Ridgefield School District

June 11, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

We are mere days away from the end of the school year and the start of summer break.
Please note, the schedule is different for our final week of school.  There is no late start on Wednesday, June 16.  Schools will start at their regular times (7:30 a.m. at the ELC, 8 a.m. for RHS, 8:05 a.m. for Sunset Ridge/View Ridge, and 9:05 a.m. for South Ridge and Union Ridge).

The last day of the school year is Friday, June 18, and it is an early release day.  Sunset Ridge/View Ridge release at 10:35 a.m.; RHS releases at 10:45 a.m.; and Union Ridge/South Ridge release at 11:35 a.m.  Ridgefield High School’s seniors have already wrapped up school for the year and will be walking across the stage to receive their diplomas at tonight’s commencement ceremony.  A little bit of rain in the forecast won’t dampen our spirits as we celebrate the Class of 2021!

I am so proud of all of our students for their resolve and perseverance during a challenging year.  I am also grateful to the community for rallying behind our students to provide support all year long.  “Ridgefield Resilient” is more than a slogan – it’s been a rallying cry and a model example of how we’re all stronger when we come together as a community.

Speaking of coming together as a community, a big thank you to those who attended Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, unveiling the new stadium entrance project, as well as everyone who lined the streets to cheer on our graduating seniors at last night’s car parade.  If you missed either of these events but still want to experience them, you can watch video recordings on the District’s Facebook page.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony video can be viewed here, and you can watch each wave of the senior parade separately at the following links. Honor graduates and students with last names starting with letters A-G comprised the first wave. Wave two featured students with last names starting with letters H-N, and the third and final wave featured students with last names starting with letters O-Z.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools. Stay well, and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan McCann, Superintendent

On Thursday, June 10, seniors from Ridgefield High School are celebrating graduation with a car parade through town. Beginning at 5 p.m., students will be driving decorated cars from Union Ridge Elementary School (330 N. Fifth Avenue) to Ridgefield High School (2630 S. Hillhurst Road).

The public is encouraged to join us in celebrating the Class of 2021 by coming out and lining the sidewalks along the route and cheering for the graduates as they drive by.  Please follow all COVID protocols when attending the parade.

Cars will depart from the front of Union Ridge, head west on Division Street, then turn south onto Main Avenue.  From there, they will make a left on Pioneer Street and drive east towards 9th Avenue, where they will turn right and head south towards Ridgefield High School (9th Avenue becomes Hillhurst Road).

The parade will come in three waves to accommodate all of the students:

Wave 1 starts at 5:00 p.m.  It includes students with last names starting with letters A through G and the honor graduates (seniors in the top 3% of the graduating class).

Wave 2 starts at 5:30 p.m. for students with last names starting with letters H through N.

Wave 3 starts at 6:00 p.m. for students with last names starting with letters O through Z.

The number of attendees allowed for this year’s in-person graduation is limited due to COVID restrictions, so the car parade is an important part of the celebration. Come out to join us as we cheer for our 2021 graduates. Go Spuds!

This summer, View Ridge Middle School seventh grader Teegan Moore will join other outstanding middle school students from across the nation to take part in the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Explore STEM, a unique academic and career-oriented development experience in Denver, CO. NYLF Explore STEM is one of the Envision by WorldStrides family of programs that enable students to explore their interests and experience learning beyond the classroom.

Earlier this spring, Moore was nominated by Sheila Davis, his seventh grade STEM teacher, to participate in the program.  Outside of school, Moore is involved in his local church and youth group and loves to build, be creative, hike and explore nature.  Moore says he is most looking forward to exploring the forensics and robotics portions of the forum.

“Teegan has shown so much growth this year,” Davis said.  “I thought he was a perfect candidate for the National Youth Leadership Forum for STEM because he approaches every challenge with an inquisitive and eager mind. He is driven, asks great questions and is clearly interested and excited about the work we do in STEM class each day. I really appreciate his attention to detail in his designs and his ability to turn his thoughts into drawings and models that communicate those ideas thoroughly. I am so excited for him to expand his interest and knowledge in STEM fields by taking part in the NYLF!”

“At NYLF Explore STEM, students build the confidence and skills needed to excel in high school, college, and the workplace,” said Amanda Freitag Thomas, Senior Vice President for Envision. “They learn how to adapt to and communicate in new situations, to new challenges, and with new people, which, given how rapidly the world is changing due to technology and innovation, are essential skills for success.”

For over 35 years, Envision by WorldStrides has empowered extraordinary students to become their best selves through programs that enable them to discover their passion, explore a career, and positively impact their world. In 2018, Envision became part of the WorldStrides family. The largest provider of educational travel and experiences in the United States, WorldStrides works with over 50,000 educators each year to help more than 550,000 students see the world—and themselves—in new ways.

For those interested in supporting this local youth, the expenses for this unique experience are approximately $3,700.00.  A fundraiser has been set up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/donate/270593798186616/. You may contact the family directly at benmoore40@gmail.com for additional giving options.

