Forest Ridge fields two first-place M.A.T.H. Bowl teams

The Math Academic Teams for Hoosiers Bowl fifth/sixth grade team from Forest Ridge Academy placed fourth in the state in its division, front row from left, Evangelia Panos, Zivana Labovic, Max Buka, Alexander Kobus, Haley Mize-Block and Esha Mishra, middle row, Kathir Venkat, Xandru Borst, A…

Forest Ridge fields two first-place M.A.T.H. Bowl teams

Competing on the new fourth-grade Math Academic Teams for Hoosiers Bowl team from Forest Ridge Academy this year were, front row from left, Alexandra Nehme, Kolton Hall, Danny Han, Chance Troksa and Maia Crowley, back row, Jacob Harris, Ana Betustak, Lauren Spott, Khushi Sahi and Marcus Chang.

Kindergartners celebrate their 100th day of school

Ethan Ruddell, of Gary, from left, Kai Stash, of Griffith, and Connor Price, of St. John, dress up like they are 100 years old on the 100th Day of School at Forest Ridge Academy.

Kindergartners celebrate their 100th day of school

Amir Alsakaji, of Schererville, left, and Grace Cappas, Cedar Lake, make necklaces out of 100 Fruit Loops at Forest Ridge Academy.

Kindergartners celebrate their 100th day of school

Jayden Kaufman, of Dyer, from left, Elizabeth Rodriguez, of Hammond, Silvia Devine, of Schererville, Milan Alavanja, of Schererville, show off what they built with 100 cups on the 100th Day of School.

Fifth-graders create castles with local artist

Guest instructor Jeremy South, left, shows student Vlad Eustace, of Crete, how to use a pottery wheel during a Medieval castle-building lesson at Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville.

Fifth-graders create castles with local artist

Fifth-grader Joel Thompkins, of Valparaiso, builds his castle out of clay at Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville.

Children’s author shares stories with Forest Ridge students

Children’s author Jim Aylesworth recently visited Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville, and shared some of his 34 books with the students. He also took questions from his audience, including first-grader Caitlyn Walker, from left, kindergartner Ian Hoftalek and first-grader Jason Hoftalek.

Forest Ridge students gather weekly to tackle the issues

Students in the Speech and Debate Club at Forest Ridge Academy gather for show-and-tell presentations with a twist. Speech and Debate Club activities range from impromptu presentations to formal debates.

Preschoolers learn about farm life without leaving the classroom

Preschooler Aidan Shrader, of St. John, milks the cow in the Young Scholars classroom at Forest Ridge Academy, Schererville, during the class' Orchards and Farms study unit.

Preschoolers learn about farm life without leaving the classroom

Brendan Brundage, of Schererville, makes butter out of cream during a farm unit in the preschool class at Forest Ridge Academy.

Preschoolers learn about farm life without leaving the classroom

Preparing applesauce from apples they brought into school are Forest Ridge Academy Young Scholars Artie Vasquez and Kosiso Ibekie, both of Schererville; Avrie Kwasny, of Crown Point; Kam Stash, of Griffith; Maiyah Lewis, of Munster; and Niko Katsaros, of Schererville.

Preschoolers learn about farm life without leaving the classroom

Young Scholars classmates Kosiso Ibekie and Carmen Nehme, both of Schererville; Stevan Pantelic, of Munster; and Niko Katsaros, of Schererville, experience life on the farm at Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville.

Students and staff spread the word about recycling

Teacher Michelle Frantal and her second-grade class and at Forest Ridge Academy have led the way as they school raises awareness and helps the environment by participating in recycling efforts.

Preschoolers are in the pink

Preschooler Niko Katsaros, left, of Schererville, decorates a pink cupcake while classmate Michael Recupido, also of Schererville, gets ready to take a bite during Pink Day at Forest Ridge Academy.

Preschoolers are in the pink

Teacher Stephanie Sandoval, center, of Schererville, pours pink cupcake batter under the watchful eye of Forest Ridge Academy preschoolers, including Angelo Cappas, left, of Schererville, and Madison Wainwright, of Merrillville.

Preschoolers hold their own Summer Olympics

Young Scholars sort summer and winter Olympic sports pictures, from left, Curtis Jackson, of Valparaiso; Jacob Milla, of Schererville; teacher Susan Bach, of Highland; Madison Wainwright, of Merrillville; Kaziem Okonkwo, of Lynwood, Ill.; and Connor Price, of St. John.

