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Readers say Ridgewood Teacher misbehavior in light of this contract dispute has gotten out of hand in terms of its spitefulness

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

Taxes are too high, why are we paying $102mn a year for schools that aren’t living up to their reputation? The teachers are a huge part of the problem here, and their “bad faith” negotiations are only making things worse. Why do they deserve better health care benefits, i.e. lower co-pays, than the taxpayers subsidizing their plans?

These teachers have lost so much credibility in our community through their actions/inactions, words, and greed. They’re riding the reputation of excellence despite not being excellent themslves – time for new educators who actually want to work with our students and help them.

This commentator is aware of a long-tenured RHS teacher in an important academic subject (won’t get any more specific than that) that was on full mail-it-in mode all year, for no good reason. Near the end of the year, it got even worse. The teacher’s students suffered needlessly, particularly grade-wise. Like, all of them. We need new blood. Teacher misbehavior in light of this contract dispute has gotten out of hand in terms of its spitefulness. Ridgewood residents and taxpayers should not allow themselves to forget this…

it’s even worse than that. The teachers recruit our own kids to fight their proxy war through indoctrination. I read a recent article in the paper about the various ‘Teachers of the Year’ nominated by students. One of Ridgewood’s teachers was complaining how anti-teacher it was in his school instead of being thankful for the nomination. He can always go to another district if he doesn’t like his six-figure 10 month job.

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Ridgewood High School was the target of vandalism

RHS_BEST_theridgewoodblog

June 28,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that Ridgewood High School was the target of vandalism.  The Ridgewood Board of Education reported criminal mischief at the Ridgewood High School occurred over the weekend. A rock was thrown through a window causing property damage.

All actors are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

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Marathon Swimmer Charlotte Samuels: Working to Make Water Accessible to All

charlotte-samuels

By Melissa Berkay, Swimming World College Intern

Charlotte Samuels, a recent graduate of Ridgewood High School, has made her mark in the worlds of marathon swimming and community service. In 2015, she became the first person to swim a course of more than 20 miles from Long Island to the Jersey Shore through an area known as the New York Bight.

Samuels also became the youngest person in the world to complete the “Triple Crown” of open water swimming. She conquered the feat in 2014 when she mastered the English Channel, theManhattan Island Marathon Swim, and the Catalina Channel. The previous record had been held by an 18-year-old Australian swimmer.

Samuels’ swimming career launched at age 12 when a friend encouraged her to participate in a mile-long swim in the Potomac River in Maryland; it was then that she discovered her love for open water swimming.

https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/marathon-swimmer-charlotte-samuels-working-to-make-water-accessible-to-all/

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911 Call leads to the Confiscation of Plastic Swords by Police at Ridgewood High School

Ridgewood Police RHS

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook

June 11,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, A Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Patrol Officer and two (2) police department supervisors responded to Ridgewood High School (627 East Ridgewood Avenue) shortly after 11 AM on Friday, 6/10 in response to a 911 telephone call from a school employee reporting dozens of students running amok in the school’s main hallway with plastic swords in their hands. Police confiscated an undisclosed number of swords and reported damage to at least one (1) classroom’s windows. No immediate arrests were apparent.

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NJ Lawmaker proposes civics test as high school graduation requirement

Ridgewood_-4th_of-_July_theridgewoodblog

By LINH TAT

06/09/16 05:44 AM EDT

As the New Jersey Board of Education deliberates whether high school students should have to pass certain math and English exams to graduate, one state lawmaker wants to throw another subject into the mix.

Assemblyman Jay Webber, a Republican from Morris County, is sponsoring legislation to require students to pass a civics test, using the same set of questions asked of immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship.

His bill (A3894) is nearly identical to one introduced during the last legislative session by then-Assemblyman Charles Mainor, a Democrat. Mainor’s bill (A4226) never made it out of committee.

Under the latest proposal, students would have to correctly answer at least 60 of 100 questions. Students would be asked, for example, what the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution are called (answer: Bill of Rights), who becomes president if both the president and vice president can no longer serve (answer: Speaker of the House) or what stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful (answer: checks and balances).

Students would first take the test in ninth grade. Those who don’t pass would retake the exam each year until they passed. Local school boards would decide the method and manner in which the test is administered.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/new-jersey/story/2016/06/proposed-bill-would-require-nj-students-to-take-high-school-civics-test-to-graduate-102663#ixzz4BB75JkWz

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Ridgewood High School Produces 3 Winners at Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Contest

RHS_theridgewoodblog

June 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, On May 19, nine RHS students participated in the Orlando Saa Foreign Language Poetry Contest, along with 48  different  high  schools.  RHS  had three  winners:  Jenna  Casey,  2nd  Place  for French; Yihan Wang, Honorable Mention for Chinese; and Jeff Zachem, 3rd place in Latin

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Ridgewood High School Senior prank strikes again!

RHS senior prank

June 3,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, for the second time in as many weeks a Senior prank strikes again,hitting a home 15 Maynard Court , filling the front lawn with Village council elections signs of losing candidates .

