By this point in the year, most high school seniors have walked across the stage and grabbed their diploma. Many parents sit proudly by during this process, sniffing back tears and saying, “I can’t believe they’re ready to move on to college!”
The unfortunate fact of the matter is, they may not be as ready as the parents, teachers, or even students themselves think.
That’s one of the findings from a National Curriculum Survey released by the ACT.
As the ACT explains, the survey serves “to ask educators about what they teach (or don’t teach) in their courses and how important they feel various topics in their discipline are for students to be successful in these and future courses.”
Tuesday, December 6 with New York Times money columnist Mr. Ron Lieber, who will address parents and guardians on “How, When and Why to Talk to Your Kids about Money.”
December 5,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The district’s free Wellbeing Series for parents, guardians and the general adult public continues on Tuesday, December 6 with New York Times money columnist Mr. Ron Lieber, who will address parents and guardians on “How, When and Why to Talk to Your Kids about Money.”
Mr. Lieber’s program will cover the basics of allowance, chores, clothing, phones, cars and college, with a focus on values. His talk will be given at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m.
Mr. Lieber has written extensively on the topic of money and personal finance. He is the author of several books, including bestsellers “The Opposite of Spoiled” and “Taking Time Off: Inspiring Stories of Students Who Enjoyed Successful Breaks from College and How You Can Plan Your Own,” co-authored with Colin Hall.
Closing out the first part of the series is a program on Special Education 101 on Tuesday, December 13 by Dr. Kim Buxenbaum, district Director of Special Programs. Dr. Buxenbaum will provide an overview of the process and procedures for educational intervention with struggling students and discuss referral for special education evaluations, classification and service delivery.
This program will take place at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, from 7-9 p.m. Parents and guardians of children currently receiving special education and those concerned about their child’s progress in school are especially encouraged attend.
Dr. Buxenbaum currently oversees the district’s pre-K through Grade 12 programming for Special Education students, English Language learners and students at risk, while also directing the district’s crisis counseling program. Dr. Buxenbaum earned her doctorate in School Psychology from Rutgers University, where she also worked as an adjunct professor. Over the years, Dr. Buxenbaum has served as a clinical psychologist both in institutions and private practice.
Programming in the second half of the school year will begin with a meaningful interactive program on suicide from the Minding Your Mind organization on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. “Just Talk About It: A Suicide Prevention Program will take place at George Washington Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. (snow date, January 11).
On Wednesday, February 1, author, New York Times columnist and teacher Ms. Jessica Lahey will present “The Gift of Failure” at George Washington Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. The program will focus on the importance of self-motivation to success and ways that parents can support their children to stay motivated over the long term. “Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder” will follow on Tuesday, March 14 with author,
“Life Beyond Your Eating Disorder” will follow on Tuesday, March 14 with author, advocate and Founder of the Alliance for Eating Disorder Awareness Ms. Johanna Kandel. This program will take place at George Washington Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. On Tuesday, April 4, district Director of Special Programs Dr. Kim Buxenbaum will return to the program schedule with a presentation on “Least Restrictive Environment/Transitions.” She will explain terminology and describe the district special education program. This presentation and panel discussion will take place from 7-9 p.m. at the Education Center. Psychologist and author Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair will cover the topic, “Protecting Children and Family Relationships in the Digital Age” on Tuesday, April 18 at the George Washington Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. The final speaker in the Wellbeing series will be Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg,
Psychologist and author Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair will cover the topic, “Protecting Children and Family Relationships in the Digital Age” on Tuesday, April 18 at the George Washington Middle School Auditorium from 7-9 p.m. The final speaker in the Wellbeing series will be Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, pediatrician,
The final speaker in the Wellbeing series will be Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, pediatrician, professor and author. Dr. Ginsberg will speak to parents and guardians on Tuesday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. on the topic, “Fostering Resilience,” and at 7 p.m. on “Authentic Success.” The morning program will take place at the Ridgewood Public Library Auditorium, located at 125 North Maple Avenue. The evening program will take place at George Washington Middle School Auditorium.
All programs are free and open to the adult public.
Ridgewood’s Benjamin Franklin Middle School is located at 335 N. Van Dien Avenue. George Washington Middle School is located at 155 Washington Place. The Education Center is located at 49 Cottage Place.
This year’s Wellbeing Series, developed for parents, guardians and the Ridgewood adult public by the district’s Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. The ten-presentation series is a component of the Ridgewood Public Schools Community Outreach Program, which strives to help parents and guardians create balance in children’s lives and support their emotional health.
The series is co-sponsored by The Valley Hospital, with support from The (Ridgewood Education) Foundation and the district’s Home and School Associations.
For more information, please contact the office of the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at 201-670-2700, ext. 10532 or email [email protected]
Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations to the Ridgewood Maroons for winning the North 1 Group 5 State Championship at MetLife Stadium by defeating Passaic County Tech 14-13! The Maroons completed their 12-0 season and first perfect campaign since the middle fifties .
