Lunch point-of-sale system confusion.

Received this email from the Ridgewood Public Schools tonight:

Hello Parents of Ridgewood Middle Schools and High School,

As you may know, we have implemented a Point-of-Sales system in the cafeterias at the Middle Schools and High School.  In order to make the lunch period run quickly and efficiently, we ask that you remind your students that they will require a Key Pad number for purchasing items from the cafeterias, either on account or in cash.  Your students key pad number can be found in Skyward Family or Student Access under Food Service.  If you need assistance, please email skywardhelp@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.Thank you for your patience during this transition period.

I do encourage everyone to be patient (and nice) during the transition, but I have to agree with some of my friends who find it utterly baffling that students must enter a PIN number in order to purchase something with cash. Makes no sense to me. (Not to mention -- if you don't use Skyward to pay for lunch in advance, then you don't have a PIN...or you don't know you have a PIN.) I'm hoping this is something that can be tweaked and corrected. I don't understand why a Point of Sale system needs to track cash purchases. 

I'll let you know if I hear about anything changing.

More NJ districts are charging activity fees.

A recent survey by the New Jersey School Boards Association showed that approximately 40% of districts charge activity fees for students involved in extracurricular activities. Of those districts that charge activity fees, half charge a flat fee, and 34.6 percent charge a per-activity fee. (Ridgewood charges a flat fee for students in the middle schools and high school.)

Click here to see more detailed results on the survey.

A few selected comments from the survey results:

Our district has charged for activities for the past 10 years or so. We instituted them after several budget defeats and thought it would have a positive effect on parent/voter turnout … but so far, it hasn't seemed to work out. We have had surprisingly little reaction to the fees.

We discussed this for last year but decided that, although we could have used the money, we had to make sure that we had a policy in place and we were not going down the path of poor implementation like so many districts have.

I don't understand why everyone thinks when they get to high school, sports and other activities should be free. If they want the extras and the district does not have the money, they must be willing to pay. It's better than cutting the program!

I am not in favor of charging for activities/sports that are run through the schools. It is important that we encourage participation in activities/sports for many reasons. It's proven that kids who participate are better students.

It is an unfortunate necessity. Co-curriculars are a critical part of a student's education, but the state's failure to make good on its constitutional obligation to fund schools according to its own formula leads us down the slippery slope of having parents pay for "extras" that aren't really extra at all. Sad times for education in New Jersey

With 2 percent cap, activity fees may be the only way to protect extra curricular & co-curricular programs.

It is an unfortunate requirement in today's economic climate.

We have looked at this in the past, and will probably look at it in the future. At the moment we prefer not to impose this type of fee.

Extracurricular activities should be considered part of the essential educational experience and should be fully funded through the existing revenue streams.

We have raised the required number of participating students for clubs and activities, which has reduced the number of clubs and activities, and hence reduced some of our costs. Also, we have secured grants from the freeholder board to fund our after-school tutoring/homework club and our girls' and boys' running clubs.

We are introducing activity fees starting in the 2011-2012 school year. We felt it was time to take a small step into this area, especially when presenting a balanced budget is increasingly difficult.

Ridgewood referendum projects are well under budget.

The Ridgewood News has a story today about Ridgewood schools' construction projects running under budget so far. I'm pasting the full text of the story here because I think it's helpful to see the projects and their status listed:

Despite rough weather this winter, construction projects at Ridgewood schools are moving ahead more or less on schedule and far under budget.

"Bids for the remaining projects continue to come in favorably," reported Superintendent Daniel Fishbein at a Jan. 24 meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE).

The BOE approved a purchase bid for window and door replacements at Benjamin Franklin Middle School (BF) at a cost of $528,800, far below the roughly $900,000 budgeted for the project in the original bond referendum.

The referendum, narrowly approved by voters in December 2009, will ultimately encompass $48 million worth of construction projects at district schools. The projected tax increase on the average village home is about $300 per year over the course of the next 25 years to pay off the $38 million bond referendum. The state is contributing another $9.8 million in grants.

Bids from contractors are now being sought for other school projects. Seventeen contractors recently attended a walk-through tour of Willard for its expansion project slated for next year, Fishbein said. More bid dates are coming up in February.

Substantial construction projects are currently under way at Ridge and Hawes elementary schools. At Ridge, construction of a new roof and a new wing has been slowed due to inclement weather, but the roof of Hawes' new wing was installed before the snow and ice storms, so construction has continued without a hitch.

