Homecoming and Alumni Weekend 2019

The SRDS campus was alive with high energy during the week leading up to Homecoming. "Rebel Spirit Week" was in full swing for all grades with a different theme each day, including character day, twin day, throwback Thursday, grade color days and of course, REBEL spirit day. Friday morning, the entire student body participated in a field day, organized by the Student Council. 

Homecoming and Alumni Reunion Weekend officially began as we welcomed back the 2019 Distinguished Alumnus Michael Rodriguez '12, who spoke to the upper school about his journey from SRDS to Columbia University and now as an Animated TV Writer who writes for Netflix, Nick Jr., PBS and Sesame Workshop. He has most recently been selected as a Writer's Guild of America "Made in New York" Fellow and was awarded an Emerging Content Creator Scholarship from NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) and participated in their creators workshop in Los Angeles in early October.

The festivities continued on Friday night at the Brick House in Wyckoff, NJ with a record turn out where alumni gathered from all decades to reconnect and honor the accomplishments of seven SRDS alumni. In addition to Michael Rodriguez, six others were recognized for their accomplishments during their time at SRDS, in college and beyond: Justin Clark '09 (Fordham Gabelli School of Business), Skylar Gottlieb '12 (Barnard College), Jay Gaunt '12 (NYU), Danielle Piacentile '13 (Dartmouth College) were honored for their contributions to the arts; Gabrielle "Gabby" Mathelier '13 (Stevens Institute of Technology) and Olivia Pelletiere '13 (Vanderbilt University) were recognized for their contributions to athletics. Each of them spoke of how SRDS gave them a foundation for success by challenging them academically and allowing them to participate in multiple facets of campus life, surrounded by faculty and staff who truly cared about them as individuals and supported them through both failure and success to help them grow.

On Saturday, the SRDS campus was filled with families, faculty, alumni and friends for Homecoming. Booths represented various student interests and organizations such as a "pudding bar" for breast cancer awareness sponsored by the Middle School, Student Council selling Rebel gear, an upper school Human Rights Initiative club offered Spooky Snacks, pumpkin painting, and our new Rebels Athletic Club to support athletics at SRDS. This year saw the first ever Cornhole Tournament, which was a huge hit! In addition, the SRDS sports teams won 2 out of the 3 athletic contests and as usual, great food was provided by fan fav, Chef Mark and his crew. A good time was had by all!