SMS Summer Update
August 1, 2024
SMS SUMMER UPDATE
August 5, 2025
Dear SMS Parents,
I hope this mid-summer note finds you well and enjoying the long days, warm weather, and time with family and friends. While I am spending these summer weeks at SMS reflecting on last year and preparing for the 2025–2026 school year, I want to be clear that I am not writing to signal that summer is almost over. There is still plenty of time for fun in the sun, unstructured downtime, and the moments of connection that summer brings.
Summer provides me with the rare gift of uninterrupted time to plan and work at SMS, but I am reminded daily that a building without the energy, laughter, and even the occasional chaos provided by our students and staff is simply not the same. I look forward to welcoming everyone back when the time comes, ready to fill our halls with life once again.
As we prepare for the year ahead, I continue to appreciate being part of a community that not only values academic excellence but also prioritizes the well-being and growth of every child. It is clear that the partnership between home and school is central to the experiences we create for students at SMS. Together, we will help our students develop the confidence, empathy, and skills they need to navigate challenges and make positive contributions to their communities, both within SMS and beyond.
This letter includes important details to help your family feel prepared and supported as we approach the start of the school year. I encourage you to read on when you are ready, and until then, I wish you many more joyful summer days.
Sincerely,
Chris Coughlin
Principal, Scarsdale Middle School
ccoughlin@scarsdaleschools.org
Raiders Lead!
Faculty Updates
Our SMS community will welcome several new staff members this year.
Michael Berkowitz will be our new LRC teacher in Cooper House. Michael holds an M.S. in Adolescence Education from Mercy College and a B.S. in Communications from Bradley University. He joins us from the Irvington School District and is known for building strong, supportive relationships with students while helping them grow in their independence and confidence.
Valesca Billings will be joining SMS as our new Chorus and General Music teacher. She holds a Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from NYU. Most recently, she taught at Wilson Middle School in Natick, Massachusetts, where she led middle school choral ensembles and developed student-centered music courses. Valesca brings a strong background in building inclusive music programs and a passion for helping students grow through creativity and performance.
Aaron Crug will be joining our special education team as the teacher of our 8:1:2 Program. Aaron holds an M.A. in Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities from Pace University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. He comes to SMS from Dobbs Ferry Middle School and is recognized for his calm, patient approach in helping students feel seen and valued each day.
Stephen DelMoro will join us as a Physical Education Teacher and will also serve as the Department Chair for Physical Education, Health, and FACS. Stephen holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College, an M.A. in Health Education, and a B.A. in Health and Physical Education from Ithaca College. Stephen taught Health and PE and served as Assistant Athletic Director in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, bringing positive energy and a student-centered approach that helps students feel motivated and confident in leading active, healthy lives.
Theodore Flynn will serve as a leave replacement for 7th-grade math in Butler House this fall. Theodore is known for his clear and patient teaching style, making math feel accessible and engaging for students.
Bradley Magnusson will join SMS as an ICT co-teacher and LRC teacher. Bradley holds a B.A. from Miami University in Ohio, an M.S. in Special Education from Quinnipiac University, and is pursuing his Ed.D. from the University of Bridgeport. Bradley brings a caring approach and experience that helps students feel supported in taking on challenges in the classroom.
Joann Meehan has joined SMS as the new Cooper House Secretary. Joann brings a background in administrative support, project coordination, and academic operations, with experience at Fordham University, the Bronxville Public Library, and Havas North America. Known for her organization, attention to detail, and warm communication style, Joann will be a great asset to the Cooper House team.
Emmanuelle Rivera will join SMS as our new French teacher. For the past five years, Emmanuelle has taught French at Scarsdale High School, where she is known for creating engaging, inclusive language-learning experiences. She holds a Master’s in Education from Lehman College and a BFA from Parsons School of Design. Emmanuelle brings creativity, warmth, and a passion for language instruction that supports students in building both skill and confidence.
Finally, Dr. Deborah Zides will be joining SMS as a School Psychologist. Dr. Zides holds a Ph.D. and an M.S. in School-Clinical Psychology from Pace University and a B.A. in Psychology from Marymount at Fordham University. She most recently worked as a psychologist in the Mahopac Central School District and is dedicated to fostering a sense of belonging and well-being for every student she supports.
Cell Phones and Internet-Enabled Devices
Governor Hochul has instituted a statewide ban on all internet-enabled personal devices for students during the school day, beginning this school year. This policy is designed to reduce distractions, support student well-being, and promote more meaningful in-person engagement in schools across the state.
