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Ridgefield High School

Schools
New Rankings: Fairfield County Dominates List Of Best High Schools In State New Rankings: Fairfield County Dominates List Of Best High Schools In State
New Rankings: Fairfield County Dominates List Of Best High Schools In State Niche released its Best High Schools in the Country list this week, and while no Connecticut school made it onto the national charts, several of the state's public schools scored near the top.  Here is a breakdown of the top 10 rated schools in Connecticut.  Click here for the full list, and click here for a breakdown of the survey's methodology.  10: Glastonbury High School Researchers credited Glastonbury High's teacher-to-student ratio with his solid test scores. With 13 pupils per educator, the Hartford County school allows teachers more time to work with the …

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies 'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies
'Devastating News': Ridgefield High School Student Dies A Fairfield County high school student has died, according to school officials. Click here for a new, updated story: Support Pours In For Family Of Beloved Ridgefield High School Student Who Died At Age 15 The student attended Ridgefield High School and died early Monday morning, Oct. 30, Ridgefield Police and school officials said. They did not reveal where or how the student died. The name of the student has not yet been released. Ridgefield Public Schools superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva wrote in a letter to the community to share the "devastating news." "The loss for our stu…

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28 Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28
Support Pours In For Family Of School Staffer In Fairfield County After His Death At Age 28 Donations are pouring in to support the family of a late 28-year-old man who worked at multiple schools in Fairfield County. Edwin Ordonez died from injuries sustained in an accident on Tuesday, Aug. 2, according to the organizers of a GoFundMe set up for his family. He is survived by his wife, Aracely, and his 4-month-old daughter, Sarah, the organizers said.  According to the GoFundMe, Ordonez worked as the interim director at the Danbury War Memorial, and he also worked for Ridgefield Public Schools at Scotland Elementary School and at Ridgefield High School. As of Sunday, Au…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
These Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best According To Brand-New Rankings These Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best According To Brand-New Rankings
These Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best According To Brand-New Rankings It’s no secret that Connecticut is home to some of the nation’s best schools, but which rank among the top in the country? The U.S. News & World Report released its 2022 list of the best high schools in the country after evaluating nearly 18,000 schools at all levels. According to the organization - which touts itself as “the global authority in education rankings” - high schools were judged on a weighted scale on these factors: College readiness (30 percent); Reading and math proficiency (20 percent); Reading and math performance (20 percent); Underserved student performance (10 perc…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
Swimmer From Fairfield County Qualifies For Olympics Swimmer From Fairfield County Qualifies For Olympics
Swimmer From Fairfield County Qualifies For Olympics A swimming standout from Fairfield County smoked the competition at Olympic Qualifiers and will represent the red, white, and blue this summer in Tokyo. Former Ridgefield High School standout Kieran Smith, a junior competing for the University of Florida, stood atop the podium in the 400-meter freestyle at the US Olympic trials held in Omaha, Nebraska over the weekend after outpacing his competition in a race he never fell behind. Smith’s time of 3:44.86 was nearly three seconds better than his previous personal best, and 3.31 seconds ahead of his closest competition during the qualifier. …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best In U.S. News Rankings Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best In U.S. News Rankings
Fairfield County High Schools Among Nation's Best In U.S. News Rankings Connecticut is well represented in the brand-new 2021 U.S. News & World Report rankings of the best high schools in the nation. The criteria in ranking the more than 17,000 focused on six factors:  College readiness,  Reading and math proficiency,  Reading and math performance,  Underserved student performance,  College curriculum breadth, Graduation rates.  College readiness specifically measures participation and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, U.S. News & World Report said. The data used was from the 2018-20…

