RIDGECREST ROAR March 13th, 2022
Good evening Ridgecrest families,
We have another full week of school this week with early out at 1:40 PM for everyone except our AM kindergarten class who are excused at 11:45 AM.
I’ve been reflecting this weekend about the joy and challenges that we all work through each day. Part of this came from reading some articles about how best to help children talk about war. This is a new reality we are all facing with the events going on in Ukraine. It is important for us all to have strategies to help our children if they have questions, so, I’m sharing a few links with you and hope you find these to be helpful. They are listed below. And, while there are hard things happening in the world, I also think it is important to make sure we find our moments of joy. We have been sharing these as a faculty and I know I have found it helpful.
School Information
Attendance – Chronic absenteeism—or missing 10 percent or more of school days for any reason—can translate into students having difficulty learning to read by third grade, achieving in middle school and graduating from high school. Regular attendance has become difficult while we all have tried our best to navigate the pandemic in a safe and healthy way. While we need kids with fevers and/or COVID symptoms to stay home, we also are noticing unprecedented rates of chronic absenteeism this school year. Our concern is that this will negatively impact academics and social-emotional growth in the future. We’re hoping that everyone can stay healthy for the remainder of the school year and attend school as regularly as possible.
Kindergarten Orientation – We are getting excited to welcome our newest Tigers! If you have a child who will be joining us for kindergarten next year, or if you know someone who does, please spread the message. We will be holding our Kindergarten Orientation at 1 PM on March 25th in our school gym.
5th Grade Maturation – To ensure fifth-grade students and their parents are able to take advantage of Canyons District’s popular maturation program, eight presentations have been scheduled through the month of March at four locations. The aim with this program is to provide consistent, sensitive and approved health and maturation instruction districtwide. Families may attend the presentation that best fits their schedule but are advised to leave younger siblings at home. For more information visit canyonsdistrict.org.
Job opportunities – Ridgecrest needs afternoon sweepers. This job requires 2 hours of time in the afternoons after students have gone home. If you, or someone you know, is interested in a few extra hours of work each day, this could be a good option. This position pays $9.13 per hour. Those interested, should reach out to our main office for more information.
Zones of Regulation – This week we’re focused on being flexible thinkers. Being a flexible thinker means that when plans or schedules change, we can try our best to adapt, see things in a new way, and manage our emotions. Miss Allie will teach us more about flexible thinking this week in her video: https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3eX3xVFZwi
Talking about War – Links to consider
1.https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-war-4147597
2.https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-violence-crime-and-war
PTA News:
ALL Talent Show artwork and music information is due tomorrow, Monday. Please turn visual arts into the office and/or email music song information to RidgecrestTalentShow@gmail.com The Talent Show is scheduled at Butler Middle School auditorium at 7pm on Fri., March 25th.
Ridgecrest Class Spelling Bees took place and now our class winners can study for the School Spelling Bees, which will be held on Monday, March 21stfor all class finalists to compete. The One Bee list is for Grades 1-3, and the Two Bee list for Grades 4 and 5. Questions? Email Marci Cardon- calebandmarci@gmail.com 2022-One_Bee_Study_List.pdf 2022_Two_Bee_Study_List.pdf
Our PTA 2022-2023 Board Election is scheduled for Monday, March 21st at 12pm. All PTA members are invited. A list of nominees is posted here: https://www.ridgecrestelementarypta.org/join-pta.html. If you haven’t joined and would like to, membership is $5/person and can be paid online at https://ridgecrest.memberhub.com/store. You can also send cash/check in an envelope labeled “PTA” to the office.
We have a community fundraiser night at Zupa’s on Thursday, 3/24. Please join us as Zupas will be donating a portion of Ridgecrest sales to our PTA. More details are coming soon.
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
March
3/21 – PTA Meeting – 12 PM
3/21 – Grade Level Spelling Bees
3/24 – Community Night at Zupa’s
3/25 – Remote Learning Day
3/25 – Kindergarten Orientation 1 PM
3/25 – Talent Show, at Butler Middle 7 PM
3/30 – SCC Meeting 4 PM
4/4-8 – Spring Recess – No school
I hope everyone finds their moments of joy this week!
Sara Allen
Principal
Ridgecrest Elementary School
(801) 826-9255