As chronicled on this blog MetLife Stadium had been the home of many disappointments both on and off the field for the Ridgewood Maroons over the years ,but this time thanks to a strong defense it was a different tune.
With the offense struggling to gain its rhythm, the Maroons defense stepped up and forced a pair of turnovers deep in the Passaic Tech territory. The takeaways led to all of Ridgewood’s scores and the state championship.
The breaks went all Ridgewood surviving an extra point try to tie with 1:24 remaining on the clock and the 14-13 victory led to the first perfect campaign since 1956.The win also marked the fifth state sectional championship for the Maroons and the first since 2004.
Ridgewood NJ, Eleven RHS band students have been selected to perform in the 2017 All Bergen County Band. More than 300 students auditioned yesterday for 85 positions. Congratulations to: Katlyn Tagliabue, principal bassoon* (10); Joshua (Jaehyeok) Yang, clarinet (11); Tony (Jongyun) An, clarinet (9); Colleen Duffy, clarinet (12); Kieran Corcoran, tenor saxophone (9); Chris Morse, principal baritone saxophone* (10); Jonathan Negron, trumpet (11); Teddy Trent, trumpet (12); Stefanie Haas, trombone (9); and Ethan Glenning, principal euphonium* (12).The All County Band will perform in January.
In addition, two students have been selected to perform in All Eastern ensembles that will perform in April. These students have been recognized as among the top performers on their instrument for the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Congratulations to: Maxwell Caine, guitar (All Eastern Jazz Ensemble) (12); and the other student, an oboe player (11), whose name is withheld pending media permission.
Ridgewood NJ, It is with great pleasure that the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association announces the launch of our Commemorative Brick Campaign. This effort is the first of several exciting initiatives we are working on to honor and celebrate 125 years of academics, athletics and the arts at RHS.
Ridgewood High School is built on a tradition of excellence. You can continue to support and inspire students by purchasing your own brick paver today. Commemorate an event, reunion or significant milestone by purchasing a brick. You can memorialize a treasured individual or simply declare your love of RHS through this program. These bricks will line the walkways of our campus and honor the past and the future of RHS.
Please help us spread the word through our RHS community by forwarding this note to other alumni whether classmates, siblings, parents, teachers or friends.
Or ask them to register themselves at rhsalumniassociation.org as we always love to connect with alumni.
This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni and the community to be a part of RHS history and to leave their lasting mark. Hopefully you can come see your brick in person in the fall of 2017 when they are installed. We look forward to celebrating this important anniversary year with all of you.
Chad Livengood , Jonathan Oosting and Michael Gerstein , The Detroit News11:39 a.m. EST November 25, 2016
President-elect Donald Trump’s planned nomination of west Michigan philanthropist Betsy DeVos for education secretary has ignited a debate about how the country delivers a high-quality education for every child.
DeVos, 58, supports increasing school choices, which she has called an attempt to “empower” parents to find good schools for their children, whether they be traditional public schools, alternative public academies known as charters, virtual schools or private and religious institutions.
“Betsy DeVos is a brilliant and passionate education advocate,” Trump said Wednesday in a statement. “Under her leadership, we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families.”
By Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on November 29, 2016 at 1:14 PM, updated November 29, 2016 at 5:07 PM
PRINCETON — When Peter Singer heard a conservative group put out a new watchlist singling out college professors with “leftist” and “radical agendas,” the veteran Princeton University professor was not surprised to hear he was on it.
Singer, a professor of bioethics, has come under fire in the past for his controversial views on animal rights, euthanasia and the morals of killing disabled babies.
He is one of five professors from New Jersey universities listed on the Professor Watchlist released last week by Turning Point USA, a non-profit conservative group. The list of nearly 200 professors is designed to “expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom,” according to the website.
Ridgewood NJ, Lighting in use on Thanksgiving evening, 11/24/2016, at 1900 hours, Ridgewood High School Athletic Fields, 627 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood NJ.
Ridgewood NJ, President-elect Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate Betsy DeVos as Secretary of the United States Department of Education. A leader in the national school reform movement for more than two decades, Betsy DeVos is a highly successful education advocate, businesswoman, and philanthropist.
“Betsy DeVos is a brilliant and passionate education advocate,” said President-elect Donald J. Trump. “Under her leadership we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families. I am pleased to nominate Betsy as Secretary of the Department of Education.”
“I am honored to accept this responsibility to work with the President-elect on his vision to make American education great again,” said Ms. DeVos. “The status quo in education is not acceptable. Together, we can work to make transformational change that ensures every student in America has the opportunity to fulfill his or her highest potential.”
