the School

Building Programs

WRKN… Is Ridgewood Kids Network, a student-operated news station. The 4th and 5th grade news team write and broadcast school news every morning on closed circuit televisions throughout the building.

Instrumental Music… Students may elect to play a band or orchestra instrument during their 5th grade year. Instrument selections are made at the beginning of the year and students attend orchestra or band classes two days per week.

Enrichment Classes… Each year students are offered a variety of after-school enrichment classes. This program is organized through the Ridgewood Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO). Classes are taught by teachers, parents, or community members. Classes have included arts and crafts, wall climbing, mad science, and many others.

Safety Patrol… Each year 4th grade students are selected to serve as safety patrol officers during their 5th grade year. Safety patrol officers are responsible for helping students into the school safely each day. They patrol from various posts throughout the campus and are responsible for raising and lowering the flags each day. Sponsor: Gordon Fowler (P.E. teacher)

D.A.R.E… For one semester 5th grade students participate in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program led by officer Mike Metz of the Hilliard Police Department.
www.dare-america.com

Junior Achievement…Various classrooms across grade levels participate in Junior Achievement each year. Junior Achievement is a curriculum which teaches students how they can impact the world around them as individuals, workers, and consumers. The program is led by parents and community volunteers. Coordinator: Judy Burkle (3rd grade teacher) www.ja.org

Science Olympiad… Each year students in grades 3-5 have the opportunity to train in various events related to physics, biology, and chemistry. Students train after school and can compete in intramural, district, regional, state, and national tournaments. www.soinc.org

Destination Imagination… Each year 4th and 5th grade students have the opportunity to try out for a DI team. DI teaches life skills and expanding imaginations through team-based creative problem solving. Teams compete at the regional, state, and national level. Sponsor: Gordon Fowler (Physical Education teacher) www.destinationimagination.org

Guidance Program… Currently, the guidance counselor is leading a school-wide initiative to implement the Second Step guidance curriculum through classroom teaching. Second Step teaches skills in the areas of empathy training, problem-solving, and anger management. Additionally, the counselor offers small group guidance lessons and individual services on an as-needed basis. Counselor: Courtney Weaver

Student Council/Choose to Lead… Student Council/Choose to Lead is a program organized to provide students with the opportunity to take on a leadership role within the school and individual classrooms. Students are nominated and selected by their peers based on specific criteria needed to fulfill leadership responsibilities. The student representatives organize and carry out a variety of service projects throughout the year. Sponsors: Cindy Rieman, Reading Recovery Teacher and Courtney Weaver, Guidance Counselor

Support Services… Ridgewood offers a variety of services to aid and challenge students in their academic endeavors. (i.e, ELL, Target Program, Focus Program, Instructional Intervention, and Speech and Language services.