Ridgewood Schools - Page 220 of 227

Posted on March 25, 2015April 9, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

RHS Latin Teams Excel

Quo Vadis 1951

RHS Latin Teams Excel

March 19,2015

Ridgewood Nj, On Tuesday, March 17, Latin academic teams from 30 New Jersey schools traveled to Princeton to compete in Latin language, Roman life, Roman history and Greco-Roman mythology.

The Novice team fought hard and scored well in its first competition. The Advanced team finished in first place and will advance to play for the State championship on April 25 against Ridge High School and PACTA, the second and third place teams.

Advanced Team members were Poyani Bavishi, Ben Bechtold, Charlotte Kahan, Elizabeth O’Keefe, James Psathas, Peter Psathas, Sophie Simpson,Anthony Tokarz and Chelsea Trattner. Novice team members with media permission to be named were Desiree Bottigliero, Joe O’Keefe and Tommy Carver. The Latin Club advisor is Catherine Venturini.

Posted on March 25, 2015March 25, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Stevens Institute Lauds RHS Honors Class

March 23,2015

Ridgewood NJ, The Stevens Institute of Technology awarded National Science Foundation certificates to students in Dr. Lillian Labowsky’s Chemistry Honors class for the students’ efforts to create a three-dimensionally printed periodic table of elements.

Dr. Labowsky’s class created the chart on a 3D printed model over three months and individually printed all 118 interlocking element pieces. The height of each piece corresponds to the element’s electronegativity and the radioactive element pieces were printed with glow-in-the-dark material.

A 3D printer uses an additive process to lay down successive layers of material in order to create a computer printed object.

Posted on March 25, 2015March 25, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

Orchard School principal to leave ‘solid foundation’ in Ridgewood

MARCH 24, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015, 11:28 AM

BY LINDSAY IRELAND
CORRESPONDENT |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Margaret “Peg” Loonam thought long and hard about how to break the news to her students.After more than two decades with Ridgewood Public Schools, Loonam, principal of Orchard School, will retire this August to spend more time with family.

“I am not sure what notions children ages 5 to 10 have about retirement, but I want them to know that I am not leaving because I am in any way unhappy,” Loonam said. “I am retiring because I want to spend more time with my four grandchildren and fulfill some of my own personal ‘bucket list’ items.”

Loonam said she also looks forward to having more time to enjoy the simple things in life after retirement.

“I am looking forward to cooking, visiting friends and family, exercising and watching an entire movie with my husband without falling asleep,” she said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/orchard-school-principal-leaving-a-solid-foundation-1.1294473

Posted on March 23, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 1 Comment

Ridgewood Schools Continues Curriculum Series on March 26 with Program on Exercise and the Brain

Ridgewood Schools Continues Curriculum Series on March 26 with Program on Exercise and the Brain

New Date: Curriculum Series Continues on March 26 with Program on Exercise and the Brain
Parents and guardians are invited to join district Physical Education teachers Susan Kameno and Craig Mahler, along with Hawes School Principal Dr. Paul Semendinger for an informative session on the impact of exercise on the development of the brain. The program will take place on Thursday, March 26, at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, floor 3, from 7-9 p.m.

Click here to read the press release for more information.
Click here for the flyer.

NEW: The district has added a program, “All About Google Apps for Education,” a series of three stand-alone workshops designed to introduce parents and guardians to the world of technology in the classroom. These workshops will be offered on April 15 (elementary school level); April 20 (middle school level): and April 22 (high school level). Each workshop is limited to 25 participants and pre-registration is required.

Click here to go to the pre-registration page.

Click here for the flyer and more information.

Posted on March 22, 2015March 22, 2015 by James — 14 Comments

Reader asks can someone explain to me how Project Graduation is raffling off a parking space on Heermance Place to a student for the next school year???

RHS_Student_parking_ban_theridgewoodblog

file photo by Boyd Loving

Reader asks can someone explain to me how Project Graduation is raffling off a parking space on Heermance Place to a student for the next school year???

can someone explain to me how Project Graduation is raffling off a parking space on Heermance Place to a student for the next school year??? I am crazy or is that a public street?? I know that the public was booted in favor of “teacher only parking” but now they are raffling off a spot to a student to raise money for a party when I, a taxpayer, cannot park there??? HUH??? Something just smells here.

We have not been able to confirm or deny the “parking space ” raffle , here are other events and information we have confirmed on the BOE website for Project Graduation .

Project Graduation 2015 Updates

The Fashion Show is April 19. The Committee is now securing donations for the auction. Click here for more information and the donation form. Items may be dropped off at Gail Mandell’s office, Life Opportunities Unlimited, 75 North Maple Ave. Suite 104 Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fashion Show chairpersons are ShariHellman (201-310-6286 [email protected] and Gail Mandeli (201- 248-2575 or [email protected]).

PG-15 upcoming monthly meetings: April 9 and May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the RHS Library.

Dues are due. Make $165 check payable to “RHS Class of 2015” and mail to Sharon Walker, 94 Sherwood Road, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.

