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the ridge bridgethe parent’s bridge between home and school
volume eleven, winter issueridge high school pto february 2015
From the Desk of the Principal– Frank Howlett
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Student Drivers and ParkingAs we move towards spring and juniors begin to secure their licenses and drive to school, traffic and parking become issues. Off-campus parking fills up rapidly and some juniors may gamble that they will not be found parking on school grounds “illegally.” If a junior is found parking
on campus it will result in revocation of parking “privileges” for his/her entire senior year.
While the number of faculty and senior drivers has increased, we have also lost nine-teen parking spaces due
to the new traffic pattern at RHS. As this trend continues we will need to re-evaluate the process with which we assign senior parking spots. I will be meeting with the Student Government members in the spring to address this issue. There may be a return to a lottery system in coming years. This would result in some seniors having parking privileges for only one semester of their senior year.
Each year I receive requests for single spots for seniors due to a variety of rea-sons, including a disability or a job off campus. I cannot approve them as this will result in the loss of campus parking for other students. Should you have a student with a handicap that you believe warrants a parking accommodation, please file with the State of New Jersey for a handicapped parking permit. We have ample handicapped parking.
Option II Program UpdateWe continue to monitor and adjust our Option II program for physical education (PE). I believe RHS has one of the most
“hassle-free” programs in the state. Com-paratively, we allow a wider range of choices for Option II PE than do other high schools. In addition, we allow off-site coaches and trainers to evaluate the students. All the student needs to do when approved for the off-site option is attend and fulfill the requirements of the approved program—no journals, videotapes, or other requirements (other than the coach evaluation) are necessary.
A change this year includes an evaluation required for each marking period. Often we have found that students leave an activity and do not inform the school. Requiring a marking period evaluation is a safeguard that would limit any loss of credit for a marking period rather than a year. Students must pass two of the three marking periods in PE in order to meet the yearly PE requirement.
The Option II program is a challenge to carry out and we devote time from two administrators and a secretary to its implementation.
If receiving an evaluation from a coach or trainer becomes an issue, that individual’s program may be suspended for a period of time or not included again. Deadlines are essential as the number of students that must be scheduled “by hand” can near 800. To accommodate Option II students, study halls must be scheduled, which requires building space and a teacher. Please stay aware of the deadlines for applying to the program as no exceptions will be made.
The Option II program is a great tool for many students. It is essential that we maintain the integrity of the program in order to avoid disbanding it.
Thank you.
RIDGESENIOR ACTIVITIESMarch 2015
11 100 Days Until Graduation!A SCOP Team sponsored event. Goodies will be given to seniors during lunch periods.
25 Senior Brunch10:25 am, Ridge CafeteriaAttendance is mandatory. Diploma and cap & gown information distributed.It is critical all seniors attend.
1-31 Graduation Announcements Order announcements at http://www.payitsquare.com/collect-page/60897
April 2015
23 Mr. Ridge7 pm, Ridge PAC
May 2015
15 Senior PromBirchwood Manor, WhippanyDetails to follow in upcoming Friday Folders.
June 2015
5 Senior Dinner6 to 9 pm, Ridge Cafeteria
17 Ice Cream PartyA SCOP Team sponsored event immediately following graduation practice.
17-18 Graduation Practices1 pm, Lee FieldAttendance is mandatory.
18 Ridge Graduation6:30 pm, Lee Field
18 Senior BashFunplex, East Hanover, NJDetails to follow.
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RIDGE PTO
A Word from Our PTO Co-PresidentsHappy New Year!On behalf of the PTO, we would like to wish everyone a happy New Year as we kick off the second half of the school year!
What is Cold, Clean, and Crisp?Water from Ridge’s new water fountain/bottle fillers! Over winter break, ten water fountains with a bottle-filling feature were installed around Ridge High School. The student government funded one of these fountains and the other nine were a gift from the Ridge High School PTO. These environmentally-friendly fountains provide Ridge students, staff, and visitors with a convenient way to access cold, filtered water while reducing waste from disposable water bottles.
Make sure your student comes to school with a reusable water bottle, so he/she can fill up and stay hydrated all day long!
PTO Class ParentsIf you have concerns and questions that you would like addressed by the school administration, please bring them to your PTO class parents. They meet with Mr. Howlett every month to raise issues and concerns.
Grade 9 Class ParentsLinda Ingling [email protected] Policastro [email protected] Ziegler [email protected]
Grade 10 Class ParentsRhonda Dunten [email protected] Singhvi [email protected]
Grade 11 Class ParentsBetsy Bacot-Aigner [email protected] Boudreau [email protected] Mueller [email protected]
Grade 12 Class ParentsLinda Fagan [email protected] Huber [email protected] Loh [email protected]
PTO Executive Board PositionsThere are several positions available on the 2015-2016 Ridge PTO Executive Board. Please take a look at the job descriptions on page 3 to see if you would like to volunteer. Please contact one of the board members or email us at [email protected] if you have questions about the open positions.
Market DayDon’t forget to support our monthly Mar-ket Day fundraiser. Check out the website www.marketday.com for some delicious food. Deadlines for orders are listed in the following table and as always, alternate pick-ups can be arranged.
Market DayOrder By Date
Market DayPick Up Date
March 18 March 25April 22 April 29May 20 May 27
Please contact Brenda Miller at [email protected] or Christine Marston at [email protected] with any questions. Thanks in advance for your continued support—funds from Market Day support various school clubs and teams throughout the year!
Thank You Volunteers and Mark Your Calendars for June 1Lastly we would like to thank all the volunteers who commit their time to the many PTO and school events. There are always plenty of opportunities to help out during the school year. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the PTO at [email protected]. Look for details for our annual PTO volunteer breakfast on June 1! We hope you will be able to attend.
