RPS Update

While we ended a bit cooler, the weather this week has been amazing. It was an absolutely beautiful day for Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at Scotland Elementary, where we celebrated the efforts of the Town, PTA, and BOE in the journey to create accessible playgrounds for all students. This is the fifth accessible playground built over the past two years– and while I am proud of everyone's efforts, I am also reminded that the momentum and systems created to ensure our playgrounds are both accessible and safe for the children of Ridgefield must remain front of mind in future budget years.

Last week’s podcast highlights Halloween in Ridgefield with our First Selectperson, Rudy Marconi. This podcast is a yearly fan favorite; thank you to host Dr. De Santis and Mr. Marconi! As our little ghosts head out next Thursday, I would like to remind all of our drivers, especially our young ones, to be extra careful. The trick-or-treaters are typically full of excitement…and sugar.

We look forward to the Board of Education meeting on Monday evening, where we have a full agenda and will showcase the work done in support of all students and, most specifically, the work of the academically and/or intellectually gifted (AIG) committee.

In partnership with our First Selectperson Rudy Marconi, this joint letter was sent out updating the community on the 66 Grove Street lease.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING EVENT IS CANCELED!!!

Ridgefield Tiger Talk

It’s time for a sports update here at Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining us on today’s podcast is a guest everyone is familiar with, Dane Street Director of Athletics for Ridgefield High School. We talk about the amazing fall season some of our sports teams are having (many qualified for both FCIAC and States), highlights of some exceptional student-athletes, and the work our coaches put in for our athletes. Listen all the way through to hear new initiatives on mental health and nutrition. Thanks for listening! Click here for the athletics website.

Photo Caption: Girls Volleyball beat Staples on Senior Night, the last regular season game before FCIAC. Credit: Simon Mendez

More photos from Homecoming below.

Please check your school calendar for early dismissals and other school events.

RPS sent an email to families about a series of "Virtual House Calls" offered by the Connecticut State Department of Education. The third part, Protecting Our Youth: A Community Approach to Suicide Prevention is coming up on November 7. Please learn more and register below.

Scotts Ridge Middle School Library Media Specialist Janine Johnson, Assistant Librarian Emily Shiller, and math teacher Dr. Christina Piazza presented at the CASL (CT Association of School Librarians) Conference this week. The educators shared how the SRMS library staff collaborate with SRMS classroom teachers to open the doors to imagination in math and other subjects. Librarians district-wide enrich student understanding and fluency with real-life applications. RPS libraries are reading, tech and makerspace centers, and librarians are skilled in offering complementary STEAM lessons through books, virtual reality, robotics, and more.

RPS elementary library and media specialists (photo below) also attended the CASL conference for a day of professional learning. LMS lead, Ridgebury librarian Ellen Paradiso reports that they met local authors, heard from inspiring keynote speakers (author/illustrator Mike Curato and library superstar Shannon McClintock Miller), and learned about new approaches to coding, project-based inquiry, media literacy, artificial intelligence, and much more. Paradiso writes, "It was a wonderful day to connect with the elementary library team and our colleagues around the state."

World Language Chair Allyson Power shared that RPS teachers attended the CT COLT (Connecticut Council of Language Teachers) Conference. This conference includes the latest and greatest World Language program ideas and teaching techniques from around the state. RPS was fortunate to have Kat Mellen and Kathleen Granger attend from Scotts Ridge, and Lucia Rossi, Farah Borges, Esther Lourenso, and Allyson Power attend from RHS.

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

On Monday, Scotland Elementary hosted a ribbon cutting for a brand-new playground. Ridgefield Director of Public Works Jake Muller, Superintendent Dr. Susie DaSilva, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Liz Hannaway and Cory Gillette, PTA officers and membership, staff, and the fifth grade cheered as Principal Jill Katkocin cut the red ribbon. Playgrounds at Barlow Mountain and Ridgebury Elementary opened at the beginning of the year. Dr. DaSilva explained to the assembled fifth graders that this playground marked a commitment—resources, time, and thought—to making playgrounds accessible to all. After the ribbon cutting, fifth graders streamed onto the slides, swings, and other new equipment. Students' joy in the shiny new equipment is evident in the photos below. Thank you to the SES PTA, the town, and all the families who prioritized inclusion.

Fifth graders across the district started their journalism units this week. Ridgefield Press editor Sandi Fox and RPS District Communications Manager Alison Pratt visited Amanda Pasquarella's Veterans Park fifth graders to discuss generating story ideas, interviewing techniques, fact-checking, and more.

Last week, as a culmination of Hispanic Heritage Month, RHS teacher Jane Tulley treated some Spanish classes to a dance class with Latin rhythms. Ms. Tulley is a proud Puerto Rican and a certified Zumba instructor, so this was quite the treat!! She is pictured below with Olga Anaya-Salazar and her Spanish class.

Last Friday, RHS students shared school spirit at the Pep Rally. Some students receiving RISE services took the District handicapped-accessible golf cart to Tiger Hollow, which is all part of the fun. Inclusivity matters and makes it better for everyone. Yay, Tigers!

In front of packed bleachers, the RHS Varsity Football team bested Norwalk. Spirits at RHS were high all week. For the second year in a row, RHS Class of 2025 won the prize for the most spirit. Senior Class President Brian Fitzgerald, in his football jersey and eye black, accepted the Spirit Week trophy at half-time. Student Government Advisor Jen DeJulio said that students counted millions of points to calculate the winner. The Cheerleading squad, Dance Team, Pep Band (including middle school students!), Drum band, and student section in white all contributed to the celebratory atmosphere. On Saturday night, students dressed up for a Mama Mia themed dance.

On Wednesday, the RHS Student Government Executive Board brought the donations gathered as a part of Spirit Week to Family and Children's Aid in Danbury. It took six cars, stuffed to the brim, to fit all the contributions, proving once again the generosity of the RPS community.

Thank you to these Scotts Ridge sixth graders for volunteering to clean up the field during a recent recess. Please do your part to make sure post-game snack trash is disposed of properly.

In the past week, Branchville, Farmingville, and Veterans Park held their annual fundraisers, where students get moving to raise for their school's PTA. While each school has its own version—be it a boogie or dunk tank or tug-of-war—all bring together students for a common cause—our schools. Thank you to the Branchville, Farmingville, and Veterans Park PTAs and all the district PTAs who go above and beyond to arrange so many fun and fruitful events for our families.

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.