Waldwick High School Principal's Blog

This year at Waldwick High School we have moved away from the traditional Final Exams which covered content from September to June and counted as 1/9 of the final grade.  Instead, we are introducing Mid-Year assessments which cover content from September to the beginning of January.  Most of the assessments will take place during the week of January 14.  In June we will have second half assessments, which will cover content from the end of January to the beginning of June.   The assessments will vary by department:  traditional test, written responses, projects, presentations, etc.  These assessments will count towards the marking period grade and will replace any end of marking period assessment.  There will not be a special schedule for the week of January 14.  All classes will meet as normal.  We have created a schedule to spread out the assessments so that students are not overwhelmed.   Schedule for Mid-Year Assessments by Grade Level If you have any questions regarding

Recent WHS Graduates: We are planning the Second Annual Alumni Day @ WHS on Friday, December 21, with the goal of having recent graduates speak with our current seniors about college/life related topics. Our goal is for you to help the seniors prepare for life after Waldwick High School. Depending upon the response from the alumni, we would like to start the morning with a panel discussion in the Little Theater, followed-up with breakout sessions on different college/life related topics. If you would be interested in taking part in the Alumni Day on 12/21, please fill out this form: Alumni Day 2018 by Friday, December 7. Sample Panel Discussion Topics What to expect when you leave Waldwick. No more Waldwick bubble. If you could go back, what would you tell the current seniors? Best advice? Did you transfer? Why? Hidden costs of college? First year stories? Positive/negative? Roommates--how did you go about finding one, switches? Stress Creating your schedules...deciding on a major

Warrior Gear Sale!!!   The Web Store is now open.  Store will close on December 7th. https://whsholiday18.itemorder.com/sale

Boys County Soccer Tournament - Semi-Finals  Waldwick HS vs Ramsey HS Location - Ramapo HS  Time - 5pm 

MEET THE WHS GUIDANCE COUNSELORS DATE: Wednesday, October 3, 2018 TIME: 6:00pm - 7:00pm PLACE: WHS Little Theatre The guidance counselors will be on hand to meet with parents and provide generalized information about the WHS Guidance office. The counselors will talk about WHS graduation requirements, Naviance, and generalized college and career topics. After a short presentation, the counselors will answer any questions you may have. This presentation is not intended for student specific questions. If you have specific questions about your child, you would need to make an appointment or call your child’s counselor.

This year our Back-to-School Night will be held on Thursday, September 27 . The evening will begin at 7pm with all parents reporting to their child's 1st period class. Here are a few items to help you get through the night: All Physical Education and Health classes will meet in the Little Theater  Science "labs" do not meet  All Study Halls will meet in Media Center  Below is the schedule for the evening: Period 1 7:00 - 7:20 (Special Announcements & 8 minutes) Period 2 7:24 - 7:32 (8 minutes) Period 3 7:36 - 7:44 (8 minutes) Period 4 7:48 - 7:56 (8 minutes) Period 5 8:00 - 8:08 (8 minutes) Period 6 8:12 - 8:20 (8 minutes) Period 7 8:24 - 8:32 (8 minutes) Period 8 8:36 - 8:44 (8 minutes)

The Waldwick Stigma-Free Committee will host Talk Saves Lives, Monday, October 1st, 7:00 pm, Waldwick Public Library, 19 E. Prospect Street. This free program covers health, environmental and historical factors that can collectively contribute to an individual’s coping skills being compromised. Talk Saves Lives can help the many “gatekeepers” in our communities assess the warning signs of suicide in our families, friend groups, co-workers, and acquaintances. Free tickets can be reserved here: https://talksaveslives2018.eventbrite.com This program will give attendees a basic overview of suicide as a major cause of death. Attendees will gain a better understanding of suicide risk, a heightened awareness to identify warning signs, and an understanding of the importance to get at-risk individuals to life-assisting helpers in the community. For more information on the Talk Saves Lives program, please visit: https://afsp.org/our-work/education/talk-saves-lives-introduction-suicid

