Parents Association

Chair: Isabel Jolly
When: February 26, 2022

The Arts Festival and International Fair is a warm and welcoming annual event bringing together the entire Rye Country Day community to celebrate the arts and traditions from around the world. We gather to enjoy student works and performances, and the Parents Association hosts a delicious pot luck lunch which features foods from around the world representing the heritage of many of our families. This is a day not to be missed.

Chairs: Lea Stevens, Lisa Fallon, Loren Dinger, Blair Metrailler, Carrie Berg
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Athletic Booster Committee is all about school spirit. The committee supports the athletic teams and hosts special events to help the Athletic Department promote attendance and spirit at sporting events. The committee hosts a concession stand at certain home and tournament games, helps the Athletic Department and Alumni office coordinate Wildcat Weekend, and provides free spirit giveaways during highlighted games. The committee’s mission is to help support RCDS athletes through spirit by building a strong RCDS fan base. The Boosters also coordinate with the Upper School and Middle School Student Spirit Committees to help raise awareness by communicating upcoming team events to the student body and their families. If you love sports and are a closet cheerleader, this committee is for you. GO WILDCATS!

Chairs: Jodi Buchbinder, Karen Schwalbe
When: 2021-2022 School Year

The Caring Committee offers support and assistance to any RCDS family experiencing a crisis, such as a medical condition that impairs a family member, a death in the family, or any significant hardship.  Any community member can notify the caring committee of a family that could benefit from RCDS support.  Further, grade level liaisons are asked to keep the Caring Committee informed. The caring committee will meet at a minimum two times a year and on a more frequent basis at times when community member(s) require increased support.

Chairs: Ellen-Jane Moss, Michele Gershwin
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Environmental and Wellness Committee promotes sustainability and wellness at RCDS and at home, working with the faculty chair of the RCDS Balance and Wellness Committee and the RCDS Director of Sustainability. The committee also organizes events through out the year, which, in past years, have included discussions on solar energy, organic gardening, composting, raising chickens, using non-toxic home care products, healthy eating, qi gong, and acupuncture, to name a few.

Chairs: Kim Cornell and TBD
When: April 5, 2022

The PA hosts this luncheon for all RCDS faculty and staff as a show of appreciation for all that they do for our children. The committee decides on a theme and organizes food, décor, and gifts for faculty and staff. The committee coordinates volunteers to staff the student dining rooms so that all faculty and staff can be free to enjoy this special lunch in their honor.
 

Chairs: Lise White, Yvette Hammel
When: November 3-5

The RCDS Book Fair & Gift Boutique is well loved by the RCDS community. The Fair raises a substantial portion of the PA’s funds and provides the perfect opportunity to shop for books, enjoy food, find special gifts, and socialize with friends. Outside vendors sell a variety of items such as clothing, jewelry, stationery, accessories, kids’ games and more. There are a number of ways to get involved, including joining the committee, working a shift at the fairs, or donating food or raffle items. The Book Fair & Gift Boutique will have a public purpose component to support the school’s curriculum and public purpose initiatives. The Fair is a great way for new parents to get involved. Please note that volunteers for shifts at the Book Fair & Gift Boutique will be solicited at a later date, please volunteer now to be part of the Book Fair & Gift Boutique committee.

Chairs: Jennifer Helgesen, Tess James, Carrie Krow
When: October 6 2021

Each fall, the PA hosts a festive and fun luncheon to kick off the new school year. The luncheon is purely social, providing an enjoyable afternoon for parents to reconnect after the summer and to welcome new families. The Fall Luncheon has a Public Purpose component to support the school’s curriculum and Public Purpose initiatives. The committee plans the luncheon, selects the location, sends invitations, decorates the venue, and runs the event.

Chairs: Taylor Kearns
When: January 9, 2022

It might be cold outside in early January, but warm-hearted fun goes on at the annual Family Skating Party. Skaters and non-skaters alike are encouraged to come out and enjoy an afternoon of fun together with friends after winter break. What could be more fun than skating with Willy the Wildcat? Volunteer jobs include promoting the event and coordinating decorations and refreshments.

Chairs: Lisa Harkness, Laurie Ballantoni, Josephine Moore
When: 2021-2022 school year

This committee’s goal is support for the arts at RCDS and our talented student body, faculty and staff. Committee members work to promote and generate excitement for all arts events at RCDS. Volunteers are needed for publicity and hospitality for concerts, plays, and various other performances and cultural events. Volunteers are also needed for the Festival Chorus Luncheon, hosted the day prior to the Festival Chorus performance during the full day dress rehearsal for the cast, which includes students, alumni, faculty, staff, family, and friends of RCDS.

