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Dear Rippowam Families,
We made it through a cold and snowy week! As the forecast continues to look chilly, please be sure your child is prepared for winter weather. If your child needs a coat or other warm winter gear, they can see Mr. Davis or any staff member—we are happy to help through our Rippowam Caring Closet.
February also marks Black History Month, a time to honor the history, contributions, and voices of Black Americans. As Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Black History Month, reminded us, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” Throughout the month, students will engage in learning that reflects the importance of this history and its continued impact today and the month will end in Black History Month presentation that celebrates student voice.
Upcoming events:
FEB 6th - Q2 GRADES IN PARENT PORTAL
FEB 13th - 16th - FEBRUARY BREAK
FEB 18th-20th - PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES (EARLY RELEASE DAYS FOR STUDENTS)
Q2 grades visible on Friday, February 6th
Q2 grades visible on Friday, February 6th
Students have a week to complete necessary assignments. Final grades will be visible in Parent Portal on Friday, February 6th.
Students have a week to complete necessary assignments. Final grades will be visible in Parent Portal on Friday, February 6th.
Parent/Teacher conferences are Wednesday, February 18th - Friday, February 20th
Parent/Teacher conferences are Wednesday, February 18th - Friday, February 20th
This week, teacher teams will contact families to schedule team-based conferences for students the team would like to discuss together with families. These conferences will take place on Wednesday. Next weekend, families will receive a link to sign up for individual teacher conferences on Thursday or Friday. If your family is scheduled for a team conference, individual conferences with core academic teachers are not needed; however, families may still choose to meet with exploratory teachers. These days will be early release days for students.
This week, teacher teams will contact families to schedule team-based conferences for students the team would like to discuss together with families. These conferences will take place on Wednesday. Next weekend, families will receive a link to sign up for individual teacher conferences on Thursday or Friday. If your family is scheduled for a team conference, individual conferences with core academic teachers are not needed; however, families may still choose to meet with exploratory teachers. These days will be early release days for students.
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.
The 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.
Best,
Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School
If you didn’t see the Superintendent’s weekly message, please click HERE.
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