From the Superintendent of Schools ...

Dear School Community Member:

Hello to all! I hope this note finds you well rested and ready to begin another successful school year. Yesterday our faculty and staff returned to the district, and they are looking forward to seeing their students on Tuesday, September 6th.

It has been a busy summer in the PRSD. The construction on the HS locker rooms and fitness center has been moving along at a rapid pace. Right now, we anticipate the project being completed by the end of October. The new facility will be a space that all of our grade 7-12 students can utilize and enjoy. I first started discussing this project with the BOE in 2017, so it is extremely exciting to witness its completion.

As mentioned in a previous newsletter, we are pleased to bring the following new programs and resources to our students in September:

• Additional section of first grade at West Ridge
• Elementary Guidance Counselor at West Ridge
• Three new HS electives (Introduction to Guitar, Cybersecurity and AP Macro Economics)
• A new Therapeutic Classroom at PRHS, including the appropriate support staff and counselors from West Bergen Mental Health
• New K-6 Language Arts - Literacy resources (Amplify), plus updated resources in Mathematics and Science
• New HS Honors Biology textbook

The team of K-6 teachers who reviewed our English - Language Arts (ELA) curriculum and resource materials decided to move forward with the Amplify reading program for all students at East Brook and West Ridge. These resources will unify and solidify how we teach reading and writing in the post-workshop era. At the K-2 level, there is a focus on the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) phonics approach, which is firmly rooted in Orton Gillingham methodology. Our teachers will continue to receive extensive training throughout the school year on the best way to implement these resources with your children.

In addition to Amplify, the latest version of Envisions Mathematics is also being distributed to all K-6 students. This new edition will align with the NJSLS and should better prepare students for the statewide assessment in May.

In closing, we work tirelessly to bring the most current teaching resources and instructional methodologies to the classroom. Our Curriculum Office (Dr. Bernardo and Ms. Ballaera) is always on the lookout for new programs and professional development opportunities for teachers. For a small K-12 district, I know we make the most of the education we provide to our students.

Please enjoy a safe Labor Day weekend. See you on Tuesday.

Owls Together,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Welcome back to East Brook School!

... From Principal Stokes

We are less than one week away from the launch of the 2024-25 school year!

Morning arrival is always exciting on the first day, but I kindly request that you continue to follow our stop, drop, and go procedures. If you'd like to walk up to East Brook with your child, please park on the side street. 1st Grade will line up in the gym and all other students will enter through the main school doors and line up outside their classrooms.

As a reminder, please keep the following in mind during drop-off:

• Keep speed below 5mph
• Avoid watching your child walking into school while driving away
• Be cognizant of items in your hand (s) while driving in the circle (coffee, phone, etc.)
• Do not walk across the drop-off circle with children (nor parking in teacher's lot)
• Children should use the passenger side door only
• Do not pass cars on the left

In addition, please have backpacks easily accessible (not in trunk).

Kindergarten students will arrive at 9am on the first day. We will meet in the multi-purpose room for a quick meet and greet. I also look forward to seeing our incoming Kindergartners at the PTO Summer Social on Thursday, 8/29 at 2:00pm.

The calendar and Parent/Student Handbook are updated on the website. Everything else you need is there. I'll be checking e-mail until Thursday - e-mail me any questions you have. 

1. Dismissal Map- Please review the dismissal map under "School Notices." One of the most important things you can do before the 1st day is discuss the Dismissal Plan with your child. Siblings can link up before exiting the building, but it requires communication with teachers.

*Example - Johnny is in 5th Grade. Suzy is in 1st Grade. Suzy can go to Johnny's class at dismissal and they can exit together.

2.Back to School Night- Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 5th. The schedule is posted under "School Notices." If you have multiple children, don't worry - East Brook provides two opportunities to see teacher presentations.

• Parents in Grades 4&5 - If you have children in younger grades, we recommend attending the K-3 presentations FIRST! Space is limited in the upper-grade classrooms and we are doing combined information sessions.

3.Supply Lists - Ms. Syring has uploaded all of the supply lists to the website. If you did not order School Kits through Mrs. Cronin and the PTO, please review the list and be sure your child is prepared for the first week of school.

4.Health Opt-Out - *Health Curriculum Information* - Please go to the link below for information on the K-6 health curriculum topics and also for the opt-out form should you choose to use it. There is a link at the top to take you to the grade-by-grade breakdown of topics. This is ONLY if you wish to opt out of topics.

Health Opt-Out Form

5.Welcome New Staff- Monday night, the remainder of the new staff was approved at the Board of Education Meeting. Here is a complete list:

Mr. Annese - 6th Grade, Social Studies/Science

Ms. Bachrach - Paraprofessional

Ms. Boenigk - LLD Primary

Ms. Caminneci - Resource Room

Ms. Cocca - 6th Grade Language Arts

Ms. Fuqua - 4th Grade Math

Mrs. Giordano - Paraprofessional

Ms. Kanter - 3rd Grade

Ms. Miller - 5th Grade Math

Dr. Porta - School Psychologist

Welcome back to West Ridge School!

