FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2012
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Anna Anagnos keeps a photograph of her son posted in front of her East Ridgewood Avenue storefront so passersby can see. Additional photos and newspaper clippings of Joseph C. Anagnos adorn a portion of the wall near the cash register, giving customers an opportunity to learn a little more about him.
Surrounded by those small reminders, Anna admits her guilt because there might be moments when she’s not thinking of her 29-year-old son, a United States Marine Corps captain, who last week embarked on a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and eventually to the Persian Gulf region.
Formative Assessment Presentation is October 17 Since the fall of 2008, the Ridgewood Public Schools has administered online formative assessment to all students in Grades 3 through 8. Formative assessments help teachers gain an understanding of students’ strengths and weaknesses. For the 2012-2013 school year, the Board of Education has approved the use of MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) as its online formative assessment program.
As part of the district’s continuing curriculum outreach efforts, a presentation will be held on MAP on Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30 p.m. Parents, guardians and the general public are invited to come to the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, floor 3, to hear Jim Tilghman, Professional Representative of Northwest Evaluation Association and producer of MAP
Since the Fall of 2008, the Ridgewood Public Schools has been administering an online formative assessment to all students in Grades 3 through 8. Formative assessments help teachers to know and understand their students’ strengths and opportunities for improvement, providing valuable information about what students already know and what may require additional reinforcement.
The Ridgewood Public Schools had formerly used an online formative assessment that was funded through the New Jersey Department of Education. In 2010-2011, the assessment company’s contract with the New Jersey Department of Education ended. In 2011-2012 the
district examined various options, and, in May of 2012, the Ridgewood Board of Education approved the use of NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) MAP® (Measures of Academic Progress®) as its online formative assessment.
Students in Grades 3 through 8 will take two online assessments each year in Reading and Mathematics. We expect that the computer-delivered nature of these assessments will promote a more student-friendly experience than that of high-stakes tests; this is appropriate
since there are no “stakes” attached to these tests – only information to guide instruction. Although the assessment is not timed, most students take one class period to complete each subject area. The assessment adapts to each student, giving harder or easier questions based
on correct and incorrect responses. It identifies an instructional level by moving toward questions that each student is likely to get right 50% of the time and to get wrong 50% of the time. That instructional level becomes information that teachers use to modify and adjust
their instruction in the classroom.
Since MAP® is not a standardized test, scheduling is flexible, and results do not become part of a student’s record. MAP® is used by teachers as a planning tool for the sole purpose of informing instruction; therefore, test preparation is neither required nor desirable, and neither
test notification nor test reports are sent home.
There will be two administrations of MAP® during the 2012 – 2013 school year. We anticipate testing windows of September 18 through October 5, 2012, and January 22 through February 8, 2013.
As always, and in accordance with District policy, parents/guardians are welcome at any time to contact their principal to review their child’s progress
Sheila Brogan reminded the public about the upcoming Curriculum Outreach programs, including this fall, including the presentation by psychologist Debra Fagan on K-5 emotional well-being. This program will take place next Tuesday, October 2, from 7:30-9 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium.
Sheila Brogan reminded the public that ribbon-cutting ceremonies to mark the completion of bond referendum construction are coming up at George Washington Middle School on October 10 at 6:30 p.m. and at Willard School on October 16 at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited.
GWMS Library Media Specialist Ann Brown presented information on the new digital library initiative of the middle schools and high school. Students now have access to 150 digital titles for check-out via the school website; they can sign up for e-books to be downloaded to their personal e-reader devices for a period of two or three weeks. Soon, e-reader devices will also be available to borrow.
RHS Media Center Renovations : Lori Weil and David Zrike presented information on the proposed RHS Learning Commons that would replace the high school’s library, which is 50 years old. The new space would reflect the mission of optimizing student productivity and collaborative learning and include research areas, meeting rooms and a café and lounge space. Estimated costs are $600,000 for construction and $250,000 for furnishings. The committee is actively fundraising and is also seeking the Board’s approval of financial assistance. The goal is to begin construction in June of 2013 and to be completed with the project in time for the start of the start of school next September.
