RPS Update

Here we are, approaching the final day of school. On Monday, June 19, our students will be together to recognize Juneteenth and wish each other a “see you later” just before they head off for the summer holiday. It is also an early dismissal day for students.

Our teachers will join us on Tuesday, June 20, for our first-ever Closing Convocation, “It’s a Wrap.” This brief morning gathering will take place prior to our professional learning experience. “It’s a Wrap” will celebrate the high-quality instruction and creativity of our teachers; the talents of our students; the connections our staff make with our students; the ways in which RPS teachers keep students at the center of their work; and the end of an amazing school year!

Over the past week, Board of Education members and Central Office administrators have honored students at each school's Promotion/Moving Up ceremonies. Each of these events has proven to be a celebration not only of students but also of our faculty. Congratulations on an exceptional year!

To our families—we appreciate you. Your high levels of engagement, care for your children as well as the RPS community as a whole is evident each day. On behalf of my colleagues, we are grateful to be a part of the educational journey with you, and will always do our part to ensure that we can provide the children of Ridgefield the best experience possible.

While this will be my last update of the summer until my mid-summer letter, be sure to look out for the Graduation/End of Year update coming your way next week. I hope your summer is filled with time, love, laughter, and health.

Warmly,

Susie

Dr. Susie Da Silva

Photo Caption: Scotland first graders released butterflies this week, a fitting metaphor for the growth and change RPS students experienced this year.

The full district calendar can be found here. More information about local PRIDE events and other LGBTQ+ resources is available here.

Congratulations to the RHS Top Ten Scholars 2022-2023

Ryan Patrick Williams (Valedictorian, Photo Right)

Listed in Alphabetical Order

(Top row, left to right)

Sophie Scarlett Browning

Nathaniel Adams Carter

Liam Luke Edson

(Middle row, left to right)

Timothy Grove

Ryan Joon Kim-Cogan

Joshua Lin

(Bottom Row, left to right)

Kavya Podila

Jacob Kurt Voellmicke

Claire Yue Zhang

The Board of Education recognized the service and careers of RPS retirees on Monday, including Glenn Comstock, Dee Cleveland, Robin Collins, and Dr. Nora Marrinan shown in the photo above. Principals recognized each retiree's service with glowing words and a legacy book for their school's library. Superintendent Dr. Da Silva wished retirees joy and good health and asked them to come back to visit and as substitutes:) She spoke about Dr. Robin Collins's partnership as a leader of the teacher union and Collin's unfailing commitment to RPS students. Wednesday was Custodian Appreciation Day, and three RPS retirees are long-serving custodians. Thank you to all RPS custodians, especially Ronald Streaman, Glenn Comstock, and Richard Ferreira retiring this year. Dr. Marrinan, retiring from Farmingville after 29 years, gave RPS a parting gift of a beautiful song performed by her select fifth-grade chorus. Photo below and a recording of the Board of Education meeting is here (students sing at 1 hour 5 minute mark). Gorgeous!

BES – Ronald Streaman, Custodian, 35+ years

ERMS – Robin Collins, Teacher – Literacy, 9 years

FES – Laura Kennedy-Robinson, Paraeducator Sp Ed, 18 years

FES – Nora Marrinan, Teacher – Music, 29 years

FES – Jennifer Mason, Teacher – Grade 5, 32 years (deceased)

FES – Jennifer Southworth, Teacher – Grade 5, 18 years

RHS – Sherry Cox, Teacher – English/VPA, 27 years

RHS – Kathleen Thomson, Secretary – School, 24 years

SRMS – Dee Cleveland, Teacher – Mathematics, 24+ years

SRMS – Glenn Comstock, Custodian, 48+ years

SRMS – Richard Ferreira, Custodian, 20 years

VPES – Margaret Anderson, Paraeducator, Sp Ed, 4+ years

Yesterday, Scotts Ridge Middle School eighth-graders Mary Green and Alina Mitev and their art teachers Christen Riegel and Tressa Ringkamp installed a “Freedom Isn’t Free” mural at the Danbury War Memorial with their principal, family members, War Memorial employees, and supporters in attendance.

