RPS Update

It appears that the winter break was enjoyed by our students, faculty, and their families. It serves as a reminder of one of life's most important gifts- time. How ever you spent your time during winter break, I hope it was exactly what you wished for.

When I was a kindergarten teacher, I loved watching my students create their “lions” and “lambs” as each animal was symbolic of the March weather. As a Superintendent, I am in the “lamb” camp all the way. Hoping for a calm, warm, month of March. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading to kindergarten and first-grade students at Branchville Elementary. Being in classrooms reminded me how lucky I am to have chosen this profession.

This week, our Board of Education learned more about school security, both in public session and executive session at their meeting on February 26. As our community knows, we pride ourselves on being transparent but when it comes to matters of keeping our children safe, we are cautious about what we share publicly. In the nearly four years I have been here, I have highlighted a necessary focus on security while also ensuring our schools are welcoming environments. In partnership, we should be proud of our progress.

Tuesday evening, we presented the Board of Education’s 2024-25 Operating and Capital Budgets to the Board of Selectpersons (BOS). As you would expect, the BOS asked important questions, and ultimately made non-binding recommendations to the BOF. The BOF Public Meeting is on Monday, March 25 at 7 pm.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Please check your school's calendar for important dates.

The tentative last day of school for students is now Friday, June 14. Teacher PD day is now Monday, June 17.

RHS Graduation (which will not change with weather-related closings) is at RHS

Friday, June 14 at 6 p.m.

Junior Prom- Portuguese Club, Danbury CT

Saturday May 18, 2024

Senior Prom - Serafresca at the IC, Stamford, CT

Friday May 31, 2024

At this Monday's BOE meeting, an RHS counseling team joined Principal Dr. Jake Greenwood and Assistant Principal Christine Hopkinson to present on the Senior Internship Program. Dr. Greenwood described the 30-hour-a-week, unpaid internship as a model to high schools across the State. Ms. Hopkinson described how this senior capstone experience connects to RPS Core Values.

RHS Counseling Supervisor Stephanie Cheung and counselors Lori Bran and Joy Squitieri presented on the variety of internships RHS students fulfill, the application process, and the incremental changes planned. Changes include a service trip to Puerto Rico this spring, the introduction of a symposium, and a more meaningful approach to school-based internships. A recording of this presentation is available, here.

Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) commended RPS for excellence in communication. Dr. Wes DeSantis received a Bonnie E. Carney Honorable Mention for Communications Excellence for his Tiger Talk Podcast. Finance Director Jill Browne, flanked above by BOE Finance Chair Sean McEvoy and Assistant Finance Director Nick Karas, received the nod for their SY 2023 Budget Book.

In this week’s episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back Dr. Anthony Showah. Assistant Director of Special Services. We discuss the many updates in the special services department, the expansion of the RISE program, pre-kindergarten, the transition program, how we can leverage AI in to help meet the needs of our students, and much more. Thanks for listening!

During the Professional Development Day prior to the February break, RPS music teachers received a workshop on stringing instruments.

Please check your students' e-Backpack for this important information and other programs across the district. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net.

Throughout the year, RPS staff have offered enriching programs for parents about important topics in education. Recordings of these topics are available here. More information about recent and forthcoming presentations is below.

On Thursday, Dr. Wes DeSantis and Kim Moran presented on AI in education and RPS's thoughtful approach to the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.

Today, RPS elementary school psychologists offered Skills for Life, Part 2, a workshop for parents to increase understanding of children's social and emotional functioning. Recordings of Skills for Life, Part 1 is here and Part 2 is here.

Save the date! On Tuesday, March 12, Dr. Melanie Pearl and Niro Feliciano will be talking about anxiety---in children and teens, as well as in parents. When helping your child learn to understand and cope with their anxiety, it can be most useful to understand how your temperament and anxiety interact with your child's view of the world.

The RPS preschool program is an integrated special education preschool that consists of a multidisciplinary team of teachers, related service providers and paraeducators. The enrollment in each integrated classroom consists of a combination of children who require special education and peer models.

Intensive planning has gone into RPS's Forever Summer Bridge Program at every level. All week, families have visited the Forever Summer Bridge webpage to register for our offerings for enrichment, engagement, and fun at all three levels. Some of the new programs include: Rocketry, World Language or Algebra review, health or personal finance (a new graduation requirement) for high school credit. Please sign up quickly to secure your child's spot as space is limited. Volunteer opportunities available!

See flyers below and the website for more information!

Ridgefield Public Schools is hosting its first-ever Transition Fair. This event will be a "fair style" event in which various representatives (state, agency, and community-based) will be offering updated information regarding transition planning in CT. Areas of focus will be employment, post-secondary education, community access, and recreation and leisure. Please reach out to Jessica DiValentino and jdivalentino@ridgefieldps.net for more information.

On Wednesday, March 27, East Ridge and Scotts Ridge will hold their Incoming 6th Grade Orientation programs designed to introduce families to the 6th-grade program, and some of our middle school teachers and staff.

RPS is excited to be a part of the milestone experience of kindergarten registration with our youngest students and their families. We ask that RPS families alert their neighbors, friends, etc. that kindergarten registration is open. Because of the change in CT's cut off date, prior planning will be particularly important this year so please enroll students ASAP.

The State of Connecticut announced a new cut off date so all children who reach the age of five (5) on or before September 1, 2024 are eligible for enrollment. RPS wants to work with families during this transition year. Please read all of the information here.

RPS elementary school newsletters often have useful information for families about engaging in their kids' education. In a recent Barlow Mountain Elementary newsletter, Literacy Coach Michelle Pagliardo contributed the following graphic, which offers great examples of ways to promote a love of reading at home. These tips could apply to all levels.

