Waldwick High School Principal's Blog

Ms. Monell’s ( @SraMonell  ) Spanish 3 Honors students just finished a powerful unit on heroism.    The class first discussed and reflected on their definition  of a hero and read several pieces of literature on the subject.  They watched the powerful movie, Voces Inocentes ,  and then worked in groups from topics that springboarded from the movie.   Voces Inocentes (English title: Innocent Voices) is a 2004 Mexican film directed by Luis Mandoki.  The plot is set during the Salvadoran Civil War, and is based on writer, Óscar Torres's, childhood.  The film serves as a general commentary on the military use of children.  The movie also shows injustice against innocent people who are forced to fight in the war.  It follows the story of the narrator, a boy named Chava  ( from Wikipedia.com) One of the projects gave a splendid opportunity to the students to have a firsthand experience with the his...

Earlier this week,  Ms. Hused escorted the Heroes and Cool Kids to the elementary schools for their second visit this year. Great group of student leaders! Wondering what  Heroes and Cool Kids is all about?   Heroes and Cool Kids is a peer group composed of student-athletes who train with other student-athletes and professional and amateur athletes.  Students develop three lesson plans which they then teach in small teams to all 5th grade students at Traphagen and Crescent Elementary Schools.    Topics include bullying and sportsmanship, transitions, healthy choices and substance abuse.  Heroes and Cool Kids attend three training sessions and make three classroom visits during the school year.  Ms. Hused is the advisor of the group and nominations for the club are made by coaches and teachers in the early spring.  

What an amazing Fall Season!!  Last Friday the Booster Club sponsored the Fall Varsity Dinner where 140 students-athletes received their varsity letter.   Thank you to all the athletes, coaches, team mangers/statisticians and parents for all you did to make the Fall season one of the best in school history.   Special thanks to Mr. Clancy for his leadership and vision for the WHS Athletic Program.  By dedicating their time and attention to detail, Mr. Clancy and his secretary, Mrs. Brewer, make the Waldwick Athletic Department something we are all very proud of.   Team/Individual Highlights from the Varsity Dinner: Boys Soccer All League First Team: Dennis Reyes Andrew Hymson Matt Gimelli Sean Hillringhouse Dan Walsh Second Team: Jostin Soriano-Reyes Chris Cameron Chris Revello Dominik Sroczynski Honorable Mention: Nick Van Ness ...

The Winter Sports Season begins this Friday, December 20.  The teams have been working hard in the pre-season and are focused on accomplishing their goals. For all athletic schedules you can go to WHS Athletic Calendar    and see schedules for all the WHS teams. If you need directions to away events, please check our league website NJIC and their link for school directions .  Opening Weekend Events: Friday, December 20 4:00 pm Basketball:  Girls Varsity Game vs. Midland Park @ Midland Park High School 4:00 pm Basketball:  Boys Freshman Game vs. Midland Park @ Midland Park High School 5:30 pm Basketball:  Girls JV Game vs. Midland Park @ Midland Park High School 5:30 pm Basketball:  Boys JV Game vs. Midland Park @ Waldwick High School 7:00 pm Basketball:  Boys Varsity Game vs. Midland Park @ Waldwick High School Saturday, December 21 8:00 am Wrestling:  Varsity Tournament  TBA @ TCNJ 9:00 am Indoor Track:  Vars...

For all 10 th  and 11 th  Grade Students who took the PSAT’s here in October: We have been advised that we will not receive the PSAT Scores until the week after the holiday break.  Normally we would have received the scores by early December, but the College Board has advised that this year they had a considerable  increase in the amount of students taking the PSAT’s and therefore they have required more time to score the reports.  So some schools have already received the scores, while others (like WHS) will not receive the scores until after the holiday break. Once we receive the scores we will distribute them to the students and send an email out that the scores were handed out so that parents know when to expect them. Thank you and we will keep you posted.

Congratulations to Mrs. Serwin and the members of the Chorus as well as Mrs. Montella and the Concert Band and Jazz Band on a great Winter Concert.  Special thanks to Ms. Sobkowicz and her students for putting together such a beautiful program. In case you missed the concert, The Music Parents Association took some great videos of the concert band and Jazz Band.  See links below: WHS Concert Band WHS Jazz Band Concert Band Members: Kurtis  Cathey Kyle  Clarito Shane  Daly Bryan  Fotino Ryan  Griffin Joe  Hurban Troy  Kariofiles Chris    Komjian Giovanni  Lindsay Cara  Montella Joyce  Palacios Chris    Park Jack  Patronick Kevin  Petruccello B...

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT January 8, 2014 at 6:30pm in the Little Theater. This program will provide an excellent opportunity for parents to learn about what aid is available, and how to apply for it. Parents who have older children, and who have experience  in applying for financial aid, will be made aware of recent changes in the financial aid picture. Financial aid application forms will be available, and will be reviewed on a line-by-line basis.   Additionally, parents will have the opportunity to ask questions related to any aspect of the  application process, as well as the various federal and state programs that currently exist. This presentation is geared more to the senior parents because they will be completing the FAFSA after January 1st. The junior parents will gain the knowledge about the financial aid process an entire year before  they have to complete the FAFSA, to better prepare them when it is their turn to do so.

