CLASS ACT
8th Annual High School Forum
5 STYLES THAT MAKE THE GRADE SPECIAL REPORT AI GOES TO SCHOOL
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OPEN TO LEARN MORE
Where is your financial advisor?
Your most trusted professionals are local, why isn’t your financial advisor?
Sometimes there is no substitute for meeting face to face. And while the pandemic made working remotely and video conferencing a norm, we believe meeting in person about your financial life is still better.
Face-to-face meetings allow for a natural flow of communication that can help make it easier to talk about tough topics, make hard decisions, and better understand planning strategies. Additionally, intangible actions like a simple handshake can often influence confidence and trust.
You have quick and convenient access to other important professionals in your life, why would access to your wealth be more than five minutes away?
When you work with Eric L. Kohlmeier at Wells Fargo Advisors, you’ll enjoy easy access to the personalized financial advice you need. Come visit us at 100 Park Avenue in Park Ridge.
ERIC L. KOHLMEIER Senior Financial Advisor Managing Director
- Investments 100 Park Ave Park Ridge, NJ 07656
201-505-0472 phone eric.kohlmeier@wellsfargo.com www.erickohlmeier.com
Will I be okay if I lose my spouse?
Helping recently widowed spouses move forward
Moving ahead after a loss of a spouse is a gradual process. It’s not the time to make big decisions or moves. What is helpful is to have a trusted guide who listens and helps you navigate this financial and life transition.
With more than 36 years of experience in the financial services industry—25 of them with Wells Fargo Advisors—my goal is to address your financial concerns, create a plan for the future, and keep you on track for financial success. I’ll help you answer:
Will I be okay financially?
Should I pay off the mortgage? Is my retirement in jeopardy?
During our discussion, I’ll use plain English and explain how your investments work so you’ll always know what you own, and why.
Located in Park Ridge, NJ, you’ll enjoy easy access to the personalized financial advice you need.
ERIC L. KOHLMEIER Senior Financial Advisor
Managing
Director
- Investments 100 Park Ave Park Ridge, NJ 07656
201-505-0472 phone eric.kohlmeier@wellsfargo.com www.erickohlmeier.com
Features
Is My Child Falling Behind? 26
Developmental milestones to measure kids’ progress were meant to assist families, not scare them. But sometimes a wellmeaning parent can’t help but worry.
Students Get Real 28
In a candid talk, 12 new high school seniors reveal that their feelings are genuine, their thoughts sophisticated—and their “writing” often fake.
Look Smart! 36
Shopping for a student, hitting the campus yourself—or both? School yourself on 5 hot style trends.
Stranger In The Classroom 40
For good or ill, artificial intelligence is now a big factor in your kids’ education. How can we make sure it doesn’t cheat them out of true learning?
Departments
Bergen Buzz 13
Our guide to new ideas, tips, trends and things we love in the county.
Style Watch 20
You’ll be ready for golden-hour in these rich, elegant hues.
Home Front 22
Floral-inspired designs can turn your space into a living bouquet.
Friends & Neighbors 23
For Ridgewood resident Chris Kaplanis and the athletes he trains, the triathlon event—swimming, cycling and running—is a glorious test of persistence.
Escapes 44
If you think anything beats a water park for sheer refreshment in the dog days of August, you’re all wet.
Tastes 46
These easy-to-make apps are perfect for any cookout— they’re easy to make and packed with flavor and nutrients too!
Bar Tab 50
Make this sweet, smooth and citrusy sip your new go-to for summer get-togethers.
Restaurant Review 59
With classic fare and modern twists, Doc Watsons brings the Emerald Isle to Oakland.
Gatherings 63
Bergen residents always show up to support one another.
A Bergen Moment 64
A local runner and photographer has a memorable day in Fort Lee and beyond.
ON THE COVER
Twelve Bergen rising seniors participate in our annual high school student forum.
Photo by Chris Marksbury.
Each Year, A Time To Listen
It’s become an annual tradition here at BERGEN. We gather a group of “rising seniors”—students from around the county who are about to begin their final high-school year—and learn what’s on their minds. Yes, I prompt them with questions about school safety, competition, social media, vaping, the struggle to get into a good college and pay for it. But they always say things that surprise us too. Sorting 10,000 pounds of clothes in Billings, Montana? That wasn’t on our agenda for discussion. But you never know what you’ll hear when you pose what we’ve learned to call an FRQ—a “freeresponse question.”
Turn to page 28 to read what these kids had to say in our High School Forum. You’ll find them full of energy, ambition and hope. But they also have worries, just like their elders. One thing that concerns them (as it does all of us these days) is artificial intelligence, or AI. They’re quick to call it useful for helping a student master a subject. But they know it can also be misused by a cheating classmate or an overwhelmed teacher. And how do you plan your future in a world where AI threatens to make many human careers obsolete? In our Special Report on AI in the classroom (page 40) we present the good news and some cautionary insights too. Just don’t think of this world-changing technology as something “coming” to our schools. It’s not on its way—it’s here.
Fall isn’t here, not yet, but through the muggy haze and the diminishing evening light we can almost glimpse it. So it’s time for us to report five “back-toschool” fashion trends for this autumn (page 36). Fact is, though the “dog days” of August are mostly for lazing and luxuriating, you may find an afternoon toward month’s end for BTS shopping. After all, stores already have displays of backpacks, notebooks and lunchboxes.
Still, if you’re hot and sticky, it’s not too late to escape to a nearby waterpark (page 44). Check out outdoor yoga (page 13), community choirs (page 14) and the popular Dubai chocolate (page 16). Got a little one at home? Read on page 26 about developmental milestones—they ’re supposed to be a tool, not a tyranny. Visit an Irish pub in Oakland on page 59, and meet a triathlon trainer with a heart on page 23. Talk about courage—he not only runs “Ironman” races; he runs a business with his wife too!
When I asked our High School Forum participants about stress, several said they lead stressful lives. But a couple actually had a kind word for stress, conceding that sometimes it gives them the push they need to accomplish things. Wise beyond their years! Any magazine editor, facing a life of constant deadlines, can relate. Still, couldn’t we put that insight on hold for a bit? File it under “S”—for September.
Enjoy this issue!
Rita Guarna Editor in Chief rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com
Improving Mental Health for Bergen County’s Families
Bergen
Editor in Chief RITA GUARNA
Creative Director
STEPHEN M. VITARBO
Senior Associate Editor DARIUS AMOS
Assistant Editor
KIRSTEN MEEHAN
Contributing Editors
LESLIE GARISTO PFAFF PAUL RANCE JR.
Contributing Photographer CHRIS MARKSBURY
PRODUCTION
Production Manager FERN E. MESHULAM
Production Artist CHRIS FERRANTE
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PARTNERS IN YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH
How healthy happens.
We support your child’s healthy development every step of the way. We offer same-day appointments at all locations and 24/7 care to adapt to your family’s needs. That’s how healthy happens.
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MAKE THEIR DAY
We’ve reached the middle of summer, and if you haven’t gone on vacation yet, we hope you have a trip already lined up. But don’t fret if you don’t have plans—there are plenty of day trips where you and your kids can have plenty of fun. For instance:
• American Dream, East Rutherford. There are dozens of places to shop and eat, as well as an indoor waterpark, theme park, aquarium and ski slope! This is a full vacation under one roof.
• Bergen County Zoo, Paramus. Our county’s zoo has plenty to see, including monkeys, prairie dogs and eagles, as well as rides and activities like the popular mini zoo train and carousel.
• Demarest Farms, Hillsdale. After picking your own fruit, stop by the farm market for treats and games for the kids.
For more kid-friendly day trips in and around Bergen County, visit bergenmag.com/kid-friendlyday-trips-to-take-now.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!
to the and try ideas:
September
6:00pm - 9:00pm 313 Hudson Ave. Tenafly, NJ (Rain Date: Sunday September 14th)
Bergen’s can be the saviors of long summer them offer daily activities and crafts children, oftentimes free with a library registration. You can go beyond a casual stroll county’s beautiful public parks. The Conservancy and Tenafly Nature instance, offer free and low-cost throughout the summer. energy. Time to get those wiggles out! playtime at indoor playgrounds Jax in Paramus, Twin Monkey Lyndhurst and The Great Story in South Hackensack. ways to keep kids entertained, visit bergenmag.com/ways-to-keep-kids-entertained-
SUNRISE, SUNSET
Must yoga classes be indoors? There’s no such law, and the sun is a classic yoga inspiration. The sun salutation (alias the Surya Namaskar) is one of the basics of modern yoga practice—a sequence of 12 poses flowing into one another, traditionally done to greet the day at sunrise. And three studios offer outdoor yoga this month:
Through August, the Hackensack Performing Arts Center has “sunset yoga” at Atlantic Street Park in Hackensack. Bring your mat and some water, and get ready to relax and stretch under the beautiful setting sun. Classes are held Mondays at 6 p.m.; all levels welcome.
• Atlantic Street Park, 102 State St., Hackensack, 201.820.3007; hacpac.org
Bergen Buzz
Over in Fort Lee, Pure Bliss Yoga offers periodic outdoor classes during warm-weather months, besides pop-up events. These classes fill up fast, so keep an eye on the studio’s website to reserve your spot.
• Pure Bliss Yoga, 209 Main St., Fort Lee, 201.482.4271; pureblissyoga.com
Abma’s Farm in Wyckoff runs a weekly “Rise and Shine Yoga with Natalie” program on Saturdays at 7 a.m. until the end of August. Come enjoy an hourlong outdoor session for all levels and tailored to help you reconnect, reset and connect with the world around you. Registration is required.
• Abma’s Farm, 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff, 201.891.0278; abmasfarm.com
HUMMINGBIRD, DON’T FLY AWAY
Hummingbirds are one of nature’s miracles. Among the world’s smallest birds, they have heartbeats that exceed 500 beats per minute and their eggs are the size of coffee beans. We’re lucky enough to see them in person—the migrating, ruby-throated hummingbirds, the only hummingbird species to breed in the eastern U.S., arrive in Bergen in mid-spring and can stay as late as early October. And they’re more than just beautiful—hummingbirds are stellar pollinators for native plants, eat small insects and encourage biodiversity, according to the folks at Down to Earth Living Garden Center in Pomona, N.Y.
If you haven’t welcomed these marvels to your yard yet, there’s still time. Here’s how to do it:
• Find the right plants. Hummingbirds need nectar-rich plants to survive. Try filling your garden with such plants as bee balm, columbine, trumpet vine and coral bells—all recommended by the National Audubon Society.
• Offer a water source. Every bird, even one so tiny and delicate, loves a birdbath. Hummingbirds enjoy moving water, so a small, shallow, battery- or solar-powered fountain can be a great attraction.
• Put out a feeder. Hummingbird feeders are readily available at hardware stores, big-box department stores and pet shops, and they’re often beautiful and decorative. You can easily make hummingbird nectar yourself—combine one part white sugar with four parts water. (Despite a common red dye is needed.)
SING OUT!
Tired of restricting your vocal talents to the shower? Rejoice—in Bergen, you needn’t sing alone. Community choirs are a great way meet people and put a little music in your life. Here are a few:
Ars Musica. Based in Paramus with weekly rehearsals at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, this mixed-gender choir, founded in 1965, presents choral music. Auditions are held on a rolling basis, with new singers accepted throughout the season. More info: arsmusica.org
Orpheus Club Men’s Chorus This all-male group, more than 100 years old, performs between eight and a times a year and practices voice types are invited and no experience is necchorus’s repertoire is best “eclectic,” ranging from Beethoven to the Beach Boys Mars. More info: ridgewoodorpheusclub.org
Chorale. This mixed-gender sights high, striving to be
“one of New Jersey’s foremost volunteer choruses” and performing several times a year. Auditions are held on a rolling basis throughout the season, and rehearsals are held weekly. More info: proartechorale.org
• Ridgewood Choral. Founded in 1928, this women’s choir meets once a week in preparation for two concerts in December and one in the spring. Its music selections range from classical to contemporary. The group also works on various service projects throughout the year. More info: ridgewoodchoral.org
• Teaneck Community Chorus. Created as “one community from a variety of racial, cultural and lifestyle backgrounds” coming together to sing, this chorus does not require an audition to join (though you will need to complete an application to make sure the vocal parts of the group are balanced). It meets weekly from September to June and performs multiple times during the year. More info: teaneckcommunitychorus.org
PUPPY LOVE
Dog: Pete, 51/2-yearold mutt Owner: Gina and Brooks Askew, Montvale
The Askews brought Pete home right before the COVID-19 pandemic, having found him through Hackensack-based Pawsitively Furever Dog Rescue. Gina says he was “quite shy and small.”
In the years since, Pete has come out of his shell. “He loves being the center of attention,” says Gina, adding that the pooch never turns down a treat or back scratches. Pete also loves being on “neighborhood watch duty” and keeping an eye out the window for any deer, squirrels, chipmunks, foxes, birds or other dogs. “Pete is basically part human and wants to take part in all the human things we do, whether that’s sitting at the table, going for rides, going to the park or going on vacation,” Gina says. “People often stop us and comment that he has ‘human eyes’ too!”
Want to see your pet in an upcoming issue of BERGEN? Email a photo and a brief description to Editor in Chief Rita Guarna at rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.
CULINARY CORNER
If it’s too hot to cook, try one of these eateries that recently opened in Bergen.
TASTE THE COOL
Fans of The Whiskey Priest need not travel to Belleville to enjoy the trendy gastropub’s elevated pub grub—its second location is now open in Hackensack. The ultra-hip spot features a tempting menu with selections like steak baguette bites and Wisconsin cheese curds to start and seared salmon and lomo saltado for entrées. And don’t forget a sip to wash down your meal. (The margaritas are top-notch.)
• The Whiskey Priest, 159 Main St., Hackensack, 201.678.1882; thewhiskeypriest.getsauce.com
MANGIA!
Most of us can’t fly to Italy for a meal, but a trip to Edgewater for authentic Sicilian cuisine is a tad easier. And the new eatery Rosolini makes the trip worthwhile, bringing the Old World to Bergen with its heartwarming pasta dishes, comforting seafood, steak and chicken selections and desserts to delight every sweet tooth. Everything’s prepared with fresh and local ingredients as well, just as the best chefs in Italy do it.
• Rosolini, 86 The Promenade, Edgewater, 551.275.7012; rosoliniusa.com
TAKE A SHOTA
Before you head to your go-to sushi joint, check out the lengthy list of offerings at Shota Japanese Kitchen. Now open in Hillsdale, the restaurant has all the usual sushi offerings plus more than 30 specialty rolls, a full menu of udon and ramen bowls, grilled items (branzino or chicken skewers, anyone?) and traditional Korean dishes. Never tried A5 Wagyu? Here’s your chance!
• Shota Japanese Kitchen, 321 Broadway, Hillsdale, 201.383.0976; shotajapanesekitchen.com
TO LOVE THUMBODY
Bergen is packed with must-try eats and can’t-miss sights, but some places still run quietly under the radar. Lately, for example, we’ve been loving Thumbody in Paramus. This 2-year-old café-slash-vinylstore is tucked in the back of a Paramus office building and has been treating the IYKYK crowd to great culture, conversation and coffee. Grab a persimmon spice latte or snack on a sweet ube tres leches while you browse music, magazines and merchandise—or just sit back and enjoy your sip!
