacher Paul Sturm serves as director of the program. He follows the progress of all
participants closely and troubleshoots any problems students may be having in their classes, providing
support, counseling, and encouragement. Mr. Sturm is also responsible for supplying helpful information
about the Scholars’ achievements to the College Guidance Department for college applications.
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 are also receiving 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
College, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, NYU-Tisch, Oberlin College, Pomona College, Stanford Uni-
versity, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Pennsylvania, and Williams College. Go Scholars!
Some of last year’s thesis topics:
The Life and Work of Nicola Tesla: The Greatest Man You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
The Dutch Roots of the Political Theory Underlying the American Revolution
Gerrymandering: How this Malignant Practice Has Grown Into a Basic Part of Our Democracy
and How It Can Be Fought
A Musical Dialectic on the Air Sculptures of Frank Zappa
A Practical Introduction to the Study of Game Theory
What Makes a Hollywood Movie Successful: A Business Analysis
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York News 5
York Scholars
Course Schedule 2012-2013
Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
10th
Grade 11th
Grade 12th
Grade
The Prince by Machiavelli
Logic
Selected Topics in
Philosophy
Matrices and Systems of
Equations
Performing Shakespeare
(Double Session)
The History and
Significance of Latin
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Wuthering Heights
Art History of the
Italian Renaissance
Music Theory
Evolution
Teaching Science
Multi-Variable Systems
of Equations
Lincoln at Cooper Union
Teaching Science
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Music and Culture of the Andes
You Are What You Eat
Playwriting Workshop I
Dada, Surrealism, and Fantasy
Senior Thesis Seminar
Playwriting Workshop II
York Technology Infrastructure Upgrades Highlights
Director of Technology: Richard Abba
The summer of 2012 saw the start of a thorough hardware and software
update at York Prep. Some eighty-five computers were replaced with
machines running Windows 7/Office 2010, supplanting the previous
Windows XP/Office 2007 setup. All remaining computers also received
the latest system software configuration.
These upgrades made it possible to convert the school’s email
system to a more “cloud-based” one. Faculty can now access their email
over the internet, anytime, anywhere, in a manner very similar to way they
access it in school. They can also see their calendar and contact information.
The first floor Faculty Room was enhanced with four new computers, a printer, and two
telephones. This led to a substantial increase in faculty visits there, as it provided a very functional and
comfortable space for teachers to work and relax. The smell of the gourmet coffee being brewed there also
drew quite a crowd.
Ongoing projects include replacement of the school’s library software and the installation of more
interactive Whiteboards, soon to be in every classroom.

6 Winter 2013
An Innovative Technology Class – Making a Difference,
Socially and Globally
Technology Teachers: Alicia Weschler and Maria Alegre
This year Alicia Weschler (Director of Curriculum) and Maria Alegre
(Library Media Specialist) have teamed up to teach a year-long technol-
ogy course to every student in the 10th
grade. Once a week, students meet
with their teachers to learn about topics that directly affect them, including
their digital footprint, online social media, cyberbullying, and appropriate
online behavior. Students also learn about how they can have a positive
influence on the world through participating in online microfinance
organizations like Kiva. Kiva is a well-known and reputable organization
that allows students to see and hear the stories of people all over the world in
need of seed money for their business endeavors. In each class, students
select a candidate for a microloan and then raise money from within their
own group. Mrs. Weschler and Ms. Alegre then match all funds raised in class and distribute them
immediately, which allows the classes to see commerce and microfinance in real time. To date, students
and faculty have lent $700 to small business entrepreneurs in countries as far away as Rwanda, Peru, and
Kenya! Small repayments have been received, and students plan to re-loan the money throughout the
course of the year.
Always Room for Improvement:
The Middle States Association Self-Study and Accreditation Process
Middle States Self-Study Coordinator: Alicia Weschler
When Headmaster Ronald Stewart, Principal Robert Reese, and Director of CurriculumAlicia Weschler
boarded a train to Philadelphia on March 15, 2012, they embarked on a journey to be completed
almost two years in the future. The three administrators were on their way to attend the Accreditation
Overview Workshop offered by the Middle StatesAssociation Commission on Elementary and Secondary
Schools. The workshop was the first step in preparation for York Prep’s in-depth, year-long self-assess-
ment, with instructional and organizational criteria set by the Middle States Association. Every seven
years, the school evaluates the extent to which it fulfills the Association’s standards for accreditation with
regard to educational programs, general school operations, and management activities. The results of this
internal assessment subsequently provide the foundation for devising goals and action plans to foster
school improvement. Accreditation is granted based on the degree of standards compliance and goal
accomplishment. York Prep has been accredited by the Middle States Association since 1973.
Armed with the necessary information about the self-study and accreditation process, the trio
immediately addressed the initial priority of establishing a Planning Team, consisting of stakeholders in
the school community—parents, students, teachers, department chairs, and administrators. That team is
currently engaged in organizing the self-study, serving as a link to the York Prep staff and its involvement
in this project, and formulating the plan for growth and improvement in student performance and
organizational capacity. “While this process requires much hard work, it is a very worthwhile endeavor,”
said Heather Marshall-Fleenor, Assistant Self-Study Coordinator.
In the fall of 2013, a Validation Team—a group of educators from other Middle States accredited
schools—will visit York Prep for three days. These educators will read the school’s self-assessment and
get a first-hand look at York Prep through interviews and class observations. The Validation Team then
submits its comments to the Middle States Association, with official notice regarding re-accreditation
coming in February 2014.
York Prep welcomes the opportunity to engage in this year-long commitment to self-evaluation,
and we look forward to developing goals for the school that will enhance the education of all our students.

York News 7
Advisor: Kim Braun
The Peer Tutoring Program at York Prep pairs top students in
academic areas with those in need of additional support.
Tutors are nominated by
their teachers.Along with
competency in the content
area, tutors also must
demonstrate patience and
an understanding of peda-
gogy. They receive com-
munity service hours at
the end of each semester
for the time spent helping
their peers, but, in fact, they do it because it is rewarding in itself.
Here are comments from some of our peer tutors and their
“clients”:
Rosette Zarzar and Elsa Lindy
En Sok Kim and Alexander Usi (9th
grade)
Jump Start Coffee Talks: Hot Topics and Stirring Conversation
Jump Start Department Chair: Donna Gelard
The Jump Start Coffee Talks are an ongoing series of informal presentations
where parents of Jump Start students can meet each other and discuss issues
pertinent to their children’s education. The talks are designed to help facilitate
communication between and among parents and teachers in support of our
students. The first presentation, on September 28, was entitled How to Use Jump
Start to Succeed at York Prep. The second, on November 16, focused on ways to
encourage the development of positive study habits. Both sessions were well
attended, and the discussions were lively indeed! Future topics for these get-togethers
include the following: The Re-Invitation/Enrollment Process, Technologies for
Learning, Child Development, and Maintaining Skills over the Summer. All
discussions are presented and led by a team of Jump Start teachers, each specializing in a particular area.
Check out the Edline home page under “News” for further updates.
“Having a student come back each week with a higher average is a great experience for both me
and the student.” – Jeremy Losak (12th
grade)
“Peer tutoring allows the student to learn the material in a different way and from someone who
understands that teacher’s techniques.” – Rosette Zarzar (11th
grade)
“The one-to-one guidance of peer tutoring really helps me to make sure all of my questions are
answered and to also review the material I didn’t understand in class.” – Elsa Lindy (10th
grade)
“It [peer tutoring] allows me to share my learning experience and techniques with others.”
– En Sok Kim (12th
grade)
Peer Tutoring Enriches Everyone
Timmy, our
“Mellow Mascot!”

8 Winter 2013
Honeybees and Scholars Bask in Limelight
Beekeeper: Andrew Cote
Another year has passed, and the York Prep beehives, the best kept apiary
on the Upper West Side, have enjoyed another sweet year. For the
second year running, students in the Scholars Program have not only
enjoyed theoretical lessons, but have also gotten their hands sticky in the
hives and actively learned the basics of beekeeping. The hives produced a
record amount of honey (some of which was presented to each and every
family at York), and overall it can
be said that there was a great deal of
sweetness and light.
The York bees, in their own
unassuming way, became a little
more famous this year. Former York
parent Spike Lee directed a commer-
cial for New York Works, in which the York bees are prominently
featured for all of two seconds. They were very excited to bee(!)
in the cast, but they behaved themselves admirably and peace-
fully. The bees were transported from York’s roof in modest
cardboard boxes specially built to move frames of bees from place to place safely for them and for the
human population. They were brought downtown to the roof of 5 Beekman Place, a magnificent 1882
building across from the Woolworth with a glorious view of lower Manhattan. In their cinematic debut,
the York bees appear with the Freedom Tower in the background,
a soundtrack of Jay-Z andAlicia Keys playing, and Robert DeNiro
narrating. There could not have been a more iconic creative team
for the York bees to be a part of in their first commercial endeavor.
(There was some controversy, however, when it was later learned
that the bees themselves were not SAG members and were paid
non-union wages.)
The bees were not the only ones who held the limelight
in 2012.York students in the Scholars Beekeeping Program, along
with some of the members of the small but mighty Beekeepers
Society, were notably featured in a half-hour CNN special, The
Next List, hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Budding York beekeepers were interviewed, shown working the
beehives, and demonstrating their skill and fearlessness in working with the flying, stinging creatures.
They all did us proud. Aside from the usual swarm (!) of media attention and visits from journalists, a pair
of documentary filmmakers spent a good deal of time interview-
ing York students for their upcoming feature length film on urban
beekeeping, entitled simply The Beekeepers, set to release in spring
2013.
Also in 2013, plans are to expand the rooftop garden and
to continue the tradition of using York’s beautiful chapel (Room
405) for the winter NewYork City BeekeepersAssociation classes.
Of course, the Scholars Program will continue, and a half dozen
or so more brave young York Scholars will be indoctrinated into
the fascinating world of beekeeping.
Beekeeper Andrew Cote has expressed his gratitude to the Stewarts and to the extended York
family for allowing the apiary to exist on the roof of 40 West 68th
Street, so close to Central Park, in such
a safe and beautiful setting. He enjoys working with the curious and intelligent students that populate
York, as well as their exceptional staff. “Since beekeeping was legalized in 2010, York Prep has been at
the forefront of providing a venue for safe beekeeping education and continues to do so,” he said. “I am
looking forward to many moreYork students learning about the happy world of honeybees for years to come.”

