Husky Happenings - September 2008

September 2008

HUSKY HAPPENINGS The Quarterly Newsletter of Dumont High School

Welcome Back The administration, faculty, and staff of Dumont High School are excited and eager to begin the 2008-2009 school year. We’re ready for the dog days of August to end and for our classrooms to once again become alive with learning, sharing, and creating. Husky Happenings has taken on a new look. Our content, however, remains focused on sharing with you the great news about what we do here at Dumont High School and to keep you informed of pertinent news about school events, student clubs, parent groups, and our academic pursuits. We will continue to provide this publication on a quarterly basis to our school community. Please take the time to peruse this publication. Husky Happenings contains a wealth of information, including contacts that will enable you to become a part of the many parent organizations that rely on volunteers to make their endeavors successful. I hope you find this new format to be inviting and enjoyable. In an attempt to cut down on paper and to utilize technology, only the first edition of Husky Happenings per year will be mailed home. The remaining three editions will be put onto the DHS website www.dumontnj.org in approximately late November, early February, and early April. However, if you wish to continue to receive a hard copy of the Husky Happenings, please contact Mrs. Stanek at (201) 387-3000, ext. 3003, and she will add you to the mailing list to receive a copy. I look forward to seeing you on our fields, at our events, and in our building. Mr. Michael Parent Principal

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In This Issue page 2-3

Need To Knows

page 4

Guidance News

page 4-5

School Security

page 5

Athletics News Clubs & Student News

pages 5-6

Policy

pages 6-8

Boosters & Parent Groups News

page 8

Upcoming Events

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

Need To Knows New School Phone Numbers Last year a new IP phone system was installed in the district. This system features an automated attendant and voice mail system to facilitate communication with district faculty and staff. Please take note of the following important main numbers. You may also dial the Guidance Department and Athletic Department directly. Dumont High School Main Office (and to call a student in as “absent”): (201) 387-3000 Guidance Department (direct number): (201) 387-3010 Athletic Department: (direct number) (201) 387-3094 DHS School Nurse (201) 387-3000, ext. 3605

New Staff

process entitled Accreditation For Growth (AFG) by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Schools that elect to undergo this accreditation process must develop two to three student achievement goals that are to be met within a 7 year span. Over the past three years, faculty, parents, and students have been involved in developing two goals that we believe will enhance and further student success. The two goals we have outlined are: • By the year 2015, 80% of Dumont High School students will engage in authentic School-to-Career learning opportunities as measured by participation in career oriented programs and career focus curricular options. • By the year 2015, 85% of Dumont High School students will utilize technology as an interpretive, creative, and analytical tool across the curriculum, as measured by the students achieving an adequate score or higher on a Dumont Technology Assessment Rubric.

Maria Albano, World Language (P/T) Tricia Alesandro, Science Rachel Babashak, English Karen Booker, English Fina Flores, World Language Ryanne Foley, Assistant Principal Brian Palumbo, Assistant Principal

More information regarding the AFG Evaluation Team’s visit and opportunities for parents to be involved in the process will be discussed at Key Communicators meetings and in future mailings.

Back To School Night

The annual 8th Grade Open House will be conducted on Wednesday, October 22, beginning at 7:00 PM in the DHS Auditorium. It will be a great opportunity for parents and 8th graders to receive an up close and personal view of DHS’s outstanding curriculum, and extra/cocurricular activities.

8th Grade Open House

The annual Back to School Night will be conducted on Thursday, September 25, beginning at 7:00 PM in the DHS Quirk Gym. We look forward to having you become familiar with your child’s teachers and courses, as well as the policies and procedures of DHS. A letter will be sent to you shortly providing Swift Reach details and inviting you to this annual event. This year the district will continue utilizing an automated phone service Dumont High School called Swift Reach to alert our parental to school closings and other Begins Accreditation community pertinent emergencies. As all information Process from last year is still in the system, please On November 10-14, Dumont High notify Mrs. Stanek at DHS (201) School will undergo an evaluation 387-3000, ext. 3003 only if you have

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changes to your contact numbers since last school year. Please remember that the closing of other schools in the area, such as Bergenfield and New Milford, does not necessarily mean that Dumont Schools will be closed. Please refer to The S t u d e n t - Pa r e n t H a n d b o o k f o r information regarding school closings. Parents may also access our school district website (www.dumontnj.org) for up-to-date school closing information.