Amy Venetianer and Jane Kolarik Ridge PTO Co-Presidents
INSIDE THIS ISSUEUpdated PARCC Schedule ..............3Dates to Remember .........................4Ridge AMS Scholarship ..................4Counseling Department News .........5Board of Education Meetings ..........6Ugly Holiday Sweaters ....................6Chorus & Band Highlights ..............7Japanese Program ............................7Ridge Recognition ...........................8NJ Science League ..........................8Bye Bye Birdie ................................9Drama Club Highlights ..................10Cabaret ...........................................10Ridge Fencers ................................ 11Mock Trial Team ........................... 11Forensic Highlights .......................12Indoor Percussion Ensemble .........13Varsity Athletes of the Month ........13Dance Department SoulWalk ........14Cheerleading Competition Team ...14Ski Team Highlights ......................15
YOU ARE INVITED!Join us for the Seventh Annual Ridge High Volunteer Breakfast
An Open House for ALL Ridge Parents
monday, june 1, 2015
8 am to 10 am
mockingbird cafe
If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Elaine Edge, [email protected].
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the ridge bridgeEditors: Karen Wexler
and Gayle Shimoun
Submissions may be made via email [email protected]
2014-15 RIDGE PTO EXECUTIVE BOARDCo-Presidents Jane KolarikAmy Venetianer1st Vice President, Volunteers Dorit KransdorfIrene McDonnell2nd Vice President, Programs Elaine EdgeCandace Hull3rd Vice President, Newsletter Gayle ShimounKaren Wexler4th Vice President, Fundraising Chris CorriganTreasurer Kathy KrellRecording SecretaryJen KlugerCommunication OfficerAmy JonesBoard members may be reached [email protected]
MARKET DAYNext Order Date
March 18Next Pickup Date
March 25Order online at
www.marketday.com
Updated PARCC Test Calendar For Ridge High SchoolStudents will attend school during the appropriate testing time. Seniors will have a separate schedule. Details to follow in upcoming Friday Folders.
Performance-Based AssessmentMarch 2015
Testing Dates Groups TestedMondayMarch 23
English/Language ArtsGrades 9 & 10 7:30-11:30 amGrade 1110:25 am-2:25 pm
TuesdayMarch 24
English/Language ArtsGrades 9 & 10 7:30-11:30 amGrade 1110:25 am-2:25 pm
WednesdayMarch 25
Algebra I and Algebra II 7:30-11:30 amGeometry10:25 am-2:25 pm
March 26-30 Make Ups
End-of-Year AssessmentApril 2015
Testing Dates Groups TestedApril 21 English/Language Arts
Grades 9 & 10 7:30-11:30 amGrade 1110:25 am-2:25 pm
April 22 Algebra I and Algebra II 7:30-11:30 amGeometry10:25 am-2:25 pm
April 23-24 Make Ups
The Ridge PTO Executive Board has several openings for two-year
positions starting in the fall of 2015. Complete job descriptions can be
found at ridgepto.com. If you have any interest in supporting Ridge
High School through volunteering, please send an email to
Co-PresidentOne Opening
2nd Vice President, Programs
Two Openings
Recording SecretaryOne Opening
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SCHOOL CONNECTION
It doesn’t take a 4.5 GPA and 2400 SATs to receive a scholarship.
The 2015 Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship (Ridge AMS) is looking for graduating seniors who have demonstrated “character, determination, and nontradi-tional achievements” during their tenure at RHS. Applicants aren’t even asked about grades or test scores. This year’s award is $10,000.
The award recipient may use the funds for virtually any educational, vocational, or personal growth expenses—meaning tuition, a gap year, a car to get to work, studio time, or something a graduating senior needs that Ridge AMS organizers haven’t yet thought of.
Last year, Ridge AMS awarded its largest grant to date to Grace Smith (RHS ’14). It was the largest scholarship presented at Ridge’s 2014 Awards Night, other than ones connected to a particular college or university.
“This is the ninth Ridge AMS scholarship,” according to Jane Cullinan (RHS ’67), who chairs the Ridge AMS Board of Trustees. “What started with the announcement of a $1,000 grant has grown tenfold. We’re grateful for the support of
Character Can Earn a Ridge Senior $10,000 in 2015
Ridge alumni and the community, and proud to say that 100% of the donations go to scholarships. We’re committed to making a meaningful contribution to a deserving senior’s future. That’s the purpose of the Ridge Alumni Memorial Scholarship—honoring the past by supporting the future.”
Graduating Ridge seniors can learn more at the Ridge AMS website (RidgeAMS.googlepages.com, or search “Ridge AMS”), or by contacting Ridge High School guidance counselors. Applica-tion instructions appear on the website.
The deadline for applications is March 3, 2015.
Ridge AMS is a 501(C)(3) funded entirely by donations. Ridge AMS contributions are tax-deductible.
The RHS Media Center recently concluded its annual “Books for Kids” book drive. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Basking Ridge community, we were able to collect a total of 2,601 books! We didn’t think it was possible to exceed last year’s impressive contribution—but we did! This year’s books were sent to libraries in Newark, Irvington, Asbury Park, and Long Branch and were distributed as gifts to needy children. We were also able to send books to the Salvation Army’s after-care programs in Bridgewater and to “Books for Taiwan,” an organization that ships books to Taiwan’s rural elementary schools, jails, public libraries, and culinary schools. The books that were donated were truly
“Books for Kids” Book Drive Successful!beautiful and certainly brightened many children’s holiday seasons. We are so appreciative of the contributions made by so many students, families, and faculty. It was especially heartwarming to see those students who hand delivered those very heavy bags of books! We are grateful that the campaign was such a huge success and would like to extend a sincere “thank-you” to all who donated so generously.