York News 9
Law Symposium - New York Bar Association
History Teacher: Michael Roper
Michael Roper’s Constitutional Law class and many of
his U.S. history students actively participated in The
New York Bar Association’s Annual Constitutional Rights
Symposium for High School Students on November 19. At
the symposium, York Prep students and students from other
New York City schools sat around conference tables with
attorneys and judges and debated the pros and cons of cases
currently in the
litigation process
before the U.S.
Supreme Court.
This year’s cases
involved a number of thought-provoking topics. Fisher v.
University of Texas concerns the 14th
Amendment and affir-
mative action. Audio and videotaping police operations were
at issue in ACLU v. Alvarez. Whether to raise the age of crimi-
nal responsibility was the paramount question in Graham v.
Florida. Students came away from the symposium with their
own diverse opinions, which they debated among themselves. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed this
exhilarating learning experience.
New York Historical Society Programs – U.S. History Class
History Department Chair: Heather Marshall-Fleenor
Each student in Michael Roper’s U.S. History class will
have attended two of the evening programs at the
recently and beautifully renovated New York Historical
Society during the course of the school year. The variety of
topics and distinguished speakers is wide. For example, James
M. McPherson (Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Battle
Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era) gave a presentation, and
Jean Edward Smith talked about his new book on
Dwight D. Eisenhower. New York City history buffs were
fascinated with Barry Lewis’ lecture about the old
Pennsylvania Station and how Grand Central Terminal was
saved. Jon Meacham told stories about the “Man of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson”. One of the students’
favorite presentations was by Cokie Roberts (ABC News) and Lesley Stahl (60 Minutes) on the “First
Families.” In all, there were 14 programs that entertained, engaged, and enriched our young historians.
YORK GOVERNMENT & LAW

10 Winter 2013
Model U.N. Team Gearing Up for Conferences
Advisor: Heather Marshall-Fleenor
York Prep’s 40-member Model United Nations Team is
getting ready for another exciting year of debate, negotiation,
and diplomacy at two major conferences this year. The first,
hosted by the University of Pennsylvania in January, is a
perennial favorite of the team. It draws students from all over the
United States. Last year, there were over 3,000 delegates in
attendance, and York
Prep, representing Croatia
and Palau, was proud to
earn 11 awards. This year,
York Prep will represent
Mongolia and Senegal at
the conference.
The second con-
ference on our calendar –
America’s largest and
with the most international
participants – is the United
Nations Association for
the United States’ Global
Classrooms Conference. Preparations are already underway for
this exciting May 2013 event, held at U.N. headquarters. Students
sit in the seats where the real ambassadors sit during opening
ceremonies. The conference also replicates the actual U.N.’s agenda
and topics of debate. In the past, the keynote speakers for opening
ceremonies have included U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
and U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice. At last year’s conference, 15 of our students won awards, ranging from
Best Delegate to Best Position Paper. It is our hope to repeat that
success in 2013!
It takes about three months to prepare for one conference.
Students have to research the country they will be representing
and then research the issues they will be debating in their commit-
tee. Many of these issues do not have solutions yet, and that is
why the U.N. is tackling them. Students have to dig deep to find
possible answers to some
of the world's most plagu-
ing problems. They write
position papers summarizing the issues, the international action to
date, and their country’s viewpoints. Advisor Heather Marshall-
Fleenor requires students to write at least one speech
in preparation for the con-
ference. New delegates
must learn parliamentary
procedure and rules of
debate.
Senior Jeremy Losak, our current Head Delegate, sums
up the experience well: "Model U.N. is more than just a club where
you learn about the international issues. I have improved skills
like writing, public speaking, negotiation, and cooperation.
Although it’s a lot of work, it has always been worth it."

York News 11
Mock Presidential Election at York Prep
Inside the lobby of York Prep School on Monday, November 5,
Michael Roper’s 11th
grade American History students set up
tables decorated with bunting and made ready the all-important
ballots to be handed out to students, teachers, and staff as they
entered the building. Everyone who wished to participate could
do so by casting a vote in York Prep’s Mock Presidential Election.
It may have been a mock election, but it was taken seriously. "The
right to vote is sacred,” said Heather Marshall-Fleenor, Chair of
the History Department, “and I want students at York Prep to learn
that at an early age and to carry that lesson with them as they
grow older. I also want to instill in them the concept that while
voting is a right, it is also a responsibility." In fact, the election
turnout was remarkable. Students made their preference for the
U.S. President known: the school voted overwhelmingly for
incumbent Barack Obama. When a 6th
grader was asked why he
had voted at the Mock Election, he said, "Well, it's kind of a big
deal to be a part of this voting, because voting is important.” It
looks like Mrs. Marshall-Fleenor’s message was well-received.

12 Winter 2013
“Getting to Know You” in Central Park
Sixth Grade Parent Representatives: Katherine Lowe and Jodi Pollak
On what turned out to be a glorious summer-like day
in the city, the 6th
grade gathered for their "Meet
and Greet" family picnic in Central Park on Sunday,
October 14. Everybody had great fun! Between playing
football, soccer, and just lounging on the grass together,
students had a wonderful time getting to know each other
outside of class. The parents also spent the time getting
better acquainted. Thanks to the amazing picnic spread
the group prepared, everyone now knows who the
terrific cooks and bakers are! This was the first event of
the year, but the 6th
grade has plenty more on tap with ice
skating and a moms’coffee get-together on the calendar. 6th
graders enjoy playing sports at Central Park
New York City Tours Full of History
This fall, the Tour Club at York Prep, led by history teacher Michael Roper, made the rounds in New
York City. Mr. Roper conducted tours of “Little Old-New Amsterdam” so students could discover the
Dutch roots of the city and appreciate that heritage, which is still evident. The tour of Greenwich Village
enabled students to appreciate a place where the folks on the “outs” with society took the risks that
brought about social and cultural change. The gay revolution originated there, and many literary innova-
tors (among them E.E. Cummings and EdgarAllen Poe) called the Village home. Students could sense the
vibrant creative spirit that has always existed in our city. On the trip to Brooklyn, students walked on the
very ground where the first major battle of the American Revolution took place. They stood where
General Washington stood on the night of August 29, 1776, when he evacuated his army across the water
to Manhattan, where his troops lived to fight another day. What impressed students the most was Fort
Greene Park, where 11,000 American Revolutionary patriots are entombed, the greatest concentration of
such graves in the U.S.
Abraham Lincoln’s Greatest Speeches
History teacher Michael Roper’s spring lecture series, Abraham Lincoln’s Greatest Speeches, will be
presented at York Prep, Room 309, from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on the first Wednesday of February,
March,April, and May. Beginning with the Cooper Union Speech in February, the evening series for York
Prep parents and friends will continue with Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address in March. April’s lecture
will be devoted to The Gettysburg Address, and Mr. Roper will conclude the series in May with Lincoln’s
Second Inaugural Address.
History Department Chair Heather Marshall-Fleenor comments: "If parents want to experience
one of the finest lecturers and storytellers in the History Department, they should not miss this series."
Contributions to theArthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. Memorial Fund, here at York Prep, are welcome from those
who wish to show their appreciation for Mr. Roper’s time, talent, and effort.
YORK HISTORICAL TOURS

York News 13
Woodlawn Cemetery Tour
One of the September highlights from Michael Roper’s
U.S. History classes was a trip to Woodlawn Cemetery
in the Bronx, where each student said a few prepared words
over the grave of a particular notable figure at this historic
site. At the grave of
George M. Cohan, every-
one sang a rendition of
“Give My Regards to
Broadway,” and at Irving
Berlin’s grave, “God
Bless America” was an
obvious choice. Standing
at the foot of Thomas Nast’s grave, students were reminded of his
influence through the political cartoon. It was Nast who gave us the
symbols of our political parties, the elephant and the donkey; he also
gave us our image of Santa Claus.
At the grave of the great writer
Herman Melville, students noticed
that admirers had placed pens on
his stone. Many of the political
giants ofAmerican history and, in
particular, NewYork City history, have their resting places atWoodlawn
Cemetery. Fiorello H. LaGuardia’s grave is there, as is that of Chief
Justice Charles Evans Hughes. Fans of the department store experi-
ence enjoyed visiting J.C. Penney’s and Roland H. Macy’s final
resting places. Jazz enthusiasts could feel they were close to the
presence of Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. One young lady was
proud to stand beside Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s stone and recall the
contributions of the Suffragists. As Mr. Roper said to the students, “I
cannot take you back in time, but I can take you to where many of our
historic greats now ‘reside,’and we can come and say, ‘Thanks for the
memories!’”
History Classes Experience Egypt on Fifth Avenue
History Teacher: Brendan Buckley
Once again, York Prep’s 8th
grade history classes entered the exotic world of ancient Egypt when they
visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art last October 16. On this annual field trip, our students
experience the power of archeological artifacts, large and small, to stir the mind and the imagination.
York’s young historians viewed an Egyptian temple; examined sarcophagi; and compared statues, pottery,
and figurines – some nearly 4,000 years old. The students were led by skilled tour guides in their explora-
tion of the daily life, religion, and sacred art of one of the most significant foundational civilizations. An
important focus of the trip involved the critical role that art and architecture played in the daily lives of the
ancient Egyptians. Students agreed that some of the more memorable artifacts included the detailed
miniature replicas of daily life known as Meketre’s Models, the magnificent Temple of Dendur, the
colossal Sphinx of Hatshepsut, and, of course (the perennial favorite), the mummies!