After a two-year hiatus, Ridgefield fifth graders will be returning to the Cispus Learning Center for a weeklong Outdoor School experience. For over 50 years, Ridgefield fifth graders have taken part in the annual camp experience, making it one of the longest-running traditions that has built bonds across generations. Sadly, COVID put Cispus attendance on hiatus for 2020 and 2021.

In the fall of 2021, for the first time ever, there will be two trips to Cispus. “We didn’t want any students to miss out on this amazing experience,” said Todd Graves, Sunset Ridge Intermediate School principal. “So we are doing something we have never done before and going to Cispus twice. That way this year’s fifth graders, who missed out on attending, and next year’s fifth graders will all get to enjoy going to Outdoor School.”

Learning is an all-day activity at Cispus. At the camp, students learn more than just academics. Their classes include hands-on activities like soil and water sampling and tree and plant identification. But kids also learn to build survival shelters and fires, practice manners at family-style dinners, and keep cabins and dining rooms clean.

Rain or shine, students have fun with outdoor classes, hiking, and campfires. The time they spend together leads to some of the best Cispus memories, like walking behind a waterfall or competing in the Golden Marshmallow contest at the campfire. While there are cabins for sleeping and common areas for dining and gathering, students spend as much time as possible enjoying the campgrounds, trails, and forest.

The whole Ridgefield community comes together to help with Cispus. Teachers and students are joined by camp counselors, who are high school students that likely attended Cispus as kids themselves. Volunteers take charge of many activities, from unloading suitcases to guiding hikes to teaching survival training.

Cispus is a once-in-a-lifetime event for fifth graders. For many of them, it’s a first taste of independence away from home, and a chance to challenge themselves with completely new activities. Ensuring that no students will miss out on attending Cispus is important for Sunset Ridge.

“We want all students to have the opportunity to attend,” Graves said. “It was hard to miss going last year, especially right after our 50^th anniversary. So we are making Cispus a priority for next year, making sure those students can share all the same experiences every other fifth grader has had for the last fifty years.”

Next year’s Cispus experience will be double the fun, with twice as many students enjoying a unique week of camp that opens new doors to learning.

Ridgefield High School students are still needed as camp counselors, especially for the boys’ cabins. With two Cispus camps in the same year, there will be more than 50 camp counselor positions available. Relive your favorite Cispus memories from a new perspective! To apply, please visit www.ridgefieldsd.org/o/intermediate-school/page/counselor-application-2021.

The students in Andrea Reinertson’s Business Marketing II class at Ridgefield High School have been crunching the numbers and analyzing the data ahead of an important conference call. Big decisions are being made about business strategy, taking into account recent sales figures and  market trends. But this isn’t a mere exercise; the decisions these students make will impact an actual business with a staff of employees and a financial bottom line to carefully consider.

The Birds and The Beans coffee shop was developed and opened in 2019 as a partnership between the founder and president of Killa Bites gourmet foods, Laura Jhaveri, and the business and marketing program at Ridgefield School District’s Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS). The coffee shop is a local gem, featuring organic, regionally roasted Red Leaf coffee and delicious, locally baked treats and sandwiches from Killa Bites.

Reinertson’s high school class creates all of the business’ marketing, from social media to signage. It’s a win/win collaboration: the students gain valuable job experience, and the coffee shop is the beneficiary of the ideas generated by a group of creative young minds working collaboratively, ultimately leading to an increase in foot traffic and sales.

Instead of reading about business in a textbook, Reinertson’s students are able to dig in and help tackle the real business challenges. Market planning and analysis have become second nature for these enterprising young entrepreneurs.

Where is the optimal location to place road signage for advertising? What kind of loyalty and incentive programs will be the most impactful for ensuring that customers keep coming back for more? What flavor combinations will be the most successful when launching new seasonal options?

These are just some of the questions this group is helping to answer during their weekly deep dive. After brainstorming and planning, Reinertson and her students are now fully prepared for their conference call with Jhaveri and Mike Bomar, the Director of Economic Development at the Port of Vancouver, who joined the group as a business mentor.

Reinertson and the CAPS students worked alongside Jhaveri and Bomar from the very beginning to conceptualize and create the coffee shop from the ground up. It was a massive undertaking, and a steep learning curve for the CAPS students. After many hours of work, the grand opening of the shop was a great success.

Since then, The Birds and The Beans has continued to rely on high school students to design, direct, and implement its marketing. Reinertson’s Marketing II class is getting hands-on experience in how to conduct strategic planning, marketing concept development, and sales analysis. Each student plays an integral role in creating and guiding the overall marketing efforts for the shop. They work alone or in small groups to focus on specific projects, then bring all of these elements together to determine how each one impacts the business as a whole.

