the ridge bridge - Ridge PTO

the ridge bridge
the parent’s bridge between home and school
ridge high school pto volume seven, issue three
december 2010
From the Desk of the Principal
– Frank Howlett
One of the greatest concerns I have is the
safety of our students, especially seniors.
Too often seniors, in a state of euphoria,
make poor decisions as the end of senior
year approaches, especially after commencement
ceremonies.
Project Graduation
More than two decades ago, there was a
series of years in which an inordinate number
of seniors throughout the state were
hurt or killed on or about their graduation
nights due to poor decision-making. As a
result a program known as “Project Graduation”
was created, and its success has
been immeasurable. In Bernards Township
this program is run by the SCOP Team.
SCOP is the acronym for State and
Community Organization Program; its
mission is to provide drug and alcohol-free
activities for seniors. The most well-known
activity is the “Bash,” but the team, composed
of volunteer parents, school officials
and township personnel, provides other
activities as well. The “Bash” immediately
follows commencement. Students are
bused and sequestered at a facility, where
they are surrounded by food and festivity
for the night. They are then bused back to
Ridge in the early morning, tired and ready
to sleep for the day – safe as a bug in a rug.
Recently, senior parents received a
letter from the SCOP team outlining these
activities and asking for donations to keep
as many of them as possible. An increase
in some costs coupled with a decrease
in funds raised has jeopardized future
activities. These activities not only keep
our students safe but provide a camaraderie
and spirit that enhances the learning
environment at Ridge High School. I am
always impressed that almost all seniors
attend the SCOP team functions.
Please do what you can to assist the
SCOP team in their efforts. You do
not have to be the parent of a senior to
contribute.
Thank you.
SCOP Team Donations
To donate to the SCOP Team, send a
check made out to “Project Graduation”
to the Ridge High School main office.
Your donation is tax-deductible. Project
Graduation has 501(c)(3) status to ensure
that the Project Graduation “Bash” remains
a tradition for our community. Funding for
Project Graduation comes from the community,
the Bernards Township Board of
Education and Bernards Township.
DATES TO
REMEMBER
December 2010
4 SAT Testing, RHS
16 Winter Band and Orchestra
Concert, 7 pm, Ridge PAC
20 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS
21 Winter Choral Concert,
7 pm, Ridge PAC
23 Noon Dismissal
24-31 Schools Closed
January 2011
3 School Resumes
10 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS
14 Dance Showcase
17 All District Strings Concert,
7 pm, Ridge PAC
19 End of 2nd Marking Period
20-26 Mid-Term Exams
24 BOE Meeting, 7 pm, WAMS
Mid-Term Exam
Schedule
January 2011
Full Day
Thurs., 1/20
Period 1 Exam
Half Day – Noon Dismissal
Fri., 1/21
Mon., 1/24
Tues., 1/25
Wed., 1/26
Periods 2 and 3 Exams
Periods 4 and 5 Exams
Periods 6 and 7 Exams
Periods 8 and 9 Exams
From January 21 to 26, students
should report to school only for
classes with exams. A detailed
schedule with times will be posted
on the Ridge website in January.
1

RIDGE PTO
letter from
the presidents
The holiday season is fast approaching,
with all its joys and family get-togethers.
Many times, however, preparation for
all that togetherness can bring incredible
stresses to both parents and children.
Reaching Out To Parents
This past month the population of Bernards
Township was treated to two unique and
wonderful presentations aimed at helping
ease the way through some of the difficulties
presented by raising the adolescent
child.
On October 28, the Bernards Township
Municipal Alliance presented Matt
Bellace, PhD, and his program, Parents,
Teens, Alcohol, and Drugs. This presentation
was the kick-off
event of the Municipal
Alliance’s “It’s 21 For
a Reason” campaign,
a township-wide effort
to educate teens and
their parents about the dangers of youth
drinking. Matt engaged both the older and
younger participants in his quest to guide
Ridge PTO Board Members
Co-Presidents
Sarah Bonnefoi
Tracey Tuthill
1st Vice President, Volunteers
Sharon Power
2nd Vice President, Programs
Carol Jean Floegel
3rd Vice President, Newsletter
Gayle Shimoun
Linda Wooldridge
Treasurer
Aninda Katragadda
Recording Secretary
Ritu Namdev
Communication Officers
Kris Leopold
Amy Venetianer
parents and have students pursue natural,
as opposed to chemical, highs. Matt
stressed the importance of creating a
support system to help adolescents when
faced with difficult decisions.
