Tag: Ridgewood Schools

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Ridgewood One of Eight School Districts in NJ Ranked in the top 70 nationally in School Athletics

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By Matthew Stanmyre | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 26, 2015 11:20 AM

School districts from Summit, West Essex Regional and Southern Regional — districts with well-established reputations for athletic excellence at the high school level — have been ranked the best in New Jersey and among the most highly rated in the nation, according to a study based on athletic statistics and hundreds of thousands of surveys.

Summit also checked in at No. 3 overall nationally, with West Essex (No. 21) and Southern Regional (No. 28) cracking the top 30 in America.

The study rated school district athletics as a whole, considering parent and student opinions, number of interscholastic sports offered, percentages of girls and boys participating in sports and the average athletic expense per student, among other factors.

A school district rated high by the study generally indicates sports and fitness plays a significant role in the student life; students actively participate in intervarsity sports; and the administration is invested in the athletic program.

The study ranked 4,951 districts after fielding more than 750,000 opinions from nearly 230,000 students and parents.

Also, some school districts such as Wayne — ranked No. 16 in New Jersey — include more than one high school.

Eight schools from New Jersey landed in the top 70 nationally: Summit, West Essex, Southern, River Dell, Ridgewood, Pascack Valley, New Providence andRandolph.

https://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-6893356241003402755/is-your-childs-school-district-in-the-top-10-in-nj-for-sports-check-the-rankings/

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‘Swatting’ hoax puts Ridgewood’s George Washington Middle School on lockdown

GW

MAY 28, 2015, 11:52 AM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015, 12:55 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — George Washington Middle School was temporarily on lockdown Thursday morning after a prank phone threat village police are investigating as a “swatting” incident.

The call to the school on Ridgewood’s Washington Place was received by school official just before 10 a.m.

The caller, according to a number of sources, claimed that a shooter was on the school’s roof. School officials immediately ordered a lockdown of each classroom.

Police also notified officials at nearby West Side Presbyterian Church, which operates a nursery school that went into lockdown.

Responding officers from Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock and Wyckoff searched the middle school building, including the roof, and determined the call to be a hoax by 10:30 a.m.

It was the fifth such incident in North Jersey since March of what has become known as swatting, in which false reports are made to elicit the response of police swat units.

Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward confirmed Thursday’s call was a “swatting,” but would not discuss the specific nature of the threat made against the school.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/swatting-hoax-puts-ridgewood-s-george-washington-middle-school-on-lockdown-1.1344405

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Ridgewood puts clamps on Wolfpack in boys lacrosse final

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file photo

By KELLY FENTON Sports editor

WASHINGTON TWP. – For all but about three minutes during the North 2, Group 3 boys lacrosse championship at Ridgewood on Saturday evening, West Morris Central played respectable, sometimes outstanding, defense.

But playing without one of its top scorers against the seventh-ranked team that came in allowing just six goals a game, the Wolfpack needed to be nearly perfect. And allowing a goal with six seconds left in the first period and three goals over a one-minute span in the final two minutes of the second period turned out to be the tremors that triggered the avalanche in Ridgewood’s 9-0 victory.

“They kind of had a couple of flurries there,” said West Morris head coach Rob Goodwin, whose team concluded a 12-11 season after winning six of its final eight games. “We aren’t very big and I think we were a little tentative at times against their bigger players.”

Cooper Telesco was a case in point. The 6-0, 190-pound attack pretty much willed his way through two Wolfpack defenders to score three-and-a-half minutes into the game, then added a deflating goal in much the same manner with only six seconds left in the first to make it 2-0.

Still, the Wolfpack were right in it after Joe Reilly made three tough saves in a row over a one-minute span midway through the second period. West Morris trailed only 2-0 with two minutes left in the half and an underdog hanging tough can put pressure on a favorite.

But the Maroons broke through with 1:41 left, then scored 10 seconds later after winning the ensuing faceoff. They added one more goal with 36 seconds left and whatever hopes West Morris might have carried into intermission were seriously dampened after falling behind 5-0.