Student/Parent Handbooks It is extremely important that our new parents and students become familiar with the contents of our Student-Parent Handbook. This handbook will be distributed to all students at the beginning of September during homeroom. Please contact the Main Office at the high school should your child not receive a Student-Parent handbook. This year, the handbook is also accessible via the Dumont High School home page on the district website (www.dumontnj.org). The handbook clearly explains all school policies. It is especially important that parents and students become familiar with that portion of the handbook pertaining to our attendance and tardy policies. Because of the nature of the bell schedule, only three (3) countable absences are permitted during any one marking period. Students who exceed the three (3) countable absences in a marking period will receive a failing grade for that marking period only and will then begin the following marking period with a clean slate. An appeals procedure is included in these regulations should a student exceed the allowable number of countable absences in a marking period. The attendance and tardy policies differ slightly for students in Zero Period. (7:25—8:00 AM) They may accumulate four (4) countable absences during a marking period as compared with three (3) for all other sessions.

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

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Free or Reduced Lunch If you believe that you qualify for free or reduced meals, you must provide verification of this fact along with your application. Applications will be sent home shortly for this purpose. Such verification of eligibility may include, but is not limited to, copies of wages/salaries, welfare, and child support payments, pensions. Social Security checks or any other type of income that is applicable. Be assured that any information you provide will remain confidential.

Quality Annual Assurance Report

store school-related materials and items of personal dress.

Every year, the State of New Jersey requires schools to select one or two year goals related to improving student performance in any school identified area of need. After a careful review of recent performance data, Dumont High School Planning Teams and Administrators recommended two student performance objectives for 2007-2009.

Students are obligated to comply with all school policies concerning lockers. Failure to comply with school policies will result in disciplinary consequences. Mr. Wichmann, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel Services, may be contacted at 201-387-3000, ext. 3008, for questions regarding lockers.

The following goals will be the focus of a 2-year QAAR plan, which was One type of form is to be used for all implemented during the 2007-2008 students, with the youngest schoolchild in school year and will continue into the the family returning one form to his or 2008-2009 school year: her school for all children in the family. Please note the application requests that At the conclusion of the 2008-2009 all students be listed in Part 1A, and school year, Special Education students EVERYONE (including parents/ taking the High School Proficiency guardians, non-school age children, Assessment will close the achievement grandparents, or other relatives) else in gap by increasing the Proficient and the household be listed in Part 2, whether Advanced Proficient achievement or not they have an income. All families percentages by 5% in the areas of qualified to take advantage of this Language Arts and Mathematics. opportunity are urged to provide your child with free or low cost nutritional At the conclusion of the 2008-2009 lunches. Any questions, please contact school year, 80% of students enrolling in Mr. Parent at (201) 387-3000, ext. 3003. school-sponsored on-line courses will express a high level of satisfaction with the course’s content, method of Student Drop-off And instruction, and the opportunity to earn Pick-up credits. Please be aware that parents should use Husky Drive as a drop off area for Yearly benchmarks regarding our students. Please do not use our faculty progress will be shared in future parking lots to drop off students. This publications. practice may pose a danger to your children and creates traffic issues in our Student Yearbook faculty parking lots and on New Milford Pictures Avenue. To avoid traffic delays and build up on New Milford Avenue, we are Student pictures will be taken on continuing to strongly encourage parents September 8 and 9. A makeup day has to use the Dixon Avenue entrance as a been scheduled for October 15. Students drop off point. A walkway is available to will be able to place their orders with give students access from Dixon Avenue payment to the company, Lors Studio, for to the Main Entrance. Please anticipate any additional pictures other than the ID traffic delays and allow additional time student picture. for arrival to school. Also, parents are reminded that visitor parking is only available on Husky Drive in the parking School/Student Lockers lot directly in front of the new Media Student lockers have been re-organized Center and main entrance. If that lot is and re-assigned to all students. School full, you are asked to find additional lockers are the property of the Dumont parking on the street as all spaces in the Board of Education and are on loan to faculty lots are reserved. students. These lockers are to be used to

FERPA The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a Federal Law that requires public schools to provide notice to parents of the types of student information that it releases publicly. This type of information, commonly referred to as “directory information,” includes such items as the name of the student, address and telephone number and is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. If you do not wish the Dumont Public Schools to include your name in DHS’s student directory, please return the bottom portion of the FERPA form to Mr. Parent by September 30. If we do not receive written notification by this date, your child’s name will be listed in the student directory.