It is my pleasure to introduce Lois Gray to the Waldwick community. Mrs. Gray is our new school nurse and we are very excited to have her as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I grew up in Clifton with four sisters and one brother. I have lived in Waldwick for 21 years with my husband and our three children. I received my Nursing Degree from Ramapo College, the year my oldest graduated from high school. I continued my education at Felician University where I received my School Nurse Certification and a Masters in Education. I also received my Supervisory Certification from St. Peter's University last year. I have been a school nurse for almost nine years. What made you choose Education as a career? I began my nursing career after my daughter was born with the goal to become a nurse-midwife. I returned to school and after I graduated with my BSN, I worked at Hackensack University Medical Center in the Mother/Baby Department. During that time I

It is my pleasure to introduce Audrey Donahue to the Waldwick community.  Ms.  Donahue  will be a great addition to our Physical Education and Health Department. We are very excited to have her part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I grew up in River Vale, New Jersey and attended Pascack Valley High School. I was a competitive gymnast for 10 years and a member of my high school's varsity gymnastics team for 4 years. I went to Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania where I majored in Exercise Science. I then went on to earn my Master of Arts in Teaching Degree for Physical Education at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. Throughout my last year of high school and four years of college, I worked as a personal trainer and gymnastics instructor/coach. During my two years of graduate school, I also gained experience through substitute teaching at my hometown high school district. What made you choose Education as a career? From t

It is my pleasure to introduce Kevin Rutz to the Waldwick community.  Mr. Rutz will be a great addition to our Related Arts Department as a Technology teacher. We are very excited to have him as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I was born and raised in Toms River, NJ and I always filled the role of handyman for my family. I would build, install and fix anything that needed repair. I played football and tennis, sang in chorus and acted throughout high school. I began my college career at Ocean County College and completed my Bachelor's Degree in interdisciplinary business at TCNJ (the College of New Jersey). I returned to school for Technology Education and received my MAT in Technology Education as part of the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. What made you choose Education as a career? I originally earned a degree in Business, but was never satisfied with being behind a desk all day. Going back to my roots, I would spend my free time tinkering with new p

It is my pleasure to introduce Jeffrey Dodd to the Waldwick community. Mr. Dodd will be a great addition to our Science Department as a Biology teacher. We are very excited to have him as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I have lived all over Northern New Jersey, went to Ramapo College for my Bachelors of Science and then to Montclair State for my Masters in Education. What made you choose Education as a career? We'll I sort of fell into it and before doing so, I had no idea I would love it. I was asked to be a tutor in college, then picked up more classes building up to a supplemental instructor as the years went by. This is where I fell in love with teaching as I had my own class. Moving on to my Masters, I taught as a graduate assistant, and following that, spent a little time as an adjunct professor. I have been teaching in one form or another in the classroom for nearly eight years and find that I can always learn something new from col

It is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Cindy Abashkin to the Waldwick community. D r. Abashkin will be a great addition to our Science Department as a Biology teacher. We are very excited to have her as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? Growing up in Clifton, I was intrigued by Biology and Anatomy at an early age. I took that curiosity to Rutgers University to earn a degree in Biology and then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic to obtain my doctorate in Chiropractic. I have been practicing Chiropractic for ten years and have been teaching for two. What made you choose Education as a career? Having teachers at an early age that created a spark for knowledge is something I will always be grateful for. As I started teaching and consulting patients, I quickly realized how much I enjoyed teaching them about nutrition and wellness. Coming from a family of educators, I eventually came to realize it was a personal calling as well.  What appealed to you abo

