Rye Neck Is Ready for the Test

By Janice Llanes Fabry

 

When Governor Cuomo announced that schools across New York State were permitted to re-open this fall, the Rye Neck School District was already firing on all cylinders. Superintendent Dr. Barbara Ferraro’s goal was to continue providing the quality instruction that is a hallmark of the district in a safe environment.

Faculty and staff worked tirelessly all summer long learning new tools and designing innovative instructional models that could be implemented and sustained through the year given the challenges presented by the pandemic. Custodians and ground crews diligently met all the building maintenance demands required at this time.

“Reopening school in September 2020 takes a village,” remarked Dr. Ferraro. “Outstanding teachers, staff, families, and students, working alongside District administrators, have given Rye Neck the support needed to start the school year with a positive outlook, and we begin with renewed energy and hope for a better future.”

The District’s hybrid model divides grades K-12 into two cohorts. In order to accommodate families, siblings will be in the same cohort.

Students will attend school in person every other day, two days one week, followed by three days the next week. The schedule ensures that students will not be away from their teachers more than one day per school week, and, that on the days they are in school, they will be with their teachers 100 percent of the time.

The e-learning on remote days will include videos, students’ application of skills, group work, and Screencastify, a Google Chrome tool that enables educators to record, edit, and share videos. Middle and high school students will also utilize Google Meet to complete projects, prepare for debates, and make class presentations.

“Absent a K-12 full opening,” said Dr. Ferraro, “it is important that we start to return children to some degree of normalcy. Our students need to move away from their computer screens and be given the opportunity to socialize in a socially distanced safe way.”

“This certainly will be an opening like none before,” conceded Dr. Ferraro. “We ask families to remain flexible and patient throughout. Our learning plan was designed to move seamlessly from one model to the next, so the continuity of learning is maintained along with a safe and equitable return for all students.”