Students explore leadership, practice critical thinking and communication skills, and set collective and individual goals at this annual, collaborative conference.

This year, the day-long conference was comprised of three components. During the first component, students met with adult leaders to examine eight true-to-life school case studies. Each case study ended with the question: What should a student leader do given this situation? Adult leaders acted as discussion facilitators, and students drove the conversation employing critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability in contemplating what would be expected of a leader in each scenario. The second component of the conference was a discussion on goal setting led by student body president Sabrina Reznick '20. The full group of student leaders brainstormed ideas of what they wanted to focus on as a student body this year, and they later concentrated on three top ideas—School Community and Spirit, Clubs at School, and Open Conversations—that they discussed in further detail in smaller breakout groups. The conference's third component was dedicated to examining the personal leadership styles of participating students, namely how they will lead their respective clubs, teams, or organizations. To support and inform their collaborative conversations, the group read a short piece about nine distinct styles of leadership and watched movie clips illustrating the practice and application of various approaches to leadership.

The conference concluded with the students working on a set of goals for their organizations, articulating a pathway to meet these goals, and then sending their goals and plans to the club advisor or team coach. Throughout the day, the student leaders exhibited high levels of enthusiasm, energy, and focus, and they left the conference feeling positive and excited about the important role they will play in making the upcoming year at Rye Country Day a success.

RCDS is excited to ring in the 2019-20 school year by welcoming an accomplished and impressive cohort of new faculty and staff to campus. Please take a moment to learn a little bit about our newest community members, and when you see them on campus, be sure to give them a warm welcome to Rye Country Day!

ADMINISTRATION

Priya Singhvi Director of Health and Wellness Priya joins Rye Country Day as the School's first Director of Health and Wellness. She is a counselor and educator with 13 years of teaching experience in public and private schools, nonprofit organizations, and community agencies. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Austin College and an M.S. in Counseling from Southern Methodist University. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Psychology with a specialization in neuroscience at California Southern University. Priya previously served as the Upper School Counselor and a member of the Leadership Team at Greenhill School in Dallas, TX. At Greenhill, she reconfigured the scope and sequence of the Upper School Wellness curriculum, designed and taught the Upper School Wellness course, created school-wide professional development for faculty and staff, and offered numerous presentations to families. She also serves as a lead facilitator for the Global Online Academy, where she has taught both students and faculty on topics related to social/emotional learning and positive psychology.

LOWER SCHOOL

	Francesca Shin Davia Kindergarten Lead Teacher Francesca joins RCDS after serving as a kindergarten and second grade teacher at the Fay School in Southborough, MA since 2014. She attended Brandeis University as an undergraduate, and she holds an M.S.Ed from Bank Street College of Education. Francesca was also a first and fourth grade Associate Teacher at Greenwich Academy.
	Jourdan Layne '15 Lower School Assistant Teacher After graduating from RCDS in 2015, Jourdan majored in sociology with a concentration in education at Muhlenberg College. She has also been a Counselor in Rye Country Day's Action Summer Enrichment Program from 2014 through 2018.
	Alexandra Levy Lower School Assistant Teacher Alexandra holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education (Pre-K – Gr. 4) and a B.A. in Italian from Bucknell University. She has served as a Teacher Resident in the Bronxville Elementary School while pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Childhood and Special Education at Manhattanville College.
	Marlana Moysak '13 Lower School Assistant Teacher A Class of 2013 RCDS alumna and graduate of Lafayette College, Marlana is currently completing a Masters degree in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education at Manhattanville College. She has also worked as an Assistant Teacher at Mohawk Country Day School in White Plains, where she has been a Head Counselor and General Counselor in their summer program since 2010.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Julie Nuñez Humanities Julie brings to RCDS 10 years of teaching experience, most recently teaching sixth grade Humanities at Bank Street School for Children in New York City. She also has served as a sixth grade lead teacher at Cornelia Connelly Center and as a lead teacher at Girls Preparatory Charter School. At Bank Street, in addition to serving as an advisor, Julie taught a world religions curriculum that incorporated geography, world history, research, and expository writing. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from SUNY Binghamton and an M.S.Ed. in Education from Lehman College.