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
Popular Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Dies At Age 80 Popular Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Dies At Age 80
Popular Fairfield County Restaurant Owner Dies At Age 80 A much-beloved restaurant owner and philanthropist in Fairfield County has died. Dimitrios Paschalidis, age 80, died Thursday, April 1, at his home in Norwalk.   He was born August 20, 1940, in the northern village of Saint Dimitrios, Kozani, Greece.  The co-owner of Dimitri’s Diner and Gyro on Pita, both in Ridgefield, Paschalidis died after surgery performed due to aggressive cancer, according to Dimitri's staff.  "We are beyond saddened by the loss of Dimitri," the staff at Dimitri's said. "There is a hole in our hearts" Before moving to the United States in 1968 in search of a bette…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: Four New Cases Reported At School District In Fairfield County COVID-19: Four New Cases Reported At School District In Fairfield County
Covid-19: Four New Cases Reported At School District In Fairfield County New COVID-19 cases have been confirmed within a Fairfield County school district as the pandemic continues raging throughout Connecticut. Officials in the Ridgefield Public School District announced that four new cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed at the Ridgefield High School and Farmingville Elementary School, with two cases each in both buildings. It was not clear whether the new infections were in students and staffers. Aaron Crook, the district’s COVID-19 health and safety compliance liaison said that it is possible there was some school transmission, though “there is a potential so…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: New High School In Fairfield County Goes Remote After Positive Cases COVID-19: New High School In Fairfield County Goes Remote After Positive Cases
Covid-19: New High School In Fairfield County Goes Remote After Positive Cases Several new positive COVID-19 cases are forcing another Fairfield County high school to go remote. Ridgefield High School went to its distance learning model on Wednesday, Nov. 18, after learning that there were four new positive cases in students and staffers. There have now been 18 confirmed cases at Ridgefield High School, where approximately 300 students and 70 staff members have already been instructed to temporarily quarantine due to possible exposure to the virus. Contact tracing for the latest confirmed cases is ongoing, and it is unclear how many will be advised to enter a 14-day …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: New Case Reported At School In Ridgefield COVID-19: New Case Reported At School In Ridgefield
Covid-19: New Case Reported At School In Ridgefield Some 28 students and 16 staff members are in quarantine after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 at a school in Ridgefield. The new case, at Scotland Elementary School, brings the number of schools in the Ridgefield School district to seven of the nine schools in the district that have been affected by exposure to COVID-19, according to the district's data tracker. The latest announcement was sent by the district's head of nursing services Aaron Crook on Thursday, Nov. 5 in a letter to parents and school officials. According to Crook's letter, the …

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: New Cases Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County COVID-19: New Cases Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County
Covid-19: New Cases Confirmed At School District In Fairfield County A pair of schools in Northern Fairfield County have become the latest to deal with newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. The Ridgefield Public School District announced that Scotts Ridge Middle School and East Ridge Middle School were transitioning to remote learning on Monday, Oct. 26, after there were multiple positive cases confirmed in each school. The buildings will be closed to allow the district to complete contact tracing and to sanitize any areas that could have been exposed to the virus. There have also been confirmed cases at Ridgefield High School, which forced dozens into quarantin…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County COVID-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County
Covid-19: Positive Case, Exposure Lead To Quarantines At School In Fairfield County A positive case of COVID-19, as well as additional exposure, have led to quarantines at a high school in Fairfield County. Ridgefield Public Schools Superintendent Susie Da Silva said in a message Friday night, Oct. 16 that about three dozen Ridgefield High School staff members and students have been asked to quarantine after being exposed to multiple sources of COVID. That came after Da Silva reported earlier in the day that a member of the high school community had tested positive, leading to a 9:30 a.m. early dismissal and the start of contact tracing. The individual is considered …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
These Fairfield County HS Students Named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists These Fairfield County HS Students Named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists
These Fairfield County HS Students Named 2021 National Merit Semifinalists Some of Fairfield County's best and brightest students were among those chosen as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, which celebrates the academic achievements of high schoolers. This week, 16,000 high school seniors were chosen from around the country as semifinalists, who are vying for 7,600 scholarships totaling more than $30 million that will be announced in the spring. To become a finalist, semifinalists and an official from their high school must submit a detailed scholarship application that provides information about the students’ academic record, participation…

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by Zak Failla
Obituaries
COVID-19: Former Ridgefield HS Football Player, Personal Trainer In Norwalk, Dies At 30 COVID-19: Former Ridgefield HS Football Player, Personal Trainer In Norwalk, Dies At 30
Covid-19: Former Ridgefield HS Football Player, Personal Trainer In Norwalk, Dies At 30 A popular 30-year-old personal trainer and owner of a local gym in Fairfield County has died from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Dan Spano, a 2008 Ridgefield High School graduate who played football at the school, died Saturday, April 11, at Norwalk Hospital. Spano was reportedly the city's first fatality from the virus under the age of 50.  A 2012 graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Spano was the owner and head personal trainer at GymGuyZ Norwalk. Spano, whose family said he was perfectly healthy and did not have any underlying medical conditions, began feeling ill around Ma…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
COVID-19: Ridgefield Asks NYC Residents To Quarantine COVID-19: Ridgefield Asks NYC Residents To Quarantine
Covid-19: Ridgefield Asks NYC Residents To Quarantine This story has been updated. With 58 cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) now being reported in Ridgefield, Connecticut, the town is asking anyone from New York City to self-quarantine for 14 days. In a statement by Ridgefield First Selectman Rudy Marconi released by the town on Saturday, March 28, the two-week self-quarantine should be done "before entering any public area in Ridgefield." An original statement identified those who should quarantine as from New York, but was later reworded to specific those as being from New York City. Ridgefield borders the Northern Westchester…

