From the Superintendent of Schools ...

Dear School Community Member:

I hope you will agree that the school year is off to a fantastic start. The September weather was absolutely perfect for all of our back to school activities. Needless to say, our students and staff members have hit the ground running in all aspects of school life.

Thank you to all of the parents who joined us at Back to School Night in each building. The partnership that is fostered when parents take an interest in their child's education is very much appreciated by our faculty. Thank you for this.

Please scroll down and take a minute to review the most recent pictures of the locker room renovation and addition at PRHS. The project should be completed by the end of the month. The equipment for the fitness center and weight room has been ordered and will arrive at the end of October and through November. We look forward to hosting an Open House so that parents and community members can tour the new facility. I hope it will become a space that exudes "Owl Pride."

Speaking of "Owl Pride," our fall sports teams are off to an excellent start. Our student-athletes continue to represent Park Ridge in a positive manner that includes a high level of sportsmanship. The Owls always enjoy a generous amount of support at home or on the road. I want to wish them the best of luck as we move closer to the county tournaments and state playoffs.

That's all for now. Have a nice weekend.

Let's Go Mets!!!

Owls Together,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

From the Desk of Melissa Ballaera ...

Supervisor of Elementary Education

We are excited to share that the implementation of our new Amplify Reading program for students in grades 1-6 is going well! Amplify is a research-based reading curriculum designed to help students improve their literacy skills through engaging, personalized learning experiences. During the first few days of school, our teachers participated in a comprehensive six-hour Amplify training session to get familiar with the program. Teachers and students are actively engaging with it, and as we continue using the program, we are learning more about its various features and becoming increasingly familiar with its structure and resources. With interactive lessons, games, and stories, Amplify Reading keeps students motivated and helps them develop the literacy skills necessary for success. We look forward to watching the Amplify reading program support our students' growth.

TEAMM October 2024

For Children with Special Needs, Ages 3+

The Park Ridge TEAMM (Together Everyone Achieves More with Mentoring) Program is an opportunity for special needs students to participate in recreational and social activities that meet their needs. The goal is to support the educational, emotional and social development of our students, and to create an inclusive environment for children with special needs and their families, with the assistance of peer mentors.

No one will be denied participation due to the financial obligation - please email the TEAMM Advisor, Ms. Sarah-Kate Maskin (sarah-katemaskin@parkridge.k12.nj.us) with any questions.

PRHS - PSAT (October 23, 2024)

PSAT UPDATE: This is a reminder that the PSAT will be administered to all 10th grade students and all registered 11th grade students on Wednesday, October 23rd. Please remind your student to get a good night’s sleep, bring an approved calculator, arrive to school on time, and make sure their laptop is fully charged. 

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 weight room, fitness center and locker room renovation and addition at PRHS. The exterior site work is almost completed, including the fencing and netting for the baseball field. Inside the epoxy floors are dry and the lockers will be installed next week. The lighting for the weight room has been installed and the equipment has been ordered. 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