Rippowam Cisqua School’s Foundations of Education Series continues on Wednesday, May 22nd, at 7:00 p.m. with a visit from Nancy Easton, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Wellness in the Schools, and acclaimed chef Bill Telepan, the Executive Chef of Wellness in the Schools. The topic of the presentation is, “Helping Your Children Make Good Food Choices.” Ms. Easton and Chef Telepan will offer advice and strategies to support healthy eating choices for families “on the go,” as well as provide a cooking demonstration and tasting during the event. Wellness in the Schools is a not for profit organization devoted to inspiring healthy eating, environmental awareness, and fitness as a way of life for kids.

This event is free and open to the public and will take place in the Sky Room on the Rippowam Cisqua School Lower Campus (325 West Patent Rd., Mount Kisco, NY 10549). The presentation is part of Rippowam Cisqua School’s Foundations of Education Series, a series of informative discussions with experts in the field of education and parenting. These discussions are designed to offer parents insights and strategies for raising successful, lifelong learners. The lectures are free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Ryan Smith at 914-244-1292 or ryan_smith@rcsny.org.

During the 2012-2013 school year, Rippowam Cisqua School students competed in some of the most rigorous and prestigious French, Latin, and Spanish language contests in the country, and several students earned local and national recognition for their strong performances. 

 

Each year, The American Association of French Teachers sponsors the National French Contest known as Le Grand Concours. Nearly 100,000 students across the United States competed in the contest in 2013 and, in Westchester alone, more than 1,100 students competed. In May, eight Rippowam Cisqua students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades placed in the top ten rankings of the Westchester, New York Chapter. Six of these students also placed in the top ten National rankings. The RCS students who placed among the top ten in Westchester and/or nationally are:

 

Hannah Buckley – eighth in Westchester

Isabella Giammalva – ninth in Westchester

 

Michael Badey – tenth in Westchester; tenth in the Nation

Maia Bernstein – tenth in Westchester; tenth in the Nation

Sahra Denner – fourth in Westchester; fourth in the Nation
Lily Fauver – tenth in Westchester; tenth in the Nation

 

Aaron Casella – seventh in Westchester; eighth in the Nation

Natalie Harrington – sixth in Westchester; seventh in the Nation

 

For nearly four decades, Latin students have devoted the second week of March to the National Latin Exam, an exam set under the sponsorship of The American Classical League and The Junior Classical League. The exam is given at seven levels, and Rippowam Cisqua students sit for three of those levels. In 2013, nearly 150,000 students from around the country, and countless more students from around the world, sat for the exam. At Rippowam Cisqua, seventh graders participate in the Introductory Level exam, eighth graders participate in the Latin IB exam, and ninth graders take the Level II exam.  

In the 7^th grade, on the Introductory Latin Exam, receiving certificates of achievement are:

Tommy Fornara, Harrison Roth, Sebastien Seymour, and Giovanni Wolfram

Receiving blue ribbons and certificates of outstanding achievement are:

Chloe Barshay, Caroline Carpenter, Jack Fife, Benjamin Hirsch, Ella Horn, Jack Kaitz, Mairead Kilgallon, Sean Malcolm, Audrey Palmeri, Luke Powell, Sean Rowan, and Kemp Taylor

In the 8^th grade, receiving a gold medal and a summa cum laude certificate for the level IB exam is:

Olivia Selmonosky

Also in the 8^th grade, receiving silver medals and maxima cum laude certificates are:

Jackson Corrigan and Kyla Spence

And receiving magna cum laude certificates in the 8^th grade are:

Andrew Lowman and Henry Mockridge 


Spanish Awards 
In the spring of each year, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese sponsors the National Spanish Examination. The exams are the largest of their kind in the United States—nearly 160,000 students participated in 2013—and they feature two forty minute sections incorporating listening, reading, and grammar concepts.

Twenty two Rippowam Cisqua students earned awards for their performance:

Level 1:

Honorable Mention: Ryan Alpert (9th Grade), Kristen Brown (8th Grade), Georgia McLanahan (9th Grade), Teddy Vallar (9th Grade)

Medalla de Bronce: Mya Lipscomb (8th Grade), Andrew Pittman (8th Grade), and Sara Mendoza (8th Grade)
Medalla de Plata: Theo Bartlett (8th Grade), Kendall Burdick (8th Grade), Grant Corso (8th Grade), Anjali Goyal (8th Grade), William Langham (8th Grade), and Jake Lustig (8th Grade)
Medalla de Oro: Hannah Burdick (8th Grade), Christopher Glynn (8th Grade), Sophia Gutfreund (8th Grade), Amelia Riegel (8th Grade), and Cecilia Thieberger (8th Grade)

Level 2:

Honorable Mention: Cameryn Lacey (9th Grade) and Alexandra Needham (9th Grade)
Medalla de Bronce: Gabrielle Brooks (9th Grade)
Medalla de Oro: Cian McGillicuddy (9th Grade)

Congratulations to each of the student award winners and their teachers on a wonderfully successful year.  Their accomplishments are both a reflection of the talents and hard work of the teachers and students at RCS, and an affirmation of the commitment to scholarship and excellence that is embodied by the entire School community.  

The Spring Musical is a great tradition at RCS, and it serves as the major full-length production of the spring term. It is open to seventh, eighth, and ninth graders, with opportunities for the students to take on acting and singing roles, help with set design, and assist with the sound and lighting. This year, the students are excited to perform The Little Mermaid, Jr. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Walt Disney film, this is a fun performance for children of all ages. It's a great way for you to enjoy an evening out with your children and also to see, first hand, a celebration of the arts at RCS. The fourth grade students were the first to view the production this morning, when they traveled to the Upper Campus to attend the dress rehearsal.

