Ridgewood Reporter

September 1997

Volume 13, Issue 1

This issue was so large, it had to be split up into two pages to fit on the website. Read the second section after this page.

Ridgewood’s teachers, students, administrators, and the Design Team are evaluating Block Scheduling and its impact on learning. Teachers discussed the schedule format with their Block 2 classes on September 15 and shared the results with each other at the Faculty Meeting on September 22.

The Ridgewood Reporter surveyed two randomly-selected students from each class. Following are comments from the only three who responded. This is not a representative sample. Several responded that they are getting about the same amount of homework as in prior years, but that it is not a balanced amount. Not many teachers plan time for students to start homework in classes. Most teachers plan a lot of varied activities, and their classes go quickly. Some teachers lecture for the whole block, and that is boring. One student thinks gym classes are too long. Students report that it is difficult to find time for sports as well as homework. One freshman student is concerned that a term is too short to learn all the material for a whole course.

Mr. London believes more students seem actively involved in their classes. He sees more students smiling, but would like to see more classes able to use Library resources and technology. He is interested in hearing student responses.

The Ridgewood Reporter is interested in other students’ opinions. If YOU would like to respond to this survey, contact sophomore reporter Joe Cavataio.

By: Joan Varanauski

It will soon be that time of year for everyone, especially teenagers, to be aware of Reye’s Syndrome. This is a disease that affects all organs of the body but is most lethal when the liver or brain are affected. It is not contagious and the cause is unknown, but it is associated with the use of aspirin and products that contain aspirin taken for treatment of influenza-like illnesses, chicken pox, and colds. This disease can be fatal. If you’re not sure, stop by the Health Office and check the list of medicines that contain aspirin. Public awareness is the best defense.

By: Scott Shudy

The Rebel Respect Program is designed to help students respect other students, teachers /staff, and administration and to have the students learn to take responsibility for their actions.

The six goals are 1. We must treat each other with dignity and respect. 2. We know our audience when communicating and always use appropriate language. 3. We keep our school neat and clean. 4. We solve problems peacefully. 5 .We take responsibility. 6. We strive to make everyone feel comfortable.

The specific objectives of this program are to have all students and faculty, staff, and administration:

The Committee met on Tuesday September 16th and selected the name Rebel Respect for the program. About 15 students volunteered to be on the committee after hearing about it in class meetings. Suggestions to the committee are welcomed. Send them to Ms. Flinn or Ms. Netterstrom.

Doreen Joy Crigley (Renee) passed away last June 15. Renee had a heart problem since she was born. She had temporary open heart surgery in 1995. On the morning of June 15, 1997, Renee had two heart attacks in her sleep. Please remember our friend and classmate. This would have been her junior year.

Friends are great, but they can just go
You never know when or if any symptons they will show
Cherish them now so forever they shall know

Excerpt from a poem by Kristin Altschul

Technology has boomed at RHS the past two years thanks to the hard work of many people. Mr. Vestal is computer coordinator for software installation and training. Mr. Lewis (who recently left) was in charge of network design and installation. Andy Mlynarski is our new network administrator. There is a Technology Committee, chaired by Mr. Lupo, which helped devise a future vision for technology at Ridgewood and decided on immediate needs. Kevin Szaflik helps train staff and runs our web site. Student Peter Stanczak and graduates Thomas and Robert Stranc helped install the computers and software over the summer and early fall.

Thanks to all these people, we have nearly 300 computers. There are new mini-labs in the Library and math office. New computers were also installed in English and science classrooms. Most have direct Internet access. Students can gain access to the server through their social security numbers. They can even save their work on their own personal network folders on the Ridgewood server. Ridgewood’s server address is www.ridgenet.org. If you have any internet problems or tech support questions see Mr. Mlynarski.

The computer lab in 154 is open for student use before and after school. Students can also check out keyboards in the Library for overnight use.

Ridgewood students and alumni worked hard during the summer to prepare for school’s opening in August. Among the major jobs they accomplished were cleaning classrooms, washing and polishing floors and hallways, painting rooms and trim. They also cut and weeded lawns.

The people who worked this summer included Ralph Cantal, Joe Deferville, Beth Johnson, Anna Kritikakos, Brian Mueller, George Mueller, Dina Politis, Sam Rihani, Valerie Sass, Kim Trieu, Thanh Trieu, and Peter Wojtow.

The theme of Ridgewood’s Homecoming week is "Hollywood." This year Spirit Week will be held from October 6- October 10 and is the time to rally Ridgewood High School spirit, enthusiasm, excitement, and of course, fun. The goal of Spirit Week is to help Ridgewood’s students achieve feelings of connection and belonging.

