Covering the Land of Lincoln

Watch now: Plenty of smiles, energy for Unit 5’s first day of school | Local Education

BLOOMINGTON — Students at Cedar Ridge Elementary School were eager to start their first day of school Wednesday morning.

Many waited at the door, some were dropped off by parents, others arrived on the bus; some were smiling, while others were sad. The first day of school is always a mix of emotions, as it means summer is over and homework assignments are back. 

Cedar Ridge Principal Heather Rogers and McLean County Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle were there to greet students, making sure each one received a warm welcome before helping them get where they needed to be.

“I’m so excited to have all the kiddos back at Cedar Ridge,” Rogers said. “The first day of school is all those smiles, the staff is energized; I get to greet the students and get to know them better. Cedar Ridge has been my home for 10 years and it’s nice to come home every fall.”



Students enter Cedar Ridge Elementary School for the first day of school at 2808 Breezewood Blvd. in Bloomington Wednesday morning. 



Rogers said the school had a great turnout for their Back to School Night on Tuesday, when students, families and staff were able to get know each other better. Students also had the opportunity to participate in several activities such as getting their nails or hair done, while families were able to pickup necessary supplies for the school year.

Cedar Ridge recently received a Walking Path/STEAM Lab as a dedication from State Farm, Sunset Rotary, Daybreak Rotary, Cedar Ridge Rocket Boosters and Platinum Plumbing, which students will be able to make use of this year. The Walking Path/STEAM Lab is an interactive learning walk located just outside the school. 


Watch now: Heartland College moves forward on new manufacturing facility

“There’s a level of excitement in the air on the first day of school that I think is hard to replicate. There’s just a different level of energy that comes in those first few days,” Weikle said. “I’m excited about a more typical year for everyone and I can’t wait to get in classrooms and see all the great learning that’s going to take place by our students.”

Weikle added that the first day means different things for different students. For some, it’s their first day of kindergarten, first day at a new school or it’s their last first day in Unit 5.



081822-blm-loc-2firstday.jpg

Cedar Elementary School Principal Heather Rogers and Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle. 



This will be the last year for fifth grade student Jayce Smith, who was all smiles heading into school. 

“I feel good,” Smith said. “I’m actually excited about school this year.”

Kindergartner Jude Alexander said he is happy about the first day of school and is most looking forward to science class.



081822-blm-loc-4firstday.jpg

Cedar Ridge Elementary School at 2808 Breezewood Blvd. in Bloomington.



Rogers also offered some advice for students for the 2022-23 school year.

“Enjoy your learning; any K-5 student should have a love of learning to set the course for the future,” Rogers said. “We want to provide a safe place for students to do that.”



081822-blm-loc-3firstday.jpg

The Cedar Ridge Elementary School sign at 2808 Breezewood Blvd. in Bloomington Wednesday morning.



Rogers said Cedar Ridge’s theme this year is “kindness grows here,” and she looks forward to growing kindness and community.

Thursday will be District 87’s first day of school; community members should watch out for buses, children walking to school, and be prepared for heavier traffic flow.

Photos: Efforts to combat food insecurity in Bloomington-Normal

Midwest Food Bank in Normal

Midwest Food Bank in Normal

Bananas ready to be distributed from Midwest Food Bank in Normal. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank in Normal

Midwest Food Bank in Normal

A package of Tender Mercies from Midwest Food Bank (MFB). The microwaveable meal consists of rice and beans and helps fight food insecurity wherever MFB distributes them. 


D. Jack Alkire


Bread for Life Co-op

Bread for Life Co-op

The Bread for Life Co-op at Home Sweet Home Ministries is designed like any other grocery store in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Bread for Life Co-op

Bread for Life Co-op

The Bread for Life Co-op has a frozen and refrigerated section like any other grocery store in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Bread for Life Co-op

Bread for Life Co-op

Peggy Ann Milton stocks and arranges baby products at the Bread for Life Co-op in Bloomington. Milton is a member of the co-op. 


D. Jack Alkire


Bread for Life Co-op

Bread for Life Co-op

Fresh produce from local farms is the first thing shoppers see when they enter the Bread for Life Co-op in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Western Avenue Community Center

Western Avenue Community Center

William “Junior” Hosea and Martha Saldana unload boxes of fresh produce from Cook Farm as part of the community supported agriculture program at Western Avenue Community Center. The produce goes to families in west Bloomington’s food desert.


D. Jack Alkire


Western Avenue Community Center

Western Avenue Community Center

Kristen Buhrmann stacks boxes of fresh produce at Western Avenue Community Center for the start of this year’s community supported agriculture program. 


D. Jack Alkire


West Bloomington Revitalization Project

West Bloomington Revitalization Project

A box of fresh produce from Cook Farm as part of West Bloomington Revitalization Project’s community supported agriculture. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden

Sunnyside Community Garden

Caleb Phillips picks lettuce with his apprentices at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest. The garden grows food for families in Bloomington as well as selling produce on Market Wagon. 


D. Jack Alkire


Veggie Oasis

Veggie Oasis

Karla Kossler, left, gathers produce from the downtown Bloomington farmers market for the weekly Veggie Oasis. Chelsea Meiss, right, works at Cook Farm and explained what herbs were and what they were good for. 


D. Jack Alkire


The Table

The Table

Kyan Glenn, center, sells produce from his farm, The Table, at the downtown Bloomington farmers market in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Veggie Oasis

Veggie Oasis

Harrison Lin, right, tells Barb Pankonen, right, about produce at the Veggie Oasis at West Bloomington Revitalization Project on the corner of Allin and Washington streets in Bloomington, Illinois. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

A volunteer operates a forklift at Midwest Food Bank in Normal. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

Pallets of water being held in Midwest Food Bank’s 100,000-square-foot warehouse. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

An 800-pound bag of Apple Jacks that Midwest Food Bank salvaged and turned into weekend “hope packs” for local children during the school year. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

Apple Jacks packed into a “hope pack” for local children during the school year. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

A standard disaster relief pack that Midwest Food Bank packs. 


D. Jack Alkire


Midwest Food Bank

Midwest Food Bank

The refrigerated section at Midwest Food Bank in Normal. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Apprentices and volunteers help weed garden beds at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

An apprentice adds mulch to the asparagus bed at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Caleb Phillips (right) and Jan Turner (left) discuss prices for selling produce from Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. Turner started the garden with her child Col Connelly as a high school project in 2016.


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

A peach grows at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. Sunnyside planted peach trees in 2017 and has added cherry and apple trees since. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Caleb Phillips, second from right, helps apprentices remove lettuce at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest lies just south of Cargill Inc. in Bloomington. Sunnyside started in 2016 and has since grown to help feed local communities and train apprentice youth. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Youth apprentice at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Caleb Phillips, left, helps apprentices harvest lettuce last month at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest welcomes youth apprentices on Illinois Street in Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest

Apprentices can work up to 100 hours a summer for $1,000 at Sunnyside Community Garden and Food Forest on the west side of Bloomington. 


D. Jack Alkire


Contact Olivia Jacobs at 309-820-3352. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @olivia___jacobs

Comments are closed.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More