Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students:
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! I hope everyone had a great summer, and I look forward to another great school year. The following information highlights significant events, dates, and important information that will make the transition to the new school year successful.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT NORTH?
- Enrollment is currently 1,479 students.
- School breakfast $3.00, School Lunch $4.00, Featured Favorites Lunch $4.50. We are continuing this year with a cashless cafeteria. The District is in the process of changing over to a new cafeteria system. Information will be sent out when it is complete. All balances from MySchoolBucks will be transferred to the new system.
- Daily announcements, athletic schedules, and the latest happenings at North Hunterdon are included on our website at http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/home/. Also, current contact information for all staff is available on our website. We encourage you to visit our website regularly to stay informed.
- The best source of information about what is going on at North is your child; we encourage you to regularly discuss with your child the events of their day at North Hunterdon High School.
SCHOOL OPENING DETAILS
FRESHMEN
Freshmen will report to the theater for an orientation program on Wednesday, August 24, at 9:45 a.m. Bus information will be located in Aspen under the Transportation tab by mid-August. Bus pick-up for orientation will be exactly two hours later than the normal pick-up time as posted in your Aspen account. Students should be at the bus stop at least five minutes prior to pick-up. Dismissal is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact the Transportation Department at 908-638-5904. (Note: busing for biomedical sciences academy students who live outside of district is not provided for freshman orientation.)
ALL STUDENTS
All students report for a REGULAR school day on Thursday, August 25, which is an A Day. Students will report to their first-period class. Student schedules can be accessed through Aspen; you will receive a notification when final schedules are available. School counselors completed all necessary student schedule revisions during the summer; therefore, all student schedules are final. Specific individual concerns should be directed to your child’s school counselor by appointment.
ENTERING SCHOOL
Doors will be opened for students at 7:00 a.m. Students may enter through the Route 31 or Regional Road entrance. Students who arrive prior to 7:30 a.m. must report to the main gym via the Regional Road entrance or the green gym at the Route 31 entrance. Students should not be dropped off prior to 7:00 a.m.
ROUTE 31 AND REGIONAL ROAD TRAFFIC PATTERNS
During the school year, more than 2,000 people attempt to enter the facility between 7:00 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. This traffic is comprised of senior drivers, staff members, school buses, and parents/guardians. It is vitally important that all vehicles yield to pedestrians and school buses while on campus. The speed limit on campus is 5 miles per hour. Please see the following information on how to enter campus:
- Route 31
If you enter from Route 31, make a right and proceed to the Administrative Lot at the north side of the building, traveling to the end, then turn left toward the front of the building and then make the right toward the Route 31 Entrance. Proceed to the furthest drop-off location. For safety reasons, students may depart the vehicle only when the passenger door is facing the building. An employee will be directing traffic in front of the building. Clinton Township Police will be assisting as well. Remember that the speed limit on campus is 5 miles per hour. All cars must exit onto Route 31 south.
- REGIONAL ROAD
Cars using the Regional Road entrance must drop off students at the District Office parking lot. Drivers should then proceed out the lower bus lot onto Regional Road. The campus traffic circle is to remain clear for school buses. Crosswalks have been laid out to remind motorists that pedestrians always have the right of way.
Traffic Pattern
Students should be dropped off by parents/guardians before 7:20 a.m. and picked up after 2:45 p.m whenever possible. This can eliminate the bottlenecks that have been created on Route 31 and Regional Road and allow for a more uniform and safe environment for students, staff members, school buses, and parents/guardians. Your support of our efforts to maintain a safe environment is appreciated.
LEAVING SCHOOL AT DISMISSAL
To allow for a safe and orderly dismissal, only buses will be allowed to exit through the Regional Road exit from 2:25 to 2:35 pm. Senior drivers will be dismissed after all buses have exited campus. From 2:25 to 2:35 pm, parents may only pick up students at the Route 31 side of the building. No cars should be standing around the circle on the Regional Road side. Parking in any fire lanes is prohibited at all times. Parking in the District Office parking lot is prohibited.
See the diagram above for the Route 31 dismissal traffic pattern, which will be the same as the morning drop-off.
