Blue Ridge CUSD #18

Blue Ridge CUSD#18 is very pleased to announce Sunny McMurry as the next principal of Ruth M. Schneider Elementary, effective July 1, 2025. Mrs. McMurry earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Organization and Leadership, with a Principal endorsement, all from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has continued her passion for lifelong learning by earning National Board Certification for Teachers in the area of Early and Middle Childhood Literacy. Mrs. McMurry is in her sixth year as Instructional Coach at Robeson Elementary School in Champaign Unit 4, where her responsibilities include directing professional development activities for faculty and staff, coordinating curriculum planning and implementation, providing direct instructional support to teachers, and using data to drive decision-making. Prior to this role, Mrs. McMurry was an instructor and Clinical Experiences Specialist in the College of Education at the University of Illinois where she taught literacy and general methods courses to pre-service teaching candidates in the Early Childhood and Elementary Education programs. She also worked with school districts across the state of Illinois to coordinate classroom experiences for pre-service teachers. Mrs. McMurry also spent 9 years as a classroom teacher, teaching first, second, and fifth grades in both Champaign Unit 4 School District and Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District #3. We welcome you to Blue Ridge, Sunny!

Spring Picture Day is coming up on Tuesday, March 11! Order online at inter-state.com/order using Order Code 93541QB (code is for BRIJHS students) and Order Code 93541TA (for Schneider students). Only students who preorder will be photographed. https://5il.co/38mdb

Blue Ridge Parents and Guardians, would you be interested in hearing about the dangers facing today's youth in regards to vaping and drugs? Would you want to learn about possible warning signs and ways to protect your child? Please consider attending a presentation by Michael DeLeon, Founder of Steered Straight on March 4 at 11:30. You can attend in person at the Warner Library in Clinton, or via a Zoom. Please click on the link for more details: https://5il.co/38j8c. If that time doesn't work for you, a second option is on the same day at 6:30 pm at the Sievers Center in Monticello. #br_u_knighted

Schneider Families, We're kicking off Read Across America Week at Schneider Elementary with a chance for you to Drop in and Read with your student! Stop by during the day on Monday, March 3rd and spend up to 30 minutes in the library reading, having a snack and doing a coloring activity. Click the link for more details - https://shorturl.at/DF0TF

The Blue Ridge band is hosting the annual Talent Show this Friday, 2/28 at 7pm in the Moore Gym at the high school. We have an awesome group of talented community members and students alike and they are wanting to show you their talents! We have everything from elementary to Jr. High to High school students and even some alumni participating! We welcome you all to the Talent Show! Admission is $13 for adults and $7 for students at the door. You may also call the high school office this week (309-928-2622 option #2 on the menu) and pay for tickets with a debit or credit card. Your tickets will be waiting for you at the door! We'll accept cash, credit or debit cards at the door also that night. During intermission will find sweet treats for sale and don't forget some really awesome Silent Auction items! Bid early and often! Call the high school office if you have any questions!

Announcing the cast list of our BRIJHS Spring Play! Please be sure to calendar the weekend of April 25, 26 & 27! https://5il.co/38h31 #br_u_knighted

Congratulations to the BRHS Science of Energy Class taught by Mr. Scurlock in their 1st Place finish in this year's KidWind Regional competiton, which was held at Heartland Community College on February 12th. Their excellent performance qualified them to compete at nationals in Phoenix, Arizona in May! Their team, named the Renewable Renegades, created a turbine of their own design with integral weight throughout the structure for added stability. The team is made up of Carsyn Stiger, Apollo Ganaway, Alissa Edwards, Jaxon Berkler, and Taylyn Watterson. Great Job Knights!

Blue Ridge will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the twelfth statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for 4th-12th grade students, teachers and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. Please see the informational letter here: https://5il.co/38aq7. Students and teachers will take their survey between February 26 and March 28. If you would prefer that your student does not take the survey, please complete and return this form: https://5il.co/38aqh and return it to your student’s school by Wednesday. The parent survey is open and will remain open through March 28. You may access the parent survey here: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation. You will receive reminders during the survey window as we highly encourage all our teachers, students, and parents to make their voices heard to impact positive growth in our schools. #br_u_knighted

Read about our new PE equipment at BRIJHS! #br_u_knighted

Schneider Families! P.I.E.'s "Light Up the Knight" is less than a month away! Come join us on March 15 for an evening of family friendly activities. Click the link to register and for more details regarding the event: https://shorturl.at/O4GdE

Hello! We have the February monthly update from the Superintendent ready for you! Please click on the link to catch up on this month's Exemplary Knights, study tips for home, and a listing of our new hires, including our next Schneider Elementary Principal! https://5il.co/38bty #br_u_knighted

Here are our February Exemplary Knights! Congratulations to these students and staff! #br_u_knighted

BR Staff and Families, we would appreciate you completing a very brief survey to let us know how we're doing in terms of the support services that are offered in our buildings- counseling, psychology, social work, health services. Please click on the link and share your comments to advise our future planning. https://forms.gle/e7V2EwgPQcWXNDwQ9 The survey will close Sunday, February 23. Thank you! #br_u_knighted

Hi Schneider Families! Here is a quick update regarding the Kids Heart Challenge. We just passed the midway point of the Kids Heart Challenge and our families have already raised over $10,000 and completed several kids heart missions. We are on track to meet our goal, keep up the great work! Visit the link for more details: https://shorturl.at/rGXRT

Last night at the last HOME game of the 24-25 season, we celebrated these 7 senior boys! Corbin Colbert, Wesley Clark, Landon Slade, Isaac Price, Nils Pfaff, Clayton Evans and Silas Patrick. We have enjoyed watching you all play-way to go on a great season! Also last night, Isaac Price was acknowledged for scoring his 1000th point of his high school basketball career during the January 7 game! GO KNIGHTS!!

Thanks to one of our paraprofessionals who is a former bus driver for us, no route combinations or delays will occur this afternoon. That's teamwork! Thank you! #br_u_knighted

Due to illness, we will be running combined bus routes this afternoon. The students who ride the Green bus will be divided between the White bus and the Purple bus. All three routes, Green, White, and Purple, may be up to 45 late arriving home. Thank you for your understanding. PS Have you ever considered training to be a bus driver? We would be happy to answer any questions for you and assist you in the process! #br_u_knighted

School is in session today, Thursday, Feb.13. Please continue to use extra caution on rural roads. Our drivers will be doing the same, so you may experience some delays. Be safe! #br_u_knigjted

Good evening. We have been communicating with road commissioners and district staff regarding the current road conditions and what we can expect for the morning. Several of us will drive routes early in the morning and a decision will be made by 6am at the latest. Should the roads be unsafe, an emergency day will be used. That's right, a good old fashioned snow day. Please stay tuned. #br_u_knighted

Good morning, to ensure the safety of students and staff, we will be using an E- Learning Day today, Wednesday, Feb. 12. Pre-K will use their choice boards, K-5 will use their packets, 6th grade will meet twice via Meets and use Google classroom, and 7-12 will utilize Meets and Google classroom on a 2:20 schedule. The buildings will be closed for all evening activities. Freshman Orientation will be held virtually, as described in yesterday's communication. Be safe. #br_u_knighted