The excitement that comes with the start of a new school year hangs in the air! Our RPS team is putting the final touches on our buildings and classrooms as we continue to prepare for an exciting opening of school. We are saying hello to our new teachers and welcoming back our incredible Ridgewood team.

As you prepare for the upcoming school year, please take note of the important reminders and updates below, including our Mandatory Student Information Update, opening day for students, Back-to-School Nights, and our upcoming Superintendent Coffees.

In the meantime, enjoy the last weeks of summer and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We look forward to seeing you in our schools!

Registered RPS families received a postcard earlier this month, reminding them about the annual student information update process. It is important that all parents/guardians complete the mandatory update, including permission forms, notifications, and other information before the start of school. Parents/Guardians and students will not have access to the district's network, resources, Chromebooks, and schedules until this is done. Middle and High School schedules will be available on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 at noon. We ask that you complete all steps in Skyward Family Access by August 25, 2023. Thank you.

Opening day for students is Tuesday, September 5, 2023. As a reminder, students will follow the minimum day schedule. The 2023-2024 School Calendar is posted on the District website and acts as a quick reference for all school closings, breaks, and minimum days.

Still have questions on late start at the high school? Visit our Late Start Q&A section of the website.

Join us from the comfort of your home each month as Superintendent Mark Schwarz leads an interactive discussion via Zoom. The Coffee provides a forum for parents and community members to engage in direct conversation with the district on matters pertaining to our schools. By listening to the meetings, you receive regular updates regarding important district activities and efforts and current topics of concern as we discuss them with our participants. Missed the last coffee? Watch the recording of July’s Superintendent Coffee. Monthly dates coming soon. We hope to see you there!

Our staff was hard at work throughout the summer, taking professional development classes on a wide range of topics, including our Kindergarten and first grade teachers who gathered to discuss Dr. Julia B. Lindsey's book, Reading Above the Fray: Research-Based Routines for Developing Decoding Skills, and the PLC - Habits of Work of course! More summer development for our staff with topics aligned to the strategic plan.

A few of our RPS principals took a short break from planning for the new school year for a quick photo op. Principals, Assistant Principals, and Supervisors met this week to finalize plans for the new school year, which begins on September 5th!

Of 520 teams that participated in the 2023 NJSTEAM Tank Challenge, three RHS Teams placed! The Estrogenerator team earned 2nd place, FireGone earned 3rd, and GamaWatch was recognized for Innovative Technology, Eco-wear, Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Art, and Diversity. Bravo RHS!

Northjersey.com recognized Ridgewood High School, whose athletic department added 28 championships, three state titles, and one more in non-sanctioned flag football to their list of accomplishments. It's a great time to be a Maroon!

On Saturday, August 19, 2023 our Girls Flag Football Team met with the NY Jets to interact with players, receive their State Championship rings, and watch the NY Jets preseason game vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! Quarterback Katie Bisgrove represented the team as the honorary captain during the coin toss. Bravo, #FlagMaroons!

J.T.Luther (Baseball), Matthew Roughgarden (Lacrosse), and Lindsey Devir (Lacrosse)

The New Jersey Lacrosse Foundation chose Coach Jim Montegari and Maroon Lindsey Devir to receive their annual NJ Lacrosse Girls High School Honor Awards. They were recognized at the NJ Lacrosse Hall of Fame induction ceremony in July.

Ridgewood Crew was busy all summer long, placing in numerous events and competitions, including a gold medal at the Women's Jr Quad at Overpeck Summer Sprints!

An entire year of entertainment awaits! RHS New Players announced their 2023-2024 season.

Do you have questions or concerns related to your student? Please check the school/teacher websites for helpful information. Not finding what you need? Contact your building principal. They are here to help you and can be reached at:

• Hawes Elementary School - sstovell@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Orchard Elementary School - mkferreri@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Ridge Elementary School - mpiacenza@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Somerville Elementary School - loates@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Travell Elementary School - bross@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Willard Elementary School - choffman@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Benjamin Franklin Middle School - gwu@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• George Washington Middle School - kkashmanian@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
• Ridgewood High School - jnyhuis@ridgewood.k12.nj.us

Official District Twitter: @RwdPubSchools

Official District Facebook: @RwdPubSchools

Official District Instagram: @RwdPubSchools

Official District Threads: @RidgewoodPublicSchools

The RPS Newsletter has a new look! Subscriptions to the newsletter (formerly the RPS Bulletin), E-News, and Board Summary communications are now the same as those for other general school communications. Unsubscribing from the newsletter will result in unsubscribing from all general Parent/Guardian news. You will still get emergency and alert notifications. Unsubscribe by mistake? email info@ridgewood.k12.nj.us. Received the newsletter from a friend and want to subscribe? See the Subscribe to Ridgewood button below.