Branchville Bulletin

Dear Brachville Community,

On the 10th, the fifth-grade student council representatives led an assembly to teach our students what it means to Choose Kind. Dubbed Branchville CARES to Choose Kind, fifth-graders discussed words associated with each letter of the acronym CARES. CARES. stands for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control.

In the spirit of Monday's holiday, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, it is fitting to think about how we conduct ourselves, advocate for what is right, and live up to King's aspirations. Each day this week, we talked about a different CARES. word during the morning announcements and in class. I encourage you to discuss CARES. at home. Maybe it will lead to a broader conversation about how we, as members of Ridgefield CARE(S) to Choose Kind and carry forward King's Dream.

See below for more details about CARES.

In partnership,

Keith L Margolus

Principal

C.A.R.E.S. stands for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control.

Cooperation: The ability to establish new relationships, maintain relationships and friendships, avoid social isolation, resolve conflicts, accept differences, be a contributing member of one's classroom and community, and work productively and collaboratively with others.

Assertion: The ability to take initiative, to stand up for your ideas without hurting or negating others, to ask for help, to persevere with a challenging task, and to recognize one's individual self as separate from the environment, circumstances, or conditions one is in.

Responsibility: The ability to motivate oneself to act and follow through on expectations; to define a problem, consider the consequences, and choose a positive solution.

Empathy: The ability to recognize, appreciate, or understand another's state of mind or emotions; to be receptive to new ideas and perspectives; and to see, appreciate, and value differences and diversity in others.

Self-Control: The ability to recognize and regulate one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to be successful in the moment and remain on a successful trajectory.

Please remember that children typically go outdoors every day for recess unless the weather/temperature is unusually severe, with a "real feel" nearing the single digits.

When temperatures drop below 40 degrees, students should wear a warm top layer (coat, heavy sweater, thick hoodie with underlayers), hats, and gloves. Pants or shorts with underlayers should also be worn. Dressing in layers is the best option. When snow is on the ground, snow pants and boots are required for students to play in the snow (basically anywhere other than the pavement).

As you may have read in Dr. Da Silva's Friday newsletter, this past Thursday, she presented the Superintendent's Proposed Budget for the next school year. If you usually don't follow Board of Education conversations, this may be the time to listen in. The forthcoming discussions have a direct impact on Branchville. Below, you will find an excerpt from Dr. Da Silva's newsletter.

I encourage you to take the time to watch the budget presentation here. On Saturday, January 25, each of our school principals and cost center leaders will present their FY26 budgets at a virtual BOE special meeting. We invite you to learn more about the FY26 proposed budget either by viewing it live, or at a later time.

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

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.

January

1/20 Schools Closed (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)

February

2/14 No School (Professional Learning)

2/17 - 2/21 No School (February 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