• Thumbody, 80 Rte. 4, Paramus, 201.267.6554; thumbody.world
KUDOS
• Hooray for math students at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood. This spring, students in fifth through eighth grades grabbed top honors in both the Continental Mathematics League and the American Mathematics Competition (AMC 8), national programs that test critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills in mathematics. In total, 19 students in grades 5 through 8 were honored and received certificates in the Continental Mathematics League competition.
• Felicitations to Kiara Gutierrez, member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garfield, and Faith Marcano of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lower Bergen County. Both were finalists for the 2025 New Jersey Youth of the Year award. Presented by the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey, it acknowledges inspiring leadership, dedication to service, academic excellence and commitment to healthy lifestyles. Gutierrez, an aspiring attorney, and Marcano, who wants to be a forensic scientist—along with 14 other finalists—will receive $50,000 in scholarships for higher education.
• And congratulations to Julia Rowniewski of Wallington, who received a scholarship from the Sharing Network Foundation in New Providence. Rowniewski, who’ll attend Villanova University this fall, became passionate about tissue and organ donation after her sister’s lifesaving kidney transplant. She’s a certified volunteer with NJ Sharing Network and has represented the organization at community festivals, participated in 5K Celebrations of Life with Team Liberty and joined the Transplant Games, where she connected with others affected by donation and transplantation.
THE HOTTEST CHOCOLATE
You can’t scroll TikTok these days without seeing someone devouring Dubai chocolate. The sweet treat, created by a chocolatier in the skyline-rich Middle Eastern city, is essentially a chocolate bar filled with kadayif (a type of shredded phyllo) and pistachio, and its smooth, creamy bite has made it a viral hit. So how can you join this tasty trend? While many retailers have been unable to get their hands on Dubai chocolate (though some grocery chains have had success), these shops have stocked it, or a form of it. Remember to call ahead for availability.
• Chocolate House, 2 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood, 201.781.0020
• Little Chef, 279 Pascack Rd., Township of Washington, 201.685.6133
• Meyers House of Sweets, 637 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, 201.848.8200; meyershosnj.com
• Nuts Factory, 1 Garden State Plaza Blvd., Paramus, 917.445.6556; nutsfactory.com
• Sook Pastry, 24 S. Broad St., Ridgewood, 201.493.2500; sookpastry.com
NEW IN TOWN
Been putting off going back to the gym—or getting started on that bathroom reno? Recently opened Bergen businesses have you covered either way:
GameChanger Fitness opened its first Bergen location in Oradell at the start of summer. Billing itself as “tailored fitness for busy adults over 40,” this personal training facility promises undivided attention. A fitness coach designs a program specifically for you and your goals, taking limits, injuries and comfort into account, giving you one-on-one attention every step of the way no matter where you are on your fitness journey.
• GameChanger Oradell, 387–393 Kinderkamack Rd., Oradell, 973.577.5503; gamechangerfit.com
Stone Source, a dealer in high-quality stone slabs, tile and custom stone, unveiled its new Carlstadt showroom in June. This “slab gallery” welcomes you to explore bold and beautiful stone options for every room in your house. Whether you’re looking for natural stone or brightly colored tiles, here’s your first stop.
• Stone Source, 350 Starke Rd., Suite 200, Carlstadt, 201.549.7400; stonesource.com
THEY GOT THEIR KICKS
While global soccer stars were taking over MetLife Stadium this summer, the sport’s future grabbed the local spotlight. Take, for example, the Tenafly BU10-Santosh team. The squad captured the NCSA Champions Cup, emerging as the best of a 28-team field. The team won the championship with a 3-2 win over Global JC in a game at the Ramapo College Athletic Complex in Mahwah. They played a total of five games in the tournament and won all of their qualifying games too. The team is trained by coach Devendra Patel and supported by parent managers Joy Santosh and Keith Kelly.
Sunset Style
Garçon
Poplin Short Sleeve Pullover venus.com
Cinq à Sept Charolette Crêpe Belted Mini Dress Saks Fifth Avenue, East Rutherford
Ember Small Embellished Pebbled Leather Messenger Bag Michael Kors, Paramus, 201.368.8800
Otto Shorts yllwthelabel.com
Aerosoles Camera Platform Sandal in Coral Suede
Glenville By Everly Quinn wayfair.com
Flower Glass Plug-In Pendant Lamp docos.us
CUSchoice Gold Mirrored Floral Wall Décor
Elanora Velvet Barrel Chair wayfair.com
FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
Tri, Tri Again
For Ridgewood’s Chris Kaplanis and the aspiring athletes he trains, the triathlon event—swimming, cycling and running—is a glorious test of persistence.
As a kid, Chris Kaplanis played football, baseball and basketball, wrestled and even snowboarded. But three events he never tried? Cross-country, swimming and cycling. Ironically, those would become the foundation of his career.
Now 40, the Ridgewood resident, father of two and former corporate finance professional is co-owner of RTA Triathlon, an endurance and triathlon training club he launched with his wife Elizabeth in 2010. (The company was originally named Ridgewood Tri Athlete, but it’s since been shortened to RTA.) Kaplanis recently achieved another milestone: completing another Wyckoff/Franklin Lakes Triathlon.
What inspired you to train for your first triathlon?
My high school wrestling strength coach inspired me to give triathlon a shot when I was a freshman. It was a local sprint triathlon (half-mile swim, 12.5-mile bike and 3.1-mile run). I didn’t even make it halfway through the swim before I was pulled from the water. Game over. I had just become a certified lifeguard and assumed I could do a half-mile swim. I was wrong. But you didn’t give up.
After college, I gave triathlon another try. This time I committed to learning how to swim and prepare properly. The first race I finished was not easy, but it was very gratifying. Shortly after I crossed the finish line, I thought, “I bet I can do that faster.” A few years and several triathlons later, I went back and raced the same event I’d failed in high school—and won my age group.
What is your favorite part of a triathlon?
The finish line. It symbolizes all the dedication, training and sacrifice that went into getting there. I also enjoy the transitions—swim to bike and bike to run. You don’t need to be the fastest athlete to have great transitions.
The most difficult triathlon you competed in?
The Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, was an absolute beast. The
course was brutal—tons of elevation gain, topping out around 4,500 feet. And mentally it was one of the toughest. It’s humbling when you’re used to being out front, and suddenly you’re the one getting passed.
A defining moment in your career?
A few: finishing my first triathlon, finishing my first Ironman, qualifying for my first Ironman 70.3 World Championship and earning USA Triathlon All-American status. But some of my proudest moments come when I push through a tough patch in a race—times when quitting feels easier but I choose to keep going.
What were you doing before you launched the training business?
I worked in corporate finance for GE Capital. I learned a lot and loved the people I worked with. But sitting at a desk all day wasn’t for me. What inspired you to start RTA Triathlon?
I’ve had an entrepreneurial spirit since I was a kid—selling golf balls, making duct-tape wallets,
shoveling driveways. I knew I’d start a business as an adult, I just didn’t know what kind— until I got into triathlon.
Tell us about running a business with your wife.
We share goals and understand the highs and lows of running a company, which allows us to celebrate the wins together. That said, setting boundaries is tough. We spend a lot of time together, so we’ve had to learn to protect our personal time.
Any playful competition between you two?
I’ve completed five full-distance Ironman races (swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, run 26.2 miles). My wife, who is truly next-level, has done the full distance 10 times, including the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, twice. So she’s officially twice as crazy as I am.
How do you keep clients motivated through setbacks?
Once you know what makes someone tick, it becomes a lot easier to keep them engaged, motivated and moving forward—even when things get hard.
The most rewarding part of what you do?
Watching athletes cross the finish line, knowing what it took for them to get there.
Any clients with memorable success stories?
One, Gary, served in the Army and lived for 35 years with a serious leg injury he got while stationed in Germany. At age 45, he made the life-changing decision to have his leg amputated. His goal? Complete a triathlon. And he did it.
Favorite local training route, trail and/or spot to swim?
For running, I love the Saddle River County Duck Pond path. For biking, Harriman State Park is my go-to. It’s just a short drive away and offers beautiful, safe, well-paved roads. And in summer, you’ll usually find me swimming at the outdoor 50-meter pool in Glen Rock.
Words of wisdom for someone considering their first triathlon?
Stop saying “one day” and make today Day One. Don’t forget to enjoy the ride—it’s about the journey, not just the finish line. Be the superhero your kids think you are.
—Darius Amos
Photo courtesy of Chris Kaplanis
HEALTH NEWS
SPORTS MAY SAFEGUARD KIDS’ MENTAL HEALTH
Physical activity in early childhood, especially taking part in organized sports, may ward off several mental health disorders in later childhood and adolescence, suggests research. Mental illness among children and teens has risen worldwide, with stress thought to be a trigger. Physical activity has been suggested for helping build resilience to stress and lowering the risks of such illness.
—British Journal of Sports Medicine
ENERGY DRINK INGREDIENT LINKED TO BLOOD CANCER
Taurine — an amino acid that occurs naturally in proteins like meat and fish — and is a common ingredient in energy drinks, has been linked to the progression of leukemia, a blood cancer. —Nature
TEST FOR SOME CANCERS COULD LOWER PROGRESSION
A single blood test, designed to pick up chemical signals indicative of the presence of many different types of cancer, could potentially thwart progression to advanced disease while the malignancy is still at an early stage and treatable. Administering the MultiCancer Early Detection test, or MCED, either yearly or biennially, could improve outcomes for patients by intercepting disease progression, suggest the researchers.
OVERWORKING AND YOUR BRAIN
Working long hours may alter the structure of the brain, particularly the areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function, such as working memory and problemsolving, suggests a recent study. Researchers posit that overwork may induce neuroadaptive changes that affect cognitive and emotional health.
—Occupational & Environmental Medicine
CAN COLD SORES LEAD TO ALZHEIMER’S?
The virus responsible for cold sores around the mouth—herpes simplex 1, or HSV-1 for short—may have a key role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large industry-funded U.S. study. However, treatment with antiviral therapy seems to be linked to a lower risk of this type of dementia, suggesting that treatment may be protective.
—BMJ Open
WHICH NON-SMOKERS DEVELOP COPD?
Women are about 50 percent more likely than men to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the umbrella term for chronic lung conditions, such as emphysema and bronchitis, even if they have never smoked or smoked much less than their male counterparts, suggests a recent study. And women with COPD tend to have more severe symptoms and at a younger age than men.
—BMJ Open Respiratory Research
NOT-SOSWEET TRUTH ABOUT SUGAR
Researchers have found that added sugars, not the sugars that occur naturally in fruits, grains and dairy, accelerate aging up to seven times its natural rate.
—University of California, San Francisco
—Compiled by Paul Rance Jr.
—BMJ Open
‘Is
My Child Falling Behind? ’
DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES TO MEASURE KIDS’ PROGRESS WERE MEANT TO ASSIST FAMILIES, NOT SCARE THEM. BUT SOMETIMES A WELL-MEANING PARENT CAN’T HELP BUT WORRY.
Aren’t we really glad, when we think about it, that children aren’t precision instruments? They don’t all grow up on exactly the same schedule. When child-development experts came up with developmental “milestones” to indicate approximately what levels of growth and skill acquisition a child “should” have reached by certain ages, it was meant to help parents—in case a deviation might reveal a problem that should be addressed. It wasn’t meant to be a tyranny.
Theoretically, standardized developmental milestones exist to make parenting less scary. They provide a road map, standardized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of skills children should have acquired and tasks they should be able to perform at certain ages. The milestones measure whether a child is experiencing typical growth in specific categories: gross motor skills (using large muscles for fundamental movements such as walking, running and jumping), fine motor skills (making precise movements with the hands and wrists), social skills and communication skills. (The CDC revised its standard milestones
Monika Reisenauer, APRN Valley Health System
back in 2022; now, instead of placing a milestone at the age when 50 percent of children can complete a skill, it is placed when 75 percent of children can.)
“In the first two to three years of life, our babies go through a lot of changes very quickly,” says Monika Reisenauer, an advanced-practice registered nurse and the lead advanced-practice provider for both inpatient and outpatient pediatrics at Paramus’s Valley Health System. “We use milestones to ensure that infants are progressing and developing in the way that we expect. If this isn’t happening, these milestones are a wonderful tool to help clinicians decide when to act and when to escalate to a specialist.”
Milestones can trigger anxiety in parents, says Reisenauer, particularly when a child isn’t hitting one at the exact time he or she should. “It causes a lot of stress,” she says. “But not every delay is catastrophic. Kids can be delayed because of something fixable. Early intervention is always key, because everything affects everything else at a given age. For instance, crawling impacts speech and speech impacts feeding. Sometimes it’s something as simple as a baby not crawling because he or she has low muscle tone in the legs or tummy. If you go to physical therapy for six weeks to address that, you can prevent a late walker.”
Reisenauer spoke with BERGEN about a few common missed milestones:
WALKING DELAYS
The CDC’s new guidelines place this milestone at about a year to 15 months old, and Reisenauer agrees. “I like kids standing independently for about five seconds around 11 months, and taking their first steps around 14 months,” she says. She warns that certain toys, such as exercise saucers, can contribute to late walking because they hold babies in a suspended standing position. “They misalign the hips, and they keep the Achilles tendon really tight,” Reisenauer says. “They are the worst things developmentally.” A way to promote walking? “Get your kid on the floor and practice multiple different sitting positions. If he or she is playing in a seated position, bring the toy to the left or right so the child is forced to turn in order to play with it. We call that ‘taking them off the midline.’ It engages the hip flexors and develops muscles for walking.”
SPEAKING DELAYS
Children should say their first word by about a year old and have a few words in their vocabulary
by 15 months, says the CDC. If they don’t, there are many possible explanations, says Reisenauer. For instance, a child in a multilingual household will likely speak later; that’s normal and expected. Reisenauer also says this is a tough one for parents to navigate on their own, because a delay could come from either a motor-control issue—literally being unable to move the mouth in a way that allows speech—or an information issue—not understanding how to communicate.
“For instance, it could happen because a child transferred to solids late,” she says. “You develop the muscle control needed for speech by chewing. Some babies communicate very well; they point and make eye contact and gesture, but they don’t speak. That could be a motor-skill or articulation issue. Sometimes vocal communication and gesturing communication are similar milestones. Your doctor can help you figure out specifically what’s going on.”
Happily, keeping your child on track with speaking can often be as easy as talking to them. “I call it ‘newscasting,’” says Reisenauer. “Tell your child what you’re doing throughout the day, conversationally, as if you expect the child to talk back. Also, read to him or her every night. That’s how the child’s brain learns to communicate.”
