Rye Neck High School’s theater program received three award nominations for its musical production of “Damn Yankees” by the prestigious 2018 Metropolitan High School Theater Awards, which are organized by the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre.

Junior Stella Ewen-Tanaka was nominated in the Featured Ensemble Member category for her role as Gloria Thorpe and senior Emma Finkenberg was nominated in the Technical Merit category for her work as director of costumes. Rye Neck High School also received a nomination in the Production Number category for its performance of the “Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo” dance number. 

"We are very excited for and proud of our students for their individual nominations,” theater director Scott Harris said. “We are also excited for the Production Number nomination, which is really a reflection of the entire production. The bulk of the cast took part in that dance number, so congratulations to the entire cast of the show, and our amazing choreographer Francesca DeAngelo, whose choreography surely helped us nab that nomination."

The Metro Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional musical theater productions, talented actors and actresses and creative teams from Bergen, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties. The annual awards ceremony will be held on June 11 at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College.

Rye Neck High School junior Pamela Chiera and senior Emma Finkenberg earned second place and honorable mention, respectively, in the eSchoolData Login Page Art Contest. The two students were among close to 60 students from the Lower Hudson Valley region who submitted works that illustrated how art is integral to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects.

“I am so proud of these young women who have continuously shown creativity in the field of photography,” art teacher Jennifer Dallow said. “They were successful in capturing images that best represented the theme of STEAM and I am happy that they will be rewarded.” 

This year’s theme required students to submit either a photograph or scanned image of a drawing that illustrates how the principles and aesthetics of art are incorporated into and reflected in STEM subjects. 

“Pamela’s photograph shows the magnificent engineered bridge over a peaceful body of water under a moody cloudy sky,” Dallow said. “With cool colors and angled lines, it was the perfect combination of geometric and organic lines. Emma’s boats use a triangular shape that draws the viewer’s eye into the piece. It is well-composed and a great use of art elements showing a functional piece of engineering – the boats.” 

The art contest was created as a way to give back to school districts and the surrounding community by promoting local art and providing monetary awards for the winning entries, according to eSchoolData’s website. All winning submissions are published on the eSchoolData website, www.eschooldata.com/artists-gallery.

Rye Neck High School seniors Sara Aulfinger and Nicolette Sansotta were each awarded a scholarship by the Kiwanis Club of Mamaroneck, Harrison and Rye on May 15.

Kiwanis, an international organization of volunteers who are dedicated to serving children and communities in need, awards scholarships to high school seniors who have shown dedication and outstanding service to their community. Aulfinger has completed 328 hours of community service, mainly as a counselor at a local summer camp. Sansotta has completed 259 hours of community service, mainly through her stage crew work on the high school’s theater productions. 

Aulfinger and Sansotta were presented with their scholarships by James Lanza, president of the local chapter of the Kiwanis Club, and Vince Marconi, chairman of the local chapter of the Kiwanis Scholarship Committee. 

Joshua Goldin-McCarthy, a Rye Neck High School senior and talented actor, was nominated for the 2017-2018 Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance for his performance in the high school’s spring musical production “Damn Yankees.”

Goldin-McCarthy received a best actor nomination for his leading performance as Joe Boyd/Joe Hardy. Theater director Scott Harris praised him for his stellar talent on stage and dedication to the theater program.

“Josh was the heart and soul of our ‘Damn Yankees,’” Harris said. “He was also a natural leader for the cast – quiet and unassuming, reliable and devoted to the production.”

Goldin-McCarthy is among 50 students from 27 high schools from across Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and Orange, Rockland and Westchester counties to be nominated. He will further compete for the award by participating in a performance master class and talent showcase, which will be judged by a team of Broadway and theater professionals at Pearl Studios on May 19.

In addition, senior Bennett Taylor was named alternate for the best actor nomination for his performance as Mr. Applegate. If one of the nominees cannot make it to the event, Taylor will be called up. 

“Bennett nearly stole the show with his amazingly comedic yet sinister performance,” Harris said of his performance in “Damn Yankees.” “His delivery of ‘Those Were The Good Old Days’ was a show-stopping tour-de-force in Act 2.”

The Roger Rees Awards, which are sponsored by Broadway Education Alliance and supported by various industry leaders, celebrate the life and career-long artistic excellence of Roger Rees, a beloved Broadway actor and director.