Ridge is still scheduled to fully open for fall 2011, Fishbein said during a tour of the premises. Ridge is receiving five new classrooms; two small group instruction rooms; an art studio; occupational and physical therapy space; mechanical room; storage; and a computer lab.

Travell, Willard and Somerville elementary schools and BF all underwent roofing replacements or improvements. Still to come are full renovations at Willard, though substantial asbestos abatement in a basement crawl space was successfully completed this summer. Willard will also undergo an expansion to add seven classrooms; one small group instruction room; a media center/ library; computer lab; resource room; a nurse's office; and storage.

BF has also received upgrades to its electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; repairs of concrete and masonry, stairs and sidewalks; and its athletics fields have undergone significant renovations, including the installation of a new track and field facility for the district.

Ridgewood High School has received site updates to its sidewalks, stairs, external doors and brick and mortar, as well as new lockers and extensive work on its two athletics fields, including the installation of artificial turf. Other renovations include drinking fountains, plumbing, windows and doors, and fire detection systems and alerts.

George Washington Middle School (GW) has completed a new driveway on Washington Street. Plans for GW include an improved electrical system and windows, and expansion that will construct and/or renovate six classrooms, five small group instruction rooms, a media center/library, computer lab and gymnasium, which will take over part of the footprint of the existing field.

Many schools are also receiving occupancy sensor and light controls.

###

Mother-Daughter evening with Queen Bees author Rosalind Wiseman at GW this Wednesday.

Ridgewood mothers and teen daughters are invited to a very special evening with author Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World, on Wednesday 11/17 at 7:00 p.m. at GW Middle School. The evening will feature an interactive discussion about "confidence, friendships, sweat-inducing moments and common mother-daughter challenges." A Q&A session and book signing will follow.

Tickets are $40 per mother/daughter pair and includes two books: mothers will receive a copy of Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World and daughters will receive Wiseman’s debut young adult novel, Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials. Additional tickets are $20 each.

If you haven’t read Wiseman’s Queen Bees book, I highly recommend it. And if you have read it, and you have a teen daughter, I know you’ll want to attend this event.

For tickets or more info, contact GW HSA President Kim Lucky, 447-3923 or kplucky@yahoo.com.

Progress Reports for high school and middle school students are viewable online.

Parents of RHS, BF and GW students should have received an email this week, alerting us that progress reports are available for our students online, via the District's new Skyward student information system. I jumped on to check my son's report and was interested to see what kind of info was reported.

Once parents or students log-in to Skyward, for each class you can see your child's current grade as of the progress report cut-off date (not sure what that date was). You can also see comments from the teacher. In my son's case, all his teachers posted some sort of comment. One of his teachers specifically indicated some things that she would like him to do differently, and also recommended that he come after school for help. I'm not trying to air his "dirty laundry" -- my point is, I would not have known that he was having any "issue," whatsoever, in this class. I really appreciated having this info this early in the semester.

Of course, the real question is -- what do we parents do with this info? As much as I love transparency and access to information, I am keenly aware of my own tendency to get, shall we say, "over-involved." It's not that I want to meddle or interfere with teachers or assignments...but I know that as soon as I saw my son's progress report, I spoke to him about ways he could do some things differently. That's fine -- that's what I would have done if he had received a printed progress report. But looking into the future, I worry about giving parents like me access all semester long...I don't want to start checking grades every day and reacting to whatever I see, creating stress and conflict for my son.

It's exciting to start having more tools for engagement and more insight into our children's achievements, but we as a school community will need to carefully implement increased access for parents. We'll have to see how it goes.

Click here for instructions from the District on accessing Skyward progress reports.

The Adolescent Brain: A Work in Progress

The following information was provided by the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance (on which I also participate), regarding a program for interested parents.

Have you ever wondered why teenagers act the way they do? According to recent studies and neuro-imaging research, the prefrontal cortex of the human brain, which controls planning, emotion, impulse control, and the ability to assess future consequences, is not fully developed until one is in their early- to mid-twenties.

Come and learn about the adolescent brain at the GW Middle School Auditorium 7 PM on September 14, 2010. This program is open to all parents.

The presentation will help parents to understand:

• How can teens be so clever, accomplished, and responsible -- and reckless at the same time?
• What part of the brain is shutting down during this time of change?
• Why does your teen respond so strongly to graphic images?
• Your role as a parent during this incredible time of change in your young person’s brain
• Why adolescence is a risk-taking period during which teens are more likely to try drugs.
• What influences addiction in a young person?

