Best Version of You!

 “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

I read a book in 1^st grade last week called  Why Am I Here?.  It was given to me by a parent and I love the message it imparts, that we are all in this world to “Be the Best Version of Ourselves.”  As you can guess it repeats this message over and over and the students really latch onto the words. They are excited to say them with me as I read the book.  For a first grader becoming the “best version of him/herself” is simple, but not always easy.    It is making good choices with their actions and words.  Choosing to take turns, doing homework instead of playing, cleaning up instead of leaving a mess.   First graders begin to learn that making those good choices makes them feel good inside.  The book also lets children realize they are not perfect and they don’t always make those good choices, but they should try each day to get better and better. 

The more I think about the book, the more I realize it is that simple for all of us (but not always easy).  We should always try to be the “best version of ourselves” because the “best version of ourselves” makes things better for everyone (not just ourselves).   We are never too old to strive to be better in our interactions with each other and the choices we make.  Expecting perfection from each other is an impossible standard to uphold and to hold others to each day. Becoming a superior self is always possible and as Ernest Hemingway said, certainly something noble to reach for in our lives. I'm going to try to think about it in my everyday choices and hope you do, too. 

Second grade students have been studying synonyms.  The teachers created a fun project to go with their study.  Try saying this one several times quickly (or in my case one time slowly) correctly…Synonym Cinnamon Rolls!  While the creation of them didn’t fill our hallways with that yummy cinnamon roll smell, the students created lovely projects that showed their understanding of synonyms. Here are a few pictures of those finished projects.  

Next week there is no school on Friday (10/2) for a teacher Professional Development Day.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier

Community Spirit

“One can acquire everything in solitude except character.” ~Stendhal

There was certainly no solitude at Eagle Ridge Academy last Friday evening.  Community spirit was in the air at Rockin’ the Ridge.  What a wonderful time to come together and share experiences!  Thank you for taking the time to bring your family to the event.  It felt so energizing to see people come out, despite the rain to bond with others in the Eagle Ridge Academy community.  A special THANK YOU to the PTO for all of their work in planning and carrying off the special event.  I know I am looking forward to our next community event to make connections and feel that sense of belonging.   Here are a few pictures from Rockin’ the Ridge to brighten your day!

Kindergarten students have been learning about plants.  They have learned the different parts of plants and found out that all parts of plants can be edible.  They even had a special day to gain first-hand experience on what different parts of plants can taste like.  Check out these pictures from Mrs. Palm’s class.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier

Connecting Learning

If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.  ~ Unknown

It has been a great week of collaboration in learning at Eagle Ridge Academy.  We certainly want our students to go far and are always looking for ways to connect student learning to real life and bring others, whether from the school or the community, together for learning.  At Eagle Ridge Academy, teachers work together (across grades and disciplines) to make learning meaningful for students.  They also look outside to the local community to make those connections.  The African proverb of “It takes a village…” is certainly true and our teachers understand the importance when it comes to the education of your children.  Read more of my blog to see what has been happening at Eagle Ridge Academy this week in regards to community, learning together, and making connections.

Fourth grade students have started the school year with a science unit on meteorology.  They have been learning about air pressure, weather fronts, severe weather (and its effect on our environment), along with many specific meteorological terms.  Mrs. Madigan reached out to local meteorologist Chris Shaffer (WCCO) to let him know what our fourth graders were studying and how they had been challenged to watch the weather each night to make note of the terms the meteorologists were using.  Mr. Shaffer was so impressed he highlighted our school at the beginning of his weather report on Thursday, September 10^th.  You can see his report at this link:

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/show/wcco-4-news/#.VfIFg46PM_w.email

By doing this Mr. Shaffer made a real life connection for our students and shored up the importance of what they are learning for them.  Thank you to Mr. Shaffer and the fourth grade teachers for making this learning extra meaningful to our students!

Mr. Anderson turned his classroom into a cave.  Why on earth did he do this?  I can think of a couple of great reasons.  First of all, the 1^st grade students have been studying the cave paintings in Lascaux during art this year.  They have learned about the different animals that lived in caves and during the time of these cave paintings.  The 1^st grade students also study habitats in science and while caves are not a habitat they dive into, the connection Mr. Anderson made will extend their learning further.  The art/science/history connection is another way to make learning meaningful.  Check out the pictures below to see the cave paintings the students made (Authentically by painting on their paper on the wall not on a table, I might add.).  Thank you Mr. Anderson for the experience!

Next week is our first formal dress day of the year.  Students are expected to wear their formal dress uniform on Wednesday, September 16^th.  We have picture retakes that day, so students who need their pictures taken or retaken will be in their formal dress already!  Please make sure you review the formal dress requirements on the website.

I look forward to seeing you on Friday evening (September 18^th) at Rockin’ the Ridge.  It is an exciting community event that runs from 6:00-10:00.  The PTO is still looking for some volunteers, so please check out the opportunities on the website.  In honor of Rockin’ the Ridge, we will have our first spirit wear day for students and staff on Friday.  Students can wear Eagle Ridge Academy spirit wear.  They should not wear jeans, but can wear any Eagle Ridge Academy bottoms or their regular uniform bottoms.

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier

Being the best version of yourself

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do.  Attitude determines how well you do it.” ~ Lou Holtz

Everyone has different abilities at the many things we try to do in life.  While I am at a high ability level when it comes to understanding and playing tennis, golf is much more of a challenge for me.  Students at Eagle Ridge Academy also have differing levels in all things they are learning to do at school.  Teachers work hard to meet students’ individual needs in the classroom setting.  In the primary grades the students work at their own pace to develop their reading skills with teachers setting expectations for growth along the way.  The same thing occurs in all grades for math.  Students are placed in classes according to their current ability levels (while still offering a challenge) by their teachers. We do not call these classes high, middle, and low.  All math classes in the School of Grammar are either at grade level or slightly above grade level moving at differing paces.  These are flexible groups and students move from class to class, as needed at different points in a school year or from year to year (when they have mastered particular skills).  It would be helpful if you talked to your child about math class just being math class, not high math or low math.  There is no prize or award for being in one class instead of the other.  Please help your child understand their math and reading classes are based on his/her needs at the time to help him/her become “the best version of him or herself!” 

Thank you to all parents who remembered that Monday was the first day to let your child walk down to the classroom on his/her own.  It is a step toward independence and learning to be responsible.  We still have people in the hallways in the morning to help the students who need assistance down to the classroom.  Remember your child needs to be seated in the classroom ready to learn by 8:00 each morning.  If your child is eating breakfast, you can drop them off at 7:30, so there will be enough time to eat and get to class. 

Don’t forget about Curriculum Night next Thursday, September 10^th for grades 1-5.  First and second grade homeroom teacher presentations are from 6:00-7:00 in your child’s classroom.  Specialists will present in the Commons from 7:00-7:30, and third through fifth grade homeroom teacher presentations are from 7:30-8:30.  We look forward to seeing you at this parents-only event.

Have a wonderful long weekend!

Mrs. Baier