Embedded Files
The District offers a wide variety of special events designed to expose students to different perspectives, ideas, and backgrounds that support and nurture an inclusive culture and empower students to be upstanders. Learn more about some of these opportunities that challenge our students to gain a better understanding of diverse experiences.
RHS Making a Difference Speaker Series
RHS Making a Difference Speaker Series
The mission of the Making a Difference Speaker Series is to highlight the impact individuals can have, even in the darkest parts of our world. Over the course of five events, guest speakers share personal accounts of their experiences as education reformers, documentary photographers, and even genocide survivors, while emphasizing the value of upstanding citizenship and resiliency. Each speaker series event is attended by over 200 Ridgewood High School students and staff, as well as live streamed for other interested viewers.
Sample of Previous Speakers
Ashika Kalra, Founder, The Vidya Project - "We are a group of young dreamers eager to create change on a global scale. And distance is no barrier. The power of technology has helped us realize the world today is more accessible than ever before. We hope to leverage this to connect with students across the globe at a grassroots level to create a meaningful difference through inspirational dialogue & mentorship. Together, I'm confident we can build the most diverse and impactful community of changemakers in the world."
Rise for Rohingya - Rise for Rohingya is an organization founded by NYU students to raise awareness of, and money for, the Rohingya crisis. Their new project, “Voices,” will unpack the Rohingya Crisis with intellectual discussion with academic giants.
Sandy Rubenstein - Sandy Rubenstein is the daughter of Holocaust survivors. In 1996, her father, Joseph Horn, published his memoir, Mark It With a Stone. Now, Ms. Rubenstein speaks to middle and high school students and others. As she relates her father’s story, sharing excerpts from his book, she intersperses video clips from her father’s Shoah testimony; he speaks directly about his experiences.
guest speakers
guest speakers
Ridgewood High School students had the unique opportunity to hear the personal story of a Holocaust survivor. Mark Schonwetter of Livingston, New Jersey, and his daughter, Isabella Fiske, addressed over 300 students in the RHS Campus Center. Describing his childhood experience of fleeing his home and village in Poland with his mother and sister, Mr. Schonwetter recounted his memories of many "upstanders" who risked their lives to help his family during the six years that they were in hiding. Through his story, the students were able to gain a better understanding of universal themes and engage in follow-up classroom discussions.
Organized by Lisa Wiater, RHS Social Studies Teacher, Mr. Schonwetter's presentation for the larger RHS community followed a visit to her class, The Power of One: The Holocaust and Beyond. Ms. Wiater traveled to various countries while pursuing her Master's in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. Her experiences inspired her to develop and write this course with the central theme that one person can make a difference, for good or for evil.
Dr. Derrick Gay (Wellbeing Speaker Series) - Dr. Gay joined the district to address reframing diversity for the 21st century. In his first presentation to high school students, he challenged their thinking about the knowledge, skills, and competencies that they will require to succeed in a globalized, multicultural world. Dr. Gay also conducted a session with the administrative team to address creating learning communities that actively embrace diversity, provide an inclusive environment for all students, maximize collaboration across differences, and supports each student's ability to flourish. The day's events concluded with a parent presentation which emphasized the role of parents in cultivating dispositions that will foster student success in embracing differences.
Author Visits
Author Visits
Cheryl Wills, Emma
In February 2021, Cheryl Wills spoke to all elementary students in the district about her book, Emma, the story of an illiterate and brave former slave who overcame challenges and dared to dream big during a painful period in our nation’s history. She has lectured at hundreds of schools and is one of the most sought-after speakers with the New York City Department of Education. She has also addressed the United Nations in addition to many international corporations, the New York City Police Department, the NAACP, and so many others.
Ali Stroker, The Chance to Fly
Ridgewood alum Ali Stroker and co-author Stacy Davidowitz joined RHS students for a book discussion as the culminating prize for the schoolwide book challenge sponsored by the Special Needs Siblings and Friends Club. The Special Needs Siblings and Friends club provides an open space for students with siblings and friends of special needs individuals to share their experiences in an understanding environment. Club members share ideas and offer insight into each other's lives.
school events
school events
RHS Asian Festival
RHS Asian Festival
Ridgewood High School students showcase performances from five cultures at the annual Asian Festival. This celebration of the rich diversity in the Ridgewood community has evolved over the past 30 years and now comprises traditional and modern art forms representing China, India, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
The brainchild of former social studies teacher, Helen Aslanides, the student-led Asian Festival has become part of the fabric of Ridgewood High School. Over two-thousand students, teachers and staff members are immersed in Asian culture during in-school performances prior to the weekend benefit for the community.
Further evoking the spirit of the Ridgewood community, parents from the countries represented join in the festivities by preparing and serving traditional dishes at a luncheon for over 300 staff members. All proceeds from the Sunday benefit performance are donated to Doctors Without Borders, a student-selected nonprofit organization that provides medical aid where it is needed most.
First Unified Field Day
First Unified Field Day
Ridgewood's Unified Champion Schools Program ran its first Unified Field Day at Somerville Elementary School Field on June 10. The Ridgewood Unified Program aims to bring special education students and general education students together in fun, meaningful ways. Unified District Coordinator Jess Vasquez and Unified Advisor and Adapted PE teacher Robert Rinaldi organized the culminating event of the school year. “We wanted to make the last event one the whole town could get involved in and to make it fun and memorable for all students," said Jess Vasquez. All the advisors and student leaders stepped up and put in many hours to help pull the Unified Field Day together. RHS students and leaders Audrey Hall and Alexandra Rupprecht helped make posters, decorations, and flyers, putting in extra hours to help make this day a huge success. Middle school students organized the music station and assisted with certificate making.
The Unified Field Day was a phenomenal success with over 200 people in attendance, including Ridgewood students, staff, and parents. Thirteen stations offered a variety of activities including dance, tug of war, parachute games, and kickball. All the students worked collaboratively and helped each other get through each station. The event concluded with an awards station and pizza with ice pops to celebrate their accomplishments! This event was made possible with the help of the New Jersey Special Olympics and their funding for the event through the Unified Champion School Initiative.
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