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Board honors retirees and showcases district orchestra; students update activities
Summary
At the meeting the board recognized multiple retiring staff across grade levels and watched a short presentation celebrating a 500+ student K–12 orchestra showcase; student reporters summarized recent arts, sports and testing events, including 1,513 AP tests scheduled.
The Ridgewood Board of Education opened Monday’s meeting by recognizing veteran staff retiring this year and by celebrating a district‑wide orchestra project that brought hundreds of students together.
Assistant superintendent Dr. Michelle Femick and school leaders honored teachers and support staff across elementary and high schools, citing long service, program leadership and community contributions. Among those recognized were Orchard Elementary music teacher Drew Krysmer (nearly 29 years), RHS ESL teacher Amy Nolan (21 years), longtime biology teacher Lynn Feny, math teacher Rebecca Katon (37 years) and school nurse Moren Morgan (20 years). Colleagues offered tributes and the board invited photos after the remarks.
Music staff presented a short history of the district orchestra and recapped a recent showcase that placed roughly 500–550 fifth‑through‑12th grade students on the gym floor to perform a K–12 music progression aligned to the district strategic plan, accompanied by a short highlight clip.
Student representatives followed with a brief report on recent events — Youth Art Month, spring rallies and concerts, clubs such as Girls Who Code and Memory Project collaborations — and provided academic scheduling reminders: NJSLA testing, AP projects and AP exams (the student report cited 1,513 tests to be administered across 631 students).
The board’s recognition and the arts presentation preceded the night’s more contentious public comment on budgeting and staffing, but the retiree recognitions prompted multiple community members to thank longtime staff and to reflect on the district’s continuity of service.
What to watch: the board will continue celebratory acknowledgments at a June 7 awards event and encouraged the public to attend district arts and athletics events listed on the calendar.
