9/3/23

Dear Rippowam families,

It was a wonderful first week!  Students settled into the new routine after the initial confusion of a new schedule and changed classrooms.  At Rippowam, we value having strong relationships with students and parents and want your child to have at least one (but hopefully more) trusted adult in our building.  We spent the first few days getting to know your child and hosting activities that allowed them to learn about their teachers and peers. 

No school on Monday, September 4th for Labor Day

Technology Reminder - Please make sure the required forms are filled out! - Acceptable Use Policy and Parental Consent to Use of Online Educational Services (AUP) 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.  We hope to begin distribution in the next week or so, but we need these forms completed first.  If you need help, can contact our Parent Facilitator - Claudia Vettorazzi - at 203-977-4229 by phone or cvettorazzi@stamfordct.gov by email.

Open School Night is Tuesday, September 19th
More details about timing and schedule to follow.

All-School Musical Auditions begin THIS WEEK!
Student auditions for the All-School Musical's Production of "Legally Blonde:  The Musical" are this week!  Nervous about auditions?  There is an audition workshop on Tuesday, September 5th.  Click HERE to sign up for an audition time.  

• AUDITION WORKSHOP 

  • Tuesday, September 5 4:00-6:00 pm @ Rippowam  (auditorium)

• AUDITIONS 

  • Thursday, September 7 2:30-6:00 pm @ Rippowam (auditorium)

  • Friday, September 8 2:30-6:00 pm @ Rippowam  (auditorium)

Safety at Rippowam Middle School:
The safety of your child is one of our top priorities! 

• Our school-based security team:  We are excited to introduce two new school safety agents joining Tina to make a dream safety team!  Welcome Christian Montalvo and Joe Scalise to Rippowam.  You will see them at parent pick-up, visitor check-in or in the hallways.  In addition, we have a School Resource Office through the Police Department that is supporting Stamford Middle Schools named Officer Blake Jarvis, but prefers "RJay."  She has been visiting the school almost daily and meeting students and staff. 

• One main entrance for all visitors:  Starting this school year, the front entrance along High Ridge Road will be the only entrance for visitors.  The back entrance will be open in the morning and afternoon for bus arrival/dismissal and will be manned by a member of the school safety team.  All parents, guests, and visitors will enter at the front entrance and be signed in by either a safety team member or office staff member. 

• 3 lunch waves and separate cafeterias for teams:  You may have heard your child mention they are sitting by homerooms in the lunchroom.  We heard feedback last year from parents and students that the main cafeteria (often with 250 students) felt loud, chaotic and difficult to get lunch in a timely manner.  The intention with 3 lunches and each team in a different cafeteria is to have a quieter, calmer, and more efficient lunch for all.

• Safety drills to begin soon:  At SPS, we practice safety drills in the unlikely event of an emergency.  We will review the protocols with students and then begin drills in the near future. 

Reminder about the 2023.2024 Daily Schedule
This is a quick reminder that Rippowam has adopted a flexible middle school schedule.  Students are in grade-level teams named by colors.  All houses will have a team of Core teachers that are assigned to the house and will be working together to best support the students assigned to them.  Classrooms have been rearranged by house so students will not travel far between classes.   What is in PowerSchool are their classes and teachers, but not their specific daily schedule.  Students are assigned a letter A-O that represents their small “pod” of students that they travel with throughout the day and meet up with other pods of students for each class.  Once they know their team color and pod (visible on the header of PowerSchool), they can use the schedule grids posted throughout the school and find out their classes.   You will learn even more on Open School Night!

Best,

Kristina Colmenares
Principal, Rippowam Middle School

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