RPS Update
September 18, 2026
Dear RPS Community,
We recognize the importance of transportation for our students and their families– and the concern over the ongoing negotiations involving First Student and its bus drivers. First Student has reported that negotiations with its drivers remain ongoing as both parties continue to engage in the bargaining process and work toward an agreement. At this time, we have not been notified of any change or disruption to RPS transportation services. Buses will continue to operate as scheduled. In the event that there is a disruption in service, our goal is to mitigate the impact on our students and families as much as possible. Transportation is complex, and contingency planning requires consideration of specialized transportation needs, school arrival/dismissal procedures across our four tiers, traffic and safety, staffing, and the impact on families. We are working through these considerations so that we are as prepared as possible should an alternative plan become necessary.
On Monday evening, I had the pleasure of sharing that RHS’ application to the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools National Recognition Program has been approved by Special Olympics North America. Our Office of Special Services is proud to support this vision by partnering with families, educators, and service providers to ensure that students with disabilities and learning differences are meaningfully included, supported, and empowered. The partnership between Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction Departments is fully invested in making sure students with disabilities have access to District curriculum, and/or are accessing strong modified curriculum, in all academic areas. RPS believes that all students, regardless of ability, deserve access to rich learning experiences, strong social connections, and a true sense of belonging in their school community.
Next week, the District will be scheduling a special meeting with the Board of Education to discuss how the FY26 budget overage has since been addressed resulting in an updated year-end financial position.
As a reminder, schools will be closed on Monday in recognition of Yom Kippur.
Warmly,
Susie
Susie Da Silva, Ed.D
Photo caption: Ridgebury kindergarteners skip, gallop, and slide during a recent PE class.
We Are the Champions—RHS Unified!
RHS was officially recognized this week as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. We are so proud of the Unified team—which commits day in and day out to inclusive classes, arts, sports, clubs, chorus, theater, and all the fun of high school. Thank you to our devoted coaches—Megan Calderwood, Nicole Gurry, and Nikki DeSousa—and to all staff and students who participate in a Unified RPS. 1RPS
Spotlight on Safety
Reviewing School Security and Our Standard Response Protocol
RPS places the safety and well-being of our students and staff as our highest priority. Please visit our RPS Safety and Security webpage to learn how you can help keep our schools safe.
To ensure a consistent and effective response to any situation, our district utilizes the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the "I Love U Guys" Foundation. This proven, action-based framework provides a clear, shared language for safety that benefits everyone in our school community.
In the first few weeks of school, we have been conducting age-appropriate drills for staff and students. These exercises move from "announced" walkthroughs—where we explain the why and how—to functional drills that build the "muscle memory" necessary to remain calm under pressure.
Our local police and fire departments continue to be active partners in our safety program. First responders participate in our drills and conduct joint tabletop exercises. This ensures that when an officer or medic arrives on scene, they are already familiar with our building layouts and our specific internal procedures.
Say Something App and Other Resources
Students Grades 6-12 are learning about the "Say Something" app, which is an easy and completely confidential way to report safety concerns to help prevent violence and tragedies. The community can learn more about the Say Something app that connects RPS directly to first responders by reviewing the April 7, 2025 Board of Education presentation (45 min mark approximately).
RPS students and families are reminded to call 911 immediately if they believe they are experiencing an emergency. For urgent assistance outside of school hours, please contact:
- Kids in Crisis 24-hour helpline: 203-661-1911
- 211: Mobile mental health
- 988: Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Reminder: District Publishes Technology Plan, 2026-27
Last week's RPS Update introduced our Technology Plan for 2026-27. Here's what it means in practice. The plan centers on three priorities: Teaching and Learning (technology that amplifies instruction, not replaces it), Data Privacy (rigorous vendor oversight and transparent communication), and Digital Citizenship (preparing stakeholders to navigate online spaces with confidence and discernment).
Our elementary and middle school buildings and buses remain personal device-free zones, reflecting the plan's commitment to intentional, purposeful technology use.
All resources and district policies are available on the Educational Technology and Information Services webpage. Questions? Reach Dr. Wrye at twrye@ridgefieldps.net.
Check Your E-Backpack
Please help RPS go green by checking your students' e-Backpack weekly for important information.
