Ridgewood Schools - Page 70 of 388

Posted on February 25, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

School district sees virtual day as a success

School district sees virtual day as a success

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2014, 7:51 AM
BY MARY DIDUCH
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

Pascack Valley seeks state approval

The New Jersey Department of Education may not yet have officially granted the Pascack Valley Regional High School District credit for its “virtual school day” a week and a half ago – as it is still analyzing data from the day – but the district’s administration and students appear to already be viewing the day as a success.

Teachers and students from both the district’s high schools – Pascack Valley High School and Pascack Hills High School – worked from home one snow day about a week and a half ago instead of taking a day off.

The district already had exhausted its snow days, and allowing the students to work from home could be a future solution to having students make up the day later in the year.

However, while the state gave the district permission to go ahead with the “virtual school day” two days before a snowstorm closed schools, a ruling has yet to be made on whether the virtual day will count as one of the 180 mandatory school days.

Superintendent Erik Gundersen said in his report at a Board of Education meeting Monday night that the state’s Department of Education has yet to get back to the district about whether the day will count officially.

But Gundersen said he is optimistic.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/247041201_School_district_sees_virtual_day_as_a_success.html#sthash.iy8PW3He.dpu

Posted on February 24, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 3 Comments

Common Core’s Surprise Critic: Nation’s Largest Teachers Union (NEA) Calls Implementation ‘Completely Botched’

Common Core’s Surprise Critic: Nation’s Largest Teachers Union (NEA) Calls Implementation ‘Completely Botched’

Rob Bluey

February 19, 2014 at 10:29 pm

The country’s largest teachers union is no longer a cheerleader for Common Core national education standards.

In a letter to the National Education Association’s 3 million members, President Dennis Van Roekel issued a sharp critique of Common Core. It marks the first time NEA has voiced concerns about the standards, a key initiative of the Obama Administration.

I am sure it won’t come as a surprise to hear that in far too many states, implementation has been completely botched. Seven of ten teachers believe that implementation of the standards is going poorly in their schools. Worse yet, teachers report that there has been little to no attempt to allow educators to share what’s needed to get [Common Core State Standards] implementation right. In fact, two thirds of all teachers report that they have not even been asked how to implement these new standards in their classrooms.

>>> Check Out: Is Common Core Leaving Students Unprepared in Math and Science?

The NEA once enthusiastically supported Common Core, making Van Roekel’s criticism noteworthy. POLITICO said it meant a “rocky road ahead for the Common Core standards” and would “give opponents of Common Core a boost.”

In his letter, Van Roekel stops short of completely abandoning Common Core, calling instead for a “course correction” to fix implementation.

“NEA members have a right to feel frustrated, upset, and angry about the poor commitment to implementing the standards correctly,” Van Roekel writes.

The National Education Association’s concerns come nearly a year after the American Federation of Teachers raised problems with implementation of the standards. AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “they simply don’t get it in Washington.” She also called the implementation of Common Core worse than HealthCare.gov..

https://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/19/common-cores-surprise-critic-nations-largest-teachers-union-calls-standards-completely-botched/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

Posted on February 22, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Universities in FCC Newsroom Probe Have Close Ties to Soros, Got $1.8M in Funding

Universities in FCC Newsroom Probe Have Close Ties to Soros, Got $1.8M in Funding
By Mike Ciandella

February 21, 2014 – 10:01 PM
Connections include partnerships with Soros foundation on events, projects

The FCC may have suspended its invasion into American newsrooms, but the controversial “Critical Information Needs” study also has George Soros’ fingerprints all over it.

While disturbing, this should come as no surprise since Soros’ gave more than $52 million to media organizations from 2000-2010.

Two schools were working with FCC on the project, according to Byron York of The Washington Examiner. The University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Communication and Democracy, were tasked by the FCC with coming up with criteria for what information is “critical” for Americans to have. The FCC study would have covered newspapers, websites, radio and television, according to The Washington Post.

On top of the 1st Amendment problems with this proposal, the schools involved have strong ties to liberal billionaire George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and have gotten more than $1.8 million from since 2000.

– See more at: https://cnsnews.com/mrctv-blog/mike-ciandella/universities-fcc-newsroom-probe-have-close-ties-soros-got-18m-funding#sthash.5sw7YISq.l0C7r7gV.dpuf

Posted on February 20, 2014February 20, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

NJ Schools Press Lawmakers to Ease Restrictions on Interdistrict Choice

NJ Schools Press Lawmakers to Ease Restrictions on Interdistrict Choice

Supporters say enrollment cap of 5 percent stifles increasingly popular program.

On the eve of the unveiling of the next state budget, advocates for New Jersey’s interdistrict choice program are stepping up their campaign to fight off state-imposed enrollment caps on the increasingly popular program – and winning some high-level support.

The association that represents the 130-plus districts in the program, which allows them to take in students from outside their borders, has been pressing legislators for help in easing the state edict issued last fall that limited the districts to no more than 5 percent increase in enrollment.

