In+The+News



2008-2009 School Year ROCKY RIDGE HOSTS ESL FAMILY DINNER ** In advance of January’s Multicultural Day, Rocky Ridge Elementary School held ESL Family Dinner Night last weekend. It was an opportunity for parents of a second-language to come together, see what students are learning, and plan ahead for Multicultural Day. Rocky Ridge Stages Successful “Leadership Academy” Based on four principles found within the book FISH!, Rocky Ridge crafts an annual Leadership Academy designed to teach students various life skills. According to organizers, this fall’s academy ranks among the most successful ever. Look for Rocky Ridge in the Hoover Section of the //Birmingham News// "Classroom Clips" each week. Mrs. Witherspoon' class wins the Hoover Positive Image Award for their WeeCyclying program, which encourages recycling in the school and at home! (HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS) – Two outstanding projects now capturing the attention of school and community leaders comprise our inaugural winners for the “Positive Image Award.” For September 2008, we award two 4th Grade teachers with this new award: Deer Valley’s Susan McCall and Rocky Ridge’s Taajah Witherspoon. McCall’s project, centered around the theme, “Laugh, Love, Learn Leave a Legacy” produced care packages for American troops based in Afghanistan. Additionally, McCall’s students donated shoes for troops to pass out to Afghan children at medical clinics. “This award means so much to me and my students. It was truly an honor. To continue to promote the already existing positive image of this great community is a privilege. The students worked so hard on this service project for the service men in Afghanistan. Our class goal this year is to focus on “Leaving a Legacy.” We will put this money to good use to fund future service projects,” Mrs. McCall said. Taajah Witherspoon’s class project, called “Weecyclers,” engages students not only in her classroom, but across Rocky Ridge and indeed the community. “In an effort to help the environment, my fourth grade classes recently researched and implemented a recycling program within our school. In addition to collecting and managing the recyclable goods, they also educate students by informing them of what to and what not to recycle. In addition to recycling, my students and I are currently planning several community involvement activities such as a school wide can drive for the underprivileged, a recycling drive to assist with educating our community recycling initiatives, and reading our Autobiographies and other Literature to the elderly and kindergarteners within our school and community,” Mrs. Witherspoon said. Started in 2008, the Hoover City Schools Positive Image Award is sponsored by Hoover City Councilman Gene Smith, Chair of the City Council’s Education Committee. The Positive Image Award gives $275.00 and recognition to deserving teachers each month who are furthering education excellence in positive, public ways.
 * BEIJING OLYMPIAN VISITS ROCKY RIDGE CLASSES ** Birmingham native and Olympic decathlete [|Trey Hardee] made a stop at Rocky Ridge Elementary this past Wednesday. Fresh from Beijing, Hardee spoke to several classes at RR, enlightening students on the Olympic process and fielding questions.

Students get ready to RUN!