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N EWS FROM THE R AMAPO I NDIAN H ILLS R EGIONAL H IGH S CHOOL D ISTRICTFebruary, 2006New Web-Based ProgramAids in College PlanningHonor Band. Several district studentssuccessfully auditioned for Honor Bands.Mark Potash of Indian Hills and ThomasLee and Christine Friedman of Ramapowere named to the North Jersey RegionI Band. Ramapo students Ryan Mallen,Matthew Jufer, and Christine Friedmanwere selected for the Bergen CountyBand. Indian Hills student Mark Potashwas selected for the North Jersey AreaBand. Pictured are Ramapo clarinetistsThomas Lee and Christine Friedman.Family Connection from Naviance, a comprehensive Web-based service to help parents and studentswith post-secondary school planning, will be available to Ramapo Indian Hills familiesthrough the district’s web site beginning in late March. Family Connection is linked withCounselor’s Office, another Naviance service used by the district’s guidance counselors to track and analyzedata about district students and their college and career plans.The Naviance program includes a database with information on over 6,000 institutions of higherlearning as well as statistics on district students. Beginning with the class of 2006, it will feature anonymousacademic data on each year’s senior class, includingSAT scores, college acceptances, and other careerchoices. Students will be able to use a scatter graph tocompare their academic profiles with those of previouslocal students who have been accepted or rejected at aparticular institution. The system will also track collegeapplications with information on when transcripts andrecommendations were submitted.“This new program provides a wide range of featuresto help parents and students organize a college searchand enhance communication with guidance counselors,” said Beverly MacKay, the District Coordinatorof Student Personnel Services.Since September, counselors have been inputting data on current seniors. Juniors and their parentswill have access to this local information as soon as the Family Connection program is on line in lateMarch. In addition, Mrs. MacKay noted that this spring all junior parents and their students will be invitedto a one-on-one session with their counselor to discuss post secondary school planning.Decathlon TeamsFor the sixth consecutive year, the Indian Hills team, coached byLisa Acquaire, placed first in the northwest regional competitionof the New Jersey Academic Decathlon. The Ramapo team,coached by Meredith Noah, finished second out of the 16 schools thatparticipated in the February 4 contest. Both teams qualified for the StateDecathlon, which will take place on March 11.In addition to numerous awards in individual subjects, Ramapo IndianHills students won six of the nine medals given for overall scores in each division.Ramapo senior Marc Graziano was invited to the podium at the awardsdinner to deliver his prepared speech, which received the highest score.A Model CareerAs a result of collaboration between the district and the BergenCounty Department of Special Services, students with severelearning disabilities can now participate in a career transitionprogram in their local community. This model program, which allowsmore students to be educated in their home district, is the first suchCounty-wide initiative between a public high school and the CountyDepartment of Special Services.Athena Georgotas, the Ramapo Indian Hills Child Study TeamAdministrative Liaison, has worked closely with Bergen County Special(continued on the following page)

A Model Career Program(continued from the front page)Services representatives to expand both the curriculumand the services offered to RamapoIndian Hills students. The revised program,which is housed at Ramapo High School, featuresthe Life Centered Career EducationCurriculum developed by the Council forExceptional Children along with transition servicesprovided by BCSS.The program introduces students to valuablemoney, culinary, and other life skills as well as avariety of career options, which they explorethrough field trips to such locations as What’sBlooming Nursery, the Franklin Lakes MunicipalBuilding, the Ramapo Animal Shelter, Stop andShop, and the Wyckoff Post Office. They alsolearn employment-related skills by working ingroups at actual job sites, such as DunkinDonuts, Stop and Shop, St. Joseph’s Hospital,West Coast Video, Tuesday Morning, and a daycare center. Once trained, the students areplaced in paid jobs with their own job coach.Innovative ActivitiesRamapo teacher Maria LaBarbiera motivatesthe students through a variety ofinteractive activities. They scanned familyphotos to produce a Holiday Calendar on thecomputer and learned to use a cash register andto prepare meals. The teacher initiated Employeeof the Month Awards to recognize students whoexceed basic job requirements and make significantcontributions to the overall effectiveness oftheir worksite. Winners receive a certificate, aplaque with their picture on it, and an invitationto a recognition luncheon at the end of the year.“An important part of the program is keepingparents involved in their child’s work program,”said Ms. Georgotas, explaining that the BergenCounty Special Services Department works withthe Ramapo High School staff to run monthlyparents’ meetings that feature guest speakersfrom community agencies and provide transition-relatedinformation. In addition, Ms.LaBarbiera sends a monthly newsletter to parentsand is developing a web site.