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Coordinates: 40°53′59″N 73°54′03″W / 40.89968°N 73.900863°W / 40.89968; -73.900863
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==History==
==History==
Founded in 1907 by Frank Sutliff Hackett (1878-1952) and his first wife, Francis Dean (Allen) Hackett, Riverdale Country School is one of the oldest [[Country Day School movement|country day schools]] in the United States. The school, originally known as the Riverdale School for Boys, began with 12 boys and four teachers.<ref>https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hackett-park/history</ref> Describing his school as "an American experiment in education," Hackett told The New York Times: "We have tried to transform schools from mere nurseries of the brain into a means of nourishing the whole boy — mind, body, and spirit." <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0</ref> In 1912, Hackett started Camp Riverdale at Long Lake in the Adirondacks to provide summer recreation for his students. The camp eventually attracted boys from around the world until it changed ownership in 1964.<ref>http://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/library/9677B808-BC46-457D-9D64-193156699340</ref> In 1924, Hackett started the Neighborhood School for boys and girls from grades one to three, and in 1933, the Riverdale Girls School. By World War II, one student in six or seven came from another country;<ref>Quickened Spirit: A Biography of Frank S. Hackett," by Allen Hackett; the Riverdale Country School, 1957</ref> Hackett dreamed of expanding the school into an "American World School" and acquired a new site in Riverdale.<ref>"Riverdale's World School Plans," by Murray Illson; The New York Times, April 27, 1947</ref> In 1948, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, spoke at a dedication ceremony at the site.<ref>"Eisenhower Calls Schools Peace Key: Says At Riverdale Dedication Education Can Defeat Men Seeking Personal Power," The New York Times, Oct. 17, 1948</ref> Hackett died before his dream was realized, and the property was sold. In 1972, the Boys and Girls Schools were combined with the Neighborhood School to form a co-educational school for PreK through grade 12. In 1985, the Middle and Upper Schools were consolidated on the Hill Campus and the Lower School on the River Campus. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0</ref>Hackett was an organizer of the Guild of Independent Schools of New York City, and an organizer and president of the [[Adirondack Mountain Club]].<ref>Dr. Frank Hackett obituary, The New York Times, Feb. 7, 1952</ref>
Founded in 1907 by Frank Sutliff Hackett (1878-1952) and his first wife, Francis Dean (Allen) Hackett, Riverdale Country School is one of the oldest [[Country Day School movement|country day schools]] in the United States. The school, originally known as the Riverdale School for Boys, began with 12 boys and four teachers.<ref>https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hackett-park/history</ref> Describing his school as "an American experiment in education," Hackett told The New York Times: "We have tried to transform schools from mere nurseries of the brain into a means of nourishing the whole boy — mind, body, and spirit." <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0</ref> In 1912, Hackett started Camp Riverdale at Long Lake in the Adirondacks to provide summer recreation for his students. The camp eventually attracted boys from around the world until it changed ownership in 1964.<ref>http://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/library/9677B808-BC46-457D-9D64-193156699340</ref> In 1924, Hackett started the Neighborhood School for boys and girls from grades one to three, and in 1933, the Riverdale Girls School. By World War II, one student in six or seven came from another country;<ref>Quickened Spirit: A Biography of Frank S. Hackett," by Allen Hackett; the Riverdale Country School, 1957</ref> Hackett dreamed of expanding the school into an "American World School" and acquired a new site in Riverdale.<ref>"Riverdale's World School Plans," by Murray Illson; The New York Times, April 27, 1947</ref> In 1948, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, spoke at a dedication ceremony at the site.<ref>"Eisenhower Calls Schools Peace Key: Says At Riverdale Dedication Education Can Defeat Men Seeking Personal Power," The New York Times, Oct. 17, 1948</ref> Hackett died before his dream was realized, and the property was sold. In 1972, the Boys and Girls Schools were combined with the Neighborhood School to form a co-educational school for PreK through grade 12. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0</ref> In 1985, the Middle and Upper Schools were consolidated on the Hill Campus and the Lower School on the River Campus. Hackett was an organizer of the Guild of Independent Schools of New York City, and an organizer and president of the [[Adirondack Mountain Club]].<ref>Dr. Frank Hackett obituary, The New York Times, Feb. 7, 1952</ref>


==Buildings==
==Buildings==

Revision as of 13:36, 4 November 2016

Riverdale Country School
Address
Map
5250 Fieldston Road (Hill Campus), 1 Spaulding Lane (River Campus)

