By Isabel McFarland
After many treasured years at RPCS, numerous alumni return to pass the passion that they experienced on to their students. To many former Reds, RPCS has created a warm and welcoming environment that draws them back.
Ms. Diver, class of 2006, attended RPCS from kindergarten through 12th grade. As a 13-year student, she always wanted to return to teach and was very excited when the opportunity arose right after graduate school. As both a student and teacher at RPCS, Ms. Diver adores the sense of community and the connections that are formed. She says, “It’s a school under one roof. So where else can you just be passing in the hall and simply see Lower School students intermingling with Upper School students and the sense of community here? My teachers made such a positive impact on my life that to then have the opportunity to hopefully make an impact on someone else’s life seemed like the dream to me.”
Similarly, the RPCS teachers strongly influenced Ms. Riina, class of 2008, making it a large reason why she returned. “The teachers here were truly supportive. I grew as a person both academically and personally in their classrooms, and I could tell that my teachers really believed in me,” she says. In addition to her teachers playing a big role in why she returned, Ms. Riina learned that she loved working with kids from time as a counselor at a summer camp. She then reached out to her past teachers with questions. It just so happened that the timing worked out perfectly. There was an open position in the science department when she was searching for jobs. Working at RPCS has brought back many fond memories of the close-knit community and its traditions for Ms. Riina.
Ms. Short, class of 2001, has a deep love for all of RPCS. “The arts are really appreciated here, the performing arts especially. I wanted to teach performing arts, and I was so excited to return,” she says. Ms. Short adds, “As you know Ms. Botts was working here when I returned. It was amazing to work with her again, as she was my mentor growing up.” Transitioning from a student to a teacher at RPCS, Ms. Short loves “inspiring dancers” as she was inspired here. Ms. Short says, “Watching students grow and progress from Rosebuds to Upper schoolers that I now teach is so wonderful to see.”
Despite their different paths and reasons for returning to RPCS, these teaching alumni all greatly enjoy creating connections with students through a shared love for the school. One beloved memory that all three teachers commemorate is Opening Day, showing that no matter how many years a person has spent here, the joy and spirit of RPCS brings everyone all together again. As we all say during the convocation: we’re here, we’re here!
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