Rye Neck Middle School

Dear Rye Neck Families,

We hope this message finds you well. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your participation in our recent Open House event. It was a resounding success. Your active involvement in your child's education is truly appreciated.

During the Principal's Conversation, we had the opportunity to share valuable tips and insights to help create a conducive learning environment at home. Here's a quick recap of the key points discussed:

1. Establish Routines at Home: Creating a daily routine can provide structure and consistency, which can greatly benefit your child's learning experience.
2. Designate a Quiet Study Area: Encourage your child to have a dedicated, quiet space for completing homework. Minimizing distractions is crucial for productive study sessions.
3. Minimize Screen Distractions: We recommend putting away cell phones and other electronic devices during homework time to ensure full focus on assignments.
4. Teach Time Management: Help your child develop effective time management skills by using a calendar or agenda to track assignments and deadlines.
5. Monitor Social Media: Keep an eye on your child's social media activity to ensure a safe and positive online experience. Open communication is key.
6. Communication with Teachers: Don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teachers if you have any questions or concerns about assignments or your child's progress. Additionally, parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for November 15th. Your child's counselor or grade advisor will reach out if they have concerns and would like to schedule a meeting that evening. Likewise, if you have concerns, you can request a meeting by emailing your child's counselor or grade advisor.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting events lined up: picture day; a JCK presentation to 6th graders that will focus on mental wellness and the importance of friendships; Buddy Day which is a fantastic opportunity for 6th graders and seniors to bond and build lasting friendships and the 8th grade Philly trip.

We look forward to these upcoming events and hope they contribute to your child's growth and happiness. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Best regards,

Dr. Dulce Barker

• Yom Kippur - School Closed: September 25th
• MS PTSA Class Photo Day: October 3rd
• 6th Grade JCK Assembly: October 6th
• Columbus Day - No School: October 9th
• 6th Grade Link Up Day - October 12th
• MS PAC Meeting - October 12th, 1:15pm
• 6th Grade Buddy Day - October 13th
• Progress Reports Posted - October 13th
• BOE Meeting - October 18th, 7pm, Community Room
• 8th Grade Trip to Philadelphia: October 20th
• Spooktacular: October 27th, 6pm, Dining Hall
• MS PTSA Class Photo Retakes: November 6th
• Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 15th, 6pm

There will be a Financial Aid Meeting for parents/guardians of students in ALL grades - September 28, 2023 at 6pm in the high school Performing Arts Center, presented by Ryan Depuy, Senior Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Iona University.

In the next couple of weeks, homeroom teachers will be sharing a presentation with students with this year’s club offerings. Students will be emailed the presentation and it will also be included in the newsletter. In addition to after school clubs, 6th graders can participate in intramural sports. Seventh and eighth graders can try out for modified sports. The schedule for intramural sports is below.

2023 - 2024

6th Grade Intramurals Schedule

School Days

Monday - Friday

3:00PM - 4:00PM

• Intramural sessions are run by Rye Neck Coaches.

• Intramural design will consist of skill development and scrimmaging.

• Please use this FamilyID link to register your child for Intramurals:

• 6th Grade Intramurals

• 6th Graders are to report directly to the location indicated below.

• Intramurals only run on days school is in session.

• Attendance is not mandatory for participation but if you sign up we ask that you make every attempt to attend each day. A student may register for multiple sessions/sports.

Please be sure to review the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology with your child. Students are not allowed to delete or download programs that block GoGuardian.

Code of Conduct

Academic Integrity Agreement

PTSA Event Calendar

Students began the school year learning about project expectations and created art portfolios to store their work. Then, they began their first unit in art in which they focused on an abstract drawing inspired by the work of Sarah Morris. Students were able to use lines, values, patterns, and color variety to create interesting designs! Next up is a painting unit inspired by the work of Grant Haffner.

We’re off to a great start in Research Tech and I’m enjoying getting to know your children!

We have three main goals in this course:

• Laying the foundation for efficient, effective and ethical research

• We’ll work in depth with the many databases and resources that are available through the Library.

