Waldwick High School Principal's Blog

 Holiday Art work from Mrs. Forste and her Art students. Amazing work! 

Schedule for January and February 2021 WHS calendars for January and February 2021. Please pay particular attention to the weeks listed below and note that they do not follow the usual pattern: Week of January 18, 2021 Week of February 8, 2021 Week of February 15, 2021 ** Special Schedule for 1/18/21 WHS January, 2021 Calendar WHS February, 2021 Calendar

From our friends at The Bergen County Division of Mental Health Hello! The holidays are upon us and we wanted to address the ups and downs of this season. Attached you will find two items – an article about the Holiday Blues and a Wellness Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide has lots of great ideas. Some items have direct links for purchase, other items can easily be found through your search engine. These items are available from a variety of vendors including Etsy, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and more. Even if you have already completed your seasonal shopping, this guide can be used for any occasion in the future or just to let someone know you care. Please distribute to your community. Holiday Gift Guide for Mental Health  Holiday Blues 2020 We wish you a wonderful remainder to 2020 and Jubilant New Year! May it be filled with joy, laughter, warmth and love. Regards, The Bergen County Division of Mental Health ( Michele, Stephanie, Haley, Wendy and Mary)

 

Due to recent events within the district and after consulting with the officers at the Northwest Regional Health Department, out of an abundance of caution the Waldwick Public Schools will pivot to fully-remote instruction from Monday, November 30, through Friday, December 4. We will return to the hybrid in-person instructional schedule on Monday, December 7.  See letter from Dr. Casarico - Post Thanksgiving Schedule For the High School, we will slightly adjust the schedule for next week. See image and link for the bell schedule. * Full Virtual Bell Schedule   Students will be expected to attend all classes and teachers will be taking attendance each period.  Students will not have the option of checking-in via Genesis. 

https://t.co/z1VpSFDw9u pic.twitter.com/hzQddRz7K7 — Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) November 25, 2020 Have a college student home for a visit? Help him/her apply for a mail-in ballot so they can participate in the Waldwick School District Stronger Schools Referendum. pic.twitter.com/Ehvm0VTFZU — Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) November 23, 2020 Our schools could be modernized it exciting ways, with voter approval Jan. 26. Learn more at https://t.co/7FoWv3GYny . pic.twitter.com/TGtd5SqMsX — Kevin Carroll (@Kevin_Carroll_) November 19, 2020

The 2020 Warrior Gear Sale is here!  Orders will be accepted until Sunday, December 6.  All orders will be delivered starting December 16th.  Get your holiday shopping done early! You can order via the  Online Store

  We are all in this together.  Finding a way!  \\

Clothing and Shoe drive for Waldwick Music Parents Association on  November  15, 2020. 

  Congratulations to WHS Senior, Olivia Wolodkowicz, this year's recipient of the   LOUIS BAY 2nd FUTURE MUNICIPAL LEADERS SCHOLARSHIP .  This $1,000 award was presented to Olivia by Mr. Thomas A. Giordano, Mayor of Waldwick.  The scholarship is  offered to juniors and seniors by the NJ State Municipalities.   This statewide scholarship competition is based on the following essay question: " What My Municipal Government Does Best "   The purpose of this scholarship is to advance the virtues of elected and volunteer positions in municipal government while raising awareness of municipal government in general. This scholarship competition has been named in honor of Louis Bay 2nd, Mayor Emeritus of Hawthorne. Louis Bay 2nd actively participated in the The New Jersey State League of Municipalities as a Board Member and Past President for 60 years.

AP EXAM REGISTRATION Students currently enrolled in an AP Class should start making payment for the exam(s) based upon the class(es) they are enrolled in.  PaySchools Central is setup and ready to accept payment for your AP classes. Payment Info Use PaySchools Central  t o make your payment https://www.payschoolscentral.com The fee is $94+ (transaction fee) per test  Payment deadline: Friday, October 21st If you are having trouble with PaySchools, please contact Chris Gander, Director of Technology via his email ganderc@waldwickschools.org *Please take care of payment ASAP. Should you have any questions, please see your counselor. This post only applies to students currently enrolled in an AP Class this school year (2020/2021). 