FINE-MOTOR DELAYS
One of the most important fine-motor milestones of early childhood is the ability to grip and move objects between the fingers, as in holding and scribbling with a crayon or building with blocks. Our expert wants to see this develop between 15 and 18 months. (CDC guidelines put scribbling at 18 months.) There are two possible reasons for delays here, according to Reisenauer: “Part of it is motor skills, and part of it is sensory, or how well a child can tolerate things that are uncomfortable on his or her hands.” Because of that, she says, “letting a baby get messy may improve the baby’s fine motor skills.” Getting a child’s hands in in sand, dirt, Play-Doh or paint is not only fun; it also helps develop these skills. Snapping crayons to make them shorter and encourage a “handwriting grip” instead of holding them in a fist is also recommended. If a child needs more support, Reisenauer sings the praises of occupational therapy (OT), which specifically focuses on small muscles and sensory problems and can correct issues in this area before they get worse.
EMOTIONAL DELAYS
It can be hard to gauge emotional or behavioral
delays in kids. The CDC says that children should start expressing emotions clearly at 15 months and notice emotions in others by 24 months. These are prime ages for temper tantrums and outbursts, all of which cause anxiety in parents, says our expert. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), common symptoms of which include difficulties with social communication and regulating emotion, is often diagnosed between 18 and 24 months.
But, says Reisenauer, “a lot of common behavioral concerns that happen between 15 and 24 months can look like autism, but aren’t. Throwing toys is normal up to 18 months. Head banging and biting are common if a child isn’t having his or her needs met and can’t communicate that. If you teach your child to communicate those needs, either verbally or with sign language if there’s a speech delay, that can help. Also remember that, between 15 and 20 months, negative attention and positive attention are the same thing. Don’t make a big fuss over bad behavior. If you just take away a toy or don’t make eye contact instead, you don’t reinforce it.”
WHEN TO WORRY
Of course, sometimes developmental delays are signs of a more systematic issue. Reisenauer explains: “Typically, if there is one area of delay and it’s less than 30 percent, a child probably doesn’t need therapy [physical, occupational or speech]. If there’s a 30 percent delay in one area or delays in more than one area, a child should definitely go to therapy. If a child is at a 50 percent delay or more, or has delays in two or more areas, not only should the child go to therapy, I am going to send him or her to more diagnosticians—in neurology or orthopedics, for example. If a child is that delayed, there’s a problem with how the body is sending or receiving information.”
Once again, early detection is key. The sooner these problems are diagnosed, the sooner the child will receive the care he or she needs. Concludes Reisenauer: “Most of the time, there’s no reason for parents to be nervous about developmental delays—they are problems we’re going to solve together. If there is a cause for concern, your doctor will tell you, and then you take the next steps. There are wonderful resources in the community and wonderful therapies that can help. You don’t have to do any of it alone.”
STUDENTS GET REAL
In a candid talk, 12 new high school seniors reveal that their feelings are genuine, their thoughts sophisticated—and their “writing” often fake. BY RITA GUARNA
If a genie appears and offers to restore your youth and whisk you to high school, think twice. As BERGEN’s annual forum of rising 12th graders shows, life is complex for students today. There’s not only homework pressure, lockdown drills, social media, stress, vaping and the college admission process, but also the suddenly ubiquitous artificial intelligence (AI), which promises to write your papers for you instantly without charge and possibly even without egregious error. Time is scarce—what if you don’t use this tool but that classmate you’re competing with does? (See page 40 for a Special Report on AI in Bergen schools.) The admiration our panel members express for parents and
OUR FORUM MEMBERS:
MODERATOR:
Rita Guarna, Editor In Chief, BERGEN Magazine
siblings is notable, as is their unabashed “thumbs up” for social media. They’re no typical sample; they tend to be the standout scholars, athletes and leaders of their schools. (What other teens would sit still to be questioned by a magazine?) But their candor can help us understand a population that often seems inscrutable. After all, these—cliché alert!—are the adults of tomorrow, and either they or the computers they program will be running the country soon.
Our text has been edited for length and clarity, of course. Last year we made a big deal out of kids’ use of the word “like” as a conversational tic 434 times in the unedited transcript. But in 2025 we have, like, larger concerns, so we won’t, like, bother about that.
Jillian
From left: Caitlyn Avgerinos, Waldwick High School, Jack Saint-Germain, Paramus Catholic High School, Nathan Silverstein, River Dell High School, Cole Boruta, Mahwah High School, Massimo D. Randazzo, Ramsey High School, Aidan Kang, Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Ramsey, Brooke Maddalena, Hasbrouck Heights High School, Evan Fonseca, Becton Regional High School, East Rutherford, Elliott Daniels, Immaculate Heart Academy, Township of Washington, Dylan Lozano, Bergen Catholic High School, Oradell,
Smith, North Arlington High School, Maia Boyd, Leonia High School
Rita: Let’s start with cell phones. Some schools have considered a policy where they’re put aside so they’re not a distraction during the day.
Massimo: At Ramsey we have Yondr pouches. In the morning we lock our phone up, and then we’re allowed to unlock it if we leave the school. So when our teacher’s not here, if we have a period off, we can unlock it then. Then at lunch, we’re allowed to unlock it. But you’re only allowed to unlock it in the cafeteria and in the gym. In the library you can’t have your phone. Then, at the end of the day, everybody has to unlock it. So basically for three hours, then lunch, then three hours, you’re not supposed to be on it at all.
Rita: This is new this year?
Massimo: Yeah, they implemented it right when we got back from winter break, so in January.
Rita: Has it been hard to get used to that?
Massimo: No. It’s just our phone policy has changed so much. Every year of high school I’ve been in, it’s changed dramatically. Not all the teachers love it because there are a lot of things you definitely need your phone for in class.
bathroom is a really gross place. I mean, sinks, soap dispensers, toilets have been broken off the walls completely. People draw in stalls, people throw wet things of toilet paper.
Rita: Let’s talk about using AI as a tool to help you study or to check your schoolwork. What’s been your experience? And what’s the line between doing that and actually cheating?
Nathan: I do use it for school, but in the sense that, if I have a writing assignment, I’m not using it to write the essay or whatever for me. I’m using it to create an outline to help get the ball rolling and spark some ideas, and then I’ll use it to, like, help me write it.
Dylan: I use AI mostly to help make practice problems. Let’s say I have a pre-calculus test coming up. I’ll ask ChatGPT, “Oh, make me X amount of practice problems for this particular topic.” You know, give me that, I’ll say, with answers. I find that a good way to practice. But obviously, there’s a line
nonstop. My teacher, he couldn’t grade it on time, so sometimes he would use AI to check our papers, and it would give us feedback. I mean, it’s better than getting no feedback at all.
Dylan: I just wanted to add to what Elliott was saying about using AI as almost like a teacher. I was taking AP Chemistry. And I don’t want to say I was cramming—but, you know. So a lot of times I would ask, “Oh, explain Unit 1 for me and focus on this particular topic,” whatever it might be. It would help me understand it more than—I don’t want to say how any teacher could, but, like, it would definitely help.
Rita: I know you get a disclaimer with AI that there might be mistakes. Have any of you had an experience where it’s wrong? Everybody’s shaking their heads.
“I’ve used AI to teach a subject to me if I don’t understand it. Like, in pre-calc, we had a quiz that I missed the class for, and so I had it explain the whole lesson to me.”
— Cole Boruta, Mahwah High School
Rita: What do the rest of you think? Your schools haven’t implemented this yet, but are you feeling, “I can’t not have my phone with me”?
Caitlyn: I actually don’t have a personal phone. I have a work phone, which I take with me when my parents are worried that I might get kidnapped when I go out during the day. That’s why I have one today, so I can get a ride home. I actually kind of apprecia te a phone-use policy that’s a little bit stricter. We have pouches on the wall that are all numbered, and the students who remember, or the teachers who really don’t want their students on their phones, say, “Hey, at the beginning of class, put your phone with your number.” It’s a concerted effort, but not enough people do it for it to make a difference.
Evan: My school began writing teachers up if the number of pouches doesn’t match the number of students. I think that’s kind of a rough approach. I feel like we could find different alternatives. We also have this policy where you have to use your phone to go, like, to the bathroom or the office. If we were to do what Ramsey did, and put our phones in the pouches, I’m not sure how that would work. We kind of need our phones.
Rita: You have to do something on your phone to go to the restroom? You’re all shaking your heads.
Maia: I have it at my school. They started it last year, I believe, because we had issues with some kids destroying the bathrooms. Like, during lunch, the
between cheating, where, like, you’re asking, “Oh, write an essay,” and then you’re copying and pasting it. I feel that’s a line you shouldn’t cross.
Brooke: I used ChatGPT for studying for my AP Language exam. I would ask it for prompts, and I would write the essay, and it would get graded back to me, and it really helped me to prepare for the exam, because I was really nervous about it. It really helped me more than writing the essays in class did.
Cole: I’ve used AI to teach a subject to me if I don’t understand it. Like, in pre-calc, we had a quiz that I missed the class for, and so I had it explain the whole lesson to me, and it gave me prompts, and it kind of dumbed it down for me. I got 100 on the test, so it worked out.
Rita: So it taught you a lesson?
Cole: I used it as a teacher, basically. I’ll be like: “This is my essay. Can you, like, clean it up for me a little bit, and give me tips and stuff? Is there a better word or phrase to use here and there?”
Elliott: I do kind of the same thing, but I do it more in history. I’ll say, “Explain the Civil War.” It will use language I’ll understand. Rather than just giving me facts, it’ll explain it to me like a story. I do it sometimes for physics too. It will help me explain the why behind what’s happening instead of just memorizing the equations. So I feel like I learn almost on a deeper level.
Evan: I want to bring up a point Brooke made. I also took AP Lang, and we had to write essays
Caitlyn: One of the biggest issues is you have to be specific. You can’t just put in generic prompts. I use ChatGPT for physics because it’s a subject I struggle with. So whenever I’m doing a practice problem, I’ll put in a question and ask it to do a step-bystep walk-through to check my work, see where I went wrong. And sometimes if I’m not super exact about units or what equations I’m using, I get the complete wrong answer because it’s making assumptions.
Rita: What about cheating? Is there an issue with cheating using AI in your schools?
Jillian: In my biology class, my teacher doesn’t lock the Chromebook, so we have the tabs open. Or people will just keep their phones out and I will see them trying to scan it and then hiding their phones. I just think it’s unfair because I don’t use it at all. I’m scared of getting caught, and I don’t want to get in trouble.
Maia: In my AP government class, they were practicing an FRQ—a free response question—for the AP exam. And they all use ChatGPT. The teacher has the scanner he puts the responses through. All of them were coming up saying, “This has ChatGPT in it”—or whatever they use. So he made them all write a three-page essay to apologize and make sure they’ll never use it again. And it actually worked. But I think there needs to be guidelines. He made sure to establish, like, ethical guidelines on how to use it. And I think it really helped.
GOBBLING UP JOBS
Rita: What are your feelings about the future job market?
Evan: I feel like AI is taking a lot of job
opportunities. I mean, it helps out, teaching us as students. But also, if you think about it, using AI to teach us is also taking away from what teachers are doing. And that’s just one of the aspects. Like, when I was younger, I was really interested in interior design. I was thinking about actually majoring in it in college. But then AI came out and I noticed that AI could kind of just do it for you. So then I had to switch my major to something where AI won’t affect it.
Rita: Are we thinking about going into trades instead of getting liberal arts degrees? I mean, interior design, there’s still definitely a human connection to that, right?
Evan: I love interior design. I’m still thinking about minoring in it. But I’m scared if I major in it, the job market’s going to shrink so much, because why pay someone to do a job when you could go into AI and they could do it for you? I read an article where even nurses are being impacted because they’re starting to use AI to take care of patients.
Jack: I think AI is a great thing. It’s revolutionary. It makes things better and faster and greater. But if we’re supposed to be the future generation of America and a robot can just replace the things that we’re meant to do and do it better and quicker, then why are we even—I guess—supporting it? We are improving AI. So if we continue to improve AI, eventually it’s going to come around and take away everything we’ve been working for.
making these decisions in a courtroom, you know, might not always be right.
Evan: If there’s maybe government regulations on AI, that could protect the job market. A lot of people are already in college and already want to pursue careers. At the end of the day, people paying their professionals end up spending money on AI, which takes money away from the people and sends it to the corporations.
Rita: Do you feel accepted by your peers? Are there people, perhaps, who feel marginalized in your school community?
Elliott: I go to Immaculate Heart Academy, and a big thing you always hear every time you go to an admissions event is about the sisterhood.
Rita: As opposed to “mean girls”?
Elliott: Yeah, and it sounds a little silly when you say it out loud. Honestly, before even my first day there, I had been like, “This has got to be just some big thing they tell girls.” But after going there for three years and making the friends I have—even, like, the teachers—I can truly say that the sisterhood is a real thing. And I really do feel accepted there. I
talk to them, you try to be yourself. I feel that’s very important to find your group—just being yourself.
Rita: Is there crossover among the groups?
Nathan: Definitely the sports all have their own friend groups. But even within those sports, there are people that play multiple sports throughout the year. The person that plays football is also on the baseball team. So then that brings them together a little more. Or I’m friends with some people on the tennis team, and for baseball our season’s over, but they’re still going to the States. So we all came out and supported them, and we’re cheering them on.
Brooke: It’s kind of scary sometimes, talking to people who aren’t really in your group. Because I’m not in sports; I do theater and band. I get nervous when I’m talking to people that I don’t really see every day. It’s similar in the way that theater and band is like a family. With sports, there’s a bond you have with your team. But I feel like it’s difficult, sometimes, to branch out of your group.
WHERE YOU FIND THE NERDS
Rita: So are we saying that it’s really up to the individual, and there is acceptance if you’re willing to be a little vulnerable?
“It’s kind of scary sometimes, talking to people who aren’t really in your group. Because I’m not in sports; I do theater and band. I get nervous when I’m talking to people that I don’t really see every day.”
— Brooke Maddalena, Hasbrouck Heights High School
have never been in such a supportive community as I have been at IHA.
Aidan: I’m not too sure what I want to do. I know I want to go into pre-med in college and maybe be a doctor. I don’t think AI is nearly advanced to completely take over that profession. I think AI is super-helpful in terms of assisting doctors with all the technology in the medical field. It’s a really good tool that will help all future doctors.
Dylan: I’m in the same boat as Aidan—I also want to go into college for pre-med. I also feel it’s extremely important to use AI as a tool. Maybe instead of AI doing the entire interior design, we could use AI to create an outline. Use it as a tool instead of it being the entire thing.
Elliott: I want to become an athletic trainer. I feel that is something that would be very difficult to replace with AI because it requires a level of connection with the team you’re working with.
Maia: I want to go into law when I go to college. Law is something that you are essentially determining the future life of a company or a person—or, honestly, anything. I feel like that would be a very difficult place for AI to be successful. AI
Massimo: In Ramsey, I’ve been going to school with the same kids since kindergarten. And I’ve basically been friendly with nearly every other kid in my school at some point in the 10 years. At this point everybody’s kind of fallen into their own little niche.
Aidan: I go to Bosco, and we have, like, the same thing as IHA—you know, the brotherhood. At the beginning of freshman year, you have all these kids from different towns, all over New Jersey and New York, and everyone has different interests. They play different sports. But after that first couple months, it’s like the Bosco brotherhood is a real thing. I definitely feel super accepted.
Rita: Are there cliques?
