RPS Update

It is hard to believe that we are approaching winter break, but here we are. It is also hard to escape the tragedy and sadness that we continue to see across our newsfeed. Yet, in schools, we remember that we need to honor the beauty of childhood and all that comes with it. While we work to protect the spirit and experience of our students, as adults, we also see the pain of those near and far, and know that in order to protect our children and their future, there have to be solutions. As we prepare for winter break, we will continue to focus on our students and bring light and a joyful spirit to our schools each day.

Our schools are a bit quieter as flu season is hitting hard! Hoping we can all make the final stretch until break- and it is important to stay home if you aren’t feeling well (check out your school nurse reminders).

On behalf of the Central Office team of the Ridgefield Public Schools, we wish you a wonderful holiday and may you have a restful winter break in the company of all those who you hold dear. Let 2026 be a year filled with peace, kindness, and joy.

This is the last update of 2025. Looking forward to writing to you again on January 9, 2026.

Cheers to 2026!

Warmly,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Editor's note: Last week's RPS Update had the wrong name of the conference. RPS presented at The Learning Forward Conference in Boston, MA.

RPS Teacher of the Year, Veterans Park psychologist Jeffrey Lovelace, attended the Connecticut Department of Education ceremony at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, with his colleague, RPS social worker Cathleen Bearse. The evening celebrated standout educators across the state and their commitment to lifelong learning. They shared the following quote: "We should acknowledge the new challenges that constantly present themselves in our dynamic field, but we should also remember the ever constant gifts children bring to the table: creativity, curiosity, joy, playfulness, friendliness, mischief, and pluck." Congratulations, Jeff!

The RABC (Ridgefield A Better Chance) Scholars Program provides academically talented and highly motivated young women of color the opportunity to study at RHS. Scholars live together in the RABC house, gaining the tools and experiences they need to excel in college and beyond. This month, the program is up for Fairfield County Bank's Charity of the Month. Vote RABC here!

Photo credit and text come from the RABC website.

Please check your school calendar for Winter Concerts. Do not miss the RHS Winter Concert—free and open to the public.

• Recently, college representatives from Fairfield University, Michigan State, UConn, and Hobart and William Smith joined RHS Counselors for a night for juniors and their parents. You can view the presentation here. While this presentation focused primarily on college-bound students, the RHS Counseling Department offers many resources for students who might not feel a four-year college is for them or are unsure about their post-secondary plans.

  Some takeaways from the presentation:

  • 80% of the RHS Class of 2026 applied Early Action or Early Decision, up from 49% in 2024.
  • Grades from junior year matter for admissions.
  • Counselors can help students choose the right level of classes, rigor, and balance.
  • RHS College Fair on March 18, 2026
  • Standardized testing. RHS juniors take the SAT on March 25, 2026, in school. Many schools are still test-optional. Difference between ACT and SAT.
  • Do campus visits if you can. Prepare in advance to make sure you get on a tour. How do you define fit or find a university where you can thrive? Demonstrated interest matters if genuine.
  • Juniors will be scheduled into mandatory seminars during FLEX.
  • Extracurriculars—jobs, passions, and authenticity are all important on applications.
  • Juniors need to ask two current teachers for recommendations in May or June
  • RHS helps juniors start college essays; seniors write essays in September. The essay should be at least 75% about the applicant and be about a recent experience.
  • Students and parents need to fill out counseling forms and brag sheets.
  • Financial aid and affordability tips. RHS will offer a virtual presentation primarily for current seniors but open to all on Appealing FAFSA on January 8, 2026, at 6 pm, registration TBD.

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. See new flyers from CT Pride in this week's eBackpack.

RHS students in the new Mystery, Mayhem, and True Crime English class recently stepped out of the classroom and into an exciting escape room adventure in Danbury! Working in teams, they tackled puzzles, cracked codes, and raced against the clock—putting their communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills to the test in this mystery-themed field trip. The experience was both challenging and fun, reports teacher Dr. Jaclyn Aaron, giving student detectives a hands-on way to build teamwork, solve clues, feel the very suspense they read about, and create memories they won’t soon forget. When reflecting on their escapade, one student wrote that she "gained problem-solving and collaborative skills throughout my time in the escape room that I can add to classwork for this class, other classes, and my daily life and relationships." These experiences will help students craft their own compelling mysteries as part of the culmination of the course. ​Two sections of this course (a grade 9-12 humanities elective) will run next semester.

