Park River Area School District #8

Shoutout to our amazing College Comp students and National Honor Society members who rolled up their sleeves and spent part of their class period cleaning up ditches around the school and community in honor of Earth Day! They only had about 30 minutes, but they made it count. Proud of their hard work!

🤠 #ThrowbackThursday | Class of 2025 Edition 🐍 Before they were seniors... they were cowboy-hat-wearing kindergarteners solving mysteries and busting dance moves! 🎓 The Class of 2025 kicked things off in style with a Cowboy Hoedown at their kindergarten graduation—boots, hats, and all! 🐍 The great mystery of “Who stole Sammy and Sid?”, the class snakes, had everyone on edge—thankfully, the case was cracked just in time! 🥶 Mrs. Coffman’s class made cool memories (literally!) by building an igloo out of milk jugs—a project that brought teamwork and chilly fun to life. 💃 The unforgettable “Dancing with the Teachers” event had everyone smiling, especially when Mrs. Coffman hit the stage with “Stayin’ Alive.” 🚒 Their early adventures included a field trip to the fire station and a visit to Homme Dam, where curiosity and friendship filled the day. Now they're trading in cowboy boots for caps and gowns! We’re so proud of how far they’ve come. 💙 Enjoy a few pictures from their early adventures: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OjAU-2_Jqia1CqzA5sapHKpyE-NQhB9k/view?usp=sharing #Classof2025 #PRAThrowback #AggiePride #FromHoedownToGraduation #StayinAliveAndThrivin

Mrs. Flaten's Kindergarteners were excited to open their first Just Right Reader packages today! 10 books, selected just for them, are going home with each student to help them grow as readers! #ProudToBeAggies #JustRightReader #ParkRiverPride

📚✨ National Honor Society Induction Night at PRAS ✨📚 Last night, we celebrated academic excellence, leadership, character and service at the Park River Area School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. We are proud to welcome 11 new members into our NHS Chapter! 👏 🎓 New Inductees (pictured in the front row, not in this particular order): Seniors – Cutter, Gavin, Emma Juniors – Nora, Max, Jake, Tucker, James Sophomores – Emma, Thea, Clara (not pictured) A heartfelt thank you to our outgoing officers and congratulations to our senior members for your impactful leadership and dedication throughout the year. Your service has made a lasting impression! 🌟 Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce our incoming officers: 🔹 President – Luke 🔹 Vice President – Brennan 🔹 Secretary – Allison 🔹 Treasurer – McKenna Thank you to the NHS advisor, Miss Kennedy Olson, for all you do. The future is bright at PRAS! 💙💛 #PRASProud #NHS

Pony Pride Was Off the Charts at Park River Area Elementary! By the first week of April, our Pony Pride total had reached an incredible 29,333! Here's how it all added up: That came out to about 195 Pony Pride recognitions per school day (29,333 ÷ 150 days)! And an average of 122 Pony Pride moments per student for the year (29,333 ÷ 240 students)! These proud moments included both Pony Pride stickers and postcards, celebrating the amazing behavior, kindness, and leadership shown by our elementary students. To celebrate this incredible achievement, we held a Dance Party on the Playground! A huge thank you to DJ Pick n Roll (Mr. Omdahl) for bringing the energy—and the DJ equipment—to make the celebration extra special. We’re so proud of our students for their hard work and positive choices. Way to go, PONY PRIDE! #PonyPride #ParkRiverStrong #ElementaryExcellence #CelebrateSuccess

Congratulations to Tanner, Gavin, and Alexis for being selected as part of the All Region Team! Alexis Restemayer was named as Region 3 Senior Speaker of the Year! Way to go Alexis! We are so proud of these 3 seniors!!💛🖤

Congratulations to the PRFL Speech Team for placing 2nd at the Regional Tournament this year! And a special congrats to our new state qualifiers Jack, Simon, and Andrew! Here's what we are looking forward to at the State Competition: - Tanner and Gavin in Serious Duo -Tanner in Storytelling -Gavin in Impromptu -Alexis in Humorous and Entertain -Andrew in Persuade -Bailee and Clara in Humorous Duo - Clara in Persuade - Henry in Enterain - Simon in Inform and Radio - Jack in Persuade - Lexi in Serious and Poetry Way to go Aggies!!

🌟 Meet Our Amazing Elementary Special Education Team! 🌟 At Park River Area School, we believe every student deserves the support they need to thrive—and our Special Education Team goes above and beyond to make that happen every day! 🧑‍🏫 Mrs. Madison Eidenschink (pictured back, far right) serves as our Grades 3–7 Special Education Teacher. She brings heart, expertise, and thoughtful planning to help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Her commitment to meeting each student’s unique needs shines through in everything she does. 💙 Supporting Mrs. Eidenschink and Miss Meyer (not pictured) are our incredible team of paraprofessionals who work closely with students in PreK through 6th grade: 👩‍🏫 Tanya, Danae, Estelle, Marina (Back Row) Lindsay, Shawna, Shelby, and Marlene (Front Row) These professionals are the heart of our student support system! They bring patience, positivity, and a deep sense of responsibility to their work. Whether they’re encouraging students, reinforcing learning, or supporting classroom routines, they demonstrate the top qualities of great paras every day—like being dependable, compassionate, flexible, and excellent communicators. Their dedication, empathy, and ability to build strong relationships make a powerful difference in our students’ lives. 💛 Let’s give a big THANK YOU to this team for their hard work and heart! 👏👏👏 #ParkRiverPride #MeetTheStaff #TeamWork

