A Message from the Superintendent | |
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Welcome to the first of two November editions of RIH Highlights and Happenings. Thank you for reading and reviewing its many features.
As the fall sports season wraps up, be sure to check out and cheer on the many RIH teams who are participating in county and state tournaments. Kudos to all coaches and student-athletes who are representing RIH with pride on the courts, on the fields and on the trails/tracks.
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Congratulations to Helen Koulikourdis of Franklin Lakes on her re-election, and to Joseph Valenti of Oakland and John Kinney, Jr. of Wyckoff on their elections to the Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education. We extend sincere thanks to Dr. Aaron Lorenz and Ms. Marianna Emmolo for their service to our district community as Board of Education members. The 2025 Board members will take their seats in early January at the annual Reorganization meeting.
We hope the days off provided by the NJEA Convention offer students time to relax, recharge and ready themselves to take on a new marking period. Enjoy this long weekend break!
Yours in education,
Shauna DeMarco
Superintendent of Schools
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Ramapo High School Takes a Stand Against Bullying |
Ramapo High School recently hosted the ASA High School No Hate Tour, a national initiative dedicated to preventing bullying. The tour highlighted the serious impact of bullying, including cyberbullying, on students' mental and emotional well-being. To make the event even more exciting, four professional BMX athletes from the X Games showcased their incredible skills on campus. Statistics were shared to underscore the prevalence of bullying and its harmful consequences.
Participants learned about different forms of bullying, how to respond to it, and how to be an ally to those who are targeted. This year, Ramapo followed in the footsteps of Indian Hills High School, which hosted the same assembly last year. The assembly also provided information about the resources available within the school to support students who are experiencing bullying or need help.
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Ramapo Students Shine in Bergen County Chorus | |
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Congratulations to the following Ramapo High School students who have been selected for the prestigious 2025 Bergen County Chorus: Senior Marissa Colangelo (Soprano 1), Senior Julia Drob (Alto 2), Sophomore Maya Stoker (Alto 2), and Sophomore Ryan Conlon (Tenor 2). | |
The Bergen County Chorus is a renowned ensemble known for its exceptional musical talent. It's a great honor for these students to be chosen to represent Ramapo High School in this prestigious group. | |
All incoming 8th graders from the FLOW district must register for their high school of choice by November 15. Complete the online registration and submit required documents, including a birth certificate and proof of residency.
Interested in the University Program? Register now to ensure proper placement.
For more information and detailed instructions, click here.
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Young Leaders Join Franklin Lakes Board of Health | |
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Sykora Esposito, a junior at Ramapo High School, and Zareen Admani, a senior at Indian Hills High School, have been chosen to serve as liaisons on the Franklin Lakes Board of Health for the 2024-2025 school year. In this role, the students will attend six monthly meetings at Borough Hall and will report on topics of interest to the Board Members, gaining valuable insights into local government and public health issues. | |
Support the Schools at Upcoming Fundraisers | |
Craving Empanadas? They're Back at Indian Hills! |
Don't miss out on the delicious empanada sale! Place your order by Friday, November 15 at 2 p.m. Pick up your order on Wednesday, November 20 between 2:30 and 3:15 p.m. at the front of the school. Empanadas are priced at $4 each, $7 for two, or $10 for three. Payment can be made with cash or check at the time of pick-up. Store empanadas in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freeze them for later. Reheat them in the oven or air fryer. And enjoy!
Click here to place your order.
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An Evening of Spirit Connection | Join renowned psychic medium Drew Cali on December 5 for a transformative experience. Connect with loved ones on the other side, receive messages of love and guidance, and witness the profound nature of the afterlife. Your ticket purchase directly supports the Ramapo Class of 2025 Project Graduation. | |
Ramapo High School Receives AP Honor Roll Recognition | |
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Ramapo High School is proud to announce that it has been named to the College Board’s AP District Honor Roll. This prestigious recognition highlights our school’s commitment to academic excellence and providing students with challenging college-level coursework. | |
Don't Forget: AP Exam Registration Deadline is November 15 | |
To secure your spot for the AP exams, make sure to register through both AP Classroom and the appropriate Total Registration website for your school:
Don't miss out—complete your registration today and get ready for success!
