May 2014 Newsletter - Elkhorn Public Schools

May 2014
Spring Ridge Review
A Message from Mrs. Petersen
It’s hard to believe that we have only one month to go before the
end of the year. Where does the time go? The next few weeks will
be exciting and filled with many activities in the classroom. Our goal
for this last month is to keep students on a routine that will maintain
a positive learning environment in the classrooms.
Fun Day will be held on Monday, May 19. This is a time to celebrate
our year while participating in team activities. If you plan on having lunch with your child, please fill out the form attached to
the newsletter and return it to school on by Friday, May 9.
Thank you!
“Soaring to New Heights” was our theme this year at Spring Ridge
Elementary. It has been rewarding to meet your students and observe how each individual student has grown over this academic
year. They have reached far and high and due to their dedication,
the guidance of a teacher, and your continued support, the students
have truly met great success!
We wish a fond farewell to our teachers who are leaving us after this
year. These wonderful teachers have made significant contributions
to Spring Ridge Elementary. We appreciate all that they have done
to make Spring Ridge a better school. They will be missed! Thank
you, Mrs. Luebbe and Mrs. Morrow!
Thank you for a great school year! It has been a pleasure working with
all of you this year. I have appreciated your dedication and support.
Please have a safe and happy summer. See you in August!
Laurinda Petersen
Spring Ridge Principal
Spring Ridge Elementary
Calendar of Events

