RPS Update

The snow this morning reminded us that New England weather is unpredictable—the reason to be prepared for whatever comes our way! Please review our Weather-Related Closure Protocols and discuss your family’s plan for an early dismissal with your children.

This past Wednesday evening, the Board of Selectpersons discussed the possibility of building a new construction for the Alternative High School/18-22 Transition site. As the community is aware, the District has outgrown its current locations and is in need of a new space for both programs beginning in the fall of 2025. We look forward to working with our Town partners to create a welcoming environment that will support all of our students at RPS. You can expect ongoing communication as we move this important building project forward.

On Monday, November 25, the Board of Education will meet and proceed with a full agenda, found on the BOE webpage. Our goal is to ensure all FY26 budget requests are heard by the Board in advance of our full-day budget meeting in January. We encourage you to tune in on Monday to hear more about the new RHS course proposals, elementary world language, and supporting the mental health of our student-athletes.

The holiday season is upon us; there is no doubt that Thanksgiving marks the opening of the season. For me, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and offer thanks for the many gifts we receive each day. Here at RPS, I extend my gratitude to amazing families, students, colleagues, and teams– I am lucky for the opportunity to serve this community. This will be the last communication before the holiday. We wish you a time of peace, filled with friends, family, and gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D.

Photo Caption: Barlow Mountain Elementary fourth graders with their harvest from the BMES Community Garden.

This week, some of the RPS elementary schools kicked off their No Place for Hate programs. RHS, East Ridge, and Scotts Ridge Middle Schools have participated in this Anti-Defamation League (ADL) program for years. By introducing the program at all six elementary schools, RPS becomes one of the few districts in the state with the No Place for Hate program in grades K-12. Fifth graders, with adult support, help run the programs, which include an age-appropriate pledge and lessons on acceptance and speaking up against bullying.

Please see more photos from Branchville, Ridgebury, and Scotland No Place for Hate assemblies in Photos from the Week below. Read the NPFH Parent Communication from Elementary principals.

RPS is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive environment; our schools’ safety is our highest priority. We encourage families to have open conversations about speaking up when students see or hear something concerning. Whether it’s something they’ve witnessed firsthand or overheard, they need to know their voice matters.

Some tips for families:

Be there for your child.

Remind your child that you are there for them; if they need someone to talk to, you will take the concern seriously. Help your child identify other trusted adults in their school and community by asking who they might go to with a problem.

Discuss the difference between saying something and telling on someone.

Explain that telling on someone is trying to get someone in trouble, but saying something is to get someone help.

Share your story.

Tell your child a story about a time that you took action and how it made a difference.

Some district security resources

Elementary families should bring security concerns to their classroom teacher, building leaders, or Director of Safety and Security Joshua Zabin. Middle and high schoolers can reach out to a teacher, counselor, or administrator and also take advantage of an anonymous reporting system, Sandy Hook Promise, designed to help identify and prevent potential threats before they escalate.

The Sandy Hook Promise’s Anonymous Reporting System allows students and community members to report any concerns, whether it’s about bullying, threats, self-harm, or any other unsafe situation that could jeopardize safety. The system is completely anonymous, and no one will be required to reveal their identity when submitting a report. These reports are monitored by trained professionals who will assess the situation and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of our school.

How to report:

Online: Reports can be submitted through a dedicated website shared on both the Middle School and High School Websites.

You can also follow this link to report anonymously Sandy Hook Promise Say Something hotline.

Ridgefield families should know this is not just about reporting potential violence but also any behavior that could put someone at risk—whether physical, emotional, or psychological.

Please talk to your child about the importance of using this tool responsibly and with the intention of helping others while also reminding them that our schools are safe spaces to reach out for support when needed.

Ethan’s Law

We also wanted to remind families of Ethan’s Law, named after Ethan Song, a fifteen-year-old CT resident who lost his life while handling a neighbor’s gun. This law requires adults to secure firearms safely in their homes.

Thank you for your continued support in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students. Please address any concerns or questions to Director of Safety and Security Joshua Zabin.

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.

On this week’s episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back physics and robotics teacher Michael Murphy. Joining him are Ridgefield High School robotics team members Addis Engel, Declan Kelly, Juliette Langberg, and Vijay Pertab. We discuss the robotics club/high school course offerings that students can choose from, this year’s Vex robotics tournament game, the amazing skills that our students are able to develop in these courses/club, and how you can see these robots in action this on Saturday 9 am November 23 at Ridgefield High School. Thanks for listening. For more information on the event, Click Here, and to learn how the game is played, Click Here.

