Category: Ridgewood Schools

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Ridgewood High School’s Team VitaFlow Wins First Place at Thomas Edison Pitch Contest

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Pictured: L-R Aarav Motivala, Mathias Levani, Elliott Yi, and Ben Soung, members of the RHS Team VitaFlow, which one first place at the Thomas Edison Pitch Contest on May 13th.

RHS Applied Engineering Club Claims International Victory — First Time Since 2020 — Hours After AP Physics C Exam

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RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — On May 13, members of the Ridgewood High School (RHS) Applied Engineering Club, competing as Team VitaFlow, captured first place at the prestigious Thomas Edison Pitch Contest, defeating student teams from around the world in a final event held at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey. The victory marks the first time since 2020, when the RHS Lemelson-MIT Solar Aqua Tech InvenTeam claimed top honors, that an RHS Applied Engineering Club team has earned this distinction.

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Close to Home: Why a Mayor’s Visit to Hawes Elementary Reignited a Ridgewood Environmental Battle

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Local Mayor’s Visit to Hawes Elementary Sparks Fierce Schedler Property Debate in Ridgewood

photos courtesy of the Ridgewood School System

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Ridgewood NJ, A seemingly heartwarming moment of civic engagement at Hawes Elementary School has thrust a controversial local environmental issue back into the spotlight, highlighting growing community frustrations over municipal land-use decisions.

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Ridgewood Crew Wins Double Gold, Second-Most Medals Overall at 2026 Stotesbury Cup

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The all-senior Ridgewood crew of Luciano Saladino and James Ryan capped an undefeated lightweight rowing season by taking home the James R. Barker Jr. Trophy at the 2026 Stotesbury Cup after trouncing the competition in the Boys Lightweight Senior Double event. (Credit: Denise Ryan)

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Ridgewood Crew won more medals than any other sculling team and took home two championship trophies this past weekend at the 2026 Stotesbury Cup Regatta, finishing off an outstanding spring rowing season that saw the team set several new program records.

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Is College a Bad Deal? A New Survey Reveals Why Gen Z is Regretting Their Tuition Bills

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The Higher Education Dilemma: Do Students Actually Think College is Worth the Cost?

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, As college tuition fees continue their steady upward march across the United States, families are facing a stressful financial crossroads. In states like New Jersey, average rates for a four-year public university sit right in line with the national average, hovering at around $16,714 per academic year, according to higher education dashboards.

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How to Help Your Teen Strive Without Pressure or Burnout

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When parents want the best for their teens, it is easy for support to turn into pressure. Adolescence is a time of rapid change, emotional growth, and increasing academic expectations. Teens need encouragement, but too much intensity can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout. The goal is not to push harder, but to guide smarter. Helping your teen strive means creating an environment where effort is valued, mistakes are accepted, and growth feels achievable rather than overwhelming.

Many parents unintentionally equate high expectations with love, believing that pushing harder leads to better outcomes. However, research and experience often show the opposite when pressure becomes chronic. Teens may disengage, procrastinate, or experience emotional exhaustion. Learning to balance encouragement with emotional safety is essential for long-term development. This balance helps teens build internal motivation rather than relying on external approval, which is key to sustainable success in academics and life.

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A Legacy Etched in Stone: Ridgewood High School to Unveil “Pizzuto Way” This June

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Ridgewood Legend Honored: Heermance Place Officially Renamed “Pizzuto Way” at RHS

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The heart of Ridgewood is getting a new landmark.

Some educators leave a mark on a school building; Basil Pizzuto left one on an entire generation. In a permanent tribute to a man whose influence stretched far beyond the classroom, Ridgewood High School (RHS) has announced the official renaming of Heermance Place to Pizzuto Way.

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The Smartest Teens in Bergen County? 15 Students Win 2026 National Merit Scholarships

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15 Bergen County Students Win Prestigious $2,500 National Merit Scholarships

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Ridgewood NJ, The results are in, and Bergen County continues to prove itself as an academic powerhouse. On Wednesday, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced a new round of winners, awarding 15 local high school seniors a prestigious $2,500 scholarship for their upcoming college careers.

