North Ridge Elementary

Just an FYI-The Waverly Health Center and some of their Regional Partners are completing practice drills in the North Ridge Elementary parking lot June 9th-11th. If you need to stop by North Ridge, please use the north parking lot. Thank you!

With a Smart Money Teacher Grant third-grade teacher Becca Elsamiller and her students at North Ridge Elementary brought the "Go-Hawk Buzz and Bloom Garden" to life!

Throughout the school year, students were involved in every step of the project. They calculated the area and perimeter of the garden spaces, researched pollinator-friendly plants, designed flower beds using selections from Wells Hollow Landscaping, and worked together to prepare, plant, and mulch the garden.

The project provided a hands-on learning experience that connected classroom lessons to the real world. Twenty-two third-grade students helped research pollinators and plant life cycles, learn about ecosystems, and discover the important role pollinators play in our environment. Along the way, they also built teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving skills while taking pride in enhancing their school grounds.

The Go-Hawk Buzz and Bloom Garden will continue to serve as an outdoor classroom for approximately 70-90 third-grade students each year, creating learning opportunities for years to come.

We are grateful to Becca for her creativity and dedication to providing engaging learning experiences for students, and to our donors whose support makes Smart Money Teacher Grants possible. Together, you're helping innovative ideas take root and flourish across the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District!

🌻 Check out the photos to see this beautiful project in bloom!

North Ridge Elementary-4th Grade Wall-"Leaving Our Mark At North Ridge Elementary."

As a culminating experience, some Extended Learning Program (ELP) students participated in a collaborative cross-grade experience. Kindergarten through fourth graders took on the challenge of imagining, designing, and constructing a floating device using pool noodles that could hold weight. Students also engaged in the engineering design process as they tested and improved their floatation creations. First graders shared their original created board games and fourth graders led younger students through their invented escape room-style activity, Breakout EDU. The experience encouraged creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and innovation across grade levels.

The North Ridge Elementary Staff wants to thank everyone for making this an outstanding school year! We hope you all have an awesome summer!!!

Great work North Ridge Elementary!!

Thank you to Denver Savings Bank in Waverly for the yummy cookies to help celebrate the last day of school!! Mrs. Buttjer and Mrs. Elsamiller were the lucky teachers in the office when they got dropped off!! Don't worry, they both have great sharing skills and shared with all the staff!!

Students in Mrs. Buttjer's and Mrs. McCaslin's classes had fun switching places Thursday! 1st graders played games with Mrs. Elsamiller's students, while 3rd graders learned how to do tricks with Cat's Cradle string. 🖤💛

Congratulations to Mara Gott for completing the Mensa for Kids Excellence in Reading program! The program is designed to encourage the love of reading and acknowledge the value of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ appreciation of classic literature for young people. Upon completion of the requirements, she earned a commemorative certificate and an Excellence in Reading t-shirt. What an outstanding achievement!