Suffern Students Prepare For College And Other Ramapo Central News

Posted on 01 December 2014 by Editor

The many faces of Ramapo Central School District / Photos via Twitter collage with thanks to @RCSDMounties, @SESPirates, @LisaWeberASI, and @Zacchio_LoHud

The many faces of Ramapo Central School District / Photos via Twitter collage with thanks to @RCSDMounties, @SESPirates, @LisaWeberASI, and @Zacchio_LoHud.

With December comes thoughts of the holidays and new year, but for many Suffern High School students college prep tests, applications and early action are top of mind.

Suffern High School recently reported that the proportion of Suffern grads attending four-year colleges jumped to 72% this year — an increase of 22% over both 2013 and 2012. As a result, 98% of all 2014 graduates are continuing their education at post-secondary institutions.

Science and AVID teacher Colleen Stritmater works with Suffern High School senior Will Mazariego on his college application during a November AVID class.

Science and AVID teacher Colleen Stritmater works with Suffern High School senior Will Mazariego on his college application during a November AVID class. / Photo via Ramapo Central Schools

Suffern Principal Pat Breen credits an in-house collaboration between a faculty team and invested students for increasing minority student consideration of four year universities, an effort that’s helped bump Suffern’s good post-secondary ed participation numbers.

ASPIRA advisor and ESL teacher Rob Mariani, AVID and science teacher Colleen Stritmater and guidance counselor Marissa Guijarro all lend critical instructional and technical support to the continuing education program.

“Many times, first-generation, college-bound students need assistance in exploring all that is available to them with respect to college and financial aid, said Breen about the Suffern initiative. “I am very proud of the work that ASPIRA, AVID and the Guidance Department have done for our students.”

ASPIRA is a national educational and leadership organization that serves the Puerto Rican and wider Latino population — senior Gail Stern is current president of Suffern’s longtime ASPIRA chapter.

“I always knew I was going to college,” Stern said. “But I planned on going to a two-year college for mortuary science.” The school program helped her broader her vision.  “So I’m applying to four-year colleges and plan to major in biochemistry instead,” she said — “The more education, the better!”

Suffern students have been succeeding in the classroom and in the field of play again this school year, whether through the debate or robotics teams, clubs, or on the court or course. The Village of Suffern recently celebrated the Class AA State Championship Girls Volleyball team with a parade down Lafayette and it wasn’t but a few years back that the boys hockey state title team was feted. Suffern and Ramapo Central students at large appear to be finding interesting ways to distinguish themselves.

Off the wire: girls volleyball champion apparel has arrived.

The Suffern Girls cross country team had a stellar year with its pack attack running and many individual standouts.

Suffern High School students will once again enter the auditorium for the National Honor Society induction ceremony, Wednesday, December 3.

Suffern High School juniors will once again enter the auditorium for their National Honor Society induction ceremony, Wednesday, December 3.

The Suffern National Honor Society Induction ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, at 7 p.m. in the Suffern High School auditorium.

Give a cheer to all the competitive spirit and energy alive out there in the Ramapo Central School District.

The Ramapo Central School Board next meets on Tuesday, December 2, at 45 Mountain Avenue in Hillburn, with a public session scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

 

 

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