Find out what’s going on in the RFH Regional High School and Rumson and Fair Haven school districts.
Forrestdale School’s Class of 2015 has graduated.
Here’s more information about the 118 Rumson students who received their diplomas from Board of Education President Colleen O’Connor and Deane-Porter School Principal Shari Feeney at the June 17 ceremony at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:
By Elaine Van Develde
He was known as the patriarch, and perhaps patron saint, of schools in Fair Haven.
He was steadying, calm, encouraging influence — never pushed by politics, never mired by mass red tape, always out for the students’ benefit.
A perpetually sage, serene smile set on his face, Robert Chartier, for many years, stood in front of Knollwood School welcoming his village full of students every single day, watching them learn and grow — fixated on seeing to it that they flourish.
He was always present, always available, always receptive. Under his leadership, students, always seen as unique individuals, soared to hit their full potential. They were all his kids. That’s simply how he saw it.
You could say that, over the years, Robert Chartier was proud papa to thousands. It was that simple to him. As principal for a stint at Willow Street School (now Sickles), then longtime principal of Knollwood and finally superintendent of Fair Haven schools, he retired many years ago, but he is still around. And the lessons learned from this iconic administrator are not forgotten.
Friends of the former top schools administrator’s son, Michael, were thrilled to see the above Father’s Day throwback photo of a young Mr. Chartier and his son.
And, since he is still so fondly recalled as that father figure by former Fair Haven students, many of whom are now parents in the borough, the photo is our Retro Pic of the Day.
Thank you, Mr. Chartier, for being a great dad of education to so many!
Share your memories of Mr. Chartier with us.
Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect will feature an interview with the iconic leader of Fair Haven schools in the future.
The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Class of 2015 is graduating Friday night, and not without many of its members first recognized for special achievements
More than 80 awards were given out at the RFH Annual Awards Program on June 8, including valedictorian recognition, departmental achievement, student life, and honorary awards as well as scholarships.
RFH Principal Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Valedictorian Achievement Award to Alexandra Siwulec, who also received the American Association of University Women 2015 Book, Catalyst STEM, Holy Cross Church Scholarship, U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence and Superintendent’s awards.
Siwulec will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, where she will major in biophysics and minor in Latin as part of the College of Arts and Sciences and Vagelos Molecular Life Sciences Program.
At RFH, Alexandra’s extracurricular activities include: co-founder and co-president of Global Women Empowerment Club, president of Paws and Claws, chairman of the Gender Issues Committee of the Social Justice Club, and junior board member for Change a Life Uganda. She is an accomplished pianist, having participated in the Golden Key Music Festivals in Vienna and New York City as well as the annual Monster Concert at Brookdale Community College.
Some of the highlighted awards presented to RFH seniors were:
• Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship — Erin Blewett
A 2013 RFH graduate, Alyson M. Raywood completed her first year at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia before passing, after a courageous two-year battle with cancer, on October 14, 2014 at the age of 19.
The Alyson M. Raywood Scholarship was created to honor an individual who has suffered a tragedy but continues to fight on while maintaining a positive outlook. The scholarship was presented to Blewett by Alyson’s mother, Ro Raywood.
• Class of 2009 Scholarship Award — Ashley Adler
RFH Class of 2009 graduates Stephen Noglows, Timothy Robinson, and Daniel Ryan presented this new award to Adler in honor of their late friend and classmate Robert Anthony Melita. Funds for the scholarship were raised by the First Annual Robert Melita Softball Tournament.
• Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship — Abbey Weis
This scholarship is awarded to an RFH senior who, like Robert Anthony Melita, possesses the courage to stand up for what he or she believes in regardless of popular opinion and serves as an advocate for others. This year’s Robert Anthony Melita Scholarship was presented to Weis by Robert’s sisters Lauren and Haley Melita.
• Catalyst STEM Award — Russell Binaco and Alexandra Siwulec
This new award recognizes two outstanding students planning to study science, technology, engineering, or math at the post-secondary level. Dr. Tracy Handerhan presented the Catalyst STEM Award to Binaco and Siwulec.
• U.S. Army Reserve Top Future Soldier Award
This award was presented by Sargent Ethan Newago to Anthony Sciametta, who has enlisted in the Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.
• American Patriot Award
This award is given to a senior who has displayed honor, courage, and commitment by taking the oath to protect and defend our country as a United States Marine. Michael Longo received this award from Sargent Pedro V. Roman.
