When Hurricane Ike hit, Mohawk Elementary students, staff & community stepped up to help the victims. They decided to hold a Hurricane Relief Red Cross Drive, and with help from the Beta Club, students worked hard to raise more than $1,500 for the Red Cross. A special thanks to Century Bank for helping count more than $950 in coins.

Great job Mohawk students! >Top

Deserving teachers at three RISD elementary schools received surprise visits last week from Office Max employees hoping to make their day better. Through the "A Day Made Better" program, principals nominated a teacher from their campus who regularly goes above and beyond with their work, routinely spending their own money for extra supplies and materials to help their students. The three teachers, Julie Pearson from Moss Haven Elementary, Bethany Riley from Forest Lane Academy and Christen Scheevel from Lake Highlands Elementary each received flowers, a certificate and a large box of supplies and gifts valued at more than $1200.

RISD thanks Office Max for helping make the day better for these three educators and their schools! >Top

While classes are occurring on Tuesday, November 4, most RISD campuses will also serve as an Election Day polling place for their neighborhood. If possible, parents and community members are encouraged to vote outside of the peak time of 7:00 am – 9:00 am to reduce the amount of congestion that coincides with the start of the school day.

Each campus will designate an area to serve as a polling place, which will determine the entrance voters will use to enter the school on that day. Please look for signs indicating where to enter in order to vote. To maintain security during the school day, voters coming to an RISD campus should be prepared to show identification at the door, in the form of a valid driver’s license or voter registration card. Once inside a campus, voters must remain in the area designated for polling.

If you are planning to visit an RISD campus on Election Day for reasons other than voting, please enter through the main office.

Election Day is a busy day for campuses, and RISD thanks you in advance for your understanding and cooperation as we strive to maintain a secure environment for students and staff. >Top

RISD’s Environmental Studies Center dedicated a new boardwalk this week, courtesy of Berkner H.S. student and Eagle Scout Christopher Rickett.

Chris, a member of Scout Troop 81 and Venture Crew 904, began planning the project in May.

The boardwalk is a 48 foot long raised walkway over an area of the Environmental Center trail that frequently floods. It has railings along each side and is wide enough to accommodate visitors with disabilities.

Chris raised more than $2,000 to pay for the supplies needed to build the walkway, and also organized and managed the more than 20 people who helped him with the construction.