RPS Update
November 10, 2022
Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff:
We ended a short week with many Veterans Day events across our schools and country. Again, we thank all of our Veterans for their service and sacrifice. First Selectman Marconi joined our faculty and Veterans on this special day of recognition.
On Monday, November 14, there will be a regular meeting of the Board of Education. It is a full agenda! You will find the agenda here. Hope you can join us. On November 15, the annual Tri-Board meeting will take place. The Tri-Boards are the Board of Education, the Board of Finance, and the Board of Selectmen. This annual meeting allows all three Boards to come together and present a current update, while also setting the stage for the opening of the budget season for the Board of Education.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend, and stay dry!
Warmly,
Susie
Susie Da Silva, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Veterans Day at ERMS on Ridgefield Tiger Talk Podcast
On this week’s episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome two East Ridge Middle School teachers, Michael Settanni and Maureen Tyra to tell us about their Veterans Day ceremony. We learn the history of the ceremony, all the hard work that goes into the event, and the community connection that has been a part of Ridgefield for over 20 years. Thanks for listening.
See more photos from the East Ridge Middle School Veterans Assembly below!
A Parenting Conversation: THIS SUNDAY!
RPS is proud to partner with Project Resilience to sponsor a talk with Dr, Becky Kennedy this Sunday, November 13 at 4 pm at the Ridgefield Playhouse. Named "the millennial parent whisperer" by Time Magazine, Dr. Becky is also the author of the NYT bestseller, Good Inside—A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be. Learn simple strategies for anxiety, tantrums, lying, refusals, sibling rivalry, aggression, perfectionism, and more, suitable for parents with kids of all ages.
Witness Stones Ceremony—STREAMING AVAILABLE
East Ridge and Scotts Ridge eighth graders have been combing documents to investigate the lives of Quash and Lidia, two enslaved Black persons who lived in Ridgefield during the Colonial Period. On November 15 at 9:30 am, student representatives will lead the Witness Stones Installation Ceremony at the Ridgefield Historical Society. The ceremony will be LIVE streamed (and recorded) on the RPS Curriculum YouTube channel for the community to join in. (Please note that the Historical Society will be closed to the public during the ceremony as space is limited.) To learn more about the Witness Stones collaboration with the Ridgefield Historical Society, please watch the Board of Education meeting here.
Town Leaders Tour Schools
For the past couple of weeks, members of the Boards of Education, Finance, and Selectmen joined RPS administrators to tour schools to see projects completed and anticipated. In the photo below, Veterans Park music teacher Ryan Dunne shows off the district's shiny new instrument next to the old one, which was damaged over many generations of use. Investing in numerous new instruments for each building at once allowed the district to replace broken instruments at a good price.
Public Invited to a Thought/Exchange with the CT BOE
From the Connecticut State Board of Education:
The Connecticut State Board of Education has embarked on a legislatively required planning process designed to guide policy and practice improvements for the State Board and Department of Education on behalf of all of Connecticut's children over the next five years. A critical part of this effort is gathering feedback from all stakeholders to help inform decision-making around future department and board priorities. This data collection effort is being organized by the RESC Alliance, all key partners in the planning process. The easiest way to participate in and influence this plan is to engage with the ThoughtExchange conversation regarding the priorities for this plan. All educators and Connecticut residents are encouraged to add their voices at https://tejoin.com/scroll/732976567 It can take as little as 5-10 minutes to share your thoughts or to rate the thoughts of others.
Thank you for helping with this important effort.
Math PD: The Transition from Elementary to Middle School
On Tuesday's Professional Development Day, Elementary Director Linda Johnson and Grade 6-12 Math Supervisor, Jeff Corbishley facilitated a cross-grade level session. Fifth and sixth-grade math teachers joined together to discuss teaching and learning at both levels as part of the process of students transitioning from elementary school to middle school.
