RPS Update

While this is not the way I wanted to begin my second newsletter, the horrors that the students of Apalachee High School experienced this past Wednesday are unthinkable. Our prayers and sympathy are with the entire school community. The Ridgefield Public Schools has invested a significant amount of human and material resources on the safety and security of our schools over the past four years. As a result of the District's commitment, we are safer, and it is imperative that we remain vigilant. It is critical for those who notice circumstances that are unusual or out of the ordinary that it be brought to the school, or to the police.

Each of our schools are benefitting from School Security Officers (SSOs). These retired law enforcement officers' environment has definitely changed, and it is heartwarming to see the relationships they have developed with our students already! Our processes and structures at the school level may feel cumbersome at times, yet they are absolutely necessary. We ask for your patience and acceptance of the SSOs’ need to take the extra steps.

Today, I met with our PTA representatives during their first meeting of the year. We touched upon a variety of topics that our community can expect to learn more about in the coming months. One topic that is incredibly important is the need for a new space for the Ridgefield Alternative High School and the 18-22 Transition Programs. Both of these programs continue to expand and are in great need of an appropriate space that meets the needs of our student population. Through partnership, we have identified a space on 66 Grove Street that can meet the needs of both of these populations. The Town Public Hearing is scheduled for September 12 @ 5:00 p.m.

We began to feel the crisp air this week which is our first sign of the many fall events that will take place at our schools-including the popular RHS Friday night football games, with the first game on September 20th! As a reminder, younger students may not be dropped off without adult supervision- more specifically, students unsupervised in the Tiger Hollow II field. Unfortunately, despite good intentions, the lack of supervision ultimately ends with someone inevitably getting hurt. We want these events to be a fun and enjoyable experience for all.

This coming Monday evening at our Board of Education meeting, we will resume discussion on the 2024-25 District Priorities. One of the areas we will continue to focus on is “feedback.” We recognize the importance of learning about what we are doing well, and the areas in which we have opportunities for growth. As my colleagues are often heard saying, we are a learning organization- we don’t stop; we are always looking to be our best. This year, we will continue to meet with students, faculty, and families through a variety of modalities.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Ridgefield Tiger Talk is back for the 2024-25 school year! In our first episode of the season, we welcome back Jill Browne our Director of Finance and Billy Gramajo our Transportation Coordinator to go over some frequently asked questions about transportation. Some of the topics we cover are how bus routes are planned, all the factors that decide where a bus stop is, and how the student first app works. Thanks for listening!

If you have any further questions regarding transportation, here’s the email discussed in the show: RPSTransportation@RidgefieldPS.net

RPS has learned of repeated incidences of cars honking at school vans or passing buses and other expressions of impatience on the roads. Of course, most of these cars are likely not RPS families and staff:) But, we ask for your patience and to remind your teen drivers and other family members to leave plenty of time, and to use caution, patience, and grace on the roads. Please obey the laws. Sometimes, the brief delay is from families with students receiving special services taking a few moments to make sure their children are settled and safe, very young children riding to school for the first month, or student drivers. Thank you!

Ridgefield Public Schools announced today the appointment of Jacqueline (Jackie) Doty as the new Farmingville Elementary Assistant Principal. Ms. Doty has been the Farmingville Literacy Coach since 2012. She previously worked at Veterans Park Elementary and in the Darien Public Schools as a classroom teacher and district leader. She holds a Master's in Reading and recently completed her Administration Certificate at Sacred Heart University. Ms. Doty writes, “I am thrilled and honored to continue working with the Farmingville community as the Assistant Principal. Over the past ten years as an RPS Literacy Coach, I have developed strong relationships with students, teachers, and families. I am excited about our school's future growth and look forward to all the wonderful opportunities and experiences that lie ahead.”

Ms. Doty’s recommendation letters from within RPS are superlative and could be shared in their

entirety if space allowed. Elementary Supervisor Linda Johnson writes, “Ms. Doty brings an

exceptional instructional background and a strong commitment to students; and teachers’

success. She is the type of leader who makes other individuals want to grow professionally.”

Sandy Clouse, Ridgebury Elementary Literacy Coach, praises Doty unconditionally, describing

her as “a lifelong learner, “a natural leader,” generous with her knowledge, and “trustworthy,”

while noting the new Assistant Principal’s listening and communication skills.

Farmingville Principal Nancy Caron writes, “Ms. Doty is an educator who is reflective and thinks

deeply to solve problems. She works collaboratively to ensure that students receive the best

instruction possible.” Ms. Caron notes Doty’s contributions to the District have been numerous

and cites her prior participation in the Planning and Placement (PPT) process as invaluable in

this role.

Ms. Doty will start in her new role on September 15.

Please help RPS go green by checking your students' e-Backpack weekly for important information, including a new flier about a free boys lacrosse clinic. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net

In honor of the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, and in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and AMC Theatres, The Ridgefield Public Schools will be hosting a screening at the Danbury AMC theatre, on Wednesday, September 11 at 7:00 pm.

