May 1, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 5 Glen Rock The Glen Rock Board of Education will present the award-winning documentary “Race to Nowhere” on Tuesday, May 7 in the Glen Rock High School auditorium at 620 Harristown Road. The keynote speaker will be the film’s producer and co-director Vicki Abeles, whose personal experience with her own family was the impetus for the project. This provocative film challenges current thinking about the methodologies used in the United States to prepare children for success. Throughout the documentary, poignant stories of students from elementary to college age reveal academic and societal practices that have pushed children to the brink – and beyond. Having one of the top performing high schools in the state, Glen Rock is extremely proud of the accomplishments of its students. However, the district also recognizes that the pursuit of excellence can come at a cost. There is a critical need for maintaining balance in the lives of today’s youth. By bringing together Abeles and her film in one thought-provoking evening, the district hopes to engage the public in a meaningful dialogue that will identify key issues and begin the process of determining collaborative changes to address them. Members of all communities are welcome. The film will be shown promptly at 7 p.m.; it has a running time of 85 minutes. Following the screening, Abeles will share insights gained from her experiences touring the country with the film, including the many stressors faced by students in their increasingly competitive plight of achieving academic success and ensuring a rewarding career. The audience will have many ‘Race to Nowhere’ and Abeles coming to borough opportunities to share in the dialogue. Anyone who has previously viewed the film is welcome to join in the conversation after 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased through the Glen Rock Community School at www.grcsonline.com using MasterCard or Visa. Tickets can also be purchased directly through the community school office in the lobby of Glen Rock High School using cash or check up to 4 p.m. on May 7. All proceeds will benefit the Glen Rock Education Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.racetonowhere.com/about-film. Please note: The views expressed in the film are not necessarily those of the Glen Rock Board of Education. Vicki Abeles The Glen Rock Schools have obtained solid scores on the New Jersey Department of Education School Performance Report, the new rating system. Glen Rock High School outperformed 90 percent of all schools statewide and 81 percent of all schools with similar demographic ratings. Glen Rock Middle School outperformed 93 percent Schools receive solid DOE ratings of all schools statewide and 55 percent of schools with similar demographics. The Byrd, Central, Coleman, and Hamilton elementary schools were all rated “very high” compared to all schools statewide. Byrd, Central, and Hamilton rated “very high” compared to their demographic peers, with Coleman rated “high.” J. KOSTER