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Smiles and excited chatter filled the halls across all Rye Neck Schools on Sept. 4 for the first day of school. With new books and school supplies in hand, students joyfully entered their classrooms, eager to see their friends, meet new teachers and organize their lockers.

“Our opening day was filled with positive energy, enthusiasm and big smiles,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Ferraro said. “Upon entering the buildings on the first day, the students walked into classrooms that were bright and rearranged to create the kinds of active learning spaces needed in 2018 and beyond.”

Kindergartners at Daniel Warren Elementary School had an exciting day of firsts as they attended orientation sessions with their parents and introduced themselves to their new teachers. Meanwhile, F.E. Bellows Elementary School students spent a half-day of classes organizing their school supplies, learning the rules of their new classrooms and getting to know new friends. 

Throughout the day, Rye Neck Middle School students attended a variety of presentations and moved around the building to find their new classrooms. They also met their teachers who greeted them with smiles and guided them through their expectations for the year. The halls at Rye Neck High School were buzzing with chatter as upperclassmen Peer Leaders teamed up with ninth-graders for various first-day-of-school activities that were designed to help the younger students make a smooth transition into high school.

“The beginning of a new school year is filled with excitement as students look forward to reconnecting with friends and teachers,” Dr. Ferraro said.

Rye Neck Union Free School District welcomed new staff and faculty members during a two-day orientation, held Aug. 27-28. The group met with administrators, discussed organizational items and received a tour of the community, which was led by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Ferraro and physical education and health teacher Brian Iacovelli. 

“We welcomed new staff across all of the schools, as well as at the district office,” Dr. Ferraro said. “The energy of the new staff, combined with the experience and proven success of those who have been part of our family in the past, will undoubtedly contribute to our reputation for strong learning outcomes.”

The following are new staff members at Rye Neck: 

• Darian Bica, physical education and health teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School.
• Stefania Binasco, teaching assistant at F.E. Bellows Elementary School. 
• Jamie Bragg, elementary school teacher at Daniel Warren Elementary School (leave replacement).
• Robert Brevetti, social studies teacher at Rye Neck High School. 
• Jessica Calvini, English teacher at Rye Neck High School.
• Samantha Chu, guidance counselor at Rye Neck Middle School. 
• Matthew DeBellis, science teacher at Rye Neck High School.
• Allison Fields, speech and language teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School.
• Elizabeth Haughton, secretary at Rye Neck Middle School.
• Christina Lee, special education teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School.
• Ardijane Mahmud, nurse at Rye Neck Middle/High School. 
• Jane Murtaugh, special services secretary.
• Anne Reiser, world languages teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School.
• Christina Roufanis, personnel assistant, district office. 
• Eric Rudolph, social studies teacher at Rye Neck Middle School.
• Colleen Slattery, social studies teacher at Rye Neck Middle School.
• Ashley Sullivan, teaching assistant at Rye Neck Middle School.
• Douglas Thorn, special education teaching assistant at Rye Neck Middle/High School.
• Victoria Valentine, teaching assistant at F.E. Bellows Elementary School.
• Zachary Zamek, world languages teacher at Rye Neck Middle/High School.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers from Daniel Warren Elementary School and F.E. Bellows Elementary School collaborated with the district’s literacy consultant on June 22 to roll out new writing units of study for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.

Under the leadership of Daniel Warren Principal Tara Goldberg and F.E. Bellows Principal Michael Scarantino, the teachers spent the day unpacking the components of writing workshop before planning the first unit of study their students will engage in this fall. 

“The writing units of study balance providing students opportunities to immerse themselves in narrative, information and opinion writing,” Goldberg said. “The work K-5 will provide a consistent approach across the grades where writers write for real purposes and audiences.” 

The units of study that will be launched in the fall include We Are Writers (kindergarten), Building Your Writing Toolbox (first grade), One Scene Stories (second grade), Reviving Our Writing Lives (third grade), Perspective Short Fiction (fourth grade) and Fifth-Graders Take Action on Issues (fifth grade). 

“It was wonderful to see teachers engaged in the work as they prepared to roll out the writing units in the fall,” Scarantino said. “It was a great day of learning for our teachers.”

During this past school year, both schools implemented a successful reading curriculum, which will be further complemented by the new writing curriculum. 

“We look forward to participating in continued curriculum development, as we will continue to work with our literacy consultant throughout the upcoming school year, so that reading and writing workshop are successful and engaging for all students,” Goldberg added. 

Families will be invited to publishing parties throughout the school year to celebrate their writing work.