Cedar Ridge Elementary turns a new chapter

From left: Elementary Principal Abbi Limbaugh, Library Coordinator Carol Woods, Elementary Assistant Principal Britney Davis, and Behavioral Facilitator David Ward.

Special to White River Now, Brianna Goodman, communications coordinator at the Cedar Ridge School District

All summer long, while most classrooms sat quiet and still, one room was being transformed at Cedar Ridge Elementary.

After more than 20 years of a steady and traditional library presence, it was time to reimagine and renovate the place where students fall in love with reading.

The school drew on Carol Woods’ 42 years of experience in education to turn the library into a vibrant and magical space designed to inspire a lifelong love of reading in every child who enters.

Woods spent nearly every day during the summer in the library, sometimes arriving before the sun was up, bringing her ideas to life. With the teamwork of Shirl Nelson, David Ward and several others, the library has been transformed into one of the most beautiful and magical rooms in the district.

“The results are nothing short of inspiring,” said Elementary Principal Abbi Limbaugh. “For too long, the space felt dated, and students weren’t as drawn to it as we hoped. We knew we had to do something! We wanted to create a fresh, inviting space that celebrates the joy of reading and sparks excitement about books the moment students walk in.”

While the library received new flooring, paint and furniture, there is so much more to this renovation than meets the eye. Unlike traditional libraries, books at Cedar Ridge Elementary are front-facing, displaying colorful and interesting covers that invite young readers to explore.

There are also several new areas of the library for students to enjoy during special programs such as Tea-N-Talk, where students sip tea, enjoy sandwiches and share about a book that is special to them; Reading Under the Stars, where students relax in hammocks as part of an incentive program or special challenge; and the V.I.P. Wolf Den, an area with arcade games like skeeball, basketball shoot-off and air hockey that students can access through incentives, and so much more.

“This would not have been possible without the vision of Woods,” said Cedar Ridge Superintendent Roger Ried. “Both she and Ward have worked long, hard hours this summer to create an inviting environment for the students.”

Two years ago, the district as a whole received the Gold R.I.S.E. Community Award from the Arkansas Department of Education. This recognition came through the hard work and dedication of school staff and the community to foster a culture of book lovers within the school and beyond through projects such as the Summer Book Bus, Reading Under the Lights, Royal Reader, Imagination Celebration, the Elementary Book Vending Machine and more.

The elementary library adds to this excitement, as students rush in between classes or after school to grab a book and eagerly share their growing word counts with Woods.

“Thanks to a strong team of teachers and staff who poured in countless hours, hard work and resources, the library is now a bright, welcoming place where every shelf encourages exploration and every corner invites curiosity,” said Limbaugh. “Our remodeled library is more than just a room of books — it’s a hub for imagination, discovery and a lifelong love of reading.”

In addition to fostering a love of reading, this has become a perfect example of collaboration between staff and community. Everyone who spends time in the library leaves inspired and wants to be part of the process.

Great things are expected as the school year unfolds, and in the words of Woods, “Let’s read!”

All images provided by the Cedar Ridge School District