WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The nationwide forces that are beginning to uproot football have converged at a place called High School North.
Demographic shifts, concussions, single-sport specialization and cost — among the same issues that have caused youth football numbers to plummet around the country in recent years — have led West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North to drop varsity football this season. The Knights, with a roster of 37 players, will play a junior varsity schedule.
High School South, the other secondary school in the district, might have to do the same next year, along with high schools from four other neighboring jurisdictions, West Windsor-Plainsboro Schools Superintendent David Aderhold said.
The moves reflect a crisis for football all over the country, but one that has accelerated in this New York City bedroom community.
The recent events in Charlottesville have compelled me to write to you this afternoon. The horrific and
vile images on our screens emphasized the unfortunate and misguided behavior of real people with real
hate in their hearts towards others who look or believe differently from themselves.
Having watched those expressions of hatred and violence with horror and disbelief, I want to stress to
you and reassure you that the Ridgewood Public Schools does not tolerate any acts of hate or negative
speech in our buildings or on our property. Our district is a community of people from many different
backgrounds, nationalities, beliefs and protected classes, and we insist that our students and staff
practice tolerance and respect at all times through clearly articulated goals for respectful and inclusive
behavior. We also go one step further, by finding ways to highlight and celebrate both differences and
similarities.
As we ready for the opening of school and a peaceful and welcoming start to a new year, I encourage
you to talk about the school environment in your discussions with your family about the recent events in
Charlottesville. Please know that we are here to assist you and feel free to reach out to your child’s
principal, or to me, at any time.
Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Sincerely yours,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Only half of U.S. students think their high schools have prepared them with the knowledge and skills they need for college, according to recent survey data.
Compiled by the nonprofit YouthTruth, the data reveal an uncertainty among high schoolers in how to become ready for college and careers.
The survey didn’t require students to explain why they felt they way they did — but anonymous comments provide some clues.
“They just want us to have high grades, and that’s what most kids are doing by cheating or studying really hard, not by actually learning something,” one student wrote. “School has taught us that having better grades is better than actually learning something, and that’s not how it should be.”
Ridgewood Nj, the Ridgewood School district has released a REVISED Back-to-School Night Schedule: Sorry for any inconvenience but there are a couple of changes to the BTS Night schedule (Ridge and Willard, specifically). Here it is:
Benjamin Franklin Middle School: Tuesday, September 12 at 7 p.m.
George Washington Middle School: Thursday, September 28 at 7 p.m.
Hawes Elementary School (Gr. 3-5): Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Hawes Elementary School (Gr. K-2): Thursday, September 14 at 8 p.m.
Orchard Elementary School: Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Ridgewood High School: Wednesday, September 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Ridge Elementary School: Tuesday, September 19 at 7 p.m. (revised)
Somerville Elementary School: Thursday, September 14 at 7 p.m.
Travell Elementary School: Thursday, September 14 at 7 p.m.
Willard Elementary School: Wednesday, September 27 at 7 p.m. (revised)
Ridgewood NJ, Assemblywomen Holly Schepisi took issues with NJEA endorsements yesterday and took to Facebook to make her displeasure known .
Schepisi said,“I find it fascinating that the NJEA, an organization funded primarily by female members, did not endorse one female incumbent Republican in the entire legislature. For my friends and constituents who are teachers, I have always supported teachers and I always will regardless of endorsements received or not received. I am a proud product of a public school education and the first female in my family to graduate with a college degree. I am the only female legislator currently representing any portion of Bergen County with children attending public schools. Volunteering as “teacher for the day” in many of our area schools has helped me to understand the challenges and rewards of teaching. So today I thank all of our teachers for their services provided to our children.”
Ridgewood NJ, According to Niche.com Ridgewood School District was ranked 15th in the state of New Jersey out of 237 districts.
Niche.com’s does an annual ranking based on test scores, college data ,ratings and information from the U.S. Department of Education.
Niche is a website that helps you discover the schools and neighborhoods that are right for you. We rigorously analyze dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to produce comprehensive rankings, report cards, and profiles for K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Places to Live. Every month, millions of families use Niche to research public and private K-12 schools.
The Niche 2018 K-12 Rankings are based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users. Because we have the most comprehensive data in the industry, we’re able to provide a more comprehensive suite of rankings across all school types.
Families from every corner of America and every background use Niche to research schools, so our rankings are intended to be useful to a wide range of families and filterable by type and location. Our rankings strive to reflect the entire school experience, including academics, teachers, diversity, student life, and student outcomes. We also believe that each school is so much more than just one ranking number. That’s why we have in-depth profiles on each school and district and also assess them across a number of factors to produce annual graded Report Cards for each school and district. This year, nearly 100,000 schools and districts received a Niche ranking and 2018 Report Card.
