RPS News Special Edition

Although a weekend separated RHS graduation on Friday and RPS closing convocation ceremonies on Monday, the two events are part of a continuum—RPS celebrations of accomplishments, excellence, and next steps. Both events showed RPS to be a joyful and excellent district, led with purpose, engagement, and hardwork. Students and staff stepped up to share their talents and reflections. Please view photos, videos, and more from both events below.

Last Friday, the RHS Class of 2024 graduated with pomp, circumstance, and inspiration. Rain forced an indoor ceremony but didn't dampen the celebration. Seniors congregated in the Student Center before graduation to help each other into their cap and gowns, chat, and take photos. Then, a bagpiper led the procession with Board of Education members, administrators, faculty, and seniors processing through the RHS hallways into the gym. Families joined their students surrounded by Tiger spirit with more guests watching from the auditorium. Congratulations, RHS Class of 2024! The full list of candidates can be found here.

Three students—Senior Class President Abby Seal, Valedictorian Steven Hergenrother, and Class Speaker Colin Nelson—and four adults—Principal Dr. Jacob Greenwood, Faculty Speaker Jamie Reed, Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva, and Board of Education Chair Tina Malhotra—addressed the graduates.

In his speech, principal Dr. Greenwood said the Class of 2024 will be forever remembered as the class that taught RHS how to flex, referencing both the new FLEX schedule and their embrace of post-pandemic opportunities. Please read Dr. Greenwood's full address here. Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva also credited Dr. Greenwood, originally from Maine, for calling the class, "Wicked Nice." High praise from a Mainer!

In his speech, Valedictorian Steven Hergenrother, who holds the CT state record for the mile and too many other records to mention, compared the four years of high school to the four laps around the track in a mile, giving insight into both high school and race strategy and experience. The Class chose Colin Nelson (in photo) as its speaker. Colin addressed the passage of time and what he has learned during the past four years in his speech. Class President Abby Seal's speech reminded her overachieving classmates to create a life of purpose, aim for balance, and express gratitude. All our student speakers spoke eloquently!

The Class tapped English teacher and new head football coach Jamie Reed as its faculty speaker. Mr. Reed spoke about the experiences that taught him the most, urging students to have humility and perspective as they make mistakes, learn, and grow. Please view his remarks here.

Both Board Chair Tina Malhotra and Dr. Da Silva know the Class of 2024 well—Ms. Malhotra's son is in the graduating class and Dr. Da Silva has shared many lunchtime sessions with seniors throughout the year to listen to their viewpoints. Both spoke from the heart. Dr. Da Silva shared her "post-its" advice to students in last week's RPS Update.

According to tradition, every year, RHS seniors decorate their mortarboards with their planned college or other pearls of wisdom and adornment. This year, RHS students were sporting lids with some of the top universities in the country, including many Ivy Leagues, flagship state schools, Georgetown, Boston College, Rice, and the NESCAC. In addition, this class seems to be sending many to highly selective programs overseas, including—Oxford University, UK; University of St Andrews, and Trinity College in Dublin. Happy to see "Gap Year" on one of them. Please see the full list of colleges and universities here and the scholar-athletes below.

On Thursday after graduation rehearsal, the RHS Athletic Department invited seniors continuing their athletic careers in the NCAA to Tiger Hollow for a photo. Please see the list of the students planning to play sports in college here. Scroll the full list to see students unable to make the photo. Congratulations to all our Student-Athletes and their families!

Congratulations, Class of 2024! We love you. Go out and flourish...come visit often.

RPS faculty rolled into East Ridge Middle School at first light on Monday morning, the last day of school for teachers, and were greeted by a party. Exuberant colleagues and students, music, food, and swag were just some surprises organized by Assistant Superintendent Cory Gillette and Class of 2024 School President Hannah Yu as her senior internship, for the closing celebration of the school year. They enlisted RHS student leaders and staff to make it a morning to remember.

Recent RHS graduate, Graham Kitchin donned the Tiger mascot costume for one last time, embodying the spirit of RPS with his graduation robe, generous hugs, patience, and dance moves. Tiger pride! While there was plenty of time for breakfast and socializing, there was also a substantive program, including a keynote address and musical performances.

Ms. Gillette gave the keynote address, highlighting what makes RPS special. She used the metaphor of a recent game of paddle tennis (aka platform tennis)—Ms. Gillette's extracurricular passion. In the game, the group she was playing with was inexperienced, and the game was chaotic and even, at times, dangerous. The people on the court didn't know the rules. She likened that to other work experiences she has had, contrasting that game to the ordered, experienced colleagues at RPS—where she can do her best work. She talked about how her team works hard to create a district where all members (staff and students) can bring their best game. Where they feel safe to take chances—safe to go for the winning shot, safe to consider the best way to level up and have a blast doing things well.

Ms. Gillette's RPS family enjoyed meeting her daughter and husband, who had come to support her. Photo Caption: Scotland music teacher Jim Tornatore, technology director Dr. Wes DeSantis, elementary director Linda Johnson, Cory Gillette's daughter Jasmine and husband Jeremy.

Superintendent Dr. DaSilva outlined some of the ways that RPS leveled up this year—curriculum implementation, a musical at each of the elementary schools, a commitment to Elementary World Language, District-wide art show, Grades 5-12 Music Festivals, Unified Arts at RHS, the RHS Senior Internship Symposium, an Inclusion Expo, and so much more. She thanked faculty and staff for their participation in the budget process, which led to Tri-Board support and voter approval for the third year in a row. She described RPS as an organization where everybody counts, and she danced, clapped, and hugged everyone who came in the door. Photo caption: Dr. Liz Hannaway, Cory Gillette, and Dr. Susie Da Silva backstage at Convocation.

What's a party without music? RPS students and staff brought melody, rhythm, and perfect pitch to the closing ceremony in a showcase of talent. RHS newly-minted graduate Millie Altopp kicked off the performances, followed by a select East Ridge Middle School chamber singers, which strained belief that its talented soloists haven't even gotten through ninth grade...Middle schoolers can sing like that?!? Seventh-grade strings directed by Julianna Chetcuti played Cold Play and Branchville Elementary Chorus conducted by Jim Tornatore got the beach vibes going. Past RPS Teacher of the Year, Hilary Brown, played a joyful duet with her student to celebrate the end of school. Finally, the RPS teacher house band played the Beatles with lead singers RHS choral director Lauren Verney-Fink and Mr. Tornatore to celebrate retiring Ridgebury music teacher Phil Banette. The RPS music program is awesome! Please see a medley of these incredible performance here.

Toward the end of Convocation, current student body president Hannah Yu (center in photo) passed the torch to the RHS Class of 2025 Student Body President Naomi Vakil. Thank you, Hannah, for all you have done to represent RHS students and RPS. You are awesome! Best of luck as you continue to NYU, Stern School of Business.

Looking forward to a great year, Naomi!

While the merriment continued, the District showed a slideshow of the 2023-2024 school year with photos from every school. They also broadcast a shoutout video with messages from staff to members of the RPS community—from School Safety Officers to teachers to students to staff. Heartwarming!

Video Credit: John Mansfield

Thank you to students Camille Wyatt and Audrey DeMatteo for being on-site photographers.

The last Board of Education meeting of this school year is this Monday at 7 pm. Elected officials will join the BOE. The agenda, meeting link, and more can be found on the Board of Education page.

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

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.