RCSD Community Update: 4/28/23

Dear RCSD Community,

Looking out the window, it’s hard to imagine that we had a high of 87 degrees two weeks ago today. April is really producing outlandish amounts of spring showers, wreaking havoc with sports games and practices, weekend plans, and gardening efforts, but hopefully, it is bringing on May flowers in bulk. It’s certainly bringing on my spring allergies!

Midland Fair on Saturday

This Saturday from 12:00-4:00 p.m. is the annual Midland Fair which has a jungle theme this year. The fair is held rain or shine, and as the weather for tomorrow has been looking decidedly dicey, the parade prior to the fair has been canceled and all the attractions moved indoors. Fun-filled activities include remote control car racing, motorcycle simulators, mini golf, an inflatable axe-throwing game, skee-ball, lighted foosball, a ninja jungle course, and the cake carousel. Come on down to Midland for a wild time!

RHS Unified Athletics Basketball Game Monday

On Monday afternoon, the new RHS Unified basketball team is having its first-ever home game of the season versus Mamaroneck at 4:30 p.m. in the RMS gym. If you have not heard of Unified Teams, they join people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same athletic team. Unified athletics was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. Our GARNETS class has been practicing and is excited about their first game. Most schools that host Unified games pack the gym, I am really hoping we can do the same.  If you can’t come on Monday, the team is hosting Horace Greeley on May 4 at 4:15 p.m. These are the only home games this season. As our Athletic Director Susan Reid Dullea put it, there are some things that are just bigger than sport -- this is one!

Administrative Professionals Day 

Administrative Professionals Day was this Wednesday, April 26. Hopefully, we did a good job expressing our appreciation for the people who keep our schools and offices running smoothly and efficiently, but any and all expressions of thanks are most deserved and welcome, no matter what day it is. We are so lucky to have such terrific staff in our schools.

School Principals' Day May 1

National School Principals' Day is this coming Monday, May 1! I’d like to proactively give thanks for our dedicated principals at the five schools: 

Rye High School
Suzanne Short

Rye Middle School
Joseph DiGiovanni

Midland School
James Boylan

Milton School
Annemarie Piekarski

Osborn School
Angela Garcia

National Teacher Appreciation Day May 2

Following hard on the heels of School Principals’ Day is National Teacher Appreciation Day on May 2. Here in the RCSD, we take it a bit further and celebrate our teachers all week long. I know the parent organizations at the schools have special things planned to thank our teachers for everything they do for our students, but if you or your children are able to write a short note or thank a teacher when you see them, it's often those little moments that teachers cherish the most. I still have mine from when I was a teacher!

RCSD 2023-2024 Budget Vote and BOE Election

With May almost upon us, we are officially in budget vote and Board of Education election season. To learn more about the 2023-2024 school district budget and Board of Education candidates, please consider coming to (or watching online here) the Budget Hearing at the May 2 Board of Education meeting, or/and reading the Focus on Excellence budget newsletter which will arrive in your mailboxes in early May. 

In the meantime, please mark your calendars to vote on Tuesday, May 16, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Rye Middle School Gym. If you, a spouse or a family member will be out of town during the voting hours for any reason, be it work or travel, please vote via absentee ballot; applications for ballots are available here. If you’re new to Rye or recently moved within Rye, you will need to update your voter registration in order to vote in this and other elections. Voter registration materials can be found on the RCSD website here. 

Book Talk RSVP Link

In my last week’s update, I gave the dates for my upcoming book talks on The Emotional Lives of Teenagers:  Tuesday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. at the District’s Central Offices, and Tuesday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the Rye Middle School Multipurpose Room (MPR). If you think you might like to come to either (or both!), please RSVP using the form linked here, so we can set up the rooms comfortably. If you’re in search of the book, the Rye Free Reading Room has copies available -- ask for them at the desk.

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