RPS Update

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Because of an editing error, last week's RPS Update story on the RHS Chess Team was about last year's team. Please see the "Beyond the Classroom" section below for the intended article about this year's RHS Chess Team's successful meet. Sincere apologies to Update readers, Chess Club members, Club advisor, and the RHS correspondent.

Next week is our fourth annual WE LOVE RPS Week! During this week of love, the RPS community and the greater Ridgefield Community celebrate RPS. One way we do this is by sharing our appreciation for our students, colleagues, and administrators throughout the week. In addition, a group of local businesses share discounts with all staff with an RPS ID. Please see all the We LOVE RPS discounts for teachers and staff here. Thank you to all the businesses for your support.

Please note: There is no school for students this Friday, February 14; it is a Professional Learning Day for teachers.

Remember to check your school calendar for early dismissals, special events, concert schedules, and more. Review our Weather-Related Closure Protocols and discuss your family’s plan for an early dismissal with your children.

Families! Please consider nominating an RPS educator for next year's Teacher of the Year using this form. The Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence. It does not attempt to select the "best" teacher; rather, it identifies among many outstanding teachers, one teacher to serve as a visible and vocal representative of what is best in the profession. The program celebrates excellence in teaching by recognizing teachers who have inspired a love of learning in their students, demonstrated fervor within their classroom, and who have distinguished themselves in the profession.

Each school will select a School Teacher of the Year to represent the school in the district's Teacher-of-the-Year selection process.

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

Resources for LGBTQ+ families and youth, including a monthly game night and virtual caregiver support group, are available in the eBackpack and on ridgefieldctpride.com.

On Wednesday mornings, Ridgefield Transition Program students help at the Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association. “The whole office gets so excited on Wednesday because the RTP students come,” says RVNAhealth Manager of Volunteer Services Stephanie Peppe. “Our workers poke their heads in to see what they are working on. They are a bright spot for our agency.”

This Wednesday, three RTP students are helping RVNAhealth with essential tasks that teach these adult Ridgefield residents with disabilities valuable life skills. Keshavan is laminating and magnetizing calendars for hospice patients, which families and RVNAhealth staff use as whiteboards to communicate with each other about each patient. Stephanie carefully cuts flyers with information for pregnant mothers who might need help; her neat lines will make it easy for the mothers to rip off the tab at the bottom of the flyer with all the necessary information. Brooklyn helps pull together patient orientation folders, ensuring that each folder has all the handouts.

Ms. Peppe reports that RVNAhealth has relied on Ridgefield Transition Students for almost two years. “They are a huge help,” Ms. Peppe explains. “Completing tasks from start to finish. RVNAhealth runs on volunteers, and we like to hear what jobs our volunteers enjoy. Sometimes, RTP students tackle jobs other RVNAhealth volunteers might not find interesting. But, like our other volunteers, they can choose what interests them.” She says RTP student Daniel liked more complicated tasks, so he punched holes in the large binders that hospice patients received. “He took such pride in that job.” RTP students wear badges and sign in and out, like all RVNAhealth volunteers.

Sophia, RVNAhealth’s sweet therapy dog, is on hand for pats and support. The partnership between RTP and RVNAhealth exemplifies the best in our community—when RTP students complete meaningful tasks and important work gets done.

“Every paraeducator in this building is amazing,” says Veterans Park special education paraeducator Julie Stafford. “I would honestly say you could talk to any of them. We are all here for each other and help each other out. We brainstorm about issues that come up. We often work on the fly, so it helps to have support.”

Julie has worked at RPS for six years—starting at VPES and then East Ridge Middle School, and now back at VPES, where she earned VPES Paraeducator of the Year. She worked in the Danbury Public Schools for six years before working in her hometown of Ridgefield.

