Our Children Are Watching ... What Are They Seeing?

Once upon a time, social media was a means of keeping up with friends. Nowadays, it’s a way to announce who we’re siding with, or an opportunity to throw out unsubstantiated facts or accusations based on little or no facts. Once it was a source of entertainment; now it’s a primary source for news on all topics. National and local elections are upon us, making social media a hotbed for rampant opinion. No doubt about it - social media has changed how we give and receive information, yet we still don’t understand its long-term effects on us. We do know that our children are watching us (even if you think they are not). So do something about it by making a personal pledge that helps our children be children.

Unofficial Kindergarten Budget Results

Thank you, Ramsey! Unofficial tallies from Tuesday’s budget vote show 2,330 in favor and 1,378 opposed to the proposal, with mailed ballots yet to be counted. Official results should be certified by the end of the month. The supportive result of the vote is yet another outside validation of the great things we are doing inside our schools. Ramsey Schools continue to shine in our academic classrooms, on the athletic fields, on the big stages, and even 15,000 feet high in the Andes Mountains! This is why #RamseySchools are the pride of our community.

The Madison Holleran Foundation: Suicide Prevention Speaker - Wednesday 11/13/19

Why Full Day Kindergarten?

You may be asking yourself, "If our kindergarten teachers cover all of the required standards already in the half-day program, then why do we need all-day kindergarten?" Click to learn more.

All-Day Kindergarten

With continued voter support, Ramsey School District could begin All-Day Kindergarten in the Fall 2020. The plan for All-Day Kindergarten started several years ago as a citizen-driven discussion of Ramsey School District goals. Some of those goals were addressed with the 2018 bond proposal that won strong voter approval: updated science facilities, dedicated space for the arts, long-term maintenance and security measures. That bond proposal included building the added space that would accommodate an All-Day Kindergarten expansion, but operating funds are needed to cover program staffing and other costs. Voter approval on Nov. 5, 2019 of the proposed operating budget would give us the green light to move forward with All-Day Kindergarten.

NJSLA

Individual Score Reports with the results of the 2019 state standardized tests were mailed to parents of current 4th-11th grade students recently. These reports included results of the New Jersey Learning Assessment (NJSLA) for English Language Arts and Mathematics. The NJSLA takes the place of PARCC, which had been administered in New Jersey from 2014-2018. These Individual Score Reports include charts and graphics that show you how well your student is performing in relation to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, and how your student’s performance compares to other students in his or her school, district and state. Click headline for more information.

#RamseyParentAcademies

Sports Injuries & Pain: Facts About Opioids and Alternative Pain Management Solutions Wednesday, October 2, 2019, RHS Auditorium, 7:30 PM A panel of subject matter experts will discuss trends in the opioid crisis and alternative ways to manage pain through positive mental health, physical therapy, and other modalities that limit the use of prescription medications. ***Sponsored by the Ramsey Municipal Alliance***

Welcome Back 2019

Please click here to read the Welcome Back letter.

Rising Rams

We launched our Rising Rams initiative to reach and engage families of children ages 0 to 6 who are looking forward to the day they’ll step into our schools as students. If you’re a parent of an infant or preschooler – a Rising Ram - please help us connect with you, and tailor information to meet your needs by answering a 3-minute survey. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, and look for us at Ramsey Day! If you have more than one Rising Ram, please fill out a separate survey! Click headline for survey.

#Ramsey Rocks 2019

If you travel, take an item (t-shirt, sign, hat, etc.) with you that showcases Ramsey or your school’s name and snap a picture of it. Send it to us via email, and we will post it or tweet it using the hashtag #RamseyRocks2019. Be sure to include the names you would like used, location, etc.

#Ramsey Reads 2019

What will you be reading this summer? 3 Great Books to consider: 1) Enough as She is-How To Help Girls Move Beyond impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy and Fulfilling Lives; 2) The Second Mountain-The Quest for a Moral Life 3) The Teenage Brain - A Neuroscientist's Survival Guide To Raising Adolescents And Young Adults.

Grade 12 Profile Projects

Over the past few months, the school presentations at each BOE meeting has focused on our district's main initiative - Developing a Ramsey Graduate. Each presentation highlighted how all five schools in the district are intentionally teaching towards and assessing the competencies we have prioritized in our Profile of a Ramsey Graduate. Three of these presentations focused specifically on the Profile Projects that Ramsey students complete in Grades 3, 5, and 8. At Tuesday night's final BOE meeting of the 2018-2019 school year, Ramsey High School presented on the Grade 12 Profile Projects. Click headline for more information.

