“It sounded like crackling through the speaker,” SHS band teacher Brian Zeller said. While the noises are less noticeable when students are playing their instruments, they sometimes interrupt class while instructions are being given and the room is much quieter. Interestingly, Zeller explained that he remembers hearing similar sounds when he first arrived at SHS roughly four years ago, though the issue eventually faded before unexpectedly returning this year. “When it started again, I [thought] ‘yeah, this happened before,’” Zeller recalled.

Zeller also noted that this issue is present throughout the entire building. Many students and teachers have reported instances of the same crackling sounds in other areas, though according to Zeller, a clear explanation regarding the cause has not been shared with teachers. Although the interruptions are relatively minor, Zeller is hopeful that the school is working toward a solution.

According to SHS IT Manager Michael Basso, the issue appeared to have originated after a series of renovations in the auditorium. Following construction by an external vendor, the speakers mounted on the auditorium catwalk reportedly malfunctioned during announcements, preventing students in the area from hearing them completely. Despite having no clear wiring diagrams for the area, the vendors installed new cables from a nearby speaker in an attempt to restore the system.

After the installation, the speakers in the auditorium began working properly during announcements. “Coincidentally, that is when the [crackling] started,” Basso recalled. The fix seemed to have triggered the current crackling issue, which has since spread throughout the building. The vendors have returned to SHS multiple times, mapping out and pinpointing potential speaker zones that are causing the glitch in the system. Most recently, they revisited the auditorium at the end of April, where they retraced their earliest repair work. While they did not identify specific issues linked to this initial repair, they began considering possible causes based on the arbitrary patterns of the crackling noises.

Basso explained that the latest theory involves a short circuit caused during the renovations in the auditorium. “Something moved, like a piece of metal, so it’s short somewhere,” he said. Part of the difficulty in resolving this issue lies in the sporadicity of the crackling noises.

Luckily, Basso and the team of vendors have already discussed long-term and short-term solutions. First, they plan to find where the electrical short is in the system and adjust the wiring to prevent further crackling noises. While this fix may suffice in the short-term, Basso believes that SHS cannot continue relying on their current system, which is both outdated and difficult to maintain. 

“The whole district really needs to upgrade the PA systems,” Basso urged. “The plan going forward is to digitize and get an Internet Protocol (IP)-based PA system versus an analog based system,” he elaborated. Analog PA systems, which SHS currently relies on, are old-fashioned. These systems require a significant amount of physical wiring, which complicates the troubleshooting process. On the other hand, IP-based PA systems are a more modern technology, which control the audio system digitally, making it easier to monitor while also providing better audio quality. According to Basso, transitioning to a digital system is the ideal long-term solution.

Unfortunately, upgrades to the PA system are not included in the district’s upcoming Capital Projects Bond. While they do not directly impact students’ learning, they still play an important part in daily communication at SHS. In the meantime, the vendors will continue making visits to SHS, working alongside tech staff and custodians to identify the source of malfunction. Ultimately, their goal is to upgrade the entire system to improve reliability and reduce distractions during class periods.

Francine Port ’61 was specifically surprised by the new policies that SHS has enacted. She mentioned hearing SHS Principal Kenneth Bonamo speak about fostering a sense of community, a philosophy that was not notably considered throughout her SHS experience. In addition to philosophies surrounding student well-being, Port was excited about the development of artificial intelligence at SHS. “I really like how AI is being used in Scarsdale. It has an important role, but it should not be used constantly,” Port explained. With the world having developed drastically in the 65 years since Port’s SHS experience, she was pleasantly surprised with how SHS is using various developments to benefit students. 

“It really feels great [to be back at SHS],” Port noted, going beyond the curricular and infrastructural development she noticed. “We had a great class with so many good friends, and overall a great experience [at SHS],” Port mentioned. She also remembered her time writing for Maroon!

Comparatively, Richard Sternberg ’61 reflected on his SHS experience in a somewhat regretful manner. “When I look back, I realize how immature I was. I did not ever think about the future, and I really wish I could change that,” Sternberg said. 

As the group continued on their tour, they mentioned the differences they noticed from their time attending SHS. During the majority of their middle schools years, SMS was contained within the high school building. The current middle school building was built in 1956, which was this class’ last year at SMS. Additionally, Port mentioned that Quaker Ridge students only attended Scarsdale High School, meaning they stayed in the Quaker Ridge building throughout their middle school years. Kieth Mirrer ’61, who travelled from Texas, noted that students didn’t even have calculators for much of their time at SHS.