On November 10, the PTOs of Ridge
and William Annin brought Dr. Michael
Bradley, a well-known adolescent psychologist,
to the PAC for a very information
presentation based on his book,
Yes, Your Teen is Crazy. He discussed
everything from the actual structure of the
teenage brain, to the cultural influences on
teenagers, to how exactly parents should
interact with a raging child. This funny,
scary and thought-provoking session provided
statistics on today’s youth that had
much of the audience gasping. He gave
numerous practical examples of what to
do during everyday interactions with
teens, how to explore cultural references
that the teens are privy to, and how to
empower them so that they take responsibility
for their decisions. Dr. Bradley’s Ten
Commandments of Parenting handout is
available on the Ridge PTO website.
Reaching Out To Students
Each fall, Michael Fowlin performs
You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me
to the current freshman class. His presentation
is a one-person
show that deals with
the issues of race, discrimination,
violence
prevention, personal
identity, suicide,
2
Left: On November 10, a crowd of close to 300 attended
the presentation by psychologist Dr. Michael Bradley
held in the Ridge Performing Arts Center.
Above: Standing from left to right with Dr. Michael
Bradley, center, are Ridge PTO VP of Programs, Carol
Jean Flogel, Ridge PTO Co-President, Sarah Bonnefoi,
WAMS PTO VP of Fundraising, Christine Corrigan,
and Ridge PTO Co-President, Tracey Tuthill.
gender equity, homophobia, and the
emotional pain felt by special education
children. The characters he creates share
their stories in an often humorous but at
times heartbreaking manner.
In the spring, just in time for the proms,
juniors and seniors attend an assembly by
Project P.R.I.D.E. (Promoting Responsibility
in Drug Education), which brings
minimum custody offenders, escorted by
correction officers, to talk about their
personal experiences with drugs and
alcohol. The students have an opportunity
to hear real-life stories and to consider the
consequences of substance abuse. The program
is designed to reduce the appeal of
drugs and alcohol and to promote decisionmaking
skills.
It’s 21 For a Reason
The Municipal Alliance will be continuing
the It’s 21 For a Reason campaign
throughout the school year in an effort to
continue providing support to parents as
they face this difficult issue. The PTOs of
Ridge and William Annin are collaborating
with the Municipal Alliance to bring this
important message to our community in
a presentation held on February 2, 2011.
Details will be posted on the Ridge website
as well as through the respective PTOs.
We hope that these efforts have been
beneficial, and we wish you a safe and
healthy winter season.
Warm Regards,
Sarah and Tracey

MARKET DAY
Next Order Date
December 9
Next Pick-Up Date
December 15
A View from Above
COMPLETED RIDGE CONSTRUCTION
Order online at
www.marketday.com
or phone your order to:
Brenda Miller at 908-903-9355 or
Christine Marston at 908-647-0599
ATTENTION
Welcome Desk
Volunteers
All money envelopes dropped off
at the Welcome Desk must be
logged in and then brought to the
main office. When the student picks
up the envelope, they must first sign
for it at the Welcome Desk and then
go pick it up in the main office.
Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any questions, please
call one of the Welcome Desk
coordinators:
Lisa Decker, 626-9340 or
Kris Leopold, 766-9202
Ridge High School opened in September of
1961 with 492 pupils in grades nine through
twelve. The original building, seen above,
contained 23 classrooms, a two-station gym,
and administrative and guidance offices. It
was constructed with a 670-student capacity.
Three years later, nine classrooms and special
area rooms were added. Over the years, the
student population continued to grow and
more modifications and additions were made.
The current Ridge High School enrollment is
1,735 students. Including computer labs and
specialty classrooms (art, dance, graphics,
etc.), Ridge now has 88 classrooms.*
Ridge High
School Main
Entrance
Front
Above: An aerial view
of Ridge High School
following the completion
of construction, 1961.
Below: A view of the
classrooms in 1961.
*Portions of this article are from the book,
Schoolhouses of Early Bernards Township,
by Josephine M. Waltz.
the ridge bridge
Editors: Linda Wooldridge
and Gayle Shimoun
Submissions may be made via email to
ridgepto@yahoo.com
Left: The entrance to Ridge
High School in 1961. The
original main entrance location
remains the same today.
Above: Original floor plan
illustrates the two wings of
classrooms.
3

SCHOOL CONNECTION
Parents Art Advisory Board
Seeks Additional Volunteers
The Bernards Township Education Foundation
(BTEF), in partnership with the
Visual Arts Department of Ridge High
School, has established the Parents Art
Advisory Board (PAAB). Currently, the
PAAB has 20 participants, composed of
teachers, parents, BTEF representatives
and community volunteers.
