Ithaca North Elementary

A huge thank you to the FFA for inviting the students at North to join you for such a great Ag Day! Our students learned so much and had the best time getting unique, hands-on experiences. From seeing and petting all the different farm animals to hanging out in the greenhouse and chatting with the FFA members, it was an incredible day for everyone involved. We truly appreciate the warm welcome and the chance to learn more about agriculture. Thank you again, Ithaca FFA!

Happy School Principals' Day to Mrs. Rayburn! She was treated well today by our PTO, students, and staff!

Third graders having some good old fashioned puzzle fun!!! Teamwork and perseverance will get the job done. Stay tuned for the finished products.

5th graders in Miss Sopocy’s class wrapped up their final M-STEP test today! To celebrate all of their hard work and perseverance, students enjoyed a fun class reward, making a “candy salad”! Each student brought in a small bag of their favorite candy and added it to one big bowl to share. The students absolutely loved this sweet treat and the chance to celebrate together as a classroom family. We are so proud of their effort, focus, and determination throughout testing! Great job, 5th graders!

Our hallways are a little brighter this month thanks to our Students of the Month! This month's Positivity Project focus challenged us to look deeper. We looked for students who practice Fairness in their play and work, those who show Appreciation for Beauty and Excellence in their surroundings and peers, and those who act with Purpose in everything they do. Congratulations to these students for showing us what it looks like to have a strong character!

5th graders attended Central Michigan University's Art Reach Musical Performance today! Our students gained a better understanding about music and instruments!

This week in Music, 5th grade has been learning about the different instruments they will be able to play in 6th grade Band. We learned how to play with a flute embouchure and used this skill to play on plastic tubes, donated to us by our STEAM teacher, Ms. Hindbaugh-Marr. We call composed our own song using different tubes of different sizes and played them for our peers.

Traditions are the heartbeat of our district, and 6th grade camp is one of our absolute favorites! A huge THANK YOU to Camp Henry for being the most incredible hosts and camp counselors—you made every moment feel like an adventure. To our amazing parents and sibling chaperones: we couldn't have done this without your time, energy, and late-night supervision! Our sixth graders returned from camp today and came home with much more than just dirty laundry—they’re coming home with memories that will last a lifetime.

4th graders enjoyed finding "oil" (the pink layer in the cupcake) today in Science! They had to take core samples to see where they thought the most oil would be, then they cut them in half to see if they were right!

Our 6th graders are having an absolute blast at camp. So far, they’ve conquered the zipline, braved the "Big Swing," and even put their survival skills to the test by building their own campfires! More importantly, the students are making wonderful memories and strengthening friendships every day. We are so proud of their bravery and school spirit!

5th graders in Miss Sopocy's class did an incredible job with their "Live Wax Museum" for Grandparents and VIP Day. This project was all about curiosity and creative freedom. Each student chose a person who inspired them or made a mark on American history, dived into their own research, and designed a poster to tell that person's story. It was so much fun watching them take total ownership of their work and get excited to share what they learned. A huge thank you to all the grandparents and special guests who stopped by our classroom to support these young historians, you made the day so special!

Thank you to all of the 4th grade grandparents/VIPs that came to spend time with their little loved ones!

Grandparents' Day/VIP Day 2026! Thank you to all of the special people who joined us today potting plants. What a fantastic turnout!

Fourth graders are learning about renewable energy in science, so they created and compared different wind turbine blades in STEAM lab. Using the multimeters to determine voltage was quite exciting!

Our 5th graders had an incredible opportunity to take part in a walking field trip to the courthouse! During their visit, students explored several important offices, including the Clerk’s Office, Treasurer’s Office, Register of Deeds, and the Commissioners Room. They also had the chance to speak with Sheriff Clark and participate in a mock trial right in the courtroom. This hands-on experience brought learning to life as students made meaningful connections to topics we’ve been studying in class. They asked thoughtful questions, engaged in great conversations, and deepened their understanding of how local government works—all while learning about the history of Gratiot County. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this day possible and to those who took the time to teach and inspire our students. It was a memorable and impactful experience for all!

We had a very special virtual visit with our 6th graders recently! We were honored to welcome back one of our own Ithaca Alumni who is now serving as a National Park Ranger at Jewel Cave National Monument. It was an incredible experience for our students to see where their education can take them. Our guest shared a wealth of knowledge about the unique geology of Jewel Cave, the life of a Park Ranger, and the importance of preserving our National Parks. Our students were absolutely engaged, asking fantastic questions and learning what it takes to protect one of the longest caves in the world!

As an extension of their properties of matter science unit, fifth graders were challenged to use random STEAM lab supplies to build freestanding towers that could hold golf balls. Ms. Richardson's class constructed the tallest tower at 78cm!