Parent Access To Grades & Attendance As you may be aware, Dumont High School utilizes an electronic grade book program entitled Power Grade that features a parental access component. Last school year parents were previously issued a website address, a user name, and password that enabled them to gain access to their child’s academic progress and attendance in school. Another letter will be sent home again this year. Some parents have reported that they are having difficulty logging on to the parent access portal. A new address was created to resolve this issue. Please log on to the following address to access the Power School Parent Access Portal: http:// psw.dumontnj.org/public

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

Guidance News Congratulations To The Class of 2008 We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of the Class of 2008. We continue to be proud of the fact that a large percentage of our graduating seniors pursue educational opportunities post graduation. In fact, an impressive 96% of the Class of 2008 planned to continue their education, with 61% going to 4-year colleges, 29% going to 2-year colleges, 6% going to nursing, business, trade, and/or technical schools, and 1% to the armed services. 3% of the graduating class is pursuing employment opportunities.

Testing Dates High School Proficiency Assessment • September 29, October 2, 3 (2008) • March 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 (2009) End Of Course Testing • Algebra 1: May 18-29 (2009) • Biology: May 18, 21 (2009) SAT at DHS • October 4, 2008 • May 2, 2009 PSAT at DHS • October 15, 2008 AP Test dates • May 4 thru May 8 • May 11 thru May 15 Contact Dr. Collins, Director of Guidance, at (201) 387-3010 for test information, as well as registration deadlines. You may check the school district website (www.dumontnj.org) for additional information under Guidance Department.

Middle College DHS offers students the opportunity to earn college credits through the Fairleigh Dickinson University Middle College Program. For the 2007-2008 school year, 78 students were enrolled in 7 different courses that potentially could equal 402 semester hours of credit. Our November newsletter will contain the number of

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students who are participating in the Middle College Program in 2008-2009. The Middle College Program offers our students the opportunity to take outstanding courses at DHS and potentially earn college credits.

School Security

reminding parents of the user name and password for their child. In the meantime, if you have any concerns about your child’s academic progress or attendance, please feel free to contact your child’s guidance counselor, administrator, or teachers.

This school year, as a means to continue to enhance school security, the district will continue implementing a Visitor Management Procedure in all district schools.

Virtual High School Virtual High School (VHS) is a nonprofit organization that collaborates with schools to offer on-line, content-rich, credit-bearing high school courses to students throughout the United States and around the world. Currently there are over 200 courses to chose from in the following areas: Language Arts, Math, Technology, Life Skills/Health, Foreign Language, Science, Social Studies, Business, and the Arts. Courses may be either half-year or full year. Students in grades 10-12 are eligible. Applications and a list of courses are available in the Guidance Office. Credits are awarded as follows: 2.5 credits for a half-year; 5 credits for a full year. All applications must be completed by April 1. There is no fee to the student for taking a VHS course.

Satellite School Schedule

Visiting DHS

The Board of Education’s visitor policy states that all school visitors, including parents, must report to the main entrance to obtain a visitor’s pass before proceeding to any part of the building. Without exception, all visitors will be expected to follow our access and visitation procedures. Visitors must use the designated entrance to enter the school. Once admitted into the building, the visitor will report directly to the main office or in the high school’s case, the security desk area, to be issued a visitor’s pass. In order to obtain a pass, the visitor will need to present one of the following forms of identification, which will be scanned into our computerized security system: e.g. Driver’s License, Passport, State/County Issued ID, Health Insurance Card, NJMVC Non-operator License, Resident Alien Card, Car Registration, Utility/Tax Bill. The pass that is issued will identify the person as a processed visitor to the school with the date and time and will serve as a sign-in verification. At the end of the visit, visitors should return to the main entrance desk with the pass to be checked out. Once a visitor is initially processed, future visits to the building will be expedited. More information about this new system will be shared at our annual Back to School Night scheduled for September 25. We thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

