Rye Neck Middle School
June 21, 2024 - Issue 19
Dear Rye Neck Families,
I trust this message reaches you at a good time. This marks the last newsletter of the year, and I wanted to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation. After a wonderful time here, I am moving on to the next phase of my career journey. It has been an incredible experience being a part of this community, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I've had to grow and contribute.
As summer approaches, I want to extend my best wishes to each of you. I hope your summer is filled with joy and precious moments with your loved ones. Thank you for being a part of my journey here. I leave with a heart full of gratitude and memories that I will treasure forever.
Warm regards,
Dulce
Dr. Dulce Barker
Upcoming Events
- Last Day for 8th Graders: June 24th
- 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony Rehearsal: June 24th, 10:15 AM, HS Gym
- Early Dismissal: June 24th & June 25th, 11AM
- Last Day for 6th & 7th Graders: June 25th
- 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony: June 25th, 12:30 PM arrival in MS Gym for 8th graders, 1PM ceremony start time, HS Gym; No tickets needed
2023-24 Finals/Regents Schedule
2024 Middle School Summer Reading
Two lucky books will be read by you this summer, and they’re eager to leap off the shelves into your hands...
Please read the following titles for your required book:
When Stars Are Scattered, Jamieson, V. and Mohamed, O.
Heartbreak, hope, and gentle humor exist together in this graphic novel about a childhood spent waiting, and a young man who is able to create a sense of family and home in the most difficult of settings. It's an intimate, important, unforgettable look at the day-to-day life of a refugee, as told to New York Times Bestselling author/artist Victoria Jamieson by Omar Mohamed, the Somali man who lived the story. *
*adapted from amazon.com
For your second book, you have a . . .
Free Choice: With students’ varied interests in mind, the second required book will be customized. Do you gravitate towards nonfiction, graphic novels, autobiographies, science fiction? Choose a novel that piques your interest!
Criteria:
1) The subject matter must be age-appropriate.
2) Choose a book at your reading level.
3) The title must be approved by a parent.
4) If you need help with ideas, check out this website: https://www.nypl.org/books-music-movies
Professional Learning Calendar Survey
Please read this letter from Corinne Ryan, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, regarding the Professional Learning Calendar Survey.
Appreciation Certificates
I am delighted to announce that Julia C., Avrie T., Darren S., and Chris O. have been awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their exceptional service to our school community.
Their dedication and commitment have made a significant impact on our school, and we are grateful for their contributions in making announcements, maintaining the announcement monitor and helping out in the dining hall. Their leadership and enthusiasm have set a wonderful example for their peers and have helped make our school a better place.
The Panther's Pen
This is the 26th edition of The Panther’s Pen, a middle school publication created to showcase student work from the school year. In it, we have included various genres of writing like short fiction, poetry, and essays. Click around the digital magazine to enjoy!
NYSSMA
Congratulations to the following NYSSMA students on their outstanding achievements: Alexander Akimov, Tatum Lillo, Runa Aoki, Immanuel Tan, Zubin Wu, Sakuya Otsuka, Sara Takahashi, Mason Long, Sarah Gubitz, Mira Browning, and Riley Long. Your dedication and hard work have truly paid off! Keep up the amazing work and continue to let your passion for music shine brightly. Best wishes for your future endeavors in music and beyond!
RNMS Band, Chorus & Strings Sign-up 2024-25
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Rye Neck Middle School offers music performance options where students can learn to prepare, rehearse and perform with other musicians. These options include band, chorus, and strings, for grades 6-8. Students participating in our instrumental programs (band and strings) must rent or purchase an instrument from a local music store supplier as soon as possible.
It is important that you and your child are able to commit to practicing at home and attending rehearsals. When rehearsals begin they will take place during period 1 before the start of Middle School classes.
Please complete this Google form if your child is interested in joining. If you are signing up more than one child please submit a separate form FOR EACH CHILD. Please sign up by Friday, June 21st.
***All ensembles will begin the week of September 16th, 2024.
Grade 6 Band will meet Wednesdays and Fridays, period 1 (7:50-8:30)
Grade 7/8 Band will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30)
Grades 6 to 8 Strings will meet Wednesdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30)
Grade 6 Chorus will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30)
Grade 7/8 Chorus will meet Mondays and Fridays, period 1 (7:50-8:30)
Band and String students will receive additional small group instruction during the regular school day. Students will receive this schedule after our rosters are complete in the fall.
For more information about each program please contact the ensemble music teacher: Mr. John Mattera (Band), Mrs. Caitlin Clarke (Chorus) and Mrs. Jessica Yeung (Strings).
Please keep in mind if you are interested in participating in the 2025 NYSSMA festival or if you were accepted into WCSMA All-County, you are required to join and be involved in your school music program (Band, Chorus and Strings).
Sincerely,
Mr. John Mattera (Band)
Mrs. Caitlin Clarke (Chorus)
Mrs. Jessica Yeung (Strings)
Rye Neck Middle School Music Department
High School Electives in the Arts
Here is a slideshow with Arts Electives for High School.
Message from Mr. Ceglia, Director of Athletics
To parents of students interested in participating in FALL Varsity, JV, or Modified (7th/8th grade) Sports:
Fall Sports Participation Information
Important Dates
May 20 & June 10 - Free physicals at HS/MS Nurse’s office. A parent must accompany student.
These will take place between 2 -3pm and a parent must accompany the child
July 28 – Online Athletic Registration Opens for Varsity and JV Sports
August 8 – Online Athletic Registration Opens for Modified Sports
August 20 – Deadline to register for Varsity/JV sports
August 26 – Varsity and JV tryouts/practices begin
August 24 – Deadline to register for Modified sports
September 4 - Modified Sports Info Meeting for 7th & 8th grade students in the Dining Hall- 3pm
September 5 – Modified tryouts/practices begin
September 27 and 28 - Homecoming Weekend
To be eligible to tryout/practice for a sport, each student must be registered online with FamilyID:
You must upload a valid copy of your child’s physical to their FamilyID registration each season.
