RPS Update
February 16, 2024
Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff,
Despite having a significant winter storm on Tuesday, we continued to have a week that was filled with love and gratitude. We highlighted our faculty and staff with “We Love RPS” week, while our students shared their love with valentines, puppy kisses, and the joy of friendships. Pink and red everywhere!
On Monday evening, the Board of Education unanimously approved and voted to adopt the Superintendent's 2024-25 Proposed Budget. We are proud of our faculty, administration, and leadership team in realizing a budget that is responsible, and one that continues to move our community forward. The Board of Education Adopted Budget will now move on to the Board of Selectpersons on February 27. On that evening, we will present both the 2024-25 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets. We look forward to the opportunity to share our work with our Town partners.
Next week, the RPS community will benefit from time away from the weekly routine with a long February break. We look forward to seeing all of our students back on February 26, well-rested and ready to learn.
Our next RPS update will be on March 1. Oh my…..we’re headed toward spring!
Have a wonderful break,
Warmly,
Susie
Susie Da Silva, Ed.D
Important District News and Reminders
Please check your school's calendar for important dates.
NEW! Tentative Last Day: Graduation Time: Prom 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
BOE Unanimously Adopts School Year 2025 Budget
Encourages Continued Community Involvement
During Monday's Board of Education meeting, the BOE unanimously adopted the Proposed School Year 2025 budget. Members thanked the administration and colleagues for their commitment, preparation, and thoughtfulness. They thanked the community for their input and encouraged continued involvement for the rest of the Budget process and beyond. More information about the next steps as the BOE Budget moves to the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and ultimately Ridgefield voters.
Photo Caption: Elizabeth Karlan, RHS ninth grade dean, social studies teacher, Union representative, and RPS parent of three at BOE meeting.
RPS Innovator—Laura Kent
In her report to the BOE this week, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Liz Hannaway gave a shout out to RHS special education teacher Laura Kent, who has been instrumental in helping the district transition to a new Connecticut Department of Education (CSDE) mandated process for IEPs (Individual Education Plans).
"Teachers are spending more time with kids because of Laura Kent," Dr. Hannaway said recently. The CSDE introduced a new Special Education Documentation System CT SEDS in the summer of 2022 to respond to the Federal Government's concerns about the State's IEP process. Many districts were buried under the new system so the state allocated funding for professional development. Dr. Hannaway and Assistant Director Dr. Tony Showah decided to use the state funds to support a stipend for Ms. Kent. "She is smart technologically and so fast," said Dr. Hannaway. "It's great to have her training our staff, answering questions as a separate help desk, and conducting google meets. She is an RHS alumni, lives in town, and is also a great special education teacher. We couldn't do this work without her."
Ms. Kent writes, "It has been such a privilege (and I would even say fun!) to work with my colleagues as we learn CT-SEDS together -- it has connected me with so many staff members throughout the district as we worked as a team to build these new skills."
Way to level up, Laura!
Photo caption: Laura Kent (left) with Matilda Portanova
February Is Black History Month
Over the morning announcements, RHS students are reminded of the purpose behind Black History Month being in February. "Today,” they said on the first of the Month, “We want to share why February was chosen. This month has seen more advancement than all others when it comes to Black History. February 1st marks the 159th anniversary of the 13th Amendment. In addition, two significant leaders in the fight to end slavery, Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, were born in February. Other significant Black leaders born this month include Toni Morrison, Langston Hughes, and Rosa Parks."
Every day in February at RHS, stories of Black Americans are shared. Other ways Black History Month has been celebrated across the district include viewing performances and creating bulletin boards. In the case of East Ridge sixth graders, they studied the historical significance of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad before they watched the virtual play in their classrooms, "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad" offered by The Ridgefield Playhouse. Thanks to the support of their PTA, Branchville fourth graders attended this performance live and loved it.
While Black History is celebrated during February, it is foundational to RPS course curriculums throughout the year. This spring, RPS is excited to partner with The Blues and Beyond musicians and storytellers. Students in grade 8 and 11 United States History courses will attend an in-district field trip, culminating with a performance by The Blues and Beyond. The Blues and Beyond tells the story of African Americans from slavery to the present day through music, narration, video, and still images. The interdisciplinary and culturally responsive program provides rich opportunities for connecting to history, literacy, social studies, social-emotional learning, and the evolution of African American music in the United States.
Caption: Juniors in RHS American Studies classes made slides (examples above and below) that broadcasted on the school TVs.
Caption: Andrea Donigian's Period 7 East Ridge class, excited to start watching the performance.
Caption: East Ridge social studies teacher Maureen Tyra and her students installed Black History-themed bulletin boards.
Social Emotional Spotlight—Parent Workshops
On Friday, March 1 from 10-11 a.m., RPS elementary school psychologists will offer Skills for Life, Part 2, a workshop for parents to increase understanding of children's social and emotional functioning. Use this link to register. Skills for Life, Part 1, is available here. The workshop will be available for streaming after the event.
Anxious Child > Anxious Parent > Anxious Child >
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.
LOVE Week
This week is Love Week at RPS. For the third year in a row, RPS encouraged staff to spread love for RPS and each other through small acts of kindness and connection. Staff found their front offices full of We LOVE RPS stickers. In addition, the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce offered discounts for products and services to RPS teachers across the week. As a special treat, a coffee truck with discounted prices came to each of the schools. Thank you to our Chamber of Commerce partners and all those who love RPS.