All RCS families are invited and encouraged to attend! The performances begin at 7:00pm tomorrow, May 8th, and Thursday, May 9th, and take place in the Crosby-Fiala Playhouse on the Upper Campus. The performance runs for an hour and ten minutes, and there is no intermission. The set and costumes are beautiful, and the students are looking forward to sharing their talents with you! See you there!

STEAM—the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math—is alive and well at Rippowam Cisqua School. The 21^st annual Lower Campus Science Exploratorium (formerly the Science Fair) provided the students in grades 1-4 with a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the concepts that they have learned this year and showcase this key tenet of 21^st century learning.

 

This was hands-on, collaborative learning at its finest. Over the course of several months, the students worked together in small groups to build and test their interactive and innovative projects, engaging in problem solving along the way. Creativity was also a critical component of their work in the labs. In addition, the third grade students worked with their art teacher to build murals and 3-D figures for electrified movie scenes that they created. On the day of the Science Exploratorium, the students had the opportunity to teach what they had learned to other students, parents, teachers, and other members of the community.

 

The theme for this year’s Science Exploratorium was “A Community on Mars.” The Sky Room on the Lower Campus was filled with wonderful space-age projects where the young experts were on hand to happily share their knowledge. The first grade students learned about air molecules and space, and they then designed fully operational air compressed rockets for the Science Exploratorium. Visitors were encouraged to test these engineering marvels, with guidance from the student designers. Second grade students experimented with different types of simple machines and built various functional models including a greenhouse, a Ferris wheel, seesaw, fishing pole, mini-golf holes, cranes, a well and rovers. The third grade students studied electricity, and during the course of their studies, they learned how different electrical circuits work. Their knowledge was on full display at the Science Exploratorium, where they showcased fully electrified projects that they wired themselves. Over the past several months, the fourth grade students became experts on the solar system, and they designed and built interactive games to share their knowledge of the data they had researched. In Computer class, the students incorporated technology into many of their projects as well by using iPads to showcase their work.

 

Project based learning is marvelously messy and complicated. It lies at the heart of RCS because it builds the habits of mind that are essential to learning. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Science Exploratorium projects. The students are given the gift of time to struggle a bit to figure things out and make them work. As they do so, they express their ideas artistically, as well as orally and in writing, they apply scientific concepts as they build models that represent their ideas, and they negotiate leadership roles around a common goal through collaborative teamwork. Each lesson learned builds the foundation that will sustain a passion for exploration and problem solving throughout their lives.

On Thursday, February 21st, RCS alum, Whitney Johnson ’99, returned to the Upper Campus to speak at an assembly and be presented with the Rippowam Cisqua School Distinguished Alumni Award.

Whitney is the founder of Ubuntu Africa - an organization dedicated to helping HIV-positive children in South Africa (http://ubafrica.org/). Whitney is an ardent activist and youth leader. Inspired by her experiences while studying abroad in Cape Town, South Africa, and volunteering in an orphanage in the nearby township of Khayeltisha, Whitney was drawn to the cause of supporting HIV-positive children. She noticed a gap in services and sustained assistance for children living with HIV and she wanted to ensure that HIV-positive children received the support they needed to live long and healthy lives. Whitney graduated from Colorado College in 2006 with a degree in psychology and, at the age of 21, established Ubuntu Africa.

RCS math teacher Missy Swan, who was Whitney’s advisor during her time as a student here, welcomed everyone before introducing ninth grade student Alex Needham. Alex has been working with Ubuntu Africa as part of her Ninth Grade Portfolio project. After speaking a little bit about her project and the impression Whitney made on her, she had the honor of introducing Whitney.

Whitney spoke to the gathered students, teachers, family, and guests about her experiences working in Africa, and she shared the mission of Ubuntu Africa by screening a brief film on the organization. She then took several questions from the students, who were engaged and inspired by her work. Whitney’s message to the students was clear: Everyone can do something to help others. Explore your interests and your passions, and use them to improve the world around you.

Following Whitney’s remarks, the Chair of the RCS Alumni Association, Christopher Wirth ’94, presented her with the Distinguished Alumni Award for outstanding achievement, leadership in her profession, and service to others. Whitney is the third alum to receive this award, which was last presented to Nicholas Platt ’50 during the 2011-2012 school year.

Following the assembly and award presentation, Whitney and her family, friends, and former teachers gathered in the Upper Campus library for a breakfast reception. Several of Whitney’s fellow alums were in attendance, including Roger Vincent ’59 (an earlier recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award), Macy Johnson ’65 (Whitney’s dad), Marilen Tilt ’57, Stephen Ohler ’66, Cynthia Mas ’71, Christopher Wirth ’94, and Niko Viglione ’02. During the reception, Head of School Matthew Nespole welcomed the crowd and congratulated Whitney on her accomplishments.

Rippowam Cisqua School salutes Whitney Johnson for her great work, and congratulates her on receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award—a well-deserved honor indeed.

All RCS families are invited and encouraged to attend! The performances begin at 7:00pm tomorrow, February 13th, and Thursday, February 14th, and take place in the Crosby-Fiala Playhouse on the Upper Campus. The set and costumes are beautiful, and the students are looking forward to sharing the production with you! See you there!

For a number of years, RCS ninth graders have participated in the Midnight Run. This year, two of our ninth graders, Annabelle Nemeth and Alex Needham, took on the challenge of organizing the Midnight Run as part of their ninth grade Portfolio. The portfolio program is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore areas of interest. As leaders, Alex and Annabelle hosted a jeans days/bake sale to raise funds to purchase the supplies needed for the Run. Parents of the ninth graders volunteered to cook soup, make hard-boiled eggs, and bake meatloaf (a sandwich staple favored by many of the homeless).

