STEAM

Inspiring innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Rye Country Day’s commitment to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) enables the School to remain a forward-thinking institution that is poised to explore the breadth, depth, and interaction of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, unlocking the limitless potential of students as they pursue these disciplines. We provide collaborative learning experiences that strengthen creative and critical thinking, build new skill sets, and spark the imagination needed to design, create, and to solve real-world problems.

Signature Programs

Cross-Disciplinary Courses & Clubs

The Young Physicists Tournament (YPT)

At this annual physics research and debate tournament for high school students, teams from throughout the country and the world compete as they present their research. School-based teams investigate several undergraduate-level research problems in preparation for the tournament and then compete in "physics fights," or student-led debates over the quality of each team's solution. Each round begins with the reporting team giving a ten-minute summary on one of the four official tournament problems. Next, the opponent and reporter engage in discussion about the problem, just as members of competing research groups at a conference might discuss a presentation. Teams are evaluated by a team of judges—mainly physics professors and professionals—on their demonstrated understanding of the problem and on their ability to ask and answer questions. RCDS teams have been proud YPT winner three times.

Women in Science Club (WISC)

The Women in Science Club (WISC) is a student led-club in the Upper School that strives to advocate for equal education, exposure, opportunity, and recognition for women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Working to counter the underrepresentation of women and minorities in these fields, WISC spreads awareness about STEM gender deficiency and provides opportunities and mentorship for girls at RCDS interested in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Women in Science Enrichment After-School Program (WISE)

The Women in Science Enrichment (WISE) After-School Program, which is free of charge, is designed to expose Middle School girls to the fascinating world of science through intriguing experiments. The program meets once a week and is led by Upper School WISC students and faculty. The experiments, which are created with the help of faculty, target different fields within STEM, such as cosmetic chemistry, DNA fingerprinting using gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, muscle physiology using electromyograms (EMGs), topics in neuroscience, etc.

Robotics

Middle and Upper School students have the opportunity to participate in after-school robotics teams. The two Middle School First Lego League teams strategize, design, and program EV3 robots that compete against each other throughout the year. Students focus on learning the basics of robotics competition: robot game, research project, and core values. In Upper School, the RCDS Vex Robotics team works throughout the year to develop, tweak, and re-design two RCDS robots. The team then competes in both local and regional competitions, including the New York State Vex Robotics Competition.

Robotics Teams

Grades 3-6 Sumo Bots
Grades 7-8 Vex IQ
Grades 9-12 Vex EDR

SiStem

Innovation Fair

Each spring, students from all three divisions showcase STEAM thinking and innovation by presenting their projects and research to the RCDS community. The fair has included a range of interdisciplinary work including SUMO Bots, anatomically correct hands constructed from recycled materials, 3D literature and sociology sculptures, and magnetic motors, as well as displays of groundbreaking scientific research, sustainable farm models, and much more.

STEAM Director

Cathie Bischoff

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The Makerspace

The design Makerspace serves as a hub of creativity and invention on campus, featuring a wide range of engineering materials and manufacturing equipment.

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The Innovation Lab

This Upper School STEM-focused lab supports Rye Country Day’s curricular offerings in key 21st-century fields, including design, computer science, computational biology, science research, biotechnology, experimental physics, and engineering.

STEAM in the Curriculum

Lower School

Students learn and work across disciplines including art, technology, science, and math to complete innovative projects. These projects cultivate and strengthen their abilities to think creatively and collaborate as they synthesize various STEAM concepts through fun, tangible products such as building lights, robots, homes, amusement park rides, and lego structures, among others. The result is wildly curious young learners who are eager to try new things to understand new, exciting concepts.

Middle School

Middle School faculty collaborate across disciplines to teach units that highlight the intersection of STEAM within the curriculum, from the humanities to the sciences and fine arts. Taking to the Makerspace to explore and test ideas, Middle School students utilize technology and take ownership over their workspace and their role within a collaboration and final product. Middle School students also have the choice of a number of electives and after-school offerings to pursue STEAM projects that are exciting and meaningful to them. Examples of STEAM in the Middle School include seventh graders constructing shadow boxes to tell the story of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” using 3D Science; eighth graders designing and building musical instruments to demonstrate their understanding of mechanical waves, particularly sound waves; sixth grade Roboticists building competition-ready Sumo Bots; and fifth grade history students making clay carvings, using the ancient Sumerian alphabet.

Upper School

STEAM enables students to be courageous, innovative thinkers who are able to adapt to new technologies and frameworks to meet current and evolving challenges. Supported by their foundation of knowledge and skills, Upper School students have the flexibility, and agency enable to pursue disciplinary projects is specific areas of interest. They develop and hone their skills in project management and independent work, and they graduate with the ability to explore new ideas, solve problems, and lead and work within teams. Examples of STEAM in Upper School include building functional hands out of cardboard, string, and other everyday materials as part of a biology unity on anatomy; constructing and operating tournament-winning robots; conducting groundbreaking research on water quality; and creating 3D-printed art with relevance to history and literature.

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