Questions, please call the Ridgewood Parks and Recreation Department at 201-670-5560.

Presented by Dee DeBernardis from the Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a program of Children’s Aid and Family Services. Funding provided by GCADA – NJ Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance

GW Expansion Drawings

Here are the architect's conceptual drawings for the GW expansion. Note that the new gym is not your typical "box," but rather it fits with the design of the rest of this beautiful, historic building. Any comments?

Additional drawings plus an update on all referendum projects are on the District website. Click here.

1) View from Monroe St. (New gym and classrooms are on the far right):


2) View from Washington St.


3) Another view from Washington. New gym and classrooms are at left.


4) View from Godwin Ave. Auditorium is on far left; new gym/classrooms on far right.

Planning Board votes yes on amendment to Master Plan.

Wow, what a meeting tonight at GW Middle School. I got there at 7:00 and I think I got the last seat in the auditorium. It was HOT and the room was packed with loud, angry, aggressive people, chanting, shouting, clapping, waving signs. By the time the meeting started at 7:30, there were a few hundred people outside, chanting and yelling and even banging on the fire exit doors.

(And, for all of you who were mad about the move to GW, part of some evil strategy...the meeting was moved ONLY because of Project Graduation at BF. That's it! I promise! The District never should have approved the meeting at BF, but as soon as the conflict was realized, they told the Planning Board they would have to go somewhere else. That's it, folks. Nothing more nefarious than that.)

What most of the people in attendance didn't realize or care to understand, is that the Planning Board was there to hold an actual meeting...to conduct business. They are governed by very specific laws as to how they conduct that business. One law they must follow is to conduct their business according to the rules of evidence and sworn testimony (which means everything from random shouts to sidewalk chants to emails to Planning Board members and even petitions, are not to be considered in the Board's deliberation). And the other important rule for tonight was that they needed to create a record of the meeting...there needs to be a record so that if anyone wants to challenge their decisions, or to understand those decisions, there is a record to consult. It's hard to create a record when there is so much shouting and yelling that the Planning Board members cannot even hear each other speak.

I have to be honest, it was a little scary inside the auditorium at one point. I'm all for freedom of speech, but this was getting extremely tense and tempers were high. I was worried that one person might shove another person and then all hell would break loose. It came close a couple of times, near where I was sitting. I know there was one arrest outside (not sure what for).

In the end, the Planning Board voted to amend the Master Plan. What I hope people would understand is that this is just one step. There will now be work at the Village Council, there will need to be an ordinance, it will require public comment, the Council will have to vote, etc. Then there would be site plans, with hearings and comments and approvals. And so on. Lots of public comments, votes. Possible legal challenges. And so on. And on.

We're in for a marathon, Ridgewood. Let's pace ourselves.

Carpool or walk to Planning Board meeting tonight (and here's why the meeting was moved)!

updated 1:16 PM

The Planning Board meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at George Washington Middle School, and I just learned that parking will NOT be permitted in the West Side Presbyterian Church parking lot across the street. I'm not sure if this is because the church has a previously scheduled event tonight, or because the Village didn't want to pay for parking -- West Side does not allow their parking lot to be used for events at GW without being paid. The District pays to allow teachers to park there during the day, and West Side charges us if we encourage people to park there for other school events.

I'm going to give West Side the benefit of the doubt...it's their parking lot and if they need it tonight, then they need it. I just don't want this to somehow become the BOE's fault!

FYI -- the meeting was moved from BF to GW because our RHS Senior Parents are working like crazy tonight at BF to get Project Graduation ready for Wednesday. Tonight is one of their biggest work nights and they will have dozens of volunteers working in the gym, hallways around the gym and cafeteria, the cafeteria itself and parking lot. They need to have materials spread out all over, and they need to constantly cross the parking lot back and forth to the storage room. Not to mention parking for their volunteers. And of course, for all of this, they need to maintain the secrecy which is one of the hallmarks of the 50-year tradition.

So hopefully everyone can remain civil tonight at GW...in the parking lot and in the meeting. (Good thing I already have a parking place lined up in the driveway of a friend!)

If you're reading this blog, are you out of middle school?

