Pocantico Hills recently hosted a forum highlighting the concerns over the use of smartphones and social media. 

 

Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College and Pocantico parent, Dr. Nathan Thoma, presented “Smartphones, Social Media, and Your Child’s Mental Health: What Science Tells Us and What You Can Do,” to a group of about 30 parents and educators via Zoom.

 

While the news was alarming, Dr. Thoma assured those in attendance that parents can curtail their child’s use of phones and social media, by setting guidelines with their children and collaborating with other parents to develop activities and events to keep children off their devices.

 

Smartphones, like the iPhone were launched in 2007, however the data really begins to show its impact beginning in 2010. Dr. Thoma said, that is when there is a clear increase in depression and anxiety in young girls and boys and a “massive increase in mental health struggles.”

 

He said too that in the following years there as a noticeable uptick in ER visits for self-harm among adolescents. He noted that studies show that the technology also impacts academic performance and sleep.

 

He shared how by 2015, 20 percent of teen girls reported using social media more than 40/week, and in 2023, more than 46 percent of teens reported being online most of the time.

 

“The purpose of social media is to help people feel more connected,” he said. “Sadly, there is an increase in loneliness by their peers, even while they are at school.”

His view of the data is that even if the numbers are a bit off, they show a clear message.

“The trends are quite real and substantial,” he said. “The effects are so profoundly large across the country; we have a massive and potential growing problem on our hands.”

Technology on its own is not the culprit, but rather how it’s used, he said.

“It invites negative comparisons with others, the number of likes or followers becomes a measure of self-worth, each post becomes an emotional roller coaster,” Dr. Thoma explained. “Human behavior online is different than when face to face. We see more bullying online.”

“It’s like social rejection on steroids,” he said.

To counteract these negative impacts, Dr. Thoma said experts offer guidelines, such as not allowing a child to have a Smartphone until the age of 14 and no social media until the age of 16. Also, these devices should never be used during school hours and there needs to be an increase in screen-free time for kids.

Dr. Thoma understands how difficult it can be for parents, as he is one and faces the same issue as others. When or if to get their kids a Smartphone, how to instill guidelines for its use, and how to push back on the “everyone else has one,” tactic a child may use are issus he's faced too.

He said he was advised to hold off as long as possible in getting a child a Smartphone.

Dr. Thoma suggested getting them a device that is strictly used for communication and does not have access to social media or online games.

“Parents can unite around a healthier path,” he said.

He suggested each class have a parent volunteer who would serve as a digital liaison, organizing meetings for parents to discuss what is happening in their lives with this technology and learn from one another ways to combat the pressure they and their children may experience.

In addition, he suggested parents do not allow the phones in their child’s rooms overnight. They can also do a phone stack at certain times when everyone in the family who has one leaves the phone in a certain place and does not touch it for a set period. Parents can also look for non-tech activities to do, like playing a board game or going for a hike.

“Emphasize the value of interacting and being off of phones,” he said.

Parents in the meeting shared the challenges they face. Sometimes it’s trying to decide when or if their child should have a device or finding a way to manage how much time their child is on one.

One of the things that will help with this issue, is that Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering a bill to make schools cell phone free during school hours beginning in September. Pocantico is also following state guidelines in not allowing students to have access to YouTube. And Camp Poco will now be phone free during camp hours.

It's also a balancing act, as Dr. Thoma alluded to, as being too restrictive with the use of this technology can turn into a problem as well and parents need to be flexible.

“Our children need our help with this,” he concluded.

Links to recording to watch the presentation: https://pocanticohills.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=2a10350b-6889-4d43-9583-b2920117c6e1

Link to slides:

https://pocanticohillsorg.sharepoint.com/:p:/s/EducationalTechnology/EUkvRtldgrZEtf-SkboIdE8BSn0wbFrblCrZQwUL7NZ-WA?e=LAeV8M

 

The Pocantico Hills eighth graders have been busy the past several weeks, working on both an art project and a special activity in their FACS classes. All their hard work culminated in an evening of fine art and fine food during the Art and Recipe Design Show, held on Feb. 25.