It is my pleasure to introduce Ms. Jean Marsicovete to the Waldwick community. Ms. Marsicovete is our new Band Teacher 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 Parsippany, NJ and graduated from Parsippany High School. While in high school, I was involved with all of the Performing Arts classes and extracurriculars including marching band, concert band, jazz band, choir and theatre. I went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. I'll be entering my 4th year of teaching during the 2020-2021 school year at Waldwick High School. What made you choose Education as a career? I always had amazing teachers growing up who made me love school. I enjoyed being a student and learning anything new. Ever since 4th grade, I have played an instrument and freshman year of high school, I came to the realization that I loved being in band so much that I couldn't give ...

It is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Donald Lafferty to the Waldwick community. Chef Lafferty is our new Culinary Arts Teacher and we are very excited to have him as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I’ve lived in Bergen County for most of my life and enjoy spending time with my wife and son. I’m a graduate of both The Culinary Institute of America and St. John’s University. My experience includes working as a Sous Chef for several NYC hotels and restaurants and more recently, working in the Healthcare Sector. What made you choose Education as a career? During my time in the business world I’ve enjoyed teaching and mentoring others, and I have wanted to leverage my diverse education and experience to teach others for some time now. What appealed to you about Waldwick High School? It was clearly and quickly apparent after speaking with Waldwick Administration that Waldwick is where I want to be. The desire by administration to improve and expand the Cul...

It is my pleasure to introduce Ms. Yeni Alfaro to the Waldwick community. Ms. Alfaro is our new Spanish/ESL Teacher and we are very excited to have her as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I was born in El Salvador and moved to Waldwick, NJ at the age of ten. I attended the Waldwick Public Schools up until my sophomore year when my parents decided to move to another town. Although I did not get to graduate from Waldwick High School, I kept in touch with most of my classmates and my heart remained a Waldwick Warrior. I attended Montclair State University and majored in Spanish Education with a second field certification in teaching English as a Second Language. I taught ESL in Passaic for seven years, I was a maternity leave replacement at Ridgewood High School last year and I am now back to my old high school teaching my native language of Spanish and the language that I learned when I arrived to this country: English. What made you choose Education as a...

  I t is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Andrew Fucarino to the Waldwick community. Mr. Fucarino is our new Physics Teacher and we are very excited to have him as part of WHS. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? I grew up in Waldwick and attended Crescent Elementary, as well as Waldwick Middle School and High School. I ran Cross Country and Track, serving as a captain on both teams. I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Physics and Mathematics, as well as a Masters Degree in Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I served as both an undergraduate and graduate teaching assistant throughout my five years in Troy, New York. Upon graduation, I pursued teaching certification through the Alternate Route in New Jersey. What made you choose Education as a career? I come from a family of teachers. My mother is a special education teacher, and my two older sisters work at the elementary and high school levels. I've always seen teaching someone else as the best ...

The first week of October (5 - 9) is designated as the Week of Respect. Every year all over the state of NJ schools engage in activities that promote safe and supportive school environments devoid of harassment, intimidation and bullying. This year our Week of Respect activities will be offered virtually so that all may participate. Monday and Tuesday will be “wear blue day” both at school or at home. Blue is the National color for Bullying Prevention. Thursday and Friday will be “wear orange “ both at school and at home. Orange is the Waldwick color representing a bullying free environment. Each day of the week a new quote will be posted. Along with the quote, there will be a challenge that we hope all students will take on their own. Any student wishing to share their experience in taking on this challenge should feel free to email Mrs. Fortini with a summary of their experience. On Wednesday, a video will be posted for students and families to use as a format for discussion....

