Branchville Bulletin

Dear Branchville Community,

As we gear up for spring celebrations and end-of-the-year event planning, I am reminded about how partnership helps a school work. This week alone, we have the PTA-sponsored book fair, a PTA-sponsored author visit from Stephen Shaskan and the PTA-underwritten 5th-grade trip to The Prospector. Indeed, together, we create unforgettable experiences for students.

Speaking of support and what we can do together, we also need your help. Recently, we have had an increase in the number of parents making dismissal changes after the School Dismissal Manager's 10:30 cutoff time. The cutoff time allows the main office time to prepare for the dismissal process and rectify any confusion. The main office is very busy at the end of the day, and last-minute changes run the risk of us not being able to communicate with all involved in dismissal to make the change.

Like the saying that adorns our entrance, Educating Everyone Takes Everyone; for a school to work, we need everyone's help. When non-emergency changes are requested, they can impact those who need a change in response to an actual emergency and the overall capacity of the main office. We ask all to do their best to ensure that School Dismissal Manager is accurate each day before 10:30. If you need to make a change after 10:30, you need to contact the main office via phone. Teachers' priority is teaching, and an email to a teacher with a change runs the risk of not being read until after dismissal.

In partnership,

Keith L Margolus

Principal

Click on the letter below for details about the class placement process.

Coursey of the PTA, please see the budget timeline below.

If you don't follow Board of Education conversations, this is the time to listen in. I encourage you to watch the budget presentation here.

Click on the image below to visit the budget Information website.

RPS’s Forever Summer Bridge registration is open!

Our elementary program is low-tech and high-fun! It includes multiple opportunities for outdoor time with peers, creativity, an emphasis on social-emotional support, and thematic project-based sessions that integrate math and literacy, providing each student with a joyful experience!

The Jumpstart to Kindergarten experience for our rising K students was a HUGE hit! We are excited to run it again this summer.

Here is an overview of last year's program - Forever Summer Bridge 2024

Click Here to Register for Summer Bridge 2025

Check out the new page,engagED on the RPS Curriculum Site pictured and linked below.

RPS distribution flyers for outside groups via a Digital Backpack.

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

If you are looking for a comprehensive description of our school practices and procedures, please review the K-5 Student Handbook.

Visiting BES

If you are visiting BES, one way to expedite the entry process is to fill out this form or use the QR code in advance of your planned visit (teacher meeting, PTA meeting, mystery reader, library or art volunteer, etc.) and your badge will be waiting for you when you arrive. If you have something to drop off for your child during the school day such as a forgotten lunch or instrument, there will be a table outside of the entrance to place the item.

• • When you arrive to enter the building, we ask that you press the video doorbell button and identify yourself. You will then be granted access to the vestibule.

  • Once in the vestibule, please do NOT hold the door open for a different guest entering the building. We cannot open the second set of doors until you are inside the vestibule. While this may be inconvenient and feel impolite, we are standardizing access to the buildings across the district so that everyone knows what to expect.

For visits to BES during the school day, I recommend that you arrive early as it takes some time to process your visitor badge. For a visit that is not arranged a day ahead of time, calling the main office ahead of your visit is a helpful practice.

March

3/20 - Early Release (Professional Learning)

April

4/10 - Early Release (parent-teacher conferences0

4/11 - Early Release (parente-teacher conferences)

4/14 - 4/18 - Spring Recess

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events, please see the calendars below.

RPS Events Calendar

Rotational Calendar

PTA Events Calendar

To withhold directory and media publications (including Instagram) please follow this path when you are logged in to PowerSchool.

• On the left-hand side please click on "Demographic Change."

• A number of tabs will appear. Click on "Directory & Media OptOut.

There you will find the option to withhold directory and media information. It is helpful if you notify us of the change. Please email, administrative assistant, Catherine Basso, at cbasso@ridgefieldps.net

Never hesitate to reach out to us about this publication or any other questions you may have. We are a phone call or an email away.

Keith L Margolus

Principal

kmargolus@ridgefieldps.net

Website: https://bes.ridgefield.org/Home
Location: 40 Florida Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203.894.5850