Grade 3 Profile Projects

At the May 7th BOE meeting, Tisdale School presented the Grade 3 Profile Project. This project provides an opportunity to synthesize a year long study of global citizenship through the completion of a passion project. The Grade 3 Profile Project is the culmination of an interdisciplinary social studies and literacy unit. Students combine their content knowledge of social studies, reading and writing to conduct research and present their findings on a selected global issue. Student projects and presentations must be supported by research and elicit a desire by audience members to create a change in our global community. The process and product for this collaborative project supports the competencies outlined in the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate as students demonstrate the 4C’s in action. With an academic mindset, Grade 3 students use content-specific knowledge to develop empathy and appreciation for cultures in our global community. As a result, their presentations hope to educate and inspire individuals to continue the process of addressing global issues.

DECA - A Student's Perspective by Megan Becconsall

As an International DECA Finalist, I have witnessed first-hand how the DECA Club offers Ramsey High School students the opportunity to embody the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate. Starting on the ground level, DECA provides Ramsey students with a platform for us to capitalize on our thorough understanding of content relevant to the real world, and presents us with real-world situations and obstacles that allow us to manifest our learned skills and knowledge. Moving forward, as Ramsey students compete in our respective events, we are given the opportunity to harness and refine our problem-solving skills by executing the practices taught to us at Ramsey, such as critical thinking, effective and adaptable communicating, and working as an constructive team-member. And as we subsequently rise through the ranks at DECA— competing on a regional, state, and eventually international scale— we have the chance to better ourselves both on a personal level and as a member of society, as we indicate accountability, thoughtful decision-making, a positive attitude, and self-reliance. Click headline for more.

Ramsey Music Students Continue to Excel

Ramsey music student at all levels continued to excel in earning many more seats to Region and State - level honor ensembles during the Winter and Spring of 2019. In February, 13 Smith School students earned spots in Region I Middle School Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. These students audition against the best music students from across Northern New Jersey, and they performed in a concert in March. More recently, 9 6th grade students at Smith School were selected to be in the Region I Elementary Honors Band, which will perform in May. And finally, 6 RHS students just earned acceptance to the 2019-2020 NJ All-State Chorus, the most choral students to gain all-state acceptance in more than 25 years! In total, Ramsey students have earned OVER 70 seats to 2018-19 Honor Ensembles, which is quite an accomplishments. Here is a complete listing of the student most recently accepted. Click headline for more information.

The Seal of Biliteracy - Profile of a Ramsey Graduate in Action

We are proud to share that 23 Ramsey High School Seniors who self-nominated to take a language assessment in February will earn the New Jersey Seal of Biliteracy. The New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy recognizes graduating high school seniors who have attained a high level of proficiency in one or more world languages in addition to English. The Seal of Biliteracy includes a certificate prepared by the New Jersey Department of Education, as well as an image on the official transcript. In addition to honoring the multiple cultures and languages of our community, the Seal provides evidence of linguistic skills that are attractive to future employers and college admissions offices. As the world increasingly becomes more global, the need for employees with bilingual, multilingual, and cross-cultural skills also increases. Click headline for more information.

Career-Focused Learners

On March 12, the Boards of Education of Ramsey, River Dell, Ridgewood, and Saddle River gathered to learn more about improving educational opportunities for students who plan to enter the workforce immediately after high school graduation. The presentation, “Preparing Students for Their Future,” was given by a representative from New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and focused on the findings and recommendations of NJSBA’s Task Force on Educational Opportunities for the Non-College-Bound Learner, released in October 2018. According to the report, to effectively prepare students for the jobs of the future, schools must fundamentally change the way they prepare students for their future careers. That is exactly what we are doing in Ramsey. Click headline for more information.

Release of 2017-2018 NJ School Performance Reports

On March 12 the New Jersey Department of Education released the School Performance Reports for the 2017-2018 school year. These reports, which are available on the NJ School Performance Reports webpage at www.njschooldata.org, provide families, educators and the public one picture of school performance. The performance reports offer valuable information across many elements, including schoolwide academic achievement and progress, demographics, school climate, chronic absenteeism, and college and career readiness. Along with the full reports, one-page Summary Reports that provide a high-level summary are available for each school. Click headline for more information.

