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.
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.
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 .
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.
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
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
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
9am – 12:30pm
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
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.
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.
April 28,2016
the syaff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Federal Challenge team took Third place in the final round of the competition that is run by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on behalf of the United States Federal Reserve system. The competition asks groups of high school students to research the domestic/global economy, develop a mathematical model for forecasting the domestic economy, present their research to a panel of high-ranking economists working at the FRBNY, and answer complex questions about both the team’s research and the economy.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the RHS Advanced Latin Academic Team defeated the Central and Southern Regional champions, Ridge High School and Clearview Regional High School, respectively, in a fiercely contested showdown on April 23, earning them the title the team has worked so hard to achieve: New Jersey State Certamen champions. These RHS students were best in state, or runners-up, in all the academic tests and took first-place ribbons in athletic competitions as well.
Written Tests:
1st place, Mythology: Peter Psathas
1st place, Latin Grammar, Peter Psathas
1st place, Latin Vocabulary and English Derivatives
1st place, Roman Life and Culture, Charlotte Kahan/Anthony Tokarz (tied)
1st place, Latin Oratory (memorize and recite), Anthony Tokarz
2nd place, Latin Vocabulary and English Derivatives, Charlotte Kahan
2nd place, Roman History, Anthony Tokarz
Olympics:
1st place, Softball Throw: Charlotte Kahan
1st place, Boys’ 100 Meter: James Psathas
Catherine Venturini is Latin Club, Latin Honor Society and Latin Academic Team Advisor; Stefanie Giganti is Latin Teacher.
April 21,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School ranks #25 in the state, according to the U.S. News and World Report. The rankings were published on April 19. Click here to go to the RHS write-up.
Ridgewood High School is ranked 25th within New Jersey. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® coursework and exams. The AP® participation rate at Ridgewood High School is 64 percent. The student body makeup is 49 percent male and 51 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 29 percent. Ridgewood High School is the only high school in the Ridgewood Public Schools.
U.S. News & World Report enlisted the help of social science research firm RTI International to compile its rankings. They measured schools using four key metrics:
Math and reading proficiency for all students
Testing proficiency for disadvantaged students
Graduation rates
College readiness via Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate test data.
Ridgewood boasts a 13:1 student-to-teacher ratio and has 64 percent of its students participate in AP Exams.
Neighbors Tenafly placed 13th and Glen Rock 14th.
April 19,2016
by Boyd Loving
Ridgewood NJ, The appearance of a cellular base station antenna on the roof of RHS suggests that the “microcell” cellular telephone site owned & operated by Verizon, proposed early last year, is now in place and fully functional.
By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on April 18, 2016 at 8:10 AM, updated April 18, 2016 at 10:20 AM
TRENTON — With PARCC testing in full swing this month in New Jersey schools, students have likely heard a lot about how the exams can help them meet thestate’s graduation requirements.
The tests, called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams, are one way high school students can fulfill the graduation requirement for standardized testing. But current high school students don’t have to pass PARCC exams, or even take them, in order to graduate.
Younger students might be required to take PARCC tests when they get to high school. But they will also have fallback options, such as a retest, if they don’t pass the tests the first time they take them.
Ridgewood NJ, on April 24, 2016, 2:30 pm at the Westside Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, the New Jersey PREMIERE CONCERT PRESENTATION OF TYLER’S SUITE featuring the CHOIRS OF RAMAPO COLLEGE AND RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL all to benefit the work of the TYLER CLEMENTI FOUNDATION .
The Tyler Clementi Foundation’s main focus is to end all online and offline bullying in schools, workplaces and faith communities. Using educational partnerships, awareness programs, public dialogues and research to create the safe, respectful and supportive social environment that all students and vulnerable youth deserve.
ABOUT TYLER’S SUITE Tyler’s Suite is a nine piece choral work dedicated to the memory of Tyler Clementi, a talented young musician who died by suicide after becoming the victim of cyber bullying. The choral suite explores the voices and experiences of Tyler and his family and ultimately shines a light of hope and endless possibility thanks to the words and music of some of today’s top composers and lyricists: John Adamo, John Bucchinno, Ann Hampton Callaway, Craig Carmelia, John Corigliano, Stephen Flaherty, Nolan Gasser, Jake Heggie, Lance Home, Stephen Schwartz and Pamela Stewart. Tyler’s Suite is moving and incredibly powerful. It carries the message that hearts and minds can be moved toward love, acceptance and respect for all people. Through this musical experience we are united in the conviction that no person should ever be targeted for bullying or harassment.
