Thursday, May 10, 2012

Week of the Young Child - From April 23 through April 27 Ringwood Primary Center celebrated the Week of the Young Child.  This year's theme was Early Years Are Living Years.  Students brought boxes of cereal during the week to the FISH food pantry so students have the opportunity to experience the act of giving.

On Thursday the entire school participated in the Muscular Dystrophy Association Hop-A-Thon.  Mrs. Lueck led the school for a two minute "hop" in recognition of a kindergarten student in our building who has been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy.  This also took place in the afternoon with our student and his family present for the event.  The afternoon "hop" was filmed by the Northwest Herald.  Families sent donations and we also collected online donations.  Thanks to the generosity of the Ringwood School Primary Center staff and families our Hop-A-Thon raised $2,362.50 to support our student and the MDA as they work to find additional therapies, medications, adaptive devices and ultimately a cure for this disease.

The culminating activity was our annual parade.  This is an opportunity for students to participate in a parade and show school pride and spirit.  Each student created an instrument or noise maker as well as a cap to show off while marching.  The Grand Marshall duties went to the Schaefer family and they led the parade followed by the fire department as Cub Scout Pack 455 carried the colors.  The weather cooperated and many parents were able to attend and cheer for the children.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

On April 12 Ringwood School had their final Parent Night.  The topic was technology and our "Family Tech Night" was a huge success!  Students and their families were able to view and manipulate a variety of instructional devices used on a daily basis in classrooms and the computer lab.  I pads, I pods, a smart board, the smart table and several apps and software were enjoyed.  Staff members led the exploration and were available for questions or guidance.

Parents were impressed with the opportunities their children experience at school and students were proud to show off their knowledge and skills in the area of technology.

Friday, March 23, 2012

The last two weeks have been very busy at Ringwood School.  On March 14th our Frist graders and multiage students performed to a standing room only concert at the High School.  They were able to show the audience their musical, dance and speaking talents, which is outstanding.

On March 16th we welcomed all Kindergarten parents for Kindergarten Visitation Day.  Parents participated in a variety of activities demonstrating how hands-on interactive lessons are used to build academic and motor skills.  It was a very meaningful experience for all.

On the same day several staff members culminated months of planning, collecting and purchasing materials to simulate a day in the life of a pioneer for our second grade students.  This assembly goes along with our Social Studies curriculum and allowed students to understand and interact with tools, toys, musical instruments, cooking, carding and weaving, washing, and dressing during the pioneer days.  They learned about the emphasis on chores and families working together for survival.  The children were highly engaged during this meaningful assembly.

On March 23, Caitlin F. took over duties as "principal for the day."  She helped Mrs. Neiss celebrate "Principal Pride" and birthdays.  She decorated the office for Easter, did recess duty, read to several classrooms, inventoried books and counted pop money.  She ended the exhausting day by leading the 2nd grade Citizenship Assembly.  She was an outstanding, hard working "Principal for the Day!"

Have a safe and restful Spring Break!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Ringwood students were treated to a "Tops Assembly" designed and carried out by Mrs. Simon and Mrs. Faber as a culminating activity for our science "Balance and Motion" unit.  The "Tops Assembly" is an amazing opportunity for students to explore, discuss and handle an assortment of tops that illustrate the concepts studied in science.  Students bowl with tops, have contests and try the many different examples available.  The students love this hands-on assembly.

Another assembly enjoyed by all Pre-k through 2nd grade students was "The Bucket Boys".  They are from Nashville and have performed all over the world.  We were able to get them at a reasonable price because Mrs. Siudak knows them and found out they were going to be in the area last week.  They are high energy, interactive and extremely talented.  The students were highly engaged and enjoyed their skills thoroughly.  If you would like to view portions of a performance you can visit their website at www.bucketboys.net.

Monday, February 6, 2012

We enjoyed a very successful Science Night last week.  Almost 400 participated in our hands-on evening of exploration and learning.  The highlight of the night is always "Star Lab" which is a mini planetarium.  Students received lessons all last week in this amazing learning environment.  Students and parents crawled through the tunnel to emerge into a night sky dome where the instructor gave a lesson on constellations and star fields as well as how a star is formed. 

