1/11/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

We made it through our first 5 day week of the year!  All students participated in a team-wide assembly to reset for 2025 including reminders about academic, attendance and behavioral expectations.   Click HERE for the link to the presentation. Our 8th grade teams had a visit from a former Rippowam student named Evan who talked about the transition to high school, what he wished he knew and advice for being successful for the rest of middle school into high school.

Cell Phone Policy Update
One important thing to note:  Students have been MUCH better about the district cell phone policy.  Our hallways, classrooms and cafeterias have been mostly screen free.  At lunch, students sit and talk to each other or play games.  In classrooms, students have their ChromeBooks for any tech needs. At Rippowam, we want students to focus on academics and build strong, positive relationships during school hours without the distraction or unsafe situations that electronic devices may bring.

For our 8th grade, we currently have parents come and pick up electronic devices if confiscated.  Starting on Monday, January 27th, we will be following this protocol for all grades.  If we collect your child’s phone, earbuds, earphones, smartwatches, iPads and/or gaming devices, we will be calling to ask a parent or guardian to come pick it up.

Please help us to continue and keep the school screen free.   If parents need to communicate with their child, you can call the main office.  Any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me, Mr. Biko or Mr. Langworth

ROSCCO after school will start again on 1/21 - REGISTER NOW!
Click HERE to register for the 2nd session of ROSCCO, which will begin on Tuesday, January 21st.  All students, new and returning, must register.  The first hour is academic support and the second hour is enrichment.  Join clubs like:

• Zany Zoology with Stamford Nature Center

• Basketball

• Hair Club

• Dance Club

• Painting Club

• Board Games Club

• Jr. Chef Club

• Skin Care Club

• Indoor Soccer

• STEM club

PTO Penny War Fundraiser for the month of January!
Proceeds from our penny wars fundraiser will go to support grade level field trips.  Pennies are “positive” points and the team with the most positive points will be rewarded.  The winning team gets invited to the auditorium and students are selected to pie a teacher/administrator in the face. 

• Each penny counts as one positive point for YOUR team

• Each silver coin counts as negative points for OTHER teams

• Put your pennies in your team jar and silver coins or bills in other team jars

i-Ready Mid-Year Assessment
Students will be taking their i-Ready mid-year assessments for ELA between January 30th-31st and Math assessments February 5th-6th.   They are taking these assessments in class over the course of 2 days and we will run a special testing schedule. 

Math Quarterly Exam
All middle school students in SPS are taking quarterly math assessments in their classes.  The quarter 2 assessment is scheduled to happen between 1/16 - 1/24 in your child’s math class.  They will have in class time to review key concepts and will be provided with a study guide.  The exam is part of their quarter 2 grade. 

Lottery Applications for AITE Due on Monday, 1/15
Any 8th graders interested in AITE?  AITE is an inter-district magnet high school and enrolls students from all parts of Stamford and the surrounding towns by a lottery process. The deadline for submitting AITE School Lottery applications is January 15 at 4:00pm. Click HERE for the application link.

JROTC program at Westhill is accepting applications
JROTC is an elective leadership and citizenship development program available to all students. They earn 4 credits while participating in the program to gain valuable, practical leadership skills by serving in class/program leadership positions, learning leadership techniques in class and working on their personal weaknesses to grow as a person and citizen.  See more information in your High School Information google classroom or speak to Mr. Roberto. 

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

If you didn’t see the Superintendent’s weekly message, please click HERE.