Friday, October 13 at 10am. RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
Join Dr. Gorman, Principal of RHS, as he takes us on a Walktoberfest tour around the exterior of the school and its grounds. Learn interesting facts about the building’s history, the cupola, the fields, notable alumni and more!
Sign up here: RidgewoodWalks.com
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School is one of the most iconic buildings in the village. Have you ever wondered what secrets lie behind the facade? Have you ever wondered what’s inside the cupola? How about notable alumni who spent their formative years in this building? Join Principal Dr. Tom Gorman tomorrow, Friday, October 13 at 10am and find out everything there is to know about this stunning structure.
Check out lots of other tours too. Walktoberfest is a great way to learn about Ridgewood, the place we all call home
All Ridgewood High School parents and guardians are invited to a casting call to participate in Jamboree 2018- Jamboree Night Live! A musical revue of television through the years!
Ridgewood NJ, Become a part of this wonderful RIDGEWOOD TRADITION by joining our cast and crew! Over the past 72 years, Jamboree has presented an original musical revue, raising over $1.4 million dollars for need-based college scholarships for graduating RHS seniors.
So, come join the fun! No talent required! Everybody gets in!
CASTING CALL DATES AND TIMES (select one):
Monday, October 16, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 18, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 24, 7 p.m.
All dates will be in the Ridgewood High School Campus Center.
It’s so easy to sign up just go here to register online.
Performances are February 7, 8,9, & 10 and rehearsals begin January 3rd!! Producers for this production are Carrie Johnson, James Sharo, Meghan Bracken and Tony Cambria! They can be reached via email at [email protected]. After several years as music director we are honored to have Bronwen Eastwood as Director, with the incredible creative team of Maggie Devita-Set Construction/Crew, Steve Friedes Music Director, Holly Cocuzzo-Choreography, Wayne Angelbeck-Costumes and Stage Managers Mark Mulvey and Nick Lewis.
Don’t want to be on stage? Help is always needed behind the scenes, and non-RHS parents are welcome to join the Stage Crew, or volunteer in many other ways!
The RHS Jamboree Scholarship Committee is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Please note that ALL SENIORS, not just those with parents/guardians in the show or backstage, are encouraged to apply for the RHS JAMBOREE SCHOLARSHIP! Speak with your guidance counselor for more information.
Ridgewood NJ, As part of the One Book, One District initiative, Ridgewood Schools will host it’s first Tech Night for parents and guardians Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 7pm. Please join the presentation on the Ridgewood Public Schools’ use of educational technology and its security. Following the presentation will be breakout sessions led by school administrators on themes and topics discussed in Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair’s… book, The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age. Even if you have not yet had the opportunity to read the book, you will easily be able to participate in the discussions.
Ridgewood NJ, everyone in the Village remembers the contract talks for teachers salaries. Over the years there have been threats to strike , non signing of recommendation letters and so on, but this takes the cake yesterday the Star-Ledger reported the NJEA president Ed Richardson is making $1.2 million in salary and benefits .
Once again New Jersey taxpayers are sucker punched and teachers are forced to cough up almost $1000 in union dues for Richardson and his buddies at the top to play around with. Property taxes go higher and people vote with their feet.
Only in a state like New Jersey can an organization like NJEA continue to exist unfettered without ever having to answer to anyone about its unfettered power and intimidation.
Ridgewood NJ, a science class experiment mistook for a fire led to Ridgewood High School being evacuated . Ridgewood High School was evacuated on Thursday after a passer-by mistook smoke from a science experiment as an actual fire at the School.
A science class at Ridgewood High School was burning ice pop sticks around 10 a.m. when someone walking near the classroom smelled smoke and pulled the fire alarm.
Ridgewood Fire officials said the building was evacuated for about 40 minutes and no one was injured.
Ridgewood Crew’s annual wine tasting fundraiser, Sunday, October 29, 7-9pm at Chakra Restaurant. Featuring author and wine educator Kevin Zraly with tastings from Frederick Wildman & Sons.
Ridgewood NJ, Please join Ridgewood Crew and Frederick Wildman and Sons for a wine tasting and fine dining night with America’s most famous and entertaining wine teacher, Kevin Zraly, in the beautiful environs of Chakra restaurant. The evening includes passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne, a chef curated 3 course dinner and wine pairings in conjunction with learning about and tasting a variety of fine wines from Frederick Wildman and Sons wine merchants. All wines sampled will be available for purchase in time for the upcoming holidays and additional silent auction items will be offered. For those wishing to pay by check, please drop off payment by October 20 to: R. Orlando, 316 Allen Place, Ridgewood NJ 07450. Proceeds of the evening will help fund the Ridgewood High School Crew team. We look forward to seeing you then!
And as always, please drink responsibly and/or arrange for an Uber or designated driver for the end of the evening as we care about you and want you to arrive home safely.
