the ridge bridge - Ridge PTO

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.
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