4/6/2024

Hi Rippowam families,

Our week ended with practice SBA testing and an earthquake!  Students handled both very well and had lots of questions about geology and the history of earthquakes.  I know these unforeseen events can be nerve wracking for parents (I was thinking about my own kiddos too!) but during these moments please trust that our first priority is keeping your child safe and responding to student physical and emotional needs.  Know that we will communicate with you as soon as we possibly can. 

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

Survey Deadline Extended to Sunday
Thank you to those families who have submitted a response.  We are 25 parent responses from our goal of 300!  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

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!  Permission slips and $5 will be collected until Monday, April 8th.  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.   

In case you missed it:  Parent Pop Up on Middle School Schedule recording available
All SPS Middle Schools will move to a 7-period student schedule in Fall 2024 in order to create consistency in our middle school programming and provide all students with increased academic and social-emotional support.  Middle school principals presented with Dr. Lori Rhodes regarding these exciting changes and answered parent questions.  See recording HERE at the Parent University webpage.

Spring Break is 4/14-4/19
Schools are closed from Monday, April 15th - Friday April 19th. 

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.

Assessment     Date(s)   Notes

NGSS Science Assessment 4/24-4/25 For 8th grade only and will be administered in Science classes.

SBA ELA 4/29-5/1 For all students and will be administered in assigned testing rooms. Parents, check out THIS SITE to       search sample tests and questions.

SBA Math 5/6-5/8 For all students and will be administered in assigned testing rooms. Parents, check out THIS SITE to       search sample tests and questions.

iReady Math and ELA TBD (late May) iReady is a screening assessment administered to all students in ELA and Math during the Fall, Winter and Spring to show growth and inform support. 

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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