From the Superintendent of Schools ...

Dear School Community Member:

Happy Super Bowl Monday! I hope everyone enjoyed the big game and was able to spend time with family and friends. Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles and their fans!

Back in Park Ridge, it looks like winter is going to make one final push during the end of February. Cold and wintry weather is back for the foreseeable future, including two different weather events this week. It is important to note that all school-related closings, delayed openings and early dismissals are made in conjunction with surrounding districts. The superintendents from Pascack Valley, Emerson, Westwood, Montvale, River Vale, Woodcliff Lake and Hillsdale collaborate the night before or the morning of a significant weather event to decide if a closing or alternate schedule is deemed necessary.

Tomorrow students at East Brook and West Ridge will be celebrating the 100th day of school. It is hard to believe that we have already passed the midpoint of the school year. In just a few months we will be planning our end of year activities, celebrations and graduations, which is always a highlight for our students and staff.

Last week we met with our new architects from LAN Associates. The first projects they will be undertaking are upgrades to the HVAC systems in the new additions at EB and WR. The district received ROD grants from the state last year to subsidize the cost of this work. We hope to complete these projects during the summer months when schools are closed.

This week, the BOE has a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 11th and Thursday, February 13th, to fill a vacancy on the Board. Both meetings will begin at 7 PM in the HS Little Theater. Thank you to all of the community members who expressed an interest in serving on the BOE.

That's all for now.

Owls Together,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

From the Desk of Maria Papadopoulos ...

Supervisor of English - Language Arts

As part of active reading, students are asked to make text-to-self and text-to-world connections, but the opportunity to see how literacy is part of the greater world is especially important.

In October, 26 juniors and seniors attended the Dodge Poetry Festival at NJPAC with Mrs. Brako Bismarck, Mrs. Maher, and Mrs. Dow. The opportunity to hear contemporary poetry in performance is an invaluable experience. Students attended a variety of sessions, including Poetry as Catalyst: Inspiration & Motivation; Griots, Troubadours and MCs: Poetry and the Oral Tradition; and Call & Response: Performing and Engaging Audiences.

In November, PRHS alumnus James Kennan spoke to students in Freshmen Focus and Financial Literacy about his transition from high school to college and his own journey into a career in contract law. The visit was coordinated by Mr. Kovacs.

In December, Mrs. Buckley’s Musical Theater and At the Movies students attended a screening of the film Wicked, with a critical look at how musicals are adapted into film.

Currently, with the generous support of the National Honor Society, the English Department is hosting a Writer-in-Residence for Mrs. McClair’s English 9 students. Working with writer/actor, Frank Ingrasciotta, students are exploring personal memoir. 

Winter Weather Reminder

The Park Ridge School District has contracted the services of Blackboard (reverse 911) to notify the school community about school closings, early dismissals, delayed openings or other emergencies. Depending on the contact information you have provided, the system will send out a voice message, text and/or email to all parents/guardians. If warranted, this notification will be sent out in the evening, prior to the impacted school day. If not, the notification will be sent at 5:45AM on the morning of the impacted school day.

In addition to the Blackboard notification system, you can find school closing, early dismissal and delayed opening information in the following locations:

District Website: www.parkridgeschools.org

District X (Twitter): @parkridgesupt

Channel 7 – ABC7NY

Early Dismissal Schedule

• West Ridge: 8:35 AM - 1:00 PM
• East Brook: 8:35 AM - 1:00 PM
• Jr-Sr High School: 7:50 AM - 12:13 PM
• Owl House: 8:35 AM - 1:00 PM

Pre-School Early Dismissal Schedule

• Morning Session: 8:35 - 10:40 AM
• Afternoon Session: 11:00 - 1:00 PM

Delayed Opening Schedule

• West Ridge: 10:05 AM – 3:20 PM
• East Brook: 10:05 AM – 3:20 PM
• Jr-Sr High School: 9:15 AM – 2:44 PM
• Owl House: 10:05 AM - 3:20 PM

Pre-School Schedule for Delayed Opening

• Morning Session: 10:05 AM - 12:30 PM
• Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM - 3:20 PM

COLLEGE FAIR

Please CLICK HERE to view the flyer regarding the upcoming college fair at Ramapo College on Wednesday, March 19th from 6-8:30 pm.