DATES TO REMEMBERFebruary 2015
25 Market Day Pick Up27-28 RHS Musical – Bye Bye Birdie
7 pm, PAC
March 2015
10 Cabaret, 7 pm, PAC12 Option II Athletics Deadline
for Marking Period 414 SAT, Ridge18 Market Day Orders Due19 Ridge’s Got Talent, 7 pm, PAC25 Market Day Pick Up
April 2015
2 MP3 Ends and Last Day for Course Change Requests
3 School Closed, Good Friday8 An Evening of Jazz Concert
7 pm, PAC13-17 School Closed, Spring Recess21 Marching Band Info Session
7 pm, RHS Band Room22 Market Day Orders Due23 Mr. Ridge, 7 pm, PAC24 Junior Prom29 Market Day Pick Up
May 2015
2 SAT4 Ridge Activities Fair4-15 AP Exams8 Spring Dance Showcase
7 pm, PAC15 Senior Prom20 Market Day Orders Due22 School Closed, In-service25 School Closed, Memorial Day26-27 End of Course Biology Test
Delayed Opening for Students Not Testing
27 Market Day Pick Up28 RHS Band Concert, 7 pm, PAC
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News and Notes from the Ridge Counseling DepartmentJunior ConferencesJunior conferences started in February and run through the month of April.
Letters indicating the date and time of your one-hour individual counselor/junior student/parent meeting were mailed in late January/early February. Should you not be able to attend, your child will still meet with the high school counselor at the appointed time. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we are unable to reschedule appointments.
Prior to the junior conference:Students should complete the “Primary List of Colleges” worksheet and bring it to the appointment. This form was mailed home with the conference notification letter (additional copies can be downloaded from the counseling website).
Students should log into their Naviance account and complete the “Colleges I’m Thinking About” section.
March 2015
Course selection and junior conferences continue.
April 2015
Course Request Changes Students have until the end of the school day (2:30 pm) on April 2 to change course requests (see item in red at left).
LD Night On April 20 at 7 pm, the counseling department and child study team will offer a presentation on applying to colleges for students who have learning disabilities. This is geared toward parents who have a child with an IEP, 504 plan, or other learning disability. Stay tuned to Friday Folders for more information.
Sophomore Career Module Counselors will meet with sophomores in late April/early May in the computer labs for a career presentation. Sophomores will then access their personal Naviance account and take a “Career Interest Inventory” to help them identify their strengths/weaknesses, likes/dislikes, and potential fields of interest.
General Reminders
Scholarships and Special Programs All scholarships and special programs received by the counseling office are posted on Naviance. While many are geared toward juniors and seniors, there are a number that any student, grades 9 through 12, can apply for. Log in, click “Colleges,” then “Scholarship List” to see the current offerings. Check back often, as we post new opportunities as soon as we receive them.
February 2015
New Website Link to our updated site: http://www.ber-nardsboe.com/departments/counseling_de-partment/ridge_high_school_counseling/For the most up-to-date news and information, please remember that the RHS Counseling website is constantly being updated!
AP StudentsOn January 12, all AP students received a hard copy of the Bulletin for AP Students and Parents during the school day. On exam day, all exam-takers sign their answer sheets, indicating that they understand and agree to the policies and procedures in the Bulletin.
The online system for AP registration will be available January 26 through March 2. No late registrations can be accepted. Registration information and directions were mailed home in January, but can also be found on the counseling department website (click the “Advanced Placement Testing” tab).
Seniors...Class of 2015The counseling department will automati-cally send midyear grades to any college to which you have applied. No additional requests are required, and we need no additional forms. These midyear reports were scheduled to go out the week of February 16.
8th Grade Registration 2015-16Counselors were at WAMS in early February to hold scheduling conferences with 8th graders.
Upperclassmen Registration 2015-2016• Students and parents can now access and review the Program of Studies on the Ridge High School counseling department website (click the “Scheduling” tab).
• Students in each grade level met with counselors on January 29 to review the important Program of Studies changes and specific information pertaining to their grade.
• In consultation with their parents, students should complete the Course Selection Sheet and pencil in course requests and alternatives for electives for the 2015-2016 school year. Students should bring completed Course Selection Sheets to their student/counselor scheduling appointment.
• Students should check the bulletin board outside the cafeteria for their scheduled appointment time with their counselor (they will receive a pass the day before the appointment). Appointments will be held in February and March.
• Course requests and alternate electives will become visible in HAC during March.
• Students have until the end of the school day (2:30 pm) on April 2 to change course requests. After this date, there will be NO COURSE CHANGES allowed for the 2015-2016 school year. Permission to change elective courses will only be granted by the administration as a result of scheduling conflicts. Level changes will continue to be made as described in the Program of Studies. Students wishing to alter their course selections should email their counselor by this date/time.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGSTo view a video recording of each Board of Education meeting, go tohttp://www.bernardsboe.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3096972&pageId=6196390. Minutes of all BOE meetings are available at http://www.bernardsboe.com/board_of_education/agendas___minutes/
February 2015
23 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS
March 2015
9 Liberty Corner School Showcase and BOE Meeting 7 pm, Liberty Corner School
23 Oak Street School Showcase and BOE Meeting, 7 pm, Oak Street School
April 2015
6 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, RHS PAC27 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS
May 2015
4 Ridge HS Showcase and BOE Meeting – Budget Hearing 7 pm, RHS PAC
18 Cedar Hill School Showcase and BOE Meeting, 7 pm, Cedar Hill School
June 2015
8 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS15 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, RHS PAC
H Funds donated to “adopt” Rita, a kit fox, who previously lived in a small cage in Mexico and was never allowed out to roam. This adoption will allow her to be moved to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado and will help sponsor her food, toys, habitat, and overall care. Club: Animal Protectors ClubAdvisor: Stephanie Wilpiszeski
H Funds donated to Wounded Warriors which serves veterans and service members who incurred an injury during their military service. Club: USA PrideAdvisors: Steve Kohut and Mark Galesi
H Funds donated to organizations that support LGBTQQ teens.Club: Gay/Straight Alliance – “The mem-bers were greatly touched by the fact that someone chose our club for a donation. We are a small club and know that some students are afraid to be members of it or support it for fear of being stigmatized. This donation sent a great message to our members: it showed that there are members of the Ridge community who are willing to support the students we are trying to help as well.”Advisor: Megan Kern
On December 22, the Ridge High School Language Arts department hosted an Ugly Holiday Sweater competition. All the language arts classes were encouraged to participate. In order to partake in the event, students contributed $1 to the class pot, though some students gave more than $1 and others contributed even if they didn’t participate. Each class then voted for the
person they be-lieved wore the ugliest sweater and the winner got to choose the recipient of the donations from a list of charities. All the charities are affiliated with a club here
at Ridge. The recipients of the funds are listed below. The advisors were so thankful for the donations and many of them wrote back to us to let us know how the money from the Ugly Holiday Sweater contests was going to be used.
