RPS Update

Our schools have begun to welcome parents during all Open House nights. These evening sessions are wonderful opportunities for our educators to highlight the amazing work that is happening across our classrooms. New this year, our students in grades 3-5 at the elementary level are receiving world language programming- the feedback has been outstanding!

Yesterday, the Board of Selectpersons held a public hearing for the proposed new space for our Alternative High School and 18-22 Transition programs. What I have come to learn from these public meetings is that regardless of where you stand on an issue, it is important that your voice is heard. If you are unable to make any Town meeting, you may share your point of view by email.

As I have done in the past, I would like to remind our families that our teachers and administrators welcome all of your questions or concerns. For accurate information, call or email us; or you can find us on our RPS social media pages linked here: Facebook, X or Instagram! The accuracy of any Facebook or other external social media pages is not vetted nor verified by the district. So, please contact us first!

Note that there is an early dismissal for students on Thursday for professional development—early dismissal schedule.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Photo Caption: Administrators and staff reported on RPS's successful summer programs at the Board of Education meeting on Monday. See some of the fun in the Forever Summer Bridgefield video produced by Elementary Co-Director Ryan Dunne.

This week, officials from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC®) announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Congratulations to Ridgefield High School students who have been named Semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit® Scholarship Program:

• Carter S. Brown
• William H. Carter
• Pranati R. Sathyagal (missing from photo)
• Catherine S. Thompson
• William H. Trotman
• Elijah S. Yurkovsky

These academically talented high school seniors have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 6,870 National Merit Scholarships, valued at nearly $26 million, which will be awarded next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship® award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and approximately half of the Finalists will earn a National Merit Scholarship, securing the title of Merit Scholar®.

Photo Caption: RHS National Merit Semifinalists—Carter Brown, Catherine Thompson, William Trotman, Elijah Yurkovsky, and William Carter—with Counseling Supervisor Stephanie Cheung and Counselor Michelle McCullough. Counselors help students through the next steps to become finalists.

Yesterday, Ridgefield residents turned out for a Public Hearing regarding the lease of 66 Grove Street for the Alternative High School and 18-22 Transition Program. First Selectperson Rudy Marconi read many letters submitted about the programs. Graduates of the Transition Program and current Alternative High School students joined the town-wide conversation. Ridgefield residents will vote on the lease on Wednesday, September 25.

Earlier this week, Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services; Dr. Anthony Showah, Assistant Director of Special Services; Jessica DiValentino, Transition Program Coordinator; and Kate Collins, Alternative High School Coordinator, joined host Dr. Wes DeSantis in an important edition of the Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast. They answer the many questions from the community regarding the new proposed location of our Transition program and Alternative High School. Listening to the podcast could be the best way for people to understand the programs and their needs.

Please help RPS go green by checking your students' e-Backpack weekly for important information. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net

The Ridgefield Annual Civics Bowl is this Sunday; see flyer below for this family-friendly event. Please check your school calendar for early dismissals and other school events.

During these early weeks in the school year, RPS Elementary Math Coach Jamie Palladino and the Math Specialist at each building meet with teachers at each grade level to plan. This Monday, he met with Veterans Park first-grade teachers to discuss practices to set classroom culture and the importance of them. After that, the team looked at what students need to know and be able to do by the end of the first unit which included planning lesson sequences.

Some students haven’t mastered reading; some are English Language Learners. The team discussed how the teachers can help the students puzzle out the questions and the vocabulary that might be tricky using the resource, think!Mathematics [Math]odology. They also discussed where the students might be after kindergarten, and how the resource might be adapted for the more advanced mathematicians and ones needing more support.

The meeting was joyful and eye-opening. Mr. Palladino highlighted what is new this year, various structures, and how time is built into the curriculum to review and practice priority learning outcomes. The team also talked about how to work on computational fluency.

“I wish I could go back and teach math with this approach,” observed Veterans Park Elementary Principal Dr. Sheri Prendergast. “I’m learning so much.”

After the meeting, Mr. Palladino went into Katie Tibbetts's classroom to do “Choral Counting” games. As they count, Veterans Park first graders notice patterns. They make predictions. They notice skip counting, odd then even, and they are having fun. They work in groups of five, four, and then three, which allows them to consider the number twenty and the numbers that make twenty.

Because Mr. Palladino goes to each of the six elementary schools, he brings experience and deep knowledge of math learning into each meeting and classroom. “What I love most about this position,” Mr. Pallandino says, “Is that I can share good ideas across the district. If a teacher on one side of town comes up with a great approach, I can bring that to the other teams.”