The Tyler Clementi Foundation is proud to be part of this special celebration of Tyler’s life and pleased that this new work will be premiered in Ridgewood, his hometown, and performed by the students of his former high school and Ramapo College. Tyler was a talented violinist, winning many awards and scholarships. He performed and actively participated in many high school and community musical events. His beloved violin lies silent now in its case but his music goes on. Composers and playwrights all over the country are inspired to keep his story alive and give hope to countless people everywhere. Special guests will be invited to this special concert, which premieres the new arrangement of Tyler’s Suite for choirs of mixed voices.
Among those joining the Clementi family will be the Ridgewood mayor, Paul Aronsohn, Dr. Daniel Fishbein, Superintendant of Ridgewood Schools, representatives from Ramapo College of New Jersey and faith leaders from the community. Sponsors for this celebration and concert are welcome and will be listed in the program. All proceeds will be given to The Tyler Clementi Foundation. Admission to the concert is free for high school students, $5 for college students, $20 suggested donation for adults. The Village of Ridgewood and its leaders, together with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, are actively working together to make our community a welcoming and supportive place for all to live and a safe place to raise our children.
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – For the first time since 2008, awards will be given to former students by the Ridgewood Alumni Association.
The Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner, the first of its kind, will be honoring a few notable former pupils on the evening of Thursday, March 10. The honorees will be inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, which was started “a couple a years ago” according to Ridgewood High School Principal Tom Gorman. It is to be run in a similar way to the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, he added.
“Every other year, the athletic hall of fame inducts athletes,” he said, noting that a panel of judges makes the selections. “In the off-year, we will have this distinguished alumni event.”
The Alumni Association is responsible for deciding what makes a RHS graduate distinguished, according to Siobhan Winograd, a board officer and the group’s secretary.
“We came up with what is distinguished,” she said. “We have a definition. We sent it out there and had people write in [their definitions].”
“Once the alumni association … was able to connect with so many alumni via the website, we had an open enrollment and had a separate committee that decided to induct five people this year,” Winograd said. “We have a working list. People have gone on the website and told us their person’s story.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/distinguished-alumni-earn-spots-in-hall-of-fame-1.1522484
Are you seeing double in the hallways at Ridgewood High School?
BY DIANA OLIVEIRA
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
RIDGEWOOD – The senior class at Ridgewood High School is probably accustomed to seeing double. Or it should be, given that there are 17 sets of twins and one set of triplets roaming the halls.
“I feel like every class that I’m in there’s always another twin,” said Kelly Dwyer, who is one half of a pair. “So I could always look around and go, ‘She’s a twin, he’s a twin.’ They’re everywhere, they’re actually taking over.”
But the idea that there could be so many multiples in a single graduating class was never deemed unusual, at least not by these classmates who grew up together. Jess and Amy Schlicht have recognized over time that this is a unique situation.
“Growing up, I’ve been kind of used to it,” said Jess. “But then realizing that not a lot of schools have this, it’s pretty cool.”
“It’s something that separates us from other high schools,” added Amy.
Erin Dwyer is also taking pride in this distinction. At first, she found people’s disbelief over the number of twins in her grade surprising. Words like “crazy” and “insane” were often used, and she’d reply, “Oh, is it? I don’t really know the average number of twins per class.” Now, Erin shares the tale without registering the shock, having already embraced what she has learned to be an unconventional situation.
And while it isn’t conventional, the twins at Ridgewood High School are noticing quite a few advantages to having a sibling in the same grade. For one, there’s always a homework helper nearby.
“Last year, I was in a few classes with Jess,” said Amy. “It was nice because when I needed to do homework and needed help, she was right there sitting next to me.”
Applying to college can always be stressful, but it’s less so when there’s someone to endure the stress with.
“Everybody goes through the whole college process, but we went through the college process of writing the essays and sending other college apps in as the two of us, which was great,” said Erin.
https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/are-you-seeing-double-in-the-hallways-1.1510952
February 9,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, RIDGEWOOD A CAPELLA The Maroon Men and the AcaBellas recently competed in the International Competition of High School A Cappella. In the Mid-Atlantic Quarterfinals, where the groups won the following titles:
1st Place – The RHS Maroon Men
3rd Place – The RHS AcaBellas
Outstanding Percussion – Aaqib Hassan (Maroon Men)
