1/24/2026

Dear Rippowam Families,

As we head into the weekend, we are keeping a close eye on the forecast, which is calling for snowfall and wintery conditions. Please stay warm and safe, and know that we will continue to communicate any school updates as needed.

As a reminder, any school closings, delayed openings, or early dismissals due to inclement weather will be communicated directly to families through SchoolMessenger phone calls and emails using the contact information in PowerSchool. More information about inclement weather protocols can be found here.

Upcoming events:

• JAN 23rd - END OF Q2

• FEB 6th - Q2 GRADES IN PARENT PORTAL

• FEB 13th - 16th - FEBRUARY BREAK

• FEB 18th-20th - PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES (EARLY RELEASE DAYS FOR STUDENTS)

Q2 ended Friday, January 23rd

Students have a week to complete necessary assignments.  Final grades will be visible in Parent Portal on Friday, February 6th.  Parent/Teacher conferences will be on Wednesday, February 18th - Friday, February 20th.  More information about conferences will be shared next week.

Budget Proposal May Impact Middle School Programs
The Superintendent has released the proposed FY27 Budget, which includes potential changes that would directly impact middle school scheduling. Under the current proposal, semester-long Interdisciplinary Writing and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes would be eliminated.

Currently the budget that supports daily school operations is largely made up of fixed costs such as contractual wages, healthcare benefits, transportation, and mandated special education services. While an estimated 8% increase would be needed to maintain all current programs, the Superintendent is proposing a 5.4% increase in line with historical budget approvals. As a result, more than $11 million in reductions are included, and a required Master Staffing Analysis identified the current middle school schedule as not fiscally sustainable.

If you believe Interdisciplinary Writing and PLTW have had a positive impact on your child’s education—or are important for all students—please make your voice heard. Families can email the Board of Education or sign up to speak during public comment at the February 5th meeting.  Our PTO is also planning a meeting in the coming weeks to discuss these proposed changes and next steps. Stay tuned for details.

If you missed the BOE Special Meeting, you may watch the recording here (Mr. Fealey’s budget presentation begins at 1:09:20). The FY27 budget documents, including the presentation, are available online.

Please mark your calendars for other important dates in the budget approval process:

• January 27, 2026: BOE Regular Meeting - FY27 Enrollment & Class Size Presentation

• February 5, 2026: BOE Budget Hearing - Public Comments on FY27 Budget

• February 24, 2026: BOE Special Meeting - Budget Vote

The agenda and zoom link for the above meetings will be posted here at least 24 hours prior to each meeting. 

PTO Coin War Fundraiser for the month of January!
Get ready for Coin Wars, our January PTO fundraiser supporting grade-level field trips! We’re switching things up this year —all coins earn positive points for your team, while paper bills are the sabotage and count as negative points for other teams.The team with the highest total of positive points will win raffle tickets for a chance to pie a staff member in the face on 2/12.
 

Valentine’s Day Carnation Sales
Valentine’s Carnation Day is coming! The Rippowam PTO will be selling carnations for $2 each, including a card to write a message. Pre-orders run from January 12 through January 28, with delivery on February 10. Students may purchase carnations with cash in the main office or from PTO volunteers during lunch waves. Don’t miss out on spreading some Valentine’s Day cheer!
 

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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