Ridgewood holds back to school celebration
WEST LAFAYETTE – Arianna Stevens volunteered at the Ridgewood Middle School New School Year Kick-off Celebration for one main reason.
“I love my school,” said the RMS seventh grader.
Stevens, her classmate Jadn Lindig and sixth grader Jessica Thompson manned the pick a pop game at the event held Sept. 7 in Burt Park in place of the school’s traditional open house.
“Our focus this year is on making connections with kids,” said Principal Trista Claxon. “Open houses can be so serious, but this is light hearted and fun. It’s also for the entire community.”
People of all ages were out at the park enjoying music by Barefoot McCoy, refreshments and games hosted by the students with the help of teachers and staff as needed. There also was a selfie scavenger hunt, chalk drawing contest, Fit Camp in the middle school gym and then Ridgewood Middle School’s football team took on River View at the stadium across the street.
“If you had a Ridgewood shirt on you got in free to the game,” Claxon said. “It was a way to build unity and get people excited.”
The students enjoyed the celebration because it let them interact with their teachers outside of the classroom.
“It’s pretty cool seeing them out here,” Thompson said.
Lindig agreed with her.
“This is more fun than an open house and shows us that they are more than just teachers,” she said.
Sixth graders Ian McCurdy and Garett Raymont were having a great time manning the marble game at the event.
“I like this better than an open house,” McCurdy said. “There are all kinds of activities and people can come out and see each other.”
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