It is my pleasure to introduce Kimberly Monico-Rifi to the Waldwick community. Mrs. Rifi will be a great addition to our Child Study Team as a School Psychologist.  We are very excited to have her as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I have had the awesome opportunity of teaching 3rd-5th grade in Waldwick, at Traphagen, for the past 14 years. I graduated from Montclair State University in 2001 with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Then, in 2007, I completed a Masters in Educational Psychology. In May of 2018, I completed a 2nd Masters in Clinical Psychology, with a School Psychology certification. I am really looking forward to continuing my career as the School Psychologist in the Waldwick School District. What made you choose Education as a career? I don't remember what made me choose it, honestly. I can, however, tell you why I am still here. It is the hardest job that you'll ever love. I have not met many people that love their job

WarriorNation, lets have some fun this year with all of those first day of school pics. WHS & WMS had signs made for our kids to hold up before you take that “Out the door, first day of school picture”. Below is a link to a Google Folder that has a sign for each grade level. You can print the appropriate grade level sign and have your child hold it up while you take the picture. 1st Day of School Signs (WHS/WMS) If you’re posting on social media, please consider using one of the following: Use the hashtag #OwnitWHS in your post (High School) Use the hashtag #PowerWMS in your post (Middle School) Use the hashtag #WarriorNation in your post (Both Schools) Mention or tag us on Twitter @WaldwickWHS or @Waldwickmiddle or on Instagram for the HS WaldwickWHS We would love to see as many pictures as possible this year. Make it happen #WarriorNation, lets have some fun with this!

I am pleased to announce that after a successful first year, WHS will continue with the My School Bucks online payment system for your child to purchase lunch. Accounts have been created for all students as of August 27.  The program will begin on the first day of school, which is Wednesday, September 5, 2018. The system is called My School Bucks. This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to add money to your student's meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. You will need your child's Genesis student ID number when setting up the account. You can also view recent purchases, check balances and set-up low balance alerts for FREE! My SchoolBucks provides : Convenience - Available 24/7 on the web or through our mobile app for your smartphone. Efficiency - Make payments for all of your students, even if they attend different schools within the district. Eliminate the need for your student to take money to school. Control - Set low balance a

A few reminders for the Class of 2019 ...  What you need to know about Senior Privileges (Parking & Open Campus) Seniors can pick up their parking pass this week on Wednesday, 8/29, and Thursday, 8/30, between 8:00AM and 1:00PM in the main office if they have completed the following: Submit all the required forms on Genesis (Parent Account) High School Parent Signature Sheet Chromebook/GAFE/Devices Random Drug Testing *If you plan to park on campus this is required  Seniors Only  Complete your Senior Parking Application Seniors are only allowed to park in the numbered spots in the lower lot. There are 57 student spots which have been numbered. Clearly, not enough for everyone, but that's what we have. Please remember, parking on campus is a privilege, not a right.   If parking becomes an issue with students parking in staff spots, I will implement a lottery system and assign spots per marking period. 

Ready for your kids to go back to school? Tired of your kids on Fortnite all day? Well our doors will be opening on Wednesday, September 5 and we can't wait to see them! Below is some information related to the start of school and a funny Fortnite video that I'm sure many of you can relate to.  September 5 we will follow a Special Schedule where all classes will meet. There is no Homeroom so everyone will report to their Period 1 class by 8am. Students should bring a copy of their schedule or a screen shot. Health classes will start on Thursday, 9/6. All students should report to the Gym on the first day.  Science Labs will not start until Thursday, 9/13. Locker # and combination are available on Genesis, as well as on your schedule. 2nd Year for the Rotating Drop Schedule  - General Info Our schedule is described as a "Rotating Drop" schedule. We follow a four day rotation, with two classes dropped per day. Each class is 59 minutes and everyone will have

Waldwick High School is committed to the safety and security of our students and staff. It continues to be a top priority for our educational community. To that end, I am pleased to announce that further steps have been taken to better secure our facility. I am pleased to report that surveillance cameras are being installed in and around the HS/MS complex. These cameras should be up and running prior to the start of the new school year. In addition to these new security measures, a new policy is being implemented that will better allow us to monitor and regulate the traffic through the school and main office. This policy will focus on visitors to the school who will be dropping off items for students. Starting with the first day of school, a table will be placed outside of the high school main entrance. This table will allow you to drop off items for your child. Items dropped off before 11am will be brought into the main office for students to pick up. Any items dropp