At the October and November meetings,
the PAAB focused on:
• Funding visual arts programs
under $1000
• Writing grant proposals for
photography and animation
• Rebuilding display panels
• Publishing a review of the
AP Studio/Creative Writing Project
• Marketing high-quality prints
as donations
• Establishing summer scholarships
for visual arts programs
The next meeting of the PAAB will be
held on December 7 at 6 pm in Room 622
at Ridge. Please consider joining this team
to foster the growth and development of
the Visual Arts at Ridge.
Also in December,
look for opportunities
to donate to small
programs in Painting/
Drawing, Animation/Computer Graphics,
Photography and Ceramics/Sculpture
on the DonorsChoose.org website, an
online charity for schools (http://www.
donorschoose.org/). Click on the View
Projects button in the middle of the home
page. Next, click on State on the right-hand
side Search by: tool bar and select New
Jersey from the menu. Next, click on City
and select Basking Ridge from the menu.
The BTEF is an all volunteer, not-forprofit
501(c)(3) corporation committed
to advancing public education through
program development, scholarships and
fundraising initiatives. The BTEF supports
innovative programs that enhance quality
and efficiency. For more information visit
the BTEF website at www.btef.org.
For more information about the PAAB
and its programs, please email Jack
Stillwaggon, Executive Director for the
BTEF (jstillwaggon1@verizon.net).
Carroll, McNulty & Kull, LLC Makes Donation
to Support Oral History Program at Ridge
The Bernards
Township
Education
Foundation
is pleased
to announce that Carroll, McNulty and
Kull, LLC, a prominent Basking Ridge
law firm, has donated funds to support
the BTEF’s effort to purchase new digital
recorders for the Oral History program at
Ridge High School. The Bernards Township
School District and the students in
the Oral History program are thrilled that
they will begin to receive new recorders
and extend their warm thanks to Carroll,
McNulty & Kull.
The Oral History Program is part of the
social studies curriculum at Ridge and is
designed to engage students in the study
of history by having them interview
individuals in our community who were
“makers” or “part of history.” The school
district is working with the Historical
Society of the Somerset Hills to make the
Oral Histories available to the wider community
through a web-based presentation.
The BTEF continues to seek funds for
additional digital recorders for the Oral
History program. Each recorder costs $59.
If you want to contribute to this fundraising
initiative, go to www.btef.org and
send an email to the BTEF by clicking on
“Contact Us” on the home page. Donations
to the BTEF are tax-deductible.
4
guidance
department
news
Naviance registration codes for
junior parents were distributed on
November 18 at Junior Parent Night.
If you missed the presentation,
please contact your child’s guidance
counselor.
In December, counselors will visit
10th and 11th grade classrooms to
distribute PSAT results and explain
how to utilize them for upcoming
standardized tests.
A look ahead to January 2011 reveals
an Academic Planning Night for 8th
grade parents on January 6, as well
as meetings with the junior class on
how to navigate the college process.
More details to come.
Enjoy the holidays!
Very Difficult
The Impossible
Bernards Township Quiz
A Celebration of Bernards Township’s
250th Anniversary
Created by Cal Hoffman, RHS, 2010
The Very Difficult (Impossible?)
Bernards Township Quiz game
was launched November 22 on the
Ridge High School website. Under
the direction of art teacher Debra
Calie, Ridge student Cal Hoffman
created a game that challenges your
knowledge of township history, and
it also tests your gaming techniques
and endurance. Visit the website
and give the game a try – many
prizes will be awarded, such as a
Chipotle gift certificate and a variety
of other student and adult prizes.
You can’t win if you don’t play!

Board of Education Highlights
October 25 Meeting
Kathleen Kirk gave the Ridge student
government report. The Student Council
is working with the Wellness Community
in Bedminster on a Teddy bear service
project. Kathleen also noted that Ridge
alumni as well as current students will be
included in the 50th anniversary Ridge
Yearbook for 2011.
Dr. Goger presented the Annual Report
on Violence and Vandalism for 2009-10.
Substance abuse continues to be a problem
at Ridge, with an increased number of
incidents in 2009-10 compared with the
previous year. Theft is also a concern at
Ridge. Violence and Vandalism Awareness
Week was the third week in October;
activities included assemblies, morning
messages, and classroom lessons.
Joint Meeting of Board of
Education and Township
Committee, October 26
The Board of Education and the Township
Committee agreed to form a joint
committee to lobby legislators in Trenton
about “toolkit” provisions that are needed
to manage town and school budgets under
the new 2% cap on property tax increases.
Without the toolkit, municipal governments
have no flexibility to deal with union
contracts. The school district also seeks
reductions in unfunded mandates in three
areas: course requirements, transportation
requirements, and the reports to the state.
November 8 Meeting
The main agenda item was a Program
Review regarding the 2011-12 school
budget. Over the summer, district administrators
visited several high-performing
New Jersey school districts to research
how instruction is delivered. The presentation
included the results of their research
and recommendations for program changes
for the 2011-12 school year.