During the evening, guests had an opportunity to peruse the school hallways and view original artwork created by the class. This year’s theme was “Gardens.” And the students delivered. Adorning the wall was a colorful display of flowers and the natural world and animals that the students had painted using acrylics.

If that was not enough, in the cafeteria guests were treated to an array of delicacies, with all the recipes created by the students themselves. In their Family and Consumer Science class, students learned about food fusion, and then, working in small groups, they developed recipes reflecting the cultural heritage of everyone in the groups. On this evening, guests had an opportunity to sample a selection of the recipes the students had developed.

“I’ve been looking forward to it since sixth grade,” said Evelyn B., as she stood in front of her painting, “Sunset Boulevard,” speaking of the art project. “You could paint what you wanted as long as it stayed within the theme.”

Her painting depicts a seaside landscape.

In the cafeteria, Colin G. had just finished sampling from the array of delicious options.

“I thought it was great opportunity to get away from the regular schoolwork,” he said of the recipe project, explaining that he worked with classmate Shreyan T. Together, he said, they developed Baked Potato Paneer Soup with Irish Cheddar Naan Crisp reflecting his Irish heritage and the Indian heritage of his recipe partner.

“We created this recipe completely from scratch,” he said. “It lets our cultures unite us.”

Art Teacher Jolene Morotti said she has been having the eighth- grade students work on this special project for the past 17 years.

“I love putting these up,” she said of hanging the students’ work. “I love the buzz from the other students.”

She enjoys providing a safe place for the students to work as many may not have much confidence in their abilities. But, she said, as they paint, they discuss their work with their classmates and talk about what’s going well, what may not be and offer suggestions that could help.

“They always amaze me with their work,” Ms. Morotti said.

Back in the cafeteria Chef Clyde Ripka was busy plating the food.

“We discussed with the student’s what fusion was and they went off on their own,” he said.

Chef Ripka made the recipes selected by some of them to serve during the event and the Pocantico kitchen staff cooked them up.

FACS teacher Alyson Morilla said she knew this particular class enjoys the culinary arts and would enjoy a project that focused on cooking. Each student received a recipe booklet of all the recipes they had developed.

“It brought out a lot of pride in their heritage and gave them an opportunity to shine in the kitchen,” Ms. Morilla said.

“I’m really grateful to the Pocantico administrators and the kitchen staff for showcasing the kids and the amazing job they did,” she continued.

 

 

During her presentation to Pocantico elementary students, author Nana Euka Brew-Hammond used her own curiosity, science and easy demeanor to help students get excited about the colorful world around them.

And her story involves snails. And red cabbage.

 

It all began when the text she was reading mentioned a blue curtain. It made her wonder why was the color of the curtain important? Why mention it all?

 

Curiosity sent her on a great adventure where she learned that there was a snail that was used to create blue for fabrics. This was discovered when a fisherman saw his dog eat a certain type of snail and it left the dog with a blue tongue. Fascinated, Ms. Brew-Hammond researched more.

The more she discovered about blue, the more intrigued she became.

 

“I found out there are a lot of things that can create the color blue, plants, flowers,” she said. And yes, red cabbage too.

 

And to prove her point, Ms. Brew-Hammond showed how powerful the cabbage can be when she scooped some of the red cabbage she had been boiling on hot plate into a clear bowl. The resulting cabbage-water was purple, thanks to the antioxidant anthocyanin. That was until she added some baking soda, and the water suddenly turned a blue-green color, much to the amazement of the students. When vinegar was added, the liquid turned a bright magenta.

 

“What is so interesting, are the colors in nature can be so unexpected, there are so many surprises in nature,” she said.

 

“Did you know how many things a history behind it have,” she asked. “I had to write a story about it.”

 

This resulted in her book “Blue, A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky.”

 

The story tells how the color was created in ancient times, using the aforementioned snails, minerals found in rocks, indigo, and even the chemically created color blue dye, created by Adolf von Baeyer.

 

The story shares how blue was so difficult to find and create, that it came to be considered sacred and often only found among the wealthiest people.

 

“But in nature, it’s the blue sky and the sea,” Ms. Brew-Hammond said. “It’s the science of it, the poetry of it.”

