The Rocket Review
April 19, 2024
Important Dates
April
22 - Student Lighthouse Team-Spirit Day - Spring Has Sprung - wear colors of earth, shirts with
nature/flowers/animals.
22 - Music Informances - Ms Janke's Class, 5-5:30pm and Mrs. Bravo's Class, 5:45-6:15pm
25- Music Informances - Mrs. Madigan's Class, 5:30 - 6pm and Ms Conger's Class, 6:15-6:45pm
29 - Music Informances - Mrs. Bravo's Class, 5-5:30PM and Mrs. Pietrandrea/Mrs. Dood's Class, 5:45-6:15pm
May
3 - Star Wars Spirit Day
6 - Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th Grade Art Show
13 - 1st Grade Field Trip to Maybury Park
15 - Incoming 2024-2025 Kindergarten Parent Night
17 - NO School for Kindergarten students ONLY
17 - Incoming 2024-2025 Kindergarten Round Up
22 - 5th Grade Middle School Visit
30 - 2:30 pm NHS Senior Clap Out
24 - Half Day, 12:15pm Dismissal
27 - No School, Memorial Day
June
4 - 3rd Grade Greenfield
6 - Field Day, volunteer sign up coming soon!
6 - PTA Rocket Rumba, 5:30-8pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance!
7 - Student Light House Spirit Day - Tye Dye Day
10 - 1st Grade Zoo Field Trip Day
10 - 2:30pm 5th Grade Battle Of The Books
12 - 2pm 5th Grade Graduation
13 - 12pm 5th Grade Clap Out (outside on storywalk, no parents in the building)
13 - Last Day of School, Half Day, 12:15pm Dismissal
Ridge Wood Elementary Is On X and Facebook
Breakfast With a Buddy
HUGE thanks to the PTA for sponsoring and hosting "Breakfast With a Buddy" this week. Thank you also to the hundreds of families who participated! It was wonderful to see everyone in the building!
Informances
Thank you to Ms. Spitza and the First Graders in Mrs. Harris' and Ms. Gall's classes for wonderful Informances this week! It's so fun to see how our Rockets make meaning in Music Class!
Kindness Tree Winners
While we always expect our Rockets to be kind to one another, Kindness Tree recipient are "caught" going above and beyond sharing kindness with others. Congratulations to this week's winners!
Help Us Create Our Sunshine Space
We want to invite you to help create our Sunshine Space at Ridge Wood! It's going to be a big job, so the more hands we can get, the better! The workday will be Saturday, April 27th from 9am - 3pm. Please see the attached sign up genius to see your options! Thank you in advance for your help!
Parent Input Form 2024-2025
It's hard to believe that it's already time to begin making class lists for next year! As you may recall, each year we allow parents to offer any input they feel may help us in making decisions about class placement. While we do not honor specific requests for teachers, we use the feedback you provide to help guide our decisions. If you would like to provide input (as well as learn more about the class placement process), click the link below. Parent Input Forms are due Friday, May 3rd.
Family Measurable Results Assessment (MRA)
Beginning today, our school will be administering the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA). This is a survey and reporting system designed to provide insights into the progress of our school. In order to provide a holistic picture of what is going on in our school, the MRA includes three different surveys. One is completed by all school staff, one is completed by students in grades 4 and 5, and one is completed by the families of students in all grades.
We hope you will participate so we can use the feedback to make our school an even better place for students and families. The online survey (linked below) should be completed by one member of each household. The survey typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Questions relate to the experiences you and your child have at our school. Answers are anonymous-names and personal information are not collected.
The survey is available to be taken anytime between now and Monday, April 29th. It can be taken from any computer, smartphone, or tablet with internet access.
Parent Book Club May 13th - WE STILL HAVE FREE BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY!!
We are so excited to announce another Book Club opportunity for parents. We will be doing the book club with parents from all six elementary buildings. The elementary principals have been reading this amazing book called, Good Inside. In Good Inside, Dr. Becky Kennedy—known to her followers as “Dr. Becky” shares her parenting philosophy, complete with actionable strategies, that will help parents move from uncertainty and self-blame to confidence and sturdy leadership.
There are so many things as parents that we have used, that just don't seem to work. From reward charts to time outs, many popular parenting approaches are based on shaping behavior, not raising humans. These techniques don’t build the skills kids need for life, or account for their complex emotional needs. Add to that parents’ complicated relationships with their own upbringings, and it’s easy to see why so many caretakers feel lost, burned out, and worried they’re failing their kids.