Veterans Park held an all-school assembly this week, with fifth-grade student council members reminding classmates about the No Place for Hate pledge. All nine Ridgefield Public Schools earn the No Place For Hate designation through student-led activities.

What a banner month for the Arts! In our schools and in our community, RPS students shared their talents and hard work. RPS Visual and Performing Arts teachers are exceptional, providing life-changing opportunities and fostering passion, practice, and excellence for our students. We are so proud!

Last Thursday, the East Ridge Chamber Singers, ERMS Jazz Band, ERMS and Scotts Ridge Symphonic Band, and ERMS/SRMS Symphonic Orchestra took the stage at East Ridge Middle School and presented their Winter Select Ensembles Concert. The concert was a wonderful demonstration of hard work, collaboration, and artistic prowess. Please enjoy this video of the ERMS/SRMS Symphonic Orchestra performing "Somewhere In My Memory" by John Williams, featured in the holiday classic, "Home Alone".

This Tuesday, Scotts Ridge held its Winter Art and Music Celebration. While SRMS has been hit hard by illness and record absences, the lucky were rewarded with beautiful art and a concert by the sixth and seventh-grade bands.

On Saturday, student artists, families, and staff rubbed elbows at the opening of the Solstice Selections exhibition at the Ridgefield Library. This exhibition of art from grades 6-12 allowed RPS to highlight, beyond our school hallways, the breadth of visual art talent and creativity. Thank you to our students for providing snacks and conversation about their work. Thank you to our team of grade 6-12 art teachers—Jane Grassi, Hillary Lewis, Dana Phelan, Christen Riegel, and Tressa Ringkamp—for framing and curating this stunning show.

Solstice Selections: On View until January 7 at the Ridgefield Library.

On Wednesday night, RHS held its Winter Concert, an evening that many have planned and practiced for months, perhaps you could say without hyperbole, their whole musical lives. From the performance of a world premiere composition to seasonal favorites to Mozart and Debussy, the night was worth every lesson, rehearsal, moment of difficulty, doubt, and frustration. From the first drum beat of the Concert Band to the last Dvořák Symphonic Orchestra riff, the audience was on the edge of their seats, enjoying the drama, inspiration, chills, and joy that only live music can bring. How are these high schoolers?!!

Thank you to our inspiring RHS music teacher trio—band director George Beratis, orchestra director Michael McNamara, and choral director Lauren Verney-Fink. These elegant educators put expertise, thought, and care into providing instruction and exceptional opportunities to their students. Thank you to the Ridgefield Music Parents, the most supportive and hard-working partners. RHS students, you absolutely crushed it!

Please view the RHS Winter Concert program, which includes the repertoire, performers, soloists, and student leaders, as well as the poem “Songs for the People,” to see the magnitude of students involved in RHS music and the variety of the music performed. Of particular note are all the students who perform in multiple ensembles—choral and instrumental. Seeing all the talent of the Concert Band, Choir, and Concert Orchestra, which are open to all students without a tryout, bodes well for the future of RHS select ensembles—Wind Ensemble, Madrigals, and Symphonic Orchestra. We look forward to sharing what you can’t see in a program—the music—through video in the weeks to come.

Choral Director Lauren Verney-Fink told the story of the genesis of "Songs for the People," an original composition by RHS senior Leigh Kovalsky, from a poem by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Ms. Verney-Fink recognized in the audience her fellow RHS teacher, Julie Henderson, as being the original link in the chain of inspiration. Ms. Handerson had encouraged student Lia Muñoz Rojas to compete in the National Poetry Out Loud competition as a class assignment. Ms. Henderson shared Lia’s winning competition video with the RHS staff, which then inspired Ms. Verney-Fink to ask Leigh to compose "Songs for the People" as her final AP Music Theory project. Lia beautifully reprised her performance of the poem at the concert. The Concert Choir followed by singing Leigh's composition. Senior Casey Fischer was the soloist. It was the World Premiere of an RHS student’s composition! When the last chord was sung, audiences leapt to their feet and cheered! Students beamed! History was made! Bravo, Leigh, Lia, and the RHS Choir!

It was great to see musical members of the RHS Class of 2025 at the RHS Winter Concert. Shown in the photo below with band director George Beratis.