H Funds donated to SHARE in Africa, to help install electricity in the schools and provide internet access to the students. Club: SHARE in Africa Advisor: Jennifer Lamberti
Ugly Holiday Sweaters Help Charities
The Governor’s School of New Jersey is a unique residential summer program committed to meeting the educational needs of high-achieving juniors interested in rigorous and demanding science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic programs. Emphasis is placed on solving complex problems that exist on a local, state, national, and international level. The two programs available are the Governor’s School in the Sciences at Drew University and
the Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
All juniors are eligible to submit an application, which is reviewed by a committee of teachers, counselors, and administrators. The committee analyzes student schedules, transcripts, and test scores, giving special consideration to courses and grades earned within the STEM fields. Leadership and passion for the field are also examined through the student application and required essays.
Each year, Ridge High School is permitted to nominate two finalists for
Governor’s School of NJ Nominations each Governor’s School. This year we were pleased to announce the following nominees:School of Engineering & TechnologyTimothy Tang and Christoph AignerSchool in the Sciences Shawn Kant and Srinivas MandyamFor more information, please refer to http://www.nj.gov/govschool/
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REGISTER FOR AP EXAMS
The online system for AP registration will be available January 26 through March 2. No late registrations can be accepted. Registration information and directions can be found at http://www.bernardsboe.com/departments/counseling_department/ridge_high_school_counseling/advanced_place-ment_testing/
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RHS Japanese Program Holds Its First Bunkasai As a part of this year’s World Language Month, the Japanese National Honor Society, Japanese program, and World Language Club hosted Ridge High’s first Bunkasai, or Japanese Cultural Festival, on Friday, February 6. The event featured a haunted house, maid café, sushi-making contest, ramen eating contest, My Neigh-bor Totoro film screening, and more. This event was made possible by the generous $599 Sakura Grant from the Japan Com-merce Association of Washington DC for the 2014-2015 academic year for Ridge High School’s Japanese program.
Winners of the Ridge High School’s Nengajo competition:(Top) Pre-advanced Japanese Honors: William Wei Wen(Bottom) AP Japanese: Cameron Montag
Japanese Students Create Nengajo In honor of the coming New Year, Japa-nese classes at Ridge High learned about the importance of sending nengajo (New Year’s cards) in Japanese culture. Students then participated in making their own original New Year’s cards and a contest was held in each class to see whose card was the most artistic, original, or comical. The winners’ cards will be entered into the Official 2015 American Association of Teachers of Japanese Nengajo contest to compete on the national level. Thank you to all the students of the Ridge High Japanese program for participating!
Band ProgramHighlightsAn Evening of Jazz The Ridge High School and William Annin Middle School jazz programs will present the annual Evening of Jazz on April 8, 2015 at 7 pm in the Ridge PAC. The bands will perform a variety of big band music ranging from swing to funk. Accomplished student soloists will be featured throughout the program.
Wind Ensemble Performs at NJMEA ConferenceAfter a rigorous screening process, a panel comprising members of both the New Jersey Band Association and the NAFME All-State Band Committee have chosen the Ridge High School Wind Ensemble to appear at the 2015 NJBA-NAFME Wind Band Academy on Thursday, February 19, 2015. RHS Wind Ensemble was the only band in the state chosen for this honor. We will present a concert of newly published works for band.
CJMEA Region Band/Orchestra Joe Criscione, Alex Huang, Lezhou JiangAndrew McKeon, Madeline Wong, Caleb Woo, Jasmine Xie, Jonathan Xie, Justin Yuan and Ben Zhou were accepted into the CMJEA Region Band/Orchestra.
All-State Band Lezhou Jiang, Andrew McKeon and Caleb Woo were accepted into the All-State Band.
Chorus Highlights2015 Region II Chorus Results It was a banner day for the Ridge High School Choral Department on Saturday, December 13, when 22 students were accepted to the Region II Mixed or Women’s Choirs. Over 500 students in central New Jersey auditioned. They performed their combined concert on Sunday, February 1.Mixed Choir: Avani Bhargava, Luke Chiafullo, Claire Fiocco, Katie Kim, Savitha Krishnan, Virginia Lafean, Jeremy Mazumder, Owen McKenna, Timmy Morrow, Sydney Vollmar, Madeline Wong.Women’s Choir: Carollyne Conway, Julia Fiocco, Tiffany George, Jennifer Kauffman, Evelyne Labelle, Sarah Morrow, Melissa Nora, Anna O’Brien, Shreya Rudrapatna, Paige Smyth, Molly Weber.
2015 New Jersey All-State Women’s Choir Julian Fiocco, Savitha Krishnan, and Evelyn Labelle will perform with the New Jersey All-State Women’s Choir at NJPAC on Saturday, February 21, 2015.
RHS to Host CJMEA Band Festival in MarchFor the first time, Ridge High School will be hosting the prestigious Central Jersey Music Educators’ Association Region II Concert Band Festival on Tuesday, March 24. The evening will feature 9 concert bands from Central New Jersey, including our own concert band and wind ensemble, performing for each other as well as for nationally recognized music educators. The performance will take place from 6 pm until 10 pm at the Ridge PAC. Spectators are welcome and encouraged. Tickets are $5 and food will also be available for purchase.
StudentsThe sophomore class collected almost 3,000 cans for the canned food drive and donated them to Somerset County Food Bank!
The Ridge dance department started their first chapter of National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) in the fall. Two NHSDA inductees, Lianna Shimoun and Rachel Keough, had their dance articles chosen and published in NHSDA’s first national newsletter, Dance Arts, Now! Go to https://mlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8110f869001/accbe2b1-e5b0-4e1e-ad97-d53dcfddacc3.pdf to read the articles.
