The staff at North Ridge Elementary is excited to welcome our students and families to our Back to School, Meet Your Teacher, & Supply Drop-Off Event that is occurring tonight from 5:00-6:15 pm.
Last year, an idea to celebrate 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 came to life in a BIG way—with the creation of our first 6-foot Go-Hawk statue!
The idea grew into an incredible collaboration among students, staff, artists, local organizations, businesses, and community members. Students shaped the design, offered ideas, learned about public art, and even raised funds to make the vision a reality.
With additional support from the McElroy Trust, Waverly-Shell Rock Foundation, and generous community donors, the first Go-Hawk statue found its permanent home outside North Ridge Elementary School last fall.
But the vision was always bigger than just one statue.
This past year, students at Prairie West Elementary and Shell Rock Elementary have been involved in the planning process for Go-Hawk statues of their own—continuing a project that gives students a voice in creating something meaningful and lasting for their schools and community.
And now, those plans are becoming a reality! 👀
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗼-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗲𝘀—𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆!
Three elementary schools. Three statues. One Go-Hawk family. 💛🖤
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗚𝗼-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸!
The idea grew into an incredible collaboration among students, staff, artists, local organizations, businesses, and community members. Students shaped the design, offered ideas, learned about public art, and even raised funds to make the vision a reality.
With additional support from the McElroy Trust, Waverly-Shell Rock Foundation, and generous community donors, the first Go-Hawk statue found its permanent home outside North Ridge Elementary School last fall.
But the vision was always bigger than just one statue.
This past year, students at Prairie West Elementary and Shell Rock Elementary have been involved in the planning process for Go-Hawk statues of their own—continuing a project that gives students a voice in creating something meaningful and lasting for their schools and community.
And now, those plans are becoming a reality! 👀
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗚𝗼-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗲𝘀—𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆!
Three elementary schools. Three statues. One Go-Hawk family. 💛🖤
𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗚𝗼-𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸!
𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? Waverly-Shell Rock is launching a new literacy program this year: Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts, also known as 𝗖𝗞𝗟𝗔.
CKLA is designed to help students grow as strong readers and writers by pairing important foundational reading skills, such as phonics and decoding, with rich lessons in history, science, literature, and the world around them.
One of the strengths of CKLA is that students are not only learning 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 — they are also building the background knowledge and vocabulary that help them better understand what they read.
This program was piloted in several W-SR classrooms last year, and students in those classrooms showed amazing growth. We are excited to expand this work across the district and look forward to watching our students continue to grow as confident, capable readers.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀.
#GoWSR #GoHawks #Literacy #CKLA #BelongingOpportunityAchievement
CKLA is designed to help students grow as strong readers and writers by pairing important foundational reading skills, such as phonics and decoding, with rich lessons in history, science, literature, and the world around them.
One of the strengths of CKLA is that students are not only learning 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 — they are also building the background knowledge and vocabulary that help them better understand what they read.
This program was piloted in several W-SR classrooms last year, and students in those classrooms showed amazing growth. We are excited to expand this work across the district and look forward to watching our students continue to grow as confident, capable readers.
𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.
𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀.
#GoWSR #GoHawks #Literacy #CKLA #BelongingOpportunityAchievement
Just an FYI-The Waverly Health Center and some of their Regional Partners are completing practice drills in the North Ridge Elementary parking lot June 9th-11th. If you need to stop by North Ridge, please use the north parking lot. Thank you!
With a Smart Money Teacher Grant third-grade teacher Becca Elsamiller and her students at North Ridge Elementary brought the "Go-Hawk Buzz and Bloom Garden" to life!
Throughout the school year, students were involved in every step of the project. They calculated the area and perimeter of the garden spaces, researched pollinator-friendly plants, designed flower beds using selections from Wells Hollow Landscaping, and worked together to prepare, plant, and mulch the garden.
The project provided a hands-on learning experience that connected classroom lessons to the real world. Twenty-two third-grade students helped research pollinators and plant life cycles, learn about ecosystems, and discover the important role pollinators play in our environment. Along the way, they also built teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving skills while taking pride in enhancing their school grounds.
The Go-Hawk Buzz and Bloom Garden will continue to serve as an outdoor classroom for approximately 70-90 third-grade students each year, creating learning opportunities for years to come.
We are grateful to Becca for her creativity and dedication to providing engaging learning experiences for students, and to our donors whose support makes Smart Money Teacher Grants possible. Together, you're helping innovative ideas take root and flourish across the Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District!
🌻 Check out the photos to see this beautiful project in bloom!
North Ridge Elementary-4th Grade Wall-"Leaving Our Mark At North Ridge Elementary."
The North Ridge Elementary Staff wants to thank everyone for making this an outstanding school year! We hope you all have an awesome summer!!!
What a great day! The 2025-2026 North Ridge Elementary Field Day is in the books. We all had a lot of fun and our outstanding students did a great job! Thank you to all of the staff who helped lead the day! A special thank you to the parents and family members who volunteered, as well as to the W-SR Middle School students who helped run events! A special Thank you to Kylie Steege for taking our school picture again! It turned out GREAT!!! It is a GREAT day to be a GO-HAWK!!!
Putting on a play in 4th grade is about so much more than just memorizing lines—it’s a massive catalyst for growth during a pivotal developmental year.