Niche gave Ridgewood an overall grade of A+, receiving high marks for college prep, academics and sports.
Ridgewood teachers also scored 13th best in the state and Ridgewood scored a 39th best in places to teach in.
All Ridgewood Schools received an A grade with three schools, Ridgewood High School, Hawes Elementary School and Orchard Elementary School, receiving an outstanding A+.
Updated on August 6, 2017 at 8:46 AMPosted on August 6, 2017 at 8:45 AM
By South Jersey Times Editorial Board
Please, someone, bottle whatever is in the drinking water in Elmer borough and Pittsgrove Township, and feed it regularly to residents and officials in at least 100 of New Jersey’s smaller towns.
Whatever is in the water of the two Salem County municipalities has given them immunity against a lack of common sense. As of Aug. 1, the Elmer school district is no more, having been integrated into Pittsgrove’s public school district.
This merger of not-quite-equals gives New Jersey one fewer school district, and it was accomplished without all the Sturm und Drang that usually accompanies even whispers about district combinations.
Pittsgrove and Elmer officials who drink the water have, thankfully, refused to drink the Kool-Aid that suggests New Jersey requires every school district and municipal government it now has. Vast quantities of this punch are usually served by teachers’ unions and municipal lobbying groups.
Location: Ramsey Country Club, 105 Lake Street, Ramsey, NJ 07446
Event Description
The Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce is proud to present its Annual RHS Scholarship
Charity Golf Classic, August 7, 2017 at the
Ramsey Golf and Country Club
105 Lakeside Drive
Ramsey, NJ 07446
The mission of this event is to:
“empower children through education”..
our proceeds go to the kids –
going off to college.
This day is always fun for- serious golfers, beginners, or if you just want to be out on the greens golfers and/or if you just want to join us for the BBQ Lunch or the delicious dinner in the dinning room.
This year will have some, other than golfing
going on…keep checking out the website.
Don’t miss the silent auction, prizes, hole-in-one.
New this year…kids from the RHS golf teams,
are going to play for you…or beat the Kids…
(beat the Pro).
Come and win the “Putting Contest” –
always a challenge and laughs.
If you are a single golfer, join one of our two and or threesomes. If you want to do networking…
the golf course is always the best place.
We have the entire golf course to enjoy…
“two beverage holes” and a “beverage carts”
this will help to keep your score under 90!
Ridgewood Nj, The Department of Education has just released its annual list of teachers and their salaries for 2017. And the list of educators making $100,000 or more ie the $100,000 club. This list barely had any teachers on it more than a decade ago has grown to more than 5,000.
In 2016-2017, the average salary for teachers, librarians, guidance counselors and other non-administrative staff totaled $70,637, according to an NJ Spotlight analysis of salary data for public school districts and charter schools. The increase is about 1.5 percent higher than the previous year.
Ridgewood NJ, The NJ DOE released statewide PARCC results yesterday. In a press release the NJ DOE claimed, “New Jersey students continue to achieve substantial gains in the third administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments in math and English language arts (ELA).
From the first to the third year of PARCC testing, over 88,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in ELA, and nearly 70,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in math. Meeting or exceeding expectations on the assessments is one indication of whether or not a student is on pace to be college and career ready.
Since the first PARCC administration, thousands more New Jersey students at every grade level have now taken the assessments, providing more parents and schools the chance to gauge how children are progressing academically against New Jersey’s standards and compared to their peers.
While the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is publicly releasing the statewide results today, school districts received their initial data before the school year ended in June – the earliest release in New Jersey’s 40-year history of statewide assessments. This early look at test results allows school districts to use the information to support students and educators. For instance, the information can be used to identify students who are struggling in a particular subject, and help teachers to develop summer school and fall lessons based on areas of strengths and weakness that emerge from the data. Results at the individual district level and school level are expected to be publicly released in September, two months earlier than last year.”
“Our students, with the essential support of their educators and parents, continue to rise to the challenge of meeting New Jersey’s academic standards,” said Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington. “We remain committed to using a high-quality assessment, as required by federal and state laws, that quickly returns results to schools and provides an accurate picture of whether our students are developing the skills and knowledge they need to maximize their options beyond high school.”
The summary of New Jersey’s 2017 PARCC outcomes are available on the NJDOE website.
But a quick look at the results reveals just how awful they are:
1. 56% of students in grades 3 to 8 failed to reach proficiency on the Math test.
2. 47% of students in grades 3 to 11 failed to reach proficiency on the English test.
3. 54% of students who took the 10th grade English test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test determines if students can graduate.
4. Nearly 60% of students who took the Algebra 1 test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test also determines if students can graduate.
