School touts outdoor advantage during pandemic

Like every other school, the Riveredge Outdoor Learning Elementary School is having to adapt to life with the coronavirus.

But it won’t have to adapt quite as much.

“We have distinct advantages over other schools because we are outside, and we have small class sizes so we have more flexibility,” Principal Mike Mullen said.

The Riveredge Outdoor Learning Elementary School, or ROLES, is a product of the Riveredge Nature Center near Newburg and is a charter school of the Northern Ozaukee School District in Fredonia.

ROLES is one of the few outdoor learning schools in the state, in which classes are held outdoors all year long, even in rain and snow.

“We don’t let weather slow us down too much,” said Mullen, who started his position last month.

When students and teachers are forced to go inside, they study in yurts, circular Mongolian-style huts.

As a charter school, ROLES operates as a public school — there is no tuition and students can use school transportation. The school follows the NOSD school calendar.

ROLES held its first classes a year ago and is preparing for its second year.

The schedule will include four days of in-person school each week, with children learning remotely at home on Wednesdays, Mullen said.

“That is until we hear otherwise,” he said. “Those things are changing, sometimes almost daily, it seems.” 

Those “virtual days” will focus on building community, social and emotional learning skills, providing families with outdoor environmental activities and surveying animals in parks and woods, Mullen said.

The school only accepted students through fourth grade last year but is adding a fifth grade this year.

Interest in the school was strong almost from the moment it was announced, with families from more than 20 different school districts applying for enrollment last year.

In the end, students from 15 different school districts enrolled, chosen by lottery.

That high level of interest continued this summer with more applicants than the school could accommodate. Consequently, another lottery was held in June for 28 spots to complete its enrollment of 90 students. 

There’s a waiting list of 20 children.

“We’re very excited about the new school year and ready to get started,” Mullen said.