Written by Sophia Shen

As the school day comes to an end for Rye Country Day Upper School students, several students step back into the classroom as teachers, creating a world of engagement for younger students from neighboring school districts. Student-Centered Outreach, Partnership, and Enrichment (SCOPE) is one of Rye Country Day’s many public-purpose programs designed to support the nearby community. On Mondays and Wednesdays in January and February every year, fourth and fifth-grade students from nearby Port Chester schools, including John F. Kennedy Elementary School and Park Avenue School, have the opportunity to learn from several RCDS student volunteers.

SCOPE is designed to provide humanities-based learning opportunities; as fourth graders enter the classroom reading books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, fifth graders are next door learning about civil rights and women’s suffrage. Ms. Drago, director of Public Purpose, argues that these meticulously planned lessons allow students to “develop a love of reading, writing, and history and further explore these subjects.” Because students come from schools with a larger student-teacher ratio, the one-on-one time they experience during SCOPE is truly beneficial in developing both their academics and personal confidence. When reflecting on her experience as a volunteer, Mia Herz ‘26 said that her favorite part is watching the kids’ personalities emerge. “On the first day, they’re always really shy, but by the end of the sessions they’re super excited to be there, share their writing, and read aloud in class.” 

This year, SCOPE is back in session, with RCDS volunteers Ambika Nott ‘25, Sydney Winter ‘25, Zander Stempel ‘25, Lavender Kerridge ‘26, Mia Herz ‘26, and Julia Gallardo ‘26 leading the program. As these students work hard to create engaging, exciting curriculums, they’ve become innovative in planning videos, readings, writing activities, projects, and class readings. Creating lesson plans “causes student volunteers to reflect on their own experiences and think about what’s worked for them,” said Ms. Drago. “They grow and develop a strong sense of responsibility during the program.” As a whole, SCOPE benefits both younger students and older volunteers while building relationships and forming personal connections across towns.