The Bernards Township school district
has an estimated budget shortfall of $1.4
million for the 2011-12 school year, due
to a combination of sharply reduced state
aid, a new 2% spending cap, and last year’s
budget defeat. To reduce the budget, the
administration proposed changes in
several areas:
1. Change the current 9-period day
at Ridge, which provides 8 instructional
periods, to a revised schedule that provides
7 instructional periods. Expand the use of
“Option II,” which provides an alternative
path to high school graduation, so that
students can earn high school graduation
credits outside of Ridge. For example,
students could take online courses to meet
their Practical Arts requirement and satisfy
PE requirements through participation on
school sports teams. (Parents would pay
for the online courses.) Students could
also take college courses and participate
in internships and receive credit toward
graduation requirements.
2. Reduce staff at Ridge during a
period of enrollment growth by increasing
class sizes in science, language arts and
Class of 2013 Canned Food Drive
The Class of 2013 is holding a food drive
to help the Morristown Community Food
Bank. The drive began on November 15
and continues through December. Students
are challenged to bring in as many items
as possible to their first period class. Food
donation tallies will be calculated, and
at the end of the month-long contest, the
class with the highest number of donations
will be rewarded with a bagel party.
The food bank accepts any non-perishable
items but is in particular need of rice,
coffee, cereal, and sugar. Thank you for
all your help – by donating, you truly
make a difference in the lives of others
during this holiday season.
math. Phase out Japanese and possibly
French, depending on enrollments.
3. Reduce full-day kindergarten to a
part-time program. For the remainder of
the school day, an enrichment program
run by the YMCA would be offered at
each elementary school. Parents would
pay for the enrichment program.
4. Keep the team model at William
Annin, but eliminate extra sections and
9 off-team teachers to save money. This
will result in increased class sizes.
5. Reduce the number of special
education teachers in grades 3 – 8.
Eliminate in-class support for science and
social studies in grades 3 – 5. Discontinue
resource room instruction for science and
social studies at William Annin.
6. Reduce the number of curriculum
supervisors by combining positions. For
2011-12, the Social Studies and World
Language positions would be combined.
7. Reduce the number of elementary
school assistant principals from four to
two. The remaining assistant principals
would share time between two schools.
8. Move one guidance counselor from
Ridge to William Annin.
The estimated savings from these program
changes is $868,560, so additional
cuts will be required before the 2011-12
budget can be finalized. The administration
has posted “Frequently Asked Questions”
regarding the above items on the website.
Later in the meeting, Susan Carlsson
reported that a second mediation session
with the Bernards Township Education
Association took place on November 2, but
no agreement was reached. The next step
in the process is Fact Finding. The Board
of Education is waiting for their attorney to
advise them on the required procedures.
November 22 Meeting
The Board voted to implement the
8-period (7 instructional period) day at
Ridge High School and reduce kindergarten
to a part-time program, starting in the
2011-12 school year. These two program
changes will reduce the 2011-12 budget
by $338,560; over $1 million in additional
cuts are still required.
Submitted by Linda Wooldridge
5

Ridge Teddy
Bear Project
The Ridge student government purchased
100 teddy bears and gave them to students
to decorate. The students decorated them
creatively (for example, as a ballerina, a
cheerleader, a football player, and a soccer
player) and returned them to school. The
student government donated the 100 decorated
teddy bears to The Wellness Community
in Bedminster, an organization that
helps children who have cancer. Because
of the overwhelming response to the teddy
bears, the student government has ordered
150 additional teddy bears. They will
also be decorated and then donated to
Morristown Memorial Hospital and other
local organizations.
The Gift of Art
Looking for an interesting holiday gift
this season? One that comes with a unique
story? For
the first time
in 20 years,
an art gallery
in Bernards
Township is
open to the
general public in support of our creative
community. Farmstead Arts is showing
the works of six local artists including
Ridge parent, Serena Bocchino, during the
month of December. Original work, as
well as prints, cards and a children’s book
and book signing are available for viewing
and purchase. For additional information,
visit www.FarmsteadArtsCenter.com or
email FarmsteadArtsCenter@gmail.com.
Students Turn Out to Vote
On November 2, Ridge Empowerment for
Political Participation (REPP) completed
their first annual mock Congressional
election and public opinion poll. A nonpartisan
political advocacy club, REPP
promotes active civic participation among
Ridge students. The poll was intended
to document the opinions of students on
pertinent political issues and to encourage
them to think critically about the world
around them. Students were invited to
vote during their lunch periods and turned
out to vote at a rate significantly higher
then the national average for young voters.