Through many of the scheduled events, classes will compete for spirit points. The class earning the most spirit points will win the "Spirit Trophy". This trophy will awarded at the Night Rally on October 10th. Spirit Points will be awarded as follows for all specified events. This year’s activities are...
REBEL PRIDE DAY- Monday, October 6th (Spirit Points) Students will dress in clothing that represents Ridgewood (i.e. green and white or RHS t-shirts)
PEP ASSEMPBLY 2:00 PM. Monday, October 6th. Students will be introduced to the royalty nominees and the week's activities.
COLLEGE DAY- Tuesday, October 7th (Spirit Points) Students are to wear articles of clothing that represents a college or university of their choice.
CLASH DAY OCTOBER 8th (Spirit Points) Students are expected to wear articles of clothing that clash or do not match
GET UP AND GO DAY- Thursday, October 9th (Spirit Points) Wear pajamas or other appropriate articles of sleep wear
THEME DAY- Friday, October 10th (Spirit Points) Wear articles of clothing which portray this year’s Hollywood theme. All week there will be a trivia contest, a jar contest and a spirit link sale.
NIGHT RALLY will be held on Friday, October 10th at 7:30 PM.
PANCAKE BREAKFASTwill be held on Saturday, October 11th from 8:00 to 11:30 AM.
The PARADEwill be held on Saturday, October 11th from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
The SOPHOMORE Game will be on Saturday, October 11th at 10:45 AM.
The VARSITY Game will be at around 1:00 PM.
The HOMECOMING DANCE will be held on Saturday, October 11th from 7:30 till 10:00 PM.

Recently I interviewed the newest member of the English Department- Ms. Susan Murray. She teaches English Skills and Bilingual Resources this term. Next term she will teach English I and III. She is also the advisor to the Class of 2001.

She studied at Marquette University and received her master’s degree at John Carroll University. Before coming here she was in marketing, but she decided to get her master’s in education in order to teach, primarily younger people.

Recently she moved back here from Cleveland, Ohio. She has found the teachers and students here to be very friendly. In her spare time, she spends time with her family. She is married and has a fifteen month old daughter Molly. She loves to travel, read, and bike along the Chicago Lakefront.

Ridgewood welcomes Ken Saam as one of our many new teachers. He teaches marketing and in charge of part of the work program. Twenty-six years old, he was born and raised in Schaumburg, IL. He attended Schaumburg High School where he played football, basketball, and track. He was a three sport, three year varsity athlete.

Mr. Saam is also the Rebels new head boys’ basketball coach.

One of his most memorable coaching experience happened while he was coaching at Mooseheart High School. He took the basketball team to a 500 record for the first time in school history.

He likes Norridge and Ridgewood because it reminds him of Schaumburg where everyone seems kind. He also think that RHS is a great place to learn because of the positive environment that it has.

Harwood Heights celebrated fifty years as a village with a parade on August 30th. Ridgewood was represented in that parade with a float.

As part of the celebration a new time capsule was buried. Ridgewood students from Ms. Sauter’s and Ms. Paredes’ classes participated by writing letters about life now (May, 1997) for the time capsule. Shannon Lang’s letter was printed in the weekly local paper. Congratulation letters from President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Jim Ryan were also in the capsule. In all over 40 items were placed into the time capsule.

Our new athletic director is Mr. Ryan. Mr. Ryan was born and raised in Michigan. He has moved to Illinois because he came here once when he was younger and he really liked it. Even though he has moved here now he still has a cottage in Michigan, One thing he loves to do is stay active.

He went to college in Michigan. He majored in Physical Education and he minored in Administration. He was head of the physical education department in Michigan and he was Assistant Principal. He picked Ridgewood High School because he researched the area and the community is not very different from where he is from. The other thing he liked was that all kids get involved.

He expects the following from the students here at Ridgewood: To put in their best effort, To challenge them, and for them to have fun.

He has done many things to prepare for this job. He has gone to conferences, he has interviewed many A.D.s in Michigan, and he has a lot of help from Mr. Kunio.

Physics is electric with our new teacher Mr. Crownson. I had the great opportunity to ask him all those questions you have been dying to know about.

Mr. Crownson decided to become a physic teacher because he enjoys physics, but didn’t want research or college career in it. You must usually get a doctorate to be able to use it.

He picked Ridgewood because it is a small school in an urban environment. He says that is a rare combination. Mr. Crownson’s greatest achievements were becoming a teacher in the school of his choice and receiving first in biology in the State for Jets (state-wide competition).

Check our his room and welcome him to Ridgewood High School. Photo of group of officials in front of Harwood Heights Village Hall.