“Since its inception in 2001, this cooperativeinitiative has continued to grow. Our goal is forBergen County staff members to train Ramapoeducators to use their own resources to providetransition services to district students. This willcomply with the State mandate encouraging thedevelopment of site-based Special Educationprograms,” noted Ms. Georgotas.Ramapo Social Studies ClassesRelate to the CommunityThe freshmen and sophomores in the socialstudies classes taught by Cynthia VanOstenbridge at Ramapo High School arelearning to relate their studies to the real worldthrough a series of community activities.In conjunction with a community service clubat Hawthorne High School, the students havebeen collecting food for residents of the MottHaven section of the Bronx. They have also sentseveral care packages to Captain Brian Oman, aplatoon leader serving in Iraq, and are exchangingletters with him. In addition, the students arecorresponding with a 14 year old boy in thePhilippines sponsored by Ms. Van Ostenbridgethrough Save the Children.“I initiated these projects to help my studentsget a sense of community and understand howthey can affect their community,” said Ms. VanOstenbridge. The students sent Captain Omanbooks, magazines, gum, candy, crossword puzzlesand other items that the Captain said his soldiers“divided up and carried away in about threeseconds.” The students also questioned the Armyofficer about his life in Iraq and his feelings aboutthe war.A Ramapo freshman noted, “Writing to CaptainOman gave me the opportunity to voice my opinions.It also gave me a better perspective on whatis happening in Iraq and how the soldiers feelabout what they are doing.”Washington Seminar ProgramDuring a recent four-day trip to Washington, D.C., juniors and seniors in theUniversity Program in International Studies at Indian Hills High School visited theInternational Monetary Fund / World Bank, the Atlantic Council, the United StatesHolocaust Memorial Museum, George Washington University, The CenturyFoundation, an international law firm, and a number of national monuments. Two ofthe Indian Hills students are pictured with Dr.Richard Kahlenberg, a Senior Fellow at TheCentury Foundation, during a seminar on the NoChild Left Behind Act and the achievement gapin America’s schools. “This once-in-alifetimetrip enforced, supplemented, and expanded my knowledge onissues most adults don’t fully understand,” said one student about theUniversity Program’s 2005 Washington D.C. Seminar Program.

Renovated Gym in UseAuditoriumNearingCompletionAs part of the district’s Long Range FacilityPlan, the main gym at Indian Hills HighSchool was completely renovated withnew flooring, bleachers, lights, sound system,ticket and concession booth, and bathrooms.The district received 40% State funding for thefacility, which students have been using sincelate fall.Renovation of the school’s auditorium will besubstantially complete by mid April and in use inMay. That project includes new lighting, soundsystem, flooring, seating, and stage curtains. Thelobby and green rooms are also being renovated.The interior of the auditorium will have new woodpaneled walls, which will improve acoustics in thefacility. The original catwalk and acoustical ceilingwill remain in place.Ramapo AdoptsMississippiSchool DistrictAtarecent benefit concert, Ramapo HighSchool raised $5,000 to benefitMississippi’s Harrison County SchoolDistrict, which was decimated by HurricaneKatrina. This was the first in a series of fund raisingactivities the school will conduct as part of aprogram to adopt the southern district. Preliminaryplans also include an event in the spring.Community members can contribute to theeffort by making checks payable to the RamapoH.S. Harrison Adoption Fund and mailing themto the school at George Street, Franklin Lakes, NJ07417. Additional information is available byphoning the school office at 201-891-1500.VFW Contest Winners. At a recent Board of Education meeting, the Veteransof Foreign Wars recognized six Ramapo Indian Hills students as local winners of the Voiceof Democracy Audio Essay Scholarship Program. The Voice of Democracy is an annual contestdesigned to foster patriotism by giving high school students the opportunity to voicetheir opinions about their personal obligations as Americans and their responsibilities tothe country. Contestants write and then record a three to five minute essay on an annualtheme, which this year is “How I Demonstrate My Freedom.” Pictured from the left areAndrew Gross, Ramapo second place; Indian Hills Social Studies Supervisor Hank Bitten;Evan Lazerowitz, Indian Hills second place; Ramapo Social Studies Supervisor Joseph DelBuono; Superintendent Paul J. Saxton; Olivia Carrino, Ramapo third place; Ryan Jacobs,Ramapo first place; Scott Belsky, Indian Hills first place; VFW representative DominicStimola; and Anthony Vespa, Indian Hills third place.Hills Marching Band ReinstatedBeginning in September, Indian Hills HighSchool will again have a Marching Band.Soon after he became Principal, AlbertEvangelista organized a task force to determineinterest in the program. By surveying FLOW-areamiddle school students, the group found overwhelmingenthusiasm for a marching band.This year the district hired Gordon Fisher to reorganizea Pep Band made up of current Indian Hillsstudents and nearly 35 interested eighth graders.The band played at the school’s Thanksgiving footballgame and pep rally.In February, Fisher, who will also direct the newMarching Band, held an organizational meeting forprospective band parents. It is expected that aband camp will be held for interested students nextsummer. The new band director, a local resident,has extensive experience with high school anddrum corps groups. In addition, he served as interimband director at Ramapo High School during thedirector’s leave.“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks toeveryone who served on the Marching Band TaskForce. It is wonderful to see the fruits of their labor insuch a short period of time. The new Marching Bandwill be a major asset to Indian Hills,” said Evangelista.Special Ed ParentsGroup ReactivatedAll parents of special education students are encouraged to join the district’s Parent AdvisoryGroup. Meetings will be held several times a year to address the interests of members throughguest speakers, staff presentations, and discussions. The district will mail invitations to thesemeetings to the parents of every special education student in the district.