After 298 votes were tallied (representing
the opinions of 17% of the school’s population),
incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen
was narrowly reelected. Frelinghuysen
earned 44% of the vote, with students voting
for Democrat Douglas Herbert (41%)
Ridge Alumni Announce Non-Traditional
$5,000 Scholarship for Class of 2011
Members of the Class of 2011 are invited
to apply for an unusual $5,000 scholarship.
Unlike traditional grants that reward
GPA and test scores, the Ridge Alumni
Memorial Scholarship (Ridge AMS) is
awarded to a graduating senior who has
demonstrated character, determination,
and non-traditional achievements. While
grants may go to college-bound students,
they can also help high-caliber applicants
pursue the arts, technical careers, or nonacademic
paths after graduation.
The scholarship fund began as a memorial
to John Peterson, Class of 1967. Less
than two years after graduating, Peterson
was killed in Vietnam. “He died before
his potential could be realized,” notes Ed
Lincoln, a Ridge AMS founder and Class
of 1967 valedictorian. “John should have
had a wonderful future. We owe him.”
Peterson was admired for his warmth,
optimism, and perseverance, and for
overcoming hardships to tackle life with
joy. Classmates decided to make his
virtues—determination and nontraditional
achievements—the criteria for scholarship
recipients. “What John had was character,”
says Lincoln. “That’s what this scholarship
will reward.”
and Libertarian Jim Gawron (15%) at rates
that far exceeded actual results in Somerset
County. In other areas students appeared
evenly divided on the Obama administration
and held slightly negative views
of health care legislation in particular.
Students indicated a slight preference for
the Democrats on a national level. They
expressed relative skepticism over the
war in Afghanistan, the ability of Washington
to respond effectively to national
problems, and the merit of school policy
that restricts certain student government
positions to students who have already
held office. In the most definitive response,
81% of students said that an endorsement
from Sarah Palin would not make them
more likely to support a candidate. REPP
looks forward to holding another successful
poll next November.
“We also want to recognize other
Ridge friends who are gone,” says Carol
Mason Schoenig, another Ridge AMS
founder and 1967 class president. “We
were surprised to find there was no award
quite like this. Reaching out to the Ridge
community, we’ve been deeply touched
by the outpouring of affection for alumni
who have passed away. We hope we can
make a significant difference in the future
of a Ridge graduate who demonstrates
the kind of character John had.”
Tayler Gallic, the 2010 Ridge Alumni
Memorial Scholarship recipient with
her mother, Kim Gallic.
6

Accomplishments
Congratulations to the Ridge Varsity
Competition Cheerleading Team,
which came in first in the Delaware
Valley Competition.
A group of Latin students attended Classics
Day on Friday, October 22 at Montclair
State University. For the second year in a
row, Ridge’s Latin team placed first out
of 17 schools in the academic contest.
Classics Day gives high school Latin
students a taste of what it is like to study
Classics in college. The day started with
four lectures on classical topics, of which
students could pick two to attend. Then
the 30-minute team competition was held.
The competition consisted of 99 multiple
choice questions: 33 on Latin grammar,
33 on Greek and Roman history and
literature, and 33 on Greek and Roman
daily life. Eileen Cho, Bernard Lin,
Margaret Morris, Joey Patchett, Josh
Raff, and Lisa Wooldridge made up the
Ridge team. The students were awarded
medals, and Ridge was given a beautiful,
full color, hardcover book called The
Art of the Romans.
ridge recognition
During October, the Ridge Forensics
Team took first in team
sweepstakes at both Union
Catholic High School and
Phillipsburg High School.
Congratulations to the
following students who
took first in their respective
events at Union Catholic
High School:
• Adam Badrawi and Chris Winter in
Varsity Public Forum Debate
• Howard Wei in Varsity Lincoln
Douglas Debate
• Shivam Patel in Student Congress
• Addy Pai in Varsity Oral Interpretation
• Jilon Li in Original Oratory
• Max Rappaport in Dramatic
Performance
• Darius Hunt in JV Extemporaneous
Speaking
In addition, congratulations to the
following students, who took first in
their respective events at Phillipsburg
High School:
• Nicole Castillo in Student Congress
• Jilon Li in Original Oratory
• Peter Vogel in Impromptu Speaking
• Peter Hughes in Prose Reading
• Vicki Liu in JV Lincoln Douglas Debate
Physics teacher Jim Florance biked 150
miles over two days during the Multiple
Sclerosis Ride in
Parsippany. In
addition to biking
all that way, Jim
raised $500 for
multiple sclerosis.
Special education teacher Michaela
Stoudemayer participated in the 60-mile
Avon Breast Cancer Walk in Philadelphia
on October 16 and 17.
She raised over $2,300
for breast cancer research
and wore out a pair of
sneakers in the process.