Last Call to Sign Up! The NHS Blood Drive is happening this Friday, April 11 at the Park River Elementary Gym — by appointment only! Spots are starting to fill up fast, so don’t wait — your donation could save a life. 💪❤️ Schedule your appointment today: https://shorturl.at/pan2g

Congratulations to the Park River Speech Team for placing first at the tournament in Minto last weekend. Alexis also qualified for the state competition with her humorous piece. We're excited for Regionals this weekend and the opportunity to keep filling that statebound bus!

Best of luck to the Park River Area Aggies in the 2025 North Dakota Class B spring baseball season. The Aggies will open up their season tomorrow on the road in Bismarck with a game vs Bottineau at 12:00 PM and Velva-D-A at 2:00 PM. All Aggies baseball games this season can be found on GameChanger. A GameChanger Community Plus Pass has already been purchased by the Aggies for each of their fans this season. http://web.gc.com/teams/WY39aT0WWgu8/live

🎓📚 Meet the High School History and Math Team! 🏀➕📖 At Park River Area School, we’re proud to have a team of passionate educators who go above and beyond—both in the classroom and beyond it! Let’s introduce three of our outstanding high school teachers who set the bar high for learning and lead by example. 👨‍🏫 Mr. Bob Young – High School Social Studies Teacher & Head Boys Basketball Coach Mr. Young brings history to life with his engaging teaching style and deep knowledge of the world around us. Whether he's leading a lively classroom discussion on government or coaching from the sidelines, he’s known for setting high expectations and teaching students the value of discipline, strategy, and hard work. His impact reaches far beyond the court! ➗ Mr. Jon Berg – High School Math Teacher, MathCounts Advisor & Head Girls Basketball Coach Mr. Berg is all about numbers, problem-solving, and pushing students to achieve their best. He’s a steady and encouraging presence in the classroom and inspires students to think critically and meet challenges head-on. Outside of math, you’ll see him mentoring student-athletes with that same commitment to excellence and integrity. 📐 Miss Morgan Porter – High School Math Teacher & Coach (Volleyball & Basketball) Miss Porter brings a calm, consistent presence to her classroom and teams. With her encouraging nature and warm smile, she supports students through challenges and celebrates their successes. Whether she’s teaching math or coaching, her steady guidance helps students grow in confidence and skills. Together, these educators model the importance of dedication, high expectations, and supporting students in every aspect of their high school journey. 👏 #ParkRiverPride #MeetTheStaff #HighExpectations #RaiderStrong #StudentSuccess #MathAndSocialStudiesStars

🚌 Meet Our Transportation Team at Park River Area School! 🚸✨ Getting students to and from school safely every day is a huge responsibility, and our Transportation Team takes that job seriously while bringing warmth and care to every bus ride. With an all-female team of dedicated drivers, our students are greeted each morning and afternoon by friendly faces who ensure they arrive safely, on time, and ready to learn! Let’s meet the incredible people behind the wheel! 🔹 Kevin, Transportation Director 🚏 Kevin keeps everything running smoothly, coordinating routes, schedules, and safety procedures to ensure efficient and reliable transportation for all students. His behind-the-scenes work ensures our buses are ready to roll each day! 🔹 Ruth, Route Driver & CTE Vo-Tech Driver 🚍 Ruth drives one of our daily routes and also transports students to CTE Vo-Tech in Grafton, helping them gain valuable career and technical skills while staying on track academically. 🔹 Lindsey, Route Driver & Substitute Teacher ✏️ Not only does Lindsey drive a daily route, but she also steps into the classroom as a substitute teacher, making her a familiar and supportive presence both on the bus and in school! 🔹 Melissa, Route Driver & Study Hall Supervisor 📖 Melissa’s impact goes beyond transportation—after her bus route, she keeps students on-task and engaged in their learning as the study hall supervisor. 🔹 Jolene, Route Driver & Preschool Para 🎨 Jolene is dedicated to students of all ages! In addition to driving a bus route, she works as a preschool paraprofessional, helping our youngest learners build a strong foundation for the future. 🔹 Teresa, Route Driver 🏫 Teresa ensures students start and end their day with a safe and comfortable ride. Her dedication to the school community makes a difference every single day! 🚍 Our Transportation Team is more than just drivers—they are mentors, role models, and an essential part of our students' school experience. Their commitment to safety, reliability, and care ensures that learning starts the moment students step onto the bus! #ParkRiverProud #SafeRides #AllFemaleDrivers #GettingStudentsThereSafely

