Posted on Leave a comment

High-performing N.J. school districts will no longer have intensive state monitoring

images-1

High-performing N.J. school districts will no longer have intensive state monitoring

DECEMBER 3, 2014, 1:42 PM    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014, 9:04 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Print

TRENTON — High-performing school districts will no longer have to participate in an intensive state monitoring and evaluation system used to measure schools, education officials said Wednesday.

Districts can now request waivers from the commissioner of the state Department of Education if they meet certain benchmarks, Acting Education Commissioner David Hespe announced Wednesday. The move will allow schools to focus more time and resources on students and instruction and free up the department’s time and staff so they can work more closely with struggling schools, he said.

To get a waiver, schools must score 80 percent or higher in all areas of review under the system, known as the Quality Single Accountability Continuum. The areas are instruction and program, fiscal management, governance, operations and personnel.

The exempt districts will have to submit proof that they remain high-performing, in lieu of receiving a full review every three years.

Hespe said that about half of all districts could be exempt, but that it will remain a critical method to assess struggling districts.

The changes will help ease the burden on school districts, which have complained about the time and paperwork associated with the review. The typical performance review takes several months to complete and consumes large amounts of time for district and county staff to complete.

Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Board Administrators, welcomed the decision.

“This effort to streamline the process, increase efficiency, and provide flexibility for educators are educational reforms that the NJASA supports and changes that will benefit New Jersey’s students,” he said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/high-performing-n-j-school-districts-will-no-longer-have-intensive-state-monitoring-1.1145410

Posted on 2 Comments

New Jersey improves high school graduation rates

imgres-7

New Jersey improves high school graduation rates

DECEMBER 3, 2014, 12:16 PM    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2014, 9:28 AM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A small arts-themed high school in Paterson and a large Bergen County magnet school had perfect graduation rates in 2014 and were the only schools in their counties to achieve that distinction in a year when graduation rates went up across North Jersey, reflecting a statewide trend, according to state data released on Wednesday.

Across New Jersey, 88.6 percent of students who entered high school in 2010 graduated last spring, up about one percentage point from the year before. Throughout the state, minorities and low-income students had larger gains than the average student, but the achievement gaps remained wide.

The largest gains were in places like Paterson, Garfield, Cliffside Park and Passaic that are lower-income, urban and home to many immigrants. Those districts have made targeted efforts to help more students graduate by creating smaller schools, using more support staff and allowing failing students to make up credit via online classes, among other methods. Graduation rates at many smaller suburban districts stayed mostly steady, with only tiny gains or dips, largely because they have had strong graduation rates for years.

In Bergen and Passaic counties, a 100 percent graduation rate was achieved at two high-performing, but very different high schools.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/new-jersey-s-high-school-graduation-rate-is-up-slightly-1.1145376

Posted on Leave a comment

NJ TRANSIT ROLLS OUT NEW RAIL SAFETY VIDEO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

Ridgewood-Trainstation1_theridgewoodblog.net_

NJ TRANSIT ROLLS OUT NEW RAIL SAFETY VIDEO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS 

“Chicken on the Tracks” Video to Promote Rail Safety
November 18, 2014

NEWARK, NJ — At an assembly hosted at Hackensack Middle School, NJ TRANSIT  today debuted an updated version of its “Chicken on the Tracks” video, a dramatic depiction of incidents on the rails involving young people – to educate students on the possible consequences of trespassing near rail lines. The video was accompanied by a presentation and interactive session by NJ TRANSIT personnel from the agency’s Office of System Safety.

Continue reading NJ TRANSIT ROLLS OUT NEW RAIL SAFETY VIDEO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

Posted on Leave a comment

RHS PERFORMING ARTS SCHEDULE

ridgewoodtree2011-3_theridgewoodblog.net_

RHS PERFORMING ARTS SCHEDULE

RHS New Players Company Puts on A Christmas Carol December 11-13
Click here for the flyer with full information on times and tickets.
Click here to view the 2014-2015 season program.
Click here to go to the New Players website donation section

The RHS Marching Band will have its last performance of the season on Friday, December 5 at Ridgewood’s Downtown for the Holidays event.

