Principally Speaking at Rye Neck High

As Rye Neck High School Principal Barbara Ferraro walks around campus, she can’t help but feel exhilarated. She may be starting her 22^nd school year here, but the novelty never seems to wear off. “Already all varsity sports have started and the fields look great,” she observed. “We’re going to start the school year off strong.”

By Janice Llanes Fabry

Indeed, having been moved up to September, Rye Neck’s Open Houses and Homecoming are all starting earlier than in years past. “We are kicking off the year with Homecoming September 14and 15, and creating school spirit throughout the community right from the beginning thanks to our Booster Club,” the principal said.

Coming up soon, the students will be involved in national election activities, organized by Social Studies Department Chair Karen Parisi. In addition this fall, RNHS will be hosting the annual Harvard-Yale-Brown Debate for high school students in Westchester County November 2. Traditionally, college students from each university’s debate teams present a lively discussion about a topic that high school students find relevant and engaging.

Dr. Ferraro, who’s also Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, is extending the AP program, as well as two courses piloted last year: Sports Management and Global Business Practices. Project-based learning, which has yielded astounding results at Rye Neck, will also be expanded.

“We are embracing the changes carried from the State Education Department and continuing to provide students with a rigorous and challenging curriculum to give them the skills set needed for this hyper-connected world,” she explained. “We will always couple that with our personalized programs that build on each child’s strengths and moves them forward to learn a skill, and master and achieve it and become leaders.”

Through district board meetings and curriculum presentations throughout the year, the community will be updated on the State Education Department’s initiatives, the Singapore Math program, literacy, and the arts.