Class of 2015 Project Graduation Representatives
Chairpersons Tara Callaghan 201-803-7778 and Rosie McCooe 201-602-8097
Chairpersons email: [email protected]
Treasurer Sharon Walker [email protected]
Communications Jeff Coster [email protected]

Posted on March 20, 2015March 20, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Former Ridgewood Baseball star excels north of the border

Tyler Welence, a 2011 Ridgewood High School graduate, has made a seamless transition on the diamond at McGill University in Montreal, helping the school to the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association tournament title last fall.

Former Ridgewood Baseball star excels north of the border

March 20, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:31 AM
By Matthew Birchenough
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
The Ridgewood News

The past four years have taken Ridgewood native Tyler Welence throughout the western hemisphere, but no matter where he’s gone, he has always been playing baseball.

The 2011 Ridgewood High School graduate made his latest mark on the diamond last fall playing shortstop for McGill University in Montreal, which won the Canadian Collegiate Baseball Association National Championship.

“This was the first time I was ever part of a team that ended up winning the highest honor possible, and the feeling was so foreign to me after we won, the sense of accomplishment didn’t set in for a few hours,” Welence said earlier this week.

For his performance during the Redmen’s run, Welence earned the tournament MVP.

“Honestly, I always just try my best to help the team win, whatever that means doing,” he said. “I was very happy I was able to play a role in getting our team the title, but it was truly a full team effort.”

Welence exhibited the same sort of team-first attitude in his years at RHS.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-baseball/maroon-baseball-alum-makes-good-in-montreal-1.1292625

Posted on March 20, 2015March 20, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

N.J. to review student privacy concerns about test monitoring

N.J. to review student privacy concerns about test monitoring

March 19, 2015, 12:53 PM Last updated: Friday, March 20, 2015, 12:29 AM
By HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
The Record

New Jersey’s education commissioner will review alleged cases of test-question leaks on the Internet to see if the state’s contractors violated student privacy when monitoring exam discussions online, officials said Thursday at an Assembly hearing.

The announcement follows days of public outrage over reports that the Pearson testing company scanned students’ comments and reported question leaks to the state Department of Education in what some people believe was a violation of student privacy.

At the hearing, legislators grilled education officials about the monitoring.

“I just find this to be unacceptable, to say we should monitor the social media of every student in New Jersey and to delegate it to a third party we don’t control,” said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan Jr., D-Middlesex, chairman of the education committee.

He added, “I think the response is disproportionate to find two or three questions.”

But education officials continued to defend the actions Thursday at a hearing before the Assembly Education Committee.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education-officials-defend-monitoring-of-social-media-over-standardized-tests-1.1292328

Posted on March 20, 2015April 9, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

STORM MESSAGE: EARLY DISMISSAL FRIDAY, MARCH 20

STORM MESSAGE: EARLY DISMISSAL FRIDAY, MARCH 20

Due to the winter storm forecast, the Ridgewood Public Schools will have an EARLY DISMISSAL / EMERGENCY MINIMUM DAY on Friday, March 20. Cafeterias will not operate and lunches will not be provided. Students will attend school as follows:RED Program: 9-11 a.m.

Kindergarten AM Classes: 8:45-11:20 a.m.

Kindergarten PM Classes: canceled

Grades 1-5: 8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Grades 6-8: 8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Grades 9-12: 7:47 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Posted on March 19, 2015March 19, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Chicago High School Superintendent: Teen Sexting Is a Police Matter

Chicago High School Superintendent: Teen Sexting Is a Police Matter

Two teens send nude selfies. Police spend several weeks, interview 25 students to “investigate.”

Elizabeth Nolan Brown|Mar. 18, 2015 5:15 pm

From suburban Chicago, another tale of teens being treated like criminals for sharing sexually oriented photos with each other. Four students at Ridgewood High School, in the suburb of Norridge, now face possible charges for “dissemination of harmful material to a minor,” police said. Those charged include two girls, 15 and 17, who sent nude photos of themselves via Snapchat and two male teens who received the photos and forwarded them to others. Another student overheard classmates discussing it and ratted them out to school officials, who ratted them out to the police.

Why the sex lives of teens should be subject to school discipline is suspect enough, but it’s extra perplexing what interest the government has in such matters. We’re talking about teens using private phones and communications platforms to exchange photos. It may not be the most wise move to send nude selfies to your crush, but criminal? Surely police resources could be used in better ways?

https://reason.com/blog/2015/03/18/high-school-superintendent-teen-sexting

Posted on March 19, 2015March 19, 2015 by James — 3 Comments

Ridgewood Schools Budget and Strategic Planning Update

Ridgewood Schools Budget and Strategic Planning Update

2015-2016 Preliminary Budget Information

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

 2.04% Overall Levy Increase – Local Tax Levy + Debt Service Levy

 $2,566,160 in State Aid – down $37,124 from FY15 (Debt Service Aid).

 $1,694,488 Expenditure Increase

Click here to view the presentation on next year’s school budget, given at the March 9, 2015 Board of Education meeting.

Strategic Planning Update

Student Achievement

Communication

Technology

Diversity

Facilities

The Board of Education has approved strategic planning goals.Click here for details..