Don Fitz-Roy Computer Science Don joins RCDS from his most recent position as a member of the technology faculty at the Bush School in Seattle, WA, where he taught technology and computer programming in a makerspace room for middle school students. Since 2004, Don also has taught mathematics, computer science, and science to lower and middle school students at the Westside Neighborhood School in California (Los Angeles), Legacy Academy in Colorado, the Sage School in Massachusetts, and the Greenwood School in Vermont. Don brings a wealth of experience in programming, robotics, and innovation. He holds a B.A. in Education Studies from Brown University.

UPPER SCHOOL

	Tatum Bell English Tatum holds a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University and an M.A. in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University's Teachers College. Tatum taught English for five years at Virginia Episcopal School, where she also helped lead initiatives in diversity and inclusion, coached, and worked within the dormitory program.
	José Benítez Meléndez Spanish Prior to joining RCDS, José taught Spanish, worked in the boarding program, and led international trips at Milton Academy in Massachusetts. He earned his B.A. in Spanish Education from the University of Puerto Rico with minors in French and Italian and his M.A. from Middlebury College. José is currently working on his doctorate at the University of Puerto Rico.
	Craig Burt Science Craig joins RCDS from Cushing Academy in Massachusetts where he taught several chemistry courses including AP Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and General Chemistry. He also served as a dormitory head and coach. Craig earned a B.A. in Chemistry from Williams College and an M.S. in Organic Chemistry from the University of California, Irvine.
	Katy Everett English Katy brings to RCDS 25 years of independent school teaching experience. She was previously the English Department Chair at The Stanwich School in Connecticut, where she taught in both the Middle and Upper Schools and developed the curriculum for the AP Literature and Composition program. She also worked with Stanwich seniors through the college application process. Katy earned her B.A. in English from Connecticut College and an Ed.M. in English Education from Rutgers University.
	Nicole Zazzarino Part-Time Science Lab Assistant Nicole joins RCDS after having worked in the biopharmaceutical industry since 2012, where she supported molecular biology research with a focus on cloning technologies. She holds a B.S. in Biology from Marist College.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION & ATHLETICS

Amanda Popoli Physical Education Teacher; Head Coach of Girls' Varsity Soccer; Middle School Coach; Assistant Girls' Lacrosse Coach Amanda holds a B.S. in Physical Education and Sports Management from Adelphi University and an M.S. in Recreation and Sport Administration from Western Kentucky University. She previously taught physical education and coached soccer in Rockland County, at the Bronx Lab School, and at Lehman College. Having the rare opportunity to play and train at every level, Amanda played soccer for Adelphi University and spent her college summers competing in a semi-professional league. After college, she trained with an Italian professional soccer team and NY Sky Blue out of New Jersey. Amanda is also a Crossfit coach and competitor.

STAFF

	Dania Abu- Shaheen Director of Publications and Lead Storyteller Dania joins RCDS from Sarah Lawrence College where she was the Director of Alumni Relations and a former editor of Sarah Lawrence magazine. She brings experience in communications, leadership and project management, and content generation across various web and social media platforms. Dania holds a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence with a concentration in creative writing and literature. In her free time, Dania tells stories through writing songs and poems.
	Gayle Regan and Rebecca Tenney Nurses Gayle and Rebecca were long-term substitute Nurses from the Rye school district for most of the 2018-19 academic year. They will continue to share the second Nurse position in 2019-20.
	Melissa Mahoney Wirth '97 Manager of Alumni Relations Melissa began her career as Dean of Students in the Upper School at Holy Child in Rye. She has worked at the School since 2006, first as Assistant Director of Admissions for the Upper School and then as an Admissions Interviewer. Over the course of the last 13 years at RCDS, she has coached JV soccer, Middle School soccer, and Middle School lacrosse. A dedicated RCDS alumna, Melissa has served three terms on the Alumni Executive Board. Last year, she worked as an Assistant in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations, moving most recently into the role of Manager of Alumni Relations. Melissa received a B.A. from Middlebury College and an M.A. and Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University's Teachers College. Her three children are currently enrolled at RCDS, Class of 2027, 2029, and 2031.
	Julie McCrory '03 Manager of Stewardship and Engagement Julie arrives from Sacred Heart Greenwich, where she worked in the Advancement Department managing gift processing and donor stewardship. Julie is a proud RCDS alumna from the Class of 2003, and she graduated with honors from New York University earning a B.A. in European and Mediterranean Studies.
	Isabel Gonzales Admissions Interviewer Isabel is serving as an Admissions Interviewer this year following her previous position as the Admissions Office Assistant. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and is heavily involved in her alma mater's Alumni Relations efforts. Isabel has been a parent at RCDS for the last 12 years and has served on the Parents Association volunteering and chairing different committees.