14 Winter 2013
Book Prompts Tour of Grand Central Terminal
English Teacher: Lisa Smith
How many of us realize how much history lives within the
massive walls, the grand windows, and the starlit
ceiling of Grand Central Station? What better way is there to
touch that history than under the expert guidance of York
Prep history teacher and licensed NYC tour guide
extraordinaire, Michael Roper? There’s nothing better, of
course, so under Mr. Roper’s excellent guidance, our 6th
grade
students explored the highlights of Grand Central Terminal
on Friday afternoon, October 19.
Ms. Lisa
Smith organized
the field trip
for her English
classes, who had
read Katherine Marsh’s The Night Tourist. The novel, which
employs elements of Greek mythology and other
classics, is set in a fictional “New York Underworld” beneath
Grand Central Terminal. A visit to the actual National
Historic Landmark was both a natural and logical culminat-
ing experience.
The tour
began in the main
concourse at the
great brass clock. The group learned about the building’s
history and admired the vast ceiling mural depicting the
constellations. Students then explored areas such as the
Whispering Gallery, where the low arches magnify the sound
of voices at oppo-
site corners, and
the outside of the
building, where a
statue of Hermes,
both the messen-
ger of the gods and the god of safe travels, stands atop the
façade along with Hercules and Athena.
This visit to
the world’s larg-
est train term-
inal was educa-
tional and excit-
ing, allowing students to make a dynamic connection between
The Night Tourist’s setting and one of New York’s greatest
architectural jewels. Neither Grand Central Station nor The
Night Tourist will soon be forgotten!
Dylan Pollak, Taylor Weiss, Rhoda Kwarkye,
Otis Richardson, Javairia Munnerlyn, Jaxon
Mancuso, Morgan Rodriguez, Khanbolat
Nazarbayev, and Sahai Stevens
Otis Richardson, William Kay, Logan Singer,
Nathan Felmus, Jacob Kay, Gabriel Squitieri,
Cecilia Cuddy, and Grace Desiderio
Cecilia Cuddy, Ms. Smith, and Javairia Munnerlyn
All 6th grade students
Exploring the hidden gems of Grand Central
Terminal

Student Writers: Summer in the City
Advisors: Anna Martens, Ethan Pennington, and Leah Umansky
The student and teacher participants in Writers by the
Park, York Prep’s summer writing enrichment pro-
gram for students in grades 7-11, were in fine fettle
during the month of June. Manhattan is an ideal setting
to explore multiple writing genres; and our budding
poets, essayists, and fictioneers took full advantage! To
tickle their imaginations, they took their notebooks and
pens along on various excursions: to examine poetry
chapbooks at Poets House, to listen to secrets at the
Whispering Wall in Grand Central Station, and to
explore public art in Central Park.
Summer writing seminars included:
“Creating Poems: A Seminar on Contemporary Poets and Writing Poems”
– taught by Leah Umansky
“In Praise of the Narrative Essay” – taught by Ethan Pennington
“Word + Image: Writing Through Art” – taught by Anna Martens
The group looks forward to another stimulating program during the upcoming summer of 2013.
Stay tuned!
York News 15
10th
graders Elsa Lindy and Samia Finnerty revise their
narrative essays in the writing lab.
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History Teacher: Eric Tull
And that’s no typo. In February of every year—tradition-
ally the day after the NFL Super Bowl—the York Prep
“Pantherdome” plays host to theAnnualYork Prep Social Stud-
ies Super Bowl. 2013 marks the ninth year of the tradition,
hence “Super Bowl IX.” The high school classes go head-to-
head (so to speak) answering questions about History,
Geography, Government, and Current Events. History teacher
Michael “Walking Textbook” Roper poses the questions in
three categories of difficulty, with point values to match. New
features and new
categories of questions are added each year. Last year, for
example, with the help of technology wizard Richard Abba,
images of historic figures and flags were projected onto a large
screen for students to identify.
Each year, winners are presented with bestselling books
on a variety of history topics. They also earn bragging rights
for an entire year. Mr. Roper is ably assisted by the history
faculty, and our reliable physical education teachers take care
of the officiating. Last year’s winners were the senior class
members of 2012. In the past eight years, the York Super Bowl has been won by senior, sophomore, and
even freshman classes, but never by the junior class. Could 2013 finally be the 11th
graders’ year?
At York, It’s Super Bowl IX!!!

16 Winter 2013
Grade 8 Examines Justice System Up Close
You may wonder what it’s like to encounter, up close, the
reality of the New York City criminal justice system.
Some of our students did after reading Walter Dean Myers’
novel Monster, which is the story of a Manhattan teen on trial
for felony murder. According to members of English teacher
Lisa Smith’s 8th
grade English class, their field trip on
October 15 to the Bronx Criminal Court was indeed an eye-
opening experience.
Upon arriving at the courthouse, students were greeted
by their tour guide, Officer Tina Perez. Officer Perez
introduced the group to Sergeant Tony Toleco, who briefly
described his career as a member of the NYPD and explained
the arrest pro-
cess. Next, stu-
dents met a senior District Attorney who quizzed the class
about their knowledge of the court system process and the
difference between misdemeanors and felonies. Afterwards,
students observed the arraignments of some young adults
accused of trespassing and drug possession and then were
escorted to the holding cells to observe what it was like to be
imprisoned. Stu-
dents learned that
350 individuals
had been arrested
and placed in
those cells during
the previous weekend and that all individuals accused and
held for a crime must be brought before a judge within 24
hours for their arraignment on the charges.
The group
then witnessed a
homicide trial in
which a man was
accused of reckless driving that resulted in a victim’s death;
the defendant faced up to 15 years in prison. Eighth grader
James Lebowitz commented, “I thought that all courts were
more violent, because when I watch law shows on TV, it’s
very intense in the courtrooms.” To conclude the tour,
students met with the HonorableAlison Tuitt, a Supreme Court
Justice in Bronx County and a parent of 12th
grader Reginald
Tankard. While the group sat in an empty courtroom, Judge
Tuitt talked about her career in law and answered
questions. As the class walked to the subway station, James
Morgenstein commented, “This experience showed us how much work and dedication it takes to enforce
the law.” The trip was an enlightening, real-life experience that complemented the students’ literary
exploration.
Scott Friedman, Benjamin Grieco, Umair Amla,
James Lebowitz, Lucas Friedson, James
Morgenstein, Andre Orengo, Tobias Nadell,
Emily Nass, and Haewon Lee
Jail cell featuring Andre Orengo, Emily Nass,
and Haewon Lee
Emily Nass, Andre Orengo, James Morgenstein,
Tobias Nadell, and Scott Friedman
Haewon Lee

