RPS Update

There is no better gift than being surrounded by children—no matter the age. Throughout the week, we shared "RPS Talent" videos with our faculty, and we have pulled together a 2024-25 highlight video (all three videos linked below). Grab your tissues! Without opportunity and hard work, talent can wither, so a big thank you to teachers, families, and the broader Ridgefield community for supporting RPS and being "All In" with us.

This evening, I will speak to our Class of 2025 at their final farewell to RPS on the Tiger Hollow field for the commencement ceremony. As they graduate from our beloved high school, we know that so many members of this community have contributed to the Class of 2025's 13-year journey, and we are so grateful. There is no doubt that our students are driven, and many good things are yet to come. We know that this community will continue to support them. My final message to our graduates, inspired by Avicii's song "The Nights," is to remind them not only to chase success but also to live a life worth remembering by doing what is good and right, and leading with their hearts. The Class of 2025 can do this; they already have during their time at RHS.

Tissue alert! Here are the videos that brought tears to our eyes and reminded us how much we can accomplish together.

Link to Remember Me, with Members of the Class of 2025

Link to One Voice

Link to Highlight Reel: All In 2024-25 or watch on YouTube below.

May you have a memory-filled summer!

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Photo Above: Some of our 2025 retirees at the BOE meeting on Monday: Cynthia Daniska, Barb Lohse, Jim Tornatore, Bridget Goddard, Lori Peck, Lisa Martire

Recently, RPS Update connected with senior Lloyd Mills to reflect on his time here at RPS and his many accomplishments. You might have seen him as the Scarecrow in RHS's production of The Wizard of Oz, in a previous newsletter as a CABE award winner, in today’s newsletter as one of the Top 10 students, or you might see him tonight, delivering a speech at graduation as the chosen class speaker. Lloyd’s involvement in our community and our senior class is impressive, and we wanted to highlight how he has grown into a well-rounded and dedicated individual over the years. He was chosen as our speaker for a good reason. His words and perspective represented the class’s experience and essence as a whole, and we couldn’t think of a better individual to highlight as this year comes to a close, and we say a heartfelt goodbye to our seniors. Please read the full Q&A here.

Last week, RHS honored its seniors who received awards and scholarships.

Read the Scholarship winners here.

Read the Awards here.

Photo above: Four Ridgefield Thrift Shop scholarship recipients. The Thrift Shop awarded $7500 scholarships to twelve RPS students. Congrats to all. Thank you!

Ian Klimowicz, a 6th-grader at Scotts Ridge, just returned from Dearborn, Michigan, where the 2025 National Invention Convention was held at the Henry Ford Museum. Ian participated as a 2024 Connecticut state finalist. At Nationals, he placed third in the 6th-grade category with his invention, "Reel Green Tackle"—a biodegradable, hard-plastic fishing lure and bobber that would help eliminate plastic pollution in our waterways. Ian loves to fish, so this is a problem that is close to his heart. Way to go, Ian!!!!

Please see the August calendar for the first days of RHS sports, and check your email over the summer for more orientation events.

Summer Break starts on Monday! It is a time to have fun with family and friends without following the typical school schedule. Reading, writing, and engaging in mathematics can be part of summer fun. Here are some suggested, relevant activities to help your child maintain learning while having fun. Have a wonderful summer!

Ridgefield Library

Supporting Your Mathematician at Home

More about RPS Curriculum can be found on the Curriculum Website.

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.

"What's in a name?" asks star-crossed lover Juliet. In the case of the new Alternative High School and RTP site, the name is important, and RPS wants to get it right. That's why 6-12 Humanities Supervisor Dr. Annie Tucci consulted with Betsy Reid at the Ridgefield Historical Society, who consulted further with local historian Jack Sanders. At Monday's BOE meeting, Dr.Tucci zoomed in to share the history of the Prospect Ridge/Halpin Lane Site. Ridgefield Historical Society RHS senior intern Mridhula Praveen pulled together this resource about the history of the site. District leaders shared that they are considering the Alternative High School at the Prospect Ridge Campus and RTP Program at the Prospect Ridge Campus to reflect the different and separate programs under the same roof.

On Wednesday, seniors returned to RHS for the Senior Internship Symposium, where they had the opportunity to share their internship experiences with their advisory group. Each intern created a slideshow that described a typical day, what they learned about themselves, and whether they would recommend the internship to others. Interns reflected on the core RHS Values that their internship touched on in this capstone experience. Some advisories even voted on the best internship. Shout out to our favorite RPS Communications intern!!! View a video with highlights from the Internship Program here.

Photos above: Ridgefield's new CERT-certified interns recently learned how to apply a tourniquet. Learn more about this important internship in last week's RPS Update.

On Thursday, RHS unveiled Adirondack chairs built and painted by our students! Superintendent Dr. Da Silva, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hannaway, RHS administrators, and students tested out the chairs in the RHS courtyard and listened to students presenting on the project. Under the guidance of teachers Nikki Hardman and Mike Cerniglia, students in the RISE (Reaching Independence and Success in Education) Program and the General Education Program worked together to construct and paint beautiful chairs for the courtyard. They extended their heartfelt thanks to the PTSA for their support.

Editor Note: We would like to thank the parent for the correction in last week's RPS Update regarding the RISE acronym.

RHS Literary Magazine, Lodestar, was released this week, showcasing the artistic and literary talents at RHS. Please click on link above or reach out to the advisors for a printed version.