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Ridgewood High School Boys And Girls Track Teams Win State Sectional Titles

RHS_Stadium_bike_theridgewoodblog

May 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. , The Ridgewood High School Boys and Girls track teams each won state sectional titles this Saturday.

This was the first sectional title for the RHS Girls since 2006, ending a seven-year run for Randolph; the RHS Boys win puts the squad back on top of the group after losing to Randolph last year. Before that loss, they had won five consecutive sectional titles.The RHS Boys team ended the season posting a perfect record.

Outstanding efforts were made ; senior Sam Halvorsen won the girls 1,600 meters in 5:03.12 and placed third in the 3,200 in 11:09.04 behind teammate Olympia Martin (10:58.62) and Bergen Tech’s Abigail McLaughlin.

Halvorsen was also part of the 4×800 relay team along with Leah Rosenfeld,Meghan Adams, and Evelyn Kotch, which set the meet record with a winning time of 9:32.84.

Olympia Martin won the 3,200 meters in 10:58.62 coming from behind to do it. Never leading until the final lap when she passed McLaughlin.

Michael Thurston won the 800 for the boys with a time of 1:54.45. He also anchored the victorious 4×400 relay team (3:20.97) which held off Paterson Eastside by about a mere half a second .

Kobi Grant won an exciting 100 in 11.09 for Ridgewood in which the top four sprinters were all separated by a half-second. Grant finished fourth in the 200-meter run with a time of 22.43, and anchored the 4×100 relay team to victory in a season-best 43.90 ,finishing second behind Mount Olive (43.32).

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Rep. Scott Garrett Announces 2016 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Scott Garrett Alexandra Gutierrez- with artwork

1st Place winner, Alexandra Gutierrez with Scott Garrett

May 26,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) announced the winners of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition at Sussex County Community College in Newton this Saturday. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all 9th-12th graders from New Jersey’s Fifth District, and this year’s competition featured 90 pieces of artwork from New Jersey high schools in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren Counties (full list below).

This year the winners were: 1st Place, Alexandra Gutierrez, “Split Vision,” Bergen County Academies; 2nd Place, Grant Brewster, “Forgotten,” Delbarton School; 3rd Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Doug,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 4th Place, Nicole Spangenburg, “Rasta Man Dan,” Wallkill Valley Regional High School; 5th Place, Sophia Bevacqua, “Landscape,” Northern Highlands Regional High School; 6th Place, Nicolina Kanapinski, “Take Me For a Ride,” High Point Regional High School; 7th Place, Maansi Srivastava, “The Afternoon Glow,” Bergen County Academies; 8th Place, Sarah Vargas, “The Dreamer,” Bergen County Academies.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. The first-place winner from each congressional district is invited to attend a reception in Washington, D.C., and the winning artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year. Read more here.

Students from the following schools will be participating (by county):

Bergen County Academies

Bergen County Technical High School (Student lives in district)

Bergenfield High School

Blair Academy

Delbarton School (Student lives in district)

Fair Lawn High School

Glen Rock High School

Hackensack High School

Hackettstown High School

High Point Regional High School

Indian Hills High School

Lakeland Regional High School

Newton High School

Northern Highlands Regional High School

Northern Valley Regional High School – Old Tappan

Ramsey High School

Ridgewood High School

River Dell High School

Wallkill Valley Regional High School

West Milford High School

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Ridgewood High School junior has been named a finalist in the Facing History Together Student Essay Contest

RHS_Sign_theridgewoodblog

May 17,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, RHS junior Jamie Lim, has recently been named a finalist in the Facing History Together student essay contest Titled, Jam in a Jar, her essay was picked out of nearly 4,000 other student entries. The contest was based around the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and sponsored by the organization, Facing Our History and Ourselves.

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Congressman Scott Garrett Hosts Model Congress At Ridgewood High School

Congressman Scott Garrett Hosts Model Congress At Ridgewood High School
May 15,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J., Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) hosted young legislators from 35 New Jersey high schools in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties at the third annual Model Congress Saturday in Ridgewood.

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This years turnout was significantly larger than last year . Students were well informed and thoroughly debated the issues .There were clearly some future statesmen and women in the room .

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The Model Congress is an educational event for students where they will replicate a day in the life of a Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives. It gave an opportunity for naive idealism to met reality of negotiation and compromise. The Congressmen’s very able staff helped organized and run the event.

The Model Congress gives students a first-hand opportunity to learn how Congress works by allowing them to research legislation currently being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives, break into committees to further examine and debate the legislation, and finally bring the legislation to the House floor for a vote.

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Students were assigned to represent different states, but not specific political parties. They stated their day by picking committee chairs and amending and voting on bills . Local boy scouts were brought in keep time and enforce time limits .

This is a nonpartisan event. Each school in New Jersey’s Fifth District sent two students for the Model Congress, and awards will be given for best debater, best consensus builder, best speaker, best research, best counterargument, and leadership at the end of the event. The congressmen made his usual low keyed entrance and keep the focus on the students ,letting his staff run the show .

