KNIGHT TIMES PARENT NEWSLETTER September 2017 Volume 111
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Morris Hills High School KNIGHT TIMES PARENT NEWSLETTER September 2017 Volume 111 September 2017 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students of the Morris Hills High School Community, I am never too sure just how the month of August and the onset of September present themselves with such amazing regularity; but it never seems to fail that the re-opening of school suddenly appears, full of Scarlet Knights sound and fury, as students, parents, teachers, and the entire community re-group and begin anew. As your Principal, I once again welcome you all to the 2017 – 2018 school year, anticipating a playing field “Building The Future, of partnership which fulfills the goals and dreams to which we all connect in our own special way. Toward One Student that end, I send you my deepest gratitude for your ongoing support and your consistent enthusiasm in At A Time” advancing the mission of Morris Hills High School. As building Principal, it has been my practice to approach the academic year by identifying a school-wide Todd M. Toriello theme to help anchor our initiatives and to focus our outlook as a school community. In an effort to offer Principal a theme that resonates, I elect to link our theme directly to our district’s summer read, this year an experience that brings to center stage a true story of a young boy diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome Robert Merle, Jr. who, after years of struggles, disappointments, and misunderstandings, rises above his disability, Assistant Principal ultimately becomes a teacher, and finds himself the recipient of a coveted teacher of the year award. As we become involved in his story, we soon realize how we ourselves are so centrally responsible for the Eugene Melvin outcomes of our own destinies – not the outside forces of life, however important they may be, but rather Assistant Principal the inner forces that invite us and challenge us to create a “personal masterpiece,” if we are inclined to Emily Barkocy write that kind of script for ourselves. The manner in which we do so, regardless of obstacle or Assistant Principal impediment, often requires us to move beyond confining lines and boundaries and expectations, and set our minds on soaring high in our own special way. To support the message behind the story, I propose Robert Haraka the following school-wide theme for the 2017 – 2018 school year: Create Your Own Masterpiece – Color Supervisor of Student Outside the Lines. It is my hope that our theme presents a challenge for our entire school community to Services/Athletics come together – professionals, parents, and students – in celebrating our unique capabilities to contribute to a better world through individual effort and individual style, moving outside of the boxes that Yesenia Rivera all too often confine us and define our limits. Let us all, instead, attempt to look through a lens of limitless Supervisor of possibilities and leave our own personal masterpiece for others to consider as they become the Guidance architects of their own. An assembly program on October 5th will serve as a culminating activity to the summer read, one we expect to be an enlightening and enriching reading experience. This September, following a serious, intensive interview process, Morris Hills High School welcomes a group of newly hired professionals to join our professional family – a process we approach with an eye for excellence and competence. Each new employee comes to us with the highest degree of professional recommendation, and we are eager to welcome the entire new group to an already exemplary faculty. I encourage all parents/guardians to come to our fall Back to School Nights on September 27, 2017 and October 5, 2017 to begin to build new bridges with our staff; and I encourage all students to build those bridges as well in your classrooms. Emphasis on facilities is an ongoing focus area in the Morris Hills Regional District and is one reason why Morris Hills High School still smacks of newness and up to date features after its 1953 opening. Some recent upgrades are these: a new digital TV in the gym foyer for information sharing; a new sound system in the main gym, with special thanks to the Home and School Association; new garbage receptacles throughout the building; a windscreen facing Main Street; additional etched plaques inside and outside the auditorium; new blinds for the Career Center; a new roof on the Academy building; replacement work station tables in the professional work area; the addition of charging stations for mobile devices and computers; new front doors on the building; new banners on the campus; new construction on Gifford Field’s snack shack, complete with bathroom facilities; new tennis court upgrades; new office furniture for the General Office; new carpet in the band room; a maker space in the Academy building; stage skirting for the auditorium. We continue to take great pride in our appearance, believing strongly in the old