Curriculum Workshop on K-8 Reading
On November 1, members of the Grade K-8 Literacy Team gave a presentation to families about the District's approach to reading that can be streamed here. The presentation started with a quote from Scotland Elementary Principal Jill Katkocin: "We focused on strength spotters rather than deficit describers. Now, we will imagine how we move forward, focusing on the whole child." District literacy leaders described the new Fundations reading program and the emphasis on nonfiction in middle school. What can families do to support their students? Read together! Discuss books!
In the Classroom
Author Deb Calleti Visits RHS Reading Class
“I believe in your voice”
Last Friday, Author Deb Calleti joined Judy Silver and David Griffith’s "Teen Voices in a Changing Society" reading class to discuss her book, A Heart in the Body in the World. Caletti shared her passion for reading and some of the tough lessons she learned on the way to becoming a published author. She talked about the books that saved her when she was a lonely child—Ramona the Pest, Charlotte’s Web, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. She spoke honestly about getting out of an abusive marriage, how that motivated her, and urging students to “become who you are” and believe in themselves. She said students should fight against “anyone who makes you feel small with their fists, words, or actions.” She also confessed that she had barely run a 5K even though the protagonist of the novel runs across the country.
Students asked Ms. Caletti a variety of questions about her characters and the difficult subjects she tackles. They laughed when she described her hippy upbringing and aversion to gym class. RHS reading teachers Silver and Griffith will present with Caletti at the National Council of Teachers of English on November 18.
The HeARTS of RPS
@ridgefieldpublicschoolsk12art
Above: Clockwise from upper left: "Fun with watercolor at Ridgefield Alternative High School"; "Working with memories of childhood play in RHS AP Art & Design"; "Getting architectural in Ceramics at RHS"; "Anklet at the Alternative HS"
Above: Scotts Ridge Middle School: Art meets Science:.Left: Prints by 8th-grader Stella Y. Right: Observation in nature lab by Sara N.
Above: Scotland Elementary fifth graders drew these "enchanting" self-portraits inspired by artist and filmmaker Tim Burton.
We Gotta Hand It to You:)
Top: Scotland Grade 4 artists Op Art hand drawings.
Bottom: Branchville Grade 3 Leaf prints; Ridgebury Grade 3 warm and cool color Op Art
Beyond the Classroom
RHS Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent
RHS celebrated seniors Isabella Crowley (Bucknell University/Lacrosse) and Isabella Tuccio (Bentley University/Field Hockey), who signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers in college. Congratulations to these committed student-athletes and their families. Read more here.
Photo: Clockwise from top left: Principal Dr. Jake Greenwood, Varsity Field Hockey Coach Jessica DeLuca, Athletic Director Dane Street, Isabella Crowley, and Isabella Tuccio
FCIAC Champs! Undefeated Girls Swim and Dive
RHS Girls Swim and Dive stayed undefeated at the FCIAC meet last weekend. An amazing team performance coupled with individual greats had Ridgefield besting perennial swimming powerhouses to capture the FCIAC League title for the first time since 2016. Congratulations!
Born to Run
RHS junior Steven Hergenrother is the Boys Cross Country Open State Champion! His time of 15:42 is the 17th fastest on the course since 2006. If you are thinking this picture looks familiar, Steven won the Class LL Boys Cross Country championship last week and the FCIAC championship the week before so he wears the triple crown of running this year. To read more about his approach to training and racing, please read this article. Steven comes from an RHS running family. See a photo of him at four at the Cross Country Open State Championship below.
Photo Credit Above: Pete Paguaga, GameTimeCT
Bravo! RHS Fall Play Is a Hit
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the RHS fall play, "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940" by John Bishop, especially RHS seniors! You killed it on stage and off. The sets and costumes were incredible. And, some of us were very surprised at the end. To see a full list of cast, crew, teachers, parents, and sponsors, please view the Playbill here.
This Week In Photos
Celebrating Veterans!
Meanwhile at Tiger Hollow this week...even the Athletic Department's golf cart is showing Tiger Pride. Let's Go, Tigers!
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