What's Happening at the Hive

Issue #14

The communication below provides important information from the Florida Ruffin Ridley School.

Translations and accessibility options are available at the right side of the page.

The Buzz

Hello Florida Ruffin Ridley School Families and Friends,

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with incredibly kind comments and well wishes on the heels of my announcement yesterday. It truly is a bittersweet moment for me as I think about leaving our school community to pursue this opportunity in Walpole. I am so incredibly grateful for all the work we've accomplished together over these 9 years, and we are not done yet!

Just as the plants are growing and blossoming and blooming in our garden, so too are our students across all grade levels. It was a joyful morning when I had the opportunity to attend a Writer's Workshop celebration in a kindergarten class last week as they shared their "How To" books and we celebrated all the tremendous progress some of our youngest learners have made academically and socially. Our 3rd graders are busy preparing for our annual JFK celebration where we honor our former president (who attended our school) through poetry, essays, and song. Each 3rd grader works incredibly hard on an original essay reflecting on what the life and legacy of JFK means to them, and then beams with pride as some of their work is read aloud at the celebration. And in 8th grade our students are buzzing with anticipation and excitement as they enter the final half of the last quarter putting in strong efforts academically and socially so they leave a lasting positive legacy as they move on from our Hive.

A special Thank You to all of you and our PTO leaders for all of the thoughtful and special ways you shared your gratitude for our educators during Educator Appreciation Week last week. The flowers, the sweet and savory treats, the notes of appreciation, and the time you volunteered to make it all happen are noticed, appreciated, and some of what make this community so special.

The next five weeks are filled with opportunities for connection and celebration as we work on closing out this school year positively and with momentum to launch us into the summer break through to the start of next school year. Keep an eye on emails and calendars so you don't miss a moment!

See you around the Hive!

Jen

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2023 FRR Kindness Fair

Be a part of the first ever FRR Kindness Fair sponsored by the FRR Equity PAC!

Do you have an idea about how to make our community kinder, more inclusive, or more equitable? Are you already involved in a project or a group that is helping make our community or world a better place? Come share your ideas and projects at Ruffin Ridley’s very first Kindness Fair! (Think Science Fair but with fewer explosions and more opportunities for serving our community).

All FRR students, families, and community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the Kindness Fair! If you’d like to volunteer at the fair or learn more about the Equity PAC or if you have any questions please email FRREquityPAC@gmail.com.

What to expect:

Hands-on projects staffed by our Equity team including:
- Blanket making and note writing to welcome new neighbors to our community for The Welcome Project.
- Food Drive donations to the local Pantry:
  - Items they need: healthy and nutritious items (canned and jarred speciality foods, dried fruits, chocolate, vinegars, herbs and spices, cooking oils, dry foods like crackers and cereal) Include low sodium, low sugar, lactose free, gluten free items. Kids snacks! Diapers too! Feminine products, shampoo, lotion, Vaseline, dish soap, Ziploc bags, and pet food. It's easy to think of donating canned tuna fish and beans, but they always have plenty of these so no need to donate those!
- Interactive Kindness Board using post-its
- Thank You Note Station to write notes to those who deserve appreciation.
Join us in making a difference!
Look out for projects that will be displayed on top of the bookshelves.
Projects can highlight different ways to help the unhoused, the ill, the elderly, and the hungry people in our community.
Join the FRR Care Kids - students supporting students. Take the pledge and join the cause. Every little thing counts.

End of the School Year Events

May and June are busy months here at the Hive with lots of opportunities to connect and celebrate as a community. Below are some important dates to put on your calendars:

Big Book Bazaar and Kindness Fair: May 23 - 25
Salad Days Harvest: May 24th (rain date: May 25) 8:00a - 1:00p
3rd Grade JFK Ceremony: Wednesday May 31st 10:00a
Carnival: Friday June 2nd 3:00p
Incoming Kindergarten Family Open House (on Zoom): Tuesday June 6th 7:00p
Incoming Kindergarten Peek and Practice: Tuesday June 13th 3:00p
Grade 8 Harbor Cruise: Tuesday June 13th
Grade 8 Graduation: Tuesday June 20th 5:00p
Last Day of School (Noon Dismissal): Wednesday June 21st

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Salad Days: Family Volunteers Needed!

Salad Days is a celebration of sustainable growing practices and eating healthy, locally grown food! FRR students LOVE our garden, and this is a wonderful way to get them excited about growing, harvesting, and eating veggies while learning how to care for our planet.

Help us to celebrate our 3rd Annual Salad Days event at FRR on Wednesday 5/24! In April, all Pre-K -Grade 5 students at FRR planted a variety of lettuce greens. We need LOTS of help to support classrooms with harvesting, washing and packaging our delicious lettuce so students can taste the fruits of their labor!

Students will enjoy salad together at school the day after the harvest.

When: Wednesday 5/24 (we need volunteers for 2 hour time slots between 8-1)

Where: FRR Garden

How: Sign-Up to volunteer here:

Rain Date: Thursday 5/25

Just in case it's too wet to harvest on our original Salad Days date, please consider signing up to be a rain date volunteer.

Rain Date Sign-Up

Many thanks for your support!

Check out our FRR Garden Twitter page for recent garden news!