Students in the Glidden-Ralston Community School District (G-R) head back to the classroom at the end of next week, and staff members are more than ready to start the new year on the right foot. G-R welcomes a new superintendent, Tom Ridder, to the district this year, and he says he has been spending much of his time acquainting himself with the district and its teachers.
Like many school districts, G-R’s biggest challenge is filling open teacher slots. Ridder says the district is sitting well heading into the 2024-25 school year.
Teachers head back to work on Monday, Aug. 19, to ready themselves and their classrooms for students’ first day of school on Friday, Aug. 23. Student orientation is also slated for Aug. 19, with 7th/8th Grade starting at 9 a.m., 9th/10th Grade at 11 a.m., and 11th/12thGrade at 1 p.m. The all-school open house will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 21, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Ridder says the open house is an excellent opportunity for students and families to see all the improvements made to the school facilities over the summer.
The countdown to the first day of classes is in the single digits, and Ridder says now is the time for students to really start thinking about how they will make the most of their school year.
He encourages stakeholders to stay in touch with the district and its programs by regularly checking their website at www.glidden-ralston.k12.ia.us. Ridder serves as the shared superintendent for Coon Rapids-Bayard Community Schools, and Carroll Broadcasting will have more from him on the Crusaders in upcoming newscasts.
