RES Newsletter #6
Dear RES Families,
This past week at RES began with an All School Meeting created and presented entirely by our fourth- and fifth-grade student leaders. The students are planning, reflecting and crafting an ASM that is meaningful and a time for our school to gather and experience community and joy. We are so grateful for their creativity and their leadership!
Our school also continues to celebrate kindness with the 40 Days of Kindness, initiated by Mrs. O’Neill. The kindness of our students is out in full force daily, and also shone through extra this week as we saw so many students helping each other during our Fire and Buss drills. Thank you to our entire school community for everyone’s mindful participation in our important drills this week!
From the Ridge Run, to changing leaves, to more learning and exploring in crisper weather - we have much to look forward to as we begin this first week of October!
As always, please reach out with any questions/thoughts!
With gratitude,
Meg
Nuts n'Bolts:
10/4 : Early release for students. (1:00 dismissal for both bus and pickups)
10/6: Kiddos get their own Ridge Run tee shirts (thank you, FORS!) and race in a school-based “Mini Ridge Run.”
10/8: Ripton Ridge Run (12:30pm)
10/10: Ripton Elementary School's Open House (5:00 - 6:00)
Woods Wednesday!
The ways in which community and the natural world are woven into the daily experiences of our school are truly unique and so beautiful. I wanted to share with folks a tradition that most folks know about, and for which we are so grateful for - Ms. Whittemore’s Woods Wednesdays.
Every week, Ms. Whittemore and Mrs. Giroux lead the K/1 class on a Woods Wednesday afternoon. This past week the class ventured out to “Owen’s Trail” which is a special path created by classmate Owen and his family! Kiddos were also joined by RES parent Joanna on their walk, which was filled with questions, wonderings, and observations - many of which revolved around the many different types of mushrooms that students found on the trail!
During Woods Wednesdays, curiosity and exploration abound - students are given agency to explore, question, and learn more about what they notice and experience. The class was engaged in learning about their “local” natural world and moved their learning forward when they examined photographs and a “mushroom guide” provided by Joanna!
Questions about similarities and differences, learning about the terms edible and inedible, descriptive adjectives to describe their observations, were all a part of their afternoon. And on a deeper level, students were engaging in turn-taking while looking at pictures, advocating for needs when some students were not able to see, and listening to each other and offering space when needed.
Our teachers’ attention to the social, emotional, and natural lives of our children and the intention with which they weave that into their daily experiences at school is one of the many reasons why our school is such a special place.
A Note from P.E.
Hello all,
During this month of PE our students have been practicing expectations, routines and teamwork. As we are building our PE community we also completed our skills unit of kicking. During this unit students had the chance to practice foot skills in stations and mini soccer games. We look forward to continuing to build a fun and safe community in PE.
Miss T
Ripton Ridge Run!
This year’s Ripton Ridge Run will be Sunday, October 8th starting at 12:30. It is the 36th year in a row we have hosted this event! We’re looking forward to the event being a big success once again this year.
As in past years, there will be a kids’ race, a 5K and 10.4K running race and a 5K walk. Runners and walkers begin to arrive at the school around 10:30 am, and the afternoon is capped off with a delicious chili lunch, a raffle and prizes, ending around 2:30. As a school community, we take pride in hosting this event. All RES children benefit directly from this event since proceeds go directly to FORS, Inc. which helps pay for school programs, artists in residencies, field trips, musical performances and more.