Preschoolers hold their own Summer Olympics

Forest Ridge Academy preschoolers lined up to throw the “javelin” during physical education class are, from left, Karam Kaakaji, of Valparaiso; Angelo Cappas, of Schererville; Connor Price, of St. John; and Diane Kim, Sammatdeep Dhanesar and Aashray Reddy, all of Schererville.

Forest Ridge Academy students earn top honors at Space Camp

Receiving awards at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center are Forest Ridge Academy students, from left, Isabela Labovic’, Romerica Mitchell, Natalia Prato, Maritza Spott, Matthew Stanish, Hunter Stracci and Lexi Villafuerte.

Forest Ridge Academy students earn top honors at Space Camp

Team Earhart from Forest Ridge Academy checks out a shuttle craft at the Space Camp property in Huntsville, Ala.

First-graders tour pet store and bank

PNC Bank Branch Manager Tony Santana, left, send Forest Ridge Academy first-grade teacher Marcia McAleer, teacher's assistant Sumera Shakir, and students, front row from left, Nate Cimarolli, Alex DelSangro, Mohammed Ulayyet, and Dylan Scott, and back row, Mia Cassity, Isabel Bhasin, Sydney …

Forest Ridge celebrates Pi Day with math concepts, treats

Students at Forest Ridge Academy work on math activities related to pi. Pi Day is celebrated every year, topped off with pies.

Forest Ridge celebrates Pi Day with math concepts, treats

Forest Ridge Academy students spread out their Pi Day work in the Schererville school's hallway, giving them room to grow their projects.

Going to the dentist can be fun

Preschoolers Kaziem Okonkwo, of Lynwood, Madison Wainwright, of Merrillville, and Jacob Milla, of Schererville, turn their yellow teeth white by painting with toothbrushes during a dental health program at Forest Ridge Academy.

Going to the dentist can be fun

Forest Ridge Academy students Curtis Jackson, of Valparaiso, Tyler Chang of Dyer, Josie Willis, of Merrillville, and Henry Ponnezhan, of St. John, listen to pediatric dentist Dr. Thalia Rambalakos read a story about the dentist being your friend.

It all adds up for M.A.T.H. champs

The Class 2 Indiana M.A.T.H. Bowl champion is Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville, represented at last week's competition by, front row from left, Kathir Venkat, Sam Bhasin, Evangelia Panos, Zivana Labovic, Josh Davis, Max Buka, middle row, Mitch Gray, Natalia Prato, Breanna Williams-Hankey…

Enviromobile to the rescue

Forest Ridge Academy fourth-graders, from left, Kathir Venkat, of Dyer, Xandru Borst, of Schererville, and Joshua Davis, of Hobart, create an oil spill that they will learn how to clean up during the recent Enviromobile visit.

Enviromobile to the rescue

Third-graders, from left, Chance Troksa, of St. John, Jacob Harris, of Gary, and Anna Betustak, of Hobart, simulate rain to on their Enviromobile community show how pesticides, fertilizers, oil, and animal waste can be washed into a community's drinking water supply during a science lesson a…

Enviromobile to the rescue

Enviromobile educator Angela Petyko, center, shows a picture of a ship lowering the boom so fourth-graders, from left, Celeste Kettaneh, of Crown Point, Marissa Velazquez, of Crown Point, Max Buka, of Schererville, and Sam Bhasin, of Highland, can see how large they are in real life. The stu…

Boo Grams support Gary day center

Sojourner Truth House Executive Director Sr. Peg Spindler, CSA, seated left, receives proceeds from the recent Halloween Boo Gram fundraiser from Forest Ridge Academy middle school teacher Julie Anderson (with Forest Ridge's Friendly Ghost) and, standing, seventh-grader Derek Bonner and eigh…

Sirens a hit with students

Trey Fairris (St. John), Josie Willis (Merrillville), Sofilya Banovic (Schererville), Sammatdeep Dhanesar (Schererville), Brady Kolbus (Hobart), Ella Cimarolli (Crown Point), Teo Olmstead (Crown Point), Durtis Jackson (Valparaiso), Tyler Chang (Dyer) and Jasmine Eskew (Merrillville) check ou…

Sirens a hit with students

In full gear, a Schererville firefighter explains his duties to Forest Ridge Academy students Tyler Chang (Dyer), Mitchell Sterling (Valparaiso), Sammatdeep Dhanesar (Schererville), Madison Wainwright (Merrillville), Curtis Jackson (Valparaiso) and Trey Fairris (St. John).

