Board approves name for new elementary school being built

Drum roll! Our newest elementary school has a name - Aspen Ridge Elementary School! A big thank you to all who participated in this community-naming process, especially the committee members who sifted through the many suggestions and then researched the best direction for our district. 

Here’s some of the reasoning behind the selection: 

• Aspen Ridge was one of the community submissions shared alongside other Aspen-related suggestions. 
• Meets community’s desire for a nature-inspired name with a geographic and/or historic tie.
• The Aspen tree species is the most common in Minnesota and is the first to grow in places of change. It’s also indigenous to the city of Maple Grove.
• The indigenous meaning of Aspen is unity and protection as the Aspen tree has several interconnected roots and is used for medicines, food and shelter. 
• The design of the new elementary school is set to include tree imagery on its interior walls.
• Ridge connects to a road at the school location. 
• Ridge also speaks to the elevation of the land and this school being our district’s first two-story elementary.  

The school board unanimously approved the recommended name at their Sept. 23 meeting. 

Stay tuned for Aspen Ridge’s logo/mascot. Updates will be shared at OsseoSchools.org/BetterFuture in a few weeks.