June 2013

Ridge Ranch Reporter Rope’n in all the news at the Ranch

Principal’s Message:

“ Yee Haw, great news! The spring concert photos are on Snapfish! ”

To access the photos, go to www.snapfish.com Log in with username: rrice@paramus.k12.nj.us The password is : school

IMPORTANT: Next, please click on the “ Share” link and send the album to yourself by putting in your own personal email. From this point, you will receive an email from Snapfish and they can then buy prints or download any of the pictures from their own personal Snapfish account. Many thanks to Mrs. Rice for taking these pictures! Enjoy!

Hellos Goodbyes :

Each year, there is always some movement in the district with teacher placements due to retirements, maternity leaves and instructional needs throughout the district. This year, we have a few new teachers joining our staff and others are leaving due to transfers, retirements or leave of absences. As you know, this list is always subject to change, but here is the anticipated staffing for the 2013-2014 school year.

Kindergarten Updates: Currently, we have two kindergarten sections. Mrs. Rice and Ms. Friedman. We say goodbye and good luck to Mrs. Spero as she retires from Paramus Public Schools after over 20 years of service to our students. We wish her the very best of health and happiness as she embarks on this next exciting chapter of her life. Mrs. Frasco is going to be adding her talents to the staff at Parkway School as she is being transferred to Parkway School to fulfill an instructional position on the west side of town. We wish her the best of luck and we are happy that she won’t be too far from all of her friends here at the Ranch. We welcome Ms. Brooke Friedman who will be teaching kindergarten next year at Ridge Ranch. Ms. Friedman is currently a teacher at Parkway School and she is eager to join our talented team of teachers. Ms. Friedman is a warm and caring educator and I know that she is going to be a great addition to our staff. She will be working with Mrs. Rice this summer to learn the ropes for Kindergarten at the Ranch! J First Grade Updates: We have three sections of first grade. Our first grade teachers will be Mrs. BenYohanan, Ms. Chiaramonte, and Mrs. Palumbo. Mrs. Zimmerman will be working as the ICS teacher in both Mrs. Palumbo’s class and Ms. Chiaramonte’s class.

NOSTRAME

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Second Grade Updates: We have three sections of second grade. Our second grade teachers will be: Mrs. Clancey, Mrs. Jockish and Ms. Taggart Third Grade Updates: We have two sections of third grade. Mrs. Bua and Mrs. Salute will be our third grade teachers. We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Cutrupi will be working as the Basic Skills teacher, which is a new position that was created to assist students who need extra help reaching benchmarks. Mrs. Cutrupi will be working at both Ridge Ranch and Midland Schools. Although she is sad to leave the classroom, she is excited about her new position which will enable her to lend her expertise to students in a small group setting. Fourth Grade Updates: We will have 4 sections of fourth grade next year. Mrs. Costello, Mrs. DiGennaro, Ms. Dugan and Mrs. Litvany will be our fourth grade teachers. Mrs. DiGennaro is a talented and enthusiastic teacher who will be joining us from Stony Lane School. We are very excited to welcome her to the Ranch! Special Education Updates: Mrs. Huntington’s preschool class will be moving to Parkway School. We will miss our preschoolers and their wonderful teacher and classroom helpers, but we know they will do just fine at Parkway School. It makes us happy to know they are just up the road, if we want to visit and brighten our day. Mrs. Fisher will be out on maternity leave until October, with Mrs. Bruno continuing in her place until she returns. Mrs. Falotico will continue her work as a special education teacher at Memorial School. We wish her the best of luck in her new teaching assignment.

CLASS LISTS WILL BE MAILED HOME AUGUST 23RD.

Have a great summer!

I would like to thank all of the members of the Ridge Ranch School community for another wonderful school year. The students have all worked hard and they should be proud of all of their accomplishments. It is, of course, that time of year when I make my annual appeal to have students READ, READ, READ over the summer. The only way to avoid the negative impact of the dreaded “summer slide” is to have your children read each and every day. If you go to the Ridge Ranch website, you will see that I have posted a brief PowerPoint presentation entitled “How to Help Your Child With Reading this Summer” and I strongly encourage you to use the questions provided to help you discuss the books that your children are reading. The easiest and most beneficial thing that you can do to help foster continued academic success in school is to make reading a priority in your home. I wish you a wonderful summer filled with good health and happiness!

