3/30/2024

Hi Rippowam families,

Happy Easter weekend to all who celebrate!  Enjoy the beautiful spring weekend that reminds us we are getting closer and closer to summer.  Thank you to all the families who joined us on our family paint night.  The ceiling tiles are now hanging in our hallways and brighten our school.  On Friday, I watched students walking through the main hallway with their heads tilted up and large smiles on their faces.   Thank you for helping bring beauty and positivity to our hallways.

3rd Quarter has ended
Final grades will be accessible in the Parent Portal on Friday, April 12th. 

Join us!  Parent Pop-up: 2024-25 Middle School Schedule on Tuesday, April 2nd @ 6pm

All SPS Middle Schools will move to a 7-period student schedule in Fall 2024. This is an exciting opportunity to create consistency in our middle school programming and provide all students with increased academic and social-emotional support. Currently, only Rippowam and Scofield operate on a 7-period schedule.  Join us on Tuesday, April 2 at 6:00 p.m. via zoom.  The meeting will be offered with simultaneous Spanish interpretation.

Survey Closes April 3 - help us get to our goal of 300 parent responses!
Your feedback is so important for us to continue to increase our partnership with parents and strengthen a positive school climate. The survey is in 4 languages for our families. The survey is 100% anonymous. The links for each survey language are below. Once you click the link you must choose Rippowam as the school.  Thank you in advance!

• English: rmd.me/Y2T8FPmsY6X

• Spanish: rmd.me/9RRkxD7RTM5

• Haitian Creole: rmd.me/gfPQFTMRRKc

• Ukrainian: rmd.me/TbxoMQGK0Mn

Practice SBA testing this Friday, April 5th at Rippowam
All students will be taking the Math and ELA SBA State Assessments in late April and Early May.  Parents, check out THIS SITE to search sample tests and questions.  Students will report to their assigned testing room, practice logging on and take a practice math and ELA assessment.  We will run classes on a 2-hour delay schedule after this (as we will do on all testing days.)  At Rippowam, we have made some changes to our testing protocol to help students.  Please talk about the importance of taking this test seriously with your child.  See some key points below:

• Each student will be assigned a testing room with one of their team teachers

• On testing days, students will report to their testing room at 7:30 after announcements.  Please be on time.

• Any electronic device (cell phone, smart watch, etc) must be turned off and placed in their book bags that will be left along the front wall of the classroom.  Students cannot have access to these devices during testing.

• During the testing period, students will have school-issued headphones and have about 90 minutes each session. 

• If students finish testing, they can read a book or rest - they cannot be on their laptop or talk while other students are testing.

Spring Fling Dance on Tuesday, April 9th (no school in honor on Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday, April 10th)
Join us to kick on spring at a dance from 5:30 - 7:30!  We will have a DJ, Food, dancing and fun.  Students celebrating Ramadan will be provided with a room to break their fast together at sundown.  If you are interested in volunteering or donating, please fill out this Sign Up Genius.   

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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