Callaway RAZR Fit Xtreme & X Hotshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=205477

Posted on Leave a comment

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 10TH ANNUAL RHS ALUMNI ART SHOW

imgres-3

CALL FOR ENTRIES: 10TH ANNUAL RHS ALUMNI ART SHOW

The RHS Department of Fine & Applied Arts is looking for alumni to participate in the Tenth Annual Alumni Art Show.  Last year’s show was a great success and it is hoped to reach even more of our alumni this year.  The exhibition will be a showing of work created after graduating from RHS.  It will be held in the Carroll Art Gallery, Room 137, from December 15 through January 9, 2015.  There will be a reception for the artists on Thursday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m.  All students, alumni, friends, family and staff are invited to the reception as well as to view the exhibition during school hours.

Participating artists should drop off their ready-to-hang artwork by the week of December 8.  Question may be directed to the Department of Fine & Applied Arts at 201-670-2800, ext. 20542, or email the department in care of [email protected].

Event information and other news is continually updated on the Arts at Ridgewood Public Schools’ Twitter profile: @Arts_at_RPS and Facebook account page, www.facebook.com/TheArtsatRPS.

TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2show?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=205477

Posted on 9 Comments

Reader says its time for Ridgewood to consider later start times for School

Original

Reader says its time for Ridgewood to consider later start times for School

The science on kids and sleep is the driver. The studies point to the need for more sleep, the fact that teens can’t physically go to sleep before 11 and the positive impact on the brain to getting 8hrs sleep.

School asks kids to be at their most alert when they are not, why not maximize the learning opportunities to the brain. A better educational experience is the best preparation for the real world.

It is more the science of sleep and impact on learning than preparation for a post-college life so the science is there…the test case in nearby Wilton, CT is there…when will Ridgewood start considering this?

Guilford weighs later start times for high school students
By Kate Ramunni
Posted: 11/29/14, 4:19 PM EST |

GUILFORD >> An extra hour of sleep is considered a luxury to most, but many say it’s a necessity for high school students. And now several school districts are considering giving that extra hour to its older students, not because they’re feeling magnanimous, but for the safety, physical and academic benefits that extra hour of sleep brings.

The Guilford Board of Education is one district contemplating the change. As the board begins its 2015-16 budget process, its list of priorities includes the investigation of the benefits of later starting times for the older students.

“It’s been on the table for years,” said Board of Education Chairman William Bloss. “It’s really driven by medical science — it seems like every year or two there is a study that describes the advantages to later start times for teens and how medically and educationally it is in the students’ best interest.”

https://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20141129/guilford-weighs-later-start-times-for-high-school-students

Posted on Leave a comment

STORM ANNOUNCEMENT: ALL AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELED TODAY

snow_church_theridgewoodblog.net_-300x225

file photo

STORM ANNOUNCEMENT: ALL AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ARE CANCELED TODAY

Due to the winter storm, all after-school and evening events and activities scheduled in the Ridgewood Public Schools are canceled for today, Wednesday, November 26.

Happy Thanksgiving! Drive safely!

Esurance

Posted on 2 Comments

Ridgewood school board unveils updated mission statement

imgres-17

Ridgewood school board unveils updated mission statement
NOVEMBER 25, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014, 10:08 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print

Ridgewood reinforced its goal to provide a “rich and challenging education in a safe learning environment” to district students with the release of an updated mission statement.

At a Board of Education (BOE) meeting last Monday, Nancy Stern, of Sousa and Stern Educational Consultants LLC, presented the results of the September community planning session, at which the mission statement was created. The session brought together members of the Board of Education, district administration and other leaders of the community for the four-hour collaborative brainstorming process.

“It was really a very thought-provoking day,” said BOE president Sheila Brogan.

Ridgewood first contracted with the consultants in 2011 to lead this creative planning session as a way to make a long goal review process quicker and more inclusive, district officials said. The consultants recommended that districts update their goals every three years – instead of the state’s recommended five years – to keep up with quickly changing technology and policies.

“You gave the community an opportunity to participate,” Stern said, praising the district for having nearly two dozen residents show up at the Sept. 13 session. “Not every district does that.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/updated-mission-statement-unveiled-1.1140915

Posted on Leave a comment

The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title

tennis-balls

The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title

November 24,2014Ridgewood NJ, The RHS Girls Tennis team won the North I Group IV state sectional title, beating Bergen Tech in the finals and Livingston High School in the semis.

