11/22/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

As we head into the week of Thanksgiving, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for you and your families. Thank you for trusting us each day with your children and for the continued support you show our Rippowam school community. It is truly a privilege to partner with you in helping our students learn, grow, and thrive.

We wish all of our Raptor families a safe, restful, and healthy holiday. Enjoy the time with loved ones, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back after the break!

Upcoming events:

• NOV 24th:  PICTURE DAY

• NOV 26th:  EARLY RELEASE DAY

• NOV 27th-28th:  THANKSGIVING BREAK

• DEC 11th:  HOLIDAY FAMILY GAME NIGHT with PHOTO BOOTH

• DEC 23rd:  EARLY RELEASE DAY

• DEC 24th - JAN 2nd:  WINTER RECESS

Thanksgiving Break is Thursday 11/27 and Friday 11/28
Wednesday is an early release day at 11:45 and there is no after school programming on this day.  Due to the short week, there is no ROSCCO after school programming on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

Tickets on Sale Now for Stamford All-School Musical
This year’s All-School Musical is Annie, the heartwarming, high-energy Broadway musical filled with unforgettable characters, songs, humor, and heart! The 18th annual All-School Musical features 87 Stamford residents in the cast and crew, including some of our Rippowam students!  Come cheer them and all the students on and enjoy this show. Annie opens on Saturday, December 6 and runs through Sunday, December 14. All performances are at Rippowam. Tickets are on sale now!

Toys for Tots
Ripp Alumni Christopher Grant has partnered 6th grader Sapphire Ross and with the Stamford Police Department to collect new toys for children this holiday season.  Please donate a new, unwrapped toy by 12/12.  Collection bins are in the main office.

Rippowam Food Drive
Our 6th Grade PRIDE Council is proud to sponsor a schoolwide food drive to support Inspirica, a local shelter serving families in our community. Collection boxes are located in the Media Center and Main Office. Please consider donating non-perishable food items now through Friday, December 12. Thank you for helping us make a difference!

Holiday Game Night at Rippowam!
Join us for a fun-filled Holiday Game Night on Thursday, December 11 at 5:30 PM in the Café! Enjoy board games, bingo, video games, chess, and a special Family Winter Wonderland photo opportunity. Please sign up on this link.  We hope to see our Raptor families there for an evening of celebration and community!

Please donate for our annual Holiday Bazaar
In mid-December, our media center becomes a holiday marketplace for our students to purchase items for loved ones at bargain prices.   Please donate items for this event:  we are collecting toys, games, housewares, accessories and small electronics, they can be gently used or brand new. Everything can be brought to the main office by December 15th.

Rowan Center Presentations on Sexual Abuse Prevention and Awareness in HEART December 1st-12th
In June 2014, a law was passed that mandates sexual abuse prevention and awareness education in all schools, grades K-12, effective October 2016. With this in mind, the Rowan Center, our local sexual assault resource agency, created a curriculum around these mandates to raise awareness and assist with the prevention of child sexual abuse and sexual violence. The program is facilitated by The Rowan Center’s certified crisis counselors and trained prevention educators and is a safety education and prevention program that focuses on empathy, respect, boundaries, and consent. Every lesson is age-appropriate. Studies show that lessons like these are most effective when reinforced in multiple areas of a child’s life. Please reach out to your child’s school or The Rowan Center with any questions you may have. You also have the option to opt your child out of this program using THIS FORM. Thank you for being a partner with us in this important area of your child’s education. If you have any questions regarding this program or any other services that we offer, please visit our website at therowancenter.org

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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