Andrew Fan began playing violin in the fourth grade and has excelled throughout his musical career. Being assistant section leader his junior year and concertmaster his senior year, Andrew has thrived in leadership positions while maintaining his talent. He described his time with the Ridgefield High School Symphonic Orchestra as “very fulfilling” and stated he loves getting involved with the community. His favorite memory in orchestra was challenging himself alongside his peers by playing Tchaikovsky's 4th and 5th Symphony movements last year.

Orchestra Conductor, Michael McNamara, says, “Andrew has been a staple in our program for 4 years. He was quiet at first, but has since proven himself to be a friendly and assertive leader. The first violins are doing wonderfully under his leadership, and we are all grateful to him for his preparation and professionalism. Leading our award-winning Symphonic Orchestra is no joke, but he has done so with poise and aplomb.”

Outside of thriving as a violinist, Andrew also enjoys cooking, playing basketball, and watching political content. He intends to attend college next year, working towards a career as a banker and debt monetizer. His talented leadership abilities and outstanding playing have made him an incredible member of the music community, and he will be greatly missed once he graduates. Thanks for all you do, Andrew! For more information, visit ridgefieldhsmusic.org and ridgefieldmusicparents.org.

Sure, the short days of winter are upon us, but don't you need a little pop of spring on your calendar? For the third year in a row, our entire high school orchestra program has been invited by the Board of Selectpersons to kick off the town's Concert Happenings In Ridgefield Parks (CHIRP) series, a staple of summer life here in Ridgefield. Tuesday, May 26!

Fourth and fifth graders across the district signed up for Art LEAP—an enrichment program run by elementary art teachers. Some of the sessions have wrapped up, and we had to share these wonderful creations by fifth graders at Branchville, Ridgebury, Scotland, and Veterans Park Elementary. BES and VPES made these creative masks, which both created personal connections and explored the societal importance of masks in African culture. RES and SES made the charming flat felt textiles, using a traditional technique that stretches back thousands of years to Central Asian nomadic cultures.

On Monday, approximately 20 RPS administrators assembled in the RHS LLC after school hours to support EdRising Club members as they gear up for competition season. EdRising is an active RHS Club for aspiring teachers, led by club president Jake Levi and vice president Grace Pepin, with faculty advisors Danny Martin, Kim Davis, and Christine Hopkinson. Panelists split into four sections to give students feedback on their presentations on a wide variety of subjects, including Lesson Planning, Ethical Dilemmas in Education, and an EdRising Moment or Why You Decided to Become a Teacher. One group staged a mock interview for the Paraeducator role. Presentations were outstanding, and the feedback was substantive and sincere. Principal Dr. Jake Greenwood said, "And by the way, I'd hire you." Learn more about the EdRising Club by watching their presentation at the November 24 BOE meeting.

The most recent RHS Athletic Newsletter highlights the fall season, individual honors, and a Nutrition Notes column from RPS partner, nutritionist Jennifer Giles (hint: hydrate, hydrate). Special congratulations to freshman Mary Kelly on being named the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Girls Class L Swimmer of the Year, and Coach Paul Marchese on being named CHSCA Girls Swim & Dive Coach of the Year!

Winter sports have started, and this break might be a good time to catch a game. Learn more about schedules on the RHS Athletics webpage.

Last Friday, RHS was mingling, and sleigh bells were ringing at the G-Wing Winter Display. Students and staff dressed up in snowman props, enjoyed seasonal treats, received floral bouquets from Soaring Together, and answered prompts about winter in this fun, inclusive afternoon activity.

RHS staff were treated to a cheerful holiday spread thanks to the generosity of Ridgefield Bagel and Bakes, Ross Artisanal Bakery & Café, Starbucks, and the RHS PTSA. From fresh bagels and indulgent pastries to warm coffee, it was the perfect way to start a chilly winter morning. A big shoutout to our RHS parents for donating the raffle prizes that added an extra dose of holiday fun to the celebration! Talk about "spread-ing" cheer!:)

Assistant Superintendent Cory Gillette got in the spirit of the holidays and the RPS theme Better Together, challenging staff to submit group-posed holiday photos this week. Ms. Gillette set a very high bar for flexibility and spirit with her curriculum team and fellow Assistant Superintendent, Liz Hannaway. Elementary Spanish teachers seem to know how to say "cheese," or is it "queso"? The RHS Business Department outperformed and pushed the Acceptable AI Use policy. We'll accept it! It is not just about where you work, it is about WHO you work with! #BetterTogether #WeLoveRPS

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.