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Mr. Michels' and Ms. Tarlowe's Biology class at Indian Hills engaged in a hands-on learning experience, constructing molecular models to visualize chemical bonds. | |
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Ms. Liebau's Modern US History class at Ramapo took a unique approach to learning about the Great Depression. By collaborating with the culinary arts teacher, students gained a hands-on understanding of the era by preparing meals popular during that time. | |
Indian Hills alum Anjani Shah returned to inspire the Law and Human Rights class. She shared her journey from undergraduate studies at The George Washington University to her current role as a public defender specializing in immigration law. Anjani discussed her internships, post-college work, and the challenges of law school. | |
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Indian Hills Student Council hosted a spirited week of fun activities, including Twin Day, Flannel Day, PJ Day, Halloween Day, and Blue/Gold Day. They also organized a Penny War, with Ms. McGowan emerging as the "winner" and sporting a hot dog costume for the day. | |
Mr. Ferat's English 3 CPE students at Indian Hills got creative with their final project for The Crucible. They wrote "secret" diaries from the perspective of various characters in the play. | |
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Ramapo's UPED Juniors are bringing back the Cardboard Challenge! They're planning a fun-filled February Saturday event for FLOW area K-8 students to unleash their creativity and engineering skills. Stay tuned for more details on how to get involved. | |
Students at Ramapo were treated to the annual Pumpkin Toss event, thanks to Mr. Russell, Mr. Wadhams, and the Ramapo Custodial Team! Students collected data from a drop and a projectile toss to determine the height of Ramapo’s building. | |
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Steven Budryk, a CPA and firm manager, and Nicole Garcia, a senior accountant, both members of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, visited Ms. Vita's Accounting I & II class at Indian Hills. They shared insights into potential career paths and opportunities in the field of accounting. | |
Spreading Holiday Cheer: A Joint Effort by Ramapo and Indian Hills NHS | |
This holiday season, the National Honor Societies at Ramapo and Indian Hills high schools are seeking donations to bring joy and cheer to children in need.
Ramapo NHS will host its 51st annual Holiday Festival on December 19 for more than 300 children from Roberto Clemente Elementary School in Paterson. Indian Hills NHS will host a holiday party on December 13 for more than 100 children from Oasis, a Paterson nonprofit organization that supports women and children.
Both schools are seeking donations of supplies. You can contribute by purchasing items from their Amazon Wish Lists.
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RIH Faculty Spotlight: Susan Heerema Takes the Stage! | |
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We're excited to share that Susan Heerema, the talented Music Director of Indian Hills Choirs and String Orchestra, will be performing with the newly-formed non-profit Szabó Chamber Music Society.
This special concert will take place on Sunday, November 17 at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Ms. Heerema will be joined by internationally-renowned musicians Lanny Paykin and Dr. Sándor Szabó.
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Stay Informed: Upcoming District Events | |
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On November 21 (tentative date) at 7 p.m., join us for a virtual information session to discuss the proposed 2025-2026 school year drop-block schedule with a later start time. To provide even more opportunities for community input, Superintendent DeMarco will host in-person “Kitchen Table Conversations” on January 14 and 15, 2025. More details are forthcoming - stay tuned! | |
The Ramapo Raiders had a landmark weekend on November 2, capturing multiple championships across different sports.
The Girls Soccer Team tied Ramsey 1-1 in the Bergen County Girls Soccer Championship, resulting in a co-championship title for the 2024 season. As the #1 seed in the upcoming NJSIAA State Tournament, they are poised to continue their impressive run.
The Boys Soccer Team secured their fourth consecutive Bergen County Soccer Championship with a 1-0 victory over Garfield. This marks Head Coach Evan Baumgarten's 17th county title. The team is also the #1 seed in the NJSIAA State Tournament.
Individually, Brianna Potaki, a senior on the Ramapo Cross Country Team, triumphed at the NJSIAA State Sectional race at Garrett Mountain. She will represent Ramapo in the next round of the state championship at Holmdel Park on November 9.
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The Indian Hills Braves had an incredible fall season, filled with record-breaking performances and team victories.
The Boys Cross Country team made history by winning the North 1 Group 1 State Sectional Title, making them back-to-back sectional champions. The Girls Cross Country team also had strong showings, with Summer Myhren finishing 2nd overall and Camryn Finn in 5th.
Both the Boys and Girls Soccer teams secured home-field advantage in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament and advanced to the next round. The Boys defeated Boonton 5-1 and set to face Pompton Lakes today (November 8). The Girls defeated Lenape Valley in penalty kicks and then defeated Kinnelon yesterday, 2-1.
The Girls Volleyball team made it to the NJSIAA Tournament and put up a strong fight against Ramsey.