StaffDr. Cindy Athanasiou, forensic science teacher, can add another title to her name—on January 4, 2015 she was elected, ordained, and installed as an Elder at the Hillsborough Reformed Church at Millstone.
On October 25, 2014, both special education teacher Jen Hauser and secretary Mary Ellen Peters completed a Half Ironman Triathlon in Wilmington, NC.
English teacher Michele Goff completed the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC on October 26, 2015 in less than 4 hours!
ridge recognitionThe purpose of Ridge Recognition is to highlight the accomplishments of RHS students, faculty, and staff. If you or someone you know is deserving of praise and recognition, please send us an email at [email protected].
Choral Director Barbara Retzko has been chosen to receive a Distinguished Service Award from the NJMEA Board of Directors. This award is presented to members who have honored themselves with faithful service to music education in public, private, and parochial schools of New Jersey; who have accumulated a total of 25 years in the service of music educa-tion; and who have distinguished them-selves through service to the regions and/or NJMEA. Eighty percent of the years of service must represent full-time service in the schools of New Jersey.
Rachel Miranda, dance teacher, attended the NJAHPERD’s Dance Education Conference “Let’s Dance NJ” in October in Millburn, NJ. She also attended NYSDEA’s Dance Education Conference “Cultural Diversity in the Dance Class” at New York University during the last weekend of January where she learned how to enhance the cultural dance curriculum alongside dance educators from NJ and NY.
BirthsApplied arts teacher Mark Dotta and his wife, Kirsten, welcomed daughter Tessa Kate, on October 23. She was 18.5" and 6 lbs.
Computer technician Gerardo Acevedo and his wife, Monica, welcomed daughter Felicity on December 23. She was 19" and weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz.
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The New Jersey Science League Results for JanuaryThe New Jersey Science League is a competitive science organization operating within the state of New Jersey. Science League holds a series of four local competitions that allow students to demonstrate their ability in science. Each test combines new material as well as including material from previous tests. Scores are sent to the New Jersey Science League where they are ranked statewide. The first competition took place on January 15 at Ridge High School.
Ridge High School took first place in all subjects in January.
Cathy Jin, Thomas Mazumder, Shaheer Rizwan, Katie Zhu, and Simon Zhang represented the Chemistry I team. Simon scored a perfect test and earned the top score in this area.
Vaikunth Balaji, Aditya Sheth, Louie Zhou, and Joyce Lee represented Chemistry II. Joyce earned the highest score in this area.
Sanath Nagaraj, Srinivas Mandyam, Brian McCormick, and Timothy Tang represented Physics 2. Timothy earned the highest score in this area.
Connor McKeon, Jeremy Mazumder, Oliver Tang, and Cameron Montag represented Physics C. Cameron earned the top score in this subject.
Catherine Chen, Sikata Sengupta, Brandon Lu, and Andrea Zhang represented Biology I. Brandon and Andrea tied for the highest score in this area.
Keerthana Akkisetty, Alicia Jen, Kavel Parikh, and Renee Hastings represented Biology II. Renee earned the top score in this subject.
Congratulations to our Science League students for a wonderful competition!
RIDGE CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
BYE BYE BIRDIEWhenFebruary 27 & 28, 2015 at 7 pmWhereRidge Performing Arts Center (PAC)TicketsAvailable at www.ridgepac.comAdults: $16Students and Seniors: $12
ContactMegan Kern, Director [email protected]
Production TeamDirector: Megan KernMusic Director: Lyndsey SchaeferOrchestra Director: Jennifer Curran Choreographer: Rachel MirandaSet Designer: Jason StewartSound & Lighting Designer: David Kern
Plot SummaryThe year is 1958, and the much-adored rock-and-roll idol, Conrad Birdie, has been drafted into the US army. His songwriter and agent, Albert, and Albert’s secretary and lover, Rosie, hatch a plan for a farewell performance to take place on the Ed Sullivan show, which they hope will help sell Birdie’s new song “One Last Kiss,” and ultimately save Almaelou records from going under. To cap off the performance, Birdie will actually give ‘one-last-kiss’ to Kim MacAfee, an avid member of the Conrad Birdie fan club from Sweet Apple, Ohio. When Albert and Rosie head to Sweet Apple to prepare for Birdie’s arrival, things start to unravel. Come join us at the performance to see how things turn out in this satirical musical that pokes fun at popular culture, rock n’ roll, and American family life!
Coming Soon to the Ridge PAC...
AJ D’Ambrosio as Conrad Birdie.
Photo above (l to r): The Ridge senior members of the cast are Jenny Kauffman, Morgan Hill, Zachary Keenan, Luke Chiafullo, Samuel Cline, AJ D’Ambrosio, Morgan Hernandez, Isabella Guerriero, Alex Piro, Rebecca Hull.
Photo left, back row (l to r): Morgan Hill, Luke Chiafullo, AJ D’Ambrosio, Morgan Hernandez, Rebecca Hull. Front row (l to r): Jessica Burchett, Jackie Maese, Rachel Keough, Peyton Kennedy.
Option II Athletics Deadline March 12The deadline for Option II Athletics Marking Period 4 is March 12, 2015. All applications must be submitted by the above deadline. There will be NO exceptions. The application for Option II off-site and Ridge sports can be found at the following link:http://bernardsboe.ss5.sharpschool.com/departments/counseling_depart-ment/ridge_high_school_counseling/option_i_i/
Are You Faster Than a Ridge Runner?Come out and join the running community of the Basking Ridge area in racing with some of the top high school runners in Somerset County!
A 5K race/1-mile walk/kids’ run will be held Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Mountain Park, Martinsville Road and Mountain Road, Basking Ridge, NJ, with check-in between 8:00 and 8:45 am. The USATF certified 5K course is a flat looped trail through the park. Water stations and pro-fessional race timing will be provided, with splits given at the one- and two-mile marks. Awards will be given by age group.
