In case you missed it, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Junior Awards were presented in mid-June.
The list of awards, honoring students’ academic success, character, service and leadership qualities, and recipients is as follows …
Category Archives: News
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Retro Fair Haven Kindergarten: The Kids and the Classroom
With all this talk about the little tykes transitioning from third to fourth grade, school being out for summer and, well, of course, graduation, there’s one milestone that’s been left out — kindergarten.
Back in the day — OK, waaaaay back in the day — there was a third school in Fair Haven for kindergarten. It was the Youth Center. People now know it better as the Fair Haven Police Station and by its newly adopted name that hasn’t quite caught on yet, and may never for us “older” folks still in town — Fair Haven Community Center. Phooey to that. Some things just need to keep a name for nostalgic purposes alone.
Continue reading Retro Fair Haven Kindergarten: The Kids and the Classroom
Fair Haven Schools’ Transition Tradition: Third to Fourth Grade
It’s a tradition. The Fair Haven School District celebrates the transition of students from third to fourth grade — from Viola L. Sickles to Knollwood School.
This year was no exception. It happened on June 11 and here’s how it went:
Teachers and students from Viola L. Sickles School cheered from the sidelines on Willow Street as the third graders began their journey on bicycles and the big red trolley.
Escorted by members of the Fair Haven School District staff and administration, as well as eighth-grade peer leaders, the students headed toward Knollwood School on Hance Road. They were greeted along the way by many well-wishers holding signs and shouting encouragement.
“I love seeing all of the students begin their transition to a new school, just as I did when I was a third grader,” Knollwood School Peer Leader Grace Geiger said.
At Knollwood School the third graders attended a brief assembly hosted by Principal Kevin Davis, learned about the school’s music program, and were given a tour by the eighth grade Peer Leaders.
“This is such a wonderful tradition,” said Davis. “It’s always so much fun to greet the incoming students at Sickles School and bring them over to Knollwood.”
— Fair Haven School District press release
Former Fair Haven Mayor, ABC Director Joins Genova Burns Legal Firm
Former Fair Haven Mayor Michael Halfacre has a new job; and, there’s nothing controversial about the fact that he resigned from an appointed, high profile state position before signing on to the private sector post, he told Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect a couple of weeks ago at Fair Haven Day.
Halfacre announced he would be bowing out as director of the NJ Division of Acoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in the state Attorney General’s Office not too long before making the announcement that he had joined Genova Burns LLC law firm as a member of its Commercial Real Estate & Redevelopment and Business Law & Commercial Transactions Practice Groups effective today, July 1, a release from Genova Burns said. He will also be available for consultation to the firm’s Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law Practice Group, a new branch of the firm, it added.
The Gov. Chris Christie administration-appointed public sector job with the ABC, the lifelong Fair Havenite added, was an opportunity to serve the public that he was honored to have had. He just made a decision to move on, he said, nothing more. “It’s all good,” Halfacre said casually on the subject, before revealing his next career move.
Of his new job, he said in a released statement that he was “honored to join this prestigious law firm. I was basically a small-town attorney before joining the Attorney General’s Office (under which the ABC is run) as head of the ABC, and I am thrilled to join a firm with the prestige and regional presence of Genova Burns.”
Photo/Elaine Van Develde
Halfacre stepped as mayor of Fair Haven in his second term to accept the ABC appointment. He had been mayor since 2006. Prior to the ABC position, he worked ion the private sector as a commercial real estate attorney specializing in transactions, including sales and refinance of commercial real estate and transfers of ABC licenses, the release said.
“Michael’s experience running the ABC these past three years makes him an excellent choice to offer counsel to the firm’s newly formed Craft Beer, Spirits & Alcohol Law practice group,” said Managing Partner Brian W. Kronick. “Genova Burns occupies a niche at the nexus of business, law and government. Michael’s background, experience and knowledge of top business people around the state is a perfect fit.”
Looking Back at Fair Haven Students’ Honors for 2014-15
Students in the Fair Haven School District achieved several distinctions in the 2014-15 school year; and, they were recognized for all by the Board of Education.
The accomplishments were all outlined in an early June ceremony by Superintendent Nelson Ribon and Knollwood School Principal Kevin Davis with a little pizza party on the side.
Continue reading Looking Back at Fair Haven Students’ Honors for 2014-15
Retro RFH Graduation Venues
It’s a relatively new tradition for RFH to have its graduation at Monmouth University.
The venue is large. It’s where many of the high schools with larger graduating classes, by sheer virtue of population, have held graduations — mostly out of a need for more room. Middletown, which has two large public high schools, has held its graduations at Monmouth. And, before that, the PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater in Holmdel. And some high schools have their graduations at Brookdale.
‘Movin’ on Up’ from Deane-Porter to Forrestdale
Rumson third graders have taken the traditional Movin’ On Up trek from Deane-Porter to Forrestdale School.
It’s a transitional event filled with symbolism.
Here’s how it went …
Continue reading ‘Movin’ on Up’ from Deane-Porter to Forrestdale
Knollwood Class of 2015 Graduation Facts
The Knollwood School Class of 2015 has graduated.
Though there are some things you may or may not know about the students in the graduating class, the June 18 ceremony at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School itself and honors awarded.
Here are some of those Knollwood graduation facts …
Retro Knollwood, Forrestdale Graduation Moments
It’s been just a little more than a week since the students of Rumson and Fair Haven’s middle schools, Knollwood and Forrestdale, took their graduation walks in more ways than one.
From the traditional walk from Knollwood to Sickles School, symbolizing the end of an era and many milestones made, to lining the halls of their new high school, the middle school students marked a time for moving on to their teen years in high school.
It’s a symbolic time. One that those who grow up in the area tend to never forget — well, unless wish you’d forget it, because you wore a really ugly yellow dress and your hair was particularly frizzy that night. Ahem. I digress.
The walk, either way, either to Pomp and Circumstance, down Third Street in Fair Haven, through the halls of RFH or all, it’s a walk toward the future.
Good luck to the Knollwood and Forrestdale grads! Embrace the future with passion and purpose!
Check out our Retro Pic of the Day slideshow capturing some of those moments. Thanks to the following parents for the photos: Paige McCann, Erin, Elizabeth Sullivan, LuAnn Hughes, Doug Borden and Madelyne Valko.
The R-FH Area Weekend: St. Mary’s Fair, ‘Mame’ & More
Well, the weather forecast for the weekend is not looking so great.
The National Weather Service, as of now, says there’s a 100 percent chance of rain on Saturday in the area.
So, that in mind, here are some fun indoor times for the weekend …
Continue reading The R-FH Area Weekend: St. Mary’s Fair, ‘Mame’ & More
Forrestdale Class of 2015 Graduation Facts
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:
Retro Father of Fair Haven Schools
Photo/courtesy of Michael Chartier
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.
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