skills learned on the field translate in fast delivery
December 13,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, It seems that Amazon has nothing on the efficiency that is the Ridgewood Poinsettia Sale.#TakeThatBezos
“Some of the secrets behind Amazon’s phenomenal success as an online retailer can be discovered inside a million-square-foot warehouse that sits amid bucolic scenery in the town of Robbinsville, New Jersey. The building is one of Amazon’s most advanced fulfillment centers, and it houses technologies that allow the company to deliver products to customers at amazing speed. Goods are identified, sorted, and packaged with computer-assisted precision, while employees work in tight collaboration with the plant’s automated systems in shifts that run around the clock.” https://www.technologyreview.com/photoessay/539511/inside-amazon/
It is all very similar to the Ridgewood High School Band drilling on the practice field.
It is has been well documented the Jeff Bezos’ Chairmen of Amazon has an obsessive focus on the customer.So when the Ridgewood High School Marching band thru down the challenge the #TakesThatBezos and you can bet Bezos took it seriously .
While the total numbers are still being complied the Ridgewood Marching band moved out the entire order of Poinsettias and Amaryllis in a matter of hours .
All and all it was a well orchestrated effort, with years or drilling on the practice field being put to good use.
Bezos remarked , “that perhaps Amazon can use the band practice idea to script its time new motion studies.” While sources at Ridgewood High School suggested that band practice was instrumental in the ability to compose , direct and coordinate a large group in a course of action.
Bezos again said “band practice for Amazon employees could create an on key composition for on time delivery”
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today visited Ridgewood High School to launch a “Rock Your Socks” competition to benefit the Covenant House, an organization that provides food, shelter, and other services to homeless, runaway and trafficked youth between the ages of 18 and 21. Socks are often overlooked during donation drives, so Lt. Governor Guadagno asked three area high schools to engage in a friendly contest to raise awareness for the charity and get involved in their community.
“Part of being a good citizen means participating in your community or your country as a whole to make it a better place,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “Volunteer at a food bank, at a library, at a soup kitchen. You’d be amazed how good it feels to give back to the community and you have no idea just how much people appreciate the help.”
The “Rock Your Socks” initiative is part of the Christie Administration’s annual “Season of Service” program. The goal of “Rock Your Socks” is to collect as many pairs of new socks as possible for the Covenant House. Students are encouraged to use social media to take pictures of interesting or unique socks to spread awareness of the campaign and challenge others to join.
DECEMBER 11, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Teachers deserve praise; taxpayers deserve a break
To the Editor:
We will try this again as what one hears cannot be generalized due to individualization. Here is my rebuttal to Michael Yannone’s letter in last week’s Ridgewood News:
1. Ridgewood teachers are paid in the upper percentile/s in the U.S. The starter salary accelerates due to various degree/s, and additional credits, etc. Fine; they are appreciated for a job well done and deserved. My point is: this is an expensive benefit paid for by the taxpayer.
2. About 10 to 15 percent of private company employees receive a traditional pension as the teachers. Calculated individually (as all pension), it “significantly exceeds” the corporate-sector pension. Fine, it is earned so enjoy. My point is: this is an expensive benefit paid for by the taxpayer.
3. U.S. companies offer lower-cost healthcare provider plans than the state teacher’s plan/s. Their “premium” plan/s have always been more generous so private company employees married to NJ teachers use the NJ state plan as their primary provider for themselves and their families both before Medicare or with Medicare as their secondary provider. Fine; my point is: this is an expensive benefit paid for by the taxpayer.
4. NJ teachers receive two paid days in November for a teacher convention whether they attend or not. Fine; this is built into their compensation/time calendar. A minimal amount of teachers attend the state convention repeatedly and not the majority. My point is: this was not the intention when this was originated.
5. U.S. companies are diligently saving money by eliminating employee benefits by contracting out work, outsourcing, mergers and down-sizing. Employees in the private sector pay for their annual escalating healthcare costs as do retirees before and with Medicare. My point is: teachers are not getting slighted by having to pay higher healthcare costs; this is the new norm due to Obamacare, designer drugs, and an aging population. This is not a one-time deal.
6. Companies get rid of older workers when they become too expensive unlike education. Fine; thank you for your continued, dedication. It is appreciated due to number of years worked. My point is: this is an expensive benefit paid for by the taxpayer.
