RPS Update

The crisp morning air is showing us that the autumn equinox will be here on September 22. Soon pumpkins, mums, and fall colors will surround us. All of this just adds to the feel for tonight’s first Friday night football game at Tiger Hollow against Staples HS beginning at 7:00 p.m. For those who like to schedule in advance, our Homecoming game is scheduled for October 18.

The Town Meeting to vote on the potential Grove Street site for the 18-22 Transition/Alternative High School programs has been moved to October 9; time and location to be announced. This past Tuesday evening, I joined the Board of Finance for a brief discussion on the Grove Street facility. Shifting the location is not only necessary and in the best interest of our student population, it is also financially smart. I encourage you to listen to the podcast from last week to learn more about the value of these programs for RPS and the Town of Ridgefield. Just before this meeting, I was reminded of the critical need for advocates for students with disabilities— when agency is limited, it is essential that we lead with our voice on their behalf. I could not be more proud of the educators in Ridgefield who have done just that.

This week, we had our first Ridgefield Community Coalition Against Substance Abuse (RCCASA) meeting, whose primary goal is to enhance the growth, safety, and well-being of Ridgefield youth and families. This partnership, led by our First Selectperson, reminded me of the significance of commitment– the schools alone can’t carry a community. For those of you who do not know, there are many groups in Ridgefield thinking and working hard on behalf of students and families. One of the shared books we read this summer is entitled Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic-and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. This text amplified the pressures that families (and students) have, in particular, in high-performing communities. I encourage us all to take a step back and pay attention to the demands our students and families are facing day to day.

Happy fall!

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Photo Caption: RHS students and sisters Maddie and Lillian Caligiuri in an RHS Unified Baking class. Story below.

All members of the RPS community are precious—each student, parent, and staff member is valued and needed. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and RPS has year-round, 24/7 resources to support our community. If you have questions or need support for your child in school, please reach out to your child's counselor. For crisis support you or your child can utilize the Kids and Crisis 24-Hour Hotline or the Sandy Hook Promise Say Something hotline.

Here is a resource, "Protecting Our Youth: A Community Approach to Suicide Prevention," from the Connecticut State Department of Education.

Tonight, 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!

Remember to leave plenty of time to park and use caution in the parking lots!!!

Let's GOOOOOOOO, Tigers!!!!

Note: Check the Athletic Department's website for game schedules, tickets, schedule updates, college recruiting information, parental support, and more.

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

Please check your school calendar for early dismissals and other school events.

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.

On Monday afternoon, an RHS classroom smells of vanilla, blueberries, and deliciousness. The Unified Baking students are making muffins with their teacher Martha DeSantis. Mentor students and students receiving RISE (Ridgefield Intensive Special Education) services follow the recipe side-by-side. The class is already accustomed to the routines of handwashing, gathering ingredients, measuring, stirring, using an oven, and cleaning up.

Baking is exacting but there is room for choice. One group divides their dough into three and adds white chocolate chips and cranberries to some of their muffins and butterscotch chips into another third. Some groups choose to decorate their muffins with colored sprinkles shaped like unicorns. “I’m having a blast,” says Greyson Carcaterra, stirring a cupful of chocolate chips into his group’s batter. All the students seem happy as they discuss homecoming, their weekends, and the tasks at hand.

This is the first year RHS has offered Unified Baking to encourage inclusion and peer relationships. Unified Art was added last year.. Ms. DeSantis points out the class’s practical curriculum—knife skills, shopping, math, measuring, cooking, and some basic recipes. The soft skills of patience, cooperation, and following directions are also on full display.

“The class couldn’t run without mentor students,” says Ms. DeSantis. The mentor students have different reasons for taking the class. Senior Isabella Amendola has already taken a few culinary classes at RHS and says, “I like cooking. I just wanted to help out.” Ned Eagle, who has a generous manner with his classmates, says, “I signed up for baking and this class just came onto my schedule. I’m really liking it.”

“I wanted to take a class with my sister Maddie,” says ninth-grader Lillian Caligiuri. “It’s probably my favorite class,” says another first-year, who has been actively engaging her team in muffin-making perfection.

Unified Baking offers a rich, joyful, inclusive experience to our students. And the muffins are enjoyed in class with extras to share at home.