We are also pleased to announce the following changes in the roles and responsibilities of returning faculty and staff:

Lower School

• Amy Haff joins Laura Festo as Co-Lead Teacher of the newly expanded full-day Pre-Kindergarten program.
• Heather Lentini, Lower School Teacher, will move from Kindergarten to Grade 1.

Upper School

• Cathie Bischoff is stepping down as Science Department Chair (grades K-12) to focus on her growing role as Coordinator of the school-wide STEAM initiative.
• Donald Kyle '81, Dean of Students, will join Ted Heintz as Co-Dean of Grade 10.
• Iain Pollock is the new English Department Chair (grades 5-12).
• Charaun Wills is the new Science Department Chair (K-12) but will no longer serve as Co-Dean of Grade 10.

Administration and Staff

• Isabel Gonzalez will move into the Interviewer position in Admissions.
• Jon Leef has been appointed Upper School Principal after one year as Interim Principal.
• Eliza McLaren adds responsibility for several school-wide initiatives to her roles as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Marketing and Director of the RCDS Institute for Innovating Teaching and Learning.
• Melissa Wirth '97, formerly an Interviewer in Admissions, is the new Manager of Alumni Relations.

Looking ahead to the 2019-20 academic year, Mr. Nelson shares school news and campus updates with the RCDS community.

Dear RCDS Community,

Earlier this summer, we finally had a chance to reflect on the School's milestone sesquicentennial year. In so many respects, the 2018-19 school year was a remarkable one, which included stellar student and faculty achievements, the opening of new and innovative spaces on campus, and the yearlong celebration of our 150th year. This past year was also an extraordinary year for philanthropy in support of RCDS as the 2018-19 Annual Fund raised $3.8 million in record-breaking fashion and the Advancing a Tradition of Excellence Capital Campaign surpassed its goal of $35 million. We are extremely grateful to everyone in the RCDS community who supported the 2018-19 Annual Fund and the Capital Campaign.

Now, in our 151st year (and my 27th as headmaster!), we shift our gaze from the past to the future. With summer programs and projects on campus completed, we eagerly await the return of our faculty and students and the opportunity to welcome those new to our community. This year, we will welcome 17 new faculty and staff members and 145 new students (65 in the Lower School, 40 in the Middle School, and 40 in the Upper School). If you are among those new to our community, welcome! If you are returning for your second year or your 27th, please join me in helping people find their way and their community at RCDS. I often hear from families about the importance of their first few days and weeks at Rye Country Day. I look forward to your partnership in continuing the tradition of extending a warm welcome to the newest members of our community.

To celebrate the excitement of the new academic year, I hope you will join me at the Back-to-School Block Party on Sunday, September 15 at 1:00 p.m. at the School's main entrance. During this festive event, we will welcome all new and returning students, families, faculty, and staff to the 2019-20 academic year! Please RSVP at ryecountryday.org/blockparty.