🎉 Senior Spotlight: Layne – Class of 2025! 🎉 As we celebrate our incredible seniors, today we’re highlighting Layne and his journey through school! 📚 Elementary School Memories: Layne’s go-to lunch in elementary school was crispitoes—a classic cafeteria favorite! 🏫 High School Highlights: Layne’s favorite class in high school has been history. He’s received some great advice along the way, with the best being: "Hold your head high and just keep going." While high school came with challenges, Layne is grateful for the small group of friends and supportive teachers who motivated him through the years. 🚀 Looking Ahead: His advice to freshmen? "Try to enjoy school while you're here, make lots of good memories, and don’t be lazy—do your work! It feels better than slacking." What will he miss most? "The freedom of being a kid who can do what I want." Let’s hear it for Layne and the bright future ahead of him! 🎓👏 #SeniorSpotlight #Classof2025 #ProudMoments

📚 BOOK EXCHANGE – Donations Needed! 📚 Park River Area Elementary is hosting a Book Exchange this May, and we need your help! We're collecting gently used children’s books for students ages 3-12 to swap and discover new stories. 📖 How You Can Help: 👉 Donate gently used children's books (ages 3-12) 📍 Drop-off location: Elementary School Office 📅 Deadline: May 10th Your donation will help foster a love of reading in our students! Let's work together to make this event a success. 💙 #BookExchange #ReadMore #ParkRiverElementary #DonateBooks

🎉 Senior Spotlight: Andrew – Class of 2025! 🎉 Today, we’re celebrating Andrew and his journey through school! 📚 Elementary School Memories: One of Andrew’s favorite childhood memories was visiting Mr. Moe’s farm on a school field trip. In gym class, he always loved playing the umbrella game with Mr. Moe! 🏫 High School Highlights: Andrew’s favorite class was Home and Auto with Mr. Arndt during his sophomore year. A highlight of his senior year has been being in the one-act play, an experience full of creativity and teamwork! 🎉 His favorite school traditions? Homecoming and Prom—memories that will last a lifetime. When asked what he’ll miss most, Andrew says, "The sports and extracurriculars I did throughout high school." Let’s give it up for Andrew and the bright future ahead of him! 🎓👏 #SeniorSpotlight #Classof2025 #ProudMoments

Exciting News from the 6th Grade! Today, our 6th grade students had the special opportunity to meet Plower Ranger and his driver, Jared Carlson, thanks to the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). The name Plower Ranger was selected as part of NDDOT’s “Name the Snowplow” contest — congratulations to Ben for submitting the winning name! Adding to the excitement, North Dakota and South Dakota are currently competing in the Blades of Glory Contest, and Plower Ranger has advanced to the Final Four! We’d love your support — please cast your vote using the link below: 🔗 Vote Here Let’s help Plower Ranger bring home the glory!

🌟 Senior Spotlight: Kenzie J. 🌟 Let's give a big shoutout to Kenzie J., a proud member of the Park River Area School Class of 2025! 🎓✨ 🏡 Favorite Elementary School Memory: Kenzie loved visiting Mr. Moe’s Farm and had a blast in Mr. Omdahl’s class, where learning was always fun! 📚 Her favorite childhood book? Harry Potter—a magical classic! ⚡📖 🏆 High School Highlights: 💼 Favorite Classes: Accounting & U.S. History ⛳ Most Memorable Moment: Competing at State Golf! 🏈 Favorite School Tradition: Homecoming—nothing beats the school spirit! 📝 Best Advice from a Teacher: “Do better.” – Coach Lee 🚀 Looking Ahead: 🐴 Dream Career: Becoming a large animal veterinarian 🌅 Favorite Hangout Spot: Homme Dam—where the best memories are made! Kenzie, your dedication and passion will take you far! We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next! 💫 #Classof2025 #SeniorSpotlight #ParkRiverProud

🎉 The Countdown is On – 25 School Days to Graduation! 🎉 As we count down the final 25 days of school, we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible Class of 2025! Each day, we’ll be highlighting one of our amazing seniors, sharing their favorite memories, achievements, and dreams for the future. Let’s come together to cheer on our graduates as they prepare for their next big adventure! Stay tuned for our daily Senior Spotlight, and help us celebrate the Class of 2025! 🎓🎉 #SeniorSpotlight #Classof2025 #25DayCountdown #FutureIsBright

🌱 Exciting News for Park River Area School! 🌱 We are thrilled to announce that our Early Learning Center has been selected as one of 35 projects funded through the North Dakota Farm to Early Care and Education Garden Grant! With over 240 applications, we are incredibly proud to receive this support. Through this grant, we will be purchasing a hydroponic garden center, allowing our youngest learners to explore hands-on gardening and sustainability in a whole new way! 🌿💧 This opportunity, made possible by the USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program and the ND Department of Agriculture, will provide not only funding but also ongoing technical assistance, garden webinars, and educational support throughout the project. A huge thank you to the North Dakota Farm to Early Care and Education Coalition for investing in the Park River Area! Thank you to Mrs. Gudmundson for securing this grant for our students! We can’t wait to see the impact of this project in our classrooms. Stay tuned for updates as our hydroponic garden grows! 🌾🌱 #ProudMoments #ParkRiverStrong #FarmToSchool #HydroponicsInTheClassroom