Ridge Elementary School - An overview
Ridge Elementary School is located at the southern tip of the St. Mary’s County peninsula. Our rural school community is surrounded by water and nestled among homes and farms in the Ridge community. Currently, we have about 290 students enrolled in grades Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5. We pride ourselves on a dedicated staff, active parents, and families who are committed to excellence in our school.
Environmental education is integrated into the curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 5. Ridge Pride is an integral part of our philosophy of teaching and learning. Students are expected to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready learners in and out of the classroom. As future stewards of the environment, our students are learning that these school rules apply to the environment as well. Respectful behavior of life, plants, and the earth; Responsible stewards who recycle, reduce, and reuse; and Ready to do their part to preserve their backyard natural resource, the Chesapeake Bay.
Many of our students come from families whose livelihoods depend on the Chesapeake Bay and our farmlands, so they truly understand the importance of preserving our natural resources. This gives them a very unique perspective compared to others who are just coming to understand this concept through classroom education.
We believe that our school represents the fundamental nature of the Maryland Green Schools Program.
Environmental education is integrated into the curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 5. Ridge Pride is an integral part of our philosophy of teaching and learning. Students are expected to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready learners in and out of the classroom. As future stewards of the environment, our students are learning that these school rules apply to the environment as well. Respectful behavior of life, plants, and the earth; Responsible stewards who recycle, reduce, and reuse; and Ready to do their part to preserve their backyard natural resource, the Chesapeake Bay.
Many of our students come from families whose livelihoods depend on the Chesapeake Bay and our farmlands, so they truly understand the importance of preserving our natural resources. This gives them a very unique perspective compared to others who are just coming to understand this concept through classroom education.
We believe that our school represents the fundamental nature of the Maryland Green Schools Program.
Our Top Five Accomplishments
1. Environmental Education Lab (EEL)
Through a $10,000 grant from Dominion Power we planned, designed, and constructed an outdoor Environmental Education Lab (EEL). The lab is used year-round as an outdoor classroom by all grade levels. Teachers plan engaging activities that enhance our core curriculum. Some of our activities include teaching how to compost, lifecycles of plants and animals, and learning about the native species of plants found in our school yard habitat. The EEL is also used as one of our PBIS celebration stations. Students enjoy planting and learning in an outdoor environment.
2. Energy Reduction
In 2008, we started to become more aware of our energy consumption and the importance of conservation. This began our journey to find ways to reduce and was the catalyst for becoming a greener school. Since then we have consistently reduced the kilowatt hours used each year. In 2009, we reduced our usage by 6.84%. That same year we were awarded with a $500.00 incentive from SMCPS. In 2010, we were able to decrease our usage by 9.27% and once again received $500.00. In fiscal year 2011, we increased our usage just slightly compared to 2010, but were able to reduce our consumption from our starting point of fiscal year 2008. We have also been awarded the Top Energy Saver of the Month flag on several occasions. In 2011, we received the flag 3 times which was more than any other school in the county. We have created a culture of conservation which the students, faculty, and staff have embraced. Our school community works together to continue to conserve our energy.
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3. Blue Bird Nesting Boxes and Nature Trail
In March of 2011, we planned a nature trail with 12 blue bird nesting boxes. Students in each classroom assembled and took ownership of a nesting box. The nesting box kits were donated by our PTA. Each grade level completed a cross-curricular research project. These projects were presented at a Blue Bird Fair held in our multi-purpose room. Our Pre-Kindergarten classes learned about a blue bird's habitat and constructed maps that showed where various blue birds live. Kindergarten made eggs and painted them to represent the different species of birds that could be found living in the nesting boxes. Kindergarteners also made blue bird food and learned how to attract birds to our school yard habitat. First grade studied the life cycle of a blue bird and wrote research reports. Second grade learned about how the boxes should be cared for and maintained. This grade level is designated as our official spring box cleaners. Third grade used math to compare the weight and length of the blue bird to objects in the classroom. Fourth and Fifth grade researched facts about blue birds. Another element to our nesting box project was to see whether plain or decorated boxes would attract the Blue birds. Students found that there was no difference and the birds made nests in both the plain and decorated boxes.