Riverdale
,
New York
10471

United States
Coordinates40°53′59″N 73°54′03″W / 40.89968°N 73.900863°W / 40.89968; -73.900863
Information
TypePrivate
Independent school
College preparatory school
MottoMind, Character, Community
Established1907
FounderFrank S. Hackett
HeadmasterDominic A.A. Randolph
GradesPre-K-5 at the River Campus and 6-12 at the Hill Campus
Enrollmentapprox. 1140
CampusSuburban
Color(s)Maroon and Gray
Athletics conferenceIvy Prep
NYSAISAA
MascotFalcon
AccreditationNew York State Association of Independent Schools
NewspaperThe Riverdale Review
YearbookThe Riverdalian
WebsiteSchool website

Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City. It is located on two campuses covering more than 27 acres (110,000 m2) in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, New York.

History

Founded in 1907 by Frank Sutliff Hackett (1878-1952) and his first wife, Francis Dean (Allen) Hackett, Riverdale Country School is one of the oldest country day schools in the United States. The school, originally known as the Riverdale School for Boys, began with 12 boys and four teachers.[1] Describing his school as "an American experiment in education," Hackett told The New York Times: "We have tried to transform schools from mere nurseries of the brain into a means of nourishing the whole boy — mind, body, and spirit." [2] In 1912, Hackett started Camp Riverdale at Long Lake in the Adirondacks to provide summer recreation for his students. The camp eventually attracted boys from around the world until it changed ownership in 1964.[3] In 1924, Hackett started the Neighborhood School for boys and girls from grades one to three, and in 1933, the Riverdale Girls School. By World War II, one student in six or seven came from another country;[4] Hackett dreamed of expanding the school into an "American World School" and acquired a new site in Riverdale.[5] In 1948, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, then president of Columbia University, spoke at a dedication ceremony at the site.[6] Hackett died before his dream was realized, and the property was sold. In 1972, the Boys and Girls Schools were combined with the Neighborhood School to form a co-educational school for PreK through grade 12. [7] In 1985, the Middle and Upper Schools were consolidated on the Hill Campus and the Lower School on the River Campus. Hackett was an organizer of the Guild of Independent Schools of New York City, and an organizer and president of the Adirondack Mountain Club.[8]

Buildings

The River Campus of Riverdale Country School
The entrance sign at the Upper Campus

Covering 19.5 acres, the Hill Campus includes Hackett Hall (named after the school's founder), Mow Hall, Lindenbaum Center for the Arts, the Lenni Benson Building (aka the 9-10 Building), Vinik Hall (the Admissions Building), the Weinstein Science Building, the Science Annex, the Day Care, and the P. Gordon B. Stillman Amphitheater. An aquatic center is under construction. The Hill Campus has three playing fields (Frankel Field, Alumni Field, and the Frank J. Bertino Memorial field) and tennis courts. The Marc A. Zambetti '80 Athletic Center includes a gymnasium, fencing room, and workout room. It is currently being renovated to add a second gymnasium and an expanded health/fitness center.

The River Campus sits on eight acres by the Hudson River. The buildings on the River Campus are the Early Learning Building (PreK through second grade classrooms and the gymnasium), the Senior Building (classrooms for drawing, painting, and sculpture), the Upper Learning Building (completed in 2016; includes a theater, cafeteria, classrooms for third through fifth grade, and multi-purpose spaces), the Admissions/Junior building (includes the Lower School head's office, the Learning Commons, and Admissions). The River Campus also has tennis courts, a playing field, a greenhouse, gardens, and a playground.

School dynamics

Riverdale has two campus areas: the River Campus (grades Pre-K–5 known as the Lower School), and the Hill Campus (grades 6–8 known as the Middle School, and 9–12 known as the Upper School). The River Campus received its name because of its location beside the Hudson River; the Hill Campus, overlooking Van Cortlandt Park, was named for its location as well.

Riverdale currently has an enrollment of approximately 1140 students (River Campus, 375; Hill Campus, 765). Dominic Randolph was appointed the sixth Head of School in 2007.

Riverdale is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools.[9]

Arts and activities

Riverdale has an arts program, offering courses in music theory and composition, acting technique, studio art, and film analysis. Upper School students produce one musical and one play each year in the Jeslo Harris theatre. Riverdale students may participate in the jazz and concert bands, orchestra, chamber music ensembles, chorus, and the a cappella singing group. Riverdale also has clubs and activities.

Student life

Student publications

The Riverdale Review is Riverdale's student-run paper.[10] Impressions, has published the visual art and creative writing of students in the Upper School for almost 30 years.[11] Crossroads is Riverdale’s Middle School Literary and Art Magazine.[12] The Falcon Times is the newsletter of the Middle School.[13]

Athletics

In the spring of 2013 crew was introduced as a varsity sport for boys and girls. In the 2013-14 school year, wrestling was officially cut from the list of sports.

