Rocket Radar for 10-18-26: Leadership
🚀 Week 10: Leadership
This week, we will continue our deep dive into our Portrait of a Rocket! Our Portrait of a Rocket helps bring our mission of Empowering Students to Reach Their Full Potential to life. As our students go directly into the workforce or military, enter college, or become entrepreneurs, being able to communicate, have integrity, show responsibility, utilize critical thinking, demonstrate leadership, and display empathy are critical competencies for success.
Our fifth competency is Leadership. Leadership means inspiring and influencing others in a positive way, setting a good example, and taking initiative to make a difference. Being a leader isn't about having a title or being the person in charge. It is about making good choices, supporting others, stepping up when something needs to be done, and helping a group work toward a common goal.
🏠 How can families practice this at home? Give your student opportunities to take initiative, make decisions, and contribute to your family or community. This might mean helping a younger sibling, volunteering to help with a family project, suggesting a solution to a problem, or taking the lead when working with others. Encourage your student to recognize when someone needs help and consider how they can make a positive difference.
Ask questions such as, “How could you help in this situation?”, “What makes someone a good leader?”, or “How can you encourage others when things get difficult?” Talk about leaders your student admires and the qualities that make them effective. Remind your student that strong leaders listen to others, treat people with respect, take responsibility for their decisions, and are willing to learn from their mistakes.
Leadership isn't about being the loudest person in the room or always having the answers. It is about setting a positive example, bringing out the best in others, and having the courage to do what is right…even when no one else steps forward. Every student has opportunities to lead, whether in the classroom, on a team, at home, or in the community.
📚🚀 A Big Week for Our 3rd Grade Rockets!
This week, our 3rd graders will take the Ohio State Tests in English Language Arts (ELA)! Families, help your Rocket feel ready to shine by reminding them to get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and take their time on the test.
Encourage them to read carefully, think through each question, and do their very best. Most importantly, remind them that they have been learning and growing all year, and this is their opportunity to show what they know!
🚀 Activities for the Week of 10/19/26
Monday:
Ridgedale Board of Education meeting in the district office
Tuesday:
Careers Made in Marion Expo for seniors during the day
Grade 3 ELA Ohio State Testing Part I
Wednesday:
Grade 3 ELA Ohio State Testing Part II
Spanish Field Trip
Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences from 4-6:30pm
Thursday:
OHSAA Volleyball Tournament vs. Millersport
Friday:
High school football vs. Lima Perry (Senior Night and Nucor Sponsorship Night)
Saturday:
Jr. high cross and high school cross country district meet
🚀 We’re Hiring!
Looking to be a part of our small school doing big things? We are looking for substitutes for food services, custodians, bus drivers, and teachers. Apply on our website.
As always, make it a great week, and go, Rockets!
Erika Bower
Superintendent
Ridgedale Local Schools