The event is to benefit the Ridge High School cross country and track & field teams and is sponsored by the Ridge Runners Booster Club. We are raising funds to acquire equipment needed for the teams. Registration fees are $20 for the 5K race and 1-mile walk and $10 for kids’ run participants. Registration must be completed by March 13, 2015 to receive a long sleeve t-shirt and entry into our door prize giveaway. The fee for late and race-day registration is $25. The registration form can be obtained at www.njridgerunners.com. Email your questions to [email protected].
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by Peyton Kennedy, Drama Club Secretary
The Ridge Drama Club hosted two interesting and fun seminars this fall/winter for every member interested in theater, cast, or crew.
The first seminar on December 8 kicked off with a very informative talkback Q & A with professional actor Lisa Capps, led by drama teacher Megan Kern.
Ms. Capps shared how she started her career in California at the age of 13, appearing in commercials and then on the TV show Growing Pains. She graduated from USC’s professional acting program and went on to hold the roles of Eponine and Cosette in the national tour of Les Miserables and the leading role of Fantine on Broadway! Lisa was the only woman in the history of Les Miserables to have the honor of playing all three leading roles throughout her 9 years with the show! Lisa also appeared in Miss Saigon and now teaches theater at a school in Jersey City and at the Hoboken Children’s Theater Company in Hoboken, while pursuing her Masters degree in educational theater at NYU. We learned so much about a life in the theater while talking with her!
We followed by having an interactive audition workshop where Ms. Capps coached several student volunteers on the Ridge PAC stage through auditioning skills in preparation for upcoming audi-tions for the Bye-Bye Birdie musical. It was a real benefit to challenge ourselves with her suggestions.
Lastly, all the members got on stage and learned the choreographed dance scene “One Day More” from Les Miserables! “Do you hear the people sing”?
On January 14, we were so happy to have Melissa Castner and Sarah Francavilla of Bella Rouge Studio in Morristown lead us in a “Behind the Scenes Stage Makeup” class! This was so much fun as we got to see our three volunteers transform their look under the skilled technique of Ms. Francavilla, who is a makeup artist with experience in TV, Film, and Editorial.
Ridge Drama Club Hosts Acting and Stage Makeup Seminars
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Under the lights we saw each student’s appearance change as we learned techniques to achieve an “aged” look just by the way makeup is applied. We also saw how to apply the appropriate amount of makeup for males on stage. Lastly, everyone’s favorite, we learned special effects such as applying bruises and wounds to make us look totally different!
We all took away many tips and tricks we can now use in preparation for our musical production of Bye Bye Birdie this February 27 and 28! We hope to see you there!
CABARETTuesday, March 10, 2015
7 pm, Ridge PAC
CABARET is an in-class project that explores the music of Broadway and the movies, and is performed by the members of the period 8 Concert Choir. The culmination of this project is a one-night-only performance on Tuesday, March 10 at 7 pm in the RHS PAC. The show will include individual numbers and all-cast numbers, which are choreographed by the students. All facets of the show were chosen by the class. Tickets can be purchased in the main lobby during all lunch periods in the first week of March. It is a show not to be missed!
SAVE THE DATE!Ridge’s Got TalentThursday, March 19
7 pm, Ridge PAC
Mr. RidgeThursday, April 237 pm, Ridge PAC
Peyton Kennedy performs during the Ridge Drama Club audition workshop.
Drama Club students experience the transforming effects of stage makeup during the Behind the Scenes Stage Makeup workshop.
The Ridge Mock Trial Team competed for the second year in the Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition for Somerset County. The competition, which is sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the New Jersey State Bar Association, has been held for 33 years. This year, over 3,000 students from New Jersey argued the case Payton Reynolds v. Smithville School District
and Dalton Fisher. The case involved a lawsuit by a parent against a school district and teacher for negligence when her child was injured during a field trip.
Each participating school prepared a prosecution/plaintiff team and a defense team. During the two nights of county competition, each school’s plaintiff team argued against another Somerset County school’s defense team. Students competed in the Somerset County Courthouse in real courtrooms, sitting where juries and attorneys argue and hear cases.
Ridge students worked for at least 50 hours after school preparing for the case, not to mention their time spent preparing at home. Students had the benefit of attorney coaches Ed Zohn, criminal defense attorney, and Scott Mitzner,
Ridge Mock Trial Team Wins in Somerset County Competition
The Ridge High School boys and girls fencing teams finished in first place overall in the New Jersey District 2 championship, which was held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at North Hunterdon High School. The results for the individual squads were:
Boys Foil—First PlaceBoys Epee—Third PlaceBoys Sabre—Fourth Place
Girls Epee—First PlaceGirls Foil—Third PlaceGirls Sabre—Fifth Place
Another Successful Season for Ridge Fencers
Ridge parent and criminal defense attorney, both of whom provided valuable advice on negligence law as well as the intricacies of the case. The team also had the opportunity to practice at the Bernards Township municipal building in the munic-ipal courtroom. Judge Bogosian, Bernards Township municipal judge, adjudicated their practice session and offered sugges-tions on proper trial procedures.
Ridge students competed against two of the highest-ranked schools in the competi-tion. Our prosecution team won the jury verdict and Maya Gupta earned the award for “best witness” of the competition. Other Ridge participants were attorneys Karen Shen, Isabel Atkinson, Maddie King, and William Wen. Witnesses were Maddie Ehret, Jeremy Fields, Tiffany George, Maya Gupta, Maddie Kusel, Sowmya Mannimala, and Julia Sun. For more information, please visit our website: http://ridgemocktrialteam.webs.com/
Fencers Cameron Shadpoor, Sebastian Tirado, Amanda Choy, and Lee Ann Choy qualified for the Individual State Champi-onships, scheduled for February 28, 2015.
The Ridge fencing teams are having a spectacular year, with the boys team unde-feated at 10-0 and the girls team at 8-3.
In addition, Amanda Choy was selected as a New Jersey Star Ledger athlete of the week for the week of January 7, 2015.