Ridgewood NJ, Were you a Marching Band member in 1992 or 1997? On Friday, October 13, members of the 1992 and 1997 Ridgewood High School Marching Bands will return to RHS as they celebrate the 25th and 20th anniversaries of their Championship seasons. The bands will be recognized in a halftime ceremony at the home football game as the Maroons take on Bergen Tech. Game time is 6 p.m. and halftime is expected to begin at approximately 6:45 p.m. Following the football game, the band alumni will congregate at MacMurphy’s Pub in Ridgewood for a reception and celebration.
The following column appeared in The Ridgewood News on September 29, 2017.
Welcome to the new school year! We got off to a great start on September 6, hit our stride early on, and continue to enjoy a positive energy in all our schools.
As is the case each year, credit must be given for our strong start and smooth transition to the effort this summer of many administrators, teachers and support staff who worked hard to ensure that our programs and buildings were in top shape when the opening bell rang. From important changes in our curricula and programs to the hiring of several new staff, from facility projects across the district to technology improvements and implementation, we had a very busy and successful summer.
Here is a snapshot from my Opening of School Report, which may be read in its entirety on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us:
• We welcomed 5766 students on the first day of school.
• New or revised curriculum was written for 74 courses.
• At Ridgewood High School, new courses were added to the Business, Science, Computer Science and Technology departments.
• Newly hired for 2017-2018 are 49 staff members, representing either new positions due to enrollment or initiatives, or replacements for employees that resigned, retired, or are on leave.
• Renovations across the district included floor tile asbestos abatement, new flooring, painting, electrical work, new bathroom partitions and window replacements. Additional facility projects were completed at each school that ranged from boiler replacements through our Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP) and state-of-the-art drinking fountain replacements featuring water filters and filling stations, to remodeling for the implementation of full-day Kindergarten.
• Technology upgrades in classrooms and buildings, and improvements to building security were completed.
As we prepared to open our doors, schools in other parts of our nation were either temporarily shuttered or transformed into emergency shelters in preparation for Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Thankfully the devastation was far from Ridgewood, yet I am very happy to report that our schools still sprang into action to help, so that on opening day coin jars for the American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts were prominently on display and filling rapidly in every building. Also there were Soles 4 Souls collection boxes. What a great reminder that our education program goes beyond academics, that we continually seek out opportunities for humanitarian service so that our students may grow their character as well as their minds, and that we can help them learn the value of global citizenship. These things are a critical part of what we do, too.
Last year at this time your Board of Education turned its attention to the goal of implementing full-day Kindergarten in the district, which was approved by Ridgewood voters last November. This September, after remodeling classrooms, writing curriculum and hiring teachers, we joined the majority of New Jersey’s public districts when we welcomed our first full-day K classes. There are several key factors in favor of full-day K, notably the ability to provide more time in the daily schedule for structured play experiences designed to reinforce learning. It is exciting to see our mission of excellence at work in the classrooms of our youngest students, who are now presented with an even stronger opportunity to effectively learn and thrive than ever before.
Another project from last school year, the May 2017 parent-guardian survey report was presented at the September 25 Board meeting. The fifth district-wide satisfaction survey since 2010, the results this time around are again quite positive in areas ranging from the quality of our educational programs to satisfaction with the school facilities, extracurricular offerings, communications and the Chromebook initiative. Thank you to the nearly 31 percent of our parents and guardians who took the time to complete the survey. Your input supports our ongoing efforts to review and refine our programs and practices. Survey results for all schools and the district are posted on our website.
There’s an upcoming opportunity for residents to meet with the Board and me to informally discuss the survey, full-day K, or any other school-related topic of interest to you. On Wednesday night, October 18, we’ll have the coffee brewing at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, from 7-8:30 p.m. for the first of three dates set for Coffee and Conversation this school year. Our work requires the support of our broader community and we are appreciative of your trust, enthusiasm and financial commitment to our mission of excellence. We’d like to know you better, so please drop by on October 18 with your questions, suggestions and concerns.
Thanks to all, we are off to a great start to the 2017-2018 school year. I look forward to updating you throughout the upcoming months on all things Ridgewood Public Schools.
As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions or concerns.
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., is Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools. Dr. Fishbein can be reached at 201-670-2700, ext. 10530, or via e-mail at [email protected]
Ridgewood NJ, Just published! Results of the May 2017 parent / guardian satisfaction survey are out and posted on our website. Lets see how the “Tradition of Excellence ” faired . Take a look at your school’s responses and that of the whole district at this link: https://tinyurl.com/y94h23eu
Participation Rate In-District 5690 enrolled , 8183 (63 bounced) total emails send , 2498 responded or 30.8% .
Respondents Strongly agree 33.41% or agree 53.59% with the statement I am satisfied with the overall quality of my child’s education.
