Leigh Geller President
Elizabeth Shah-Hosseini Vice President
Fernando Rivas Treasurer
Patty Perez Secretary
Andrew Adams
Jennifer Blake
Tom Davidson
Tyler Dickson
Sarah Dodds-Brown ’91
Amy Fisch
Eric Geveda
Alison Hinds-Pearl
Blanca Hirani
Jennifer Kherani
David Kurd
Michael B. Lazar ’87
Tina Mathias
Blair Endresen Metrailler ’96
C. Benjamin Moss, III ’93
Rosa Perkins
Jeffrey Talpins
Susheel Torgalkar
Andrew Wallach
Jinghua Yan
Scott Weiss ’96
Alumni Executive Board President
Rebecca Brown
Parents Association President
Edward B. Dunn
Frederick A. Klingenstein♦
Michael C. Murr
Carmen Ribera-Thain ’75
Edgar Wachenheim III
Kim Wachenheim Wagman ’84
♦ Deceased
Scott Weiss ’96 President
Thomas Alston ’05
Doug Behrman ’04
Joshua Bennett ’06
Melanie Baevsky Besvinick ’07
Ellen Sluder Cohen ’95
Nicole Jackson Fanjul ’02
Jonathan C. Goldstein ’99
Grant S. Johnson ’10
Andrew S. Nathanson ’09
Robin Quittell Ponticelli ’94
Sarah Strong ’12
Daniel I. Wallance ’00
EX OFFICIO: HONORARY FACULTY
Gil A. Castagna, Jr.
EX OFFICIO: ALUMNI TRUSTEES
Sarah Dodds-Brown ’91
Michael B. Lazar ’87
Blair Endresen Metrailler ’96
C. Benjamin Moss, III ’93
Cindy Ganis Roskind ’90, MD
EX OFFICIO: MEMBERS
Randall Dunn Head of School
Lynette Gioffre
Director of Advancement
Melissa Mahoney Wirth ’97 Manager of Alumni Relations
CREDITS
On the Cover: Randall Dunn portrait by Dana Maxson Photography
Editor: Dania Abu-Shaheen
Alumni Content Editor: Melissa Mahoney Wirth ’97
Photography: RCDS staff photographers and Dana Maxson Photography
Design: Rose Creative Group
FOLLOW US!
RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
You are receiving this magazine as we wrap up an incredible year at RCDS and a particularly special one in my life.
My first year as head of Rye Country Day has been all I hoped for and more. Every day, month, and season, I have been inspired by the students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni of this outstanding school. I have seen firsthand the excellence to which we often refer, and I am proud that we authentically realize said excellence in all our endeavors.
The theme of TEAMWORK gave us a rallying cry and a worthy charge for the year. And did we ever rise to the occasion! It is not lost on me that a year of new leadership is a critical measure of the commitment of both the School and the newcomer. A new leader may arrive with admirable dreams and intentions, but success depends upon mutual and full-hearted cooperation. It has been an absolute joy and honor joining and leading the RCDS team. It is quite powerful to see–and be among–the various members of our community working together in service of the School’s mission. One year in, I am more fired up than ever to lead us into our next chapter.
In this issue of the Bulletin, you will read my story alongside other impressive stories from our students, educators, and graduates. I hope these pages help you to feel as I do that we are all here for a common purpose: a deep and shared dedication to the transformational impact of education. I hope you feel pride and hope in the team we have assembled in this wonderful school and its extended community.
As the year comes to a close, gratitude is at the top of my list. We began the year getting to know each other; we end it as a bonded team. I am thankful for the welcome RCDS has given me and my family, and even more so for the education and values our school gives to the world. Our work together is important. Thank you for your partnership!
Onward,
Randall Dunn Head of School
RCDS welcomed these new board members in July 2022.
❶ Since her family joined the RCDS Community in 2018, Rebecca Brown has served as Lower School Division Coordinator, Host Family Program Co-Chair, and a Grade 5 liaison. She is currently President of the RCDS Parents Association. Ms. Brown received her A.B. in Economics and French from Duke University and her J.D. from Columbia Law School. Until 2021, Ms. Brown practiced as an attorney, specializing in civil litigation and criminal justice. Her prior professional experience also includes investor relations and public relations. In addition, she has taught recreational and health-supportive cooking classes to adults and children. Ms. Brown and her husband, Tim, live in Rye with their children, Hank (Class of 2027), George (Class of 2029), and Arthur (Class of 2032).
➋ David Kurd is a former partner and Chief Operating Officer at Melvin Capital Management, LP. He was responsible for all noninvestment aspects of the business. Prior to helping found Melvin in 2014, Mr. Kurd was on the investment side of the industry for 15 years at various institutions. Mr. Kurd holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An active member of the Rye Country Day School community, Mr. Kurd served as an Annual Giving Parent Volunteer in 2020-21 and 2021-22. Mr. Kurd and his wife, Christa, live in Greenwich, CT, with their three children, Teegan (Class of 2029), Declan (Class of 2036), and two-year-old Bode.
➌ Rosa Perkins is a Managing Director at Sagehall, a privately owned real estate investment firm. Founded in 2020, Sagehall focuses on investing in real estate throughout the New York City area and across asset classes, including apartment, for-sale residential, office, hotel, retail, and industrial properties. Prior to Sagehall, Ms. Perkins held senior investment banking positions at Salomon Smith Barney, Greenwich Capital, and JP Morgan where she managed the structuring and origination of securitized products and provided advisory services to financial institutions. Ms. Perkins is the founder and Board Chair of Horizons National Chicago, an organization that works closely with the University of Chicago Charter School to provide academic support to children on Chicago’s South Side. Ms. Perkins received her A.B. in Economics from The University of Chicago and her M.B.A. in Finance and Strategic Management from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. An active member of the Rye Country Day School community, Ms. Perkins served as President of the Parents Association in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Ms. Perkins and her husband, Christopher, live in New Rochelle with their children, Xavier (Class of 2026) and Chiara (Class of 2028).
In July 2023, RCDS will welcome the following new trustee.
➍ David Thomas ’04 is a Managing Director at J.F. Lehman & Co., a New York-based private equity firm focused on investments in the aerospace, defense, environmental, and infrastructure sectors. Mr. Thomas began his career in Credit Suisse’s mergers and acquisitions group, with a specialization in aerospace, defense, and industrials. His board service includes NorthStar Group, Trident Maritime Systems, PURIS and Lone Star Disposal, among others. Mr. Thomas received a B.A. in Economics from Yale University, and was a member of the varsity football team, subsequent to 14 formative years as an RCDS student. Mr. Thomas and his wife, Sterling, live in Rye with their four children, David (Class of 2035), James (Class of 2037), and toddlers Marion and Robert.
In the Lower School, we are intentional about activities that build teamwork and community. We encourage students to consider the characteristics of appropriate and caring behaviors of all people and situations, especially when working together. This is evident when students are asked to partner with a classmate, read with their buddy, or participate in group projects. During this time of significant development for students—intellectual, social, creative, emotional, and physical development—teachers focus on increasing awareness of the power of peer interactions to enhance learning through teamwork. Eventually, students extend this sense of teamwork to the community guided by our motto, Not for Self, but for Service, when we connect public purpose and service projects to the curriculum. This results in opportunities for students to contribute significantly together to a distinct project at hand. They learn the most valuable skills and knowledge: making meaning of the world with an open-minded, curious, and analytic humanitarian stance with an eye toward collective responsibility and collaboration.
To support our school-wide theme, the Middle School highlighted the joys—and mechanics—of teamwork throughout the year. Participating in numerous teams within our community, students, teachers, advisors, and administrators found belonging through collaboration, which is an essential ingredient for success at school and beyond. For example, our advisory groups provided students with a home base and supportive check-in experience each day. These groups forged their unique identities and lasting bonds through fun activities and consistent daily routines. In the classroom, students worked in teams to present group projects to their peers. These moments, guided by our teachers, provided important lessons around responsibility, communication, and compromise in service of the greater goal of learning for all. Additionally, moments of teamwork emerged as students participated in chorus, band, drama, Vex Robotics, Sumobots, social impact projects, student-generated clubs, athletic endeavors, and more! Blending learning with connection to others, our Middle School community proved over and over again that teamwork makes the dream work—and it creates wonderful memories to boot!
It’s hard for me to imagine the Upper School at RCDS without the theme of teamwork underpinning and driving all of our activities and endeavors. Nearly everything we accomplished this year depended upon the seamless and selfless work of our community groups large and small. While the most obvious examples of teamwork were our named teams themselves—all athletic teams and academic teams like YPT (Young Physicists Tournament), Math, Robotics, and Engineering teams—other student groups such as Student Government, clubs, choir, and the casts and crews of our performing arts productions have coalesced around a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie. This same spirit inspired our Community Engagement Fellows and so many public purpose initiatives like SET and the newly launched monthly clean-up trips at the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary. Combine all of this with our dedicated Parents Association and our remarkable faculty teams who work tirelessly to deliver an exceptional program to our students, and I think we can rightly claim that this was a championship year in the Upper School. Go, team!
Ms. Stedman Dr. Sotirhos Mr. QuagliaroliThroughout your RCDS careers, you have impressed, inspired, and invigorated us. We are proud of your many accomplishments and contributions to our community. Welcome to the alumni family!
to the Class of 2027 on your Middle School graduation. We look forward to following and celebrating your achievements in the Upper School.
to our Fourth Graders on the occasion of your moving-up. We can’t wait to watch and applaud your Middle School adventures.
One of the most common questions posed to our office is, “What do colleges look for when they are reviewing a student’s application?” While there are many ways to answer this question, we often encourage our students to think in terms of the component parts of the college application, which can be broken down into five main buckets with an optional sixth.
If students begin to think about their high school years in terms of these components, they can break down the process, categorize their different areas of accomplishment, and utilize a simple yet effective framework to present themselves to colleges.
The components tell a story which helps college admissions officers assess:
• Academic performance
• Extracurricular involvement
• Interests and skills
Everyone’s college application tells a story, with academic and personal elements. The story is quite important to college admissions officers, as they value seeing how a scholar exhibits their individual interests and passions in study and extracurriculars. They also want to get a sense of the ways a prospective student could enrich the college community by being involved in student life and other endeavors.
Academics, as communicated by the transcript, represent the most important element colleges consider in reviewing applications. Students’ transcripts, records of grades and courses taken, convey interests, abilities, and potential.
A few examples: A student who loves romance languages might be taking Spanish and intensive French. This is of interest to a college with a strong liberal arts focus. For colleges that lead in the sciences, they will take note of the applicant who loves computer science and has AP Comp. Sci. and Advanced Topics on their transcript. All institutions of higher learning value interdisciplinary discourse and critical thinking, putting students with an appreciation for the dialectic learning in Honors English Seminars in a strong position.
• Community engagement
• Character
The standardized testing landscape has changed dramatically in the past few years, as all institutions of higher education adopted a test-optional policy during the pandemic. The vast majority of colleges and universities have maintained this test-optional stance, and students who are currently applying to schools continue to have the choice as to whether or not they will submit test scores. As a result, the story is more important than ever, and we have adjusted our counseling to support and advise students in their decisions as to whether or not to submit their scores and discuss how the test score supports the story they are telling about themselves as prospective college students. Still, it is important to note that academics are essential to college applications, and colleges that accept test scores can solidify their understanding of students’ academic standing through those scores.
Beginning in the fall of their junior year, all eleventh graders meet with RCDS College Counselors once a cycle through the Junior Seminar program, which covers a variety topics related to applying to college, ranging from working on a student’s resume to how to write a great essay, the common application, and more.
In the winter of junior year, eleventh graders and their families meet with the Office of College Counseling to start identifying, researching, and exploring new schools. We partner with students and their families to build strategies and college lists that are individualized to each student and designed to maximize college opportunities.
The college process in junior year is exciting because it is a time full of possibility and discovery—and before the stresses of completing applications in the summer or fall! In the College Counseling Office, we heavily emphasize the selfreflection involved in the college process. We want our students to tap into their authentic interests and aspirations to build a life of satisfaction and continued learning.
We believe that the role of the College Counseling Office is to support every student and their family by getting to know them, understanding their goals, and meeting them where they are. Our work also extends beyond college applications. As counselors, our goal is to equip each individual student with the tools they need to make the best decisions about college and life at large.
We feel strongly that the college process, when done thoughtfully, can be a valuable and positive experience from which students learn and grow. Applying to college offers an excellent opportunity for self-reflection and personal growth, and our counseling emphasizes how students can best learn about themselves and the world. Students often seem puzzled when we tell them many adults would benefit from such an opportunity of selfreflection and exploration–we are sure they will understand when they are a little bit older!
Using Stanford University’s Design Thinking Process, Upper School students in Ms. Yamamoto’s Engineering and Design class created a unique solution for retrieving Pringles from the lower half of the can.
Using the 3D printers in the Makerspace, students created a prototype featuring spring activation. Its name? Springles! When attached, the “springle” pushes up the bottom of the can, which enables consumers to retrieve every chip with ease. A fun opportunity for the students to ideate as an engineering team!
Girls’ Peer Mentoring is a student-led program that bridges the RCDS Middle and Upper School divisions by pairing girls in Grades 6-8 with mentors in Grades 10-12. Mentors and mentees are paired based on shared interests, sports, and hobbies. Throughout the year, the US mentors meet one-on-one with their MS mentees and as a full group for fun community-building activities. The program is a meaningful way for students to build individual relationships and develop a continuing sense of Rye Country Day community.
As an experiential learning component of their cultural study of Augustan Rome, eighth-grade Latin students went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to visit the exhibition Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color. The exhibition features a series of reconstructions of ancient sculptures in color, which are presented alongside original Greek and Roman works representing similar subjects. The reconstructions are the result of a wide array of analytical techniques, including 3-D imaging and rigorous art historical research. Having learned the colorful backstory of polychromy—meaning “many colors” in Greek—students were able see firsthand surviving ancient colors in the artworks on display.
During the week of February 13, the P.E. Department hosted the annual Kids Heart Challenge in collaboration with the American Heart Association.
Throughout the week, students in Pre-K through Grade 6 learned what makes hearts healthy (exercise, nutrition, sleep, and kindness) and the importance of daily exercise. They also signed a pledge about their commitment to healthy hearts.
Students concluded the week with an exciting Kids Heart Challenge Day in their P.E. classes. The heart-healthy fun featured a series of stations, including basketball games, hula hoop challenges, dancing, jump rope, running hurdles, hopscotch, ball tag, 3 v. 3 games, knockout, and more!