  Waldwick High School Partners with Positive Coaching Alliance to Benefit Youth Athletes August 14, 2018, Waldwick, NJ– Waldwick High School has established a 3-year partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit developing “Better Athletes, Better People” by working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building sports experience. The partnership provides Waldwick High School access to PCA’s training for coaches, sports parents, student-athletes and administrators, comprising live group workshops, online courses, books by PCA Founder Jim Thompson and additional online resources, such as e-mailed follow-up tips and reminders.  PCA has partnered with roughly 3,500 schools, districts, conferences, youth sports organizations and park-and-rec departments to create a Development ZoneTM culture, where the goal is using youth and high school sports to develop Better Athletes, Better People, Thompson said. “We look forward to

Sean Fisher 10th Anniversary Memorial Event Sunday, August 19 at 5 PM - 7 PM Waldwick High School Turf Sean Fisher passed away ten years ago this upcoming August. To honor his life, we want to hold a ceremony. We want to bring not only bring Sean’s classmates together but more importantly the Waldwick community as a whole. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible with all proceeds going to the Sean Fisher Memorial Foundation. We want to raise awareness for early age heart condition screening. What is a better way to celebrate Sean's life and bring people together than with great music? We are challenging you to create a team and showcase your musical talents for a great cause. No musical talent, no problem! Bring your car singing skills and mirror dancing moves to our Air Band competition! For those of you who are not familiar with Air Band, do not worry. All you need is your favorite song, some close friends, and a sweet dance routine. No singing required! See the link b

*Yes I said the wrong year in the video. Mistakes happen. For the tenth consecutive year, Waldwick High School has teamed up with the Sean Fisher Memorial Foundation and the Gift of Life Foundation to honor the life of Sean Fisher and provide heart screenings to all 9th graders. The screening program is offered at no cost to the Freshman class ONLY and will take place at Waldwick High School on Thursday, September 20 and Friday, September 21 during school hours.  The company that will be handling the screening is mCORE . Screenings takes approximately 15-20 minutes and includes: electrocardiogram (EKG) and echocardiogram. In order for a freshman to take advantage of this opportunity, they most go online, select a time slot and create an account on the mCORE site using the link below. ** Heart Screening -Registration/Flyer ** If you have any questions please see/call/email Mr. Carroll. Please check out the Sean Fisher Memorial Foundation website to l

Again this year we opening Genesis Parent Access earlier so parents have the ability to complete all of the necessary forms. Once the required forms are completed, your child(ren)’s schedule will be visible on both the parent account and student account. Through Genesis Parent Access , all parents are required to complete the following forms under the Forms Tab. Once you click on the form link, you have the ability to read and sign all forms online (Forms are only available through parent accounts). High School Parent Signature Sheet (Required 9-12) Chromebook/GAFE/Devices Sign-off Form (Required 9-12) PayForIt is up and ready to accept payment for the Chromebook Insurance Fee. Directions for online payment . In addition to the two forms mentioned above, you will also see forms for Random Drug Testing and Senior Privileges. Random Drug Testing All students who participate in extracurricular activities, interscholastic and intramural athletics, or who possess school parking pe

Physical Education Uniforms @ WHS If you need to order a PE uniform for the upcoming school year please see below: Please use this link for pricing, order deadlines, and submitting an order: https://whspe18.itemorder.com/sale Deadline to order is Friday, September 14, 2018 ***Important*** It is a mandatory requirement for all HS Students to wear at least the WHS PE Department T-shirt and Shorts. Failure to do so will penalize a student's overall PE Grade. All orders should arrive to the High School by the last week of September. No student will be penalized until the orders have arrived.  Until then, the PE Dept. will allow students to change into any appropriate top (t-shirt) and bottom (mesh/athletic shorts) that are grey or navy. Please contact Mr. Hagen if you have any questions. hagenm@waldwickschools.org