Boys Team, back row (l to r): Assistant boys coach Jason Choy, Alex Wang, Pulak Raj, Arsalan Husain, Will Gaziano, Paul Molander, Jacob Klein, Brennan Wu, Ray Comperiati, Cameron Shadpoor, Head Boys Coach Jinjun Shen Front row (l to r): Daniel McCarthy, Felix Yin, Mark Simeon, Sebastian Tirado
Girls Team, back row (l to r): Emily Sellitti, Lee Ann Choy, Natalie Daukszewicz, Coach Glenn Blekicki, Ellie McCarthy, Amanda Laversa, Emily Saul (team captain), Amanda Choy, Anna Peczak, Rita BianchiFront row (l to r): Olivia Seltzer, Cayla Cwener, Emily York, Gauri Badrish
Girls Epee – Gold Medal: Rita Bianchi, Amanda Choy, LeeAnn Choy
Boys Foil – Gold Medal: Sebastian Tirado, Cameron Shadpoor, Mark Simeon, Will Gaziano
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Ridge Forensics concluded 2014 with an optimistic season full of unprecedented performances.
The team kicked off the season at the Yale Invitational in September and won the overall team sweepstakes for a second year in a row, proving that the hard work of speech competitors, debaters, and coaches paid off well. Seniors Alison Shim, Asli Peckan, and Raina Karia placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Congressional Debate, respec-tively, along with junior Katie Kleinle who also advanced to the final round. Ridge’s achievements in the wide array of speech events offered at Yale are just as noteworthy. Sophomore Chandni Singhvi placed 6th in Humorous Interpretation, seniors AJ D’Ambrosio and Amanda Luthy advanced to semifinals in Duo Interpre-tation, and juniors Vaikunth Balaji and Shawn Kant reached the Extemporaneous Speaking semifinals.
One month later in mid-October, Ridge’s success had yet to falter. At the NYC invitational at the Bronx High School of Science that just ended on Sunday, Ridge still managed to get far with a relatively small number of attending competitors. Senior Saloni Sighvi captured the title of 1st speaker at both the Public Forum Round Robin and tournament itself for the first time in history, receiv-ing the Herschel Goldfield Award and the Thomas Lloyd Cup. Seniors Tim O’Shea and Jonathan Jen also advanced to the Public Forum quarterfinals. In Legislative Debate, Senior Asli Peckan and Juniors Katie Kleinle and Eric Wan all reached the final round.
November was also an important month for the team, especially with the Villiger tournament at St. Joseph’s University. Katie Kleinle and sophomore Lena Li both earned the title of champion in Congressional Debate and Declamation respectively, with sophomore Naiti Bhatt coming in 2nd place for Declamation and Asli Peckan placing 3rd in Congress.
Forensics Team Talking Its Way to the Top In December the team experienced great success at two of the most prestigious national tournaments: the George Mason University Patriot Games and the Princeton Invitational. At GMU, the Congressional debaters took the chambers by storm, with junior Eric Wan winning the entire event, Alison Shim coming in 2nd, Vaikunth Balaji 4th, and Katie Kleinle 5th. Sophomore Danyaal Farooqi also placed 4th in Declamation, Vaikunth Balaji placed 6th in Extemporaneous Speaking, and senior Nidhi Mahagaokar placed 6th in Impromptu Speaking. At Princeton, the team of seniors Davis George and Saloni Singhvi, and the team of seniors Oliver Tang and Tim O’Shea, remarkably “closed out” Public Forum Debate by both advanc-ing to finals, effectively making them co-champions of the event.
With a new group of talented novices and many of the same accomplished debate and speech veterans as last year, the Ridge Forensics team eagerly works toward the Harvard and University of Pennsylvania Invitationals, followed by the State Championships in March.
Volunteers Needed for Intergenerational PromThe Ridge High School Key Club is organizing an intergenerational prom. The “Golden Prom” is an evening of dancing, food, and fun for the senior citizens in the Bernards Township community.
We are in need of many volunteers in order to implement and execute an event of this magnitude. We are hoping to have a responsible adult coordinate each of the following committees. All RHS students are welcome to volunteer. Participation is not limited to Key Club.
Please contact Wendy Schlosser (Key Club Advisor) at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering. The tentative date for the event is Friday May 1, 2015.
Committees:Food donations for guests & volunteersAdvertising and publicityFund raisingEntertainment/DJFlowersDoor prize donationsPaper goodsVolunteers
Junior PromFriday, April 24
7-10 pmBridgewater Marriott
Senior PromFriday, May 15
7 pm – 12 midnightBirchwood Manor
Whippany
Look for more details in an upcoming Friday Folder.
This winter the Ridge Indoor Percussion Ensemble kicks off its third season. The Indoor Percussion Ensemble comprises
high school and 8th-grade percussionists performing indoors in local gymnasiums,
playing the stationary and marching percussion instruments used in a march-ing band. This year’s Ensemble has 22 students and will compete in the USBands standstill percussion category.
The 2015 show is a 5-minute perfor-mance titled Dystopia (ie, the opposite of utopia). The arrangement is based pri-marily on a concert percussion ensemble
Indoor Percussion Ensemble Ready to Scare Audiences at USBands Competitions
work of the same name, and evokes mo-tives typically found in horror movies. Creepy sound effects, haunting melodies, and dramatic music make for an intense performance that will surprise and scare audiences.
The Indoor Percussion Ensemble plans to participate in local USBands competi-tions in Bridgewater, Brick, and Fair Lawn in February and March, with a culminating performance at the USBands Indoor Per-cussion Championships at Stabler Arena at Lehigh University in April.
RidgeMarching Band
Information SessionApril 21, 2015
7 pmRHS Band Room
This session is for both parents and prospective members. Come learn about the benefits of joining our
award-winning Ridge Marching Band! Mr. Zugale will present an
overview of the season and answer any questions that you may have.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
varsity athletesof the monthBe Sure to Check Out the Booster Club Display in the Lobby!
