RPS Update

The annual K-12 Art Show held at East Ridge MS didn’t disappoint! We saw the progression in Visual Arts from elementary to middle to high school, the variety of art our students create, and the pride on the faces of students, teachers, families, and administrators. We can't wait to see our student art this year.

We have another short week coming up with the observance of Columbus/Indigenous People Day on Monday. As a result, we will have our Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, October 14. We have two primary presentations being shared. First, we will highlight world language at the elementary level, which includes growing the Spanish program for 2026-27, and the other is a design update for the RHS auditorium.

As you can imagine, we hear from many stakeholders across many topics- and of course, the perspectives, lens, feedback, are often diverse. Frequently, I feel the tension of one group versus another, or one person versus another. I’m often left wondering how to remove the divisive feeling that can be created when we forget that we are on the same team, or we feel the need to be “right.” To that end, I read a piece from one of my colleagues that I thought was worth sharing.

Together, I know that we can continue to achieve the real victories of connection and making a difference.

The weather quickly turned on us, although it's perfect for an evening of football. Hope you can join RHS tonight for a home game- bring your Tiger gear to keep you warm.

Have a good weekend!

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Ridgefield Tiger Talk is back, and on today’s episode, host Wes DeSantis will be talking about Ridgefield High School’s National Honor Society. Joining Wes is Mitch Peterson, Library Media Specialist and NHS teacher leader, and seniors Charlotte Osher and Lauren Ciuffetelli, who are NHS officers. We discuss how students become members of the national honor Society, their volunteer work, tutoring services, and impact on their community. Thanks for listening! For more information on the NHS, including signing up for free peer tutoring, click here.

RPS Board of Education meetings are held at 90 East Ridge Road, open to the public, and streamed via the Board of Education Channel. Recordings of meetings, agendas, and minutes can be found on the BOE Webpage. Public comment (3 minutes/speaker) is available in person at the beginning and end of each meeting. Letters to the BOE can be sent to boardofed@ridgefieldps.net

Here is a link to the fall issue of the RHS Counseling Newsletter, which features interesting information about what's happening in grades 9-12, as well as important upcoming dates, including a presentation on preparing for the SAT or ACT.

Attention high school families! Does your teen know how to change a tire? How to turn on

important equipment like your defroster in your car? What to keep in your car in

case of an emergency? Ridgefield’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is

bringing back a series of important life skill classes geared specifically to teens! Each one is a

standalone class. The first class in this school year’s series is called Car Common Sense, and

it’s in partnership with Ace Tire Auto Center. You’ll learn important information and skills that

you'll have for life! The only requirement is that you’re a current high school student. To sign up, scan the QR code or email RidgefieldTeenCERT@gmail.com with your name, grade, and email

address!

The class will be held at Ace Tire Auto Center at 861 Ethan Allen Highway in Ridgefield on

Wednesday, October 22 at 7:00 P.M.

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.

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable night of fun and high-flying action! The Harlem Wizards will return to Ridgefield High School on Saturday, November 1, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. This isn’t just a basketball game—it’s a full-on show! Fans will be wowed by jaw-dropping dunks, slick ball handling, trick plays, and hilarious antics. Expect a night filled with energy, laughter, and crowd-pleasing entertainment that’s perfect for the whole family.The Wizards brought the house down during their last visit to Title Town, and they’re ready to do it again with another dazzling performance. Help support our RHS Basketball teams, and cheer on your favorite Wizards as they take on Ridgefield Public Schools’ very own teachers and staff in a game you won't want to miss!

Tickets are on sale now—but don’t wait! This event is expected to sell out.

Tickets: Harlem Wizards

Yesterday, RHS seniors hosted a Candidate Assembly with six of the seven Board of Education candidates taking the stage for an engaging hour of debate. Seniors Natalie Shartouni and Sebastian Utomo were the Emcees. Alexander Silliman, Arushi Tripathi, and Joey Velasco asked the questions assembled from their classmates. Every hot topic—from start times to security to homework to cell phone policy—was on the table. With support from the RHS PTSA, the League of Women Voters, and the Town of Ridgefield Registrar, seniors will have a mock election with real ballots and voting machines today. Stay tuned to next week's RPS Update for the election results and a more complete write-up.

Using the East Ridge Middle School MakerSpace, ERMS eighth graders created Solo cup robots to sit on top of Spheros, and then "battled" to see whose robot could knock out all the other robots. According to Innovation Lab teacher Mark Hankla, the lesson incorporates critical thinking skills, trial and error, robotics and engineering. All I know is that the kids are having a blast. Here's the promotional video Mr. Hankla made to get the school excited for Robo-Wars and the Innovation Lab at ERMS.

October is National Physical Therapy Month, which affords RPS the perfect opportunity to get to know our district PTs and their role in our schools. Danielle Helminger, RPS PT/OT Department Facilitator writes, “PTs are the quiet champions of related service teams. They do not receive ample recognition for the amazing work they do promoting mobility and accessibility in all school environments, so students can access and participate in their education.”

