Welcome to the Dean's Office
RHS Dean’s Office Beliefs
In the RHS Dean’s Office, we believe:
- Every situation is resolved on a case-by-case basis. No two are identical.
- Every student deserves dignity and respect at all times.
- Every student should be recognized for who they are and what they believe.
- Consequences are sometimes necessary, however our goal is to repair and restore relationships.
- Family involvement is invaluable and necessary to strengthen the relationship between home and school.
Restorative Approach
We believe mistakes offer opportunities for learning and growth. To that end, the RHS Dean’s Office attempts to implement restorative practices in lieu of traditional, punitive consequences whenever possible. Restorative practices identify what happened, who was harmed, and how relationships can be restored. Examples of restorative practices used in the RHS Dean’s Office include:
- Student Peer Jury
- Work Detail
- Community Service hours, both in school and in the community
- Peer mediations
- Social Work services
It is our goal that by utilizing these and other restorative measures in partnership with our families, students can learn and grow from their mistakes.
Safety and Security
The safety of our students and staff is always our number one priority. To that end, Ridgewood High School employs the following measures to continually provide a safe and secure learning environment:
- Campus-wide surveillance system
- Controlled building access
- Collaborative planning with reporting agencies
- Annual Run, Hide, Fight training for all students and staff members
- Unannounced school safety dog visits in partnership with Interquest Detection Canines
- Annual safety drills (Active Shooter / Fire / Severe Weather / Bus Evacuation)
We encourage parents and guardians to be actively engaged in their student’s school experience, and to immediately report any suspicious or concerning behaviors. To make a report, contact the Dean of Students at 708-697-5542 or rgoldflies@ridgenet.org. To make an anonymous report, CLICK HERE.
Student Attendance
If a student is to succeed in high school, regular attendance is important. The school will make every reasonable effort to inform parents/guardians of excessive absences from school or from classes, but the basic responsibility for the regular attendance of the student lies with the student and parent(s)/guardian(s).
Students and parents may check their attendance on the Skyward tab, through the RHS Website. Your login and password are required. If you need your Skyward login information, contact the RHS Data Specialist, at 708-456-4242 extension 1248.
There are two types of absences: Excused and Unexcused.
- Excused absences include:
- Illness (including mental or behavioral health of the student)
- Observance of a religious holiday or event
- Death in the immediate family
- Family emergency
- Situations beyond the control of the student
- Circumstances that cause reasonable concern to the parent/guardian for the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or safety
- School sponsored field trips
- College visits
- Court
- Attending a military honors funeral to sound TAPS or,
- Other reasons as approved by the Dean of Students.
A student and the student’s parent/guardian are responsible for obtaining assignments from the student’s teachers prior to any excused absences and for ensuring that such assignments are completed by the student prior to his or her return to school.
Students who are excused from school will be given a reasonable timeframe to make up missed homework and classwork assignments.
- Unexcused absences encompass any other reason aside from those listed as above as excused.
In the event of any absence, the student’s parent or guardian is required to call the school at (708) 456-4242 extension 1258 before 10 AM to explain the reason for the absence.
The school may require documentation explaining the reason for the student’s absence. A Doctor’s note is required when a student is absent for more than three (3) consecutive days due to medical reasons. The Doctor’s note must be written by a licensed Medical Doctor and must include each date in which the student is to be excused from school. A written explanation from a parent/guardian must be brought to the school for two or more consecutive days of absences.
Excessive Absences
After a cumulative total of two (2) absences a month, four (4) in a semester, and eight (8) or more full-time equivalency days of absence (including any time missed on days of partial absence) for any reason other than those identified as “exempted absences” an attendance conference shall be held with the student to clarify attendance policies. After four (4) absences a month, a parent meeting will be held. Students who miss 5% or more of the prior 180 regular school days are considered chronic truants. Students who miss 10% or more of the school year (2 days per month) are considered chronic absentees.