Official Opening of The Bridge - October 21
	Media Arts teacher David Haines works with students as they conceptualize ideas for animated films.

	RA Hires David Haines as Digital Media Arts Teacher
	We are pleased to announce the hiring of David Haines as a Digital Media Arts teacher. David’s interests in storytelling and visual arts emerged at a young age, and he credits his parents and private school background with encouraging his creative abilities, academic pursuits, and love of literature. After graduating with a BFA in Digital Arts from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, Mr. Haines began his career as an animator and freelance illustrator. He has worked on a variety of animated television series and commercials, including Sesame Workshop's Pinky Dinky Doo and HBO's The Ricky Gervais Show. He earned his MFA in Sequential Art from Savannah College of Art and Design, and during that time developed a knack for creating traditional pen and ink style comics and children's books. He has self-published a children's book, and plans to be involved with many future endeavors in storytelling. Mr. Haines likes to share his artistic talents and love of learning with his students. He has tutoring experience in teaching reading, writing, and subjects for test preparation, but he is especially passionate about demonstrating the creative aspects of the world of art. Mr. Haines’ computer art classes at Katonah Art Center have included Photoshop, Flash animation, stop-motion animation, and photography. Work on The Bridge is scheduled to be complete by the start of school on September 7, 2011. We are grateful to the many RA families and friends who generously donated to our 2010 - 2011 Annual Fund in support of our many yearly initiatives, including the building of The Bridge. We invite you to join us on Friday, October 21 at 7:00pm for our official opening reception and the kick-off of the 2011 - 2012 Annual Fund. Please save the date!

	Summer Update on the Bridge
	Construction crews, electricians and painters are busy at work in The Bridge putting on the finishing touches in time for the start of the 2011 - 2012 academic year. It is exciting to see this project come to fruition, and the day-to-day changes are simply remarkable!   Many new pieces of equipment have been ordered for The Bridge, including iPads, computer stations, and media arts software packages. Teachers and administrators will be spending the week of August 15 with educators from the Jacob Burns Film Center training on a variety of pieces of equipment in preparation to the opening of school.   We are most appreciative to the members of our faculty and staff, parent body, grandparents and special friends of RA who generously contributed the funding for this new, exciting facility. Thank you!