The Drama and Dance Department hosted a field trip to Hadestown on Broadway. Accompanied by Drama and Dance Department Chair Kate Henerey and other faculty chaperones, students thoroughly enjoyed the Tony and Grammy-winning musical based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Following the trip, the students discussed their takeaways from the critically-acclaimed large-scale production and how they might apply their observations to their RCDS Drama and Dance work.
Eighth Grader Maya M. ’27 co-authored the book Mindfulness for Middle Schoolers with Harvard psychology professor Dr. Ellen Langer. Described as the “mother of mindfulness,” Dr. Langer has written extensively on mindful learning, stress, decisionmaking, and health. In March, Maya led a mindfulness workshop for students in Grades 5 and 6. She shared insights from the book, introduced the general definition of mindfulness to the younger Middle Schoolers, led engaging activities aimed at increasing awareness about the ways our minds retain and analyze information.
Sixth grader Chloe B. ’29 wrote and published her own book titled, The LGBTQ+ Handbook: How to Spot Rainbows. The book chronicles Chloe’s personal coming out experience and shares her insights with readers who are interested in learning about LGBTQ+ issues. Structured as a practical guide for peers exploring their identity and their family members, the book highlights the importance of providing support and validation to LGBTQ+ youth. Addressing the difficulties LGBTQ+ youth may encounter at home and school, How to Spot Rainbows emphasizes the integral role supportive adults play—teachers, counselors, parents, other family members, and mentors. Chloe and her family also appeared on Good Morning America to discuss her book.
Grade 5 Drama students treated teachers and administrators to an informal performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Black Box Theater. The students delivered their lines with energetic enthusiasm and demonstrated their understanding of the play’s whimsical elements and themes. It was an engaging experience that deepened the students’ reading of the classic comedy while providing an encouraging space to explore acting.
In the winter, Pre-K students learned about polar animals. As part of this unit, each student chose an Arctic animal to research on Pebble Go, wrote a fact about it, and drew it. Their research, writing, and drawings were assembled into a class book.
Penguins were especially popular with our littlest Wildcats, so the class has read a few books about the winged wonders. They also worked on a community project of creating penguins in an Antarctic habitat (including icebergs, water, and the sky) out of Model Magic.
In February, Rye Country Day marked Black History Month celebrating the achievements of Black Americans and recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Various lessons, activities, and conversations honored the experiences, contributions, and stories within the Black community.
Lower School teachers highlighted the stories of Black athletes, engineers, scientists, writers, and more through read-alouds and lessons.
The Middle School Social Justice Coordinators, Don Fitz-Roy and Nadia Padilla, organized a fun trivia game of Black History Month facts for fifth- and sixth-grade students.
In the Upper School, the leaders of the Students of Color club (SOC) hosted a special advisory for Black History Month. The students conducted research to curate a collections of educational videos about the origin of Black History Month and how it has evolved to its current form in modern-day America. The videos covered Black culture and history through sports, dance, the Harlem Renaissance, art, music, food, science, and film. SOC and UPLIFT mentors also teamed up to lead the annual Black History Month Jeopardy game with Lower and Middle School students.
During Wildcats Around the World, a lunch-and-learn series hosted by the Global Studies program, four students presented and discussed their cultural heritages. Mak Blake ’23, Olivia Dittmann ’25, Aaden Johnson ’24, and Tati Leonard ’23 shared stories about their roots, ranging from Jamaica to Sierra Leone.
In January, the Upper School kicked off a week of activities celebrating and learning about Lunar New Year and the Year of the Rabbit. At the Upper School Community Meeting, moderated by AAPI Club leaders Elizabeth Lee ’23 and Rohan Malik ’23, students performed traditional Asian martial arts, dance, and music. In advisory, students played a LunarNew-Year-themed trivia game. The AAPI Club also hosted a lantern making activity and a lunch-and-learn where they discussed their families’ celebratory Lunar New Year traditions. A display of artwork that students in Chinese language classes created during a field trip to Flushing, Queens, also adorned the Pinkham Building’s main hall. The trip included visits to NY Shaolin Kung Fu Center and Zhou Qin Art Studio, as well as lunch at Sam Won Gahk, where the students practiced their language skills and enjoyed a traditional Chinese meal.
The Lower School Buddy Program partners fourth graders with Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students to build friendships across the division. This year, Caryn Olson and Kristin Kassay’s fourth-grade classes are paired with two Kindergarten groups, while Stacy Kaufman’s students are buddies with Pre-Kindergarten.
In February, 18 members of the Upper School Model UN Club traveled to Philadelphia for the Ivy League Model UN Conference (ILMUNC) at the University of Pennsylvania.
With over 2,000 American high school students participating, ILMUNC is one of the largest Model UN conferences in the country. This year, the RCDS delegation was assigned to represent the nation of Peru. They assembled several committees, including the Disarmament and International Security Committee, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, and the United Nations Development Programme, among others.
The four-day conference provided valuable learning opportunities in the areas of diplomacy and international relations, as well as memorable bonding experiences for the participating club members.
In math class, eighth graders developed their own business proposals for new sneakers and pitched them “Shark Tank” style to Ms. Dominicus and their classmates.
The student entrepreneurs described the unique properties of their designs, gave a breakdown of their production costs and profits, and named the value each team was seeking in exchange for a percentage of their business.
This activity was an opportunity for students to practice math (proportions, percentages, fractions, and subtraction) while also honing their presentation and persuasive writing skills.
Inspired by Ms. Monti’s storytelling visit to their classes in December, fourth graders created their own stories in the style of Native American folktales accompanied by original pieces of art. After working in groups to develop their projects, the students told their tales—and presented their visual accompaniments—to their classmates, teachers, Dr. Sotirhos, and Mr. Dunn.
Organized by Lower School Librarian Kimberly Love and Art Teacher Lauren Behar, this interdisciplinary project sparked students’ narrative and visual creativity, while strengthening their collaboration and public speaking skills!
“The Buddy Program builds community bonds and helps our fourth graders practice their leadership and mentorship skills. It’s a treasured Lower School experience that beautifully showcases the warmth and care of the RCDS community.”
– Caryn Olson, Grade 4 Teacher
On the last day of the first semester, Upper School students in Ms. Dolan’s Ceramics/ Sculpture 2 class returned to Clay Art Center in Port Chester for Raku firing, an ancient Japanese ceramics technique that results in a unique, colorful finish. With clay pieces they created at RCDS in hand, the students began the Raku process, which requires intricate teamwork. Some students were tasked with using tongs to move the pieces from the gas kiln to garbage cans filled with woodchips; others closed the metal lids on the cans; and others placed wet canvas atop the lids to prevent oxygen from escaping. The pieces spent twenty minutes in the closed cans amidst flames and smoke and then were moved to a water bath. Finally, the students scrubbed the surface of each piece to reveal the final result.
The trip was a follow-up to the students’ first visit to the art center, during which they viewed gallery space, learned about various ceramic artists, and enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the kilns, glaze rooms, educational spaces, and artist-inresidence studios.
Students in Ms. Bischoff’s AP Biology class were given an assignment to illustrate cell biology using Maker Mobiles, the RCDS Makerspace on wheels.
To create visual representations of how cells work in specific instances, students first worked in groups to brainstorm and plan their projects. Then they used the Makerspace materials on the portable Maker Mobiles to complete their cell biology creations, which included the signal, reception, transduction, and response in each pathway.
Projects included representations of cell-mediated immunity, epinephrine, Parkinson’s disease, molecular signaling, and neurotransmitter release, among others.
24 students (6 Middle Schoolers and 18 Upper Schoolers) are representing RCDS in the Global Education Benchmark Group’s (GEBG) Student Dialogues Program. Connecting students from over 25 countries, the program provides opportunities for intercultural dialogue around global issues, including climate change, gender equality, current events, and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, among others.
The Upper Schoolers also rotated membership on the GEBG Student Leadership Council, brainstorming how to further develop GEBG’s student programming.
Artificial Intelligence scientist Aron Szanto visited campus in February to share his perspectives and insights on the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the emergence of ChatGPT and DALL-E 2—systems that can create realistic images, detailed text, and art from natural language descriptions or prompts.
Hosted by the RCDS Technology Committee, Mr. Szanto led presentations for Middle Schoolers, Upper Schoolers, faculty, and staff, explaining how AI systems learn and their impact on the future. Mr. Szanto’s visit also included meeting with the Technology Committee, a fifth-grade computer science class, and an AP Computer Science class. Through current and relevant examples, Mr. Szanto invited audiences to consider questions of authorship and ethics raised by AI.
O’Shaughnessey shared, “Students and employees left with more questions than answers, which is fitting given the topic. Mr. Szanto’s thoughtful presentation will help all of us in our thinking about important ethical issues as AI continues its presence in learning and daily life.”
Before Mr. Szanto’s visit RCDS Dean of Faculty and Employees Dr. Jessica Flaxman and Ms. O’Shaughnessey were featured by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) for their work on education and artificial intelligence. Inspired by the emergence of ChatGPT, their article, Navigating the New Normal: Teaching in the Age of AI, highlighted conversations RCDS faculty are having about the development of artificial intelligence and how to manage it in the classroom.
In January, students in all three divisions were treated to special performances from A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, a company that celebrates Black culture and history through dance. The performances, which were part of the Strong Family Visiting Artists Program, demonstrated a range of choreography and musical genres. In addition, the Cedar Street Dance Company participated in a special master class with the dancers.
Thank you to members of the Strong Family, Roger and Nancy Strong P’12 and their daughter Sarah Strong ’12, for this meaningful educational opportunity.
Embracing the uncharted nature of the AI landscape, Dr. Flaxman and Ms. O’Shaughnessey co-founded an ongoing series of exploratory workshops for RCDS faculty and administrators with the goal of exchanging ideas and perspectives.
Aron Szanto is Head of the AI research division at Razor, Inc. His team builds AI models aimed at discovering new therapies for diseases like cancer. His research uses AI to analyze data from cells and genes to identify microscopic indicators of disease that would otherwise be impossible to find by humans alone. Prior to Razor, Inc., Mr. Szanto was Head of the Natural Language Processing Division at Kensho Technologies in New York City, where his team developed AI techniques to analyze written and spoken language to identify and stop disinformation and fake news.
Nearly 8,000 students and adults from independent schools across the country traveled to San Antonio, TX, to participate in the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) and People of Color Conference (PoCC) from November 30 to December 3.
Six students (juniors Sofia Castañeda and Jane Saltz and seniors Ricardo Coates, Olivia Craig, Rohan Malik, and Nayana Thomas) were selected as RCDS delegates for SDLC. Through large group sessions and smaller unit dialogues, the Upper School students strengthened their cross-cultural communication skills and deepened their understanding of effective social justice practices. Their work emphasized the 2022 SDLC theme We The People: Leveraging Our Community to Preserve Our Humanity.
Concurrently, 13 RCDS faculty, staff members, and administrators participated in PoCC, flagship of NAIS’s commitment to equity and justice in schools. The conference’s keynote speakers, workshops, master classes, and affinity spaces underlined the 2022 theme Reunited in Purpose: Elevating Our Worth, Our Agency, & Our Excellence.
The students and employees who participated in SDLC and PoCC shared their insights and takeaways at an RCDS Community Connections (RCC) meeting.
Mr. Friedman’s Grade 5 social studies classes studied Ancient Egypt. To deepen their immersion into Egyptian culture, the Middle Schoolers visited the Makerspace and created their own cartouches, ancient Egyptian seals that depict the names of important figures. Utilizing different materials, they created their own personalized cartouches, which included their names written in hieroglyphics.
“Every year offers many special moments; however, this year was especially noteworthy since it was our first time in-person since 2019. We bonded as a group, brought our authentic selves to the conference, and contributed to the renewed commitment of engaging in DEI work in our schools. It was truly an honor to lead this special group.”
– Ali Morgan, Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Team A
Caroline Snell ’24 - TeamCaptain
James Song ’25
Leah Steyn ’25
Chaaranath Badrinath ’26
Team B
Rohan Malik ’23 - TeamCaptain
Aadi Bhattacharya ’23 - ProgramCaptain
Stephen Mulderry ’25
Team C
Jeffrey Wang ’23- TeamCaptain
Alexa Kim ’24
Apolline Weinstein ’24
Skyla Perez ’26
The Upper School Robotics teams traveled to The Mount Academy in Esopus, NY, for their first robotics competition of the year on Saturday, December 10. Each of the three RCDS teams progressed through the qualification rounds, with Teams A and B advancing to the quarterfinals of the elimination rounds.
Team B took home the Judges Award, which is given to the team that distinguished itself by exemplifying perseverance and conducting a highquality interview that demonstrates effective communication skills, teamwork, professionalism, and a student-centered ethos.
The RCDS Upper School Robotics teams hosted the VEX Robotics Competition Spin-Up Qualifier on Saturday, January 14, in the Cohen Center for the Creative Arts. The competition, which included 18 teams from 11 schools, was an exciting showcase of the students’ science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills. The competition consists of a 15-second Autonomous Period, where robots can operate using only preprogrammed instructions and sensor inputs. A 1:45-second Drive-Controlled Period follows. The object of the game is to attain a higher score than the opposing alliance by scoring discs in goals, owning rollers, and covering field tiles at the end of the match.
On Saturday, January 28, Rye Country Day’s four Middle School Robotics teams competed in the VEX IQ Competition Slapshot Competition at P.S./M.S. 124 Osmond A. Church in South Ozone Park, Queens.
The Upper School Robotics Teams had an impressive performance at their third competition of the season on Saturday, February 4. Team C advanced to the quarterfinals and finished the qualifier rounds in fifth place. Team A made it to the semifinals of the elimination round with their alliance member and finished the qualifier rounds ranked fourth. Team B qualified for the Southern NYS Region State Championships in March at The Harvey School.
Congratulations to our Middle School roboticists:
Team A
Bruce J. ’28
Dylan K. ’28
Amy H. ’27
The competition, which featured 28 teams from eight New York State schools, included a Teamwork Challenge and Robot Skills Challenge. In the first challenge, alliances of teams competed, and in the latter, school-based teams of three students operated individual robots that battled on the 6’ x 8’ rectangular field.