Jim Morgan reported that the Finance Committee is exploring creative ideas to present the financial statements to the public in lay terms.
Sheila Brogan reported that the Communications Committee will begin work next month on a comprehensive parent/guardian survey, which will be distributed in May 2013.
Americans’ Incomes Have Fallen $3,040 During the Obama ‘Recovery’
BY JEFFREY H. ANDERSON
Americans must be wondering how much more of this “recovery” they can afford. New figures from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey, compiled by Sentier Research, show that the typical American household’s real (inflation-adjusted) income has actually dropped 5.7 percent during the Obama “recovery.” Using constant 2012 dollars (to adjust for inflation), the median annual income of American households was $53,718 as of June 2009, the last month of the recession. Now, after 38 months of this “recovery,” it has fallen to $50,678 — a drop of $3,040 per household.
Yet it gets worse. Amazingly, incomes have dropped even more during the “recovery” than they did during the recession. In fact, they’ve dropped more than twice as much as they did during the recession. From the start to the end of the recession, the real median income of American households fell $1,413, or 2.6 percent. From the end of the recession to the present day, it has dropped $3,040, or 5.7 percent. This begs the question: What kind of “recovery” compares unfavorably with the recession from which it’s ostensibly recovering?
A New Jersey legislator wants to ban right turns on red at intersections with red light cameras.
State Sen. Shirley Turner, D-Mercer, said the restriction is needed to protect the many motorists who slow down, but don’t come to a full stop, when making such turns.
Those drivers often receive costly tickets because red light cameras consider them to be breaking the law
“I feel that motorists should not be allowed to turn right on red,” Turner said Tuesday. “That will cut down on a lot of the tickets being issued.”
The legislator also said her measure would help build pressure to remove the cameras, which can be popular with local officials because they generate cash through tickets. (Cooney, Courier-Post)
Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital : 5th Annual Adopt A Pet Day
Sun, September 30, 2012
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital and hospital parking lot, 320 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood
The hospital opens its parking lot and doors from 11:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. with thirty rescue groups and shelters hoping to find homes for more than 300 dogs, cats, and exotic animals. There will be costumed characters and vendors with free samples. Last year’s event brought over 2,700 people, who adopted approximately 250 pets.
Dr. Dean Cerf, Hospital Director, said “this event has made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many pets and people. We are thankful for everyone who participates and we’re happy to facilitate an event that allows people and pets to connect and receive the love and joy this relationship offers.”
Keith Harris, Hospital Administrator, said “We encourage everyone to come out this year and give pets a second chance for happiness. The theme for the event is ‘Open your heart and home to a friend for life,’ and we hope to make that friendship a reality for many more this year.”
Survey: So far, efforts to control health costs have weak impact
New Jersey health care experts are hoping changes now under way will eventually counterbalance data reported in a new survey that found the cost of medical claims paid by employer-sponsored health plans continues to rise.
Overall claims costs are forecast to increase in the high single-digits next year, according to 70 insurance companies who took part in the Wells Fargo Insurance Employee Benefits Survey. (Fitzgerald, NJBIZ)
The Coalition of Northwest Bergen County is sponsoring a history luncheon on Thursday, October 18 at noon. The Lincoln Luncheon will feature actors Robert Costello and Ken Hall impersonating Abraham Lincoln and George McClellan.
Come and learn about the 1864 presidential campaign and election and the issues of the day. The luncheon will take place at the historic Brick House, 179 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff. Click here for the luncheon flier and ticket order form. https://www.ridgewoodhistoricalsociety.org/Forms/lincolnluncheon.pdf
As part of the Christie administration’s latest push for early literacy, the state is launching a pilot program for testing children as they enter kindergarten.
New Jersey has enlisted six school districts and a charter school to test out the new “kindergarten entry assessment” (KEA), which will measure children for basic academic and social development.
Nearly 50 teachers and administrators in the districts began training in August to learn to use a commercial assessment tool called Teaching Strategies GOLD.
