4/26/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

Congratulations to one of our Special Education teachers, Emma Mazzella, for her SPEF Excellence in Education Award nomination!  She was celebrated this past Thursday at the annual award ceremony.  Ms. Mazzella works tirelessly in service of her students and helps Rippowam to be a more inclusive community for all learners. 

We completed our first round of SBA testing.  Next week brings us NGSS and SBA Math testing.  As the weather improves, we are going outside more for HEART, so please make sure your child dresses in layers and is ready to be outside.

Rippowam Events Calendar (each tab in a month, click on the tabs at the bottom to view upcoming months)

Girls Volleyball Game Schedule

Upcoming Assessment Information

Students in all grades will be engaged in a variety of assessments in the coming weeks.  The assessments are a combination of state mandated tests as well as assessments that we use in-house to show student growth, assist in course placement and inform needed support.  See below for our assessment calendar.

Graduation and Moving Up Ceremony dates have been announced:

• AITE Graduation: Thursday, June 12 at 2 pm

• Stamford High School Graduation: Thursday, June 12 at 2 pm

• Westhill High School Graduation: Thursday, June 12 at 4 pm

• Middle School (8th Grade) Moving Up Ceremonies: Friday, June 13 (times vary by school)

• Elementary School Moving Up Ceremonies: TBA
   

Rippowam 8th Grade Ceremony Information:

8th grade moving up ceremony is Friday, June 13th at 9am.  Each student receives 2 tickets.  We will have a waitlist for additional guests who are present and will be seated if there are additional seats available.  We have a large graduating class and limited space in the auditorium.  We are also planning on live-streaming the ceremony as well. 

End of year Field Trips and Expectations:
End of year field trips are being planned now by grade level.  More information will come very soon:

• 6th grade:  Italian Center

• 7th grade:  Westport/Weston YMCA

• 8th grade:  Holiday Hill

Field trips are an extension of classroom learning into the greater world; therefore, exemplary behavior is expected.  At the discretion of the administration, students who have exhibited problematic behavior may be excluded from attending field trips. Reasons for exclusion may include, but are not limited to: suspensions, poor academic standing in any subject, and poor attendance.  Those students who are in jeopardy of not attending field trips will be advised of their status in hopes that their behavior/academic standing will improve.  Students who are excluded from the privilege of taking field trips will be notified in advance as will their parent(s)/guardian(s). Children who are not eligible for trips are expected to be at school for academic curricular programs.

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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