• Gold and Silver Awards were presented to RFH seniors at a breakfast held on April 17. Students from the RFH Class of 2015 amassed 58 Gold Awards and 31 Silver Awards.
A cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 4.00 at the conclusion of the seventh high school semester qualifies students for the Gold Award. A cumulative GPA of 3.67 at the conclusion of the seventh semester earns the Silver Award.
— Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School press release (edited)
Did you make it to Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH’s) Night of the Arts?
If not, here’s a glimpse of what you missed.
If so, take a look back!
— Photos/courtesy of RFH
Students at Viola L. Sickles School in Fair Haven have been exploring and celebrating differences.
It’s an annual event — Understanding Differences Day.
Held on May 15 this year, the day featured hands-on activities and presentations hosted by school staff members and volunteers.
Continue reading Sickles School Students Strive to Understand Differences
Call them stock market savvy.
Knollwood School students George Clough, Patrick Malpass, and Charles Newbury of Fair Haven finished first place in the Southern Region of New Jersey Spring Stock Market Game.
The three fifth-graders, members of the Knollwood School Stock Market Club, competed against more than 100 other teams in the game, which ran for 10 weeks, ending in May. With a virtual $100,000 to invest, they made a profit of $6,977.56.
As winners of the top prize, the three attended an awards ceremony on May 26 at Stockton College where they gave a speech about their experience.
“Each of us had different ideas for choosing companies to invest in,” said George. “I chose General Electric during the week that it was number one on the Dow Jones, Charles chose Ford because the price of the stock was low and it was a solid company that had performed well in the past, and Patrick chose Sony because he loves gaming PS4.”
“I learned that it’s not hard to turn one amount of money into a lot more money when you invest carefully and have a little bit of luck. And I also learned that you never know what’s going to happen next, so you need to be prepared” said Patrick. “When we earned money, we then found more good companies to invest in.”
“You need to work together to make good decisions about your stocks, so we didn’t buy anything without informing our team members,” said Charles. “We put Pat in charge, and he wanted to buy Sony, and that became our winning stock,”
The three were also among Knollwood students honored by Superintendent Nelson Ribon, Principal Kevin Davis, and members of the Fair Haven Board of Education at a pizza party celebration on the evening of June 9.
“Having worked in finance, I know that it was not easy to achieve what you did,” Fair Haven Board of Education President Mark Mancuso said in his presentation. “Thank you for doing such a fine job of representing our school district.”
The Knollwood School Stock Market Club is comprised of fourth and fifth graders and approximately 30 students participate each year. The Club meets once a week at lunchtime and recess from February through May to learn about the stock market and to participate in online investing simulation and stockmarketgame.org.
“I am very impressed with how much these boys learned about investing,” Club Advisor and Knollwood Fifth Grade Teacher Jessica Dougherty said. “They were very motivated throughout this entire game, and their hard work paid off in the end.”
— Fair Haven School District press release
There’s a new superintendent in the Rumson School District.
John E. Bormann, Ed. D., was unanimously appointed to the district top administrator spot at a special Rumson Board of Education meeting on June 9. His start date is Aug. 1.
The board considered 32 candidates and conducted several rounds of interviews before choosing Bormann.
“When we did our research and checked his references, we discovered one good thing after another about Dr. Bormann,” Rumson Board of Education President Colleen O’Connor said. “His strong leadership skills and track record of successful interactions with teaching staff and with parents make him a perfect fit for our district.”
Bormann’s contract runs through June 30, 2020. He will be responsible for Deane-Porter School (pre-K through third grade) and Forrestdale School (fourth through eighth grade).
“I would like to thank the Rumson School Board for this opportunity,” Bormann said. “I am very excited to learn the Rumson traditions and history and meld that with my own vision, which is this — ‘If it doesn’t expand the possibilities for our students, why do it?’
“I have a special interest in motivating the stakeholders in our children’s education to help them become better learners for their own sake, and I believe that the road to success is in non-stop trying. I am determined to uncover how to make this happen for the students in Rumson.”
Bormann spent 19 years in the Spring Lake School District, where he served as chief school administrator for the past four years. He also has experience in the field as a science teacher, supervisor of curriculum, and superintendent/principal.
Dr. Bormann has a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science from Rutgers University, a master of science degree in Educational Technology from Ramapo College, a master of arts degree in Educational Leadership from Georgian Court University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from St. Peters University.