The squad also tied for second in the Big School County Tournament this season, and Sara Canilang and Liz O’Keefewon the doubles championship. Medha Kirtane is the coach.

This year girls RHS Tennis was ranked number 2 in The Record’s Top 15 Tennis rankings.

Other team members with media permission granted to be named are Monica Vitting, Kelly Rekucki, Kat Bonfiglion, Brianna Patek, Kolby Erskine, Swathi Raguian, Alex Absey and Julia Yoon.

,br>
Microsoft Store

Posted on 2 Comments

RHS Latin Team takes First Place n a test of Latin, Roman life, history and mythology

10613096_769470349793135_7651544276178480275_n

RHS Latin Team takes First Place n a test of Latin, Roman life, history and mythology

November 24,2014
Ridgewood NJ, For the third consecutive year the RHS Advanced Latin Academic Team took first place in a test of Latin, Roman life, history and mythology with 13 New Jersey schools.  The team members arePoyani Bavishi, Ben Bechtold, Charlotte Kahan, Sophie Simpson, Peter Psathas andAnthony Tokarz.

On November 8 all RHS teams spent the day at Yale University for a national competition.  The Advanced team made it to the semi-final rounds but was defeated by the country’s top-ranked team, AMSA.   TheIntermediate Team made a promising start in its first tournament.   The Intermediate players were Sophie Simpson, Matthew Zachem, Audrey Gao and Vanita Sharma.   The Advanced players were Henry Seifert, Elizabeth O’Keefe, James Psathas, Poyani Bavishi, Ben Bechtold, Charlotte Kahan, Sophie Simpson, Peter Psathas and Anthony Tokarz.

Microsoft Store

Posted on Leave a comment

Legislator calls for criminal investigation into Kean University’s $219K conference table

cryanjpg-4633c85815ad45d7_large

Legislator calls for criminal investigation into Kean University’s $219K conference table

November 24, 2014, 10:13 AM    Last updated: Monday, November 24, 2014, 10:22 AM
By PATRICIA ALEX
Staff Writer |
The Record

A state legislator on Monday asked for a criminal investigation into Kean University’s failure to get competitive bids for the purchase of a $219,000 conference table made in China.

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, D-Union said he is drafting a letter to ask the Attorney General’s office to review Kean’s process in waiving the bidding for the table, which cost as much as ten times more than similar furniture purchased by other schools.

The Record reported today that Kean’s leaders had agreed to spend up to $270,000 for the 22-foot circular table that was installed in the rooftop conference space of the new Green Lane building at the taxpayer-supported school in Union Township.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/legislator-calls-for-criminal-investigation-into-kean-university-s-219k-conference-table-1.1140349

Posted on 3 Comments

Love Love Love

7829042

Love Love Love

The Mayor will host a meeting on civility in our public discourse Monday, November 24 at 7:30pm in Village Hall, why cant we all just get along?

The Mayor Paul Aronsohn will host a meeting on civility in our public discourse on Monday, November 24, 7:30pm at Village Hall, and the Ridgewood blog asks, “why cant we all just get along?”  all day Monday join the conversation !

Specifically, the Mayor would like to begin a community-wide conversation about ways in which we can elevate public discourse and improve the way in which people publicly treat each other … whether it be at a Council meeting … on a ball field … in an online discussion … or anywhere else.

the entire day will be sponsored by MrBeer

MrBeer Home Brewing Kits - Make a great gift!  Free shipping on select kits throught Christmas.

 

all fake IPs sent by the same sender inquiring minds want to know ? I am sure the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor can fill you in ……

 

Anonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/23 at 6:28 pm

Shame it wasn’t you that he pushed down the steps moron foytlin.

SNL Cold Open – Obama Shoves The Schoolhouse Rock Bill Down The Capital Steps
0View Post
Select commentAnonymous
107.189.154.193
Submitted on 2014/11/23 at 3:53 pm

We actually could get along, if you foytlin weren’t such an ASSHOLE!

Why cant we all just get along ?
9View Post
Select commentAnonymous
107.189.154.13
Submitted on 2014/11/23 at 10:02 am

Sorry, you were a dumb ass way before automation became popular foytlin.

Automation Makes Us Dumb
3View Post
Select commentanonymous
107.189.154.13
Submitted on 2014/11/23 at 7:35 am

Hey foytlin, I wonder what stupid moronic stuff you will post today……moron.