Dylan: I was born and raised in Queens, and I came to New Jersey right before freshman year, when I joined Bergen Catholic’s freshman football. I kind of felt like everyone else already knew each other. While I definitely felt accepted, it wasn’t really, like, my group of people. So as freshman year got on, I’ll be honest, I was extremely, extremely shy. Like I was closed off—I wouldn’t talk to anyone. So that was, like, my personality. But obviously, I wanted to grow out of that. Starting sophomore year, it was mostly just people in my class [that I spoke with]. You just
Caitlyn: That’s a very fair point. I’m an art kid, and the most interplay I have with other groups or cliques in the school is in the higher-level academic classes. Because that’s when you get the smart nerds, you get the smart art kids. We’re in an environment where we’re in a hard class together and have to support one another. So you really get that kind of crossover, where you’re different people with different interests, you come from different walks of life, but you’re friendly in an environment where you’re all working toward a common goal.
Rita: That makes me think about competition. Of course, you’re working toward a common goal, but there’s only one valedictorian. Are there situations where you want to get ahead of somebody else? You’re probably here because you’re high achievers. How does that play into the way you interact with your peers?
Cole: Definitely in the higher classes, it’s supercompetitive. I’m definitely like, “What did you get on the test?” “Oh, I got this, you got that.” It’s more like friendly banter. If I got a worse grade than my friend, I wouldn’t feel bad about it at all.
Jack: I was put into the Aquinas Program. It’s like, I’m given a scholarship and I’m in all honors classes. It’s really hard because they expect a lot from you.
Jillian: I agree with Jack. I’m in AP Lang; we do a bunch of practice tests and stuff online. And I’m
not a good test taker, so I don’t really do that good on them. Everybody will be like, “Oh, yeah, I got like a 38 out of 45.” And I’m like, “Oh, me too.” It’s more of a friendly competition. We’re not antagonizing each other.
Elliott: We talked about people finding their niche in high school—I think that also plays into it. There obviously is that level of competition. But now as juniors, having gone to school with each other for three years, you kind of already know where people do better. You understand and are able to appreciate another girl’s strong suit rather than thinking, “Oh, I need to be better than her.”
Rita: That’s nice to hear. So is there bullying at your schools?
[All students shake their heads “no.”]
Rita: Great. Do you all feel safe at school?
Cole: I definitely feel safe. My school has a school officer who’s always there. He’s always, like, armed in some way. Then we always have officers stop in every now and then. We don’t have a metal detector or anything. But we have double doors. And you have to go through this whole system to get in if you’re a visitor. And they’re always checking if you’re a student coming in. They always know where you are.
Rita: So we can’t just show up and say, “I want to see Cole”?
Cole: No, no. They’re like, “Why are you here? How are you related to him?” Blah, blah, blah.
Jillian: At my school we also have an officer.
I’m pretty sure he’s armed. We also have a security guard. And for students, we have uniforms. We have to scan in and out to leave and enter the building. Visitors have to ring the bell and go through the office to get in. And then, the police station is right behind our high school. So, God forbid something did happen, we know they’re right there.
Evan: We have a little police station inside our school. We’re also near American Dream, as you know. So, like, some incidents happen over there. But in my school and, like, my school grounds, it feels completely safe.
Elliott: I also feel really safe at my school. We have an amazing director of security. He used to be a police officer—I think he was also a Marine at some
From top, left to right: Jillian Smith, Cole Boruta, Maia Boyd. Caitlyn Avgerinos, Nathan Silverstein, Brooke Maddalena
point. He’s very skilled, and he has done a great job. He just came in this year. We all have ID lanyards— students and faculty.
Massimo: We have all the same safety measures as you guys. But, like, the difference for Ramsey is we have the Yondr pouches now. When they introduced us, a big part of it was a lot of parents complaining. Ramsey has had a “swatting” incident, like, three years ago now. It’s like when somebody reports to the school that there’s an armed shooter or whatever—and there’s really not. So they barge in with the SWAT trucks, and the whole school gets locked in. Kids were texting their friends and texting their parents. We don’t have the luxury of doing that anymore. It doesn’t make me feel scared at school. But it’s always in the back of my head, like, if something were to happen, what would I do? Because I know the first thing I’d want to do is text my parents, like, “I’m OK.” But without our phones, you can’t really do that anymore.
Maia: We do have officers at my school, and you have to scan in and scan out. I don’t know if any of you guys heard about it, but a month or so ago there was a stabbing at Fort Lee High School and the kid ended up in critical condition. That’s like a five-, 10-minute drive from my school. The person who did it wasn’t apprehended until a few hours later. So, a really terrifying experience.
Dylan: I’ve had a few lockdowns. I think one was because someone robbed a 7-Eleven near us. But we don’t have any armed officers in my school. We just, when the door’s closed, it’s closed.
DREAM SCHOOLS AND SAFETY SCHOOLS
Jack: At PC, we take security really seriously. It’s one of our pillars, what the school’s based upon. We have guards everywhere. And our school IDs—they don’t even let us inside the building if we’re not wearing them. If, during the school day, they catch you without it on, they write you up.
Brooke: We have retired cops around the school. I think they’re armed, and we do drills every month for fire and lockdown. Toward the beginning of the year we do an evacuation drill. The only time that we were all unprepared for a lockdown was—I don’t think they told the teachers, and they pulled it during passing period. So I got, like, yanked into a classroom by a teacher because no one heard that there was a lockdown because the hallways are loud. I was in a stairway. So we were all very confused.
Nathan: I definitely have people in my family saying “It’s OK, you have time after college to pay it back. Go where you want to go.” But, like you said, do I really want to spend the extra three decades trying to pay it back? Also, for Ivies specifically, with all the protests that have been going on, as someone in the Jewish community, I’m not sure it’s in my best interest to go there anymore. I’m hoping to be a recruited athlete too. So that changes it a little.
Jillian: The way I’m going to approach picking what college, I guess, is whoever’s going to give me the best offer, scholarship-wise. Because, I’ve been looking at a lot of schools in New Jersey, like Ramapo, TCNJ, Rowan. So when I apply to those schools, if I get into their programs, I’m going to see, like, which schools will give me the most money. I don’t have a dream school.
Dylan: I’m kind of in the same boat. Honestly, my plan, once I get all my college decisions, is to line them all up and say, “OK, which one’s going to be the most worth it?” Everyone wants to go to an Ivy League because of the prestige. But obviously, there’s a limit to how much an Ivy League diploma is worth.
“I’d like to go to an Ivy League school, but that’s expensive. And I want to make this college process the least financially stressful for my parents and myself.”
— Jack Saint-Germain, Paramus Catholic High School
Caitlyn: What Massimo mentioned about the school being swatted, that happened to me too. I was stuck in a teacher’s classroom for, like, an hour and a half. So when I went upstairs, there were armed officers, police officers everywhere. It was crazy. But our school handled it very well. There were even news choppers overhead.
Nathan: River Dell had a swatting. So cops came in. It was about an hour and a half. But in that time, we all had our phones. I have a brother in school, so I’m texting him, making sure he’s OK. My mom was bringing me lunch that day, so I had to call my mom: “Don’t come.” Being able to contact my parents to say I’m OK was really helpful.
Rita: When this happens, though, what do you do? If it’s lunchtime, and there’s no food, no water, you can’t go to the bathroom.
Jillian: You sit in the corner in the dark.
Massimo: At our school, after that, we have, like, these big buckets in all of our classrooms now. Like, if somebody needs to use the bathroom.
Aidan: Fortunately, I haven’t experienced anything that severe during my three years of high school. In general, I feel pretty safe at Bosco. We have armed guards as well.
It was just a drill, but they wanted to prepare us for something that’s not going to be expected. It could be during passing period. It could be during lunch.
Rita: Are there cameras?
All, agreed: [Yes, in the common areas such as hallways and libraries. Not in every classroom and not in restrooms.]
Rita: Colleges are super expensive. Does the cost of college impact where you’re planning to apply?
Jack: Cost is definitely important. I’d like to go to an Ivy League school, but that’s expensive. And I want to make this college process the least financially stressful for my parents and myself. You know, like, I don’t want to graduate from college and have to pay student loan debt for the next 30 years.
Rita: So what’s your plan?
Jack: I have this scholarship that PC gave me. I’m working as hard as I possibly can.
Rita: Besides the cost, what about getting in?
Cole: I have a dream school, of course, and I have safeties and level schools. But, like, if I don’t get my dream school, wherever I end up going, I’m going to make the most out of it. And finances definitely influence my thinking. I want [to study] computers, and the best schools for that are in California. My parents saved a lot for my college fund, but it would not cover a school in California.
Rita: Can we have a show of hands— how many of you are hoping to go to an Ivy League school?
[Five students raise their hands.]
Rita: Interesting. Are you guys confident you’re getting in?
Aidan: I’m in a similar boat as Nate, and I also want to play college lacrosse. I have a couple schools lined up with that, and I’m going to see where that takes me. I spent a bunch of my high school time just focusing on playing club lacrosse. So I definitely did not spend as much time on extracurriculars for college. My grades are good, my SATs are good, so I’ll still apply to Ivies and some of those really good schools. If I get in, that’s great. And if I don’t, then that’s fine with me as well.
Rita: So how stressed are you? And how do you manage stress?
Cole: I’m pretty stressed normally. For assignments, I kind of pick and choose my battles. Like if I have a teacher assign me work I don’t have time to do with sports and practice and other activities, then I’ll just do the homework from the strictest teacher, then write an email to the more lenient one, saying, “Hey, can I get extension on this?” and I’ll hope to get it done during my study halls or something.
Rita: So is that because you play a sport?
Cole: Yeah, like wrestling and lacrosse—especially
now we really upped our practice. I probably dedicate around 20 to 30 hours for lacrosse and wrestling.
Rita: I don’t know how you guys do it.
Maia: Yeah, I’m very stressed too. I would say in the past few months it has been ramped up to another level because finals are coming next week. I’ve had all my AP exams last month, you know. I’ve had a lot of different things going on, and most of them are for college. It does get very stressful, and I do have these moments where I just shut down because I’m so overwhelmed. But sometimes having that stress actually allows me to perform better. Because it’s like, “OK, I know some of this is my fault,” especially with procrastination.
Jack: Yeah, stress is definitely a factor, especially
during April and May, when AP season was rolling around. I was losing my mind trying to cram for all these different tests.
Dylan: I definitely feel like stress is a 10 out of 10 almost, like, at all times. Like, for example, during April and May I had four AP exams, SATs, activities, personal responsibilities, jobs—it’s like all that coming together. It’s definitely a lot to handle, but I like to think of it almost as if I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to—OK, like, I know everything I’m doing is for a reason: My jobs are for me to get money. AP exams for potential college credit. SAT score and grades—it’s all for a reason, so that’s kind of my motivating factor.
Aidan: Junior year was definitely the most stressful
for me. In the fall I had club lacrosse and off-season stuff for Bosco five days a week, then also studying for the SAT. I did a bunch of that late summer and fall, so that was super-stressful and then even now, like, the past couple months studying for the AP test, also the lacrosse season starting up, so my stress is kind of at an all-time high. I don’t think stress is a bad thing at all. You need to have some stress to just make sure you get all your stuff done.
IS IT ALL WORTH IT?
Rita: So you don’t feel like it’s pushing you over the edge?
Caitlyn: I’m going to bring the hippy-dippy life into this. So again, heavy course load, AP, honors classes, testing. I’ve always taken art classes all
From top, left to right: Caitlyn Avgerinos, Massimo Randazzo, Elliott Daniels, Evan Fonseca, Jillian Smith. Jack Saint-Germain, Aidan Kang, Nathan Silverstein, Dylan Lozano.
through high school, and it’s all outside of school. And this year I started taking pottery classes. So Thursday night, the day before the AP history exam, I had a ton of personal stuff going on. All of my studying was, like, last-minute. I had 27 pages of notes. I looked at my mom. She goes, “Give yourself some grace. Give yourself credit. You took this class. You did it well. You’re going to rock it tomorrow. Just go to your pottery class and make something fun. Forget about it for two hours.”
Massimo: I take a different approach, where I feel like if I’m not doing anything, that’s when I get most stressed out because I know there’s stuff I should be doing. So I feel like I perform the best when I have eight things to do tomorrow. And there’s no time for it. That’s the only time when I feel like I can focus and be the best version of myself.
Rita: How do you juggle academics, athletics, extracurriculars, socializing? I mean, you do have some kind of a social life, right?
Massimo: I fully believe in, like, “Work hard, play hard.” So it’s always do as much as you can, Monday through Friday. I don’t touch schoolwork on Saturday. That’s just when I have all of my fun time. But then the rest of the week, it’s a lot of pushing things back so it builds up a little bit. Because it puts pressure on me to actually do things faster, or better.
athletics, I think the biggest thing is just having a plan and predetermining when you’re going to do all your work. Like, if I have a free period during school, getting some of that homework done.
Elliott: My biggest thing has always been “Just grit your teeth and bear it.” Like, you just have to do it. By half doing it or putting it off, it’s only going to get worse. Then you’re not going to have as much time to put yourself fully into your sports or your job. So I’ve always just told myself, “There’s probably going to be a late night. You’re going to be tired. But it’s all going to be worth it in the end.”
Evan: Depending on what I’m doing, I can relate to Massimo and a little bit to Elliot. I feel like as long as you get it done and done right, that’s all that matters. I have to balance a lot of stuff. I have my sports, my clubs and my job. And I’m working another two jobs over the summer. I think scheduling and kind of just pushing yourself to your limits, knowing that in the end it’ll be worth it, is what makes it all work out.
Rita: Whom do you admire? Who are your role models?
A ROLE MODEL—WITH CHICKENS
Caitlyn: My role model is definitely my aunt, Sam. She lives in the middle of nowhere in the countryside. She’s single. She has chickens. She has the most amazing work-life balance I’ve ever seen. She works in marketing and advertising—it’s a lot of yelling at people. But she still has fun. I really admire her because she works from home. She has her work hours during the day. Then, in the evening, she does whatever she wants. Like, she loves gardening. She loves great food. She would take me out to the city on my birthday, and we’d go to an art museum or an amazing restaurant.
Massimo: AOC [Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]. A lot of her message is just don’t let people push you around. Stand up for what you believe in and work hard doing it.
Elliott: I would have to say it’s my older brother. He’s always been there for me. He’s very smart, very outgoing. Watching him grow up and go to high school and now college—I try to model myself after him.
“I have to balance a lot of stuff...I think scheduling and kind of just pushing yourself to your limits, knowing that in the end it’ll be worth it, is what makes it all work out.”
— Evan Fonseca, Becton Regional High School
Jillian: I’m the complete opposite of that. I like to have everything planned out for the week. So, like, when I know I have an assignment due on Friday and it’s Monday, I’ll start it right away. So then I’ll have more time for myself at the end of the week.
Nathan: I’ve been told, “Your job during school is to get good grades.”
Rita: Told by whom?
Nathan: My parents, some of my teachers. “Just get good grades—that’s your job.” So during the summer, that’s when I work and try to make some money. During the school week, I play baseball. So during the spring, I’m obviously in season. But when I’m not, right after school, I do homework and I study. And then if I have any projects, I try to bang them out. And then 9 or 10 o’clock at night, I’ll go ahead and work out or something. And then if I still feel like I didn’t get enough work done, OK, I’ll wake up early before school the next morning.