Offering perspective-shifting parenting principles and troubleshooting for specific scenarios—including sibling rivalry, separation anxiety, tantrums, and more—Good Inside is a comprehensive resource for a generation of parents looking for a new way to raise their kids while still setting them up for a lifetime of self-regulation, confidence, and resilience.
The Book Club meeting will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 6:30pm in the Ridge Wood Media Center. Anyone who is interested is welcome to join us to enjoy some lively conversation about this book. You are welcome to attend if you read the whole book, some of the book or even skimmed the book.
The first 15 to sign-up will get a free book. After that, you are more than welcome to purchase the book and join us for the conversation on May 13th!
Check out the book on Amazon here.
Beth Solensky
Principal
Save The Date: Art Show May 6th (Kindergarten, 2nd & 4th Grade)
Crossing Guard Needed - Six and Ridge
Crossing Guard | Employment Opportunities | Northville Township, MI
5th Grade Sign Pick Up
Stop by the Ridge Wood office to pick up your pre ordered signs, during regular business hours.
Math Parent Afternoon - Friday, April 26th
Transform Your Child's Perception of Math
Soon after children begin school, some decide that math is confusing and scary and that they are not “math people”.Come and learn how to bring joy back into learning math at home. In this session, you will learn strategies and games to help you and your child shift these debilitating perceptions and see that math is everywhere!
When: Friday, April 26th from 2:15-3:30 PM
Where: Media Center
Cell Phone and Smartwatch Policy - REMINDER
As we head into our state testing season for third, fourth, and fifth graders, we just wanted to remind you about our cell phone and smartwatch policy. Per District policy, cell phones may NOT be turned on during school hours. They must remain in the student’s backpack. Smartwatches may only be used for telling time, but they may not be worn when students are taking the state (M-STEP) exam. Your child’s teacher will share the days/times that students will be taking the M-STEP exam. We recommend that students do not wear smartwatches on testing days. Classroom teachers will hold all smartwatches until the testing session is complete.
Please note that students who violate the cell phone and smartwatch policy will lose their device. Parents will be asked to pick up the device at the end of the school day.
PTA News...
Staff Appreciation Week
Greetings Rocket Families! Are you a small business owner? Would you be interested in helping our PTA support our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (05/06-05/10)and advertise your business to our Ridge Wood community? We LOVE our teachers and collaborating with our community businesses. We would love to promote your business to our Ridge Wood Rockets. We are looking for gift cards, products or services to spoil our beloved teachers with during this week. If interested, please reach out to our PTA President or Vice President for more information.
Save the date for the Rocket Rumba - June 6th
Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Northville Education Foundation...
Unity Skate Park
Join us for the Grand Opening of Unity Skate Park at Millennium Park on Saturday, May 4, 2024,
from 1-7pm. Whether you're passionate about craft beer, a food aficionado, or just looking for a fun
outing with friends, there's something for everyone at this event!
Play Fore Education
Join us for a day of swinging, putting, and networking at the picturesque Fox Hills Golf &
Banquet Center for the 10th Annual Play Fore Education Golf Classic on Thursday, May 16,
2024!
Challenge yourself on the lush greens and scenic fairways of the Golden Fox, a par 72 course,
or the Strategic Fox, a shorter par-3 course.
Compete in various on-course contests for exciting prizes, all while supporting the Northville
Educational Foundation and its mission to enrich the lives of Northville Public Schools students.
Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to tee off for a cause and make a meaningful
difference in the community.
For more details, visit https://www.supportnef.org/play-fore-education or contact Kate Mitchell at
Thank A Super Sub - Sponsored by NEF
We are excited to announce a special addition to our March NEF Super Sub drawing! This month, along
with showing your appreciation to our dedicated Northville Public School Staff, you can also nominate
your student to be a special classroom helper. Just include your student’s name in the Additional Notes
section when purchasing tickets. It's a fantastic opportunity for your student to showcase their
leadership skills and responsible behavior. Plus, the proceeds contribute to our STEAM Fair scheduled
for April 24, 2024.
District News...
Calling all future Hillside Raiders
The Hillside Raiders spring store is now open. The deadline to order is 4/2 at 1pm. Please see the link to complete all order, Hillside Spirit Wear
Troop 755
Scouting offers a wealth of benefits for children, unplugging in nature, fostering personal growth, mental wellbeing, leadership skills, and a sense of community. Through engaging in outdoor activities, scouting encourages physical fitness, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. The diverse range of activities, from camping to community service projects, exposes children to new experiences and perspectives, broadening their horizons. Our recent campouts have included taking Scouts to see the Solar eclipse on the path of Totality and our merit badge education has included nuclear science at the particle accelerator at MU. Additionally, scouting provides opportunities for children to form lasting friendships and bonds with peers, contributing to their social development. Overall, scouting equips children with the skills and values necessary to thrive in all aspects of life, making it a rewarding and enriching experience for both children and their families.
