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Ridgetop Family Weekly: 1/16/26

Posted Date: 01/16/26 (04:38 PM)
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Families,

It was a busy Friday today at The Ridge. Our students did an amazing job today for our MLK assembly! We had our choir singing the National Anthem and our band and orchestra playing amazing pieces. We also had great student speakers, who highlighted different parts of Martin Luther King Jr. and his impact for us. Our students also got to watch a video that was part of a speech that he did. Here is a link to the video that the students watched. It is so applicable for them at this moment in their lives.

On top of that, there was a "buzz" about our updated cell phone policy that is coming up. It will take some getting used to, but I know that our students are going to be better for it.

As we look to next week, we have another packed week with Service Week and our Snowball Dance. So many great things going on here!

I hope you all have a great 3 day weekend!
 


Shaun Takenouchi
 

Upcoming Events

  • 1/19: NO SCHOOL (MLK Holiday)
  • 1/20 - 23: ASB Service Week
  • 1/21: 6th Grade Band/Orchestra/Guitar Concert
  • 1/23: PBIS Open Gym
  • 1/23: Snowball Dance

View the full events calendar 📅
 

Raider Staff Spotlight 🔦

Each week we will feature staff members at Ridgetop so that families get to know OUR Raider family better.

Raider Staff Spotlight: Ann Sveen, ELA Teacher.

Ms. Sveen

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- Eighth Grade ELA and Magnet ELA Teacher 

What do you love most about working at Ridgetop?
- I love laughing with my students and watching the joy in their faces when we are learning together. I also love this staff. No egos here just helping each other and oh yes laughing a lot. 

What is your favorite snack food and why?
- Nacho Cheese Doritos. I have always loved them. They are crispy and cheesy and go great with any dip. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
- I would go to Ireland because that is where my ancestors are from AND since I was five years old, I have wanted to go to Australia and see Ayer's Rock. The world's largest natural monolith. Every report on countries I did growing up was about Australia. 

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- I never teach the same way two years in a row. I always look for ways to make myself a better teacher. My dad was a voracious reader and so am I. I love to learn about new things all the time. Did you know the Carbon 65 molecule is shaped like a soccer ball? 
A smiling woman and man pose for a selfie in front of an audience.

Mr. Booth

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- Science Teacher

What do you love most about working at Ridgetop?
- Staff care about students and families at Ridgetop, and they teach/run their classrooms in ways that show that. It is amazing how unique that is, but it is rare to be in a building where so many people care AND have systems for showing it.

What is your favorite snack food and why?
- Trader Joe's Cats Cookies for People because they are the lowest-calorie chocolate delivery method of all the ones I've tried/priced out. (Needless to say, I LOVE chocolate).

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
- Batumi, Republic of Georgia because I lived in Georgia for 1.5 years when I was 19-20 and I'd love to see how things have changed; I'd love an excuse to brush up on my Georgian language skills and share the language and culture more with my kids; and finally, I have a friend moving there from the States for a few months, and it'd be great to visit him and his family there.
 
Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- Outside of the school day, I coach Esports and Raider Robotics as well as helping with the teacher's union. I have lots of opportunities in all three of those endeavors to learn new skills and help students and staff do better than they're doing now. In the process, it seems like I figure out many of my weaknesses and get to do better too!  
RAIDER STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Jeff Kahler, Teacher.

Mr. Kahler

What is your role at Ridgetop?
- 7th grade Social Studies teacher

What do you love most about working at Ridgetop?
- My daily interactions with the students in the halls. I also love being a middle school sports coach.

What is your favorite snack food and why?
- It changes all the time. Currently I am in love with flavored pretzels. They just bring me joy.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
- Denmark. My wife has family in Denmark and I visited once when I was in the military. I want to explore Copenhagen's history, especially their role in WWII.

Tell us how you either LEARN, LEAD, or GROW in your life, in your personal life or as an educator. 
- I try to learn something new every day. You need to exercise the muscle between your ears everyday or it will melt away.

RMS Service Week | January 19–23 🍰

RMS students are supporting the Kitsap Food Bank by creating Birthday Cake Kits to help families celebrate special moments.
Students are invited to donate the following items:
  • Cake mixes
  • Cans of frosting
  • Birthday candles
  • Foil cake pans
  • Cans of Sprite
Donations can be placed in grade-level collection boxes in the school office throughout the week.
Thank you for helping us spread joy—one birthday at a time!

Snowball Dance Happening Soon! ❄️

The annual RMS Snow Ball Dance will be taking place Friday, January 23 from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the cafeteria. 

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 9. Students must purchase a ticket to attend. Only RMS students may attend the dance. Tickets are $5 with ASB and $7 without. Tickets may be purchased online or at the ASB window before school or during lunches. Tickets must be purchased no later than 2:15pm on Friday, January 23rd.

To purchase tickets online, please visit https://wa-centralkitsap.intouchreceipting.com/signin
Username: Student ID
Password: Student’s last name with the first letter capitalized (ex. Smith)

Students enrolled in our Fee Waiver Program receive free entry; however, they must still go to the ASB window to be added to the ticketholder list. Students may also ​reach out to their counselor ​for ​financial assistance.

Please contact Ms. Lauth if you have any questions via phone: 360-662-2900 ext. 2923, email: KenzeeL@ckschools.org, or at the ASB window.

If you are interested in volunteering to help with the dance, please feel free to sign up here. Also, if you would like to donate some treats for the Dessert Dash for the dance, please click here.

Updated Cell Phone Policy 📱

I sent out our updated cell phone policy yesterday. Here is a link to the post about it.

Lost and Found 👕

Our Lost and Found is definitely getting really full. We will be donating any leftover items right after the 1st semester is over so we can start fresh for the 2nd semester. Please have your students come and claim their items soon!

Hidden in Plain Sight

Families, we wanted to share this virtual opportunity from our Student Assistance Professional.

I wanted to share an exciting opportunity coming up on March 12th from 6:00–8:00 PM: Hidden in Plain Sight. This is a virtual event designed for parents, caregivers, and other adults to learn about current trends, how to spot common warning signs, and how to start important conversations with youth.

January Focus

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

For the month of January, we are focusing on Perseverance. We are working on setting goals and being able to stick to them. Each week we will have activities for students to work on to support this.

Purchasing Yearbooks and 8th Grade Baby Photos 📸

Please purchase a yearbook for your Raider NOW through Feb. 1st. They are back on sale for a short time for $35. We sold out last year so buy one now! We seek PET photos from ALL grade levels:)

We also seek 8th grade baby photos. The deadline for these will be March 1, but please don't wait...the designers are excited to work on their spreads. and we may run out of space. Please email photos to beckym@ckschools.org.

Thank you parents and guardians!!

Becky Marshall, yearbook advisor

Student Withdrawal From Ridgetop 🚚

Planning a move or withdrawal? Please contact our Registrar, Kim Nededog, at 360-662-2900 ext. 2940 at least three days ahead of your student’s last day so we can help make the transition smooth.

Sports Weekly 🏀

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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