Special Recognition■ Eleven members of the district Class of 2006were named Commended Students in theNational Merit Scholarship Program. Theseoutstanding students are William Amesbury,Amanda Chase, Victoria Dever, EmilyEdwards, Matthew Goodgal, NitashaGupta, Jennifer Lach, James Leggate,Travis Mingalone, Dina Model, and PeterRagone. Previously, Edlin Choi, HenryFingerhut, Luke Medhus, and AlexandraMottola were selected as 2006 National MeritSemifinalists.■ The Federal Reserve Bank of New Yorkselected Indian Hills senior Danielle Gallo,Indian Hills sophomore Clare Kiesel, andRamapo juniors Adam Gerver and SagarShah to participate in the prestigious WallStreet Economics and Finance Club.■ As a result of their outstanding academicachievement, 37 Ramapo Indian Hills seniorswere named Edward J. Bloustein DistinguishedScholars for the 2006-07 collegiateacademic year. They will receive an annual$1,000 scholarship, without regard to financialneed, if they attend a New Jersey college oruniversity. The district’s Distinguished Scholarsare Brittany Berdy, Anna Cha, Amanda Chase,Edlin Choi, Perry Clarkson, Matthew Curnan,Victoria Dever, Alison Ewing, Scott Ewing,Henry Fingerhut, Vicki Gokhman, MattGoodgal, Nitasha Gupta, Charlotte Howells,Casey Hubert, Beth Katz, John Kleinert, JenniferLach, Joshua Loewenstein, Ryan Mallen,Andrew Marcus, Luke Medhus, StefanieMirgovich, Dina Model, Alexandra Mottola,Grant Parseghian, Alan Radvinsky, PeterRagone, Nicole Reggio, Katherine Roche, SaraRose, John Rothman, Mona Sadegh, JenniferSepede, Mustafa Shaikh, Alyssa Steinmetz, andStephen Vandervliet.■ Ramapo students in the SeniorPracticum class in the University Programs forTheatre Arts and Communication: Television,Audio and Film raised over $900 for Angels ofHope through their recent Moving Art show.■ Twenty-five Indian Hills juniors in U.S.History 2 AP classes taught by James Knausand Ivy Urdang recently visited DrewUniversity to meet with the HistoryDepartment Chairman for a discussion on theWoodrow Wilson Presidency. Social StudiesSupervisor Hank Bitten also accompanied thestudents who were selected for the trip on thebasis of an essay application and their grades.■ Ramapo High School student writers andeditors received several awards from theGarden State Scholastic Press Association forwork published in the school newspaper duringthe 2004-05 school year. Steven Reinitz’05, Steven Kielt ’06, Jeff Luppino-Esposito ’07, and Andrew Gross ’07received First Place for In-Depth Reporting andLayout and Design for their coverage of thetsunami. David DiMarchi ’05 won SecondPlace in Editorial Cartooning. Second Placeawards also went to Zach Weiss ’05 for hiscolumn and to Mark Gimbel ’05 and EricSchmid ’05 for Reviews and Entertainment.Andrew Gross was also recognized with anHonorable Mention Award in Feature Writing.Barbara Duhig is the paper’s advisor.■ Indian Hills was honored at a recent luncheonat Hackensack University Medical Centerafter placing second in overall seatbelt use inthe Get It Together Challenge sponsored by thetrauma center to encourage the use of seatbelts.■ Students in the Ramapo Marketingclasses taught by Gale Fanale placed first inthe national stock-picking contest sponsored bysecurities firm Piper Jaffray. The competitionwas part of the firm’s “Taking Stock with Teens”project, a national research survey on teenspending habits and retail brand perceptions.■ The fourth annual Pennies for Pins fundraiserheld by the Indian Hills Bowling Teamraised $500 for the Tomorrow’s Children’sFund at Hackensack University Medical Center.Ramapo Indian Hills Regional Board of Education131 Yawpo AvenueOakland, NJ 07436Paul J. Saxton, SuperintendentFrank C. Ceurvels,Business Administrator/Board SecretaryBOARD OF EDUCATIONThomas J. Madigan, PresidentGeraldine Petersen, Vice PresidentIra BelskyPeter ChormanJack KleinertCheryl PiccoliSadie QuinlanDavid RinderknechtKathleen ScarpelliPOSTAL PATRONLOCALU.S. PostagePAIDStandard RatePermit No. 4Franklin LakesNJ 07417Non Profit