While Star Lab demonstrations were in progress, families participated in a variety of activities including: drawing silhouettes, paper making, sensory opportunities, bubble building, chick pea and toothpick building, invisible writing, volcanoes, balloon races, color mixing, magnet activities, tornado twisters, paper helicopters, marble mystery, rainbow glasses, balancing activities, making waves, and even more engaging activities that parents enjoyed as much as the children!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

So much has happened since my last entry that I don't know where to begin.  The holiday season is such a special time for little ones and we had an abundance of activities for the children to enjoy.  First grade students created Gingerbread Houses while Kindergarten students hunted for Gingerbread cookies, Santa visited and several classes participated in classroom plays, and we enjoyed a large production of "The Nutcracker."  On the last day before break we had our winter "Excellence through Effort Awards" Assembly.  The recipients were:

Kindergarten                                                    First Grade                                                    Second Grade
Melissa C.                                                                Dayna H.                                                            Jonathan A.
Isaac J.                                                                    Addy G.                                                               Ashton G.
Aliyah A.                                                                 Summer P.                                                         Halee L.
Matthew B.                                                             Abigail L-B.                                                        Sanya K.
McKenzie D.                                                           Michael L.                                                          Trevor R.
Conor B.                                                                   Molly B.                                                              Elijah H.
Payton F.                                                                 Alex M.                                                               Carissa R.
Annie M.                                                                  Mason D.                                                             Aiden M.
Nicholas G.                                                             Miranda M.                                                         Ashley J.
Audrey S.                                                                Lynea S.                                                               Molly W.
Preston M.                                                              Alex K.                                                                  Jason D.
Camryn T.                                                               Madie S.                                                               Avery M.
Nathan H.                                                                Ethan B.                                                               Michael K.
Dezarae K.                                                               Cade P.                                                                 John H.
Ben H.                                                                        Patrick B.
Kael B.                                                                       Ryan S.
Kevin S.

It was great to welcome all of the students back to school on January 4th.  It is very quiet and lonely around here without the staff and students!

We had our first Principal Pride Awards in 2012 on January 12th, those students are listed on the Ringwood Website under Principal Pride Awards.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

At Ringwood School Primary Center we are honored to celebrate Veterans Day with our students in attendance for a meaningful day of activities that help the children understand the significance of this special day.

During the morning time our students were able to visit a hands-on display of artifacts from wars.  They learned about uniforms and duties soldiers had during these times.  This interesting event was brought to us by several volunteers from the McHenry VFW.

In the afternoon we held the 13th annual Ringwood School Primary Center Veterans Day assembly.  We had 41 veterans in attendance.  Each veteran was escorted into the assembly by one of our students, generally a relative, and was presented with a medal as a sign of our appreciation.  Students then read letters, sang songs and thanked the veterans for their service and dedication to the United States of America.  Gene Nelson, a veteran and father of one of our staff members spoke to the students about his experiences and insights.  He helped the students to understand how much their tribute meant to the veterans who were present.  It was a touching ceremony and everyone present was proud of our veterans.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Red Ribbon week was enthusiastically enjoyed at Ringwood School.  Four of our students were selected to attend the kick off assembly at MCC because of their leadership qualities.  They were Trent Z., Molly B., Carlos M., and Mia F.

Each classroom made a poster to express their efforts to remain drug free.  Several of the posters can be viewed on the website.  Students and Teachers wore their ribbons proudly and participated in daily clothing requests which reinforced the message of the week.

Also during the week children were able to view and vote on their favorite display from the Annual Staff Pumpkin Decorating Contest.  One display was a huge pumpkin hollowed out and a beautiful miniature village was represented with lighting and music.  Another was a pumpkin carved into a bucket with complimenting phrases attached (filling our bucket is a theme this year).  Finally, the winning entry was a display of  "Angry Birds" who were ready to take flight.  The children took the voting process very seriously and were impressed with staff members creativity.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Last Friday the 1st and 2nd grade students participated in the "Fall Fest."  They enjoyed games, art projects, estimating activities, stories and of course snacks.  Students learn a great deal during these monthly events where they can choose the activities they would like to complete. 

