This podcast covers educational news and happenings for the Ridgefield Public School system in Ridgefield Connecticut.
Listeners of Ridgefield Tiger Talk that love the show mention: school system, students, ridgefield.
The Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast offers a truly unique opportunity to gain insight into the inner workings of a school system and witness its continuous efforts to improve. Hosted by Dr. DeSantis, this podcast features a diverse range of guests from various positions within the Ridgefield Public School system. The guests contribute valuable perspectives and expertise, allowing listeners to better understand the successes and challenges faced by the district. Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, or simply interested in current trends and issues in education, this podcast is an informative and engaging listen.
One of the best aspects of The Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast is how it introduces listeners to the individuals who play crucial roles in ensuring the smooth functioning of the school district. By featuring guests from different levels and positions within the system, this podcast showcases the diverse talents and experiences that contribute to its success. This not only helps humanize these individuals but also fosters a sense of connection between them and the community they serve. Additionally, as each guest brings their own perspective and expertise to the table, listeners are provided with a well-rounded view of various topics related to education.
While The Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast offers many benefits, it is important to acknowledge that there may be some potential drawbacks as well. One possible criticism is that it primarily focuses on one school district, limiting its relevance for those outside of Ridgefield or those not directly involved with education in general. However, considering that it caters specifically to parents, students, teachers, and individuals associated with Ridgefield Public School System, this focus might actually be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
In conclusion, The Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast is an exceptional resource for gaining insights into the operations and ongoing improvement efforts within a school district. With Dr. DeSantis as an adept host and an array of guests representing different roles within Ridgefield Public School System, this podcast provides valuable perspectives on various educational topics. Whether you are connected to Ridgefield or interested in the education sector as a whole, this podcast is definitely worth a listen. Kudos to Ridgefield Public School for producing such an informative and relevant podcast.
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome back Assistant Principal for RHS Mike Yagid and Science Teacher JR Condosta. We discuss the University of Connecticut's early College Experience Program (or ECE for short), how it differs from a traditional AP course, the robust experiences our students have to choose from, and some impressive accolades for Ridgefield High School. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we're excited to welcome back Dr. Tony Showah, Assistant Director of Special Services. He tells us about all the amazing things happening at next week's Inclusion Expo at Ridgefield High School on April 30 at 5 PM. Click here for the flyer, and click here if you'd like to RSVP. Thanks for listening!
In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back to the show, Kimberly Davis, Library Media Specialist at RHS, and Danny Martins, Department Head for Social Studies. They tell us about an exciting new club called Educators Rising. In this club, our students learn what it takes to become an educator, take on roles and responsibilities in different facets of education, and compete at the local and national level. We are already seeing our students gain many accolades. Thanks for listening!
In this episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome back Stephanie Cheung RHS's Counseling Supervisor. We'll discuss the 2025 College Fair, Tuesday March 18th 6:00 p.m. There is a lot of noteworthy stuff happening this year. Currently there are over 90 colleges signed up, the counseling staff will be hosting many informational breakout sessions, and many opportunities for our students to top one on one with college representatives. Definitely a must listen, if you have a high school age student(s)! Link to college fair website mentioned in the podcast and the Post High School Planning Guide.
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger talk we welcome three RHS music teachers. Michael McNamara VPA chair, Lauren Verney-Fink chorus teacher, and George Beratis Band teacher. They tell us about an amazing opportunity that our music students will be having by traveling to New Orleans later this month. They will perform live at a few venues. Participate in a college level music clinic, and learn about the rich musical history of New Orleans. Thanks for listening!
With the inevitable thaw of winter, we welcome back Ridgefield High School's Director of Athletics Dane Street to give us a winter sports update. We discuss the many amazing accomplishments that RPS athletes achieved this past season, what teams are making it to the finals, a preview of spring sports, and some of the mental health training/community outreach athletic staff are participating in. Thanks for listening! Link to the athletics website.
