RPS Update

The spring months are always an exciting time of the year. Whether it is the rejuvenation that comes with the warm air, increased sunlight, or the signs of spring in the environment, I think we would all agree that spring is a special season. Tomorrow, April 1, marks three years that I joined RPS as the Superintendent of Schools. As I reflect on the past three years (two years in the midst of the pandemic),
I have to recognize the significant work and progress of this learning community- all of which is a direct result of the people who love the profession and working for RPS.

No different from what we would expect within a classroom community, it is also necessary to nurture our faculty and staff. This comes with expectations, accountability, hard work and professional goals for one another- it also comes with opportunities for growth, joy, laughter, and support. Of course, the best reward is seeing the evidence in your professional self, your students, and the school community as a whole. One of the goals of the BOE is to be an “Employer of Choice''; and while this has always been important, it is even more so in a climate where we are seeing less college students entering the field of teaching, and less educators transitioning into leadership positions. As we enter the hiring season, we will use a variety of tools to highlight our school district's professional culture, students, parents, volunteers, and the positive climate we see each day. Not to mention the wonderful community. We hope you do so too.

On Monday, the BOF held their Public Hearing where the BOE and Town budgets were presented. The administration and members of the BOE then met with the BOF on Wednesday evening to discuss both the district’s operational and capital budgets. The BOF is expected to vote on the BOE budget on Tuesday, April 4. This will be followed by the Town’s referendum in May.

On Tuesday, the BOE had their regular meeting, and while many important topics were discussed, the highlight was listening to RHS Science Research students share their research studies. These students left us in awe of their knowledge, confidence, and poise. This coming Monday, we have a virtual
BOE Curriculum Committee meeting at 11:00 a.m. and a regular BOE meeting at 7:00 p.m. I encourage those interested in learning more about our progress to view the various BOE committee meetings on the district's website. One of the highlights at the BOE Monday night meeting will be CABE’s presentation of its Communication Award of Excellence to RPS. We are grateful to Alison Pratt for her positive energy, transparent, clear, and inclusive leadership in communicating to RPS and the broader community.

In closing, this will be my final communication before April break. As a reminder, schools will be closed on Friday, April 7 in observance of Good Friday.

Enjoy the break, and may the time be everything you hope for.

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D.

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. -Anne Frank

Please note your children schools' schedule for grade-level early dismissals.

The tentative last day of school for students is Monday, June 19.

It is an early dismissal day for students.

The tentative End-of-Year PD Day for Teachers is Tuesday, June 20.

The full district calendar can be found here.

At Tuesday's BOE meeting, Tiffany Carlson, Recycling Coordinator for the Town of Ridgefield, joined RPS Director of Finance, Jill Browne, to outline the urgency of initiating a comprehensive district-wide composting program and plans for "Path to Zero Waste" pilot programs at Branchville and Farmingville elementary schools. Earlier in the week, green teams at BES and FES consisting of students, parents, and staff volunteered with Ms. Carlson to roll up their sleeves to do waste audits. The teams wore gloves to sort through trash, separating liquids, food scraps, recyclables, and unopened foods. The audit was fun; the results were sobering. Just one RPS school generates hundreds of pounds of food waste every week. Parents Sarah Motta and Mollie McGrath are spearheading the initiative at BES and are coordinating with PTA presidents Hilary Saltus and Jennifer Valluzo leading Farmingville's efforts. At the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Cory Gillette pointed out how this initiative supports the elementary science curriculum. Thank you to the PTAs, parent leaders, and the town for their partnership in helping RPS reduce, reuse, and recycle.

BES and FES plan to launch the Path to Zero Waste on Earth Day, April 22. Read the full BES press release here. See the FES video of the food audit on YouTube below.

It’s Sports Update time here at Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining Wes DeSantis on this week’s podcast is Dane Street, Athletic Director for Ridgefield High School. He tells us about all of the amazing winter sports accomplishments, a preview of spring sports, recent player accolades, and future project planning. Thanks for listening! Link to RHS Athletics Site.

Thank you to the RHS Students who presented their research projects at the BOE on Monday night! What a wide range of interesting projects and impressive group of students. Please watch their presentations and the rest of the BOE meeting here. The Tiger Talk Podcast with the Science Research students is also riveting; listen here.

On Tuesday, April 4, from 6 to 8 pm, admission counselors and representatives from over 110 colleges will attend the RHS College Fair. Juniors, sophomores, and their parents are invited. To see a list of colleges planning to send representatives and useful information to make the most of the evening, please click here.