2019-20 School-Wide Theme: Citizenship

I am especially excited to announce this coming school year's theme of citizenship. Throughout the 2019-20 academic year, we will actively engage around this theme, which, as you know, is part of the RCDS Portrait of a Graduate. Citizenship will be woven into community discussions, curricular conversations, guest speaker events, faculty meetings, advisory group work, and more. This week, faculty and staff will have generative conversations in back-to-school meetings, during which we will collectively discuss the most meaningful integration of the study and practice of citizenship along with building community throughout our program, both in the classroom and beyond. The 2019-20 focus on citizenship embodies Rye Country Day School's motto of Not for Self, but for Service, and it will support us as we encourage students of all ages to approach others with empathy, to examine local and global issues, to appreciate differences in opinion, to recognize stereotypes and bias, to embrace and understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, and to make a positive difference in the world as aware, engaged, and purpose-driven citizens.

New Faculty/Staff and Personnel Changes

Every school year brings some personnel changes as new faculty and staff join our community and returning faculty and staff assume new roles and responsibilities. New faculty and staff have been introduced in the summer division emails to parents, and a comprehensive list of new personnel, including bios, is available here. We welcome this new cohort to the 2019-20 school year:

Lower School

• Francesca Shin Davia, Kindergarten Lead Teacher
• Jourdan Layne '15, Assistant Teacher
• Alexandra Levy, Assistant Teacher
• Marlana Moysak '13, Assistant Teacher

Middle School

• Don Fitz-Roy, Computer Science Teacher
• Julie Nuñez, Humanities Teacher

Upper School

• Tatum Bell, English Teacher
• José Benítez Meléndez, Spanish Teacher
• Craig Burt, Science Teacher
• Katy Everett, English Teacher
• Nicole Zazzarino, Part-Time Science Lab Assistant

Athletics & Physical Education

• Amanda Popoli, Physical Education Teacher; Head Coach of Girls' Varsity Soccer; Middle School Coach; Assistant Girls' Lacrosse Coach

Administration and Staff

• Dania Abu- Shaheen, Director of Publications and Lead Storyteller
• Julie McCrory '03, Manager of Stewardship and Engagement
• Gayle Regan and Rebecca Tenney, Nurses
• Priya Singhvi, Director of Health and Wellness

In addition, I am pleased to announce the following changes in the roles and responsibilities of returning faculty and staff:

Lower School

• Amy Haff joins Laura Festo as Co-Lead Teacher of the newly expanded full-day Pre-Kindergarten program.
• Heather Lentini, Lower School Teacher, will move from Kindergarten to Grade 1.

Upper School

• Cathie Bischoff is stepping down as Science Department Chair (K-12) to focus on her growing role as Coordinator of the school-wide STEAM initiative.
• Donald Kyle '81, Dean of Students, will join Ted Heintz as Co-Dean of Grade 10.
• Iain Pollock is the new English Department Chair (Grades 5-12).
• Charaun Wills is the new Science Department Chair (K-12) but will no longer serve as Co-Dean of Grade 10.

Administration and Staff

• Isabel Gonzalez will move into the Interviewer position in Admissions.
• Jon Leef has been appointed Upper School Principal after one year as Interim Principal.
• Eliza McLaren adds responsibility for several school-wide initiatives to her roles as Director of Strategic Initiatives and Marketing and Director of the RCDS Institute for Innovating Teaching and Learning.
• Melissa Mahoney Wirth '97, formerly an Interviewer in Admissions, is the new Manager of Alumni Relations.

Campus Renovations and Enhancements

The summer months are always the 12-week window for completing major campus renovations, and the summer of 2019 was extremely busy in this respect. Just prior to the start of Upper School preseason, the replacement artificial turf on the South Field (field hockey and girls' lacrosse) was installed with an AstroTurf product that uses an underlying shock pad and Envirofill infill. This is the third of four artificial turf replacements. The North Field (football, soccer, and boys' lacrosse) will be replaced next summer. This past Friday, the air-conditioning of the entire Pinkham Building (Upper School) and the second floor of the Main Building addition (Grades 4 and 5 areas) were completed. This was a very ambitious and complicated project for summer renovation! The first floor of the Main Building (Grades K-3) and the 7/8th grade wing will be air-conditioned next summer. Enhancement of the PAC sound system was also completed this past week.