... From Principal Kirkby

We are rapidly approaching the start of our 2024-2025 school year!! (cue the groans from the kids and the cheers from the parents...)

Please take a look below at the reminders for the start of the school year. All students should know their homeroom teacher (either from our Kindergarten mailing or from viewing the parent portal).

School begins on Tuesday, September 3.

Students in grades 1-6 can be dropped off between 8:15 am - 8:35 am.

THE FRONT CIRCLE IS FOR PARENTS DROPPING THEIR CHILD OFF AND GOING. IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR, PLEASE DO NOT USE THE FRONT CIRCLE. There are plenty of parking spots on the right side of the building. If you need to get out with your child, please park there and get out. If adults get out of the car in the front circle drop off line, you hold everyone else up, back up traffic to the corner, you will probably get honked at, and it will just cause greater angst for your child.

Pre-K students will all enter by the lower entrance (next to the black electronic message board) at your regularly designated times.

Kindergarten students start at 9:00 am on Tuesday 9/3 and Wednesday 9/4- you will enter through the Multi-Purpose Room (blue doors) and students will get walked to class from there. More info on this will be discussed at the Kindergarten Ice Cream Social on Thursday 8/29 at 1:00 pm.

Students in grade 3 will be getting their school-issued laptops soon after the start of school. They will be allowed to take them home. Parents in grade 3 will receive information on making the payment for insurance. You will have a deadline to pay that for students to have access to their machine both in school and at home.

Students are able to bring water bottles to school and have access to them while in the classroom and during lunch. We will have water fountains accessible for drinks and to refill those bottles, as necessary. The nurse will not be handing out extra water bottles anymore. We will be adding a new water fountain to the mobile classrooms to assist students in those classrooms.

Smart Watches will be treated in the same fashion as cell phones. If they provide distraction or are being used inappropriately, they will be kept in backpacks for the school day.

West Ridge Back to School Night will be on Thursday, September 12. More details to follow on this evening and the schedule.

Health Curriculum Information - Please go to the link below for information on the K-6 health curriculum topics and also for the opt-out form should you choose to use it. Any questions, please email Mr. Kirkby. Health Opt-Out Form

Welcome to all our new Owl students and also to our newest staff members -

Mrs. Kari McPartland - Pre-School

Ms. Melanie Greenwood - Psychologist

Welcome back to Park Ridge High School!

... From Principal Lederman

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you all well! Looking forward to having everyone back in the building on Tuesday, September 3rd. Please follow the link below to view my Welcome Back Newsletter!

*2024 WELCOME BACK NEWSLETTER*

Have a great year!

Troy Lederman

Principal, Park Ridge Jr./Sr. High School

PRHS Morning Drop-off Instructions

Parents / Guardians should drive down Wampum Road, turn left into the teacher parking lot, and follow the horseshoe-shaped road to the sign labeled “Drop off Here.” Once your child safely exits the vehicle, you can turn right, back onto Wampum Road. This will keep the flow of traffic moving smoothly. Your child will proceed up the stairs to the entrance behind the Board of Education building. The traffic pattern for drop-off will be clearly marked with cones and we will have school staff monitoring it for safety.

2024-25 Park Ridge School Budget

On May 6th, the Park Ridge BOE held its annual Budget Hearing and approved their budget for the 2024-25 school year. Please feel free to review the documents below to gain an understanding of what is included in this year's PRSD budget.

• 2024-25 User Friendly Budget

• 2024-25 Budget Flyer

Network Connectivity Update

Over the summer, Millennium Communications Group Inc. installed a private fiber network between all three schools. This project included a fiber run from East Brook to PRHS to West Ridge for a total of 2.65 miles. As the school year progresses, we will update the design of our network, by streamlining switches and consolidating servers. We also plan on updating all of our wireless access points at all three schools. This will create a noticeable speed increase and improve the efficiency of our district network.

PRHS Locker Rooms & Fitness Center Update

A significant amount of progress has been made on the fitness center and locker room renovation and addition at PRHS. On August 19th, an email was sent to all parents and staff members, which contained information on how the construction would impact the upcoming school year. Also, please be on the lookout for drop-off and pick-up changes as a result of the lower parking lot being used as part of the construction zone. This project will be completed by the end of October.

Click here to view 2024-25 Athletic Complex Update

Click here to view Design Schematic

PRHS Online Cashless Payment Options for Lunch

Attention PRHS Parents/Guardians: 

Parents now have the option to prepay for cafeteria meals online, via credit card or ACH Electronic Checking, using Pay Schools Central. For more information click on the link below:

Cashless Payment

PRSD 2024-25 School Calendar

On November 20th, the BOE approved the 2024-25 school calendar. Please be advised that school will open for students after Labor Day. The calendar is available at the link below:

2024-25 School Calendar