Inside the school, Georgia Roelof ’61, who travelled from Oregon, noticed the differences in the SHS building. She was surprised by the new Learning Commons, as well as the advanced science classrooms with space for labs. The new auditorium was an “exciting development,” Roelof said. 

As the group continued discussing their experience together, they agreed on how fortunate they were to attend SHS. “We really all were so lucky. We had many wonderful teachers that I still remember today,” Port concluded.

The FIRST Tech Challenge involves the release of a new game each year, guiding the team on what to base their robot on. This year’s challenge, called “DECODE,” was played similar to a two-on-two basketball game for robots. Captain Nathan Tao ’26 explained, “In its simplest form, teams of two pick up to three balls from around a 24×24 ft field, travel into designated launch zones, unload their balls into the goals, then repeat.” Each match runs two-and-a-half minutes, with a 30-second period in which the robot moves on its own, followed by two minutes of driver control.

To build a robot capable of competing at that level, the team installed numerous parts to satisfy the demands of the game. The robot has a shooter for the basketballs, which can move left and right, a flywheel, which allows the ball to be shot in the air, and an automatic aiming system for precision. Building the robot was largely split into two components. Firstly, the team’s engineers designed the robot online, then sourced parts and assembled the physical prototype from scratch. Secondly, the team’s programmers wrote the code, including processing data from odometry sensors for positioning and powering the motors that make it move.

The team was able to attend the competition through much team practice and training. Firstly, the team attended the John Jay qualifier competition in December. Unfortunately, they faced some difficulties in moving on. “Despite leading for most of the day, our robot and our partner robot malfunctioned in the final matches, and we missed out on advancement,” Tao explained. Because of this, the team continued to work on their robot, adding new upgrades, leading later to their win of the Peekskill qualifier in February. In addition, because of their community outreach throughout the year, the team won the “Inspire Award” for community outreach work that reaches more than 500 students each season.

After their regional victory, the team went on to compete at the State Competition in Utica, NY. In preparation for the multi-day event, they continued their upgrades on their robot, specifically the speed of the basketball shooter. The RoboRaiders seeded second at 6-2 against some of the fiercest competition in the state and reached the finals, qualifying them for the World Championship.

The championship was truly a global event, featuring entries from across the United States, Canada, China, Türkiye, and many other nations. After 3 days of intense competition, the team earned the second-place Think Award, an honor recognizing excellence in engineering design and problem-solving.

For many members of the RoboRaiders, competing at the championship was unforgettable. Rachel Cai ’28 described the experience as “surreal,” explaining that the event brought together “some of the most innovative and driven students from across the globe.” Surrounded by the top teams in one arena, every match felt both intense and inspiring.

Beyond the competition itself, the event exposed the RoboRaiders to a community of supportive collaboration and passion. Although teams were competing against one another, Cai explained that there was still a strong sense of mutual respect because “everyone understood the level of dedication behind each robot.”

For the RoboRaiders, their first World Championship appearance marked a new chapter for the future of the program. Looking ahead, the team hopes this season’s success will encourage more SHS students to explore STEM opportunities and continue growing the program’s impact within the community. After making school history and earning the second-place Think Award, the RoboRaiders are already looking forward to coming back even stronger next year.

The NYSFL Championship is one of the final tournament for members of Speech and Debate, showcasing months of preparation, competition, and a year of refining. Just qualifying for states is an achievement, as it requires consistent success across many tournaments throughout the season. Once at states, though, the stakes and level of competition rise significantly, as students compete against top performers from across New York State.

A typical day at states is very long and demanding. Competitors arrive early in the morning and stay until very late in the evening, with rounds interspersed with periods of waiting. 

In Oral Interpretation (OI), competitors memorize and perform pieces of prose and poetry, bringing them to life with their voice, face, and movement. “You’re basically creating multiple characters and emotions without props or a set. It’s about making different pieces of writing feel like one complete story,” Hailey King ’28, who went on to win the state championship in Oral Interpretation, described.

The process of preparation is very lengthy. Students begin working on their pieces early in the season, which begins in September, selecting materials and crafting their binders. “It’s not just memorizing, it’s constantly improving how you deliver the piece,” King added.