IMPORTANT: EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Early dismissals are discouraged; however, the school will honor medical/dental appointments and extreme emergencies. The following procedures can also be found on our website for future reference: https://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/attendance/early-dismissal/.
- To arrange for a student’s early dismissal, a parent/guardian must write a note, or preferably send an email, to the Attendance Office specifying the student’s name, date, time of dismissal, and reason for the request. Emails should be sent to northattendance@nhvweb.net
- Regardless of whether you send a note or email, the student is responsible for reporting to the Attendance Office the morning of the early dismissal to obtain a dismissal pass.
- The student will be given a pass to come to the Attendance Office at the designated time. The student must show the pass to the teacher to be able to leave a classroom. Teachers are not required to let a student leave the classroom during a class period if the student does not have a pass.
- Classes cannot be interrupted to request that a student be dismissed to the Attendance Office except in the case of an emergency.
- There may be times when a parent/guardian must make an appointment for a student during the current school day, but please make sure the student is aware that the parent/guardian will be calling for an appointment. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the Attendance Office (in between classes or during lunch or directed study) to see if the parent/guardian has called with the dismissal time and to obtain a pass.
- When picking up a student, the parent/guardian must come into the school at the front (Rt. 31) entrance to meet the student and sign the student out at the security window.
- Security personnel at the front security window will request to see parent/guardian ID before releasing a student.
- Students will be allowed to leave with another family member or parent-designated adult (pick-up person must be 18 years of age or older and cannot be a current student at North Hunterdon) if a written note or email from the parent/guardian is provided to the Attendance Office granting parental/guardian permission, or if the parent/guardian calls the attendance office to give verbal permission for the alternate pick-up person.
- For a student to be able to sign him-, her- or themself out of school, the student must be a senior with a valid school-issued parking permit. Senior students who will be signing out and driving themselves must still report to the Attendance Office for a pass for an early dismissal. To obtain a pass, confirmed parental permission must be made from the Attendance Office via phone call or parent email sent to the Attendance Office, regardless of whether or not the student has a handwritten note. Due to school board policy and state truancy laws, confirmation is still required if the student is 18 years old.
- Seniors leaving early are required to show their dismissal pass and sign and scan out (with their school-issued ID) at the security desk located at the theater/courtyard entrance. Failure to sign out at the theater security desk will result in disciplinary consequences.
More information about the attendance policy and procedures can be found on the Attendance Office webpage at http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/attendance/.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
A link to the 2022-2023 district calendar is available on our website. For the daily rotation schedule indicating A, B, C and D Days, please visit our bell schedules webpage. For school events, please click on the calendar icon in the upper right-hand corner of the school’s homepage. The Lion Pride Community Calendar is updated throughout the school year, as events are subject to change. Please click here to view the calendar.
CHROMEBOOKS AND INTERNET ACCESS
Students in grades 10-12 who turned in their district-issued Chromebook at the end of the last school year can pick up their previously issued devices on August 8th thru August 19th, Monday to Friday, during the hours of 8-11:30 am or 12:30-4 pm in the Media Center. The student will need to show his/her student ID or driver’s license to receive the Chromebook.
Freshmen and new students will receive their Chromebooks during orientation on August 24th. If your child opts to bring his/her own personal Chromebook, please click here for a list of acceptable devices. If your child is bringing their own device, they will need to be registered on the school network. This can be done by visiting the Technology Resource Center by the cafeteria during the regular school day.
Parents of freshmen and new students must complete a Chromebook agreement form and the acceptable use policy form in Aspen in order for their child to receive a Chromebook and gain access to the Internet and school network. Parents of students bringing their own Chromebook must also fill out an agreement form. These forms are available in Aspen, under Page Directory, then Technology Forms. Please fill out one of the Chromebook agreement forms and the acceptable use policy form prior to August 24th, so there is no delay in providing your child with their Chromebook and/or internet access.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
This year, we will have one scheduled Back to School Night. Parents of 9th – 12th graders are invited to attend on Tuesday, August 30th. The evening program will begin in the main gymnasium at 6:30 p.m. Parents are reminded to bring a copy of their student’s schedules to this popular year-opening event. Another letter will be sent with details prior to the Back to School nights. Teachers will also share videos with information about their classes for anyone who chooses not to attend.