Aidan: I work part time. I have a job at Lacrosse Unlimited, so I just sit down and string lacrosse heads. But it’s pretty relaxed. I haven’t worked in the past three months just with the season starting. I just go in when I have time. In terms of school and
Dylan: My parents. I’ve seen them, like, going from bottom to top. I’ve seen all the work they’ve put into, like, giving me a private education to make sure I have all the opportunities to succeed in life. So honestly, that’s what I’m striving to do. Almost, like, to make them proud.
Rita: And a private education mattered to you?
Dylan: Honestly, I couldn’t tell you, because from kindergarten to all the way to high school I’ve been in private. My parents are immigrants. They always believed, “OK, you need a private, Catholic education in order to be the best.” Like, obviously that’s not true. Obviously it varies. But, yeah, it’s just their point of view.
Nathan: My dad. He works hard. He wakes up in the mornings. He goes to the gym. He works 9 to 5, then comes home. And I have two little brothers. He’s always there, full of energy, being who they need him to be.
Aidan: Definitely my parents. I’ve really looked up to my dad and mom my whole life. They gave a good example of who I want to be and how I want to act. Also my coaches. I spent a ton of time with my high school and club coaches. I think through lacrosse I’ve learned how to be a better person. They’ve really taught me all the skills I’ll need to be successful later in life.
Evan: I really look up to my mom and my dad. My mom, she had my brother in high school. And she still worked, graduated college. She went from living in Queens to owning a house in New Jersey. My dad, same thing with him. He grew up in Brooklyn. He worked, worked, and worked. He’s also a rapper in Colombia. He has a full-time job, and then they still manage to have time for me.
Jillian: My role model is my brother too. He just finished his first year of college. He was able to balance, like, good grades, and he decided on a major, and he was in frat. And he did baseball. I just look up to him.
Cole: Definitely my dad. He was never good at testing, and he became a doctor somehow. And he works hard. He gets up every morning to work out, and he comes home to me and my brother. He’s supportive—he texted me before this. He’s just always there for me. I appreciate it. He’s an anesthesiologist.
Maia: My older sister. She just finished her sophomore year at the University of Delaware. She’s already president of the hospitality club. She’s working, I think, two jobs this summer and through her junior year to help pay for college. And she’s living in her own apartment. And my parents— even in times of struggle they’ve been able to make opportunities for me. Like, this fellowship that I wanted with an organization that fights anti-Semitism. It’s something I’m passionate about. They allowed me to do it and were really supportive.
Brooke: The seniors, when I was a freshman and sophomore, really made an impact on my life. Seeing the things they were doing motivated me to want to do the same things, and I keep in contact with them. Whenever I achieve something I want to celebrate, they’re right there with me. Like, “Good for you!” Even though they’ve moved on. I don’t have siblings. Seeing that they still care about me like a little sister is heartwarming.
Jack: Definitely my parents. They work really hard. Even when they’re extremely tired and they’re struggling, they still find time for me and my little sister.
Rita: We didn’t talk about drugs and alcohol. Is this an issue in school or is it kind of, like, passé?
Jillian: At my school we just got vape detectors in the bathrooms, and students still go in there and vape. I think it is a big issue. Even freshmen—like, they’re 13, 14 years old. They think they’re so cool. We also do random drug testing. You’ll get called down to the office or to the nurse, and the guidance counselor’s in there.
Cole: In my high school they’re cracking down on vaping, definitely. But my brother was in middle school, and the middle schoolers, he told me, are pretty bad in the bathroom. Yeah, those are 11-to-12year-olds.
Maia: Vaping and weed are problems at my school. That’s part of the reason they shut down the bathrooms. Not only because of all the destruction, but because, even if we’re coming in at 7:45 in the morning, if you go into the bathroom, there’s a huge group of girls in the stalls, smoking. Now there can only be five people in the bathroom at a time, and if someone’s caught smoking or whatever, they know who was in the bathroom at that time because you scan in.
Jack: I feel like drugs aren’t really a problem anymore in my school. But freshman year, people would go into the bathrooms and vape and stuff. I remember, towards the end of my freshman year, there was one student that the deans went through his locker and found a backpack full of drugs. They were, like, dumping all the drugs out of his backpack. There were cops. But I feel like since then, they’ve really cracked down on stuff like that.
Brooke: Since middle school, we’ve had a lot of assemblies saying, “This is why vaping’s bad—don’t do it.” But it doesn’t reach a target audience. It goes to the people that know that it’s bad. It doesn’t really grab the attention of people who don’t really care. I’ve heard people in school saying, “I can’t believe I got suspended for vaping.” What do you mean you can’t believe it? And then they do, like, drug searches with dogs, so we have to evacuate the school, all the canines are in every classroom checking all the lockers, the hallways, everything.
Evan: Our security guard sometimes does random checks in the bathroom. We have the vape detectors too.
Nathan: So vaping and smoking weed definitely happens in my school. It’s not so widespread anymore. But, like, everyone knows the people that do it. The administration also knows. So we don’t have vape detectors in the bathroom. But on the cameras, if they see those individuals walking in, or they happen to be walking by the hall when it happens, then they’ll go into the bathroom—patting them down, checking and confiscating it.
Cole: My school has implemented a smart pass on our computers, so if we want to go to the bathroom, we have to fill out a pass and it times us. Like, we’re only allowed five, six minutes in the bathroom. The teachers—we have, like, hall monitors—have the application open on the computers, and it’ll flag us if we’re over our limit.
10,000 POUNDS OF CLOTHES
Rita: Where do you and your friends hang out when you’re not in school—each other’s houses?
Elliott: A lot of it now that we can drive is just, like, driving around together. We love to listen to music. We just drive around, and then we’ll go get ice cream or eat dinne’. I’m a big Van Dyk’s girl; I love their chocolate peanut butter.
Nathan: My friends and I, ever since middle school, we’ve been going to this big turf complex, the Doug Parcells complex. It’s huge—like two soccer fields worth of turf—and we play spikeball, and we take it pretty seriously. Then we go get McDonald’s or Wendy’s or Chipotle or something, then go to someone’s house.
Jillian: We usually just hang out at each other’s houses. In the summertime, a lot of us have pools, so we’ll go to each other’s houses to swim. Between me and my best friend, I can drive; she doesn’t have her license yet, so we go out to eat a lot. We like to get Starbucks and Chipotle and Wendy’s and stuff.
Caitlyn: I’m a big fan of taking my friends on long walks and hikes. I know they probably hate me for it, but I love walking. My parents always took us on walks when we were kids. Hanging out with a friend or a group of friends, I always find a way to sneak in a walk around the neighborhood, even if it’s, like, 9 o’clock at night, just to chat and catch up.
Massimo: We’ve been playing a lot of pickleball recently. That’s been a big Ramsey thing.
Rita: How do you feel about social media?
Dylan: Honestly, I use social media a lot. I feel like it’s a good—it’s a nice dopamine hit. After a long day of studying, when it’s 10 p.m. and I should be sleeping, I might as well scroll on TikTok for 20 minutes or so. Obviously, you have to learn how to restrict yourself.
Maia: I like using social media. I’m on everything, you know. If I’m in bed and I have nothing to do, I will scroll on TikTok. It’s just a nice way to connect with my friends, even when we’re not together. I use it a lot, because I’m a very outspoken person when it comes to some things—like politics and stuff like that. Nothing crazy.
Aidan: I think social media is a really good tool to, you know, connect with your friends, meet new people, and also it’s a great source of entertainment. But like with anything, you just have to use it in moderation.
Elliott: I love Instagram, because—like, I go on mission trips across the country, and I love being able to be, like, “Oh, like, follow me on Instagram,” and then I get to keep in touch with what they’re doing and what’s important to them, and they get to see what I’m up to. I love being able to comment on someone’s post and be like, “Oh, so great—miss you!” I think it’s a good connector.
Rita: You do mission trips?
Elliott: Yeah. Freshman year I went out to Montana. Me and my youth group, we volunteered at a bargain center. It was in Billings, and we helped sort through, like, 10,000 pounds of clothes. It’s just this place where they can go and buy discount clothing.
Rita: Let’s fast-forward 10 years. What are you going to be doing?
Maia: I’ll be a successful attorney. Or maybe I’ll still be in law school—or taking my LSATs for the third time. [Laughs.]
Cole: Hopefully fishing on my own boat. I definitely want to do something with computers, so hopefully I’ll have a job at some big tech company.
Jillian: I hope to be a labor-and-delivery nurse.
Evan: I’m hoping to start my own architecture firm.
Elliot: I want to be an athletic trainer for a professional sports team. I’m a big hockey fan, so probably an NHL team.
Massimo: I hope to be in a residency after med school. I really like plastic surgery right now.
Caitlyn: At 11 a.m. on a Tuesday, I’m telling a kindergartener not to stick fingers up his nose, and to focus on his splatter book instead.
Nathan: I also hope to be in residency, but I also hope to be on the verge of starting a family. That’s also important.
Aidan: The same as these two: residency.
Dylan: Hopefully doing something in neurology.
Jack: Ideally, I guess I’d be trying to jump-start my own business.
Brooke: Hopefully a pharmacist—and hopefully happy.
Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Kirsten Meehan, Darius Amos and Stephen Vitarbo.
LOOK SMART!
Shopping for a student, hitting the campus yourself—or both?
School yourself on 5 hot style trends.
People shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but they do. And they size you up by your appearance too. In the classroom, knowledge matters more than looks. Yet why not rate an “A” in both categories? The tradition of “back-to-school” fashion offers an annual chance to wipe the blackboard clean and embrace a new sartorial you. Here’s what’s on the style curriculum for fall ’25:
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Animal prints continue to have their moment. Bold, timeless and bursting with personality, these patterns effortlessly elevate even the simplest outfits to something head-turning and special. Go bold and pair a leopard-print top with black slacks or leggings, add an extra bit of flair to a jeans-and-T-shirt ensemble with a zebra-print bag or embrace your inner femme fatale with a dress or skirt in cheetah print. (And, for each of these outfits, the black boot is your friend.) Want something more subtle? A printed ballet flat or a great headband can ease you into this trend and provide an extra touch of fun.
Leopard Print Midi Dress meandem.com
SPORTY CHIC
Comfort and style join up in this season’s athleisure offerings, which are all about bringing together gym-class looks and chic high fashion. (No surprise with the growing number of eyes on women’s sports stars—we all saw the WNBA’s Angel Reese at the Met Gala.) This trend is perfect for the days when you can’t bear to wear anything other than your sweats but also want to seem more put-together. Add a cute white sweater over a tank top and leggings or shrug a track top over a more tailored pair of pants. For a bolder look, grab your gym hoodie and try it with a midi skirt for something dressed-down, stylish and cozy.
Dance Studio Mid-Rise Jogger, Full Length, Lululemon, Closter, 551.313.9176
STANDING STRONG
Who can get enough of the bold silhouette of a good wide-legged pant? This cut is amazingly versatile and can be styled for anything from a casual coffee date (add a tank top, a cropped jacket and clog-style shoes), to an afternoon watching movies with friends (grab a pair in a knitted material for perfect stylish loungewear) to a more formal gathering (add a blazer and a low boot, and you’ll turn heads). Pro tip: Because of the wide cut and tailoring of these pants, make sure you opt for a more fitted look on top. This is the time to reach for your tighter tanks and more structured jackets.
Hayden Wide-Leg Pant, Banana Republic, Paramus, 201.843.1180
GOING MINIMAL
“Don’t overthink it.” That mantra is at the heart of a minimalist look, where less is more and simplicity shines through. If you’re longing to get all you can out of a few good-quality pieces that mix and match effortlessly—and if you’re taken by the “quiet luxury” aesthetic of celebrities like Hailey Bieber—then this is the style for you, with its clean lines and neutral color palette. To pull it off, grab a pair of straight-legged pants in a brown or a khaki and a structured top in black, white or brown. Keep your accessories simple and sophisticated—a maroon handbag, for instance, or silver stud earrings.
High Rise Vintage Slim Corduroy Pants, Gap Factory, Paramus, 201.843.1502
DOUBLE DENIM
Once thought to be a serious fashion faux pas, the “Canadian tuxedo,” as it’s been dubbed, is having its day. There are a few ways you can pull off this look, and the first step to all of them is to silence the voice in your mind that tells you, “No.” Then make sure you’re pairing two of the same washes of denim to keep your look cohesive. Next, layering is your friend to give the look more dimension—wear a white T-shirt or a tank top under an open denim shirt or jacket, or add an eye-catching belt.
XL Baggy Straight Linen+ Denim Women’s Jeans, Levi’s, East Rutherford, 551.213.6200
Special Report
STRANGER IN THE CLASSROOM
For good or ill, artificial intelligence is now a big factor in your kids’ education. How can we make sure it doesn’t cheat them out of true learning?
So I’m asking Lyndon Johnson, 36th U.S. President, about the wisdom of escalating the Vietnam War versus pulling our troops out. He’s giving me some interesting answers, but Richard Panicucci, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Bergen County Technical Schools (BCTS), seems to think I’m lobbing softballs. Panicucci is facilitating my conversation—and, of course, here LBJ has two other initials too: AI. The “Johnson” this visiting writer is questioning (the real one died in 1973) is a creation of artificial intelligence.
Panicucci’s students in “The Polarization of America,” the freshman elective he teaches, use once-classified transcripts of the late President’s conversations with his advisors to inform the tougher questions they ask—and they get answers. But can you really embody a complex historical figure with a machine? And if so, is there anything in education that a machine can’t do—or shouldn’t?
The question being asked in Bergen’s schools, and schools around the country, is no longer whether AI belongs in the classroom, but what
BY LESLIE GARISTO PFAFF
to do with it now that it’s there. It’s already a presence in most school districts, to a greater or lesser extent. In March, Governor Phil Murphy announced the founding of a task force to explore the implications of AI for New Jersey’s schools. The state also awarded 10 grants to fund AI education in K-12 school districts, one of them to the Bergen Pascack Valley Regional High School district. While there’s no official statewide code for the use of AI in education, many districts, including Cresskill and Pascack Valley, are developing their own standards or have them in place.
“You either address AI head-on,” says Peter Hughes, superintendent of the Cresskill public school district, “and say, ‘OK, this is the changing world that we’re in,’ or you hide from it and hope it goes away. That’s not going to happen”—whether educators view AI as a powerful educational tool, a threat to the educational process, or both.
AI’S AT SCHOOL
As at BCTS, students at Pascack Valley
Regional High School in Hillsdale are already conversing with AI, though not necessarily in English. The technology has been incorporated into the school’s foreign language instruction (and in the teaching of English as a second language) as “a live practice buddy,” in the words of Noemi Rodriguez, Pascack Valley’s supervisor of world languages and English as a second language. (By “live” she means “in the moment,” as opposed to living and breathing.) Students can have a conversation with an AI chatbot in the classroom, speaking in the language they’re working to master, either orally (while wearing noise-canceling headphones) or by texting. Rodriguez calls this “an easy way for kids to communicate with a really, really smart language practice partner and maybe get some feedback.” Students tend to like it, she says, “because they feel like it’s not a high-stakes assessment situation, and so they can talk freely and make mistakes and practice.” And teachers like it because it offers students more individual practice time than they could reasonably provide.
