Ridgefield School District Celebrates December 2025 Students And Employees Of The Month (Photo) - 12/10/25

On December 9, Ridgefield School District officials recognized the December 2025 Employees and Students of the Month at the regular Board of Directors meeting. Congratulations to all of this month’s honorees!

Students of the Month

Yvi Hall, Pre-K at the Early Learning Center

This month, we are thrilled to celebrate Yvi for showing our Early Learning Center’s character trait of the month: Responsibility. Yvi always does her best work and takes good care of our classroom materials. She follows routines, makes good choices, and is always ready to help when someone needs it. Yvi is also very kind and welcoming to others. She helps make our classroom a place where everyone feels happy and included. She enjoys her teachers and loves being an important part of our classroom community, and that joy shows in everything she does. We are so proud of Yvi and the positive example she sets each day!

Adalyn Spence, 1st Grade at South Ridge Elementary School

Adalyn consistently demonstrates our core character traits of Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be Well, making her an exceptional role model for her peers. She approaches each day with a positive attitude and a genuine desire to make our school community a better place. Whether she is greeting classmates with a smile, offering support to a friend who needs help, or showing appreciation to her teachers, Adalyn’s kindness shines through in everything she does. Her strong work ethic is equally impressive. Adalyn gives her best effort on every assignment, asks thoughtful questions, and actively seeks feedback to improve her understanding. Teachers often note how engaged she is during lessons and how responsible she is with managing her materials, completing tasks, and staying focused. She approaches challenges with determination and demonstrates resilience when learning feels difficult. Adalyn’s willingness to go above and beyond—for both her classmates and her own growth—embodies what it means to “Be Well.” She creates a supportive classroom environment by encouraging others, collaborating respectfully, and stepping in to help without being asked. For her kindness, strength, responsibility, and commitment to excellence, Adalyn is truly deserving of Student of the Month.

Kobe Edwards, 3rd Grade at Union Ridge Elementary School

Kobe Edward’s teacher immediately noticed him, not because he was the first to have every correct answer or to show off how smart he was, and he is very smart. He was not the most outspoken, the fastest to finish his work, the silliest, or the loudest. What stood out was a kid who was continuously looking for ways to help others shine. From the first week of school, Kobe has been the first to step in when someone needs help, whether it is cleaning up a spill, reorganizing materials, or supporting classmates who are struggling with new concepts. He explains things with clarity and patience and never seeks recognition. His kindness is steady, genuine, and woven into everything he does. When the teacher asked students during conference time whether they had a friend they could count on, Kobe’s name surfaced again and again. He is everyone’s friend, someone who notices when others need support, makes sure every student feels included, and works to ensure every voice is heard. Kobe embodies integrity and humility, and he truly represents what it means to be Student of the Month. Staff members across Union Ridge see the same qualities in him. In the art room, he participates thoughtfully, applies learning goals to his work, and spreads kindness. At recess and lunch, he helps clean tables, picks up equipment, and goes above and beyond without being asked. He treats others with respect, plays fairly, and models what it means to be a positive community member. Kobe is an exceptional student and an even better human being. We are so proud to celebrate him!

Sawyer Shaffer, 6th Grade at Sunset Ridge Intermediate School

Sunset Ridge Intermediate is proud to recognize Sawyer Shaffer as our December Student of the Month. Sawyer is the kind of student who quietly lifts everyone around him. He works hard in every class, produces high-quality work, and eagerly makes revisions when needed. When he finishes early, he often asks how he can support a classmate—always looking for ways to help others succeed. What truly sets Sawyer apart is his heart. He notices people in ways many sixth graders don’t, and he treats everyone with empathy and respect. He stands up for what’s right, ensures others feel included, and models the character traits we value most at Sunset Ridge. Alongside his kindness and leadership, Sawyer brings a sharp, sophisticated sense of humor that brightens the room and reminds us that learning can be joyful. He represents the very best of Sunset Ridge, and we’re grateful to have Sawyer as part of our Coyote community. 