Register now for next year's PSAT Test @ Waldwick High School on October 13, 2018 The Waldwick High School Guidance Department advises that all juniors take the PSAT/Preliminary SAT Test, which is held in October each year. The Guidance Department highly recommends all sophomores take this test as well. This test serves as a practice SAT for 10th grade student. For the 11th grade student, taking this test will qualify them for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.  See link for everything you need to know regarding the PSAT @ WHS  (Registration, cost, etc) PSAT Registration Info  (Registration is still open) 

All 9th graders and transfer students new to WHS are invited to our 9th Grade Orientation on Thursday, August 30 at 1pm @ Waldwick High School.  During the orientation, students will get to walk their schedule, check their locker and hear from student leaders on what to expect at WHS.  In addition, all students who have all of their forms submitted through the Genesis Parent Portal and have purchased the Chromebook insurance will be issued their Chromebooks.   ** Everything you need to know to get your Chromebook ** This student focused event will start promptly at 1pm in the Little Theater and will last until 2:30pm.  The peer mentors and I are looking forward to meeting all of you and are excited for the 2018 - 2019 school year.   All students need to bring is a copy of their schedule with them.  

Athletic Paperwork for the Fall 2018 - Guest post from Jeff Basilicato (Boz) The fall season is almost upon us and the deadline of August 1 to hand in fall paperwork is even closer. I wanted to reach out to explain exactly which four items are needed in order to be cleared for participation for the fall season. The following links contain the files and information required for participation. These forms must be completed in full, and without errors or they will be returned for completion. Required Athletic Paperwork for High School Sports   (Link) A few notes: -The physical must be completed in full and signed by the student, parent and physician in all the applicable places. Please take care to note before leaving the doctor's office that all values (height, weight, vision etc.) must be filled in or the physical will be returned for completion. -If the athlete sees an eye doctor, the physician who performs the physical might not perform a vision exam. In this case, a copy of

Waldwick High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018 The Waldwick High School Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and excited to announce the 2018 class of inductees. Since 1963, Warrior Nation has been represented by many outstanding athletes, coaches, and teams.  The 2018 class features five outstanding individuals, two coaches, one team, and one special contributor. Kenneth Freitag ’67 Tracy D’Annibale Green ’84 Claudio Petrucelli ’84 Michelle Straut ’88 Keelan Kraw ’89 Coach ~ Steve Konde Coach ~ Tony Caiazzo Team ~ 1985-86 Girls’ Basketball Team Special Contributor ~ Kevin Kenney Congratulations to the 2018 class of inductees of the Waldwick High School Athletic Hall of Fame.   The inductees will be honored at a ceremony on November 1, 2018 at 6:30pm at  Macaluso’s, Hawthorne, NJ For more information, Click Here - Hall of Fame Info

WALDWICK HIGH SCHOOL May Students of the Month 2017 – 2018 SOCIAL STUDIES JACK DUNICH - Jack, a junior, has excelled this year in AP Economics and Honors US History II.  He is a hard-working, attentive and self-motivated student who has flourished in the social sciences.  He is able to grasp high level economic theory, as well as the complex events of the World Wars.   Jack impresses us with his ability to balance academics with athletics, involvement in clubs and a part-time job.  Add the fact that he is an outstanding school citizen and we can say that not only is Jack a treasured asset to our Social Studies classes, but to the entire Warrior community. ATHLETICS SAMANTHA STALLARD – Samantha is a sophomore on the Spring Track Team this season.  She is a hurdler who has put together a tremendous month.   Samantha was named First Team All-League and is the 2018 NJIC Patriot Division Champion in the 100 meter high hurdles.  This month, she was a member of