RPS Midsummer

Summertime also allows for reading and new learning. I just wrapped up reading Never Enough by Jennifer Wallace. Having worked in high-performing school districts for most of my career, the challenges described in the book resonated with the realities I observed over the past few years for communities and families. The book is worth a read and certainly demonstrates the need for a collective vision in how we (as adults) respond to the growing pressures of achievement. While reading, I was also reminded of the importance of our words and actions not only with children but also with adults- an important message that resonated…. What can we do and say to ensure that others know they matter and are enough?

No one loves a theme more than our Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction! Cory Gillette has been hard at work with Forever Summer Bridge, curriculum writing, and connecting all of the dots for our opening days. When she isn't working, you can find Cory boating and enjoying the waterfront. She also traveled with her family to Westport, Massachusetts. She claims Westport Sea Farms has the best oysters in the world!

Our Assistant Superintendent of Special Services, Dr. Liz Hannaway and her family have been swimming, swimming, swimming all summer! The dog days of summer have been more than welcome for the Hannaways. Whether it be water parks, lake swimming, weekends at the town pool, or just sprinkler and slip-and-slide fun in the backyard, they can’t get enough time in the water. Liz and her family enjoyed a week at Woodloch Pines in PA where her children loved riding go-karts, boating on the lake, the arcade, and a myriad of other fun stuff. Liz needed a vacation from her vacation when she got back! In addition to activities with her boys, Liz made time to hang out with friends and family; she is very lucky to have many who live nearby.

Our Director of Finance, Jill Browne, visited some friends in the midwest in June, and couldn’t get enough of her 2-year old grandson throughout the summer months! Plenty of weekend time was spent at her favorite lake with family and friends. Her middle son finished his first year in medical school; and her daughter finished her first year teaching middle school science. Jill has already started building the 2025-26 budget and is fully recharged for another exciting year at RPS!

In addition to fresh paint, new equipment, and safety and security updates, the RPS community can expect many facility projects across our schools. A few highlights include new playgrounds at Barlow Mountain and Ridgebury elementary schools (and the start of a new playground at Scotland). Veterans Park Elementary will be brighter with new LED lighting throughout the school. While there are far too many building projects to list, the Town has also been busy. One special project is their installation of the solar canopy at RHS. Have you seen it? Very cool!

As you can see, the RPS leadership is “all in”. We would like to give a huge shout-out to our ESY leaders- Dr. Showah, Mrs. Gurry, and Ms. Collins, as well as our Forever Summer Bridge leadership- Ms. DeSantis, Mr. Dunne, Ms. Ippoliti, Mrs. Granger, and Mr. Luchsinger who supported our students with a truly rich and meaningful experience. All of these programs promote relationships and connections, creativity and shared learning, and inclusivity. For those parents who are curious in learning more, see here for information about our summer Best Buddies program, which was another fantastic success in 2024.

As we welcome our community back in the next few weeks, here are a few highlights:

• RPS will welcome amazing new educators; can’t wait for you to meet them!

• We continue to be excited about a future 18-22/Alternative High School space- we hope to provide updates early this fall.

• We officially welcome new Elementary Assistant Principals, Erica Ippoliti (Photo right: VPES) and Caitlin Walsh (BMES).

• The curriculum team continues to update our RPS website, as well as updating the parent curriculum website. Please take advantage of viewing both before the start of school.

• School hours for grades K-12 can be found here. The PreK will begin its half-day, extended-day, and full-day programs on September 3.

• Boys and Girls Club continues to offer morning and after-school programming for each of our six elementary schools. RPS offers transportation to and from school at no additional cost. Reach out directly to the Boys and Girls Club for more information.

• Looking for help! If you are interested in joining children for lunch and recess as a Supervisory Paraeducator, reach out to any one of our elementary schools.

• Our 2024-25 school calendar can be found here.

• Weekly family communications will continue to take place on Fridays beginning in September.

• Bus schedules/times can be expected to be posted on PowerSchool after Aug 12, 2024

• We are excited for the return of Ridgefield Tiger Talk Podcast this fall! Be sure to catch up on past episodes.

Please check your school's calendar for New Student Orientation, Back to School Open House, and other important dates. Subscribe to avoid missing important dates.

RHS preseason for fall sports is underway. Please remember to make sure your child's physical examination form or health assessment are complete and at the RHS Nurses Office.

RPS is looking for help! If you are interested in joining children for lunch and recess, reach out to any one of the elementary school offices. Many of our best employees are parents in the district.

As families go through the important rituals of preparing to go back-to-school (supplies, clothes, one last smore, and swim), please consider joining your PTA! PTAs are RPS' vital partners in creating a climate of excellence, enrichment, and fun.

Kieran Smith, RHS Class of 2018, anchors the 4x200 Mens Freestyle Relay in Paris to bring home an Olympic Silver medal!

RPS Director of Security Joshua Zabin discussed the topic of Building Safe and Inclusive Schools: Strategies for Effective Crisis Management and Prevention at the National Student Safety and Security conference in New York City on July 18, 2024.

Recent RHS graduates and lacrosse All-Americans Caroline Trinkaus (Syracuse University) and Kyle Colsey (University of Virginia) helped their teams win at the All-American Senior Games.

In June, RPS Essential Facilitator and Ridgebury Library Media Specialist Ellen Paradiso (and other RPS faculty) attended ISTELive 24, an educational technology conference in Denver, Colorado. Ms. Paradiso gushed about her experience, especially meeting a group of kids from Mexico who developed their own anti-cyberbullying game with Scratch and Makey Makey (programs RPS received this year).

From the halls of East Ridge to the corridors of D.C. power to the shores of Lake Eerie and Montego Bay, RPS teachers, students, and principals have flexed their love for RPS. Please keep showing us where you loved RPS this summer.

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.