8th Grade Profile Project

At the February 26, 2019 Board of Education Meeting, Principal Herre and four 8th grade teachers (Kaylin Bessler, Brittany Perrotti, Lori Militello, and Kristin Fullam) made a presentation about a unique learning experience for all 8th graders that we are calling Be the Change: Grade 8 Profile Project. Using all of the skills highlighted in the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate, the 8th grade class will be given the opportunity to devise a solution for real-world problems, through a local, national, or world lens, that is of interest to them. Students will choose from the following broad topics: wellness, community building, innovation, social justice, and sustainability. Click headline for more information.

RHS Child Development Program Seeking Preschool Aged Children

As part of the experiences for Ramsey High School students enrolled in the Child Development Class, Ramsey and Saddle River preschool age children are invited to participate in a preschool program that is supervised by Ramsey High School students and the Child Development teaching staff. Registration forms for the October 2019 preschool class will be available at the High School General Office on March 16, 2019 beginning at 9:00am and will also be available on the preschool website, https://sites.google.com/ramsey.k12.nj.us/rhspreschool. The class for preschoolers meets three mornings a week, usually Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, for approximately 2½ hours each day. Click headline for more information.

RHS has 2 National Merit Finalists!

The National Merit Scholarship Program recently named Jack Kramer and Kaitlyn Pierpont, members of the Class of 2019, as Merit Finalists. Less than 1% of US high school graduating seniors are eligible for this prestigious recognition.

Choral Collage Concert

Monday night was the district's 3rd Choral Collage Concert, in which over 400 students performed from 3 schools. In many ways, this concert showcases everything that is right about music education in Ramsey, and it is truly "Enhancing the Student Experience." If you have not been to one of these performances yet, we encourage you to come next year - there is nothing quite like seeing 400+ Ramsey students performing together in the joint finale! We have completely transformed the vocal music program here in Ramsey over the last 6 years. We’re so fortunate to live in Ramsey; a town that encourages and embraces the Performing Arts. There’s nothing more moving than hearing children sing songs about love and hope.

Ramsey High School Students Perform in Region Band

Four RHS students were recently accepted into, and performed with, the North Jersey Regional Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band. These ensembles, sponsored by the North Jersey School Music Association, represent the best instrumental music students from across seven North Jersey counties, and students must go through a rigorous audition to earn their seat. Pictured after their recent concert are Ankit Verghese, Joseph LeBert, Jordan Paik, and Abigail Lim. Congratulations to all!

Martin Luther King Events

The Ramsey School District identifies Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a day of utmost importance to our nation, so significant attention was paid to talking to students about injustice, the importance of the Civil Rights movement, and ways in which they could honor the legacy of Dr. King. As part of Martin Luther King Day, and as a way to foster the ideals supported by the national “Day of Service," Ramsey High School scheduled a special advisory period during which community volunteers from over 15 organizations spoke with RHS students about why they serve and their experience with community service.

Six Ramsey High School students accepted to Region Chorus

We are thrilled to announce that 6 Ramsey High School Chorus students have been accepted to the NJSMA (North Jersey School Music Association) Region One Chorus. These students are: Nasim Warren, Alyssa Mathew, Thomas Gilligan, Joseph Muscarelle, Bailey Felderman, Allison Los. Allison Los has also been ranked #1 soprano one!

January is School Board Recognition Month

Ramsey's Board of Education plays an essential role in our students’ lives. They oversee our five public schools and provide educational services to nearly 2,800 children. They set the policies for our schools and make important decisions affecting curriculum, financing and staffing. Ramsey School Board members devote countless hours – with no compensation – to the oversight and advancement of our children’s education. January 2019 is the 15th annual School Board Recognition Month in New Jersey, a time to raise public awareness of the role and responsibilities of local boards of education and to thank our community’s school board members for their efforts.

Bond Passes

Thank you, Ramsey! I am honored and humbled to announce that voters said YES to the borrowing plan that will improve our schools’ educational, arts, and athletic facilities. Unofficial results from Tuesday’s bond referendum show 1,985 in favor versus 1,230 opposed to the proposal, which gave the district permission to borrow $42.9 million. Official results could be certified by the end of the week.

Preschool Registration for 2019 - 2020

Registration applications for the tuition based Integrated Preschool Program for the 2019 - 2020 school year are now available. To be eligible for Preschool, general education students must be 4 years old on or before October 1, 2019. All children enrolled in the program will attend for 5 1/2 hours five days a week. Click headline above for important dates related to the preschool registration process and the pre-registration link.

Kindergarten Registration for 2019 - 2020

Kindergarten registration applications for the 2019 - 2020 school year are now available. To be eligible for Kindergarten, students must be 5 years old on or before October 1, 2019. Click headline above for important dates related to the registration process, the pre-registration link and information on the RCS WRAP program.

