Thanks to the generosity of the school community, members of the Rye Neck Middle School Student Senate donated nonperishable food items to the Community Action Program Center in Mamaroneck.  

Spearheaded by the Student Senate and co-advisers Matthew Magnani and Christopher Tinnirello, the students collected items, such as pasta, canned beans, sauces and soups, from December through part of January. Then, club members worked together to sort and categorize the donations. 

“More than nine boxes of nonperishable donations were collected,” said Magnani, who along with Tinnirello delivered the food donations on Jan. 14. 

Rye Neck Middle School eighth graders in Davide Bianco’s Italian language classes recently celebrated their accomplishments by hosting an Italian pizza tasting.

Having explored the Italian language and culture, the students researched recipes of typical Italian main courses and desserts. In addition, they were challenged to work in groups at home to create five-minute videos in which they hosted a cooking show. Each group was challenged to provide clear guidelines in how to cook an authentic dish while showcasing their recipes and skills in Italian.

“These videos were shared with the rest of the class along with delicious samples,” Bianco said. 

Rye Neck Middle School students created their own winter scene masterpieces during the art department’s Paint Night event on Dec. 6.

Using a white canvas, acrylic paint and brushes, 44 students in grades 6-8 followed step-by-step instructions from art teacher Dara Goodman to complete their seasonal paintings, which included a moon and birch trees. Meanwhile, fellow art teachers Trisha Appel, Jennifer Dallow and Karen Fontecchio provided the students with personalized attention and helped them stay on task. 

In addition, Rye Neck High School junior class officers Aaron Caplan, Natalie Goldberg, Gabe Miller, Anna Murphy and Katie Victory and their adviser Linette Milo volunteered to guide the middle school students throughout the evening. Junior Anna Maulucci also volunteered to assist throughout the evening. They helped with the supplies, setup, cleanup and overall organization of the event. 

At the end of the night, event organizers raffled off six prizes, which included a small canvas and paints for students to continue to paint at home.

The art department’s Paint Night raised money for the high school junior class. The fundraiser is held to benefit students as they raise money for their respective classes.

Rye Neck Middle School students collected eight full boxes of candy during the annual Halloween Candy Drive, which will benefit men and women serving in the United States military. 

Members of the Student Senate, under the directions of teachers and club co-advisers Matthew Magnani and Christopher Tinnirello, led the efforts. The donations were accepted by Sedona Taphouse, a local restaurant, which will send the candy overseas to military troops.

“The students did a great job with this collection,” Tinnirello said. 

A group of 70 talented art students in grades K-8 will have their artworks on display at the Mamaroneck Public Library’s Warner Gallery exhibit from Dec. 12, 2019, through Jan. 24, 2020. The diverse collection of student works will feature drawings, paintings, sculptures, collage and printmaking projects. 

Art teachers Trisha Appel, Jennifer Dallow, Karen Fontecchio and Dara Goodman, who organized the collection of works, said it was rewarding to provide their students with the opportunity to shine as their artworks are professionally displayed in a gallery setting. 

“It brings together the community as a whole and allows families, children and adults alike to see the amazing, creative work that our students do at Rye Neck,” Goodman said. “Our students show such growth and depth and breadth in their work. I am so proud and excited to be part of such an amazing art program that fosters a deep understanding and appreciation for artists, art movements and art techniques through the artmaking process.” 

Some of the students’ work was inspired by artists, such as Georges Braque, Dale Chihuly, Megan Coyle, Abbas Kiarostami, Peter Max and Michael Scott.

“It is important for student work to be showcased within the community since it creates a sense of pride that extends beyond the walls of the school,” Appel said. “The students were very excited to hear that their work was chosen. It also lets our students see how much we value the work they create by sharing it with the rest of the community.” 

A group of Rye Neck High School seniors – who are studying about oceans in Anne Palombo’s Environmental Science class – spoke to Rye Neck Middle School sixth graders on Dec. 4 to encourage them to care for the environment. 

During several presentations, the seniors discussed how trash in their local community floats into the Long Island Sound and then into the Atlantic Ocean. They shared different ways that students can help stop that pollution and make a difference in the world. 

“The lessons focused on actions we can take individually and as a community to reduce plastic pollution, specifically, by recycling and reducing single-use plastic,” Palombo said. “The students also explained the value of local ordinances banning plastic bags and straws.”

Palombo said her high school students have been studying about wind and currents, and while learning about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, they made the connection that floating trash is also a local problem in the Long Island Sound. 

“We focused on plastic and how it impacts wildlife, and we studied microplastic and how it accumulates up the food chain,” Palombo said. “By being aware of our actions and practicing new habits, we can improve our environment.”