Park Ridge School District - 2016 Spring Newsletter ... Check it out!   
Park Ridge School District
2016 Spring Newsletter
Greetings from the Park Ridge School District!  This is the third edition of the District Newsletter.  We hope you enjoy the updates, news and information about our schools.
Message from the Superintendent
The month of June always provides schools with closure and a little chaos.  End-of-year activities for students and staff dominate the few days left on the school calendar, as students begin the final countdown to summer.

Without hesitation, my favorite activity at the end of the year is the P.R.H.S. graduation ceremony.  I find it to be warm, tasteful and memorable. Listening to students speak about their time in our schools always brings a smile to my face.  It makes me proud to mention the Class of 2016 will be attending some of the best colleges and universities this Fall.

Next year will be an important year for Park Ridge.  The Board will be focused on charting a course for our future, both in the area of instruction and facilities. Developing a Long Range Facility Plan and a Strategic Plan will ensure our success for many years to come.  Community input will be welcomed during this process when we return to school in September.

In closing, I would like to wish members of the school community all the best for a happy and healthy summer.  Make sure you catch up with family and friends, along with a good book.  For those who are travelling, be careful, stay safe and always remain aware of your surroundings.


Sincerely,

Robert M. Gamper, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Park Ridge Public Schools  
Class of 2016 - College Acceptances
Our PRHS Seniors have been accepted to many prestigious colleges and universities across the United States. Please click on the link below to view the complete list:
Planning for the Future
The Park Ridge Board of Education will be engaged in two separate planning activities during the 2016-17 school year.

First, the Board will be working with its architect to complete a 5-year Long Range Facilities Plan. The purpose of this plan is to develop a blueprint for the future, regarding building needs and facility upgrades. During this process, the Board will be asking for input from students, faculty, staff and parents.  

Next, the Board will be working with a consultant from New Jersey School Boards to facilitate the development of a 3-year Strategic Plan for the district.  The main goal during this process will be to hear from the community (students, parents, teachers, staff, etc.) regarding the future of the Park Ridge Public Schools.  Academic programs and services, athletics, extra-curricular activities and use of technology will be just some of the items for discussion.

More information on where and when the community can provide input will be distributed in September.  
 
2015-16 Teachers of the Year
Congratulations to the 2015-16 Teachers of the Year for the Park Ridge School District:

  • East Brook - Ms. Pamela Houston
  • West Ridge - Ms. Nancy Chiocco
  • P.R.H.S. - Mr. Kevin Wilson

All recipients attended a county-wide luncheon on May 26th to celebrate this recognition.


1:1 Laptop Update
During the first half of the 15-16 school year, all fourth graders received a Mac Book Air laptop to use in school, only.  As part of a pilot program, students on this grade level started to take home their laptops during the second half of the year.  Due to their success, all of next year's fourth graders will be allowed to bring their laptops home, starting in September. 

Being a 1:1 school district in grades 4-12 is a tremendous accomplishment!
 
 
From the Athletic Director ...

It was an exciting Spring at Park Ridge High School in Athletics. Our teams competed at a high level and represented the school in a positive way.

Track – The Boys and Girls Track team both finished 2nd in the NJIC Patriot Division. The Girls team was able to capture the Bergen County Group D Championship breaking many school records along the way. Special Congrats to Rachel Spagnola and the 4x4 Relay team for making it to the State Meet of Champions.

Baseball – Finished with a 15-12 record with wins over State Sectional Champion Waldwick and Wood Ridge. The team also had a nice win over Bogota on Senior Day.

Softball – Finished with a 12-13 record, but had nice wins over Waldwick, Cresskill and River Dell. The team had 3-1 win over Becton at the Coaches vs Cancer Challenge held in Park Ridge. Congrats to Angela Rivera on surpassing the 100 hits plateau finishing with 109.

Boys Lacrosse – Finished their first Varsity season with a 10-7 record. The team qualified for both the County and State Tournaments. They opened the season with the programs first win on the road against PCTI. They also won on Senior Day over Hawthorne.

Girls Lacrosse – Finished their first Varsity season with an 8-9 record just missing the State Tournament. The team did qualify for the County Tournament and had a big win on Senior Day over Paramus Catholic. The team got its first win at  home over Passaic Tech.

Golf – The golf team battled all season long, finishing in the top half of their division. A few injuries to key players hurt the team in the middle of the season, but they played hard throughout

Boys Tennis – Finished in the top half of a very tough division. The team qualified for both the County and State Tournaments with key wins over Emerson and Midland Park.

Follow Park Ridge High School Athletics on Twitter @PRowlsathletics

Or watch live streams of PRHS Games on www.highschoolcube.com

P.R.H.S. Renaissance Dinner
On May 23rd, 122 students in grades 9-12 from PRHS attended the Renaissance Dinner at the Park Ridge Marriott.  This annual banquet is held to honor academic excellence and achievement.  All students and their families enjoyed a wonderful evening.
Upcoming Dates ...
  • 6/20 WR Gr. 6 Promotion (3:30PM)
  • 6/20 EB Gr. 6 Promotion (6:00PM)
  • 6/21 PRHS Graduation (6:00PM)
  • 8/29 BOE Meeting (8:00PM)
  • 8/30 Opening Day - Staff
  • 9/1 Opening Day - Students

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Park Ridge Board of Education

  • Joseph Bruno, President
  • Daniel Browne, Vice President
  • Barbara von Bradsky
  • Frank Church
  • Peter Montalbano
  • Patrick Moran
  • Robert Sileo

  • Robert M. Gamper, Superintendent
  • Robert Wright, Business Administrator