Last week marked the start of this year's Ridgefield High School collaboration with the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) Outreach Program. This initiative brings RSO musicians into RHS music classrooms to conduct workshops. Mrs. Jessica McNamara (pictured above), a professional violinist and founder of Ridgefield Suzuki School, worked with the RHS Concert Orchestra on bow distribution, tone production, and bow control. Now in its fourth year, the program has evolved to better meet student needs and is funded by the RSO and Ridgefield Music Parents, a non-profit supporting music programs in Ridgefield Public Schools.

RHS Orchestra Director and Visual & Performing Arts Chair, Michael McNamara (Mr. Mac), explains that the program began as a day of sectional rehearsals with 12 musicians visiting twice a year. "It was great professional development for the music directors and a great experience for the kids to work with a professional on their own instrument," he states.

To increase the program's impact without raising costs, they piloted a new approach last year. Instead of bi-annual sectionals, professional trombonist Jens Wendelboe conducted bi-weekly workshops with the brass sections, offering specialized instruction. "The experience was transformative," says Mr. Mac. "10 minutes into the first session, I couldn't believe they were the same kids."

RHS Band Director George Beratis adds that the continuity was key for retention. "Our brass sections are now performing at a superior level, which will expand the repertoire we can tackle and improve competition results." Jens Wendelboe, an RSO affiliate, is a distinguished musician who toured with Blood, Sweat, and Tears and was a conductor and arranger for Donna Summers.

"He's the real deal," says Mr. Mac. "His expertise and experience offer students a unique perspective on potential career paths as well as the improvements to their musicianship." Due to the pilot's success, this model will continue.

"It is our privilege to offer this program to the RHS students, enhancing the already exceptional music education they receive through the school program," says RSO Executive Director Laurie Kenagy. "We thank the Ridgefield Thrift Shop for a grant which helps support this program."

To further show the support of the RSO and to encourage students to attend, the organization has extended an opportunity for RPS students and their families to attend their concert next week at a 50% discount (just $5 for students!). Visit this link for concert details, and enter the code "RHSMusic" at checkout.

The First Annual Civics Bowl happened this Sunday at East Ridge Middle School with students turning out to test their knowledge of American citizens’ obligations, rights, history, and geography. The Ridgebury Elementary team of Kadan Hagan and Hudson Ingram took home the top prize for the Grade 3-5 category. Scotts Ridge eighth graders Michael Mulvhill, Dash Sferra, and Kai Hagan won the middle school age group.

All the participants showed good citizenship, intelligence, and engagement. High school students Zoe Munoz Rojas, Maggie Fleuette, and Aaron Rattnerserved as judges. Co-sponsored by RPS and the nonprofit Ms President US, this family-friendly, non-partisan community event drew elected officials, young families, and local organizations.

Last spring, RHS senior interns Hudson Podielsky and Petru Zubek helped RPS 6-12 Humanities Supervisor Dr. Annie Tucci (who emceed the Bowl) and Ms US President Executive Director Amanda Cordano to plan the event and write the challenging questions. They invited local organizations—including the Ridgefield Historical Society, Ridgefield Library, the League of Women Voters, Cannon Ridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Keeler Tavern Museum—who came to share information and support.

Ms President US Ridgefield, Scotts Ridge Middle School student, Namya Chouhan represented her constituency and gave information about this local leadership program. More information about enrolling in Ms US President can be found on their website.

Elected officials in attendance included Board of Education Vice Chair Amy Casey and Registrar of Voters Wayne Floegel. Coloring, corn hole, and games promoting civics education engaged the youngest attendees.

In her role as Ms President US Ridgefield, Scotts Ridge student Namya Chouhan spoke eloquently at the town service remembering and honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks at the 9/11 Memorial on Danbury Rd.

RHS junior Zoe Guerrero made the Bedford New Canaan Magazine's "18 Under 18" list for her incredible performance on the U.S. Team. Please read the full issue here: https://bedfordnewcanaanmag.com/september-october-2024/

Chef T's culinary students broke some eggs this week to make these tasty-looking omelets or omelettes as they say in France. Potatoes were transformed into hash browns and a potato tower.

Members of the RHS Class of 2025 filled the Tiger Hollow bleachers to take the annual senior photo. Milestones!

Barlow Mountain fifth graders (RHS Class of 2032!) gather on their new playground for their grade-wide photo.

It's Farmingville Friday! Staff and special District leaders visiting got in the FES spirit with matching t-shirts.

Scotland Elementary recently broke ground on its new playground—just one of the many accomplishments that has everyone smiling.

RPS Elementary Art Lead Rachael Penney shared these adorable photos of Farmingville students signing their names to be All In to Art!

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.