LocalLive Networks live streaming: We have signed an agreement with LocalLive Networks, a service that will live stream our home athletic contests, performances in the PAC, and other campus events. LocalLive has installed their cameras on the fields and in the gym, rink, and PAC. They also provide a mobile unit we can use for other locations on or off campus. Live streaming will be available on a password-protected site. Stay tuned for more details.

We look forward to seeing everyone back on campus next week!

Sincerely,

Scott A. Nelson
Headmaster

Throughout the 2019-20 academic year, the Rye Country Day community will actively engage around the school-wide theme of citizenship, which will be woven into community discussions, curricular conversations, guest speaker events, faculty meetings, advisory group work, and more.

This summer, faculty and staff prepared for the year's theme through reading from a list of recommended books related to the topic of citizenship. Back-to-school meetings will include time for faculty and staff to have generative conversations and collectively discuss the most meaningful integration of the study and practice of citizenship throughout the RCDS program, both in the classroom and beyond. This is just the beginning of a meaningful year of teaching, learning, and being in community.

One of the "big four" in the RCDS Portrait of a Graduate, citizenship was selected as the 2019-20 theme because of its inherent incorporation of the other attributes and outcomes articulated in the Portrait—citizenship represents character in action, and it requires skills and knowledge. Knitting together the Portrait and showcasing how it is most meaningfully put into daily, lived practice, the theme of citizenship will serve as a learning opportunity and guide for the entire Rye Country Day community, students, faculty, and staff alike, in a shared effort to encourage and recognize the ways in which all can be prepared to make a positive difference in the world as aware, engaged, and purpose-driven citizens who embody Rye Country Day motto of Not for Self, but for Service.

For the RCDS community, citizenship means a collective commitment to encouraging students of all ages to approach others with empathy, to examine local and global issues, to appreciate differences in opinion, to recognize stereotypes and bias, and to embrace and understand the importance of diversity. It is also rooted in school-wide agreement that aware, engaged, and purpose-driven citizens are upstanders, not bystanders; they are thought leaders and innovators who engage in open, appropriate, and effective interactions across difference; they are changemakers who seek solutions and take bold action to address societal needs and issues. As the RCDS community works together to distill, understand, and put into action collective and individual citizenship, the conversations and lessons that will result from the year's theme will have poignant relevance for students through the various stages of their lives.

Citizenship in the RCDS Portrait of a Graduate

With over 50 clubs represented, the Activities Fair was full of energy and enthusiasm. At this annual fair, Upper School club leaders rally to encourage fellow students to join their respective organizations. Wonderful to see such active engagement in student life and #RCDScitizenship.

US Lacrosse has named a total of 88 players to its inaugural USA Select teams (22 players on four teams, representing boys and girls at the U15 and U17 levels), including Liam McLane '20 who was selected to play on the U17 Boys' team. Liam's inclusion on this team is a recognition of excellence by the National Team Development Program that places him among "the nation's top young players." The four USA Select teams will compete against international competition from Canada during the Fall Classic at US Lacrosse this October (18-20).

Congratulations, Liam!

Congratulations to sophomore Jeffrey Tian whose watercolor won the Congressional Art Competition for District NY-16. Every year, the Congressional Institute sponsors this nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Winning artwork from congressional districts across the nation, including Jeffrey's painting, will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year.

Titled War and Peace, Jeffrey's watercolor depicts Syria before and after the civil war, and it features Arabic, which is written from right to left. Echoing the direction of the written language, the painting should be viewed from right (representing the past) to left (representing the present) as a chronological documentation of the state of Syria.

The Upper School 3D Art Show "Methods and Materials" opens September 10 in the Cohen Center for the Creative Arts. The show represents a variety of three-dimensional studio art classes that utilize within their art making practice the materiality of clay, cardboard, plexiglass, wood, and the technology in the RCDS Makerspace. The spectrum of methods and materials in the show tells a story of the past, present, and future of the three-dimensional realm. Stop by the Cohen Center to view these incredible pieces created by students in Ceramics/Sculpture 2, Honors Ceramics/Sculpture, AP 3D Studio Art.

