“Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” Khalil Gibran

May 1, 2022

Dear Ramapo Indian Hills Community Members,

Our schools are bustling with activity and there is a focus amongst our faculty to ensure we continue to meet the needs of all of our students. I am proud of the meaningful work our dedicated staff, students, community partners, and Board of Education has been engaged in over the past several months. Such commitment demonstrates the level of engagement that is necessary to make progress and achieve the excellence that our students deserve. 

We are excited to provide our community with an overview of extremely important work in the development of a new strategic plan. A robust and thoughtfully developed strategic plan will be the guiding roadmap for our school district to communicate our goals, the actions needed to achieve those goals, along with highlighting the core values and beliefs of our learning community with an articulated mission and vision that will enable us to meet the needs of all of our students so they may achieve their potential. 

This work is critical in order for our school district to become outstanding in every aspect and to demonstrate the achievement we all want and expect. Over the next 8 months, we will engage a steering committee of approximately 20 stakeholders that will include principals, administrators, teachers, and community members. We will extend our reach to collect feedback from students, staff, and parents through focus groups and community surveys so we may capture the perspective of as many voices as possible. Please click here or on the presentation below to watch a brief presentation on the Strategic Planning Process.

The District recently approved Chris Herren for two student assemblies at Ramapo and Indian Hills High Schools on May 25th. Chris Herren is a former professional basketball player and a voice on the topic of substance use prevention and a wellness advocate. Since 2009, Chris has spoken to over one million students, athletes, and community members, sparking honest discussions on the topics of substance use disorder and wellness (Herren Talks). Chris Herren spoke to our students and parents in both high schools several years ago which was extremely well received leaving a lasting impression on our community. Read more below about the Herren Talks presentation.

I would like to thank Franklin Lakes Mayor Bivona, Franklin Lakes Borough Administrator Greg Hart, and Henry Wasserstein who helped coordinate with the FLOW communities for a total donation of $9,000 toward the cost of the Chris Herren May 25th evening presentation. A special thank you to the Oakland Municipal Alliance ($3,000), the Township of Wyckoff ($3,000), and Franklin Lakes REACH ($3,000) which includes a contribution of $1,000 by The Woman’s Club of Franklin Lakes. As a result of this generous donation, the District has reserved Chris Herren to provide an evening presentation to parents and community members. This is a outstanding example of what working together looks like to support the progress of our wonderful learning community.

All my best,

Dr. Rui Dionisio

Superintendent of Schools

 

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