OctoberCheerleading – Hartlei Stansbury Boys Cross Country – Troy Green Girls Cross Country – Abby Regner Field Hockey – Sam MahonGymnastics – Sarah GriffinBoys Soccer – Conner McKeonGirls Soccer – Keri VillanoVolleyball – Kelsey Tam
NovemberNo Athletes of the Month Named
DecemberBoys Basketball – Max Mahoney Girls Basketball – Monica SchumacherCheerleading – Annie ChabakBoys Fencing – Will GazianoGirls Fencing – Emily SaulIce Hockey – Ian Solomon Boys Swimming – Jackson CreweGirls Swimming – Paige Johnson Boys Winter Track – Alex SchraerGirls Winter Track – Liz NewmanWrestling – Victor Castagno
JanuaryBoys Basketball – Padraic Brady Girls Basketball – Monica SchumacherBoys Fencing – Jacob KleinGirls Fencing – LeeAnn ChoyIce Hockey – Jack KellyBoys Ski Team – Luke HullGirls Ski Team – Alyssa Thompson Boys Swimming – Aaron SchlemovitzGirls Swimming – Audrey Hsi Boys Winter Track – Andrew McGowanGirls Winter Track – Regan Asay Wrestling – Matt Auletti
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On January 18, the Ridge dance depart-ment presented SoulWalk, a tap dance show directed and choreographed by Ridge Dance alumna Hillary Marie Michael. Hillary graduated from Ridge in 2009 and has since taken the tap dance industry by storm. She hosts the annual Jersey Tap Fest and teaches/performs all over the nation and internationally. This collaboration was created from Hillary’s wish to “give back” to the community that afforded her many arts-related opportunities and to expose the Basking Ridge community to a profes-sional tap dance and live music perfor-mance. SoulWalk included collaborative performances by extraordinary professional
What’s Tappening? Soul Walk and So Much More . . .
The Ridge varsity competition cheerlead-ing team just completed its most successful season ever. In November, the team won the Somerset County Cheer Championship, beating out Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsbor-ough, Immaculata, Montgomery, North Plainfield, and other area high schools.
Varsity Cheerleading Ends Season With a Trip to Nationals
Cheerleading team after winning the county championship. Front row (l to r): Senior captains Alana Carolan, Jennifer Accardi, Julia Powers. Back row (l to r): Zoe Ficken, Grace Keating, Cassie Raia, Alex Lis, Lindsay Hultman, Stephanie Riddiford, Colleen Covello, Ava Hagerman, Jess Lis, and Abby Herndon.
Cheerleading team in their ending pyramid at ESPN.
At the regional champion-ships, held in Toms River in November, the team secured a bid to attend the National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida on February 7 and 8. The team quickly dove into a flurry of fundraising activi-ties to pay for their trip.
In Orlando, the competition cheerleading team executed its cheer routine perfectly in the preliminary round and secured a spot in the semifinals—the first time ever for a Ridge competition team. The team was the only Somerset County team to advance to semis. The girls were thrilled to receive their highest score all season and now are truly motivated to make it to the finals next year!
tap dancers, a vibrant jazz trio, and the fantastic vocalist, Emily Braden. In addition, Ridge Dance tap dancers and the Ridge Jazz Band (under the direction of Dan Zugale) performed Duke Ellington’s Cottontail. This was a first-time collaboration for the Ridge dance department and the Ridge Jazz Band. During the month of Septem-ber, Jeff Foote, a member of the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble and performer in SoulWalk, came to teach a tap dance master class to Ridge High School and
William Annin Middle School students. The result was the fancy footwork of Cottontail that was performed in the Winter Dance Showcase 2015 and SoulWalk. In addition to the performance, a free tap master class was offered to students of all levels by Karen Callaway Williams of the New Jersey Tap Ensemble and Broadway’s Riverdance. Both the class and performance were highly ener-getic, kept the audience’s feet moving, and were memorable and inspiring experiences for the students of RHS and WAMS.
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Historic Point in Girls Basketball On Thursday, January 29, Sam Mahon, a senior on the girls’ varsity basketball team, scored the 1,000th point of her career. Notably, Sam is only the tenth student in the history of Ridge to reach this milestone. Ridge won the game, which was against Montgomery High School, by a score of 66-40, bringing their record to 12-4.
Despite ice, sleet, and bitter cold, the Ridge Ski Racers got off to a good start this season with both the girls and boys teams consistently finishing in the top three positions. On average up to ten schools compete, totaling up to sixty racers each for the varsity girls and boys races. The varsity girls team had several second and third place finishes and the boys placed first, second, and third in league races. On an individual level, many of the Ridge
racers finished in the top ten, with most finishing in the top 25%. The varsity girls team was led by Alyssa Thompson, Emily Fuchs, Danny Lailey, Clare Mohan, Asia Harrington, and Kate Rose. Danielle Conti and Danielle Gogerty also contributed to the team’s success. The boys team was led by Luke Hull, Tyler Conti, Mike Minsch, Maky Rupert, Mike DePalma and Jake Bondy, with assistance from Austin Conti, James McWilliams, and Collin Bell.
Both the junior varsity boys and girls teams achieved notable results with several first place finishes so far this season. Shannon Pokorny, Addie Schmitt, and Emily Fears led the girls, with contribut-ing results from Lexy Donaldson, Julia Messineo, Eliza Engelsman, and Jessica Forman. In addition to several of the afore mentioned boy racers, Paul Klippel, Kielan Rupert, Austin Friedman, Matt Minsch, Dan Griffis, Brian Hilferty, and Pol Francesch finished strong for the JV boys team.
The team also saw solid performances from many up-and-coming racers includ-ing Caroline Blanchard, Olivia Polos, Tom Blanchard, Warren Halbing, Sam Kingree, Mitesh Kumar, Dylan McCauley, James Telesmanic and Ben Zeitlin.
The ski season is quickly winding down with just a few more races sched-uled. The racers will soon be looking forward to the State Championship race to be held at the end of the month at Mountain Creek Ski area.
Ridge Ski Racers Finishing Solid Season
Ridge varsity boys team skier Collin Bell (above) and Ridge varsity girls team skier Danny Lailey (below) nail their turns.
Ridge senior Sam Mahon, far left, scores the 1,000th point of her career.
The 2015 Ridge girls basketball team.
Below: The 2014-2015 Ridge varsity and JV ski teams.