Rye Country Day School mourns the loss of Julia Billingsley whose thoughtful and loving care as a school nurse and colleague added so much to our community. Julia was remembered in this moving tribute published in the Rye Record.

PUBLISHED IN THE RYE RECORD, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019

Julia Catherine Billingsley died on August 8, 2019 in Rye, New York, from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that she was diagnosed with in October of 2018. She was 52 years old. The cancer was relentless, but Julia never lost her endearing sense of humor through a valiant fight. She was surrounded by family and friends when she passed.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 8, 1967, she was the daughter of Teke and Jesse van der Zweep who had immigrated to Canada from Friesland after World War II. Julia, her sister Felicia, and brothers Perry, Nick, and John grew up on a mixed grain farm in Balmoral, Manitoba, a heritage of which she was very proud. That farm, consisting of over 2,500 acres, is currently operated by her brother Perry and is frequently the site of family gatherings. Her parents passed away several years ago.

Julia received degrees in nursing and intensive care nursing from St. Boniface Hospital and the University of Manitoba, both in Winnipeg. In October of 1989, she was chosen to be Miss Blue Bomber and represented the Winnipeg Blue Bomber football team at games and civic events throughout the 1989-90 season.

Seeking adventure and, in her words, "someplace warmer than Winnipeg", she moved to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1992. She first worked as a charge nurse in intensive care at King Faisal Hospital and Research Center. The Riyadh expatriate community was drawn from throughout the world, and it was there, in 1993, that she met her future husband, James R. Billingsley Jr. The two were inseparable ever after.

While living in Saudi Arabia, Julia and Jim went on scuba diving adventures up and down the Red Sea coast, exploring dive sites and wrecks that few people have seen. They became uncomfortable in Riyadh as anti-Western sentiment grew following the Gulf War, which ultimately resulted in terrorism that came dangerously close to the couple. They departed in 1997 and went on a three-month scuba diving expedition that brought them to Hong Kong, the day after the UK handover, an island off the coast of Malaysian Borneo, Bali and Lombok in Indonesia, and the Coral Sea off Australia, to name a few. After they were married in 1999, they spent their honeymoon scuba diving in Palau and Yap. Jim and Julia logged over 300 dives together.

The couple returned to New York City in late 1997 and Julia became a nurse manager for the post-surgery recovery room at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. In 2000, Jim's work took him to Connecticut and Julia became a charge nurse in the intensive care unit at UCONN Medical Center in Farmington. She continued working after the birth of their daughter Charlotte in 2002, but stopped working after the birth of their twins, Campbell and Latham, in 2005.Three kids under three was enough. In late 2004, Julia and Jim moved to Rye, where the Billingsley family had resided since 1964.

Julia was very active in the Rye community. Before she was stricken with GBM, she was serving on the Board of Directors of the Rye YMCA, as a Governor of Manursing Island Club and Chairman of that Club's Membership Committee, and as a Deacon of Rye Presbyterian Church.

In 2014 Julia returned to work as a nurse for the Rye City School District and in 2016 she became a nurse for Rye Country Day School, where she worked until her diagnosis. As a nurse, she touched and meaningfully contributed to many lives. Her calm, patient, caring and common-sense demeanor made her particularly effective in her profession.

Julia lived a life devoted to her husband, children, and extended family. The role she took most pride in was being a mother to her three children, Charlotte, Campbell, and Latham. To her friends, relatives, and those she cared for, she was a wellspring of boundless joy, vivacity, humor, affection, thoughtfulness, unselfish caring, and courage. Julia was always wholly present for others, able to discern their needs at a deeper level and to respond with wisdom, compassion, tears or laughter. Her friends were selflessly by her side throughout her difficult battle with GBM and her family is extremely grateful for their generosity and love.

A memorial service celebrating Julia Billingsley was held September 7 at Rye Presbyterian Church. Her family has asked that friends consider a contribution to Soul Ryeders in her honor.