York News 17
Advisor: Leah Umansky
The Dodge Poetry Festival is a biennial event that routinely
attracts audiences of up to 20,000 poetry lovers. Over its
26-year history, the festival has drawn approximately 155,000
people from 43 states to a setting where it seems everyone
adores the spoken and written word. Visitors participate, free
of charge, in what is widely acknowledged as the largest
poetry event in North America. On October 12, 2012, six
specially invited York Prep students arrived at the festival
grounds near Newark, NJ, to be part of Student Day: Samia
Finnerty (10), Elsa Lindy (10), Gayla Kornbluh (11), Daniel
Caragiulo (9), Pauline Hatzioanidis (11), and Nicholas
Goutman (11). English teacher Leah Umansky, a published
poet herself, was thrilled to have this opportunity to share the festival with the students, as she, too, first
attended the festival when she was in high school.
Here are some reactions from the York participants:
Students reflect on their experience at Dodge
before leaving Newark and heading back to York.
Yearbook Club
Advisors: Maria Alegre and Wendy Jin
For the first time inYork Prep history, the Yearbook Club is proud to be able
to say: “Yes. We’ve got an app for that!” Library Media Specialist and
YearbookAdvisor MariaAlegre has worked with the yearbook company Jostens
to procure a yearbook photography application, available for free download in
theApp Store for both iPhones andAndroid smartphones.After students down-
load the ReplayIt app, they are able to register with York Prep’s online account
and upload photographs from their phone directly to the Yearbook website.
This app has been created in hopes that all students (especially all senior class
members) will feel well represented in the upcoming yearbook.
Ms. Alegre has been ably assisted in her role as Yearbook Advisor by
Co-Advisor Wendy Jin (Mandarin teacher with a knack for apps) and Dan
Ashwood (art teacher with a flair for photos). This year’s exceptionally
dedicated student staff includes Julia Slaff and Samuel Weintraub as Co-
Editors-in-Chief, Olivia Matticoli as Vice-Editor, Brittany MacLeod and
Isabella Arizin as Photography Editors, and Danielle Pratt as the Art Editor.
Julia Marzovilla and Matthew Wang have also been elected to help advise and organize their fellow juniors.
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“It was a fantastic and eye-opening experience. I enjoyed Raul Zurita the most, because his
imagery and themes were dark.”
“The trip opened my eyes to new writers who I found to be very entertaining. The whole
experience, being surrounded by so many artistic people, inspired me very much as a writer.”
“I loved the poetry of Rachel McKibbens because she read her poems with such a passion
and spoke to the crowd in a very relaxed way…I would love to go again.”
“I could’ve sat through five more hours of poetry.”
“I really enjoyedAmiri Baraka because he used a melody along with his poem…. [The experience]
was really eye opening and it introduced me to many new styles of poetry.”
Dodge Poetry Festival

Genesis Wins Major Award
Advisors: Leah Umansky and Anna Martens
Genesis, York Prep’s literary magazine–featuring poetry, short fiction, creative nonfiction, and art–has
been awarded a Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA). In addition,
advisors Leah Umansky and Anna Martens proudly report that Anne Lutwak-Schneider’s poem “The
Littlest Things” has been awarded best “Open (free verse) Poem” in the CSPA Gold Circle Awards for
High-School Literary Magazines. This past year, Genesis received an incredible number of student
submissions. It is a pleasure to see such a strong student literary voice here at York.
Genesis bestows its own awards as well. Here are the winners of the Third Annual Upper School
Contest:
Best Poem –“Dreamscape” by Jonah Adler (11)
Best Prose – “Phoenix Rising” by Joseph Fierro (Class of 2012)
Best Artwork – “Drill” by Danielle Pratt (12)
“We have already received some wonderfully creative submissions for the next issue of Genesis,
and we look forward to publishing in May 2013”, said Ms. Martens. “We encourage all students from all
grades to join and to submit!”
18 Winter 2013
The Paw
Advisors: Anna Martens and Leah Umansky
Our school newspaper, The Paw, began the year with a great team of stu-
dent writers and photographers. English teachersAnna Martens and Leah
Umansky were pleased to see the newspaper staff collaborate effectively to
put together a successful first issue of the year. Articles covered a wide range
of topics. Among the highlights were pieces on Hurricane Sandy, college-
level coursework, and banned books. Something special and fun this year is
an expanded political cartoon and comics section.
Senior Julia Slaff leads the newspaper staff as Editor-In-Chief, and
senior Jeremy Losak works as the Assistant Editor. Staff writers and artists
include 8th
grader Joseph Newman-Getzler, 9th
grader Maxwell Skidelsky, 11th
grader Julia Marzovilla, and 12th
graders Avery Brown and Jake Rose. Keep
on the lookout for our spring issue later this year!
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La Pata
Advisor: Leila Kaady
The Spanish language has brought together five seniors - Sydney Gomez, Adriana Irizarry, Julia Slaff,
Samuel Weintraub, and Olivia Matticoli - who have chosen to take Spanish as a senior elective this
year with advisor Leila Kaady. They have created La Pata, a Spanish-language newsletter incorporating
topics students find interesting about Latin American and Spanish culture and language. Represented as
well are current events and personal articles that relate to student life here at York. This week was the
debut of La Pata, whose English translation is The Paw (York’s English language newsletter). Students
have the opportunity to share their ideas and thoughts in Spanish with others who are studying the
language as well as with York’s many staff members who speak Spanish. Each of these five seniors is
unique and brings a personal touch to La Pata, which makes it a very special project. Feedback and
support for La Pata has been extremely positive. Its creators hope that everyone continues to enjoy La
Pata and that it inspires students to start or continue learning Spanish!

York News 19
Domestic Uncertainties
English Teacher Leah Umansky’s First Book of Poems
English teacher Leah Umansky is proud to announce the publica-
tion of her first book of poems, Domestic Uncertainties, out now
from BlazeVOX Books (Buffalo, NY). A memoir of marriage and
divorce told through poetry, the poems have been a labor of love over
the last six years. Ms. Umansky’s poems have appeared in BOMB
Magazine’s BOMBLOG feature “Word Choice,” in Barrow Street, in
The Paterson Literary Review, and in Catch-up. As both a dedicated
teacher and a poet, Ms. Umansky enjoys blending her passions when
teaching poetry units to her classes, including her 9th
grade Pre-
Scholars Poetry Writing Workshop.
Ms. Umansky is also one of two faculty advisers of York Prep’s
literary magazine, Genesis. The experience of being Editor-in-Chief of her own high school literary
magazine inspired her as a writer to pursue a degree in English/Creative Writing at SUNY Binghamton
and an MFA in Poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She vividly remembers that it was a beloved high
school English teacher who taught her about the power of language and gave her the motivation she
needed to follow her dreams.
For more information and upcoming readings, see her author page at www.blazevox.org.
¡Olé! A Trip to Spain
and
Mama Mia! An Upcoming Trip to Italy
Trip Advisor: Melissa Feibusch
Madrid…Cordoba…Toledo…Seville–places resonant with
centuries of Iberian culture! In February 2012,York Prep high
school students journeyed through these great Spanish cities. The
travelers disembarked in Madrid where they viewed some of the
beautiful architecture and attractions during their tour. Among the
highlights were the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum. The
students also took time for a day trip to Toledo. In Cordoba, they
visited the Mezquita and learned how to make tapas, but they barely
had time to unpack their suitcases with Seville awaiting them! In
Seville, they toured the famous Plaza de Toros, took in an original
Flamenco show, and became acquainted with the baroque
architectural style embodied in the Cathedral of Seville. They even had an opportunity to unwind a bit
by playing basketball with the locals.
This February, York Prep students will be traveling to Italy, where they will be exposed to yet
another rich culture and a thoroughly musical language. For some, this experience will be one of
reconnecting with their roots and will provide them a chance to see and experience the atmosphere that
nurtured their forebears. Others will discover the bracing taste of a new culture. Certainly all our travelers
will come away from this trip with memories that go beyond those of a normal vacation. Advisor Melissa
Feibusch wants them to feel a sense of pride in being Americans and New Yorkers. “We also want to
encourage understanding, enthusiasm, and empathy for the citizens and civilization of another country,”
she said. These trips build skills and friendships that create bonds throughout high school years, and they
establish memories that influence and shape a lifetime of learning.

20 Winter 2013
Science Club
Advisor: Stephanie Sadeghi
The Science Club is off to a great start this year. At the first meet-
ing students used a spectroscope to see all the different colors of
light through their ever-so-fashionable special glasses!Another meet-
ing had them playing with polar and nonpolar substances and
watching how they react together. Club members were amazed at
how effectively dishwashing detergent (soap is neither polar nor
nonpolar) breaks apart fat (nonpolar) globules in water (polar).
Future scientific adventures include a number of exciting new
experiments and trips: separating iron from cereal, going to see the
real Body Works exhibit in Pennsylvania, playing with interesting
chemicals, and going on other explorations. All students with curious minds interested in “the way things
work” are more than welcome to join the Science Club!
Senior Scholars Playwriting Seminar
Performing Arts Chair and Drama Teacher: Maria Getz
This year, 12th
graders in the York Scholars program once again have a unique opportunity to create and
stage original student works during a two-part course in playwriting and play production. The classes
are designed to empower students to create their own original scripts in a seminar-based format. The
structure and exercises employed in the class are based on techniques developed by the Young
Playwrights Festival and Young Playwrights, Inc., an organization helmed by composer Stephen Sondheim,
which nurtures new writing talent and provides professional development for teachers and artist educators
who mentor and guide amateur playwrights.
The Scholars Program seminars, taught by drama teacher Maria Getz, allow students to create
dramatic works through in-class writing assignments that are then workshopped, developed, and eventu-
ally staged. Students learn proper formatting, character development, and dialogue writing as well as
techniques for creating conflict and finding a resolution. They share their works-in-progress and receive
feedback from one another at each session. Each student is required to write a 20-page one-act play as the
culminating project in the course. Students then continue to the Play Production course, where the group
selects several of the scripts created in the Playwriting Workshop to be directed and performed by class
members in staged readings.
YORK CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

