Final Round of Bonds Refinancing Could Save Schools $2M-Plus

Bernards school district could save $2 million or more with refinancing of final outstanding bonds from 2005 construction projects.

The third round of refinancing of the outstanding bonds mostly left from a $51-million major schools reconstruction project in 2004 could save the school district $2 million or more, a bond adviser said before the Bernards Board of Education on Monday night approved the financial arrangement. The district already had reduced its interest payments by about $3.3 million in two previous rounds of bonds refinancing during the past year or so. On Monday, Mary Lyons of Phoenix Advisors said that by reissuing up to $27,250,000 worth of outstanding bonds, now paying about 4 percent interest, the school district might save up to $2.3 million in interest payments, spread out over a 10-year-period. Lyons said the bonds likely wouldn't be refinanced …

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Ridge Promgoers Dress Up for A Night to Remember

Red-carpet looks combine with warm memories for seniors and friends getting together for a big night for Class of '13.

Friday was truly a night to remember for Ridge High School seniors and their dates — some from other classes or towns — who put on a display of elegance as they arrived for the prom party at the Birchwood Manor in Whippany. But beneath all the finery, the students still were a group of friends who were taking advantage of one of the last chances for the Ridge class of 2013 to get together for a big special occasion — at least until next month's graduation. Many of the students also attended pre-prom parties around the town. Principal Frank Howlett and other chaperones were waiting for the students as they arrived — many riding with groups in limos — to help keep the evening organized. Please add your own photos. — Terry Boudreau …

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Scenes from Charter Day, Rain and Shine

Kids of all ages eat, play and enjoy a day in Basking Ridge

The streets of Basking Ridge were filled with the callouts of children, the smells of sausages, onions and other tempting foods, and the sounds of music Saturday as Bernards Township's 19th annual Charter Day was celebrated.  Much of the event was on South Finley Avenue in downtown Basking Ridge, closed to traffic, and spilled onto the Henry Street parking lot and field behind the Oak Street Elementary School. Although a few showers punctuated much of the day, few people seem to be discouraged into leaving the community's biggest annual celebration — the commemoration of the founding of the Township of Bernardston on May 24, 1760, by order of King George II of Britain. Here are more scenes from Charter Day.

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SHEF Summer Enrichment Program Launched for Area Students

Summer enrichment program offers ways for students to explore various skills and prepare for college.

Ridge Girls LAX Wins First-Round State Playoff Game

Three players score four goals apiece.

The Ridge High School girls lacrosse team, now 15-2 for the season, launched the first round of the state playoffs with a resounding win over the team's first matchup, East Brunswick. The game was played at Ridge. The girls won 18-2, with three players scoring four goals apiece. Senior Sam Brown, her sister Devon, a sophomore, and Mackenzie Bori, another sophomore, each logged four goals in the contest. The team already had gained the Somerset County crown on Tuesday night, defeating Hillsborough 19-14 in a spirited contest held in Bridgewater. Sam Brown was named MVP that night. At the county final, the Ridge girls were repeating an earlier win over Hillsborough in the season's opener, played at Ridge. Meanwhile, by chance, the boys team …

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Bernards Schools Plan For New Math Supervisor and Annin Math Program

Ridge High School teacher is appointed as new math supervisor for all Bernards schools.

The Bernards Township Board of Education on Monday night heard plans about changes to the middle school school math program to bring it in line with new state "common core" standards, as presented by Marian Palumbo, the supervisor of mathematics for all township schools. The board also officially accepted the retirement of Palumbo at the end of this school year. Palumbo said she has been a math educator for 38 years. Kristen Wolff, now a math teacher at Ridge High School, was appointed to become the next districtwide Supervisor of Mathematics.  While required common core math changes already have been implemented in math programs at the elementary school and high school, the changes at the William Annin Middle School will be incorporated …

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St. James Students Presenting Fame Jr.

Performers, complete with dancing, can be one way of topping off Charter Day.

St. James School in Basking Ridge is getting ready to present a student production this weekend of the spring musical, Fame Jr., with over 30 students expressing their creativity through song and dance as well as back stageproduction and poster making to promote this lively show. The cast has been actively rehearsing as the dates approach. Fame Jr. will be showing at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and on Saturday, May 18. Tickets will be sold at the door at $5 per person. The school is at 200 S. Finley Ave. in Basking Ridge. The spring musical can be an added entertainment treat for the whole family during next Saturday's Bernards Township Charter Day, with St. James School being just a few steps from downtown Basking Ridge. The talented young …

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Ridge Girls Beat Bernards to Advance in County LAX Tournament

Ridge moves on to face Montgomery in Somerset County semifinal on Sat.; Bernards next to play Randolph.

The Ridge High School girls lacrosse team made the most of having the hometown advantage on Thursday afternoon in a high-scoring win over the Bernards High School girls, in a game that would determine which team would move ahead in the Somerset County tournament. By the time the final buzzer sounded at Lee Field, the Ridge Red Devils just had scored their 18th goal, to end the game at 18-4. Ridge's Devon Brown scored the last goal, assisted by Meagan Quigley. Bernards' Kate Conte scored a final fourth goal for that team. Now 12-2, the Ridge girls team is scheduled to face Montgomery in the county semifinal game that will be played late Saturday morning at Ridge, after Montgomery's defeat of Watchung Hills on Thursday. On Wednesday, the …

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Vo-Tech Earns Bronze Rank From U.S. News & World Report

But the reports do not fully measure the work of students who are on shared time.

The Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School received a bronze ranking through the U.S. News & World Report’s list of the best high schools in the state. “The designation is a wonderful acknowledgement of the work we do with a diverse group of students,” said Chrys Harttraft, superintendent of the school. “We won a bronze medal of excellence this year and last, based on the exam scores of our students.” Harttraft said the rankings are given by using three criteria, including overall student performance and disadvantaged student performance on language and math proficiency tests. Harttraft said the focus for the school is on career and college readiness, which is not actually considered in the filtering of requirements for …

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Ridge High Again Ranked Among Nation's Best

Bernards Township Schools administrator credits staff, students and community support for Newsweek ranking.

Ridge High School ranks 215th of 2,000 high schools nationwide in Newsweek magazine's "America's Best High Schools" rankings. Two weeks ago, Ridge also was named one of the top high schools in the state — at no. 8 —by U.S. News & World Report. "We our very proud of our rankings since they are due to the hard work of our staff and students and would not be possible without our incredible community support," said Sean Siet, Bernards Township assistant schools superintendent. Similar formulas are used in calculating the rankings, Siet said, but Newsweek uses the SAT score and average Advanced Placement scores of all students, not just seniors as in the U.S. News & World Report lists. The U.S. News rankings do not score test results, instead …

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