On January 16th, 2017, over 100 students from the high school participated in the National Day of Service to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Day of Service was organized by student leaders.M

The largest service opportunity included hosting Literacy Festivals at the elementary schools, a concept promoted by the organization Lit World. This event included 65 students from the high school traveling to third and fourth grade classrooms where they read aloud a book about Dr. King and facilitated stations where students were empowered to “Be the Story” to improve their school, community and world. Students made a pledge to serve others and third graders took books home to share with others.

The other service projects took place at the high school. Students made over 25 blankets for the organization Project Linus, which will distribute the blankets to children who are ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Students also made birthday cards for children in foster care. This project complemented the Foster and Adoptive Family Services “We Heart Birthdays” program, and the organization was appreciative to have the opportunity to come and interview students in an attempt to raise awareness for teenagers in foster care.

Students not participating in service opportunities attended an assembly where motivational speaker, Jim Stroker, encouraged students to lead where they are. Connections between Dr. King and the Day of Service were made by the History Club and the RHS Chorus performed at the event.

In addition to the activities that took place at the high school, students at Smith School raised enough money to send over 25 service packages to troops through the organization Operation Care Packages.

Taking advantage of the recent internet trend, Dater School recently held a school wide contest that challenged each homeroom to create a Mannequin Challenge that represents Ramsey School District’s shared vision of 21st century learning. At the January 24th Board of Education meeting, fourth grade teacher Ms. Amanda Cilli and two of her students, Chloe Yi and Joseph Mazzilli, presented their homeroom’s winning submission. Ms. Cilli first explained how the class discussed the idea of 21st century learning and then reviewed the 10 skills that are outlined in “A Ramsey Student Will.” She went on to explain how the next steps of their process were to brainstorm how these skills apply to them as fourth graders, design a classroom scene to depict those skills, rehearse, and then film their final Mannequin Challenge. Ms. Cilli then passed the baton to Chloe and Joseph who guided the Board of Education trustees and audience through their video and explained how they set up each scene of “frozen” students to represent the concepts of 21st century learning initiative. The students discussed how the project helped them gain a deeper understanding of the district’s vision and promised to try and build on these competencies each day until their graduation from Ramsey High School in 2025!

• February 20 - District Closed
• February 21 - No School for Students - Professional Development Day
• February 21 - Board of Education Meeting - Smith School @ 7:30 PM
• February 23 - Wrap Around Kindergarten Registration Night - Ramsey High School, Room 118 @ 6:00 PM