Host Family Coordinator and Upper School Chair: Uma Khemlani
Middle School Chair: Denise Shah
Lower School Chair: Elizabeth Norquist, Sam Woodruff
When: 2021-2022 school year

RCDS welcomes approximately 100 new students and their families each year into the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools. Current families play a valuable role by becoming Host Families, welcoming new families into the school. These Host Families help create a positive transition into the RCDS community through introductory phone calls, being a friendly face in the crowd, and acting as a point person for questions. Host Families are asked to invite new families to join them at PA events and to be available as a resource throughout the school year. If you have a child entering Kindergarten, 4th, 6th or 9th grade in the 2020-2021 school year, please volunteer now to be a Host Family for that year.

Chairs: Deborah Katz, Shelby Nhaissi
When: February TBD

All families in Grades 2-4 are invited to an ice cream social held immediately following the Grades 2-4 Concert on February TBD. The social always provides a great opportunity for parents and children to meet and greet old and new friends. Volunteers are needed for planning, set up, clean up, and scooping.

Chairs: TBD
When: 2020-2021 school year

This committee provides Lower School families with a unique opportunity to capture memories of the school year for their children by putting together special yearbooks for each grade. Every book features a close-up of each child, as well as group shots and other surprises. Volunteers are needed in each grade to take photographs, create layouts, and coordinate ordering and distribution. The Lower School Photo Books are also an important fundraiser for the PA.

Coordinators: TBD
When: TBD

Are you looking for a great way to meet other parents and observe your child “in action” at school? Lunchroom volunteers help set up, serve, and clean up for our PreK, Kindergarten and First Grade students. All volunteers are welcome, but we encourage Kindergarten and First Grade parents to volunteer. Kindergarten lunch is served from 11:30 to 12:00 and First Grade lunch is served from 12:15-12:45. An orientation will be held in September.

Please note, a separate volunteer form is sent to families in Grades Pre-K, K, and 1.

Chairs: Caronine Garbutt, Elise Pearlmutter, Sarah Snell
When: 2019-2020 school year

The Parents’ Day Out Committee sponsors several fun day and evening events to provide opportunities for parents to get to know one another while enjoying unique cultural or culinary events. Help is needed to choose locales and coordinate events. Previous events have included private museum tours, hikes, cooking classes, Broadway plays, and lunches and tours at the Culinary Institute and Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

Chair: Margaret Wang
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Public Purpose Committee supports the programs and activities designed to live out our mission: not for self but for service. The PPC encourages our young people to actively engage in all-family, community building, partnership-driven programming - including the Can-Do Drive, the MLK Week of Social Impact, Days of Impact, and more. The PPC will help instill an ethic of doing good throughout life, while exploring the “why” behind service: what are the deeper issues at play, how do we encourage asking questions about society, and what is our larger role in the community. This group will meet roughly once a month in the evenings.

Chairs: Senior Liaisons
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Senior Events Committee organizes a cocktail party in the fall for parents of the senior class, a mid-year treat for the seniors around the time early college applications are due, the transition to college meeting, and the Senior Barbecue in early June. The committee is chaired by the Senior Liaisons. All senior parents are encouraged to join the committee to help plan these wonderful events for the senior class and their parents.

Chairs: TBD
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Speaker Series/Heard in Rye Committee works with Heard in Rye (a group of schools and organizations in Rye) and the RCDS Administration to identify and engage speakers who have expertise in a variety of parenting subjects.

Chairs: Yvette Hammel, Angie Gasparro
When: April 9, 2022

Every other year, the Parents Association plans a social and fundraising event to benefit the School. Parents, faculty, alumni and friends gather for an evening of fun, raising vital funds for student scholarships, faculty professional development grants, equipment grants, and Parents Association programs, to name a few. 

Chairs: Jessica Greenberger
When: Tentative: May 19, 2022

Each spring the PA hosts a Spring Luncheon and Annual Meeting for all parents to celebrate the end of the school year, and the efforts and contributions of parents to the PA and the school community. This committee coordinates the location, invitations, menu, and décor.

Chairs: TBD
When: 2021-2022 school year

The RCDS Community Connections (“RCC”) was created to support the school’s active commitment to building an inclusive and diverse learning community, one that understands and affirms the value of global citizenship and that respects and celebrates human differences and similarities. RCC strives to promote a welcoming environment in which all families can become active, contributing participants in our talented and vibrant school community. The committee meets regularly throughout the year to liaise with Ali Morgan, the Director of Diversity and Inclusion, to plan and sponsor parent programs/speakers and discussions on inclusion and diversity (focused on age, ability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status), to host events that celebrate diversity in our community, and to establish support programs for parents where they are needed.

Chairs: Lauren Steiner
When: 2021-2022 school year

The Wildcat Den sells school supplies, physical education clothing, RCDS logo clothing (in sizes Pre-K to adult), and other RCDS merchandise. The Den is staffed by two parent volunteers Monday through Friday, from 11:30-1:15, and from 3:00-4:00 during the first full week of school and on the first Friday of each month. Volunteers typically work twice per month on dates of their choosing. Shift sign-ups take place every two months. The opportunity to volunteer is open to all RCDS parents and is a terrific way for a parent to be part of the daily pace at RCDS. Volunteers will be provided with an orientation video.