Panther Post

Dear RNMS Families,

This short week has flown by! I cannot believe we are halfway through November already.

At Wednesday's Board of Education meeting one of our middle school staff members presented alongside colleagues from across the district on the second goal of our strategic plan. Be sure to check out more details below! Later that evening, we also hosted Parent-Teacher Conferences for select families. We appreciate your continued engagement and partnership in supporting our students’ success.

Today also concludes National School Psychology Week. I'd like to take a moment to extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Barilli for all that she does to support our students and families as they navigate the challenges of middle school. Her dedication, compassion, and commitment to student well-being make a lasting impact every day. We are so grateful for the expertise, care, and kindness she brings to our school community. Thank you, Ms. Barilli—you are greatly appreciated!

Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome the JCK Foundation to our 7th-grade science classes on Monday, November 18. For those who may be unfamiliar, the JCK Foundation offers programs designed to promote mental wellness, resilience, and confidence in youth. Their mission is to prevent isolation and provide meaningful resources that support students’ overall well-being. They have already met with our 6th graders, and will meet with our 8th graders later this school year. Photo retakes are scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, and there will be a Modified Sports Interest Meeting for 7th and 8th-grade students after school that same day. Additional details can be found below.

For weekend plans, consider enjoying two of our high school events. Last night, our talented high school students premiered The Great Gatsby with a spectacular performance, and there is one final showing tonight. If you haven’t yet experienced this wonderful production, there’s still time to grab last-minute tickets here! Additionally, our varsity boys' soccer team has advanced to the New York State Class B Final Four and will compete in the semi-final match this Saturday, November 16, at 8:45 AM at Middletown High School. Should they win, they will compete again on Sunday for the state championship. Tickets for the games can be purchased here.

Hope you all have a wonderful and restful weekend!

Best,

Jason Doerr
Principal

Next Week:

• November 18:
• JCK in 7th Grade Science classes

• November 19:
• MS Photo Retake Day
• Modified Sports Info Mtg for 7th & 8th Graders, 3:00 PM, DH

On the Horizon:

• November 27:
• MS/HS Rapid Dismissal, 10:45 AM
• November 28 & 29:
• No School - Thanksgiving Recess
• December 2:
• Modified Winter Sports Begin
• December 3:
• Incoming 9th Grade Orientation, 6:00 pm, PAC
• December 4:
• Board of Ed Planning Session, 6:30 PM, CSC

Modified Sports Interest Meeting: There will be a meeting on Tuesday, November 19, for students interested in modified winter sports. Please note that this meeting is for students only.

Communications Survey: We need your feedback! We believe effective communication is essential to our relationship with the Rye Neck Community. Please take some time to complete the Communications Survey by Monday, November 18th. The survey should take less than 10 minutes, depending on how thorough you choose to be.

Rye Neck International Committee Annual Potluck Dinner: Last Friday, on November 8th, the RNIC hosted their annual Potluck Dinner in the MSHS Dining Hall. The event featured a diverse array of delicious foods from around the world, fun activities and games, and exciting prizes! Check out some of the pictures from this incredible evening below. We hope to see you there next year!

Girl Scouts/Veterans Day: On Monday, some of our MS students who are part of the local Girl Scout Troop had a very special experience delivering gifts to local veterans. RNMS student Addi B. was inspired by the events of the day, and wanted to write a letter to share with the Rye Neck Community about their experience. Please click here to check it out!

English
In Mrs. Ceci's/Ms. Hynes' 7th-grade English class, students recently completed their reading of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. Using the novel as a guide, students revisited key story elements such as plot, theme, rising action, falling action, resolution, tone, and point of view. Through collaborative activities, they identified examples of these elements and taught one another about their significance in writing. These discussions will connect with their science studies as they create “The Story of an Element.” Next, students will begin an independent reading project, selecting a book of their choice, reading it, and developing a project that explores the story's elements. In Ms. Theall's class, students are finalizing their independent book project and will soon complete their reading of The Outsiders.

Math (Math 7 and Advanced Math 7)
Math 7 students have been focusing on expressions and equations, including collecting like terms, applying the Distributive Property, and simplifying expressions. Advanced Math students have moved further by solving multi-step equations involving distribution and like terms. Moving forward, Math 7 will focus on factoring expressions and solving equations, while Advanced Math will work on factoring expressions and tackling multi-step equations with variables on both sides.

Social Studies
Students recently completed a research project on the English Colonies, exploring the unique histories, economies, and founding stories of the colonies. In November, they will begin Module 4: “The Road to the Revolution,” where they will engage with events, laws, and taxes that led up to the Revolutionary War, experiencing history through immersive activities.

Science
The first unit on chemistry concluded with engaging lessons on mixtures, compounds, and elements, introduced through energy drink experiments to explore physical and chemical properties. Students conducted pH tests and explored the periodic table, ending with a focus on density. The next unit will delve into chemical reactions, with a focus on atomic structure, protons, neutrons, electrons, and bonding. Collaborating with their ELA class, students will create a unique “Elements of a Story” project.

World Languages

• Italian: Students have been learning to describe themselves and others, writing about their backgrounds, and creating Italian ID cards. Next, they will learn vocabulary related to school life, describe their schedules, and discuss their teachers.
• Spanish: Students celebrated Día de los Muertos by studying the traditions of Mexican Tin Art (Hojalatas). They crafted their own Hojalatas in honor of a loved one or notable person and paired it with poems in Spanish, using newly learned grammar skills. Next, they will expand their vocabulary and descriptive skills through various new projects and activities.

