At North Windy Ridge, Rise Ready means helping students become ready for what comes next—not just academically, but as confident, capable, and increasingly independent learners. Our students are at an important age: they are ready for more responsibility and independence, but they are still learning how to manage it successfully. That’s where High Expectations + High Supports come together.
This year, one of the ways we are putting that commitment into action is through our SOAR Organizational System:
S — Stay Organized
O — Own My Learning
A — Always Be Prepared
R — Ready to Learn
SOAR gives students a consistent system for managing assignments, materials, and responsibilities across their classes. Rather than simply expecting students to “be more organized,” we are teaching them how. Teachers will explicitly teach, model, practice, and reinforce these habits throughout the school year so that students gradually become more independent.
That is what High Expectations + High Supports looks like. We believe our students are capable of keeping up with their work, knowing what is expected of them, asking for help when they need it, and taking greater ownership of their learning. At the same time, we know those skills don't develop overnight. We will provide the routines, tools, reminders, practice, and encouragement they need along the way.
And families are an important part of that process! As you learn more about SOAR, we encourage you to use the same language at home: Have you checked the Horizon? Is your Nest organized? What do you need to be Ready to Learn tomorrow? Our goal isn't for adults to manage these things for students, but for all of us to work together to help students learn to manage them for themselves.
These intermediate years are the perfect time to practice—with plenty of support—so that by the time our Hawks leave us for middle school, they are ready to SOAR, Rise Ready, and take on what’s next.