Photo Caption: Grade 6-12 Humanities Supervisor Annie Tucci at Stacey's Totally Baked, one of the wonderful local businesses who offered discounts to RPS staff.
Photo Caption: Elementary Director Linda Johnson asked her team, "Why do you heart RPS?"
The responses are heart-warming!
Best of RPS; Freedom to Choose
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!
Transition Fair—March 6
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.
Help Wanted: RPS Is Hiring
Check Your eBackpack
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.
In the Classroom
RHS Classroom Becomes Poetry Coffeehouse
Students at RHS in grade 10 English Honors with Matthew Goetz celebrated their recent study of English Sonnets and Italian Sonnets by crafting some of their own and sharing them in a classroom transformed into the 2024 Poetry Coffeehouse. Students experimented with meter, rhyme scheme, octaves, sestets, quatrains, heroic couplets, imagery, and caesurae of all varieties, while sipping on coffee-house beverages and eating homemade cookies, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, and fresh bread with jam, to a vibe of background jazz and indirect lighting, all led by a student emcee. In addition to poetry, students shared original art and music, complete with a vocal quartet accompanied by the recorder. With their eyes set on a critical reading of Shakespeare's Macbeth next month, students will continue in the world of poetry and poetry explication--refining not only their scholarly ability to read it, but also to write it and to write about it!
Scotts Ridge Celebrates Fifth Annual History Fair
Last Friday, Scotts Ridge hosted its fifth annual History Fair, which allowed eighth graders to share their original research projects. Topics ranged from the well-known Apollo 11 Moon Landing to the lesser-known Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. Each project was informed by a thesis that described why the subject was a turning point in history—which is the History Day CT 2024 theme. Students proudly showed their projects to staff and sixth and seventh graders who toured the LLC with forms and ballots, which structured their discussion.
Student Liv Orestuk presented a slideshow on the Ukraine Chernobyl Disaster, which addressed the science that contributed to the catastrophic event as well as the long-term historical implications. She writes, “History Day requires a lot of deep research to find exactly what you are looking for. There are so many new skills that are obtained like making sure it is a trusted website, or learning how to use Noodle Tools to cite your sources. It is a very good learning opportunity to find new ways to go into deep research about a topic. It is a lot of fun when it is being made and presented."
Other students researched and considered the NCAA, Barbie, Pablo Escobar, the Making of the Atomic Bomb, the 9-11 Terrorist Attack, the Great Depression, the Underground Railroad, and more.
Grade-eight social studies teacher Tom Broderick explains the value of the lesson, “Part of the social studies curriculum is about communicating conclusions. We talk to students about delivering a competent product and how to choose images and write text to share their understanding.” As students articulate their work, it is clear that the projects are well thought-out and display knowledge and historical context. Mr. Broderick and social studies teacher Keira Kowalczyk credit LLC staff Janine Johnson and Emily Shiller (photo below) as being critical to this lesson’s success.
The History Day started at Scotts Ridge in March 2020—five years ago. Some of the topics —for example, the Black Plague or the Rise of Toilet Paper—reflect the historical period this generation lived through and how the present affects our views of and interest in the past.
The HeART of RPS
RHS Junior Wows BOE
RHS junior Charlotte Overs was one of the twenty RHS music students who auditioned for and made the 2024 CMEA Western Region Music ensembles. At the BOE meeting on Monday night, Charlotte sang her audition piece, “Caro Mio Ben” by Giuseppe Giordani. Bravissima!
The photo above shows Charlotte with RHS Chorus Director, Lauren Verney-Fink.
RHS Theater News
Community Event—Little Women Tea Party!
RHS Spring Musical Tickets Are On Sale!
Beyond the Classroom
RHS Students Place First in Science Olympiad
Last Saturday, the RHS Science Olympiad Club participated in the Yale Invitational. 54 schools from across the country competed in twenty-four STEM based events. Henry Sullivan (Engineering Captain, 12) and Michael Tsai (Club President, 12) earned 1st place in Detector Building.
Congrats, Henry and Michael!
Wrestlers Pin Down FCIAC Championship Titles
Congratulations to Dom Barrella, Johnny Carrozza, and Luciano Tumminello for their success at the recent FCIAC Wrestling Championship. All three clinched FCIAC championship titles in their weight classes. Dylan Meyers, Carter Lanzilli, and Victor Petkov all were FCIAC runners-up. Outstanding job!
More Photos and Video from the Week
Wet, Sloppy Kisses and Unconditional Love at RHS
Comfort dogs from ROAR came to RHS on Valentine's Day for a kissing booth and photo session organized by the RHS Student Government. Holly and her furry friends were there to be everyone's Valentine.
BGCR Sends LOVE Through Flower Power to East Ridge Staff
LOVE IT!
Scotts Ridge shares book love.
Scotland Students Sing for Staff and Read Books Together
Scotland loves its staff. Please listen to some Scotties sing their hearts out here. Fifth graders read with their kindergarten buddies.
All Love for Barlow Mountain Elementary
And Ridgebury...
And Veterans Park...The VPES PTA sent a personal note to every teacher in the building.
And all RPS staff, students, and families.
Hope You Have a Wonderful Break!!!!
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