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Ridgetop Family Weekly: 11/3025

Posted Date: 11/30/25 (08:06 AM)
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Families,
 
I hope that you are getting to enjoy the break and be able to spend time doing what you love! I know I have said this before, but I feel like the year is just flying by. I swear it was just the start of November not too long ago!

One of the messages I plan to share with students is to focus on finishing strong. One of my most memorable coaches growing up always would preach to us about finishing strong and till this day it has stuck in me. I know that these next 3 weeks can be tough weeks for both students and staff, but my hope is that as a school we can finish strong and get to Winter Break on a high note. This will be our focus as we enter in back from Thanksgiving Break.

Last, but not least, thank you to all of you that could make it out for our first family lunch day of the year. These are always fun days to see our students with their parents and siblings. Also, thank you for supporting our toy drive, as we had over 40 toys get delivered today! Thank you to our PTSA for putting this on.

Well, keep enjoying those last days of break and we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back here on Monday!

Shaun Takenouchi

Upcoming Events

  • 12/3: Winter Orchestra Concert @6:30pm


View the full events calendar 📅
 

Raider Staff Spotlight 🔦

Each week we will feature two staff members at Ridgetop so that families get to know OUR Raider family better.
Mary Tanner, ELA and History Teacher, skis on a snowy mountain slope.

Staff Spotlight (Mrs. Tanner)

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- 8th Grade Language Arts, U.S. History and 6th Grade Social Studies

What is the coolest thing on your bucket list?
- Hiking in Patagonia- both Argentina and Chile

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
- My favorite holiday tradition is decorating for the holidays. Each ornament holds a special memory-whether it is something my kids made or a place we have visited- unpacking the ornaments allows me to relive wonderful experiences. I also make baklava each year to honor my Greek heritage and keep my grandmother's recipe alive.

Which fictional family would you most like to join? Why?
- I would love to live with the Huggins Family from Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary. He lived on Klickitat Street with Ramona Quimby as his neighbor. The series takes place in the pacific northwest in the 1950s. Henry had many freedoms not afforded by young people today- he could ride the city bus with his friends to swim at the Y, he was industrious with his paper route, and most of all he was never alone- with his trusted dog Ribsy by his side for many adventures. These stories capture Americana at her finest.

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- Some ways in which I learn, lead or grow in my personal life include trying new sports- being new at something is a great reminder of how it feels to be a student experiencing learning of a new subject for the first time. I also echo the sentiments of being a lifelong learner. I feel it is important to understand and listen to people with differing mindsets and challenge myself to the most gracious understanding of another point of view. This has led me to change my mind on several issues both politically and socially. Having an open mind and heart is often harder than it may seem. Stepping away from the echo chamber of work or close social circles and curating different voices is a challenge I have had the bravery to take on as I age.
Raider Staff Spotlight featuring Erin Waschak, a Paraeducator.

Staff Spotlight (Mrs. Waschak)

What is your role at Ridgetop?
-  AAS (Adaptive Academic Support) paraeducator

What is the coolest thing on your bucket list?
-  I want to travel around Europe. I have been to England and have a trip planned for Ireland and Scotland this summer. Someday I want to go to Italy, Greece, and Spain.

What is your favorite holiday tradition?
- This is my favorite time of the year! My absolute favorite thing to do is decorate my house. My living room looks like a rustic Christmas wonderland. I love how warm and cozy it feels with all the lights up and the fire going. 

Which fictional family would you most like to join? Why?
- I would like to be part of the Weasley family. I have always wanted a big family (I wanted 8 kids at one point in my life). I like how loving and close the family is. Plus, I mean come on, to be a wizard would be so cool! 

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- Everyday I lead with calmness, patience, logic, and by example so that the students see what is possible when discipline meets compassion. Everyday I'm learning something new by keeping an open mind. I like to think that as much as I support the students, they teach me just as much. 

Kidzz Helping Kidzz Toy Drive 🧸

Would you like to brighten the holiday season for a child in the hospital? Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy to our Annual Toy Drive to support Kidzz Helping Kidzz. To learn more about where donation goes, please visit these links: 


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.

December 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 December, we are focusing on compassion. We are working on caring for others and being able to support others in our Raider Family.

After School Homework Help 📚

Ridgetop offers After-School Homework Help every Tuesday and Wednesday after school until 3:45 p.m. in the library. This is a great opportunity for students to stay on top of their learning in a quiet, supportive environment.
Students may use this time to:
  • Catch up on missing assignments
  • Make up tests (with prior teacher approval)
  • Work on current homework, projects, or studying
The program is supported by two fantastic staff coordinators and many Ridgetop National Honor Society members who volunteer as peer tutors, with occasional additional support from Olympic and CK High School tutors.
If students choose to stay during this time, please be aware of the following expectations:
  • Students must stay for the entire session (no early pick-up)
  • Students must be picked up between 3:45 – 4:00 pm in the front of the school, unless they walk home
  • Students must remain in the library
  • No food or drinks are allowed in the library
This is an excellent support for students who could use extra time, structure, or help after school.
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Kayla Frank, Assistant Principal & Athletic Director, at kaylaf@ckschools.org .

Sports Weekly 🏀

Winter 2 Sports Start January 5!

Our Winter 2 athletic season begins Monday, January 5, the first day we return from winter break. Our Winter 2 Season includes:
🏀 Girls Basketball (Cut Sport)
  • Open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls
  • Tryouts start January 5
🤼 Wrestling (Non-Cut Sport)
  • Open to all students
  • Practices start January 5
There will be interest meetings for both sports before the season begins. Please remind your student to listen to morning announcements for dates and times.
Registration & Clearance on Final Forms Required Before Participation: Students must be registered and cleared in FinalForms before trying out or practicing. According to WIAA and CKSD rules, this includes students having a current physical that is valid throughout the entire season and physicals being less than two years old. Physicals should be uploaded to Final Forms or dropped off at the school front office.


We’re Hiring: Assistant Football Coach (Spring Season) 🏈

Ridgetop Middle School is seeking an Assistant Football Coach for our spring season!
  • Season Dates: March 16 – May 28

  • Practices: Monday–Friday after school
  • Games: 6 games plus a jamboree
  • Role: Support our athletes while working alongside the head coach and another assistant coach
We’re looking for someone with experience and knowledge of the game, strong communication skills, and a genuine passion and ability to connect with and support middle school students. This is a great opportunity to positively impact student-athletes both on and off the field.
If you’re interested, please apply through the district website linked here.
Interviews will be held in January.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Kayla Frank, Athletic Director, at kaylaf@ckschools.org .



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

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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