 

“What is so inspiring, I got interested in all the colors,” she continued. “There is a story behind all of it. All colors have something so fascinating, so sacred and holy with it. Every culture and human makes a connection to what we see around us. It animates your imagination.”

 

Having finished her deep dive into blue, Ms. Brew-Hammon shared with students that she has found two new colors for two new books. In one she will explore red, in another, yellow.

 

“I want to encourage you, when you read something, the story does not have to end there,” she said. “Do some research about what you read.”

 

Reading was one of her favorite hobbies growing up, as was writing. One of her teachers would give her an extra writing assignment now and then to encourage her interest. Ms. Brew-Hammond grew up in New York and currently lives in California, where she has enjoyed a career as a writer. In 2010 she published a Young Adult novel, “Powder Necklace,” and has written other books for this age group as well as adults.

Pocantico Middle School students enjoyed an opportunity to travel through time to learn about and celebrate the contributions of African-Americans throughout history with a recent visit to the Bethany Arts Community in nearby Ossining.

 

As they toured the “Black History: Eyes Wide Open” exhibit, students were introduced to several black innovative men and women who made their marks in a wide range of fields, including the culinary arts, medicine, the military and everyday life.

 

The exhibit shares details about their contributions and who was behind the improvement or invention.

 

Among the people students met were James Hemings, who accompanied Thomas Jefferson to France. It was here that Mr. Hemings learned how to cook French cuisine. Upon returning to the states, he introduced macaroni and cheese and French fries to the American diet.

Students were intrigued with the inventions of Garrett Morgan. He helped to invent a protective hood that firefighters wear. However, students were most intrigued with the hand operated traffic signal he developed, that later would become the red, yellow and green lights we use today. The signal required a person to stand in the street while they held a post, on one side it would say stop, when it was turned it said go, and when another way indicated travelers should slow down.

 

Students appreciated the display that showed black contributions in the military, specifically the women of the Six Triple Eight. Several students had seen the Netflix series of the same name, which told the story of the black members of the Women’s Army Corp who commanded a postal battalion who took on the onerous task of delivering mail to soldiers against significant difficulties.

 

Students were also introduced to Madam C.J. Walker, a woman entrepreneur who created a multi-million-dollar hair care product line. She lived in Sleepy Hollow and is considered one of this country’s first millionaires.

 

Then there was Lonnie Johnson. He excelled at being an aerospace engineer, but the students loved the fact that he also invented the Super Soaker.

 

Other parts of the exhibit highlighted the black press, the medical field and the fishing industry, led by local resident Henry Gourdine.

 

“Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter,” is an African proverb that weaves its way through the exhibit.

 

Tour guide Donna James asked students why Black History Month is celebrated.

 

“They did important things as part of this country,” one fifth grader answered.

 

For fifth grader Khali S., he said his favorite part of the exhibit was the room that highlighted the food, but he appreciated the other things he learned too.

 

“I love how they invented things,” he said. 

 

“I liked learning about Madam C.J. Walker,” student Dominic W. said. “She was losing her hair and made a product to help.”

 

For Rose M., she appreciated that Matthew Cherry invented the tricycle.

 

“A lot of black people had invented a lot of things,” she said of what she learned while viewing the exhibit.

 

 

 

 

Pocantico third graders received a rousing amount of inspiration during a performance by actors from Pleasantville-based ARC Stages. The troupe of actors visited the school as part of the theater’s Vision and Voices Playwriting Residency.

 

The class is in the process of learning how to write their own plays. During the performance, they were introduced to the elements that contribute to creating a script and ultimately an exciting story.

 

Aspiring writers were asked to “show us the art that is in your heart,” during a musical performed by ARC Stages staff.

 

The story shares how one writer struggles to come up with an idea for a story. That is until “Steve,” the Muse, appears.

 

“Steve” then helps the writer learn how to ask questions that will then inform what their story is all about. He asks writers to consider WHERE their story takes place, WHO their hero is, WHAT is the goal for the protagonist and also WHAT is the PROBLEM that the main character must solve.

