It's Back-to-school For the School, Too

On Sept. 8, the hallways of Watchung Hills Regional High School will again be bustling with exuberate students—2,087 of them, actually.

The enrollments are projected to include 565 freshmen, 540 sophomores, 521 juniors and a 461-member Class of 2012.

The 2011-2012 school year will begin with 21 new faculty members,
five of which are leave-replacements for teachers on family leave, 15 new teachers and one instructional aide. Additionally, Darrin Wolsko, a former science teacher, has been promoted to Supervisor of the Science Department.

New Teacher Orientation will be held on Aug. 30th and 31st. During this two-day training, administrators and department supervisors will provide the new members of the faculty with information on all aspects of their responsibilities and give them an overview of the technology
they will be utilizing for designing individual webpages, curriculum mapping, student management including attendance and student grading, as well as professional development initiatives and responsibilities.

Teachers will report for the first of two staff development days on Sept. 6th.

An interesting program is planned for Sept. 6th beginning with guest speaker Joseph Fiordaliso, commissioner of Public Utilities for New Jersey. Fiordaliso, a former educator, will be speaking on sustainability and green initiatives.

A second speaker will help commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center: Philip Weiss, an EMS captain and first responder to the World Trade Center will
be speaking about his experience. Weiss is on the board of directors for the World Trade Center Rescuers Foundation and is currently a Nassau County fire-fighter. Teachers from the school Arts and History Departments will be collaboratively presenting a tribute to 9/11.

The public is invited to join from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in our Performing Arts Center to hear our speakers. To reserve seating, call Mrs. Braun at 908-647-4800, ext. 4890.

Freshman Orientation is scheduled for Sept. 7, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Freshman will be transported to school on their regular bus where they will receive an overview of the high school prior to following a schedule of all their classes for a brief meeting with their teachers. Orientation will conclude at 10:45 a.m. and students will be returned home by bus.

Summer projects to the facilities have included:
• Building Automated System: WHRHS has installed a new Building Automated System which automatically monitors and manages HVAC comfort and performance, and all environmental and mechanical systems. This permits personnel to identify and resolve issues and change operational parameters in real time to respond to shifting climates/ schedules. With this new system in place, school officials anticipate a 10 to 15 percent reduction in electricity costs.
• Press Box: A new modular Press Box is in the process of being installed with completion expected by Sept. 22.
• HVAC Repairs: All mechanical/controller repairs to HVAC systems are currently in progress with 50 pecent of the job complete.
• South Auditorium: Repairs to the HVAC system, as well as the installation of a new ceiling, and lighting is planned for the South Auditorium.
• Classroom Project: Based on student enrollment over the next two years the addition of four additional classrooms to WHRHS is necessary. This project went out to bid in August with construction commencing in late October with substantial completion expected by
March 2012.