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Later Start Initiative at Ridgewood High School Begins Next Fall

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Approval: Implementation of the Later Start Initiative at Ridgewood High School

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood blog pulled information off the Ridgewood Schools website hoping to answer a few questions about next fall school year:

The Ridgewood Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the Interim Superintendent of Schools, approves the implementation of the Later Start Initiative at Ridgewood High School with school starting at 8:20 AM and ending at 3:05 PM with period 9 available for students until 3:30 PM. The high school administration, working with staff and students, will determine the structure for the instructional day and length of class periods within the 8:20 AM to 3:30 PM parameters. This initiative will be in place for the 2023-2024 school year.

Resolution passed: February 13, 2023

A:  RHS Principal Jeff Nyhuis started speaking with faculty immediately following the BOE approval of the later start time to get their input, questions, suggestions and concerns. A survey was sent to all staff members for input as well. In addition, staff broke into groups to discuss the upcoming start time change at one of the March staff meetings. 

To get student input, staff members spoke with freshmen students during Freshmen and Sophomore FOCUS, and met with 10th and 11th grade students during health classes. Students in several of these groups also received a follow-up survey on Later Start Time.

A:  Several schedules are being evaluated at this time based on staff and student input. 

A:  Science labs will be scheduled within the potential options listed above, however, as stated previously, AP science labs will continue to be a double period.

A:  Yes, period 9 will still exist! Period 9 will run from 3:05 to 3:30PM each day.

A: No, we will discontinue enrichment days. 

A: We are looking at the various ways that we can build time into the day. We are still exploring options at this time, however, ideas being explored include:

A:  Practices generally start between 3:30 and 3:45PM, depending on where the practice takes place. Although we do not want to push practice times back for next year, we are now a member of the NJ Consortium on Later Start Time and are working and speaking with other districts who have these revised schedules. 

For next year, we are encouraging our students to go to period 9 if they need to. We are instructing our coaches priority 9 is a priority for students, and if a student comes with a pass that states they were at period 9,  this is acceptable and encouraged. Students should only be a few minutes late if at all for any practice.

However, if the NJ Legislation on Later Start Time passes, all schools will have to push back time and do what we are doing now. 

A:  Immediately following the BOE approval of Later Start Time, we submitted our busing tiering requests. As of now, we have not received a reply and are hopeful that this will work out. So, at this time, we are not looking at combining middle and high school busing. Right now, students will be dropped off at RHS between 8:05 and 8:10AM. Pickup time will be after 3:30PM, following period 9. 

A:  We are evaluating several options relative to student time for extra help. Please see question 6 above. However, we currently have staff members that arrive at RHS by 7:15AM. This will shift slightly to 7:30AM, the Learning Commons and the cafeteria will be open and food services will be available for breakfast. 

A:  Based on current staff feedback, we do not anticipate any change in teacher attendance due to Later Start Time. We are anticipating that the later start time will assist staff with parking and getting settled before the start of school.

A:  It is very difficult to get substitutes today, however even when we did have ample substitutes, we learned that if the teachers are out, they are still planning their lessons well and most students are getting their assignments done during the window of time in which the class would take place. This seems more effective.

When a child has one or two teachers out in the same day, then yes, these students can have a block of time free. We do hope that this is rare, however when this happens, students have several spaces to elect to use for studying or eating. 

A: There are certain groups or teams that meet in the morning. If that is when these groups can meet, they will be allowed to continue this practice.  Although we do not want this to be a daily meeting, for those groups that meet once per week, then RHS will not discourage this practice.

9 thoughts on “Later Start Initiative at Ridgewood High School Begins Next Fall

  1. Will all practices at 6am be shut down?

    1. If 6am practices r permitted to continue, its proof the entire initiative is a scam

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  2. Just so stoopid.
    They will go to bed later.
    Water finds it’s own level.

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    1. I don’t know how we survived as kids……………

  3. Waste of money. Let’s just keep lowering our standards, until there is nothing left.

  4. The tradition of early AM athletics workouts/practices will probably not be affected. How could they be?

    1. The focus of the RBOE mtgs was the chart presented by Ms Robinson pointing out exactly how kids need a min of 8hrs sleep….The principal sat next to her shaking his head in agreement! It’s impossible to get 8hrs of sleep with 3 hrs of homework each night and mandatory practice at 6am. Not one time was pre school practices discussed as it would have blown apart the narrative. A complete scam..let by the teachers union…

  5. The weakening of America is coming along nicely.

    It’s satisfying to see a plan come together.

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    1. Only a war would straighten us out…I think.

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