AFTER SCHOOL HELP
Students can obtain after-school help from their teachers on Mondays and Wednesdays between 2:30 and 3:10 p.m. A 3:15 pm activity bus is available on Mondays and Wednesdays (there will no longer be a 3:15 pm bus on Thursdays due to low ridership). These bus routes differ from the regular AM/PM bus routes. 3:15 pm routes are posted in Aspen; click on Page Directory then Transp. Routes. Professional staff will be involved in curriculum work Tuesdays and Fridays between 2:30 p.m. and 3:10 p.m.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
North Hunterdon High School is dedicated to offering its students a variety of extracurricular activities that appeal to students’ varying needs and wants. You can review the student clubs offered on our website under Students tab then click Student Activities. While NHHS believes that extracurricular activities are an essential part of education, academics take precedence. Students are expected to maintain good academic standing, including attendance and discipline, in order to be eligible to participate in extracurricular programs, including senior parking and dances, per North Hunterdon-Voorhees Board of Education Policy no. 2430. In addition, all students participating in extracurricular activities, including athletics, must be enrolled in North Hunterdon’s Random Drug Testing program.
When a student becomes ineligible for participation in extracurricular activities by reason of poor attendance or poor academic performance, the advisors of the extracurricular activity in which the student participates will be informed. The advisor will suspend the student’s participation.
A student is ineligible to participate in extracurricular activities if:
- he/she is failing two or more courses at the midpoint marking period. This student will become eligible when he/she is no longer failing two or more courses in that marking period.
- he/she receives two or more failing marking period grades. This student will become eligible if he/she is no longer failing two or more courses at the midpoint of the following marking period.
Random Drug Testing –
Please click here for the Random Drug Testing Policy.
Please click here for the Random Drug Testing Form. (Athletes will complete the Random Drug Testing Form as part of the required registration paperwork.)
COVID-19
Please continue to report any positive cases of COVID-19 to our school nurses at 908-713-4171. As per the current guidance from the NJ Department of Health, students who test positive will be excluded from school for five days following symptoms onset or positive test. If symptoms improve and the student is fever-free, they may return to school, but need to wear a mask on days 6 to 10. If your child is experiencing COVID-like symptoms, please keep them home and get them tested. More information on COVID-19 protocols will be included in the district’s Safe Return Plan, which will be released in a separate communication once we receive more information from the NJ Department of Health and the Department of Education. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in continuing to keep our students and staff safe and healthy this school year.
AGENDA PLANNING BOOK
In order to provide assistance in organization and study skills, an agenda planning book will be made available to every student during the first week of school. This book will allow students to record homework assignments and mark important calendar dates.
PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK
The Parent-Student Handbook was developed as an information resource. It explains procedures, opportunities for student involvement, and a student’s rights and obligations. The handbook is available online at our website at http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/home/ under the Parents or Students tab. Parents will need to log into Aspen to acknowledge that they have reviewed and agreed to the content in the Parent-Student handbook. Go under Page Directory, then North Other Forms to complete the form.
ID CARD POLICY
Students are to carry ID cards at all times while in school and at all school activities and functions. Students must present IDs when asked to do so by staff members. Failure to do so may result in a disciplinary referral. Students must present IDs when signing into school late and when entering the Counseling Office, the Reading/Writing Lab, departmental resource centers, the Health Office, and the Media Center.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICIES
North Hunterdon High School is an alcohol and drug-free zone. Any student found to be in possession of any illegal substances or alcohol will be disciplined, and charges will be filed through Clinton Township Police Department. Any student believed to be under the influence of illegal substances or alcohol will be required to submit to a drug/alcohol screening before returning to school. In order to ensure a safe and drug-free school environment, North Hunterdon High School will work with Clinton Township Police and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s office on preventative measures, including but not limited to the use of canines to detect drugs in school. If drug-sniffing dogs are used, parents will be notified after the event, so they are aware of these preventative measures.
PROJECT ACCELERATION
Information regarding participating in Project Acceleration, our concurrent enrollment program with Seton Hall University, will be available to students in the applicable classes around mid-September.
