Rocket Radar for 10-11-26: Critical Thinking
For Week 9, we will focus on Critical Thinking for our Portrait of a Rocket competencies to bring our mission of Empowering Students to Reach Their Full Potential to life. Whether our students go directly into the workforce or military, enter college, or become entrepreneurs, being able to communicate, have integrity, show responsibility, utilize critical thinking, demonstrate leadership, and display empathy are essential skills for success.
Critical thinking means thinking carefully, asking questions, evaluating information, and considering different perspectives before making decisions or solving problems. It means looking beyond the first answer, using evidence to support your thinking, and being willing to reconsider your ideas when you learn something new.
🏠 How can families practice this at home? Encourage your student to be curious, ask questions, and explain their thinking during everyday activities. Whether you are working through a challenging homework problem, deciding how to handle a disagreement, planning a family activity, or discussing something in the news, give your student opportunities to think through different possibilities.
Ask questions such as, “How did you come to that conclusion?”, “What evidence supports your thinking?”, or “Is there another way to look at this?” You can also encourage your student to consider what might happen next or how they might approach a problem differently. Rather than immediately providing the answer, give them time to think, explore possibilities, and develop their own solutions.
Critical thinking is not about always having the right answer. It is about being curious, asking thoughtful questions, considering different perspectives, and using what you learn to make informed decisions. When students learn to think critically, they become better problem-solvers, decision-makers, and lifelong learners.
Quarter 1 ends on Wednesday, October 14. This is a great time to look at grades with your student and make a plan to proactively kick off Quarter 2. Reminder that you can check your child’s grades at any time on PowerSchool.
Parent/guardian-teacher conferences are this Thursday from 11am-7pm and Wednesday, October 21, from 4-6:30pm. If you have not scheduled times with your student’s teachers, be sure to do so as soon as possible.
🚀 Activities for the Week of 10/12/26
Please note there is no school for students on Thursday due to parent/guardian-teacher conferences and on Friday due to COTA Day for staff.
Monday:
Jr/Sr high quarterly award field trip for qualifying students
7th grade volleyball tournament at Elgin
Tuesday:
8th grade volleyball tournament at USV
Wednesday:
End of Quarter 1
5th grade field trip to Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Chipotle fundraiser from 4-8pm supporting boys’ basketball
Thursday:
Parent/guardian-teacher conferences from 11am-7pm: Be sure to sign up for a time! No school for students.
High school volleyball vs. Waynesfield Goshen for SENIOR NIGHT
Jr. high football vs. Waynesfield Goshen
Friday:
COTA Day: No school for students or staff.
High school football at Waynesfield Goshen
Saturday:
Jr. high cross and high school cross country at North Baltimore for NWCC meet
🚀 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