December 2-6 is Inclusive Schools Week! Please check your PTA newsletter for what you can do to join RPS and the PTA Special Services Committee to encourage inclusivity and belonging. The theme this year is every voice matters. Please see the Committee's Fall and Winter Issue of Special Services Spotlight: A Resource Guide for Parents of Students With Special Needs.

The BOE approved Friday, June 13, as the RHS Class of 2025 Graduation date. This date will not change with weather-related closures or other calendar changes. The graduation will be on Tiger Hollow if the weather permits and inside if the weather doesn't cooperate. More information for senior families to come!

John Wilson might be the district's best recruiter. He actively tries to get his friends to fill the Van Driver roles. "I think it's the best job I've ever had," he says. Please watch his short video testimonial.

Wilson retired as an IBM executive over eight years ago after 37 years at IBM—including years in Tokyo and Armonk as Vice President of Operations. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, spending time with friends and family (including his four grown daughters who graduated from RHS and grandchildren, some of whom are students at Scotts Ridge Middle School), cleaning out his Ridgefield house, and reading newspapers cover to cover.

But he missed the routine of going to work. "I read about a retired FBI agent, a guy who supervised 200,000 people; this is the kind of job he was doing. I thought it might be a good fit."

Wilson drives one of the vans the district purchased two years ago as a cost-cutting experiment to alleviate some of the transportation costs. For the past two years, Wilson's day has started early, picking up elementary and middle school students who receive special services. "I have a relationship with every parent of the students I drive," Wilson says. "They need to know who is driving their kids."

Then, Wilson goes to Veterans Park to pick up 18-22-year-old Ridgefield Transition Program (RTP) students and their work coaches from the portable behind VPES. On a recent morning, he brings two students and their paraeducators to Home Goods to practice life skills and social interaction. "John is wonderful!" says para Lisa Labar. He also drives students to the Rec Center, the Ridgefield Library, Historical Society, Boys and Girls Club of Ridgefield, and other workplaces around town.

Drivers must undergo background checks, drug screening, and a physical. “It takes time to train," Wilson says. "But, it’s rewarding and worth it." Wilson has already recruited his friend Joe to be one of the other drivers. He said Joe texted him, "Let's have coffee. This might be something I'd like to do."

Like John Wilson, who has lived in Ridgefield for 29 years, many of our best RPS employees come from within our RPS community. Please visit our website to learn more about openings for Van Drivers and other positions.

RHS Mandarin students recently had the opportunity to visit Chinatown. This immersive experience allowed them to practice speaking Mandarin with native speakers while exploring the vibrant culture of the community. During the trip, students participated in engaging scavenger hunt activities that fostered teamwork, excitement, and active learning. These activities enhanced their language skills and deepened their appreciation for cultural diversity.

Mandarin teacher Yu-Wei Hsu writes, "We sincerely thank you for your continued support in making these enriching opportunities possible for our students. Together, we look forward to more collaborative efforts that build a brighter future for our students!"

On Tuesday, the RHS Concert Choir took a field trip to participate in a Choral Festival event at Sacred Heart University's Community Theater in downtown Fairfield. They sang two of their songs on stage and received coaching from esteemed clinicians about music-making aspects like tone, phrasing, and dynamics. They also heard three other high school choirs perform and sang as one big high school group at the beginning and end of the event. The RHS students learned a lot and had fun doing it! Choir Director Lauren Verney-Fink said, "What better way to spend a morning than singing with other choirs in an awesome performance venue with fantastic clinicians? We can't wait to apply the lessons we learned to our music, and we're thankful to have gone on this field trip, as it was really a 'test run' for our upcoming Dec. 11 concert. Managing nervousness and singing in new acoustical spaces are all aspects of being a performer!"

On Thursday, Branchville Elementary first graders are putting on their smocks and wetting their paint brushes to finish up their flower collages, but they can't help looking at the art from other BES grades. Their schoolmates' creativity and cuteness are distractingly good! RPS art teacher Jennifer Zeyer describes some of what her students have been working on below.

Kindergarteners made Kooky Line birds, learning about the different kinds of lines-vertical, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, diagonal, etc.

1st grade made collages based upon the art of Lesley Seeger's floral still lifes. They talked about symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance.

2nd grade learned about artists Gustav Klimt and contemporary artist Karla Gerard. Students compared and contrasted the artists' "Tree of Life" artworks to talk about real and implied texture.