Gracie McCutcheon, 8th Grade at View Ridge Middle School

Gracie brings such a positive energy to our school. She truly embodies what it means to be a Heron! Her talent, dedication, and positivity inspire both students and staff alike. Her teachers share that Gracie is a natural leader in class whose consistent hard work has collided with her immense store of natural talent. She has a positive attitude  and a smile on her face every day. She collaborates well with others, is always willing to share her math ideas with the whole class, and is kind and considerate to everyone. Gracie exemplifies excellence in so many ways, and we are proud to have her as part of our school community. Congratulations, Gracie!

Michelle Robbibaro 10th Grade at Wisdom Ridge Academy

When you talk to Michelle about her future, there's no guessing. She knows exactly what she wants to do and, more importantly, she has a clear plan for how to get there. That kind of laser-focus and self-direction is incredibly rare in a high school student. Michelle is the perfect example of how Wisdom Ridge works for students who have big dreams that require a flexible schedule. She's living proof that you can achieve great things, even when you can't be in a traditional classroom every day. Michelle will send messages letting us know she's on the road, traveling to a rodeo in another state, but she’s still logged in and getting her schoolwork done. She doesn't use her passion as an excuse; she uses her remote status to make her dream a reality while keeping up with her studies. The best part is seeing the results. Michelle has sent her teachers pictures and videos of her competing, and it’s touching every time they see one. It shows a young person who sets meaningful goals, figures out how to make them happen, and is executing the plan perfectly. Her family is right there supporting her, and together, they are a powerful team making her dreams come true. We really cannot say enough about how driven and impressive she is. Michelle Robbibaro is an ideal role model for any student here at Wisdom Ridge!
 

Cole Blehm, 12th Grade at Ridgefield High School

Cole is the kind of student who elevates every space he enters—through his positivity, his work ethic, and his genuine care for the people around him. Cole appreciates the many opportunities RHS has offered, especially in history and science, where he has found the classes engaging and meaningful.  His teachers have helped fuel his love of learning and shown him that school is more than assignments—it’s a place to explore what inspires him.  Cole’s teachers describe him as upbeat, dependable, and consistently engaged. He brings curiosity and humor to class, he supports his peers without being asked, and he creates an environment where everyone feels included. Whether he’s tackling challenging material in AP Physics, setting the tone in zero-period High Performance training, or simply stopping by a former teacher’s classroom with a smile, Cole brings an energy that makes RHS feel lighter and more connected. Outside the classroom, Cole is an explorer at heart. He loves finding historical treasures at antique shops and yard sales, spending time outdoors golfing, fishing, and camping with friends, and working on cars. After graduation, he hopes to attend Northwest Lineman College in Idaho, a path well suited to his determination and hands-on work ethic. Cole embodies the spirit of Ridgefield High School—curious, hardworking, community-minded, and authentically himself. We are proud to honor him as December’s Student of the Month.  Congratulations, Cole!

Employees of the Month

Pam Chamblee, Custodian at Union Ridge Elementary School

Pam consistently goes above and beyond to help keep our school safe and running smoothly. She takes the time to engage with every student, building meaningful connections that make our school a welcoming place for all. Her dedication to doing things the right way and ensuring that everything is done to the best it can be reflects her strong work ethic and genuine care for our school community. She truly makes a positive difference every single day.

Alicia Ensley, Third Grade Teacher at South Ridge Elementary School

Alicia is a dedicated teacher, gifted PLT facilitator, and a kind human. As a teacher, she is always looking to hone her craft. Whether it's layering in Building Fact Fluency to help her students understand the why behind multiplication and division, providing lots of math play opportunities for her students, studying how to build a Building Thinking Classroom and then leading a book study on it, or giving her students opportunities like having kinder buddies, she cares about continually evolving as a teacher for her students and their families. In her PLT, she has taken on the role of facilitator and does so with a positive attitude, always using a diplomatic tone and words, and digs into the work as a team member with a systems-minded approach that considers the needs of the team as well as the school and district as a whole. As a teammate, she is generous with her time and resources. She can remember details about what a teammate has shared, like an inconsequential one about the color of a building block shown to her, for example, and then turn it into one of the many acts of kindness she is known for. We are lucky to have her on our team!