Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Several Ridgefield High School students got together after a recent cyber-bullying incident to start an anti-bullying organization they hope will catch on.
After last week's cyber-bullying incident over Twitter and the subsequent stand taken by Ridgefield High School students on Facebook, several members of the Ridgefield community have decided to take bullying matters into their own hands. With comparable quickness to the original stand that saw thousands of members flock to the "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End To High School Bullying" Facebook group last Tuesday, students, teachers and school officials have already learned their lesson and have launched a directive to raise awareness of cyberbullying in Ridgefield and beyond. The organization, called SAID (Students Against Internet Discrimination), is a student-run group with a goal to become nationally recognized. And in just a …
Friday, February 3, 2012
The proposal includes bond funding for a statewide rating and improvement system, according to the Hartford Courant.
Gov. Malloy announced on Thursday a $12 million proposal to improve early childhood education programs, according to the Hartford Courant. Malloy's proposal includes $4 million to send 500 children from low-income families to preschool, $5 million in bond funding to create a statewide Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS) and $3 million to give both professionals and non-professionals incentives to continue their early childhood education training. According to the Courant, the proposal was mostly drawn from the state's federal "Race to the Top" application, which deemed unsuccessful last year. “I’ve spoken of the importance of early childhood education for many years now,” Malloy said in a statement. “When I was mayor…
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
An offensive Twitter account based in Ridgefield prompted a quick response from hundreds of Ridgefield students -- and those from elsewhere -- to show that tolerance can go viral, too.
Update, 1:30 p.m. Ridgefield High School is abuzz with talk of Monday's online uprising against bullying and cyber-bullying as the "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End To High School Bullying" Facebook page reaches 800 members and counting. District Superintendent Deborah Low released a statement earlier: "I am sorry to report this incident. Yesterday afternoon (January 30), twitter messages were sent out by Ridgefield High School students titled, “RHSfagoftheday.” Although I haven’t been able to see them, apparently they follow a pattern of others sent out earlier such as “RHSGirlProbs,” “RHSbabewatch,” “RHSstudoftheday,” “RHSrumors,” and “RHSDailyQueer.” The on-line behavior is disturbing and unacceptable. As educators, it is …
Monday, January 30, 2012
The forum will be held in the Board of Education meeting room tonight at 7:30 p.m.
Members of the Ridgefield public will have a chance tonight to voice their opinions regarding the school budget as proposed by Superintendent Deborah Low earlier this month. The forum will take place in the Board of Education meeting room tonight at 7:30 p.m. The $81.8 million budget for 2012-13 represents a $2.58 million and 3.26 percent increase from last year's $79.2 million. If passed as is, the increase would mark the highest increase since 2008-09, and Low said the last few years have "created some pent-up demands" in the district. There will be another forum at the East Ridge Middle School auditorium 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 4.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Veteran groups in Ridgefield showed their disapproval of the Board of Education's plan to keep schools open on Veterans Day for the next three years.
Ridgefield American Legion Commander George Besse invoked the words of President Calvin Coolidge in front of the Board of Education Monday night: "The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten." The board, in its draft of the school calendar for the next three years, planned to have a full day of school on the November 11 holiday to prevent the school year from spilling too far into the month of June and to preserve other holidays during the year. Several of Ridgefield's veterans groups feel this action is a slight against the honor that day represents. "Veterans day is a sacred day for all veterans," Besse said. The sentiment among the several men in attendance at Monday's meeting was that the day should not be …
Friday, January 20, 2012
Average tuition and fees for 16 out of 17 colleges and universities will increase by an average of 3.8 percent.
The Board of Regents for Higher Education announced Friday that it has approved a modest increase in tuition and fees at 16 out of 17 colleges and universities within the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system, including Norwalk Community College and Western Connecticut State University. Charter Oak State College will consider tuition and fees in June. Average tuition and fees at the state's four universities will jump 3.8 percent or an average of $315 for students who commute, according to the Hartford Courant, to an average of $8,556. For Connecticut students who live at the university, the increase is 3.7 percent, pushing tuition and fees up by $676. At the state's 12 community colleges, tuition and fees will go up 3.1 …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Your interactive daily digest for all Ridgefield scores, schedules and standings and a place to add information and images for all youth sports
Editor's Note: Send any write-ups on youth or recreational games in your town to michaeld+sports@patch.com A stifling defense against a struggling offense produced a predictable result. Kurt Steidl scored 16 points as the Ridgefield High School boys basketball team defeated New Canaan 64-38 on Tuesday to improve to 9-0. Jeff Racy and Jack Heller each added a dozen for the Tigers, who have yet to allow 50 points in any game this season. After buildig a 17-8 lead after the first quarter, New Canaan showed signs of life in the second quarter, when it was only outscored by a 16-13 margin to trail 33-21 at the intermission. However, Ridgefield broke things open in the second half by outscoring the Rams 31-17 to remain unbeaten heading into a …
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
The Dalai Lama will speak on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19 at Western Connecticut State University this fall during a speaking tour of the northeast.
The Dalai Lama will speak at Western Connecticut State University in October, bringing the world's unofficial Buddhist leader and one of the world's leading spiritual leaders to Western Connecticut for the first time. This speaking engagement took nearly two years to organize, between two university professors and the Do Ngak Kunphen Ling (Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace) in Redding. The events will be open to the public, and tickets will go on sale at a future date. James Schmotter, Ph.D., and WCSU president, called the Dalai Lama's visit an extraordinary opportunity for the university and residents in the Danbury area to benefit from this unique learning opportunity. "We know that his holiness will become a new friend as well…
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
School Superintendent Deborah Low recommended a 3.26 percent increase budget proposal to follow several years of "tightening belts."
With countless hours of line-by-line scrutiny on the horizon, the budget season took a small leap forward Monday night as School Superintendent Deborah Low presented her recommended district budget for 2012-13. Low recommended the district raise the school budget by 3.26 percent this year to meet certain priorities and remain educationally up-to-date -- the number represents the highest budget increase since 2008-09. The 3.26 percent accounts for a $2.58 million increase, bringing the budget from $79.2 million to $81.8 million. "We've been working efficiently for the past few years on small budget increases," Low said. "But the last few budgets have created some pent-up demands." Of course, the budget has plenty of work yet to be done in …
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
High School Principal Jeffrey Jaslow will leave the district this year.
Jeffrey Jaslow, the principal of Ridgefield High School, will retire this year after 36 years in the district. Beginning as a biology teacher in 1976, Jaslow worked his way through administrative positions to be the principal of the high school since 2007. "As Principal, Mr. Jaslow led a smooth transition period to his leadership for the building," according to a release from school superintendent Deborah Low. "In addition, he oversaw the recent successful NEAS&C accreditation report and review process." Jaslow has contributed to the current advisor program at the high school and the revised daily schedule. "Mr. Jaslow also oversaw the development of several new courses at the high school," Low added in the announcement. "Most recently, Mr…
Tyler O'Rourke
12:10 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Cyberbullying is a serious problem. By nature and design sites like Facebook, myspace and twitter are private, and keep things from parents. A serious conversation should be had with your kids about an appropriate age they can use social media, how to use it with responsibility, and what rules will be in place. I work for a company called uknowkids.com and we're happy to provide parents with free… more ›