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Ridgewood Crew Wins Top Scholastic Sculling Team Honors, Qualifies Team Record 21 Rowers for Youth Nationals

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Ridgewood Crew shows off its hardware in a group photo with Coaches Boris Roque-Alvarez and Kassandra Luna (Photo credit:Elizabeth Suri)

Ridgewood had sent 11 of its 17 boats through to the finals, claimed seven total medals, and amassed 131 points among sculling teams, good enough for third overall out of 29 programs

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West Windsor, New Jersey – Ridgewood Crew broke a team record this past Sunday by qualifying nine boats and 21 rowers for the USRowing Youth National Championships during its racing at the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships.

Facing a deep field of 550 entries from more than five-dozen scholastic and club teams across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, Ridgewood’s overall performance established it as among the best programs in the region. By the regatta’s end, Ridgewood had sent 11 of its 17 boats through to the finals, claimed seven total medals, and amassed 131 points among sculling teams, good enough for third overall out of 29 programs. That mark was also tops among all scholastic sculling teams. 

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New Bill Would Make New Jersey a legal “sanctuary” for Gender-transition Procedures

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New Jersey’s “Sanctuary State” Debate: Why Lawmakers Are Fast-Tracking Gender-Transition Bill S2260/A2218

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Trenton NJ,Trenton is moving at lightning speed this week as New Jersey lawmakers push forward a controversial legislative package that would designate the state as a legal “sanctuary” for gender-transition procedures. With critical votes scheduled for Monday, May 11th, and Thursday, May 14th, residents and parental rights advocates are sounding the alarm, asking one central question: Why the rush?

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The Fast-Track to Healthcare: Why Vocational Training is Outperforming 4-Year Degrees in California

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The healthcare landscape is shifting. While traditional four-year universities have long been seen as the “gold standard” for career success, a new reality is emerging in 2026. In high-cost, high-demand markets like California, students and career-changers are looking for a better Return on Investment (ROI). They want specialized skills, minimal debt, and immediate entry into the workforce.

If you are looking to secure a stable future in the Golden State, two specific paths stand out as the most reliable gateways to the medical field.

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Ridgewood School Budget Crisis: Why Your Taxes Are Rising as Busing and Staff Are Cut

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Your Ridgewood Property Taxes Are Going Up—Here’s Why

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Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education has officially greenlit a $135.5 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year, but for local families, the news is bittersweet. While the budget ensures the district remains operational, it brings with it a significant property tax hike and “radical” cuts to services that parents have relied on for decades.

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Ridgewood Crew Rows to Three Golds, Eight Overall Medals at 2026 Philly City Championships

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At the 2026 City Championships in Philadelphia, members of the Ridgewood Crew team pose at the end of a long Sunday of racing with their medals, their trophies, and their parents. (Credit: Boris Roque Alvarez)

Ridgewood’s 16 entries was the second-highest number at the regatta and its eight total medals earned tied two others teams for the most overall

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Two freshmen and a pair of seniors led the way for the Ridgewood Crew this past weekend at the Philadelphia Scholastic Rowing Association’s 2026 City Championships, winning three races while the team claimed eight podium finishes in total. 

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Student Loan Consolidation Calculator: Estimate Your Savings

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Estimating how much you can save through student loan consolidation can feel confusing at first, especially when you are juggling multiple loans with different rates and payment schedules. A consolidation calculator helps bring clarity to the process by giving you a side-by-side comparison of your current obligations and what a new consolidated loan might look like. This makes it easier to determine whether student loan consolidation could simplify your payments or reduce the overall cost of your debt.

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Ridgewood Infant Toddler Program Faces Shutdown

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Save ITDC: Ridgewood Parents Fight Back Against “Profit-Driven” School Closures

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Ridgewood NJ,A 40-year legacy of early childhood education in Ridgewood is under threat, sparking a heated battle between local families and the Board of Education. The Ridgewood Infant Toddler Development Center (ITDC), which has served the community since 1983, is facing a controversial shutdown that parents claim is based on “mathematically inconsistent” data.

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Ridgewood School Tax Hike Hits 4%: Why Haven’t Residents Been Asked to Vote?

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Where is the Vote? Ridgewood’s 4% Tax Hike Sparks Fresh Debate Over Election Consolidation

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Ridgewood NJ,  The promise was clear: give Ridgewood voters a voice. Advocates for election reform campaigned on the principle that any tax increase exceeding 2% would trigger a public ballot.

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