Maroons Online Vol. 1… No. 38
Acta non verba
Observer: The Ridgewood Schools Museum
Macky’s New York: The Greenstallation
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
New Players Company: Summer Junior New Players
American Academy of Pediatrics: Later School Start Times
Dad’s Night Somerville-Hawes: May 21-22 2021 at BFMS
Observer
The Ridgewood Schools Museum
How about a Ridgewood Schools Museum, or call it a Museum of Ridgewood Schools?
Either way it would be a place online to collect stories and photos of artifacts circa 1946 to the present, from all those of who attended or worked in Ridgewood Public Schools. Given how technology has improved our abilities to chronicle ourselves I’m surprised this has not been suggested previously. Maybe the overwhelming amount of selfies and Kodak Instamatic pictures makes this seem too daunting.
This is not a knock on the Ridgewood Public Library. The Library in Ridgewood is a place I regularly visit, even if that means twice a year. It is an oasis, a place where ideas are incubated and sometimes made real. I have fond memories of gossiping when we were supposed to be studying. Kids will say anything to get the keys to the car.
There is an example of how a Ridgewood Schools Museum might be constructed. The Ridgewood Public Schools neatly divides the town on their website. I suggest using this style template to just display photos and tell stories of what it was like in Ridgewood after World War II.
Begin with the history of each school and work out to include teachers who taught at each school and families who sent their children to each school. A built-in search feature would allow for the rapid discovery of what’s been included and would show what still needs to be collected.
A possible next step could be a physical museum with artifacts from 1946 to the present. It could be located in Ridgewood or maybe in place like Paramus Park. There’s not telling what future uses our malls will offer in our era of online shopping. Who knows the Museum might even become a magnet for shoppers. It certainly could sell RHS merchandise.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
All I mean to point out is the importance of preserving modern day pictures and collecting of stories of what life was like in Ridgewood Schools. Mark Twain is reputed to have said, “History never repeats itself but it rhymes.” If we create a process for capturing our recent past for future generations, then we show our concern and appreciation for the tunes inside their heads. Making the artifacts available online allows people to make up their own minds. As another well-known American writer noted “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” There’s no telling what beat people will be stepping to in the future, however measured or far away that might be.
Correction: It was kindly pointed out that the picture of Jeff Nyhuis in the May 11th issue was incorrect. This error has been corrected in the archive.
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
May 18, 2021 - Lincoln Center
The Greenstallation
The GREEN art installation at Lincoln Center is worth the trip - the entire plaza is covered in green grass - I took my shoes off and walked barefoot for the first time since last summer - the white glow from my pale feet did attract some looks (and a few moths) and so I quickly put my shoes back on and slipped out so as to not take away from the truly colorful joy that was taking place but before I joined the moth brothers at the pub on 10th ave...I took this.
Shot on top of the black granite stone that circles the fountain looking east with grass walls on the left and arched taco stand in front.
Time 445pm.
#mackysnewyork
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Citizens Park
New Players Company
Summer Junior New Players
The Junior Company is an intensive theatre program for Ridgewood District students who have completed grades 4-8 and who are interested in acting. Students will learn and develop acting skills through theater games, workshops, character development classes and scene work. The program culminates in performances of original plays commissioned from New Players alumni.
The program involves a 3-week session, Tuesday July 6th – Friday, July 23rd. Students must attend each session without interruption. Students may be asked to discontinue the program if absences occur.
Sessions are held from 10:00-2:00 during weeks one and two and from 10:00-3:00 during week three. The program culminates in a full performance. Rehearsals and performances are at Ridgewood High School.
The Junior Company is taught by advanced high school theatre students under the supervision of New Players Company staff members.