RPS LOVE Swag Alert
Join the PTA Today
Back to school bashes! In school enrichment for students! Staff appreciation! Trunk or Treat! What would we do without our PTAs and RHS PTSA? Staff and families, please invest in your community by joining your school's PTA today. From pure fun and games to thoughtful and deep learning to support for families in need, PTAs make RPS schools so much better. Thank you to all PTA leaders and members. Join on the RPS website.
The Barlow Mountain Back to School Bash last Friday looks so sweet! Photos below.
September Calendar
Please check your school's calendar and communications for important school events and early dismissal planning. The district will post special Board of Education meetings and BOE committee meetings on the district calendar when the meetings are scheduled.
Reminder! Kick for a Cause—Tomorrow, Sept 19
Ridgefield High School senior Grace Jackson is a Black Belt and martial arts instructor at Legacy Martial Arts, where she has learned confidence and discipline over the past 11 years. Now, she wants to give back to the community with Kicks for a Cause, a community fundraising event she conceived and organized to fight child exploitation. Grace is hosting the event at her karate dojo to raise money to benefit the Tim Tebow Foundation. “100% of the profits will go to kids and protecting them,” Grace says. “I learned who I was and figured out my own identity through the studio—it’s my support system—so the idea of raising funds there to protect children made a lot of sense. I’m planning on having different stations, self-defense instruction, and an ice cream truck.” The public can learn more about the family-friendly Kicks for a Cause Ridgefield event here.
Date & Time: September 19, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Legacy Martial Arts, Ridgefield
RHS Counseling Corner
Representatives from colleges travel to RHS to meet with juniors and seniors. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn about different schools, ask questions, and demonstrate interest! This week, we have Holy Cross, University of Delaware, and URI on campus. Visit the Counseling website to learn more and sign up on Naviance.
Senior Parents Please Note—College Application Support on September 23
Camp College App Fall Edition is an amazing opportunity for seniors to get one-on-one help with their college applications with RHS Counselors!!!!! Counselors will be available in the LLC after school on September 23 to help seniors tackle their college applications. Sign up information below.
October Calendar
Please check the your school calendar for important dates. The Board of Education committee meeting calendar is ongoing so please review the District calendar for important additions.
NEW! Paying for College—Virtual Workshop for Families
Virtual Zoom Workshop on Thursday, October 1 at 6:00PM
Click Here to Register in Advance
Barnum Financial Group returns to partner with RHS Counseling for a free, virtual workshop on college tuition planning. Barnum Financial Group writes, "Paying for college has become one of the biggest financial challenges families face today—and most parents don’t have a clear roadmap. In this educational workshop, Barnum Financial Group will break down how college funding really works, including recent FAFSA changes, how financial aid is calculated, and what strategies families can use to better prepare."
More Summer Accolades and Recognition
Boys and Girls States—Learning Today; Leading Tomorrow
RHS Students Elected to Top Leadership Roles at Summer Program
Every summer since 1937, high school students from across the country head to their American Legion Boys State and American Legion Auxiliary Girls State programs. These selective, weeklong leadership and citizenship programs for high school juniors help students learn the mechanics of American government and politics.
This summer, eight RHS students—boys: Ned Eagle, Gabriel Fincham, Samuel Turok, and Quinn Westcott, and girls: Audrey Black, Gigi Bakle, Harper Gibbons, and Lucy Lowman—traveled to the University of New Haven campus for a week of opportunity.
Ned, Harper, and Audrey shared their head-spinning week of speeches, campaigns, friendship, and lessons in politics and governance. Harper describes a very well-organized week that started with students being divided into two parties—Federalist and Nationalist. On the first day, Audrey was elected Chair of the Federalist party!
From there, Ned says, students are further divided into cities. Throughout the week, participants in both programs give speeches, create slogans and campaign platforms, and partner to form mock governments and win elections. “It was a phenomenal experience,” said Ned. “Senator Blumenthal came. The Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. I’m still in a group chat with my friends from there.”
Harper had a similar experience. “It was amazing,” she said. “I was making speeches on the fly, learning through trial and error, sometimes not getting elected.”