On April 25, Ridgefield High School Principal Dr. Jake Greenwood will participate in the On the Runway Fashion Show to support Ann's Place, a Danbury nonprofit. He was invited to walk the runway as a community leader by RHS senior Emma Minardi, who is a member of the junior committee. Many RPS families volunteer at Ann's Place, which provides comfort, support, and resources to people living with cancer and their loved ones. Emma reports that RHS students Sara Fernandes, Paige Shepard, Lilly Ruttig, Sienna Baglio, and Braelin Howatt are involved in supporting this event.

More information and a link to support this event are available here.

Shortly after Flex sessions were announced in the spring of 2022, Danny Martins, Social Studies Department Chair, was in discussion with Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center staff to create a partnership in hopes of bringing history to life as an experiential Flex series also know as FLEX XP. Less than a year later the Keeler’s Director of Education, Melissa Houston, offered students a four-session series of tasks on Fridays during flex. The tasks are tied to the historical art of writing, healing, sewing, and 18th century clothing.The aim of each experience is to provide students exposure to museum skills, historical artifacts, and hands-on activities. All sessions were created to be interdisciplinary in nature to ensure students understand the connection history has with other disciplines. RHS student Elizabeth Rogers writes, "As a history nerd, I absolutely adored the Keeler Tavern program, especially the sections on clothing and medicine. I loved the DIY potpourri project and getting to look at all of the historical objects that were brought in (as well as getting to look at hyperrealistic leech models)."

RPS Bridge Leaders Kristin Kleis, Shane Peters, Amanda Johnson, and Eileen Stewart presented at a CAPSS conference this week to showcase “Summer Learning ESSER-Funded Summer Programs in Connecticut School Districts”. There are still Summer Bridge openings at the High School level. Summer Bridge has been an important district initiative for the past three years. Thank you to these leaders for their hard work on this innovative program.

In December, RPS revised its policy on the distribution of paper flyers for outside groups. 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' e-Backpacks in our newsletter. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net. Thank you!

Pounced,” “gleaned,” and “struggled” were some of the power verbs Kelly Rivera’s fifth-graders used in their writing on Wednesday. This week, East Ridge and Scotts Ridge sixth-grade ELA teachers traveled to elementary schools to better understand fifth graders’ routines, engagement, and readiness. SRMS sixth-grade teachers Jennifer Bray and Brendan Leslie traveled to Kat Savvaides’s classroom at Ridgebury for a reading lesson. ERMS literacy coach Robin Collins and sixth-grade teachers Katie Reed and Jessica Seewald visited Kelly Rivera’s classroom at Veterans Park to observe a writing lesson. RES literacy coach Sandy Clouse, RES Elementary Supervisor Traci Mayette, and VPES literacy coach Dr. Kara Tanner also attended as well as 6-12 Humanities Supervisor Dr. Annie Tucci and Director of Elementary Education Linda Johnson.

Even with all these adults in Savvaides’s RES classroom, students got to work, setting goals for themselves as readers, leading small groups, and using different reading strategies. VPES fifth-grade writers dug into the writing lesson, “What does it mean to show, not tell?” Ms. Rivera introduced some techniques, including using sensory details, strong verbs, and big and small body movements, which help writing come alive. After the sessions, the sixth-grade educators couldn’t help but comment on both teachers’ thoughtful lessons. “You are a rockstar,” said one of the teachers. “Their writing was strong, and they knew just what to do.” Another noticed the small group work and said how she will build on those routines next year in her class.

Ms. Rivera agreed to share the students’ ever-evolving writing toolkit that reminds students of strategies. She also explained how small group instruction provides a structure where she can provide differentiated instruction based on students’ goals. “We are constantly trying to build independence so students know what they can do when they are stuck,” she says. After visiting lessons, both Annie Tucci and Linda Johnson affirmed that the routines for teaching students to lead in their own learning is not by accident but carefully designed by our teachers.

The time the sixth-grade teachers spent in the classroom was vital to forming a bridge between schools. Teachers not only got to see their future students, but students got an introduction to the friendly faces that would greet them in sixth grade. “See you tonight,” East Ridge sixth grade teacher Jessica Seewald said to the students in parting. It was the day of the ERMS orientation.