York News 21
Community Service Club
Advisor: Kimberly Braun
Community Service with the West 68th
Street Block Association
On Saturday, October 6, the Community Service Club
teamed up with the West 68th
Street Block Association
to work on beautifying our block’s tree beds and help
raise money for a
worthy local ani-
mal rescue cen-
ter. Along with
their gardening
efforts, student
volunteers set
up a face-paint-
ing booth. Mr.
Stewart provided key support by supplying the club with a
cotton candy machine — a big hit and a successful money
raiser!All proceeds went directly to Infinite Hope, a non-profit
animal rescue center in Brooklyn that helps find homes for abandoned animals.
Community Service in Support of Hurricane Sandy Victims
In the weeks following Hurricane Sandy, students from the Community Service Club and
Student Government Organization collected donations to help with relief efforts. Distribution of goods
included the following aid organizations:
Robin Hood Foundation–Seven boxes of goods.
The Breezy Point Disaster Relief Fund– $240 (with help from Ms. Smith
and parents at International Night).
Yorkville Common Pantry–Over 60 lbs. of food.
Karl’s Klipper on Staten Island– Over seven suitcases of products
(carried directly there by students).
York Prep is very proud of our generous, community-minded students.
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22 Winter 2013
Sixth Grade Channels Olympian Deities
To celebrate the conclusion of a Greek mythology unit, Lisa
Smith’s 6th
grade English classes assembled a creative pre-
sentation about the Olympian gods and goddesses. During
class, each student dressed in costume as a selected Greek
deity and shared information about his or her family, special
talents, skills, and traits. Participants also reported on particu-
lar heroic (or devious) acts of the gods or goddesses.
Miguel Towns demonstrated extreme bravery when
he successfully returned intact after recording an interview
with Zeus, which he played for the audience on his iPod touch.
Taylor Weiss donned anArtemis costume complete with bows
and arrows. Jaxon Mancuso wrote and performed a rap song
about Apollo; and Dylan Pollak, who was dressed as the messenger god Hermes, delivered envelopes to
all the addressees on Mount Olympus. Grace Desiderio sported full armor in her role of Athena, and
Morgan Rodriguez created a colorful PowerPoint presentation with interesting facts about Aphrodite.
The students’ originality made the myths about the Olympians come to life. “Their costumes were
both inventive and entertaining,” observed Ms. Smith. In addition to enjoying the visits of the gods, the
entire class sang along to songs, viewed video clips, and enthusiastically responded to the full range of
activities.
Ms. Smith’s 6-2 English class
Otis Richardson, Eli Jamron, and
Jacob Kay
William Kay and Morgan Rodriguez Nathan Felmus, Jaxon Mancuso, and
Dylan Pollak
Ambassador Club
Advisors: Cathy Minaudo and Elizabeth Norton
Members of York Prep’s Ambassador Club host prospec-
tive students throughout the academic year. Members
are nominated from each grade by York’s faculty and admin-
istration based on strong academic and social skills. This
dedicated group of young hosts is responsible for guiding
student visitors, answering their questions, and making sure
they feel welcome. Ambassadors also team up with new
students during our fall Student Orientation. Serving as
student representatives of the school is both a responsibility
and an honor our Ambassadors embrace. Comments to the
Admissions Office by prospective students, such as “the students here are so nice and friendly,” are clear
evidence of the success of this program. Recently a prospective 6th
grade student said, “I was really
nervous when I first arrived, but by the end of the day, my Ambassador helped to make me feel right at
home!” What better feedback could we wish for?

York News 23
Celebrating Diversity & Encouraging Awareness
Advisors: Nicole Grimes and Theodore Preston
The Multicultural Club at York, now in its third year,
continues to have a positive influence on the school
community. The club was initiated through the efforts of
alumna Deanna Williams, who wanted to create a venue where
the different cultures represented in our student body could
be understood and celebrated as a source of social and
academic strength. Although small, York is home to students
who have had varied life experiences and are from all over
the world. Deanna explained, “I figured a Multicultural Club
at my school would promote diversity and open people’s eyes
to the fact that, yes, it’s true we are culturally different. But
because we share a common humanity we can appreciate each
other and each other’s contributions throughout history and even now.” The club has raised money for the
Japan Tsunami relief effort, has collected school supplies for needy children in Haiti, and has heightened
awareness at the school during Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Hispanic Heritage
Month. Most recently, the club sold cheerful Holidaygrams during the winter holidays.
Volleyball Game Pumps Parents and Students
Parents’ Event Coordinator: Lisa Smith
Heated competition and high spirits filled the York Prep Gym-
nasium during the Parent-Student Volleyball Game on Octo-
ber 10. The fun-filled contest, coordinated by English teacher and
Parents’ Event Coordinator Lisa Smith, attracted approximately
45 parents and students.
Upon arriving,
participants signed up
for teams named
“Chelsea,” “SoHo,”
“Hell’s Kitchen,” “West Village,” “Upper West Side,” and
“Upper East Side.” After a round-robin tournament, the two
finalists, “Upper West Side” and “East Village,” battled it out for
victory with “Upper West Side” emerging victorious. Both teams
were awarded Barnes and Noble gift cards. Spectators enjoyed
snacks, refreshments, and warm conversation.
The Multicultural Club:

24 Winter 2013
Sixth Grade Bowling Party
Sixth Grade Parent Representatives: Katherine Lowe and Jodi Pollak
On Sunday, December 2, York’s party of 6th
graders donned
bowling shoes and hit the lanes at Bowlmor in Times
Square. The class displayed some impressive, even spectacular
moves, as well as a
healthy sprinkling of
gutter balls that made
everyone laugh a lot. It
was wonderful for
parents to see how the
children's friendships
and camaraderie have
grown since the October picnic in Central Park. Next up for the
6th
grade is family ice skating on February 3!

York News 25
York Prep Community Celebrates Diversity!
Parents’ Event Coordinator: Lisa Smith
York Prep’s gym was transformed into a festive venue
celebrating foods and music from around the world at the
school’s Fourth Annual International Night on Wednesday,
November 14. The evening, planned by Parents’Event Coordina-
tor Lisa Smith, flowered
into a wonderful display
of York Prep’s creativity
and spirit. Faculty, par-
ents, and students joined
together to make the night
both memorable and fun.
Parents and students contributed authentic cuisine from
various countries. The Kurtz family prepared a Brazilian dish of
feijoada (black beans) and white rice; the Levinson family repre-
sented Italy with homemade lasagna and fried calamari; the
Shigetomi/Kubo family served Japanese yakitori; the Lee family
provided homemade sushi; and the Osher family shared New York
deli sandwiches.Attendees also feasted on Korean vegetable dump-
lings; Trinidadian jerk chicken prepared by the Cottin/Munnerlyn
family; and Israeli hummus, baba ganoush, baby carrots, and pita
slices provided by the
Lubit family. Other
specialty dishes included
Polish pierogis, Chinese
roast pork, Irish scones
and jam, and Puerto Rican
beef stew along with
arroz con gandules.
A number of musical presentations were in keeping with
the evening's international theme. Seventh grader Olivia Heskett
opened the performances
by singing the American national anthem. Under the direction of
Maria Getz, Chair of the Performing Arts Department, 6th
graders
sang “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” from South Africa. With
guidance from music teacher Gina Costanza, 7th
and 8th
graders
sang “Lean on Me,” while 9th
grade pianist Thomas Nickell inter-
preted a polonaise by the Polish-born Frédéric Chopin. The newly
formed Glee Club sang “Seasons of Love” from the musical
Rent, while the 9th
Grade Chorus created their own Afro-Cuban
percussion arrangement
of the song “Kwaheri,”
which means goodbye. In
addition, there was a
theatrical performance
where members of the 7th
grade drama class enacted a Japanese
folk tale, “The Crane Maiden.”
A special thank you to the upper school students who
volunteered their time to set up and help out during the festivities.
Thanks also to members of the Parents’Association, particularly
Katherine Lowe, the 6th
Grade Parent Representative, who gave
generously of her time to ensure that the night was a success; and Dawn Iseson, Chair of the Parents’
Association, who enthusiastically contributed time and effort to organize the dinner and run a raffle that
raised money for the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. Last but not least, a big thank you to the York Prep
Maintenance Staff for their assistance before and after the event.

