Watchung Hills HS Principal Highlights Student Accomplishments in December Letter

Editor's note: The following letter was posted on the Watchung Hills Regional High School website on Tuesday, as a message to the community from school principal George Alexis.

Dear Parents:

Though December is a short school month and the weather has caused some interruptions, we have been doing the hard work of learning and growing as a community and moving forward with our instructional program. We recently have had the good fortune to celebrate our students’ academic, artistic, and co- curricular success, and the holiday season is a perfect opportunity to pause and recognize these accomplishments.

But before we do that, we want to remind you that though Friday is a half day, periods one to four will meet for 65 minutes each, and learning will occur from 7:30 a.m. to 12:05 a.m.. We encourage everyone to be present and on time. Please help us send the message that instructional time is important.

When we focus on learning, our students thrive, and we were reminded of that simple proposition at our annual National Honor Society induction ceremony on December 5. Each year, the NHS students select one faculty member for the distinguished teacher award, and this year, the 89 inducted students chose Mr. Brian Brown, a talented physics teacher, for the honor.

The fall also has been notable for our arts students. We inducted 42 students into the National Art Honor Society on December 4. Last week, we were very pleased by our students’ performances at the annual instrumental and choral concerts. We also were pleased that two students performed with the New Jersey All-State Orchestra and one student with the All-State Choir.

Meanwhile, for the second year in a row, a student won a preeminent musical composition competition, which is open to all composers under 30 in the western hemisphere.

In addition, two students were selected to the Macy's All-American Marching Band and participated in the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. We remain impressed by our students’ talents and proud of their commitment to the arts.

Similarly, in their co-curricular pursuits, our students brought home eight individual awards from the Model United Nations Conference that took place two weekends ago. And as I write, our student-athletes continue to earn conference, county, and state recognition for their efforts on the playing fields this fall.

Supervisor of health and PE, Mario Diez, retiring at end of December

Our students’ efforts make us all proud, but we also want to recognize our longtime supervisor of health and physical education, Mario Diez, who will retire at the end of this month. He has dedicated close to 35 years to the Watchung Hills community, has been an innovator in the field of physical education and health, and has been a remarkably successful and influential coach during his tenure, which has spanned five decades, from 1979-2013. We thank him for his contributions and wish him and his family the best.

Likewise, you have our very best wishes for a peaceful and healthy holiday season.

Very truly yours,

George P. Alexis Principal