A few days prior to the Run, Dale Williams shared his unique perspective on homelessness in New York City with our ninth graders. Now Executive Director of Midnight Run, Mr. Williams spent nearly three years on the streets in the late 1980s. A product of a middle class family with a college education, Mr. Williams spoke about not knowing the meaning of being cold, dirty, hungry, and lonely until he faced that stark reality of homelessness. Members of the ninth grade asked a myriad of questions as they listened to his story.

After an introduction to logistics by the Run leader, Vic Fried, the students piled into cars and headed out to the first stop. Over the course of the next three hours, they encountered a host of interesting characters, all appreciative of the donations, and most willing to chat with the kids. As the night progressed, the ninth graders came to appreciate the “homeless” as people with names and faces, people with more similarities to us than differences, and people who were experiencing rocky points in their lives.

Community service at Rippowam Cisqua School is a hands-on experience.  In fact, many students on the School's Lower Campus recently spent a December afternoon helping the community's neediest neighbors.  More than 30 Senior-PreKindergarten and Second Grade students came together on Friday, December 7th to collect, sort, and pack clothing as part of the School's annual Share the Warmth clothing drive.  Members of the school-wide community had donated new pajamas, robes, slippers, and socks (91 pounds in total!), and these 30+ children then gathered the items and delivered them to the Community Center of Northern Westchester, which has a longstanding relationship with the School.   These students also made beautiful, sparkling holiday ornaments that were delivered along with the clothing to the Community Center for distribution to the Center's patrons during the holiday season. 

 

On the Upper Campus, students in grades five through nine took part in the Share the Warmth event as well, and they gathered and delivered 34 pounds of new clothing to the Community Center. The Upper Campus students held a food drive to coincide with the Share the Warmth clothing drive, and on Thursday, December 20th, the students and teachers delivered more than 1,300 pounds of food to the Community Center and to Neighbor's Link in Mt. Kisco.

 

On November 26th and 27th, the 4th grade students traveled to the Upper Campus to meet with physics teacher Charlie Duveen in the Rippowam Applied Physics Laboratory. Given only a few materials—a helium filled gas container (balloon), a platform (Dixie cup), shroud lines (sewing thread), a tether line, ballast (a lump of clay), and adhesive (masking tape) — these young engineers worked collaboratively to construct and test the slowest rising launch vehicle.

The objective for each design team was to collect the necessary data (distance traveled and time) so that the team could calculate the vehicle's upward velocity. In his briefing to the students, Mr. Duveen told them that the key to success in meeting this challenge was to work as a team. Good teammates, he said, help each other to solve problems, supporting each other, even when things go wrong.

Through thick and thin, the design teams persevered, recording data over several trials and adjusting the launch vehicle on successive launches to improve its performance. Finally, the students made a labeled drawing of their launch vehicle, each design of which was in some way unique.

This project—which was coordinated by Mr. Duveen, Lower Campus math teacher Beth Smith, 4th grade teacher Nora Zahner, and 4th grade intern Hayden Morris— effectively enables RCS educators to link the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) curriculum on both the Lower and Upper Campuses, which makes for a dynamic experience for each of our students.

“I am always amazed, but not surprised, that these young people can effortlessly combine math, science, art, and engineering tasks in the short space of an hour,” Mr. Duveen said. “I am not surprised because I know they have been doing this on the Lower Campus from JPK to now. Whenever I work with the 4th graders, I find eager learners, yearning to demonstrate their varied talents and capabilities.”

While parents were busy voting for a president last week, students on the Lower Campus were also busy voting for their favorite books!

 

During library class, each class nominated three of their favorite books. The students then filled out a ballot and cast a vote for their individual favorite. The votes were tallied and are posted outside the library. Stop by and check out the winners!  

Thanks to Lower Campus Media Specialist Laura Jensen for orchestrating this great "Elect to Read" program with the students!

The election season features a lead up of several weeks of colorful signs and slogans around the Upper Campus and culminates in a performance in the Upper Campus Playhouse where students make their pitch to their peers in a lively series of songs, dances, and performance. The captains elected for the Red Team were Thomas Tenney, Georgia McLanahan, and Natalie Harrington; and for the Blue Team, Cian McGillicuddy and Cammy Lacey. Congratulations are in order for all the students involved, for extending themselves, for supporting each other, and for a spirited fall election season.

On Friday afternoon, more than 600 members of the Rippowam Cisqua School community gathered on the Lower Campus to meet new friends, reconnect with old friends, and celebrate the start of the School year at our third annual All School Picnic.

 

The picnic brought together members of the entire School community, including parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends, for good food and lots of fun. In the Pole Barn, the crowd gathered for carnival games, glitter tattoos, and delicious food prepared by Food Services Director Bill Lacourciere and his team. Outside, a DJ kept the crowd dancing all afternoon and into the evening. An inflatable obstacle course occupied countless children (and a couple of brave adults) throughout the afternoon, and the children enjoyed playing together on the playground and the fields--and there was even an assortment of exotic animals on display for the children to learn about and discover!

 

The celebration was a huge success, and it would not have been possible without the great work of our parent volunteers, led by Anne Citrin and Angelina Lipman. Special thanks to them for their tremendous efforts—and thanks to all of the members of the community who attended the gathering! Special thanks as well to the Buildings and Grounds team for all that they did to help make the event such a success. Thanks as well to all of our ninth grade student volunteers! It was a wonderful afternoon, and we can’t wait to gather together again at Homecoming on September 29^th!

During the 2011-2012 school year, Rippowam Cisqua students competed in some of the most rigorous and prestigious academic competitions in the country, and they earned numerous awards at the local and national levels.

