5/10/2025

Dear Rippowam families,

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms and caregivers in our school community! Your love, strength, and support make a world of difference every day. We’re grateful for all you do to help our students grow and thrive. Wishing you a joyful and well-deserved celebration this weekend!  Thank you to our amazing PTO for celebrating our incredible educators this teacher’s appreciation week.  We are so grateful for your thoughtfulness and support.

Congratulations to two outstanding members of the Rippowam team who were recognized this past week!  Danielle Delbridge, 7th grade Yellow Team Social Studies teacher, was honored as a Spotlight Teacher for her strong student relationships, engaging project-based learning, and student-centered approach. Alex Velez, paraeducator, was named second runner-up for Paraeducator of the Year in recognition of the incredible care, dedication, and support she provides to all Rippowam students—not just those she is assigned to.

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

Hats for Hope Fundraiser May 16th
Help us raise money for the Tommy Fund - an organization that supports children with Cancer and has benefited our own 6th grader Sam Lopez.  We will be selling hats during lunch waves that kids can wear on Friday, or students can pay a dollar and wear their own crazy hat.  All proceeds go to the Tommy Fund.  See flyer below:

Thursday, May 22nd ROSCO last day of programming
After school programming will end on Thursday, May 22nd.  Thanks to all who participated this year!

iReady Assessments start this week

To prepare for iReady, your child revied their fall and winter scores and set goals for their end of year growth.  Our goal at Rippowam is for every student to meet or exceed their target growth in Reading and Math. 

You can also review your child’s scores with the iReady for Families Report.  Ask your child to log into Clever (they know how to do this!) 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. Select Reading and Math.  Enter District Report Code BX39PW to access your child’s report.

• Directions in English for parents:

• Directions in Spanish for parents:

Anchor High School Parent Information Night
Dr. Sid Watson, director of Anchor, came to present to students about the newly imagined Anchor program that will expand their student enrollment by forming a first-time 9th-grade cohort— designed to provide personalized academic and social-emotional support. We invited students to come and learn about the program.  Parent information night is Monday, May 19th from 5:00-6:00 pm at 229 North Street, Stamford (Anchor is just south of Stamford PD).

Anchor Presentation to Rippowam Link

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.