From the Superintendent of Schools ...

Dear School Community Member:

Who would have predicted that the first snowstorm of the year would wait until February 28th? Suffice it to say that for snow lovers this winter has certainly been a disappointment. I just hope winter is not waiting for us in March or early April, because that's when it's time to start watching our spring sports teams take to the fields and track.

As a district, we continue to provide more opportunities for students in the classroom. Next year, the HS Business offerings are being revised and will include Entrepreneurship, Media Marketing and Sports Entertainment Management. In Science, we will be offering AP Environmental Science. And future plans include the introduction of AP Macroeconomics during the 24-25 school year. The teachers, administrators and curriculum office continue to move us forward in these areas.

We are moving closer to bidding our HS Locker Room addition and renovation. This project will provide a much needed facelift to our current facility. Not to mention, a full size weight room and wellness center for our student-athletes to utilize during and after school. Unfortunately, the bid opening has been delayed until early May, but construction is still scheduled to begin at the end of June and will continue through August of 2024.

For college hoops fans, nothing beats the month of March. And in my opinion, March Madness is the greatest sporting event of the year. Unless of course the NY Giants are in the Super Bowl, which might be a closer reality than Mr. Stokes is willing to admit. Every year there is always a surprise underdog who advances to the Sweet 16 or beyond. If you know who this year's St. Peter's is going to be, please let me know. My brackets will thank you.

Owls Together,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

2023-24 Kindergarten Registration & Orientation

Park Ridge children who will be 5 years old on or before October 1, 2023 will be eligible for full day Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year.

Children living west of Pascack Road will attend West Ridge Elementary School. Children living on or east of Pascack Road will attend East Brook School.

If you have not registered your child for September, please do so ASAP. The earlier we have an accurate account of the number of students who are enrolling, the easier it is to plan for next year.

Please access the on-line portion of registration at: https://www.parkridgeschools.org/domain/17 starting on Friday, February 3, 2023.

You can access and print the following required forms which you will need to bring into the school during registration hours.

1. New Student Medical Forms

2. New Student Home Language Form

3. New Student Owner/Landlord Affidavit Form

Please note, in addition to the forms listed above, the following documents are also required when you register your child for Kindergarten:

1. Original and a copy of your child’s birth certificate

2. Proof of residential identification

3. Most recent immunization history from pediatrician

If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. Syring at East Brook School at (201) 573-6000 Ext. 2000 or Ms. McCarthy at West Ridge at (201) 573-6000 Ext. 3000. 

Focus on PRHS Science, Computers and the Arts

Written by Stacy Casatelli, Supervisor of Science, Visual & Performing Arts, and Computer Education

Park Ridge High School Science students have been busy attending different field trips this year. In October, the Environmental Science students participated in a real-world case study called Fishkill at the Meadow Lands Environmental Center. Students used problem-solving skills and other experimental fieldwork to gather water quality and soil samples to find answers to the FishKill problem in Pennsylvania and create a solution using the model creek at the Environmental Center. The Honors Anatomy & Physiology students had the opportunity to attend the Liberty Science Center in February to watch two neurological surgeries. Students had the chance to ask questions, see and touch the instrumentation, and experience different medical professionals' roles during surgery. Our 7th-grade science students will attend the Super Scientific Circus at the Bergen County Performing Arts Center on March 13. Students will witness the amazing things science can do, involving boomerangs, bubbles, beachballs, bull whips, and magic while introducing the principles of friction, inertia, centripetal force, aerodynamics, sonic booms, air pressure, and ultraviolet light. Lastly, our physics students will attend Six Flags Great Adventure in the spring to explore the mechanics and engineering of roller coasters and thrill rides. Students can apply classroom lessons to quantifiable real-world data while experiencing concepts such as zero gravity, friction, etc. 

The Visual & Performing Arts students have been busy! This fall, our high school students performed in the hilarious comedy Clue, while our middle school students performed the laugh-out-loud Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon. This month the Park Ridge Little Theater Players will present The SpongeBob Musical on March 24th, 25th, & 26th at 7 pm. In other news, this year, we had three students from Park Ridge chosen to perform in the Bergen County Band and Chorus. The students performed wonderfully and represented Park Ridge with pride. Our visual and performing art students will also participate in the Teen Arts Awards competition this spring.

PRHS offers new science courses and clubs! This year Mr. Lebreault introduced a new middle school elective called Engineering and Design. This course allows students to explore different engineering professions while participating in real-world problems such as bridge design and construction, and rocketry. Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, AP Environmental Science will now be offered at PRHS. 

Park Ridge High School now offers Esports in the fall, winter, and spring through the Garden State Esports league. Students participate against other schools at the junior varsity and varsity levels, playing different games and accumulating points as a team. Good luck to the spring Esports team and coaches Buscareno and Lebreault! Lastly, the Park Ridge Robotics team continues to compete in the FIRST Tech Challenge. Student teams design, build, and code robots to compete against other high school teams in an alliance format. Good luck to the PRHS Robotics team as they continue to compete this year!

Winter Weather Reminder ...

To the disappointment of some and the joy of others, the winter weather has been unusually mild and rainy. As a result, we have not used any Snow Days this year. However, the month of March has always been a wildcard when it comes to snow and ice. As a result, all school districts will continue to watch the weather reports with a close eye. Snow, ice, and sleet can play havoc with school schedules and lead to disrupted school days. It is important to note that Park Ridge collaborates with Emerson, Westwood and all of the Pascack Valley districts for weather related decisions. Here are some general guidelines that we will follow this winter:

• When facing reports of impending snow and/or bad weather, Park Ridge’s default position will always be to contact the community the morning of school regarding any weather-related change to the school schedule. The only exception is when there is a clear indication that an overwhelming storm is descending upon the region. 

• It is important for our communities to remember that all school districts make the best decision based on the information available at that time. These are not clear-cut decisions and often information and data are changing up until the morning of a school day.

• Often local or state officials will declare a “State of Emergency,” and it’s important to note that it is often more of an administrative matter allowing for additional funds to be released. For clarification, it is important to note that such a declaration does not require that schools close. 

• Families are encouraged to monitor the weather and make plans for all eventualities. Park Ridge will communicate as close as reasonably possible to the start of school.

Note: The PRSD has three (3) emergency closing days built into the school calendar. If these days are not used, all students and staff members will enjoy a longer Memorial Day Weekend. Unused emergency days will be returned in the following order: Friday, May 26th; Tuesday, May 30th; Wednesday, May 31st.

Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers

On February 13th, the Board of Education approved the SLEO III agreement with the Borough. Later that week, the Mayor and Council did the same, which was the last step needed to install retired police officers in all of our schools. Special thanks to Mayor Misciagna and Chief Madden for their leadership and guidance during this entire process. The positions have been posted and the Chief will begin to screen and vet candidates who apply for the positions. Then, the BOE Security Committee and school administration will interview finalists and choose an officer for each building. It is important to note that a SLEO III is not a disciplinarian. Disciplining students is the sole responsibility of the school administration and faculty.

PRHS Locker Rooms & Fitness Center Update

The construction documents have been finalized and were shared with Anser Advisory, an advisor for capital projects. After reviewing the plans, they determined that the total project cost should be within our budget for the renovation and addition. Fingers crossed! Our architect plans to bid the project at the end of March or early April. Stay tuned ...

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 2023-24 School Calendar

On November 21st, the BOE approved the 2023-24 school calendar. Please be advised that school will open for students after Labor Day. The calendar is available at the link below:

2023-24 School Calendar