This process can be immensely challenging. “I was often frustrated when I saw limitations to what I could make out of my piece,” Erin Jung ’28, another SHS competitor in OI, said. She noted how difficult it can be to match the level of students at the state championship. At the same time, she recognized the progress she made, particularly in mastering different voices and delivery techniques for various characters in a piece.

After initial qualifications, the second day of the tournament included a semi-final and final rounds, in which the competition intensified. “At that point, everyone is really talented, so it comes down to the small details and staying fully present,” King said.

For many students, states provided an opportunity for incredible growth in their speech and debate careers. “It’s really easy to forget a specific tone or movement when you’re nervous, so being able to do everything I worked on felt really rewarding.” Jung recalled, feeling proud when of when she successfully executed the techniques she had practiced throughout the season. 

“Don’t focus only on winning—focus on improving. The more you connect with your piece and stay consistent, the results come naturally,” King said. Ultimately, speech at the state level is about much more than rankings or titles. It’s an opportunity for students to challenge themselves, develop their skills, and gain confidence as performers.

In contrast to the performance-focused nature of speech, debate’s essential components are logic, strategy, and real-time analysis. At The NYSFL Championship, SHS students in Public Forum (PF), a partner-based event centered around current events and public policy issues, debated whether Congress should be responsible for authorizing troop deployments. In PF, partners decide what roles they would like to take on. One partner delivers the initial case and later summarizes key points, while the other focuses on rebutting the opponent’s arguments and delivering the final speech. Competitors participated in five preliminary rounds, each of which could significantly impact their chances of advancing.

Competitors had to research their topic, develop structured arguments, and prepare evidence-based responses to potential counterarguments using organized rebuttal documents called “block files.”

“We thought we had an automatic win,” George Papazoglu ’28 said, recounting a situation in which a missing judge led to confusion and an unexpected loss. “But later they found a judge, and we had to debate—and we lost.” Papazoglu’s disappointment reflected the unpredictability of tournaments of this caliber. 

Competitors must remain focused and perform to the best of their ability, not letting past losses affect the future. “That’s just how it goes sometimes,” Papazoglu reflected. 

Despite these challenges, debate offers significant benefits beyond the competition itself. The skills developed through debate, such as critical thinking, organization, and quick decision-making, can be applied in day-to-day school life. “I think debate has really improved my critical thinking,” Papazoglu said. “It’s helped me in English and even in math, because I can think more clearly and organize my thoughts better.”

In the end, The NYSFL Championship is not only the highlight of the speech and debate season, bringing students together from across the state, but also gives a great opportunity for personal growth, achievement, collaboration, and the development of skills that extend beyond the activity itself. The tournament marks the continuation of a tradition of excellence and dedication.

“From what we understand, [posters] were found in different bathroom locations throughout the school,” Israeli Culture Club President, Gabriel Green ’26 said. “It was very disturbing to see.” Other students shared similar sentiments. 

“I was genuinely in shock. I never thought people would hate on a school event that severely” Eden Hoong ’27 said. “I feel bad for the Jewish community at Scarsdale High School.” 

The Scarsdale administration was quick to respond. Later that day SHS Principal Kenneth Bonamo issued an email to the high school community, stating that “these behaviors are unacceptable and more broadly should be disturbing to the entire school community for the intolerance they represent.” The email clarified that the club had received administrative approval, and was “well within its right to plan this type of an event.” The email explained that while SHS encourages civil and respectful discourse about sensitive political issues, including disputed Israeli territories, this situation constitutes vandalism and “students should not resort to removing or desecrating others’ materials, especially in such a derogatory way and especially where politics and religion are concerned.” 

“This act of disrespect doesn’t leave room for a nuanced discussion,” Bonamo said in a statement to Maroon. “There is conversation that can happen, and that could have happened in an appropriate way.” 

Later that evening, Superintendent Dr. Andrew Patrick sent a follow up districtwide email, addressing several recent community incidents, including the “IsraelFest” poster. “We live in a time of rising antisemitism, political polarization, and a degraded civil discourse,” it read. 

Despite the defiled poster, the club decided to continue its plans to hold the event. “From the start we were absolutely committed to the event,” Green explained. 