Future Updates: The schedule below will spotlight different grades and programs in upcoming newsletters:

• November 22nd – 6th Grade
• November 27th – Arts/P.E.
• December 6th – 8th Grade
• December 13th – 7th Grade

Strategic Plan Goal 2 BOE Presentation: At Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting, Director of Pupil Personnel Services Wil Siegel, 6th Grade Counselor Meegan Lawlor, and 2nd Grade Teacher Brian Pinto delivered an engaging presentation on Strategic Plan Goal #2. This goal focuses on fostering empathy, compassion, meaningful connections, and a sense of purpose in all of our students.

During the presentation, they outlined the goal's objectives, shared the timeline, and emphasized the critical importance of social-emotional learning (SEL). Key action steps for achieving this goal include: surveying middle and high school students using an SEL screening tool to identify their needs, inventorying the district's SEL curriculum resources, providing faculty with targeted professional development on SEL skills, empowering families to participate actively, and integrating this work into students’ Dream Projects.

Click here to watch the presentation.

Intramurals: Please see the information/schedule for 6th grade intramural sports below:

6th grade intramural sessions will take place from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM on the dates below. Intramural sports:

• are run by Rye Neck Coaches.

• will consist of skill development and scrimmaging.
  

• require your child to be registered on FamilyID using this link: 6th Grade Intramurals

• only run on days when school is in session.
  

Please note that while attendance is not mandatory for participation, if you sign up we ask that you make every attempt to attend each day. A student may register for multiple sessions/sports.

Please see the schedule below:

Parent Square Coming in January: What's ParentSquare? We're glad you asked! Through this unified communications platform, you will be able to:

• Receive all District, school and classroom communications via email, text, or app

• View the school and classroom calendar and RSVP for events

• Easily sign up to volunteer and/or bring items

• Securely receive report cards, IEPs and other important student documents

• Communicate with teachers and staff safely in your preferred language

• And so much more…

While we're not quite ready to launch just yet, we will send out a lot more information as we get closer to January. Our goal is for every family to join ParentSquare and engage with our school community. Watch this video to learn more and keep an eye on your email for more information later this fall!

Panther's Den: The Panther’s Den is officially open! Located in the library (just left of the Community Room), this space offers students a refreshing change of pace during their lunch period. At the Panther’s Den, students can relax, chat, play games, enjoy activities, color, draw, journal, and have lunch—while also meeting new friends and recharging for the afternoon! Since space is limited to 8-10 students per day, a Google Form will be sent out every Thursday for sign-ups for the following week. Students can select their preferred day, though adjustments may be made based on interest. Thank you so much to the Rye Neck School Foundation for helping make this idea a reality! We’re excited to provide this new opportunity and can’t wait to see students enjoy the space! If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Barilli, Ms. Crivorot, Mrs. Lawlor, or Mrs. Sullivan.

Recycle Your Old Eyeglasses and Make a Difference!: The Student Senate is proud to support the Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Program! They will be collecting gently used eyeglasses to help bring the gift of clear vision to low and middle-income communities worldwide. With your donations, countless individuals will have the chance to experience improved sight for the first time, empowering them to lead productive lives, support their families, and pursue educational opportunities. If you would like to make a difference, please drop off your old eyewear in the donation box located in the main office. Thank you for your support!

ENL Homework Helpers: The ENL Homework Helpers sessions take place every Monday from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and will run through January 27, 2025, with Mr. Martinez. During these sessions, students will receive assistance with their homework and other academic tasks. A snack will be provided or students may bring their own. We will meet in room L214.

Use of Library: Students 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.

Clubs: Middle school clubs began in October. Take a moment to review this chart of MS Club Offerings with your child to see which clubs catch their interest. There’s no sign-up required—just show up after school on the designated day. Students have also reviewed these options with their teachers during homeroom.

Crossing Hornidge Road: For everyone's safety, students should only cross Hornidge Road at the designated crosswalk on Post Road. Please avoid cutting through private property or crossing the street outside of the crosswalk, as it can create unsafe situations.

Important Change in Crossing Guard Location: The crossing guard stationed at the front of F.E. Bellows is being moved from the crosswalk on Carroll Ave. directly in front of the FEB entrance to the crosswalk at the intersection of Carroll Ave. and Route 1/Boston Post Rd. The hours of coverage will remain the same and new pedestrian crossing signs will be posted at the FEB crosswalk on Carroll Ave. The change began on Tuesday, October 15th. Drivers are reminded that pedestrians have the right of way in all crosswalks and at intersections with marked or unmarked crosswalks as per New York State law.

Cell Phones: Students have been doing great so far following our cell phone policy. Please continue to discuss with them that (as per our Student Handbook) cell phones and other electronic devices are not to be used in the school building during school hours unless authorized by a teacher for special classroom purposes. If electronic devices are used on the way to and from school, they are to be kept locked in students' lockers. Failure to follow this rule can result in confiscation of these items and they will be returned only to parents. Please make sure to send a lock in with your child so they may secure their cell phones and other devices in their lockers.

Important Documents (please review with your child!):

Student Handbook

Technology Acceptable Use Policy

Village of Mamaroneck Bicycle Safety Brochure

Ongoing Feedback: To gather more feedback from parents, we invite you to use this Google Form below to share your questions, comments, concerns, or ideas. While submissions can be made anonymously, please include your name and contact information if you would like a direct response.

Excelsior Symphony Orchestra: Rye Neck 9th grader Immanuel Tan will be performing next Saturday with the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra at their Fall Concert! Rye Neck has a long history of both student and parent performers participating in the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra, formerly the St. Thomas Orchestra. You can find more information about their Fall Concert through ArtsWestchester.

Cell Phone Help for Parents: Please see the Rye Youth Council Events page for upcoming events that provide parents with help as they manage cell phone use for their families. These events include:

• Behind the Screens: Smartphones and Social Media - November 20th
• Alternative Device Fair - November 23rd
• So Now You Have a Cell Phone... - January 13th