In the end, RHS students were elected to prominent government roles—Harper as Treasurer of Girls State; Ned as Comptroller of Boys State—and had the opportunity to deliver speeches on the last day to program participants and families before pick-up. The junior counselors voted Audrey as the participant who had the most impact on Girls State.
Audrey, Harper, and Ned plan to study political science, government, and/or law in college. RHS selects students to recommend for the program, and the AL and ALA are part of the final selection process. Juniors can indicate interest in politics and availability for the week on the Junior Book Awards nomination form.
The photo above left shows Ned with his Boys State mentor, Deonte Williams, who is continuing to guide Ned with college and career planning. The photo right shows Audrey and Harper on the last day of Girls State.
Summer Student Volunteers, Staff, and Program Recognized
At the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Summer Bridge leaders celebrated some of our dedicated student volunteers. Students Angelina Ruggeri, Caitlin Hill, Caitlin Byrne, Carolina De Mattos Chaves, Charlie Tanana, and Ryan Scaffe earned recognition for their service to Elementary Bridge. Reilly Donovan, Devon Mariakakis, Shea Merrill, Amelia Schierle, Vihaan Patel, and Trisha Sharma received recognition for Upper Bridge help. The photo above shows the student volunteers with the Summer Bridge faculty organizers: Ryan Dunne, Liz Van Duyne, Amanda Johnson, Kathleen Granger, Dr. Ashley Brooksbank, Christine Melagrano, and Assistant Superintendent Cory Gillette. Also shown are Extended School Year leaders Nicole Gurry and Keri Tighe with Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christine Sipala, and Course Recovery Leader Mary Ellen Foley.
Superintendent Dr. Da Silva commended Ms. Gillette and her outstanding team for this thoughtful and exceptional program. While there are only a couple more days of summer left, the memories of RPS summer are very sweet. Please view the Gallery of RPS Summer Bridge and read an email, which reflects the depth and quality of experience, from our Upper School Bridge High School Foundations instructors to parents here.
Familiar Faces: New Roles
Alaina Kakos Goes Back to Kindergarten
In this week’s installment of the limited series “Familiar Faces: New Roles,” RPS Update caught up with Alaina Kakos in her classroom at Scotland Elementary.
Ms. Kakos joined the District in 2009, teaching first grade and then kindergarten at Barlow Mountain Elementary. She moved to the BMES Literacy Interventionist role in 2012, then across the parking lot to Scotland Elementary as the Literacy Coach in 2019. This year, she’s back in the classroom, teaching Scotland kindergarteners.
“I wanted to bring all that I’d learned through professional development, working alongside teachers, and my own learning back to students,” says Ms. Kakos in her cheerful classroom with the appropriately small chairs. “I wanted to apply the Science of Reading and what I’d learned about how we acquire knowledge to children—to make a difference, to see that understanding in action. I’m so grateful to Dr. Katkocin [Scotland principal] for giving me this opportunity to go back to the classroom.”
Ms. Kakos also credits her two RPS “families”—BMES and SES—for giving her space to grow and support for this new adventure. “I was pregnant when I was at BMES, and my girls [now seventh and ninth graders in Danbury] know all my friends over there.” Her SES colleague Amy Pambianchi, who has taught at SES for over ten years, has taken a new role as Literacy Coach.
“It’s Jill, and it’s also Linda Johnson, Cory Gillette, and Dr. Da Silva,” observes Ms. Kakos, “who want growth for our students and our teachers. It feels exciting to be back singing, dancing, reading, and experiencing those ‘aha’ moments when you know they’ve got it. I’ve known I wanted to teach since I was in second grade. It’s hard. It’s fun. It’s rewarding. I look forward to spending this last third of my career back in the classroom with students.”
In the Schools
Ridgefield Historical Society Presents Local Artifacts and History to Grade 9
Submitted by Dr. Annie Tucci, Grade 6-12 Humanities Supervisor
Ridgefield Public Schools and Ridgefield Historical Society continue their partnership by bringing history to life through artifact analysis. Ridgefield's very own archaeologist, Ms. Lynn-Marie Weiland, supervised the archaeological dig at Richardson Park about fifteen years ago. Tyler Ingram, Collections Manager for the Ridgefield Historical Society (and RHS GRAD!), joined RHS over two days last week to introduce the collection and answer student questions. The artifacts range from the Paleolithic Era to Archaic to Early Woodland to European Contact—arrowheads to bowls to fishhooks. Students got to hold a stone tool that archaeologists estimate that humans used about 2000 years ago! By bringing ancient stone tools from the Historical Society’s collection into the classroom, this lesson offers students an opportunity to engage in an inquiry about local Indigenous history as part of their Grade 9 Foundations in Modern History course.
