3/1/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

February is behind us!  We are looking forward to longer days and outside time during HEART.  We are also in budget season - please read the information below and continue to advocate for SPS schools.  We again could really use support with the budget.  The school board is very supportive of our requests, but parent input at the board of finance and reps meetings is critical.  Some of the possible cuts discussed include DOMUS support at the middle schools, OSS support at elementary schools and free lunch for all students.  Parent advocacy will help when voting on the overall budget.   

A huge shout out to 7th graders TJ Inverno and Lorenzo Lepore - they have been volunteering their time to help the office organize our supply closet.  These two young men transformed a closet filled with boxes to an organized space where we can easily find supplies for teachers!  Thank you!

Upcoming Budget Meetings
The Board of Finance has released the FY26 budget presentation and meeting schedule. Please mark your calendars for the following meetings related to the BOE’s proposed 2025-26 operating budget:

• Thursday, March 6 at 7 pm: BOE Budget Presentation to members of BOF.  Watch via Zoom.

• Wednesday April 2: BOF/BOR Fiscal Committee Hearing. 

The public may address the BOF and BOR regarding the BOE and City budgets during the hearing on April 2. We will share instructions for signing up to speak at the hearing when available.

Parent voice - we want to hear from you about the new Middle School schedule
Please complete the brief survey below regarding the schedule that was implemented this year by all SPS middle schools.  We want your feedback as we prepare for next school year!  Please complete by Friday, March 7th.

Parent Surveys

• English

• Spanish

• Haitian Creole

• Ukrainian

iReady family reports available
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.

Directions in English: Link

Directions in Spanish: Link

Building One Community Supports families with new federal immigration laws
Click HERE to see the upcoming workshops for families to learn their rights.  They are working to support families in a variety of ways and empower families to understand their rights and be prepared in an encounter with ICE. 

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.

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.  Your child’s team of teachers will reach out to you this coming week if they want to schedule you for a conference. 

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.