RPS Update

What a year! RPS Leveled Up! Our yearly theme, launched during the District’s annual convocation, was purposefully created to encourage shared ownership of our District with the entire community. This intentional shift was made to transition from RPS’ hierarchical structure to an environment where we are collectively empowered to improve educational outcomes for students. One of the greatest gifts of any organization is collective efficacy, and it is clear that together we have “leveled up.” As we approach the year’s end, and I have the opportunity to reflect, I am proud and continue to be inspired by the students, faculty, staff, and community. Thank you for partnering with me on a wonderful year.

Tonight's RHS graduation will be filled with music, powerful messages, and the voices of our students as they share stories about their educational journey. As I send our graduates off, I will offer them a message about youth and the passage of time with some post-it note advice:

Post-it note #1: The equation that really matters is happiness.

• Don’t wait to get to know yourself. Not who you are with others but who YOU are- what makes YOU happy- and who makes YOU happy; and don’t be afraid to walk away from who and what doesn’t.

• Take a risk. Take a chance, and always bet on yourself.

• Forget the bling, the fancy gadgets, the social media comparisons. Spend your time
  (if you're lucky to have a little money for experiences) to see and feel the world

Post-it note #2: Create your legacy.

• Use your words, your gestures, your acts, your smile- every day. Let your legacy be one that makes someone else's life better. And remember, “what if I told you that hug, that smile, that feeling of welcome could change the path of another human forever?”

• Live a life of purpose- know and believe in your impact, because you can create one.

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Post-it note #3: Work hard.

• You are in charge of your dreams. Dream big and don’t expect others to do it for you,

or allow others to take your dreams away from you.

• Push norms and boundaries for the better. You can!

• Advocate for those who may not be able to do so for themselves; remember your words deserve to be heard as do the words of others.

While this will be my last formal update until my midsummer letter, you can expect a few more communications from RPS News. Don’t miss out.

We are around all summer, and perhaps we will see you at “Forever Summer Bridge.”

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Check your school calendar and email in August for back-to-school information.

To paraphrase the movie, "This Is Spinal Tap," the RHS Class of 2024 top 10 scholar list "goes to eleven." Every year, RHS releases the top 10 students with the highest GPAs in alphabetical order. This year, due to a tie, we have eleven students on our Top Ten list.

Congratulations to this year's Top 11 scholars (in alphabetical order):

Molly Quinn Coakley

William Joseph Diana

Sofia Gloria Ganal

Steven Shaler Hergenrother (Valedictorian)

Katherine Megan Hoerdemann

Shaun Xiang Li

Cora Vienne Meres

Casey Mairead O’Brien

Kyle Nanming Song

Gabriel Uceda-Sosa

Petru Gabriel Zubek

Monday's Board of Education marked the annual celebration of RPS retirees. In this time-honored tradition, building and district leaders spoke about retirees' contributions to RPS and shared the book donated to their school library in the retirees' honor. Then, retirees have the opportunity to reflect on their experience. Please view the full video here to understand the impact these employees have had on students and colleagues and the role the district has played in their lives. Warning: Have tissues handy. Thank you, Class of 2024 retirees for your decades of service to RPS. Best wishes for health and happiness in retirement. You will be missed!

The RPS Curriculum Website has engaging enrichment activities to make summer learning fun. Below is a graphic made by Elementary Math team with link to some fun activities.

RHS teacher Jamie Reed will be the new RHS football head coach. Athletic Director Dane Street wrote, "As a current coaching staff member and teacher at RHS, Jamie has the experience within and knowledge of our program as well as the understanding of our district and athletic department goals to successfully lead Tiger Football into the 2024 season and beyond. His passion for the sport and recognition of the unique opportunity that football affords to positively impact the lives of our student-athletes came through during the interview process, allowing him to stand out among a pool of impressive candidates."

Noting the departure of long-serving football coach, Kevin Callahan, Coach Reed writes, "Kevin Callahan transformed Ridgefield football over the past two and a half decades, so I have big shoes to fill, but I couldn't be more excited for the challenge. We have a great group of players and coaches. The future is really bright." Go Tigers!

Please check your students' e-Backpack for important information. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net

On Wednesday, RHS seniors returned to their advisories for the first Senior Internship Symposium. First, seniors watched a video that showed the variety of life experiences the Class of 2024 enjoyed. From RPS-based internships to doctor's offices to Town Hall to local farms and more, seniors rolled up their sleeves. The Symposium invited them to present and share their reflections on what they learned during this capstone experience and how their work connects to the RPS core values.

The final issue for this school year of RHS's magazine The Ridgefielder hit inboxes this week with a variety of stories from teen mental health to how we are all a little like Homer Simpson to delicious sounding recipes to an investigative article asking whether it was even possible to use an RHS locker (Spoiler alert: yes, it's possible, and might even be a good idea).