 

In May, eight students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades placed in the top ten rankings of the Westchester New York Chapter of Le Grand Concours, the National French Contest sponsored by the American Association of French Teachers. Five of these students also placed in the top ten National rankings and earned medals.

 

In the spring, 21 Rippowam Cisqua students earned awards for their performance on the National Spanish Examination, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish.

 

In March, eight seventh graders and eight eighth graders received awards for their performance on the National Latin Exam, sponsored by The American Classical League and The Junior Classical League.

 

During the course of the 2011-2012 school year, Rippowam Cisqua students won 47 writing awards. This list of accomplished Rippwriters includes 28 students who earned awards from the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program, the most prestigious and longest-running student art and writing contest in the world. Two Rippwriters earned Regional Gold Key awards, nine Rippwriters earned Regional Silver Key awards, and seventeen Rippwriters earned Honorable Mentions.

 

Nearly half of the Rippowam Cisqua fourth grade students joined close to 150,000 students worldwide to participate in this year's Math Olympiad program. Students participated in a series of five monthly contests of five problems each, from November to March, with supervised weekly practice sessions. During this time students worked on solving unusual and difficult problems, as well as learning to think critically and creatively.

The RCS 4th grade team was named to the Grade Four National Meritorious Achievement List for its score of 145 points (total team score is the sum of the top 10 student scores). This list recognizes the top 20% nationally of all fourth grade teams.

Nine of the RCS mathletes won national awards for excellence within Division E for grades 4-6.

The silver pin is awarded to those students in the top 10%, and two RCS students landed in this category: Nico Madrid with 21/25 points and Kaiheng Dai with 20/25 points. Nico was the team's high scorer.

An embroidered felt patch was awarded to those in the top 50% of all participants, including the following nine students: Nico Madrid, Kaiheng Dai, Will Greve (17 points), YingShyan Ku (16 points), Kenta Tsujimura (15 points), Annabel Lee (15 points), Alex Kowal (12 points), Jack Londono (11 points) and Zack Greif (10 points).

Congratulations to all of the RCS 4th graders who took part!

Mrs. Judith Altman, a native of Czechoslovakia, shared her experiences during the Holocaust with the 8th grade classes. At the age of 17, Mrs. Altman was taken to Auschwitz, where she remained for two years. She also spent time in Bergen-Belsen, a notorious killing center attached to Auschwitz. Mrs. Altman lost 24 members of her family; her niece and her brother were the only ones, apart from her, who survived.

Mrs. Altman's message was one of hope, rather than of hatred. She urged the students to understand what had happened, so that the world never faces something like that again.

Each year, students in Evey Albert’s art class make their own ceramic tiles, and the subject matter changes each year. The current seventh grade art students chose a vegetable, fruit, or flowering plant from the RCS Garden as this year’s “model.” The installation of their tiles took place today when, with the aid of maps, they set off into the garden to find the plant that matched their personally designed tile. After stringing their tiles with picture hanging wire, some students grabbed hammers and nails and others were armed only with their imagination as they found ways to attach their plant tiles as closely as possible to the live plants they matched. There were teachers on hand to help the students find their plants and attach their tiles, as well as the volunteers who spend numerous hours tending the RCS garden. After the installation, the students were treated to refreshments provided by the garden volunteers. For more information about the RCS garden, please click HERE.

As the crowd gathered on Clinton Road at 8:30 last Friday morning -- in various shades of red and blue -- there was a little bit of a chill in the air but it was clear it was going to be a picture perfect day -- and it was!

The students' accomplishments were extraordinary from beginning to end! The march down Clinton Road, led by team captains Sophie Boyd and Peter Giordano for the blue team, and Liesl Hennig and Connor Bamford for the red team, was a poignant reminder for spectators and students alike of the traditions that field day is founded upon and the many generations that have walked that road before.

The team cheers were ambitious, spirited, and energizing -- preparing both teams for a morning of good sportsmanship. The sports performances were unprecedented on many levels. Four records were set in the course of the day -- two of which were actually broken by the previous record-holders. Blake Cote broke the fifth/sixth 400-meter record, the old mark of 1 minute 28 seconds disappearing to Blake's extremely impressive 1 minute 24 seconds! Evan Kieltyka shattered the Clinton Road run record of 9:00, which had been in place since 1983, clocking in at 8:41. Mike Cerutti reset the bar, breaking the high jump record for the second year in a row -- with a new School record of 5'6.25" inches. Isabel Seaborn, arguably one of the strongest track athletes in RCS history, broke her own record in the Clinton Road run for the third year in a row. To add to the excitement, Isabel came within one second of her sister Paige's 400-meter record that was set in 2005 when she was in ninth grade -- a truly remarkable outing.

Congratulations to all of our athletes and new record holders! The day was another great show for the entire community. Parents and friends came out to support both the red and blue teams. The teachers all did their part and more, running the events, keeping score, and making sure the kids were happy and safe. The maintenance crew did their usual unbelievable set up and break down of the event and the kitchen staff provided everyone with plenty of water, Gatorade, and snacks. Thanks are also in order for the team Captains with their hard work getting the kids ready to march and cheer. They have done a great job all year planning and organizing all the red/blue events.

So, as another field day is in the books, we are thankful that we are able to spend such a glorious day together as a community. Cheers to all for their help and support of the RCS Athletic program

Eight French students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades placed in the top ten rankings of the Westchester New York Chapter of the 2012 National French Contest, or Grand Concours. Five of these students also scored in the top ten National rankings and will be receiving silver and bronze medals. The rankings refer to a numerical score. The contest was sponsored by The American Association of Teachers of French. Nearly 100,000 students in all fifty states competed in the Grand Concours. Here in Westchester, 1,119 students sat for the contest.