Team B
Raghav R. ’28
Ben K. ’28
Charlie M. ’28
Team C
Hunter S. ’28
Marcus S. ’28
Will S. ’28
Team D
Sela R. ’27
Michael G. ’27
Zara K. ’27
Allison Duffy ’23, Rohan Malik ’23, Benjamin Mathias ’23, and Sydney Merrill ’23 were named candidates in the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which recognizes the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. Full coverage of these awards will be published in the Fall Newsletter.
The Upper School Robotics and Engineering Class won the U.S. Riders Robotics League Competition and advanced to the Global Finals. RCDS roboticists put on an impressive performance in the final round of the competition, “The Amazon Warehouse Challenge.” The students created a generative algorithm that allowed their robot to deliver multiple packages to the proper stations within an Amazon warehouse. After placing first in the competition, the students decided to donate their prize, a $600 Amazon Gift Card, to those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
In its second season, the U.S. Riders Robotics League is an online esports league where teams compete in robotics and coding challenges. The competition won by RCDS consisted of over 25 teams with approximately 180 students from 8 different states. Roughly 7,300 codes were submitted by all of the teams over 16 competition days.
“Allison Duffy, Rohan Malik, Ben Mathias, and Sydney Merrill have made us extremely proud. Their achievements and leadership—at school and beyond—stand as inspiring examples of Rye Country Day’s commitment to outstanding scholarship and active citizenship. Congratulations to these impressive young leaders on this well-deserved recognition”
—Randall Dunn, Head of School
Ellen Chen ’24 was named a winner in the New York Times Coming of Age Art Contest, which asked “What can you show us that might help explain what it’s like to be a teenager right now?” Her painting Consumption was one of the contest’s 24 winning artworks, out of 3,000 entries. The painting was completed in the spring of 2020, and it depicts life in isolation during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The evocative piece captures the deep yearning for connection felt by young people during the prolonged pause from beloved routines and social opportunities.
Alyssa Chu ’25, Max Garcia-Tunon ’24, Rohan Malik ’23, Ethan Xiao ’24, and Andrew Zhang ’24 qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), an intermediate examination intended to provide challenge and recognition to high school students in North America who have exceptional mathematical ability. Students who excel in the American Math Competitions (AMC) 10 and 12 are invited to participate in the AIME.
In the AMC 12 A, Alyssa Chu ’25 won the contest, was the top RCDS scorer, earned certificates of achievement and distinction, and was placed on the honor roll of distinctions. Rohan Malik ’23 was a top RCDS scorer and earned a certificate of distinction. Andrew Zhang ’24 was among the Top RCDS scorers.
In the AMC 12 B, Alyssa Chu ’25 won the contest, was the top RCDS scorer, and earned a certificate of distinction. Rohan Malik ’23 was a top RCDS scorer and earned a certificate of distinction. Ethan Xiao ’24 was among the top RCDS scorers.
Sixty-four RCDS Middle School students participated in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 8, one of the most prestigious middle school math competitions in the United States and the world. Rye Country Day’s top scorers included:
Melody W. ’28 - 1st place (7th grade)
Aanya U. ’28 - 2nd place (7th grade)
Maya T. ’27 - 3rd place (8th grade)
Seven Upper School students medaled in the annual Lower Hudson Regional Competition of the New York State Science Olympiad on February 4 at Byram Hills High School. Twelve students competed from RCDS with students from 41 schools. RCDS competed in 15 events, ranging from anatomy and physiology to cell biology and forensics. The Science Olympiad participants were coached by Mr. Hirsch, Ms. Islam, Ms. O’Brien, and assisted by Mr. Song.
The following RCDS students medaled in their events:
Jaymin Ding ’25, Jason Ren ’26 & Steven Ren ’26 - 5th place in Codebusters
Casey Wu ’24 & Jordan Zhao ’24 - 10th place in Remote Sensing
Ethan Schales ’25 & Jefferson Zhou ’24 - 10th place in Bridge
Jason Ren ’26 & Steven Ren ’26 - 10th place in Write It, Do It
Six RCDS juniors from Science Research and Engineering classes—
Sofia Castañeda ’24, Ellen Chen ’24, Ronald Feng ’24, Jonah Gurion ’24, Aidan McIntosh ’24, and Jefferson Zhou ’24 —presented their research at the Regeneron Westchester Science & Engineering Fair (WESEF).
Jonah Gurion ’24 won the GENIUS Olympiad Award and earned third place in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Jonah will compete again in June in the International GENIUS Olympiad at Rochester Institute of Technology. Aidan McIntosh ’24 won the Society for In-Vitro Biology Award, which is given to eleventh-grade students in recognition of their outstanding research in the areas of tissue or cell culture of plants or animals. Ellen Chen ’24 won the Excellence in Medical Research Award for Computational Biology/ Bioinformatics. Ronald Feng ’24 earned third place in Behavioral Science.
Twenty-eight RCDS students were recognized by the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards with Gold Key Awards (top honor), Silver Key Awards, and Honorable Mentions. A jury of leaders in the visual and literary arts blindly judge student submissions on the basis of the awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. All works receiving Gold Keys moved on to national judging, and Celine Fong ’24 and Ruth Zhao ’23 were named national Gold Medalists.
Celine won two gold medals for her paintings, Infrared Burnout and The Seafood Connoisseur’s Guide To Fine Dining In 2030. Ruth won gold for her painting, Mimesis. Celine and Ruth will be honored at an awards ceremony at Carnegie Hall. Full coverage of these awards will be published in the Fall Newsletter.
Alyssa Chu ’25 was named the top individual scorer at the WestchesterPutnam Interscholastic Math League Competition in March, and the RCDS math team took seventh place overall. The team qualified for the New York State Mathematics League Spring Championship.
RCDS Math Team
Rahul Arora ’25
Melanie Asness ’25
Chaaranath
Badrinath ’26
Aadi Bhattacharya ’23
Rhodes Boester ’24
Alyssa Chu ’25
Top Individual Scorer
Cole Denson ’24
Max Garcia-Tunon ’24
Rohan Malik ’23
Arav Ramaswamy ’26
Colette Sawyer ’25
Veeraj Shah ’25
Luke Sullivan ’23
Apolline Weinstein ’24
Claire Yu ’25
Eighth grader Juliette M. ’27 was featured in the 24th Annual Young Composers Honors Concert at the NYSSMA All-State Winter Conference in Rochester, NY. Juliette’s original composition, Mockingbird, was one of just 11 pieces chosen for the event based on technique, overall musical appeal, and originality.
By Lori Ferguson
As Randall Dunn reflects on his past, he sees that the trajectory of his life appears tailor-made to bring him to the current moment and his tenure as the ninth Head of Rye Country Day School. Yet he insists there was never a time that his path felt completely clear. “The way our lives look going forward is really different than they appear upon reflection,” he observes. “Over the years, I’ve simply been guided by personal motivation and the presence of good people in my life at critical moments: a forceful mother who embedded strong values and believed in the power of a good education and wonderful mentors who advised me.”
It is these positive influences and prescient choices that led Mr. Dunn to Rye Country Day, and he could not be more delighted. “The value of the independent school experience connects deeply to my history,” he shares. “I emigrated with my family from a small village in the mountains of Jamaica to a tough neighborhood in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and later enrolled at Milton Academy. The impact of attending an independent school—a critical counterpoint to my earlier experiences—opened my eyes to new friendships and fresh perspectives. My sense of curiosity was encouraged to grow there, and it’s never stopped growing.” It’s the desire to create that same sense of wonder and opportunity for other children that motivates Mr. Dunn today. “It’s personal,” he declares.
A seasoned head of school for over 18 years, leading the Latin School of Chicago for 11 years and The Roeper School in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, MI, for seven years prior to that, Mr. Dunn is well acquainted with the general requirements of the job. But each institution has its own challenges and opportunities. “I’m enjoying exploring what’s possible—where RCDS is coming from and where it’s going,” he explains.
“With the changing landscape—in our world and within the field of education—we need to think about how we best support our teachers, how we teach, and how our children learn in order to properly prepare our students for the complexities of this world they’re entering.”
One important way to achieve this is by expanding opportunities at school for experiential, hands-on learning, both in and out of the classroom, says Mr. Dunn. “We want our kids to connect with their learning in a personal way…to develop a genuine personal interest in a subject by approaching it from a variety of different perspectives. We hope they will take the reins of their own education, pursue their passions, and learn who they are.”
And RCDS offers a host of ways for students to do just that, he enthuses. “We have premier spaces and top-notch resources that help students explore their academic interests and dive deeply into performing arts, visual arts, and athletics. We’re also continuing to expand our local and global partnerships so that an excellent RCDS education goes beyond the School’s campus in Rye.”
Mr. Dunn has intentionally spent his first year assessing opportunities and building his team. “I like to surround myself with strong leaders—I believe that in school, as in life, it takes a team,” he explains. “I can bring vision and direction to the table, but nothing happens without a good team to implement those ideas.” A keen manager with a knack for supporting ambitions and excellence in those around him, Mr. Dunn appreciates the talents of his colleagues. “Having passionate, capable people around is essential for the health and evolution of the School. I value the diversity of perspectives and aptitudes our employees contribute to our shared goal of advancing Rye Country Day’s excellence.”
At the same time, Mr. Dunn is constantly striving to increase his own knowledge base. Strong teams need strong leaders. For Mr. Dunn that strength is embodied in knowledge–both its possession and pursuit. He recently returned from the annual meeting of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the country’s flagship organization for schools like RCDS, where he currently serves as Chair of the Board. “Working with this organization is my professional development,” he asserts. “Serving NAIS gives me a valuable overview of the terrain of education—the forward-thinking trends and progress happening across the country—which I can then share with RCDS.”
Liz Dunn has no doubt that her husband has much to offer. “He brings tons of experience and is absolutely dedicated to this school,” she observes. Liz knows a bit about her subject. Classmates at Milton Academy, the two reconnected at their 10-year reunion and subsequently married. “In high school, Randall was known as a really nice guy,” she recalls proudly. “He was the boys’ student body president and very athletic. He’s always loved sports, friends, and spending time with family.”
At work and at home, a sense of community is imperative for Mr. Dunn, Liz continues. Proximity to extended family was a motivating factor in the couple’s move from Chicago back to the Northeast. “Randall lost both his parents to COVID in January of 2021 and that was really a pivotal moment for us—we had to re-evaluate what’s most important in life, and we realized time with family was paramount,” she explains. The couple’s adult daughters, Hunter and Chasey, both graduated from NYU, and one remains in New York City; Liz’s mother and Randall’s sister live in the Boston area; and other extended family members and friends are nearby, making the move to Rye Country Day as personally fulfilling as it has been professionally exciting.
A year into joining the RCDS family, Liz is certain they made the right decision. “People here have been so warm—they have truly embraced the two of us, and we have them. Randall loves the people aspect of his job,” she continues. “He has an open door policy and adores getting to know the students and appreciating their talents and wholehearted engagement with the School. He truly believes that people make the place, and I think that is evident in everything he does.”
For RCDS Parents Association President Rebecca Brown P’27, P’29, P ’32, Mr. Dunn’s gregarious personality and life story offer valuable insight into his priorities and leadership style. “His background is so compelling—his family’s Jamaican roots, their emphasis on education, his own experiences as a student at Milton Academy. He understands what motivates parents to send their children to an independent school,” she observes.
Marries fellow Milton graduate Liz Hopkins 1996
Ms. Brown is pleased to emphasize that Mr. Dunn also understands the importance of becoming a part of the community. “Randall has been very deliberate about familiarizing himself with Rye Country Day’s traditions and history,” she notes. “He’s respectful of the past and at the same time looking toward the school’s needs in the future—he’s balancing it all beautifully.”
He’s also energetic and a lot of fun, Brown adds. “Randall has taken the time to help the community get to know him on a personal level. My boys have come home several times this year and said, ‘This is the sport Mr. Dunn played in high school,’ or ‘Mr. Dunn likes this kind of candy,’” notes Brown with a chuckle. “He’s a very busy guy, but he gives enough of himself to allow families to feel a sense of connection, which is very comforting, especially in a time of transition. These last few years have been tough for everyone, and it’s reassuring to feel like you know the person who is leading the institution. He really hit the ground running–and has not since missed a single chance to connect with families in this community. I’ve been incredibly impressed by his energy and dedication.”
RCDS Board Chair Leigh Geller P’20, P’22, P ’25, is solidly in agreement. “Randall is engaging, wise, thoughtful—really a natural,” she observes. “The experience he brings to bear is obvious – he has settled into the position swiftly and seamlessly. I’ve also been impressed by the tremendous insight he has demonstrated as he gets to know our school and our community.
“Randall is the ideal person to be head of our school in this moment – he is a perfect complement to our former Head Scott Nelson. RCDS is in a great place, a position we achieved thanks to Scott’s extraordinary leadership. That strength affords Randall the ability to think strategically about the School’s future and the areas in which RCDS can excel even further. More importantly,” she adds, “It is gratifying to see how enthusiastically the community has responded to him. We’re all optimistic and excited about the School’s future and confident in Randall’s ability to take us to the next level.”
“The feeling of where I am professionally—there’s just so much that has coalesced in this moment,” says Dunn. “Rye Country Day is not only a poignant reminder of how lucky I’ve been but also a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences by preparing our students for their futures. At the end of the day, that’s why I got into education–because it had such a profound impact on my life. I want to ensure that RCDS is similarly transformative for our students–the school that launches them into lives of fulfillment, life-long curiosity, and achievement. I want RCDS to be a place they will always call home. Everything in my personal and professional life has really come together in this moment, at this incredible school.”
“ It has been such a pleasure to get to know and work with Randall this year. Above all, he is an educator at heart: thinking and talking about education actually makes his eyes light up! He relishes a genuine conversation about where education is today and what could be on the horizon, whether it’s with students, colleagues, trustees, or school families. I appreciate that he has high expectations of the members of our team so that RCDS continues to provide the excellent educational experience for which it is known. In his own special warm and inviting way, he asks great questions, collaborates effortlessly, and puts a premium on his relationships with people—which is the foundation of any educational enterprise. I’m looking forward to working with him in the future on some exciting projects!”
– Meredith deChabert Assistant Head of School for Academic Programs“ We have in Randall a strategic and insightful leader! He is deeply passionate about keeping us accountable to our students and our institutional goals, which is so important for a school. The field of education has experienced a great deal of change in the past three years. Randall’s nuanced understanding of this evolving landscape and his optimistic eye to the future place RCDS in a position of strength with many excellent achievements in this new era of education.