30,000 missing emails from IRS’ Lerner recovered
0View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/22 at 5:07 pm

And one really, really dumb one running this blog!

Once devastated, wild turkey populations make big comeback
6View Post
Select commentanonymous
104.161.12.125
Submitted on 2014/11/22 at 5:06 pm

Not as creepy as flaky foytlin #1

VILLAGE LEAF REMOVAL
7View Post
Select commentanonymous
108.61.29.147
Submitted on 2014/11/22 at 8:32 am

Good morning moron foytlin, I just can’t wait to see what stupid shit you have to say today.

Ridgewood residents grow frustrated with planner’s housing testimony
6View Post
Select commentanonymous
108.61.29.147
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 3:34 pm

I think that the moron jimmy boy foytlin needs counseling and training in anger management.

Civility in our public discourse or Silencing Dissent
63View Post
Select commentanonymous
108.61.29.147
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 3:13 pm

I am confused is Foytlin the Village Idiot or the Village moron?

Gymboree on East Ridgewood Avenue now shuttered
12View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 10:30 am

Hey moron foytlin, did your wife divorce you because you couldn’t get it up or because she found out you were like Gov. McCreepy?

Reader says with 500-700 new units at a bare minimum, water and sewer will need upgrades
2View Post
Select commentanonymous
107.189.154.13
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 10:29 am

Hey moron foytlin, did your wife divorce you because you couldn’t get it up or because she found out you were like Gov. McCreepy?

Ridgewood plans to seek new CFO
4View Post
Select commentanonymous
148.163.116.219
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 10:29 am

Hey moron foytlin, did your wife divorce you because you couldn’t get it up or because she found out you were like Gov. McCreepy?

Civility in our public discourse or Silencing Dissent
63View Post
Select commentanonymous
107.189.154.13
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 10:28 am

Hey moron foytlin, did your wife divorce you because you couldn’t get it up or because she found out you were like Gov. McCreepy?

Reader says Previous Reports make it obvious that the densities being proposed in ridgewood are too dense.
3View Post
Select commentAnonymous
67.159.5.242
Submitted on 2014/11/21 at 4:03 am

Good morning gay boy moron foytlin. How many cocks did you suck last night besides Tom Richies cock?

Reader asks an increase of 300-500 new residential units how might affect Village Services ,Schools ,Water ,Recreation and so on
5View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 8:22 pm

Hey moron foytlin, are you aware that everyone thinks you are the village ASSHOLE?

Toyota Highlander winds up on front lawn following Ridgewood crash
8View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 3:45 pm

Hey gay boy foytlin, I am just wondering, what color and shade of lipstick do you wear when your giving your asshole buddy tom a blow job?

Toyota Highlander winds up on front lawn following Ridgewood crash
8View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 3:44 pm

Hey gay boy foytlin, what color and shade of lipstick do you wear when your giving your asshole buddy tom a blow job?

Reader says Mr. Aronsohn’s, Mr. Pucciarelli’s and Mrs. Hauck’s continue to behave as though “rules are for others”.
21View Post
Select commentAnonymous
67.159.5.242
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 1:34 pm

Moron James foytlin was the one who did a mc creepy on his wife that’s why she divorced him. Foytlin is as queer as a three dollar bill!

Reader says When the developers financial interests matter more than the increased burden on residents they are no longer representing our best interests
14View Post
Select commentanonymous
192.110.164.130
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 9:54 am

Hey moron foytlin, for once I agree with you. Now that’s a first.

Tree Lighting Celebration
11View Post
Select commentanonymous
148.163.116.203
Submitted on 2014/11/20 at 9:11 am

#4 your not a woman you are a transvestite jimmy boy.

Reader says When the developers financial interests matter more than the increased burden on residents they are no longer representing our best interests
14View Post

Posted on 2 Comments

Reader says with 500-700 new units at a bare minimum, water and sewer will need upgrades

unnamed-24

Reader says with 500-700 new units at a bare minimum, water and sewer services will need upgrades

At a bare minimum, water and sewer services in NJ will need upgrades. We have water restrictions every summer, so hard to imagine that problem goes away. There have been many articles in past year on need to upgrade sewers.

