RPS Update

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Please help RPS go green by checking your students' e-Backpack weekly for important information. Community organizations and groups can submit flyers for inclusion by emailing Christine Melagrano.

What's always in fashion? Love for RPS. If you want to join us in wearing our classic WE LOVE RPS swag, click here for the link to order and have it delivered to your school!

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 additions. See some important RHS Counseling dates and opportunities below.

Ridgefield Public Schools has launched two technology committees to guide how we choose digital tools, protect student information, and prepare students to navigate a digital world responsibly. Following the Tri-State Consortium's external review this spring, the Technology Advisory Committee, which includes parents, community members, and other stakeholders, and the District Technology Working Committee, which includes educators from various grade levels and departments, are focused on three interconnected areas: Teaching & Learning and Educational Technology; Data Privacy and Security; and Digital Citizenship.

Student well-being is at the center of this work, and our goal is to build trust through transparency. The Working Committee held its first meeting on October 6, and after each meeting, we will post a summary of what we heard and what comes next so families can see how and why we make decisions. Dr. Taylor Wrye, Director of Educational Technology, will also be visiting school communities this year to hear directly from parents and guardians. To read about the committees, view meeting dates and listening sessions, and access key documents, including the RPS Technology Plan, visit the Technology Committees page: https://sites.google.com/ridgefieldps.net/technology-committees/home

The RHS Counseling Department sent its Fall 2026 newsletter this week. Check it out for vital information for parents in every grade, including steps for completing the FAFSA form for financial aid and upcoming presentations (some included below!).

The annual Candidate Assembly brought candidates for the Connecticut House and the U.S. House of Representatives to RHS to answer questions from our seniors. Affordability, climate change, artificial intelligence, immigration, and healthcare were just a few topics our panels of students raised with aspiring officeholders—including a recent RHS grad and a current representative to Congress. Today, Friday, October 9, seniors will have the opportunity to participate in a mock election, thanks to the League of Women Voters and the Ridgefield Registrar of Voters. Make sure to read next week's RPS Update for the full report and to see who won RHS.

Yesterday during FLEX, RHS recognized 249 students who have achieved a high level of proficiency in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS framework focuses on Three-Dimensional Learning, the ability to combine core scientific knowledge with the actual practices used by real-world scientists and engineers.

Principal Dr. Jake Greenwood, once an RHS science teacher, noted that this was a 10% increase in students showing proficiency over last year! The Tiger mascot donned a lab coat and carried a double helix to celebrate RHS Science Scholars.

RHS Science Chair Christopher Tait writes, "the RHS Science Scholar designation celebrates students who have demonstrated the ability to investigate natural phenomena, analyze complex data, and develop evidence-based solutions to science and engineering problems. By earning this title, these scholars have proven they possess the critical thinking skills and scientific literacy necessary to navigate the challenges of higher education and an increasingly complex, technology-driven world." The full list of RHS Science Scholars is here.

It's FLEX! On Wednesday, RHS Peer Mentor volunteers gathered for a training session with counselor Cristin Nahoum and Health Teacher Kristin DiMarino. The Peer Mentor program is new to RHS and comes out of the Thrive Together initiative. The training session included key information about the role of junior and senior mentors, how to maintain boundaries and confidentiality, and communication tips for success. The faculty advisors discussed the opportunity to become RISE mentors and some of the special activities involved. The first responsibility the Mentors will have is to attend Freshman advisories next week and share, "What they wish they knew as freshmen!" Underclassmen can sign up to participate in the program here: Become a Peer Mentee

At the end of September, East Ridge Middle School trained the newest cohort of student No Place for Hate ambassadors. Students participated in get-to-know-you activities, discussed how to speak up when they see or hear unkind behavior, learned what it takes to be an ambassador, and began planning school-wide activities for the year. No Place for Hate activities have started across the District! 1RPS!

Submitted by Jessica Oliveira, Ridgebury Grade 2

RPS second graders spend a lot of time exploring the question, “When does ‘me’ become ‘we’?” We zoom in and out of our community to discover that communities grow as more people become part of them. We explore different types of communities and the many ways people contribute their strengths, ideas, and work to help their communities thrive.

As we begin to zoom out, maps become an important tool for helping students understand where they fit within their larger community and world. Through map puzzles, globes, and map charts, students zoomed in and out of different places and explored how communities connect to the larger world. Beginning with our own community of Ridgefield....students could see that while our town may look small on a map, it is part of something much larger.

While our current exploration of maps is grounded primarily in a social studies and community lens, we are beginning to develop skills and understandings that will support science. As we move further into the curriculum, students will use maps and other tools to explore landforms, environmental features, how land changes over time, the animals that live in different places, and more.