• Understanding the rights and responsibilities of good digital citizenship

• Practicing self-directed learning

• Understanding where we can go for reliable information on any of the questions we have in life or to further deepen our knowledge and creativity in any areas of personal interest are key to becoming a lifelong learner.

I post one assignment per week on Google Classroom every Sunday, which has a due date the following Sunday and I never mind if assignments are late. Core classwork always comes first. All assignments for the quarter must be completed by the end of each quarter, but I’m here to work with your children to ensure that happens. Research Tech is meant to be a stress-free class!

Click here for the full Research Tech syllabus.

I’m looking forward to a great year!

Students in seventh grade English have begun work on The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, a book that focuses on the problems with believing in stereotypes. Students will begin reading the book at home next week, possibly 10 or more pages each night, and then answer questions from a handout. Parents should be aware most class reading will take place AT HOME for the entire school year.

We'll begin reading The Outsiders this week and discussing how stereotypes impact how we perceive others. All summer reading should be completed by 9/29. On 9/29, the class will start a project based on the book Pay it Forward. We'll finish the project in class either that day or the following Monday.

Students began the school year learning about project expectations and created art portfolios to store their work. Then, they began their first unit in art in which they focused on creating figures inspired by the artist, Keith Haring. Students learned about his style and how they can use visuals to tell a story in their work. Students created colorful works of art using their choice of drawing materials. Next up students will participate in the annual peace poster contest sponsored by the Lions Club.

Students began the school year learning about project expectations and created art portfolios to store their work. Then, they began their first unit in art in which they focused on the Op Art movement and looked at works of art by Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley. Students traced their hands and used lines and value to help give the impression and illusion that their hand is popping right off the page! Next, students will learn about cyanotype photography, weather permitting since the sunlight plays a crucial role in this process!

RN Middle School is committed to offering comprehensive enrichment education for all students and we are continually looking to promote critical thinking and real-world problem solving skills in all classes

In October, the Global Citizens Program will begin, which is part of our Enrichment Program. Global Citizens is an independent study opportunity for any student interested in embarking on an in-depth research project on the topic of their choice. This opportunity is available to all students with a desire to learn and work independently. We will look to build expertise in their chosen area of interest and look for real-world applications to make a difference in the world around us. I will meet weekly with interested students before school, with the expectation that students use that time to strategize the steps they’ll take in the following week to move their project forward. I’ll be there to coach and guide them, help them jump hurdles and push through the frustrations and, most of all, encourage them. Any students who are ready to present the work they’ve done will have the opportunity to do so at the High School Research Symposium on April 10th. It’s a wonderful opportunity to share their passion with others and enjoy the projects being presented by our high school students. I hope for many of them that this will become a bridge to the many independent learning and research opportunities that will be available to them when they enter high school.

The middle schoolers have been working hard to take in all their options on their new campus and starting in October, they will have the opportunity to come to the Library before, during and after school.

Library hours are typically from 7:50 am until 4:00 pm and we try to give you advance notice if there is a change to the posted hours. Middle school students will have three windows when they can visit the Library to study, quietly socialize or use our board games during their day:

• Before school (7:50 - 8:30 am)

• During lunch/recess

• Homeroom teachers can issue passes to a limited number of students per day.

• We don’t permit eating in the Library during the lunch periods, so students should finish their lunch in the Dining Hall and then may show their Library pass to come to the Library.

• After school (2:45 - 4:00 pm)

We are a shared space with our high school students, who tend to have a heavier workload and use the time to study. We count on our middle schoolers to be mindful of that balance. That said, we love finally having them here in the Library!

If you have any questions or concerns, or just want to say hello, please feel free to contact me at lcostelloe@ryeneck.org or 914-777-4851, or our Library Assistant, Mrs. Vangala, at svangala@ryeneck.org. The MSHS Library webpage give you a lot of additional info and we’re happy to help you in any way we can!

Email: rnmiddleschool@ryeneck.org
Website: www.ryeneck.org/ryeneckmiddleschool
Location: 300 Hornidge Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, USA