Category: Ridgewood Schools

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Ridgewood High School Takes Third in the Fed Challenge

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April 28,2016

the syaff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Federal Challenge team took Third place in the final round of the competition that is run by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on behalf of the United States Federal Reserve system. The competition asks groups of high school students to research the domestic/global economy, develop a mathematical model for forecasting the domestic economy, present their research to a panel of high-ranking economists working at the FRBNY, and answer complex questions about both the team’s research and the economy.

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Ridgewood Crew Starts Strong

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file photo

April 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog


Ridgewood Nj, The Ridgewood Crew team kicked off its season on April 10. The team raced the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. Overall the team took in seven First place victories, five Second place finishes, and two Third place wins.

Ridgewood Crew introduces Ridgewood, NJ high school-aged youth to the traditions, athleticism, sportsmanship, techniques and camaraderie of the sport of rowing. Founded in 2004, the team rows on the Passaic River in northern NJ and competes in the sport’s premier regattas held throughout the Northeast.

On the river, Ridgewood Crew athletes collected the most single-season medals in program history. Several boats added hardware to Ridgewood Crew’s ever-increasing showcase, achieving top three finishes across several divisions at the highly competitive: SRAA Nationals, Stotesbury Cup Regatta, Philadelphia City Championships, Passaic River Northern NJ Championships and Garden State Championships. Additionally, the team’s overall performance continued to attract interest from top rowing colleges and universities including: Bucknell, Boston University, Drexel, Duke, Fordham, Fairfield, Georgetown, George Mason, Harvard, Holy Cross, Lehigh, Syracuse, Marist, Williams and others. The program also celebrated its first female athlete to receive a full, four-year rowing scholarship.

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Just 37% of U.S. High School Seniors Prepared for College Math and Reading, Test Shows

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Results from Nation’s Report Card show slight dip from two years earlier

By
LESLIE BRODY
April 27, 2016 12:01 a.m. ET
239 COMMENTS

Only 37% of American 12th-graders were academically prepared for college math and reading in 2015, a slight dip from two years earlier, according to test scores released Wednesday.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” said that share was down from an estimated 39% in math and 38% in reading in 2013.

Educators and policy makers have long lamented that many seniors get diplomas even though they aren’t ready for college, careers or the military. Those who go to college often burn through financial aid or build debt while taking remedial classes that don’t earn credits toward a degree.

Bill Bushaw, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, which oversees the test, said the board was pleased that high school graduation rates were rising, but disappointed in the lack of progress in boosting students’ skills and knowledge.

“These numbers aren’t going the way we want,” he said. “We just have to redouble our efforts to prepare our students to close opportunity gaps.”

 

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/just-37-of-u-s-high-school-seniors-prepared-for-college-math-and-reading-test-shows-1461729661

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Services for Benjamin Franklin Middle School Student Alex Modlin

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Subject: Service for Alex Modlin

Comments:
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Ridgewood Public Schools
335 N. Van Dien Ave.
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450

“In the light of knowledge shines the key to the future.”

Anthony Orsini
(201) 670-2780
Principal [email protected]

April 26, 2016

Dear BF Community,

I know there have been many questions regarding the services for Alex Modlin tomorrow. In conversation with the family and Rabbi William Kraus they have decided to hold a service specifically for students, staff, and families who were planning on attending the funeral.

The service is as follows:
Wednesday, April 27th at 10 A.M.
Louis Suburban Chapel, 13-01 Broadway (Route 4 West)
Fair Lawn, NJ, 07410

The service will last approximately 40 minutes, and Rabbi Kraus will be addressing the issue of suicide directly during the service. The family has indicated that it would be appropriate to leave a note for Alex or a remembrance such as a toy, but your presence is appreciation enough.

At the middle school age it is essential that a parent is able to accompany students to the services in order to help them process after the funeral. Several faculty members will be present at the services for the students as well.

Staff will be back at school following the service. The internment will be exclusively for family.

Our hearts are with your families.

Sincerely,
Tony Orsini
Principal, BFMS

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Ridgewood High School Latin Team Wins State Championship

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April 26,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the RHS Advanced Latin Academic Team defeated the Central and Southern Regional champions, Ridge High School and Clearview Regional High School, respectively, in a fiercely contested showdown on April 23, earning them the title the team has worked so hard to achieve: New Jersey State Certamen champions. These RHS students were best in state, or runners-up, in all the academic tests and took first-place ribbons in athletic competitions as well.

