Analyze This!

By Brandon Courtney, Community Director

Math is often struggle for young women entering Spring Ridge, and is often one of the least popular classes among our new students. Our math instructors often work with students in challenging self limiting beliefs about their ability to comprehend mathematics. The result is that many of our students after working with their instructors find a new appreciation for math. Spring Ridge offers a wide range of math classes from Algebra to Introduction to Statistics.

Recently, students in our Introduction to Statics class completed their final projects. Only rather than analyze the number of green Skittles to red Skittles in 20 bags of candy (my undergrad “research” project, results available on request) our students were provided with actual testing data. Our students and their parent’s complete a BASC-2 assessment upon admission and then repeat the assessment when students leave the program. Students in our Introduction to Statistics course were able to sample this data (all personal student information i.e. names, ID#s, etc, was removed from tests samples) and came out with some interesting findings. Students were able to see a real world example of how to compile actual research and interpret findings.

Spring Ridge Takes 1st Prize

Spring Ridge Academy won the grand prize in the annual Mayer Daze Parade for best overall float.  Spring Ridge Academy was awarded the trophy in the shape of a saddle from the judges after the parade on Saturday.  The theme of the parade was “Out of the West Came the Heart of Arizona: Mayer”.  The float committee was headed by Susan Dougherty, who assisted our students in creating a replica of a mine shaft complete with a working waterfall and stream to pan gold.   Some students rode on the float during the parade in costume; other students followed behind to cheer the float.  Susan commented, “Our students worked their hearts out, and were so excited to win the grand prize.”     Jean Baker summed it up, “Did you see?  We rocked! Grand Prize.”  Students gave up their free time and worked very hard in creating a project of which they can be very proud.   

The students who worked on the float were very excited to see their hard work on display and have it recognized.  One student reported, “It was really cool to be able to make someone’s day by working hard and creating a really cool float.” Another student commented, “It was my first time going to a parade; it was fun."  One student summed it up like this, “It was a fun experience bonding with other students.  It was fun seeing all of the hard work pay off.” 

National Merit Scholarship

Spring Ridge Academy is proud to announce one of our students received an outstanding score on the 2012 PSAT test  which led to her being selected to participate in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.  She is in the select group of 50,000 students who scored the highest on the 2012 PSAT National Test which was taken by over 1.5 million students.  Spring Ridge Academy salutes her achievement and wishes her continued success as she progresses through the National Merit Scholarship Program.  Congratulations!