– Pam MacAffer Assistant Head of School for Finance and OperationsADDITIONAL
Chair of the Board of National Association of Independent Schools
2021
2018
Interviewed by The HistoryMakers
Digital Repository for the Black Experience
2022
Ninth Head of School at Rye Country Day
• Co-Chair of the National Advisory Board of the Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Trustee of “High Jump”
• Board Membership:
- National Network of Schools in Partnership
- Mastery Transcript Consortium
- Norwood School in Bethesda
- Association of Independent Maryland Schools
- Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington
Public Purpose at Rye Country Day provides meaningful opportunities for students to support our local community. These transformative experiences prepare students to be responsible citizens with an ethic of service, empathy, and critical reflection. Three signature Public Purpose initiatives are the student-led enrichment programs SCOPE, SET, and SiSTEM.
Upper School students who volunteer for these tuition-free programs participate in discipline-specific training, as well as public purpose workshops to be able to support the academic enrichment of students from neighboring schools, while understanding the systems that make such programs necessary. The programs run through the fall and winter, concluding in February.
RCDS Upper Schoolers involved in the Student-Centered Outreach, Partnership, and Enrichment (SCOPE) program teach a curriculum based in the humanities and arts to students in fourth and fifth grade from neighboring schools. The program’s goal is to support reading comprehension and critical thinking.
In 2023, SCOPE offered biweekly classes for six weeks to almost 30 students from three different partner schools in Port Chester. RCDS provided bus transportation for all participating learners.
The Saturday Enrichment and Tutorial (SET) program provides academic enrichment to first through fourth-grade students from neighboring school districts, with the goal of improving English literacy skills. From October 2022 to February 2023, over 100 participants filled the hallways of the RCDS Lower School on Saturday mornings, and over thirty trained Upper School students led the curriculum. Together, they read, practiced grammar lessons, and participated in dance/movement activities. While young participants were in their classes, their parents were invited to participate in an English Language Learner (ELL) class taught by RCDS students in upper-level Spanish courses. Up to thirty parents attended classes each week.
Students in Stem (SiSTEM) is a biweekly afterschool academic enrichment program focused on developing skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In 2023, RCDS Upper School students designed experiments and supplemental learning that engaged almost 20 fifth graders from two elementary schools in Port Chester. Topics explored included photosynthesis, osmosis, density, engineering, and more. RCDS provided bus transportation for the visiting students.
“I am so proud of our 2023 SET, SiSTEM, and SCOPE student teachers. They helped lift these programs off the ground after a two-year pause due to COVID. I am also grateful to our partner schools in Port Chester for their long-standing collaboration. Walking into a SET, SiSTEM, or SCOPE classroom is pure joy—young students are excited to connect with their RCDS student teachers, who offer fun and engaging pathways to new learning. The experience of these programs is deeply beneficial to teachers and students alike, and a wonderful way to practice Rye Country Day’s motto, Not for Self,but for Service.”
– Rebecca Drago, Director of Public PurposeIn January, the RCDS community learned about and discussed the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Exploring his personal history, education, and global impact, students reflected on ways they can make a difference in today’s world.
Students in all three divisions gathered on January 13 in the PAC for assemblies celebrating Dr. King. Centered around the theme of education, each divisional assembly started with a presentation highlighting Dr. King’s life, education, and historic civil rights work.
At the annual MLK Day of Social Impact, RCDS students, families, and employees gathered to hear from representatives from Building One Community (B1C), an immigrant resource center in Stamford, CT. After learning about the important work of this longtime RCDS community partner, participants completed a community project of assembling winter care packages for B1C clients. They also created greeting cards for each package featuring Dr. King’s historic quotes.
In the fall, Grade 6 students learned about Public Purpose and the need for organizations and citizens who work to support the greater good. To complement their exploration of social impact work, the grade focused on two local community organizations. The organizations, Port Chester’s Meals on Main Street (MoMS) and White Plains’s Our New Way Garden (ONWG), both have missions related to food insecurity and are longtime partners in RCDS Public Purpose programming. MoMS activates over 500 volunteers to make food available to those in need, from pop-up pantries to home deliveries. ONWG educates the public about locally and naturally grown food, increases community access to healthy organic produce, supports small local businesses, and provides activities and positive sources of income for youth.
In January and February, sixth graders spent time learning about the organizations, their mission statements, the programs they run, and their larger galvanizing issues of food insecurity and access. This preparation and research led to the students being able to see the organizations in action. One group visited the ONWG greenhouse on the PepsiCo campus. The other group was visited by the Meals on Main Street mobile food pantry on the RCDS campus.
Students reflected on Dr. King’s impact with a division-wide book-making activity. Guided by thought-provoking questions about Dr. King’s life, students created books reflecting their own education, passions, and how they will use what they have learned to contribute to society today.
At ONWG, students learned about the benefits of growing vegetables all year round and private/public partnerships—they even got to plant a few seeds. On campus, the sixth graders helped load the MoMS truck and discussed the benefits of the food source’s mobility, among other topics. Before the truck departed, MoMS Executive Director Bill Cusano gave students a think tank prompt to discuss: How do we convince more food truck operators to utilize their vehicles and infrastructure to deliver free food to people who need it?
An especially exciting part of the day? It is very possible that food grown from the seeds planted by our Middle Schoolers will be delivered to those in need on the MoMS truck! Later in the spring, the groups swapped organizations so all students in the grade had the opportunity to experience missions and work of each one.
This summer program for public school students entering grades 7, 8, and 9 seeks to expand the academic and intellectual horizons of students from local communities that may not have the resources available to provide academic enrichment programs.
Every fall, the RCDS community comes together to support the Carver Center Food Pantry in Port Chester to combat hunger in the local community.
Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 engage in yearlong projects in which they identify and focus on an issue about which they are passionate. With faculty guidance, they gain insight into
This new Upper School advisory group was established to help centralize US Public Purpose initiatives and support all-school projects. Comprised of three juniors and three seniors with extensive Public Purpose experience and guided by the Director of Public Purpose, the
Through the College Board’s service learning AP with WE program, Upper School students in AP-level computer science courses develop projects that serve nonprofit organizations and address community needs, such as designing databases for nonprofits and teaching local children about robotics.
Lower Schoolers gain awareness about people with differences from visitors from The Arc Westchester, an organization that supports children, teens, and adults with intellectual
the systemic, societal, and economic factors that shape communities. Their projects enable the students to act in different ways to address their selected issue, from creating poster campaigns to making awarenessraising videos and fundraising.
The flagship Public Purpose program funds stipends for RCDS Upper School students to partner with a community organization to develop and implement innovative, sustainable projects that address the needs of the organization. This allows community organizations to benefit from the students’ enthusiasm and passion at no cost, and it enables students from all socioeconomic backgrounds with a commitment to public purpose to participate.
board created new infrastructure and pathways for public purpose clubs and initiatives in the US. The board’s goal is to facilitate and encourage effective social impact work that embodies the RCDS motto, Not for Self, but for Service
The Sustainability and Public Purpose programs teamed up to launch monthly clean-ups at Rye’s Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary. On the first Saturday of every month during the school year, groups of up to 30 RCDS community members work together to support the environmental well-being of the local nature preserve, ranging from trash pick-up to trail maintenance and other useful tasks identified by Westchester County’s Department of Parks.
and developmental disabilities, including individuals on the autism spectrum, and their families. This program is co-sponored by the Office of Diversity& Inclusion.
100+ 30+ 4 30
participants from neighboring schools filled the hallways of the RCDS Lower School on Saturday mornings. trained Upper School students led the curriculum.
RCDS faculty Program Directors. parents in the English Language Learner (ELL) class were taught by 10+ RCDS students in upper-level Spanish courses.
• Meets 6 times per year
• Up to 25 participants
• Student, faculty, and staff participants from all 3 divisions
18+ 10+ 2
fifth graders from two elementary schools in Port Chester Upper School student teachers faculty Program Directors
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
STUDENTS HAVE WORKED WITH
30 students from 3 different partner schools in Port Chester took classes 2 times per week for 6 weeks
36 YEARS OF ACTION
The Carver Center (Port Chester)
Building One Community (Stamford)
Meals on Mainstreet (Port Chester)
MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL IMPACT PROJECTS
250+ students in Grs. 5, 6, 7 & 8 complete projects
100% students in Grs. 5 & 6 participate
10 EXTENDED COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Boys and Girls Club (Mount Vernon & Stamford)
Kids Helping Kids
Kids in Crisis
Breast Cancer Support
Gigi’s Playhouse
The Community Resource Center (Mamaroneck)
Our New Way Garden (multiple locations)
ARC Westchester (multiple locations)
UPPER SCHOOL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FELLOWSHIPS
70+ fellows across Grs. 9, 10, 11 & 12 since 2016 program launch
UP TO 15 Projects per year
JFK, Park & Edison elementary schools
End Book Deserts
Rye Nature Center
50 STUDENTS EACH SUMMER
8+ FACULTY
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY OF SOCIAL IMPACT
3 DIVISIONS PARTICIPATE
150+ RCDS VOLUNTEERS (STUDENTS, FAMILIES & EMPLOYEES)
150+ CARE PACKAGES CONTENTS DONATED BY COMMUNITY
150+ CLIENTS AT BIC SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS DAY
Feeding Westchester Cancer Support Team
Edith Read Sharing Shelf
Greenwich Audubon Society NY & Westchester Humane Society
Don Bosco
Rock “N” Rescue
Mott Haven Fridge
Mothers for Others
Backyard Sports
Red Cross Club
Save the Sound
Little Free Libraries
Friendly Fridge Network
Ms. Jelliffe and Dr. Johnson represented Rye Country Day at the NYSAIS Student Support Conference. Their presentation focused on RCDS’s holistic support program that helps students develop and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. They highlighted the benefits of their teambased approach, which combines dedicated counselors and learning specialists to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to advocate for themselves while working both independently and collaboratively to fulfill their greatest potential.
Over the past two years, the area of student support has grown considerably at RCDS. During the 2021-22 school year, both the Counseling and Learning Support Departments expanded their footprints in the RCDS community by adding new personnel and programming in each of the divisions. This growth marks a significant investment by the School in support of the underlying philosophy that learning and emotion go hand in hand.
The idea is that calm and open minds are primed for optimal learning. When students are distracted by difficult-to-regulate emotions such as anxiety or sadness, their learning may be prevented from reaching its highest potential. It is therefore critical to help students develop the skills to understand and manage their emotions so that they can bring their full selves to the learning experience.
Now in the second year of the intentional integration of our departments, we view our collaboration as key to ensuring that RCDS students are able to effectively manage the relationship between their emotions and their learning.
Practice with social emotional learning skills such as selfregulation and mindfulness begins for children even in the youngest grades at RCDS and continues throughout their school careers. For instance, Lower School Psychologist Dr. Kelly Barker works with young learners on identifying their emotions and labeling them. This skill helps children develop the vocabulary necessary to reflect on how they feel and express their needs to others.
In Middle School, conversations in Tim Silverman’s Seek class cover topics such as healthy relationships and boundary setting. Again, these skills can be used by RCDS students to reduce stress in their lives while building positive coping skills.
In Upper School, Learning Specialist Andrea McLean works with children on understanding the mechanisms behind procrastination that are often linked to anxiety about completing a task.
The goal is equipping students with the knowledge of themselves, which is guaranteed by expert research to promote healthy development and learning. As children improve their ability to understand and regulate their emotions, they can approach their studies–and their lives–with more self-grounded confidence and peace.
“ We have mindfully teamed up to address the social-emotional and developmental aspects of learning because we know they are linked. We also know that this integrated approach helps children feel positive and engaged in their learning while at school, which is absolutely essential. At the end of the day, it’s about creating the supports and awareness that enable students to be enthusiastic about and fulfilled by their school experience.”
– Dr. Kamauru Johnson, Director of Counseling Support Services & Libby Jelliffe, Director of Learning Support Services
In March, the Athletic Department hosted the Winter Sports Awards, honoring and celebrating all of our varsity athletes. It was an exciting season for the 2022-23 RCDS Winter athletic teams.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
• FAA Honorable Mention: Henry Cohn ’23
• Coaches Award: Andrew Cheigh ’23
• John Sabia Wildcat Award: Henry Cohn ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Cole Denson ’24, Max Garcia-Tunon ’24
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
• FAA Honorable Mention: Jordyn Roskind ’23
• NEPSAC Honorable Mention: Reina Thalheimer-Santamaria ’23
• Coaches Award: Jordyn Roskind ’23
• Wildcat Award: Reina Thalheimer-Santamaria ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Kate Burdick ’24, Brynn Coady ’24
BOYS’ FENCING
• 2022-23 ISFL Champions - Epee
• ISFL All-League: Second Place: Will Mahoney ’23 (Foil), Sixth Place: Archer Pil ’23 (Saber)
• Joe Rue Coaches Award: Rohan Malik ’23
• Maureen Hartman Wildcat Award: Will Mahoney ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: David Kern ’25, Jordan Zhao ’24
GIRLS’ FENCING
• ISFL All-League: Third Place: Keira Lauri ’26 (Saber), Third Place: Selena Zhang ’26 (Foil), Sixth Place: Madi Danquah ’23 (Saber)
• Joe Rue Coaches Award: Elizabeth Lee ’23
• Maureen Hartman Wildcat Award: Madi Danquah ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Mina Kim ’24, Izzy Romita ’24, Caroline Snell ’24
BOYS’ ICE HOCKEY
• FAA All-League: First Team: Kevin Francella ’23, Leo Rothschild ’23
• FAA Honorable Mention: Paul Heintz ’27
• Maria Effinger Award: Luke Millowitz ’23
• Stahlin Wildcat Award: Kevin Francella ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Aidan McIntosh ’24, Ewan Ward ’24
GIRLS’ ICE HOCKEY
• Honorable Mention: Julia Heintz ’25
• WIHLMA All-Academic 1st Team: Grace Allen ’24, Payton Caggiano ’23
• WIHLMA All-Academic Honorable Mention: Ellie Block ’25
• WIHLMA Harry Rulon-Miller
Sportsmanship Award: Freya Collins ’26
• Coaches Award: Clare Keating ’26
• Wildcat Award: Julia Heintz ’25
• ’23-’24 Captains: Grace Allen ’24, Julia Heintz ’25
BOYS’ SQUASH
• FAA All-League: Henry Fogel ’25, Ben Mathias ’23, Winn Metrailler ’26, James Murphy ’25
• FAA Honorable Mention: Alexander Rivas ’25
• Coaches Award: James Murphy ’25
• Wildcat Award: Ben Mathias ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Henry Fogel ’25, James Murphy ’25
GIRLS’ SQUASH
• FAA All-League: Sophia Lynch ’25, Sarah Rivas ’24, Avery Smith ’23, Yana Thukral ’26
• FAA Honorable Mention: Leigh Smith ’23
• Coaches Award: Leigh Smith ’23
• Wildcat Award: Avery Smith ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Sophia Lynch ’25 Sarah Rivas ’24, Lily Smith ’25
• First Team All-State: Joaquin Gonzalez ’25, Esaias Gonzalez ’25, Dylan Garbutt ’24, Ethan Roque ’24 (4x400 Meter Relay)
• Coaches Award: Ethan Roque ’24
• Wildcat Award: Joaquin Gonzalez ’25
• ’23-’24 Captains: Jack de Haan ’24, Dylan Garbutt ’24, Esaias Gonzalez ’25, Joaquin Gonzalez ’25
• First Team All-State: Isabel Slippen ’23 (1000-meter run)
• Second Place in NYSAIS Championship: Isabel Slippen ’23 (1000-meter run), *Qualified for the NYS Federation Championship
• First Team All-State: Jocelyn R. ’27
• Third Place in NYSAIS Championship: Jocelyn R. ’27 (long jump), *Qualified for New Balance Nationals
• Coaches Award: Isabel Slippen ’23
• Wildcat Award: Jocelyn R. ’27
• ’23-’24 Captains: Cleo Saltz ’24, Keira Zheng ’25
• PSAA All-League: Rhodes Boester ’24 (132 lbs.), Ricardo Coates ’23 (160 lbs.), Barrett Pennington ’24 (172 lbs.), Joseph Rafferty ’26 (126 lbs.)
