The old aphorism that the most valuable learning takes place outside of the classroom is one with which we are all familiar. Without negating the value of the classroom experience, RCDS has long believed that the lessons learned outside of the classroom are invaluable. Experiential learning through community service projects, work-study programs, independent study projects and internships has long been a hallmark of the RCDS experience.

In 2007, the school formally joined the WISE program, a 35-year old program with an international record of success in enriching the academic life of high schools.  As a strong antidote to ’senioritis,’ WISE requires that seniors design, complete, and then share their reflections on the process of a broad-ranging independent project in the second half of their senior year. The goal is for each individual to challenge, stretch and create something new for themselves, then share their results in a public forum, with feedback from a team of staff, parents and fellow students. This year’s senior class embarked on a wide range of WISE projects, from internships at community agencies and businesses, to research projects and cultural-artistic events, to performance-based presentations:

• Jason Avezzano: Documentary-Wise, a documentary on his classmates WISE projects;
• Julian Aronowitz: How Boring Numbers Can Turn into a Podcast, a study on and creation of podcasts;
• Hailey Fyfe: My Dad the Principal, creation of a one scene sit-com;
• Gabriela Garcia: Internship at Stephan Weiss Studio, a nonprofit event planning group operated by Donna Karan;
• Adam Geber and Matthew Zeltzer: Working with Ron Breland in RCDS’ Organic Garden;
• Santos Irwin: Internship at Main Essentials, a Nyack vegan restaurant;
• Ben Kapilow: Seventeen Personalities: A Song Cycle (now available on CD), a song cycle on each member of the senior class;
• Molly Klinghoffer: An outline and the first three chapters of a thriller novel;
• Amelia Martin: RCDS Perspectives, a photo essay based on five RCDS’ students, using i-LIFE;
• Andrew Merinoff: Internship in a catering establishment to explore the relationship between the culinary “business” and sustainability;
• Kyung Ho Lee: The Changing RCDS Landscape, six paintings of the RCDS landscape in different lights based on Monet’s Rouen series;
• Julie Needelman: Internship at Good Samaritan Hospital and the Nanuet Ambulance Corps;
• Haley Pessin: Internship at The Journal News, learning journalistic techniques and understanding the complex realities of local journalism;
• Florencia Sadler: Internship at Itz My Party, the business of alum parent Linda Miller P’09 which creates party products for various types of events;
• Lucas Schachter: Interned at TGI Healthworks, a nonprofit co-founded by alum and trustee Seth Ginsberg ’99;
• Ian Stiskin: Worked with fellow RCDSers Noam Eisen ’09 and Uriel Eisen ’11 on their automotive design project