South Orangetown Central School District

Incoming ninth graders and their families had the opportunity to visit Tappan Zee High School for an interactive building tour last evening.

Students and families were welcomed by members of the TZHS PTSA before TZHS Principal Rudy Arietta held a brief presentation in the auditorium before the tours began to welcome everyone as well as introduce TZHS Assistant Principals Richard Neidhart and Melissa Luciano and Interim Superintendent of Schools Ileana Eckert. “The purpose of this event is to begin forming relationships with you all as you prepare to graduate from middle school. We truly value building positive relationships between our students and staff. It’s the bedrock of everything we do here at Tappan Zee,” explained Arietta. “We want you all to get to know and interact with staff as well as students that are here tonight and ask them any questions you may have.”

TZHS student leaders led tours to visit various classrooms throughout the building so eighth graders could meet with representatives from each department including all core subjects, world language, art, music, computer science, business and the Counseling Department. Students also got to visit common areas including the TZHS library, cafeteria and gymnasium.

Over the next several months, eighth graders will have more opportunities to become better acclimated with the high school including smaller building tours that will be offered over the summer.

Tappan Zee High School administrators and Superintendent Ileana Eckert