Nines to NYC

December 6 – Learning Immersion Day #3 brought the Class of 2019 to New York City on a mission of international diplomacy in the morning and an exploration of ancient civilizations after lunch.

The ninth graders’ first stop was a guided tour of the United Nations, where they observed assembly meetings, learned about the UN’s purpose, origin, and scope of impact, and were briefed on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the creation of which was motivated by World Wars I and II, and which was adopted in 1948 by the UN General Assembly, is an international document that states basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. Ninth graders are studying Elie Wiesel’s Holocaust memoir Night in English class, and the connection of human rights during WWII and, consequently, the Holocaust, is very much connected to the work of the UN, especially as Mr. Wiesel himself was a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Wiesel, who died in 2016, was called by former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon one of the world’s “most important witnesses – and one of its most eloquent advocates of tolerance and peace.”

After stopping for lunch, they headed to their next destination – the Morgan Library and Museum. In 1924, J.P. Morgan, Jr., son of Pierpont Morgan, a financier and voracious collector of art, books, artifacts and more, gave his father’s extraordinary library to the public. There, the ninth graders first visited the North Room and became art historians while analyzing a Mesopotamian sculpture of a king and making evidence-based guesses as to the work’s purpose and message. They also analyzed the intricately carved cylinder seals and their messages about Mesopotamian life. Next, the students visited the East Room – the original Library. Here, they used replica seals to imprint clay to interpret the messages in their carvings and learned about the symbolism and the intricacy of the paintings on the ceiling. Finally, the ninth graders viewed the portraits of J.P. Morgan, Jr. and Pierpont Morgan in the latter’s study. The ninth graders were excited to see examples of the art and artifacts, particularly as they connect to the understanding of early civilizations, a focus in their humanities class. It was wonderful to be able to appreciate not only the detail and craftsmanship of each piece, but the significance as well.

The ninth graders and their chaperones had a great day bringing their curriculum to life!

TEXT: Ridley Sperling
PHOTOS: Chris Perry and Jordan Schnell

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Rippowam Cisqua School
439 Cantitoe Street
Bedford, NY 10506
phone: (914) 244-1250

Rippowam Cisqua School is a PreK-Grade 9 independent day school in Westchester County, New York. RCS offers challenging academics built on innovation, fine and performing arts, competitive athletics, wellness, leadership, service learning, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.