7. The NJ taxpayer cannot afford to pay teachers their annual percentage raises along with their escalating healthcare costs as a benefit as was done in the past. Teachers are significantly more highly compensated with their benefit package than non-state, non-unionized workers.
8. NJ is going bankrupt due to pension and other obligations. People are leaving this state and purchasing out-of-state properties and claiming those places as their primary residence so they can eliminate the “choking” taxes of NJ. They then move to those second homes to retire.
9. The New Jersey Education Association and some (not all) of its members have been very vociferous about their hatred for Gov. Christie. I am not his fan but I do feel he did what was a long overdue necessity. He did a “reality check.”
BOE Meets on December 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, December 21, 2015, 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.
Click here to view the agenda for the December 7,, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the November 16, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.
11.23.15: Board of Education Writes Letter to the Editor
Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of the Ridgewood News, which was published on November 20, 2015
We were excited that our football team made it to the final round of competition at Met Life Stadium on December 5. It was great to see so many people from our community support our team, band, and cheerleaders for this final event. The high school even ran student fan buses for close to 90 students. Although the final score did not go our way, we are extremely proud of our coaches and players.
Unfortunately, despite previous warnings and pleas for assistance, Ridgewood High School was not portrayed in the best light in the stands or in the parking lot. Administrators and faculty members spent much of the game dealing with students that were under the influence and/or involved in disruptive behavior. In addition, the parking lot in the Ridgewood section was left in a very poor state with trash and broken bottles.
As we move forward, we hope this event will be a learning experience for all. The incidents referenced above are not unique to this one weekend and come on the heels of the most recent issues at RHS regarding students and postings on social media sites, i.e., Yik Yak, Finstagram, Instagram, etc. Many of these negative behaviors we have been experiencing are illegal, disruptive, and/or dangerous. These incidents give us a chance to pause, reflect, and engage in meaningful discussions about character and decision-making. We do not want to have these conversations after a tragic or permanently harmful event occurs.
Students, parents, and educators are continually being challenged to set limits in children’s lives that effectively support growth and healthy behavior. Although initially frustrated, children thrive and are grateful in the long run when parents and educators set parameters and limits. These concerns are not unique to Ridgewood but must be shared as a community.
At RHS, we will continue to have educational discussions with our students about the effects of drugs and alcohol; assist in the emotional, psychological, and physical development of our teenagers; and teach about character and decision-making through class lessons, athletics, and the arts.
In the weeks and months to come, we will be engaging in conversations with students and parents throughout the community. We encourage you to do the same. If you have any suggestions or feedback you wish to share, please reach out to any teacher, coach, or administrator as we work on determining the best course of action to help our youth reach their fullest potential.
DECEMBER 10, 2015, 11:58 PM LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2015, 12:04 AM
BY LINDA MOSS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
With so many parents and students virtually inseparable from their cellphones, North Jersey school districts are increasingly turning to smartphone applications as the most efficient means of sharing information about school closings, delayed openings and emergencies.
The Wood-Ridge school system launched a mobile app in late October.
Wood-Ridge and East Rutherford were among the districts that introduced free apps for mobile devices this fall, using them not only as a way of sharing time-sensitive notifications, but also to put announcements, lunch menus, staff directories and other useful information at parents’ fingertips, district officials said.
And for urban districts — such as Paterson, which was among the first in New Jersey to introduce an app — the technology has the added appeal of being capable of translating school messages into dozens of languages for students and families of many nationalities, many of them at the lower end of the income scale.
“School districts need to provide equity of access, and speak to communities of all socioeconomic levels,” said Nate Brogan, senior vice president of SchoolMessenger, a company based in Scotts Valley, Calif., that has developed apps for about 30 districts in New Jersey, including Paterson, and 400 nationally. “And often the most disadvantaged among us are actually where you have the greatest adoption of smartphones because it’s often a lifeline. It may be someone doesn’t have the Internet at home, but they have a smartphone. So many school districts use this as a way to involve their entire educational community.”
And in an era of deadly school shootings, parents have been quick to embrace school district apps as a communications system that can swiftly catch their attention and transmit information.
In 2008, the High School Redesign Taskforce stated: “…the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) does not measure college or work readiness…Further, New Jersey colleges and universities do not use scores from the HSPA for admissions or placement, because the test does not reflect postsecondary placement requirements.”