New HS Graduation Requirement - Class of 2025 through 2027

For PRHS graduating classes of 2025 through 2027, each graduating high school senior is required by law, as part of New Jersey’s new graduation requirement P.L. 2023, c.295, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application (NJAFAA) in order to receive a diploma.

The FAFSA gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or vocational school. Through completing the FAFSA, students can be considered for federal financial aid, including Pell grants, work-study programs, and loans. In addition, many states and colleges, as well as some private financial aid providers, use FAFSA information to determine students’ eligibility for aid.

The FAFSA is an opportunity to have access to the resources that are needed to consider and enter postsecondary education – whether it be 2-year, 4-year, or technical school. In addition, students who are NJ residents but do not meet the requirements for FAFSA may consider the NJAFAA as an option. The NJAFAA enables students to receive state financial assistance to support their post-secondary college and career goals.

If you do not qualify for the FAFSA/the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application or you wish to request that your student be waived from this graduation requirement, parents/guardians should complete the FAFSA/NJAFAA Waiver Form.   The form must be submitted to the Guidance Office by May 1st of your student’s senior year.

FAFSA completion benefits ALL students:

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $120 billion in grants, loans, and work-study funds each year to help pay for college or career school. Visit StudentAid.gov today to learn how to pay for your higher education. The FAFSA must be completed to apply for grants, loans, and work-study. All financial information is kept confidential. Many students are eligible to receive financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college or career school. Age, race, or field of study will not affect eligibility for federal student aid.

Many college/university websites and fafsa.gov provide a financial aid estimator to estimate how much financial assistance students may receive. Financial need increases with college cost and some colleges can cost more than $65,000 a year. Many of these colleges, state agencies, and scholarship foundations require the FAFSA to award scholarships and grants to middle- and upper-middle-class students attending expensive schools. The most generous private colleges, for example, award need-based aid to some students from families earning more than $200,000 a year. FAFSA is a prerequisite for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Grad PLUS Loans, and Parent PLUS. These loans are available without regard to demonstrated financial need and have lower interest rates than private loans.

NJAFAA may be an option for some students:

Complete the NJAFAA application if you are not a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen and meet all of the following criteria:

• Attended a New Jersey high school for at least three (3) years
• Graduated from a New Jersey high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey
• Registered for Selective Service (male students only)
• Are able to file an affidavit stating that you have filed an application to legalize your immigration status or will file an application as soon as you are eligible to do so

Important Links:

General FAFSA information: https://studentaid.gov/

FAFSA filing and eligibility requirements: https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/ requirements

FAFSA Application: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

NJAFAA Application: https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/NJAlternativeApplication.aspx

Higher Education Student Assistance Authority: https://www.hesaa.org

If you do not qualify for the FAFSA/the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application or you wish to request that your student be waived from this graduation requirement, parents/guardians should complete the FAFSA/NJAFAA Waiver Form.   The form must be submitted to the Guidance Office by May 1st of your student’s senior year.

PRHS Locker Rooms & Fitness Center Update

Construction of the new locker rooms and fitness center is complete. The work to repair the main gym floor finished on schedule, the furniture for the offices has been installed and the locker rooms were open to students on December 2nd. The weight room is currently open to students and staff, however, we are still waiting for the delivery of the cardio equipment.

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 School Calendar

On November 20, 2023, the BOE approved the 2024-25 school calendar. The calendar is available at the link below:

2024-25 School Calendar

On November 18, 2024, the BOE approved the 2025-26 school calendar. Please be advised that school will open for students after Labor Day. The calendar is available at the link below:

2025-26 School Calendar