Toward the end of Monday’s Board of Ed meeting, I raised a topic during “other business” that I would describe as having been “hot” over the past week or so. That would be the issue of technology and our students’ access to it. Perhaps you saw the letter that BF Middle School Principal Tony Orsini sent to parents, where he urged them to block their children’s access to all social networking sites, such as Facebook. Or maybe you received GW Middle School Principal Katie Kashmanian’s email in (semi) response, where she took a slightly different approach to internet safety for tweens and teens. Or maybe you saw one of the sound bites online or in the newspaper, since, in the space of 2-3 days, Mr. Orsini was interviewed or quoted by CBS News, Good Morning America, CNN, ABC Radio, Bergen Record, BBC Fox News…and was quoted, re-quoted, tweeted and retweeted among bloggers and others online around the country.

Obviously, Mr. Orsini’s email struck a chord. It’s gotten a lot of attention, and started people talking, which is (mostly) a good thing. It’s definitely gratifying to know that Ridgewood Public Schools have staff that truly care about our students – care enough to reach out to parents and go out on a limb with an important message.

As I said, a conversation has been sparked, and it’s a conversation we clearly need to have in Ridgewood.

To start with, it’s definitely not the school district’s job to tell people how to parent their children. At the same time, we can all recognize that the fallout from some online activities – bullying, harassment, gossip – comes into the schools and can affect both our teachers’ ability to educate and our students’ ability to learn. According to Mr. Orsini and one of the BF guidance counselors who was interviewed, they have been spending an inordinate – and growing – amount of time helping kids who are upset by online bullying, etc. The counselor said on CBS News that recently she has been spending 75% of her time on issues related to Facebook! That’s amazing! I can certainly see how that would prompt Mr. Orsini to act. I do understand his intent – to protect kids.

On the other hand, I don’t want Ridgewood to be the district that’s afraid of technology. Technology such as social networking is here to stay. It has taken hold. It has a lot of benefits and some risk, too. But, in my opinion, circling the wagons and locking the doors is not the answer.

What interests me more, right now, is how this incident has brought out into the light some issues...some mixed messages...and many opportunities for improvement.

Some questions I think we need to consider:

What is our “technology belief system?” What are our “guiding principles?” What is our vision?

How do we reconcile the different approaches of Mr. Orsini, who wants to limit (ban) students’ access to Facebook (for example) and Dr. Kashmanian, who has her own Facebook profile and a “Principals’ Blog” on the GW website?

How do we as a district balance the principles of Alan November, whom the District brought in last Fall, and who advocates teaching students to use technology wisely, with an educator's statement that seems to devalue technology because “90% of student homework doesn’t require going online?”

How do we as a community keep our children safe, protect them from bullies, stop aggressive online behavior, manage anonymous environments and help our kids to be good digital citizens?

How can schools partner with parents to address these issues and together...to create a vision for technology in our children’s lives?

I think these are good, legitimate questions…the basis for a conversation I’d love to have – and have it with gusto.

Hopefully in the coming weeks we can strike while the issue is hot.

I’d love to hear what you think.

Teachers of the Year Honored at Ed Center.

Last night was the annual Teacher Recognition reception and ceremony at the Ed Center. I love that event because it's so positive and focused on just one pure thing: quality teaching.

I especially love how many teachers and administrators come out to support and celebrate their colleagues. There were even some parents and students there, to say thank you to their favorite teachers. Just a great, positive event all around.

The following teachers were honored last night as Teachers of the Year in Ridgewood for 2010:

Hawes -- Charles Nebbia
Orchard -- Michelle Jones
Ridge -- AnnMarie Pecorelli
Somerville -- Cassandra Fabish
Travell -- Megan Glinkin
Willard -- Stephanie Zaccaria
BF -- Karla Mixon
GW -- Ann Brown
RHS -- Patrick Bernardo
Special Programs -- Marian Sacharoff

Hey, Gym.

I went to the RHS girls' basketball game last night. We played Teaneck and, despite an early lead, the Maroons ended up losing 64-52. No matter, I still love watching high school sports. You can't beat the spirit up-close action.

As I was sitting in Gym I at RHS, I was talking to another parent about how nice it will be to have a gym just like it at GW. A nice big gym with bleachers! Both of us were telling stories about trying to watch basketball games in the existing gyms at GW (be sure to stand up against the wall so as not to interfere with play) or at BF (before the risers when we parents would fight over the one or two chairs someone borrowed from a classroom).