26 Winter 2013
Junior State of America Club
Advisor: Donna Gelard
The Junior State of America (JSA) Club at York Prep is
back in action this year with a new team of students who
enjoy a good debate. JSA is a student-run political awareness
club for upper school students who want to strengthen their
rhetorical skills or who simply enjoy discussing politics. The
club’s goal is to prepare students to be active, involved
community members and to give them an opportunity to voice
their opinions on local, state, national, and world events. Lately,
topics of discussion include our government’s checks-and-
balance system, freedom of speech, and many other
stimulating subjects. New club president, 10th
grader Michael
Demos, has been interested in politics ever since he could
remember. He even helped run a campaign when his uncle ran
for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. “I love talking
politics,” says Michael. “I like being a member of JSA because it gives me a better understanding of the
modern world.” Join the JSA Club at lunchtime on Thursdays in the Christian Science Center and add
your voice to the conversation!
Clockwise from top left: Brandon Choran, Chad
Adam, Valery Komissarov, Gabriel Icikson,
Michael Demos, and Richard Evans
Seussical, Jr.
The York Prep Performing Arts Department is hard at work on its next production, Seussical, Jr., to be
presented on January 29 and 30 at 7:00 p.m., and January 31 at 4:30 p.m., in the Marjorie S. Deane
Little Theatre at the West Side YMCA. The musical is based on the stories of Dr. Seuss and features an
array of characters and stories from his beloved books. The presentation is under the direction of drama
teacher Maria Getz, with musical direction by music teacher Gina Costanza, and set design and construc-
tion by art teacher Karl Hartman. Ms. Costanza saw the original production on Broadway 15 years ago. “I
can’t wait for the audience to see our star performers tackle the most famous songs from the show, ‘The
One-Feathered Tail of Gertrude McFuzz’ and ‘Notice Me, Horton,’” she said.
This high-energy show features music of many different styles, including jazz, blues, and Gospel
music. It is narrated by the Cat in the Hat (sophomore Molly Model) and traces the adventure-filled
journey of Horton the Elephant (senior Matthew Vitale). He struggles to save the residents of the planet
of Who after he bonds with Jojo (sophomore Isabel Greenberg), a Who child who “thinks too many
thinks” and gets in trouble with her parents, the Mayor of Whoville (6th
grader Dylan Pollak) and his wife
(sophomore Hailey Corrall).
Along the way, Horton gets sidetracked by the exotic Mayzie Bird (sophomore Samia Finnerty),
who convinces him to sit on her egg while she goes on vacation. Then Horton is kidnapped by hunters and
sold to the circus, but fortunately his loyal friend Gertrude (senior Taryn Briskin) rescues him.
The production also features 9th
grader Emma Benten as the sassy and soulful Sour Kangaroo, and
newcomer 6th
grader Rhoda Kwarkye as the Young Kangaroo, as well as a singing “Greek chorus” of Bird
Girls (sophomores Sarah Calaman and Ellara Chumashkaeva, and freshman Elizabeth Murin).The scheming
monkeys, those Wickersham Brothers, are played by freshmen Nieve Ferguson and Rebecca Meckler and
7th
grader Olivia Heskett. Rounding out the cast are 7th
grader Rianna Doolaramani and 6th
grader Morgan
Rodriguez as jungle animals and the 6th
Grade Performing Arts class as the Whos.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased through the bookstore or the Business Office.

York News 27
Broadway Club
Advisors: Sammantha Farkas and Brittany McKinney
Members of The Broadway Club have been visiting the Great White Way for more than a decade, and
there are currently six loyal members who have been in the club four years or more. In fact, Mallory
Cruz, club president, has been an enthusiastic participant for five years! Broadway Club meets every
month to discuss the events in, on, and around Broadway, including new shows and those opening soon.
Many members are true theatre aficionados, and they can often be found in our hallways singing tunes
from Wicked, Chicago, and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. One of the many enjoyable aspects of the club
is that four times a year it meets for a sumptuous dinner and then heads to the theater. This gustatory
preamble adds a popular social aspect that everyone truly appreciates. Sometimes the group is allowed to
visit backstage, which gives students and teachers a unique perspective on the production process of New
York’s most amazing theatres. In fact, thanks to James Nederlander, one of the show’s producers and a
friend of Ms. Farkas, they were recently able to visit backstage at Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark! Our
students had the opportunity to see the costumes up close, visit the makeup room, and talk to the artists
and actors. It was amazing! The Broadway Club is an incredible experience, both for students who already
have a passion for Broadway and those who just want to broaden their experience of the arts.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Abig hit, York Prep’s 2012 winter play, The Wonderful Wizard
of Oz, was presented on Thursday, January 26, 2012 at
7:00 p.m. in the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre at the West Side
YMCA. The script, adapted by V. Glasgow Koste from the book
by L. Frank Baum, featured a cast and crew of 40 students from
grades 6-12. The production was under the direction of drama
teacher Maria Getz, while
art teacher Karl Hartman
designed and built set
pieces. This production
employed a minimalistic
set and a “play within a play” format while exploring the themes
of friendship, loyalty, and adventure.
The story follows young Dorothy (sophomore Gayla
Kornbluh) as she is whisked away by a cyclone to the magical
land of Oz, where she meets a group of beloved characters: the Scarecrow (8th
grader Emma Benten), the
Tin Woodsman (freshman Hailey Corrall) and the Cowardly Lion (freshman Isabel Greenberg). Senior
Cole Lumpkin played the challenging dual role of narrator (author L. Frank Baum) and the Wizard. Rounding
out the cast were 6th
grader Aaron Pahwa (Toto); and freshmen
Molly Model (Wicked Witch of the West), Jordan Isaacs (Glinda
the Good Witch of the North), and Sarah Calaman (Good Witch
of the South). The play also featured 8th
graders Nieve Ferguson
(guard),Trevor Viscardi (Uncle Henry), and Elizabeth Murin (head
Munchkin/Winkie); as well as freshmen Lucas Mollod (guard)
and Ellara Chumashkaeva (Aunt Em). The 6th
grade performing
arts class, along with 7th
graders Marina Kalaw and Rianna
Doolaramani, played the Munchkins and Winkies.

28 Winter 2013
Into the Woods, Jr.
Is there such a thing as happily ever after? Do wishes really come true? The answer to these age-old
questions was a resounding “yes” when York Prep presented its spring musical Into the Woods, Jr. on
May 2 and 3 in the nearby Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre at the West Side YMCA. The popular Stephen
Sondheim and James Lapine musical includes well-known songs such as “Giants in the Sky,” “Agony,”
and “It Takes Two.”
The production was directed and choreographed by
drama teacher Maria Getz. Music teacher Gina Costanza
helmed the musical direction, and art teacher Karl Hartman
designed and constructed the set. With a cast and crew of
students from grades 6-12 as well as two faculty cameos, the
production featured both veterans and newcomers to the York
Prep stage with standout farewell performances by seniors Cole
Lumpkin and Gabriel Skoletsky.
The story is told by the narrator (9th
grader Lucas
Mollod) and follows well-known fairy tale characters on their individual quests for “happily ever after.”
The baker and his wife ( Cole Lumpkin and 9th
grader Molly Model) will stop at nothing to have a child.
Cinderella (junior Taryn Briskin) wants to go to the ball and
meet her Prince Charming (fellow junior Matthew Vitale).
Rapunzel (9th
grader Hailey Corrall) longs to see the world
and be with her prince (8th
grader Trevor Viscardi) after being
locked in a tower most of her life by her adoptive mother, the
Witch (9th
grader Samia Finnerty). Along the way, the baker
and his wife must collect items in order to rid themselves of
the witch’s spell that has rendered them barren. The items
include Rapunzel’s hair, Little Red Riding Hood’s (9th
grader
Isabel Greenberg) cape, and Jack’s (Gabriel Skoletsky)
beloved cow Milky White.
The cast also boasted a number of stalwart supporting characters, including Cinderella’s
stepmother (8th
grader Nieve Ferguson) and stepsisters (6th
graders Olivia Heskett and Talya Lubit), Jack’s
mother (8th
grader Emma Benten), the Mysterious Man
(9th
grader Sarah Calaman), the Steward (9th
grader Ruby Zolot)
and Granny/Cinderella’s mother (9th
grader Jordan Isaacs). The
ensemble included several “forgotten fairy-tailers” making
cameo appearances, such as Snow White, Peter Pan and the
Three Little Pigs.
It was indeed a happy ending for the dedicated and
close-knit cast and crew, who put in three months of rehears-
als, both after school and on weekends. “Working on the
musical has been a great experience, and one I hope to
continue,” said newcomer Trevor Viscardi. “It was fun working with all of the other kids and Ms. Getz.”
Fellow newcomer Nieve Ferguson added, “It was hard work, but it was all worth it in the end. I’ll be pretty
lost after school for the rest of the school year!”

York News 29
National Anthem Soloist
Music Teacher: Gina Costanza
Music teacher Gina Costanza has been preparing Olivia Heskett (7) to sing
the NationalAnthem atYork Prep Events. Olivia has already made her well-
received debut to begin the festivities at the International Dinner this past
November. Additional students interested in learning to perform the National
Anthem are welcome to work with Ms. Costanza on Thursdays during lunch
period in the Chapel.
Ninth Grade One-Acts from Greek Mythology: “King Midas”
and “Orpheus”
This year the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue auditorium was
the venue for the 9th
grade drama classes’ presentation of
two short one-act plays based on well-known and resonant Greek
mythological tales, one about the king with too much of a golden
touch and the other about
the master musician who
journeys to the under-
world to find his lost love
and who must not look
back on his trip home or
she will vanish again. The daytime productions were attended by
an enthusiastic audience of York Prep students and teachers. King
Midas starred Trevor Viscardi in the title role with Micaela Arena
as the narrator Dionysus. Other featured players included Casey
Ryan as Silenus, and Courtney Cohen and Daniel Caragiulo as
head page boys. Orpheus starred Benjamin Lipman in the title role with Michael Haddow as Dionysus,
James Levinson as Charon, Maria Komissarova as Orpheus’mother, and Sabrina Ho as Hades, god of the
underworld. Chandler Anarella handled the two supporting roles of Eurydice and Cerberus.
Scholars Music Class
The 11th
Grade Scholars experienced a practical introduction
to music theory by highlighting ensemble work. Ms.
Costanza worked with them to find the right tempo, dynamics,
articulation, and form for the performance of a Liberian folk song
called “Take Time in Life.” The Scholars performed this piece for
the student body using the halls as a performance space. Their
rendition featured five different parts: cowbell, agogo bells,
shekere, low drums, and voices.

