We are pleased to announce Ms. Young as the winner of this year’s Joan Platt “Awesome Otter” Award.  Numerous nominations from parents and staff spoke to how Ms. Young consistently goes above and beyond her duties as a teacher, devoting many unpaid hours – even during the summers – to create a rich reading community among the students.  Ms. Young teaches every class in every grade (including serving this year as a technology specialist for the kindergartners).  Outside of classroom time, Ms. Young also worked with eleven global reading challenge teams and, this summer, organized a “park library” where students could come and check out summer reading books periodically during the summer break.  Her devotion to every kid – including learning about their specific interests and trying to assist the classroom teachers with encouraging reluctant readers – is exceptional. 

We are equally pleased to congratulate this year’s Golden Acorn volunteer winners, Robert Johnson and Bonnie Menon.  

Robert has spent the past two years working tirelessly for safety improvements in the streets surrounding View Ridge.  He’s written multiple grants, lobbied the Mayor’s office, SDOT and City Council, and facilitated community meetings.  Thanks to his dedication and diligence, the city implemented numerous safety improvements to our surrounding streets, and View Ridge is eligible for additional sources of funding to increase traffic and pedestrian safety in the streets surrounding the school.  This year, Robert also took over as president of the View Ridge Community Council, and has also devoted a lot of time increasing the ties between the VRCC and PTA.  

Nominators for Bonnie praised her years of volunteering at every school event – a constant presence always willing to help in any way, at any time, whenever asked. She is the kind of volunteer who makes events and programs possible, though many people may not even know she was involved.  As one nominator Bonnie stated, “Bonnie is the best – a friend to everyone and a constant volunteer.”  

Congratulations and thank you to this year’s winners – the many nominations received by each of them attest to the dedication and impact they have on our school community.