PTO Co-Presidents: Katie Tokarewich and Darla Tolva 

Learn about Peluche, the school mascot, and life at Nature Ridge School.

Click here for information about the faculty.

Summary:

Grades: K-6

Enrollment: 775

School Hours: 8:30- 2:30

Mascot: Wolf

School Colors: Blue & Gray

School Attendance Sequence

Instructional Programs and Support for Student Learning:
The District Improvement Plan guides the work of School District U-46. The plan is directing the district efforts to achieve the goal of Academic Success for All Students. To meet this goal, the district has developed the Curriculum Roadmap. The Roadmap provides an overview of the curriculum at each grade level. 

·     Instructional Areas- information on content and curriculum in the different instructional areas

·    Programs at Nature Ridge Elementary School

• Reading – Balanced Literacy Program
• Math - Everyday Math
• Science - FOSS
• Support Services  
  • SAFE Program AM & PM

 Extracurricular Offerings: 

• Battle of the Books
• Young Authors
• Family Nights
• After School Academy - Enrichment Classes
  Read an article about After School Learning (Daily Herald 2-6-06)
• Opportunities for musical activities
• Sports
• Evening events

Parent Involvement:

One often hears the term “active PTO” and at Nature Ridge it means the parents are actively involved in supporting the school. They are there after school to run academies that enrich students’ learning.  These academies held after school can include Young Rembrandts, painting projects, Ti Kwon Do, Basketball, etc.

They are there for fundraisers to purchase a variety of materials from educational books for teachers to music risers for chorus. 

There are also Monthly Movie Nights that allow students to visit school for fun activities. Pizza and popcorn are served to complete the movie experience.  Events like this make school not only a place to learn but a place to have fun.

The parents also support and organize activities such as Fun Fairs or Fall Fest but the business of educating their children is also a priority. They attend informational meeting such as Math and Literacy Nights that guide them through computer programs their children are using as well as what they can do at home to support their child’s learning.  A communication tool used to provide parents with a picture of what their child is working on and what expectations are is the daily planner.  Students in grades 2-6 write down assignments and activities in their planner and take it home to share with their parents. At times they are asked to sign the planner to assure the teacher that they were aware of an assignment or problem that has arisen. 

Community Involvement/Partnerships:

• Charitable Events
  Food drives, etc. held at the school encourage student involvement in community outreach.

• Natural Garden
  Students at Nature Ridge have a perennial garden in back of their school that was planted by the Bartlett Park District. Besides being a beautiful addition to the school landscape it provides the fourth grade science classes with an outside classroom to learn first hand about plants. The garden is also a project for the Girl Scouts who have made a commitment to keep the garden blooming and healthy by dividing plants and weeding when necessary.

• Vulcan Materials Co.  (link http://www.vulcanmaterials.com/ )
  Vulcan Materials is located down the street from Nature Ridge. They have provided the school with educational and financial support.  As a producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel used in nearly all forms of construction they are in a position to offer help with earth science units in science. They also offer tours of their facilities to students and their families.
  
• Bartlett Police Dept. - D.A.R.E.
  The 8-week program for 5^th grade students is co-sponsored by the Bartlett Police Dept. and the PTO. Students learn not only how to resist drugs and alcohol, but how to be a better person overall. A graduation ceremony is held at the end of the course. Parents and family members are invited to graduation where students wear their DARE t-shirts and celebrate with cake. The chief of police and mayor of Bartlett are always guest speakers at this event.
  
• Bartlett Cheerleading Association
• Bartlett Fire Dept.
• Bartlett Public Library
• Boy Scouts
• Dunkin Donuts
• Dogfather Hot Dogs
• Elgin High School - TAP
• Gail Borden Public Library - B.O.B. and Parent Workshop
• Girl Scouts
• Great America - Read to Succeed program
• Hanover Township
• Jewel
• Mike Kenyon
• Mainstreet USA Skating
• Marcus Corp. 
• Nest Cafe
• Target
• Villa Olivia
• Young Rembrandts
• Elgin Community College
• National Louis University