For more information, visit www.rogerreesawards.com.

Donning traditional Japanese kimonos, third-graders at F.E. Bellows Elementary School participated in a variety of hands-on activities and workshops to immerse themselves into the Japanese culture. Deeply connected to the third-grade curriculum, the annual Japan Day celebration took place on May 11.

Throughout the day, the students – who had been studying the culture, geography, food and history of Japan – learned about the significance of kimonos and discussed what school is like for students in Japan. They also tasted traditional food, practiced calligraphy by writing Japanese words with a brush and ink, created origami and learned about kendo, the modern Japanese martial art. 

“The day gave students a glimpse into the life of a Japanese student,” said Ann Cullagh, a third-grade teacher and team leader. “We provided students with an authentic experience covering various facets of life.”

Cullagh added the experience allowed students to gain a greater global perspective and sensitivity, as well as appreciation of other cultures. 

“They learned how we can be different, yet similar,” she said. “They also learned about the importance of rituals and traditions both in Japan and maybe even their own lives. In the end, they saw how we are all globally connected.”

The celebration was made possible thanks to parent volunteers and members of the Japanese community, who provided insight into numerous Japanese traditions.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade students showcased their best artwork during the annual art show, held at F.E. Bellows Elementary School from May 8-10. Under the direction of art teachers Trisha Appel and Dara Goodman, the art show featured one project from each student.

“This year we focused on a pop-art theme and students in each grade level created at least one project based on the art movement and different pop artists like Andy Warhol and Keith Haring,” Appel said. “The projects were inspired by artists, art movements, global cultures, use of different techniques and media while focusing on the elements and principles of art and design.” 

Kindergartners created colorful flower collages, while second-graders created soup cans inspired by Andy Warhol. Meanwhile, first- and fourth-graders created artwork inspired by Peter Max, and third-graders worked on clay figure artworks, which were inspired by Keith Haring. Fifth-graders drew inspiration from Romero Britto – who painted the “Mona Cat” as a cat dressed in the same Renaissance attire as the Mona Lisa  – to create their own versions.  

Through their art projects, the students were able to express their creativity and learn about new artists while developing their skills in different media and techniques. In addition to the art exhibit, Appel and Goodman created an interactive and hands-on experience for the students, who were encouraged to complete different worksheets with word searches of the artists’ names, color in different images and participate in a scavenger hunt to find their artworks throughout the show. 

Three accomplished Rye Neck High School seniors – Olivia Dunne, Allie Liebmann and Bennett Taylor – are among this year’s National Merit Scholarship winners, each receiving a scholarship.

They were chosen from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program competition for having the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. They entered the competition along with approximately 1.6 million students nationwide by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors in 2016. Students with the highest scores were chosen to advance to the semifinals before the pool was further narrowed down. 

“Olivia, Allie and Bennett are exemplary students, who are involved in a wide range of extracurricular and scholarly activities,” Principal Tina Wilson said. “They embody the Rye Neck spirit. We are very proud of their accomplishments.”

Dunne is Rye Neck High School’s salutatorian, an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors and a Con Edison Scholar Athlete of the Week. In addition, she’s an accomplished science student, having earned second place in the Medicine and Medical Science and Technology category at the Tri-County Science and Technology Fair for her “How Can Antibody Conjugation Assist in the Intake of Gold Nanoparticles by Fshr-Expressing Cells” project. Dunne is a class president and a member of the Rye Neck High School Mock Trial team, and has received numerous awards and recognitions. 

Liebmann is Rye Neck High School’s valedictorian, an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction and a member of the Rye Neck High School Mock Trial team and concert band. In addition, she’s the National Honor Society treasurer and a member of the high school’s International Club, Spanish Club and Student Awareness Coalition. She has volunteered in Nicaragua and with Midnight Run and numerous other service projects. After school, she tutors elementary school students and has received has received numerous awards and recognitions.

Taylor is a member of the International Thespian Society and Science Olympiad team, as well as the founder and president of the high school’s Robotics Club. He’s an accomplished science student, having earned third place in the Environment category at the Tri-County Science and Technology Fair for his “Can the Tardigrade Dsup Gene Be Effectively Inserted into a Commercial Soybean as to Increase Radiation Resistance?” project. In addition, he’s an Advanced Placement Scholar with Honors, a lead actor for multiple high school theater productions and recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. 

