RPS Update

The Board of Education participated in their annual retreat on Monday evening followed by a regular meeting. It was a full evening! One of the highlights was the Elementary World Language proposal provided by Ms. Gillette, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; and Ms. Powers, World Language Department Chair, who shared the District’s 3-year plan to bring world language to our elementary school students. The first year of the proposal, FY25 offers students in grades 3-5 exposure to language and culture once every six days. The curriculum will be developed through an integration with Social Studies topics. The Board of Education will vote on the world language proposal during the upcoming budget season.

Later that evening, we discussed the reading waiver and the results of our request to the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) to allow RPS to utilize resources selected by our Collaborative Action Team (CAT). While the CSDE approved all areas with the exception of our comprehension resource, we have requested a follow-up meeting. Our focus is and will continue to be on teacher pedagogy, the art and science of teaching reading, and our curriculum. And yes, we have systematic resources that we utilize to support us, for example- Heggerty and Fundations. We would like to remind families of our RPS curriculum website which is filled with content about our curriculum and all other resources. Dr. Ben Powers will be joining our Board of Education on January 16 for a presentation on the Science of Reading and our work throughout the District.

Our team at RPS is hard at work on the FY25 budget and committed to providing the best possible experience for RPS while always considering the impact on the Ridgefield community. I will present my FY25 budget proposal to the Board of Education on January 22, followed by budget presentations made by each of the schools during a full-day virtual session on Saturday, January 27.

As many of our families know, we have been discussing facility goals; despite the needs of some of our spaces, our schools were filled with the sound of music this week- talented students and teachers, amazing!

It looks like I was rushing to 2024 a little too soon- we will have one more update before the holiday break. I am reminded that life happens even while on “break” and that there are times when families may need additional help outside the school day. I would like to remind parents that there are resources available on weekends and school closures. Families may call Kids in Crisis at 203-661-1911, or 211 at any time for additional assistance when our staff is unavailable.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Susie

Susie Da Silva, Ed.D

Please check your school's calendar for important dates.

The last Board of Education meeting of 2023 was jam-packed! Over and over, BOE members expressed interest in ways to connect with the community and stakeholders while following the Robert's Rules of Order. New committee members and leadership were presented, RHS students showcased their passions for World Language, and new RHS classes were approved. More below! Watch the full recording and see supporting materials on the Board of Education website.

At Monday's Board of Education meeting, the RPS administration rolled out a plan for introducing foreign language in the elementary schools, starting next year, Please watch the presentation here. Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Cory Gillette and RHS World Language Chair Allyson Powers discussed various models considered in the District's proposal to add Spanish exposure for Grades 3-5 once in six-day cycle. The topic of foreign language instruction at the Elementary level has been under consideration for years. RHS students spoke to BOE members about the importance of World Language.

The Ridgefield Library recently honored Jessica DiValentino with the 2023 Paccadolmi Award for her work in the community. DiValentino is an RPS special education teacher and the 18-22 Year Old Transition Coordinator. Congrats and thank you, Jess!

About the Award: Phyllis Paccadolmi devoted fifty years of service to the Ridgefield Library, joining a small staff straight out of high school. For generations of Ridgefielders, Miss “P” personified the Ridgefield Library and is remembered fondly for her warmth, helpfulness and encyclopedic knowledge of the town and its people.This award honors those whose commitment to the Library exemplifies her spirit and dedication.

Photo credit: Mary Harold

The presentations available on the RPS Curriculum YouTube Channel offer enriching ways to engage in important education topics. Please make a note of the following dates and take a look at the resources already available.