Recommendation: A System of Aligned Assessments “Replace HSPA with a series of end of course assessments in math… and a proficiency exam in language arts literacy that are aligned with the expectations of higher education and the workplace.” (HSRSC – 2008) Current tests should be “replaced with a system of end-of-course assessments.” (CCRT – 2012)
NEW JERSEY’S STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
¡ In 2015, New Jersey adopted the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) to replace HSPA and previous assessments in elementary and middle schools in language arts and mathematics.
¡ 773,710 NJ Students took PARCC English Language Arts and Literacy Assessments (ELA/L) in Grades 3–11.
¡ 745,606 NJ Students took PARCC Mathematics Assessments in grades 3 – 8 and End of Course Assessments in Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II.
WHAT IS PARCC MEASURING?
A continuum of college readiness at each grade level, based on expectations for skill and knowledge acquisition ideal for annual progress toward graduating high school, ready to do college level work.
¡ Expectations are aligned to the grade-level, academic standards to which we write our curriculum and teach our students – the CCSS
¡ Other tests that measure a continuum of college readiness include: ADP, NAEP, ACT, SAT among others
PARCC Testing Presentation is now Online Click here to view the PARCC testing presentation given at the December 7 Board meeting by Cheryl Best, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.
DECEMBER 9, 2015, 11:43 AM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015, 11:18 PM
FROM STAFF AND NEWS SERVICE REPORTS |
WIRE SERVICE
In New Jersey, the federal education reform bill that seems certain to get the president’s signature Thursday means local and state educators, not the federal government, get to determine what to do to save a failing school, and the threat of costly sanctions for slumping schools would go away.
What’s unlikely to end in New Jersey, education experts said on Wednesday, is the reliance on students’ test scores to evaluate how well teachers are performing, a point of fierce dispute between New Jersey administrators and unions that the reform legislation relegates to the states.
The Senate on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly, 85-12, to approve legislation rewriting the landmark No Child Left Behind education law of 2002.
It was hailed as a “Christmas present” for 50 million children across the country by Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican who leads the Senate Education Committee.
One key feature of No Child remains: Public school students will still take the federally required statewide reading and math exams. But the new law encourages states to limit the time students spend on testing, and it will diminish the high stakes for underperforming schools.
Under No Child Left Behind, schools that failed to meet annual progress targets could be shut down or converted into charter schools, a policy that critics said led schools to focus too heavily on tests.
Schools that don’t meet annual progress targets, under the new legislation, no longer will be considered to be failing and won’t be subjected to federal sanctions.
States will be required to intervene in the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools, in high schools with high dropout rates and in schools with stubborn achievement gaps.
David Hespe, the state education commissioner, said the biggest change under the reform legislation would be the new flexibility permitted to states to help struggling schools. “We can develop our own interventions,” Hespe said.
Jerry Lee Lewis photo by Graham Barker from the ‘Jerry Lee Lewis Classic Collection’
DECEMBER 8, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2015, 11:05 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Through the fundraising efforts of several organizations, the Ridgewood High School (RHS) Learning Commons has been outfitted with a baby grand piano, which was unveiled to the public during a Maroon and White performance last month.
Fundraising groups such as the RHS Home and School Association (HSA); the Friends of Music, which raises money for all of the music programs of the schools in the district; a parent organization for the RHS band; a parent organization for the RHS strings playing group; and a parent organization for the RHS choir, raised a total of $12,000 for the piano.
“It was a whole community effort,” said Chris McCullough, district supervisor for fine and practical arts at RHS. “To me, it was really nice that all of those groups came together to support the Maroon and White program.”
According to RHS Assistant Principal Basil Pizzuto, the piano was purchased from a Ridgewood family, which agreed to sell the musical instrument to the school for a discounted dollar amount.
“They agreed to drop their price, so that way we could have the HSA purchase it without further fundraising,” Pizzuto said.
The addition of the baby grand piano, school officials believe, will enhance the Learning Commons as a performance venue.
“We’re going to take advantage of this new, gorgeous space and show the talent of our students and the dedication that they put into their craft,” McCullough said. “Having the piano permanently in the Learning Commons makes this much more possible.”
The Learning Commons, located in the library, was not originally intended to be a place for performances, but McCullough said that the adaptability of its furniture makes it the perfect spot for whatever the shows may need.
“The room was designed to be flexible,” he said. “The tables have wheels, so we are able to transform it into this intimate performing space.”