The Satellite School schedule for the 2008-2009 school year may be accessed on our school district website www.dumontnj.org. As a point of information, students attending the Paramus program are provided with bus transportation to the site at the following times: 7:30 AM for the morning session; 11:30 AM for the PM session. If you have any questions or would like more Student IDs/Access information regarding the Satellite school Cards program, please contact the Guidance Department at (201) 387-3010. All student ID/access cards will be returned to the 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who turned in their ID cards in June. Students who did not hand in or who lost their cards but paid the

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

$10.00 replacement fee will have new cards issued to them in September. All incoming 9th grade students and newly enrolled students will have student ID pictures taken for this purpose on September 8 and 9 during Physical Education classes. Once IDs are processed and issued, students will be required to wear their IDs during the school day. These cards will provide students access into the building in the morning, during SDLs, and during the lunch hour. Cards will also be needed to access bathroom facilities and to gain Internet access in the various computer labs and in the media center. Students who arrive to school without their access cards may lose campus privileges such as open SDL and Lunch periods, and may receive additional disciplinary consequences. Students will be required to pay a $10.00 replacement fee for lost or stolen cards. Meetings will be held with students during the first few weeks of school to discuss the system.

Video Security System For safety purposes and to ensure the protection of district property, the district has installed web based security cameras in common interior and exterior areas of the high school. Information recorded via this system will be reviewed on a regular basis and will be utilized to ensure the protection and welfare of the school community. More information related to the features of this system will be shared during student homeroom meetings.

Photograph/Video Use Authorization The Dumont Public Schools requires parents/guardians to sign a Photograph/ Video Use Authorization Form authorizing or denying permission to use photographs/videos of their child(ren) in publicity relating to the district’s educational programs. The Parent/ Guardian permission is included in this mailing and is due back to the homeroom teacher no later than September 19, 2008.

Athletics News

387-3000, ext. 6092 or Ms. Mascarelli: (201) 387-3000, ext. 3017.

Marching Band

Fall Sports

DHS’s outstanding Marching Husky Band will once again perform at the The Fall Sports Season these teams will football games during the Fall Sports open play on the following dates: Season. The band, under the direction of Messrs. Chiandusse and Pochini, will also Girls Volleyball perform at the North Jersey Marching 9/12 @ Cliffside Park, 4:00 PM Band Festival on Sunday, October 26 at Home Opener 9/17 vs. Ft. Lee, 4:00 PM Montclair State University (the rain date Varsity Coach –Jamie Kipp is November 2). Boys Soccer 9/12 @ Cliffside Park, 4:00 PM Home Opener 9/17 vs. Ft. Lee, 7:00 PM Varsity Coach – Chuck Hogan

Policy News Tardy Policy, Closed Lunch, After School Detention

Girls Soccer 9/13 @ Cliffside Park, 9:30 AM Home Opener 9/18 vs. Ft. Lee, 7:00 PM All DHS students are expected to report Varsity Coach – Stacey Del’ Re to all of their class assignments on time. Tardiness to school and classes reduces Football the effectiveness of the school’s efforts to September 13 @ Cliffside Park, 1:00 PM educate your children and as always will Home Opener 9/20 vs. Englewood, 1:00 be strongly discouraged. As was the PM policy last year, lates to class and Varsity Coach – Andrew Wells homeroom will accrue by marking period. This aligns the late policy with Boys and Girls Cross Country our countable absence policy. Under this 9/16 vs. Cliffside Park/Rutherford @ policy, only one (1) tardy to class or Darlington Park, 4:00 PM homeroom in one marking period will be Varsity Coach – Jon Bennett permitted prior to main office intervention. Tardies two (2) and three (3) Join in the excitement and experience all will result in assignment to an After the action in the new stadium. School Detention that will take place from 3:05-4:05 in a room designated by For athletic information, contact Mr. the Administration. A fourth tardy (4) to Lennie Parham, Director of Athletics, at a class or homeroom will result in (201) 387-3094 or view the district assignment to a Closed Lunch Period for website www.dumontnj.org. a time period of up to five (5) school days. This Closed Lunch Period may be extended if tardiness to class or homeroom continues. A fifth tardy (5) will result in assignment of a Saturday Detention. Six (6) or more tardies may result in a suspension from school. DHS Youth Theatre Parents are encouraged to review the policy outlined in detail in the parent/ Under the direction of Ms. Tuxill, the student handbook with their children. DHS Youth Theatre will conduct its performances on December 4, 5, and 6 As you may be aware, Dumont High at 7:00 PM in the DHS Auditorium. For School conducts an Open Lunch information about these performances, program from 11:07AM-12:02 PM in you may contact: Ms. Tuxill: (201) which students have the option to eat at

