Current News

After Rye Neck Middle School students gathered in their school’s dining hall, they collaborated in groups to imagine and react to different scenarios, identify emotions and gain the necessary tools they need to thrive in school. 

Under the direction of Principal Dr. Eric Lutinski, school counselor Meegan Lawlor and teachers Chris Macli, Allison Reynolds and Cathy Toolan during grade-level assemblies on Oct. 15 and 16, the students participated in activities and lessons on why emotions matter. The assemblies were the first major step in student training as part of the schoolwide RULER program. 

“The name RULER is an acronym for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing and regulating emotions,” Dr. Lutinski said. “Mastering these skills has been proven to make teaching and learning more effective, and to help improve students’ decision-making, as well as physical and mental health. These benefits have been directly linked to success in school and in life. RULER is not a quick fix, a one-time assembly or class presentation. It is the foundation to develop a community where students feel safe, are encouraged to make good decisions and work cooperatively.” 

Rye Neck’s involvement with the RULER program, which is an evidence-based means of bringing social and emotional learning to the school community, has progressed from staff training to students’ education. Throughout the school year, Rye Neck Middle School will put last year’s professional development to work by entering phase II, where RULER is introduced to the student body and shared with families.  

“We are excited to create an environment where students learn the soft skills that they need in order to be successful in school and in life,” Lawlor said. “In order for students to learn, they must be emotionally available. If they are upset, anxious, angry or even too happy or excited, the best teaching in the world won’t get through.” 

Developed by Dr. Marc Brackett at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, the program is based on the idea that if students can correctly identify emotions, they can effectively work through them.

More than 80 seventh graders at Rye Neck Middle School have been diligently working to create peace posters, depicting this year’s Lions Clubs International Peace Poster Contest theme of “Journey of Peace.”  

As part of the project, students discussed what peace means to them before sketching out their ideas and incorporating a dove and peace signs within their work. Some students also used roller coasters, bridges, hot air balloons, airplanes, dirt paths and ribbons, among others, to visually depict a journey. 

“What has impressed me the most is their creativity with showing a journey and what it means to them,” said art teacher Trisha Appel, who along with fellow art teacher Jennifer Dallow encouraged the students to enter the competition. “Some students are portraying a journey as peace overcoming hatred within their work by depicting sad or hurtful imagery being replaced with peace moving throughout a path. Others have chosen to show a journey throughout the world by using the Earth, different flags and a variety of people or cultures.” 

Appel said the students have been excited about the project because it allows them the freedom to express their ideas. 

“I love how they have been brainstorming by talking with each other and gaining inspiration from what others are working on in class,” Appel said. “Each poster is so unique in how the idea of a journey is being visually portrayed. The students’ attention to detail in their work has been amazing, and they are using their artistic skills to enhance their work exceptionally.” 

Once their posters are completed, the seventh graders will submit their artwork in the schoolwide competition, in which judges will select the finalists. Their posters will then be submitted to judges at the Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions Club, who will select local-branch contest winners to advance to the district-level competition for further judging.

Rye Neck Middle School sixth graders – who drew inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s famous antiwar painting called “Guernica” – recently created their own original paintings that incorporated a white dove, the international symbol of peace, at the center of their work. Under the leadership of art teacher Trisha Appel, the project was designed to help students spread kindness and peace throughout their school. 

Using pencils and paper, the students first sketched out their ideas and doves before outlining their work in black Sharpie and painting their compositions with watercolor paints. Then, they painted their dove white with tempera paint to make it stand out, and later outlined it in black oil pastels or black pencils to further emphasize the dove. They also incorporated different words of encouragement to express their messages of peace and kindness.

“Each student’s work was different, yet they were all using the same subject matter,” Appel said. “I liked how they were able to take a theme and be as creative as they liked, and how they were able to use the skills that they learned to create wonderful works of art.” 

In addition, the students’ work directly aligned with the No Place for Hate program at Rye Neck Middle School, which was spearheaded by sixth grade guidance counselor Meegan Lawlor a few years ago.  

“The program helps to create a school environment that reminds students to be inclusive of each other, to be kind to each other, and to value and respect everyone,” Appel said. “Our art project was designed to remind students to continually promote kindness, peace and acceptance throughout school and wherever they go.”

The sixth graders’ artwork is on display outside the main office. 

With new books and school supplies in hand, students across all Rye Neck Schools filled the halls with smiles and excited chatter as they reported for the first day of school on Sept. 3.

“It was a great start to the 2019-2020 school year,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Ferraro said. “Students arrived eager and excited to meet their teachers and reconnect with friends.” 

Kindergartners at Daniel Warren Elementary School attended orientation sessions with their parents and introduced themselves to their new teachers. Meanwhile, F.E. Bellows Elementary School students spent a half-day of classes organizing their school supplies and getting to know new friends. Throughout the day, Rye Neck Middle School students moved around the building to find their new classrooms and meet with their teachers, who greeted them with smiles and guided them through their expectations for the year. At Rye Neck High School, upperclassmen teamed up with freshmen students for various first-day-of-school activities that were designed to help the younger students make a smooth transition into high school.

“We wish all a productive and enriching school year,” Dr. Ferraro said.

Rye Neck Union Free School District welcomed 12 new faculty members during a two-day orientation, held Aug. 26-27. The group met with administrators, discussed policies and procedures, worked with their teams and departments, and received a tour of the district and community. 

Eric Lutinski, middle school principal and assistant superintendent for instruction, described this year’s group of new staff as a mix of both experienced and newer professionals. 

“Some of our new staff are Rye Neck alumni or have worked here as interns or student teachers,” he said. “Others come with years of experience in New York City, other Westchester districts or Connecticut. However, our new staff training sessions revealed that they are all thoughtful professionals who will contribute to the success of our students.” 

The following are new staff members at Rye Neck: 
• Lina Amello, teaching assistant at Daniel Warren Elementary School 
• Elisa Barilli, school psychologist at Rye Neck Middle School
• Joseph Callagy, English teacher at Rye Neck High School
• Crystal Contreras, Spanish teacher at Rye Neck Middle School
• Amanda D’Addona, social studies teacher at Rye Neck Middle School
• Chelsea Gillespie, mathematics teacher and teaching assistant at Rye Neck Middle/High School
• Jean Laffan, French teacher at Rye Neck Middle School
• Nichole Locher, physical education teacher at Rye Neck High School 
• Alyssa Massi, mathematics teacher at Rye Neck Middle School
• Carolyn Muller, special services teaching assistant at Rye Neck Middle/High School
• Brian Pinto, elementary school teacher at Daniel Warren Elementary School 
• Kristi Rachiele, science teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School