The Rockville Centre School District is launching a new alumni network aimed at reconnecting South Side High School graduates with the school community and strengthening ties between past and present generations of students.
Through the revitalized initiative, South Side alumni will be able to engage in new ways with students, staff and one another. The district hopes the network will strengthen its connection with the larger Rockville Centre community and increase awareness of events and initiatives throughout the district.
“Revitalizing our alumni association is a vital effort that has been a core element of our strategic plan and a crucial component of the board’s goals,” Superintendent Matthew Gavin wrote in an email. “Rockville Centre alumni go on to do great things and provide positive role models for our students. This association strengthens the bond between past and present generations and creates a powerful network for student mentorship, career opportunity and community support.”
As each senior class of South Side students graduates, a new cohort of alumni enters the world. The district views the network as a way to keep graduates connected to their roots. It will also serve as a resource for students, giving alumni opportunities to return as guest speakers, mentors and career contacts who can offer insight into a wide range of professional fields.
The district plans to send regular newsletters throughout the year, highlighting achievements and showcasing ongoing initiatives. The updates will help keep alumni informed and engaged while deepening ties among them.
A central feature of the newsletter will be the Alumni Spotlight, which will gives former students the opportunity to share details about their professional journeys and their current careers with soon-to-be graduates. Spotlight participants will be selected to appear in the newsletter, where their stories will be shared with students, families and staff across the district.
To be considered for the Alumni Spotlight, participants are asked to complete a Google form with background information on their education and career experience — the year they graduated from South Side, the colleges they attended and the degrees they earned as well as details on their career path and any notable accomplishments or awards.
Alumni are also encouraged to reflect on their time at South Side by sharing favorite memories, and describing what the school meant to them. The form also asks for words of advice for current students, drawing from their personal and professional experiences.
“South Side High School has a rich tradition of excellence, so tapping into the expertise, knowledge and passions of our alumni is something that can really strengthen our programs here and the experience for our students,” Principal Dr. Patrick Walsh said. “I look forward to seeing how this partnership with alumni can expand opportunities for our current students.”
To build the network, the district has been working to reach as many alumni as possible.
“We’ve been collecting email addresses from students before they graduate,” said Kelly Ramsey, the high school’s director of counseling. “We’ve also worked with classes holding reunions to collect points of contact so we can generate a list of as many alumni as possible.”
Ramsey added that membership in the network is free, and all alumni are invited to join. “We’ve created an alumni sign-up form and placed posters at events like Homecoming, concerts and back-to-school nights, where we know parents will be present,” she said. “The posters include QR codes that alumni can scan to fill out the form and be added to the list.”
While the official launch date of the first newsletter has not been announced, the district expects to release it near the end of then month.
For more information on the Alumni Network and related forms, visit RVCSchools.org/62251_2.
