Branchville Bulletin

Dear Branchville Community,

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We are approaching the 30-day countdown to the last day; it is also the count-up to the many end-of-year celebrations and expierences to come. Field Day, ice cream socials, field trips, concerts, the Branchville Art Show, the Branchville Bash, and the list keeps going! It is a testament to our community that we come to celebrate our students in so many and varied ways!

On behalf of teachers and staff, I would like to offer a sincere thank you to our parents and students for recognizing our truly exceptional staff during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you for your thoughtful notes, decorations, flowers, gifts, and gestures of kindness, as well as breakfast and an incredible taco food truck lunch! It was deeply appreciated by everyone!

Thank you also to the PTA for organizing the upcoming Branchville Bash. We are looking forward to this after-school event, on May 15th at 5pm, which will bring our families together for an afternoon of old-fashioned games and outdoor play. It promises to be a wonderful opportunity for us to connect and enjoy some simple, community-focused fun. We are grateful to the volunteers who are dedicating their time to coordinate this gathering for our students.

In addition to these community events, we are looking forward to the Branchville Art Show on May 20th from 6:00 to 7:15 PM. This evening will be an opportunity to celebrate the creativity and work our students have put into their projects this year. The Branchville Gallery will feature music performances by BES students and will offer hot dogs from Chez Lenard and treats from Bridge Street Premium Ice Company. We hope you will join us for an evening of art and school spirit.

Looking ahead, I would like to highlight the significance of the upcoming town referendum this Tuesday. The outcome directly affects the resources and programs at Branchville. Please take the time to cast your ballot.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for all you do to support the Branchville Elementary community.

In partnership,

Keith L. Margolus

With so many events on campus coming up, please do take a moment to read the confidentiality agreement that is a standing article in this newsletter. It is important to recognize that you may witness student interactions, behavior, or learning that differ from your experience with your own child. In the spirit of inclusivity, kindness, and respect for all students and families, you have an obligation to protect their privacy. The full agreement appears at the end of this newsletter.

Number sense is foundational to the elementary learning expierence. Click on the slide below and read the adjacent slides to learn more.

Click on the slide below to view the Ridgefield Public Schools Budget website.

Believe it or not, it is time to register eligable students for kindergarten. Click on the slide to learn more.

If you are experiencing a hardship and your child needs financial support to participate in a PTA event or school event, such as a field trip. Please reach out to Keith at kmargolus@ridgefieldps.net

RPS is a caring and compassionate community that recognizes that some of our families are facing challenging times and experiencing food insecurity. Please reach out to Keith, the BES PTA or the PTA Council for help, with complete confidence that your discussions will be kept confidential. The RHS PTSA put together this list of resources for RPS families, neighbors, and friends.

Check out the new page,engagED on the RPS Curriculum Site pictured and linked below.

RPS distribution flyers for outside groups via a Digital Backpack.

Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion in the digital backpack. Please help us in our effort to go green by checking students' Digital Backpacks Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net. Thank you!

This guide below was distributed at Open House. Click on the images below for an enlarged display. You may also request a copy from the Branchville Main Office.

If you are looking for a comprehensive description of our school practices and procedures, please review the K-5 Student Handbook.

Visiting BES

If you are visiting BES, one way to expedite the entry process is to fill out this form or use the QR code in advance of your planned visit (e.g., teacher meeting, PTA meeting, mystery reader, library, or art volunteer). Your badge will be waiting for you when you arrive. If you have something to drop off for your child during the school day, such as a forgotten lunch or instrument, please place the item on the table located outside the entrance.

• When you arrive to enter the building, we ask that you press the video doorbell button and identify yourself. You will then be granted access to the vestibule.
• Once in the vestibule, please do NOT hold the door open for a different guest entering the building. We cannot open the second set of doors until you are inside the vestibule. While this may be inconvenient and feel impolite, we are standardizing access to the buildings across the district so that everyone knows what to expect.

For visits to BES during the school day, I recommend arriving early, as it takes some time to process your visitor badge. For a visit that is not arranged in advance, calling the main office ahead of time is a helpful practice.

We are grateful to be able to conduct events like The School Store, The Bookfair, and The Beaver Boogie, to name a few. These events depend on volunteers. When you are volunteering, you may witness student interactions, behavior, or learning that differ from your experience with your own child. In the spirit of inclusivity, kindness, and respect for all students and families, I invite all to take a moment to read the confidentiality agreement you sign when you arrive at Branchville. It is essential that these are not just a step in your entry process, but that we live by them when we are here at BES.

Confidentiality Agreement

I acknowledge that as a volunteer and or visitor, I may have the opportunity to access or gain knowledge of confidential information. Confidential information may be made known to or learned by me via various sources, including but not limited to electronic media, interoffice communications, internal publications, and verbal interactions. I further acknowledge that making this information known or available to others who do not have a legal right to that information may violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), other Federal and State Laws, and Ridgefield Board of Education Policies.

Therefore, I agree that I will not reveal, make known, or provide access to confidential information except to those having a legal or otherwise permissible right to that information. Furthermore, I agree not to access confidential information for any reason other than the performance of my duties as a volunteer at Ridgefield Public Schools.

By signing this Confidentiality Agreement, I acknowledge that I have read and understand it. I understand that my failure to comply with this agreement may subject me to discipline and/or removal from the volunteer list in accordance with Ridgefield Public Schools’ Policies and may affect my future access to confidential information and/or Ridgefield Public Schools’ computing, telephony, and other information systems or databases.

By typing your name below, you are agreeing to this confidentiality agreement.

For a comprehensive list of upcoming events, please see the calendars below.

RPS Events Calendar

Rotational Calendar

PTA Events Calendar

To withhold directory and media publications (including Instagram) please follow this path when you are logged in to PowerSchool.

• On the left-hand side please click on "Demographic Change."

• A number of tabs will appear. Click on "Directory & Media OptOut.

There you will find the option to withhold directory and media information. It is helpful if you notify us of the change. Please email, administrative assistant, Catherine Basso, at cbasso@ridgefieldps.net

Never hesitate to reach out to us about this publication or any other questions you may have. We are a phone call or an email away.

Keith L Margolus

Principal

kmargolus@ridgefieldps.net

Website: https://bes.ridgefield.org/Home
Location: 40 Florida Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203.894.5850