A Busy But Exciting Fall

You’ve heard by now that Ramsey School District will hold a bond referendum Tuesday, Dec. 11 to seek voter permission for a range of improvements. Between now and then, there are other important dates that will help voters learn about the projects that would improve our schools with safety, modernization and efficiency. Click headline for more detail.

8th Grade World Challenge - American Southwest Experience

The Eric S. Smith Middle School trip to the American Southwest was a success! A group of ten students, along with staff member Fran Kahn and myself, piloted the first World Challenge trip for graduated 8th graders. For ten days, the group hiked and camped in National Parks in southern Utah and northern Arizona. Challengers held leadership roles and were responsible for implementing the plan for the day. Click headline for more detail.

K-5 Literacy Parent Academy

On Thursday, October 25 the district hosted its latest Parent Academy on ways to support K-5 literacy at home with literacy consultant and author Dr. Gravity Goldberg. Dr. Goldberg and her team have been working with the Ramsey School District over the past five years to foster a love of reading, writing, and thinking deeply about the world in our students. Her team has had a huge impact on how our educators view reading and writing instruction, and this night served as a great way to reinforce the importance of making reading and writing a part of our daily lives. Click headline for more detail.

State OKs referendum with more than $10M in state aid

At long last, we have documentation from the state’s Department of Education that verifies the school district’s plan to pursue bond funding to make building and safety improvements. Following the state approval, the Ramsey Board of Education voted on October 16 to put the proposal on the Dec. 11 ballot for voter consideration. Click headline for more detail.

Youth Mental Health First Aid Training Course - January 12, 2019

In cooperation with the Ramsey Municipal Alliance we are proud to present another unique opportunity to Ramsey. “Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Click headline for more detail.

Curriculum Related Parent Academies

This year the District is offering two Parent Academies focused on curriculum. The first was held on Thursday, October 11 at Smith School. The focus of this night was the Connected Mathematics program, which is being implemented in Grade 6 and 7 this year. Click headline for more detail.

More Funding for Schools, But Only Some of Them

The news has been flooded with feel-good reports about the State of New Jersey’s supposed boost in funding for schools. On the whole, it sounds like great news. Dig into the details, though, and the truth comes out: More money isn’t as much a reality as more money for some. And the boost for some was made possible by a ding for others. The short version is: Ramsey was awarded a slight increase in state funding in early spring, but saw no additional benefit when new Governor Phil Murphy kicked off summer with a much-touted announcement about even more school funding. Click headline for more detail.

Referendum Update - #InvestInRamsey

Bond Proposal Shifts Second Question to 2019 In addition to hiring staff, deep-cleaning buildings, and planning curriculum, the leadership of the Ramsey School District spent summer months fine-tuning the bond proposal that voters will consider on December 11. Click headline for more detail.

Profile of a Ramsey Graduate

At the June 26th Board of Education meeting, I made a presentation to the Board of Education about the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate. Later in the meeting they officially adopted the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate through a formal resolution. You can see the Profile of a Ramsey Graduate below and here is a link to a PDF version with definitions of each competency. Click headline for more detail.

A Student's Perspective on World Challenge Trip to Bolivia

Please enjoy Abby Greenberg, a Ramsey High School student's perspective on her World Challenge trip to Bolivia this past summer. Click headline for more detail.

Standardized Testing

As required by the New Jersey Department of Education, the results of the statewide standardized assessments were reported to the Board of Education at the meeting held on Monday, September 24. Individual Student Reports for the Spring 2018 PARCC are being mailed home from each district school on Friday, September 28. Click headline for more detail.

Safety and Security Update

The safety and security of our students and staff continues to be one of our top priorities. While we can’t disclose all the details for security reasons, there are significant safety and security upgrades that we would like to share with you. Click headline for more detail.

The Ramsey School District is a Common Sense District

The Ramsey School District has just been approved as a Common Sense District, an honor that recognizes our efforts in teaching digital citizenship to young people and engaging the entire community in this important discussion and supporting educators using technology for learning. The recognition acknowledges our district's’ commitment creating a culture of digital learning and citizenship...Click headline for more detail.

Stomping Out the Stigma - A Teacher's Perspective

The effects of mental illness are felt by so many adults and children, no matter where they may live or what they may do. As a teacher, there have been times when the effects of mental illness march right into the classroom. Over the years, some of my students have been able to articulate their thoughts about how this disease affects them, while other students have not been able to express their feelings with the same exactness. In any of those cases, the need for encouragement, love, and support have always been necessary. Click headline for more detail.