The New Rochelle High School Planetarium will present five sessions of the "Season of Light" planetarium show free for the community. In addition to the recorded program, high school Astronomy teacher Mr. Bruce Zeller will point out the bright and crisp winter stars and will explain by thin month’s full moon looks especially large and bright. He will simulate the Sun’s most Southern point called the Winter Solstice. Doors open 15 minutes before the show. Once the show begins, there is no admittance. "Season of Light" will be shown Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Monday December 16 to 22 at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, December 20 at 5 PM. The New Rochelle High School Planetarium entrance is located at the corner of Flandreau and Argyll Roads at the corner of McKenna Field. For more information call Bruce Zeller at the high school planetarium, 576-4589.

Nationally recognized poet and art critic Bill Berkson critiqued recent artwork created by 15 students in the Advanced Placement (AP) Art classes at New Rochelle High School on Dec. 9. The experience was part of students' preparation for their upcoming ‘Concentration Show’ at the MAC (Museum of Art and Culture) at NRHS scheduled for early 2009. Bill Berkson has been a poet, critic, teacher, and curator, book and magazines editor, as well as professor of Liberal Arts at the San Francisco Art Institute. He is a corresponding editor for Art in America and has contributed reviews and essays to such art journals. His recent books of poetry include Gloria - in a deluxe limited edition with etchings by Alex Katz, Our Friends Will Pass Among You Silently, and Goods and Services. Berkson was the 2006 Distinguished Mellon Fellow at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and was also awarded the 2008 Goldie for Literature from the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten students in Kim Loebel Block, Betty Ceja, Andreanna Pizzuti and Jenny Hade's classes journeyed the solar system during a planetarium trip to New Rochelle High School. Astronomy teacher Bruce Zeller guided these young students through the solar system to study the night sky, stars and planets. He taught the UPK students about constellations and their ancient stories, and showed them the planets, including Earth, and Astronauts taking their first walk on the moon. After studying about the moon and the stars in school, the classes' culminating activity was this visit to the Planetarium located within New Rochelle High School. Comments Mrs. Block, "It brought everything to life and reinforced that learning takes place in many different environments. The children and parents loved it! Special thanks to Bruce Zeller for his continued commitment to Early Childhood and the Exploration of Space."

The capstone to a month-long series of activities surrounding the "New Rochelle Reads" Literature Festival was a finale program held Dec. 4 at New Rochelle High School for students from the both Albert Leonard and Isaac Young Middle Schools and the high school. Students read either Rules by Cynthia Lord, or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon. Following a November 6 kick-off event, students who were "caught reading" the selected titles became eligible for prizes awarded at the finale.  Literature Festival events ranged from a mural created by students at Isaac Young Middle School, a film series, Book Circles and Reading Lounges group book discussions, a puppet show performances of "Kids on the Block" characters.  Students delved into activities related to themes found in the books, such as a Mystery of Literature workshop, Math Challenge puzzles, use of communications board, and disabilities awareness experiential exercises. Under the musical guidance of Choral Director Derek James and with the assistance of Erica Eigenberg of the Music Conservatory of Westchester, students in Steve Pelak and Diane Freed's Life Skills High School classes performed original music and movement based on the theme of the bookThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Shown at the dedication of the "New Rochelle Reads" mural (l to r) is Principal Anthony Bongo, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Diane Massimo, Campus School Program Administrator Joel Fridovich, Board Member David Lacher, and Superintendent of Schools Richard Organisciak.

Errol Louis, radio host on WWRL, columnist for the New York Daily News, who makes frequent guest appearances on CNN and other major network TV news programs, broadcast his morning radio program on December 3 live from New Rochelle High School. Following his broadcast, Errol Louis was among the guest panelist for the "Civics Week" Symposium, an annual event sponsored by the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence. Panelists included New Rochelle Mayor, Noam Bramson, Leslie Demus, Co-president of the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation and President of the African American Art & Cultural Appreciation Council, and Alex Eodice of Iona College. Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni moderated the panel, whose members heard selected essays by students in AP Government and AP Economics classes. Shown is News12 Westchester reporting on the live Broadcast.