2/22/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

A huge thanks to our EL team for organizing a trip to Mill River Discovery Center for lessons on force and motion and then ice skating!  For many of our newly arrived students, it was the first time they have been ice skating.  They braved the cold weather and did a great job on the ice.  It was a beautiful experience with learning and laughter.

As February draws to a close and the weather warms, we look forward to returning to outside HEART!  Students (and staff) definitely miss the outdoor time.  Also, as you begin your spring cleaning, remember you can drop off any used clothing and shoes to our recycling bins in the back of the school by Loveland.  Rippowam receives cash back based on donation weight…so you are helping the planet by recycling and helping fund our end of year trips!

Early release day on Wednesday, February 26th
Students are dismissed at 11:45 and there is no after school programming. 

Volleyball tryouts are this week
Practices are Monday and Thursday once the team has been determined.  Due to the successful turnout for girls tryouts - see the addition of grade level round 2 tryouts below:

• Monday, February 24th - Boys tryouts

• Tuesday, February 25th - Girls tryouts - 7th and 8th grade girls

• Thursday, February 27th - Girls tryouts - 6th grade girls

iReady family reports available
If your child has finished their assessment in Math and ELA, The iReady for Families Report is now accessible to parents. Log into your child’s Clever Account and click on the iReady icon to go to the iReady Dashboard. From the iReady Dashboard, click on the For Families dropdown and select the For Families Report. Enter District Report Code BX39PW to access your child’s report. You can ask your child to login into their clever at home.

• Directions in English for parents:

• Directions in Spanish for parents:

Fundraise with Rippowam this Friday at Friday Night Skate
This Friday, February 28th from 9-10:30pm, pay $20 cash for skating and rental and a portion of the cash proceeds goes to end of year trips!  Come out and support our Rippowam PTO.

Pick up for confiscated devices is from 7-3 in the main office
If your child’s device is confiscated, please pick it up during the hours of 7-3.  We lock the phones after dismissal and office or administrative staff may not be available to retrieve them from the safe.  Please come during school hours of 7-3 or speak directly to an administrator.

Staff absences
We currently have two staff members out on extended leave:  Amy Gibson, our band, strings and music teacher and Nancy Kelly, our digital arts and photography teacher.  We are currently interviewing certified substitute teachers and doing our best to cover the classes.  I will update parents once a long term substitute has been hired.  In the meantime, we will work out a plan for grades and communicate about this shortly. 

February - April Attendance Challenge
Rippowam is celebrating student attendance from Tuesday, February 18th - Friday, April 11th.  Students who are present every day in the week have chances to be recognized first to get lunch and a seat of their choice in the cafeteria. Heart classes with the highest attendance will get called first for dismissal and teams that have the highest attendance overall will have prizes as well.

Parent/Teacher conferences are coming
Wednesday, March 19th - Friday, March 21st, students will have early release days for our second round of parent teacher conferences.  More information about conferences will be shared shortly.

High School Program of Studies in available for 8th grade students
The 2025-26 High School Program of Studies is now available. The Program of Studies details the academic opportunities available to our nearly 5,000 students at AITE, Stamford High School, and Westhill High School. View/download the AITE Program of Studies and the Stamford High / Westhill Program of Studies or visit our website to view the content in 11 different world languages. 

Please have your 8th grader show you their High School Information google classroom created by our school counselors.  They have prepared a slideshow about course selection and your child will complete a survey of their desired classes before meeting with their counselor to select courses.

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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