Clubs & Student News

home, in the school cafeteria or at an off

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HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

campus location. However, students may be assigned to a Closed Lunch Period for disciplinary reasons, such as repetitive tardiness or inappropriate behavior, at the discretion of the Administration. Students who are assigned to a closed lunch will be required to remain on campus during the lunch period, and will be required to report to a room designated by the administration. Students must arrive by 11:25 AM. Lunch may be purchased in the cafeteria or may be brought from home. As with Saturday Detention, students must satisfy all after school detention and closed lunch obligations, unless there is an illness or a family emergency. We recognize that occasional tardiness may be unavoidable, and this can be dealt with by the administration on an individual basis. Participation in extra or co-curricular meetings, practices or job responsibilities are not considered appropriate reasons for failure to serve assigned detentions. A copy of this policy was sent home in a recent mailing. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact their child’s administrator if they have any questions regarding this policy or their child’s obligations during the course of the year. Parents/guardians will be contacted by an administrator should tardiness be an issue with their child.

S a t u rd a y Policy

Detention

In event of inclement weather, a recorded message may be sent to the parental community regarding the status of Saturday Detention. A message may also be posted on the DHS home page, which can be accessed via www.dumontnj.org. Additionally, students will not be excused from Saturday Detention to participate in extra/cocurricular activities. Should school be canceled on a Friday due to inclement weather, the disposition of Saturday Detention will be determined based on the availability and access to DHS. All Saturday detentions and/or suspensions are to be served by the conclusion of the 2008-2009 school year. Detentions and/or suspensions will not

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be carried over into the 2009-2010 year. Students may be assigned after school detentions or suspended as the calendar approaches March/April due to an insufficient number of Saturday detentions remaining in the school year.

Substance Abuse Policy

equipment in support of our athletes that may not be covered under the DHS budget. We also provide scholarships and hold an All Sports Dinner to honor our varsity athletes. This cannot be done without the support of you. If you have not done so already, please support us by sending in your membership. The Dumont Athletic Association is a worthwhile organiza-tion, and we can always use your help. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9 @ 7:15 PM in the DHS Media Center. Plan to come to our meeting and look for more ways to get involved. The other meeting dates will be posted on the high school website, and they are:

The Dumont Public Schools' Substance Abuse Policy is contained in the StudentParent Handbook. Please review this policy with your child. In accordance with New Jersey Administrative Law, any student, for whom a staff member has reasonable suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol of drugs, shall be sent for a medical exam and a urine October 8, November 5, January 6, screen. March 18, April 8, and May 13. All meetings will be at 7:15 PM in the DHS Internet Use Policy Media Center. In May of 2008, the Dumont Athletic The Dumont Public Schools require Boosters Association had the pleasure of students and parents to sign an electing the new Executive Board for the Acceptable Use of the Internet Policy. 2008-2009 school year. Should you have This policy is contained in the appendix any questions or concerns, please feel free of the Student-Parent Handbook. The to contact anyone of them. The new Parent/Guardian permission form is officers are: Sandy Kraykowski, President being sent home in this mailing. A (201) 387-9181, Lisa Sansone, Vice student may also receive another copy of President (201) 384-3777, Mary the policy from school librarian, Mrs. Normoyle, Recording Secretary (201) Maynes. These forms must be returned 501-0498, Tracy Cullen, Corresponding to Mrs. Maynes before a student may use Secretary (201) 385-8045, Barbara the Internet at DHS. Suppes, Treasurer (201) 244-5770

