Tag Archives: Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

RFH Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

November 12, 2015 Elaine Van Develde

National Signing Day was Wednesday; and, surrounded by coaches, family and friends, 14 Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) athletes signed letters of intent.

The students and their college commitments are:

• Reid Bedell, Golf at Lafayette College;
• Butch Clark, Lacrosse at Pace University;
• Ian Clarke, Lacrosse at Pace University;
• Robbie Garavante, Lacrosse at Lafayette College;
• Maggie Jennings, Lacrosse at Villanova University;
• Stephanie Lesko, Basketball at Bryant University;
• Jacqueline Littleson, Lacrosse at Vanderbilt University;
• Madison Maguire, Field Hockey at University of Maryland;
• Nicole Morris, Basketball at Holy Cross College;
• Sydney Sabino, Basketball at Wagner College;
• Teddy Smith, Swimming at University of Denver;
• Morgan Steinhacker, Lacrosse at Bucknell University;
• Shoshanna Swell, Swimming at Cornell University;
• Matt Waters, Lacrosse at University of Delaware.

The National Letter of Intent serves as a binding agreement between student-athletes and Division I and II programs at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) colleges and universities.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School.

News

The Rumson, Fair Haven and Rumson-Fair Haven Board of Ed Ballots

November 3, 2015 Elaine Van Develde

Voters are going to the polls today to decide who is returning to the Board of Education dais in each of three school districts between Rumson and Fair Haven.

Each of the nine-member boards in the Rumson, Fair Haven and Rumson-Fair Haven districts has seats up for grabs.

Here’s what to expect at the polls:

Continue reading The Rumson, Fair Haven and Rumson-Fair Haven Board of Ed Ballots →

Schools Scene

RFH Class of 2016: The Junior Awards

July 3, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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 …

Continue reading RFH Class of 2016: The Junior Awards →

Schools Scene

Forrestdale Class of 2015 Graduation Facts

June 24, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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:

Continue reading Forrestdale Class of 2015 Graduation Facts →

Schools Scene

RFH Class of 2015: Awards, Scholarships to More Than 80

June 19, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

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)

Arts & Entertainment, Local Life

RFH’s Talent on a Star Track at Riverfest

June 1, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015 Photo/Daryl Ley — The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015
Photo/Daryl Ley

Some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) stars are born — again.

A few RFH alumni and present students, mixed with Middletown students — all together in the blues/soul/rock Jake Tavill Band — won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands at the annual riverfront event in Red Bank on Friday night.

“I am beyond the moon right now!!” said Rumsonite Jake Tavill on his Facebook page. “We won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who cheered, the judges, all the bands that played, Musicians On A Mission, Brenda Wirth, Riverfest, the crew and techs, the sponsors, and my amazing band members. This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you!!! Thank you!!! I am truly grateful.”

The band is comprised of RFH alum Ben Ley, RFH senior, actress and fiddler Julia Mosby, Middletown High School South student Nick Ryan, Tavill, Middletown High School North senior Anthony Flora, guitarist/vocalist Christian Ace, of Manasquan Music Dance Arts, and Casey O’Connell.

Congrats, Jake Tavill Band!

Schools Scene

Delayed R-FH Area School Openings

March 5, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

All three school districts in the Rumson-Fair Haven area will be operating Friday on a staggered delayed opening schedule.

Fair Haven School District — Knollwood and Sickles schools

• Superintendent Nelson Ribon has announced that the delayed openings of the Fair Haven schools will follow the Plan B schedule, which is a two-and-a-half hour delay to prep “both campuses for students and staff.”

And, “AM Pre-K and Kindergarten both begin at 10:30; PM Kindergarten begins at 1:00, followed by PM Pre-K at 1:10. No lunches will be served,” according to the district website.

Rumson School District — Forrestdale and Deane Porter

• There will be a 90 minute delayed opening of the schools.

*Pre-school a.m. session will be open from 10:10 a.m. to noon

* K-8 will operate on a 10:10 am to 3:05 p.m. schedule

There will also be no 1 p.m. dismissal, as previously scheduled for parent/teacher conferences. They will be rescheduled, according to the website.

Rumson Fair Haven Regional High School

• The high school will open on 90-minute delayed schedule.

