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Ridgetop Middle School

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Ridgetop Family Weekly: 11/7/25

Posted Date: 11/07/25 (05:24 PM)
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Families,
 
It was such a fun week getting to celebrate our Students of the Month. I love hearing what staff are saying about our students and all the awesome things that they are accomplishing.

I am looking forward to the week ahead and being able to celebrate our veterans and active duty military men and women. I know our staff and students have been working really hard to get ready for our assembly on Monday. We hope you are able to join us!

Have a great weekend.


Shaun Takenouchi

Upcoming Events


  • 11/10: Veterans Day assembly (7:25am)
  • 11/11: NO SCHOOL
  • 11/14: PCHS Dental (More details below)

View the full events calendar đź“…
 

Raider Staff Spotlight 🔦

Each week we will feature two staff members at Ridgetop so that families get to know OUR Raider family better.
Raider Staff Spotlight featuring Mrs. Carrie Crain, Special Education Teacher.

Staff Spotlight (Mrs. Crain)

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- I am a special education teacher who works with kids across the building to support their learning needs. I also teach Literature Basics and Study Skills.

What is something new you have learned about yourself in the last year?
- I have learned that change can be challenging, but the growth you make as a person from change is worth the challenge. 

How do you recognize when you are stressed?
- When I feel overwhelmed is a good sign that I am stressed. 

What is the best advice you've ever received?
- This is related to when I am feeling stressed. Don't waste energy on what you can't control, focus on what you can change. 

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator.
-  I learn every day by listening to my students, colleagues, and even my own mistakes. My students teach me as much as I teach them; they remind me that patience, creativity, and flexibility are key to success.
A family poses for a photo outdoors, surrounded by trees.

Staff Spotlight (Mrs. Conley)

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- My role at Ridgetop is as a Paraeducator.

What is something new you have learned about yourself in the last year?
- As someone who's new to the world of education, I have learned so much about myself this year. One of the biggest things I have learned is how much I truly enjoy working with students and seeing them grow academically. It has been such a rewarding experience, and it truly fulfills my cup everyday to work with the amazing students and teachers here at Ridgetop!

How do you recognize when you are stressed?
- I know I'm feeling stressed when I start having trouble concentrating or making decisions. When that happens, I like to take a step back and make a list of what needs to be done, then work through it one thing at a time until I feel back on track. I also find that taking a break to read a good book helps me relax and reset. 

What is the best advice you've ever received?
- The best advice I've ever received was to never let life's roadblocks keep you from reaching your goals. That message has stayed with me over the years and continues to guide me through the challenges and obstacles I face along the way. 

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- In both my personal life and my work as an educator, I've always felt that learning never truly ends. I love finding new ways to challenge myself and grow, both for my own fulfillment and so I can better support the people around me. Right now, one of the ways that I am continuing that journey is by going back to school to earn my Masters in Education, as I have loved working with both the teachers and students here at Ridgetop and hope that I can learn new ways to help them be successful!

Resources for Families

We handed this Resources document out during conferences, but in case you didn't get it or need it again. Below are links to our district community resource page, along with different languages as well.

PCHS Dental Services

We have partnered with PCHS dental to provide dental services for students. On, Nov. 14th, PCHS will be in our parking lot providing dental services for students. If you are interested, please use the QR code to get an appointment.

November Focus

This year, every month we are going to have a specific character focus that we are working on as a school. For the month of September, we are focusing on Professional Student. Each week, we will be focusing on different aspects of being a professional student.

For the month of November, we are focusing on gratitude. We are working on appreciating others and showing kindness.
An invitation to a Veterans Day celebration at Ridgetop Middle School, with an American flag background.

Veteran's Day Assembly 🇺🇸

We would like to invite any and all to our Veteran's Day assembly. We take great pride in honoring and celebrating the men and women who serve our country. Please join us in this special occasion.

Veteran's Day Assembly Slideshow

Do you have a veteran in your family or friend circle that you would like to recognize during our annual Veterans Day slideshow? 

Please send Mrs. Payfer the following by November 5. Her email address is melissap@ckschools.org

A photo of your servicemember (preferably in uniform)
Name and Rank and/or Rate of the servicemember
Your relationship to the servicemember
Branch of service

We’re Looking for a Head Wrestling Coach! 💪

Do you (or someone you know) have a passion for wrestling and a heart for developing middle school athletes? Ridgetop Middle School is seeking a Head Wrestling Coach to lead our program during our Winter 2 season.
Season Dates: January 5 – March 6
Practices: Monday–Friday
Competitions: Begin January 21 (approximately two per week), including 9 regular-season meets, 1 “JV” tournament, and 1 championship meet
Role: Lead and oversee the RMS Wrestling program. This includes communicating proactively with families, upholding our CKSD athletic policies, and supporting and mentoring student-athletes in both skill development and character growth alongside a team of two assistant coaches.
We’re looking for someone who brings energy, integrity, and a passion for helping students grow, on and off the mat! 🏆
Interested? Apply on the district website (linked here). Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. 
Questions? Contact Mrs. Kayla Frank, Athletic Director, at kaylaf@ckschools.org.

Sports Weekly 🏀

Here is a link to our sporting events for the coming week.

Ridgetop Cares — Together We Make Sure Every Raider Can Thrive.

Ridgetop Cares helps bridge the gap for students and families — providing essentials like food, school supplies, clothing, and fee assistance through a partnership between the Ridgetop PTSA and RMS Counseling Team.

If you could use a little help, reach out to your RMS counselors.
If you’d like to donate to help Raider families, please visit ridgetopptsa.org

Would you like to be an Adult Mentor for our students? 🙋🏼‍♂️

Ridgetop is in need of adult mentors. All it takes is 1 hour per week to make a difference in a student's life. The goal of the mentoring program is to develop positive relationships between schools and students, parents, and community.  All mentors receive training on how to support students with goal setting, and peer relationships.

Mentoring takes place on school property. Mentors may play board games, draw, practice flashcards, read, discuss grades and study habits, or just spend time talking. If this sounds like something you can do, please get in contact with our building coordinator Jeff Kahler@ jeffreyk@ckschools.org. Adult mentors make a huge difference in a youth's life.
 

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