 Principal's Message  Here is the site for the 2020 Virtual Back to School Night.  WHS BTSN 2020

Dear Parents and Athletes, The time has finally come for our athletes to be competing again. Our first games are a week away. We can’t wait to see our teams out on the courts, race course and fields. The NJSIAA, NJIC and Waldwick High School have issued some new protocols for game-day. These guidelines are being implemented with health and safety as our top priority, as well as following executive orders issued by Governor Murphy.  Here are the new procedures for games for the 2020 Fall Season: All Fall Sport Guidelines Football Specific Guidelines Please note that these guidelines could change at any time. We will communicate any new changes that may come up throughout the season. Our teams have been working hard the last couple of weeks and are ready to begin competitive contests. We all just need to do our part so that our student-athletes and our opponents have a safe, healthy and positive experience. If you have any questions or concerns at any time throughout the school...

Parents/Guardians: WMS and WHS are coordinating with the Waldwick Public Library to help students either renew, replace missing, or get first time library cards to expand their reading options. In addition to the curbside pick up that the public library is offering, a valid library card will allow students to use LIBBY , an app that gives patrons access to thousands of current, high-interest ebooks and audiobooks. As students’ language arts and reading classes assign independent reading throughout the school year, the LIBBY app will offer fantastic, additional reading options for students. If your daughter/son does not have a valid Waldwick Public Library card you can fill-out this online form to help them get one: Please fill-out the form by Monday, October 5, 2020. The public library will create the physical cards and I will collect them and bring them to WMS/WHS for distribution to the students. We will make arrangements for students who are learning remotely to get their new...

  Please help support the 2021 Senior Class parents raise money for the Grad Ball. WALDWICK WARRIORS S'well Bottle Description: 17 oz. Stainless Steel Insulated Color-Blue Suede with Warrior Logo $35 each plus a $2 fee for online payment convenience. No Shipping fees Bottles will be available for pick-up Mid October. ***WE HAVE A LIMITED SUPPLY OF THIS STYLE AVAILABLE SO PLACE YOUR ORDER NOW!*** CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO PLACE YOUR ORDER: HTTPS://WHS-GRAD-BALL-FUNDRAISER-103848.SQUARE.SITE/

 Quick Check in 

Waldwick High School will be a national testing center for the administration of the PSAT Exam and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. This test will be available to Juniors only. In the past, we have offered the PSAT's/NMSQT on Saturday's and students were charged a fee. We now offer the test free of charge during the school day. The PSAT is an excellent opportunity to prepare and gain an understanding of the SAT exam. Juniors are eligible for a National Merit Scholarship depending upon their score. PSAT study guides will be handed out to all Juniors. English and Math teachers will be taking time to review the study guide with the students.  For full-time remote learners, we will be scheduling a time for you to pickup your study guide and pre-grid your answer sheet. A separate email will be sent on those details. If there is a parent/guardian who wishes not to have their child sit for the test, I ask that you have a conversation with yo...

Calendar change for the last week of September We are making a change to our monthly calendar for the month of September. The week of September 28 has been adjusted. It is as follows: (We will be dropping Pride A Day)  Monday, September 28, 2020 – School Closed Tuesday, September 29, 2020 – Spirit A Day (1, 3, 5, & 7 - Afternoon 4 & 8) Wednesday, September 30, 2020 – Virtual Day for all students (Periods 1-8) Thursday, October 1, 2020 – Pride B Day (2, 4, 6, & 8 - Afternoon 1 & 5) Friday, October 2, 2020 – Spirit B Day (2, 4, 6, & 8 - Afternoon 3 & 7) I apologize if this causes you any inconvenience. Please adjust your plans accordingly.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All mental health advocates, prevention organizations, allies and community members unite to promote suicide awareness. WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY is September 10th. This is a time to remember those affected by suicide, to raise awareness and focus efforts on those in need of treatment. Research shows that people who have thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Acknowledging and talking about suicide can reduce risk. Creating communities in which individuals can live stigma free and find accessible mental health resources is an important step in suicide prevention and mental health awareness. In a time of physical distancing it is most important that we remind one another and ourselves that this does not mean we are alone. Now more than ever it is important to stay connected, check on loved ones, reach out to friends and offer support to those who may struggle socially, be isolated and struggle ...