We have an All-Star crew for this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk. Dr. Susie Da Silva Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway Assistant Superintendent of Special Services, and Jill Browne Director of Finance join the show to tell us about a very important vote happening February 25th. We discussed the importance of the new space needed for the Alternative High School/Ridgefield Transition Program, the long-term cost savings it can bring the community, and the importance of having a commitment like this for our impressive students. Thanks for listening. Click here to see the Alternative High School website mentioned in the show.
It's budget season and on this week's episode of Tiger Talk we welcome back Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva and Director of Finance Jill Browne (our second attempt at doing a budget podcast). We discuss the budget building process, some of the factors that go into creating the budget, how we arrived at this year's number, and the upcoming presentations/meetings to bring the budget to completion. Thanks for listening! Click here for the budget website that was mentioned on the podcast.Click here for the Superintendent Proposed Budget presentation from 01/16/25.
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome Stephanie Cheung Counseling Supervisor and Lori Bran School Counselor. We discussed this year's course selection for RHS students and students coming from middle school, next week's (01/15/25 @6pm) open house for parents of eighth graders to see the high school's elective offerings, and tips and tricks for both parents & students when trying to figure out what courses to take. Click here for the counseling website that was mentioned in the show. Thanks for listening!
In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back to the show the Director of Safety and Security, Josh Zabin. We discuss how the new school security officer (SSO) model is working, the benefits/community impact of having these SSO's at each building, the continuing work in making our buildings secure, and Sandy Hook promise our anonymous reporting system. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome back Physics and Robotics teacher Michael Murphy. Joining him are Ridgefield high school robotics team members Addis Engel, Declan Kelly, Juliette Langberg & Vijay Pertab. We discuss the robot club/high school course offerings that students can choose from, this year's Vex robotics tournament game, the amazing skills that our students are able to develop in these courses/club, and how you can see these robots in action this Saturday 9am November 23rd at Ridgefield High School. Thanks for listening and for more information on the event Click Here and to learn how the game is played Click Here.
This week we have a very patriotic episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk. Joining us is Tom Grace Assistant Principal at East Ridge Middle School, Michael Settanni Social Studies Teacher and Alison Picarella Health/PE Teacher. We discuss this very meaningful an annual that that has been running at East Ridge Middle School for the past 23 years. It is not only become a Ridgefield tradition, but it helps connect us to the veterans in our community. Thanks for listening!
This week's episode of Tiger Talk, we welcome Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway Assistant Superintendent of Special and Services Andree Fitzgerald Director of Nursing, Health, & Wellness. Just a few things we discuss are, how this new position supports our students, how the role of a school nurse has changed over the years, the new emphasis on mental wellness, and how RPS works with community partners to best serve our children. Thanks for listening!
It's time for a sports update here at Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining us on today's podcast is a guest everyone is familiar with, Dane Street Director of Athletics for Ridgefield High School. We talk about the amazing fall season. Some of our sports teams are having (many qualified for both FCIAC and States), highlights of some amazing students, and the amazing work that our coaches put in for our athletes. Thanks for listening! Click here for the athletics website.
It's that spooky time of year again! We welcome back to Tiger Talk the First Selectperson of Ridgefield, Rudy Marconi. We discussed all of the exciting and fun activities that are happening in the next few weeks. From a very scary paranormal park to an adorable trunk or treat at the Lounsbury house. There's something for everyone this Halloween in Ridgefield. Thanks for listening! Click here for more information on these events.
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we have an All-Star cast to talk about World Language at the Elementary level. Joining us is Cory Gillette the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Linda Johnson the director of elementary education, Allyson Power World Language Department Head, and Jill Quattrocchi Elementary World Language teacher. We discuss how the program began, the benefits of learning new languages at a young age, the experience our students are having in the classroom, and what to expect next from this new program. Gracias por escuchar!
We assembled an all-star cast for this very special episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk. Joining us is Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway, Assistant Superintendent of Special Services; Dr. Anthony Showah, Assistant Director of Special Services; Jessica DiValentino, Transition Program Coordinator; and Kate Collins, Alternative High School Coordinator. We have heard many questions from the community regarding the new proposed location of our transition program and alternative high school, and we feel this podcast is the best way for people to understand the programs and their needs. Thanks for listening!
