Rye Neck Middle School
September 9, 2022 - Issue 1
Dear Rye Neck Families,
I hope you enjoyed a restful and relaxing summer! It was great welcoming students back to school on Tuesday. Their excitement was palpable as they reconnected with friends and teachers in the hallways, classrooms and during the BBQ. Thank you to the PTSA for treating students to a welcome back snack at dismissal on Friday. And as we all settle back into routines, remember that we are here to help and ensure everyone has a safe, positive and productive year.
Enjoy your weekend!
Dr. Dulce Barker
Upcoming Events
MS Open House: Thursday, September 15th 6 p.m. PAC
Organize Your 6th Grader: Tuesday, September 20th 7-8:30 p.m. Library
6th Grade Principal’s Conversation: Wednesday, September 21st 9:30 a.m. Community Room
Board of Education Meeting: Wednesday, September 21st 7:00 p.m. Community Room
7th Grade Trip to PNW BOCES - Friday, September 23rd
MS PTSA Class Photo Day: Thursday, October 6th
8th Grade Trip to Philadelphia - Friday, October 21st
Spooktacular - Friday, October 28th 6 p.m. Dining Hall
MS PTSA Class Photo Retakes: Thursday, November 10th
Parent/Teacher Conferences: Wednesday, November 16th 6 p.m.
MS Open House
Rye Neck Middle School will be hosting its Open House on Thursday, September 15th at 6 p.m. We are excited to provide you an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and learn about what your children are learning. Here are some important things to know:
We will begin with a welcome session in the Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Parents will follow their child’s “A-day” schedule.
Your child will be writing out and bringing home a copy of their schedule. Please be sure to bring the schedule with you on Thursday.
We will have ten-minute periods with three minutes in between.
After School Clubs
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.
2022 - 2023 6th Grade Intramurals Schedule
Monday - Friday
3:00PM - 4:00PM
Intramurals 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 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.
RNMS Dining Hall
Students' meals are no longer free.
Breakfast costs $1.50
Lunch costs $3.00
Deli bar costs $4.00
Outside/Community Events
News From the Classroom
Schoolwide Enrichment - Mrs. Costelloe
I’m thrilled to have been entrusted with the role of MSHS Schoolwide Enrichment Model Coordinator. I’ll be working with Dr. Barker and our teachers to identify ways that we can expand upon the great work that is already happening in our classrooms to provide challenging, enjoyable activities that tap into higher level thinking skills and real-world problem solving. We will also work to embed ways to systematically assess the strengths, passions and talents of our students to provide resources and enrichment opportunities to develop those areas of personal interest.
In just a few weeks we will be introducing our Global Citizens Program. Global Citizens will be an independent study opportunity for any student interested in embarking on an in-depth research project on the topic of their choice. This opportunity will be 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. The program will meet weekly 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 11th. It will be 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.
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. The work I do at Rye Neck to help all students build their research skills, plus to help them find and utilize the resources they need to develop and feed their passions is, by far, the most rewarding part of my role. I look forward to expanding upon that work in my new role and working with your children.
Band, Strings, & Chorus - Mr. Mattera, Mrs. Yeung, & Mrs. Clarke
Rye Neck Middle School offers music performance options where students can learn to prepare, rehearse and perform with other musicians. These options include band, strings and chorus 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.
A Google sign-up form was emailed to the middle school community. If you have more than one child please submit separate forms. Responses are due by Friday, September 16th.
***All ensembles will begin the week of September 19th.
Grade 6 Band will meet Wednesdays and Fridays, period 1 (7:50-8:30) in room B2.
Grade 7/8 Band will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30) in room B2.
6-8 Strings will meet Wednesdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30) in room B10b
Grade 6 Chorus will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays, period 1 (7:50-8:30) in room B4.
Grade 7/8 Chorus will meet Wednesdays and Fridays, period 1 (7:50-8:30) in room B4.
Band and String students will receive additional small group instruction during the regular school day. Students will receive this schedule after sign ups are completed on Friday, September 16th.
For more information about each program please contact the teacher for the ensemble: Mr. John Mattera (Band), Mrs. Jessica Yeung (Strings), Mrs. Caitlin Clarke (Chorus).
Please keep in mind if you are interested in participating in the 2023 NYSSMA festival, you are required to join and be involved in your school music program (Band, Chorus and Strings).
Research Tech - Mrs. Costelloe
We’re off to a great start in Research Technology! Throughout the year we’ll be working in depth with many of the resources that the Library offers, and building the foundation necessary to support efficient, effective and ethical research. The Digital Citizenship portion of the curriculum is a big focus, plus a thread that weaves its way through all that we do, to ensure that students know the rights and responsibilities embedded in being good digital citizens. Lastly, we’ll always have a focus on becoming better self-directed learners, understanding where we can go for reliable information on any of the questions we have in life or to further deepen our knowledge in any areas of personal interest. Click here for the Research Tech syllabus.
I’m looking forward to a great year!
6th Grade Art - Ms. Appel
Students began art class with a tour around the room and created their own portfolios to store their artwork. The first artist that they will learn about is Sarah Morris who currently lives in New York City and creates work inspired by Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual Art, and Architectural Design. Students will be creating their own abstract designs inspired by her works that represent spider webs.
7TH Grade Math - Mrs. Pillig, Mr. Ghiozzi & Mr. Macias
Welcome back! Math 7 classes will begin the year with algebraic reasoning. We are currently working on order of operations and math properties. We are seeing how the properties can help change the order of operations to make it easier to simplify an expression. Math 7A is working on percent problems using the percent equation.
There is a hw pass assignment that is due Sept 20th. This is an optional assignment to earn a hw pass (used to get credit for an assignment which was not completed). The assignment is posted on Google Classroom.
7th Grade English - Mr. Tinnirello
Students in seventh grade English are reviewing the elements of a story before embarking on a reading of The Outsiders, the first class book. Next week, students will discuss their summer reading work on The Red Bandanna or The Breadwinner. By the end of October or early November, students will research an independent reading title and begin reading this book at home.
7th Grade english B - Mr. Macli
Over these few weeks, we’ll continue to discuss and examine articles, videos, and other texts related to the summer reading books, specifically the events of September 11, 2001. Students will develop a deeper understanding of what took place that day and how it changed the world we live in. We’ll also preview material related to The Outsiders, our first class book of the year.
7th Grade Science - Mrs. Loprinzo & Mrs. Englander
7th Grade Art - Ms. Appel
8th grade math - Mr. Johnson
8th Grade Art - Ms. Appel
Library
With Covid social distancing protocols lifted, we are thrilled to have our Library back to normal and accessible to our middle school students again!
The Library hours are from 7:50 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. most days. All middle school students are invited to use the Library after school as a place for quiet study and socializing. We have a number of students who work to get homework completed and some who love to play on the computers or use our board games. We love having them here!
Beginning in October, our middle school students will have two additional windows opened up to them. They will be invited to work and quietly socialize in the library before classes and their homeroom teacher may issue a limited number of passes to use during the lunch period, once lunch has been eaten in the dining hall.
The MSHS Library webpage provides information on all that is offered, and if they have any questions we encourage them to ask us. We are always there to help them throughout their day or via email!
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. We’re happy to help you in any way we can!
Rye Neck Middle School
Email: rnmiddleschool@ryneck.org
Website: www.ryeneck.org/ryeneckmiddleschool
Location: 300 Hornidge Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, USA