Continued...
While not every school in Bergen is incorporating AI in classroom activities, many are already using it to help make their teachers more efficient. AI efficiency tools such as MagicSchool AI, ChatGPT and Curod are helping teachers devise lesson plans, design and grade exams, and create scoring rubrics, leaving them more time to interact with students. Hughes notes, for example, that teachers can use AI “to create a lesson plan and align it with New Jersey Core Curriculum Content standards”—a job many teachers find particularly onerous and time-consuming.
A LEARNING ENHANCER
As AI continues to make inroads into the curriculum, it’s likely to have many uses, the best of which, says Andrew Matteo, superintendent of schools in Ramsey, will be as “a thought partner for students.” He cites a class debate for which students might prepare by devising their arguments and then asking AI what the counterclaims to those arguments could be. Along similar lines, Hughes says that “the best possible scenarios are when you have the product that you’ve created as a student”—say, an English or history paper—“and you ask AI, ‘What is it in this project that I didn’t think about?’ So that it can almost push you to the next level of learning.”
POTENTIALS FOR ABUSE
Whatever is and isn’t happening in the classroom at the moment, students—particularly those in high school—are already using AI to complete homework assignments, and as long as homework exists, that’s not likely to change. “Students see AI as ubiquitous now,” says Matteo. “It’s the water they swim in.” Sometimes that dip into AI is teacher sanctioned: Jennifer Clemen, a social studies teacher at Janis E. Dismus Middle School in Englewood, lets her students use AI to research historical figures like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. But then she’ll ask them to reflect on the facts AI furnished them: “I’ll say, ‘Tell me how you would have reacted at the time: Would you have been more of a Jefferson or a Hamilton?”
Many teachers, says Clemen, lament the loss of older research methods that required significantly more critical thought than asking ChatGPT
with the help of, or written entirely by, a chatbot. When school districts sit down to formulate an AI policy, their first concern tends to be AI-driven cheating and how to minimize it. Not surprisingly, technology designed to detect plagiarism by way of AI abounds, in apps like Turnitin, TextGuard, GPTZero and QuillBot. (Though some teachers, like Clemen, say they don’t need to rely on an app to identify the work of a chatbot: “We know our students,” she says, “and I understand what ChatGPT sounds like.”)
In fact, thanks to AI, homework itself could go the way of the slide rule. One way to ensure that students don’t use AI to cheat, says Matteo, is to “have kids do the work—something where you might have sent them home and said, ‘Come back with an essay tomorrow’— right in class.” If that work requires online research, teachers can use software that allows them to monitor students online and in real time, to ensure that those students aren’t asking AI to do the work for them.
“The tools that students have available to them are amazing, and it makes their lives easier. But it also concerns educators...”
—Jennifer Clemen, teacher, Janis E. Dismus Middle School, Englewood
Panicucci says that AI should “increase the amount of thinking that goes on in the classroom.” His students have to think analytically, as a reporter would, to decide which questions would likely yield the most pertinent responses and which would probably be a waste of time. “Teaching history this way,” he says, “really puts the ball in the students’ court.”
Another way AI can benefit students without imperiling their creativity is in the realm of tutoring. It can be “this really smart tutor that’s accessible 24 hours a day,” says Rodriguez. “Yes, if students have questions, they can ask a teacher,” she notes—but teachers aren’t available 24/7.
AI could also make “teaching to the test”— training students to be standardized test takers rather than creative thinkers—a thing of the past. Hughes calls standardized testing “a really antiquated way of assessing children’s learning.” “It’s too limiting,” he says. “AI may actually give you much more insight into the full growth of a child” by offering an individualized assessment and taking into consideration students’ differing ways of learning and thinking.
to summarize Alexander Hamilton’s greatest achievements. “The tools that students have available to them are amazing, and it makes their lives easier,” she says, “but it also concerns educators because we remember doing those deep dives into microfiche and the card catalogues.” The point is more than a nostalgic one. Students who grow up thinking that all information is an easy click away risk being too easily persuaded. They’ll also miss out on the intellectual challenges that traditional research once presented, along with the skills those challenges honed, including patience and persistence, critical evaluation and a deep engagement with the material.
Even more concerning is the use of AI to avoid thinking altogether. The plagiarism-detection app Turnitin determined that in 2023 students turned in some 22 million papers that were partly or mostly written by artificial intelligence. The technology is so ubiquitous that some students don’t understand why they shouldn’t use it. Luisa Gray, a high school English teacher at a Bergen County private school (who asked that we not reveal her real name or the name of the school), said her students have questioned why they need to learn to write essays in the first place, “since in the future we’ll just be using AI to write anything we need to.” Her response to them is that writing, among other things, teaches critical thinking—a skill they’ll likely need no matter how widespread the use of AI is in the future. But that hasn’t stopped them from handing in papers that have obviously been crafted
If AI threatens to curtail original thought, it’s already wreaking havoc with grammar proficiency. A recent survey of language arts teachers in Bergen County found that 68 percent believe students’ grasp of grammar has declined over the past two years, likely because of AI and AI-related tools like spell-checkers.
AI can also be a threat to students’ privacy. The sort of AI systems used in the educational sphere (and elsewhere) often involve the collection of data, rendering users vulnerable to hacks and other misuse. And in the course of amassing data on students, those systems have the potential for bias: They may erroneously conclude, for example, that some students have lesser potential than others and respond to those students with less intellectual complexity.
“Another challenge for teachers is to try to teach students how to manage digital literacy,” notes Clemen. Those lessons would likely include obvious issues like plagiarism, but also how to spot so-called AI hallucinations—false information being presented as if it were factual—as well as privacy and other issues we may not even be able to foresee in these early days. “We can’t even predict what’s going to be happening in the next five to 10 years,” Clemen says. Whether AI will open up vast fields of educational opportunity or prove an educational minefield (or both) remains to be seen. The only certainty seems to be that, in schools across Bergen County, it’s here to stay.
And when anything this consequential becomes a permanent feature of the landscape, it means a historic change for us all. Just ask any deceased President.
SPLASH APPEAL
If
you think anything beats a water park for sheer refreshment in the dog days of August, you’re all wet.
When it’s hot and humid and the kids are tired of sand, try a water park. Let your tribe feel the refreshing spray and splash away at one of these family-friendly attractions, and you’ll understand quickly why even though summer can’t last, there’ll be no erasing the fond memories it creates. Happily, six great water parks are within an easy drive:
DREAMWORKS WATERPARK AT AMERICAN DREAM, EAST RUTHERFORD
There is, of course, a fantastic waterpark option right in our backyard. Bergen County is home to the largest indoor waterpark in North America within the American Dream mall, and all the rides are themed around familiar characters from your favorite DreamWorks movies. Here, you can let the little ones run wild in the Kung-Fu Panda Temple of Awesomeness, a multi-level play structure with tipping buckets, geysers, child-sized slides and more. And don’t let the cartoon theming fool you (though, let’s be honest, none of us are too good for Shrek)—this park has just as many thrills for adults. The Thrillagascar and Jungle Jammer slides, for instance, are the world’s tallest indoor, trapdoor capsule slides and will send you down a 14-story drop. Or grab a friend and go down the two-person Speeding Frenzy flume ride. Just want to hang? This spot boasts the world’s largest indoor wave pool and a fantastic lazy river. Where to eat: The mall puts fantastic dining options right at your fingertips. There are, of course, all the classic food court staples if you’re looking for something fast on the way out (and check out Poki Poke if you’re looking to skip on the fried food), but American Dream’s sit-down options are can’t-miss. Try a Korean tradition with Little Sheep Hot Pot, where you cook your choice of meat, seafood and vegetables at your table in boiling broth to create a unique soup. Craving small bites instead? Mozzarella Bar offers artisan cheese and charcuterie, plus a trendy cocktail menu. More info: americandream.com
SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR, JACKSON
New Jersey’s best-known theme park has more than just roller coasters. Its adjoining water park, Hurricane Harbor, offers just as much fun and just as many thrills, all while ensuring that you stay cool in the hot summer sun. Plus, it’s only about an hour and 15 minutes from Bergen. There’s something here for every taste—families with small children will love Splash Island, a giant splash pad and jungle gym created with the youngest guests in mind. Those with older children or visiting with a large group of friends will enjoy rides like Big Bambu and Reef Runner, where four people can ride one raft down a giant slide. And there are lots of single-person slides with heart-stopping drops, such as the Bada Bing, Bada Bang and Bada Boom. Plus, you can rent a full cabana at the park for a full day of hanging.
Where to eat: Options for food within this park abound, ranging from wings and burgers to sausage sandwiches and cheesesteaks to dessert. If you’re looking to end the day with a more classic meal, leave the park and try nearby Solo Bella Brick Oven Bistro. This spot puts what its proprietors call “a contemporary flare” (and yes, that’s how they spell it) to Italian-American eats, and its signature dish is a 12-inch, woodfire pizza with near-endless options for toppings. More info: sixflags.com
MOUNTAIN CREEK WATER PARK, VERNON
About an hour’s drive from Bergen, this spot is a ski destination in the winter. In the summertime, the water park comes alive. Its rides and thrills are iconic locally: the rough and twisting California River Rapids, the all-black and dark Cannonball Falls slide, which ends in a drop straight into deep water, and, of course, the park’s most famous attraction, H2Oh!-No, where you plummet 99 feet in an almostvertical drop. This is a destination ideal for older children and adults looking for some fun with friends. It’s not without any options for the little ones, though, with a large wave pool and the Lil’ Dippers and Fishing Village attractions. It’s also built into the ski mountain, as its name implies, and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Where to eat: Try The Crystal Café, a short drive away from the park, for a cozy atmosphere and all your diner favorites. You can order breakfast all day (the Oreo pancakes are highly recommended) or opt for a Reuben, a chicken parm sandwich or the restaurant’s special “Cornfather sandwich” with corned beef and Swiss cheese. On your way home, swing by Dairy Swirl for some out-of-this-world ice cream, often featured on local “Best-of” lists. More info: mountaincreek.com
SPLASHDOWN BEACH
WATER PARK, FISHKILL, N.Y.
Billing itself as “America’s Biggest Little Waterpark,” this attraction is an hour and a half away in New York’s Dutchess County. It offers New York’s largest water playground/ splash pad, with four smaller waterslides and a 500-gallon dumping bucket, which fills up slowly and then soaks everyone below. You can also chill out on the lazy river ride, where you’ll float under fountains and over geysers, so you never overheat. For more adrenaline, you can rocket down the Humunga Half-Pipe, a “zero gravity” half-pipe attraction that will launch you over four stories into the air, or rocket down the 600-foot-long Arctic Mammoth raft ride. There’s also a beach area with real sand and a good, old-fashioned pool if you just want to kick back next to the water.
Where to eat: For both indoor and outdoor dining options, head over to Feeling Kinda Kozy for a laid-back dining room and a menu that will please adults and children alike. Grilled octopus, truffle rice balls and lobster mac & cheese will satisfy more refined palates, or you can pick a classic burger or cheesesteak. There’s also an extensive beer, wine and craft cocktail menu (perhaps that lychee martini and blood-orange old fashioned?) if you want to cap off a day of fun with a few great sips. More information: splashdownbeach.com
CLEMENTON PARK & SPLASH WORLD, CLEMENTON
You’ll find the largest wave pool in South Jersey about an hour and 45 minutes away from Bergen. Clemonton Splash World also boasts the Vertical Limit, a six-lane, headfirst slide where you can race to the bottom and see who comes out victorious. Or jump on a tube and try the Viper, a fully enclosed, twisting and turning body slide that ends in a steep drop. The very brave may want to take a turn on Torpedo Rush, which includes a 60-foot free-fall drop. Next, head over to the piratethemed Shipwreck Bay splash zone, with a wading pool and smaller slides specially made for kids, or the giant wave pool that’s almost as good as the real ocean (with the added bonus of treated water and no stray wildlife swimming around your feet). Admission to this water park also grants admission to the attached amusement park, so you can end the day with a roller-coaster or Ferris-wheel ride. Where to eat: Try out La Esperanza, a charming, colorful Mexican restaurant a short drive from the park. This spot is superauthentic, and the menu includes recipes that have been in the owner’s family for years. (The mole sauce is exceptional.) Try this establishment’s take on south-of-the-border favorites such as fajitas, tacos and burritos. You’ll also find a special lunch menu in addition to specialty drinks, Mexican and international beers and a large selection of tequilas. More info: clementonpark.com
CAMELBEACH WATERPARK, TANNERSVILLE, PA.
Tucked into the Pocono Mountains, Camelbeach is the largest water park in the area—it’s about an hour and a half away by car. Pile four people into a raft for the Dune Runner, which will take you all the way down a full mountain slope before splashing you into the waiting pool below. There’s also the Vortex and the Spin Cycle, both of them bowl slides that will drop you from the top and let you whiz around the edges to the bottom like you’re circling a drain. Opt for a body slide, such as the enclosed Triple Venom, which has three unique tracks that twist, turn and drop for maximum thrills. Float down a lazy river, check out the wave pool or climb to the top of the Pharaoh’s Fortress, a play structure with eight waterslides and mounted water guns you can man to soak your family and friends. Rent a cabana for unlimited access to shade and the perfect place to lounge. Where to eat: If a day in the water makes you crave some seafood, Smuggler’s Cove has you covered. This restaurant offers all-you-can-eat shrimp in addition to steamed clams, brown butter scallops, crab cakes, sea bass, lobster—almost anything caught in the sea is served here and served well. A treat to end the day? The quaint Sweet Creams Café is tucked inside a historical building; there you’ll find a rotating menu of homemade ice cream with flavors such as honey lavender, white chocolate latte and caramel fudge pecan brownie—in addition to all the classics. More info: camelbackresort.com
—Kirsten Meehan
TASTES
Wrapped Up
These easy-to-make apps are perfect for any cookout—they’re easy to make and packed with flavor and nutrients too!
ASIAN STEAK LETTUCE WRAPS
Yields 4-6 servings
INGREDIENTS
n 1 lb. flank steak or skirt steak
n ¼ cup soy sauce
n 1 Tbs. sesame oil
n 1 Tbs. rice vinegar
n 1 Tbs. brown sugar or honey
n 2 garlic cloves, minced
n 1 tsp. fresh ginger, grated
n ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
n butter lettuce or romaine hearts, separated into leaves
n ½ cup shredded carrots
n ¼ cup sliced scallions
n ¼ cup chopped cilantro or mint
n 2 Tbs. chopped peanuts or cashews
n red chili pepper, for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Place steak in a resealable bag or shallow dish and pour marinade over it. Refrigerate for 2–4 hours.
Preheat a grill or skillet to medium-high heat. Cook steak for 3–4 minutes per side, or until desired doneness. Let rest 5 minutes.
Slice steak thinly against the grain.
To serve, lay lettuce leaves on a plate. Add sliced steak and desired toppings such as carrots, scallions, cilantro, sliced red chili pepper and nuts.
