Student Social Life

RCDS is by definition a diverse community in almost every way imaginable. Although the bulk of our students come from our most local school districts, our children come from over thirty five school districts. This arrangement affords wonderful benefits in terms of creating a learning environment filled with the very best students from Westchester County, Fairfield County, and the Bronx, but it does create some social challenges as well. The RCDS campus becomes a social center for many of the students within its community.

Clearly, student social life varies greatly by division.  Lower school students tend to come from a more local geographic area, and certainly families host numerous play dates and activities at all grade levels. Lower School field trips and after-school clubs also afford students with social opportunities that are more broad than those in the classroom. Finally, simply being on a PK - 12 campus filled with many families who have children in multiple divisions allows for social connections as well. Buddy programs exist within the school to connect Lower School students to different grade levels and even to Upper School students.

In the Middle School, the geography of our student population begins to spread considerably, as more families are able to travel greater distances. Many Middle School students can ride the Metro-North train to arrive to school every day. Students will continue to gather at family homes on weekends, but activities such as school trips and dances augment the social experience for students. As our students get older, participation in the co-curricular life of the school begins to broaden the social experience for children. Students who choose to join Jazz band, play a particular sport, or choose elective in Digital Photography will begin to interact naturally with other RCDS student who share their passions.

In the Upper School, student participation begins to define one's social life more clearly. Broad opportunities such as clubs or participation in the play or musical can take large amounts of time. By being actively involved in the community, our students begin build bonds and friendships that are remarkable. Casual conversations in the hall or via email evolve into idea and projects. Dances and the prom are formal social gatherings for Upper School students, but attending athletic events or concerts become key community events as well. 

Although a school cannot monitor all social activities for its students, RCDS does play a role in educating its students about healthy choices and decision making throughout the school. Programs such as SEEK in the Middle School and Peer Leadership in the high school give students a chance to reflect on the social decisions that they will make in their own lives. In the end, we believe having a broad program supported by a diverse group of students provides fertile ground for a student's social life in the RCDS community.