Rye Neck Union Free School District students had outstanding performances at the Tri-County Science and Technology Fair, held on April 28 at White Plains Senior High School. The science fair brought together more than 250 student-scientists from Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties.

The students presented their exhibits before a team of judges in their respective categories. Congratulations to the following students who received awards for their projects: 

Rye Neck High School 

• Rebecca Tenner and Anna Nakagama, juniors, earned first place in the Clinical/Social Psychology category. 
• Nicole Pereira, a junior, earned second place in the Physiological and Experimental Psychology category. 
• Olivia Dunne, a senior, earned second place in the Medicine and Medical Science & Technology category. As a result of her outstanding performance, Dunne has advanced to the state competition. 
• Bennett Taylor, a senior, earned third place in the Environment category. 

Rye Neck Middle School 

• Olivia Auffarth, a seventh-grader, earned first place in the Biology category. 
• Derek Ryan, a sixth-grader, earned first place in the Chemistry category. 
• Kyle Ryan, a sixth-grader, earned first place in the Environment category. 
• Julia Sandberg, an eighth-grader, earned second place in the Chemistry category. 
• Ben D’Amico, a seventh-grader, earned second place in the Engineering category. 
• Peter Nicholas, an eighth-grader, earned second place in the Environment category. 
• Abigail Andrade, Ava Liebmann and Jessica Park, eighth-graders, earned second place in the Physics category. 
• Isabel Palacios-Ferrer, a sixth-grader, earned second place in the Psychology category. 
• Linus Ringstad and Henry Robertson, eighth-graders, earned third place in the Math and Computer Science category. 

Additionally, Rye Neck Middle School was presented with the Susan Schaell Handelman Award for Scholastic Excellence in Science and Technology for Top Middle School. 

F.E. Bellows Elementary School 

• Aoife Bronnimann, a fourth-grader, received an Excellent rating in the Chemistry category. 
• Gianna Stracuzzi, a fourth-grader, received an Excellent rating in the Chemistry category.
• Sasha Carmel, a fourth-grader, received an Outstanding rating in the Health and Medicine category. 
• Jack Evangelista and Julian Russo, fourth-graders, received an Outstanding rating in the Physics category. 
• Lillianna Fauci, a fourth-grader, received an Outstanding rating in the Environment category. 
• Harrison Millan, a fourth-grader, received an Outstanding rating in the Physics category. 
• Brady Sergio, a fourth-grader, received an Outstanding rating in the Physics category. 
• Samina Quli, a fifth-grader, earned first place in the Health and Medicine category.
• Ella Grann, a fifth-grader, earned second place in the Chemistry category. 
• Thehara Ubayawardena, a fifth-grader, earned third place in the Biology category.
• Zachary D’Amico, a fifth-grader, earned third place in the Engineering and Technology category. 

A group of 60 talented art students from Rye Neck Middle School and Rye Neck High School have their artworks on display at the Mamaroneck Public Library and Rye Free Reading Room Central Library exhibits through May 31.

The diverse collection of student works at the Mamaroneck Public Library features drawings, photography, painting and collage projects of 42 students in grades 6-12 from throughout the school year. Meanwhile, the Rye Free Reading Room Central Library exhibit features a collection of acrylic paintings of 18 high school students.

“This year’s student body is exceptionally talented,” said art teacher Jennifer Dallow, who organized the exhibits along with fellow teachers Trisha Appel and Karen Fontecchio. “We are thrilled to have two shows going on simultaneously. Getting artwork into the community is one of our goals as art teachers in Rye Neck. It is great for the community to view the work of the students and it is a great way for students to show their talent and enrich the lives of others.” 

In addition, more of the students’ artwork is currently on display at the high school library and hallways of the front lobby. According to Appel and Fontecchio, many of the students were inspired by artists, art movements and various techniques to create the diverse range of artwork.

“It is a wonderful culmination of work at this time of year,” Dallow added. “We can see the end result in a lot of areas and see students demonstrating their knowledge of media and design principles. It is rewarding for us as teachers to be able to hang such quality work in our local community.” 

Fifth-grade students from F.E. Bellows Elementary School created their own spring landscape masterpieces during Paint Night, which was held on April 13 at the middle school’s art room. The event, which served as a fundraiser for the Rye Neck High School freshman class, raised a total of $300.