Elementary Mathematics (recorded)

Skills for Life (recorded)

Mathematics Placement Process - January 25 @ 11:30 am

Artificial Intelligence - February 29 @ 11:00 am

Science of Reading - March 28 @ 10:00 am

Next Generation Science Standards - April 25 @ 11:00 am

RPS is excited to be a part of the milestone experience of kindergarten registration with our youngest students and their families. The State of Connecticut announced a new cut off date so all children who reach the age of five (5) on or before September 1, 2024 are eligible for enrollment. RPS wants to work with families during this transition year. Please read all of the information here. For planning purposes, please enroll students as soon as possible. The following dates might be helpful in preparing for this exciting rite of passage.

Mini-Kindergarten (Pre-registered Students)

Branchville 5/16/2024 5/30/2024

Barlow Mountain 5/31/2024 5/31/2024

Farmingville 6/5/2024 6/5/2024

Ridgebury 5/21/2024 5/21/2024

Scotland 5/28/2024 5/28/2024

Veterans Park 5/30/2024 5/30/2024

Any registration questions may be directed to our District Registrar Brigid Clancy.

bclancy@ridgefieldps.net.

Please check your students' e-Backpack for this important information and other programs across the district. Organizations that meet the RPS policy may submit their request for inclusion to cmelagrano@ridgefieldps.net.

RPS ie offering virtual DROP-IN tutoring sessions for Middle School students! Math, English Language Arts, and General Academic support sessions are offered throughout the week. This program does not replace the valuable help students already receive from their teachers before/after school or during the school day but is meant to offer extended academic support to students and families when questions arise at home in the evening. This virtual tutoring program is open to all 6-8 students. Tutors are certified teachers from both ERMS and SRMS.

The schedule with Google Meet links and Google Classroom access code was sent directly to ERMS and SRMS families before Thanksgiving. To stay up to date with announcements or schedule changes, please remind your child to join the tutoring Google Classroom using their RPS Google account.

In an extended advisory period this Monday, RHS students learned about the Say Something: Anonymous Reporting System. RHS parents can check their email for more information about this round-the-clock, opt-in support.

Last week's RPS Update included an Inclusive Schools Week Challenge presented in bulletin board format by Veterans Park Special Education teacher Kelly Feeney. Please see the answer and winners below!

Answer: Everyone Matters

At RPS, everyone matters. Thank you, Kelly for this reminder.

Congratulations to the following staff, parents, and students who will receive an RPS gift pack.

Maureen Tyra, East Ridge Social Studies

Alaina Kakos, Scotland Elementary, Literacy Coach

Rachel Burns

Aryan Mehta

Lindsay, Thomas, and Henry Cannone

Scotts Ridge English teacher Jen Bray has been leveling up all twenty-three years she has taught. “Every year,” she says, “I set a goal for myself to change one big thing and one small thing. I’ve done this to keep me going and engaged.”

However, Bray says that mentoring the new SRMS sixth-grade teacher last year was life-changing for her practice. “Every seasoned teacher should have the opportunity to work with a new teacher,” says Bray. “It should be a requirement. I had to be overly organized, and more reflective about my practice and what was working with students. Previously, I had been teaching with the same teacher for 14 years. We practically finished each other’s sentences. Last year, I reorganized my room and daily routines, making small changes to have a bigger impact over time.”

Bray cites “First Chapter Friday” as one of those initiatives. She has been asking what kids need to enhance their reading lives. She reads a new chapter every Friday to expose them to books in hopes that they will become drawn in and continue reading. Currently, her students are writing about Chinese Cinderella, a memoir. In the spring, they will read Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor. “They need vocabulary instruction for comprehension,” she says, “so we are trying to build more into the curriculum.”

Just as she jumps into mentoring, meeting her students where they are, and leveling up, Bray rolls up her sleeves with everything she does at SRMS. She took over directing the SRMS musical nine years ago and has never looked back. “Some of my best memories of teaching are outside of the classroom,” she reports, “when I can meet and reach more students. With the musical, an eclectic mix of kids from all grades, and all backgrounds participate. If there isn’t a role for everyone, we write one. We become like family. I want them to feel special.”

