Texas’ Flower Mound HS opens news fronts on the war on students and on photography.
Nick Gillespie|May. 26, 2015 9:28 am
For centuries now, school has produced an ever-enlarging literature of contempt and hate by those of us (read: all of us) unlucky enough to attend K-12 education. I’m betting that Socrates outdoor classrooms were kind of a drag, but certainly from Herman Hesse’s Beneath the Wheel to Catcher in the Rye to Blood and Guts in High School to Pink Floyd’s The Wall to Frank Portman’s King Dorkbooks, the message that school is filled with petty tyrants (both adult and student variety) is based on many people’s everyday experience.
Here’s a good example of why so many of us disliked school even if we dig edumication.
Via the Twitter feed of Lizbuddie comes the story of Anthony Mazur, a 16-year-old student at Texas’ Flower Mound High School. A photographer for the yearbook, Mazur took pictures of athletes and other students and then posted them on a Flickr account where he sold some of them to parents. As it happens, according to his school district’s policy, there’s no issue with that and Mazur apparently owns the the copyright to work he produces.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School is ranked 15th within New Jersey. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement® course work and exams. The AP® participation rate at Ridgewood High School is 68 percent. The student body makeup is 51 percent male and 49 percent female, and the total minority enrollment is 30 percent. Ridgewood High School is the only high school in the Ridgewood Public Schools.
Rankings / Awards
This details how this school compares with others based on U.S. News ranking criteria.
Medal Awarded Gold
National Rank
#307
State Rank
#15
STEM Rank
#222
Students / Teachers
These counts and percentages of students and teachers are from data reported by schools to the government.
Total Enrollment 1,694
Total Minority Enrollment (% of total) 30%
Total Economically Disadvantaged (% of total) 1%
Full-Time Teachers 132
More About Student Body
Test Scores
U.S. News calculates these values based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work (AP®/IB exams).
Proficient in Language 98%
Proficient in Mathematics 96%
College Readiness Index 60.4
Rep. Scott Garrett with the 2015 United States Service Academy nominees from New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District , including Christopher Lee , Ridgewood High School
(Please see list below for individual photos of nominees)
Apr 28, 2015
PARAMUS, NJ – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) is proud to announce the nomination of 36 Fifth District students to United States service academies, including the Military Academy at West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. This year’s nominees were honored by the Congressman at a reception at Bergen County Community College in Paramus on Wednesday, April 8, 2015.
“It’s an honor to nominate this group of talented, intelligent, and dedicated young men and women from New Jersey’s Fifth District to our country’s prestigious service academies,” said Garrett. “One of the United States’ oldest and proudest traditions, our service academies have been training future leaders for a life of service since the late 1700’s. I wish everyone all the best as they move through the final steps of the application process, and I’m proud of their achievements.”
Applications to the Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy require a nomination by a Congressman or a Senator, however, the Congressional nomination does not guarantee acceptance. To assist with the nomination process, Congressman Garrett established an esteemed committee of military and civic leaders that interviewed potential nominees, reviewed their applications and made recommendations to the Congressman. Click here for more information about Congressman Garrett’s nomination process.
Below is a complete list of the nominees by academy and links to individual photos of the nominees with Rep. Garrett. Names without a corresponding link were unable to attend the April 8th reception.
**Please note: some candidates were nominated to more than one academy.
United States Military Academy at West Point
Olivia Beattie – River Vale, Pascack Valley High School
Shayne Harrell – Hamburg, Bergen Catholic High School
Christopher Lee – Ridgewood, Ridgewood High School
John Lorenz – Glen Rock, Glen Rock High School
Michael McPherson – Dumont, Bergen Catholic High School
Brady Miller – Glen Rock, Glen Rock High School
Danielle Peck – West Milford, West Milford High School
Haley Ann Steele – West Milford, West Milford High School
Edward Yoon – River Edge, River Dell Regional High School
Gregory Zabrodskiy – Ramsey, Green Meadow Waldorf School
Michael Thurston of Ridgewood High School Male Athlete of the Week
APRIL 21, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015, 7:00 AM
BY CHUCK O’DONNELL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
You couldn’t blame Michael Thurston for being tired after running in three races during the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays in Oradell.
Michael Thurston
Sport: Track Class: Junior Age: 17
Accomplishment: Thurston helped Ridgewood win two events and take second and third in two others during the Jack Yockers Bergen County Relays.
But two things managed to put a little spring back in the Ridgewood junior’s stride Saturday as he got ready to run his fourth and final event, the 4-x-400.
First, he wanted to do his best. He knew his teammates were counting on him to help them hold on to second place in the Division A standings.
Study by Niche Places Ridgewood High School as one of the 100 Best Public High Schools in New Jersey
March 26 ,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, In a new ranking , Ridgewood High School came in at number 34 for its A grade in academics, A- in health and safety and A+ in teachers. The high school also received an A+ for extracurriculars and activities, an A for sports and fitness, a B+ for resources and facilities and a B- for student culture and diversity. https://k12.niche.com/rankings/public-high-schools/best-overall/s/new-jersey/
Niche Best Public High Schools ranks 14,431 high schools based on dozens of key statistics and 4.6 million opinions from 280,000 students and parents. A high ranking indicates that the school is an exceptional academic institution with a diverse set of high-achieving students who rate their experience very highly.
