Ridgewood Public Schools - Page 6 of 6

Posted on May 13, 2016June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Municipal Alliance and Ridgewood Public Schools Present Straight Shots – Substance Use and Social Norms

May 12,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Monday, May 23 7 – 9 pm, RHS Campus Center Presenter:

Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Tim Silvestri In conjunction with the Municipal Alliance of Ridgewood, the Ridgewood Public Schools will present a parent forum on underage drinking.

The Straight Shots program, featuring Dr. Tim Silvestri, Professor of Social Science at Lafayette University and licensed psychologist, will be held on Monday, May 23 from 7-9 p.m. in the Ridgewood High School Campus Center, 627 East Ridgewood Avenue.

The program is free and open to the adult public. Dr. Silvestri will inform middle school and high school parents and guardians about national social norms regarding underage drinking and drug use. He will provide detailed information on the biomechanics of alcohol and drug consumption on the teenage brain and present the multiple realities facing students, including social (mis)perception and positive expectations for substance use. A unique aspect of the program is a visual journey through the brain, from first drink to death, with a primary emphasis on skill building throughout. Research shows that parents can significantly influence their children’s decision-making about alcohol and drug use. Discussions with children about the dangers and risks of substance use can help to reduce underage drinking by up to thirty percent. Additionally, approximately seventyfive percent of all children turn to their parents for guidance on substance-use issues. It is essential to talk openly and honestly with children about alcohol and drug use. This program will provide parents with information that will promote these necessary conversations. Dr. Silvestri has two decades of experience educating business professionals, academic administrators, faculty, parents and students. His humorous and engaging style has been at the heart of his positive feedback from program attendees. His presentations carry the rigor of science with the accessibility of a casual conversation.

Municipal Alliance programs are funded through the Governor’s Counsel on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA) with money collected from fines on those convicted of drug-related offenses. Ridgewood’s Municipal Alliance coordinates the Safe Homes Parent Network and participates in the Parents who Host Lose the Most campaign.

RPS and Municipal Alliance Host Important Program on Underage DrinkingStraight Shots with Dr. Tim Silvestri

Monday, May 23
RHS Campus Center
7-9 p.m
Click here for details.
Click here for the flyer

Posted on January 13, 2016January 13, 2016 by James — 42 Comments

Readers say Ridgewood Public Schools will drive emptynesters out of the village

Ridgewood Public Schools will drive emptynesters out of the village. The cycle is moving faster. Soon the town will be unable to afford all the kids in the district with special needs and the red-shirted “gifted”. Our reputation for quality schools is not based on out full/half day K program.

Full day K will definitely raise my taxes, it will not increase the quality of a Ridgewood Education.

I am saying this as someone who moved to the town before I had children . I paid taxes before, during and after I had children in the district. No one moves to Ridgewood for full day K. There are many great enrichment programs, some with transportation for working parents. Be grateful for what you have.

This survey is more likely to be filled out by people with preschool children. How are they reaching residents of all ages? They made it easy to be filled out by one part of the population Click here to take the survey.

It is not hard to take this survey more than once. I hope that the board does not think that this is a representative sample of taxpayers

Posted on September 28, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 9 Comments

Ridgewood Public Schools shows decline in first day enrollment

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of the Superintendent September 21, 2015
Board Meeting Report to Board: Opening of School

Opening of School

Cheryl Best, Alfredo Aguilar and I visited all the schools during the first day. In addition, K-12 administrators, Kim Turner, Robert Bell and Chris McCullough also visited each building. From all reports the opening of school went very smoothly. Buses actually ran pretty smoothly.

NOTE: This is subject to change as we determine new students and withdrawals.

June 2015 Sept. 2015 +/-
Out-of-District 110 106 -4
Glen 47 26 -21
Hawes 410 399 -11
Orchard 311 302 -9
Ridge 487 451 -36
Somerville 452 431 -21
Travell 378 383 +5
Willard 498 499 +1
Total Elem. 2693 2597 -96
BFMS 735 748 +13
GWMS 656 676 +20
Total MS 1391 1424 +33
RHS 1708 1727 +19
Grand Total 5792 5748 -44

Opening of School Report
Click here to view the 2015 Opening of School Report presented at the September 21, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.