30 Winter 2013
Tenth Grade One-Acts: “The New Kid,” “Bystanders Blues”
and “1-900 DESPERATE”
This year, the 10th
grade drama classes performed three one-act
plays in the auditorium of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue.
These performances featured pieces from The Bully Plays anthol-
ogy, as well as Christopher Durang’s 1-900 DESPERATE. Upper
school classes and faculty were invited to attend.
The 10-1 class performed the The New Kid, which, as you
might imagine, describes the tribulations of a student, Max (Samuel
Kay), who is antagonized by two bullies (Jeffrey Karceski and
Lydia Shanen) at his new school. His well-meaning parents
(Gabriel Icikson and Isabel Greenberg) arrange a meeting with
one of the bullies’parents (Miles Liu and Molly Model) to smooth things over. This get-together is hardly
successful, but in the process Max finds out some interesting
information about the bully that he puts to use successfully when,
in a humorous confrontation, he finally stands up for himself.
The 10-2 class presented two pieces. Bystander Blues is
the tragic story of a student (Ellara Chumashkaeva) who battles
bullying after another student (Lucas Mollod) begins spreading
gossip about her while her erstwhile best friend (Savannah
Sanchez) abandons her. The story incorporates a Greek chorus of
bystanders as a classic narration device to comment on the
protagonist’s lonely and desperate struggle. Durang’s 1-900
DESPERATE is a comedic tale about a number of lonely hearts
who all call a dating line looking for romance. It featured Jordan Isaacs in the leading role, as well as
Sarah Calaman, Jared Axelowitz, Samia Finnerty, Maxwell Fleischman, and Daniel Durocher.
The SGO Thrives
Advisors: Melissa Feibusch, Michele Lodespoto, and Brittany McKinney
The Student Government Organization (SGO), with enthu-
siastic representatives from grades 6-12, remains in full
active mode. Working alongside members of the Community
Service Club, SGO President Sydney Gomez and Vice-Presi-
dent Jackson Potter kicked off the year by raising money for
breast cancer awareness. They hosted a school-wide bake sale
and sold special pink tee shirts that students wore in place
of uniforms for a day. All proceeds were donated to the
Memorial Sloan Kettering Program for Breast Cancer
Research. Another recent project involved the collection,
organization, and distribution of items donated to Hurricane Sandy victims. SGO participants are looking
forward to the annual Holiday Toy Drive, to Spirit Week and, of course, to Valentine’s Day. Students can
help bring the spirit to York by attending weekly meetings on Wednesday, during lunch, in Room 420. All
are welcome!

York News 31
Holiday Caroling
Deck the Halls! Our 9th
grade music students caroled in York’s
lobby with the well-known “Sing Noel,” which included two-
part voices, tubano drums, and a cowbell. The informal performance
featured Nieve Ferguson, Winston Freeman, Mara Hutton, Gabriella
Lopez, Neal McIlvaine,Alex Plaut, Marguerite Runyan, and Jonathan
Shashoua. Everyone looks forward to more caroling in the future.
“Here we come a-wassailing!”
Advisor: Gina Costanza
This year celebrates the birth of the York Prep Glee Club. Its
members meet every Wednesday during lunch to sing out in
preparation for such gigs as the International Dinner, the Spring
Choral Concert, and the Evening of the Arts. This choral group
spans grades 6-12 and includes members Cecilia Cuddy, Grace
Desiderio, Emma Benten, Hailey Corrall, Rianna Doolaramani,
Olivia Heskett, Marina Kalaw, Lily Moritz, Christina Gonzalez
Chin, and Matthew Vitale. Zoe Anderson currently serves as the
Assistant to Music Director Gina Costanza. The York Prep Glee
Club performed “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent at the
International Dinner and is currently rehearsing “In My Life,” the beautiful Beatles song.
Glee Club
Advisor: Ronald Stewart
The Ukulele Club that meets on Monday afternoons
comprises a small group of ukulele enthusiasts and a
patient professional teacher,Adam Chernick. So far we have
learned basic techniques and chords and done a fairly
decent job of butchering a few Beatles songs.The great thing
about the ukulele is that messing up the chord patterns and
generally being out of rhythm is part of the fun. In the end,
the ukuleles sound like, well, ukuleles. Joining Headmaster
Ronald Stewart are Molly Model, Ruby Zolot, Nina Line,
Luriel Balaurea,Anne Lutwak-Schneider, Matthew Stenberg,
Owen Graig,Aaron Hersh, and Samuel Kay. There is no truth to the rumor that we are strangling babies:
we are playing ukuleles with gusto. Strum on!
The Joys of Strumming: Ukulele Club
By Erwin Bernal
Sometimes York Prep’s performing talent travels beyond the walls of 40 West 68th
Street and shines
for all of New York City to see. Current senior Matthew Vitale has joined York Prep graduate Cole
Lumpkin (2012) on an exciting new musical endeavor, The State of Matteo. The debut performance of
the five-member rock/jazz fusion band was at Sullivan Hall (214 Sullivan Street, between Bleecker
Street and West 3rd
Street) on December 26 at 7:00 p.m. For future shows and performances, sample
cuts, and YouTube videos of the band, please enjoy their website at www.thestateofmatteo.com.
The State of Matteo

32 Winter 2013
The Gay-Straight Alliance
Advisors: Thomas Henson, Michael Roper, and Lisa Smith
The meetings of York Prep’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) continue to provide a safe and affirming
discussion environment for all York students every Tuesday during lunch. In addition to dealing
with issues of mutual concern, students brainstorm ways the club can contribute to an atmosphere of
acceptance, empathy, and tolerance within the school. For example, the GSA has worked with York
deans to encourage anti-bullying attitudes by creating posters and producing messages for the morning
announcements. Members have also held bake sales to raise money to support national anti-bullying
organizations. The GSA plans to continue its Valentine’s Day traditions by hosting a bake sale and
promoting positive Valentine values. With advisor Michael Roper’s help, members are preparing a
special message to all York students on that day. We are proud of the York community for the way it
adopts and shares the notion that all people at York have a place to belong and permission to be
themselves.
French Film Club
Advisor: Jennifer Campo
Members of the French Film Club had their first excursion
on Wednesday, November 7. Upper school French stu-
dents Nina Line, Rosette Zarzar, Anne Lutwak-Schneider, and
Nieve Ferguson were joined by their French teacher, Jennifer
Campo, at Lincoln Plaza Cinema, where they saw the film
L’homme qui Voulait Vivre Sa Vie (or The Big Picture, as the
film is titled in English), which was written and directed by Eric
Lartigau. The film is a drama/ thriller in which a successful
Parisian lawyer with a seemingly perfect life discovers that his
wife is having an affair. He murders her lover in a moment of
madness and then escapes the law by assuming his victim's
identity and making a fresh start on the Adriatic coast as a photographer. This eventually leads him to
realize what was missing in his life before. Students enjoyed the film for its dramatic and esthetic value,
and were also fascinated by various aspects of French culture that were skillfully portrayed. The next
film excursion will take place in January 2013.
WYRK
Advisor: Dan Ashwood
WYRK, York’s very own television and video production studio, was reborn this academic school
year and has attracted a highly enthusiastic crew of reporters, editors, animators, and video artists.
Every Wednesday and Thursday after school, students convene in the media lab to collaboratively
produce the weekly newscast, assisted by club Advisor Dan Ashwood.
For some WYRK members, this means getting in front of the camera and delivering the school’s
announcements. For others, it means designing stimulating motion graphics or even producing and
editing features. Still others find themselves out in the field reporting on happenings, events, and
oddities around the school. Whatever one’s interests may be, there is always a fun way to pursue them and
enrich oneself within the varied and vibrant world of WYRK.

York News 33
Mental Math Muscles in Motion
Advisor: Taviel Guren
Members of the Math Club gather twice a month to exercise their mental muscles. During lunch
meetings, the group gets involved in solving the fiendishly challenging problems that have been
presented to top math students in schools around the country. Math teacher Taviel Guren subscribes to two
mathematics league competitions, each of which sends him six questions a month, which he gives to club
members. “I let the students work together on the solution, because that’s more fun,” said Mr. Guren.
“We’re not actually competing, so we don’t have to follow the rules of working individually.” The
answers are in a sealed envelope, which Mr. Guren opens after the 30-minute time limit. All six problems
must be solved in under a half hour without the use of calculators or other calculating aids.
Here is a question from one of the club’s recent meetings: The set of integers from one to five has
32 subsets. What is the average sum of the elements in a subset?
Ready…set…go!
Advisor: Taviel Guren
Students in the Stock Market Club each create a portfolio beginning with a fantasy budget of $100,000
(no real money is involved!). They then track their stock over the course of the year. In the process,
they learn about short selling and margin trading. Club members use the website www.marketwatch.com
to manage and follow their investments, and they also learn how to find the companies they are looking to
invest in. “Logan, a 7th
grader, wanted to buy stock in all the major movie studios, so he typed ‘Pixar’ and
found nothing. I then suggested he do a search for the owner of the company,” said club advisor Taviel
Guren. “Students are learning how business is organized.”
York Prep librarian Maria Alegre noted that several students seemed to be extremely taken with
watching their stock move, especially during after-school library hours. “They ‘own’ it; that’s why they
are so interested in it,” she said.
The club currently boasts 43 Middle and Upper School student “traders.” The top earning
member at the moment is Matthew Wang, who has a 48.58% return on his investments!
Environmental and Gardening Club
Advisors: Stacy Bonano and Glenn Rubic
Many great projects and events are in the works this spring
for the Environ-mental and Gardening Club. Among
other activities, students will go to the school roof garden
and learn how to put down bedding for seedlings. Observing
the life cycle of plants and flowers can be a profound
experience, and club members will hone their sensory skills.
The club also expects to make outreach trips to bring
environmental awareness to other students and to the local
community. “Ms. Bonano and I look forward to breathing
new life into environmental issues,” said club sponsor Glenn
Rubic. He said club members will probably visit the Ameri-
can Museum of Natural History and Central Park. He would also love to take them to Wave Hill, an
exquisite estate on the Hudson; and the New York Botanical Garden, 250 beautiful and educational acres
of flower gardens, forests, fields, and greenhouses.
Stock Market Club