While Respondents Strongly agree 40.09% and agree 43.85 with the statement I would recommend my child’s school to other parents.
School staff members (teachers / principal / support staff) are responsive to my parental concerns, Scored a 32.49% Strongly agree and a 47.16% agree , the district administration and/or Board of Education are responsive to my parental concerns, scored a very poor 13.73% Strongly agree and 29.72% agree.
Perhaps it is a good time to mark your calendars and grab a coffee. Members of the Ridgewood Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on Wednesday, October 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place. Residents are welcome to drop in and share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns
Washington DC, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos recognized 342 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017 based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. These schools demonstrate that all students can achieve to high levels. The Department will formally recognize the 292 public and 50 private schools at an awards ceremony at the Omni Shoreham in Washington DC on November 6 and 7, 2017. The 2017 cohort represent public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools, including traditional, charter, magnet schools, parochial and independent schools in 44 States, the District of Colombia and Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Okinawa, Japan, Stuttgart, Germany, and West Point, New York.
The National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. The National Blue Ribbon Schools flag gracing a school’s building is a widely recognized symbol of exemplary teaching and learning. National Blue Ribbon Schools are an inspiration and a model for schools still striving for excellence. Now in its 35th year, the U. S. Department of Education has bestowed this coveted award on more than 8,500 schools.
In New Jersey 17 schools were honored as National Blue Ribbon Schools, and the list was dominated by Catholic schools . Most of which are being run by the Archdiocese of Newark.
Here are the Catholic Schools :
St. Peter Academy, Bergen County
This River Edge elementary school, under the Archdiocese of Newark, has 159 students. It was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
Our Lady of the Lake School, Essex County
This Verona elementary school, operated by the Archdiocese of Newark, has 226 students and was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
All Saints Catholic Academy, Hudson County
This Bayonne elementary school, under the Archdiocese of Newark, serving 404 students earned recognition as an Exemplary High Performing School.
All Saints Catholic Academy, Hudson County
This Bayonne elementary school, under the Archdiocese of Newark, serving 404 students earned recognition as an Exemplary High Performing School.
Saint Francis Cathedral School, Middlesex County
This elementary school, located in Metuchen and operated under the Metuchen Diocese, has 421 students. It was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
Christian Brothers Academy, Monmouth County
This high school, located in Lincroft, and under the Diocese of Trenton, has 974 students. It was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Union County
This New Providence elementary school, under the Archdiocese of Newark, has 145 students. It was recognized as an Exemplary High Performing School.
Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Kristen Race kicks off the 17-18 Wellbeing series on October 4: Dr. Kristen Race, who will present “From Thriving to Surviving in Your Family” on Wednesday, October 4 from 7:00-9:00 pm at the George Washington Middle School auditorium. This program is made possible through the generosity of The Valley Hospital, the Ridgewood Education Foundation, and the Federated Home and School Association.
Dr. Race is an expert in child, family, and school psychology, as well as the founder of Mindful Life and the author of Mindful Parenting. She will explain why Generation X is now “Generation Stress” and will propose small changes to help break the cycle of stress in your own life and your family’s. Dr. Race has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Parenting, and Real Simple, as well as on CNN and NPR. She has created brain-based mindfulness programs that are used by schools, businesses, families, camps, and youth, athletic, and after-school programs.
Ridgewood NJ, the Staff of The Ridgewood Blog has learned that a parent who requested that an armed police officer be present during a recent one-on-one meeting with the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Business Administrator was asked, by the Business Administrator, to leave the building at 49 Cottage Place prior to resolution of the issue at hand.
We’re truly puzzled as to why a parent would feel that an armed police officer should be present prior to beginning a one-on-one discussion with any Ridgewood Board of Education staff member.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education invites you for coffee. Members of the Ridgewood Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on three separate occasions this school year.
The first date for Coffee and Conversation is Wednesday, October 18 from 7-8:30 p.m. Future dates are March 21 and May 16, 2018.
The gatherings will take place at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. Residents are welcome to drop in and share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns with Board members and Dr. Fishbein.
Ridgewood NJ, One hundred thirty-four students at RHS have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement Examinations. About 18 percent of the more than 1.9 million high school students worldwide who took AP Examinations in May 2016 performed at a sufficiently high level to merit such recognition.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the students’ performance on AP exams. At RHS: 3 students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4.0 or higher on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams; 47 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams; 33 students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams; and 54 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher.
Every year around the start of the academic calendar, we offer parents expert advice on what to do if their children are being bullied at school.
But what if your child is the one doing the bullying?
According to Maurice Elias, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University, there’s not much information available for parents whose children are accused of being responsible for harassment, intimidation or bullying at school.
Very few parents want to think of their children as a bullies, Elias said, and may not openly seek advice on the topic.