 

When asked for ideas, the third graders determined their original play would be about Cactus Man, who lives in a garbage can who wants to avoid an evil raccoon all while being confronted with a garbage avalanche.

 

Finally, the students were asked to consider what it is their story is trying to say?

 

“Don’t worry if it’s silly or bizarre, be creative, be amazing and ask ‘why not?” the students were told.

 

After the show, the students engaged in a creativity workshop with the teaching artists from Arc Stages. They guided the students through brainstorming activities to begin to compose a play. Students were invited to share their work with their peers, explained teacher Marina Pisto.

The next step will be for students to write a play of their own. The actors will return in a few weeks to help students with their original plays.

Eventually the students will submit their plays to ARC Stages and its possible one, or more, will be selected by the theater group to be performed live on stage!

 

 

 

Pocantico students embraced their creativity during the district’s Hour of Code, diving into projects like coding music, games, and dance parties. The room was buzzing with energy and excitement as students explored the endless possibilities of programming.

 

Hosted by Educational Technology Director Alana Winnick and the district’s Technology Committee, the Hour of Code was offered as a special after-school event. Separate sessions for elementary and middle school students ensured every participant had the chance to explore and innovate.

 

“This isn’t just about learning to code—it’s about learning to think,” said Ms. Winnick. “Hour of Code helps students see themselves as creators, innovators, and problem-solvers, skills that will serve them in any career or challenge they face.”

 

Throughout the school year, Pocantico students engage in structured coding workshops to learn foundational skills. But during the Hour of Code, those skills came to life as students used them to pursue their own creative ideas.

 

Sixth-grader Ronan K. shared how he used Tynker and Code.org to bring his ideas to life. “You can make songs and code different things,” he said.

 

Eric L., another sixth grader, talked about how he’s taken his coding journey further by using AI on his own to learn python and even coded projects like a calculator.

 

“There was no one there telling you what to do,” added classmate Archer W. “You could design anything with code.”

 

Fifth-grader Riley P. loved the freedom to explore. “In Hour of Code, we could do whatever we wanted—like a dance party,” she said. For sixth-grader Nate M., it was an opportunity to combine music with creativity and design his own monster.

 

“Coding teaches students resilience, creativity, and critical thinking,” said Ms. Winnick. “Hour of Code is our way of showing them that with a little patience and imagination, they can bring their dreams to life, create solutions to real-world problems, and shape the future.”

 

Students also reflected on how coding is like learning a new language. “If you’re bilingual, it’s easier to learn another language,” Eric said. “Coding is a language of commands to a computer. It’s a little tricky—you just have to figure out the patterns.”

 

Eric pointed out that patience is key, adding that mistakes are part of the process and can always be fixed. Riley agreed, offering advice for new coders to stay patient while learning.

“With coding, you have an equitable environment,” said Sofia A. “No matter how much you know, it’s easy to learn with a good instructor.”

 

“It’s a fun way to express yourself,” Archer added.

 

“You could even become the next Elon Musk,” Eric chimed in.

 

For many elementary students, the best part of Hour of Code was having the freedom to choose their own projects.

 

"I like how I can go into Tynker and start with a blank space. I can add a background and characters and make them move! It's lots of fun" said second grader Matthew Y.

“You could work together and help one another,” said Ipsa V. “If you ran into a problem, it was easy to ask a friend who might have had the same issue.”

Fourth-grader Kai-an W. appreciated the opportunity to code during Hour of Code, something she wishes happened more often during regular school hours.

 

“It’s fun because it’s not like we’re doing something they assigned us,” added classmate Gwynna F.

 

“It helps you open up your imagination,” said Kent K. “With coding, there’s no right or wrong. That’s what I loved about Hour of Code.”

 

The Hour of Code not only sparked creativity but also fostered collaboration and confidence in students, proving that when given the tools and freedom to explore, their potential is limitless.

The 2025 One Poco Night celebration was so jam-packed with activities, performances, games and food, it truly outdid itself.

 

“It’s a great way to spend a cold night in January,” Music Teacher Sheila DiPaola told the crowd who had gathered in the auditorium to watch cultural performances by students.

 

And she was right. There was a ton to do, and even more to eat in what has become one of the largest community events at the school.