On the same day kindergarten students took a field trip to the Johnsburg Fire Department and Johnsburg library.  While at the fire department they learned about fire safety and were able to view a variety of vehicles and equipment used by firemen.  At the library they received their library cards and enjoyed a tour of our wonderful facility.

Last night over 150 students and family members attended our Family Reading Night.  The theme was "A Community of Readers" and we had various community members in attendance to read to students.  We had a local farmer, nurse, and fireman present to read and answer questions.

At the end of the evening everyone gathered for milk, cookies and conversation.  Our family nights are a great way to share time as a family, learn new information and visity with community members.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The students at Ringwood School were very excited to observe the Homecoming Parade on Friday.  The transportation department has gone out of its way to allow the children to experience this community when even though it required a great deal of "man power."  The children made hats, headbands and noisemakers to show their support of the Skyhawks.  They were so excited to see siblings, neighbors and friends who were participating in the parade.  The weather was perfect and the sense of community and pride the children observed was meaningful for each of them.

Friday, September 23, 2011

September has been a busy month.  The children are settling in and transitions have been smooth for most.  Some parents were surprised when 2 weeks into school we had some tears and apprehension from students.  That is about the time that the reality of the demands and requirements of school actually set in.  Continue to be patient and positive.

On Friday, September 16th all the students at Ringwood School celebrated Constitution Day with a flag raising ceremony.  All students and staff were encouraged to wear red, white and blue.  We gathered around the flag pole and joined the American Legion representatives as they raised our flag, sang patriotic songs, recited the pledge and reviewed the traits of good citizenship.  We also had Betsy Ross and Uncle Sam in attendance.  Following the ceremony Betsy Ross and Uncle Sam did assemblies for 1st and 2nd grade classrooms regarding the history of the flag and the creation of our constitution.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Ringwood School Primary Center is off to a great start! The 2011-2012 school year will be one filled with excitement, fun and a multitude of learning opportunities.

The orientations for Pre-K, Kindergarten, First, Second, Multiage and ALP's classrooms were well attended. I am grateful for the enthusiasm and support our parents bring to these events!

As I said at each orientation I feel privileged to work with this group of talented and dedicated educators. I am so proud of the caring nurturing environment that exists at Ringwood and I am thankful for each staff member who contributes to this atmosphere each and everyday.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The last week of school was filled with meaningful and fun activities.

Pre K students had their outdoor day which was filled with games, and hands on activities.  They have grown so much this year!

At our annual awards assembly we honored students who were selected for "Excellence through Effort Awards."  These awards are given to students who work hard each day, set a positive example for others and make improvements in academics and work habits.  We are so proud of our award winners!

We also gave certificates and recognized our students who had exemplary attendance:

Mrs. Faber conducted our annual Variety Show and we found out that Ringwood Students have talent.  Students, parents and staff were entertained with musical and dancing acts as well as a musician and a comedian.  Those studetns were:

Announcers.......................Grace F., Cole F.

"Coin Song"........................Mrs. Faber's Class

"Star Wars" - piano duet.....Cole F., Mrs. Reitz

"I'm Wishing" - solo............Jennifer B.

"Ode to Joy" - piano solo....Simeon F.

"Bam" - dance.....................Mandy F., Maddie H., Mya L.
     Posters by Robert A., Saida B., Tyler B., Jessica C., Cole F., Megan P., and Jenny S.

"Halloween Fest" - piano solo...Mia A.

"Our Song" - vocal solo........Emma R.

Funny poem.......................Kyle R.

Card Trick Break:  Taylor B.

"Ode to Joy" - piano solo.....Ellie J.

"I've Got A Feeling" - dance...Harley A., Gracie C., Olivia F., Addison M., Jenny S., Molly W.

