RPS Update

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

SOS! Please remind your friends, family, neighbors, and community with kindergarten-eligible children to enroll them today so that RPS can plan for our youngest students. The full information with details about eligibility can be found here. All waiver requests for consideration for Early Entrance to Kindergarten need to be submitted by April 1. Orientation and mini-kindergarten dates are around the corner; only pre-registered students are able to attend. Thank you!

RPS Update has been highlighting Summer Bridge offerings at every level in the past couple of weeks. This week, we're focusing on the High School Summer Bridge Program, which offers students in rising grades 9-12 high-quality, low-tech options for every interest. Plan a week or two or three of activities that encourage fun and friendship. Baking, computer and forensic science, arts and crafts, music video production, American Sign Language, and pancakes are just some of the engaging options.

Ridgefield resident families can register whether they attend RPS or not. Non-resident staff families are welcome, too. Programs are filling fast, so please visit the Website for full details, registration, and dates!

July 1-2 or July 7-8

This course is designed to support incoming ninth graders as they prepare for the exciting transition to high school. This two-day intensive program will provide students with opportunities to connect with peers, tour the school, and gain familiarity with the staff, course offerings, and extracurriculars. Students will also develop tools and skills to excel in their high school coursework from the “jump.” This program is a valuable resource for all incoming freshmen, including those who may be experiencing any anxieties about the transition, new to the district, or those who may be the first in their family to attend RHS.

Wellness Beyond High School is a course for students who want to explore the unique health and lifestyle issues that arise after graduation from high school. This course will look at the challenges of young adulthood and the decisions that impact health and well-being. It will emphasize the information and skills necessary to adjust to life away from home, with a strong focus on campus life and maintaining wellness. Decisions regarding safety, nutrition, budgeting, sexuality, substance abuse, and interpersonal relationships will be examined as well as their impact upon health and personal goals.

For students who will be rising Seniors for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Parent feedback on Wellness Class from Summer 2024:

“Our son Peter absolutely enjoyed his class! Huge thank you to Ms. Meriwether! She is an amazing teacher!”

“My daughter LOVED this class. She met students that she didn't really know through school, but they were great and shared a lot in class.”

After taking this course you will have the skills to build wealth knowledge through investing, creating a budget, and making informed money decisions. Topics will include construction a budget, investing for your future, student loans, car buying, and building your credit.

For students who will be rising Juniors or Seniors for the 2025-2027 academic year.

NOTE: Last week's calendar had the wrong date for the BOE Curriculum Committee; the BOE Curriculum Committee will meet on April 4 at 12 pm. That meeting and all BOE regular and committee meetings can be viewed live or at your convenience on the BOE Webpage.

Remember to check your school calendar for important dates and events. Review our Weather-Related Closure Protocols and discuss your family’s plan for an early dismissal with your children.

The RHS College Fair is this Tuesday, March 18 from 6-8 pm in the RHS Gymnasium. Students and families received a letter from the Counseling Office last week and can listen to this week's podcast below. The RHS College Fair 2025 webpage is filled with useful information about the Fair, including colleges planning on attending, the workshop schedule, the post high school planning guide, and eleven suggested questions to ask college representatives.

Workshops include: Applying to Selective Colleges, NCAA, Gap Year 101, Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Here are a few suggested questions:

1. What do students like most about your school? What is the biggest complaint from students?

2. What financial aid programs does your college offer?

3. What academic programs are the most popular at your college?

The College Fair is part of the RHS Counseling Office's multi-pronged efforts to help students find their fit!

In this episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back Stephanie Cheung, RHS’s Counseling Supervisor. We’ll discuss the 2025 College Fair, Tuesday, March 18th, 6:00 p.m. Currently, there are over 90 colleges signed up, the counseling staff will be hosting many informational breakout sessions, and many opportunities for our students to top one on one with college representatives. Definitely a must listen, if you have a high school age student(s)! Link to college fair website mentioned in the podcast and the Post High School Planning Guide.

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. Check the backpack for Rid Litter Days opportunities.

Resources for LGBTQ+ families and youth, including a monthly game night and virtual caregiver support group, are available in the eBackpack and on ridgefieldctpride.com.

Photo Caption: Lia Munoz Rojas with her family and RHS English teacher Julie Henderson

Nine RHS students showcased their talent and dedication to the field of education at the State Educators Rising Conference held at Central Connecticut State University on Tuesday. The students delivered outstanding performances, with all submissions qualifying for the national competition and three earning first-place.

• Maia Rose and Georgia Anderson secured first place in the Researching Learning Challenges competition, demonstrating their depth of knowledge in students who are challenged with cerebral palsy.
• Jake Levi, Finley Cooper, Grace Pepin, and Sophia Rinella impressed judges with their presentation about high school's FLEX program in the Inside Our Schools competition.
• Catherine Bell placed first in the Lesson Planning & Delivery - Humanities category, highlighting her strong instructional planning and delivery abilities.

Edrising Club secretary Finley Cooper writes, "I am incredibly proud of our team for showcasing how special our school is in such a creative and exciting way. Our passion for the future of education drives us and we can’t wait to do even more at nationals and beyond!”

Co-advisors Danny Martins and Kim Davis and Assistant Principal Christine Hopkinson were in attendance to support and celebrate the students’ achievements.

With their strong showing at the state level, these rising educators have earned the opportunity to compete at the national Educators Rising Conference this coming June. This event will allow them to connect with aspiring educators from across the country, participate in over 40 breakout sessions, and compete for national titles. Additionally, they will gain inspiration from keynote speakers who are leaders in the field of education.