An additional 834 schools received a grade but were not eligible for ranking. The list includes magnet, charter, and online schools. https://k12.niche.com/rankings/public-high-schools/best-overall/methodology/
Tenafly High schools came in 8th , Nothern Highlands came in 21 , Pascack Hills came in 23 , Cresskill came in 24 , Nothern Valley 48 and Glen Rock 53 .
Chicago High School Superintendent: Teen Sexting Is a Police Matter
Two teens send nude selfies. Police spend several weeks, interview 25 students to “investigate.”
Elizabeth Nolan Brown|Mar. 18, 2015 5:15 pm
From suburban Chicago, another tale of teens being treated like criminals for sharing sexually oriented photos with each other. Four students at Ridgewood High School, in the suburb of Norridge, now face possible charges for “dissemination of harmful material to a minor,” police said. Those charged include two girls, 15 and 17, who sent nude photos of themselves via Snapchat and two male teens who received the photos and forwarded them to others. Another student overheard classmates discussing it and ratted them out to school officials, who ratted them out to the police.
Why the sex lives of teens should be subject to school discipline is suspect enough, but it’s extra perplexing what interest the government has in such matters. We’re talking about teens using private phones and communications platforms to exchange photos. It may not be the most wise move to send nude selfies to your crush, but criminal? Surely police resources could be used in better ways?
Calling all RHS grads!! The newly formed RHS Alumni Association is looking to connect with reunion chairs/committees/class officers.
Please personal message Paul McCubbin RHS 1977 @ paulmccubbin at gmail.com with your contact information. Also if you have not done so already, please also join our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/291604630869240/ .
Many new and exciting efforts coming this spring, so stay tuned.
PS. If you are unsure of who your chair is, please also let us know. Trustee Barbara White French RHS 1960 is in the process of working on this issue.
David Madden, a 19-time champion on the TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” and alumnus of Ridgewood High
NJ State Championships for the National History Bee and Bowl hosted by Ridgewood High School
JANUARY 18, 2015 LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, JANUARY 18, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY NICHOLAS PUGLIESE
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
About 300 students representing more than 30 schools from New Jersey and New York competed in the NJ State Championships for the National History Bee and Bowl at Ridgewood High School on Saturday.
The event included both team buzzer-style competitions and written quizzes in history and geography that pushed students to think critically not just about dates and battles and treaties but also about the history of art, music, entertainment and much more.
David Madden, a 19-time champion on the TV quiz show “Jeopardy!” and alumnus of Ridgewood High, started the National History Bee and Bowl in 2010 and has since expanded the competition to more than 20 countries.
“It’s really just so much fun that you don’t realize you’re studying so hard when you’re doing it,” Madden said.
Friends, family celebrate life of former Ridgewood High School principal Jack Lorenz
DECEMBER 24, 2014 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2014, 2:58 PM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Jack Lorenz’s family – his wife, Karen, and sons Jake and Matthew – drove 1,000 miles this week to be in the village as residents honored the former Ridgewood High School (RHS) principal.
Monday, Dec. 22, was proclaimed John “Jack” Lorenz Day by Mayor Paul Aronsohn following an emotional two-hour event in the Ridgewood Library to celebrate the educator’s life.
Lorenz, who served at the helm of RHS from 2006 to 2011, died on Nov. 29 in his home in Alabama.
“It’s very comforting,” said Karen Lorenz as she greeted the steady stream of residents filling up the library’s auditorium.
Jake and Matthew Lorenz each wore one of Lorenz’s ties from the nonprofit organization Save the Children for the occasion; Matthew’s had a smiling cartoon sun on its front, Jake’s was covered in lopsided musical notes and dancing stick figures.
The family had not been back to Ridgewood since Lorenz resigned from RHS in 2011.
“It’s cool to see everything he’s done and although it’s on bad terms, we’re very proud to be here,” Jake Lorenz said.
RHS Assistant Principal Basil Pizzuto opened the ceremony.
Drug sweep at Ridgewood High School November 12,2014 Boyd A. Loving 9:28 AM
Ridgewood NJ, A unannounced drug sweep of Ridgewood High School was conducted on Wednesday, 11/12. Ridgewood PD uniformed and plain clothes officers along with members of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit were observed entering the East Ridgewood Avenue side of the High School building shortly before 0900 hours.
Bergen County Police Will Conduct K-9 Drill and Locker Search at Ridgewood High School
October 31,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Bergen County Police Department plan to conduct a K-9 drill at Ridgewood High School sometime during the fall, according to school officials.The drill will be conducted on a random day and lockers will be arbitrary searched .
“The K-9 exercise will occur this fall on a school day randomly selected by the Ridgewood Police Department as one of the required monthly lockdown drill scenarios. Students will be secure in their classrooms at the time of the drill and class interruption will be minimal. Instruction will not be negatively impacted, nor will students come in contact with the canines or police.
