RCDS Community Spreads Cheer During COVID-19 Crisis

As the coronavirus pandemic has forced a number of restrictions on our daily lives, there is no limit to how The Rumson Country Day School community is spreading positivity and supporting others in this time of need.

“Along with our can-do spirit, RCDS’s devotion to tight-knit relationships and commitment to our four pillars – Kind, Honest, Responsible, Respectful – will continue to guide us through this challenging time,” said Head of School Jayne Geiger.

That can-do spirit has inspired RCDS teachers, students and their families to collaborate and encourage creative, safe and effective ways to help each other, local businesses, essential workers, medical personnel and first responders.

Individual acts of kindness like delivering flowers and sewing masks for essential employees have grown into community-wide efforts which include drive-by birthday caravans and the donation of protective eye gear from the RCDS woodshop and science labs. The RCDS parent body continues to organize meal deliveries to hospitals to support local restaurants and thank those on the frontlines of the pandemic. Students are creating artwork, homemade crossword puzzles and word searches to be distributed to the residents at the Meridian Nursing and Rehab Facility in Shrewsbury.

Meanwhile faculty members are tying optimism efforts into their curriculum. RCDS art teachers Melissa Petersen and Michael White have assigned students with the task to create rainbows to display in their windows giving students a safe opportunity to spread cheer from home. First grade teacher Erin Brennan has asked her students to write journal entries to recognize people they are proud of.

“This unprecedented time has forced us to pause and pivot in order to continue RCDS’s mission to raise socially-aware and compassionate students,” said Melissa Petersen. “We will not let this get in the way of spreading kindness in our community.”