East Ridge Middle School French teacher Rosemary Earle reports that her students from all grades took part in the annual French Senegalese Market. Le Sénégal is a Francophone country in West Africa. Her Grade 8 students learned about life there and how the Senegalese people make items to sell to support themselves, Students then made their own items, replicating those that would be found in a typical Senegalese market. On market day, eighth-graders took on the role of vendors at the market, selling their items. Sixth and seventh-grade French students visited the market to buy the items. Everyone had a great time engaging in an authentic interpersonal French-speaking experience! Special thanks to librarian Tanya Anderson for her help in organizing this fun event!

If you are on Instagram, please consider following the District's art account, @ridgefieldpublicschoolsk12art

Art teachers in grades K-12, regularly post their students' creative processes and wonderful results. The Bobbleheads below are from Hillary Lewis's East Ridge eighth-graders. This is the kind of scrolling that will lift you up.

The RHS PTSA started a new tradition this year with the Tiger Star Award. This award is given to three teachers, chosen by the students for their positive impact on students' lives. This year's award winners were Martha DeSantis, Katherine Gabbay, and Aleksandra Gorski. The RHS PTSA is excited to collaborate with the students to acknowledge teacher contributions to our school community. Congratulations to these three beloved RPS educators!

Congratulations to Petru Zubek on being a semi-finalist in the national Presidential Scholar Program. The list of other semi-finalists across the country is here. According to the government website, "The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation's most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named as Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students."

No Place for Hate student ambassadors at East Ridge, Scotts Ridge, and RHS celebrated another successful year of providing opportunities for the school community to work together towards creating a safe and inclusive place for all. For the third year in a row, the Anti Defamation League has designated the three as No Place for Hate schools. This designation is awarded due to the hard work of the ambassadors, advisors, the parent committee, and the entire school community.

Big news for three RHS Students—Eve Aronow, Abigail Freeman and Evangelina Bloechle! They were recently inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA), joining previous inductee senior Katie Burns (inducted 2023) as members representing the Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance Chapter. The National Honor Society for Dance Arts is a program of the National Dance Education Organization. Its mission is to recognize outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in students studying dance in public and private schools in k-12 education, and to foster an appreciation for dance as a true art form and one worthy of recognition and prestige. Congratulations to the current members and new inductees!

RHS sophomore Zoe Guerrero was just nominated to the National US Snowboarding Rookie Team. She is one of three girls from the US nominated to the team and the only one from the East Coast. Zoe thanks her teachers and RHS Principal Dr. Greenwood for all their support. Follow her @Zoe_shredz

Wow, way to go, Zoe!

RPS students did well at the recent Connecticut State Invention Convention at the University of Connecticut. Please see all the winners here. East Ridge Lily Zezula, a perennial winner, received recognition for her Fungi Filter. Veterans Park student Allison Liberti (in photo) received the Innovator Challenge Award and an invitation to the U.S. Innovator Challenge.

Ridgebury congratulated its student inventors competing in the state final competition, Evan Yaffee, McKenzie and Kyleigh Murphy, Quinn Streif, and Ian Klimowicz. Owen Streif and the Murphy team won awards, and Ian Klimowicz and the Murphys will move on to the National Convention next June.

Recently, Scotts Ridge sixth-grade student, Evelyn Klimowicz, represented RPS at the 2024 National Invention Convention in Dearborn, Michigan. National Finalists from state competitions from all over the country met at the Henry Ford Museum to share their inventions. Evelyn’s invention, “The Hound Hoodwinker”, helps to distract dogs from running to the door and disturbing you, or a guest, upon entering your home. Evelyn received a "Patent Application Award" from the law firm, WilmerHale, offering services to help her patent her invention. Congratulations Evelyn!

This week has been full of memorable moments as we celebrate milestones—preschool to 18-22-year-old transition program to the retirement of some RPS legends. Here are some snapshots from a momentous month. Congratulations to all our students and best wishes on the next chapters. Thank you, RPS staff and families for an amazing year!

Each elementary school rounds out the year in slightly different ways. All are full of joy, celebration, and song. Congratulations, fifth graders! Parents, be warned! The next seven years go fast.

East Ridge and Scotts Ridge eighth graders celebrated the completion of middle school! District administrators and teachers have commented on this grade's character, kindness, and excellence. Looking forward to seeing what the Class of 2028 brings to high school.

Seniors tried on their caps, gowns, and marching styles at RPS elementary schools this week. This touching tradition brings students back to their elementary schools before graduation to tower over some of their teachers, express gratitude, and be together with their elementary classmates.

Board of Education members, teachers, administrators, and families turned out to celebrate our Alternative High School graduates.

RPS was overjoyed to celebrate the 18-22-year-old transition program students this week.

RPS leveled up; RHS Class of 2024 said goodbye; RPS thanked its retirees. The photo on the bottom right below shows Scotland Principal Jill Katkocin with SES secretary Linda Lupinacci, retiring after 38 years of service!

Thank you to the staff, teachers, families, PTA, community, and students who keep us updated all year. What a wonderful district this is!

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