The students who placed among the top ten Westchester and/or National rankings:

Lily Fauver - ninth Westchester

Maia Bernstein - fifth Westchester

Sahra Denner - third Westchester; ninth National

Margaret DeDomenico - tenth Westchester

Natalie Harrington - fifth Westchester; sixth National

Annabelle Nemeth – fourth Westchester; fifth National

Aaron Casella – second Westchester; third National

Sophie Boyd - fifth Westchester; fifth National

Broadway eat your heart out! This year's Tony Award will no doubt go to "The Drowsy Chaperone," performed by the Rippowam Players in Bedford, New York.

The cast is simply beyond the stars, and a six piece orchestra brings this play to new heights. Talented actors sing musical numbers that will make your heart soar and the finale will bring you to tears. They are accompanied by a chorus of singers, adding a richness that fills the stage with raucous melody. The tech crew manipulated the complex set with such precision that the set changes were seamless. Lighting and sound systems were outstanding.

The narrator invites you into his living room, where a 1920's musical unfolds, and the audience is transported down memory lane as he comments on the history of the play. The very witty script and clever plot are filled with points of laughter that keep you in anticipation of the next scene.  This performance was simply brilliant, ending with a standing ovation!  Tonight is closing night, so don't miss it!  Curtain time is 7:00pm in the Upper Campus Playhouse

We spent Wednesday morning at the beautiful Pre K-4 campus at Rippowam Cisqua School in Mt Kisco, about an hour and ten minutes by train from Grand Central Station. The journey out there is an easy one – the trains here seem to be very reliable and generally they’re clean too. We were greeted at the station by a new friend, Hadley, whose daughter Charlotte is a big Alice-Miranda fan. Charlotte was introduced to the stories by one of her good friends from Australia, Madeleine and it has all come together from there. I love the networking, the friends we’ve made and knowing that in the future we will be able to come back and catch up again with all of these wonderful people.

Mt Kisco is such a pretty place, with a lovely little village of shops and the most gorgeous houses. As we headed to the school we drove out along country lanes lined with stone walls and some very large homes. The school itself is pretty too – with plenty of grounds for the children to play n and well cared for buildings. We met Laura, the librarian and headed off to her new library. After setting up and a welcome cup of tea, Hadley took us for a tour of the school. In the Pre-Kindergarten class I saw a little girl with the most extraordinary bows in her hair. She was one of those rare children who starts and ends the day looking immaculate.

The overwhelming feeling while we were walking around the school was a sense of calm and purpose. RC is a very happy place and that shone through in the teachers and students from the youngest to the eldest.

I adored meeting the Grade 4 students and talking to them about writing and Alice-Miranda. We had some great actors too. A little girl called Annabelle took on the role of Jacinta and a very brave boy called Wesley volunteered to be Alice-Miranda – except that we made him Alex Michael. Jacinta was a wonderful tantrum thrower and Alex-Michael was the first child to do what I had assumed lots of them might – spy Jacinta’s hissy fit and run for the hills!

Charlotte outdid herself by baking three of Nana Jones’ apple pies from the recipe at the back of Alice-Miranda At School. They looked delicious and the children were planning to enjoy them at lunch. It was such a pleasure to meet the teachers afterwards too and I only wish I could have had a lot more time with the children. But perhaps next year I will teach some writing workshops as well.

It was all over far too quickly. I signed a huge pile of bookplates – which the very clever IT teacher whipped up for us. The school is holding a book fair in a couple of weeks’ time and they are ordering books for the students and that’s a great way they can still have it signed without me having to be there – although I would like to be.

We jumped in the car and Hadley drove us into the city. Charlotte came too as the orthodontist beckoned and afterwards we had lunch together at a great restaurant on 60th near Madison Ave called Philippe Chow. I had assumed French but it turned out to be one of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve been to. The surname should have been a dead giveaway I guess.

Rippowam Cisqua was another wonderful experience and meeting Hadley, John, Charlotte, and Jack has been fantastic – we will definitely be visiting again and sooner rather than later.

To see Jacquie's blog, click HERE.

Saturday night's auction was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who was involved -- whether through contributing an item, helping with set up, attending the evening, or participating in the bidding -- it was wonderful to see the whole community come together. Proceeds from the Auction directly support the exceptional teaching and learning that is the hallmark of Rippowam Cisqua, as well as faculty salaries and benefits, which help RCS attract and retain the very best teachers, technology for the classrooms, and professional development to keep our teachers on the cutting edge of the latest advancements in education and technology. Thanks to everyone for such a wonderful evening!

The culmination of two months of study for the first through fourth grade students took the form of the annual Science Fair on March 15th. The students developed interactive projects, which demonstrate the science concepts they have learned this year. The process includes designing their project, problem solving issues as they arise and, eventually, constructing their projects using tools such as wood saws, coping saws, and screwdrivers. On the day of the Science Fair, the students had the opportunity to teach what they had learned to parents, teachers, and other members of the community.  Take a look at photos from the Science Fair to the right, and then these slideshow/videos of some "behind the scenes" preparations by the students:

Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath visited Rippowam Cisqua last week as part of the RCS Foundations of Education Series. She shared her theory on the “Self-Esteem Trap,” which she has developed through several years of research and her own clinical practice. In essence, the “Self-Esteem Trap” highlights the data that suggests the current generation of parents (post baby boom) has raised a generation of children on what Dr. Young-Eisendrath calls “junk praise” (e.g. saying “Great job!” for ordinary activities). This overuse of praise has made the “Me Generation” feel special, and exceedingly self-important, as if they stand out in everything they do. It sounds like the basis for some healthy self-esteem and happy children, right? In fact, however, these children have found themselves struggling to function without a constant flow of positive feedback, having a difficult time doing entry level work and, in general, being unhappy with what, by most accounts, would appear to be very fulfilling lives.