Boosters & Parent Groups News Athletic Boosters Welcome to the 2008 – 2009 school year. We hope everyone enjoyed their summer. The Dumont Athletic Booster Association was busy over the summer with the start of their first big mailing. I hope you received it in the mail and plan on putting an Ad in our Sports Program and becoming a member of our organization. The Dumont Athletic Association throughout the year fundraises to support every athlete and athletic association throughout DHS. We strive to purchase

Don’t forget about our DHS “Huskie” clothing. We will have lots of new items, so keep an eye out for our booth at Dumont Day, our athletic events, and school activities. You can view the items online (www.dumontnj.org, DHS page, Husky Store link) and download the flyer to place an order. These make great gifts and show your high school spirit!

Music Boosters The Music Boosters welcome everyone back from summer vacation as we begin the 2008/2009 school year and we invite you to join the DHS Music Booster Association. Membership will again be $10.00 per family and registration forms will be available at our table on Dumont Day. We encourage all families to become active members to help make this our best year ever.

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

In the past, with the support of our members, the DHS Music Booster Association has granted awards to graduating seniors and has sponsored the Thanksgiving Day Breakfast, Band Dinner, and Choral Luncheon for our students. We have also donated much needed equipment to the Music Department for use by our students and we are looking forward to making more donations in the future. Of course, to be successful, we need the help of parent volunteers. Please consider joining our organization and supporting our children in their musical studies. Our first meeting will be held on Monday, September 15, 2008, at 8:00 p.m. in the Media Center. Future meeting dates and events will be posted on the DHS web site. The Music Boosters will be selling DHS Husky stadium seat cushions again this season. Please also watch for our fourth annual fundraising raffle of exciting and valuable prizes. Booster members will be selling the cushions and tickets at Dumont Day and all home football games in addition to hosting the 50/50 raffles over the next few months. Please show your support of music at Dumont High School by purchasing a cushion and raffle tickets. If you have any questions regarding membership or are interested in helping us on Dumont Day, or any other event throughout the year, please call Judy Famulare at (201) 384-2370. We look forward to seeing you and thank you for your support.

Key Communicators In order to provide parents with an opportunity to become involved with happenings at Dumont High School, Mr. Parent is seeking volunteers to serve as Key Communicators. This committee is comprised of a maximum of 25 members from the school community. Key Communicators will meet with Mr. Parent and other high school administrator s and supervisor s periodically during the school year to