Fairy's Harp - piano sole......Sylvia D.

"Walking on Sunshine" - dance...Cailey B., Jessica C., Grace H.

Joke Break: Tommy O.

Gymnastics.............................Reegan C., Karley N.

Magic......................................Ms. Nelson, Mark W.

Program Cover........................Saida B., Jessica C., Grace H., Tiffany S.

Mrs. Dohrn organized our annual field day for 1st & 2nd grade students.  Students are grouped with children from other classrooms and are challenged to complete tasks, solve problems in a cooperative way and use creative thinking.  They love this day and thoroughly enjoy all of the activities.

The only difficult aspect of the last week of school was saying good bye to Mrs. Farrell and Mrs. Swikle.  They retired at the end of the year and we will miss them as much as they miss us!

I wish you all a happy and safe summer.  If you have any questions or concerns, Mrs. Temple and I are here all summer.  Don't hesitate to call!
 

Friday, May 27, 2011

This was an exciting week for Ringwood Students.  All the Pre-K students went to Make-A-Messterpiece where they were allowed to explore, create and just make a mess.  The teachers enjoyed it as much as our little ones!

The second grade went to Milwaukee Museum where our science and social studies curriculum comes to life for our students.  They are able to make valuable connections to the learning in 2nd grade.

Our kindergarten students enjoyed their "outdoor day" indoors.  Mrs. Huemann moved activities inside throughout the building and with the help of 15 high school volunteers.  The children had a great day!

Today was our Young Authors Celebration where staff perform the children's stories to parents and students.  Listed below are the winners from each grade level.

Kindergarten Stories:

My Snow Day - by Ronald B.
The Pink and Purple Lost Dinosaur - by Sara F.
The Magic Dinosaur - by Brooke K.

First Grade Stories:

The Knight's Adventure - by Thomas O.
Camping Fun - by Jonathan A.
Bunny Went to the Beach - by Skye S.

Second Grade Stories:

Jaiden's Magical Adventure - by Elizabeth J.
Tucker and Tutu - by Sarah F.
Super Snake - by Autumn C.

Congratulations to all the winners!!

Friday, May 20, 2011

We had an abundance of great field trips this week.  Kindergarten students went to a full day farm experience at Green Meadows.  Second grade students went to Bush School for an orientation to 3rd grade today.  Last Friday Pre-k and Kindergarten students were entertained by a traveling animal show while 1st graders went to a dog show at a local kennel.

Mrs. Davis' class was honored at Learning Resources Inc. for winning a video contest.  They were given lunch, a bag of products from the company and a photo opportunity as well as a touching ceremony where they were presented with a $1,000.00 gift card.  Mrs. Davis will appear on the cover of their catalog and the students will be pictured on the back.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Last night we were treated to the kindergarten concert.  The auditorium was full and the children were so excited to be "STARS" for the evening.

All of the students were able to enjoy the practices on Tuesday.  These opportunities are excellent rehearsals for concerts as well as practice for proper behavior in assemblies for spectators.  At this age everything the children do is a learning and growing experience. 

Monday, April 18, 2011

The children were involved in many meaningful activities during “The Week of the Young Child.” They brought in cereal, partnered with other classrooms for cooperative activities and enjoyed being in a parade. The fire department, police and drum corp. from the High School also participated and the children loved it.

We celebrated the end of the skating unit with a family skate night at “Skate on Grand.” We watched plenty of participants show off all of the skills they acquired in PE class.
 

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Welcome to Ringwood School Primary Centers Principals Blog. I will provide weekly updates highlighting students and happenings at Ringwood School. The school newsletter called “The Ringwood Reporter” will continue to be produced on a monthly basis in a more formal format.

One of my most enjoyable events in March was sharing a typical day as a principal with Christopher Wemple as he acted as “Principal for the Day.” Christopher was awarded this honor because he won the drop raffle from the JEPF Gala. Christopher read to students, completed a kitchen safety check, counted pop money, inventoried text books and supervised recess. At the end of the day he stated that he may consider being a principal in the future.