New Jersey joins Delaware, Colorado and Washington in using the new assessment tool, the companyannounced this month. State officials said they chose the Maryland-based company’s program because it is easy to use and aligns with the national Common Core State Standards. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight) https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/09/25/early-testing-for-kindergarten/
The Cooperative Nursery School of Ridgewood Presents the 35th Annual fabulous Fall Festival Fun is in the Air Saturday October 6th 2012 10 am – 4:30 pm Graydon Pool Parking Lot Kids corner, many vendors and food Rain date October 13th 2012
State Bill to expand jury pool
September 26,2012
the Staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, A new bill before the state Assembly Judiciary Committee would expand the jury pool lists to include people who receive food stamps or cash assistance from the government.
The bill would include the names of the recipients in a list put together each year by an assignment judge in each of the state’s 21 counties. Prospective juror lists typically include registered voters, licensed drivers, and people who file state income taxes and homestead rebates, among others.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee is expected to hold hearing today.
No more pencils, no more books: Are school librarians becoming obsolete?
Once the staple of nearly every school, the school librarian and media specialist is feeling a bit under-appreciated — if not under siege — these days.
Over the past five years, the number of certified library/media specialists in New Jersey’s public schools has dropped by almost 15 percent, according to the statewide association, and its own membership has been cut almost in half.
There were 1,580 certified specialists statewide last year, down from 1,850 in 2007-2008, serving roughly 2,500 schools.
The biggest contributor to the drop was the state’s budget crisis two years ago. Library positions were some of the first to be cut by districts looking to trim staff, association officers and local officials said. (Mooney, NJ Spotlight)
Student debt hits a record 1 in 5 households
September 26,2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, According to analysis by the Pew Research Center student debt has stretched to a record number nearly 1 in 5 of U.S. households,
The analysis by the Pew Research Center found that 22.4 million households, or 19 percent of US households had college debt in 2010. That is double the share in 1989, and up from 15 percent in 2007, just prior to the recession . This represents the biggest three-year increase in student debt in more than two decades.
Pew found that the increase in debt was driven by higher tuition costs as well as rising college enrollment during the economic downturn. The biggest jumps occurred in households at the two extremes of the income range.
More well-off families are digging deeper into their pockets to pay for costly private colleges, while lower-income people in search of higher-wage jobs are borrowing money and enrolling in community colleges, public universities and other schools as a way to boost their resumes.
Because of the very weak economy, fewer college students than before are able to settle into full-time careers immediately upon graduation, contributing to a jump in debt among lower-income households as the young adults take on part-time jobs or attend graduate school, according to Pew.
Operation Take Back New Jersey – Collection of Prescription Drugs – Saturday, Sept. 29
The Ridgewood Police Department will collect prescription drugs on Saturday, September 29th from 10AM to 2PM at Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood.
The Ridgewood Police Department, will be hosting an Operation Take Back New Jersey local collection site as part of the Operation Take Back NJ medicine disposal day. The event will take place at the front lobby of the Ridgewood Police Department located on the second floor of Village Hall, 131 N. Maple Ave. Ridgewood NJ 07450 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, 2012. This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage local community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine.
The Ridgewood Police Department would like to encourage the residents of Ridgewood to take this opportunity to safely discard their expired and/or unused prescription medications. This program helps to reduce the opportunity for prescription drug abuse and provides an environmentally safe method for the disposal of these drugs.
This statewide effort, with the majority of New Jersey police departments participating, is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the NY/NJ HIDTA, and the New Jersey National Guard. Ridgewood residents looking for information on the program and local collection sites should visit www.operationtakebacknj.com.
The American Legion Post 53 and Ridgewood’s Blue Star Families are spearheading the effort to bring awareness to our community and commemorate the sacrifices these mothers and their families have made. Ridgewood will light luminaries from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 30th at Van Neste Park; all are welcome to stop by and show your support.
Residents are encouraged to light luminaries at the end of their driveways away from anything that can catch fire. The goal is to see thousands of luminaries lit throughout Ridgewood to honor Gold Star Mothers on September 30th!