Drizzle with extra sauce or sriracha mayo if desired. Serve immediately.
“These lettuce wraps offer a low-carb twist on a classic comfort food—no bread needed and no flavor compromised. For a leaner take, try swapping out flank or skirt steak for sirloin tip or eye round. Packed with bold, beefy flavor and less fat, these cuts deliver the taste and protein you crave, minus the guilt.”
—Megan Triolo,
clinical dietitian, MLT360 Nutrition, Saddle Brook
TERIYAKI CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS
Yields 4-6 servings
INGREDIENTS
n 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
n 3/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
n 1/4 cup water
n 1/4 cup rice vinegar
n 2 Tbs. brown sugar
n 2 cloves garlic, minced
n 1 tsp. ground ginger
n 2 tsp. cornstarch (plus 2 tsp. water)
n 1 cup broccoli cut into small pieces
n 1/2 red pepper, chopped
n 1/2 cup shredded carrots
n 1/4 cup water chestnuts
n salt and pepper, to taste
n butterhead or green leaf lettuce
n green onions, sesame seeds, for garnish
TASTES
DIRECTIONS
Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
Spray a non-stick pan with olive oil spray. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink.
Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add the water, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and brown sugar. Bring it to a simmer.
Mix together the cornstarch and water and add it to the pan while stirring. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the broccoli, red pepper and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the water chestnuts.
Lay out the lettuce leaves and divide the chicken mixture into six leaves. Top with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.
“These
wraps are a fun and versatile way to boost your veggie intake. Add sliced bell peppers, shredded cabbage or cucumber for extra color, crunch, fiber and nutrients—a simple upgrade that enhances both flavor and health benefits!”
—Shifra
Zuckerman, registered dietitian nutritionist, Health Span Nutrition with Shifra, Fair Lawn
Pretty In Pink
Make this sweet, smooth and citrusy sip your new go-to for summer get-togethers.
PINK PLEASANTRIES
Makes: 1 serving
INGREDIENTS
n 2 oz. fresh ruby red grapefruit juice
n 1½ oz. of vodka
n ½ small lemon, juiced
n ½ ounce simple syrup
n dash of sea salt
n sprig of rosemary n grapefruit segments for garnish
DIRECTIONS
Add the grapefruit juice, vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, rosemary sprig and dash of sea salt to a cocktail shaker and shake until thoroughly chilled. Pour into a glass and garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a grapefruit segment.
“Add a splash of St-Germain elderflower liqueur to bring a soft floral note that plays nicely with the grapefruit. You also can swap the simple syrup for a rosemary honey syrup—an easy upgrade that makes the drink feel a bit more polished while still being simple to make.”
—Bryan Douredjian, mixologist, Neat & Shaken, River Edge
IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FIELD, AND IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Bergen Catholic is an independent, four-year college preparatory school where young boys, guided by the Essential Elements of an Edmund Rice Christian Brother Education, become Christian gentlemen and leaders who discover a devotion for helping others. The curriculum is rigorous. Students enjoy rewarding clubs, enriching programs in art, music, theater, championship athletics, and an unmatched brotherhood, where Brothers-Help-Brothers. The Crusader College Counseling Experience begins freshman year, providing support and results as evidenced by the fact that the Class of 2025 achieved acceptances to many top tier schools, including Boston College, Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Cornell, Georgetown University, Notre Dame, NYU, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale. Enrollment is selective. For more information, call the Admissions Department at (201) 261.1844 extension163.
GENTLEMEN. LEADERS.
Enrollment is selective. For more information, please email admissions@bergencatholic.org
Education Planner
Academy of Saint Paul
At Academy of Saint Paul, we engage the whole child with traditional values in a modern world through a focus on scholarship, spirituality, and service. As a Blue Ribbon school, we strive for academic excellence with a rigorous curriculum utilizing technology, promote an active faith life to enhance your child's spirituality, provide service and leadership opportunities, and offer a variety of extracurricular activities. Schedule a tour with us to see for yourself!
187 Wyckoff Ave., Ramsey, NJ | 201.327.1108 | www.academyofstpaul.org
Academy of the Holy Angels
An independent all-girls Catholic college-prep school on a beautiful 25-acre campus with state-of-the-art facilities, offering unique programs like Oxford Study Abroad, Mini MBA, Internships, Cultural Immersion & Service Trips, 32+ AP/College Credit Courses, an Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Dance Team, Championship Athletics, an award-winning theater program, and more.
315 Hillside Avenue Demarest, NJ | 201.768.7822 | admissions@holyangels.org
Albertus Magnus High School
Looking for a great high school experience? At Albertus Magnus every student is known and valued for their unique gifts and talents. Founded by the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, Albertus Magnus is distinguished by academic excellence, championship athletics, dynamic performing arts, and faith formation. A dedicated faculty, family atmosphere, and distinctive programs in college counseling, technology and the sciences create a safe and supportive learning environment. Visit us today at www.albertusmagnus.net to learn more about the AM Advantage, our signature programs and family atmosphere and how our students Lead, Serve and Inspire.
Bardonia, New York | www.albertusmagnus.net
Bergen Catholic High School
Bergen Catholic is an independent four-year college preparatory school founded by Edmund Rice Christian Brothers, where boys become Christian gentlemen. BC provides rigorous academics, rewarding clubs, and championship athletics. In addition, The Brotherhood provides an unmatched network of support. BC is proud our four-year, results-driven college counseling program. 91% of the Class of 2025 received a college scholarship and total scholarship amounted to $34.5 mm. Enrollment is selective. For more information visit us at www.bergencatholic.org.
1040 Oradell Ave., Oradell, NJ | 201.261.1844 | www.bergencatholic.org
Over 80 Years of Tradition
Sprawling 16-Acre Campus College and Career Focus
Dual Enrollment - FDU & Seton Hall
Nurturing, Safe Environment
Full Athletics & Arts Programs
New Robotics/S.T.R.E.A.M. Lab
FALL OPEN HOUSES
WED, OCT. 25, 6pm
WED, OCT. 30, 6pm
OPEN HOUSE DATES:
SUN, OCT. 29, 12pm
www.maryhelp.org/ohreg/
SUN, NOV. 3, 12pm FRI, NOV. 22 Thursday, Oct 30th
PREVIEW DAY
6:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday, Nov 1st 12:00 to 2:00 PM
FRI, NOV. 17
www.maryhelp.org/pdreg/ (must pre-register for events)
PREVIEW DAY: Friday, Nov 21st
Mary Help of CHristians aCadeMy 659 BELMONT AVENUE NORTH HALEDON, NJ 07508
973.790.6200 | www.MaryHelp.org
Education Planner
Excellence isn’t something we reach for—it’s where we begin. At Don Bosco Prep, young men are anchored in excellence from day one, surrounded by a brotherhood that values scholarship, faith, and leadership. Our academic environment pushes students to exceed expectations, explore their passions, and prepare for the nation’s top colleges. With mentors who challenge and inspire, Ironmen don’t just study to succeed— they’re formed to lead, to serve, and to stand out in every arena. Learn more:donboscoprep.org
A leader in early childhood education since 1930, The Elisabeth Morrow School personalizes learning for each student, cultivating their unique spark and innate creativity with intention. Through a transformative, rigorous, project-based curriculum, students engage in interdisciplinary learning and real-world problem-solving while embracing the joy and wonder of discovery. Contact us to discover how — through experiential learning and human-centered design thinking — we prepare children to think critically, work creatively, and lead with confidence, ready to make a difference in our rapidly changing world.
Immaculate Heart Academy prides itself on being an excellent choice for young women seeking an academic program that challenges the mind and nourishes the spirit. By cultivating traditional Christian values and upholding exceptional college preparatory standards, IHA offers a unique and unmatched private educational experience. Our high-achieving young women learn in an atmosphere that encourages academic excellence, artistic immersion, athletic competition, sisterhood, and Christian Service. Do you belong @theheart? Find out why our innovative programs, superior facilities, and accomplishments of our impressive students are second to none. Open Houses: October 19 at 11:00 AM | October 23 at 6:30 PM
Introduce your child to a community they can grow with into adulthood. We weave our core values—honesty, respect, caring, and responsibility—into all our programming and understand that the essential life skills learned today create a strong foundation for tomorrow’s successes! We offer flexible schedules with a curriculum built around STEM, language skills, music, art, and more. Our facility provides a one-of-a-kind learning environment with time in our exercise studios, gymnasium, playground, and indoor pool. A YMCA household membership is included with enrollment. Financial Aid available.
Education Planner
Saddle River Day School
Saddle River Day School is a coed, college prep day school enrolling approximately 575+ students in grades Pre-K 3 to grade 12. Students experience integrated and applied learning in a hands-on rigorous academic setting with a low student-teacher ratio. The NJAIS accredited school boasts pristine facilities such as a fully equipped Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and are currently building a 33,000+ square foot Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship to open in the fall of 2026. Graduates are prepared for entry to some of the nation's most selective colleges such as Columbia, Cornell, Duke, MIT, NYU and Wake Forest."
Bowman, Director of Admissions 147 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Saddle River, NJ | 201.327.4050, ext. 1108
Young
World Day School
For over 50 years, Young World Day School’s experienced staff has provided a safe, nurturing environment for children to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We offer a choice of traditional or Montessori preschool, a transitional kindergarten, and a traditional kindergarten. Our grades 1 and 2 feature a mixed-age classroom where academics match students’ abilities and learning styles. Weekly enrichment includes Spanish, soccer/yoga, music, computers, and outdoor recreation. Join the YWDS family!
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Pub Power
With classic fare and modern twists, Doc Watsons brings the Emerald Isle to Oakland.
When the mood for corned beef and cabbage strikes (usually annually, around St. Patrick’s Day) I’ll make plans with friends at a local Irish pub. There we’ll almost always order from among the tavern favorites: that corned-beef mainstay along with shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and bangers and mash. Any other offerings don’t stand a chance.
That, of course, is a disservice to Irish pubs that go beyond conventional. Doc Watsons in Oakland is a perfect example. Founded nearly 30 years ago on Second Avenue in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the restaurant and bar opened its Bergen County location in May, bringing with it typical pub fare, Irish-inspired favorites and its own spin on classics.
My girlfriend and I decided to spend a weekend afternoon in July at Doc’s, and we immediately knew it was a place to get more than a pint of Guinness. Though given the option to join others in the main dining room, we took a high table in the bar area so we (I) could watch the Mets vs. Yankees game on TV and continue the conversation we’d started with bartender Shannon. After going through a list of talking points about sports, weather and Doc’s modest and modern décor, we ordered drinks and appetizers. While I went with a traditional Guinness, my girlfriend had a gin dash— which Shannon customized so that the cocktail made of botanist gin, elderflower tonic and orange bitters wasn’t too sweet. It was delicious.
From the list of starters that included ahi tuna tacos, chicken wings and cheesesteak sliders, we ordered a Bavarian pretzel and tater tots. OK, these may sound like pedestrian apps, but here they’re anything but basic. The oversized pretzel (perfect for two people) was warm and buttery, dense and perfectly chewy, with a deep brown crust. I’m usually more of a mustard dipper when it comes to pretzels, but I found myself slathering every piece with the accompanying pub-cheese mixture.
The tater tots were nothing like the frozen kind or those served at a fast-food restaurant. Each of Doc’s tots comes filled with bacon, chives and cheddar and is fried to an ideal crisp. If I devoured the cheese dip that came with the pretzel, my girlfriend did the same with the chipotle mayo that was served with the tater tots.
Entrées at Doc’s run the gamut, from Irish bar favorites shepherd’s pie and fish and chips to burgers and chicken sandwiches (there are vegetarian options too) to salads and pizzas. For my main dish, I ordered a half-rack of fire-braised St. Louis ribs. The ribs were done just right, with a flavorful crust keeping the meat tender and juicy beneath. The sauce had just enough of a mustard taste to give it a zesty and pleasant bite. The fresh cole slaw and crispy French fries on the side complemented the ribs well. (Pro tip: Ask for some of the chipotle mayo to use as a dipping sauce for the fries.)
My girlfriend volleyed with the idea of a salad or burger before choosing the blackened salmon. (As of this writing, neither the half-rack of ribs nor the salmon appears on Doc’s online menu, but both are regular items.) The salmon had a slightly blackened crust, less than she had hoped, but the fish still was cooked to her liking and quite tasty. The medley of black beans, diced tomatoes, corn and herbs as well as the carefully sliced avocado and rice created a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. After feasting on food and sipping the equally tasty drinks, you can choose from a small list of sweets to cap a meal. Turtle cheesecake, three-layer salted caramel vanilla crunch cake and apple crumb blossom are among the selections, but for this visit on a warm afternoon we shared a couple of scoops of plain chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Sometimes the simplest pleasures—like the comforting food, drink and hospitality of an Irish tavern—are just what one craves.
—Darius Amos
A TABLE ALFRESCO
ALLENDALE
Allendale Bar & Grill 67 W. Allendale Ave. 201.327.3197 allendalebarandgrill.com
Fino 114 W. Allendale Ave. 201.995.1100 finoristorantenj.com
Savini Restaurant 168 W. Crescent Ave. 201.760.3700 savinirestaurant.com
BERGENFIELD
Tommy Fox’s Public House 32 W. Washington Ave. 201.384.0900 tommyfoxs.com
CARLSTADT
Segovia Meson 645 Washington Ave. 201.896.3260 segoviameson.com
Biggie’s
430 Rte. 17 201.933.4000 biggies.com
CLIFFSIDE PARK
Villa Amalfi 793 Palisades Ave. 201.886.8626 villaamalfinj.com
354 Steakhouse 354 Lawton Ave. 201.941.0499 354steakhouse.com
CLOSTER
Brasserie Mémère 107 Vervalen St. 201.660.8822 brasserie-memere.com
The Hill 252 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.899.4700 thehillcloster.com
Lucio’s 208 Piermont Rd. 201.750.3233 lucios.com
Sear House 411 Piermont Rd. 201.292.4612 searhousenj.com
The Roosevelt 356 Paterson Ave. 201.713.3145 theroosevelt.us
Vesta Wood Fired 64 Hoboken Rd. 201.939.6012 vestawoodfired.com
EDGEWATER
Baumgart’s Café 59 The Promenade 201.313.3889 baumgartsedgewater.com
Fleming’s Steakhouse 90 The Promenade 201.313.9463 flemingssteakhouse.com
De Novo European Pub 1257 River Rd. 201.496.6161 denovoeuropeanpub. com
Greek Taverna
55 The Promenade 201.945.8998 greektavernausa.com
Haven Riverfront
Restaurant & Bar
Stern & Bow 171 Schraalenburgh Rd. 201.750.3350 sternandbowrestaurant. com
DEMAREST
Yasou Mykonos 134 Hardenburgh Ave. 201.768.8500 yasoumykonos.com
DUMONT
Tri-Valley Restaurant 366 Knickerbocker Dr. 201.384.5044 trivalleyfamily restaurant.com
EAST RUTHERFORD
Candlewyck Diner 179 Paterson Ave. 201.933.4446 candlewyckdiner.com
Elia Mediterranean 240 Hackensack St. 201.939.9292 elianj.com
Eros Café 168 Union Ave. 201.729.0005 eroscafenj.com
ENGLEWOOD
Czen
36 N. Van Brunt St. 201.431.9199 czenrestaurant.com
Playa Bowls 38 E. Palisade Ave. 201.928.7788
Sofia
36 Engle St. 201.541.8530 sofiaenglewood.com
ENGLEWOOD
CLIFFS
Café Italiano 14 Sylvan Ave. 201.461.5041 cafeitaliano.net
Lefkes 495 Sylvan Ave. 201.408.4444 lefkesnj.com
FAIR LAWN
Ada Mediterranean
Brasserie 14-25 Plaza Rd. 201.791.2222 adamedigrill.com
2 Main St., Suite G 201.943.1900 havenedgewater.com
Pier 115 Bar & Grill
115 River Rd. 201.313.2155 pier115barandgrill.com
Rebecca’s
236 Old River Rd. 201.943.8808 new.rebeccasedgewater. com
River Palm Terrace 1416 River Rd. 201.224.2013 riverpalm.com
Seak 725 River Rd., #30 201.402.3400 seaknj.com
ELMWOOD PARK
Blue 42 Restaurant & Bar
158 Market St. 201.773.0970 blue42bar.com
EMERSON
Emerson Hotel
31 Emerson Plaza E. 201.262.7557 emersonhotel restaurant.com
FRANKLIN LAKES Pazza 794 Franklin Ave. 201.848.5050 pazzanj.com
GLEN ROCK The Glen Rock Inn 222 Rock Rd. 201.445.2362 glenrockinn.com
Stone & Rail 175 Rock Rd. 201.345.0709 stoneandrail.com
HACKENSACK
Casual Habana Café 125 Main St. 201.880.9844 casualhabanacafe.com
True Food Kitchen 390 Hackensack Ave.