The mentors help clarify for the students how marketing concepts apply to real life business management. They might offer ideas on why one promotion worked and another was less successful, or demonstrate how to increase profit margins by analyzing product costs. It is a master class in business marketing, with a local business at the center.

Jhaveri is impressed with what the students have achieved. “They have done an excellent job. Their marketing efforts have really paid off,” Jhaveri said, noting the steady increase in sales over the last four months. “It is a great real-life incubator for them to be exposed to the impact of marketing.” Jhaveri pauses and smiles. “And I love working with them.”

Bomar agrees. “This project helps build community,” Bomar said. “It has a local connection, and it gives the students a chance to develop business skills through direct work experience. It’s a great opportunity for them to work with professionals very early in their careers.”

Some students say the class has impacted their long-term career plans. Dallas Martin, a senior, has been working with Bomar on signage, determining where to place yard signs along the roads based on traffic patterns. “I want to have my own business someday, and understanding the marketing side of things is really important,” Martin said. “Mike has helped me get to know people and make connections.”

Sophomore Dillon Kirksey is also enthused about the work he has done with the coffee shop. He has focused on developing promotions, including flyers, announcements, and special coupons. “With the experience I got from this class, I’m more interested in pursuing marketing and business as a career,” Kirksey said. “What we do every day feels like a real job.”

As the school year comes to a close, the class is already planning ahead to keep The Birds and The Beans busy in the summer months. They are beta testing a curbside pickup service, text alerts, and even a coffee delivery service for teachers. They’re excited to find new ways to help the coffee shop continue to grow.

When you step into the lobby of the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center and walk up to The Birds and The Beans counter for a quick latte, a delicious dessert, or a delectable sandwich, you are helping Ridgefield students experience business, marketing, and entrepreneurship from a truly unique perspective.

Supporting The Birds and The Beans has an additional benefit: a portion of the coffee shop’s proceeds are donated to the RHS marketing program, allowing them to maintain this innovative partnership. Class period after class period, RHS students and their business mentors are working hard to make the coffee shop a special experience for Ridgefield coffee drinkers and students alike.

The Birds and The Beans is located inside the Ridgefield Administrative and Civic Center at 510 Pioneer Street. The shop is open year-round from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheBirdsandTheBeansRidgefield, their website at https://the-birds-and-the-beans.business.site/, and follow them on Instagram @the_birds_and_the_beans.

June 4, 2021

Dear Ridgefield Families,

The end of the 2020-21 school year is just around the corner, and next week is a big week for the Class of 2021.  Tuesday, June 8, is the last day for Ridgefield High School’s seniors, and graduation is on Friday, June 11.  I would like to take a moment to reiterate how proud we are of our students’ perseverance and strength of character.  The Class of 2021 exemplifies what it means to be “Ridgefield Resilient,” and graduation week is a perfect time to reflect and celebrate their achievements.  Congratulations to our graduates on reaching this important milestone, and we wish you luck and continued success in your future educational and professional endeavors.  Go Spuds!

In addition to next Friday’s graduation ceremony, I want to remind the community about some of the other opportunities to come out and show support for our seniors.  On Tuesday, June 8, the public is invited to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the official opening of Ridgefield High School’s new stadium entrance, inspired by the resilient Class of 2021.  The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be part of the District’s regular board meeting and starts at 5 p.m.

On Thursday, June 10, please join us for the senior auto parade.  This now annual tradition presents an excellent opportunity for community members to show their support for the Class of 2021.  It would be a fitting tribute for the community to show up in force to cheer on and celebrate a group of students who overcame many challenges this past year.  The parade runs from 5 to 7 p.m.  Graduating seniors and their families will drive from Union Ridge Elementary along Pioneer and Hillhurst Roads to Ridgefield High School.  The parade features three waves of students grouped alphabetically by the graduate’s last name, leaving Union Ridge at 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 p.m.

Last week’s clinic at RHS had approximately 300 individuals get vaccinated, and the follow-up vaccine clinic at RHS is on Wednesday, June 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the gym.  The clinic is open to the public, with both first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine available for those 12 years of age and up.  The single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is available for those ages 18 and up.

We will once again require that any student under the age of 18 have a signed parental consent form on file before receiving a vaccine. Our staff will again be confirming the signatures with families in advance of the clinic.  Please note that there are two sides to this form.

If you or your student will be getting vaccinated at this clinic, please book your appointment by registering in advance.  Note that the online registration system works best when using either Google Chrome or Safari web browsers.  The Internet Explorer browser is known to have errors when accessing the signup form.  The insurance information section of the signup is optional – you just have to select something for the “insurance type” field (selecting “no insurance” is an option).  Click here to register for the Pfizer vaccine (the only option for anyone under age 18), or click here to register for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine (only available for those age 18 and up).  If you need any assistance scheduling an appointment, including language assistance services, you can call (888) 225-4625 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools. Stay well, and remain #RidgefieldResilient.

Sincerely,

Dr. Nathan McCann, Superintendent