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by Joe Lombardi
Obituaries
Nicholas LaDelfa, 31, Of Ridgefield, Served In Army Nicholas LaDelfa, 31, Of Ridgefield, Served In Army
Nicholas LaDelfa, 31, Of Ridgefield, Served In Army A Ridgefield man, 31, from Ridgefield who served in the Army and being remembered as having a "heart of gold" has died. Nicholas P. LaDelfa died Sunday, June 10 at Danbury Hospital. He was born Aug. 26, 1987 in Danbury to Pam LaDelfa and Ken Carpenter. LaDelfa attended Ridgefield schools and was a graduate of Ridgefield High School with the Class of 2005.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army upon graduation and served a 15-month tour in Iraq from 2007 to 2009. LaDelfa worked as a service technician at Professional Water Systems in Ridgefield. He lived life through simple pleasures; talking …

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by Donna Christopher
Police & Fire
14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School 14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School
14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School A 14-year-old is facing multiple charges after an unspecified threat led to an early dismissal at Ridgefield High School on Thursday, May 30. The juvenile, whose name was not released, was charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, Ridgefield Police said. The Ridgefield HS school resource officer was notified of the threat referencing a firearm and written in a girls bathroom at around 9 a.m., police said. The Ridgefield Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police K9 Unit, conducted a sweep of the Ridgefield High School which produced neg…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School 14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School
14-Year-Old Charged After Written Threat Leads To Early Dismissal At Ridgefield High School This story has been updated. A 14-year-old is facing multiple charges after an unspecified threat led to an early dismissal at Ridgefield High School on Thursday, May 30. The juvenile, whose name was not released, was charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, Ridgefield Police said. The Ridgefield HS school resource officer was notified of the threat referencing a firearm and written in a girls bathroom at around 9 a.m., police said. The Ridgefield Police Department, with assistance from the New York State Police K9 Unit, conducted a sweep of the Ridgefield …

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by Joe Lombardi
Sports
HS Baseball Coaching Staff Reinstated After Fire Set On Field In Ridgefield HS Baseball Coaching Staff Reinstated After Fire Set On Field In Ridgefield
HS Baseball Coaching Staff Reinstated After Fire Set On Field In Ridgefield Ridgefield High School baseball coach Paul Fabbri and his staff were back on the field this week after being temporarily placed on administrative leave after their home field was doused with gasoline and lit on fire in an attempt to dry it. The field at Governor Park was doused with 24 gallons of gasoline before a game against Amity on Saturday, April 6, then set on fire in an attempt to dry the playing surface after rain had fallen in the area. Rather than dry the field, the fire did an estimated $50,000 in damages and the surface had to be excavated and replaced with fresh soil. In respo…

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by Zak Failla
News
$50K Torched Baseball Field Incident Leads To Suspensions Of Three Ridgefield HS Coaches $50K Torched Baseball Field Incident Leads To Suspensions Of Three Ridgefield HS Coaches
$50K Torched Baseball Field Incident Leads To Suspensions Of Three Ridgefield HS Coaches Three varsity baseball coaches at Ridgefield High School have been placed on administrative leave after extreme measures were taken to try and squeeze in a high school baseball game. The field at Governor Park was doused with gasoline and set on fire over the weekend in an effort to dry out a playing surface that had been rained on in advance of Ridgefield’s scheduled game against Amity. The idea did more harm than good. In total, reparations are expected to cost upwards of $50,000. No one was injured and there was never anyone in danger, police said. The incident remains under investigati…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Decision To Douse HS Baseball Field With Gas, Set It On Fire Sparks Investigation In Ridgefield Decision To Douse HS Baseball Field With Gas, Set It On Fire Sparks Investigation In Ridgefield
Decision To Douse HS Baseball Field With Gas, Set It On Fire Sparks Investigation In Ridgefield Some baseball fans had a burning desire to watch the Ridgefield High School team play baseball, so they set a local field on fire using gasoline in an attempt to dry the surface, police said. A Ridgefield High School baseball game against Amity scheduled to be played at Governor Park was forced to be postponed over the weekend due to poor weather conditions that impacted the field. According to the Ridgefield Police Department, on Saturday, April 6, “a poor decision was made to dry the field quicker" and 24 gallons of gasoline were poured on the playing surface and set on fire. The Ridgefie…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Rankings: These Fairfield County High Schools Among Best In State New Rankings: These Fairfield County High Schools Among Best In State
New Rankings: These Fairfield County High Schools Among Best In State Related story: These Fairfield County School Districts Among Best In State It’s no secret that Fairfield County is home to some of the nation’s finest schools. But which high schools are at the top the list? On Wednesday, Niche released its 2019 rankings, which are “based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education.” Using a weighted scale that includes academic grades (60 percent), teacher’s grades (10 percent), culture and diversity (10 percent), parent-student surveys (10 percent) and other …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Here's When, Where You Can See Fireworks In Fairfield County Here's When, Where You Can See Fireworks In Fairfield County
Here's When, Where You Can See Fireworks In Fairfield County There is no shortage of Independence Day celebrations featuring fireworks in Fairfield County.  At least 15 major fireworks displays are planned over the course of seven days, starting this weekend. Here are the highlights: Thursday, June 28:  Trumbull Day kicked off with carnival rides, amusement games and food trucks at the fields behind Trumbull High School and Hillcrest Middle School at 72 Strobel Road. Saturday there is no carnival but the main event will be the Barnum Festival. The final day, Sunday, July 1, concludes with a fantastic fireworks display.  Saturday, June 30  Firewor…