So what are parents to do to overcome this conundrum? Dr. Young-Eisendrath had some great suggestions, a few of which are listed here:

1- Don’t feed your child “junk praise.” It is as addictive, ultimately unfulfilling, and just as damaging as junk food as it takes the place of developing inner wisdom.

2- Be an example in your relationships. If parents demonstrate respect, kindness, and interest in their parents, partners, and elders, their children will develop the same type of interests.

3- Teach your children that kindness and generosity bring the greatest happiness. Set the example of looking around to see who needs help, assistance, or support and you will provide your child countless opportunities to feel happy.

4- Teach your children that resilience comes from being flexible. If you allow your child to make mistakes and encounter failure, they will learn the importance of being flexible in order to face the challenges of life.

5- Raise your consciousness that autonomy is the goal. Effective self-governance and healthy self-esteem come from knowing our strengths and weaknesses in doing things in the real world and getting authentic feedback, not excessive praise.

6- Don’t let your child think he or she is “king.” We are raising our children to be members of the human race, society, our community, and our families - not to be the center of attention.

7- Cut down on how much you talk about your children. If parents can develop a more balanced approach to talking about their children, the children won’t necessarily feel like the singular focus of their attention.

For more information on Dr. Young-Eisendrath, or to order any of her books, please see her website: www.young-eisendrath.com.

The next Foundations of Education Series lecture is scheduled for Wednesday, April 11th at 10:00am with Tara Brown discussing “Building Strong Parent Child Connections.” For more information, check the Foundations of Education section of the website or contact Susie Danziger at susie_danziger@rcsny.org.

Members of the Upper Campus at Rippowam Cisqua School (grades 5-9) are working hard to give back to the community. The RCS Community Service program, which becomes increasingly more involved as students get older, is voluntary through eighth grade; however, students have become increasingly more engaged as they get older and are volunteering in even greater numbers. Some of the activities that have sparked the interest of these active youngsters might surprise you.

As is tradition at RCS, in September, the ninth grade class, accompanied by five teachers, left Bedford and headed to Yonkers on behalf of Habitat for Humanity for two days. The class participated in two projects, one involved hanging sheetrock in a home that would eventually be occupied by three generations of one family and the second had students building two-foot by four-foot rectangular planters that would later add splashes of color to the surrounding neighborhood.

Chris Perry, a science teacher at the Upper Campus and the Ninth Grade Dean, talked about the value of involving middle school students in these projects. “Seeing kids give of their time and energy to care for people in the county is what I love about this type of service effort. In this day and age of communication through computer, an opportunity like this allows our kids to work as a team to accomplish a goal. It also gives them a chance to connect with, and learn from, people with whom they wouldn’t normally spend time.”

Over the holidays, the Upper Campus, as a community, contributed canned foods and pajamas to the Community Center of Northern Westchester as part of their Holiday Food Drive and Share the Warmth clothing drive. The School collected more than 500 food items and a large assortment of pajamas, slippers, robes, and more to help make the holidays a little happier for the families who utilize the community center.

Beginning in January, one to two Friday afternoons per month have been dedicated to a community service project. In January, seven seventh graders spent the afternoon at the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla, making dinner for the families who were in residence there at the time. In addition to their culinary delights, they also wrote letters to the residents to let them know that they were thinking of them during this difficult time. On that same day, the entire Upper Campus was introduced to the small town of Shihalia, Kenya by teacher Vincent Kwarula. With Vincent’s support, the students plan to raise funds to contribute to the renovation of the local school as well as the installation of a water pump in Shihalia.

The first Friday of February, the entire ninth grade participated in “Midnight Run.” Students were transported to Manhattan where they distributed sandwiches they had made, clothing, and toiletries to the homeless. This is an event that has traditionally had a real impact on the students as they are able to personally understand the challenges and needs of those who don’t have a roof over their heads. The following Friday, twenty-seven students pulled the lasagna pans back out and made dinner for sixty to be delivered to Neighbors Link in Mt. Kisco. The students painstakingly mixed, chopped, and cooked to help the newest members of the local community feel more at home. Neighbors Link families gave a hearty round of applause to show their appreciation as the piping hot food was delivered.

The balance of the year will find students planting seedlings for the RCS Garden in March, and a second group will transplant those plants in May. The food from the garden is used by the School’s cafeteria as well as local families. Excess food is donated to local organizations. In addition, there are several return trips planned to the Ronald McDonald House to make dinner again.

   first place: Isabella W. as Spongebob

   second place: Collette O. and Dorothy W. as Hocus Pocus Witches

   first place: Daniel S as gum on shoe

   second place: Jake M. and Jared R. as Nerf

   first place: Nathalie B. and Chloe B. as Pixelo

   second place: Rory F. and Tommy F. as Dads when they get angry

   first place: Andrew P. as Charlie the Unicorn

   second place: Carrie K. and Mya L. as Nicki Minaj
Creative

   first place: Lucy P. and Chloe W. as Barbies

   second place: Giovanni W. as an Ipad

   first place: Sophia G. and Sara M. as a toothbrush and mouthwash

   second place: Kristen B. as a Rubiks Cube

   first place: Julia G. as a goth ragdoll

   second place: Alex B. as a scary guy

   first place: Ryder B. and Jackson L. as the RCS Nerf team

   second place: Nick S. and Ryan R. as the Tea Party

   first place: Jack K. as Miss Universe

   second place: Jack B. as a Whoopie Cushion

   first place: Jared J. as the Dreadlocks Guy

   second place: States L. as Snooki

   first place: Mr. Duveen as Mr. Hyde

   second place: Mr. Barrett as a Chicken

Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, Coach Richie Meyers' 45th Rippowam Cisqua varsity football team took the field and played with precision, toughness, and heart en route to a 28-6 win over St Luke's in front of a lively crowd who had gathered for an afternoon of football, food, and fun.