Thriving Together!
The first official meeting of the RHS Thrive Together Club brought RHS students and faculty together this week to share exciting work underway and brainstorm next steps. RHS principal Dr. Jake Greenwood welcomed the student crew and introduced dedicated club advisors, health teacher Kristin DiMarino and school counselor Cristin Nahoum.
The morning started with a fun icebreaker where students moved around the room asking each other conversation-provoking questions like, “What was the best part of your day yesterday?” " What country would you like to visit?”
Then, the advisors posted some growth areas our community had identified last year, and some of the initiatives already put in place to help find solutions.
A Thrive Together Peer Mentor Program will help with connection, as 40 upperclassmen have already volunteered to serve as mentors.
Changes have been made to decrease the stress at dismissal and open campus.
A monthly FLEX period has been added to help with Executive Functioning Skills to improve students’ organizational and time management skills.
The club’s next steps are to create a logo, encourage additional underclassmen to seek a mentor, organize a process for gaining and welcoming new members, and continue to foster wellness and belonging at RHS. Students shared ideas for broadening the Club’s reach through the Club Fair and teacher recommendations.
Read more about Thrive Together in the September 4 issue of RPS Update.
20/20 Reading Challenge at RHS
20 minutes a day; 20 books this year. That's the 20/20 Reading Challenge RHS English teachers and librarians have thrown down for RHS students. We are in!
RHS Student Government
Last Friday was the first meeting of the entire RHS student government. They say, "Many hands make light work," but those in the know, know how hard many of these leaders work, putting in countless hours to make RHS fun and inclusive. Plans for Spirit Week and Homecoming Weekend are underway!
The HeARTs and Halls of RPS
Nothing says 1RPS like an all-school mural. This week, we unveil Farmingville Elementary's Phenomenal 1RPS Mini Masterpiece Gallery, Ridgebury Elementary's Sunflower collaboration based on the work of Vincent Van Gogh, and Veterans Park, "A Smile Can Fill Someone's Heart". RPS students and art teachers are one of a kind—and together we are unstoppable. Creative and talented!
Piecing Together the Power of We
We love this East Ridge Middle School wall with contributions from every teacher and staff member.
RHS Athletics and Community Athletes
The RHS fall sports season is heating up as temperatures start to cool! The photos above by Simon Mendez show the full RHS Girls Volleyball squad with Varsity players on left. RHS Unified had its first practice this week (photo below); students and staff are invited to get involved in this nationally-recognized Champion Unified program. Find the full schedule of games and results on the RHS Athletics Webpage and come cheer on our Tigers!
Ian Turok Takes First in "Toughman Triathlon"
RHS student Samuel Turok crushed the Harriman Toughman Triathlon 2026. Samuel finished 1st in his age group and 2nd overall in the Olympic-distance triathlon. This extraordinary accomplishment builds on his success at the Ridgefield Duathlon, and reflects his dedication, discipline, determination, and hard work. Way to go!!!!
Boys Soccer and the RPS Community Remembers #6
On Wednesday night, the RPS community packed the stands and wore green for the Brandon Gmelin Dedication Game. Brandon was an RHS Class of 2025 graduate who died in a tragic accident last summer and continues to inspire the community. The Boys Varsity Soccer team came from behind to clinch a 1- 1 tie against New Canaan. The evening supported the Brandon Gmelin Foundation, whose mission is "Empowering young people through sports, service and community."
Editor's reminder: We love sharing photos and stories from the RPS Community every week, so please continue to reach out! At times, we make errors, which we correct in the next newsletter; to avoid confusion and cluttering inboxes, we resend a corrected newsletter only when necessary. You can reach out to Alison Pratt to submit stories, corrections, and feedback.
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