Troop 755 would like to invite you and your children to an experience event on Monday April 15th 7-8.30pm at Waterford Bend Park (6 mile and Northville). It's free for the whole family. Learn fire safety and cook hotdogs (Vegan and Gluten free options available).
Attention all interested 5th grade students
Northville Middle School Cheer is hosting tryouts for the fall sideline season on June 3-4 from 4-6pm in the NHS Aux Gym. All interested athletes should register here: https://forms.gle/RPRxgkPWXiLAesP46
NMS Cheerleading cheers on the NMS football team throughout the season, participates in sleep-away summer camp, and tumbling instruction. There are no cuts for upcoming 6th-8th grade and no minimum skill required. We will also be hosting open gyms for interested athletes from 4-5:30 at the NHS Aux Gym on Wednesdays throughout May.
Skateboard to Success
OverBooked Book Club
All are welcome to join Northville Youth Network and Winchester Elementary PTA for the upcoming OverBooked Book Club to discuss the book Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids by Hunter Clarke-Fields, MSAE. Don’t have time to read the book? No worries! Come and join the conversation anyway! We will be meeting at the Winchester Elementary Media Center on April 25th at 6:30 PM.
Registration is now open for the Northville STEAM Fair!
Get ready to ignite your curiosity and celebrate a decade of innovation at the 10th Annual Northville STEAM Fair, powered by DTE MiGreenPower!
This collaborative event between Northville Public Schools and the Northville Educational Foundation introduces new possibilities with NEF's Scholarship Program, recognizing creativity and innovation in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
Scholarships await 6th-12th graders, while K-5th can achieve Certificates of Accomplishment. Awards will be unveiled during Community Night.
Northville STEAM Fair
Northville High School Main Gym
Community Event: Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
4th Grade Visit: Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM
This year, we're thrilled to introduce a NEW Scholarship Program, courtesy of the Northville Educational Foundation, celebrating academic excellence and innovation in STEAM fields. Awards will be presented during the Community Night, with scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000!
Scholarships
- Grades K-5: All Projects - Certificate of Accomplishment
- Grades 6-8: First Place Project - $500
- Grades 9-12: First Place Project - $1,000, Runner Up Project - $500
Registration for student projects is now open! Don't miss your chance to be part of "The Power of STEAM: Shaping the Next Decade"! Stay tuned for more details and be ready to showcase your project and passion for STEAM.
Registration Information
Let's celebrate a decade of innovation and inspire the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders together!
Gratitude to sponsors: Davey Tree, Schoolcraft College, Royal Truck and Utility Trailer, and Michigan Educational Credit Union. Join us in shaping "The Power of STEAM" for the next decade!
Wellness Wednesday
This April, the Northville Youth Network is thrilled to offer three dynamic programs. Young children will have a blast moving and grooving in Zumba Kids and unleashing their creativity in our Lego Self Portrait Workshop. Meanwhile, teens can gain invaluable insights on how to recognize financial scams and safeguard their identity.
Registration required at bit.ly/nynwellnesswednesday23-24.
We look forward to seeing you!
Northville Youth Network
Northville Youth Network (NYN) provides valuable programs and services to the Northville Community such as education and awareness, referral services and case work services. As part of the ongoing Social Emotional education NYN provides to our community, they have included resources that are available for parents! Please check out NYN's latest resource template as well as all of their other offerings! Be sure to check back in the future as their templates will be updated throughout the year. Here is link directly to the resource guide “How to communicate with your child, tween or teen in a better way!”
NYN reource template communicating with your child:tween:teen in a better way! (northville.mi.us)
Also, here is the link to the NYN Resource page with a list and link to all of the parent/caregiver resource guides:
Raise Funds For Northville Youth Network
Join Winchester Elementary School moms to raise funds for Northville Youth Network while having a great time!
The moms of Winchester Elementary are throwing their 2nd annual Mom Prom! It’s a ladies night out for charity in which women wear their old prom gowns, bridesmaids dresses, or formals and dance the night away for a worthy cause. Grab some friends, gather your gowns, put on a dress (old or new!) and join in for a fun night of fundraising. Northville Youth Network is thrilled to be the recipient of this year’s proceeds that will support programs and services for Northville children and families. See the flyer for more information and/or email northvillemomprom@gmail.com.