Posted on June 27, 2015June 26, 2015 by James — 9 Comments

Reader asks Where is the Master Plan for Ridgewood Public Schools?

In the Ridgewood News today ther is a story about a large turnout at the BOE meeting, complaining about class size.

In the same meeting someone complained that we do not have full day kindergarten. ( They somehow ignore the fact that the district will need more space and have to hire more teachers. One complains about the needs of working parents. I do not want to permanently share in the child care expenses of working parents. They work so they should pay for kindergarten enrichment classes if they think that their children need this to get into college)

We pay very high taxes, mostly for the schools. People keep moving to Ridgewood for the schools. There is a disincentive for people without children in the schools to stay in town – and the cycle of postgraduation home selling continues. This issue has been discussed on this blog but I think that it deserves as much attention as the high density housing and parking.

The council and BOE should get together and do some master planning for the schools. We can’t keep up with the wants and needs of the parents, the town does not exist to please the parents of school children. Something has to give!

The council should consider a tax incentive for residents who have lived in Ridgewood X number of years and no longer have dependents in the schools. The spiral of selling homes after graduation needs to end. I will probably sell my 5 bedroom home in the next few years. A family with 4 children would love to have this house and pay my taxes for the schools. At a cost of $17,000 per student the town will start losing money immediately. I will not stay and spend my savings to help prop up this system.

Where is the Master Plan for Ridgewood Public Schools?

Posted on January 26, 2015January 26, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE EARLY DISMISSAL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 26

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE EARLY DISMISSAL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 26

WINTER STORM ANNOUNCEMENT: RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE EARLY DISMISSAL ON MONDAY, JANUARY 26
The Ridgewood Public Schools will have an EARLY MINIMUM DAY on Monday, January 26.

All children will be dismissed at the closing times posted below. Cafeterias will not operate and lunches will not be provided. All afterschool activities and meetings are also canceled.

Students will attend school as follows:

RED Program: 9-11 a.m.

Kindergarten AM Classes: 8:45-11:20 a.m.

Kindergarten PM Classes: canceled

Grades 1-5: 8:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Grades 6-8: 8:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Grades 9-12: 7:47 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Posted on May 8, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 4 Comments

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MAY IS WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MAY IS WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH

It’s time to get outside and walk or bike to school (or work)

Why Walk or Bike?

Communities and schools are using Walk or Bike to School Day as the first step to change community culture and to create options for getting around that are more inviting for everyone, both young and old. Here are some reasons to support walking and bicycling to school:

It’s Fun!

Walking and bicycling bring a sense of joy and independence.

Healthier Habits

The trip to school is a chance for children (and adults!) to get the physical activity they need.

Cleaner Environment

Replacing car trips to school with walking or bicycling can reduce congestion and air-polluting emissions.

Promoting Safety

Building sidewalks, providing education programs and adding traffic calming measures are some of the ways to improve safety. Encouraging walking and bicycling to school can help build support for infrastructure improvements in the broader community.

Community Benefits

Reducing traffic congestion, boosting a sense of community, and improving neighborhood connections benefit the community.

Posted on January 22, 2014January 22, 2014 by James — 1 Comment

UPDATE: MORNING UPDATE: WINTER STORM ANNOUNCEMENT: RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

MORNING UPDATE: WINTER STORM ANNOUNCEMENT: RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED TODAY WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

UPDATE: 1.22.14 at 5:20 A.M.:

DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS, THE RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2014. ALL AFTER-SCHOOL AND EVENING ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELED.

Please stay safe and dry.

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A DELAYED OPENING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

DELAYED OPENING: Under the delayed opening plan, the school day will begin two hours later than usual. School bus schedules will operate two hours later. The morning kindergarten will be cancelled; the afternoon kindergarten will follow the regular hours. Children in grades 1-5 who have not ordered lunches must bring a bag lunch to school. There will not be sufficient time for children to go home for lunch when there is a delayed opening.

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