A native of Michigan, Betsy DeVos has spent decades advocating for school choice reforms and helping underserved children gain access to quality education. Ms. DeVos is chairman of the American Federation for Children whose mission is to “improve our nation’s K-12 education by advancing systemic and sustainable public policy that empowers parents, particularly those in low-income families, to choose the education they determine is best for their children.”
Ms. DeVos is chair of the Windquest Group and has also served on national and local charitable and civic boards, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, American Enterprise Institute, The Philanthropy Roundtable, Kids Hope USA, and Mars Hill Bible Church.
Q: There’s been a lot of talk about Common Core. Can you provide some straight talk on this topic?
Certainly. I am not a supporter—period.
I do support high standards, strong accountability, and local control. When Governors such as John Engler, Mike Huckabee, and Mike Pence were driving the conversation on voluntary high standards driven by local voices, it all made sense.
Have organizations that I have been a part of supported Common Core? Of course. But that’s not my position. Sometimes it’s not just students who need to do their homework.
However, along the way, it got turned into a federalized boondoggle.
Above all, I believe every child, no matter their zip code or their parents’ jobs, deserves access to a quality education.
Q: What are your thoughts about specific education policies?
I am very excited to get to work and to talk about my thoughts and ideas on making American education great again. The status quo is not acceptable. I am committed to transforming our education system into the best in the world. However, out of respect for the United States Senate, it is most appropriate for me to defer expounding on specifics until they begin their confirmation process.
Ridgewood NJ,The Staate New Jersey released the latest PARCC standardized test results for every public school across the state on Wednesday, giving Ridgekwood parents a chance to see how their schools performed in math and English in grades 3-11.
Ridgewood NJ, RHS New Players present You Can’t Take It With You: December 8, 9, 10. Tickets on sale November 21 at www.rhsnewplayers.com
You Can’t Take It with You is a comedic play in three acts by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart. The original production of the play premiered on Broadway in 1936, and played for 838 performances.
The play won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was adapted for the screen as You Can’t Take It with You, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director.
the staff of the Rmidgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, This Sunday, 11/20, from 11-1 in the Somerville parking lot, Dads’ Night will be collecting Turkeys and donating them to those less fortunate for their Thanksgiving meal. Please drop off one (or more) FROZEN turkeys to help in our efforts!
Bring along the kids and explain why we do the things we do and that some people are more concerned with their next meal, not how strong the WiFi is in their bedroom. 🙂 There are certainly things to give thanks for.
Hannan Adely , Staff Writer6:09 p.m. EST November 16, 2016
New Jersey officials are considering a plan to raise salaries for school superintendents, in a move local leaders hope will keep the school chiefs from fleeing their jobs for more lucrative work.
Acting Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington proposed changes Wednesday that would raise the maximum salary from $175,000 to $191,584 and allow for 2 percent raises in subsequent years.
Ridgewood NJ, 2016-2017 Community Outreach Program Series Continues on November 16.The Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Department is again offering free presentations for parents and guardians throughout the 2016-2017 school year on the topic of children’s well-being.
Next up is There and Back with motivational speaker Ken Bartolo. This program will be held at the GWMS auditorium Wednesday, November 16, 2016 7:00 – 9:00 PM George Washington Middle School Auditorium 155 Washington Place.
“There and Back” is the chilling story of two-time, all-county and collegiate football and lacrosse star, Ken Bartolo. While shining in both sports at Jamesville-Dewitt High School, Ken’s addiction began, costing him scholarship offers from colleges and universities across the east coast. Ken shares the story of his 27 years of substance abuse, leading to the incredible story of his recovery. This presentation is a brutally honest look at the violence and insanity of the world of addiction and how it can destroy the lives of the most promising of our youth. Ultimately, it is a story of hope. With strength, dedication and undying faith in himself, Ken conquered decades of addiction to alcohol, prescription and illicit drugs. His message is meant to encourage today’s youth to believe that, with faith in themselves, anything is possible.
file photo by Boyd Loving
November 10,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Please help support the RHS Alumni Association by honoring your favorite alum, teacher, local business, coach, team or academic club.
Ridgewood High School is built on a tradition of excellence. You can continue to support and inspire students by purchasing your own brick paver today. Commemorate an event, reunion or significant milestone by purchasing a brick. You can memorialize a treasured individual or simply declare your love of RHS through this program. These bricks will line the walkways of our campus and honor the past and the future of RHS.
To purchase your commemorative brick, first select your brick size from the dropdown option above. Then, you must enter the text you would like to appear on the brick in the Custom Message field to have your message engraved on the brick.
4X8 bricks allow for 3 lines of text, 18 characters per line.
8X8 bricks allow for 6 lines of text, 21 character per line.
This is a wonderful opportunity for alumni and the community to be a part of RHS history and to leave their lasting mark. Also, don’t forget to purchase your commemorative certificate here.
