Community Update: 11/17/23

Dear RCSD Community,

As a reminder, next week is a short week due to Thanksgiving, and I will not be sending out a community update next Friday. Schools will be dismissing early and there is no lunch service on Wednesday, November 22: dismissal is at 11:00 a.m. for RHS and RMS and 11:30 a.m. for the elementary schools. Schools and offices are closed on Thursday and Friday.

New and Improved Website

The new RCSD website has officially launched! I recognize it will take some getting used to (for all of us!), but I think it will be a big improvement both in terms of usability and appearance. We will be producing little instructional snippets and pushing them out each Wednesday via social media and on the website. Please send any questions or thoughts to feedback@ryeschools.org.

RMS Cell Day

Today, RMS hosted a Grade 7 Science Expo to showcase students’ cell projects. Each student identified the purpose of every organelle (a subcellular structure that has one or more specific jobs to perform in a cell, much like an organ does in a human body) within a cell and provided real-life examples that emulate these organelle functions. I was so impressed by the incredibly imaginative ways students represented cell structures in their projects. From models to games to communities with structures and roads, the level of creativity and critical thinking was terrific. 

RHS Varsity Girls Soccer

The Rye High School girls varsity soccer team are New York State Champions! I traveled up to Cortland High School last Sunday to watch them cruise to victory over Shoreham-Wading River. It was an incredible matchup and, despite the 33-degree temperatures, the girls were so impressive. Their defense was impenetrable and their ball movement and communication were outstanding. I am so happy that I was able to join the families and staff in the stands and savor such a sweet victory. Thankfully, my fingers and toes have finally defrosted. 

Weekend Playoff Action

The varsity girls swimming team is in Rochester competing in the State Championships today and tomorrow. All the details are here.

If you feel like going over the (Hudson) river and through the woods this weekend, the boys varsity football team is taking on the Port Jervis High School Raiders in Goshen, NY, at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow in the Class B Football regionals. If hunkering down is more your style, the link to watch is here. 

Go Garnets!

RHS Senior Scenes

Mark your calendars! Senior Scenes 2023 is Saturday, December 2, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). Not familiar with Senior Scenes? It's a show created and run by RHS seniors. They choose the scenes from popular plays and movies, cast the actors, direct rehearsals, and present their work in two shows. It's a great opportunity for seniors to learn the other side of theater. I hope you will join me in supporting the arts at Rye High School.

Have a wonderful fall weekend!

Sincerely,
Eric Byrne, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

P.S. Midland School had a special visitor on Wednesday afternoon, presumably interested in registering for kindergarten…see below!

Everybody wants to go to Rye schools!