Posted on March 18, 2015March 18, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

Pearson Spy Scandal : New furor over N.J. tests as student privacy concerns raised

Pearson Spy Scandal : New furor over N.J. tests as student privacy concerns raised

MARCH 17, 2015, 2:35 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2015, 10:35 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The security of the state’s standardized tests is clashing with parents’ privacy concerns in the latest battle over the new exams.

Critics accused Pearson testing company of “spying” after it alerted the state Department of Education that a student leaked a test question on Twitter. Pearson said it was protecting test integrity and fairness, and an assistant commissioner of the state Education Department wrote a letter to school officials Tuesday strongly defending the practice, saying that Pearson is tracking content of posts not the students’ accounts.

Pearson’s reporting of the breach has generated a firestorm that’s tied to the larger controversy that has seen parents refusing to let their children take the tests amid growing concerns about student data privacy and overstressed children.

In the latest controversy, parents have flooded social media with complaints about the “spying” incident, news outlets have covered it and the chairman of the state Assembly Education Committee called for the company and the state education commissioner to explain their actions at a hearing Thursday.

“I find the accounts as reported very disturbing,” said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan Jr., D-Middlesex, who asked state Education Commissioner David Hespe and Pearson to attend the 10 a.m. hearing. “This type of event has a chilling effect on parents and kids.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/new-furor-over-n-j-tests-as-student-privacy-concerns-raised-1.1290700

Posted on March 14, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

Preliminary Ridgewood school budget would increase taxes by $195

Preliminary Ridgewood school budget would increase taxes by $195

March 13, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:44 AM
By Darius Amos
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) has approved a preliminary $101 million budget covering the 2015-16 school year, which, if adopted as is next month, would essentially boost the average property tax bill by approximately $195.

A resolution unanimously passed by school board trustees on Wednesday will send the spending plan to the county superintendent for review.

The preliminary budget, as proposed this week, will put taxpayers on the hook for an $87.9 million general fund levy, which represents a flat 2 percent increase over last year’s tax levy.

Tax amounts are based on an average assessed home value of $690,662.

“It is painful to a lot of citizens to have a tax increase every year,” said BOE member Vince Loncto, noting that roughly 75 percent of Ridgewood households do not have children in the school system. “For those people, it’s important to understand that everyone moves to Ridgewood for the schools. That’s what drives the property values. Even if kids are beyond school age, you benefit from [the school system].

“It’s important to maintain the level of the schools,” he added. “You can see that the money is being well spent and is for the benefit of the people with kids in the school system and also those without.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-school-district-presents-101m-budget-1.1288613

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

State Board of Education president speaks to Ridgewood parents, teachers

Mark-Biedron-Co-Founder-of-The-Willow-School

State Board of Education president speaks to Ridgewood parents, teachers

March 13, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:58 AM
By Mark Krulish
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News
New Jersey State Board of Education President Mark Biedron appeared at the Ridgewood home of Marlene Burton to engage a group of concerned parents, some of whom are also teachers, in a dialogue about changes made on the educational landscape in recent years.

Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, Biedron and a group of approximately 30 people explored topics ranging from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests, Common Core standards, teacher evaluations, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the narrowing of the curriculum.

Reminding those in attendance that his opinions were his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education, Biedron spoke candidly about what he believes will help children be successful.

Many decades ago, content was king, Biedron said, as information was much more difficult to find. With all of the information the world has to offer available at the push of the button, he said schools can now additionally focus on other skills and habits that he believes many want their children to have.

“Content alone will not make our children successful,” Biedron said. “What will? Critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, collaboration skills and communication skills. Are these skills being taught by Common Core and PARCC? That’s a big question. Education is organic, it’s constantly changing.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/state-boe-president-visits-ridgewood-1.1288623

Posted on March 13, 2015March 29, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

NJEA experiences an honest moment, admits not giving a damn about school quality

NJEA experiences an honest moment, admits not giving a damn about school quality
March 13, 2015
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

You and I know that the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) cares about two things, Save Jerseyans: preservation of their power, wielded through the accrual of money and politics.

Kids, parents and yes, teachers, be damned. But they don’t always come right out and say it.

Sometimes they do. Who can forget how back in 2012 then-NJEA Executive Director Vincent Giordano went on TV and told New Jersey’s poor families stuck in crappy public school districts sorry, “life’s not always fair.”

Next up: at the 2015 NJSCERA Conference on Virtual & Blended Learning held on Wednesday, the NJEA’s Marguerite Schroder (note: their website says she’s a “student organizer” but, no offense, she looks a little long-in-the-tooth to be a student so I’m not exactly sure what her duties include… maybe it’s like community organizing?) admitted to Bob Bowdon of the pro-school organization Choice Media that NO, her organization wouldn’t support a non-unionized school even if it was high quality:

https://savejersey.com/2015/03/njea-union-school-new-jersey/

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’

TRENTON — Leaders of New Jersey’s largest teachers union weren’t convinced by Department of Education Commissioner David Hespe’s testimony on PARCC exams in front of the Senate Education Committee this morning.

In fact, they’ve still got “real concerns” about the test’s roll out. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’ | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis

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