Several Indian Hills athletes broke school records this season. Alexa Kulhawy, the Girls Soccer goalie, set new records for most saves in a game and a season. LJ Renshaw, the Boys Soccer goalie, set a new record for most saves in a season. In football, Luke Festa broke records for most career receptions and was named the Super Football Conference Steve DiGregorio Young Man of the Year for Indian Hills High School. Michael Snudden, a sophomore, set a new school record for most tackles in a season.
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Ramapo APTS Seeks Passionate Volunteer for Treasurer Position | |
The Ramapo Association of Parents, Teachers, Students (APTS) is seeking a dedicated volunteer to serve as Treasurer on its Executive Board. The ideal candidate is passionate about supporting Ramapo High School and has a willingness to commit to a two-year term.
While accounting experience is beneficial, it's not a strict requirement, as most tasks can be completed remotely. If you're interested in joining the APTS Board and making a positive impact on the Ramapo community, please contact Christine Mainwald, APTS President, at RamapoAPTS@gmail.com for more information.
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Family Life Education/Sex Education Opt-Out Information | |
The Ramapo Indian Hills High School District conducts a Family Life Education program in compliance with the New Jersey Administrative Code on Family Life Education. These lessons will be taught as part of the Health program offered to students in grades:
9th Grade: Marking Period 2 - November 11, 2024 - January 24, 2025
11th Grade: Marking Period 3 - January 27, 2024 - April 11, 2025
12th Grade: Marking Period 4 - April 21, 2024 - June 23, 2025
Click above to access/review our Family Life Unit(s) within the Health Education Curriculum.
- Following their thorough review of each Grade Level Family Life Unit above, parents of students who find any portion of the Unit Guides conflicted with their conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs can apply for an independent study covering the unit in question.
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This request must be in writing and submitted via email to the building principal and the District Supervisor of Health and Physical Education: Supervisor Rich Burton: rburton@rih.org, IHHS Principal Dr. Vacca: gvacca@rih.org, and RHS Principal Mr. Smith: tsmith@rih.org Emails must include the unit's identification and specific objectionable topics from the unit.
- Upon receipt of a written request for this program adjustment, the district supervisor will arrange a Zoom meeting with the concerned parties to discuss the matter and possible terms of the adjusted instructional plan.
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Health Education is required for each student and covers 1.25 credits (per year) towards graduation. All questions should be directed to Ramapo-Indian Hills High School District Health and Physical Education Department Supervisor, Rich Burton at rburton@rih.org.
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Class of 2026: College Information Night
The RIH Guidance Departments will present information to the Class of 2026 and their parents/guardians on preparing for the college process. Topics to be discussed include the use of Naviance, essential pieces of the college process, role of the NCAA, standardized testing, and academic scheduling. The PowerPoint presented and other supporting materials will be accessible here: RIH Guidance Class of 2026 College Planning.
The presentations will be held via Zoom. Registration is required:
November 12th: IHHS Class of 2026: Zoom Registration
November 14th: RHS Class of 2026: Zoom Registration
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Reminder: Enter the RIH District Logo Design Contest | |
Show your RIH spirit by designing a unique logo that represents our district. All current RIH students are invited to participate. The winning design will be featured on our official materials and will earn the designer a $100 gift card. The contest will run through the month of November, with a submission deadline of November 30. Let's showcase our RIH pride together! | |
Stay Connected with the FLOW Community | |
Monday, November 11
Ramapo Music Parents Association Meeting - 7:30 p.m.
Ramapo Media Center
Tuesday, November 12
Indian Hills PTSO Meeting - 9 a.m.
IHHS Wellness Room
IHHS Class of 2026 College Information Night - 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
RIHRHSD Board of Education Meeting
Executive Session - 6 p.m., Public Session - 8 p.m.
Ramapo High School Cafeteria
Wednesday, November 13
APTS Meeting - 9 a.m.
Little Theatre
Thursday, November 14
IHHS Military & Service Academy Fair - 10 a.m.
RHS Class of 2026 College Information Night - 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting
Thursday, November 21
Tentative date for Zoom Presentation on the Rotating Drop Block Schedule Proposal with Later Start Time
Thursday, November 21 - Saturday, November 23
RHS Gold Masque Performance 7 p.m.
Auditorium
Monday, November 25
RIHRHSD Board of Education Meeting
Executive Session - 7 p.m., Public Session - 8 p.m.
Indian Hills High School Cafeteria
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