Editors: Connor Graves ‘27, Maria Flor Mascarenhas ‘27, Natalie Shartouni ‘26, Grant Thorburn ‘25

Staff: Natalie Chin ‘27, Madeline Lindsay-Jones ‘27, John Shirvell ‘26, Victoria Teijeiro Martin ‘28

Advisors: Tara Ceresa, Kevin Higgins

Lodestar Awards:

Senior Micah Cohen earned the Leviano Award, which recognizes a student who demonstrates originality and dedication in their prose. The recipient’s unique voice and style serve as a model

of excellence in writing to his or her piece.

“Spinning Silk” By Natalie Shartouni received the Robert Cox Award recognizes a student with achievement in poetic verse. The selected poet displays mastery of style and sophisticated thinking. Lodestar names this award in honor of longtime teacher, department chair, and writer, Robert Cox, who, for years, has inspired students with his love of language and passion for writing.

River Trotter earned the Allard Labin Award, which commends an art student who successfully and skillfully utilizes composition and technique while effectively portraying a complex mood.

Math teacher and director extraordinaire Dr. Merryl Polak reports that Scotts Ridge showcased a "Variety" of student acts in the annual Variety Show—a tradition that started the year SRMS opened. Please see this slideshow to view the wide range of talent on display and photos from the performances.

Third-grade students brought digital citizenship to life in the Barlow Mountain Elementary library by creating stop-motion videos that illustrate how to be safe and responsible online. Working in the makerspace, students used the NASA engineering design process to plan, create, improve, and test their own characters and scenes, fostering creativity and problem-solving as they transformed their ideas into animated stories.

Through this hands-on project, students demonstrated key digital citizenship skills - such as protecting private information, speaking positively online, having media balance, and taking care of their devices - while practicing safe and appropriate online behaviors.

Utilizing the iPad app Stop Motion, students developed essential technology skills, including storyboarding, frame-by-frame animation, and digital editing. This engaging project empowered students as creators and communicators, allowing them to share important messages about digital citizenship with their school community.

The spotlights went on in the RHS Black Box Theater last Friday afternoon for the Unified Theater performance. Students received a standing ovation for this outstanding production, which included favorite songs, characters, and themes—think Star Wars, trains, pizza, ghosts, and love! Students wrote, choreographed, and directed, with support from faculty advisors and paraeducators. Bravo! Bravo!

Cast/Crew:

Amelia Weltman, Lloyd Mills, Stephanie Ayala Lanzo, Andrés Erazo, Chana Goldstein, Keshavan Primavera, Abigail Black, Benjamin Olson, David Moroney

Faculty Advisors: Jess DiValentino, Megan Calderwood, Jane Tulley

Paraeducators: Lisa Laber, Katrina Fiorita, Loretta Russell

The RHS Athletic Department invited all RHS Class of '25 grads planning to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level for a photo immediately following graduation rehearsal at Tiger Hollow. Whether they're planning to play at an NCAA Division I, II, or III school, NAIA or JUCO, congratulations to this incredible group of student-athletes, and please keep in touch!

One game left in the spring sports season—Softball is playing for a State Championship tomorrow. Let's go, Tigers!!!

Summer workouts are coming up! Keep your eye on the RHS SportsYou team pages for dates and announcements. If you are looking to get connected, email ascammon@ridgefieldps.net for an access code

Summer is the perfect time to schedule an annual physical! Physical forms are required for RHS athletics participation. Physical forms are good for 13 months from the date of the exam and can be emailed to the RHS Head Athletic Trainer, Rachel Marino, rmarino@ridgefieldps.net

The Farmingville student council recently took an after-school trip to the Daily Bread Food Pantry, reports FES faculty advisor Rachael Penney. FES has partnered with this pantry for three years, when FES started collecting cereal for them. Peter Kent (Ridgefield resident and volunteer) runs the pantry and invited FES for a tour! Student council members delivered donated leftover books from other book drives and their own student council book drive at the book fair. Siblings and parents joined for a fun afternoon of outreach and connection.

The Ridgefield 6th Grade Girls Lacrosse team competed in the 2025 CONNY Tournament at Yale University on June 1st and emerged as champions. Following a 7–5 victory over New Fairfield and a commanding 10–3 win against Wallingford, the team advanced to the final match against Branford. After a hard-fought game, regulation ended in a 7–7 tie, leading to an intense sudden victory overtime—an exhilarating 3-vs-3, two-minute showdown where the first goal determines the winner. In a fitting conclusion to a remarkable tournament, Ridgefield secured the golden goal to claim an 8–7 championship win. It was a dramatic and well-earned finish, showcasing teamwork, resilience, and competitive spirit at its finest.

En route to his Scotland Elementary internship, Finn Baudendistel stopped to protect the turtle crossing the road and waited with his Scotland kindergarten teacher, June Presslaff, until Animal Control arrived.

East Ridge eighth graders went to Holiday Hill in Prospect CT on Thursday for a day of boating, fishing, games, and fun!

Our elementary students and staff lined the halls to cheer for the Class of 2025. This annual rite of passage provides families and students with the opportunity to reconnect with each other after their month of internship, or in some cases, years.

Miraculously, the rain stayed away for the Farmingville and Branchville Grad Walks on Tuesday. Seniors returned to their elementary playgrounds for a photo and maybe a slide or two. The younger siblings still in elementary school made the day extra special.

Seniors who attended Ridgebury seemed to have no problem getting up and putting on their caps and gowns. The Ridgebury Grad Walk seemed like the best turnout of all. RES alum paraded the halls and the circle to the cheers of the next generation.

The Class of 2025 lined up for Graduation Rehearsal yesterday. You are ready, seniors!

We will send a report from tonight's Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony, including photos, speeches, and post-secondary plans and college information, in a special Graduation Edition of RPS News next week. Stay tuned!

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.