1/6/2024

Dear Rippowam families,

Happy 2024!  It was wonderful to welcome your children back to school and get back into routine.  I was in and out of classrooms this week observing as our 8th grade ELA students worked on their memoir projects, 7th grade Science classes learned about body systems, 7th grade tech classes competed to see how far and accurate their catapults threw a tinfoil ball, and 6th grade ELA students continued reading short stories and work on their narrative writing skills.

Stay warm and cozy this wintry weekend!

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.

2nd Quarter ends on Friday, January 19th
Parents please check powerschool and your child’s google classrooms.  Teachers will be reaching out this week to families who have students in danger of failing the quarter. 

Updates about Rippowam Spanish Classes
Ms. Charles is scheduled to return from leave in the upcoming weeks.  Students have been completing her assignments via google classroom.   The class will be graded using P for pass if students have completed the work provided.  There will be no numerical grades assigned.  If you have any questions, you can reach out to me via phone or email.

Ms. Cedeno submitted her resignation to SPS.  We have posted the position and will be interviewing potential candidates in the upcoming weeks.  In the meantime, we are trying to future out a plan to best support her students and will communicate this with families as soon as possible.  Grades will be entered as P if students have submitted work and no student will be penalized for the disruption this has caused. 

I realize it is frustrating when staffing changes mid-year.  We are doing our best to ensure the needs of our students are met while also supporting staff members who have to take time off for a variety of reasons. 

2nd Quarter ends on Friday, January 19th
Parents please check PowerSchool and your child’s google classrooms.  The break is a nice time for students to get caught up on any missed work and prepare for the end of the quarter.

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.

• 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

SCOPES is hosting its next meeting on Wednesday, January 10 at 6 pm in the Rippowam Middle School media center.
This month's topic is "Everything You Need to Know about Accessing the CT Special Education Data System (CT-SEDS)."  Special Education staff will be on hand to help parents create a CT-SEDS account, change their preferred language, and view/save documents.

If any of your families find it challenging to navigate CT-SEDS, please encourage them to attend this session.  Interpreters will be available to assist Spanish speakers.

Registration is strongly encouraged: https://tinyurl.com/StamfordSCOPES.

Rippowam Basketball started this week!

The girls team defeated TOR 24-4 and the boys had a disappointing loss to TOR.  Coach White reminded the boys, “It’s only a loss if you didn’t learn,” and is excited for the upcoming season. 

Boys Basketball Game Schedule - Game start time 3:30pm

• Tuesday January 16  -  HOME vs. Rogers

• Monday January 22  - AWAY @ Dolan

• Tuesday February 6  - AWAY @ Strawberry Hill

• Monday February 12  - HOME vs. Cloonan

• Monday February 26  - HOME vs. Scofield

Girls Basketball Game Schedule - Game start time 3:30pm

• Tuesday January 16  -  AWAY @ Rogers

• Monday January 22  - HOME vs. Dolan

• Tuesday February 6  - HOME vs. Strawberry Hill

• Monday February 12  - AWAY @ Cloonan

• Monday February 26  - AWAY @ Scofield

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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