The Maroon Vol. 2… No. 25 Friday, April 1, 2022
“Bringing us all to a place we don't want to lose."
Observer: What Are We Waiting For?
Macky’s New York: Scratchy And The Kid
William Peay: Tales From The Wood…
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame: Save The Date: Nov. 5th 2022
La Vita Cortellesi: Family Dinner
M + A NYC: Mighty Are We As One
James Stroker: Hope Coach
Jim Schoneman: Rock Hound
Superintendent’s Column: Comprehensive Approach to Student Wellness
Observer
What Are We Waiting For?
Happy to hear this news out of Trenton that:
New Jersey State Legislators Coughlin & Gopal Propose Later School Start Time for NJ High Schools to Boost Teen Mental Health
Unfortunately, the legislation wouldn’t go into effect until the 2024-2025 school year!
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
The topic of starting school later, for instance at 8:30AM, has been researched thoroughly and numerous medical associations have given it their endorsement. I would be pleased if only high school students were initially included, as their growth suffers the most from lack of sleep, and this would be a huge step towards improving their overall health.
I remain unconvinced by counter arguments like those presented by our School Superintendent, Tom Gorman. (You can read them yourself if you continue scrolling this ezine.)
Though I will mention my all-time favorite argument against Later School Start Times for high school students was not given by Tom Gorman, RHS 1987. It was offered by a member of the Ridgewood Board Of Education. They claimed that they had 100 years of pedagogy to consider before a decision could be made. 100 years. I am very proud of them for using pedagogy in a sentence, too bad it makes absolutely no sense. 100 years ago is the wrong starting point. If they had said two years of pedagogy I wouldn’t be mentioning it. Two years ago was the beginning of the largest change in teaching methods in the last 100 years. the Board Of Education had to act quickly on the public health crisis which Covid presented to the Village. Kudos for all their efforts to date.
We now have another public health crisis, one much more subtle. I am referring to the physical and psychological problems of today’s teenagers. Their problems are vastly greater than those of students from five or ten years ago; let alone one hundred!
We are asking students & teachers to learn remotely on a moment’s notice. We are asking student/athletes to train for contests that could be cancelled without warning. I could go on about the missed opportunities for socializing which clubs and activities provide but you can hopefully see my point. This is not a normal educational environment we are asking students & teachers to participate in. Compound the pandemic stressors with long held, rigid mandates for when school days ought to begin, and you have an idea of the public health problems facing our schools. Just because it doesn’t make for good tabloid news or sounds bites on TV doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make Later School Start Times a priority.
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
Macky’s New York
Matthew Cortellesi Photography
March 27, 2022 - Coney Island
Scratchy And The Kid
So a kid came up to me yesterday when I was laying on the ground taking this picture and he asked what I was doing and as I laid on my stomach I explained I was taking a photo and he said "mister...I ain't never seen a photo like that" and I said some times you find solutions by looking at the situation from a completely different perspective and without blinking an eye...I raised my leg and scratched the back of my head with the heel of my shoe - I never saw the kid again.
This is an outtake from yesterday - Shot in a fading puddle with chunky concrete looking south with the Cyclone in the breeze.
Time 930am
#ny1pic
William Peay
Tales From The Wood…
Oh... and more on this later.
RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
Save The Date: November 5, 2022
Visit The RHS Athletic Hall Of Fame
La Vita Cortellesi
Family Dinner
M + A NYC
Mighty Are We As One
Inspired by art, designed in New York, and made by hand with love by artisans all over the world. Shop home décor and wearable accessories at www.mplusanyc.com
The Handcrafted Difference
Making artisanal decor and accessories by hand is important to us. We love things that reveal the hand that made them, the slight imperfections that signal the work of an artisan. We love to fuse traditional techniques with a modernist slant; the pairing of these seemingly opposite points of view creates something that feels compelling and interesting.
We believe that in making small quantities by skilled artisans and with traditional methods, we are creating meaningful objects that have ‘pass on to the next generation’ value. With each beautifully made piece there is an added bonus of knowing that we are collectively supporting an artisan ecosystem.
We delight in the specialness of what hands and hearts can do and look forward to sharing with you our story and the stories of the people who made these special pieces, as well as all who inspire us every day.
James Stroker
The right story at the right time to the right person can change their life !
