9/14/2024

Dear Rippowam families,

We made it through our first 5-day week! Our Rippowam staff is very proud of student behavior and dedication these first few weeks.  We are impressed with what we see already.

Congratulations to our Band and Strings teacher Amy Gibson who had her Donors Choose funded by Channel 12.  The fully funded two new violins and trumpets to continue to build our music program.  Thanks to Channel 12 who commented the following:  “News12 are proud to donate to the arts!  We are committed to supporting music education in our local communities as we know that it plays a huge role in the lives of so many students and their families.”

September 15th kicks off Spanish Heritage Month!  We honor and celebrate all of our community members with Hispanic roots and will spend the month learning about important contributions from leaders of the Hispanic community.  We will celebrate with a family engagement Hispanic Heritage Night celebration on Tuesday, October 15th with food, games and music.  Save the date!

Check out our Rippowam Events Calendar for upcoming and planned events.

Chromebook distribution begins the week of September 16th
Students participated in a lesson on responsible technology use on Monday in the HEART class and then took a brief assessment to demonstrate their understanding.  Once they have a passing assessment and the two forms below signed by parents/guardians on the Parent Portal, they will receive their school-issued Chromebook. Please make sure the required forms are filled out! Responsible Use Agreement and SPS Technology Device Agreement Forms When you log into the Parent Portal you will find a navigation menu on the left side of the screen.  Within this menu is a link to Forms.  All forms included in the section must be filled out and submitted for your child to receive a Chromebook.  If you need help,  contact our Parent Facilitator - Claudia Vettorazzi - at 203-977-4229/ cvettorazzi@stamfordct.gov.

Please read HERE for Rippowam’s Chromebook Policy

6th grade trip to SoundWaters
6th graders will attend a field trip to SoundWaters to enrich learning in their science classes.  Your child will be coming home with a permission slip for one of the following dates:  September 16th, 17th or 20th.  We love taking our students out of the building and our behavior expectations remain the same as if they are in the building. 

Save the Date:  Open School Night is Tuesday, September 17th from 5:30-7:30
Rippowam’s open school night will feature various time sessions to meet with your child's team of teachers as well as their exploratory teachers, the administrative team, PTO, support staff and others. Rippowam spirit wear will be on sale as well!

Each team 20-minute session, you can meet with your child’s core academic team - ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Project Lead the Way or Interdisciplinary Writing. Learn about their courses, expectations and have general questions answered. This is not the time for conversations about specific children or individual needs, you can request a team meeting with your child's counselor for more individual conversations.

Visit your child’s core team room for presentations every 20 minutes. If the session has started or is full, please visit your child’s Exploratory teachers and return at the next session. Rooms will be posted and sent out next week before the event.  See below for times/sessions:

• Administrative Overview: Welcome and Important Information about the 2024.2025 School Year in the Auditorium:  5:30-5:50 and 6:30-6:50

  • 5:30-5:50 - Administrative Welcome

  • 5:50-6:10 - Team/Department Sessions

  • 6:10-6:30 - Team/Department Sessions

  • 6:30-6:50 - Administrative Welcome OR Team/Department Sessions

  • 6:50-7:10 - Team/Department Sessions

  • 7:10-7:30 - Team/Department Sessions

After school programming to begin on September 30th
Rippowam has many after school activities through our 21st Century grant, ESH grant, Community Schools grant and Intramural and club sports.  Information will be shared in the coming week about how to sign up for the various after school programs.

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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