North Ridge Elementary has a strong focus on the core elementary curriculum along with our media, art, physical education, technology, and music specials. However, student life also involves teacher led extracurricular programs before and after school along with grade-level field trips.
UnicornucopiaUnicornucopia is North Ridge Elementary's huge annual community festival! The event is held on campus in the evening and has inflatable slides, games, music, food vendors, and more. We've even had limo rides, rock walls, and mechanical bulls before! Students and families create so many memories each year at this event and everything is run by the PTA, parents, and the community.
Field TripsStudents will have the opportunity to participate in various field trips throughout their years at North Ridge. Each grade level participates in at least two fields each year. Our planned field trips will enhance classroom learning by providing students with real-life experiences. These experiences are connected to the content area students are learning in class. Attending a field trip can be a highlight of the school year for students and teachers. Below is a list of field trips that grade levels have taken.
Kindergarten - pumpkin patch and a farm First Grade - a play and Prairie Ridge Ecostation Second Grade - NC Museum of Life and Science and the skating rink Third Grade - the library, Blue Jay Point County Park and Marbles Museum Fourth Grade - NC Symphony and the Outer Banks Fifth Grade - Washington, DC To learn more about field trips view the WCPSS field trip website. ExtracurricularsEach year, North Ridge teachers and outside groups offer after-school and before-school extracurriculars for students. These programs vary by year, but have included specialized art classes, drama club, chess club, the "Battle of the Books" reading program, sports practices, science clubs, a Students of Service club, math clubs, and many more.
Behavior ManagementNorth Ridge Elementary uses a program called Conscious Discipline. This methodology goes way beyond rewards and consequences for motivating behavior. Conscious Discipline is based on brain research. It is an adult-first model helping caregivers to remain composed and access a wide array of behavior management tools. Conscious Discipline tells us that we need to, first, build relationships and help students feel connected to classroom family. It tells us that student need to feel safe in order to make the best decisions. Conscious Discipline helps students to calm themselves when they get upset. It helps them take ownership of their behavior and become responsible problem-solvers. Mistakes are seen as an opportunities to teach rather than punish. To learn more about Conscious Discipline, we recommend this 20-minute video crash course made specifically for parents. |