“The project came up organically,” explained Scotts Ridge Principal Tim Salem, who works out at the War Memorial gym. “Chick [Purchasing Agent for the City of Danbury Charles Volpe] and Jenny Lucia Guerra wanted a mural, and I thought let’s get my students involved.” Mr. Salem brought the idea to Riegel and Ringkamp who reached out to the students. Students submitted three submissions, and the War Memorial board selected Mary Green's design.

To create the mural, students Alina and Mary researched the history of World War II and decided on historically accurate helicopters, poppies that symbolize bloodshed, a white cross, and the flag. “They put a lot of work into the research,” reports their teacher Ms. Ringkamp, who called their collaboration astonishing. "They learned how to bring their creative ideas together;" wrote Ms. Ringkamp. "They collaborated and resolved complex visual problems. They were respectful and listened to one another's viewpoints. Both students were an integral part of the drawing and painting process,” said Ringkamp.

Alina, whose mother is a cardiologist at the VA Hospital in Wappinger Falls, did the majority of the sketching and both painted parts of the scene with talent and skill exceeding their ages. Mary’s grandmother, who is also a skilled painter, attended the unveiling and showed Mary’s first painting, a striking landscape. Ms. Ringkamp says that the Scotts Ridge art department hopes to do more community-based projects with the students in the future.

Ms. Guerra, who is the Director of the War Memorial said, “The Danbury War Memorial’s mission is to ‘Honor the Dead and Serve the Living. We wanted a mural to show what we were all about,” said Guerra. “We paid for the material. It’s so worth it.” The War Memorial’s President, Robert Botelho said, “Multi-generations use this facility. It’s a place for teenagers where they can be healthy and safe. It’s a place for seniors. Veterans are free. This mural says what we’re about.”

“This is a great day,” said Principal Salem. “I’m proud of my students for creating this lasting mural for this important community resource.”

Because of cancellations, there is limited availability in the Elementary Bridge Program. Sign up here for one of these engaging, fun summer sessions.

East Ridge, Scotts Ridge, and Ridgefield High School all earned the No Place for Hate distinction this week. David Slossberg, a representative of the Anti-Defamation League, visited the schools to present the banners and learn more about each school's NPFH initiatives.

Please help us in our effort to go green by checking students' e-Backpacks! Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net. Thank you!

As reported in last week's RPS Update, the RPS Juneteenth Planning Team has curated resources and in-school plans to honor the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, June 19. Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The planning team thought deeply about a meaningful approach to providing resources and options for all grade levels with the shortened and modified schedules that the last day of school brings. The team compiled a list of options, ideas, and materials for schools to select from that are age and developmentally-appropriate. To see some of the resources the team has chosen please read last week's RPS Update. Since then, the Ridgefield Playhouse has generously offered a discount to their upcoming events. See more about this event and how to get a 50% discount on tickets below.

The Ridgefield Playhouse will present a two-part cultural event in partnership with Discovering Amistad highlighting the Amistad story and its overall theme of freedom, human rights, and equity. Join us for Part I at The Playhouse on Sunday, June 25, 2023, beginning at 12 noon. Samuel Pieh, descendant of lead captive, Sengbe Pieh will discuss his family’s story. He’ll be joined by Captain Bill Pinkney who served as the first captain of the Amistad reproduction and is the first African American to sail solo around the world. Paula Mann Agnew, Executive Director of Discovering Amistad rounds out this panel as she talks about the Amistad’s legacy and its importance in helping to advance racial and social justice. This exciting in-person conversation will be moderated by former CNN entertainment reporter, Cheryl Washington. The day will also feature African cultural activities including artisanal crafts, West African Djembe drummers, music performed by The New Hope Church choir, and a screening of Steven Spielberg’s powerful R-rated film, Amistad. All guests who join us in June will be invited to tour the Amistad schooner on August 26 when it will be moored at Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport.

Here’s the ticketing button from the Playhouse site.

Use code word: Amistad and receive tickets for $17.50.

Last week's RPS Update reported on the Connecticut State Department of Educations's new Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge (GSRC) aligned to the national iRead summer challenge theme - “Find your Voice.” To find more information please look here: Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Landing Page. We also wanted to call parents' attention to the Commissioner's Summer Math Challenge, which stresses the importance of maintaining math skills during the summer.