REQUIRED SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
All students are required to hand in the Quote Selection Guide(s) during their English class, which is due on August 25, and it will count as a homework assignment. Summer reading assignments are posted on our website, http://libguides.nhvweb.net/summerreading.
REQUIRED SUMMER MATH PACKETS
All students entering Algebra 1 Advanced, Algebra 1 CP, Algebra 1A CP, Algebra 1B CP, Algebra 2 CP & Advanced, Algebra 2 Honors, Calculus Advanced, Calculus AP (AB), Calculus AP (BC), Geometry Advanced, Geometry CP, Geometry Honors, PreCalculus Advanced, and PreCalculus Honors, are required to complete a summer math packet. Students were instructed to access them through the school website. It is the student’s responsibility to return these packets when they return to school in August. The math packets may be downloaded from the Math Department site http://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/math/
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
We encourage parent involvement at North Hunterdon High School. Listed below are examples of committees and organizations that are available for parental participation:
- Principal’s Parent Advisory Committee
- Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
- Music Association
- Athletic Booster Club
- Special Education Advisory Group
- School Safety Team
- North Hunterdon Education Foundation
If you are interested in being involved in our programs, please call the Principal’s secretary, Mrs. Melissa Shannon, at (908) 713-4122 or visit the website linked above to learn more.
The first Principal’s Parent Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, October 20, 2022, from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in the North Hunterdon-Voorhees District Office.
VISITING NORTH HUNTERDON HIGH SCHOOL
During school hours, all visitors will enter the building through the Route 31 entrance. All exterior doors are locked, and you will need to use the intercom button to state your reason for visiting to the security personnel, who will then unlock the door. Visitors must then stop at the security desk to sign in and present an ID. The security personnel will provide a visitor’s pass, which must be visible at all times while on campus. Visitors who are not wearing a pass will be escorted to the main office. At the end of the visit, visitors will sign out at the same security desk where they signed in.
DRESS CODE
In order to create a positive school atmosphere, attire and grooming should be school appropriate, reasonably modest, and neat. A student’s appearance must not disrupt the teaching or learning process; therefore, the guidelines below must be followed:
- Appropriate and safe footwear must be worn at all times. (i.e. no bare feet, slippers, cleats, roller shoes, etc., are permitted).
- Heads should be uncovered at all times (hats, hoods, bandanas, and sweatbands are not to be worn during school hours).
- Leggings, yoga pants, or other excessively tight pants must be worn with an appropriate length shirt/top and must conform to other elements of the dress code.
- Skirts, shorts, and dresses must be an acceptable length (just below fist level when arms are straight) and may not be excessively tight (micro/tube skirts, spandex/exercise shorts, or other excessively tight apparel is not permitted).
- All clothing must cover undergarments, midriff, and cleavage.
- Clothing that excessively exposes the anatomy is not permitted (i.e. halter tops, strapless tops, open backs, tube tops, clothing worn below the hip line, any garment that is see-through, etc.)
- No tank tops/sleeveless shirts of any kind are permitted to be worn by boys.
- Clothing with inappropriate pictures, liquor advertisements, sexually suggestive messages, tobacco, weapons, or gang affiliations; slogans that contain offensive or obscene words, symbols, or signs; or slogans depicting violence or degrading any race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, social or economic status, sexual orientation or drug-related messages are not allowed.
- Any articles of clothing or accessories with studs, chains, spikes, or cleats that could cause damage to other students or to the property are not permitted.
- Outdoor jackets or coats are not permitted except when entering or leaving the building or when there are special circumstances during the school day.
- Non-prescription sunglasses and glazed and tinted glasses are not permitted except as prescribed by the student’s doctor.
- Any articles which are considered distracting or disruptive to the educational process are subject to administrative review.
Students who violate the policy may receive one after-school detention, with increasing penalties for subsequent offenses. Students will be sent to the Director of Student Activities or Assistant Principal’s Office and asked to change into more appropriate dress. Parents should understand that they might be asked to bring a change of clothing to school for students who are in violation of this school policy. The school administration reserves the right to make a final decision regarding appropriate dress in school and at school-sponsored events. If parents cannot be reached to bring appropriate clothing to the school, the student will be placed in the In-school Suspension Room until such time as appropriate attire can be provided.