Branchville Elementary Literacy Coach Donna Walsh reports, "we had 93 entries and a committee of teachers and Mr. Margolus read all of the pieces. We are so proud of ALL of our writers and we had a very hard time choosing just two for each grade level. All of our writers should consider themselves winners and you should all be so proud of yourselves for entering the contest. Good for you and keep on writing!"

Congratulations to the following winners for Branchville Writes:

Overall Heart Piece

• Colin Lisk (First Grade)

Kindergarten

• Winner - Hunter Reidhead
• Honorable Mention - Tobias Norton

First Grade

• Winner - Laertes Panagiotidis
• Honorable Mention - Sienna Martzloff

Second Grade

• Winner - James Korner
• Honorable Mention - Harry Marshall

Third Grade

• Winner - Sydney Almstead
• Honorable Mention - Adeline DiGiovanni

Fourth Grade

• Winner - Elaine Mann
• Honorable Mention - Ian Perry

Fifth Grade

• Winner - Victoria Chang & Lexi Scheer
• Honorable Mention - Emily Pomeroy

Please read first grader Colin Lisk's expression of friendship and acceptance, "My Left Hand," which captured the Branchville Writes! prize for Overall Heart Piece below. Printed with permission from Colin and his parents, who alerted RPS Update that April is Limb Difference Awareness Month and Lucky Fin Project is a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about limb differences.

Photo above: Colin on right with friends at a flag football game.

East Ridge teachers, students, and leaders are raving about the activity ERMS librarian Tanya Anderson put together at the end of the European Union and economics unit. Social studies teacher Will Boylan writes, "She created an entire board game from scratch. The kids are loving it after day 1." Principal Jennifer Phostole writes, "you have to come see this. Think Risk but different. All made in the LLC." Ms. Anderson is an RPS Innovator!

Congratulations to Julia Zhao for earning Gold at the Scholastic Art & Writing competition for her incredible painting, "First Day of School." The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a 100-year-old organization with a mission to recognize creative and talented youth, sponsors the prestigious award. Way to go, Julia!

RHS continued its celebration of Music in Our Schools Month with performances at BMES for both Scotland and Barlow Mountain third, fourth, and fifth graders. Still tan from an orchestra trip to Disney, the RHS Orchestra led by Visual and Performing Arts Chair Michael McNamara played selections from a Mahler symphony. The elementary students asked lots of questions and shared their observations about the music in a great cross-district celebration of music.

The RHS Concert Choir has been busy! On Sunday, they sang the National Anthem at the Danbury Hat Tricks professional ice hockey game against Delaware! Then, on Wednesday, some of the choir members went on a field trip to Yale University to attend a clinic led by Dr. Jeffrey Douma, went out to dinner at Geronimo's restaurant, and then observed the historic Yale Glee Club in their evening rehearsal! They were even invited to sing with the Glee Club during the warm-up.

It's showtime for the Middle School Musicals!

East Ridge plans to put on Disney's The Lion King, JR.

Friday March 31, 2023 at 6:00

Saturday April 1, 2023 at 2:00

Tickets are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students/children (under age 13). They are also offering a donation option where a portion of ticket sales can go to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya.

To purchase tickets beforehand, please click the link. Tickets available at the door.

SRMS MUSICAL IS SOLD OUT

Last weekend, Barlow Mountain put on Seussical JR. Parent producer Eve Zibel reports that more than 95 students participated. Here is the playbill to see the team that brought this wonderful production to the stage. Thank you to Eve and to all the parents and helpers.

Ridgefield LGBTQ+ youth and allies are invited on Saturday, April 1 from 5 to 8 pm for a meet-up. RSVP here. More information about events, sponsorship, resources, and support groups for LGBTQ+ youth, friends, and family, can be found on the Ridgefield CT Pride website.

The accomplishments of the RHS Future Business Leaders (FBLA) at a recent State Leadership Conference could almost fill its own newsletter. RHS FBLA advisor business teacher Kelly Predham reports, "Our Chapter has grown exponentially over the last 5 years"—12 members to 70—the second largest chapter in the state. In fact, RPS students won three of the five leadership positions. Their duties will entail monthly meetings in Hartford CT and working with other High Schools around the state to improve their FBLA Chapters.

Congratulations to:

Lainey Mathews- CT- FBLA Vice President

Sophia Ganal- CT-FBLA Treasurer

Anna Salomone- CT- State Secretary

On the competition side, Ms. Predham elaborates, "RHS has 37 students who qualified for Nationals! 13 of them placed FIRST in the State. Two of our groups geared their projects toward local businesses, the Ridgefield Thrift Shop and Queen B Coffee Shop." Students Madalen Brown and Charli McLemore (photo right) clinched first prize in the Website design category for the new coffee shop's website.