This was a fun early exposure activity that helps students begin to see maps not simply as something that shows where things are, but as tools that help us ask questions, notice patterns, understand places, and make connections between ourselves and the world around us. In fact, they asked to do it again the next day as their confidence grew in identifying the states and countries!

This type of lesson was possible with the support of Elementary Director Linda Johnson. In the summer, I just created a fun lesson so that all teachers across the district would utilize these tools!

The Farmingville Musical Production team of Amanda Cody, Principal Nancy Caron, and Music Teacher Tyler Langworthy put on caps and costumes to reveal their big news—the FES musical is fan favorite Newsies! We can't wait for March!!!

Everyone's favorite RHS magazine hit inboxes last week. Please read The Ridgefielder to get student articles on cell phones, Hoco outfits, testing, the RHS fall play, 9/11, a scientific invention of the month, and so much more.

Visit the RHS Athletics webpage for full schedules and team results.

Tuesday was National Coaches Day and many of our teams took to Instagram to mark this occasion. Above was the Field Hockey program's post to recognize their coaches' commitment and dedication. Coincidentally, the Field Hockey team celebrated Coach Jessica DeLuca's 100th (and 101st) win this week. Congratulations, Coach Jess!

Thank you to all the RHS coaches for going above and beyond to support our student-athletes.

On Friday afternoon, the whole school headed to Tiger Hollow for a giant pep rally. Seniors Peter Jensen and Francie Murphy emceed the event. Our mysterious Tiger mascot kept it cool even on a very hot day. Fall sports captains led their teams onto the field. Student representatives from each class competed in games like a scooter relay, Rock, Paper, Scissors, and a four-way tug-of-war for class points. Who knew Musical Chairs could be so competitive? RHS's nationally recognized Special Olympics Unified Champion team was there, of course, repping inclusivity and Tiger pride. The annual captain dance showed what we can accomplish together.

The Homecoming Football Game on Friday night was a blast. You had to be there....and so many of us were. Athletic Director Dane Street reports that over 2500 people were at Tiger Hollow, including the undisputed best student section in the State, RPS administration, families, staff, and the Ridgefield community. Mr. Street and his team did a fantastic job managing the crowd, the neon-themed Tiger Lair student section was electric, and our football team delivered, besting Danbury 42 to 22. One of the highlights on field was Chris Colsey's school-record breaking 99 yard run for a touchdown. Incredible!

We had as much pride for our students off the field. For those of you unable to make it, we are so excited to be able to share some of the incredible photos by Simon Mendez (@simonmnedezphotography) that capture the phenomenal evening.

The RHS Choir led by Lauren Verney-Fink sang the National Anthem, with American Sign Language accompaniment.

For some of us, the half-time show rivals the on-field action. In this case, RHS is unparalleled.The Dance Team, who celebrated senior day with baby heads, showed why they are perennially tops in the state. And Cheer, you "glowed big" for the home team. INCREDIBLE!

The RHS pep band, led by George Beratis with student drum major Wyatt Clifton, included Hilary Brown's and Andrew Clavi’s middle school students. Their rendition of "Sweet Caroline" gave the student and old-timer sections a song to get behind — "bum, bum, bum." The drumline led by captain Joshua Beaulac was also exceptional, with soloists Owen Edson and Robert DiBene, and Ravi Natarajan, who earned his own chant from the Tiger Lair student section.

Speaking of Tiger Lair, the student section leaders Chris Colsey, Peter Jensen, and Andrew Lycoyannis earned praise from faculty advisor (and neon prop queen) Tricia Andrews, who said, "They are doing a great job taking on the responsibility of being true student leaders. I'm very proud of them."

Someone has to win Spirit Week, and this year, the Class of 2027 was at the top of the podium. Congratulations to our senior leaders, Andrew Tebbe and Andrew Lycoyannis, for their exceptional leadership. All the classes did a phenomenal job!!! Thank you, Student Government and Stud Gov Advisor and RPS Teacher of the Year Dr. Ashley Brooksbank (and her adorable helper)! Thank you to our generous families and staff for your contributions of non-perishables for Family and Children's Aid. This year's Homecoming Dance was a Night in NYC. See more photos from Spirit Week in last week's newsletter.

No wrong answers: What's the most beautiful season in New England? Fall, of course! Just walk through the halls (or scroll Instagram) and see the magic of autumnal student art. Pumpkins! Leaves! Flowers! Enjoy some seasonal selections from Barlow Mountain and Scotland below.

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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