As noted, traffic will be a nightmare, particularly at the Broad st intersection (now proudly sporting a nice bike lane) despite the experts believing these people will walk everywhere they go.

Schools will have to be re-districted at minimum for elementary, and maybe middle school. I don’t know how close to capacity the HS is, but I suspect it’s close.

I think the “experts” projected some ridiculously small number of students, but I think we all know better.

The council needs to balance the costs of all of these upgrades with the benefit of the tax revenues the projects would generate. To a certain extent, it is likely an all or nothing proposition, as if they reject 1 and allow another, we’ll be in court fighting that, too.

Posted on 10 Comments

Readers says the council can issue a non-binding referendum to get a sense of whether residents like the Idea or Not

p4pb1899267

Readers says the council can issue a non-binding referendum to get a sense of whether residents like the Idea or Not 

Reader also suggests the Village Planner should other opportunities of employment

The council can issue a non-binding referendum to get a sense of whether residents like the idea or not (this is what Upper Saddle River just did, when it was voted down 11-1).

There is also a way for residents to petition for a referendum vote of the ordinance that made this whole process possible, 3066.

What I would love to know is a way to petition to get Blais fired. He was almost incoherent last night, answering few questions, and admitting that no independent studies were done (all studies on impact were paid for by builders). We have no sense of the financial burden to the town nor is it relevant in his opinion. Traffic, number of new school children are also not a problem…well, because the builders say so.

That snippet of an article does not represent at all just how clueless Brancheau sounded. We have no concrete numbers on anything basically: the number of units, number of new schoolchildren, costs to village, new traffic/accidents, burden on facilities, etc. All figures to date have been derived from the builder’s research and there have been 0 independent studies. If there is ever a transcript available it should be required reading before deciding what is or is not a fair minded report.

About Brancheau and his research abilities: You all need to remember back during the first round of the Valley expansion when, after many hearings, it was suddenly revealed that the project was hundreds of thousands of feet larger than they had been discussing — Brancheau had failed to count the basement floors!

Brancheau said it was difficult to predict the future, but that his numbers suggested that for every five units built, there would be one additional child signing up for instruction.

“There will be some impact,” Brancheau explained. “The schools are at capacity now

Posted on 4 Comments

Study: Kids Don’t Eat Much of Healthy School Lunches

87593679-1260x650

Study: Kids Don’t Eat Much of Healthy School Lunches
Kate Scanlon / @scanlon_kate / November 17, 2014

Healthier lunches have become available in schools across the nation.

But students aren’t eating them.

According to a new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study, “Nearly 6 in 10 [students] put a vegetable on their tray, but only a quarter actually eat even a single bite.

The researchers observed the eating habits of 274 children in 10 New York City public schools. The students were in kindergarten through second grade.

According to the press release, researchers “watched to see whether each of the six-through-eight-year-olds chose a fruit, vegetable, whole grain, low-fat milk and/or a lean protein, taking before and after photos of the trays.” They discovered:

While 75 percent of the kids chose the lean protein (the entrée), only 58 percent chose a fruit and 59 percent chose a vegetable. And among those who put the various types of food on their trays, only 75 percent took even a single bite of the protein, while only 24 percent ate a bite of their vegetables.

Researchers also noted that there are several factors that influenced how much food the students ate, such as the presence or absence of their teacher, the noise level in the cafeteria, the length of the lunch period and even the size the pieces of food had been cut into.

“We have been thinking that if young children choose healthy food, they will eat it,” said Susan Gross, a research associate at Johns Hopkins. “But our research shows that is not necessarily so.”

According to Daren Bakst, a research fellow in agricultural policy at The Heritage Foundation:

This study simply supports what school nutrition officials have been saying.  There’s major food waste.  It’s difficult to conclude that a law called the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a success when the kids are hungry—you can’t be healthy if you are hungry all the time.  Getting the kids to eat should first and foremost be the primary concern.

However, the entire debate surrounding the new school nutrition standards often misses a fundamental question.  Do we need federal bureaucrats and Michelle Obama to dictate how kids should eat through this program, or should parents, possibly along with local governments, make decisions regarding nutrition?  Specifically, it is a question of whether we respect federal bureaucrats and their one-size-fits-all approach more than parents who know the best interests of their children.

https://dailysignal.com/2014/11/17/study-children-dont-much-healthy-school-lunch/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social