New Family Information
Rippleside ElementaryHigh SchoolIf you live outside of the Aitkin school district, please complete and return the Open Enrollment Form
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Welcome! Dan Stifter,
Superintendent
Dear students and parents,
I hope you have had time to relax and enjoy time with your families this summer. Our families and our community have earned the opportunity to have some down time, hopefully you were able to do that as well. I want to welcome you to the 2023-2024 school year. This summer has been a busy time at ISD #1. At Rippleside Elementary we have been updating the HVAC system to improve ventilation as well as replacing some well worn carpeting in the hallways. The High School is undergoing much more renovation, the final round of the Phase III plan. We are finishing up the secure entry project from last summer. This includes a renovation to the commons/cafeteria area and a relocation and remodeling of the high school office, the nurses office and the district office. The work completed in both buildings will enhance our learning areas for our students. Our elementary school provides many educational opportunities for our students. We also provide educational opportunities through the use of our school forest. We have created an outstanding program using our school garden that successfully brings fresh fruits and vegetables to our school lunch rooms, creating our farm to school chain of produce. We provide a wide range of opportunities for our students to continue exploring and learning at the high school level as well. Students have the opportunity to earn over 40 college credits before they graduate from high school. These credits and honors can be earned without ever leaving our High School building. Our high school still maintains an active Agriculture program, with an Industrial Technology program that helps students build additional skill sets needed to be successful in a wide variety of trades. Our school is on the cutting edge of technology in the classrooms with all students being issued a MacBook computer grades 9-12 or an iPad grades K-8. We will continue to expand our learning opportunities with the innovative use of technology in our building. Learning also happens outside the regular classrooms. We offer over 18 different activities and clubs, over 15 athletic teams for students to be a part of during their high school careers. The Aitkin Gobblers have a long and proud history of building and supporting our students in the many activities they choose to be a part of while they are a part of our programs. Just like previous years, we will be asking parents and families to do home health screenings before sending or coming to school. If your student is experiencing any fevers or symptoms of an illness, we once again ask that you keep them home until they are symptom free for 24 hours. This will help us all stay healthier. We will not be requiring masks this school year. Students and staff are welcomed to wear them, but they are not required. We will continue with our cleaning protocols from last year. Good cleaning and hygiene practices are always a good thing for us to do. We are excited about the 2023-2024 school year and the opportunities it holds for us all. We look forward to having our students back and working with them and their families to provide a top quality educational experience for everyone. I hope you have a great experience as a member of the Aitkin Gobbler Community! Daniel J. Stifter Superintendent, Aitkin Public Schools We Are ISD #1 |