Orchard Ridge Elementary School

Address:	5602 Russett Road, Madison, WI 53711
Telephone:	(608) 204-2320
Fax:	(608) 204-0483
Principal:	Barbara Dorn
Orchard Ridge Elementary School Web Site
Handbook \| en español
Online Staff Directory
Attendance Area Map \| HS attendance area: Memorial
School Data Profile
School Supply List

Parent/Teacher Group President:

Merideth Trahan, (608) 310-9483, mrtrahan@wisc.edu

Parent Contact:

Merideth Trahan, (608) 310-9483, mrtrahan@wisc.edu

Students — Click Here!

Our Mission

The mission of Orchard Ridge Elementary School is to enable all students to become respectful citizens and life-long learners by providing learning opportunities that meet their individual needs.

Our Vision

Orchard Ridge Elementary School is committed to student learning. Grounded in practices of collaboration and collective inquiry, all members of our school community work independently to achieve common goals. All students, staff and parents regardless of race, culture, gender, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status will feel connected to the school community and committed to its direction. We will continuously examine our beliefs, attitudes and practices to ensure they are in alignment with the vision we have for our school.

Site Characteristics

Location

Orchard Ridge Elementary School (O.R.E.) is located on the southwest side of Madison, at the corner of South Whitney Way and Russett Road. O.R.E. shares the building with Toki Middle School and uses the rooms and grounds on the building's east side.

Our School

Our school has around 275 children. Approximately 43% are from families with limited resources. We have a diverse population with many different races and ethnic groups in our school, which makes learning at our school a representation of the real world.

Class Size

Orchard Ridge has SAGE-like staffing. Class sizes at the Kindergarten and first grade level average around 16. Our 2nd and 3rd grades have up to 25 in homerooms, but then break into groups of 17 for literacy and math instructions. At the fourth and fifth grades we have multiage classes which are around 26.

Neighborhood School

Orchard Ridge is a true neighborhood school. There are no school buses that come to Orchard Ridge. Everyone can walk to school. Several day care centers do provide van service to Orchard Ridge children.

Food Service

Orchard Ridge participates in both a breakfast and hot lunch program through MMSD. Students are offered a hot lunch and an alternate cold lunch. We offer free or reduced meals for students who qualify.

After School and Before School Care

The West YMCA provides both before and after school care on the school site. This high quality program is often at capacity. Scholarships are available through a cooperative arrangement through MSCR for students whose families have limited resources.

Academic Programming

Academic Achievement

Orchard Ridge students standardized test scores continue to increase. Most recently in Spring 2004, 83% of our 3rd graders scored proficient or advanced on the 3rd Grade Reading Test. Our 4th graders score between 80% and 93% proficient or advanced on any subject. Our school meets Annual Yearly Progress in every category.

Technology

Students use computers in the regular classrooms, each of which has at least one workstation, and in the REACH Program (Reinforcement and Enrichment for All CHildren) during one half hour per week of instruction in the school computer lab. The circulation system for the library is computerized. Access to special tools, such as digital cameras, the Internet, and video cameras is available to students through their teachers.

Talented and Gifted (TAG) Program

The goal of Talented and Gifted (TAG) programming is to make certain K-12 students consistently have learning opportunities that are challenging, systematic and continuous based on learning profile, readiness and student interest.

Student learning experiences include a broad range of opportunities that pushes a student to their next level of challenge and allows them to develop their talents. TAG programming may occur in the classroom, or in other settings. TAG programming is determined by ongoing evaluation and assessment of individual student needs. Each school has TAG resource support for ongoing consultation.

Special Classes

O.R.E. takes special pride in the quality of its visual and performing arts classes. Class teachers certified to teach art, music, library use, and physical education provide weekly instruction in those areas. The REACH Program provides specialized instruction in the use of technology.

Other Programs

Special support is available for students through the Reading Recovery in grade 1 and Title 1 support is available for grades 1, 2 and 3. Kindergartners can get extra support in Title 1 through the Rock and Read program. 4th and 5th graders are provided extra support through Soar to Success. We are committed to child-by-child learning and students are continually assessed to ensure instruction at the right level.

Special Education services are available through a Cross Categorical Model which serves students with any type of disabilities. Our special education staff work very closely with the classroom teachers.

School Climate

Safety Is Always A Priority

Children feeling safe at school is a high priority for us at ORE. We talk about safety as a school and in classrooms through the curriculum. Crossing guards, 5th grade safety patrol members, and staff recess supervisors take their jobs very seriously. The O.R.E. School Improvement Planning Committee includes safety goals in every yearly plan. A school psychologist, social worker, and nurse add their expertise to our safety planning and responses.

Peaceful Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution

The expectation of students at O.R.E. is that they will resolve differences peacefully. The staff worked out those expectations based on principles of effective conflict resolution and student safety.

Special Activities

O.R.E. students have access to a wide variety of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs including: strings instruction (grades 4-5), chess club, student council (grades 4-5), safety patrol (grade 5), and P.T.O. after school activities (grades 2 to 5). The yearly cultural arts programs include performances about a wide range of arts and academic subjects. The staff takes special pride in using only programs that match well with the curriculum.

Partnerships

Family Partnerships

O.R.E. starts with the strong and committed Parent Teacher Organization (P.T.O.) that offers critically important ideas, feedback, and suggestions for school decisions. The P.T.O. also raises money for projects, sponsors informational programs, and is an advocate for the school's children. Partnerships with the Y.M.C.A., the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.), and local businesses are frequently coordinated by the P.T.O. Edgewood College and the University of Wisconsin provide student teachers who contribute to the success of O.R.E.

You Are Always Welcome At Orchard Ridge Elementary School!

The students, staff, and parents are proud of our school as is our principal. We would love nothing better than to tell you about O.R.E. or help you find out more about our school from other sources. Call, fax, or send us a note to arrange a tour by a student or by our principal. Also please contact us to set up a meeting with any teacher, get answers to any of your questions, or just to find out what is currently going on at Orchard Ridge.

We encourage you to talk with parents of our students to learn more about our school. Please see the Principal/Parent information on this web site for current names and phone numbers.

Quotes

"I'm going to miss this place."
-- Orchard Ridge Elementary Fifth Grader on last day of school

"Every year I enjoy showing school-shoppers around Orchard Ridge, telling them about the school and showing off our programs. What I enjoy even more is that most tell me years later that they are glad they chose to come here."
-- Orchard Ridge Elementary Principal

"We are really lucky to have the great kids and supportive parents that we do. I know I can ask for parent help and have several volunteers anytime I need help."
-- Orchard Ridge Elementary Teacher

"I like Orchard Ridge school because my brain grows here. Every day it grows when I have to think about stuff."
-- Orchard Ridge Elementary Second Grader

"The best thing about Orchard Ridge Elementary is the teachers. There really are a lot of great teachers here. I feel fortunate that my children have had these great teachers."
-- Orchard Ridge Elementary Parent

Remember, you're "At Home At Orchard Ridge Elementary School!"