The tuition fee for the 2021 Junior Company is $800.00 payable at the time of the application. You may pay with a check made out to NPC Association.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Later School Start Times
Courtesy of RHS 1977 Anne Robinson, MD
Research has resoundingly and repeatedly supported that later start times lead to increased sleep for teenagers. Many families experienced this firsthand when their school schedules changed over the course of the past year due to the pandemic. With a schedule that more closely aligns with a teenager's inherent biological wake cycle, students experience multiple benefits from their increased sleep:
· Increased academic achievement
· Improved mental and physical health
· Enhanced athletic performance
· Reduction in automobile accidents
· Decrease in risk-taking behaviors
· Reductions in stress, anxiety, and depression
This past decade has seen a tremendous rise in mental health issues and suicidal ideation and behavior in teenagers throughout the country. The global pandemic has only heightened the concern that this trend will increase even further. In a qualitative study conducted by Gruber et al. in spring 2020, 55% of participants described being sleepy during the school day before the pandemic and attributed this to their need to wake up early to get to school. Conversely, during the pandemic shutdown, 78% reported that they were not sleepy due to the fact that they were getting more sleep.
This past year has demonstrated that school districts are capable of making rapid changes to adapt as needed to optimize student learning. As we return to in-person learning, this is a great opportunity to pilot a later start time that will sustain improvements to student sleep hygiene and foster student mental health.
While piloting healthy school hours, it is important to observe and document the positive impacts increased sleep has on students’ readiness to engage in learning as well as the benefits for teachers. It is also important to survey students, teachers, and parents to capture their thoughts on a later start time and its benefits. Questions might include topics such as:
Asking students what their bedtime and wake times were
Asking students to assess if they were getting more, less, or the same amount of sleep as when they had in-person and virtual school and if there were changes, to estimate the amount of change
Asking students to rate on a scale of 1-10 how awake they felt during school
Asking students if later start times had a positive, negative, or no impact on their physical and emotional health
Asking parents to report on their perspective on the same questions asked to the students
Asking teachers to reflect on the appearance, engagement, and performance of students with shifting start times
Asking teachers to reflect on their own experiences & thoughts on how a later start time impacts their remote teaching and home life
Teenagers are facing an increasingly complicated world. School leaders and parents have a responsibility to create policies that can create the best possible environments for these teenagers to learn, to grow, and to be safe. We know the data supports the positive effects of delaying school start times for teenagers. This pandemic has shown us that we can find a way to make huge changes in a short period. We urge you to keep sleep and school start times at the forefront of your discussions as you consider the future of education in your district.
Our Task Force is available as a resource for school districts and community changemakers interested in shifting school start times. You can reach us by emailing mhc@njaap.org or calling 609-842-0014.
Sincerely,
Bert Mandelbaum, MD, FAAP, Princeton Nassau Pediatrics
Chair, The Task Force on Adolescent Sleep and School Start Times
Dad’s Night Somerville-Hawes
May 21-22 2021
Come check out the FREE 77th annual Dad’s Night Show tonight and tomorrow!! (Live streaming via link below or come to BFMS and bring a blanket!! It’s an outside party!)
WHO WE ARE
Founded in 1944, Dads’ Night is a Ridgewood-based charity focused on three main pillars: family ***** friends***** community. We support and raise funds for the Somerville and Hawes elementary school communities while providing additional support to greater Ridgewood when the need arises.
Split evenly between our schools, and funding items from teacher requests to playgrounds and everything in between, Dads’ Night raises money annually through family-friendly fundraising events hosted throughout the year. These events include Dad and me mini-golf, a summer family picnic, softball tournament, golf outing, husband and wife dinner dance, turkey, toy, and blood drives. Our largest fundraiser is a 3-hour show written, directed, produced, and performed by… you got it, Dads.
This family-friendly organization is 100% volunteer-driven with no commitment. You get out what you put into the organization and after a long winter cooped up in the house and quarantining for over a year, it’s time to get out there, spread your wings, and meet some other Dads.
Even if you don’t feel like getting up on stage, we’re always looking for Dads to get involved behind the scenes. However you get involved, your kids are going to think you’re awesome for being a part of it. And you’ll have some built-in friends that you can borrow tools from as well.
Peace