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Message from the PTA Board Radhika Sahu, President

Angela Miaoulis, Co-President Cheryl Nazziola, Vice President Karen Bartolomeo, Treasurer Heather Rennar, Corresponding Secretary Donna Russo, Recording Secretary

Wow! It is hard to believe that the school year is already ending. It seems like just yesterday that we were sending our kids off to the first day of school with a kiss and best wishes for a great year. This school year was filled with many successful events and

activities all which could not be possible without our parent volunteers and ridge ranch faculty/staff. We would once again like to thank you, for without you the PTA would not be able to accomplish all it does. The fourth-grade committee would like to thank Sharon Chung for arranging Flomo to donate fourth-grade gifts that were given in their East Brook sling bags. Thank you to Flomo for their generosity. Just a friendly reminder that you are able to purchase your optional school supplies for next year through innisbrook.com by going to ordermypack.com and entering our school number 103209. Your child's school supply pack will be shipped directly to the school and then delivered to the classroom by the first day of school. If you are not receiving PTA email updates and would like to please contact tkirsch@optonline.net If you would like to volunteer or be a class parent for the 2013-2014 school year and still have not filled out a form please email Cheryl Nazziola at cheranno@aol.com Please do not order hot lunch until you receive specific instructions the first week of school. We wish the 4th graders much success in their new adventures at East Brook Middle School. We will miss you but remember the Ranch will be cheering you on. Make every step count! We hope everyone has a safe and restful summer filled with happy memories. See you in September! ***Mark your calendars, picture day will be Wednesday, September 11th.

Message from the PTA President Radhika Sahu I can’t believe June is here and I am completing two years as PTA President in just a few days. I would like to thank Jill Wiser for putting together the Ridge Ranch Reporter and continually updating the PTA website so we can relay information to you. Please continue to check our email updates…it helps us to save ink and paper but still effectively communicate important news to you. I would like to take this time to thank so many wonderful people who help make Ridge Ranch special. Through the many activities at Ridge Ranch, I had the wonderful opportunity and honor of working with the amazing and dedicated faculty and

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staff members such as our principal, teachers, office staff, and custodial staff. With their support the PTA was able to conduct our numerous events and have a successful year! We are fortunate to have a principal like Ms. Nostrame. Through her positive attitude, warmth, and creativity, she encourages all those around her to make every step count! You inspire us by leading an all night team for Relay for Life, training and participating in the Paramus Triathlon, and being a part of the Scholarship Show representing Ridge Ranch School and benefitting the Paramus Community. Thank you to all the parent volunteers! As parents, we know how every second of your time you volunteer is precious and how every penny you contribute to a fundraiser is generous. Your support of the PTA continues to make a significant impact on the learning environment at your child’s school year after year. The PTA was able to help fund a blacktop makeover, family fun nights, field trips, assemblies, an author visit, classroom magazine subscriptions, accelerated reader program, classroom books, refreshments for various school events, library reading awards, and so much more! We officially announced the PTA Board for 2013-2014 at the Volunteer Recognition Dinner held on Tuesday, June 11 as follows: Cheryl Nazziola, President; Angela Miaoulis, Vice President; Lynn Restrepo, Treasurer; Eva Baran, Recording Secretary; Radhika Sahu, Corresponding Secretary, and Karen Bartolomeo as Budget and Finance Chair. The 2013-2014 PTA board is excited to represent all of you for another outstanding year! All of us at one point will have a 4th Grader leaving us at the Ranch. This year it is my turn as my son along with his fellow classmates move onto the next step. It is an emotional yet wonderfully proud feeling to reminisce their early years as Kindergarteners and each following year as they grow into caring, curious, and passionate young individuals. We wish them the best of luck as they leave their foundation, Ridge Ranch, and continue to build on it to become amazing young adults. We hope that they remember and cherish the great memories and friends they have made while learning here at Ridge Ranch. We will miss them! Thank you to all the 4th grade parents who helped make this year’s 4th grade activities a success! It took a lot of teamwork and we did it! I would like to say a very special thank you to my executive board this past year … Angela Miaoulis, Co-President; Cheryl Nazziola, Vice-President; Karen Bartolomeo, Treasurer; Heather Rennar, Corresponding Secretary; Donna Russo, Recording Secretary. I appreciate the many responses to my many questions to my early morning texts and my late night emails. Despite having a family and a busy life like everyone else, they have put in countless hours to benefit all the children at Ridge Ranch. Although many of us continue to still be a part of the board, we will greatly miss Heather and Donna who have served over 3 years. Thank you to them! We wish everyone a happy, healthy, wonderful summer filled with plenty of sunshine and relaxing days! See you again in September! Blacktop Project Update: Thank you to Frank A Macchione Construction Company for helping the PTA stripe another track on the blacktop. Thank you to Mr. Baran for helping to paint the fun and colorful yellow and blue footprints on the first track. The plaque should be completed in the next few months.