• FAA Honorable Mention: Rhodes Boester ’24 (132 lbs.)
• NYSAIS Representative at NYS Federation Championship: Joseph Rafferty ’26 (126 lbs.)
• Coaches Award: Aveer Pandey ’23
• Frank Antonelli Wildcat Award: Ricardo Coates ’23
• ’23-’24 Captains: Rhodes Boester ’24, Barrett Pennington ’24
In March 2023, the Department of Athletics marked an exciting milestone, officially launching the RCDS Athletics social media accounts (@RCDSathletics). This new presence on social media will highlight the excellent RCDS athletic programs, student-athletes, coaches, and alumni to the school and broader community. @RCDSathletics
As the 2022-23 Winter season concluded, the Boys’ Varsity Squash team had an exciting end to a tremendous season, winning the 2023 NYSAIS Championships and Division II National Championship of the 2023 U.S. High School Squash National Championships.
In the NYSAIS Championship, the Wildcats defeated Packer 7-0 in the first round, Poly Prep 7-0 in the second round, and Horace Mann 7-0 in the final. This is the Boys’ Varsity Squash team’s second consecutive year as NYSAIS champions.
In the U.S. High School Squash National Championships, the team was again victorious in all matches, winning against The Hill School 7-0 in the first round, Hopkins School 7-0 in the quarterfinals, Princeton Day School 5-2 in the semifinals, and The Pingry School 5-2 in the finals. The tournament was held at Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center in Philadelphia, PA.
The team was coached by Elani Landman and Gary Solem and led by Captains Henry Fogel ’25 and Ben Mathias ’23. Ben will continue his academic and squash career at The University of Pennsylvania this fall.
“ I am most proud of how they grew together as a team and became a strong unit, especially because this is an individual sport and they supported each other on and off the court throughout the season. My goal for this team was and still is to lead by example, not just through their physical ability and hard work on court, but also their behavior off court, so that the young up-and-coming players can look up to them and be excited for the future of RCDS squash. Congratulations to our outstanding Wildcats on two well-desreved titles. Go, Wildcats!”
– Elani Landman, Director of Squash and Head Coach
Definition: In squash, a nick refers to a ball that hits the crack between the floor and a wall once it bounces off the front wall. This is usually a winner.
An internationally renowned squash player, Coach Landman was the South African U19 National Champion, led the University of Johannesburg to four consecutive collegiate championship titles, and holds five consecutive South African National team titles for her provincial team, Central Gauteng. She represented South Africa at the World Junior Championships in 2009 in Chennai, India, and again in 2011 in Boston, MA. She also represented South Africa at the 2018 Women’s World Team Championships in Dalian, China. Ms. Landman and her twin sister, Lume, a squash professional at The Apawamis Club, also form one of the top three women’s doubles pairs in the world. They won the 2020 U.S. National Doubles Championship in Minneapolis, MN.
Isabel Slippen ’23 finished in second place in the 1000-meter run with a personal best time of 3:06.05. She represented RCDS and competed at the NYS Federation Championship Meet in March.
Jocelyn R. ’27 finished in third place in the long jump with a personal best jump of 15.10 meters. She qualified for the Middle School Nationals and competed at the New Balance Nationals in the 60-meter dash and the long jump in March.
ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2023 will continue their athletic careers in college this fall. Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes on this well-deserved recognition. Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat!
Luke Beyer ’23
Hamilton College
Baseball
Henry Cohn ’23
University of Chicago
Football
Sabrina Fang ’23
Princeton University
Fencing
Kevin Francella ’23
The College of William and Mary Baseball
Michael McGhee ’23
Brown University
Football
Luke Millowitz ’23
Denison University
Football
Trinity Parameswaran ’23 Columbia University
Soccer
Nick Roddy ’23 University of Richmond Tennis
The Boys’ 4x400 Relay Team, consisting of Esaias Gonzalez ’25 , Ethan Roque ’24 , Dylan Garbutt ’24 , and Joaquin Gonzalez ’25 , finished in second place with a time of 3:41.71 and earned All-State honors.
The Varsity Indoor Track Team is coached by Madge Anderson, Charlie Ogbonna, and George Lambrecht.
Matthew Liew ’23
University of Chicago Tennis
Ben Mathias ’23
University of Pennsylvania Squash
Ben
Athlete of The Week
Association
Playing for Emory University, Ben hit a career-high 27 points against University of Rochester. The week he was honored, he boosted his season average to a team-leading 18.4 points per game, with two dominant performances.
Alana Jones ’20 Scores Career-High 18
Points at Wesleyan in December
This was most Alana scored in a single game at Wesleyan. She also matched her career-highs with 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. And she broke a team record with 12 free throws—the most made in a single game since 2019.
Isabel Slippen ’23 Colgate University CrossCountryandTrack&Field
Laura Baine ’20 Hits a Career Milestone, Breaking 100 Points for Wesleyan’s Women’s Lacrosse Team
This impressive accomplishment came in #8 Wesleyan’s 14-5 victory over #16 Bowdoin. Laura, a junior, had 2 goals and 1 assist, bringing her career total to 102 points on 63 goals and 39 assists in only 32 games. She is the third-fastest player in team history to reach 100 points and the 19th Cardinal in team history to reach 100 career points.
*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.
and juniors who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher through the first semester of the current academic year.
Sabrina Fang ’23 competed in the 2023 Canada Cup held in Kingston, Ontario, and took home the gold medal after an impressive 15-12 victory in the championship match. She fenced in the Senior Women’s Foil event, which was comprised of Canada’s top 44 fencers. She works with Head Foil Coach Slava Grigoriev at Tim Morehouse Fencing Club Port Chester, NY. Sabrina will continue her academic and athletic career as a Division 1 fencer at Princeton University this fall.
Jordyn Roskind ’23 was named TheJournalNews/lohud Girls’ Basketball Player of the Week, on January 31. Jordyn averaged 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists to help lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 record during the week of January 23. She connected for 10 threepointers over the three-game span. On Saturday, January 28, Jordyn capitalized on a crucial and-one opportunity, making the lay-up then free throw in the final 30 seconds of the game to seal the 49-45 victory over Horace Mann School in the Coaches vs. Cancer Invitational at Ethical Culture Fieldston School.
The Westchester Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame announced its 50th annual Golden Dozen picks, an honor reserved for the region’s top high school football student-athletes from the 2022 season. Henry Cohn ’23 and Michael McGhee ’23 were among the standouts who received Scholar-Athlete recognition. In the fall, Henry set two RCDS records: most passing yards in a single season (1,140) and most career passing yards (1,740) in Wildcat history.
Grace Allen ’24 was also selected as a Scholar of Distinction, an honor awarded to students who have achieved a minimum cumulative, unweighted grade-point average of 3.9 out of 4.0 through the first quarter/semester of the 2022-23 school year.
Owen Coady ’19 Named Ivy League Preseason Pitcher of the Year
A senior pitcher and captain for the University of Pennsylvania, Owen received this honor after his excellent junior year on the mound. He ranked first in the Ivies with a 2.80 ERA (earned run average), first in opponent batting average (.200), tied for first in wins (7), and fourth in strikeouts (74) last season, earning All-Ivy Honorable Mention recognition.
Varsity Field Hockey players Grace Allen ’24 , Payton Caggiano ’23 , Anna Franzino ’24 , Morgan Harvey ’24 , Natalia Kochut ’24 and Cameron Song ’24 were named to the NFHCA 2022 High School National Academic Squad. The program recognizes high school seniors
In January, the New York State Sportswriter Association (NYSSWA) released this year’s list for the Class B, C, and D all-state football teams. For the Class B division, Trey Stevens ’24 (DL) was a Third Team selection, and Cole Denson ’24 (RB) and Barrett Pennington ’24 (LB) were both Honorable Mention selections. Trey, Cole, and Barrett had an excellent fall season, leading the Wildcats to the Metro Independent Football League championship.
Sabrina Vumbacco ’19 Caps Outstanding Collegiate Career Named to the 2023 First Team and Academic All-Patriot League Teams
In her earlier years swimming for the Bucknell Women’s Swimming & Diving team, she was named to the All-Patriot League First Team (2022), Academic All-Patriot League Team (2022), All-Patriot League Second Team.
Ian Tumm ’22 Named Player of the Week for USPHL Premier, Midwest Region
Ian is a goalie for the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings. The week he was honored, he stopped 46 of 48 shots leading the team to a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Squatch.
Photo Courtesy: Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Hockey
Photo Courtesy: University of Pennsylvania Athletics
The Addams Family was the 2023 Upper School Musical. The show, which ran for two nights in the PAC, was an impressive and entertaining display of the theatrical and technical talents of our students.
“ Over 45 students were involved in bringing this show to life. Their heart, dedication, and creativity led to a production of The Addams Family that was entirely unique to itself. Everyone on staff is so proud of how the students came together to collaborate and blend their talents and strengths in order to ensure art could thrive on our stage.”
– Jeff Hogan, Upper School Drama TeacherOn Sunday, January 22, the Festival Chorus Concert, directed by Music Department Chair Mary Marcell, celebrated 28 years. With a packed house of nearly 300 community members (and an online audience of 275), the concert made a joyous return to its traditional in-person format.
Titled We Are the Voices, the concert featured an intergenerational choir of over 100 RCDS voices (the Upper School Concert Choir, alumni, parents, employees, and community singers). A full orchestra, including several RCDS faculty, accompanied the singers with moving instrumental performances.
The event was held at Rye Presbyterian Church, and a reception sponsored by the Parents Association followed the concert. Congratulations and thank you the 2023 Festival Chorus for a beautiful afternoon of music and community. Special thanks to Mary Marcell for founding, leading, and music-directing this beloved Rye Country Day tradition.
Second, third, and fourth graders gave a beautiful Winter Concert featuring recorder, ukulele, and vocal performances. After the show, the RCDS community was treated to the beloved annual ice cream social hosted by the Parents Association.
Rye Country Day helps us to see, we’re more than friends, we’re family
–
Lower School Song
Newsies, Jr. was the 2023 Middle School Musical. Depicting the newspaper strike of 1899 in New York City, the musical highlighted the vocal, dance, and acting talents of Middle Schoolers.
“We had such a great time creating Newsies, Jr. with our incredible cast and crew! As one of our biggest casts yet, the students’ dedication and hard work paid off with truly amazing shows. We are so proud of each and every one of them!”
– Kate Henerey, Drama & Dance Department Chair & Middle School Drama Teacher“ Making music together is one of the most special ways to connect with a group of people. Each of us has a unique voice to offer and by truly sharing ourselves, we can create meaningful connections as we move through the human experience. As the lyrics of the song say, All our voices will blend when we touch common ground.”
– Mary Marcell, Music Department Chair
The Upper School 3-D Art Show, Surface: Raku, Sgraffito, and Texture, featured work created by students in the intermediate through advanced levels of Ceramics/ Sculpture and AP Studio Art: 3-D Design.
Throughout the exhibition, two specific techniques— Sgraffito and Raku—were highlighted in a variety of artwork. Sgraffito is an Italian term and technique that ceramicists use to scratch a design onto the surface of the clay. Raku is a Japanese firing technique that creates unique and unexpected surface colors.
“This exhibition is rooted in engaging with the surface of artwork through the principles of three-dimensional design. Texture is emphasized—whether the material is clay, fabric, or paper— and the surface is altered through technique, material, creativity, and personal choice. Throughout the show, each artist demonstrates how surface texture is a critical element of their work.”
– Erin Dolan, Upper School Visual Art Teacher
The Upper School Fall Art Exhibition, Breadth of Creativity, featured drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, and digital media, displaying the diversity of artwork created during the first half of the year.
“This is an exciting moment of the year, as our Upper Schoolers display their creative and artistic works from the semester. What I love about this exhibition is that it showcases the breadth of our students’ creativity, from the fledgling neophytes to our more accomplished AP Studio Art students and everyone in between.”
– Eric Drotch, Visual Arts Department Chair
Lower School & Middle School Exhibition: Let’s Celebrate Art!
In December and January, a collection of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media projects from Lower and Middle School students was displayed on the first floor of the Main Building. This cross-divisional exhibition was an inspiring celebration of art, showcasing the creative expressions of our youngest students.
n What is your favorite example of TEAMWORK from this past year? It has been wonderful having the opportunity to work with co-teacher Julianne Arcamone again. We have had the chance to brainstorm ways to evolve our curriculum and collaborate to bring vision and voice to our classroom. We work hard and laugh a lot!
n Who inspired you to become a teacher?
My fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Kruk, was creative and fun, always thinking outside of the box to make learning purposeful and memorable. She took time to get to know each of her students and made every student feel a sense of belonging.
n What is your favorite part of teaching third grade?