Looking around Gym I, it dawned on me that the walls are so plain...why aren't there banners and such? Shouldn't there be championship banners and school records on the walls? Instead, the feeling is a bit warehouse-y. Hmmm...I feel like I remember seeing banners somewhere...maybe in one of the other gyms at RHS? I forgot to look before I left. Must explore further...

Get Referendum Facts Tonight: Q&A and School Tours

I hope we'll get a decent turnout tonight at the Community Meeting at George Washington Middle School auditorium. The session begins at 7:30 p.m. with a presentation by Superintendent Dan Fishbein followed by questions-and-answers -- anything you want to know, we'll answer! This is a chance for everyone in the community, parents, non-parents, senior citizens, all registered voters, to get the facts, see plans, clarify rumors, etc.

Prior to tonight's meeting at GW, everyone has a chance to tour Willard Elementary School, Travell Elementary School, Hawes Elementary School, GW Middle School and Ridgewood High School. Principals and other staff will give a first-hand look at some of the conditions in need of renovation and expansion. Tours will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Hope to see you tonight!
(And don't forget to VOTE on Dec. 8!)

Referendum Update: School Tours, Community Meeting on Nov. 30

The community is invited to George Washington Middle School auditorium on Monday 11/30 at 7:30 p.m. for a presentation and question-and-answer session on the upcoming referendum. This event is for everyone in the community, parents, non-parents, senior citizens, all registered voters. Come get the facts and ask questions, see plans, etc.

Prior to the meeting at GW, principals and other staff will be leading tours at a few schools, to give a first-hand look at some of the conditions in need of renovation and expansion. Tours will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at RHS, Travell, Willard, Hawes and GW.

There are also some photos posted on the district website, showing some of the building conditions. Click here and then click on the school photos you'd like to see.

Questions are also welcome at referendum09@ridgewood.k12.nj.us, or post a question here.

Rumor control: this week’s “out there” referendum comments & questions

As Board members speak with community members at HSA meetings, neighborhood coffees, cocktail parties or on the sidelines, I’m surprised nearly every day with some of the questions I get or the rumors I’m asked to confirm or deny. I’m surprised because it seems like no matter how hard we try to get the facts out there, many people still have many questions (and some people haven’t even heard of the upcoming vote!).

Here are some of the more “out there” comments I heard this past week:

Rumor: "If the Referendum fails, they will redistrict the middle schools, and force some students to move from GW to BF." (Variation: "All Village 6th graders will go to GW and all Village 7th and 8th graders will go to BF.")
Fact: Moving middle school kids around from one side of town to the other is not going to solve our space problems. And consolidating two full grades at BF would mean a population of 800 students…that is not something BF could physically accommodate. Besides that, an 800-student middle school is a completely different environment, educationally, logistically and socially—which would create a whole new slate of issues. Finally, the transportation costs alone to bus kids across town would make this extremely cost-prohibitive.

Rumor: "The track at BF will have an artificial turf field inside."
Fact: The infield of the new track at BF will be a natural grass field.

Rumor: "Ridge and Willard will get computers and Smartboards as part of the referendum, while our school had to fundraise for those things."
Fact: There is no technology -- no computers and no Smartboards -- in the Referendum projects. Ridge and Willard will have Computer Labs added, but those are just new rooms that will house the labs. Currently Ridge's computer lab is in the hallway.

Rumor: "BF students will not be allowed to use the track and field at their school, as it will be reserved for high school students."
Fact: BF students will have complete use of the track and field, including gym classes and afterschool intramurals.

Comment: "The Referendum is not fair for schools such as Somerville or Orchard, which are not scheduled for major renovations or expansions."
Answer: The Board must look at the needs of the entire District as a whole. There’s no east side or west side when we look at needs. We could point out that Somerville was expanded in the last referendum and Orchard has had many projects completed in recent years. The selection of projects included in the referendum should make it clear that we did not simply “give” every school something. We truly balanced the needs of the entire district.

Comment: "We can’t trust the BOE to spend our money wisely. Look how much money and time they just wasted on the new bathrooms at Vets Field."
Answer: Huh? Sorry. OK, here’s the deal: the Board of Education and the School District are completely separate from the Village of Ridgewood. We don’t share budgets, we don’t share management, we don’t share ownership of properties… The bathrooms at Vets are a Village project, not the schools.
However, to address any worries about trusting the BOE with the finances: our budget for these projects is set. The amount that we bond for is the maximum we can spend. We simply are not allowed, by law, to go over budget. If our contingency doesn’t cover change orders due to some unforeseen expensive development, we are required to reduce or eliminate other projects to come in at the $48 million amount. We can’t just pass an ordinance if we need more money. We will hire a construction manager to examine and justify each and every invoice and change order.