RPS employs three PTs: two, Gina Bradbury and Frans VanVliet, full-time, and Kathleen Stowell, part-time. All our PTs have decades of experience, and serve a crucial role on our Special Education team, assisting our students with developing the gross motor skills they need to access the full school experience.

Gina Bradbury works full-time at Barlow Mountain Elementary School, primarily with the pre-school. She collaborates with the Pre-K team to help students meet their goals, including accessing the classroom environment and developing independence. The team helps students hit developmental milestones they might have missed and in some cases, catch up to their peers before they start kindergarten. Ms. Bradbury also makes recommendations for playgrounds, classrooms, facilities, and emergency plans to make sure they are accessible and safe for all learners. Ms. Bradbury also works with K-5 elementary students at BMES so that they can travel through the school environment, participate in classroom activities, as well as, manage stairs, restrooms, cafeteria, or playground.

Frans VanVliet has been at RPS for 25 years and travels to all the schools except for Barlow Mountain and Scotland. “Being flexible is a prerequisite for this kind of work. I love moving all the time,” says Mr. VanVliet. “It suits my personality.” Last week, RPS Update caught up with Mr. VanVliet at Branchville Elementary, where he had been observing students' motor development skills. “I think the misconception about PTs,” observes Mr. VanVliet, “is that PTs teach physical education, but we don’t. We are about academic learning and supporting this through addressing gross motor deficits that may stand in the way of a child benefiting from the curriculum. As long as kids are learning in PE, that’s where we want them to be.”

Mr. VanVliet says that he leans into the skills students already have to “make it fun.” He also notes that PTs serve the social-emotional health of students by incorporating child-centered goals and activities. “One of my students asked me to help her learn to do sit-ups and push-ups so that she could do these, like her peers in PE, so we worked on that,” he says. “I love to teach kids."

Kathleen Stowell is a part-time contracted physical therapist who works with students in the Ridgefield Transition program and at Scotland Elementary School. She has been a PT for 47 years, and says that her practices have evolved over the years. Ms. Stowell values inclusive practices and education. “I look for ways to help my students recognize their strengths and gifts, and where I can assist them in their needs for self-advocacy as it relates to their travel, mobility, and gross motor skills within PE and recess. I want my students to be as competent and confident as they can be, so I always ask them at the end of our sessions how they feel about their work and how they think they did.”

Ms. Stowell shared that she prefers to “push-in” or provide services in a general education classrooms whenever possible. She often asks her students with IEPs or 504 programs if they can show another student how to do something. “Just because I’m working with a student doesn’t mean they can’t be a model,” says Stowell. “All students, no matter what their skill level, can be models for each other.”

Thank you to our district PTs, Gina, Frans, and Kathleen!

The Artist Receptions on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for the All-District K-12 Art Show were a hit! RPS artists came with their grandparents, friends, siblings, and proud parents to see the breadth, depth, and heights of our 2024-25 Art Program. The work displayed creativity, mastery, talent, and the pathways from kindergarten through Grade 12, in media ranging from clay to collage, photography to pencil, animation to acrylic paint. Thank you to our student musicians and, especially, RPS art teachers Jane Grassi, Dana Phelan, Hillary Lewis, Christen Riegel, Tressa Ringkamp, Alison Anderson, Megan Kounnas, Rachael Penney, and Jennifer Zeyer, for installing this fantastic showcase and sharing the night!

This week's RHS Athletics newsletter has got us all wondering...Who is in the Tiger costume this year? View a clue to the mascot mystery, upcoming dates, a celebration of referee appreciation day (you can't play without refs), and photos from the week can be found in the RHS Athletic newsletter.

Photo by Simon Mendez

Nothing but love this week for the RHS girls volleyball program. They held their annual Dig Pink fundraiser this past Monday. The annual event raises funds for Ann’s Place, a Danbury nonprofit that offers cancer support services. Photos by Simon Mendez

So many clubs...so little time! Yesterday, during lunch, RHS hosted its annual Club Fair, which allowed students to learn more about the dozens of clubs and extracurricular activities available at RHS. There is something for every interest, and friendly student leaders were available to recruit new members and give information. Seeing the long list of students signing up for service-oriented clubs, including the Key Club, Interact Club, and Youth Against Cancer, was heartwarming. Students can serve their school and their interests by working on the yearbook, Lodestar, or The Ridgefielder magazines, or by joining the Coding Club, which teaches peers about computer coding. FBLA and DECA attract scores of business-minded students. Many of the clubs—such as Math, Frisbee, Debate, Mock Trial, Science Olympiad, Geography, Robotics teams, and more—compete against other schools. EdRising, which caters to aspiring teachers, has an active program that achieved national success this summer. Other clubs, like Role Playing Club, Unified Theater, or the only new RHS club, Pickleball (Attention: Cory Gillette!), offer purely intramural fun. All provide an opportunity for connection and passion outside of the classroom. See all the club options on the RHS Student Life page.

Yes, we can! Scotland first graders build good reading habits.

Ridgebury students work hard and play hard. Whether we're sharing stories, lessons, or LEGO, we're better together!

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