Students and staff showcase programs at Ralston Public Schools board-appreciation night

At its regular meeting the Ralston Public Schools board hosted an annual board-appreciation program featuring student performances, demonstrations and short presentations by district teachers.

Vocal music teacher Susie Carney said the Rush Show Choir is ‘‘about 70% through our competitive season’’ and recently made finals at Wahoo; the choir performed excerpts from a desert-and-water themed set. Middle-school Family and Consumer Sciences teacher Jasmine Blakey described a foods and sewing curriculum that yields student projects such as fabric bookmarks presented to board members. High-school art teachers displayed student-made coasters featuring student artwork and invited students to describe their projects.

Middle-school HOPE Squad sponsors and student members described peer-support activities, including ‘‘stress shredder’’ exercises, spirit weeks and pocket-the-positive message campaigns designed to help students identify trusted peers and reduce stigma. A teacher-sponsor said the group was formed after the school lost students to suicide and emphasized peer listening and early-intervention activities. The Inclusive Practices Academy presenters outlined co-teaching models, universal-design-for-learning strategies and a ‘‘seed packet’’ metaphor for focusing on student strengths in IEP planning.

Why it matters: The program highlighted classroom instruction, extracurricular success and school-based mental-health supports. Board members received district-branded portfolios and thank-you cards; staff said the evening is intended both to thank board members and to put student work and programs in front of district leaders.