file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward filling a vital role for your community – that of a school board member.
NJSBA’s Candidate Kit provides vital resources (downloadable PDFs listed below), as well as links to important websites for anyone considering running for their local school board.
Continue reading Consider a Ridgewood School Board Candidacy!
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the CDC now says people who are vaccinated do not have to wear masks in school settings. The government health agency updated its guidance Friday morning.
Continue reading CDC now says people who are vaccinated do not have to wear masks in school settings
photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at a time when many schools are embroiled in controversy over the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), voters still think it is important that kids learn traditional values in school.
Continue reading An Overwhelming Majority of Voters Want Schools To Teach Traditional Values
photos courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Multiple vehicles were damaged on Thursday afternoon, 07/08, when a large tree toppled into a parking lot of the Ridge Elementary School on West Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood. Typically, the parking lot would be empty at this time of year. However, the school building was being used to house a summer enrichment program, and the lot was relatively full of vehicles belonging to the parents of participants who were about to be dismissed from the program for the day. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as there was no one was in the lot when the tree toppled. A Ridgewood Police patrol officer was dispatched to process property damage reports, and to assist the owners of lightly damaged vehicles in removing them from the parking lot.
staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Co-Founder calls out Wikipedia as “Hopelessly Biased”, Larry Sanger, a philosopher who co-founded Wikipedia in 2001, has sadly concluded that the free online encyclopedia is “more one-sided than ever” and so dominated by liberal sources that it is now “an opponent of vigorous democracy.” And freedom for that matter.
file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a new report by the ABC Science Collaborative demonstrates that in-person schooling with proper masking protocols can safely be pursued at all educational levels in the US. The report analyzed 864,515 students and 160,549 staff members across 100 school districts and 14 charter schools in North Carolina. Under the state’s “Plan A” protocol, masks were required for all students and staff in all educational areas, including bus rides to and from school. Over the 4-month study period, 1 in 127 students and 1 in 138 staff were diagnosed with COVID-19, although researchers stated that around 95% of those infections occurred within the community and not in school. The report ultimately recommended that full capacity, in-person learning can be safely achieved at all grade levels with strong adherence to mask mandates. With adherence to masking protocols, students could be less physically distanced and even reach full capacity on school busses. The report provides strong data-driven evidence for in-person learning, as school district administrators nationwide create their plans for the upcoming school year. Still, vaccinations among eligible students and staff will be key to relaxing masking measures in the future.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, finally a lab study in a prestige medical journal confirming the obvious – that it’s hard for kids to breathe with masks strapped to their faces.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, a few hours before the Board meeting, Governor Murphy announced that masks will be optional in the fall; however, the District has not yet received any specific guidance. As a result, some of the information in the presentation regarding school operations and scenarios for the 2021-2022 school year is already outdated. Schools will be open for full-time, in-person instruction with lunch, and the goal is to operate at pre-pandemic norms. Modifications have been made to health and safety protocols and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. Should districts be authorized to make decisions on a local level, RPS will collaborate with the VOR Health Department, School Physician, and District Mental Health Coordinator to determine local guidelines.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Governor Murphy, New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) Acting Commissioner Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli today announced a series of coordinated recommendations and guidance documents to assist school districts and educators as they develop local reopening plans for the 2021-2022 school year. All public school districts in New Jersey are expected to provide full-time, in-person instruction for the 2021-2022 school year. Documents released today will be critical as districts plan for full-time instruction and continue the pathway to recovery from COVID-19.
Continue reading For 2021-2022 School Year Masking Polices Will Be Up to Local School Districts
Photo by Audrey Larson
Left to right: Isabel Lee, Alice Zhang, Isabella Harelick, Paul Nasr, and Corrina Moss-Kelle
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Isabella Harelick, Isabel Lee, Paul Nasr, and Alice Zhang, students at Ridgewood High School in Ridgewood, New Jersey, recently competed in the National History Day® (NHD) National Contest, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, June 13-19. They were named as a top ten finalist group in the Senior Group Documentary category.
Continue reading Ridgewood Students Excel at 2021 National History Day Contest
Two years ago, many of us could not have imagined that a pandemic would strike and instantly change so many aspects of our lives without warning. As educators and students, this crisis transformed how we taught and learned. The educational experience has been vastly different over the last 15 months. While this journey has been riddled with challenges, there have also been opportunities for self-discovery, growth, and reflection. The words of the RPS community tell this story.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, after a slight delay due to rain, the Ridgewood High School class of 20-21 held its graduation ceremony . Like the rest of the year the graduation did not come easy for the class of 20-21, but the rain subsided enough and the event proceeded.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood High School Graduation has been delayed by 30 minutes and will begin at 5:30 PM. Visit the district website to view the livestream.
photos courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Police Department thanks all the Village crossing guards and wants residents to help them thank the crossing guards that make walking to school safe and fun everyday. Find your favorite guard and give them a shout out.