Ridgefield Tiger Talk is back for the 24-25 school year! In our first episode of the season, we welcome back Jill Browne our Director of Finance and Billy Gramajo our Transportation Coordinator to go over some frequently asked questions about transportation. Some of the topics we cover are how bus routes are planned, all the factors that decide where a bus stop is, and how the student first app works. Thanks for listening!If you have any further questions regarding transportation here's the email discussed in the show: RPSTransportation@RidgefieldPS.net
RPS has Leveled UP! This is Ridgefield Tiger talk's season finale for the 23-24 school year. On today's show, we welcome Cory Gillette, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction. We discuss all of the amazing work that our teachers, students, and administrators have done this year to Level Up Ridgefield Public Schools. Even though there will be no new episodes of Tiger, talk this summer everyone here will be hard at work getting ready for the next school year. But don't worry the show will return a few weeks into the 24-25 school year. Thanks for listening and have a great summer!
Continuing our theme of environmentally friendly shows, this week we welcome Ridgefield High School Biology teacher, Arlyn Kilduff to Tiger Talk. She tells us about the Environmental and Sustainability Club, their involvement with the town, and current projects like the Pollinator Pathway and the RHS recycling audit. Thanks for listening!
We have a charged-up episode of Tiger Talk! Joining us is Dwayne Escola, the chair of the Ridgefield Energy Task Force. We discuss the environmental impacts of installing solar panels on our schools, the up-and-coming solar canopies that will be installed in the high school parking lot this summer, and some of the future endeavors that the task force is looking forward to. Thanks for listening!
On today's episode, we welcome back a Ridgefield Tiger Talk MVP. Dane Street, the Director of Athletics for Ridgefield High School joins the show. We discussed the many accolades that our amazing athletes received, winter sports recap, a current update on Spring sports, and a call to anyone in the community who's interested in helping out in athletics. Thanks for listening!
We're Trash Talking on this week's episode of Tiger Talk! We welcome back to the show Tiffany Carlson Ridgefield's Recycling Coordinator. We discussed the 50th anniversary of the Ridgefield Recycling Center, how the schools are helping in the composting effort, some of the free services that the recycling department offers, and ways that you can help your community. Thanks for listening and for more information please email: recyclingcoordinator@ridgefieldct.gov
In this episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk Stephanie Cheung RHS's Counseling Supervisor joins us to discuss the 2024 College Fair. There is a lot of noteworthy stuff happening this year. Currently there are over 80 colleges signed up, the Editor and Chief of the Princeton review will be the keynote speaker, and the counseling staff will be hosting many informational breakout sessions. Definitely a must listen, if you have a high school age student(s)! Link to the RHS counselors page mentioned in the show.
Wow, we made it to 100 episodes! On this very special episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we reach out to some of our teachers and administrators to tell us why RPS is such an amazing place! Joining us is Elizabeth Van Duyne, Jennifer DeJulio, Michael Murphy, Sarah Kehoe, Jamie Palladino, Tom Grace, Cory Gillette, and Dr. Susie Da Silva. We are so proud and fortunate to have the remarkable staff that we do. Thanks for getting us to 100 episodes, and thanks for listening!
In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger talk we welcome back Dr. Anthony ShowahAssistant Director of Special Services. We discuss the many updates in the special services department, the expansion of the RISE program, pre-kindergarten, the transition program, how we can leverage AI in helping meet the needs of our students, and much more. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome Linda Johnson Director of Elementary Education and Jamie Palladino District Math Specialist. We discussed some of the modern methods in which we educate elementary age children in mathematics, what a math fact is, and what parents can do at home to help their children become dynamic math thinkers. Thanks for listening! Click Here for more info on the Summer Bridge Program.
It's that time of the year again, Ridgefield Public schools is in budget season! On this week's episode of Tiger Talk, we welcome Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools and Jill Browne, Director of Finance. We discuss how the budget process works, and the schedule for up-and-coming events, as well as some frequently, asked questions. Click here for our budget website and thanks for listening!