The state Department of Education said it was about the money, with state funding for the program ballooning in the last three years to nearly $50 million for the 5,000 students enrolled this year. (Mooney/NJSpotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/02/19/nj-schools-press-lawmakers-to-ease-limits-on-interdistrict-choice/

Posted on February 18, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing

Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing

Monday February 17, 2014, 11:45 AM
The Ridgewood News

Village should say ‘no thanks’ to high-density housing
Francis H. Schott

To the editor:

Over the past decade, Ridgewood has made great progress in improving our citizens’ quality of life. Our schools have been enlarged and modernized to make them adequate for our 5,800 students, a number that has steadily grown over the decade. Our recreational space, although still below state and federal standards, has been substantially augmented for the first time in generations by the acquisition and development of Habernickel Park and the purchase of the Schedler property as well as the enlargement of Citizens Park.

Admittedly we are still struggling with parking and traffic problems downtown, but the positives outweigh the negatives of the early 21st Century by a wide margin.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/245838491_Letter__Village_should_say__no_thanks__to_high-density_housing.html#sthash.bUE3N6wk.dpuf

Posted on February 15, 2014February 15, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

New state school performance report raises the stakes in Ridgewood

New state school performance report raises the stakes in Ridgewood
Friday February 14, 2014, 2:36 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The 2012-2013 School Performance Reports, which the state released last week, are as confusing as ever, highlighting even more areas for improvement in an already high-performing district, Ridgewood school officials said.

While confusion is a typical complaint about state school reports, this year’s is made worse by the fact that they were introduced only last year, replacing the former “School Report Cards” to “bring more information to educators and stakeholders about the performance of schools,” according to the state’s NJ School Performance Interpretive Guide.

Schools are now measured for the first time based on similar “peer” schools, with a new emphasis on measuring college and career readiness and student growth percentiles, on which teachers will now be evaluated. This new focus, administrators said, is placing increasing pressure on schools to improve.

According to Superintendent Daniel Fishbein, administrators are currently reviewing the latest reports on each of the district’s schools, which are available for public access via a link on the district website, by looking up “each school in the peer group to determine accuracy and see how like test scores impact rating.”

“This new performance report is so … different than in the past, that it will take years for the public to get used to this new report versus what we had in the past,” Fishbein said. “The same data has become much more high stakes.”

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/245569251_New_state_school_performance_report_raises_the_stakes_in_Ridgewood.html#sthash.SMEzBVVJ.dpuf

Posted on February 14, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Deal puts focus on placing New Jersey’s disables kids in local classrooms

Deal puts focus on placing New Jersey’s disables kids in local classrooms

Thousands of special-needs students across New Jersey could get the support they need to attend mainstream classes or return from out-of-district programs to their local schools after a settlement was reached in a seven-year court fight over whether disabled children were unfairly segregated.

The federal suit, filed by an array of advocacy groups, contends that the state violated the rights of disabled children to attend school — to the greatest extent possible — with children who do not have disabilities and in their neighborhood schools. The suit said that because of the state’s failures, countless disabled children were unnecessarily separated from their peers.

About 15 percent of New Jersey’s 1.4 million public school students have special needs, and about 8 percent of the disabled go to out-of-district sites.

The settlement, approved by the state Board of Education on Wednesday, requires that for three years, the state must scrutinize the placement of special-needs children in more than 55 districts that put a disproportionate share of students in restrictive settings. That includes Westwood,Hackensack, Garfield, Passaic, Elmwood Park and Englewood.

If the state finds districts are not doing their utmost to include students in regular classes, school staff must undergo extra training in tailoring lessons to the children and giving them aides and other individualized services.

Ruth Lowenkron, an attorney at the Education Law Center, which was one of the plaintiffs, said the settlement could help many special-needs students in a state that has historically put more of them in separate programs than is typical nationwide. (Brody/The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/Deal_puts_focus_on_placing_New_Jerseys_disabled_kids_in_local_classrooms.html#sthash.gxLItz1Z.dpuf

Posted on February 14, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

Al Roker: politician fact-checker?

Al Roker: politician fact-checker?

The NBC meteorologist and “Today” show host took New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to task on Thursday for criticizing the National Weather Service, tweeting that the mayor’s “poor policy” was to blame for the city’s snow response.

Al Roker ✔ @alroker Follow

@NYCMayorsOffice says snow was faster/heavier than expected. No, Mr. Mayor. It came as predicted. Don’t blame weather for YOUR poor policy

Al Roker ✔ @alroker Follow

How dare @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools throw NWS under the school bus. Forecast was on time and on the money

Al Roker ✔ @alroker Follow

I knew this am @NYCMayorsOffice @NYCSchools would close schools. Talk about a bad prediction. Long range DiBlasio forecast: 1 term

Posted on February 14, 2014February 13, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A DELAYED OPENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE A DELAYED OPENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14

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.