Special Education teacher Jennifer
Hauser completed the New York City
Marathon in a blistering time of 3:37.40.
Warning to all her students . . . you can’t
outrun her!
Guidance counselor Rebecca Muraview
was inducted into the Somerville High
School Athletic Hall of Fame. She was
a three-sport athlete – field hockey,
basketball, softball – and earned 11
varsity letters.
New Arrivals
PE teacher and
football coach, Bill
Tracy and his wife
Susan can now have
pink in the house.
Caroline Elizabeth was born on
October 19, 2010, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz.
She was lovingly welcomed into the
household by her two big brothers Will
and Connor.
Other News
World Language teacher Nesi Inella and
her family are hosting
a 17 year-old Italian
exchange student from
outside Turin, Italy for
the school year. She
plans to visit the Ridge
Italian classes during
the year.
The Ridge Booster Club and Touchdown
Club recently donated $14,000 for 50 new
football helmets.
The 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 ridgepto@yahoo.com.
7

RIDGE CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
Come Support Ridge Dance
winter dance showcase
January 14, 2011
Ridge High School Performing Arts Center
7 pm
Master Class students from Ridge High School and
William Annin Middle School explore the history
and tradition of Indian dance.
Ridge Dance Team
Learns Moves from
Hip-Hop Artist Jude Cassion
In November, the Ridge Dance Team
began rehearsing with hip-hop artist Jude
Cassion, a dancer, choreographer, and
teacher from New York City. His choreography
focuses on musicality and performance,
while capturing the emotion,
rhythm, and lyrics of the music. Jude
created a dance for the Ridge Dance
Team that will be adjudicated in upcoming
dance competitions and performed in
the Spring Dance Showcase 2011. The
students enjoyed learning his eclectic
and theatrical style and look forward to
presenting their dance to the Ridge
community.
holiday sale
The Ridge High School Booster Club
sells Ridge logoed apparel every
Wednesday at Ridge High School
during all lunch periods.
Our Holiday Sale will be
December 7, 8 & 9
during all lunch periods.
The Ridge Booster Club supports
all athletic teams and
related organizations.
www.ridgeboosterclub.com
Ridge Dance Master Classes
Go to Bollywood!
In October, about 40 students from Ridge
High School and William Annin Middle
School took two Bollywood master classes
with teacher Meena Basu-Nag. Meena is
a teacher of classical Indian dance and
the founder of Nritya Creations, a dance
studio with several locations throughout
New Jersey. Students learned the importance
and significance of hand movements
and facial expressions, as well as the
history and tradition of Indian dance. The
choreography learned during these two
classes will be presented during the
Winter Dance Showcase 2011. Be sure to
save the date for this evening of eclectic
and cultural dance!
Hip-hop artist Jude Cassion choreographed a dance
to be performed by the Ridge Dance Team at the
Winter Dance Showcase in January.
8
happy
holidays
from the
ridge pto!

Music Department News
2010 New Jersey All-State
Mixed Chorus
Jessie Chan, Devin McGuire, Alex Wilke
and Lisa Wooldridge joined 325 of the
top high school singers in the state and
performed at the NJEA Convention in
Atlantic City on Friday, November 5 and
again at NJPAC on Sunday, November 14.
Congratulations to each of them.
2010 New Jersey All-State
Women’s Chorus
Briley Conder and Amrutha Krishnaraj
will perform with the New Jersey All-State
Women’s Chorus at NJPAC in February
2011. Barbara Retzko was chosen to
conduct this All-State Ensemble.
Region II Chorus
Auditions will be held at JP Stevens High
School in Edison on Saturday, December
11. Good luck to the 28 members of the
Choral Department who are auditioning!
2010 New Jersey All-State
Orchestra
Congratulations to senior violinist
Michelle Lee, who performed with the
2010 New Jersey All-State Orchestra at
the NJEA Convention in Atlantic City and
again at NJPAC on Sunday, November 14.
Join the A Cappella Choir for
the Caroling Season
December 3 from 4 to 6 pm
Somerville Caroling Festival
United Reformed Church
Main Street, Somerville
December 6 at 7:45 pm
St. James Rosary & Altar Society
December 7 at 7:30 pm
Bishop Janes Methodist Church
December 13 at 10:30 am
Ridge Oak Senior Center
December 14 at 7 pm
Strolling the Bridgewater Mall
Upcoming Ridge Concerts
Winter Band and
Orchestra Concert
The Winter Band and Orchestra Concert
will be held on Thursday, December 16 at
7 pm in the Ridge High School Performing
Arts Center. It will feature performances
by the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble
under the direction of Daniel Zugale and
the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony
Orchestra under the direction of Jennifer
Curran. Come and celebrate the holiday
season with us!
