Seniors
College Application Process with Counseling Department
— Upon receipt of Part B of the Senior Packet, counselors will arrange one-on-one meetings with students during the school day. The student’s ability to request transcripts will not be activated until after this meeting. Counselors use the information students provide in their Senior Packets regarding college deadlines to schedule meetings, so rest assured the meeting will occur in time to request transcripts before the first deadline. Students will want to write down any questions they (or you!) still have after the group meeting so they can be answered at the individual meeting. Click here for the Senior Packet.
— If you missed Financial Aid Night on September 26, click here for the powerpoint presentation.
— College Representative Visits at Ridge – Juniors are encouraged to register during the fall through their Naviance account. If your child lost his/her Naviance username or password, please ask him/her to see one of the counseling secretaries.
— Instant Decision / Interview Days – click here. For the schedule click here.
Scholarships and Programs – Seniors are encouraged to check Naviance frequently for scholarships and programs that may be of interest to them. The site is continuously updated as the Counseling Department receives word of new opportunities
HESAA Student Loan Guide – For information from the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority concerning student loans go to: www.hesaa.org.
Spring –
Cap & Gown Ordering
Senior Breakfast
Senior Prom Bid Sales
Mr. Ridge
Order Balloons in June – Sale begins April 7 and ends May 12
Senior Prom – Friday, May 19, 7 pm – 12 am, Birchwood Manor
Cap & Gown pick-up – Wednesday, June 7 – $25 fee due
Senior Dinner – Friday, June 9, 6 pm, Ridge Cafeteria
Graduation Practice – Thursday, June 15, 1:00 pm, Lee Field
Ice Cream Social – Thursday, June 15, 3:00 pm, Ridge Cafeteria
Graduation Practice – Friday, June 16, 1:00 pm, Lee Field
Graduation – Friday, June 16, 6:30 pm, Lee Field
All-Night BASH – Friday, June 16 following Graduation, 5:00 am return to Ridge
❖ Yearbook – Seniors may provide a quote to the yearbook committee. Parents may purchase Senior “Baby” Ads for the back of the yearbook. These very popular ads are due in early December.
❖ Senior Parking – Only seniors are allowed to park at Ridge. Students must have applied for a spot in junior year. Parking spot is shared with another senior. Student must pick up and pay for the permit on the specified date in August.
❖ AP Testing in May; register through Bernards Township School District (watch for information).
❖ SCOP Activities – Homecoming Senior Tailgate, Last 100 Days Celebration, Senior Breakfast, Senior Dinner, Ice Cream Social, and Project Graduation. The SCOP Team (State Community Organization Program)
❖ Balloons in June – This fundraiser, honoring RHS graduates, benefits the Junior class. Many volunteers are needed to help with this fun event. Orders due in May; balloons and congratulations delivered last week of school.
Juniors
College Planning and Course Selection Processes with Counseling Department
● If you missed Financial Aid Night on September 26, click here for the powerpoint presentation.
College Representative Visits at Ridge – Juniors are encouraged to register during the fall through their Naviance account. If your child lost his/her Naviance username or password, please ask him/her to see one of the counseling secretaries.
● December – PSAT scores received by those who took the test in October.
● January – April – student meetings with counselors in the computer lab to further explore Naviance/college searches.
● The College Process for Parents – January 26, 7 pm in the RHS PAC. Geared toward Junior parents.
● January – Student Presentation during the school day re: 2017-18 Program of Studies and upperclassmen scheduling.
● February – Course Selection – Juniors select courses for the 2017-18 school year during 15-minute sessions with their counselors. Students are expected to come prepared with their Course Selection Sheet.
● Junior Conferences with students and parents – February through April. At this conference, the Counselors review the college process as it pertains specifically to your child. Course selections for senior year are reviewed.
Update Your Naviance Info — Click here: NavianceRegistration
Junior Prom – April
❖ National Honor Society – Students eligible for NHS will be notified in the spring to submit applications.