District Students WinRegional DECA AwardsAt the 2006 Northern Regional DECA Conference held recently, studentsfrom the Ramapo Indian Hills DECA Chapter 132 receivednumerous awards. DECA is a nationwide organization of studentsinterested in careers in business. Gale Fanale is the advisor of the RIHchapter.The annual DECA competition includes a comprehensive 100 questiontest worth 100 points and two role playing activities worth 100 points each.Participants are expected to dress and act like business professionalsthroughout the competition. The top twelve finishers in each category of theregional contest advance to the state competition to be held in March inCherry Hill. The top three state winners will qualify for the nationals in May.The following Ramapo Indian Hills students received special awards atthe Regional Conference and will participate in the state contest: MaxTanner of Indian Hills, first place trophy for overall score and second placetrophy for role play in Retail Marketing Associate Level; Kirsty Ewing ofRamapo, third place trophy for overall score in Retail Marketing AssociateLevel; Jennifer Higgins of Ramapo, third place trophy for overall score andfirst place trophy for role play in Quick Serve Restaurant Management; MattBojekian and Melissa Manganelli of Indian Hills, third place trophy in roleplay for Hospitality Team Decision Making; and Andrew Gross of Ramapo,first place trophy in role play for Marketing Management Series.These Ramapo Indian Hills students also qualified for the state competition:Chris DePow of Indian Hills and Chris Wiederhold of Ramapo inMarketing Management Series; Claire Opila of Ramapo in Apparel andAccessories Associate Level; Lauren Riccio and Jessica Safir of Ramapo inApparel and Accessories Management Level; Grant Comorato and KevinMiller of Ramapo and Phil Heyer and Brad Zac of Indian Hills in Vehicles andPetroleum Marketing; Edlin Choi and Matt Dorney of Ramapo in BusinessEthics Management Team Decision Making; and Jillian Brendlan and PaulChiariello of Indian Hills in Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making.Although they did not qualify for the state competition, the followingRamapo Indian Hills students received special awards at the RegionalConference: Tim Blashford of Ramapo, third place trophy in role play forRetail Marketing Associate Level, and John Cooney and Andrew Marcus ofRamapo, second place trophy in role play for Sports and EntertainmentManagement Decision Making.District IncreasesGraduation RequirementsBeginning with ninth grade students during the 2006-07 school year, the district will increase the requirementsfor graduation. Students will have to take fourcredit years of English; previously the requirement was onecredit year for each year of enrollment. In addition, the minimumnumber of credits required for graduation will be 120,an increase of five credits.

Advisory CouncilHelps ConnectCommunityThe FLOW-area community has become connected in several newways through the district’s Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council.The group was formed last September to review the results of astudent survey and develop an action plan. Its over 20 members includeadministrators, teachers, high school and middle school parents, SchoolResource Officers, Board of Education trustees, and Parent Teen Networkand Municipal Alliance representatives.The Council’s early January meeting featured a presentation by teachersDebra Martin of Indian Hills and Pamela Pappas of Ramapo, StudentsAgainst Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club advisors, who outlined themany activities their students have conducted to discourage smoking anddrinking. As a result of this gathering, the Municipal Alliances offered tofund some of the student programs and invited students to serve in theirorganizations.In another new community connection,high school students will“There is avisit the middle schools to speak toneed to changethe younger students. In addition,the Transitions Program will be reactivatedto orient both parents andthe culture bystudents to high school life. Local educating bothresidents who wish to serve on theTransitions committee are asked to students andphone Beverly MacKay, the DistrictCoordinator of Student Personnel parents aboutServices, at 201-337-0100, extension3330.the realities of“There is a need to change theteenage life.”culture by educating both studentsand parents about the realities ofteenage life,” said Mrs. MacKay. She noted that the Advisory Councilwill sponsor community programs for both these groups, such therecent presentation on student stress and a May speaker on choosingnot to drink.The district’s Advisory Council is currently working with the BergenCounty Municipal Alliance to help promote the County’s “Parents WhoHost Lose the Most” campaign. The group is also considering a proposalfor intergenerational activities between Ramapo Indian Hills studentsand local senior citizens.B U D G E T H E A R I N GMonday, March 27, 8:00 p.m.,Ramapo High SchoolS C H O O L E L E C T I O NTuesday, April 18, 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.