 

The evening began with several student performances. First on stage were a group of friends who performed two mediterranean fusion dances, one to Sting’s “Desert Rose,” and the other to John Lennon’s “Imagine,” sung in Arabic.

 

Students Layla and Noah performed the “bachata,” a popular dance from the Dominican Republic.

 

Claire wowed the audience with her performance of “The Sun Shines Over Jinggang Mountain,” a tune she played on the guzheng, a Chinese instrument that goes back more than 2,000 years.

 

The cafeteria was transformed into a museum, game room and learning center, all developed by the school’s diversity committee. Guests had an opportunity to view several artifacts from around the world. They could also engage in some fun games relating to different cultures and languages. There were books to read, written in a language other than English and guests could also try their hand at learning some basics in Croatian and Italian.

 

Then there was the gym, which was transformed into a multi-cultural diner. Families celebrated their cultural heritage by sharing food and treats from all around the globe.

 

Parent Ashley Margolis had a spread on her table of pastries, representing France.

 

“She loves France,” Ms. Margolis said of her daughter, second grader Emery, who inspired her to share. “And its where my family is from.”

 

Ms. Margolis said she and her family visited France two years ago, and Emery was intrigued with all things culinary, even taking a class to learn to make some of the specialties.

 

“We made crêpes,” Emery said.

 

Pre-Kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Lapore was there with her family, sharing Irish Soda Bread.

 

“It’s always a good day to be Irish,” her mother noted.

 

“One Poco Night is the highlight of the year, because more than any other event, it brings all of our cultures together,” Principal Adam Brown said. “It lets us break bread and appreciate each other.”

 

This year he said it was not only Pocantico families who helped make the event special by sharing their cultural food, but teachers and staff who shared food and helped organized the games, crafts and hands-on experiences that were also part of the evening.

 

One afternoon while checking her email third grade teacher Marina Pisto-Lombardo saw one from the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education. It was not unusual for her to receive correspondence from this organization, as she has attended and even spoken at their conferences. This particular email, however, was different.

 

“It was a nice surprise,” she said.

 

This email informed her that she had been selected as the NYSCATE Teacher of the Year.

Pocantico’s Educational Technology Director, Alana Winnick, nominated Ms. Pisto-Lombardo for the honor. In her letter to the selection committee, she wrote, “Marina is an educator who consistently thinks outside the box and embraces innovation with open arms.”

Ms. Winnick continued, noting “she is unafraid of experimentation and is quick to recognize that true growth often comes through embracing challenges and learning from setbacks. She has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to integrate technology in a meaningful and purposeful manner within her classroom. What sets Marina apart is her unwavering commitment to using technology as a powerful tool to enhance the educational experience of her students. She meticulously designs lessons that leverage technology to achieve deeper and more engaging learning outcomes.”

In addition, Ms. Winnick said the teacher has integrated technology into her classroom by teaching her students how to code and instructing them on the ethics of artificial intelligence all done through hands-on activities integrated into the existing curriculum.

 

Since 2020 Ms. Pisto-Lombardo has been presenting workshops at NYSCATE conferences and in 2022 she participated in their TEDTalk master class, later using this experience to present a TEDTalk of her own.

 

“I feel like this organization has brought me a lot of unexpected moments,” Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said, adding that at the 2022 conference, she was selected to deliver her TEDTalk before the keynote speaker, which came as a complete surprise to her, as her presentation was scheduled to be in front of a smaller group.

 

“This organization is validating the work I do and the person I am,” she said. “It’s a safe space for educators across the state to have a voice.”

 

“I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Marina,” Principal Adam Brown said. “She has been a strong supporter of the work NYSCATE does and it’s so appropriate for them to recognize her for all her contributions to them and her students.”

 

“I am so happy Marina was selected as the NYSCATE Teacher of the Year,” added Superintendent Rich Calkins. “She has grown so much in her work and has embraced technology in her classroom, learning right along with her students. She finds the latest technological tools to enhance her student’s learning, preparing them for the future. Congratulations Marina!”

 

Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said being a member of NYSCATE has helped her with the work she does with her students and has helped inform her of what is available to educators to become better teachers.