Performing in a play:
Boosts Confidence: Standing on stage and delivering lines is the perfect antidote to the self-doubt that often creeps in around age nine or ten.
Teaches Real Teamwork: From the lead actors to the stage crew, kids learn that the show only succeeds if everyone works together and holds each other accountable.
Builds Empathy: Stepping into a character's shoes helps kids explore different perspectives, boosting their social-emotional intelligence.
Sharpens Literacy: Reading scripts, understanding subtext, and memorizing cues give reading comprehension and focus a major workout.
Whether they are in the spotlight or backstage, the pride of creating a show stays with them long after the curtains close!
4th graders challenged each other by designing marble mazes
And we have a winner....In library class our students have learned about a variety of new books in the March Madness children's picture book challenge. Students have shared which books they have liked the best. "The Wrong Book," by Drew Daywalt came out on top with our students. Thank you to our library teacher-Lindsey Baskett, and library associates Kelley Van Gelder and Sara O'Brien for leading the March Madness book challenge, as well as sharing their passion for reading with our students!
The weather is outstanding and we are so excited to host our kindergarten through 2nd grade VIP day this afternoon! Thank you to all of the VIPs who are attending, making this a special day for our students! We can't wait to see you!
Please mark your calendars for these North Ridge events in the month of May.
Have a GREAT Day!
Have a GREAT Day!
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the amazing teachers at North Ridge Elementary!
Thank you for the dedication, patience, creativity, and care you bring into your classrooms each day. You do so much more than teach—you inspire, encourage, and help shape the next generation of Go-Hawks. Your dedication builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and leaves a lasting impact on every student who walks through your doors. We are truly grateful for all you do to support and believe in our students.
A HUGE thank you to:
Mr. Wurth, Mrs. Willms, Mrs. Braley, Mrs. Nuss, Mrs. Amundson, Mrs. McCaslin, Mrs. Troyer, Mrs. Larimer, Mrs. Tucker, Ms. Hoth, Mrs. Gerk, Mrs. Elsamiller, Mrs. Holst, Mrs. Buttjer, Ms. Thorn, Ms. Bagnall, Mrs. Heying, Mrs. Carignan, Mr. Twait, Mrs. Baskett, Mrs. Meier, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. VanKley, Mrs. Goeke, Mrs. Riewerts, Mrs. Coughlin, Mrs. Poppe, Mrs. Sand, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Miller, and Mrs. Klahsen.
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #GoHawkLeaders #ThankATeacher
Thank you for the dedication, patience, creativity, and care you bring into your classrooms each day. You do so much more than teach—you inspire, encourage, and help shape the next generation of Go-Hawks. Your dedication builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and leaves a lasting impact on every student who walks through your doors. We are truly grateful for all you do to support and believe in our students.
A HUGE thank you to:
Mr. Wurth, Mrs. Willms, Mrs. Braley, Mrs. Nuss, Mrs. Amundson, Mrs. McCaslin, Mrs. Troyer, Mrs. Larimer, Mrs. Tucker, Ms. Hoth, Mrs. Gerk, Mrs. Elsamiller, Mrs. Holst, Mrs. Buttjer, Ms. Thorn, Ms. Bagnall, Mrs. Heying, Mrs. Carignan, Mr. Twait, Mrs. Baskett, Mrs. Meier, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. VanKley, Mrs. Goeke, Mrs. Riewerts, Mrs. Coughlin, Mrs. Poppe, Mrs. Sand, Mrs. Johnson, Ms. Miller, and Mrs. Klahsen.
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #GoHawkLeaders #ThankATeacher
As we head into Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to take a moment to recognize and thank the incredible staff leaders who have been working behind the scenes all year to support our Leader in Me initiative.
From planning meaningful learning opportunities for students to supporting fellow staff members, their impact is felt throughout our school every day. Our Lighthouse Team plays a vital role in coordinating efforts across Academics, Leadership, and Culture, guided by the dedicated leadership of Mrs. Amundson, Mrs. Elsamiller, and Mrs. Pentecost.
We are also grateful for our four staff action teams, who bring energy and creativity to their work in Service Projects, School Events, Student Leadership & SEL, and Staff Connection & SEL.
It’s inspiring to see so many educators stepping up to lead and make a difference at North Ridge. We are truly fortunate to have such a committed and passionate team! 💛
We want to say a BIG THANK-YOU to the Cedar River Readers Theatre for performing today for each of our grade levels at North Ridge! You were outstanding!!!
Fourth graders celebrated the culmination of a country research project by having an International Food Fair. Students brought food from the country they researched. Everyone enjoyed trying new cuisines. Many thanks to the parents who helped make this possible!
We are so excited for Day 2 of Kindergarten Round-up!!! We all had a great day yesterday, and today is going to be a lot of fun as well!!!
Happy Birthday Ms. Michelle!!!
Thank you to the Waverly Soifer Family McDonald's for allowing us to host the North Ridge Elementary McTeacher's Night this evening. We had a great time and appreciate everyone who attended! Thank you to parent group team member Kayla Moore for organizing the event! Thank you to the staff at McDonald's, and all of the North Ridge Elementary staff for helping to lead the event!
