6/8/2024

Hi Rippowam families,

We are down to the final week of school!  This week we welcomed the rising 6th grade families and celebrated our talented musicians in our spring concert.  Our 8th grade students had an amazing end of year trip at Holiday Hill and our 7th graders enjoyed Rye Playland on Friday.  Our 6th graders postponed their trip to the Italian Center and will go on Tuesday, June 11th.  6th grade families please sign the updated permission slip.

Laptop collection is almost complete
Students are turning in their laptops to Mr. Orsino.  We expect some wear and tear on the device, but excessive damage may result in paying for repair or replacement.  Also, students need to return their Chromebook Charger (both parts!). Students will be charged $40 for a lost/missing/incomplete charger. 6th and 7th Grade students who do not return a charger (or payment) may experience a delay in receiving their school issued Chromebook in the Fall of 2024.  8th Grade Students who do not return their charger (or payment) will not receive graduation tickets.

8th Grade Information:
Graduation is Friday, June 14th at 9am.  Each student will receive 2 tickets at the final graduation practice on Thursday.  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 will have an overflow room if we do not have enough seating available where we can live-stream the event.  We will send out the link to all on Thursday.  

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday  are early release days!
On Wednesday, we will have our Summer Kick Off Day!  This means students will enjoy a band performance and rotate through 3 stations with their grade level team:

• Advisory minute to win it challenges in the auditorium

• Gym activities like corn hole and tug of war

• Field activities like soccer and flag football.

Parent volunteers will be selling snacks and water outside.  We will also have a “Water Bucket” fundraiser where students can buy a raffle ticket for $1 to win a chance to dump a bucket of water on a teacher’s head!  Students can bring cash the day of the event or parents can pre-order on THIS FORM.

Next Thursday, we will have the Kona Ice truck visit.  You can pre-order using THIS FORM.  If students did not pre-order through the PTO sign up, you can send cash for them.  The Kona Ice Klassic Kona is $4.

Staffing Changes:
Every new school year brings new staff members.  As of yet, I am not aware of staff members leaving Rippowam.  However, we are delayed in the hiring due to the budget delays and there may be some changes over the summer.  I will send updates introducing our new staff members as we get closer to the start of the school year. 

Integrated Math Criteria and Recommendations
Click HERE for the updated criteria to be recommended as a 7th or 8th grader for Integrated Math, a high school level course offered at SPS Middle Schools.  We will be making course recommendations in the coming week and will reach out to families regarding the placement as soon as possible. 

School Safety Information - Student Pick up
If you have been to the school recently, you might have noticed the new security desk by the front entrance (by High Ridge).  Installation is complete and one of our security team members will be there during the day.  All visitors will need to show identification and sign in at the main entrance for meetings, parent pick up or any reason.   Parents, please note that we will no longer send students out to cars for dismissal from a phone call.  All parents must come in and sign out their child once identity is verified.

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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