Winter Choral Concert
The Winter Choral Concert will be held
on Tuesday, December 21 at 7 pm in the
Ridge High School Performing Arts
Center. Featured ensembles will include
the Ridge Chorale, the A Cappella Choir
and the Concert Choir. The concert will
conclude with the annual alumni sing
O Holy Night and the Grand Finale of
Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, accompanied
by the Ridge High School Symphony
Orchestra under the direction of Jennifer
Curran. An evening not to be missed!
Ridge Habitat
for Humanity
Ridge High School hosts a large chapter
of the Raritan Valley Youth Habitat for
Humanity, a popular club for students.
Ridge Habitat’s first event this year was
“Staging for Humanity,” held on October
16 and 17 in a new home built by Ridge
parent Bob Horowitz. Proceeds from a
bake sale, gift basket silent auction, and
donations helped Ridge Habitat raise over
$2,000, which was divided between the
club and Morris County Re-Store. Over
60 Ridge club members assisted with the
fundraiser over the two-day period. The
funds will help provide building materials
for a nine-home Raritan Valley Habitat
development in Bridgewater.
Ridge Habitat got “down and dirty” at
the same Bridgewater build site during
their first build day on October 30, putting
up sheet rock and working on other
important construction tasks. Also on
October 30, about 20 club members
were at the Bridgewater Mall to create
Halloween fun for young mall visitors
(face painting was a favorite activity) and
to raise awareness and funds for Youth
Habitat. Earlier in October, Ridge Habitat
participated in a 5K run at Duke Island
Park in Bridgewater. Many people came
out in support, and all proceeds went
to Raritan Valley Youth Habitat and the
Bridgewater project.
The next event for Ridge
Habitat is the “Buy
a Brick” fundraiser,
which runs during
the month of
December. A
“house” is
constructed in
the lobby of Ridge
High School out of
one-dollar “bricks” or note cards, which
students and teachers can purchase. All
money goes to Ridge Habitat. Anyone who
supports the fundraiser has a chance to
win a variety of prizes, including an Ipod.
Anyone can donate, and Ridge Habitat is
hoping to make this their most profitable
fundraiser of the year. Please contact
Drew Wilke at dwilke12@gmail.com if
you are interested.
9

Photos by Shilpa Ingale
Ridge Marching Band Concludes
Successful Season
The 2010 Ridge High School Marching
Band concluded an outstanding competitive
season with high placements at the
state and regional championships. Competing
against 16 bands at the New Jersey
State Championships on October 24,
Ridge placed fourth and achieved its highest
score of the year at the time, 82.663.
On October 31, Ridge placed fifth at the
Northern States Championships, the traditional
end-of-season marching band event
held in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Facing
15 bands from six states, Ridge improved
its score to 88.075 and received a Caption
award for “Best Percussion” performance.
Earlier this fall, the Ridge Band captured
two first place awards and a second
place award in its first three competitions,
including the top Group 2A placement at
the prestigious Yamaha Cup that is held
annually at the Meadowlands.
Sunday’s Northern States Championships
marked the final competitive performance
for 15 seniors: Griffin Davis, Christopher
Taylor Domey, Emily Furst, Harleen
Girgla (Band Manager), Scott Kluger,
Wave Langston (Percussion Captain), Meg
Morris (Trumpet Captain), Alex Petersen
(Color Guard Captain), Andrew Pottorff,
Andrew Price, Katerina Raiser, Andrew
Richards, Annemarie Root, Katelyn Stover,
and Julia Verbrugge (Drum Major).
Mr. Dan Zugale, director of the Ridge
Marching Band, remarked that “there is a
very stiff competition at the 2A level and
there has certainly been a lot of back and
forth among the top bands all year. Everyone
should celebrate the successes we’ve
had and be proud of all our hard work.”
Student leaders of the Ridge Marching Band
proudly display their fifth place trophy and Best
Percussion award earned at the October 31
Northern States Competition in Allentown, PA.
Attending the first annual Ridge Marching Band
Competition were Mayor Scott Spitzer and his
wife Toby shown here with competition organizers
and Ridge parents, Han and Irma Kieftenbeld.
The Ridge Marching Band performs at the
first annual Ridge Marching Band Competition
held at Ridge High School on October 30.
1,250 Attend
First Annual
Ridge Marching
Band Competition
An estimated 1,250 spectators enjoyed
music, marching, color guards and food
at the first annual Ridge Marching Band
Competition held at Ridge High on
October 30. Mayor Scott Spitzer and his
wife Toby were among the attendees on a
beautiful fall evening who agreed that the
competition was a terrific success. Future
members of Ridge’s marching band, the
William Annin Middle School Wind Ensemble,
performed the National Anthem.