Dutch House Tavern 24-07 Fair Lawn Ave. 201.796.9886 dutchousetavern.com
Juany’s Café & Grill 12-56 River Rd. 551.224.8030 orderjuanys.com
Oceanos Oyster Bar & Sea Grill
2-27 Saddle River Rd. 201.796.0546 oceanosrestaurant.com
The Railyard Tavern 14-26 Plaza Rd. 201.773.3372 therailyardtavern.com
FORT LEE
Baggios 212 Main St. 201.585.7979
Chillers Grill 2191 Fletcher Ave. 201.461.0075 chillersgrill.com
Ventanas Restaurant & Lounge 200 Park Ave. 201.583.4777 ventanasatthe modern.com
Photo
Elia Mediterranean, East Rutherford
HO-HO-KUS
Albert’s 4 Sycamore Ave. 201.389.6377 albertshohokus.com
Alt Eats Café 622 N. Maple Ave. 201.444.1300 alteatscafe.com
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern
1 E. Franklin Tpke. 201.445.4115 hohokusinn.com
St. Eve’s
611 N. Maple Ave. 201.857.4717 stevesnj.com
LEONIA
Dante’s Place 373 Broad Ave. 201.592.9071 dantesplace.com
LITTLE FERRY
Segovia Steakhouse 217 Main St. 201.814.1100 segoviasteakhouse.com
LODI
Rebar and Kitchen 132 Essex St. 201.368.8181 rebarkitchen.com
LYNDHURST
Michael’s Riverside
201.939.6333 michaelsriverside.com
MAHWAH
Roxanne’s Restaurant
150 Franklin Tpke. 201.529.0007 roxannesrestaurant.com
Sangria 1033 MacArthur Blvd.
201.962.3310 sangriamahwah.com
MAYWOOD
Angelo’s Greek Taverna 245 Maywood Ave. 201.845.4278 angelosgreektaverna. com
Twin Door Tavern 122 W. Pleasant Ave. 201.843.8022 twindoortavern.com
MIDLAND PARK
Fiona’s Ristorante 118 Godwin Ave.
201.857.5800 fionasristorante.com
MONTVALE
Bellissimo 12 S. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.746.6669 bellissimonj.com
Hearth & Tap Co. 125 N. Kinderkamack Rd. 201.307.6300 hearthandtap.com
MOONACHIE
Bazzarelli 117 Moonachie Rd. 201.641.4010 bazarellirestaurant.com
NEW MILFORD
Barrel & Brew 872 River Rd. 201.483.3329 barrelandbrews.com
Pancho’s Burritos 214 Main St. 201.225.2554 panchosburritostogo. com
River & Henley Bar and Restaurant 704 River Rd. 201.262.0391 riverandhenley.com
Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn 105 Old New Bridge Rd. 201.692.7700 sanzaris.com
NORTHVALE
Biddy O’Malley’s 191 Paris Ave. 201.564.7893 biddyomalleys.com
OAKLAND
Portobello 175 Ramapo Valley Rd. 201.337.8990, ext. 1 portobellofeasts.com
Segovia Tavern 110 W. Oakland Ave. 201.644.0003 segoviatavern.com
ORADELL
Calabria Pizza 239 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.523.9228 calabriapizzaoradell.com
Ora FreeStyle Italian 304 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.267.4304 orainthedell.com
PARK RIDGE
103 Prime at Valentino’s 103 Spring Valley Rd. 201.391.2220 103prime.com
Peppercorns 176 Colony Ave. 201.391.2818 peppercorns176.com
The Park Steakhouse 151 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.930.1300 theparksteakhouse.com
PARAMUS
Biagio’s
299 Paramus Rd. 201.652.0201 biagios.com
Miller’s Ale House 270 Rte. 4 201.342.4800 millersalehouse.com
The Orange Lantern 15 E. Firehouse Ln. 201.652.4443 orangelantern.com
RAMSEY
Bici
61 E. Main St. 201.962.9015 biciramsey.com
Brady’s At The Station
5-7 W. Main St. 201.327.9748 bradysramsey.com
Café Panache
130 E. Main St. 201.934.0030 cafepanachenj.com
The Shannon Rose Irish Pub 1200 Rte. 17 North 201.962.7602 theshannonrose.com
Varka Estiatorio 30 N. Spruce St. 201.995.9333 varkarestaurant.com
RIDGEWOOD Bareburger 15 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.345.4207 bareburger.com
Cravings Tapas 8 Wilsey Sq. 201.857.8533 cravingstapas.com
East Coast Burger 75 Franklin Ave. 201.857.0277 eastcoastburger.com
Felina 18 Prospect St. 551.276.5454 felinarestaurant.com
La Lanterna Cafe & Grill
29 W. Ridgewood Ave. 201.444.5520 lalanternaofridgewood. com
Park West Tavern 30 Oak St. 201.445.5400 parkwesttavern.com
Raymond’s 101 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.445.5125 raymondsnj.com
S. Egidio 17 N. Broad St. 201.389.3525 segidio.pizza
Steel Wheel Tavern 51 N. Broad St. 201.882.1800 steelwheeltavern.com
Tito’s Burritos and Wings 166 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.857.4619 titosburritos.com
White Maple Café 47 E. Ridgewood Ave. 201.447.1953 whitemaplecafe.com
RIVER EDGE
Sanducci’s Trattoria 620 Kinderkamack Rd. 201.599.0600 sanduccis.com
RIVER VALE
Cherry Brook Restaurant & Bar 660 Rivervale Rd. 201.391.2300 rivervalecc.com
Crecco’s Café 649 Westwood Ave. 201.664.7200 creccoscafe.com
RUTHERFORD
Mambo Empanadas 313 Union Ave. 201.933.3888 mamboempanadas.com
Matisse 167 167 Park Ave. 201.935.2995 matisse167.com
Paisano’s 132 Park Ave. 201.935.5755 paisanos.com
Sonoma Bistro 59 Park Ave. 201.935.7070 sonomabistro rutherford.com
Suprema 92 Park Ave. 201.531.1190 supremaitalian.com
SADDLE BROOK
The Plank Pizza Co. Beer Parlor 383 Market St. 201.843.2426 ppcbp.com
Midland Brew House 374 N. Midland Ave. 201.767.0070 midlandbrewhouse.com
TEANECK
Amarone 63 Cedar Ln. 201.833.1897 amaroneristorante.net
La Cucina Di Nava 192A W. Englewood Ave. 201.520.4572
TENAFLY
Axia Taverna 18 Piermont Rd. 201.569.5999 axiataverna.com
Sayola Restaurant 50 Prospect Ter. 201.871.2182 sayolarestaurantnj.com
WALDWICK W’S Village Grille 71 Crescent Ave. 201.670.8200 wsvillagegrille.com
WALLINGTON Agave Cocina Mexicana 32 Locust Ave. 973.246.8531 agavecmx.com
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
Dog House Saloon & Grill 270 Pascack Rd. 201.722.1820
WESTWOOD Farmhouse Café
301 Center Avenue 201.664.8424 farmhousecafenj.com
Granita Grille 457 Broadway 201.664.9846 granitagrille restaurant.com
Hanami Restaurant 301 Center Ave. 201.666.8508 hanamirestaurant.com
Osteria Crescendo 36 Jefferson Ave. 201.722.1900 osteriacrescendo.com
The Rolling Pin Café 341 Broadway 201.666.4660 therollingpincafe.com
The Tavern at the Iron Horse 20 Washington Ave. 201.666.9682 thetavernwestwood.com
Westwood Prime Meats 190 Westwood Ave. 201.664.0069 westwoodprime meats.com
WOODCLIFF LAKE Bareburger 455 Chestnut Ridge Rd. 201.746.9275 bareburger.com
WOOD-RIDGE
Gus’ Last Word 191 Valley Blvd. 973.939.5608 guslastword.com
WYCKOFF
The Barn Original 359 Sicomac Ave. 201.848.0108 thebarnoriginal.com
Café Amici
315 Franklin Ave. 201.848.0198 cafeamiciwyckoff.com
Willow & Whisk
319 Franklin Ave. 201.425.9931 willowandwhisk.com
Be There
Festivals, big-name stars, fun for kids and more—you can enjoy every moment of the summer here in Bergen.
6-13
Hackensack Performing brings back its Shakespeare in the Park another round of performances August. Join the cast Park in Hackensack COMEDY OF ERRORS show about mistaken around two sets ready for slapstick misadventures! All shows 7:30 p.m. For more, check out hacpac.org.
AUG. 9
DESIGN BUILD YOUR OWN BOUQUET evening. At this 21+ event, you’ll take part in a six-wine tasting and then snack on a personal artisanal charcuterie. After that, an expert will guide you through creating your own stunning floral design. You’ll also take home a mason jar vase and tips on how to make your flowers last. Tickets cannot be purchased at the door, and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. For that and more, see abmasfarm.com.
a comedian, singer or songwriter? your talents at Tommy Fox’s Public Bergenfield, which is hosting an MIC NIGHT Stop by to take the mic or cheer on other creatives. You’ll to enjoy Tommy Fox’s extensive bar menu of crowd-pleasers. The For more, see tommyfoxs.com.
kids to the Mahwah Library and enjoy the POP! BALLOON SHOW This performance combines laughs, and colorful balloons afternoon that will keep little ones engaged and spark their imaginations. They’ll also learn how to make their own balloon animal! event is free, but registration is required; it begins at 2 p.m. For more, head mahwahlibrary.org.
AUG. 24
Enjoy sun, community and great local businesses at the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce’s SUPER SIDEWALK SATURDAY! Billed as the staycation day,” the program is a wonderland sales, sidewalk chalk, kids games and activities, music and more. The fun starts at 10 a.m. and all day, and the event is free. For more information, see ridgewoodchamber.com.
AUG. 10
One of the biggest acts to ever come out of returns for a show at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium! THE JONAS BROTHERS, originally Wyckoff, stop by on their Living the Dream a “powerful, full-circle celebration of their 20-year journey from performing in malls to headlining the biggest stadiums in the world”—and our county is a big part of that journey. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more info, head over to metlifestadium.com.
TV’s most recognizable funnywomen stop by Performing Center in JANE AND KATE FLANNERY’S “THE WITH ANGELS” brings together two talents for an evening of song and unapologetic mischief. part stand-up and all sass, show sure to have you in stiches. starts at 7 p.m. For tickets and more head over to bergenpac.org.
Over in Hillsdale, you can challenge yourself for a great cause during the PASCACK VALLEY TRIATHLON This swim, bike and run race raises money for Girls On the Run and a food Hands Food will be held finishers prizes, and receive Check in 5:30 a.m. For registration and more information, check raceforum.com.
AUG. 14
AUG. 19
Enjoy Bergen’s final concert under the stars at the amphitheater at Overpeck County Park in Ridgefield Park. New Jersey-based band STEPPIN’ OUT will bringing its blend of soul, R&B and rock right to your backyard. These showbiz veterans been entertaining for nearly 30 years. have Bring your own blankets and folding chairs and enjoy this free show. The music starts sunset. For more information, see bergencountynj.gov.
Mahwah’s popular FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL returns for the seventh year! Come check out dozens of gourmet food trucks from around the state and beyond. Try out both savory and sweet options (and some that mix both flavors!), plus cold drinks for the hot day. You can also listen to great tunes, partake in a beer garden and more. The fun begins at noon, and continues all day. For more information, see mahwahtwp.org.
Gatherings
1. BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood honored two-time Grammy Award winner Gloria Gaynor during its spring luncheon in recognition of Women’s History Month. Gaynor received an award acknowledging her significant contributions to the arts.
2-3. KAPLEN JCC ON THE PALISADES
Friends and family joined the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades at Lavish: An Evening of Art & Wine. The program was dedicated to shining a light on the JCC programs and services provided to the senior community each and every day.
4-5.
NORTH JERSEY FRIENDSHIP HOUSE
Oradell-based North Jersey Friendship House held its annual gala at The Venetian in Garfield. The fundraiser included dinner and dancing to support the group’s mission of providing behavioral health, day habilitation, pre-vocational training and more to adults with varying abilities.
6. BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF LOWER BERGEN COUNTY
The Boys & Girls Clubs’ program leadership staff recently attended the NJSACC: New Jersey’s Afterschool & OST Professional Network conference. There, more than 300 participants discussed ways to enhance youth programs across NJ.
7. FAMILY PROMISE
Nearly 100 guests gathered at the Knickerbocker Country Club in Tenafly for an evening of philanthropy and fine wine. The benefit supported the Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Family Promise of Bergen County.
8.
TOWNSHIP OF ROCHELLE PARK
The Township of Rochelle Park was the recipient of a $230,000 grant for major upgrades to Matthews Field. The grant was made possible through the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund.
A BERGEN MOMENT
“I am a runner and a photographer. One day, I was planning to run into New York City starting at Palisades Interstate Park in Fort Lee. While there, I ran into The Leftovers Run Club from the Bronx—the man in this picture is from that group. I took a detour and joined their training run along Henry Hudson Drive. I ran with them to Yankee Stadium, after which I took a subway to Queens/ Brooklyn and then ran from Williamsburg to Coney Island. I ran the equivalent of two half marathons that day.”
—Sam Liu, Ridgewood
Send us your Bergen Moment! Email your photo and a short description to rita.guarna@wainscotmedia.com.
Take the First Step Toward Recovery from Substance Use
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