5. Fewer than 30% of students who took Geometry were rated “college and career ready.”
6. Fewer than 30% of students who took Algebra 2 were rated “college and career ready.”
With its credibility on PARCC in tatters, it’s not surprising the DOE tries to frame the latest PARCC results as a success. For starters, the PARCC test has changed in each of the 3 years it has been given, so it’s impossible to compare results from one year to another. Second, the number of students refusing the test is still significant, notwithstanding the DOEs intense pressure on districts to force students to take the test.
NJs students are not failing PARCC; PARCC is failing NJs students!
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — The family of Mallory Grossman, a 12-year-old who committed suicide in June, is suing the township’s public schools for failing to prevent the cyberbullying her parents are convinced led to her death, the family’s attorney said.
In a statement, the law firm Nagel Rice of Roseland said the district was guilty of “gross negligence” for doing nothing to halt the text messages and Snapchat posts from fellow students at Copeland Middle School despite repeated requests from her parents asking school officials to intervene.
“This tragedy could have been prevented and this lawsuit should be a wake-up call to every school in every hamlet in our great country that cyberbullying is going on every day and that the schools must immediately take steps to stop this and protect every student in the school,” said attorney Bruce Nagel, who is representing the Grossmans.
Ridgewood NJ, in a recent letter to parents Ridgewood Schools Superintendent discussed the idea of having too much screen time on electronic devices .
Superintendent Daniel Fishbien admitted that time have changed with the wide use of smart phones ,but voiced his concerns of students personal use and time of these devices.
How screen time is too much ? Although many parents have a nagging sense that they should do more to limit screen-time, they often question whether there’s enough evidence to justify yanking coveted devices, rationalize that it’s “part of our kids’ culture,” or worry that others—such as a spouse—will undermine their efforts.
The truth about the potential damage screen time is capable of imparting particularly in a young, still-developing brain is significant according to many studies . These side effects include impaired cognitive functioning. Imaging studies have found less efficient information processing and reduced impulse inhibition (Dong & Devito 2013), increased sensitivity to rewards and insensitivity to loss (Dong & Devito 2013), and abnormal spontaneous brain activity associated with poor task performance (Yuan 2011).
Thus the idea came about of the “Big Disconnect ” .School officials are now exploring ways to help parents disengage students and get them to disconnect from electronic devices.
The following programs have been announced as part of the district’s Wellbeing Speaker Series in an attempt to address the “Big Disconnect ” issue :
Oct. 11: Brief overview of the schools’ use of educational technology and its security followed up breakout sessions led by administrators on the book “The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age.”
Oct. 19: A screening of the movie “Screen-agers.”
Nov. 29: A special program entitled “Screen wise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World.”
Jan. 11: A hands-on technology and smartphone program for parents.
March 8: A panel of students will discuss their personal use of technology.
Ridgewood NJ, by the looks of some of the comments yesterday , some residents in Ridgewood have clearly been drinking water with with lead in it for far to long.
In April the Ridgewood blog reported on the test results in the Ridgewood school system . The State of New Jersey requires all drinking water in our school facilities to be tested for lead during the 2016-2017 school year.
According to the EPA , “Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to determine the level of contaminants in drinking water at which no adverse health effects are likely to occur with an adequate margin of safety. These non-enforceable health goals, based solely on possible health risks, are called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLGs). EPA has set the maximum contaminant level goal for lead in drinking water at zero because lead is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels. Lead is persistent, and it can bioaccumulate in the body over time.
Young children, infants, and fetuses are particularly vulnerable to lead because the physical and behavioral effects of lead occur at lower exposure levels in children than in adults. A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that public health actions be initiated when the level of lead in a child’s blood is 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) or more.
It is important to recognize all the ways a child can be exposed to lead. Children are exposed to lead in paint, dust, soil, air, and food, as well as drinking water. If the level of lead in a child’s blood is at or above the CDC action level of 5 micrograms per deciliter, it may be due to lead exposures from a combination of sources. EPA estimates that drinking water can make up 20 percent or more of a person’s total exposure to lead. Infants who consume mostly mixed formula can receive 40 percent to 60 percent of their exposure to lead from drinking water.
Ridgewood NJ, Transgender students at New Jersey’s public schools were given new layers of protection under a bill that Gov. Chris Christie signed into law Friday.
The legislation know as (S3067/A4652), takes effect immediately and requires the state education commissioner to draft specific guidelines to help schools like Ridgewood address “the needs” of transgender students and establish policies that “ensure a supportive and nondiscriminatory environment” for those students.
Transgender students are now able to use bathrooms or locker rooms that coincide with their “gender identity”.
Schools will be mandated to provide “reasonable alternative arrangements if needed to ensure a student’s safety and comfort.”
Schools will also be required to make sure transgender students are addressed by the name and pronoun they prefer, regardless of whether a legal name change has occurred.