Written Tests:

1st place, Mythology:   Peter Psathas

1st place, Latin Grammar, Peter Psathas

1st place, Latin Vocabulary and English Derivatives

1st place, Roman Life and Culture, Charlotte Kahan/Anthony Tokarz (tied)

1st place, Latin Oratory (memorize and recite), Anthony Tokarz

2nd place, Latin Vocabulary and English Derivatives, Charlotte Kahan

2nd place, Roman History, Anthony Tokarz

Olympics:

1st place, Softball Throw:   Charlotte Kahan

1st place, Boys’ 100 Meter:   James Psathas

Catherine Venturini is Latin Club, Latin Honor Society and Latin Academic Team Advisor; Stefanie Giganti is Latin Teacher.

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Ridgewood School officials have canceled PARCC testing at Benjamin Franklin Middle School TODAY following the death of student

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A BF Eighth Grader, Alex Modlin, Has Died (No Further Details Available Yet)

Comments:
Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Ridgewood Public Schools
335 N. Van Dien Ave.
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450

“In the light of knowledge shines the key to the future.”

Anthony Orsini (201) 670-2780
Principal [email protected]

April 24, 2016

Dear BF Community,

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the tragic loss Saturday night of 8th grader Alex Modlin.

Any time we lose a student we are deeply saddened and the news affects the entire BF Community. Adolescents deal with
tragedy in different ways. We encourage you to speak with your children about this news, and to answer questions according to
your own family beliefs.

We will have our Crisis Response Team available throughout the day and week for our students. In addition, if you have
particular concerns after speaking to your child, please email your child’s guidance counselor. Attached are some talking points
for parents to use when speaking to children about loss.

We will be cancelling the state PARCC testing for tomorrow, and students will report to homeroom to begin the day.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Alex Modlin. Please join us in keeping Alex’s family in your thoughts and prayers.

Tony Orsini
Principal
Benjamin Franklin Middle School

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NJ DOE Faces Assembly Scrutiny on ‘Unfair’ School Funding

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Following the Democratic majority’s rejection of changes to New Jersey’s school funding formula in the legislature last month, DOE Comissioner David Hespe saidWednesday that he believes lawmakers are better suited for making changes to the formula than the department in addressing the uneven distribution of money to under and over-funded schools. Lawmakers from both parties criticized the department and the administration of Governor Chris Christie for their inability to effect the necessary changes to the formula since Christie issued an executive order on school funding in 2012. JT Aregood, PolitickerNJ Read more

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Ridgewood High School ranks 25th in the state of New Jersey

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April 21,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School ranks #25 in the state, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The rankings were published on April 19. Click here to go to the RHS write-up.

Ridgewood High School is ranked 25th within New Jersey. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. The AP® participation rate at Ridgewood High School is 64 percent. The student body makeup is 49 percent male and 51 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 29 percent. Ridgewood High School is the only high school in the Ridgewood Public Schools.

U.S. News & World Report enlisted the help of social science research firm RTI International to compile its rankings. They measured schools using four key metrics:

Math and reading proficiency for all students
Testing proficiency for disadvantaged students
Graduation rates
College readiness via Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data.

Ridgewood boasts a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio and has 64 percent of its students participate in AP Exams.

Neighbors Tenafly placed 13th and Glen Rock 14th.

 

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Taxpayer Guide to Education Ranks Teachers Pay in Ridgewood and the Rest of New Jersey

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April 20,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, According to the Taxpayer Guide to Education the median teacher salary in Ridgewood was $78,318 this year down from $81,403 down 3,80%. Placing Ridgewood Schools somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Taxpayer Guide to Education says New Jersey school districts range from a high of more than $95,000 to a low of about $41,000 .
The guide ranked Northern Valley Regional, a neighboring regional high school district in Bergen County, has the highest median teacher salary, $95,418 while East Newark Borough, a small district that doesn’t have a high school, has the lowest, $40,922.

The pay data, released as part of the state’s annual Taxpayer’s Guide to Education Spending. The guide lists the median salary in each school district and each charter school.

The guide classifies the median salary is the salary in the middle of the payroll, meaning that half of the teachers in a district make more than that figure and the other half make less. Unlike superintendent pay, New Jersey has no restrictions on teachers’ salaries.

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Verizon cell site now operational at Ridgewood High School?

verison RHS

April 19,2016

by Boyd Loving

Ridgewood NJ, The appearance of a cellular base station antenna on the roof of RHS suggests that the “microcell” cellular telephone site owned & operated by Verizon, proposed early last year, is now in place and fully functional.