Last Friday, Ridgefield High School put on the first-ever RHS Unified Theatre performance in the Black Box Theatre. The must-watch show consisted of four short scenes that were entirely student-created, from the theme and script to the props, music selections, and lighting. Please see a video of the show here and a flyer created by RHS junior Frankie Belden to see the full range of the performance here.

Perhaps a stretch of asphalt has never been so animated than the Scotts Ridge Middle School parking lot on Monday evening. East Ridge and Scotts Ridge staff, students, and families flocked there for Visual & Performing Arts Festival. Those assembled enjoyed beautiful music performances, a combined ERMS/SRMS Grades 6-8 art show with work that could fetch NYC gallery prices, and delicious food from trucks and carts. A drizzle of rain didn't deter the merriment. Thank you to all those involved but particularly the middle school art teachers, Hilary Lewis, Quincy Coleman, Tressa Ringkamp, and Christen Riegel, and the middle school music teachers, Hilary Brown, Andrew Clavi, Michael La Barre, Rebecca Merrick, and Shane Peters.

Last week's RPS Update reported on the middle school's great success at the Fantastic Festival This week, we learned just how successful RPS was in this extremely competitive contest. Gary Partridge of Fantastic Festival writes, "Ridgefield maintains one of the best music programs in New England!"

Here are the individual distinctions:

First Place Middle School Choir-Scotts Ridge Choir

There were 55 Middle School Choirs.

Please see a video of the students learning about their success, here.

First Place Middle School Orchestra-Ridgefield MS Orchestra

There were 30 groups in this category

Scotts Ridge Concert Band was 8th out of 65 in that category.

East Ridge Concert Band was 12th out of 65 in that category.

East Ridge Choir was 6th out of 55 in that category.

Congratulations on an amazing season!!! Thank you to our dedicated Middle School music teachers—the best!

We're not in Kansas but life is good in Ridgefield, especially for Ridgebury families who enjoyed the school's production of The Wizard of Oz this week. Students (as well as staff and parents!) worked together in such an impressive way to learn new skills, show their creativity, and bravely try new things throughout this production! Between the creative stage crew, detail-oriented tech crew, hard-working cast, and magical director, Joyce Ottinger, this was truly a team effort of many talents! Here is a playbill of the show to see the many contributors to this production.

Save the Date: the RHS Concert Choir, East Ridge MS Chamber Choir, and Scotts Ridge MS Chamber Choir will sing at Carnegie Hall on Sun. Jan. 7, 2024. The groups will perform with other choruses as part of a special night. The flyer with some (but not all) the information is here.

An RHS Student Art Show opened this week at The Meetinghouse, 605 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield. RHS art teacher Dana Phelan worked with interns to curate, prepare, and install the work. Art teacher Jane Grassi writes, "It is a splendid show, G-rated suitable for all to see."

Kudos to interns, Harrison Beckenstein, Tessa Carlucci, Kevin Cunningham, and Cody Odette; art teachers; and exhibiting artists! The show will be up until June 28. Please contact the Meetinghouse for gallery hours.

On Thursday, the RHS Athletic Department invited seniors planning to continue their athletic careers in college to assemble at Tiger Hollow for a photo. Best of luck to these student athletes and all the college-bound senior athletes who were not able to attend!

Deirdre Flanagan, RHS class of 2023, has signed a National Letter of Intent to run women's cross-country and track and field at Tufts University. Deirdre is a high honor roll student with a cumulative GPA of 4.55 and will study liberal arts at Tufts. Deirdre was a member of the cross-country team for four years and co-captained the team her senior season. During her time on the cross-country team, she won multiple awards including first-team all-FCIAC, all-state, Tiger Pride, and the Coach's Award. She was a member of the track team for two years. In 2022, she set the school record in the steeplechase at Loucks Games and placed 15th at Nationals in this event.

Retired RHS Coach John Goetz (left) with Athletic Director Dane Street earned a spot in the FCIAC Hall of Fame Class of 2023. Congrats, Coach Goetz!

RHS Senior Christopher Brown and Juniors Shankar Bahadur, Henry Whitehouse and Petru Zubek earned the BSA Eagle Scout rank! The Connecticut Yankee Council, Ridgefield Troop 431 scout leaders, as well as local and state political leaders honored their achievement during a ceremony at St. Stephen's church at the end of May. Congratulations Chris, Shankar, Henry and Petru!

Seven RHS students earned the Gold Award, which is the highest and most prestigious achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.