Third grade is magical. It is exciting to see students become more independent and responsible. Our students are curious and it is fun to watch as they begin to question the world around them. From exciting projects such as our book floats to interactive read-alouds, third grade offers so many opportunities for creative and immersive learning.
n You volunteer with the RCDS SET program. Can you share a little bit about that? It has been inspiring and rewarding to be part of the SET program. Students from the Port Chester schools in grades 1-4 come to RCDS on Saturday mornings in the winter for reading support offered by our Upper School students. I helped the RCDS student leaders develop their curricula and then had the joy of watching as they put them to action each weekend. I was so impressed by the leadership, commitment, and enthusiasm of our students.
n You are a math teacher in the Middle School. What is your favorite equation or math problem?
I don’t have a favorite word problem per se, but I love word problems that allow for a wide variety of ways to tackle them and get to an answer. Then, having kids share their strategies on the board so that they learn from each other is awesome to witness. Also, especially in seventh grade, I love when my students start to apply their algebra skills to word problems and employ a systematic approach to the solving process, like creating an equation and getting away from guess and check.
n As Dean of Grades 7 & 8, what are the most important pieces of advice you give students as they prep for Upper School?
There are a couple of things. The first is don’t be a spectator, get involved. The Upper School allows you a great opportunity to find and pursue your passions. With so many programs across so many disciplines, students can–and are encouraged to–get involved in many different activities and interests. And, there are adults there to support and mentor them along the way. The second is redefine yourself. Heading to a new building with a new group of teachers and advisors allows students the opportunity to redefine themselves, and as interests change so may friendships and that is OK, too. The Upper School is really a time to worry less about fitting into a certain group, and more about finding the people who support you and around whom you can be yourself.
n You were a D1 lacrosse player and coached lacrosse at RCDS for many years. What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
For me, it’s really about making a commitment and putting in the work to make it happen. I think there are a lot of lessons from the field that translate to the classroom. I told my RCDS student-athletes all the time that if you want a skill to be there for you in a game, you need to practice it so much that it becomes automatic. That’s certainly true in the math classroom as well! Finally, it is about being in the moment, which at times can be hard, but when you are in class, that is the focus, and when you are on the field, that is the focus.
n What are some Middle School takeaways that you hope will remain with students throughout their adult lives?
There are a lot of ways to define success. Yes, academics represent one way to do so, but success can be found in so many other places— in the art studio, the stage, the field, or in the work you may do in your community. Middle School is for sure a time when mistakes are made, and it is the learning that comes from them that is so important. When you become a better person as a result of a poor decision or lapse of judgement, that is when you really grow as a person. A broad, nuanced view of what success looks like is an essential tool for life way beyond school.
n What or who inspired you to teach science?
My love of science was sparked by my fourthgrade teacher, Ms. Bock. I remember she gave us a small envelope with a bunch of tiny seeds with a few instructions of what to do with the packet. She instructed us to mix it with water and pour the contents into the soil in our backyards. To my disgusted surprise, a bunch of worms creeped out of the soil! I could barely contain my excitement to go to school the next day to find out why that happened. Some of my classmates had what I thought were ridiculous hypotheses, but I guess that’s what science is all about. I have been fortunate to have many encouraging science teachers, including my high school chemistry teacher, Ms. Sherwood. It was in her class that I felt motivated, challenged, and supported. I knew once I was in tenth grade that I would major in chemistry in college.
n You share Science Wordles every week. Tell us about that.
There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t complete the New York Times Wordle, Spelling Bee, and Crossword. My love of games and puzzles started at an early age. As a young girl in New York City, I would beg my mom to buy word search books from the newsstand on our way to the subway. My obsession eventually graduated to Jumbles, Sudoku, and more recently Wordle. I love the satisfaction of finishing a Wordle in less than three attempts, but nothing is better than the sense of accomplishment when you finally get solve
that challenging Wordle on your sixth and final attempt. Last year, I started to generate a list of any and every five-letter science-related word as a means to entertain students during House. There was such an overwhelmingly positive response that I decided to do it every week during the school year. My favorite word that most people did not solve was “COCCI.”That one had people running to their microbiology textbooks!
n Fieldwork is an important component of the RCDS science curriculum. Can you describe an RCDS project that captures this?
Our Science Research program is a program that most beautifully exemplifies fieldwork. Throughout their time in the Upper School, science research students learn the skills that are needed to become successful in their scientific fields. Students in the program come up with a research question and are partnered with mentors in their field of choice. Many students will participate in local, regional, and national science competitions and symposiums where they present their work to experts in their field. I am always so impressed by all of the students that are able to explain these very complex scientific ideas at such a professional level. During the summer, students participate in various internships at world renowned institutions and these experiences have been so transformative in helping them get a great running start in their future careers.
n Diving deeper into science can be daunting, why should students try it? Science may be daunting to some because it could put a student into a place where they are not sure if they are correct or not. That can be uncomfortable. We have to be able to lean into that discomfort and embrace failure. Many of the great discoveries in science were not successful on the first attempt. Often, we see the final finished product, but have no idea of the hours of trial and error, modifications or massive failures that eventually led to success. Not just in science but in life, I encourage everyone to live in discomfort for a bit, because that is where true success comes. Having the ability to sit back and think of all of the foundational knowledge you have developed and applying it to solve challenging problems is a skill that transfers to any career field or life challenge.
The Wildcat spirit was palpable this year, as RCDS parents and guardians returned to campus in full force!
Together, we extended a warm welcome to new school leaders and families. We celebrated beloved PA events like the Fall Luncheon and Arts Festival & International Fair, and we established exciting new traditions, including Fun Fridays and seasonal Wildcat Days. Whether parents and guardians were gathering at grade socials, dancing at drop off, cheering for our student-athletes, decorating school buildings, celebrating our school’s diverse heritage and talents, or running checkout at the Book Fair, it was a year full of new and renewed connections for our community.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our incredible Parents Association volunteers. This year, nearly 200 parents and guardians served as grade liaisons, committee chairs, and event volunteers. Many more came out to support our community programming and fundraisers. These visible acts of service not only demonstrate the Parents Association’s commitment to working in partnership with the School, they form bonds among our families that last far beyond our years at RCDS.
Thank you for all that you do to support the Parents Association and our wonderful School community. I wish you and your families a fun, restorative summer break, and I look forward to our continued partnership in the 2023-24 school year.
Warm regards,
Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown P’27, P’29, P’32 Parents Association President
APRIL 20, 2024 | WESTCHESTER COUNTRY CLUB
Plan to join us for an incredible evening celebrating and supporting all that makes RCDS a remarkable community!
Being a Rye Country Day student, parent, and now grandparent has given me a front-row seat to the School’s incredible evolution over the past 50 years.
My memories from being a student at RCDS in the 1960s are of a structured and traditional school. In those days, we had quite a few restrictions, including the way we dressed and how we behaved. We were required to attend Chapel every Thursday (with guest speakers from all of the religious houses in Rye), sports were limited in terms of opportunities, and academic courses followed a very specific path with few choices each year. In spite of all of this, we were extremely well prepared for the academic challenges of college. Above all else, we were taught how to question and think critically.
For my children (Melissa Mahoney Wirth ’97, Ryan Mahoney ’98, and Derek Mahoney ’00) growing up, the Lower School was a nurturing environment, allowing each one to excel at their own pace. In the Middle School, they were encouraged to think more independently and taught the importance of self-advocating. Upper School was academically more challenging with an abundance of Honors and Advanced Placement classes offered across the academic spectrum. I felt especially grateful that my children were mentored in a supportive atmosphere— they were always encouraged to be their best across the board in academics, arts, sports, theater, and music.
For my grandchildren (Zachary ’27, Emily ’29, and Mason ’31), I have been astounded by the vast variety of 21stcentury options, including 3D printing, Makerspace courses, computers across all grade levels, even full-time Zoom school during the recent COVID crisis. As was the case when my children were students, I am pleased to say the Lower and Middle school faculty continue their hallmarks of caring about, nurturing, and supporting their students and equipping them with the confidence and skills they
need as they mature and develop at their own speed. I am often impressed by and proud of not only the academic abilities of my grandchildren, but their poise and awareness of others and themselves. These are all attributes that will serve them well in life. Rye Country Day has also cultivated a home-school partnership to ensure the kids are set up for positive experiences on campus and beyond.
The physical campus has also expanded exponentially given its restricted land space. The former football field is now the ice hockey rink. The Girls’ Gym is now the Cohen Center for Creative Arts. The Pre-Kindergarten is now the Performing Arts Center. The Kindergarten and first grade moved and now the School has a Lower School parking lot. When I was on the Board of Trustees, I co-chaired the committee that built the Dunn Performing Arts Center and the Scott A. Nelson Athletic Center. We spent years trying to get approval to move Grandview Avenue and acquire the Thruway Property. We were so excited to move Grandview Avenue in 2000 to create the pedestrian campus we all enjoy today. You can imagine the elation in my household when we learned of the acquisition of the Thruway Property in 2022—an almost 30year effort for the School started by former Head of School Scott Nelson in 1994. All of these changes take years of commitment from administrators, parents, and alumni. We are fortunate to have this type of dedication at the RCDS, and it speaks volumes as to who we are as a school community.
Since the 60s, a great deal has evolved–from the curricular, extra-curricular, and athletic offerings to the focus on student belonging and joy. Rye Country Day’s continual advancement in the areas of academics, arts, and athletics, as well as student life, experiential learning, and social-emotional development has secured its position as a national leader.
With my grandchildren now third generation at RCDS, I am proud to be part of this incredible and supportive community. RCDS continues to strive for excellence in all areas of the School, allowing every student to be the best that they can be. Most importantly, the entire faculty/staff then and now, are the primary force in creating such a special place. What was a good country school when I attended has evolved into one of the best private day schools in the country. It has been a joy and privilege to witness, serve, and experience Rye Country Day’s evolution.
It’s always a pleasure heading back to Rye Country Day. Who wouldn’t welcome a chance to visit the place that left an indelible mark on our lives as alumni? When I step back on campus, I am reminded of the incredible mentors I had at RCDS and the lifelong lessons and friends I gained from my time at this outstanding school.
My trip to campus this spring was especially exciting because I was visiting our Head of School Randall Dunn, who is completing his first year at the helm of RCDS. Sitting on the back steps on the Main Building (the School’s original main entrance), gazing at a sunny Rye sky and the Lower School playground, Mr. Dunn and I talked about all things RCDS, his impressions from year one, and his vision for the future.
SCOTT: You have an extensive track record in independent school leadership. In your first year at RCDS, what stands out the most about our school?
RANDALL: The energy of this place is incredible! The students and teachers are really engaged in their work, and the whole community rallies around a genuine shared love of the School. The commitment to excellence is really palpable in everything we do, from students’ academic, artistic, and athletic endeavors to the parents’ enthusiastic partnership. Additionally, the School’s founding dedication to service makes consideration of others a real hallmark. People who are passionate and considerate leave an impact, and this school is full of them!
SCOTT: What do you want alumni to know about your leadership style?
RANDALL: I believe that strong leadership is about empowering people to reach their highest potential and encouraging them to team up. It is short-sighted to think that there is only one valid perspective. In education, we know in our bones that there are many answers and that real success is being able to ask the right questions and formulate a variety of solutions to challenges. So as a leader, I work intentionally to cultivate an environment where people feel respected and heard. That being said, strong leaders also recognize and embrace the responsibility of decision making, which I believe is rendered most effective when preceded by a healthy exchange of ideas. When you have listened long enough to sources you respect, you can feel confident about drawing a conclusion.
SCOTT: It was terrific connecting with you at Reunion. Any special plans for Wildcat Weekend next October?
RANDALL: Ha! I have a few ideas, but those would just be fun little additions to an already fantastic event. I had a wonderful time meeting alumni last October. It’s clear RCDS has been a special place for many. I’ll say this, if you want to see what spin I’ll put on my Reunion participation next year, mark your calendar for October 14. I’ll give you a hint, I was a studentathlete.
SCOTT: How can we, as alumni, help the School build on its excellence?
RANDALL: Stay connected. Keep up with the School, and send us your news. Being a part of a community means maintaining our connection. There are so many volunteer
opportunities–you could mentor students, speak at a class, serve on the Reunion committee or Alumni Executive Board. When a school has an actively engaged network of alumni, it sends a powerful message.
SCOTT: Spirit has been through the roof this year, which is fantastic. Tell me why school spirit has been a priority for you?
RANDALL: School spirit is a joyful way of showing love for a place. What could be better than love and joy. Spirit strengthens schools because it creates opportunities for all members of the community to come together based on shared experience of being part of something greater. When that foundation of spirit is there, schools are more likely to excel, evolve, and improve.
SCOTT: Soon you will graduate your first set of alumni, the Class of 2023. What advice do you have for them?
RANDALL: To the Class of 2023, I say the following: You have outstanding abilities and talents, and
you have heart. Take the lessons you have learned here and apply them in every aspect of your life. In your time at RCDS, you have accomplished a great deal. Let this be assurance to you that exciting things are on the horizon. As you embrace all that life has to offer, remember to stay true to yourself and your RCDS values of kindness, respect, community, and service. The world is ready for you and you are ready for the world!
SCOTT: My nephews attend the RCDS Lower School. What do you believe are the most important lessons schools need to teach our youth?
RANDALL: Our youngest students are the ones that will impact the farthest future. We need to teach them that complexity is nothing to fear, that curiosity feeds our minds, that people enrich our world, that disagreement is not disrespect, and that kindness and fairness will never let you down. But before all of that, we need to teach our youth that they matter, so when as they grow they will lead and lend their voices to important conversations.
SCOTT: What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for RCDS?
RANDALL: So many things! At this particular moment, the “Thruway Property,” now the “RCDS Property,” is especially exciting. The purchase agreement dovetails with our commitment to community and service beautifully. Our current idea is to have additional athletic fields and facilities that will be available for use by both RCDS and the public. It is meaningful that this land will support our school, as well as local athletes and communities.
RANDALL: I have one question for you, Scott. You graduated in 1996 and you were an RCDS “lifer” (attending from K to Grade 12). You have since continued your engagement with the School. So tell me, what keeps you so connected to this place?
SCOTT: First off, thank you for chatting with me today. It has been a lot of fun and a great opportunity to hear about your first year here at RCDS. Simply stated, RCDS changed the trajectory of my life— I was given an opportunity to attend one of the best preparatory schools in the nation through a need-based scholarship from a young age. During my 13 years, RCDS nurtured my love of sports; helped me build close connections with my peers, faculty, and staff; provided me with a passion for service and philanthropy; and embedded within me the idea that we should never stop learning. RCDS is and will always be the stepping stone from which I have been able to find any and all success in my life—and for that, I will be forever grateful.