adage, “let your setting send your message.” Speaking of message, we are very proud to share that Morris Hills High is named in US News and World Report’s Best High Schools, receiving the Silver Award. Our high school ranks 59th in the State of New Jersey and among the top 7% of high schools across the nation. Like all school success stories, we understand that they come about only as a direct result of professional initiatives carried out by caring, competent professionals. To enumerate just some of the initiatives for the 2017 – 2018 school year, I share the following: the introduction of a new Learner-Active Technology-Infused Classroom to raise academic rigor, student engagement in learning, and student responsibility for learning; the introduction of a one-to-one chromebook initiative for the incoming Freshman Class of 2021; the introduction of the second cohort of students for the Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Class of 2021, now bringing forth two classes of students instead of one; the introduction of one homework free weekend per marking period, an outgrowth of the Stress and Anxiety Roundtable conversation last year; the continuation of the Instructional Coaching Model, entering its second year of operation; the continuation of quarterly exam weeks, with no quarterly assessments in marking period three; one testing window for PARCC; and the beginning of the “paperless” trail, going completely paperless with the summer mailing. All forms and letters are posted on the FamilyID with form submission on the FamilyID portal. Allow me to close this correspondence by offering each of you the same challenge that I accept for myself as we embark on a new school year together. That challenge is to approach the year with a clear and specific goal to guide our attitudes and our actions – a goal to create our own masterpiece in whatever realm that may be; and whether we color inside the lines or push the boundaries and color outside the lines, may our masterpiece bring us great satisfaction and reward as we partner through another academic year at Morris Hills High School. I look forward to joining you all in that effort. In the Spirit of Partnership, Todd M. Toriello Principal AV D AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a nationwide, four-year program that is designed to help students in the academic middle prepare for and succeed in high school and college. With individual support by trained faculty, students will pursue a challenging and rigorous curriculum while investigating careers and colleges, learning more effective study strategies, and working collaboratively with like-minded peers. The AVID approach is based on rigor and high expectations; however, the core component of the program is the AVID Elective, which lends support to students as they tackle the school’s most rigorous classes. Over the course of four years, students will work with their AVID Elective teacher and specially trained tutors to develop independent study skills, questioning techniques, and career awareness. Congratulations AVID Class of 2017! Juan Baena- Juniata University, Alyssa Baker- University of Kentucky, Stephanie Cadena- Hofstra University, Tamanna Chopra- Rutgers University, Briana Cobbs- Quinnipiac University, Daniel Crouch- LaSalle College, Genesis Hiciano- Monmouth University, Daniel Little- Quinnipiac, Grace Logan- Temple University, Destiny Lyle- University of Maryland, Isa Malik Ismail- William Paterson University, Lila Orr- Centenary University, Eric Pedernera- University of Delaware, Bria Pierce- Marist College, Kimberly Quintero- County College of Morris, and Nicholas Walls-William Paterson University Welcome AVID Class of 2021! In September 2017, the MHRD will proudly welcome twenty-five new freshmen into the AVID program! Many of our incoming freshmen attended the AVID Summer Experience in July, led by Mrs. Dalton, Mr. Roman and our AVID student leaders, where they learned about AVID methodologies and engaged in teambuilding activities. The program is thrilled to have Mrs. Brienne Patterson, AVID Elective teacher for the Class of 2017, as their Elective teacher. Your MH family wishes you the best of luck! FRESHMAN ORIENTATION INFORMATION & UPDATES Freshman Orientation for all May also be obtained through the incoming grade nine students Morris Hills High School Website: to Morris Hills High School will be conducted on Wednesday, www.mhrd.org August 30th. Orientation will begin at 8:05 a.m. Each freshman will be picked up by his/her school bus as noted in the transportation packet. Students will report to the auditorium upon arrival to Morris Hills High STUDENT SCHEDULES School. There will be a program including student government representatives, The 2017-2018 student schedules are the result administrators, guidance counselors, and of teacher recommendations, counselor input, Project LEAD students until 12:00 p.m. and parent review/approval. In the spring, par- ents and students were asked to complete the In a small group setting, freshmen will receive course selection process in a serious manner.