Ms. Stafford credits her work with a sixth-grader at ERMS with helping her understand what her fifth-grade students need. She is the consummate team player, giving respect to teachers and students. “Teachers are cheerleaders the whole day,” she says. “They are here for our students, giving them so much help and recognizing what they can do.” She says the VPES students are also very caring. “They always include my students at lunch. Sometimes, my students need a break, and they understand that, but my students are always included in the classroom and lunchroom.”

While Ms. Stafford heaps praise on staff and students around her, VPES principal Dr. Sheri Prendergast credits Ms. Stafford’s hard work and insights. “Her students are so successful,” Dr. Prendergast says, ”because Julie makes a point to get to know the students, the work, and builds strong connections. She’s a great part of our team approach.” Fifth-grade teacher Amanda Pasquarella agrees. “I couldn’t do my job without her,” Pasquarella says. “She’s my glue—an extension of me. She cares so much about the kids.”

Ms. Stafford knows that fostering social and academic independence in her students whenever possible is part of the role of the Special Education paraeducator. “As a para, your eyes are in the classroom. I’m in the background, always there but in the background.”

RPS paraeducators, like Julie Stafford, are integral to every school, helping students receiving special services but also supporting the general education student population, teachers, support staff, and each other. Thank you, paras!

This month, East Ridge's fine, focused, and flourishing mathematicians fearlessly forged a fabulous, fun-filled fractal formation—a Menger Sponge fashioned from folded and flipped business cards! Fostering friendship, fortitude, and fundamental fractal fluency, our fantastic students fervently fit, fastened, and finalized this formidable feat with flair and finesse.

From figuring out fascinating fractal facts to forming fine-tuned folds, their fiery focus and fearless fascination for functions, formations, and formulas left us filled with fulfillment. We are floored, flabbergasted, and forever fond of their formidable feats and ferocious fervor for fun-filled, fact-fueled mathematical mastery!

Forever faithful to fostering future-focused fun.

On Monday, French students at Scotts Ridge Middle School celebrated La Chandeleur, France’s beloved Crêpe Day! Originally a religious holiday marking the Feast of the Presentation, it has become a fun tradition where families and friends gather to flip and enjoy delicious crêpes. According to legend, successfully flipping a crêpe while holding a coin in your other hand brings good luck for the year ahead. Bon appétit!

RHS French students also celebrated La Chandeleur on Monday. Mme. Kim Cameron writes, "This is a cultural holiday every year in France when people eat crepes all day long! The students had fun learning about why this happens, and then they got a chance to make and cook their own French crepes. Oh la la!! Of course, they got to eat them too! It was so much fun."

RPS families enjoyed back-to-back music extravaganzas this week, building on the remarkable Choral Festival from last week! Monday was the Orchestra Festival—Grade 5, Grade 8, and the RHS Symphonic Orchestra performed on the RHS auditorium stage, culminating with a full strings performance. RPS Update plans to have a more in-depth write-up on the Orchestra Festival next week.

These Festival evenings are so special because musicians from each level perform, separately and then together, showcasing the progression of ability and leaps and strides our students take from Elementary to High School. RHS music students serve as mentors and inspiration. The evenings are also joyful celebrations of the hard work of making music together and the remarkable RPS music teachers.

On Tuesday, band students had their turn to showcase the progression of music prowess through each level. Please see the full Band Festival program here. The evening finale featured all participants on stage to perform Secret Agent, composed by Scotland Elementary music teacher extraordinaire Jim Tornatore. Mr. Tornatore dedicated the song to the Ridgefield Public Schools Music Department. Incredible!

RPS music teachers rock! Thank you to Ridgefield Music Parents for providing post-performance treats and all you do to support RPS music programs. See more photos from Band Fest below.

In the photos below, Scotland music teacher Jim Tornatore poses with students past and present.

Elementary Honors Band members with their music teachers.

East Ridge students in grades 6-8 enjoyed a ski-filled weekend at Jay Peak over the long MLK Day weekend. A great time was had by all!

Tuesday was the 100th Day of School. Elementary students and staff dressed up as centenarians—people over 100 years old. Students played games and decorated t-shirts to understand the number 100.

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.