September 13, 2024

A Welcome from the Superintendent

I am thrilled to present the first edition of our new newsletter, RIH Highlights and Happenings. This biweekly publication will keep you updated on all the exciting news, events and accomplishments happening at RIH.


The start of the school year has been nothing short of spectacular! Our dedicated faculty and staff have been instrumental in providing a warm and welcoming environment for all our students. Many thanks to the Cheerleaders, Drum Line, APTS, PTSA, and Aramark for contributing to the staff's opening day.

We're also pleased to welcome several new faces to our schools. Whether a new staff member or a new student, we are so glad you are here!



We're excited to embark on another fantastic school year filled with learning, growth, and community involvement. Stay tuned for many more updates on upcoming events, achievements, and opportunities.


Yours in education,


Shauna DeMarco

Superintendent of Schools

Scenes from the First Day of School

Welcome to Our New Special Law Enforcement Class III Officers

Ramapo Indian Hills is committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students and staff. We are pleased to announce the addition of full-time Law Special Law Enforcement Class III Officers to our schools. Officer Paul Stettner will be stationed at Indian Hills, and Officer Michael Devine will be at Ramapo. These officers will help to create safer and more secure campuses, and will be available to provide assistance and support to our school community.

In Our Schools

Ramapo Indian Hills welcomed new teachers to the district by rolling out the Wellness Red Carpet with our Wellness To Go Cart, filled with inspirational stickers, fidget rings, stress balls and other fun items that can help relieve tension and revive energy throughout the school day.  New teachers were encouraged to take whatever they needed throughout New Teacher Orientation.

Our science departments are buzzing with activity. Students at both high schools are busy collecting data, identifying trees, and engaging in collaborative lab work. Welcome back to a year of discovery and exploration!

SUPA Calculus 3 students dove headfirst into three-dimensional space on the first day of class. Using Post-It notes, they plotted points as ordered triples, visualizing the concept of 3D coordinates. Ramapo senior Matt Ostrovsky extended the lesson by creating a fun 3D snowman using functions.

Our Applied Technology students are honing their woodworking skills in Wood Processing 1. They're currently working on their Tool Caddy project, starting with the important task of measuring and cutting using a crosscut saw. Safety and precision are paramount in this activity.

Ms. Schwarz's English 4AP class kicked off the year with a unique Book Olympics! Ramapo students identified their favorite books and explored the theme of athleticism through the poem 'Taking Your Olympic Measure.'

District Unveils Raiders Den and IHHS Wellness Room

The district is pleased to announce the opening of two new student wellness spaces: the Indian Hills HS Wellness Room (Room 604) and the Ramapo Raiders Den (Room 701). These rooms are designed to provide a calm and stress-reducing environment for students during the school day.


Starting next month, students can visit these spaces for a 15-minute "unplug and recharge" break. To visit, students must simply request a pass from their teacher. Administrators, counselors, and case managers may also send students to the wellness centers.


Note: The Wellness Room will temporarily be located in Room 604 while construction of the Thrive Suite is completed. Once construction is finished, the Wellness Room will return to its space by the Main Entrance across from the Main Office.

"Click Clack Front and Back Club" Wins Grand Prize

Congratulations to our RIH 'Click Clack Front and Back' team for winning the $10,000 Grand Prize in the 2024 U Got Brains Champion Schools Program! These talented students worked tirelessly to promote seat belt safety and raise awareness about road safety. We're incredibly proud of their achievement and thank you to everyone who supported their efforts throughout the year. Make sure to check out their video!

Survey: Help Select the New RIH Logo

The district's proposed new logo features a compass to represent RIH's commitment to guiding students toward academic success, personal growth, and a successful future. The colors blue and green reflect the spirit of Indian Hills and Ramapo, along with the paw print and arrows. 


We're eager to hear your thoughts on the proposed logo. Please take a moment to complete our online survey to provide your feedback. Your input is valuable as we continue to shape the identity of our district.

Click Here to Access the Survey

Celebrating Six Decades of the Braves

Join us as we celebrate 60 amazing years of Indian Hills High School. Get ready for a year-long celebration filled with exciting events for the entire family.


Kick off the festivities on Saturday, September 21! Cheer on our Braves as they take on Fort Lee in a varsity football game kicking off at 7 p.m.

Before the main event, enjoy rec football games in the morning and official IHHS festivities beginning at 12 p.m. Bounce houses, an obstacle course, alumni tent, delicious food, live music, and exclusive swag await!


And make sure to stay for dazzling fireworks and a drone show after the big game against Fort Lee.


Alumni - stay connected with your Indian Hills roots. Click here to sign up for updates.

Update from the Office of Curriculum, Instruction & Articulation

The Spring NJGPA and NJSLA testing dates have not yet been determined and will be shared by the NJDOE in the coming weeks.


Information about the Fall NJGPA testing will be shared with students required to take this test the week of September 23.

  • Testing Dates: Tuesday, October 8 - Friday, October 11, 2024
  • Make-up Testing: October 14 - 18, 2024

All faculty and staff were welcomed back to school on Tuesday and were given time to meet with Department Supervisors to prepare for the arrival of students on Thursday. Collaboration sessions were held to work toward Professional Learning goals, and required training was completed to prepare for the school year.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 14

ACT Exam

Indian Hills High School


Thursday, September 19

IHHS Back to School Night - 7 p.m.

Indian Hills High School


Saturday, September 21

IHHS 60th Anniversary Celebration - All day event starting at 11 a.m.

Indian Hills High School


Monday, September 23

Board of Education Regular Public Meeting - 8 p.m.

Indian Hills High School Cafeteria


Tuesday, September 24

Ramapo School Pictures Grades 9-11


Thursday, September 26

IHHS PTSO Meeting - 7 p.m.

Indian Hills High School Media Center


Friday, September 27

Community Service Fair at Ramapo (During lunches)

Ramapo High School

STAY CONNECTED


Follow RIH on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn

Facebook          Instagram          X          LinkedIn