Northville Public Schools board visits Ridgewood Elementary; students showcase BLAST, Young Fives and Girls Who Math

Board of Education members for Northville Public Schools visited Ridgewood Elementary for a school showcase that featured student leadership sessions, early-childhood programming and teacher recognitions.

At the center of the presentation were student-led demonstrations of BLAST (Building Leadership and Synergizing Together), a regular school meeting in which students review the district's leadership habits and practice “think win-win” strategies. Students Matthew and Jake described BLAST and led a segment in which peers Brynn, Lila and Everly explained examples of cooperation used at school.

The visit included three breakout demonstrations: Young Fives learning-through-play classrooms, second-grade ‘‘soft starts’’ that give students an active, low-pressure way to begin the day, and a ‘‘Girls Who Math’’ small-group session for fifth graders. Board members praised the programs for building confidence, curiosity and perseverance; one trustee noted she observed students adapting, testing and revising projects in the Young Fives room, and singled out the math club for fostering self-advocacy and growth mindset.

Staff and volunteers also highlighted practical outcomes. Principal Amy Terry said Ridgewood uses BLAST to reinforce leadership skills across grades and that the Young Fives program gives children extra readiness support before kindergarten. Teachers and school staff described soft-start activities that encourage collaboration and perseverance, such as cooperative puzzles and timed challenges that students repeat to improve.

The board used the school visit to present several ABCD awards recognizing Ridgewood staff. Nominations read at the meeting identified specific acts of care and classroom practice: Ms. Barron was praised for using prep time to support an injured child; Debbie Lalonde was lauded for accommodating a kindergartner returning to class after a broken leg; Deborah Rivera was commended for office support and follow-up; Tanya Nevalos received multiple parent and colleague nominations for daily leadership and support; Olivia Gianpaola and Kim Gull were recognized for teacher effectiveness and Young Fives leadership; and Devon Madigan was honored for responsiveness and compassion.

Superintendent Dr. Weber and board members said the Young Fives program has shown early success and cited parent feedback describing marked improvement in children’s readiness and comfort with school routines. Board members and district staff noted that student engagement in math, leadership, and collaborative problem-solving was visible across the visit.

The board discussion included brief Q&A with participating students and staff about program frequency, group composition and how lessons from BLAST and soft starts translate to classroom routines. Teachers said BLAST groups generally keep the same students across sessions and that soft-start activities are chosen to align with one of the eight leadership habits for repeat practice.

Looking ahead, the board and administration described plans to continue supporting Young Fives and to consider expanding small-group opportunities such as Girls Who Math in response to growing interest.

Visitors were invited to complete a school survey to provide feedback on the visit and programming.