Thank you to all that donated last year to the "Make Every Step Count" Blacktop Project.

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Obesity-Related Health Problems In Kids It is well known that childhood obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases in adulthood. But

what many parents might not realize until problems arise is that overweight and obese children and teens often have weight-related problems during childhood.

Children are considered obese (with a body mass index, or BMI, at or above the 95th

percentile) are at risk for: • Obstructive sleep apnea (blocked breathing during sleep) • Breathing problems (such as asthma and exercise intolerance) • Type 2 diabetes

• High blood pressure • Bone and joint problems • Liver disease • Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides • Menstrual irregularities • Anxiety, depression, low self-esteem • Bullying and discrimination

The far-reaching health problems associated with obesity have dire implications for children right now. So it’s vital that

parents do all they can to help children reach and maintain a healthy weight. Being a good role model is a key part of this – let your children see you eating healthy foods in appropriate serving sizes, enjoying treats in moderation, and exercising regularly.

You don’t have to do it alone! The health care reform legislation includes $15 billion earmarked for public health programs

designed to help prevent health problems and keep Americans healthy, including $16 million that will go toward combating obesity and promoting fitness. Another provision requires “nutrient content disclosure statements” at chain restaurants, which is significant since an estimated 84% of parents take their children for fast food at least once a week.

The long-term picture, of course, is still important. Children who reach a healthy weight not only have less risk for obesity-

related problems, but are more likely to avoid obesity later. Consider talking to your doctor or a nutritionist about ways to fight obesity as a family. Mrs. Broek

Library News

Our Ridge Ranch students finished the reading year in a positive way with 227 students receiving Read to Succeed medals for their four 200 nights of reading calendars. Even though the calendars are finished and summer is here, please make sure your children continue to read every single day during the vacation time. If they do, you will be surprised by how well they will begin their next school year. Instead of sliding backwards, they will have maintained their present reading levels. They will be ready to move forward quickly and easily in their reading and in all other subjects. On June 12th, our 4th grade students had a wonderful afternoon at Memorial School, meeting their fellow future 5th graders and sharing a Book Club with them as well. We ate pizza, played outside, and then discussed The Thing about Georgie, a novel by Lisa Graff about a 4th grader who happens to have dwarfism, yet his problems and worries are just the same as anyone else his age- school projects, friendship, bullying, and future new sibling. We had great discussions about this unusual and interesting book. This summer I have asked all of our students to take advantage of the Paramus Public Library and its wonderful reading programs. With two libraries in our town, it is so easy to borrow books in order to keep up with the reading. Just go and borrow a pile of books so you don’t have to visit the library every week, although when you see how much your children are reading, you just may be tempted to go to the library again and again. I know that is what I am planning to do! Perhaps I will see you there at my favorite place! Enjoy the summer! Mrs. Fogel

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PARAMUS POLICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING PARKING: Recently, the Paramus Police Department posted signs to enforce Borough Ordinance 419-59 which states that between the hours of 8:00 and 5:00 parking is prohibited on the west side of Lockwood Drive (west is the side with NO sidewalks) and on the east side of Sherwood Drive (east is the side with NO sidewalks). There is temporary signage posted and permanent signage will follow. You are permitted to park on the east side of Lockwood Drive and on the west side of Sherwood Drive. Also, please note that starting on July 1st, there will be NO PARKING permitted on Elden Street. Signage will be posted indicating that parking is prohibited on that street. Please be aware of the parking restrictions on the streets surrounding the school.

Great job to all those that performed and helped with

Ridge Ranch’s Talent Show this past Friday.

Best of luck to Ms. Nostrame (principal),

Mr. Lee (teacher), and Andrea Guidetti (parent) on

this Sunday's Paramus Triathlon! Come out and support all the runners!