The intent of the K-9 search drill is to enhance security protocols, but the exercise will also address concerns regarding possible disruptions to the educational process that may be occurring clandestinely. While it is a drill, any positive findings will be handled directly and appropriately by the Ridgewood High School administration, in accordance with New Jersey statute, Board of Education policy and police regulations. ”
According to the Bergen County Police website ,the Bergen County Police Department Canine Unit was established in 1975 with two Police Officers and two German Shepherd Dogs. The initial K9 teams were trained by the Philadelphia Police Department to aid investigations using their keen sense of smell for tracking and building searches. In the 30 plus years that the unit has been in existence it has evolved into a full time, full service K9 unit serving the law enforcement agencies of the region and the residents of Bergen County with comprehensive K9 functions. These functions include:
The Unit is currently comprised of dual purpose K-9 teams cross-trained in Narcotics detection, Explosive detection and Accelerant detection for arson investigation. Since its inception, the K9 Unit has responded to over 25,000 calls for service from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Since the K-9 Unit was established, it has been responsible for the seizure large quantities of controlled substances, the apprehension of numerous criminal actors, locating missing persons, locating evidence and proceeds from crimes scenes, and the seizure of large amounts of currency used in criminal activity.
In an email to parents, school officials said all schools are now required to conduct one fire drill and one school security drill per month.
Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame: Goal-getter Rachel Grygiel set for enshrinement
OCTOBER 3, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2014, 12:31 AM THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS Print
Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of stories profiling the 2014 inductees into the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
In 1992, Ridgewood High School girls soccer head coach Jeff Yearing stated for a newspaper article that “Rachel Grygiel is every coach’s dream and every opponent’s nightmare.” Truer words never have been spoken about an athlete that has been inducted into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
The 1993 graduate will receive that honor formally later this month. Beyond her productivity on the pitch, Grygiel reflected the complete embodiment of the term “student-athlete.” Her desire to achieve academically and to serve her community reflected the same passion and desire she brought to the field each day.
Ridgewood High School honors record-setting swimmer Charlotte Samuels
OCTOBER 2, 2014, 9:03 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2014, 9:09 PM BY ALLISON PRIES STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD – Football fans weren’t the only people seated in the stands at Ridgewood High School on Thursday night.
Some of the crowd turned out to see hometown hero Charlotte Samuels be recognized by school leaders for the physical and mental feat of being the youngest person to complete the Triple Crown of open water swimming.
Charlotte, a junior at Ridgewood High School, was brought to the 50-yard line before the start of the Maroons football game against the Kennedy High School Knights. Joined by her parents, the boys and girls swim teams, her swimming coach and the principal and vice principal, the 16-year-old was lauded for her accomplishment.
“We’ve all faced hardships and challenges,” Principal Thomas Gorman said. But swimming for more than 20 hours, some of the time in the dark, feeling cold, lonely and afraid makes Charlotte “a champion and inspiration to all of us.”
Charlotte swam around Manhattan Island in June, across the Catalina Channel in California in August and through the English Channel last month.
Ridgewood High School to Honor Charlotte Samuels, the youngest swimmer to complete open-water swimming’s Triple Crown
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood High School Junior Charlotte Samuels, the youngest swimmer to complete open-water swimming’s Triple Crown, will be honored by the high school for her accomplishment.
The brief (five-minute) ceremony will take place on RHS Stadium Field on Thursday, October 2 at 6:45 p.m., in advance of the Boys Varsity Football game against John F. Kennedy High School.
In July, Samuels, age 16, circumvented the Island of Manhattan, then went on to swim the Catalina Channel off the coast of California in August, and has now completed the 20-hour swim across the English Channel, landing on the French shore in September.
Ridgewood High School to hold soccer marathon for charity AUGUST 29, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014, 12:31 AM
This Sunday, the Ridgewood High School boys and girls soccer programs will host a “Dawn to Dusk” 12-hour marathon soccer match to benefit two local charities, “Go 4 the Goal” and the Social Service Association of Ridgewood and Vicinity, and to help raise money for the RHS soccer programs.
This is the first time in many years that the high school teams will be coming together to host an event to help those in need. The event is planned to kickoff at 7 a.m. at the Ridgewood High School Stadium field, and play will continue until 7 p.m. If the stadium field — which suffered damage during the rainstorm earlier this month — is not repaired by Aug. 31, the Soccer-A-Thon will be held at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.
RHS soccer players will donate their time and energy, and they will solicit sponsorships based on 12 hours of play. Parents will be contributing time as well, helping to organize the event and support the players. Several businesses, including Valley Hospital, Stifel, F.O.R.C.E. Performance Training of Ho-Ho-Kus, Keller Williams and The Fireplace, have agreed to sponsor the event.
According to parent organizer Annette Testa, “We are expecting this event to be a tremendous success, not only in the amount of funds we raise but also in creating a sense of caring and camaraderie within the soccer community.”