With increased security presence, organized by administrators in anticipation of the event, “IsraelFest” was successfully held on Monday, April 20. “I saw plenty of security during the event,” Hoong said. The celebration began with a brief presentation by the club officers, and a recording of the Israeli national anthem was played.

Over 200 students attended the event, which featured Israeli music, dancing, food, and a letter of support from New York State Congresswoman Amy Paulin, which was read aloud. Politics were not discussed at the event.

“It is important to emphasize that our club is not political: our goal is simply to celebrate and share culture,” Green shared. In his portion of the presentation, Green emphasized the collaboration of Arabs and Jews in Israel, and how, to him, Israeli Independence is a multicultural celebration of heritage. “I think this reflects broader trends,” he added. “Antisemitism has been rising in the United States, which is very concerning.”  

Understanding local acts of antisemitism requires situating them within a broader context as these incidents do not occur in isolation, but are shaped by geopolitical events, media narratives, and transnational currents of ideology and conflict. On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants carried out coordinated assaults across southern Israel, killing civilians and taking approximately 250 hostages, triggering a war between Hamas and Israel that has dominated global attention. 

Across the world, there have been numerous recent incidents of antisemitic violence, including firebombing attempts on synagogues and the stabbing of two identifiably Jewish men in London, and the mass shooting of participants during a Jewish community Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia. Similar patterns of vandalism, shootings, arson, and other attacks have occurred in France, Germany, and Canada. In Kyrgyzstan, a hotel displayed a sign stating that “Jews and animals are not allowed,” sparking international outrage. The frequency of these threats have put the global Jewish community on edge and have required increased police protection of Jewish institutions. Together, they underscore that such violence is not confined to one region of the world nor limited to anti-Israel political protest, but rather represents a broader wave of hate crimes directly targeting Jews.

The United States has not been immune to antisemitic hate crimes, where over the past decade, even before October 7th, antisemitism had been on the rise and then further amplified by recent events in the Middle East. The Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2024 Audit recorded 9,354 antisemitic incidents nationwide, the highest in the organization’s history of tracking, representing a 344% increase over five years and an 893% increase over ten years. Already in 2023, the ADL registered 8,873 incidents which was a 140% increase from 2022, with more than 5,200 of those events occurring after October 7th.

Antisemitic trends have manifested especially acutely in schools at every level, from Kindergarten to college campuses, directly impacting young people. A 2025 ADL study of independent K-12 schools found that 25.2% of surveyed parents said their children had experienced or witnessed antisemitic symbols in school since October 7th. On college campuses nationwide, numbers are even more striking. The ADL reported 1,694 campus incidents in 2024, 84% higher than the prior year. Its joint 2025 campus survey with Hillel and College Pulse found that 83.2% of Jewish college students experienced or witnessed some form of antisemitism since October 2023 as there has been a ten-fold increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses as compared to the last year before the October 7th attacks.

As a result, efforts to combat antisemitism have expanded at national, state, and local levels. The White House’s 2023 U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism laid out a government-wide framework focused on education and security to counter normalization of hate and foster cross-community solidarity. A public awareness campaign, called the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate, is an initiative of the Stand Up to Jewish Hate effort launched by Robert Kraft’s Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in order to mobilize non-Jewish allies and to incorporate conversations about antisemitism into public discourse. In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has created a Center for Educational Civil Discourse with resources for schools to access, and signed into legislation a requirement for Title VI coordinators to be present on all college campuses. 

In Scarsdale, there has also been an increased administrative fight against antisemitism. On Wednesday, April 22, a team of Board of Education and SHS staff members attended a workshop on antisemitism, co-sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Council. Additionally, in an April 21 districtwide email from Bonamo and Patrick, it was explained that the Scarsdale Board of Education would be implementing a new set of guidelines for school sponsored events on May 11, 2026. 

The SHS Code of Conduct is also being amended: there is currently an addendum in progress to address student dress and behavior at extracurricular activities. “Unfortunately, what happened on Friday is one of a series of events that have happened here in the community. Students do have agency in their action, but not to the extent that it gets disruptive or offensive” Bonamo shared. 

These efforts, both local and national, show that work is underway to address antisemitism as a civil rights, educational, and public safety issue. The ongoing challenge nationwide will surround how to simultaneously respond firmly enough to protect Jews from antisemitism, while ensuring that legitimate political debate is allowed.