A two-time recipient of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award, Dr. Bormann has also earned the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. As a superintendent, he received the Monmouth County Education Association Friend of Education Award.
An avid reader, traveler, and gardener, Bormann lives in Freehold.
— Edited Rumson School District press release
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student athletes are among several from the area who will be competing as part of the Navesink River Rowing Competitive Youth Crew in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals this weekend.
The students qualified for the competition, held in Sarasota, FL from June 12-14, after a bringing home gold, silver and bronze medals at the U.S. Rowing Mid-Atlantic Youth Championships in West Windsor on May 9 and 10.
That competition qualified the crew for three boats in the nationals.
Competing this weekend are: RFH students,Tom Johnston and Emily Unsinn, both of Fair Haven, and Emma Miller, of Rumson; Neil Hughes, of Oceanport; Max Kelly, of Middletown; Erik Bovino, of Brielle; and Ian Bamberger, head coach.
As usual, the sign on the Fair Haven Fire Department’s marquee says it all — or, at least, the important part.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School senior football star Charlie Volker has scored another athletic accomplishment. The Princeton University-bound star athlete on Wednesday became the victor of the 100-meter dash in the state at the 47th Meet of Champions at Frank Jost Field in South Plainfield.
Volker dashed the 100 meters in 10.81 seconds. His best was 10.80.
The football running back was credited with leading RFH to its big Central Jersey Group II win.
Check out the video on YouTube filmed by Angelo Clark, who did not know who Volker was as he crossed the finish line.
Congrats, Charlie!
Have you heard of the Mini Engineering Academy?
Well, six Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) students participated in what has been dubbed a first at Neptune High School.
The following release from RFH gives the whole scoop on the event:
RFH freshmen Reed DiCenso, Aidan Eustace, Jack Rallo, Matthew Ramirez, Chris Steinhacker, and Tyler Whetzel attended evening sessions that ran from Wednesday, February 25 through Wednesday, April 22.
Sponsored by the Neptune High School JumpStart Engineering Academy and IEEE, the inaugural program covered topics including Aerospace Engineering, Designing Green Buildings, Aviation, Electrical Engineering, Power Grids, and the Fluid Dynamics of Surfboard Design.
“For a first-year program, we felt that they did a great job,” said Jack Rallo. “The program covered a lot of different aspects of the science of engineering,”
“All of the presentations and activities were great in different ways,” said Tyler Whetzel. “We were able to see which aspects of engineering we valued the most.”
Highlights of the program for the RFH group, all aspiring engineers, included working in teams to build hydrogen-powered cars; visiting and learning about the “green” elementary school located in Neptune; exploring all aspects of solar cells; and using software to measure the aerodynamic qualities of a surfboard design.
RFH Science Supervisor Sharon Bryant learned of the Mini Engineering Academy during a County Supervisors’ Meeting and asked the RFH Science Teachers to inform their students.
“I am so proud of these students for taking the time to participate in the Mini Engineering Academy — they built critical thinking skills and gained engineering experience, both of which are vital in future science,” said Bryant. “The lesson of trying new ideas – and sometimes failing — so growth and improvement can occur in future attempts is an important one for these students to carry forward in their academics and in life.
“I hope they will be able to participate in this program again next year and use their new knowledge to create, invent, and learn even more!”
Talented students recently shared their artwork at the Deane-Porter School Art Show.
The exhibit featured the creations of students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.
The featured art included: Monet-inspired landscapes, cool color penguins, symmetrical butterflies, crazy pumpkins, self-portraits as king or queen, and texture trees (kindergarten); Chinese New Year dragons, Kandinsky-inspired concentric hearts, painted and printed weaving, and snowman with percolator app (first grade); coil pots, Kachina masks, Audubon-inspired cardinals, and Faith Ringgold cityscapes (second grade); slab pottery, Greek columns, and Matisse-inspired landscapes (third grade).
Continue reading For Art’s Sake: Showing Off Artwork at Deane-Porter
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
They’re standard procedures at Viola L. Sickles and Knollwood schools in Fair Haven, but especially so when the students and staff are commemorating Earth Day — the day earmarked to honor the environment.
Fair Haven students were asked to reuse and recycle by donating their used books to the Book Recycling Project at Sickles School and the Student Council Book Drive at Knollwood School.
Continue reading Fair Haven Students’ Earth Day Contribution
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