May 1—2nd Grade attends
Rose Theater

May 2—NO SCHOOL
Teacher In-Service

May 5 - PTO Meeting, 7:00 PM

May 9 - Carnival

May 9—3rd Grade takes
Elkhorn History Tour

May 15 - Student Council visits
the Humane Society

May 16 - Kindergarten visits the
Zoo

May 16 - 1st Grade visits
Lauritzen Gardens

May 16 - 5th Grade Field Day

May 19 - Fun Day

May 20 - ERMS Jazz Band &
Show Choir performs for Spring
Ridge Students

May 22—Last Day of
School/5th Grade Graduation
Report Cards go home
Inside this issue:
School Supply Order Thank
You
2
Summer Learning Tips
2
PTO Presidents’ Message
3
Important Dates to Remember
3
Thank You Volunteers
4
Carnival
5
PTO Fundraiser Results
6
Carnival Thank You
7
Boy Scout Sign Up
7
Fun Day and Picnic
8
Taher Food Service
9
Golf Fore Grants
10
Elkhorn Foundation Hall of
Fame
11
2013-2014 School Theme:
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS
Page 2
Spring Ridge Review
Learning Can Continue in the Summer
Have fun with your child this summer, but don’t let learning take a vacation.
Here are some things you can do with your children to keep their minds active
and to give them good starts in school next fall.
Play word games and reading games. Try looking for letters of the alphabet
on signs as you drive. Play “I Spy,” Scrabble and Pictionary – all help develop vocabulary skills!
Read Together. Research shows that the most important way parents can
help their children become better readers is by encouraging them to read at
home.
Visit the library.
Develop creative writing skills. Buy a notebook and encourage your child to
keep a summer journal – recording one event a week; drawing pictures; inventing some stories. You might “publish” some of these stories by sending
them to grandparents or friends.
Write letters. If your family goes on vacation this summer, have the children
write a letter or email to the departments of tourism in the states that you
intend to visit.
Learn how things work. Give your child a broken alarm clock or another gadget you were going to throw away. Let them take it apart.
Keep household financial records. Before you go shopping, have children read
ads and compare costs.
Plan outings together.
Put on shows. A few yards of cloth, some out of style clothing, and imagination are all it takes to transform your living room or backyard into a theater.
Learn a new sport together.
Study the weather.
Learn to cook!
Although busy parents may find some of the activities difficult, even 15-20
minutes spent each day on joint projects with your children may pay big dividends. Have a happy and educational summer!
Spring Ridge Elementary
Page 3
What a great year….
Dear Spring Ridge Parents,
As I sat down to write my first PTO President newsletter submission, I began to think back on
all of the things we have accomplished as a PTO this past year. I am very proud to say that
we accomplished a lot! We purchased over $20,000 in new technology for the school, had a
mural painted in the cafeteria, purchased new playground equipment (tether ball, frisbees,
soccer nets, footballs, etc.), helped to pay for additional field trips, new books for the book
room, guided reading tables, first grade rugs….the list goes on and on. Needless to say, PTO
was busy and spent over $48,053 this year. This would not have been possible without all of
your support. Thank you!
I give credit to our dear President, Christy Clement, who was a great leader and friend. We
will definitely miss her spunk, dedication, and smile here at Spring Ridge. We wish her and her
family only the best in Oregon. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Mrs. Petersen, Mrs. Manske,
the Spring Ridge Staff, the Executive Board: Jenny McKenzie & Christy Croom, as well as, all
the Committee Chairs, and parent volunteers, etc. You all did so much and deserve a pat on
the back. Thank you!
Although the school year is quickly coming to an end, we still have a few things to look forward
to in May. CARNIVAL is just around the corner on May 9th from 5-8 p.m. Please mark your
calendars and plan to attend. Melanie Nielsen and Ann Schuchardt, our carnival chairs, have
been busy planning this fun-filled event. We will also have one more Family Fun Night in May.
This will be held at Dairy Queen with more details to come home in backpacks soon.
I am honored to serve as your PTO President for the upcoming school year. I definitely have
big shoes to fill, but assure you that I will do the best that I can. I am confident in the new
board Co - Vice Presidents – Melanie Nielsen & Christy Croom, Secretary Ricci Nisley, and
Treasurer Jenny Williams. I look forward to working with them. I wish you all a safe and relaxing summer. See you in August!
Jenny Haase
PTO President
Important Dates to Remember
Thursday, May 22nd:
The last day of school for the 2013/2014 school year. Fifth
Grade Recognition begins at 9:30 a.m.
Dismissal will be at 11:30 a.m. There will be no lunch served
that day.
Tuesday, August 5th:
Back to School 101, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, August 7th:
Open House, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Monday, August 11th:
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Page 4
Summer Reading Opportunities
Karen Berry from the Elkhorn Branch of the Omaha Public
Library will come visit Spring Ridge on Thursday, May 15th
on the Eagle Report to give a quick rundown of their summer reading program and will leave flyers to distribute.
The Summer Reading Program through OPL runs May 31July 31st. Children are challenged to read 10 hours over
the summer and will earn prizes. Registration will be on
the Omaha Public Library web site. Also, the Elkhorn
Branch will have a kickoff party May 31st, which will involve
Thank you Volunteers!
Spring Ridge students and staff would like to show our appreciation for the continued support that we have received
from parent and community volunteers. “Sweet Snacks” will
be provided at the May PTO Meeting on Monday, May 5th at
7:00 PM to say thank you for all of the “sweet” things you
have done to support our school!
Check Check-A huge thanks to all the parents who
helped with check-ups on teeth, ears, eyes, and height
this year. Your help was greatly appreciated.
Dental Screening:
Height Weight Vision Screening
 Debbie Gordon
 Mindy Foral
 Mindy Foral
 Traci Fichter
 Kim Raymond
Hearing Screening
 Jenny Haase
 Tina Dunham
 Lynae McKay
 Lynae McKay
 Lindsey Benson
 Donni & Tiffany Stanton
 Donni & Tiffany Stanton
 Gina Kohl
 Jodi McShannon
 Margo Minnich
 Tara Duda
 Tara Duda
 Ann Schuchardt
 Shari Kunert
 Kirstin Fox
 Jenny Haase
 Lucy Newman
 Janan Dippel
 Michelle Hamilton
Page 5
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 6
Spring Ridge Review
A GREAT BIG thank you to Melanie Nielsen, Ann Schuchardt, the entire
Carnival Committee and all of the volunteers for helping to make this
year’s carnival the best one ever! We know that you have been working
so hard for many months to make sure that this is a great night for
Spring Ridge students and their families, so THANK YOU!
Thank you to Carolyn Dynek and Kelly Moody for planning a special 5th
Grade Graduation send off for all of our outgoing 5th graders!
Thank you to the 2013 – 2014 Committee Chairs: Kelly Nelson, Leslie
Mayo, Katrina Venn, Jill Wiesner, Trish Kathol, Melanie Nielsen, Ann
Schuchardt, Donna Larson, Ricci Nisley, Kathryn Gustafson, Linda Shadoin-Grier, Raina Consdorf, Jodi McShannon, Evelyn Millward, Megan
Gregory, Nikki Kirshenbaum, Amber Evans, Summer Franco, Tina Farrell, Terri Eischeid, Lucy Newman, Mandi Chaplin, Laurie Webb, Kim
Behrends, Kay Crocker & Rebecca Barnes. We have enjoyed working
with all of you! Last but not least, thanks to the executive board members: Jenny McKenzie & Christy Croom.
Page 7
Spring Ridge Review
Many Thanks...
A Huge thanks you to the 2014 Carnival Committee. Without all of your hard work &
creativity, this would not be possible. We thank you all very much!! Food committee: Jill
Peters & Amy Knight, Games committee: Jen Athy, Raffle committee: Theresa Svoboda,
Free throw challenge committee: Brenda Ohlrich, Cake Walk committee: Evelyn Millward
& Nikki Kirshenbaum, Volunteer Committee, Kim Raymond & Staci McDonald, Treasurer:
Amy Parks.
Thankful for each of you,
Ann and Melanie
SIGN UP FOR CUB
SCOUTS!
Monday, May 19th at 6:30 p.m.
Spring Ridge Elementary
School
When you sign your son up for Cub Scouting, you're signing him up for much more than an afterschool activity. Whether he's camping for the first time or catching his first fish, your son will be taking part in activities that are fun, as well as building his character and starting him on a path to success.
While there are lots of cool badges to earn, the experiences he has along the way will be the true
rewards.
DISCOVER THE SCOUTING EXPERIENCE





Family Camping
Pinewood Derby
Outings and Field Trips
First Aid
Hiking





Swimming
Outdoor Games
Woodcrafts
Sports
Community Service
Call Cubmaster, Tom Svoboda at 402.884.0900 or email thomasjsvoboda@gmail.com if you have
questions or are unable to attend Monday night. Cub Scouts is for all boys entering 1st to 5th grade.
Page 8
Spring Ridge Review
Page 9
Spring Ridge Elementary
Page 12
Spring Ridge Elementary
SAVE THE
DATE
5th Grade
Recognition
Thursday, May 22
9:30—11:00
Invitations will be
sent home
The Spring Ridge Review is a
monthly newsletter published by
the staff and volunteers of
Spring Ridge Elementary School,
- Elkhorn Public Schools in Omaha, Nebraska. Article submissions are due on the 20th of each
month.
17830 Shadow Ridge Drive
Elkhorn, NE 68130
Spring Ridge Principal
Laurinda Petersen:
lpetersen@epsne.org
Secretary
Muriel Manske:
mmanske@epsne.org
Editor
Rebecca Barnes:
rbarnes101@gmail.com
Contact: 637-0204 for
more information.
www.elkhornweb.org