❖ SAT, ACT and SAT Subject Testing on Saturdays throughout the year at students’ discretion; register through the College Board and ACT websites.
❖ AP Testing in May; register through Bernards Township School District (watch for information).
❖ Senior Packet due to counselor in early June of Junior year.
❖ Parking Application – must sign up with a partner at the end of Junior year to share a spot in the parking lot as a Senior.
❖ Junior Book Award Applications – Students may apply for these through the guidance department.
❖ Senior Portraits taken in Spring and Summer with retakes in the Summer and Fall.
❖ Balloons in June – This fundraiser, honoring RHS graduates, benefits the Junior class. Many volunteers are needed to help with this fun event. Orders due in May; balloons and congratulations delivered last week of school.
❖ Summer Reading and AP Assignments – Begin checking the Ridge website homepage in late May.
Sophomores
College Planning and Course Selection Processes with the Counseling Department
● College Representative Visits at Ridge – Juniors are encouraged to register during the fall through their Naviance account. If your child lost his/her Naviance username or password, please ask him/her to see one of the counseling secretaries.
● December – PSAT scores received by those who took the test in October.
● January – Student meetings with counselors – individual counseling sessions—check-in, “get to know you,” etc.
● January – Sophomore Career Exploration Module with counselors in the computer lab. Students will utilize Naviance to discern their strengths/weaknesses, and likes/dislikes, which will help them to find career fields which may be of interest to them. This is the “kick off” to the college search process, as this information can then be used to find schools offering particular majors or programs of interest.
● January – Student Presentation during the school day re: 2017-18 Program of Studies and upperclassmen scheduling.
● February-March – Course Selection. Sophomores select courses for the 2017-18 school year during 15-minute sessions with their counselors. Students are expected to come prepared with their Course Selection Sheet.
❖ American History Community Service Requirement – this can be fulfilled during the summer after Freshman year. 25 hours of service to an approved nonprofit organization and essay letter reflecting on the experience. The requirement is tied to the course, not the grade level. The majority of students take American history as a sophomore but if a student takes the course in a different grade for some reason, he/she will have to do the community service during that time period. For more information, click here.
❖ Driver’s Education written exam in PE class during marking period one. The driving tests are not given at Ridge – family must arrange for that privately.
❖ PSAT Test offered at Ridge in mid-October (optional); scores are given in December.
❖ AP Testing in May (only 2 courses offered to sophomores); register through Bernards Township School District (watch for information).
❖ SAT Subject Tests for areas of student’s interest. Usually taken in June.
❖ Summer Reading and AP Assignments – Begin checking the Ridge website homepage in late May.
Freshmen
Course Selection Processes with the Counseling Department
● January – Course Selection Presentation held during the school day regarding the 2017-18 Program of Studies and upperclassmen scheduling.
● February-March – Course Selection. Freshmen select courses for the 2017-18 school year during 15-minute sessions with their counselors. Students are expected to come prepared with their Course Selection Sheet.
❖ Project Adventure is a required physical education course for freshmen at Ridge that occurs during marking period one. The goal of the program is to expose students to situations outside of their comfort zone while learning to work together as a group in a positive manner. The six pillars of Project Adventure are: Be Here; Be Honest; Be Safe; Set Goals; Take Care of Self and Others; and Let Go and Move On.
❖ EOC Biology Test for all freshmen in mid-May
❖ SAT Biology Subject Test for students in Honors Biology; usually taken in June. Can be used for college applications.
❖ Summer Reading and AP Assignments – Begin checking the Ridge website homepage in late May.
❖ Sophomore American History Community Service Requirement – Students must do 25 hours of service at an approved nonprofit organization and write an essay letter reflecting on the experience. It is a good idea to fulfill this requirement during the summer between Freshman and Sophomore year when the students aren’t in school, as it can be hard to find time during the school year, given homework, extracurricular activities, sports and other activities. The requirement is tied to the course, not the grade level. The majority of students take American history as a sophomore but if a student takes the course in a different grade for some reason, he/she will have to do the community service during that time period. For more information, click here.