Schererville to welcome several new businesses

Forest Ridge Academy students, from left, Branko Vukas, of Dyer, Tyler Graciano, of St. John, Kai Washington, Chicago, Allison Osika, of Crown Point, Brandon Osika, of Crown Point, Carter Chang, of Dyer, Jacob Hennon, of Valparaiso, and Tre Wainwright, of Merrillville, watch as Schererville …

A garden and school to grow with

Dr. Vivek Mishra, left, and his wife, Dr. Sonali Shukla, get acquainted with second-grade teacher Michelle Frantal and fifth-grade teacher Chris Osika during Forest Ridge Academy's recent garden party.

A garden and school to grow with

David Hibbs, left, consultant for the Forest Ridge High School Committee, Dr. Chantal Walker, computer teacher Debbie Heinz and Walker's mother, Sharon Willis, enjoy a visit to the Forest Ridge Academy's new garden during the school's recent garden party for new families.

Forest Ridge Academy students show off their acting chops

Forest Ridge Academy students Natalie Newell as the title character and Marissa Mullins as the Fox in a scene from "The Little Prince."

Say it is 'Sew'

Natalia Prato, Osinigwe Ibekie, Lexi Villafuerte, Breanna Williams-Hankey, Avery Johnson, Maritza Spott, teacher Grace Potocki, and Bela Labovic during a Monday sewing class at Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville. The fourth grade girls had sewing every Monday morning during the 2010-11 sch…

Say it is 'Sew'

House of Sewing teacher Grace Potocki, right, assists fourth-grader Bela Labovic, of Schererville, during a Monday morning sewing class this past year at Forest Ridge Academy.

Say it is 'Sew'

Maritza Spott, of Schererville, cuts cloth during a sewing class at Forest Ridge Academy. Spott and other fourth-grade girls took sewing lessons throughout the 2010-11 school year.

Teaching toddlers together

Parents and children Lorna and Arthur Vasquez, of Schererville; Kelly and Trey Farris, of Schererville; Hayden Critser, of Crown Point; Shannon and Eli Gurley, of St. John,; and Tyler Chang and Lauren Winiecki, of Dyer, learn about water and evaporation by painting with water on black paper …

Teaching toddlers together

Mom Lorna Vasquez, of Schererville, shares the light-up table with son Arthur, who experiences how light affects different items by manipulating translucent Legos, marbles and gems during a Teaching Toddlers Together session at Forest Ridge Academy.

Teaching toddlers together

Aleka and Elena Dovellos, of Dyer; Kerrie and Jovi Savaglio, of Munster; and Henry and Julia Ponnezhan, of St. John, wear their duck headbands from a previous toddler class activity while sharing an appropriate snack - cucumber lily pads and goldfish crackers floating in a pond (ranch dressi…

Tea party becomes a royal event

Waving the Union Jack in honor of Prince William and his bride, Katherine Middleton, are teachers children attending the April 26 Royal Tea Party at Forest Ridge Academy, front row from left, Young scholars teacher Stephanie Sandoval, Branko Vukas, Brayden Waddle, Brandon Osika, Allison Osi…

Tea party becomes a royal event

Caitlyn Osika, of Crown Point, enjoys her tea during the Royal Tea Party on April 26 at Forest Ridge Academy in Schererville.

Tea party becomes a royal event

Teacher Sarah Penegor, who is British, serves tea to Mia Vukas during one of two Royal Tea Parties held last week at Forest Ridge Academy.

Tea party becomes a royal event

Toasting Prince William and his bride during the Royal Tea Party at Forest Ridge Academy on April 26 is Andrew Ciastko, of Hammond.

Tea party becomes a royal event

Attending the April 27 tea party at Forest Ridge Academy are, front row from left, Ian Hostalek, of Lansing; Laila Crowley, of Schererville; Emma Cappas, of Cedar Lake; Sara Gregory, of Schererville; Ashtyn Payne, of Schererville; Grace Cappas, of Cedar Lake; Silvia Devine, of Schererville; …