34 Winter 2013
Advisor: Karl Hartman
Lo, the tap of hammers and the swish of paintbrushes have been heard
hovering delicately, lightly punctuating the after-school din at York Prep.
Many have wondered what it could be. The answer, of course, is the Set
Building Club. Under the expert guidance of art teacher Karl Hartman, the club
has been hard at work painting a 10x5-foot mural and constructing set pieces for
the upcoming musical production, Seussical, Jr. Builders gather every Monday
and Tuesday afternoon between 3:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. to execute a design
inspired by the illustrations from Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. Fittingly
(for those who value cross-curricular connections), 6th
grader Javairia Munnerlyn
said, “I already knew how to enlarge a small drawing to a mural from Mr. Tull’s
class using maps.” Javairia and seniorAnders Halperin have done a great deal of
the work. The delightful musical is scheduled to open in late January, and the sets promise to be a delight
as well.
Set Building Club
Computer Club
Advisors: Kate Logan and Kate Sullivan
Every Monday during lunch period, advisors Kate Sullivan and Kate
Logan hold Computer Club meetings in their Jump Start Office #7.
The club is small but mighty, due to the quality time students get to
spend together. They bring lunch and laptop and have the option of
playing a school-appropriate game of their choice. Minecraft and Roblox
are currently the most popular games. The savvy club members even
know that you can utilize YouTube to find ways to beat challenging
levels, which was certainly not an option during Ms. Sullivan and Ms.
Logan’s formative Atari days! Sixth-grader Cole Tarrant, one of the
stalwarts, says of the club, “I really love this time to chill out during the day. I don’t have the opportunity
to play games at home because I am focusing on homework.” A nice sentiment indeed.
“Playing on my computer is relaxing, and this break helps me to concentrate more afterwards.
It would be awesome if more people joined this club! It is great.”
William Kay, 6th
grade
Same Sky Club
Advisors: Sammantha Farkas and Brittany McKinney
Emerging only this year, the Same Sky Club was born
of York students’ interest in learning more about trade-not-aid
organizations and their significance to today’s teenagers. Initiated
by Courtney Cohen and Rebecca Meckler, the Same Sky Club is
connected with Same Sky, a not-for-profit organization that believes
in giving women “a hand up, rather than a hand-out.” Same Sky
trains HIV+ women in developing African countries as artisans
who crochet beautiful glass bead jewelry, which allows them to
earn 15 to 20 times the average Sub-Saharan income. Club
members reach out to other students to talk about what it means to
help these women prosper. Courtney Cohen agrees that “we must work together to support women who
take the initiative to improve their lives. After all, we are all under the same sky.” Sponsoring bake sales
and holding student forums serves to increase awareness about those women in Zambia and Rwanda who,
because of Same Sky, are now gainfully employed and supporting themselves and their families. The
enthusiasm students have shown for our new club and its successes is exciting!

York News 35
Backgammon, Chess, & Games Club
Advisors: Theodore Preston and Taviel Guren
If you think you’ve ‘got game’ at the chessboard, then I’m the guy to beat,” said Theodore Preston,
club co-advisor.
The ever-popular Games Club, sponsored by Mr. Preston and Taviel Guren, meets every week on
Monday during lunch in Room 208. Aficionados of board games can choose among Connect Four;
Backgammon; Yahtzee and Triple Yahtzee; Chess; Checkers; and last,
but surely not least, Scrabble. During the spring semester, the Games
Club will serve as a launching pad for a soon-to-be-newly-minted York
Prep Chess Team. First, there will be in-school chess competitions among
club members, and then the club will play against students from other
schools in the city. Mr. Guren and Mr. Preston are the co-sponsors, and
they invite students of all grades and ages to come play and compete.
“
Advisor: Ethan Pennington
Last spring, student Samia Finnerty began planning a club with advisor Ethan Pennington – a club to
showcase talented student writers at York. The aim was to create a space where poets and songwriters
could meet, collaborate, and perform on a weekly basis. Last fall, several students, including sophomores
Samia, Isabel Greenberg,Ava Kuslansky, Molly Model, and Elsa Lindy, as well as freshman Trevor Viscardi,
spread the word about Out Loud. They gathered at lunch to share songs, recite poems, and brainstorm
ideas on how to further promote the club. This winter, Out Loud will host a talent show. Students who
have had their work published in York’s literary magazine, Genesis, will have the opportunity to take the
stage alongside other poets and musicians. It’s clear thatYork students are not shy about their many talents
and that they love to live “out loud.”
Out Loud
Advisor: Stacy Povshko
The goal of the Russian Club is to introduce students to Russian culture, language, history, and
geography through videos, books, and live conversations. The group, which meets Wednesdays
during lunch in Room 208, is actively recruiting additional students. “Right now, we have two members
who are native Russians,” said Stacy Povshko, advisor and club sponsor. “Both of them are very interested
in sharing their culture.”
At a recent meeting, club members watched YouTube videos showing some highlights of
Moscow. Ms. Povshko plans to take students to sample the cuisine at a nearby Russian restaurant. She also
plans to introduce the club to Russian immigrants so members can learn more about life in Russia. Stay in
touch with Ms. Povshko for further developments.
Russian Club
Advisor: Cora Kolosso
Advisor Cora Kolosso holds Open Studio every Monday after school from 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in
the Visual Arts room. It’s a time and place for students to relax and have fun making art. This year,
some students have joined Open Studio to work on specific classroom assignments, including those from
their photography class. Other students have been working on independent ceramic pieces or watercolor
paintings; and, indeed, students are encouraged to explore any medium that strikes their fancy. Our
students really look forward to this special time. “Mondays are my favorite, because I get to come to Open
Studio,” says 6th
grader Javairia Munnerlyn. And 8th
grader Haewon Lee adds, “Open Studio is like my
time for meditation. I just get into my work, and before I know it, it’s time to clean up.”
Art Thrives in Open Studio

36 Winter 2013
Intramural Sports Program
Coaches: Justin Stack, Lisa Rill, and Christina Schirone
The York Prep Intramural Program offers students in grades
6-12 a variety of activities designed for both recreation and
healthy competition during their lunch period. The program
accommodates any sports that don’t require a long time to set
up. These include badminton, indoor soccer, floor hockey, hand-
ball, and others. Big-
bat-boomer baseball is a
popular choice. (In fact,
just saying it is fun.) The
opening of our fitness
room last year expanded the selections even more, giving students
the opportunity to work out during this time. The program aims to
promote physical fitness and general wellness in a positive and
fun atmosphere while also encouraging good sportsmanship. It’s
a real physical-education cornucopia.
Fantasy Football
Advisors: Ethan Pennington and Jon Serri
Fantasy Football is a national phenomenon that allows people of all ages to embrace the trending
statistics of NFL goliaths. For the third year, advisors Ethan Pennington and Jon Serri, who own their
own fantasy team, "The Professors of Pain," have gone head-to-head with York students in weekly fantasy
football match-ups. Students who have played in previous years, as well as some who are new to the game,
competed throughout the fall. They peruse the digital landscape of statistics to boost weekly debates over
who the best players are. Seventh-grader Logan Spivack, who enjoys the opportunity to compete against
his classmates, says, “The best part about this club is getting to hang out with other students who are
interested in the NFL and trying to outsmart them each week.” Former co-champion DavidAllerhand likes
the fact that he learns about other players besides those who play for his hometown team. “I used to focus
solely on the Jets players. Fantasy football makes me pay attention to the rest of the league, and I know a
lot more about the sport as a result,” he said. If you are fan of the NFL and enjoy analyzing statistics, by all
means, sign up for next year’s league.
Swim Club
Advisors: Joyce Perley and Stacy Povshko
For some aquatic-minded students, the return to school in September
heralds the return of the York Prep Swim Club to its home pool at
Asphalt Green. This fall, veteran swimmers from the past few seasons,
including Khari Derrick, Aaron Pahwa, Aaron Murphy, and Maya Darst-
Campbell, welcomed several new participants from different grades.
Together they formed one of our largest groups in recent years. On Friday
afternoons, advisors Joyce Perley and Stacy Povshko often joined in for a
refreshing end-of-the-week dip. Highlights from the fall included the
spirited Diving-for-Objects-at-the-Bottom-of-the-Pool Competition and the
ever-popular cliffhanger, the Jumping-from-the-Blocks Event. Indeed,York
swimmers really know how to enjoy themselves (they are also fans of the
weekly ride across town via limousine). The club looks forward to more
splashing good times in the spring.

York Prep School Winter 2013 News

York Prep School Winter 2013 News

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York Prep School Winter 2013 News