Valley for a position at Zazzle, a company that personalized physical products from t-shirts to tennis shoes. “We were uniting art and technology to power the online customization of physical products,” says Kenji. “Then Josh and I got the idea to apply the same concept to video by using cloud computing to solve the problem of customization in video.”
An enthusiastic life-long learner
When Kenji Hashimoto arrived at Rye Country Day in the middle of sixth grade, he was fluent in Japanese but spoke not a word of English. Born in London to Japanese parents, he had lived in England until age six, moved to Tokyo for four years, and then to New York City where he enrolled in a Japanese charter school. “My parents only planned to live in the States for a few years before returning to Japan,” he explains. “Then they decided to settle in this country, so they sent me to Rye Country Day.”
Transitioning from coursework in Japanese to coursework in English in one fell swoop was incredibly challenging, Kenji concedes, but he doesn’t regret a moment of it. “My family was supportive, Rye Country Day was very accommodating to my unique situation, and the lessons I learned through that experience have helped to shape my life.”
For instance, it was at Rye Country Day that Kenji discovered his interest in computers. “I took my first computer science course while still in Middle School and quickly became fascinated,” he recalls. That interest carried Kenji through a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Cornell University and on to his first job as a Senior Test R&D Engineer at Intel Corporation. “It was an important growth experience. I got to work as an engineer and learned how to innovate within a big company.”
Then fellow Cornell alumnus and friend Josh Dorward convinced Kenji to move to Silicon
That brainstorm gave rise to Indivio, a startup founded by Kenji and his friend to allow marketers to customize their digital video ads. “For example, companies often need to localize marketing videos for different regions or countries by advertising in a different language,” Kenji explains. “With our technology, they can easily swap out the message in English for one in a local language, thereby allowing them to learn what resonates.”
The technology proved quite effective and in December of 2021, Indivio was acquired by Israeli-based tech company Cloudinary. Today Kenji and his team work with industries from retail and e-commerce to travel and hospitality and assist in marketing initiatives for familiar brands such as Nintendo, Peloton, Levi’s, and NBC.
For Kenji, conceiving of this merger between art and technology wasn’t surprising; indeed, he characterizes it as a natural outgrowth of his RCDS education. “I was exposed to so much at Rye Country Day— not only a rigorous academic program but also athletics, the arts, and music. I saw firsthand how one discipline could impact another,” he explains.
Kenji specifically remembers the Interdisciplinary Course in his senior year, which the students called “Interdis,” that was taught by a team of teachers from different departments. The course was developed as a way to encourage seniors to make critical connections between seemingly disparate concepts and ideate across a number of disciplines. The result was exciting ideas born out of collaboration and nuanced thinking. “That course really opened my eyes to the power that can be gained by approaching problems in an interdisciplinary manner.”
Rye Country Day’s commitment to giving back also made an impression, Kenji asserts. “Our motto, Not for Self, but for Service, has remained with me all these years.
For example, while a student at RCDS, I published the School’s sports weekly on the website. Though it was a small thing, it was one of several computer-related volunteer contributions I made at the School that became a meaningful experience later in life when starting my own online business.”
The School’s emphasis on lifelong learning left an indelible mark as well. “During my time at Rye Country Day, I learned what it meant to have a growth mindset, which is critical in my field. To this day, I’m still learning, and I don’t see myself stopping. And all the credit for that goes to RCDS.”
Looking back, Kenji is very grateful for his parents’ foresight in sending him to Rye Country Day. “RCDS provided me with such a rich, well-rounded education,” he enthuses. “It was an amazing environment in which to grow up and it prepared me for the hard work I faced, first in earning my college degrees and then when starting my own company. Both demanded strength and persistence, neither of which were new to me. I dug deep into the lessons learned through my Rye Country Day experiences, and they carried me through.”
This required senior course was a study of five different cities in which students examined each city’s unique history, culture, politics, literature, and economics, thereby providing an interdisciplinary platform for students to learn deeply and think critically. Examples included Athens during its Golden Age, Elizabethan London, Berlin between the wars, modern-day New York, and more. The course concluded with an independent study in which each senior selected their own city for an interdisciplinary research project.
The goal of the interdisciplinary course was to provide an opportunity for seniors to expand their thinking beyond single academic disciplines and explore learning by connecting history, art, culture, and politics, to emerge with a more complete understanding than a single discipline allows. A specific city at a point in time proved a terrific opportunity to explore these organic connections, and this team-taught course, featuring five different teachers from different departments, served as an excellent culminating experience for RCDS students.
Elizabeth Weinberg Smith ’70, president of the Central Park Conservancy, was featured in the New York Times discussing the competition for road space in the park among runners, cyclists, and pedestrians, along with e-bikes and horse-drawn carriages.
Ted Prince ’74 was awarded the Silver Kingpin by the Intermodal Association of North America in recognition of an individual’s long-term contributions to intermodalism and illustrates the industry’s appreciation and gratitude to those who have moved the industry forward.
In January, litigator Dan Barr ’74 became the Chief Deputy AG in new Attorney General Kris Mayes’s office in Arizona.
Liz Charney ’76 shares that she has lived in Chicagoland for the past 20+ years where she teaches child psychiatry and trains doctors at an academic center. She and her husband, Marc, have raised two wonderful young adult boy/ girl twins. She misses New York but lives within walking distance of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Botanic Gardens, and Ravina (like Tanglewood), as well as walking and bicycle trails with canoe and kayak sites on the adjacent lagoons. Feel free to look her up if you are in the Windy City where she can host both urban and suburban adventures!
Robert Herbst ’76 won three gold medals at the Single Event National Powerlifting Championships. The event was held at Western Illinois University on the weekend of March 4, 2023.
Niki Mock ’76 was featured on the CBS Morning News with Gayle King the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. She discussed her important work with her grassroots organization, FurnishHopeDC.
1982
Sarah Gillman ’82 joined Barnard College as Senior Vice President for Strategic Finance and Operations.
to Layton Guenther ’05 and Amy Benerofe ’84 who participated on a panel during the annual Green Screen event that takes place on Earth Day each year. Amy Benerofe, Founder of Our New Way Garden and Layton Guenther, Director of Quail Hill Farm both spoke about their work.
Wisq CEO and Co-founder Jim Barnett ’76 is hosting a podcast about happiness and belonging at work called Happy Here. He writes, “One of the privileges of my work at Wisq is that I get to speak with incredible HR thought leaders about their experiences–how they think about building cultures, supporting a sense of belonging and connection, and helping employees feel engaged at work.”
Mark Solomon ’78, Dallas Managing Partner, was named to D CEO’s 2022 edition of the Dallas 500, a recognition positioning him among the most powerful and influential business leaders in North Texas.
1980
In March and April, John Treacy Egan ’80 performed in the first CT professional production of Rocky Horror in over 30 years!
Andrea Greer ’83 finished the New York City Marathon on November 6, fifteen months after a severe brain injury. While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Andrea developed a rare condition called delayed posthypoxic demyelination that caused her to lose her sight, hearing, and memory due to oxygen deprivation. Her recovery at NYU Rusk is ongoing, and her completing the marathon was a major milestone.
Andrea ran for Achilles NYC, an organization that transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. She crossed the finish line with her coach, Holly, as her family and friends cheered her on
Brent Forester ’84 will embark on the next phase of his career, beginning June 2023, as Psychiatrist in Chief and Chair of Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center and Director of Behavioral Health for Tufts Medicine and Chair of Psychiatry at Tufts University Medical School.
1981
Stephanie Victor ’81 and RCDS senior Rosie Isiyel ’23 connected as volunteers at the William Voris Archeological Dig on Milton Road in Rye. The dig is to find foundations and artifacts from the Voris Inn, owned and operated in the early 1800s by AfricanAmerican William Voris, located in between The Bird Homestead and The Rye Meeting House. Stephanie writes, “There is an RCDS connection through the residents of these properties who included a student at Mrs. Life’s Rye Female Seminary, the earliest iteration of what we now know as RCDS.”
• Send class notes to alumnirelations@ryecountryday.org
• Join the alumni Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/rcdsalumni
• Visit the alumni website: ryecountryday.org/alumni
Congratulations to M Style’s Rob Striar ’90 on ringing the Nasdaq bell for the successful merger of his company Bull Horn Holdings Corp and Coeptis.
Michele Brazil ’92 and her husband, Joseph, were honored last spring at the annual benefit for their work with the Fiver Children’s Foundation. Since joining the board in 2015, Michelle has been impressed by the program’s 10year commitment to nurturing young people who seek to make a difference in their lives and the world beyond. She writes, “This organization means so much to us, and to be thought of in this way is very humbling. We hope that with our involvement this year, we can help ensure that Fiver has the resources to continue its important work.”
Laurie Pinkham Ballantoni ’92 retired as the Assistant Director of Admissions for the Lower school after 22 years at RCDS. Thank you, Laurie, for your dedication to RCDS.
Blythe Keeler Robinson ’93 was nominated to Atlanta Business League’s top 100 Black Women of Influence.
Emily Vides ’95 and her brewery, Small Change, received the Michael Jackson Award, which is given to the best cask beer from the USA at the Great British Beer Festival for her cask beer Push the Sky Away.
Rene Lumley Hall ’96 writes, “I’m happy to share that I was promoted to Managing Director at BNY Mellon!”
New York Magazine featured Nick Kroll ’96 in an article titled Nick Kroll Is Ready for Your Dad Jokes: The king of puberty is taking fatherhood in stride. The article discusses his life as a husband and as a father to his son.
Melissa Magiet Gusciora ’97 and husband Chris welcomed son Max Henry Gusciora on 10/3/22, weighing 5 lbs, 13 oz and measuring 19 inches.
Peter Walters ’97 shares “I’m starting a new position as CCM Insights & Analytics Manager at Campari Group!”
Edwin Melliza ’97 started a new job as Marketing Audience Lead, Email Campaigns at Harley-Davidson.
Congratulations to Josh Carter ’98 and Amanda Anderson on their engagement and birth of their daughter, Oaklyn Janet, on 9/14/22.
Nadine Zahr ’98 writes, “I’m honored to share that I have been promoted to Chief Information Officer at Wilson Elser. I am privileged to work with such brilliant, hardworking, and caring individuals each and every day. We are all genuinely dedicated to doing great things together. WE IT.”
Rebecca Avrutin Foley ’00 writes, “I’m excited to share that I have joined the new New York office of Raines Feldman LLP as a partner in the Trials, Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group!”
Marc Zawel ’00 and his wife, Charlotte, welcomed their third
child, Eleanor Rose, on 1/21/23. She joins big brother Ben and sister Lily.
Peter Khoury ’00 started a new position as Vice President Finance at Champs Sports.
Giovanni Pinoargotte ’00 and wife Eda welcomed their daughter, Penelope Skye, on 3/30/23. Penelope joins big sister Fiona Eve who is 1.
Kody Gurfein ’02 writes, “it was such an honor to receive Marketing Executive of the Year at the 20th Annual American Business Awards, The Stevie® Awards, and to represent all the incredible work we do at Exiger.”
In June 2022, Dani Hager ’02 and Lauren Mian ’20 performed together in a concert honoring women composers. They were joined by soprano Jessica Zamek, violist Lucie Gelinas and pianists, RCDS music instructor Keith Burton, and Tony Bellomy.
Katie Hunt ’02 and Gregg Pichler were married in Baja on 2/23/23.
Alexandra Kourides ’02 married Patrick Jennings on Sept. 24, 2022.
Kimrie Savage ’02 and husband Clay Lynch will welcome their second child in June, joining big brother Mac.
In April, Casey Keeler ’03 performed as Lady Sophy in Utopia Limited, a comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan.
Charles Razook ’05 shares, “I’m starting a new position as Founder & CEO at Jackfir, a responsible men’s personal care and lifestyle company. Jackfir’s products are not
only conscious and clean, but also high-quality and effective. Charlie most recently spoke at a lunchand-learn at RCDS about how and why he started Jackfir.
Layton Guenther ‘05 visited campus for the annual Green Screen event. Read more on page 49.
Dr. Joshua Bennett ’06 signed a development deal with Warner Brothers Television to bring The Book of Mycah to the screen. He also released two criticallyacclaimed new books in March, Spoken Word: A Cultural History and Minor Notes, Vol. 1.
Karen Eilbacher ’06, poet, GLADD Media award winner, and actor from the national tour of Fun Home, introduced the show t)re(equilt in February.
Robi Hager ’06 wrote music for the musical Little Duende, which explores the border crisis. In an article for Playbill, Robi wrote, “Little Duende is dedicated to those who are forced to escape violence in search of a better life, and to those who have lost their lives because of it.”
Sophia Schwatka ’06 and Michael Bermingham ’06 were recently married and about 22 RCDS friends and family members joined the celebration.
Dan Lust ’06 was recognized by the Long Island Business News as a “Who’s Who in Intellectual Property Law” for 2023.
Andrew Nathanson ’09 is thrilled to share that he was promoted to Vice President, Operations at Bisnow.
Kate Feiner Lorenzoni ’09 and husband Raymond welcomed son Emerson Miles Lorenzoni on 12/23/22 at 4:27 a.m., weighing 6lbs, 4oz. They wrote, “We are quite in love with him.”
Marco Blasetti ’09 married Morgan Wolfe on 12/17/22.
Matthew Wolff ’09 graduated from Northwestern University in 2013 with a double major in Film and History and a minor in Slavic Languages and Literature. He then earned an MFA in Screenwriting from The University of Texas at Austin in 2015. After completing his graduate work, he moved to Los Angeles and continued to accrue screenwriting credentials with a Certificate in Professional Writing for Television at UCLA.
Matthew’s screenplays have garnered several awards in numerous competitions. Among them are: 1st Runner Up, Historical Feature, Nashville Film Festival; Finalist, Beverly Hills Screenplay Contest for a spec script; a Humanitarian Award Nomination, FreshVoices Screenplay Competition; and Finalist in The West Field Screenwriting Awards. While in Los Angeles, he worked for Kerner Entertainment and then worked for several years as Executive Assistant to writer and director, Jewel McPherson Coronel, whose most recent credit includes The CHI. During the COVID lockdown, he moved to Florida and continued to work remotely as a writer’s assistant.
