3/8/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

This week we started honoring our students that are coming to school!  Each Monday, we will celebrate students and heart classes from attendance data the week prior.  Two winners from each grade that attended every day the week before had their names drawn for VIP lunch, which means they got to be first in the lunch line and sit where they want for the entire week.  The Heart classes with the highest average daily attendance got a VIP dismissal pass, where they are called for dismissal first.  Next week, we start our March Madness Heart Brackets - where heart classes are paired up and compete each week for the highest attendance.   Winners advance to the next round!  See the bracket below:

Apples Pick up/Drop off changing on Monday, March 10th
Starting on Monday, March 10th, Apples parent pick up and drop off will be at the High Ridge entrance starting at 7:30am.  This was previously their bus pick up and drop off.  The buses will move through our bus area.  Rippowam families, please be mindful if you drop off after our start time of 7:25, there will be increased traffic at parent drop off/pick up.  Additionally, we cannot have parents drive through the bus area after student drop off.  This will still be an active bus area from 7:30-8am. 

The annual Stamford Public Schools Climate Survey opens on Monday, March 10th
This is an opportunity for staff, students, and families to share their feedback about our schools. Families may complete the survey anytime from March 10 through March 28 using any internet-connected device. Look for an email on Monday evening, March 10 with links to the family survey in English, Spanish, Haitian-Creole, and Ukrainian. Thank you in advance for your participation.   

Stamford High Tri-M Honor Society offering 1-hour music class for Middle Schoolers
Are you a student that is in band, choir, strings, plays piano or drums?  Stamford High Music Honor Society students are offering 60 minute instrument specific classes in the auditorium at SHS on Wednesday, March 19th at 4pm. 

March Spirit Week coming Monday 17th - Friday 21st
Friday, March 21st will be our next community day with our postponed Black History Month celebration, a volleyball and soccer tournament and an art activity to beautify our school community.

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. 

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:

• 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.

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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