In October, Rye Country Day School welcomed parents and guardians to a series of engaging programs designed to deepen understanding of the rapidly evolving digital landscape and its impact on children, learning, and life. Through hands-on exploration hosted by the PA, expert insight via an ISACS author event, and thoughtful discussion hosted by the Head of School and Director of Academic Technology, RCDS put into action its commitment to nurturing critical thinkers and engaged citizens who model digital responsibility and well-being.

With the goal of addressing the intersection of technology, child development, and digital responsibility, the month’s programming highlighted the School’s dedication to partnering with families to navigate a rapidly changing digital world, while engaging in thoughtful and measured planning around how best to prepare students for the future.
 
Parents Association “Bring Your Device to School” Workshop
On October 17, the Parents Association Digital Responsibility Committee offered a hands-on workshop that invited parents to explore the devices their children use every day. The interactive program guided attendees through settings, features, and parental controls on Chromebooks, iPads, iPhones, and popular games such as Minecraft, Roblox, and Fortnite.

Participants learned how to manage screen time, adjust privacy settings, and better understand the digital environments their children navigate. Led by Director of Academic Technology Daren Khairule, Director of the Makerspace Kevin Farrant, and Middle School Computer Science Teacher Maximo Perez, the session empowered parents with knowledge and practical tools to support healthy technology habits both at school and at home.
 
ISACS Parent Speaker Series Featuring Jonathan Haidt: “How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Impacted Everything + What We Can Do About It”
Through an ongoing partnership with the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the RCDS Counseling Department was able to offer families access to a thought-provoking ISACS Parent Speaker Series event featuring renowned social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller The Anxious Generation.

Mr. Haidt shared research on how the rise of smartphones and a “phone-based childhood” have dramatically reshaped children’s development, contributing to increased anxiety, decreased independence, and new social pressures. He also offered guidance on what families and schools can do to promote healthier developmental experiences in a tech-saturated world. Mr. Haidt applauded schools like RCDS that led the charge on going cell-phone free. This event complemented the various conversations RCDS counselors have been having with parents/guardians at divisional Counselor Conversations around healthy tech usage.

"It is critical to understand the impact that these technologies can have on the mental health of children. I'm proud of the work our community is doing to mitigate risks, and I look forward to continuing dialogue and learning." – Dr. Kamauru Johnson, Director of Counseling

Conversations with the Head: Education, Ethics, and Evolving Experiences in the Age of AI
The month’s programming concluded on October 29 with the first installment of the 2025-26 Conversations with the Head series. To engage in a general discussion around AI and its far-reaching impact, Head of School Randall Dunn welcomed Director of Academic Technology Daren Khairule, current parent and NVIDIA Executive Communications alum Kevin Acocella, and co-leader of the RCDS AI Club Felipe Quintero Ochoa ’26. Together, the multi-generational panel explored the rapid evolution of AI and its growing influence on education, careers, and daily life.

Each of the panelists offered their insights on the following topics:

• The evolution and current capabilities of AI
• The technology’s influence on education, jobs, and career pathways
• How students and parents can prepare for an AI-driven future
• AI safety, ethics, and responsible use

Parents also shared how AI has become part of daily routines, from homework and writing assistance to creative exploration, and raised meaningful questions around privacy, digital trust, and the role of human judgment in an algorithmic world.

To support continued exploration and education, the panelists curated the following articles, books, and podcasts for the RCDS community to explore:

• Your Brain on ChatGPT
• Cognitive Debt: What I Learned from MIT’s Paper on AI and Brain Atrophy 
• The Opposite of Cheating 
• Co-Intelligence
• The AI Forecast: Redefining Learning
• Fresh Air: Having a Child in AI Era
• The Techno Optimist’s Guide to Futureproofing Your Child (Subscription)
• Best Of: Education & A.I. / Having A Child In The Digital Age (Podcast)
• Cognitive Debt: What I learned from MIT’s paper on AI and brain atrophy
• Agentic AI Has Arrived - by Eric Hudson
• Navigating the AI Policy Landscape in Schools (Video)

“Our ongoing work in understanding and policy-setting around AI reflects our commitment to developing adaptive thinkers, creative collaborators, and ethical leaders, ensuring that students are prepared to lead with both intellect and integrity in an AI-powered world,” shared Dr. Khairule. “I am grateful to our parents and guardians  for their energetic engagement in these events and to their appreciation for our methodical approach.”


In a follow-up note to parents/guardians who attended Conversations with the Head, Dr. Khairule emphasized that human judgment is guiding the use of artificial intelligence at RCDS. He also shared the School’s belief that teachers should be transparent and ethical when helping students navigate AI because students must learn to question AI outputs and become critical users of this technology. His letter highlighted five essential skills–central to the RCDS curriculum–that students must develop before using AI tools: curiosity, resilience, systems thinking, learning how to learn, and asking better questions. Equipping students with these skills, shared Dr. Khairule, enables them to remain in control of AI rather than passively relying on it.

In the spring, Rye Country Day School’s Academic Technology program will launch a new AI Research and Resources webpage in the spring to support families and share more about the School’s commitment to  academic excellence through ethical, student-centered innovation.