Please note, the NYS Health Examination Forms have been updated, please make sure all required information is completed on the physical, including Family Cardiac History.
A valid physical is dated within 1 year of the start of practices/tryouts (see dates below).
PLEASE double check to make sure you’ve registered your child for the correct sport.
If your child’s doctor is in Connecticut, they must use the NYS Physical form.
Fall Sport Offerings
Football – Varsity & Modified
Boys Soccer – Varsity, JV & Modified
Girls Soccer - Varsity, JV & Modified
Field Hockey - Varsity, JV & Modified
Girls Volleyball – Varsity, JV & Modified
Girls Tennis - Varsity, JV & Modified
Cross Country (Boys and Girls) - Varsity and Modified
Cheerleading - Varsity
Girls Swimming and Diving - Varsity ONLY and MERGED with Rye HS and Blind Brook
Visit the athletics webpage or contact the Athletic Department at 914-777-4896 with questions.
Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
Beginning in Summer 2024, New York State is implementing Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), a new federal program to help low-income households with children purchase food over the summer when school is out of session and children can no longer rely on access to free/reduced-price school meals. If you are already receiving free/reduced-price meals, you will be automatically enrolled in this program. More information, and to find out if your family qualifies if you do not currently receive free/reduced-price meals, can be found here: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/summer-ebt/
Acceptable Use Policy
Code of Conduct
Rye Neck Schools Academic Integrity Agreement
PTSA Event Calendar
Rye Neck School Foundation
Rye Neck has a new kid on the block - the Rye Neck School Foundation (RNSF)! The RNSF will accelerate excellence at our schools by funding state-of-the-art projects and programs that amplify the educational, artistic and athletic experiences of Rye Neck students.
News From the Classroom
6th Grade Art - Ms. Appel: Students finished learning about Grant Haffner to create landscape paintings inspired by his style. They learned about perspective and how to show depth in their compositions. They also experimented with using tempera paint and mixing paint to create colorful works of art. To finish off the school year, they learned about Ancient Greek culture and art to create vases using scratchboard. Students used scratch tools in order to draw their vases which included decorative patterns and symbols. They cut out their vases, glued them to a collaged table, and added a cast shadow for more dimension!
Research Tech - Ms. Costelloe: What a wonderful time I’ve had with this year’s 6th grade in Research Tech! They have become better digital citizens plus they became comfortable with many databases and digital resources that are perfect for middle grade learners.
One of the major threads that wove its way through our entire year is how to self-direct learning. Students became acquainted with many high quality resources to help them expand their minds, go deeper into the ideas that most interest them and use technology to share ideas and enhance their creativity. From databases to authoritative websites to art and presentation tools, students were introduced to a wonderful array of resources to advance and share their knowledge.
I hope that those who most enjoyed being self-directed learners during our Research Tech classes will continue to feed their minds. The curated list of Self-Directed Learning Links remains on their Research Tech Google Classroom, but all resources are also available on the Library webpage by clicking on the SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING LINKS button..
Have a wonderful summer!
7th Grade ELA B - Mr. Macli: Now that our final is over, students will be given the opportunity to turn in any late work for partial credit. We'll also wrap up our final unit on courage and what it means to be brave. Enjoy your summer reading!
7th Grade Art - Ms. Appel: Students finished learning about Medieval Art and illuminated letter designs. They chose a letter and used different visual symbols that represented that particular letter. They also added some gold paint to help better illuminate their letter and design. To finish off the school year, students learned about the art movement, Futurism. After picking their subject, students transferred it to their paper and added lines of force to show movement as well as different colors and different areas of value!
8th Grade Art - Ms. Appel: To end the school year, students learned about Alberto Giacometti and his elongated sculptural style. They took inspiration from his work to create their own three-dimensional figures out of wire. Students were tasked with showing a specific pose, emotion, or feeling through their work. Some students chose to create a scene with another student and worked as a team. Many chose to create their own individual figures and most students added some sort of extra details or props to help portray their specific movement or feeling!
Library - Ms. Costelloe & Ms. Vangala: We have a few ways to help keep your middle school student(s) enjoying books, audiobooks and online magazines. The summer reading titles (click to see MS Summer Reading List or HS summer Reading List) are available in both ebook and audiobook format. The reading lists are also linked on the Library webpage:
● Sora
Our platform for ebooks, audiobooks and online magazines
To read on your laptop or desktop, simply go to the Sora platform. You can link to Sora on the MSHS Library page or by typing SORA in your browser.
■ Your Student ID (listed on the ID badge under the barcode) is you User ID#.
■ To read on a device, download the free Sora app.
Sora allows you to have up to 3 books checked out and on your Book Shelf, ready for you to read or listen to. Books will automatically return to the system after 3 weeks. You don’t have to do a thing!
There are just under 300 magazines on Sora on a multitude of topics. They are magnificent!
● Flipster
Our extensive collection of emagazines – both current issues PLUS 2-5 years of searchable archives – including Astronomy, Animal Tales, Sports Illustrated Kids, Poets & Writers, J-14, Science News, EcoKids and many more!
■ Go to the MSHS Library page > Databases > MAGAZINES and select Flipster. Password: ryeneck
■ On any device, download the free Flipster app
● Username: ryeneck / Password: #1panthers
Mrs. Vangala and I wish you all a wonderful summer break! Enjoy and here’s to some great reading and listening this summer!
Here are additional MS resources: What Should I Read