At this week's Morning Meeting, Upper School Principal Jon Leef read from a moving letter that was sent to the Class of 2003 before they graduated. The letter was from Mr. Leef and nine other chaperones who accompanied members of the class on their eleventh grade trip to Washington, DC on September 11, 2001. The letter, which hangs in Mr. Leef's office, thanks the students who participated in the trip for their courage and support of one another on that historic day. Encouraging current Upper School students to remember and reflect on the events of 9/11, Mr. Leef recalled those members of the Class of 2003, "If citizenship is character in action, I can assure you there was great citizenship from that group on that day." Today, 18 years later, we remember those who perished during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including the members of the RCDS community who were lost.

Upper School students in Mr. Gerlach's Public Speaking classes got a special treat this week. Headmaster Scott Nelson dropped in to talk about his personal experience with speaking in front of audiences small and large. Mr. Nelson clarified that while public speaking may not come naturally to all of us, it can be mastered by practice and experience. He shared helpful tips like writing notecards and taking pauses while being aware of the tricky perception of time moving quickly when speaking to a crowd—at a podium, ten seconds can feel like five minutes, but don't worry! The discussion taught students that self-awareness and knowledge about one's audience are key to delivering an engaging speech. Students asked Mr. Nelson which audience is his favorite to address. He smiled and shared that each audience has interesting attributes but that Kindergartners definitely have the best questions. "You never know what to expect!"

This year, two RCDS faculty members, Jennifer Doran (MS and US Science) and Gail Sestito (MS Science and Computer Science; Makerspace Director), are teaming up to visualize and share the volume and content of the myriad learning activities that take place at Rye Country Day on a daily basis. Their idea was the genesis of the 2019-20 RCDS Institute Project Classroom Candids: A Year of Collecting, Documenting, and Presenting Student Work via Social Media.

Throughout the upcoming year, Ms. Doran and Ms. Sestito will take over the School's Twitter account and transform it into a teacher-led platform that will share everyday teaching and learning with teachers at RCDS and other institutions along with families and students. With over 900 students enrolled in 150 courses across three school divisions, there's sure to be no shortage of valuable content that will serve to inform and inspire audiences about teaching and learning.

Ms. Doran and Ms. Sestito plan to visit a variety of courses, snap photos or film short videos, and interview students and teachers about the work they are doing—"Just as students learn best from other students, so do teachers," says Ms. Doran. They hope that their Twitter presence will be a celebration of the power of learning at RCDS and a place where teachers and learners can discover new approaches and exchange ideas. Commenting on the project's potential value, Ms. Sestito says, "Highlighting the talents, skills, and meaningful moments of teaching and learning at RCDS allows teachers—at RCDS and beyond—to grow, learn, and create."

Follow Classroom Candids on Twitter

RCDS is proud to announce that three RCDS seniors—Ellen Mollerus, Jaume Pujadas, and Aldo Stefanoni—were named National Merit Semifinalists. Across the nation, only one percent of students who take the PSAT qualify for this honor. Congratulations to the students and to Rye Country Day!

The National Merit Scholarship Program, which celebrates academic achievement in high school students, selects 16,000 high school seniors from across the country as semifinalists based on their PSAT scores (the PSAT is taken by roughly 1.6 million students each year). For more information, click here.

From left: Aldo Stefanoni, Ellen Mollerus, and Jaume Pujadas

Now that's how you celebrate the beginning of a new school year! On a gorgeous September Sunday, hundreds of members of the RCDS community attended the Back-to-School Block Party, a now-annual event welcoming new and returning students and their families, faculty, and staff to the new year. After the rousing success of last year's community-wide Block Party celebrating the sesquicentennial and the opening of the Cohen Center for the Creative Arts, the Parents Association and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion teamed up to make the joyous gathering a new RCDS tradition, and their collaboration paid off. The second Block Party was happy and energetic as members of the community participated in fun family activities, enjoyed delicious food from FLIK and several local vendors, and danced, danced, danced—with each other and with Willy the Wildcat. Thank you to everyone who attended this wonderful community celebration, and a special thank you to PA President Rosa Perkins, Parents Committed to Diversity (PCD), and Director of Diversity and Inclusion Ali Morgan.