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exchange ideas and information vital to drugs. They have a safe celebration to the continued effectiveness of the school. attend where everyone will have a good time without hurting themselves or Meetings in 2008-2009 are: anyone else. Parents benefit by knowing where their child is during the established • October 7 – 7:00 pm, Media Center • November 14 – 9:30 am, Cafeteria time frame set for the celebration and Annex also by knowing that they are safe and • December 9 – 7:00 pm, Media Center well chaperoned. • January 9 – 9:30 am, Cafeteria Annex • February 10 – 7:00 pm, Media Center Project Graduation 2009 • March 13 – 9:30 am, Cafeteria Annex Once again, this year’s Senior Class parents are sponsoring Project • April 7 – 7:00 pm, Media Center Graduation for all members of the • May 8 – 9:30 am, Cafeteria Annex graduating class of 2009. The evening is If you are interested in being considered very special and represents the last time to participate as a Key Communicator, the graduating class will gather as one please call Mrs. Terry Stanek, at (201) before they depart on their post high 387-3000, ext. 3003. Please understand school endeavors. The evening begins that there are a limited number of after the graduation ceremony and ends individuals who may serve on this around 6:00 AM with the return of the committee. If you served on this buses to the high school. Plans are in the committee last year, and would like to works for this year’s event. If you are the continue to serve in that capacity, please parent of a member of the Class of 2009 call Mrs. Stanek as well. There will also and have not yet become involved, there be an opportunity for parents to sign up is still time and a need for your help and as a Key Communicator on Back to participation. Our first meeting of this School Night. school year will be held on Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30 PM in the DHS Cafeteria Annex. Please check the Twin Project Graduation Boro News and future editions of Husky Happenings for any changes and for Graduation is a time of great excitement future meeting dates and information. and joy, a time for celebrating past achievements and new beginnings. All We are holding some fundraisers this too often, however, the high-spirited, year to help lower the cost of attending unsupervised celebrating of the occasion Project Graduation in June 2009. They results in drug and alcohol-related are: accidents. Concerned parents recognized the need for a positive means of Jukebox Heroes Live Show featuring protecting young lives while providing the The Mahoney Brothers on Friday, opportunity to enjoy a fun-filled evening November 14, 2008 at Conlon Hall in of celebration, so they started Project Bergenfield. Doors open at 7:00 pm and Graduation more than twenty years ago. the show starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are Project Graduation is a drug and alcohol $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Please free all night celebration following the join us for a fun “Parents Night Out.” graduation ceremony. This program is Details will follow. endorsed throughout the country by the Dept. of Highway Safety, MADD, Holiday Cash Raffle – We are asking SADD and DARE, as a successful way to each senior family to sell at least one reduce the number of accidents that raffle ticket for $10.00 each. The drawing occur on graduation night. It is one way will be held on Wednesday, November to give the graduates the opportunity to 26, 2008. One ticket will be mailed home celebrate while insuring their safety on to each student and we will sell tickets at one of the most memorable evenings of Dumont Day and Back to School Night. their lives. Students benefit from Project Graduation more than anyone else does. Golf Outing – The Golf Outing will be They learn that it is possible to have a held on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at good time without the use of alcohol or Paramus Golf Club. Details will follow.

HUSKY HAPPENINGS September 2008

For information on this event, please contact Mr. Guy Finetto at: [email protected] or (201) 914-2792.

Upcoming Events

Reminder: The second installment payment of $100.00 is due on September 19, 2008. The first payment of $75.00 was due on November 30, 2007, but you can still send in payments at any time, with the total amount due no later than February 27, 2009. If you have any questions, please call Donna Pleus at (201) 387-9153. Anyone with a financial hardship that may prevent them from attending Project Graduation is asked to call Mr. Parent at the high school. All inquiries will be kept confidential. For any other questions or comments, please contact Peaches Fiorelli at (201) 385-2666 or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

September • 3 First Day of School • 11 Fall Sports Mandatory Substance Meeting, 7:30 p.m. • 19 Pep Rally, 2:00 p.m. • 19 Freshmen Reception • 25 Back to School Night, 7:00 p.m. • 29 HSPA Test • 30 School Closed - Holiday

October • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 School Closed 2 HSPA Test 2 Senior Parent Night, 7:00 p.m. 3 HSPA Test 4 SAT Test @ DHS, 7:00 a.m. 6 Makeup HSPA Test 7 Makeup HSPA Test 7 Key Communicators, 7:00 p.m. 8 Makeup HSPA 9 School Closed 10 Junior Barn Dance, 7 PM 15 PSAT Test @ DHS, 8:00 AM 22 8th Grade Open House, 7:00 p.m. 26 Band Festival @ Montclair State University, 4:00 p.m.

Project Graduation 2010 The 2010 Project Graduation Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, September 23 at 7:00 PM in the Media Center and on Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 PM in the Cafeteria Annex to discuss the budget plans and fundraising, which includes the Fashion Show. We welcome all parents/guardians of the Class of 2010 to attend. Your participation is important to the success of Project Graduation. Please check the DHS website and the Twin Boro News November for times and dates of all meetings. Any • 4 School Closed– Election Day questions please contact Stephanie • 6 School Closed - NJEA Convention McClinton at (201) 385-1542 or • 7 School Closed - NJEA Convention [email protected]. • 13 Career Fair @ DHS, 8:30 a.m. • 14 Key Communicators, 9:30 a.m. • 21 Homecoming Dance, 7 p.m. • 25 Flag Raising Ceremony, 7:45 a.m. • 26 Single Session Day • 27 School Closed – Holiday • 28 School Closed – Holiday

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