Students from the Following Schools attended the event:

Bergen:

Bergen County Academies
Bergen County Technical High School
Bergenfield High School
Dumont High School
Fair Lawn High School
Glen Rock High School
Hackensack High School
Indian Hills High School
Lodi High School
Mahwah High School
Midland Park High School
Northern Highlands High School
Northern Valley Regional-Demarest
Paramus High School
Park Ridge High School
Pascack Hills High School
Pascack Valley High School
Ramapo High School
Ramsey High School
Ridgewood High School
River Dell High School
St. Joseph Regional High School
Teaneck High School
Waldwick High School
Westwood Regional High School

Passaic:

Lakeland Regional High School
West Milford High School

Sussex:
High Point High School
Kittatinny Regional High School
Newton High School
Pope John XXIII High School
Vernon Township High School
Wallkill Valley Regional High School

Warren:

North Warren High School
Warren Hills High School

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Ridgewood High School was again not portrayed in the best light in the stands or parking lot during the lacrosse tournament

Ridgewood LAX association

May 12, 2016

Dear Parents/Guardians:

We are excited that our girls and boys lacrosse teams both won the Bergen County final round of competition at Mahwah High School on May 7. It was great to see so many people from our community support our teams during the games. We are extremely proud of our coaches and players.

Unfortunately, despite previous warnings and pleas for assistance in my November 30 and December 11 letters regarding the conduct of our fans at the MetLife Stadium football championship game, Ridgewood High School was again not portrayed in the best light in the stands or parking lot during the lacrosse tournament. Administrators from Mahwah High School have notified us that the parking lot parent tailgate in the Ridgewood section was left in a very poor state with trash and alcohol bottles strewn about. In addition, we had one Ridgewood adult fan verbally accost the referees after the game, which required police intervention.

Sadly, the incidents referenced above are not unique to this one weekend. Many of these negative behaviors are illegal, disruptive, and dangerous. Please note that the consumption of alcohol on school grounds, whether at RHS or another school, is illegal and will result in a summons. It can also place students and athletes attending the tailgates in potential jeopardy of accusations by others, resulting in an investigation of the incident. In addition, this type of behavior may result in the County and State athletic associations not allowing Ridgewood to host future events.

At RHS, we will continue to have educational discussions with our students about the effects of drugs and alcohol; assist in the emotional, psychological, and physical development of our teenagers; and teach about character and decision-making through academics, athletics, and the arts.

We ask for your help in being role models for our students and set the correct tone and image we want portrayed of the RHS community.

Respectfully,

Thomas A. Gorman, Ed.D.
Principal

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Model Congress for high school students to be held in Ridgewood on Saturday

scott garrett model congress

May 10,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) will be hosting young legislators from 35 New Jersey high schools in Bergen, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties (full list below) at the third annual Model Congress this Saturday in Ridgewood. The Model Congress is an educational event for students where they will replicate a day in the life of a Congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives. The event is open to all media, but please observe an embargo on this information until Saturday at 9am.

About:  The Model Congress gives students a first-hand opportunity to learn how Congress works by allowing them to research legislation currently being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives, break into committees to further examine and debate the legislation, and finally bring the legislation to the House floor for a vote. Students will be assigned to represent different states, but not specific political parties. This is a nonpartisan event. Each school in New Jersey’s Fifth District was invited to recommend two students for the Model Congress, and awards will be given for best debater, best consensus builder, best speaker, best research, best counterargument, and leadership at the end of the event.

Address:          Ridgewood High School

627 E. Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood, NJ 07450

 

When:             Saturday, May 14
9am12:30pm

Students from the following schools will be participating (by county):

 Bergen:

Bergen County Academies

Bergen County Technical High School
Bergenfield High School
Dumont High School
Fair Lawn High School
Glen Rock High School
Hackensack High School
Indian Hills High School
Lodi High School
Mahwah High School
Midland Park High School
Northern Highlands High School
Northern Valley Regional-Demarest
Paramus High School
Park Ridge High School
Pascack Hills High School
Pascack Valley High School
Ramapo High School
Ramsey High School
Ridgewood High School
River Dell High School
St. Joseph Regional High School
Teaneck High School
Waldwick High School
Westwood Regional High School

Passaic:

Lakeland Regional High School
West Milford High School

Sussex:
High Point High School
Kittatinny Regional High School
Newton High School
Pope John XXIII High School
Vernon Township High School
Wallkill Valley Regional High School

Warren:

North Warren High School
Warren Hills High School

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Tree Falls at Ridgewood High School

Ridgewood Police its a Bird ,its a plane

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving’s Facebook page

May 8,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, An early afternoon wind gust felled a very large rain soaked tree limb on the property of RIdgewood High School, 627 East Ridgewood Avenue, RIdgewood on Sunday, 05/08. RIdgewood PD & FD personnel responded due to a report of wires being entangled in the felled branch. Firefighters were able to reattach the downed cable to an outside building wall, and a private tree contractor was called to remove the limb.

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Ridgewood High School Deca students excelled at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville

deca580

May 4,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, RHS Deca students excelled at the International Career Development Conference in Nashville this April. They competed in role-play and presentation events against students from other states as well as Canada, Guam, Spain, Mexico and China. Kathryn Zhou placed in the top 10 of her event. Additionally, the stock market team and solo stock market competitor, Justin Choy, made it to the finals of their competition.