At SMS, this aligns closely with our long-standing “Off and Away for the Day” policy. For many years, cell phones have not been allowed for use during the school day. Students are expected to keep their phones turned off and stored in their lockers from arrival until dismissal. We are proud to say that our students have been largely respectful of this policy, and as a result, cell phone use has not been a significant issue in recent years.
The main change this year is the expanded restriction on smartwatches. Because they are internet-enabled, smartwatches are now included under the state’s new policy and are not permitted to be worn during the school day. If a student brings a smartwatch to school, it must also be turned off and stored in their locker throughout the day, just like a cell phone.
We recognize that this is a change, and that many parents value the ability to communicate directly with their child during the day. However, in order to follow state guidelines and preserve our schoolwide expectations, we ask for your help with this. As in the past, if you need to get in touch with your child during the school day, please contact your child’s House Office. Our staff will ensure that any urgent messages are delivered promptly.
Important Dates for Quarter 1
Below is a list of important dates throughout the second academic quarter. All of these dates are posted on our SMS Public Events Calendar, which you can subscribe to.
First Quarter
8/26/25 - 7/8th Grade New Student Orientation
8/28/25 - 6th Grade Orientation
9/2/25 - First Day of School
9/4/25 - Fall Modified Sports Interest Meeting for Students After School
9/8/25 - Fall Modified Sport Begin
9/9/25 - Late Buses Begin
9/10/25 - 6th Grade Open House at 7:00 pm
9/17/25 - 7th Grade Open House with CHOICE at 7:00 pm
9/18/25 - 8th Grade Open House at 7:00 pm
9/23/25-9/24/25 - Rosh Hashanah - No School
9/26/25 - 6th Grade Parent Coffee at 9:30 am
10/1/25 - 7th Grade Parent Coffee at 9:30 am
10/7/25 - School Picture Day
10/8/25 - School Picture Day
10/9/25 - 8th Grade Parent Coffee at 9:30 am
10/13/25 - Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day - No School
10/20/25 - Diwali - No School
10/22/25-10/23/25 - Book Fair
11/4/25 - Election Day - School Closed for Students
11/7/25 - End of First Quarter
Opening of School Details
New Student & New Parent Orientation
SMS takes great pride in forming relationships with our students and families and makes a special effort to connect with those students and families who are new to our school. As we shared in a recent email, our new-to-Scarsdale student orientations begin next week. If you are a new family, please see the attached communication that will be sent our separately in the days ahead. Letter to New SMS Families
6th-grade Orientation
We are looking forward to our 6th-grade orientation on August 28th from 8:00-11:00. Please read the attached communication that will be sent out separately to all 6th-grade parents in the coming days. 6th Grade Parent Orientation Communication.
First Day of School
The first day of school for all students is Tuesday, September 2nd. You will be receiving a separate email with your child’s homeroom teacher and room number prior to the start of school. This is the room your child should go to on the first day of school. Students will receive their individual schedules from their homeroom teacher.
School Schedule
Our school day begins at 8:10 and ends at 2:36. Beginning on September 9th, we will run our late bus. The late bus is for students who remain in the building for office hours with their teachers from 2:36-3:30. Our students attend clubs or participate in intramurals. There is no late bus on Mondays because our faculty attends meetings. Please review the 2025-2026 Bell Schedule.
Open Houses
We believe that welcoming parents into the building that your child spends so much of their time in is a valuable experience for both you and us. Open Houses offer a window into your child’s daily experience and help to form a collaborative relationship between our staff and our parents. More information about Open House will be sent once the school year begins, but we ask you to please save the following dates:
6th grade: Wednesday, September 10th, 7:00-8:30
7th grade & CHOICE: Wednesday, September 17th, 7:00-8:30
8th grade: Thursday, September 18th, 7:00-8:30
Parent Coffees
Parent Coffees are opportunities for parents to learn more about SMS beyond the Open House. Faculty members and I share information about a number of programs our students can access beyond and during the school day. Please save the following dates for the first parent coffees of the year:
6th grade: Friday, September 26th, 9:30-10:30
7th grade: Wednesday, October 1st, 9:30-10:30
8th grade: Thursday, October 9th, 9:30-10:30
We will send out a separate communication with more details in September, including where in our building these will take place.
New Sister Houses
As was shared in June, we are making a change for the upcoming school year regarding our Sister House pairings. Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, Butler will be paired with Cooper, and Fountain will be paired with Popham. This is a shift from our previous configuration and is being made to better align schedules and staff our programs as efficiently as possible.
At SMS, Sister House pairings affect only Physical Education and Music, which are scheduled jointly for one period during our eight-period day. As a result of this change, your child will now have students from a different house in their PE and Music classes than they would have under the previous structure. All other aspects of their academic schedule and house experience will remain unchanged.