Making that score all the more ominous was the fact that the Wolfpack managed to get off only a couple of shots on goal the entire half. Twice, Cooper Sloan made a nifty move around the right post and tried to quickly scoop an underhand by Ridgewood goalie Chris Cerrina.

https://www.newjerseyhills.com/observer-tribune/sports/ridgewood-puts-clamps-on-wolfpack-in-boys-lacrosse-final/article_670a9469-65e5-5f4e-8698-4cad60b5f63f.html

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This is Why High School Sucks for so Many Kids: 16 Yr Old Photog Threatened by Admin for Selling Pics

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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.

https://reason.com/blog/2015/05/26/this-is-why-high-school-sucks-for-so-man

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Progress needed in level of leadership

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MAY 22, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Progress needed in level of leadership

To the Editor:

The current controversy about sidewalks for Clinton Avenue illustrates how paralyzed community leadership is in our town. Going back to arguments about the size of newer PSE&G power poles, it seems that the only way community improvements can be made over the objections of a very small group of residents is when the ultimate authority to do so is entirely out of the council’s hands. Ridgewood needs to progress beyond the “not this, not that” level of leadership in community development.

We have got to move away from Washington, D.C.’s political gridlock and realize that “NO” is NEVER a plan. We are extremely fortunate in having talented and committed villagers, both as residents and leaders, but we seem to have a cumulative inability to articulate systems-wide community solutions that move us in a positive direction.

Access to Ridge School is a traffic disaster that never goes away. One cause is the utter failure in long-term planning that allowed for dead end streets without sidewalks, lack of “walkable” right of ways accessing the rear of school properties, and the failure to install sidewalks on access streets.

The solution is obvious, but it means residents of some streets have to give up their current street designs and also accept parking in front of their houses. If any one group of residents can convince the council to veto system-wide community improvements for our town, no matter what the issue, then the council essentially abdicates its leadership responsibilities to other sources of authority.

This is as very sad outcome indeed.

Martin Walker

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-progress-needed-in-level-of-leadership-1.1340459

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Schools that ban mobile phones see better academic results

cell phones

Jamie Doward

Saturday 16 May 2015 16.20 EDT

Effect of ban on phones adds up to equivalent of extra week of classes over a pupil’s school year

It is a question that keeps some parents awake at night. Should children be allowed to take mobile phones to school? Now economists claim to have an answer. For parents who want to boost their children’s academic prospects, it is no.

The effect of banning mobile phones from school premises adds up to the equivalent of an extra week’s schooling over a pupil’s academic year, according to research by Louis-Philippe Beland and Richard Murphy, published by the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics.

“Ill Communication: The Impact of Mobile Phones on Student Performance”found that after schools banned mobile phones, the test scores of students aged 16 improved by 6.4%. The economists reckon that this is the “equivalent of adding five days to the school year”.

The findings will feed into the ongoing debate about children’s access to mobile phones. In the UK, more than 90% of teenagers own a mobile phone; in the US, just under three quarters have one. The prevalence of the devices poses problems for head teachers, whose attitude towards the technology has hardened as it has become ubiquitous.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/may/16/schools-mobile-phones-academic-results

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NJ students will spend less time taking controversial state tests

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MAY 21, 2015, 11:46 AM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015, 7:26 PM

BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Students will spend less time taking standardized tests next year in New Jersey and 10 other states, a response to complaints from teachers, parents and school officials that the exams took up too much instruction time and overwhelmed local schools.

The governing board of the tests, called PARCC, voted to cut down total testing time by about 90 minutes, the officials said in a statement released Thursday.

“The changes will improve and simplify test administration for schools, teachers and students, without diminishing the goal of the assessment,” the statement said.

Locally, testing critics said that, while they were glad state officials were responding to their concerns, the changes do not go far enough. Too much time still will be spent preparing for the tests, they said, because of the high stakes attached to them. The results are used to evaluate the performance of teachers, administrators and schools and will become a graduation requirement in 2019

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-students-will-spend-less-time-taking-controversial-state-tests-1.1340082

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RHS Celebration of the Arts is May 21-22

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May 21st 2015

Ridgewood NJ, The event will open to the public on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the Campus Center at RHS with music and dance performances.  Sharing the Arts will perform A Whole New World from Aladdin, and the advanced dance class will perform to a piece played by the Symphonic Band. Guests will have an opportunity to explore the artwork and displays throughout the first floor before moving to the Little Theatre for a concert of small ensembles.

On Friday, the festivities will continue as high school staff, faculty, and students are immersed in over 1000 pieces of artwork.  They may also attend various performances and demonstrations throughout the day.  This two-day extravaganza is truly one of the feature events of the Fine and Applied Arts Department.

Thursday evening’s gala is open to the public and free of charge.

