Rye Country Day students, families, faculty, staff, and community partners gathered to celebrate the community engagement work of students at the Public Purpose Community Dinner on Tuesday, May 20.

Director of Public Purpose Rebecca Drago opened her remarks by reflecting on the meaning of public purpose and its importance in our world today. 

The Upper School Jazz Band delivered an outstanding performance.

Assistant Head of School for Academics, Institutional Research, and Data Dr. Meredith deChabert congratulated participating students and emphasized the importance of public purpose work in school communities.

Adeline P. ’30, Ellie S.’30, Madi F. ’29, and Audrey D. ’29 delivered the keynote address, sharing their reflections on their work with Breakthrough T1D (Type 1 Diabetes). The students outlined ways to support Breakthrough T1D and described the impact the organization has on their personal lives. They also detailed their work on a walkathon they hosted in collaboration with other groups across the country.

The three Middle School student leaders concluded their remarks stressing the importance of spreading awareness. “Advocacy is one of the most crucial parts to making a difference,” they said. “With more people aware of the reality of T1D …  we can establish a support system for those struggling with diabetes.”

After the remarks concluded, attendees walked through the halls of the RCDS Middle and Upper School buildings where students hosted tables with presentation boards about their projects. The numerous initiatives on display and the student leaders’ enthusiastic engagement with table visitors constituted a moving showcase of Rye Country Day’s commitment to social impact work. 

“The Community Dinner is a special event at RCDS. It is a wonderful showcase of student work across all three divisions and their deep learning around important social issues. Seeing their passion in action is a powerful example of our grounding motto, Not for Self, but for Service.”
                        —Rebecca Drago, Director of Public Purpose

Featured Projects and Partnerships: 

ALL SCHOOL

• Edith Read Monthly Clean-Ups
• Us Cross Country Team, Us Peer Leaders, Us Global Travel Programs, Ms Social Impact Groups, Us/Ms Choirs, Grade 1

LOWER SCHOOL

• Kindergarten Project Linus With The Osborn
• Grade 1 Tree Project (with Our New Way Garden and Rye Nature Center)
• Grade 3 Building Cat Shelters (with Arc Westchester)
• Grade 4 Can-Do Drive
• Grade 4 Growing Green Club

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Local Food & Food Insecurity (with Our New Way Garden and Meals On Main Street)
• Breakthrough T1D
• Building One Community
• Cancer Support Team
• Edith Read Wildlife Sanctuary
• Game Changers
• Gilda’s Club
• Green Team
• Meals On Main Street
• Ronald Mcdonald House
• Save the Wave
• UNICEF for Ukraine
• United Hatzalah
• United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
• Soul Ryeders
• The Carver Center
• The Humane Society
• The Sharing Shelf
• WISE

UPPER SCHOOL

• Community Engagement Fellowship: Bailar Juntos
• Community Engagement Fellowship: Spotted Lanternfly Population Management
• Identity, Society, Change: Levels Of Change
• Intraspectrum Club
• Just Food Club
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Club
• Public Purpose Student Leadership Board
• Scope Program
• Set Program
• Adult SET Program
• SiStem Program
• Spanish 4 Honors at The Carver Center