Ridgewood NJ in a recent study for the Ridgewood Board of Education , Demographer Ross Haber conducted a population survey that projected that the district’s student population will decrease by a little under 3% or 169 students over the next five years.
The decline in student population is being touted by the BOE as an opportunity ie the necessary facilities to accommodate a much prized full-day kindergarten program and perhaps continue to justify the $100 million plus school budget.
The same declining enrollment numbers are also being used in an attempt to mitigate the possible strain on the school district for the proposed building of high-density housing in four different locations in the central business district.
By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on December 06, 2015 at 6:00 PM, updated December 07, 2015 at 7:14 AM
PRINCETON — Compensating both its outgoing and new presidents cost Princeton University more than $1.5 million in 2013, new data shows.
With outgoing president Shirley Tilghman and new President Christopher Eisgruber, the university had two of the three highest paid private college presidents in New Jersey in 2013, according to a study released today by the Chronicle of Higher Education.
The data is part of the Chronicle’s annual look at the pay of America’s private college presidents. Nationally, the median compensation for private school presidents was $436,429 in 2013, up 5.6 percent from 2012, according to the report.
Columbia University’s Lee Bollinger led the country in compensation, garnering $4.6 million. Overall, 32 private college presidents surpassed $1 million in total compensation, according to the report.
The question buzzed throughout New Jersey schools for months. As the state prepared to administer new standardized tests in English and math last spring, parents, teachers and administrators wondered how many students would refuse to participate, the hallmark of a small but growing “opt out” movement in New Jersey. Adam Clark, NJ.com Read more
Over the summer, we profiled Anthony Green, the SAT and ACT tutor to the 1%. Green tutors the offspring of some of the country’s wealthiest folk, and all of his sessions are conducted over Skype for a whopping $1,000 an hour.
In 2016, the SAT returns to a 1600-point test, combining the current 800-point Reading and Writing sections back into the single 800-point “verbal” section that characterized the old exam.
In a recent interview, Green told Business Insider no one should take the new SAT in 2016, which he’s also argued on his site.
“I’m recommending that none of my students take the first three rounds of the new SAT (March, May, and June of 2016),” Green said. “Why let students be guinea pigs for the College Board’s marketing machine?
RHS trustees rocking the newest samples of golf shirts. Coming to the website in 2016
December 3,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ , Ridgewood High School Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for this year’s Distinguished Alumni event. The event will take place on Thursday, March 10th, 2016. The deadline for nominations is January 23rd, 2016.
Please submit all nominations via the website (RHSalumniassociation.org) under the Contact Us section. Please make sure to include the full name of the graduate, year of graduation and a brief write up detailing the person’s distinguished achievements. Any questions or inquiries can be sent directly to [email protected].
BOE Meets on December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, December 7, 2015, 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.
Click here to view the agenda and addendum for the November 16, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the November 2, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.
11.23.15: Board of Education Writes Letter to the Editor
Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of the Ridgewood News, which was published on November 20, 2015.
11.19.15: Free Parent Program Explores the Workings of NJ Education
“A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Public Education” will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 9-11:50 a.m. at Jackson Liberty High School. Click here for details.
DECEMBER 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2015, 10:11 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Two book-related programs have been taking place at village schools recently, as explained at recent Board of Education (BOE) meetings.
The programs, “All School Read-Aloud” and “One School, One Book,” are intended to increase reading among students while also exposing them to literature they may not have otherwise chosen.
All School Read-Aloud
The “All School Read-Aloud” program, which was explained at the Nov. 2 BOE meeting, brings Travell School students together for an assembly, where a story is read aloud to them while the book pages are displayed by projector screen.
After the assembly, the children return to their classes, and often have the book re-read to them by their teachers to keep its message in mind, Travell School Principal Margaret Leininger explained.
“The Travell Home and School has been really great to us,” she said. “They have purchased one book for every classroom so that the teachers go back, reread and discuss them.”
The books, which are carefully selected by staff, have their own sets of queries, adding to the discussion.
“Some of these books are really great because in the back, they have questions that the teachers can ask the kids later,” Leininger said.
Leininger also adds in her own questions and thoughts for the students and teachers to discuss.
“I generally try to put out a little blurb with each book, giving the teachers some questions and ideas of things they can talk about, while making sure they visualize things and create a detailed, vivid image,” she said, adding that she asks students what they learned from the second reading of the book in addition to asking what ideas they think each story contains.
