Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff,
“Budget Season” is one of the busiest times of the year for the Board of Education and the Central Office team as we work to prepare for the upcoming school year. The Superintendent’s Proposed Budget is not built by one person (despite its title); rather, it is built through insights and feedback from our faculty and school leaders. Collectively, we create the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget. This past Saturday, our District leadership team presented their budget priorities to the Board of Education. We heard them share their celebrations, highlights for FY25, and a look to the future. The Board of Education asked important questions of the administration. As our team members answered questions, what was absolutely clear was the devotion and caliber of RPS leadership across our schools– and further, how well the team knows and understands the work of PK-12.
On Saturday, February 3, the BOE will hold a Public Hearing where we encourage community feedback. The meeting will be held at East Ridge Middle School beginning at 10:00 a.m. This will be followed by a remote BOE Special Meeting on February 6 at 7:00 p.m. when the Board will further discuss the budget in preparation for a possible vote on February 12. Families may also join me for a FY25 budget session offered by the PTA on February 8 at Scotts Ridge Middle School at 7:00 p.m. Our goal is to continue to offer transparent and clear communication about the budget; you can find answers to community questions on the District’s budget page. If you have further questions about any part of the budget, reach out to your principals or email members of the Central Office Team as we are best prepared and suited to provide accurate information.
We aren’t the only ones that have been busy! Our students participated in a choral festival this week, joined by elementary, middle, and high school students- what an event! Many of our students are also wrapping up the final details for their musical productions. We can’t wait. Also, a big shout-out to our parents for their continuous support- we couldn’t do it without you.
Have a wonderful weekend, and hope to see you Saturday morning.
Warmly,
Susie
Susie Da Silva, Ed.D
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” —The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
At the all-day BOE Budget Meeting last Saturday, RPS administrators presented about their cost centers. View this engaging all-day virtual presentation here. BOE members had the opportunity to ask their questions had about the Superintendent's Proposed School Year 2025 budget. This Saturday, Dr. Da Silva will present that budget to the public, who will have an opportunity to ask questions and voice their thoughts. Please join us!
BOE Public Hearing
Saturday, February 3
10 am
East Ridge Middle School
It’s that time of the year again, Ridgefield Public Schools is in budget season! On this week’s episode of Tiger Talk, we welcome Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools and Jill Browne, Director of Finance. We discuss how the budget process works, and the schedule for up-and-coming events, as well as some frequently, asked questions. Click here for our budget website and thanks for listening!
Beloved Branchville Head Custodian Retires
Last Friday was Mr. Mike Day at Branchville Elementary. Students and staff wore blue, made cards, and shared their thoughts about Mike Wlasuk, who was retiring as head custodian after thirty-three years in the District.
Some students, like Sasha Rowe, and staff, like paraeducator Mary Robinson, went full “Mr. Mike,” wearing blue pants, his striped button-down shirt with a pen and a cookie in the pocket, and a belt accessorized with a hefty keychain.
During lunch, students treated Mr. Mike like a rockstar, presenting handmade cards and gifts, and posing for photos to celebrate his retirement. Mr. Mike started in the district on December 16, 1991, and has worked at Branchville since January 2005.
He jokes, “When you have been here so long, you start to grow mold,” but appears to be generally touched by the attention. “I’m the biggest kid in the school,” he said. “The kids and the people make it hard to leave. Former parents have come back to tell me I had an impact on their kids. I never thought I had an impact. It’s overwhelming.”
Principal Keith Margolus writes, “As the son of a head elementary custodian, and in my own 23 years in education, I have known many custodians and many head custodians. Mike is simply the best! He always keeps students first, goes out of his way to support BES even when it isn't his job, offers solutions to challenges beyond expectation, is proactive and I could go on and on.”
Thank you to Mr. Mike and to all RPS custodians who are critical to RPS. Parents, please remind your students of their role in keeping schools clean and their ability to make an impact. Be like Mr. Mike!
Please check your students' e-Backpack for this important information and other programs across the district. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net.
On Wednesday, members of the Barlow Mountain Elementary morning show team assembled before school for reading, taping, filming, editing, and munchkins. It was this crew’s last session, and students volunteered to be anchors and tech. Bobcat TV advisors fifth-grade teacher Melissa Davis and RPS Technology Ben Evans did a lot more than provide sustenance but students also showed independence and expertise born out of six months of practice. The fourth and fifth-graders knew what to do—taking their places behind the scenes and in front of the green screen. The on-screen team greeted viewers, announced birthdays, delivered news, and taped features that would air throughout the week. They produced a science segment. Please see today’s episode here. With the technology available on a Chromebook and in a classroom, broadcasting a morning show is a good way to promote life skills, including articulation, vocabulary, cooperation, and production skills. Mr. Evans reports that Scotland Elementary will be adding a morning show soon. As they say at Barlow, “Go get ‘em!”
Ridgebury readers celebrated Genre January last month, with students grades 3-5 pitching in to reorganize the library media center's fiction collection into literary genres. Together readers examined nearly 1,500 books and classified them as either mystery, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, adventure, horror, or sports fiction (a popular genre not originally part of the plan). The upheaval unearthed books students never noticed when fiction was only organized by author's last name. One such gem, Dan Gutman's time-travelling Baseball Card series, transcends genre but was relocated to the sports fiction section, now widely adored (and originally suggested) by RES readers!
Ridgebury's first and second graders wrapped Genre January with a mystery, cracking a code with pencil and paper alongside characters King & Kayla. These code-breaker sleuths are preparing for February 7, World Read Aloud Day, when author Dori Hillestad Butler will visit us virtually to read from her series and answer our questions. We hope her dog Mouse joins us on the call!
Scotts Ridge Middle School held their annual Spelling Bee on Thursday. The contestants included 21 students from grades 6-8. The spelling bee lasted for 17 rounds and sixth-grader Winter Falconetti (shown in photo with SRMS Principal Tim Salem) was crowned the champion spelling the word Macedonia. Eighth-graders Maddie Jaus and Audrey Englert took second and third place. Winter will now move on to the CT Spelling Bee in Hartford. Congratulations to all the spellers!