Sports teams

Interscholastic Athletic Teams
Sport Season Gender
Baseball Spring Boys'
Basketball Winter Boys', Girls'
Cross-Country Fall Girls', Boys'
Field Hockey Fall Girls'
Fencing Winter Boys', Girls'
Football Fall Boys'
Golf Spring Boys', Girls'
Gymnastics Winter Girls'
Lacrosse Spring Boys', Girls'
Soccer Fall Boys', Girls'
Softball Spring Girls'
Squash Winter Boys', Girls'
Swimming Winter Boys', Girls'
Tennis Fall (Girls'), Spring (Boys') Boys', Girls'
Track Winter Boys', Girls'
Ultimate (Frisbee) Spring Boys', Girls', Coed
Volleyball Fall Girls'
Crew Spring Boys', Girls

Notable alumni

Notable staff

Nathan M. Pusey, president of Harvard University, (1953-1971) taught at Riverdale Country School [23] as did Victor L. Butterfield, president of Wesleyan University (1943-1967).[24]

Associations

Riverdale is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League and the New York State Association of Independent Schools.[25]

The "Hill Schools": Riverdale Country School, The Fieldston School, and Horace Mann School together are known as the "Hill Schools," as all three are located within two miles (3 km) of each other in the neighborhood of Riverdale on a hilly area above Van Cortlandt Park.

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/hackett-park/history
  2. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0
  3. ^ http://adirondack.pastperfectonline.com/library/9677B808-BC46-457D-9D64-193156699340
  4. ^ Quickened Spirit: A Biography of Frank S. Hackett," by Allen Hackett; the Riverdale Country School, 1957
  5. ^ "Riverdale's World School Plans," by Murray Illson; The New York Times, April 27, 1947
  6. ^ "Eisenhower Calls Schools Peace Key: Says At Riverdale Dedication Education Can Defeat Men Seeking Personal Power," The New York Times, Oct. 17, 1948
  7. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/03/archives/new-headmaster-to-take-over-at-riverdale-as-it-turns-coed.html?_r=0
  8. ^ Dr. Frank Hackett obituary, The New York Times, Feb. 7, 1952
  9. ^ Riverdale Statistics[dead link]
  10. ^ Riverdale Country School ~ Riverdale Review
  11. ^ Riverdale Country School ~ Impressions
  12. ^ Riverdale Country School ~ Crossroads
  13. ^ Riverdale Country School ~ Falcon Times
  14. ^ Illson, Murray. "INTERVIEW; U.S. Attorney at Age 31", The New York Times, July 17, 1977. Accessed December 15, 2008.(subscription required)
  15. ^ Buffa, Denise; Fermino, Jennifer; and Mangan, Dan. "PERP SCHOOL: '500G THIEF' BOOKKEEPER BUSTED AT RITZY RIVERDALE", New York Post, May 25, 2007. Accessed October 23, 2008. Archived 2007-09-13 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Diamond, David. "James Gleick's Survival Lessons", Wired, August 1999. Accessed June 17, 2009. "Gleick attended Riverdale Country School, where JFK once studied, and excelled in mathematics and science."
  17. ^ Wolfer, Sondra. "Olympic fencer Tim Morehouse takes his stab at being the best", New York Daily News, July 21, 2008. Accessed August 5, 2008. "As a young teen, Tim Morehouse took up fencing at the Riverdale Country School as an excuse to get out of gym class."
  18. ^ IRITANI, EVELYN (28 September 1997). "Back to His Future". Retrieved 1 November 2016 – via LA Times.
  19. ^ "Bill Mow 2/15 - Asian American Rags to Riches Success Stories - GoldSea". goldsea.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  20. ^ "Articles about William C W Mow - latimes". latimes.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  21. ^ "Bugle Boy to Battle on New Fronts : The firm's founder overcame personal and business woes to build a top clothing firm. : Now his company aims for new markets." by Barry Stavro, Los Angeles Times, August 08, 1989.
  22. ^ "The Ticker - Bugle Boy Files For Bankruptcy," by The Associated Press, New York Daily News, February 3, 2001.
  23. ^ "Nathan Pusey, Harvard President Through Growth and Turmoil Alike, Dies at 94". The New York Times. 15 November 2001. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  24. ^ "Victor L. Butterfield, Office of the President - Wesleyan University". wesleyan.edu. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  25. ^ "New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS): Riverdale Country School". nysais.org. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
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