The competition was held at three
levels, based on band size. Bands from
Monsignor Farrell High (Staten Island,
NY), Hicksville (NY) and Northern
Burlington County Regional (NJ) were
winners.
After the competition, the Ridge High
School and Bloomsburg University bands
performed exhibitions. Ridge performed
their 2010 show “The Wild, Wild West.”
Bloomsburg performed their 2010
Show “BU does BC,” honoring famous
American composers Leonard Bernstein
and Aaron Copeland.
Han Kieftenbeld, the competition cochairperson,
remarked that “we received
many favorable comments from Band
Directors, visiting pit crews, parents and
Parent Associations, and last but not least
the USSBA who was very impressed with
the professionalism of this first event.”
Kieftenbeld added that the event’s success
was driven by the large number of current
and alumni band parents who volunteered
their time and noted the large number of
non-band related spectators.
Additional photos of the competition and the
Ridge Marching Band’s 2010 season can be
viewed at www.ridgemarchingband.org.
10

Varsity Athletes
of the Month
October, 2010
Cheerleading
Sara Zuccalmaglio
Sara is an incredibly dedicated varsity
athlete. She shows great strength in stunting
and demonstrates her versatility and
talent in both base and back spot positions.
In addition to her cheer, dance, and tumbling
experience, Sara is a seasoned game
and competition squad cheerleader who
also coaches one of the teams in the youth
program for Ridge. She was the brains
behind the MSG Ridge vs. Lata food drive
that the Cheerleading team used as their
main community service event.
Boys’ Cross Country
Alex Huynh
Alex moved from JV to Varsity during
the middle of the season. Since then
he has become a top five
runner and has helped the
boys win both County and
Conference titles.
Girls’ Cross Country
Rachel Schaub
Rachel improved tremendously this
season. Moving into a four position on the
Varsity team, her consistent improvement
helped the team win a State Section title
with her 7th place overall results as well
as a Top 10 ranking in the State.
Field Hockey
Christie Long
Christie scored three out of her four goals
this season in October, including two in
her final game as a senior at Ridge High
School. While
Christie’s
goal-scoring
ability is
one of her
strongest
assets, her leadership and optimism is what
sets her apart. Christie continued to push
herself and her teammates through a difficult
stretch during the 2010 season. She
remained positive and focused on the
possibilities of success. Her humor and
competitive drive, combined with her
nose for the goal, makes Christie the field
hockey Athlete of the Month for October.
Football
Cameron Radinovic
Cameron played hard every day in practice
and games. He put the team first as he
changed positions this year, overcame
injuries every day for the
entire season, and
was a great leader.
Gymnastics
Kristie Wei
Kristie is a great leading captain and is
also ranked among the top gymnasts in the
state. She has spent her years on the team
not only showing her teammates how to be
a good gymnast, but also how to be a team
player. Kristie performed with outstanding
numbers this season, scoring her best
(38.7) against Montgomery, which gives
her the second highest All-Around score in
the state this year. In her most recent meet
at Sectionals, Kristie placed second All-
Around with a score of 37.175 at Bishop
George Ahr High School. She now goes on
to State Gymnastics Meet, where she will
compete All-Around to place against other
leading gymnasts in the state. We will miss
Kristie when she goes to college next year
and continues gymnastics, but we wish her
the best!
Boys’ Soccer
Brian Vassallo
Brian performed at consistent levels all
season. He was asked to play several positions
throughout the season, which he did
with energy and ability. He responds well
in big games, and the team can always
11
count on him to contribute. Brian’s technique,
insight, personality, and speed have
resulted in a creative force on the field.
Girls’ Soccer
Nicole Bates
Nicole, a defender, anchored the back
line, which in October lost several key
defenders due to injury. The team was
her first priority when she stepped up as
a sophomore to take a leadership role by
organizing, communicating, and working
with new defensive players. Nicole also
demonstrated that she is an offensive threat
through the midfield and can
play almost any position on
the field when needed.
Girls’ Tennis
Kelly Williford
Kelly led the Girls’ Varsity Tennis team,
playing the position of First Singles for
the past three seasons. Kelly finished the
season with a record of 20-7-1. She was
selected as a member of the 2010 Skylands
All Conference First Team, First Singles
Team. This past month, Williford, along
with Tracy Lucas, Kathleen Kirk and
Elena Cerati, competed in the NJSIAA
State Singles/Doubles
Tournament held
in Trenton. Kelly
advanced to the quarterfinal
round of the
singles tournament.
Volleyball
Jodi Sherman
So far this year Jodi has 110 kills and leads
the team with 47 aces and 127 service
points. Jodi helped lead the Red Devils
into the State tournament.