“When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic

 “When power corrupts, poetry cleanses, for art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstones of our judgment.” -­‐-­‐President John F. Kennedy February 2015 Dear Families and Students: I would like to invite everyone to attend the many upcoming musical concerts, dramatic performances, and visit our gallery spaces throughout the building. Thanks to all the student artists and arts teachers who do so much to enrich our school community. Best of luck to everyone in the third marking period. Enjoy the break everyone! Sincerely, Louis Moore
Here is some news from around campus … The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and United States Department of Education have selected Rachel Volpert and Sydney Lee (National Young Arts Foundation) as candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Each year less than 4,000 candidates nationwide are selected to participateof the program. Sydney and Rachel will now apply to be selected as a Presidential Scholar. Valerie Kokogrivov has been selected as a Distinguished Finalist in the 2015 Prudential Spirit of Community Award. Only six other students from New Jersey choose for this honor. In addition, she received recognition from President Obama for her commitment to service. Congratulations to Valerie for this remarkable achievement! Justin VanderSluys has received the Landscape Achievement Award for design from the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. Justin manages his own landscaping company in Wyckoff. The recognition acknowledged the design and execution of a swimming pool site. Congratulations to Justin for this outstanding award. Justin is enrolled in Structured Learning Experience program and is advised by Mr. Pete Bedell. Green Fair Coming to Ramapo. The Environmental Commissions of Franklin Lakes, Oakland and Wyckoff are delighted to announce the FIRST ANNUAL FLOW GREEN FAIR will be held on Saturday March 7, 2015, in the Ramapo High School Cafeteria from 11am to 4pm. Lots of exciting exhibits and activities to demonstrate the benefits of sustainability and some simple things you can do to help. We have a fabulous group of exhibitors participating and all it needs now is YOU! Come for an hour or come for the day and enjoy sustainability. Of course there will be COMPETITIONS * PRIZES * GAMES * FOOD. Please Contact Carol Holden, event chair, with questions ([email protected].) Thanks to Kim Angerson, Lisa Martone, Linda Lee, and Bernadette Spezia for serving on the Ramapo Sustainable Jersey Team, which is supporting the event. Cardboard Challenge! Ramapo engineering students Alexander Munao and Angelo Ferrara ([email protected] and [email protected]) will be hosting a Cardboard Challenge on March 21 for students from the FLOW area schools. Get creative and let your imagination fuel your ideals for a cool cardboard structure! Ramapo Artists Participate in Exhibitions Around New Jersey! Marie Biele, Jacqueline Brockel, Samantha Perl, Elaine Russo, Elaine Van Doonre, and Hannah Scibetta recently displayed their work in ARTStart at William Paterson University. Jacqueline Brockel won BEST OVERALL PAINTING for “Tracks.” Elaine Russo, with her painting “Fantasy,” at last Sunday’s 2014-­‐2015 “Emerging Artist” exhibit at Kean University. Congrats again to all the artists and our fantastic art teachers (Dan Bertelli, Lauren English, and Sean Quirk) Academic Decathalon Triumphs! RHS won 3rd place in Region II and advanced to the State competition. There were also multiple individual awards: Meredith Chagares received silver in language and literature, honorable mention in interview and speech; Matt Fallon earned gold in speech; Brandon Harris earned gold in essay, silver in math and social science, honorable mention in economics, silver, and bronze for overall score in the region, and team MVP; Thalia Holst received gold in speech (highest score in region) and music, silver in art and interview, bronze in social science, honorable mention in essay, and silver for overall score in the region; Irene Lee earned silver in social science; Katie Lee earned silver in language and literature, bronze in economics, interview and social science, honorable mention in art and music; Chris Reid received gold alternate in language and literature, music and social science and silver alternate in economics and art; Taylor Thum earned gold in interview and bronze in speech; Marissa Piemonte received honorable mention in interview and speech; Rachel Jospef received honorable mention in language and literature; Jessica Martin received gold alternate in art, silver alternate in math. Congratulations to our Decathletes and to their advisor Ms. Meredith Noah! National Honor Society Super Bowl Service When NHS Advisor Ms. Anson told officers that the RIHEA were donating gift cards to the Edgewater fire victims, they wanted to do the same. Representatives from NHS fundraised at the Stop and Shop in Wyckoff over the Super Bowl weekend and collected $970 in gift cards for affected homeless families. Hockey Team Service Project Representatives from the Hockey Team volunteered at the New Jersey Special Olympics Winter Games. The boys assisted and cheered for the athletes participating in the speed skating event. Coach Barber and Coach Witterschein accompanied the team on its visit. The Mock Trial team scored a number of important wins this season and was ranked in 8th place overall in Bergen County. Tom Rukaj and Taylor Young served as defense attorneys. Brooke Sheldon, Kelly Reynolds, and Ronnie Procida served as defense witnesses. Liam Maher was as a paralegal. The Plaintiff Attorneys were Taylor Thum and Thalia Holst. Elaine Russo, Lukas Mahler, and Madison Nelson were plaintiff witnesses. Michelle Zink acted as the Bailiff for court proceedings and also was a paralegal. Jury Members included: Kat Brzozowski, Nicole Deleu, Asma Elgouz, Matt Evangelista, Alyssa Gilligan, Anthony Laino, Tom Mackinson, Derek Mahler, Nina Purut, Aly Stone, and Elizabeth Wilson. Congratulations to the team for their hard work and achievements. Ms. Jennifer Perry served as their advisor. Laurie Epstein, Matthew Carp, and Lauren Miller have been accepted into the North Jersey Regional Choir. Over 600 students from the seven most northern New Jersey counties auditioned and fewer than 300 were accepted. Varsity and JV Debate recently scored a number of major victories. Lizzy Jennings and Michaela Hebbeler won all of their rounds. Liz Cogan and Sahaj Anand won one of their two debate rounds and Noah Naparst and Walter Tarr won both of their Varsity matches. RHS debate hosted a recent county tournament on February 11 at Ramapo. Congratulations to the team and their advisor Ms. Staci Anson. Congratulations to the list of winners from the DECA Regional Competition that was held at Ramapo College on January 7, 2015. These students will compete at the state level in Cherry Hill later this month. Matt Connor, Robbie Skead, Jacob Tatz, Cameron Cho, Sam Baker, Ann Diprizito, Paul Cantilina, Abby Schulman, Reilly Garner, Ashlyn McKenna, Nicole Schoffelen, Matt O’Brian, Annie Murtha, Michael Fortunato, Kevin Winiarski, Saha Anand, Vishaal Ekalikar, Jessica Tatz, Liam Scoccola, Brian Raguseo, Jonathan Josef.