This adjustment is part of our broader effort to optimize our master schedule and ensure more effective coordination among staff who work across multiple houses. Our goal is to maintain a smooth, consistent experience for all students while meeting the evolving logistical needs of a large and dynamic school.
SMS Community Council
We are excited for year two of our new student government structure at SMS, the Community Council. Led by Meghan Lahey and Dan Boniello, the new Community Council framework will create leadership opportunities for students in all grades, build community and spirit at both the House and school level and will allow students to have their voices heard. A fuller description of the SMS Community Council can be found SMS Community Council 2025-2026.
Keystone Advisory Program
Advisory programs have long been considered a best practice in schools, especially at the middle school level. Our advisory program is known as Keystone and has evolved over the last eight years to become part of the SMS fabric. Faculty members are assigned a Keystone advisory group of 12-14 students from the same house and grade. Keystone groups meet with their advisor at the start of each day (8:10-8:17). During a typical Keystone period, students may watch and discuss our news show, SMS Today, which both students and staff host. Additionally, once or twice a month, there is an extended Keystone meeting that lasts 28 minutes. These meetings will focus on building community and connections and support other social-emotional learning competencies and character development.
Summer Thinking
During these quieter weeks, I have been reflecting on our shared hopes for the students of SMS and the kind of learning community we are building together.
Through my summer reading, I came across the work of educator Kurt Hahn, who helped found Outward Bound. Hahn believed that young people grow through constructive adversity, which he defined as purposeful, supportive challenges that foster resilience, strength, and community. His words, “There is more in you than you think,” have stayed with me and reinforced the importance of creating environments where students discover their potential through meaningful effort. Many of our students spend their summers in settings that reflect this philosophy. Whether at camp, on a travel program, or volunteering in a new environment, these experiences help them grow in confidence and independence by encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and build relationships rooted in shared purpose.
My own daughter spent a week in West Virginia helping to build homes through a service program. The work was intense, with long days in the heat, unfamiliar tools, and a new team. But what she remembers most are the moments of connection and pride. One experience stood out in particular: she helped build a ramp for a homeowner who needed better access to their home. I am sure the ramp was not perfect. She was working alongside other 14-year-olds, not professional carpenters. But it worked. It served its purpose and became a powerful source of accomplishment and pride for her. That moment holds a significant metaphorical meaning for me as well. In building a physical ramp, she also built something far more lasting: a connection with another person and a sense of shared purpose. That, to me, is what education should do. It should create ramps of access, not just to knowledge, but to community, compassion, and opportunity.
Middle school is a formative time, and while it can be tempting as parents and educators to step in and smooth the way, our children need space to struggle, reflect, and grow. Whether they are speaking up in class, recovering from a disappointing grade, or navigating a friendship challenge, these moments help build resilience and self-awareness. We also recognize the very real pressures our students face, academically and socially, and how high the stakes can feel in the moment. But we must remember that our 11 to 13-year-olds are still developing. They are not expected to have it all figured out. Our job is not to remove every challenge, but to walk beside them with steady support as they learn to meet those challenges with courage and care.
At SMS, we aim to bridge the gap between the meaningful learning that often happens in the summer and the growth we cultivate during the school year. We want our classrooms to be places where students engage deeply, take risks, and feel supported every step of the way, not just academically, but as whole people.
-Chris Coughlin
Closing Thoughts
As summer winds down, I hope you are feeling a sense of renewal that often comes with the start of a new school year. There is something energizing about returning to the rhythm and routine of school, a time filled with opportunity, growth, and connection. Over the course of this year, your children will experience proud accomplishments, face meaningful challenges, and take important steps toward becoming more confident, capable, and compassionate individuals.
As a veteran of middle school, both as an educator and as a parent of three children who are now in 10th, 9th, and 5th grades, I can say with confidence that these years are full of transformation and discovery. Two of my children have now completed middle school, and I can assure you that while the journey is rarely predictable, it is always meaningful. Middle schoolers bring energy, curiosity, and honesty to everything they do, and it is a joy to walk alongside them as they begin to figure out who they are and how they see the world.
At SMS, we are fortunate to have a dedicated and caring staff who are committed to helping your children thrive. Whether your child is exploring new ideas, building friendships, or working through a difficult moment, we are here to guide them, support them, and help them grow. We are also incredibly grateful to be part of the Scarsdale community, where families, staff, and students come together to support one another and create a place where young people can flourish.
We are truly excited for the 2025–2026 school year. It will be full of learning, laughter, and meaningful experiences, and I can promise it will not be boring.
Sincerely,
Chris Coughlin
Principal, Scarsdale Middle School
ccoughlin@scarsdaleschools.org
Raiders Lead!