More comments and questions to come…

Community Referendum Meeting at GW tonight; Principal will lead a tour after

The Community Meeting on the Referendum is tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at GW Middle School. I just learned that after the meeting, GW Principal Katie Kashmanian will lead a tour to showcase some of the needs at her school.

This is a good chance to find out everything you need to know in order to make a decision. Don't rely on assumptions or rumors. Get the facts...you are being asked to vote on a detailed question with important implications for our district and our Village. After this meeting, whether you vote "yes" or "no," at least you'll know you made an educated choice.

If you can't make it tonight, a repeat meeting will be held on Monday, November 30 at GW. These meetings were especially set-up for voters who do not have children in the schools or parents who do not attend HSA meetings.

You can also find lots of Referendum documents, including drawings of proposed school additions, detailed spreadsheets of renovation costs, bond financing information, and much more, at the District website click here.

Parental Guidance program tonight at GW

Wondering what teens in Ridgewood are up to these days? Looking for advice on how to talk to your teens about living a healthy, drug-free life? The Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Committee is offering Ridgewood parents and community members a 1-hour presentation called "PG: Parental Guidance for Teens" tonight at 7:00 p.m. at George Washington Middle School.

Information to be covered includes current drug trends being seen here in Ridgewood & Bergen County, symptoms and availability, and suggestions for how parents can answer tough questions teens might ask. This is an interactive presentation, facilitated by Dee Debernardis of The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources. The program is being offered by the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Committee with funding from the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance grant.

Questions or for more information call Ridgewood Parks and Recreation 201-670-5560.

What a dilemma: Board of Education meeting, Parental Guidance program or Monday Night Football...

A little clarity #1: GW student population

Let's clear-up part of the story in Friday's Ridgewood News about the upcoming school bond referendum: The reason the proposed addition to GW middle school does not qualify for state aid is because the district doesn't show any "unhoused" middle school students, not because GW doesn't have unhoused students. (Unhoused students are calculated by subtracting projected enrollment from the buildings' functional capacity.) When awarding aid for expansion, the state evaluates population by district, not by school. Our total number of middle school students is 1,362, split roughly evenly between BF and GW. But GW is a much smaller building than BF. At GW, students are packed. Teaching is taking place in hallways and in the principal's office. Space is needed for regular education, special education and health/wellness classes.

The important thing to remember is that quite a lot of the proposed projects DID qualify for state aid, and the state has awarded (what I think is a remarkable) $9.8 million in grants and $2.1 million in debt service aid. This will be a big help and who knows when the state will be in a position to offer this type of aid again?

Watch your mailbox in the next few days for a letter from the district, outlining all the projects included in the referendum. There will also be many meetings where Dr. Fishbein, Mr. DeSimone or Board members will answer your questions.

Our growing school district: 2009-10 enrollment

As Dr. Fishbein reported at last night's meeting, here's a snapshot of enrollment school by school in Ridgewood, as of 9/9/09 and compared to one year ago (9/15/08):

2009 # (2008 #) Change +/-

Glen 36 (28) +8

Hawes 408 (406) +2

Orchard 323 (329) -6

Ridge 478 (474) +4

Somerville 533 (507) +26 (wow!)

Travell 410 (416) -6

Willard 456 (466) -10

Total Elementary: 2,644 (2,626) +18

BFMS 687 (690) -3

GWMS 675 (666) +9

Total Middle School: 1,362 (1,356) +6

RHS 1,666 (1,664) +2

Free program offers Parental Guidance (PG) for Teens

Wondering what teens in Ridgewood are up to these days? Looking for advice on how to talk to your teens about living a healthy, drug-free life? The Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Committee is offering Ridgewood parents and community members a 1-hour presentation called "PG: Parental Guidance for Teens" on September 21 at 7:00 p.m. at George Washington Middle School.

Information to be covered includes drug trends being seen here in Bergen County, symptoms and availability, and suggestions for how parents can answer tough questions teens might ask will be discussed in an interactive presentation, facilitated by Dee Debernardis of The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources. The program is being offered by the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance Committee with funding from the New Jersey Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Ridgewood Municipal Alliance grant.

Questions or for more information call Ridgewood Parks and Recreation 201-670-5560.