Today, East Ridge students flocked to the LLC to read. It's Read Across America Week, and ERMS Librarian Tanya Anderson transformed the LLC into an inviting expression of the week. She with the help of her assistant Amy Dennis created four biomes—desert, mountains, ocean, and forest—around the LLC with cozy nooks for students to read quietly. Anderson and Dennis hung the outlines of the fifty states with books set in those states. Students enjoyed a treat in quiet nooks throughout the space. Some of science teacher David Bozzuto's students dressed in Dr. Seuss-inspired outfits.

The February 16 issue of RPS Update featured a story and photos of RHS English teacher Matthew Goetz's Poetry Coffeehouse. Below, we share a poem by sophomore Sadie Steckler (in photo).

The RHS Musician for the Month is Gregory Kapteina! Read about this awesome music student in this issue of Hamlet Hub.

The cast and crew of the RHS spring musical, "Little Women" have been busy sharing their show. Don't miss the following opportunity to sip tea with stars and get your tickets!

Tickets for the Scotts Ridge Middle School musical go on sale tomorrow, March 2!

Students from Scotts Ridge Middle School seventh and eighth-grade French classes took a five-day trip over February break to Quebec City! Some of the highlights from this winter wonderland adventure included going dog sledding, tubing, attending circus school, visiting the ice hotel and the waterfalls of Montmorency. French students got to learn about Québécois history and taste some traditional foods like poutine, fondu and le pâté chinois while practicing a little bit of their français. There is no doubt that the Québécois motto of "je me souviens" (I remember) applies to this fabulous trip.

Ridgefield’s Mock Trial A Team has moved on from regionals to the Elite 8 in the state. The next round will be March 8. Pictured below are attorneys Molly Coakley, Marko Katra, Catherine Thompson, Gabriel Uceda-Sosa, Victor Uceda-Sosa, and Petru Zubeck; witnesses Hannah Agwu, Nick Davi, Julia Knispel, Lloyd Mills, Colin Nelson, and Shelly Ofer; and timekeepers Anna Kiefaber and Zoe Munez Rojas.

Let's go, Tigers!!!!

This month's RHS magazine doesn't shy away from the hot topics important to RHS students—from junior parking protocols to breaking up on Valentine's Day to studying all February recess—read all about it, here.

The RHS Dance Team won the CIAC State Championship last weekend. They earned a spot at New Englands. Way to go, girls!!

On Wednesday, families, friends, and coaches celebrated members of the RHS Class of 2024 committing to continue their athletic careers in college.

Students who signed National Letters of Intent:

Madeline Pickett- Bentley University, Softball

Madison Collins- Fordham University, Track and Field

Students who signed commitments:

Eleanor Luft- Tufts University, Field Hockey

Brooke Miner- Wesleyan University, Field Hockey

Vincent Carr- Dickinson College, Golf

Madalen Brown- Lasell University, Softball

Elizabeth Grace (Lilybeth) Coury, Softball

Yael Everett- Hamilton College, Softball

Mikaella (Mika) Bernard- Bates University, Women's Lacrosse

Madison Brown- Rochester Institute of Technology, Women's Lacrosse

Sean Bell- Salve Regina University, Men's Lacrosse

Mia McGarrity- Endicott College, Women's Basketball

Luke Englert- The University of Rochester, Football

Austin McGoey- Trinity College, Football

William Diana- Amherst College, Track and Field

This is the second large event the RHS Athletic Department has organized for RHS seniors committing to the NCAA. Read more in the November 2023 issue of RPS Update.

Congratulations to all RHS student-athletes!

The Ridgefield Lions Squirt AA hockey team won States this past weekend and are heading to regionals in Rhode Island March 22-24. They have players from every elementary school in Ridgefield. Congratulations and best of luck, Lions!

Bowie Myers - Veterans Park

Carson Miller - Scotland

Tommy King - Scotland

Chase Kurtz - Scotland

Paxson Casolo - Scotland

RJ Colamaria - Ridgebury

Hunter Hulme - Farmingville

Brennan Pelkey - Branchville

James Cassaro - Barlow Mountain

RPS often talks of the crucial role that PTAs play in our schools. PTAs are currently looking to fill roles for next year, and it's not too late to join as a member. Here are some letters from Branchville fourth-graders, thanking the PTA for underwriting their trip to the Ridgefield Playhouse before break. Thank you to all the PTA members and devoted volunteers for supporting our students.

Teachers from the RPS music department teamed up with friends to form "Those Who Can't," a band with a mission. Their gig at the Sugar Hollow Taproom on February 9 wasn't just about music; it was about giving back. The packed venue enjoyed their tunes, raising over $3000 for Ridgefield Music Parents. Gratitude overflowed to all who attended and volunteered. It was a night of community, music, and making a difference, proving that when passion meets purpose, magic happens.

Veterans Park Elementary Library and Media Specialist Liza Bullard posted photos of fifth-grade friends taken yesterday and as first graders on February 29, 2020. Leap Year!

Local leaders including Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Liz Hannaway, and First Selectperson Rudy Marconi read to Branchville Elementary students during Read Across America Week.

Branchville Elementary Principal Keith Margolus and Assistant Superintendent Cory Gillette visit Katie Quinn's fourth-grade class.

The East Ridge Middle School Anti-Vapting grand prize winner ($300) is eighth-grader Lauren Gedye, with the runner up ($200) eighth-grader Jaden DeLand. They are in photo below with ERMS Principal Jennifer Phostole.

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.