 

“I feel that it’s an organization that gives you that space to say, ‘go ahead and do that,’” she said. “They’ll help make it better for you and your students.”

 

She said too that the organization focuses on what is relevant to students including social/emotional learning and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. And, she added, that the organization benefits all those involved across the education spectrum, from school administrators to teachers.

 

“The more I went to their sessions, the more I felt this is where I belonged,” she said. “With 17 years of teaching, I found a space in this professional life that helped me grow.”

 

Having a relationship with these types of organizations, Ms. Pisto-Lombardo said, is a great way to learn new things and not become stagnant.

 

This year Ms. Pisto-Lombardo has also done volunteer work with NYSCATE, saying she has helped other educators develop presentations and developed curriculum for the TED-Style Talk program.

 

“I feel like I am giving back because they have given me so much,” she said.

 

While the organization’s focus is on technology, Ms. Pisto-Lombardo encouraged other educators to become involved even if their focus and interest is not technology.

 

“It all comes back to honoring our kids, honoring the world they live in,” she said, adding that this is especially true as children grow in a world full of AI.

 

“We have a responsibility to understand this is their world,” she said.

 

 

ENL teacher Joy Scantlebury recently was named the New York Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Elementary School ESOL Teacher of the Year.

 

She first joined the organization while in graduate school and has attended or presented at several of their conferences through the years.

 

“That first conference changed my life,” Ms. Scantlebury said. “I was a novice teacher, still learning. I love conferences anyway, because I like to learn new things. I’ve made some really good friendships and connections. It’s a good support system for me.”

 

She said the honor meant more to her because of the decades-long affiliation with NYSTESOL.

 

“I hold this organization in such high esteem,” she said. “This came as a complete surprise for me.”

 

“We are so excited for Joy,” Superintendent Richard Calkins said. “We know how dedicated she is to her students and how hard she works to help them succeed. Truly, this honor could not have gone to a better person.”

 

Ms. Scantlebury received her award at a reception held on Friday, Nov. 15 in Rochester.

 

“There is something very important about being and staying connected with other educators in this field, we help each other and learn from each other,” she said.

 

Laptops were on, ideas were flowing, questions were answered, as the classroom transformed into a buzzing newsroom while members of the new Pocantico Newspaper Club, The Hawk, shared their ideas and got to work.

 

“Pick a topic and do your research,” prompted club advisor and third grade teacher Marina Lombardo.

 

Club members brainstormed what their vision for “The Hawk” and what it might look like and agreed that they had creative license to make it whatever they decided would be best. They were not confined by the traditional showcase of words on a page but could put together videos or podcasts too or even include poems.

 

“I joined because it allows us to create something without it just being an essay,” said eighth grader Olivia R. about joining the club. “I was also interested in showing why it is important to speak up for yourself in any environment like the cafeteria, club or classroom.”

 

Ms. Lombardo told the club members that the paper will be a platform for them to use their voice.

 

“It’s for if you have something important you want to say,” agreed sixth grader Sofia A.

 

The goal for the club is to have the first issue out in December, before the holidays and Ms. Lombardo has been encouraging them to select a medium of their choice, giving them the freedom to explore any format they desire.

 

“We are merging the creative writing space with the journalism space,” she said.

 

Some of the club members already have a considerable amount of writing under their belts as co-authors of the “Aquawagomingo” series, an adventure story written by a group of students and shared throughout the school.

 

“It’s about having the confidence to get your work out there,” Grace I., one of the Aquawagomingo writers said.

 

Being part of the club, Nina A. said, was a way to grow your confidence in yourself and “to share with others what you are interested in.”

 

“I think it will be great to use different media,” Olivia said. “It’s all about putting them all together.”

 

“It will also show people that it is OK to bring attention to things,” she continued.

 

Ms. Lombardo said her role is to guide the club members in their work and to assist them in bringing their vision to life. She said too, the club will provide an opportunity for members to learn new skills, such as media literacy, researching and effective communication.

 

“It will teach kids new things,” agreed seventh grader Alana S. “And it will show other kids all the things they can do too.”