October 16, 2026

A Message from the Superintendent

Dear Ramapo Indian Hills Families,

There is lots happening across our district this week, with opportunities for our students to get involved, give back, and connect with others, both in and out of our schools.

Our top story highlights Poll Worker Training, a way for students to learn about the election process and the responsibility that comes with serving their community. It is exciting to see civic learning extend beyond the classroom in such a meaningful way.

The stories in this issue reflect the care, enthusiasm, and school spirit our students and staff bring to our community.

Thank you to everyone helping make these experiences possible!

With gratitude,

Shauna DeMarco

Superintendent, Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District

Across the District - Students Prep for a Civic Service

Indian Hills High School students recently completed comprehensive poll worker training. High schoolers get to participate directly in the democratic process and gain firsthand insight into election administration—often before they are even old enough to cast a ballot.

During the interactive session, election officials guided students through core polling place operations, such as voter check-in procedures, navigating electronic poll pads, verifying registration records, and maintaining strict election security standards. Through system walkthroughs and simulated scenarios, students built the practical skills and confidence needed to handle real-world voting inquiries efficiently.

Working alongside experienced election board members, Indian Hills students will assist local residents and ensure polling operations run smoothly, showcasing early civic responsibility and youth leadership in action. There are more photos from the training at the district website.

Thirty-eight Ramapo High School students recently completed poll worker training to prepare for an active, hands-on role in the upcoming election. Applications were submitted prior to September 25th of this year.

Several counties in New Jersey encourage high schoolers to participate directly in the democratic process, even though many are not yet eligible to vote. During the hands-on session, participants receive practical instruction on voter check-in procedures, election technology, and poll management standards.

On Election Day (November 3), these students will be deployed to polling sites across the FLOW area—Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff—to assist local voters and support smooth operations alongside experienced election officials.

Their participation reflects a strong commitment to civic responsibility and youth leadership. To read the full story and view additional photos from the training session, please visit the district website.

Student in Ramapo High School Phys Ed class begins climbing the building's exterior with safety harness

Reaching New Heights in Ramapo PE!

Students in Mr. Dave Van Hook's Physical Education class have been scaling new heights on the climbing wall as part of our High Elements unit, learning essential safety procedures and teamwork along the way! Visit our district website to read the full story and check out photos of our students in action!

Indian Hills students pose with the fundraising shirts for this year's support of the Valley Hospital's Breast Center

Indian Hills Girld Basketball team wearing their Be Brave fundraising tee shirts. Each year they sell the shirts to raise money to donate to the Breast Center at Valley Hospital.

Follow-Up: Indian Hills Girls’ Basketball Raises More than $700 in "Be Brave" Fundraiser

Last month, we highlighted the kick-off of the Indian Hills Girls’ Basketball Team’s annual "Be Brave" t-shirt fundraiser. We are thrilled to share the final results of this year's drive!

Thanks to the wonderful support of our school community, our student-athletes sold 291 light blue "Be Brave" t-shirts, generating a donation of more than $700 directly to the Breast Center at Valley Hospital.

This year marked the 14th consecutive year our student-athletes have organized this initiative. Beyond the basketball court, the effort gave our team an opportunity to unite, spread breast cancer awareness, and make a meaningful impact for patients and families in our community.

Thank you to everyone who placed an order, supported our athletes, and contributed to making this year’s fundraiser a huge success!

Be Brave Fundraiser

Students on the Ramapo High School Football Field for Freshman Outreach Activities

Spotlight on Ramapo High School’s Freshman Outreach Program

Ramapo High School is proud to welcome roughly 260 ninth graders through its Freshman Outreach Program. Guided by faculty advisors and energetic Senior Ambassadors, the program pairs incoming students with senior mentors to help them navigate high school with confidence.

The students met during August Orientation, broke up into groups for a campus-wide photo scavenger hunt. This week, the students met again to assemble creative poster presentations using photos taken at the time. Ramapo teachers are currently casting their votes for the top poster, and the winning team will be announced soon!

Senior Ambassadors will continue to meet with their freshman groups throughout the academic year to build lasting peer networks and ensure that every ninth grader feels supported. Check back soon for the poster contest results!

Read about Ramapo HS Freshman Outreach

Ramapo Marching Raiders Take First Place

Competing against 12 bands at the Music in the Park Competition, the Raiders brought home 1st Place in their division and finished 3rd overall. Learn more on our website.

Congratulations to our student musicians and staff on this fantastic accomplishment - best of luck as they compete this weekend at Wayne Hills. Let's go, Raiders!

The Holiday Festival stands as one of our most cherished annual traditions at Indian Hills, bringing our school community together to make a meaningful difference for local families. Last year, more than 50 dedicated Indian Hills students opened their hearts to host 120 children from Oasis, a wonderful organization, based in Paterson.

Our students filled the evening with festive crafts, interactive games, delicious food, and unforgettable memories. Seeing the joy in the eyes of every child reminds us of the true power of community and connection.

Each visiting child went home with a special gift from the club, while our student volunteers took home the priceless gift of knowing they brought bright smiles to children in need. This beautiful tradition continues on Thursday, December 10th, and we look forward to making this year's celebration just as magical!

Indian Hills is working hard to help get ready for Holiday Festival. Holiday Festival is a holiday party that the students of Indian Hills throw for the children of Oasis, an organization in Paterson that supports women and children living in poverty. The night involves games, crafts, gifts, pizza, hot cocoa, and even a visit from Santa!

Our students look forward to this night every year and this year is no different. As you can imagine this event is a huge undertaking and so we have set up an Amazon Wishlist to help us get many of the materials necessary for the big event. We appreciate any help that you can give! Thank you so much, we couldn't do it without your support!

Best,

Ms. Ferrara, Mrs. LaChac, and the students of Holiday Festival