Director of Elementary Education, Linda Johnson, commends Mr. Palladino’s dedication to elementary math instruction, teachers, and students. “He along with the Math Specialists and teachers at each school are making a difference in teaching and learning mathematics!” she writes.

How does the new Elementary Spanish teacher Jill Quattrocchi know how her students are doing? She asks them in Spanish at the beginning of class. Most students respond, "bien" and point to the smiley face but this week one of her students said "mal" and pointed to the frown. After expressing compassion to him, Sra. Quattrocchi launched into the lively lesson—greetings and basic colors (azul, blanco, rojo). Through songs, games, and puppetry, she has her students—yes, even those who started the lesson in the dumps—smiling, participating, and speaking Spanish. It was clear on the student's face that whatever was bothering him at the lesson's outset had faded in the first two minutes of Spanish fun. The classroom teacher jumped in with her students to learn some basic Spanish vocabulary—hello and goodbye; introducing themselves; red, white, and blue. Thanks to the organization, enthusiasm, and energy Sra. Quattrocchi brings to each class, RPS third, fourth, and fifth graders are enjoying their first weeks in Espanol.

Megan Osimanti's Modern History Honors students made creative interpretations of social classes in 18th-century Europe. As part of the assignment, students examined primary sources from the era and developed visually striking "heads" to represent the power dynamics and symbols associated with each social class. Ms. Osimanti writes, "I am impressed by their thoughtful analysis and effective use of symbolism."

Art teacher Jen Zeyer's Branchville and Veterans Park students are spreading a little spot of kindness during art class, inspired by books by Diane Alber. These colorful cuties splash spots of imagination, inspiration, and creativity into our school communities!

The Second Annual K-12 Art Show opens October 8 for the schools on the North side of town (Scotts Ridge, Barlow Mountain, Scotland, and Ridgebury) and October 9 for the schools on the South side (East Ridge, Branchville, Farmingville, and Veterans Park). RHS families are welcome on both nights. The show in the East Ridge Gallery features a sampling of our curriculum from each grade and school, but because of space limitations only selections of the amazing art our students make every year.

The election is over—The RHS Student Government elections were decided this week, with the ninth grade officers attending their first all-student government meeting today. Thank you to all students who stepped up to serve our school. Here is the full list of the student government members for the School Year 2024-25.

Executive Board

Faculty Advisor:

Advisor: Jennifer. DeJulio

Student Body President

• Naomi Vakil

VP Rights & Responsibility

• Matt Jang

VP of Activities

• Braelyn Muldoon

Secretary

• Emily Seal

Treasurer

• Lloyd Mills

Public Relations

• Izzy Nguyen

Community Outreach Relations

• Joey Velasco

On Friday, September 20, the Varsity Football team will play its first home game... a 7 pm kickoff against Staples. Tickets for this and all other RHS home sporting events can be purchased in advance through our GoFan page.

Please plan on enjoying this game with your children. Tiger Hollow 2 will be open during the first three quarters of the varsity game but parents/guardians are expected to supervise their own children. The event staff will be responsible for facility security, not the chaperoning of youth on the field. If there is any damage to property or concerning/dangerous behavior during the game there is no guarantee that the field will be open during subsequent home games. We are looking forward to a big crowd to support our Tigers as they take on the Wreckers, and with your support it promises to be a great night!

Let's GOOOOOOOO, Tigers!!!!

Note: Please check the Athletic Department's website for game schedules, tickets, schedule updates, college recruiting information, parental support, and more. The swim meet scheduled for this Tuesday has been moved.

Last Friday, RHS Student Government Seniors put on a super-fun ninth-grade dance. Student leaders wore purple tie-dyes in recognition of the Class of 2028's color.

The East Ridge PTA pulled out all the stops for the Back-to-School Bash—games, VIPS in the dunk tank, inflatables, cotton candy, and picture-perfect weather. What a fun way to kickoff the year! If you haven't already joined your school's PTA, please do!

I'm thinking that RPS elementary students are hard at work and super cute. Great collaboration and focus.

After an engaging conversation with new RHS French teacher Kimberly Cameron about how she would translate this year's RPS Motto "All In," RPS Update posed the question to some of the employees we know to be mulitlingual. Please tell us how you say, "All In" by emailing Alison Pratt or send us a video.

Here are the responses so far.

World Language Chair Allyson Powers

Tous ensemble (French)

Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva

Tudo Junto! (Portuguese)

Todo Junto! (Spanish)

RHS Latin Teacher Dorothy Maxwell

Omnia committere (Latin)

Photo Caption: Scotts Ridge science teacher Christopher Antal wearing his RPS love t-shirt this week. However you say it, RPS is All In!

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.