Building Nesting Boxes and Making Blue Bird Food
Blue Bird Projects
4. Culture of Recycling
Every room in our school building has a green recycling container. On America Recycles Day 2011, students, their families, faculty, and staff signed Take The Pledge as a promise to recycle in our school and our homes. Our cafeteria staff encourages recycling by providing separate receptacles for disposing recyclable waste and trash/food waste. We have also encouraged an atmosphere of reuse. Our art teacher reuses egg cartons and paper waste. Our music teacher reuses empty water jugs as musical instruments. Our classroom teachers reuse materials in learning centers and as manipulatives. Parents donate gently used toys to use as prizes in our school-wide incentive program. This winter, our fifth grade students organized a coat drive to provide warm winter wear for our local homeless shelter. This year we will hold our 3rd Annual Book Swap in conjunction with Read Across America. The students enjoy exchanging their gently used books.
5. Tradition of Environmentalism
Completed butterfly garden 1998
When asked what they thought one of top five accomplishments would be, the staff and faculty all agreed that Ridge Elementary has a long history of environmentalism. Our staff and faculty have enjoyed reminiscing about the many field trips and projects that they participated in that reflect the conservationism that is part of Ridge Pride.
Over the years, the Ridge Elementary has taken full advantage of our close proximity to the Bay and its invaluable teaching opportunities. At one time, students traveled to Smith Island to learn about life on the Bay. Students visited the crab house and talked to watermen about how the changes in the Bay had affected their jobs and the Maryland crabbing industry. Students also took field trips to Point Lookout to learn about erosion, explore the peninsula, and learn about animals and sea life living there.
In the late 1980's students planted a butterfly garden and created a pond. This area became our first outdoor classroom and a great environmental teaching tool. Unfortunately, due to building modifications this area is now covered by our staff parking; however, this has given our current students the opportunity to create a new butterfly garden and outdoor classroom.
Through a conservation program sponsored by St. Mary's County, students and staff planted a grove of trees along the perimeter of our school property. Four years ago, we planted Red Bud trees, donated by the Elms Environmental Center, to enhance our front entrance.
Our students have also learned about farming and the importance of preserving the land. Local farmers brought in large farm equipment to teach students about cultivating and crop rotation as a way of enhancing the land. The children have hatched and raised chicks to learn about life cycles.
The Elms Environmental Center has also been an integral part of school. Starting in Pre-K students visit the center yearly, and some groups have also spent the night at the Elms Environmental Center and participated in activities planned by the center on multiple occasions. Ridge prides itself on being "green" long before environmental education became the norm.
Over the years, the Ridge Elementary has taken full advantage of our close proximity to the Bay and its invaluable teaching opportunities. At one time, students traveled to Smith Island to learn about life on the Bay. Students visited the crab house and talked to watermen about how the changes in the Bay had affected their jobs and the Maryland crabbing industry. Students also took field trips to Point Lookout to learn about erosion, explore the peninsula, and learn about animals and sea life living there.
In the late 1980's students planted a butterfly garden and created a pond. This area became our first outdoor classroom and a great environmental teaching tool. Unfortunately, due to building modifications this area is now covered by our staff parking; however, this has given our current students the opportunity to create a new butterfly garden and outdoor classroom.
Through a conservation program sponsored by St. Mary's County, students and staff planted a grove of trees along the perimeter of our school property. Four years ago, we planted Red Bud trees, donated by the Elms Environmental Center, to enhance our front entrance.
Our students have also learned about farming and the importance of preserving the land. Local farmers brought in large farm equipment to teach students about cultivating and crop rotation as a way of enhancing the land. The children have hatched and raised chicks to learn about life cycles.
The Elms Environmental Center has also been an integral part of school. Starting in Pre-K students visit the center yearly, and some groups have also spent the night at the Elms Environmental Center and participated in activities planned by the center on multiple occasions. Ridge prides itself on being "green" long before environmental education became the norm.