Invest in RHS!

Recently, RHS students visited East Ridge Middle School for the NPFH Testimonials Assembly program which is part of ERMS’ second annual Anti-Defamation League No Place for Hate (NPFH) initiative. RHS students shared their experiences being an ally, bystander, perpetrator, or target in a powerful assembly. There was a separate program for sixth-grade students and another one for both seventh and eighth-grade students to tailor testimonials for the different grade levels. Some of the first-hand experiences of RHS students dealt with race/ethnicity, social media, religion, ability/ableism, and allyship behavior.

ERMS Student Ambassadors and members of the NPFH Club participated in the assembly and helped teachers facilitate classroom discussions after the assembly. In these smaller groups, students reflected on the positive messages and created actionable next steps that they can use to create a safe and inclusive space for their peers and to respect each other’s differences. Together, RPS can be no place for hate! Thank you to the RHS students who participated. A special thanks to Mike Hougasion and Maureen Tyra, NPFH Club advisors.

Scotts Ridge students will participate in a similar NPFH testimonials program next month.

Last week, RHS teachers Jenn DeJulio and Elizabeth Karlan brought a group of student leaders to New York City to attend the annual international UNIS-UN Conference in the United Nations General Assembly. According to the conference's website, "the conference, Turning the Page: A New Chapter in Education, aimed to address the education-related situation we are in today through meaningful discussions and debates that develop solutions to education's leading issues. The conference will feature captivating presenters who will speak on the future of education addressing such topics as tackling the intricacies of mental health and special education, the role of opinion in the classroom, the rights of educators, and the development of education in various countries. Furthermore, they planned to investigate how climate change, the migration crisis, and the Coronavirus have indefinitely impacted education and the possible approaches towards a more equitable and accessible education in the future."

RHS junior Gabriel Uceda-Sosa (photo above top left) spoke to the value of being able to ask questions of the invited guests. "They were all people who had really done something," writes Gabe, "and the chance to learn as much as you want about that was electrifying...Seeing the place in person meant everything I expected it to. It was really impressive."

The Debate Team's faculty advisor Adam Horvath reports that last Saturday each of the following qualifying students devoted over 8 hours of their time to a Connecticut Debate Association (CDA) *State Championship* Tournament at Stamford High School. During this tournament, students representing RHS competed in 4 (40-minute) rounds of debate with teams from other Connecticut schools as they argued whether or not the United States should support a policy of containment with respect to China.

In the end, RHS won 5 rounds of debate with our participating varsity team winning all four rounds.

As one of the top two teams of the tournament, RHS was invited to debate in the final 5th round against a team from Wilton High School to contest for 1st place. After a comprehensive debate, RHS achieved the 2nd place trophy out of 29 qualifying teams in a split 2-1 decision with the CDA Executive Director voting in favor of RHS.

Varsity Teams

James Cox-Donovan & Gabriel Uceda-Sosa (4 Wins)

2nd Place CDA State Championship Team Trophy

Individual Varsity Speakers

Gabriel Uceda-Sosa

2nd Place Varsity Championship Speaker Trophy

Novice Teams

Natalie Shartouni & Mia Colabella (1 Win)

Recently, RPS students competed in the Odyssey of the Mind state tournament (CTOM) with the high school team clinching first in Division 3 and the Branchville Elementary team coming in second in Division 1 at their first competition. Both teams qualified for the World Finals in Michigan. Impressive! Odyssey of the Mind is a national organization that fosters creative thinking and problem-solving. The Ridgefield program is sponsored by Ridgefield Library. The Division 1 team is coached by BES parent Stacey Gifford and the Division 3 team (made up of RHS and SRMS students as well as one John Jay HS student) is coached by RHS parents Arun Sathyagal and Bhargavi Ramamurthy. Congratulations!

Branchville Elementary alumni from Cub Scout Troop #76 presented Principal Keith Margolus with a $1,000 check to launch the Path to Zero Waste initiative. Shown with Sarah Motta and other members of the BES Green Team during the recent food waste audit.

If you know, you know...the annual Veterans Park Variety Show is a showcase of talent, humor, and parent volunteerism. The faculty act is always a highlight. See some of the many great photos from last night here.

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