Here are some pictures from last Saturday's Football State Championship Game.   The outcome might not have been what we all wanted, but the coaches and players made all of us extremely proud.    On behalf on the Waldwick High School Administration, the Midland Park High School Administration and the Football Team, we wanted to thank all of the fans for coming out to the game.  The support for the WARRIORS was amazing!!   Special thanks to Mrs. Greenwald for the great pictures.  

WALDWICK HIGH SCHOOL November Students of the Month 2013 – 2014 SCIENCE ANNAMARIE PUGLISE - Annamarie is the Science Department co-recipient of Student of the Month because she is devoted in her pursuit of scientific knowledge.   Anna is very dedicated to science and is currently enrolled in two science courses, Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Placement Biology.   She is excelling at each, maintaining an average above a 90% in both courses.   Anna is very enthusiastic about her studies and a conscientious student.   She repeatedly questions difficult concepts and shows the inquiry skills needed to study science. FRANKLIN WEBSTER - Franklin is the Science Department co-recipient of Student of the Month.   Franklyn excels in Anatomy and AP Chemistry.   A combination of academic prowess, work ethic and the ability to reason has made Franklyn a model student.   While he may be quiet, he works with great intensity and thoroughness. ...

NICOLAS BRADLEY, Class of 2014 We are very excited for Nick! We haven’t had a student receive a Division 1 Athletic Scholarship in a number of years! Nick was offered a Division 1 Athletic Scholarship to play Tennis at the Citadel. Nick signed with the Citadel and will be working with their Head Tennis Coach, Chuck Kriese next year. Nick signed with Citadel in November. For the third consecutive year, The Citadel has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the top public college in the south for institutions granting up to a master's degree. While the internationally renowned South Carolina Corps of Cadets is the traditional centerpiece for the college, they also operate non-military degree and certification programs in The Citadel Graduate College and the Evening Undergraduate Studies program, which appeal to people interested in furthering their education or careers. Nick has been playing tennis since he was four years old. He has earned various athletic awards t...

This weeks episode of Wake Up Waldwick .   For more great student produced videos check out the official YouTube channel for Waldwick High School - Warrior Broadcast Center  

On Saturday, December 7 the Waldwick/Midland Park Football Team will take on Westwood HS in the North I Group 2 State Sectional Championship @  Kean University at 4pm. This is the second time in school history that the football team has played for the State Championship.  Waldwick won the state championship back in the fall of 1988.  The team is counting on support from the entire Waldwick community.  Please consider attending the game and being part of the greatest “Fan” section around WarriorNation!   Ticket price info: $2 students/seniors and $5.50/ adults. Direction to Kean University -  http://bit.ly/1cst6g5 1000 Morris Ave  Union, NJ 07083 WarriorNation T-Shirts will be on sale tomorrow in the main entrance from 2:50 - 3:15. WarriorNation Terrable Towels will also be available starting tomorrow.  Towels are $5 each.

Mr. Opderbeck accompanied a group of ninth and tenth grade students to a Euro Challenge orientation session at Rutgers University.  They heard several speakers including European studies professors, economists from the European Delegation, and policy-makers from the New York Federal Reserve.  These students will be participating in the Euro Challenge, a national economics competition in which they analyze an economic issue confronting the Euro Area and recommend policies to address the problem.  For more information about Euro Challenge check out their site:   http://www.euro-challenge.org Great day with awesome students at Euro Challenge orientation at Rutgers U @eurochallenge pic.twitter.com/0nUtvpfOMZ — Theodore Opderbeck (@opderbeckt) December 4, 2013

    A number of the soccer players were honored at the BCBSCA Awards Dinner held at The Fiesta on Monday, November 25.  Dennis Reyes was recognized as the NJIC Player of the Year, Joe Hurban received the NJIC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and Dennis Reyes and Matt Gimelli were recognized for earning a spot in the Bergen All-Star game to be held on Wednesday, November 27, in Ft Lee.  Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes on a fantastic season! Dennis Reyes is recognized as NJIC player of the year tonight at the Fiesta pic.twitter.com/ldwDQy3xDJ — waldwick soccer (@whs_boys_soccer) November 26, 2013 Dennis Reyes and Matt Gimelli are recognized for earning a spot in Bergen All-Star game this wed night at Ft Lee pic.twitter.com/rAcxIJ7Dy4 — waldwick soccer (@whs_boys_soccer) November 26, 2013 Joe Hurban receiving the NJIC Scholar Athlete of the Year at the Fiesta tonight! #futureengineer pic.twitter.com/Xc7lvGpZRC — waldwick socc...

Congratulations to the Waldwick/Midland Park Cheerleading squad for winning yet another competition this past Sunday.  The competition was the UCC Fall Invitational Competition held at Fairleigh Dickinson University.  The girls won overall champions in the "cheer" and "cheer/dance" category.   Thank you Coach Terzini and Coach Gomez for a great fall season.  Congratulations to Emily Borgese and Alyssia Pacheco for earning second degree of excellences for doubles dance.   Congratulations to Shayna O'Reilly, Bridget Coumbe and Katie Para for earning first degree of  excellences for triple dance.