We have quite the exceptional story this week on Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining us on the show is Michael McNamara the 6-12 VPA Department Chair and Lauren Verney-Fink the RHS Choral Director. Recently, high school and middle school students from RPS were able to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City. We talked to Lauren about this amazing journey, how they prepared, and what's next for the choir! Also, don't forget that there is a concert at Ridgefield high school next Tuesday, January 30th. Thanks for listening!
In this week's episode, we welcome Becky Laus the Principal of Barlow Mountain Elementary School, and Nancy Caron the Principal of Farmingville Elementary School to talk to us about some of the innovative ways that they promote Social Emotional Learning (also known as SEL) in their schools. It's not just about what we do in the classroom but what the school does with all members of the community. Thanks for listening!
In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome Jeffrey Corbishley, RPS's 6–12 Math/Science Supervisor. We discuss some of the new exciting program updates to our 6-12 math program, how our math departments support students, what a modern math classroom looks like, and some other ways a student can extend their mathematics opportunities outside of the normal classroom setting. You don't want to miss this great show, thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome to the show RHS's School Counselor Department Head Stephanie Cheung and Counselor Jenna Barbino. We discuss all of the post high school options that our students have, how we prepare our students for post high school success, how to have the right mindset when looking for colleges, and how parents can support these endeavors. Thanks for listening!
In this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk, we welcome back Dane Street, Ridgefield High School's Director of Athletics. He brings us up-to-date on the impressive accomplishments of this past fall season, current accomplishments of our amazing student athletes, some really cool updates to the athletics program, and a preview of the winter sports season. Thanks for listening!
On this week's Tiger Talk we welcome back Annie Tucci our 6-12 Humanities Supervisor. She talks to us about year two of the Wittiness Stone Project, a joint venture between Ridgefield Public Schools and the Ridgefield historical society. This inquiry based project is one of the many examples for how we can make the history right in our backyard come alive. Here is the link to the live stream on November 15th. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk we welcome back to the podcast physics and robotics teacher Michael Murphy who is joined with two RHS students Harshiv Gorakhiya and Declan Kelly. They tell us about the RHS robotics program and after school club. Also, on Saturday, November 4, Ridgefield high school will be hosting a huge robotics competition that'll have over 60 teams from different states. If you're interested in going, click here for the flyer. Also, here is a link to the YouTube channel if you'd like to stream it on the day of the event. Thanks for listening!
We have a spooky episode for you on this week's Tiger Talk! We welcome back to the show Ridgefield's First Selectman Rudy Marconi! He tells us about all the cool and spooky things happening in town over the next two weeks. There's the Paranormal Park at Richardson Park this weekend & next, the Main Street Trick or Treat on the 28th, and of course Halloween night. We also talk about some other fun activities for both kids & adults after October. Let's have our fingers crossed for good weather, thanks for listening!
On this week's Episode of Tiger Talk we welcome Billy Gramajo, Ridgefield Public Schools Transportation Coordinator and Jill Brown our Director of Finance. We talk about our 4 tiers of busing, the TransFinder Software upgrade, the new First View app, the challenges of planning routes, and much more. Thanks for Listening!
Ridgefield Tiger Talk is back for its fourth season! To start us off we welcome guest Cory Gillette, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction. We discuss some of this year's district goals, items that we'll be studying, updates to Visual & Performing Arts, and much more. Thanks for listening!
It's Ridgefield Tiger Talks' season finale! On today's show, we welcome our two Assistant Superintendents, Cory Gillette Curriculum and Instruction and Dr. Elizabeth Hannaway Special Services. As we close out the school year, we talk about all the exciting things that are happening at RPS during the summer time. We discuss the Bridge program, ESY, building updates, and a few things we are looking forward to for the beginning of next school year. Thanks for listening and we wish everyone a fun and safe summer break and we will see you next fall.
