This year, the Offices of Public Purpose and College Counseling teamed up to launch a new senior tradition: Senior Day of Action.

On the first day of school, seniors put the RCDS motto, Not for Self but for Service, into action through impact-driven work. Projects included preparing seed packets for the RCDS Seed Library, weeding, harvesting, and cleaning up the Lower and Middle School gardens, and creating sustainability signs to remind students and employees of best practices. Students also designed artwork to help beautify and raise awareness about the ZEUS Digester. To give back to the Upper School community, some seniors worked on creating a Class of 2026 mural in the halls of the Pinkham Building—they hope this creative project will be a senior class tradition moving forward.

Extending the work beyond campus, this new senior tradition also included collaboration  with RCDS community partners. Some seniors prepared 200 sandwiches for the Meals on Main Street Food Truck, while others made no-sew blankets for the Paws Crossed Animal Rescue in Elmsford and The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester. 

To cap off the experience, the Class of 2026 met with Director of Purpose Rebecca Drago and Assistant Director of Public Purpose Noelle Morano to reflect on this new tradition and the importance of social impact work in communities. They also discussed different ways to continue their commitment to Public Purpose in the future.

It was wonderful seeing campus buzzing with the seniors working together to better their school and local community! The Public Purpose Senior Day of Action allowed the Class of 2026 to start the year off strong by living out our school's motto and connecting with their peers and teachers. It is a great new tradition that we are excited to continue in the future!
—Noelle Morano, Assistant Director of Public Purpose