Using a white canvas, acrylic paint and brushes, the students followed step-by-step instructions from art teacher Dara Goodman to paint the spring landscape scene, which included trees, mountains and fields. Meanwhile, Rye Neck High School freshman class officers and their adviser, Marcella Scalise, helped the students with their supplies, the overall organization of the event and cleanup afterwards.

“The students had a great time socializing with their peers and expressing themselves creatively,” said art teacher Jen Dallow, who organized the event along with fellow teachers Trisha Appel and Karen Fontecchio. “They also loved the personalized attention they got from the teachers and high school students. Often the children are amazed at themselves. This is such a delight that they can go home with such a sense of pride at the end of a fun evening.”

The fundraiser, which is held twice a year, benefits students as they raise money for their respective classes. At the end of the night, event organizers raffled off prizes for students to take home. 

“In the end, everyone is a winner because each student went home with a beautiful, one-of-a-kind masterpiece,” Dallow said. 

Rye Neck Union Free School District students – who have been diligently working on their science research projects – will showcase their exhibits at the Tri-County Science & Technology Fair, to be held on April 28 at White Plains Senior High School. The regional science fair brings together more than 250 student-scientists from Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties who showcase their exhibits before a team of judges in their respective categories. 

Participating students from F.E. Bellows Elementary School include fourth-graders Aoife Bronnimann (Chemistry), Sasha Carmel (Health and Medicine), Jack Evangelista and Julian Russo (Physics), Lillianna Fauci (Environment), Harrison Millan (Physics), Brady Sergio (Physics) and Gianna Stracuzzi (Chemistry). Fifth-graders include Aidan Arouh (Environment), Zachary D’Amico (Engineering and Technology), Max Engelen (Environment), Ella Grann (Chemistry), Dylan Ledden (Physics), Carys McGrory (Health and Medicine), Samina Quli (Health and Medicine), Thehara Ubayawardena (Biology) and William White (Physics). 

Participating students from Rye Neck Middle School include sixth-graders Isabel Palacios-Ferrer (Psychology), Derek Ryan (Chemistry) and Kyle Ryan (Environment), as well as seventh-graders Katie Blanch (Physics) and Alexis Friedman (Physics). Eighth-graders include Abigail Andrade (Physics), Olivia Auffarth (Biology), Phillip Buettner (Earth Science/Space), Bella Caporusso (Biology), Ben D’Amico (Engineering), Samantha Haviland (Psychology), Ava Liebmann (Physics), Matthew Lord (Earth Science/Space), Peter Nicholas (Environment), Jessica Park (Physics), Linus Ringstad (Math/Computer Science), Henry Robertson (Math/Computer Science) and Julia Sandberg (Chemistry). 

Participating students from Rye Neck High School include sophomores Adam Galluccio (Physiological/Experimental Psychology), Jonathan Marcuse (Engineering/Technology), Owen Robertson (Engineering/Technology) and Lucas Vienne (Engineering/Technology); juniors Ema Jovanovic (Physiological/Experimental Psychology), Anna Nakagama (Clinical/Social Psychology), Nicole Rereira (Physiological/Experimental Psychology), Rebecca Tenner (Clinical/Social Psychology) and Melissa Valqui (Physiological/Experimental Psychology); and seniors Olivia Dunne (Medicine and Medical Science & Technology), Evelyn Hong (Physiological/Experimental Psychology), Marisa Santoli (Medicine and Medical Science & Technology), Bennett Taylor (Environment) and Rebecca Taylor (Medicine and Medical Science & Technology).  

Members of the Action Research for Community Change, a student-run think thank at Rye Neck High School, recently collaborated with Westchester Joint Water Works to collect data for a consumer confidence survey in numerous locations in Mamaroneck and Larchmont.

The Action Research for Community Change team, facilitated by Dr. Valerie Feit, the K-12 enrichment coordinator and co-director of counseling and guidance, uses social science research methods to support policy decisions for local organizations. During the most recent collaboration, the students – Andrew Alcin, Renue Chin, Sean Diamond, Ryan Germani, Gabriel Miller and Owen Robertson – asked local residents whether they drink tap water, use filters, have experienced issues with water in their homes and the degree of confidence they have in the safety of water in our area. 

“Once these researchers collate the results, they will write a report and donate their findings to WJWW to help them assess how to better serve residents in our community,” Dr. Feit said.