On this week's episode of Tiger Talk we are excited to have Katie Blake, a Family Consumer Science teacher from Ridgefield High School. She discusses with us her work in reviving Tiger TV. Many years ago, the high school used to host a few television shows, but as technology moved on, and some priorities changed, it was mothballed. But now, with the introduction of media production next fall, and some very passionate students, Tiger TV is ready for a modern comeback. Thanks for listening!
On this week's Episode of Tiger Talk we welcome Josh Zabin, Ridgefield Public School's new Director of Safety and Security. You'll learn about his background in law enforcement, serving the Fairfield community for many years. Then we'll discuss his vision for security now and into the future, as well as some very helpful information for parents and community members. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode of Tiger Talk, we get down to business with a Ridgefield High School Business Department. Business teachers Jesse Peterkin and Kelly Predham along with a whole host of business students join us on the podcast to discuss all of the interesting topics that are covered in the many different business classes that they can take. We also talk about 3 impressive business clubs that are student run and are making some remarkable accolades. Thanks for listening!
We're talking trash on today's episode of Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining us on the podcast, Jill Browne, the Director of Finance for Ridgefield Public schools, and Tiffany Carlson recycling coordinator for the town of Ridgefield. We talk about the current way we manage waste in our schools and how we are piloting a forward-thinking composting system that not only benefits the environment but also the community. Thanks for listening!
It's Sports Update time here at Ridgefield Tiger Talk! Joining us on this week's podcast is Dane Street the Athletics Director for Ridgefield High School. He tells us about all of the amazing winter sports accomplishments, a preview of spring sports, recent player accolades, and future project planning. Thanks for listening! Link to RHS Athletics Site.
This week's show rocks!!! Pun intended….We welcome JR Condosta a Science teacher at RHS who teaches UCONN GeoScience. He is joined by three seniors Keelan McQuilken, Evan Ralph, and Jay Caterina. They tell us about what Geo Science is, careers in that field, the unique Geology of Ridgefield, and how our students are planning on using their knowledge beyond school. Thanks for listening!
Ridgefield Tiger Talk returns from winter break with a bang! Pat Huges a Physics and Science Research Teacher at Ridgefield High School brings on two remarkable students to tell us about their research. Aditi Gupta (Grade 12) with her research on the Impact of Artificial Sweeteners and Heather Wallace (Grade 12) with her research on the efficiency of different Micrometeorite collection Methods. These impressive RHS students tell us about their original research conducted right here in Ridgefield. Thanks for listening!
In this episode of Tiger Talk we answer the frequently asked questions (FAQ) that RPS has been hearing from the community. Joining us on the show will be Dr. Susie Da Silva, Superintendent of Schools and Jill Browne, Director of Finance. Click here for the budget informational site that was mentioned in the show.
We are excited to welcome to Tiger Talk Rick Sadlon the Executive Director of Connecticut Arts Administrators Association to talk to us about Ridgefield Public School's VPA program. Also joining us on the show is Linda Johnson, Director of Elementary Education and Michael McNamara 6-12 VPA Department Chair. We discuss the current state of our VPA curriculum, how that curriculum is rapidly evolving, and the future of VPA in our district. Thanks for listening!
In this week's podcast we welcome to the show Mike Yagid Assistant Principal at RHS and Eileen Stewart Teacher and Student Life Office (SLO) Coordinator. They tell us about the new block style schedule, how it's different from the previous schedule, the introduction of the new flex period, how a schedule can benefit overall well-being, and the innovative offerings that our teachers are providing to our students every morning. Make sure to have a listen!
In this week's podcast we welcome, Dr. Annie Tucci RPS's 6–12 Humanities Supervisor. We discuss a very impressive assignment that our middle school students conducted a few weeks ago, called the Witness Stones Project. We discussed the thought-provoking and complex history here in Ridgefield while working in collaboration with the Ridgefield historical society. Also, here is the video discussed in the podcast. Thanks for listening!
In this week's show we welcome Melissa Ettere-Showah from the Prospector Theater here in Ridgefield. We discuss the amazing mission of the theater, how it impacts the local/broad community, and the opportunities that are offered to those who are differently abled. Thanks for listening! Also, here is the link to the video discussed in the podcast.
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