This message will be updated if necessary:

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood School district saves green on energy

Ridgewood School district saves green on energy
Tuesday February 11, 2014, 10:00 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood school district has already reaped at least $55,000 in energy savings for the 2013-14 school year, based on the calculations of an energy conservation company.

The savings are the result of the Board of Education’s (BOE) decision last year to hire a new energy specialist and contract with Cenergistic, an energy savings company. The total represents roughly 19.5 percent of what the district would have spent if it had not started the energy conservation program, said specialist Michael Parigi.

Parigi and two consultants from Cenergistic attended the Jan. 27 BOE meeting to explain the results of their work.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/244884371_Ridgewood_School_district_saves_green_on_energy.html#sthash.R5iucwdi.dpuf

Posted on February 12, 2014April 11, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM
EST FRIDAY

URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
328 AM EST WED FEB 12 2014

…WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE TRI-STATE REGION…

328 AM EST WED FEB 12 2014

…WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM
EST FRIDAY…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW YORK HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT TO 6 AM EST FRIDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS…WESTERN PASSAIC…EASTERN PASSAIC…WESTERN
BERGEN…EASTERN BERGEN…WESTERN ESSEX…EASTERN
ESSEX…WESTERN UNION…EASTERN UNION.

* HAZARD TYPES…SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS…10 TO 14 INCHES.

* WINDS…NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES…IN THE UPPER 20S.

* VISIBILITIES…ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS AT TIMES.

* TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE DURING THE
DAY THURSDAY BEFORE TAPERING OFF THURSDAY NIGHT. SOME SLEET MAY
MIX WITH THE SNOW ON THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS…SNOWFALL WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS IN
ADDITION…HEAVY…WET SNOW MAY CA– USE SOME WEAK…FLAT ROOF
STRUCTURES TO COLLAPSE AND TREES WILL BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FALLING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL…KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT…FOOD…
AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Posted on February 12, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — 3 Comments

Cerf’s Out, Activists and Parents Look to Sink Common Core

Cerf’s Out, Activists and Parents Look to Sink Common Core
NJTP

New Jersey Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf, who was a major proponent of Common Core curriculum is stepping down at the end of the month, according to a published report in the Bergen Record.

Carolee Adams, Eagle Forum President NJ, attributes the about-face to a concerted effort across the state to educate legislators, parents and NJ taxpayers on the perils of implementing the untested curriculum that violates traditional American values and privacy of students and their families with invasive data mining techniques.

Carolee and Tea Party activists across the state worked hard to turn back the progressive tide inherent in Common Core curriculum.

Thanks to those efforts, radical education activists lost their beach-head in NJ schools. No small accomplishment.

Posted on February 11, 2014April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Chris Cerf to Step Down as New Jersey Commissioner of Education

Chris Cerf to Step Down as New Jersey Commissioner of Education

Chris Cerf will be leaving office at the end of this month after three years as Gov. Chris Christie’s education commissioner, leaving behind big changes — and some tumult.

Appointed in late 2010, Cerf yesterday said he will join the educational software company led by his old boss, former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein.

Cerf, who was deputy chancellor in New York under Klein, will serve as CEO of Amplify Insight, a division of Amplify Inc. The company is owned by News Corp., the media giant led by Rupert Murdoch.

He submitted his resignation earlier this month, effective March 1. No announcement has been made as to Cerf’s successor.

The department is expected to announce the resignation today, but Cerf yesterday confirmed the decision and said it came out of both his uncertainty about staying on for a second term and a job offer that was difficult to pass up. (Mooney/NJSpotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/14/02/10/cer…

Posted on February 10, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — 12 Comments

Dr. Daniel Fishbein : April Recess has been Cancelled

Dr. Daniel Fishbein : April Recess has been Cancelled

LETTER FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
Click here to read a letter sent to district parents and guardians from Dr. Daniel Fishbein regarding changes to April Recess because of the excess of snow days.

In order to meet the mandatory 180 day requirement ,Dr Fishbien has announced that due to inclement weather and school closing ,April recess has been cancelled and school will be open Monday April 14th and Tuesday April 15th , if additional school days will be taken starting with Wednesday April 16th.

Posted on February 9, 2014June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

RHS DECA had about 80 students qualify for the next round of competition

RHS DECA had about 80 students qualify for the next round of competition

One hundred ninety RHS students went to Ramapo College in January and competed in the NJ DECA Regional Competition, consisting of team and individual scenario role-playing and testing, which was conducted prior to the event.

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

RHS DECA had about 80 students qualify for the next round of competition. In order to advance students need to place in the top 18 of all students competing in their event, and a student who placed top three on a test or role-play received an extra award for recognition of their accomplishments. In addition, three teams placed in the top 25 in the North Atlantic Region and have been invited to present their stock market portfolio at the International Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia in early May.

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)