Concurrently, he worked for The Banana Republic and has been promoted to the management level of a retail store in South Florida
Grant Johnson ’10 is excited to announce that his third movie, AGENT GAME, released on Apple/iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, DirecTV, and many digital and cable on demand platforms.
Zachary Tax ’10 writes, “It’s been a long 2.5 years–very excited to graduate from the NYU Stern School of Business twith my MBA and a specialization in Real Estate and Finance. There are too many people to thank, but top of the list is my wife, Hannah Lowentheil Tax ’10, who has put up with my stress and hunger over the course of this MBA. Next are my parents, Zoltan and Elena, who have always supported my pursuit of education. Their support during this program was endless.``
Caroline Holden ’10 has been working hard to build her very first startup, HomSurfin.
Brian Starker ’11 and Julia Druckman were married in February 2023 in Miami.
Brandyn Dougan ’11 shares, “I’m starting a new position as Senior Vice President of Investments, Securitized Products at 3|5|2 Capital.”
Taylor Washington ’11, professional soccer player for Nashville, was named Humanitarian of the Year for the player awards. In March, he scored his first Major League Soccer goal as a defender with Nashville and was nominated for MLS Player of the Week.
Matt Weissman ’12 became engaged to Jamie Sunkin.
Eleanor Fanto ’13 married Chris Swisher. Fellow RCDS alumni and friends Amanda Rhine ’12, Eliza McCurdy ’13, Elizabeth Baker ’12, Susan Peck, Lisa Hotte Young ’74, Gil Castagna, Paul Fanto ’11, and Sarah Peck ’13 all joined in the celebration.
transfer, had the honor of participating in CERN IdeaSquare’s global Challenge Based Innovation program, a six-month endeavor where teams of interdisciplinary graduate students develop disruptive and innovative prototypes for societal impact. She will be working with her team at Pratt Institute to prototype a breakthrough solution that respects human and ecological systems while meeting these goals.
Sofia Dartnell ’18 visited Ms. Bischoff’s AP Biology classes via Zoom in the spring of 2022 to discuss her research on butterflies and their habitats.
Claire D’Arcangelo ’13 and Cameron Simon were married in Oct. 2022. Adam Alpert ’13 of Pandea.app was interviewed for a podcast called Up In Your Business that interviews entrepreneurs, business owners, and creatives about their craft.
After being the Diversity & Institutional Equity Coordinator at Saint Ann’s School, Joshua Noel Rivera ’15 will join RCDS as Assistant Director of Diversity and Inclusion in June 2023.
After graduating from Fordham University with a Masters in Public Media and Strategic Communications for non-profits, Nicole Reindel ’16 joined Children in Placement as their Community Relations Coordinator, working in development and outreach to help promote the irrefutably important work they do in supporting, advocating for, and empowering Connecticut children in the state’s welfare system.
Charlotte Boehning ’16, a designer who is passionate about sustainable systems and knowledge
Clayton Bass ’18 was one of Dartmouth’s valedictorians last spring, with a 4.0 average across his entire Dartmouth career.
Max Mindich ’19 was honored for academic excellence for the spring 2022 semester at Colgate University. The students who received a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher while completing at least three courses for a conventional letter grade earned the Dean’s Award with Distinction.
Congratulations to Gabby Kelly ’19 who made the Dean’s List at Syracuse University- College of Visual & Performing Arts
Paige Miller ’20, a member of the Colgate University Class of 2024 earned the Fall 2021 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence. Students who receive a term grade point average of 3.3 or higher while completing at least three courses earn the Fall 2021 Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.
Sena Selby ’20 and the ClaremontMudd-Scripps Women’s Tennis Team earned the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championship with a 5-1 win over the No. 1-seeded University of Chicago on May 25 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, FL.
Charlotte Price ’20 and the Middlebury College Women’s Lacrosse Team who won the 2022 NCAA Division III Championship. The Panthers earned their eighth National Title with a 13-5 win over Tufts University on May 29.
Elizabeth Friedberg ’20 and Olivia Friedberg ’20 competed in the 2023 Indoor Hockey World Cup for the Canadian Women’s National Team. The 2023 World Cup took place in Pretoria, South Africa, from
February 5 to 11.
Lauren Mian ’20 performed with Dani Hager ‘02 at a concert honoring women composers (read more on page 50).
Chris Suter ’21 earned league Liberty League Pitcher of the Week honors last at Union College for his excellent play during the first full week of the 2022 season last spring.
Raven Montagna ’21, in November was recognized at Kalamazoo College’s Honors Day Convocation as the recipient of the Theatre Arts First-Year Student Award. Raven later performed the role of Roderigo in the college’s production of Shakespeare’s Othello.
In June, Leo Rosen ’22 presented an F-150 fitted tiny truck to a five-yearold student who has a disability that affects his mobility. Working over Zoom with an engineer and an occupational therapist, Leo has built three custom-fitted trucks with the goal of donating them to the Cerebal Palsy of Westchester’s United Preschool Center in White Plains for children who experience limited mobility.
Andrea Chang ’22 was selected as one of Stamford Magazine’s “10 Teens to Watch.” The magazine recognizes ten Stamford, CT, locals who are accomplished standouts in the areas of academics, athletics, the arts, service, and more.
Maya Kini ’22 is one of the authors of a paper on COVID-19 mortality risk among men. The study published on BMJ Open, features work that Maya completed in the Science Research course at Rye Country Day School. The article is titled Doescomorbidity burdenexplainthehigherCOVID-19 mortalityriskamongmen?A retrospectivecross-sectionalanalysis ofawell-definedcohortofpatients inBronx,NewYork. Maya currently attends the University of Chicago. After having played RCDS field hockey together for 8 years, it was a fortuitous coincidence that Leah Colin ’22 and Nina Paganelli ’22 ended up playing against each other this past in one of their first college club field hockey games (WashU v. Miami University)!
For more information on ways to combine planning for the future and support of Rye Country Day School, please contact Julie McCrory ’03, Manager of Stewardship and Engagement, at (914) 925-4526 or julie_mccrory@ryecountryday.org
Follow @RCDSathletics to read their profiles.
Reunion events returned to Wildcat Weekend this past fall, and RCDS alumni came out in full force. The special day included the Golden Alumni Brunch, the Reunion Cocktail Reception, the beloved faculty and staff meet and greet, and campus tours. Over 130 Rye Country Day Wildcats across five decades and 10 classes enjoyed reconnecting with each other, faculty and staff, and their alma mater.
Many thanks to all of the alumni who attended this wonderful RCDS event! We loved welcoming you back to campus!
Special thanks to our incredible Reunion committee volunteers who made the weekend a roaring success.
Recent graduates joined prospective families on Zoom for the annual Reflections on RCDS panel. The seven alumni from the Classes of 2020, 2021, and 2022 highlighted the lasting benefits of their school experience, as well as the RCDS sense of community, which was present on campus and well after graduation. Thank you to our panelists!
Leah Colin ’22
Maya Hirani ’22
Yana Jayampathy ’22
Alana Jones ’20
Julia Kavanagh ’22
Kyle Mandell ’21
Sabrina Reznik ’20
In the fall, Rye Country Day’s Offices of Alumni Relations and College Counseling hosted a virtual panel titled College Counseling in the Year 2022. This now-annual event, which started in 2020, covers the continuously changing process of applying to and selecting colleges and universities. At this year’s panel, over 200 RCDS parents/guardians, alumni, and employees heard from high school college counselors and college/university admissions officers. Thank you to our panelists who provided helpful tips and insights into the college application process:
• Jeff Bates, RCDS Director of College Counseling (Moderator)
• Susan Davidson, RCDS Sr. Associate Director of College Counseling
• Samantha O’Brien, Director of College Guidance at REACH Prep
• Aimee Rincon, RCDS Associate Director of College Counseling
• Mary Lou Bates, Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Skidmore College
• Liz Kinsley, Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Northwestern University
Rye Country Day School expresses its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the following members of our community who passed away since the last publication of the RCDS Bulletin.
David Banker ’50
Sabrina Bertucci ’00
Anne McCulloh deBronkart ’47
Elizabeth Heminway Dineen ’54
Ben Liang ’04
Rebecca Faunce McDermott ’72, P ’10
William H. Morton ’65
Thekla (Polley) Putnam ’49
Marvin Davidson GP’11, GP’13
Joseph Stanley Dobrowolski GP’03, GP’05, GP’09
Denise Kercher GP’28, GP’28, GP’32, GP’33
Panambur Kini GP’22, GP’25
Margot Linton P’72, P’73, P’76, P’79, GP’10, GP’13
Peggy Mann GP’26,GP’30
Bernadette Mosellie P’23
Terry Savage P’96, P’98, P’00, P’02, P’07
Carolyn Ho Scott GP’27, GP’29
Hugo Tapia P’25
Giovanni (John) Visentin P’25, P’29, P’29
Bernard Goldstein P’79, P’81, P’84 Bernard (Bernie) Goldstein passed away on March 13, 2023. Mr. Goldstein served on the boards of numerous hardware and software companies, including Apple Computer, SPSS Inc., and Giga Information Group and many others. He was also involved in organizations from communities near to his heart, sitting on the Board of Rye Country Day School, the Board of Rye Playland, and the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania, where he endowed the Patricia and Bernard Goldstein Information Processing Center and the Goldstein Electronic Classroom.
Mr. Goldstein graduated from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1953 and went on to earn an MBA from Columbia University. He served in the Navy for three years during the Korean War and excelled in his professional life as a pioneer in the software industry.
In the early days of the computer industry, Bernie was one of the few who recognized the potential for information technology beyond payroll analysis. In 1958, he co-founded his first tech company, Computech, what was then called a “service bureau.” He went on to cofound United Data Centers, which was sold to Tymshare. He was also Chairman of National CSS. He was also a founding member and President of ADAPSO, the Association of Data Processing Service Organizations, which later became the Information Technology Association of America.
Mr. Goldstein finished his career as Managing Director of Broadview International, LLC, at the time leading mergers and acquisitions firm in the software industry. During this time, he co-authored the McGraw-Hill published “Information Technology: The Trillion-dollar Opportunity,” in which he predicted the growth of software and the Internet way before its time. At the time, the book was considered science fiction by many but has all proven to be very true. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and their children, Mark ’79, Bruce ’81, and Nancy Rebold ’84, as well as grandchildren Liza, Tess, Ari, Melina, Jack, Athena, and Rex, and many close and dear friends.
Thomas Murphy P’75, P’77, P’82, GP’07, GP’10, GP’13 Thomas S. Murphy, who served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Cities/ABC for 30 years and oversaw its merger with The Walt Disney Company, died Wednesday, May 25, at his home in Rye, New York. He was 96.
In 1985, Mr. Murphy announced the merger of his successfful company Capital Cities Communications, Inc. with ABC, Inc. Ten years later, he announcemed the merger of Capital Cities/ABC with The Walt Disney Company. Mr. Murphy served on the Disney Board of Directors for seven years, from 1997 to 2004, and retired recently from the Board of Berkshire Hathaway, which he joined in 2003.
One of the most respected and admired businessmen of his era, Mr. Murphy was also named a Disney Legend in 2007 for his contributions to the Company. In addition to leading Capital Cities to success, Mr. Murphy distinguished himself as a responsible corporate citizen by a constant emphasis on public service. He served on the Rye Country Day School Board of Trustees from 1968-1972. He was Chairman of the Board of Save the Children from 1998 to 2005 and a member of the Board of Trustees for six years. Murphy was a Trustee of the Board of NYU Langone Medical Center from 1972 until his passing and Chairman of the Board for seven years. He joined the Board of Madison Square Boys & Girls Club in 1963, and served as President and later Chairman during his years there.
Mr. Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 31, 1925. His father, Charles Murphy, was a lawyer and later a judge for the New York State Supreme Court; his mother was a housewife. He received a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree from Cornell University in 1945 and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, where he was a Baker Scholar, in 1949. He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the US Navy from 1943-1946.
His wife, Suzanne Crosby Murphy, passed away in 2009. He is survived by four children and their spouses: Emilie Murphy ’75 and Byron Nimocks of Rye, New York; Thomas S. Murphy Jr. ’77 and Karen Murphy of Greenwich, Connecticut; Kathleen Murphy ’80 and John Seiner of Boulder, Colorado; Mary Conlin ’82 and John Conlin of Los Angeles, California; and by nine grandchildren, including RCDS alumni Edward Nimocks ’07 and Suzanne (Nealy) Nimocks ’10.
Victor Wright P’92, P’95
Victor R. Wright, died peacefully in his sleep in his home in Harrison, NY on December 17, 2022. Mr. Wright was the youngest of ten sons, born in the Bronx in 1945 to parents, Nicholas and Lucy. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Joann, and two daughters, Jennifer ’92 and Samantha ’95, both of New York City.
A proud Bronx native and life-long Yankees fan, Mr. Wright became an accomplished Wall Street trader and executive, and passionate philanthropist. He had a tireless work ethic, commitment to excellence, and unparalleled devotion to his family and friends. He began working on Wall Street when he was 17, and joined Goldman Sachs in 1969 as an over-thecounter trader in the Trading and Arbitrage Division, becoming partner in 1984. He ran the equities trading desk in London from 1988-90, then returned to New York to assume overall responsibilities for NASDAQ equities and to manage the international equities trading desk. He retired as an Advisory Director in 2003 after 34 years with the firm. Throughout the course of his career on Wall Street, he served on many committees in the securities regulatory area. He was on the NASD board of governors. He also chaired NASDAQ’s Stock Market Trading Committee, Educational Foundation, and National Listing and Hearing Review Committee. He dedicated the last 25 years of his life to public service and philanthropy. He served on the Board of Trustees of Rye Country Day School and Georgetown University, which both his daughters attended. In 1995, he co-founded the Georgetown Wall Street Alliance, a mentoring and scholarship organization. He was a board member and treasurer of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for almost thirty years. He served as Chairman of the Board of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx from 1997 until his death.
Mr. Wright was an important mentor and role model to so many in their lives and careers. His legacy will live on in the values he instilled in the many family members, friends, and colleagues who sought his advice.
On October 14, all RCDS alumni are invited to reconnect with each other and the School during the Fall Fair & Homecoming. In the evening, alumni with graduation years ending in 3 and 8 will enjoy a special Reunion Cocktail Reception. The day will also include a special 50th Reunion celebration for the Class of 1973.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2023
We are excited to welcome you back to campus!