Several hundred students, parents, alumni, and friends gathered for the School's first homecoming event on the Upper Campus. As the varsity boys' football team dictated the tempo on the gridiron, kids of all ages took part in sack races, impromptu soccer games, and a spirited tug of war on the adjacent playing fields. The Food Service team provided a barbecue lunch that made certain that no one would leave hungry and the weather played its part, defying what had been a certain forecast for rain and opting instead to offer up perfect fall weather as a backdrop for the occasion.

At the conclusion of the game, the crowd assembled for a testament to Coach Richie Meyers who, at the outset of his final year of coaching, was honored by Taft Athletic Director Dave Hinman (a former RCS coach and teacher), RCS Alumni Association president Chris Wirth '94, Joe McMenemon '01, and Alex Soros '01, Upper Campus Head Bill Barrett, and Head of School Matthew Nespole. To a person, each speaker echoed a similar sentiment about the impact that Coach Meyers has had on the student athletes that he has coached, namely, that the athletic arenas have served as the classroom for this master teacher to purvey essential life lessons that extend well beyond athletics.

After being presented with the game ball, Coach Meyers appropriately closed out the event, sharing a sentiment of gratitude that he's felt at having the privilege of playing a meaningful role in the lives of so many young people, and how touched he was that so many of his former athletes returned for the occasion.

To see a short video on the highlights of the day, please click HERE.

An unsuspecting visitor walking by the Sky Room on the Lower Campus at 11:45 this morning might easily have confused the high pitched shrieks of joy as those in response to a surprise visit from a recording artist currently topping the charts, but no, it was simply a visit from "The Bird Man" and his four remarkable raptors. Armed with a great horned owl, a red tailed hawk, a single minded falcon, and a turkey vulture (whose winning personality makes up for what would be hard to characterize as "classic good looks"), "The Bird Man" captivated RCS elementary school students with stories about each of these remarkable birds. Highlights included some of the defense mechanisms the birds employ (the aforementioned turkey vulture will actually throw up on a potential attacker), dietary habits (the Great Horned Owl enjoyed its lunch, a mouse, much to the delight of the kids), and a falconry display where the falcon swooped over the gym full of excited kids.

The feathered visitors and their artful guide easily infused joy in learning for students and teachers in this Parent Association sponsored year opening assembly - a great way to soar into the weekend!

On September 9th, more than 500 members of the Rippowam Cisqua School community came together on the Lower Campus for the second annual All School Picnic. The crowd included parents, children, faculty, staff, and friends - all anticipating an evening of good food, lots of fun, and the chance to reconnect with friends. Thanks to the tremendous efforts of current parent volunteers, led by Whitney Brown and Suzanne O’Callaghan, the evening more than delivered!

From under the Pole Barn, the alluring aroma of sizzling burgers was unmistakable as Food Services Director Bill Lacourciere and his team worked the grill. Beside them, the SOBE truck, compliments of current parents Carolyn and Tim Tenney, generously distributed a variety of refreshing soft drinks. Seventh grade parent Cathryn Long was set up with a number of exotic animals including a kangaroo, a ring tailed lemur, an alligator, and a celebrity duck (known to those who watch professional football as “the AFLAC duck,” featured in television and print commercials). The children delighted in seeing these beautiful creatures up close and personal.

Three magnificent inflatables, including a multi-faceted obstacle course, occupied countless children (and a couple of brave adults) throughout the evening. Older students kept the Pole Barn dance floor hopping as a lively DJ played the latest pop music that served as a colorful audio backdrop to happy laughter and chatter as families reconnected after a summer away from School.

A personal favorite was the team of ninth grade students, clad in “Class of 2012” t-shirts, making sure no one left the picnic without an “RCS” tattoo somewhere on their body. From the smiles on all the faces, to the multitude of happy running feet, to the ever-present sound of laughter, it was evident that this memorable evening was the perfect ending to the first week of school. We can’t wait to see what the October 1st Homecoming barbecue brings!

We had a chance to catch up with Carol during a quiet moment over the summer.

RCS: When, and in what capacity, did you join the RCS community and what experiences along the way have helped prepare you to be the leader of the Lower Campus?

CG: In the spring of 2003, after many years of educational experience, I accepted a position as a Learning Specialist at Rippowam Cisqua. As a Special Education teacher, I had always known how to multitask as the position necessitates balancing many pieces: teaching students, working with teachers, and conferring with parents and administrators as well as teaching courses and making presentations to faculty and parents on methods of learning and overcoming learning differences.

Initially, my role consisted of teaching, supporting, and sharing strategies with teachers in Kindergarten through second grade in the areas of handwriting, reading, and written expression. In time, my responsibilities grew as I partnered with the third grade teachers, expanding their reading phonetic program; the fourth grade teachers, assisting students with their writing assignments; and meeting with the pre-school classroom teachers to discuss a child’s developmental goals. It was not long before I was touching every aspect of the elementary school and getting to know faculty, students, and parents in every grade - an incredibly fulfilling role, and an opportunity that I hadn’t anticipated when I first joined the School. In the eight years that I have been a Learning Specialist, being enriched by teacher, parent, and student interactions and experiences, I never imagined that it would grow into this opportunity to lead the Rippowam Cisqua Lower Campus, although, now, as I continue along this new path, it seems so natural.

RCS: How did you originally become interested in teaching as a profession?

