Ridgeview High School

Our Ridgeview NJROTC cadets represented Panther Pride with excellence at Saturday’s Drill Meet hosted by Terry Parker High School! From precision marching to teamwork and discipline, our cadets demonstrated outstanding effort and professionalism throughout each event. Their dedication and pride in representing Ridgeview were truly on display!

We’re so proud of their commitment, leadership, and the countless hours they’ve put into preparation. Bravo Zulu, Panthers!  #PanthersRISE

Ms. Meadors’s juniors strengthened their critical reading and argument analysis skills by identifying claims, examining rhetorical appeals, and supporting their interpretations with textual evidence. They practiced distinguishing ethos, pathos, logos, and kairos and analyzing how word choice reveals an author’s purpose. Students then applied these skills as they read Civil Disobedience, using context clues, background information, and guided questioning to deepen their understanding of Thoreau’s complex ideas. #PanthersRISE

Join us as we celebrate American Education Week from November 17–21, 2025! 📚✏️

This is a special time to honor all the incredible teachers, support staff, administrators, and families who make our Clay County District Schools the best place to learn and grow.

We believe in discovering endless possibilities for every student! 🎉

#AmericanEducationWeek #ClayCountySchools #Education #ThankATeacher #EndlessPossibilities #OneClay #MakeAnImpact

Mr. Elmore’s reading students strengthened their skills by analyzing explicit and implicit meaning, determining an author’s attitude, and using context clues and morphology to understand unfamiliar words. Students practiced identifying how word choice and tone shape meaning in nonfiction texts, broke down prefixes and word parts to build vocabulary, and supported their thinking with evidence directly from the passage. #PanthersRISE

Congratulations to this week's RISE Staff of the Week! These two exemplify what it means to be a Ridgeview Panther. #PanthersRISE

Mr. Smith, History Teacher
Ms. Munoz-Perez, Instructional Assistant

Congratulations to this week's RISE Scholars of the Week. A teacher or staff member nominated these Panthers for going above and beyond in demonstrating one or more of our RISE qualities—Responsibility, Integrity, Spirit, and Excellence. These core values define what it means to be part of the Ridgeview family. #PanthersRISE

Sophia Santiago
Nicolas Browder
Jazmin Powell
Lebon Baker
Amari Sewell (not pictured)

RISE Scholar Spotlight - Responsibility

Several of our Interact Club members organized a heartfelt Veterans Day visit to the Veterans at Life Care Center in Orange Park. Our students showed incredible leadership and compassion as they honored residents through a variety of activities. They opened the visit by singing the national anthem, performed a medley of military tribute songs on trumpets, led Veterans Day trivia, sang additional songs, handed out certificates of appreciation, and spent time connecting personally with each veteran.
It was a meaningful experience for both our students and the residents, and a powerful example of service, gratitude, and Panther Pride in action. #PanthersRISE

💙 Today is Diabetes Awareness Day 💙
At Ridgeview High School, we stand with our Panthers who live bravely and confidently with Type 1 Diabetes every single day. Managing T1D takes strength, responsibility, and resilience, especially as a teen. Many of our students navigate the challenges of wearing a pump and/or CGM, taking insulin shots, or handling fluctuating blood sugars, all while trying not to stand out in a crowd. Managing T1D takes strength, responsibility, and resilience, and our students show us what that looks like in real life.

Today, we honor their courage.
We recognize their daily commitment.
And we celebrate the way they continue to show up, stay active, and thrive, refusing to let diabetes define them.

We are proud of our T1D Panthers. 💙
You inspire us.