The success of Ridgefield High School’s students at this competition underscores their passion for teaching and commitment to shaping the future of education.

Recently, RHS students visited East Ridge Middle School for the 4th annual NPFH Testimonials Assembly program which is part of ERMS’ Anti-Defamation League No Place for Hate (NPFH) initiative. RHS students shared their experiences being an ally, bystander, perpetrator, or target in a powerful assembly.

There was a separate program for sixth-grade students (photo above) and another one for both seventh and eighth-grade students (photo below) to tailor testimonials for the different grade levels. Some of the first-hand experiences of RHS students dealt with ethnicity, social/emotional well-being, religion, stereotypes, general mean-spirited behavior, and allyship

ERMS Student Ambassadors and members of the NPFH Club participated in the assembly and helped teachers facilitate classroom discussions after the assembly. In these smaller groups, students reflected on the positive messages and created actionable next steps that they can use to create a safe and inclusive space for their peers and to respect each other’s differences. Together, RPS can be no place for hate! Thank you to the RHS students who participated. A special thanks to Mike Hougasion and Maureen Tyra, NPFH Club advisors.

Scotts Ridge students will participate in a similar NPFH testimonials program this Spring.

RHS French students celebrated Mardi Gras in a big way this year. The cultural celebration included learning about the origins of this ancient Fête! Then, they learned how to make crepes, and everyone cooked their own. Each team entered one crepe into the master chef competition, which Madame Un and Madame Cameron judged. Students dressed in masks for group pictures!! Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

Students Lucas Tejada, Olivia Tejada, and Julie McNamara brought their instruments and talents to the Board of Education meeting RPS Showcase on Monday night. Watch the video and prepare to be amazed by their virtuoso skills, here.

Riley Keane is a senior, and in her first year on the RHS Girls Ski Team, she helped the team win a State Championship, won every run she skied, and took first place at the Eastern regional competition. Riley is new to the RHS ski team, but she is not new to ski racing. Since seventh grade, she has spent five months every winter at elite ski academies in Vermont, completing her schoolwork independently. This year, Riley decided to keep her talents at home in Connecticut.

“My goals changed,” Riley explains. “I didn’t want to take the two or three postgrad years ski racing that college competition demands.” Skiers often start college at 21 years old after a couple of years of international competition. “I want to be a lawyer and realized I’d have a better chance getting into a strong academic school with my academics and other sports.” She is also the captain of the RHS Girls Soccer Team and a member of the RHS Softball Team.

“It was so much fun to be part of a team,” Riley says. “At the national level, the way I have been racing for the past five years, it’s really an individual sport. I loved cheering on my RHS teammates and working with Lily [Gundersen], Hayden [Drever], and Sonia [Gaughran] to be regular season champs.” The team was undefeated, and Keane occasionally beat the competition by three or more seconds. “Skiing for RHS brought me joy,” she says. “I could focus on academics, being present. I didn’t have stress, so I could just enjoy it.”

Deciding to stay at RHS for the winter also gave Riley more time. Students at a ski academy train for four hours a day and travel to ski races on the weekend in addition to school work. Riley stayed busy at RHS, joining the Mock Trial team as a lawyer for the prosecution; DECA (a business club), where she competed in Business Law and Ethics; and as a School Store Manager.

Girls Ski Coach Adam Rapczynski writes, "Riley is one of the best ski racers we've had in our program's history. This alone makes her an invaluable member of the team, but Riley's influence extends beyond her amazing skiing ability. She is a leader and a supportive teammate, and her impact will be felt on our team for years to come."

Riley credits English teachers Katherine Gabbay and Julie Henderson with encouraging her and said that the Eastern competition was an elite challenge. Congratulations, Riley and the Girl's Ski Team, for a standout season!

The BOE voted to approve Ultimate (as in frisbee) as an RHS club sport. Watch the students' enthusiastic presentation about how this RHS club grew into a club sport on the BOE Webpage (36-minute mark). Ultimate season starts in April!

RHS Unified Sports had a blast at the Fairfield Ludlowe High School basketball tournament.

The sensory-friendly showing of the Wizard of Oz on Saturday was a delight. Here are a few photos from last week's shows...Do not miss this student-led, student-lit, student stage-managed classic musical! Live pit orchestra, great sets, and talent. Please view the Playbill to see stars, crew, sponsors, and all involved to pull off this wonderful show.

Farmingville Elementary fourth and fifth graders put on Mary Poppins JR yesterday for the younger students, families, and staff. Math specialist Amanda Cody directed, Principal Nancy Caron produced, and music teacher Ian Jackson was the musical director. RPS's tech go to John Mansfield helped the students run the lights, sound, and camera. It was adorable! Break a leg tonight, FES.

Last Friday, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Liz Hannaway read a special story about inclusion to Branchville fourth graders during Read Across America Week.

Scotland students took advantage of the warm and sunny days at the beginning of this week to take their books outside.

Scotts Ridge seventh graders read the novel A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen in the LLC to learn about the construction of the Berlin Wall and make modern day connections.

Scotland's students wore their love for reading this week on, "Read My Shirt Day." One student was a walking "history/herstory lesson" with her shirt that reads, "Females Who Made Herstory" on the front, and then Amelia Earhart, Rosa Parks, Jane Austen, Nellie Bly, and Marie Curie on the back. Another showed his Scottie pride, outside and 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.