This year, SRMS will put on Guys and Dolls, Jr. on the first weekend in April. “Math teacher Dr. Merryl Polak and I direct the play, but the students are stage managers and are in charge of everything from props to lights and sound. It’s a big responsibility,” explains Bray.

Bray says she has known she wanted to be a teacher ever since she can remember and credits her exemplary SRMS colleagues with her success in trying new things and growing. “We can’t do this in a silo. It truly is a team effort. If you can teach, you can learn anything.”

RHS English Chair Patti Boutilier brought her writing students to Michelle Flynn's Veterans Park classroom for a fun exchange of ideas and stories.

Fourth graders are shaking things up in the Ridgebury Elementary Makerspace this month as they build models of natural disaster-resistant homes in connection with recent Integrated Studies and Reading units. In the RES Library Learning Commons, students transition easily between phases of the Engineering Design Process: from brainstorming, researching, and planning at the whiteboard tables in the library, to constructing their designs with upcycled materials in the adjacent makerspace, then displaying their finished products back in the library "gallery." We can't wait to see how these innovative dwellings evolve when students solicit feedback and improve their designs!

No wolf or wind can blow these houses down!

Click the arrow below to see a Virtual Slideshow of East Ridge students' semester of art.

Enjoy the Middle School Symphonic Orchestra's beautiful rendition of the Christmas classic by clicking the YouTube link below.

On Saturday, each of the following students devoted over 8 hours of their time to a Connecticut Debate Association (CDA) Tournament at Westhill High School. During this tournament, students representing RHS competed in 4 (40-minute) rounds of debate with teams from other Connecticut schools as they argued whether or not Ukraine should pursue peace negotiations with Russia.

In the end, RHS won 7 rounds of debate and earned 1st place in the varsity division team rankings (out of 61 teams), and 3rd place among varsity speakers (out of 122 speakers) after competing in a final championship varsity round against New Canaan High School.

The team of James Cox-Donovan & Gabriel Uceda-Sosa (photo above) is on an unprecedented two-win streak after winning both the November and December CDA tournaments, with plans to attend the next CDA tournament on January 6th.

These students earned each win as a result of their efforts to enhance their critical thinking skills and master the art of public speaking.

Varsity Division

Varsity Teams

James Cox-Donovan & Gabriel Uceda-Sosa (5 Wins) - 1st Place Varsity Team Trophy

Varsity Speakers

Gabriel Uceda-Sosa - 3rd Place Varsity Speaker Trophy

Novice Division

Novice Teams

Ayan Bhowmik & Connor Graves (2 Wins)

LET"S GO, TIGERS DEBATE!

Mock Trial Advisor Kathy Gabbay reports that the Ridgefield Red Mock Trial team has advanced from the regional round in Waterbury. The team is led by lawyer captains Gabriel Uceda-Sosa, Victor Uceda-Sosa, and Molly Coakley and witness captains Shelly Ofer and Nick Davi. Other team members include, Marko Katra, Petru Zubek, Colin Nelson, Catherine Thompson, Julia Knispel, Lloyd Mills and Hannah Agwu. The Captains also lead the Ridgefield White Mock Trial team. Both teams have been preparing for the competition since September 7th. They meet Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons until they are eliminated. The White team, led by Derek Yin and Hayden Webb, won one trial and lost one trial. Their season has ended.

If your family is looking for easy way to give back on your schedule, please consider helping to stock the small pantries across the District. Here are the locations of Ruby's Pantries, which are open 24/7 to people in need and those who can give. Meals (spaghetti with sauce, beans and rice, macaroni and cheese) are the quickest to get scooped up. Families can also give grocery store gift cards to Ridgefield Social Services located in the Town Hall. Thank you!

RPS parent and bookstore owner invites the RPS community to a book event.

www.BookSmithsshoppe.com

Ridgefield Youth Cheerleading shared these photos of their D14 team scoring second at Nationals! Way to go!!!

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