Mr. Nesi’s Photography students took their learning outdoors this week, exploring Ridgeview’s courtyard to practice composition, lighting, and perspective. From experimenting with angles to capturing natural light and shadows, students applied classroom concepts in real-world settings, honing their technical skills while developing their artistic eye. Every camera click was a chance to see the world through a new lens! #PanthersRISE

Ms. Johnson’s Anatomy and Physiology students took their study of the skeletal system to the next level! Students practiced hand and wrist exercises and even held one-minute planks to explore how bones and muscles work together in movement and stability. They also examined the differences between male and female pelvises, learning that it’s the only true skeletal feature used to identify biological sex when bones are the only evidence in a forensic investigation, and the importance of dental records in solving real-world cases.

RISE Scholar Spotlight - Responsibility

Ms. McDade’s General Theatre students wowed their classmates, teachers, and special guests, Ms. Murphy and Ms. Stoltzfus, with their first official class performance of the year — Lip Syncs! From dramatic flair to comedic timing, students brought creativity, confidence, and big personalities to the stage. It was a fun and engaging showcase of teamwork, expression, and Panther Pride!

Ms. LaPierre’s Culinary 2 students are refining their plating and presentation skills, turning simple desserts into edible works of art! Students prepared rich brownies topped with a vibrant berry coulis, practicing precision, balance, and design to create visually stunning (and delicious!) plates. Their attention to detail and creativity truly showcase the artistry behind professional culinary presentation. #PanthersRISE

RISE Scholar Spotlight - Excellence

During lunch, two of Ms. Weaver’s students chose to use their free time to update a classroom calendar using the Clay County Schools calendar as their guide. As they worked, they practiced sequencing, time concepts, and vocabulary, even engaging in a lively debate about how to pronounce Lincoln! 🇺🇸 Their goal was to help their classmates better understand number patterns, planning, and life skills through hands-on learning. By showing shared ownership, accountability, and empathy, these Panthers truly demonstrated Responsibility and Excellence in action! #PanthersRISE

We’re proud to announce that Sarah Benardini has been recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar! This prestigious honor is awarded to approximately 34,000 students nationwide who rank among the top 3-4% of more than 1.5 million juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT. Sarah’s recognition reflects her incredible dedication, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to academic excellence, qualities that embody the very best of Ridgeview High and our RISE values.

Congratulations, Sarah! Your Panther Family is so proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished! #PanthersRISE

Students in Ms. Thomas’s AICE General Paper class explored the question, “Is Artificial Intelligence a tool or a terror?” through a dynamic discursive writing lesson designed to strengthen their ability to craft balanced, well-reasoned arguments. Working in pairs, they analyzed evidence for both perspectives, debated the ethical and practical implications of AI, and refined their writing under timed conditions to mirror the rigor of AICE assessments. Through this, they developed analytical depth, justified their reasoning with credible evidence, and communicated their ideas with clarity and precision. #PanthersRISE

Last week, our teachers engaged in a powerful professional development session led by District Curriculum Specialists Ms. Randall and Ms. Matz, focused on directed discourse. Our teachers collaborated in small groups to explore strategies that move classroom talk from surface-level discussion to structured, purposeful academic discourse where students use evidence, challenge ideas, and build on each other’s thinking. Through guided activities and interactive planning, our Panthers enhanced sample questions, examined scaffolds that support rich conversation, and reflected on how to apply these strategies in upcoming lessons.
Our faculty continues to model what we want for our students: collaboration, critical thinking, and a commitment to continuous growth. #PanthersRISE

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and this Friday, we’re joining HOSA to recognize World Diabetes Day by wearing BLUE! This cause is personal for me; I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 14, and I’ve learned how much strength, planning, and perseverance it takes each day. Managing diabetes means constantly monitoring blood sugar, balancing food, activity, and stress, and staying prepared for unexpected highs and lows. It’s a daily challenge that affects energy, focus, and even emotions, but it also builds incredible resilience and determination.

We also have several Ridgeview Panthers who live courageously with Type 1 diabetes, balancing school, sports, and life while managing their health. Let’s come together as a Panther Family to wear blue, raise awareness, and show support for everyone affected by diabetes. Together, we can spread understanding, compassion, and hope. #PanthersRISE