Seniors' Last Hurrah

With just weeks before their graduation, Ranney seniors were busy taking part in a wide variety of activities that included many Ranney traditions, among them “Senior Days of Service,” where Ranney students give back to the local community. They also participated in “Senior Transition Day” and had the opportunity to hear from several expert speakers on how to make the transition from high school to college.  In addition, seniors took part in the “Upper School Diversity and Global Awareness Day,” where they explored complex issues regarding race and also learned how to shape the growth and success of the world through global problem-solving.

Senior Days of Service

Created in lieu of senior final exams, the Class of 2010 began their first day of service to the community by participating in a Tinton Falls clean up day on May 17. They began at Pinebrook Park and ended on Hockhoxen Road.

On Tuesday, May 18, students were divided into two groups. The first group went to Lunch Break, one of Monmouth County’s oldest soup kitchens based in Red Bank, where they served lunch, organized the pantry, cleaned the cafeteria, and completed other household tasks. The second group of seniors visited Kensington Court, a senior citizen assisted-living community and participated in various arts and crafts projects in preparation for an upcoming luau in June. Ranney students also served lunch, painted murals and entertained residents with special piano performances by seniors Kara Santora and Jeremy Lessing.

Later that day, seniors were treated to a luncheon hosted by Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff at Rooney’s in Long Branch, followed by ice cream at Strollo’s to round out a very fulfilling day.

Senior Transition Day

On May 19, seniors enjoyed a special breakfast with Beginners in the Commons. The generation gap was of little importance as Ranney’s youngest students were delighted to spend quality time with graduating seniors. Beginners also enjoyed story time as senior Matthew Simpson read them a story entitled “The Treasure.”

Following breakfast, seniors participated in a series of seminars that begin with a presentation on “Making College and Career Count” led by Jean Fedora. The program and book have been featured on CBS, NBC, and CNN, and in The New York Times and USA Today.  Other guest speakers included Joe Hodge of The College of New Jersey and Mark Fisher of Rider University who gave an interactive presentation on living a healthy college lifestyle.

The day concluded with the traditional Senior Farewell and Senior March which began in RSPA Panther Hall where Upper School history teacher and senior class advisor Linda Abrams addressed students offering them her warmest wishes and best advice.  "I have been asked to send you off with a few words of wisdom, " began Linda. "So here is what I have for you, the path to a happy and successful life. Live each day with intention. Wake up each morning, or afternoon, with a plan. Life is really just a series of days strung together. So if you want to live a good life, you have to live a good day which for me involves loving with abandon, working hard, and doing what I enjoy. At the end of each day, when I put my head on the pillow I have a little check list with just those three items on it love, work, fun. Once I have tallied the day’s score, I am ready for sleep. And then the next day, I do it again. That’s it. No magic, no secret, no happy pill necessary. Just intention."

Dr. Sykoff, Head of School, joined Ms. Abrams in her sentiments saying, "More than anything else, more than our championships, our college acceptances or any statistics, what really matters is our relationsships - our relationships between teachers and students.  That is why Ranney is so revered."  He went on to reflect on all the changes that have occurred at Ranney over the years and how the school has affectionately been referred to as "Ranneyland".  He then urged the seniors to do three things: remember to stand for something; learn through transition and difficult moments; and pursue something outside your academic/professional life.  "This will give your life focus and wholeness," offered Dr. Sykoff.

With that, the entire Ranney community lined up in the school hallways and outside to bid farewell to the senior class as they marched through the Upper School to the Senior parking lot for the very last time and received their personally engraved yearbooks and a symbolic key chain with key to Ranney School.

Upper School Diversity and Global Awareness Day

On May 20, seniors learned about the complexity of race, identity, self-awareness and acceptance with Incognito, a solo-show by Michael Fosberg, who discovered after 32 years growing up in a white-middle class family, that he was black. Ranney’s student organization club, THINK, led debriefing activities outdoors following the moving presentation. Students also enjoyed an international food festival catered by FLIK food services.

Later that day, the entire Upper School took part in the OS World Simulation Workshop. The Global Simulation is a 3 ½ hour experiential event that allows students to see the win/win nature of globally responsible sustainable development by introducing a systems thinking approach to solving problems.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.