This “Anniversary in the Theaters” program is centered around a screening of the 2023, 9/11 Anniversary Digital Learning Experience, a 30-minute film annually created by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and featuring first-person accounts of the hope, resilience, and unity that defined September 11, 2001 and the days and weeks that followed.

View a trailer of the film at: www.911memorial.org/DLE

Interested in attending?

• To request a seat at the screening, please click here

• Where: Danbury AMC Theater (61 Eagle Rd, Danbury, CT 06810)

• When: Wednesday 9/11/23

• Screening begins at 7:00 pm (please arrive between 6:30-6:45 for check-in)

PLEASE REQUEST BY Sunday, September 8.

• Confirmation of attendance will be sent on the morning of 9/9 to the email you provide.
  
  

If you have any questions, please contact Danny Martins, RHS Social Studies Department Chair or Annie Tucci, RPS 6-12 Humanities Supervisor.

Note: This is not a school field trip and is a community-based event. Permission slips are not required and responsibility for attendance is based on family discretion.

Please check your school calendar for Back to School nights and other important events. There is a Board of Education meeting this Monday, September 9 at 7 pm. The meeting is open to the public and can be watched on the BOE YouTube Channel. The meeting agenda and link to live or recorded meetings is on on the BOE Webpage.

Today, Branchville Elementary students had lessons in CLUE—an inclusion program that teaches kids about learning differently and appreciating one another's uniqueness. Just as we all have different fingerprints, we all have different ways of learning. Speech and Language Pathologist Dr. Traci Casey and BCBA Caitlin Schweigler ran the lesson. Dr. Casey explains that "CLUE stands for Children Learn and Understand Everyone. The main focus is to understand the different supports students may benefit from while fostering meaningful, mutual learning environments."

RHS French teacher Kimberly Cameron has been thinking about how to translate "All In" into French since she first learned about RPS's motto for the year. Madame Cameron is new to the district but has taught French for seven years. While there is no perfect translation to "All In," she has settled on "On Fonce". Some of the motto's nuance might be lost in translation, but these joyful photos prove that Mme. Cameron and her students are fully on point. She writes, "I am truly all in with my students and so excited to be here!!!" Welcome to RPS, Kimberly! On Fonce!

Dr. Ashley Brooksbank's AP World History classes start the year analyzing the course themes! RPS offers the rigorous course primarily to sophomores with departmental permission. According to the AP website, World History Advanced Placement (WHAP) students "learn about the rise and fall of empires, the evolution of technology, and the cultural and social changes that have shaped our world. The course isn’t just about memorizing dates and battles—it’s about exploring civilizations and cultures from a global perspective to understand better the complex relationships that exist today."

RHS Concert Choir and Symphonic Orchestra sectionals began this week. How fantastic to hear so many musicians and singers turn out (and at Open House). Thank you to families who support their students' musical pursuits and our programs.

RHS fall athletic contests started this week, including the Girls Varsity Soccer's decisive win over Bridgeport on Tuesday. Please check the Athletic Department's website for game schedules, tickets, schedule updates, college recruiting information, parental support, and more.

Six RHS swimmers—Lily Archibald, Keira Giles, Bridget Kelly, Riley McGerald, Madeline Muncy, and Ava Ward—are featured in GameTimeCT's "Top 25 to Watch." The first home girls swim meet is on September 17 at 4 pm at the Barlow Mountain pool. #AllInRPS

Let's go, Tigers!!!

From the celebratory back-to-school bashes to spirit runs to in-school and extracurricular enrichment to substantive support for teachers' passion projects, communication, school beautification, quality of life (staff lunches and coffee carts), and SO much more, the support our PTAs have for students and staff lift us up. Parents, teachers, and staff, please join your school's PTA to show, "We're All In!" Join on your school's PTA toolkit. It only takes a minute.

Last Friday, RHS students and staff donned Hawaiian shirts and skirts, flamingo floaties, and sunglasses to end the first week with spirit. "Tropical tourist" was the theme, and the RHS student government handed out leis to kick off the weekend.

Middle schoolers learned that they were all in the same boat during Team Bonding programs at Martins Park this week.

Collaboration is part of the routine of all RPS members. Students work together to problem-solve during a recent math lesson at Scotland Elementary.

Here's a photo of the Barlow Mountain Elementary Essentials team sporting matching t-shirts. Art, Library and Media, Music, and Physical Education are essential to our elementary students' day.

Full-days for kindergarteners and the RPS Pre-K program started this week. The District added a full-day preschool classroom at Veterans Park Elementary this year in addition to the program at Barlow Mountain Elementary. Below are some photos from the first days. To learn more about the District's Integrated Special Education Preschool and the team of early education experts, please visit the Preschool webpage.

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.