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by Jon Craig
Schools
HS Students In Fairfield County Plans Stand Up Against Hate Rally HS Students In Fairfield County Plans Stand Up Against Hate Rally
HS Students In Fairfield County Plans Stand Up Against Hate Rally For those looking for a place to stand up against recent incidents of hate and violence across the country, can join a group of high school students this weekend at a rally aimed at ending "hate."  The event, Sunday, June 10 in Ridgefield from 2 to 7 p.m., at Ballard Park, 485 Main St., will feature everyone from Glenda Armstrong, president of the Danbury chapter of the NAACP, to a rabbi, to a Jewish youth leader and educator of the group Stand With Us, to a teacher and student speaker from Ridgefield High School.  Orangzied by students from Ridgefield High School, the "Stand…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
These Connecticut High Schools Rank High In U.S. News List These Connecticut High Schools Rank High In U.S. News List
These Connecticut High Schools Rank High In U.S. News List U.S. News & World Report's annual high school rankings emphasize student outcomes, using information on graduation rates and state assessments for more than 20,500 schools nationally. These high schools rank as the best in Connecticut, according to a new survey by U.S. News: Amistad Academy in New Haven was ranked No. 1. Connecticut IB Academy in East Hartford was ranked No. 2. Achievement First Hartford Academy Inc.in Hartford was ranked No. 3. Academy of Aerospace and Engineering in Windsor was ranked No. 4. Ridgefield High School was ranked No. 5. Marine Science Magnet High School o…

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by Jon Craig
News
Police Renew Call For Info On Swastika Graffiti Incidents In Ridgefield Police Renew Call For Info On Swastika Graffiti Incidents In Ridgefield
Police Renew Call For Info On Swastika Graffiti Incidents In Ridgefield The Ridgefield Police Department has renewed a call for info from anyone who can provide information that leads to the apprehension of a suspect who drew a series of swastikas throughout Ridgefield in January and prior months. A total of five swastikas were discovered at the Masonic Lodge and the Aldrich Museum, drawn in green marker in various sizes. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) subsequently announced that it is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone that helps lead to the conviction of the person responsible. According to police, the swastikas are believed to have been drawn by the same p…

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by Zak Failla
News
Anti-Defamation League Offers Reward For Info On Ridgefield Swatiskas Anti-Defamation League Offers Reward For Info On Ridgefield Swatiskas
Anti-Defamation League Offers Reward For Info On Ridgefield Swatiskas RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- The Anti-Defamation League announced that it is offering a $2,000 reward for information related to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for recent swastika graffiti located found in Ridgefield. Earlier this month, Ridgefield Police received reports of five swastikas discovered drawn outside the Masonic Lodge and the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield. Police believe that the swastikas were drawn by the same person. In recent months, swastikas have also been discovered at Ridgefield High School on multiple occasions, as well as at Ballard Park. Relat…

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by Casey Donahue
Police & Fire
Swastikas Discovered At Two Locations In Ridgefield Swastikas Discovered At Two Locations In Ridgefield
Swastikas Discovered At Two Locations In Ridgefield RIDGEFIELD, Conn. — Swastikas were found drawn on the outside of the Masonic Lodge and the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield this week, according to the Ridgefield Press. A total of five swastikas were discovered — two at the Lodge and three at the Museum — and are believed to have been drawn by the same person, police told the Ridgefield Press. They were drawn in green marker and ranged in size, according to the Ridgefield Press. The swastikas as the museum were discovered by a passerby Sunday morning, and were removed by police, the Ridgefield Press reported. They were drawn on the door and th…

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by Daily Voice