By: Michelle Gulik From September 15, 1997 through January 15, 1998, Ridgewood High School will be able to obtain money for things the student body would want for their school. This is through the Cash for Dollars Program sponsored by Golf Mill Shopping Mall. When you shop at Golf Mill Mall through those date, you can support your school with a simple action. Take your receipt(s) down to the customer service center and place in the appropriate box. If you need to keep your receipts, they will copy it for you. Points will be awarded for purchases and tallied up. Ridgewood will receive from $50 just for signing up to a maximum of $5,000. Additional points can be made by singing Christmas carols during the winter season, by gift wrapping presents, and /or by making posters for the mall. There will also be a time when receipt points will be doubled. A student committee has been organized to start publicity for this program. If you have any questions about the program or want more information on what you can do to obtain points, see Mrs. Netterstrom. Remember to shop at Golf Mill and drop off your receipts in the box at Customer Service. The money raised will provide something that you want- possibly a guest speaker or something else.

The Anti-Drug club is off to a great start. They are looking forward to a new year. They are very happy to see old faces but they are especially happy to see new faces. They are planning for the Red Ribbon Week which is coming up and many other activities. They are looking forward to a great year and they hope to see you there. They meet on Thursdays in Room 232.

Creative Waves Magazine Is Here!

By: Iris Giannakis

Finally the magazines are in. Want a copy? Easy. They are available after school in the hallway near the English office. They cost 50 cents instead of their usual dollar because they arrived late. Hurry to get one before they all run out. There are many fellow classmates who are in print. Buy and Read.

DECA is starting off the new year with many planned events. Every Wednesday DECA will sell tattoos during lunch to help support Ridgewood’s school spirit. On September 28, we will have a bike outing and picnic. October 1 will be a party for DECA members from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. October 5 DECA will sell cookies at the Norridge Park District Craft Fair to be held at RHS. On October 15, DECA members will participate in the first Leadership Conference of the year. DECA members, you must pay your dues in order to participate in the planned activities.

This year the Future Business Leaders of America have gotten off to a flying start. At the first meeting of the year, the officers were astonished to see so many new and old faces. Wasting no time, they flew into the first community service project of the year, Safety Town. This is when students from Ridgewood go to the Harlem-Irving Plaza to help teach grammar school children the basics of fire safety. They help police and fire departments demonstrate these skills while having a lot of fun as well.

FBLA also participated in the 50th Anniversary parade for the village of Harwood Heights. Mr. Kolaski, former Board member and a night school teacher, built a seven-foot birthday cake to celebrate the occasion. The float garnered many compliments. Many students helped to plan and create this masterpiece.

On October 1st, FBLA will have our annual welcoming party. This is where the membership gets a chance to get to know one another. All the members, new and old, can look forward to a great night filled with fun as well as creating some new friendships. The only criterion for admission is that you must have previously paid your dues or pay at the door. See you there.

If FBLA sounds like something you would like to join, come to the next FBLA meeting. They are held on Tuesdays after school at 3:05 in the cafeteria (place subject to change). Hope to see you there.

Future Focus is a college fair at Triton College on Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 from 6- 9 p.m. Mr. Norris and Mrs. Mason said that more than 175 representative from colleges and universities across the nation will be at Triton that evening to answer questions. If you are undecided about whether to go to college, and wonder what college to attend, what major to take, how to pay for a college education, then Future Focus is definitely for you.

Counselors will be also available to help you explore career choices and financial aid scholarship possibilities. You are urged to bring your parents with you.

All activities will be held in the Robert Collins Building on Triton’s east campus at 2000 Fifth Avenue, River Grove. There is no charge for admission. Future Focus is sponsored by Triton College and area high schools, including Ridgewood High School. For more information about Future Focus, see Mr. Norris or Mrs. Mason.

The time to focus on your college or career education is now. Start with Future Focus at Triton College.

Commander Mitchell is conducting his "troops" downtown for a cultural tour of downtown Chicago. They will be eating lunch at the Palmer House.

His "troop" consists of the following: Matthew Altschul, Mike Amato, Beth Bundalo, Joe Chabura, Kathleen Conneely, Tony Crudele, Emily DelValle, Brian Floral, Deanne Guagenti, Kristin Keglovitz, Stefania Laricchia, Lorraine LoPresto, Susan Micek, George Mueller, Becky Nielsen, Bill Peterhansen, Chris Popieluszko, Tony Raimondi, Slawek Rokita, Kathy Rozek, Adam Sammartino, Jay Shah, Danny Swibel, Joanna Szyndlar, Colleen Thesen, Heidi Vertelka, Anna Wasilewski, Marie Weeks, and Monika Zawislak. This is the biggest group we’ve ever had!

Attention all FRESHMAN: in order to join NHS, not only do you need a minimum of 3.20 grade point average, you also need extra curricular activities so join a club or sport...........now.

Read Part Two

This issue was so large, it had to be split up into two pages to fit on the website. Read the second section after this page.

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