 

September, 2020 Dear Parents of Freshmen Athletes, Welcome to Waldwick High School and our Warriors Athletic Program.  I know this is a new and exciting year for your student-athlete.  It is also a very different year than what we have had in the past.  However, no matter what, at WHS our goal is to provide your son or daughter with the best possible high school athletic experience we can.   Here is a general outline of what our program provides: 21 Varsity Sports: - Normal School Year Fall - Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Football, Cheerleading, Girls Volleyball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Tennis Winter - Wrestling, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Girls Indoor Track, Boys Indoor Track Spring - Golf, Softball, Baseball, Boys Lacrosse, Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Boys Outdoor Track, Girls Outdoor Track 11 of our programs have JV teams and 6 of our programs have Freshman teams           New Changes for 2...

Attention Seniors: RE: VIRTUAL COLLEGE FAIR On Wednesday, Sept. 16 and Thursday, Sept. 17, attend a free, virtual college fair hosted by the Coalition for College. The event features 130+ colleges and universities all committed to access, affordability and student success. Please check out the following link regarding a virtual college fair . 130+ Coalition members will gather to share information about their schools and to answer your questions, live.

What you need to know to be ready for the start of in person learning.  Parent / Student Update (Presentation)

School starts tomorrow, Thursday 9/3, at 8 AM.  All classes virtual! 

Important Links: FT Remote Learners - What to Expect (Presentation) WHS Re-Start website 

 Understanding the Student Scheduled in Genesis - short video explaining what you see in Genesis

What you need to know related to Chromebook distribution for the class of 2024.  Wednesday, August 26th 9 - 11am  

  Class of 2021 - Info on the College Admission Process (COVID-19 related).   This video is a summary of a Zoom meeting I attended with College Admissions Officers from Michigan State University, Stevens Institute of Technology and  San Diego State University.   Notes from the meeting. Notes 8/20 Zoom

Genesis is now open.  Once all required forms are completed in Parent Access, student schedules will be visible.  Reading your schedule... On the schedule you will see the word “Virtual” under the teacher's name. The word virtual will appear depending upon the date and which cohort you are a part of.  The word virtual will appear for the Full-time Remote Learners everyday.  For the Pride and Spirit groups, it will appear on the days you are scheduled to be remote and for every afternoon class.  The first two days of school, Thursday, 9/3, and Friday, 9/4, will be virtual days for all students. All classes will meet. Students from Pride, Spirit and Full-Time Remote are expected to attend each class and attendance will be taken. Monday, 9/7, school is closed for Labor Day. On Tuesday, 9/8, the Pride group will be in the building and your schedule will NOT say virtual for your morning classes. For the Spirit group, your schedule will say virtual all day. On Wednesd...

We are open!!! Genesis Parent Access is now open 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). Reading your schedule... On the schedule you will see the word “Virtual” under the teacher's name. The word virtual will appear depending upon the date and which cohort you are a part of.  The word virtual will appear for the Full-Time Remote Learners everyday.  For the Pride and Spirit groups, it will appear on the days you are scheduled to be remote and for every afternoon class.  The first two days of school, Thursday, 9/3, and Friday, 9/4, will be virtual days for al...

Athletic Paperwork for the Fall 2020 - Guest post from Jeff Basilicato (Boz) The fall season is almost upon us and it is looking very promising that we will be able to compete this season! Understandably, everything is a little different this year. The fall season officially starts for in person practice on Monday September 14th and we will need all of the medical paperwork submitted in order to be cleared for those practices. Often times there are errors or omissions with paperwork, so submitting paperwork by Monday September 7th is very strongly recommended so you are certain to be cleared for the first day of practice. As always there are four items 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. A physical, completed by your physician dated September 13, 2019 or more recent. ...