When questioned about the installation in January of 2015, a BOE representative said that radio signals from the “microcell” were intended to enhance cellular telephone coverage within RHS.  Reportedly, even residents of nearby Beverly Road and Heermance Place would be unable to benefit from the installation.
Improved cellular telephone coverage was required within the RHS building in connection with enhanced security and communications protocols, or so claimed the BOE at the time the system was proposed.

https://www.publicnoticeads.com/nj/search/view.asp?T=PN&id=272/1022015_22051003.htm
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Reader says NO to Full Day Kindergarten in Ridgewood

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file photo by Boyd Loving

I have two young kids who will be affected by this. Please get your friends and neighbors out to vote NO!

I moved to Ridgewood, in part, because it has half-day kindergarten. I have a child who was in kindergarten last year–it was non-stop busywork and worksheets. No toys or play. No time for socialization. No recess. Teachers who wanted 5 year-olds to sit still. It was completely age-inappropriate and the curriculum (coupled with the stressed-out teacher) was the perfect recipe for making children hate school. I thanked God it was only half a day and did not make my daughter miserable! My wife and I both work (she-part time), but half day kindergarten enabled us to make sure our child had time to run around and play in the afternoon (and my wife got those precious afternoons with her on the days she was not working! You never get those back.)

We DO NOT want full-day kindergarten. And there are many other parents like us here whose voices are being drowned out (or who did not even know this issue was on the docket).

The parents I know who do want full-day have the ability to be with their child in the afternoon AND/OR have the financial ability to hire child care or send their kids to the afternoon program of their choice. They are annoyed they have to be bothered to do so, especially because mid-day pick-up/drop-off interrupts their day so!!! (And, yes, many, many of these parents complainig so bitterly are affluent mothers who are at the gym, playing tennis, having lunch, etc.)

Let these parents PAY to have their kids in school all day, if that is what they need so desperately. Their desire to play tennis or not hire childcare should NOT be more important than our desire to spend time with our child and let a 5 year-old do what ALL the research says is crucial at this age: have unstructured play and time for socialization.

Please vote NO! Help the poor kids who do not have a voice here. I am sure that if they were polled, THEY would all vote this terrible idea down! Give them one last gasp before the rat race, with its tutors and sports trainers engulfs them! They will be better-off, academically, socially, and psychologically, in the long run! Thank you!

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How to graduate high school without passing PARCC

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By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 18, 2016 at 8:10 AM, updated April 18, 2016 at 10:20 AM

TRENTON — With PARCC testing in full swing this month in New Jersey schools, students have likely heard a lot about how the exams can help them meet thestate’s graduation requirements.

The tests, called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams, are one way high school students can fulfill the graduation requirement for standardized testing. But current high school students don’t have to pass PARCC exams, or even take them, in order to graduate.

Younger students might be required to take PARCC tests when they get to high school. But they will also have fallback options, such as a retest, if they don’t pass the tests the first time they take them.

https://www.nj.com/education/2016/04/how_to_graduate_high_school_without_passing_parcc.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 25

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BOARD UPDATES

BOE-REA Negotiations

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, published on April 8, 2016.
 
Click here to view the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Post Hearing Fact Finding Brief and attachments.Click here
to view an analysis of “Unused Funds’ identified by the REA during Fact Finding Proceedings, presented at the March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on March 4, 2016.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

Click here to view the backup for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

BOE Meets on April 25 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the April 4, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget presented at the March 21, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the March 21, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

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Ridgewood Board of Education $102 Million School Budget Presentation at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Tuesday Evening

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2016-2017 School Budget Presentation is Set for April 19

 

April 18,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Residents are invited to hear from Board of Education members, the superintendent and the district business administrator about the proposed 2016-17 school budget. They will be at Benjamin Franklin Middle School auditorium on Tuesday, April 19, from 7:30 – 9 p.m. to review the proposed budget and answer questions.

Budget includes district staff, academic offerings, extra curricular activities, and transportation; as well as continuing to maintain and improve district facilities

 2.00% Local Tax Levy Increase – Within the current state cap

 1.91% Overall Levy Increase – Local Tax Levy + Debt Service Levy

 Gen Fund State Aid – $2,196,000 Extraordinary State Aid – $1,376,345 $3,572,345 Debt Service State Aid – $440,918

 $300,000 Revenue Budgeted – from Emergency Reserve to help offset Health Benefit Costs
Click here to view the latest information on the budget, updated on April 6, 2016.