North Springs Elementary School was recently under heightened security conditions for the arrival of Ribbit, one of northeast Columbia’s newest celebrities.

The green furry frog arrived at the Richland District Two school on Monday, August 15 at 9 am in a red Thunderbird convertible. Ribbit’s convoy included a police escort provided by the school’s own school resource officer, Zina Mayo.

Students had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the frog who will be coming to life in Merrie Duggan’s second grade class this year. Ribbit will be a writing buddy for Duggan’s students and will actually go home with each child in the class throughout the year so the children can write about their adventures with the lovable frog.

Merrie Duggan and her second grade class at North Springs Elementary School welcome Ribbit. School officials said there had been some concern from the school’s mascot, Clickety Cricket, about Ribbit’s dietary habits, but Clickety was assured that Ribbit is a vegetarian and does not eat crickets.

According to school officials, Ribbit’s arrival was delayed after the opening of school because he had to stay in Michigan to help some friends take care of an injured horse. Officials also noted that celebrities of this type often-times are shy about revealing such altruism to the media so as not to seem self-serving. However, Duggan says Ribbit wrote to her class every day to give them details about his arrival.

Ribbit and many other furry friends are a part of the Exemplary Writing program at North Springs Elementary, which places a new furry friend in each classroom to help encourage and facilitate reading and writing. Teachers and students are excited about the many opportunities for writing with these furry friends.