CONTACTING AN ADMINISTRATOR
Periodically, parents ask, “Who do I talk to if an issue exists that affects my child?” My best advice is to begin with the teacher, coach, or advisor who is closest to the issue and can offer real-time advice. This can best be accomplished by calling the school (908) 713-4199 and leaving a message or perhaps contacting your child’s counselor. This step should always be taken prior to using other options. If however, you believe that a satisfactory response has not been rendered, the following is a list of administrators and the areas that they supervise:
|
NAME |
RESPONSIBILITY |
TELEPHONE EXTENSION |
E-MAIL ADDRESS |
|
Anthony Petraglia |
Director of Student Activities |
6357 |
|
|
Martha Hickson |
Librarian |
6414 |
|
|
Kristine Vitelli or Cynthia Peck |
Nurses |
6391
6391 |
|
|
Tyler Roseberry or Karen Korbul |
Athletic Trainers |
6142
4531 |
or |
|
Timothy Flynn
|
Assistant Principal Class of 2023 (12) Social Studies World Language Student Activities |
6351 |
|
|
Stacy Ditze |
Assistant Principal Class of 2024 (11) Science Mathematics Biomed/Polytech
|
6433 |
|
|
Chris Maslonka |
Assistant Principal Class of 2025 (10) English Business Family and Consumer Science |
6354 |
cmaslonka@nhvweb.net |
|
John Deutsch |
Assistant Principal Class of 2026 (9) Physical Education and Health Tech Ed Music Fine Arts |
6355 |
jdeutsch@nhvweb.net |
|
Robert Pellechio |
Assistant Principal Special Education Child Study Team |
6430 |
|
|
Michael Squarcia |
Director of Counseling Services |
5182 |
|
|
Alexa Freguletti |
Assistant Principal/Athletic Director |
6401 |
|
|
Greg Cottrell, Ed. D. |
Principal |
6350 |
If you have exhausted these steps without satisfaction, please feel free to call me at (908) 713-4121 or e-mail me: gcottrell@nhvweb.net
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
- Students may have a “silenced” cell phone on their person.
- The use of these devices during instructional time without the teacher’s permission or in a disruptive manner is prohibited.
- Unless specifically allowed by the teacher, the use of a cell phone in any classroom or instructional area is prohibited.
- Cell phones that ring, vibrate excessively, or in any other way disrupt the educational process are grounds for confiscation of the device by school staff.
- Students are only permitted to use their cell phones in the cafeteria during lunch periods and in hallways between classes.
- Voice calls from cell phones are prohibited. Students needing to make calls can do so in the Main Office & Guidance Office.
- The use of cell phones during study hall is at the discretion of the study hall teacher.
- Using a cell phone while walking can be considered a safety hazard and is prohibited.
- The use of headphones or earbuds in the hall or cafeteria is prohibited.
- Using a cell phone in the hall during instructional time is prohibited.
- No student shall use a cell phone to violate any student code of conduct, including computer usage agreements and/or bullying policies.
- The use of cell phones in restrooms and locker rooms is prohibited.
- Recording of sound or visual images is prohibited unless approved by a teacher/administrator.
- Recording of any incidents on campus is prohibited.
- Contents of cell phones may be reviewed and searched if there exists a reasonable suspicion that it may have been used in an activity prohibited by the code of conduct.
- The use of cell phones during any security drill/procedure is strictly prohibited
Consequences for Violations
- 1st offense: device is confiscated for one week/one extended detention
- 2nd offense: device is confiscated for two weeks/three extended detentions
- 3rd offense: device is confiscated for one month/five extended detentions
- 4th offense: device is confiscated until the end of the school year/seven extended detentions
*Parents may come to school to retrieve the device before the confiscation period is over by calling the Director of Student Activities to make an appointment for device pick-up between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Again, welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. We extend our best wishes to everyone for a successful school year.
Sincerely,
Greg Cottrell, Ed.D.
Principal
