Rocket Radar 11-1-26: Future Ready Rockets
🚀 Week 12: Future Ready Rockets
Over the past several weeks, we have taken a closer look at our Portrait of a Rocket and the competencies that will help prepare our students for success beyond graduation. Whether our students choose to enter the workforce, serve in the military, attend a two- or four-year college, or become entrepreneurs, we want them to graduate with more than a diploma. We want them to be Future Ready Rockets!
Here is a reminder of the six competencies that help make up our Portrait of a Rocket:
Communication: Expressing thoughts and ideas respectfully and effectively while listening to, understanding, and collaborating with others.
Integrity: Being honest, showing respect for yourself and others, and doing what is right even when no one is watching.
Responsibility: Taking ownership of choices, actions, and commitments while following through and accepting the consequences of decisions.
Critical Thinking: Asking questions, evaluating information, considering different perspectives, and using what you learn to make informed decisions and solve problems.
Leadership: Setting a positive example, taking initiative, encouraging others, and making a difference through your actions.
Empathy: Recognizing and understanding the feelings and perspectives of others and responding with kindness, compassion, and respect.
🏠 How can families help develop Future Ready Rockets?
Continue looking for everyday opportunities to practice these skills at home. Encourage meaningful conversations, provide opportunities for students to make decisions and take responsibility, ask questions that require them to think critically, and model kindness and respect in your interactions with others.
Remember, these competencies aren't developed in a single lesson or school year. They are built through everyday experiences, conversations, relationships, challenges, and opportunities to grow. Schools, families, and community partners all play an important role in helping our students develop these skills.
🚀 A Quiet Week, But Always Moving Forward!
We have a quieter week at Ridgedale as our athletes and extracurricular groups prepare for the upcoming winter competition season. While the calendar may be a little lighter, there is still plenty of work happening behind the scenes as our Rockets prepare for what’s next!
This past week, five of our senior athletes were recognized at a Rotary luncheon where we had the opportunity to hear from Coach Brian Agler, a Marion County native with an impressive coaching career spanning college basketball and the WNBA. Coach Agler currently serves as the Athletic Director at Wittenberg University.
During the luncheon, Coach Agler shared some valuable insights about what it takes to be successful. One message that stood out was the difference between playing hard and competing. Competing goes beyond effort. It requires strategy, preparation, planning, and grit. It means persevering through adversity, learning from challenges, and finding ways to turn obstacles into opportunities.
As we prepare for our next seasons of athletics, extracurricular activities, and academics, this is a great reminder for all of us. Let's not just work hard. Let's prepare with purpose, think strategically, embrace challenges, and compete to be better than we were yesterday.
Being a Rocket means continuing to grow, pushing ourselves, and making the most of every opportunity. Whether in the classroom, on the court, on the field, or in our community, let's keep raising the bar!
🚀 Reminder for the Week of 11/2/26
Tuesday:
Jr/Sr High Picture Day
🚀 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