Congratulations to Seniors:

Stephanie Iwinski

Auden Masotta

Melody Royaee

Briony Sekelsky

Kayleen Smith

Samantha Thomas

And Sophomore, Sophie Zezula, who also earned the President's Volunteer Service Award for completing over 100 hours of community service.

On Monday, East Ridge Middle School celebrated Global Running Day with local partner Ridgefield Running Company (RRC). Students and staff skipped, walked and ran a .25 mile loop in celebration of physical, mental and social health. Health teacher Ali Picarella organized the event and was so happy that RRC could come after last week's smoke changed the date. She reports that RRC ran fun games including a "noodle relay and predict your own time race." RRC was kind enough to hand out "swag" to game winners.

The Barrelle Fair is a Farmingville Elementary School tradition named after a former librarian, Nancy Barrelle. For one of the fair activities this year, 5th Grade students created cardboard arcades. These young innovators truly outdid themselves, captivating attendees with their imaginative designs and gameplay. The dedication and effort put into each cardboard creation was evident, as players laughed, cheered, and competed with enthusiasm!

Editor's note:

Ms. Kosky laced up her pink roller skates to clown with the students and make balloon animals. When her bunch of balloons escaped, she chased them to the delight of the students.

Congratulations RES Inventors!!

The Ridgebury PTA sent three finalists to the Connecticut Invention Convention Semi-Finals from our school program: Evelyn Klimowicz, Mckenzie Willis, and Ian Klimowicz.

We are proud to say that all three students advanced from the state semi-finals to the state finals! They were part of a group of only 250 finalists chosen from over 11,000 students who participated in the Connecticut Invention Convention this year.

This weekend was the state finals at UConn and all three students did a fabulous job presenting their inventions and representing RES. Evelyn Klimowicz was chosen as a US National Finalist to advance to the national competition. This will be Evelyn’s second trip to Nationals as she won the national competition last year for 4th grade.

Congratulations to Evelyn, McKenzie, and Ian!!

Branchville Elementary student Francesca Catalano will move on to compete in the US Innovators Challenge after her success in the CT invention convention finals.

The RHS Post Grad party is an annual town-wide tradition that keeps our teens safe and is a lot of fun. The committee needs a lot of community volunteers to provide this festive shindig on June 21. Because graduation takes place on a Wednesday this year, they are particularly short-staffed. Please consider taking a shift to keep this wonderful tradition going. No experience needed.

Volunteer and donate here.

Some powerful background information from the Post-Grad Party website:

"Through a tragic event that occurred in 1983, the RHS Post Graduation Party was born. Designed to be the most spectacular party in each student’s school history, the Post Grad party is intended to provide a celebratory safe environment for our RHS Grads. Held the night of graduation, this event gets the grads off the roads and into a safe place, while also allowing them to party the night away. Drug and alcohol-free, this senior-centered event has annually proven to be an awesome experience for all."

For years, some RPS elementary schools have welcomed graduating seniors back to their halls for a cap and gown parade and walk down memory lane. This year the elementary principals coordinated the Grad Walk at all six schools. Elementary students and staff lined the hallways to cheer on the great Class of 2023. Seeing the kindergarteners waving to their senior interns and students towering over their favorite teachers was magical. We love our seniors and their parents.

...Always an Eagle. Veterans Park gathered under a dogwood tree before parading down the halls.

Always a Scotty. Scotland alum shown here with beloved secretary Linda Lupinacci. The desks haven't shrunk...

....Barlow Mountain seniors are great!

Ridgebury converged just this morning. Looking good, Rex and the gang!

The last Branchville Beaver Boogie is a good one.

It was fun to see some seniors who had moved houses during elementary school (and therefore changed elementary schools) go back to Grad Walks at two schools and that they are never too old for Farmingville's picture-perfect playground.

And here are just a few more special moments from this week's Grad Walks.

It's been a week! Rescheduled field days and festivals...a play and time on the playground! Moving up and moving forward...Tug of war and tug at the heartstrings. Here are some more photos of a very busy time in RPS.

Farmingville fifth graders celebrated their art teacher, Rachael Penney on her birthday.

We would love to hear from you! Families and staff can submit stories, comments, or corrections to RPS Communications. Please follow us on Social Media with links below.