CG: This incredible journey of mine in education began when I was in the eighth grade when I joined the Teachers Club. Even back then, I loved children and wanted to help them learn. I attended the School of Education at Boston University and became involved with a faculty that was truly dedicated to teaching students as individuals, and learning to differentiate the instruction according to their needs. By the time I graduated, teaching had truly become my passion. I accepted a position as an elementary school teacher and went on to obtain my Masters Degree, and then a Special Education Certification. My teaching career has consisted of working in independent, public, and parochial schools as well as rehabilitation centers for medically and mentally impaired children, cerebral palsy, and severe learning differences.

It has been an incredible, varied teaching journey for me and I feel, as a result, that I can offer a wealth of knowledge and experiences, which will contribute to my new role. It is with excitement, determination, and compassion that I will lead this exceptional learning community.

RCS: How have you enjoyed your first eight years at the Lower Campus?

CG: When I accepted my position at Rippowam Cisqua, I was at a point in my career, based on my previous experience, when I knew what was needed in order for children to reach their potential and feel successful. I found this opportunity to teach at the Lower Campus perfect for that stage in my development and I have enjoyed my role as a teacher every year! I remember the first day of school when I asked Marylea Franz, then Head of the

Lower Campus, what methods and programs were to be followed. She encouraged me to use my best professional judgment, drawing on my past teaching experiences and to establish my own teaching style in order for students to progress and to enjoy school within the curriculum standards. Accordingly, I have been able to tailor my knowledge and experiences to the needs of the students, differentiating the instruction in order for them to achieve and advance in reading and written expression. I believe we all want our children to be happy in an academically challenging environment where they are taught and encouraged to question, think, speak publicly, and write skillfully about what they are learning in school. That’s exactly what happens at Rippowam Cisqua.

Over the last eight years, my opinions about good teaching have been reinforced by the commitment that I have seen among the Lower Campus faculty, a group of hard working professionals, many of whom came early and left late, and were always willing to collaborate around students and their skills. The exchange of teaching ideas and dedication to the students’ academic achievement is inherent in this school environment. Each year the new and ever changing challenges I see inspire me to continue to learn. Each student is always very different, therefore you can never stop learning, no matter how many years of experience you have! Importantly, I have found over and over that parents are very willing to support their children’s needs and they are comfortable collaborating with teachers, all of which contributes to their children’s progress and their enjoyment in learning. Knowing that we are all part of a team of teachers and families working together makes for a very positive atmosphere for students to excel in their desire to learn.

RCS: Do you have any particular memories from your first years that you would like to share with our readers?

CG: I have many memories from my years of teaching; however, the particular ones I remember most at Rippowam Cisqua are the sincere, innocent comments of young students in my classroom. There were those students who found reading to be difficult at the beginning of the year and were often discouraged, but who, by the end of the year, would proudly announce that they now “love” reading. There were those students who, although assigned to read only five pages a night, decided to read a whole chapter. There were those students who were disappointed when homework was not assigned! My fondest memories are when students suddenly realize that they can blend sounds together to form words. They realize they are reading and the look on their faces is priceless! I also relish the memories of a parent conference going well, and the children saying thank you as they leave my class.

The feeling of exhilaration as the students are singing their hearts out in a sing-along session during an assembly; the feeling that I am appreciated through simple notes that parents, teachers, and students have written; these memories are unforgettable and make my job meaningful.

RCS: What were your first thoughts when you were asked to lead the Lower Campus?

CG: It will be a moment that I will never forget. As I stood there speechless for a few seconds, I realized with all my years of educational experiences that this was an opportunity that I knew would fulfill my final personal goal as an educator. It came at a very good time in my career. I began to hear my own words that I repeated to my children growing up: “You will never know until you try.” I was excited and felt honored to be offered such an important role as a leader. I know the culture of the School, its staff and faculty, the students and parents and, in my new role, I plan to listen and lead, but also laugh along the way.

RCS: Will there be a particular area of focus for you and the faculty in your first year?

CG: Yes, as a matter of fact, I have already met with a number of groups of teachers this summer to discuss the priorities we formulated during the last week of school. One of the areas that we plan to focus upon this year is our involvement in community service. We plan to integrate it into our Character Counts program and School assemblies. This initiative will involve teachers, parents, and students participating in activities in an effort to teach principles such as sharing, respect, caring for one another, and appreciating what we have, compared to those less fortunate. Secondly, we intend to expand our “Reading on the Lower Campus” starting with our preschool children and extending through fourth grade. Thirdly, we will continue to forge a stronger relationship between our two campuses, both academically and socially, communicating more with all the teachers and students by sharing lessons, classroom observations, and School events. Other areas of focus will be reinstating a mentoring program for our new teachers, planning outside assemblies, and tapping into the talents of our students and faculty within our School. We are looking forward to a very exciting and productive year of growing, enjoying, and learning more about one another.

RCS: We are fortunate to have you at the helm. Are there any thoughts you’d like to share with our readers about the upcoming months at RCS?

CG: I actually feel fortunate to be at the helm of the Lower Campus of Rippowam Cisqua. I want the entire community to know that the faculty, staff, and I have worked hard this summer and have been very productive in an effort to help the children reach their full potential in a challenging, creative thinking environment. We want the children to progress and learn, but we also want them to be happy, make new friends, and be kind to one another. It is important to bring out those hidden talents they do not know they even have. We will encourage them to think positively about themselves and we will instill self-confidence. We, as teachers, spend more time with the students during the week than their parents do. I take this fact seriously. Rippowam Cisqua is their second home and it is important for me as one of the School’s leaders to be sure that every child is feeling successful, challenged, and happy. I want our families to know that I have an “open door policy” whereby everyone is welcome to stop by my office informally or make an appointment to talk to me about a child, our school environment, or just to share a thought. Communication is a very important priority for me. Making the time to meet encourages people to connect, understand each other, and develop mutual respect. This is one of my principal goals in our professional learning community. I am looking forward to a very exciting and rewarding year for all of us.