* Staff sign in is at 9a.m.

* The warning bell will sound at at 9:10am.

* Period 1 starts at 9:15 a.m.

“Buses will be running this morning on a 90 minute delayed schedule,” the website says.

Schools Scene

RFH Students, Staff Pursue Sources of Strength

March 4, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following is an edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) peer leaders and staffers recently tapped into Sources of Strength training resources to enhance their knowledge of suicide, violence and substance abuse.

Approximately 80 RFH students who are members of the RFH Peer Leaders organization along with 16 faculty members trained in what is dubbed Sources of Strength, or SOS, on Feb. 18.

“Helping students learn how to access their Sources of Strength during life’s challenging moments will help them to build resiliency and improve wellness throughout their lifetimes,” RFH Student Assistance Counselor Suzanne Fico, who helped organize and participated in the training,” said.

Sources of Strength (SOS), according to the organization’s website, “leads in the field of suicide prevention by respecting differences among individuals, communities, and cultures and by drawing out stories of strength and healing.”

The group’s mission, according to the site is “to provide the highest quality prevention for suicide, violence, and substance abuse. This is accomplished by training, supporting, and empowering both peer leaders and caring adults in the school community.”

“We approach prevention in a different way,” Barnabas Health’s Turning the Tides Program Manager and event facilitator Rachel Alvarez said in her introduction to the group at the February training session. “Research has shown that programs like this one work best when people like you — here in this gym right now — learn how to use your own strengths to send positive messages of hope, help, and strength to your peers.”

Jamie Juliano, RFH Child Study Team member and co-advisor to the Peer Leaders, helped organize the event and participated in the SOS training. She described it as a fun experience that appeared to have a powerful impact on all involved.

“It was encouraging to see the students developing creative ideas to spread hope, help, and strength messages to their fellow classmates,” said Juliano. “As one of the adult advisors, I hope to continue helping these students turn their ideas into action so that our whole community can feel the effects of Sources of Strength.”

The group took part of a number of exercises, and learned how to break down communication barriers — or what SOS refers to as codes of silence — to help bring about positive change and also increase the likelihood of peer leaders encouraging their fellow students to seek help when they need it.

“The SOS training makes you think about things in a different way,” RFH sophomore and Peer Leader Ben Pelino said.

Local Life

RFH Retro Show Time

Image February 26, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

Rehearsal for Plaza Suite circa 1975. Photo/RFH yearbook — Rehearsal for Plaza Suite circa 1975.
Photo/RFH yearbook

Our Retro Pic of the Day honors, in a small way, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) shows.

This shot is a yearbook picture of yours truly, your editor, in rehearsal for Plaza Suite circa 1976.

The co-star was a very nice guy, who dropped five pages worth of lines.

No problem. It was a wonderful experience. Thanks to Dan Olshansky for dropping those lines. It made this editor a better actor.

Cheers to the cast of Young Frankenstein!

Schools Scene

RFH Girls Winter Track Team Scores Big

February 15, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

The following is an edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School:

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Girls Winter Track Team has earned a double victory.

The team garnered the school’s first Group II State Relay championship for Winter Track and scored its fourth consecutive Central Jersey Group II Sectional title.

The historic State Group II Relay Championship was the result of a first-place finish at the State Relays in January, where 24 teams competed and RFH bested Holmdel by three points.

Continue reading RFH Girls Winter Track Team Scores Big →

Schools Scene

RFH Athletes’ Letters of Intent Signed

February 8, 2015 Elaine Van Develde Leave a comment

An official goal has been scored for four student athletes at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH).

Letters of Intent — the written commitments of those sports stars to play college soccer and football at certain schools — were signed on Feb. 4 in the RFH library.

Parents and faculty present, the following RFH athletes did their signing to the specified colleges on National Signing Day 2015:

• Sam Eisenstadt, Elon University, football;
• Meagan McGurl, Lafayette College, soccer;
• Grant Rataski, Bryant University, football;
• Charlie Volker, Princeton University, football.

Volker is one of four Shore Conference athletes who will play football in the Ivy League. Others will be playing for Yale University and University of Pennsylvania.

*Information culled from a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School press release.