JUNETEENTH 2025
In recognition of Juneteenth, the 7th grade students of social studies teacher (and CC board member), Henry Frischknecht, researched important dates in black history in New York State, and Rhinebeck specifically. Under the guidance of local artist and CulturalConnect board member Ben Pinder, they learned about the famous black artist Jacob Lawrence and his 60 painting series that documents the Great Migration of black Americans from the south to the north from 1910-1970. Using Lawrence’s paintings and style as inspiration, students created their own paintings depicting the historic events they researched, and placed them chronologically down Market St. in Rhinebeck, from Town Hall to the traffic light. Hope you got to see their thoughtful efforts while they hung in the Village.
LATE Night At The Museum 2025
(CCS BARD Hessel Museum of Art )
LATE Night At The Museum was such a blast for students and chaperone’s alike! The night kicked off with an engaged discussion in one of the galleries, with student curator, Zuhra Amini, and fiber artist, Hangama Amiri, whose pieces were included in Zuhra‘s curation. The students felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions, and respectfully listened to our fabulous speakers, and explored the art with interest.
After a quick sustenance break of pizza and popcorn, we got to head back and explore the rest of the galleries with CC board-member host, Ben Pinder, sharing thoughtful insight regarding methods, materials, interpretations and more. There is something truly thrilling about getting to be somewhere you usually don’t get to be, and the students definitely felt the excitement.
As the beautiful sunset took over the sky, the students spent the rest of the evening taking what they had absorbed over the course of the night, and channeling it towards creating their own fiber artworks.
Congratulations to the winners of the
Madagascar Year in Eateries Raffle!
3rd Prize Winner of The Traveler basket is Michaela M.
2nd Prize Winner of The Early Bird gift cards is Mary V.
1st Prize Winner of The Gourmand 12 restaurant gift cards is Louis T!
Thank you to everyone who bought tickets to support the students!
View the video to see the official winner drawing held on February 1.
Madagascar Day 2021
On October 22, Rhinebeck Schools once again held Madagascar Day, a half day of creative activities related to learning about Madagascar. While centered in the middle school, children at many grade levels participate. CultureConnect and Zara Aina partner with the school for this annual event.