Jim Schoneman
Rock Hound
Tahquamenon Falls. The little brown waterfall in the woods. The reason the waterfall is so brown is because all of this water originates from the cedar, hemlock, tamarack and black spruce bogs that surround the area.
In reading about the falls on certain Michigan websites, they claim that this waterfall is the second largest by volume east of the Mississippi, with first place being the Niagara. But they’re going by the volume during the spring thaw, which isn’t really fair. If you measure by average water volume, then Tahquamenon is third, coming in behind the Great Falls of the Passaic, in Paterson, NJ. In fact, it isn’t even close. The Great Falls have over twice the average volume of the Tahquamenon. Sorry Michigan, but New Jersey beats you in the waterfall department.
Superintendent’s Column
Comprehensive Approach to Student Wellness
Dr. Thomas A. Gorman is RHS 1987
Student wellness initiatives have been a priority of the Ridgewood Public Schools for over a decade. This focus, along with the impact of the pandemic on mental health and research on adolescent sleep patterns, were the driving factors behind the formation of the Alternative Schedules Task Force (ASTF). The ASTF, comprised of parents, teachers, students, administrators, and Board of Education Trustees, was tasked with investigating alternative schedules that would better align school start times with adolescent circadian rhythms to help increase overall student wellness while also considering how to maximize instructional time to advance the district’s vision and mission.
Looking back, what have we done so far? Ridgewood High School began to emphasize the importance of student health, wellbeing, and creating a culture of wellness in the school in 2009. One of the most successful and popular initiatives has been Enrichment Mornings, affectionately known as “sleep-ins” by the students. Introduced as an opportunity for RHS teachers to engage in professional development and collaborative department planning, these mornings had the additional benefit of giving students the opportunity to catch up on sleep or assignments. This one-hour delay to the school day now occurs on pre-determined Fridays throughout the year.
Some other changes that helped improve the climate at Ridgewood High School were the graded assessments policy, Period 9, principal advisory, and stress management in the wellness curriculum. In an effort to keep the workload manageable for students, qualitative assessments cannot be given during the first period in the morning or the first period in the afternoon. Period 9 is a widely used 25-minute block at the end of each school day when students can seek additional support from teachers, counselors, and grade advisors. Principal advisory is designed to create a space where students and faculty can discuss concerns and share ideas for improving student life. The Yoga and Stress Management course is popular with 11th graders to teach this valuable mind-body practice which can reduce stress and anxiety.
Our commitment to student wellness and a positive school climate spans all levels. Programming in our elementary schools includes lunch groups with guidance counselors, Open Circle, “One School, One Book,” and morning meetings. In Advisory at the middle school level, mental health discussions and gratitude activities support students and help to reduce stress levels. Guidance groups are also used to address various related topics. The common thread from PreK through our 18-21-year-old transition program is the emphasis on social-emotional learning, an integral component for academic and lifelong success.
Two years ago, the unexpected happened. The pandemic hit, and schools suddenly closed their doors. This changed the dynamic of the school environment. As we responded to a “two-week” shutdown that turned into three months of virtual and then hybrid learning, we had to rethink school schedules. The remote and hybrid learning models resulted in later start times for adolescents…and no travel time to school. This meant more sleep for our middle school and high school students. It also changed the way we think about education.
Between the scientific sleep data and the positive effects of the modified schedules used during the pandemic, the call for later school start times has again resurfaced. The benefits of later school start times for adolescents have been identified as improved physical health, mental health, safety, academic performance, and overall wellbeing. We are seeing some shifts in districts around the country with the State of California paving the way. In 2019, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 328, which will require middle schools to start no earlier than 8 am and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 am beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
So, what is next as the ASTF continues its work in this area?
This spring, the district will focus on a campaign to educate the entire school community about this topic. Through weekly wellness messaging and community presentations with sleep experts, we will share valuable information and resources to help inform all stakeholders that may be impacted by a shift in schedules. By doing so, we will be opening opportunities for conversations about this topic. Meanwhile, the survey that was originally scheduled to be administered in December will happen this spring.
While it seems like a simple thing to make adjustments to the start and end times of the school day, even minor changes have far-reaching implications on operations, contractual obligations, co-curricular opportunities, outside activities, and family life. I encourage the Ridgewood community to learn more, watch for updates, and keep this important conversation going.