3rd grade learned about the unique Mexican Alejibre sculptures. Students created masks using proportion to create facial features, inspired by this colorful art. No two are the same.

4th graders are making Onomatopoeia word art. They learned about the artwork of Roy Lichtenstein.-Unit on creating movement in their artwork. Work in Progress.

5th grade are making Neurographic Self Portraits. They discussed symbolism in Picasso's "Dove of Peace" and "Hands with Flowers" and how symbols communicate a message or convey meaning. They also talked about neurographic art inspired by the founder, Russian psychologist, artist, and architect, Dr. Pavel Piscarev in 2014. Students used symbols and images to represent themselves in the Neurographic art frame and created a self-portrait inspired by Andy Warhol's Pop Art.

5th grade LEAP (Learning and Enrichment Art Program) students finished their masks yesterday. Their discussion focused on why people wear masks in our culture compared to other cultures. They talked about masks being an important part of African culture—where they are worn during rituals, ceremonies, and celebrations to signify an occasion. Masks may be used in times of war or peace, to promote a good harvest, spiritual awareness, and more. Art LEAP students used African masks as inspiration to create these unique masterpieces.

Fall sports are wrapping up, and Winter sports kicked off on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Please check the RHS Athletics webpage for ongoing contests, registration, and more.

On Wednesday afternoon before the Winter Sports Kick-Off, members of the RHS coaching staff met with Licensed Mental Health Clinician Zack Etter. The Athletic Department has contracted Mr. Etter, who is on staff at the University of Massachusetts athletic department and founder of The Holistic Athlete, for a comprehensive approach to RHS Student-Athletes and their health and wellness.

In his introduction to Mr. Etter, RHS Athletic Director Dane Street says, "We want sports to be the fun, stress-releasing part of a student's day, but we hear that is not always the case. In season, coaches might see more of a student than their own families, and we want to help coaches understand players a little better and give you tools. You are not a therapist, but you are all educators first. And this is part of being an educator."

Mr. Etter has coached at the high school and college levels and brings extensive education on behavior and brain science, as well as a hands-on approach to the student-athlete. As a part of his agreement with RHS, he will give four in-person sessions (Wednesday was his third presentation); all coaches have access to his online Coaches Education Course (11 modules) and can access one-on-one consulting when they have a concern about a team or player.

Some of the coaches in the room have been working for RPS for more than twenty years, and some are in their first year of coaching. There are state-champion-winning Varsity coaches, JV, and Unified Sports, which pairs students with disabilities with peers. Many are multi-sport coaches, some of whom have attended Mr. Etter's workshops earlier in the year, and many are RHS teachers.

All are engaged in the first activity, which has coaches pair up to ask questions on index cards.

Questions include:

What are some of your strengths as a coach? Weaknesses?

What is something you've learned about yourself lately?

What is the most difficult experience you have had with an athlete? With a parent?

Do you talk to your team about social media? The election?

After a lively interchange that has coaches moving around the room and swapping cards, they sit back in their seats to reflect. Coaches share specific challenges that they have had with team size and wanting to include as many students as possible but then managing expectations, players' and parents', for playing time as the season gets underway.

Mr. Etter talks about the rates of anxiety in athletes and strategies to mitigate anxiety by understanding brain science, focusing on creating goals for success that don't depend on the outcome of the game but on the input of the team and player—he shares how focusing on winning and performing in a game can cause overthinking and choking.

Athletic Director Street comments, "I'm very happy that our coaches have access to more information, education, and guidance from Zack on how best to support the mental health needs of our student-athletes. I look forward to our future collaboration to continue this work."

RPS continues to strive to be a place where all students thrive and grow. Our students' health is a District Priority. The RHS Athletics page has more information for athletes and families.

The RHS Girls Swim and Dive Team was unstoppable this year—winning FCIACs two weeks ago, a State Championship last week, and the State Open at Yale this week. At the State Open Meet, our Tigers won eight of the twelve events, including all three relays. This is an RHS team for the record books. Congratulations!

Thank you to our fifth-grade No Place for Hate ambassadors who led their schools' assemblies. Some of you mentioned feeling nervous about speaking in front of the entire school and using a microphone, but you all rose to the occasion with grace and confidence. We are proud of our student leaders!

Students help prepare a Friends-Giving Feast!

Putting the "Giving" in Thanksgiving. The Farmingville Elementary Kids Care Club made 60 sandwiches for the Dorothy Day House in Danbury. Students wrote notes to go with the lunches.

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.