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Ridgewood Schools Presents a Concussion Awareness Program on June 1

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May 19,2015

Ridgewood NJ, Parents and guardians are invited to a special program on the topic of concussions in youth sports. RHS Head Athletic Trainer Nick Nicholedes and Gerard Gioia, Division Chief of Neuropsychology and Director of the Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education Program at Children’s National Health System, will be presenting information at Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium on Monday, June 1 at 7 p.m.Click here for more information.
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Ridgewood schools to keep treasurer position

BOE_theridgewoodblog

MAY 19, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015, 10:00 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood Board of Education members voted at a May 4 meeting to keep a treasurer of school monies on the district’s books and leave the post open until a qualified candidate is hired.

The position comes with a 2015-16 pay rate of $5,000, a salary amount that remains unchanged from the current year.

The board’s decision, settled by a 4-1 vote, comes on the heels of a recent financial supervision breakdown that essentially led to the theft of nearly $1 million in parking meter coins from the Village of Ridgewood.

“We’re all mindful that our village suffered an incident … we all want to have proper oversight,” said BOE Vice President Vince Loncto.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-school-district-to-keep-treasurer-post-1.1337635

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Ridgewood trying new solutions to curb parking issues near school

Hawes_theridgewood blog

MAY 19, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015, 9:57 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Village officials brought forward a new solution to the parking problems on Corella Court through an ordinance that was introduced at last week’s council meeting.

The proposed ordinance prohibits parking on a portion of the north side of Corella Court and establishes a stop sign on the east side, but the cul-de-sac itself will remain open. The ordinance is a response to an influx of cars on the street, which has been causing what Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld described as “a serious situation.”

Cars lining Corella Court throughout the day have been causing havoc for regular village functions such as sanitation and leaf pickup, where vehicles could not properly navigate the road due to a lack of room, the village manager said.

An ordinance limiting parking on Corella Court to two hours was introduced on April 8, but several residents from nearby Stevens Avenue came forward with concerns that the time limit would simply push Corella Court’s problem out onto their street.

Those members of the public also noted that the recent addition built on to the nearby Hawes Elementary School had taken away parking spaces, which in turn caused staff members to park on Corella.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/council-trying-out-solutions-for-street-1.1337629

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Proposed Legislation Aims to Keep State Aid Separate from PARCC Participation

April 20, 2011 John de Rosier editorial cartoon

Parents and kids brought plenty of passion — pro and con — to this morning’s debate over PARCC legislation.

“Never once did they come home and say, ‘Mommy, it was so hard! Mommy, I didn’t get it!’ They said, ‘Mommy, I rocked that!’ They were so proud of themselves,” said North Star Academy parent Florisha Johnson. (Flanagan/NJTV)

https://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/proposed-legislation-aims-to-keep-state-aid-separate-from-parcc-participation/

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Ridgewood dads will compete to raise funds

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MAY 15, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Like prize fighters standing eye-to-eye at a pre-bout weigh in, a group of Ridgewood fathers did its best to intimidate and psyche out a rival.

That, however, was a tough task last Friday, with sunshine abounding and two playful mascots bouncing from one spot to another. It’s also difficult when the opponent is actually a contingent of friends and neighbors.

In the name of fun and fundraising, dads representing the Willard and Ridge elementary school communities penned their John Hancocks to the contract obligating them to the principles of the Willard Dads Olympic Games, a series of competitive, albeit friendly, events debuting Friday, May 15 in Willard’s backyard.

“Having dads proactively involved in the school community is very important. We are starting a new tradition in Ridgewood and at Willard with the first annual Willard Dads Olympics,” said Neil Goklani, member of the Willard Board of Trustees and one of the competition’s founding fathers.

These Olympics were designed with students in mind, serving as the backdrop to a fundraiser where all proceeds are earmarked for furthering their education. The games were conceptualized, designed, planned by and will ultimately feature fathers from the school.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/fathers-to-face-off-at-inaugural-games-1.1335179

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RHS History Bowl Team Takes Ninth at Nationals

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May 13,2015

Ridgewood NJ, The RHS History Bowl A Team finished ninth out of 150 teams in Arlington, VA at the national championship competition. Additionally, the team of Ben Bechtold and Thomas Cleary finished in the quarter finals of the competition. Other team members with media permission to be listed are Kumal Raza, Regina Park, Minha An, Thria Bernabe, Tristan Kane and Peter Goodman.