Ridgewood Schools - Page 207 of 227

Posted on December 11, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

School apps put important info at North Jersey parents’ fingertips

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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/school-apps-put-important-info-at-north-jersey-parents-fingertips-1.1471987

Posted on December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

PARCC Testing for the test : Ridgewood Schools Results

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.

Posted on December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

A new plan for U.S. schools; testing likely to remain key in New Jersey

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.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education-law-rewrite-passes-congress-1.1470503

Posted on December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

Ridgewood High School Learning Commons unveils grand addition

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.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/rhs-learning-commons-unveils-a-grand-addition-1.1469720

Posted on December 9, 2015December 9, 2015 by James — 13 Comments

Ridgewood Schools Projected Declining Enrollment sighted as an opportunity to accommodate a much prized full-day kindergarten

December 9,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

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.

School Enrollment 2010-11 2015-16 – Percent 2020-21
District Total 5,753 – 5,527 -169 -2.97%
Hawes 408-435 7.14%
Orchard 343 -283 -20 -6.60%
Ridge 496-441 -2.65%
Somerville 524-401 -6.74%
Travell 405 -380 -0.78%
Willard 489 -486 -2.61%

https://curriculum-instruction-and-assessment.ridgewood.schoolfusion.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=1063615&fid=29366154&sessionid=5003a85af7dbdfc4ba593b561cc80278

Posted on December 7, 2015December 7, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

Which N.J. private college presidents make the most money?

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.

https://www.nj.com/education/2015/12/how_much_do_new_jersey_college_presidents_make.html?ath=9c46bfc08d76232bb5a5e00eeaf0bfa2#cmpid=nsltr_stryheadline

Posted on December 7, 2015December 8, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

The unanswered PARCC question: How many N.J. kids opted out?

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

Posted on December 7, 2015December 6, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

America’s top SAT tutor explains why no one should take the SAT in 2016

Mar. 4, 2015,
Caroline Moss

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?

https://www.businessinsider.com/sat-tutor-says-dont-take-the-new-sat-2015-3

Posted on December 3, 2015December 3, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

Ridgewood High School Alumni Association is currently accepting nominations for this year’s Distinguished Alumni event

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].

Posted on December 3, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Board Of Education Meeting December 7th ,7:30pm

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.

Posted on December 3, 2015December 2, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Reads Aloud

Reading programs unite Ridgewood communities

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.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/reading-programs-unite-ridgewood-communities-1.1465774

Posted on December 2, 2015December 1, 2015 by James — 5 Comments

Why College Isn’t Worth It, No Matter How Rich or Poor You Are

ByJohn Sandman

A highlight of the Great Recession was the flight of the unemployed to the far-flung precincts of higher ed. Many of those people left school for the job market in recent years, but higher ed experts viewed this as an opportunity for lower income groups to become better acclimated to the idea of going to college.

Foundations bank-rolled this effort, including new organizations like Complete College America, while money was poured into college prep programs. Between the 2008-09 academic years, government grant aid increased by about 40%, from $82 billion to $123 billion in 2013-14.

But a contrarian trend has emerged, one that higher ed honchos find troubling. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of students from low-income families enrolling in higher education immediately after graduating from high school has dropped by over 10% since 2008, from 56% of graduates then to 46% today. As a result, the percentage of low-income students attending college today is only about 3% higher than it was two decades ago.

https://www.thestreet.com/story/13382172/1/why-college-isn-t-worth-it-no-matter-how-rich-or-poor-you-are.html

Posted on November 28, 2015November 27, 2015 by James — 10 Comments

Ridgewood Teachers should be thankful

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Teachers should be ‘thankful’

To the Editor:

As a 33-year resident of Ridgewood, I am perplexed by the dissent of the Ridgewood teachers and their union about their current contract. The teachers are unhappy about paying for the increase in their healthcare costs. Everyone today is paying for their healthcare increases: medical personnel, retirees, and pharmaceutical company employees. The reason healthcare costs are continually rising (and will be in the future) are: Obamacare for the masses, an aging baby boomer population now requiring geriatric, cardiac, cancer, psychiatric, specialty care and designer drugs to help everyone live a longer life. Did the New Jersey Education Association think its Democratic-endorsed, union wishes for a national healthcare program would be absorbed by the public when in fact other municipalities in New Jersey and other states have opposed the taxpayer absorbing this substantial cost? Who did they think would pay for this? Ridgewood taxpayers should not be penalized for their selfish/unrealistic union demands.

New Jersey teacher’s pay ranks second highest in the nation. Teachers in Ridgewood earn a six-figure salary within five years. In addition, master’s degrees, additional credits, tutoring, tutoring for SAT’s allows them to earn additional/substantial monetary compensation. Their annual increases are more generous than some state employees. There shouldn’t be a financial problem for any teacher to absorb the costs as they are earning a 1 percent upper compensation in the United States in education. There are places that are more expensive to live in than Ridgewood. In the past, certain teachers who were unhappy with contract negotiations refused to give recommendations to the seniors for college.

The teachers have job security (unlike the corporate sector), do not face age discrimination, receive 80 percent of their salary in a pension as well as a taxpayer-payer paid two-day vacation in November for a teacher convention. I say “vacation” because I have never met anyone who goes to Atlantic City for the convention but goes to a destination such as Florida.

Unfortunately their healthcare provider, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, of the New Jersey Education Association is the most expensive. As a matter of fact, some teacher’s spouses working in corporate America have dropped their corporate health plan (Cigna, Aetna, etc.) coverage because the state employee plan is more lucrative. The taxpayers of NJ are paying for the healthcare benefits of these teacher’s families.

In summary: I think the teachers of Ridgewood and New Jersey should be most “thankful” for the generosity of the Ridgewood taxpayer this Thanksgiving Season and not “thankless.” I sincerely hope the arbitration board will take a firm stand on their role in representing the Ridgewood residents.

Janis Belcher

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-teachers-should-be-thankful-1.1463539

Posted on November 28, 2015November 27, 2015 by James — 4 Comments

Ridgewood school board discusses contracts, full-day kindergarten

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The conversations circulating around the ongoing teachers’ union contract negotiations and a potential switch to full-day kindergarten continued at last week’s Board of Education meeting.

While trustees did not take action on either subject, they will resume the discussions in future meetings.

Contract negotiations

The meeting once again featured commentary from the Ridgewood Education Association (REA), asking for a settlement of its contract with the Board of Education (BOE). This time, only REA President Michael Yannone spoke, referencing recent spending by the board and asking why there was money for this, but no money for better contracts.

“Last week, the board issued a press release, stating that while they respect the teaching staff and the work they do … they cannot address the concerns staff members have repeatedly stated at this microphone,” he said. “What I interpret the board as saying in that release is that in their budget of $101 million, they cannot find new money to settle this contract because there simply is no money.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/union-questions-district-spending-1.1463570

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