Community Update: 2/28/25

Dear RCSD Community,

World Read Aloud Day is traditionally celebrated on the first Wednesday of February, and the anniversary of Dr. Seuss's Birthday (March 2) is National Read Across America Day. No matter what the occasion, RCSD elementary schools have been celebrating the lifelong joy of reading this month. On February 5, Osborn School marked World Read Aloud Day with teachers and their family members, administrators, Rye Police officers, Rye Firefighters and EMTs, and Elizabeth the Librarian from the RFRR visiting classrooms to read a special book. Students also had a chance to visit their classroom teachers from last year!

Midland School promotes reading annually with the Great Midland Read Aloud, held on February 27 this year. Students returned to their classrooms from the previous year to enjoy a book read by their former teachers along with their former classmates. The school also held a three day dollar book fair with offerings from picture books to teen-level tomes this month. 

Milton School students and families enjoyed a family reading night on February 6th. After a live reading, families were given access to a virtual library with videos of books read by teachers and staff. This week, students enjoyed special dress-up days related to reading and participated in National Read Across America Day today, with Milton students also enjoying the opportunity to visit their classrooms from the year prior. Read on!

National School Social Worker Week (March 3-7)

Monday marks the beginning of National School Social Worker Week. I want to thank Sandy Degenhardt at the High School and Kristin Quintano at the Middle School for all they do every day to support our students! I’d also like to recognize our ESS partners Andrea Diaz at RHS and Corina Manders at RMS, Graciela Gerace Cerda and LeRoy Ennis at the WJCS clinic at 324 Midland for their support of the students, families, faculty, and staff.

K Registration for 2025-26

If you have an incoming Kindergartener, please let us know. Registration opened on February 24th, and you should have received a reminder postcard in your mailbox. Please also spread the word to friends and neighbors who have little ones. If your child received CPSE services from RCSD and is coming to Kindergarten in the fall, you still need to register. The first step for registration for everyone is to pre-register here. Any questions about student registration and enrollment can be sent along to our Registrar, Wendy Wels, at wels.wendy@ryeschools.org. 

RHS Teams in Playoffs This Weekend and Week

Last night’s varsity hockey team game versus Byram Hills was interrupted in the third quarter by a power outage at the Playland Ice Casino. The team will complete the game tonight at 5:25 p.m. at Hommocks Ice Rink in Larchmont. Should they win, they would play in the Section 1 Finals at Brewster this Sunday, March 2. The link to watch the game on LocalLive (subscription fee required) is here.

Both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams won their games last night and are playing in the semi-finals on Tuesday, March 4, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains:

• The girls varsity basketball team is playing in the semi-finals at 3:00 p.m. versus Tappan Zee. The RHS team is the two seed. Watch here (subscription fee required)

• The boys varsity basketball team is also playing in the semi-finals at 4:45 p.m. versus Yorktown. The RHS team is the three seed. Watch here (subscription fee required)

If you go to watch in person, tickets are only available at the County Center Box Office via Ticketmaster this year. Go Garnets!

Grease Is This Weekend

The RHS Parsons Street Players are set to perform Grease this weekend in three performances: tonight at 7:00 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the RHS Performing Arts Center. I hope you will join me in supporting the arts at Rye High this weekend. Tickets are available at the door. To the cast and crew, break a leg!

RFE Gala

The Rye Fund for Education spring gala is coming up on April 3rd at Westchester Country Club. The theme is “Powering Dreams.” The tickets sold out quickly this year, but they are maintaining a waitlist should you be interested in joining in the fun. To learn more about the event and add yourself to the waitlist, click here. 

Finally, sundown this evening marks the start of Ramadan. To all our families celebrating Ramadan, Ramadan Mubarak! Wishing you a peaceful and blessed month.

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