Roxbury High School

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Roxbury High School
A Commitment to Excellence in Education"
Location
1 Bryant Drive
Succasunna, NJ 07876
Information
Type Public high school
Established 1903
Principal Jeffrey Swanson
Asst. Principal Dr. Linda Bowles
Alexis Korsak
Eric Renfors
Andrea Saladino
Faculty 119 (on FTE basis)[1]
Enrollment 1,571 (as of 2009-10)[1]
Student to teacher ratio 13.20[1]
Color(s) Blue and gold
Athletics conference Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Nickname Gael
Website School website

Roxbury High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Succasunna section of Roxbury Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Roxbury School District.

Roxbury High School's students come from Roxbury Township, as well as from Mount Arlington, who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship with the Mount Arlington School District.[2]

As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,571 students and 119 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.20.[1]

The school was the 115th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 98th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[3] The school was ranked 113th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.[4] Schooldigger.com ranked the school as 149th out of 376 public high schools statewide in its 2010 rankings (an increase of 17 positions from the 2009 rank) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the language arts literacy and mathematics components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[5]

Contents

[edit] Campus

Roxbury High School consists of one rectangular building with various wings. The school only has windows on the front of the building, which faces northwest. This was done in order to save on energy costs, as the school was built during the prelude to the 1973 energy crisis. In 2003 a referendum was passed to add a music suite and an athletic training area/weight room to the original facility. The school shares Bryant Drive with nearby Eisenhower Middle School. Behind the school are athletic fields, including a track and a football field. A wooded area is also used for the "Project Adventure" program (which includes various types of climbing and trust-building activities for freshman).

[edit] Languages spoken at home

The most common language spoken at home other than English (96%) is Spanish at (6%) of homes. Russian (0.5%), Gujarati (0.5%), Polish (0.1%), and Macedonian (0.2%) follow[citation needed]

[edit] Performing arts

Roxbury High School offers a comprehensive, fully curricular performing arts curriculum. Its offerings include:

[edit] Band

The Roxbury Marching Gaels have won State Championships, and have shaped themselves into one of the best marching bands on the East Coast. In 2005, Roxbury performed "The Music of Scheherazade", and placed 2nd at the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) New Jersey State Championships with a score of 96.70, and 4th overall at the USSBA East Coast Championships at Giants Stadium with a score of 96.48. Also in 2006, the music from Stravinsky's "The Firebird" won them second place at USSBA Regionals with a score of 97.375, a new record in the school at the time. In 2007, Records were broken with the Gaels performing their show "Deja View" winning them USSBA Group 6 Open NJ State Championships, and then winning 1st place overall at the USSBA Regionals with a score of 98.00. Then in 2009, Roxbury won 1st place at National Championships with their show "Upon A King". They received a score of 98.188, Roxbury's highest score ever received.

The Roxbury Honors Wind Symphony has distinguished itself as a prominent band in the Eastern United States, and has received many "superior" ratings. It has also performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic. The Roxbury Bands are conducted by Todd Nichols, Richard Hartsuiker, and Sarah Bednarcik.

  • The Roxbury Marching Gaels (for full staff go to http://www.roxburybands.org/marching-band/staff)
  • The Ninth Symphony (directed by Sarah Bednarcik)
  • The Symphony Band (directed by Richard Hartsuiker)
  • The Honors Wind Symphony (directed by Todd Nichols)
  • The Jazz Ensemble (directed by Todd Nichols)
  • The Jazz Lab Band (directed by Richard Hartsuiker)

Composer Robert Farnon composed The Gaels: An American Wind Symphony, as a commission to the Roxbury High School band in honor of the school's mascot, the gael. The piece made its world debut in May, 2006. It was performed by the Roxbury High School Honors Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Stanley Saunders, a close friend of Farnon.

The band has also performed in New York City's world renowned Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center.

[edit] Choir

The Roxbury Choir program is a notable performing group. The select ensembles tour every year to regional and national contests and festivals; on these tours they have taken home many awards including "Best Overall Choir" from these contests. Roxbury's Director of Choral Activities, Lorraine Lynch, initiated the Roxbury Invitational Choral Festival, which has been held annually for 16 years. At the Invitational, about two dozen choirs participate (some from as far as Maine and Virginia). On March 11, 2006, the New Hanover (VA) Chamber Singers won first place in the Concert Choir division, followed closely by the Hopewell Valley Central High School (NJ) Chamber Singers in Second Place and the Central Dauphin High School (PA) CD Singers in third. On March 31, 2007, Hopewell Valley (NJ) Chamber Singers took First Place, followed closely by the A Cappella Choir from J. P. Stevens High School in Edison, New Jersey. However, J. P. Stevens A Capella Choir took First Place with Gold Ratings in 2011's Invitational. Last year's local Roxbury Choir tour was on May 13, 2006, where the choirs travelled to the Music in the Parks Festival. The choir received six 1st place trophies, six overall ratings of Superior, and the overall best choir of the day. In March 2007, Classic Sounds Honors traveled to Carnegie Hall for the second time.

  • Roxbury Concert Choir
  • Roxbury Classic Sounds Honors
  • Roxbury Freshman Women's Ensemble
  • Roxbury Revelation
  • Roxbury Vocal Jazz
  • Roxbury Chorale
  • Roxbury Madrigals
  • Roxbury Melodies
  • Roxbury Select Men's Choir

[edit] Dance

There are five levels of sequential curricular dance classes offered. Headed By Rebecca Pietras, Students learn basic technique and various styles of dance including hip-hop, lyrical, modern, and jazz. The curriculum is suited for dancers of all levels of skill.

[edit] Extracurricular activities

Extra- and co-curricular activities include:

[edit] Sports

 This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (July 2008)

Roxbury High School's Mascot is the Gaels, an Irish Warrior, which was a nickname given to the football team in the 1930s by local news writers because of three Irish brothers on the team that were standouts. The Roxbury High School Gaels now compete in the American Division of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[6][7] Prior to the realignment that took place in 2010, Roxbury had participated in the now defunct twenty-member Iron Hills Conference. With 1,144 students in grades 10-12, the school is classified by the NJSIAA as North I Group IV, a category that includes schools with enrollment of 1,120 to 2,479.[8]

The Roxbury athletic program is best known for their football, wrestling, baseball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls track and field, and girls soccer teams. Sports offered include basketball, cross country, football, golf, field hockey, swimming, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, wrestling, track, volleyball, baseball, ice hockey, and softball. The Gaels once had a bowling team, but it is no longer in existence.

The 2007-08 Roxbury Gaels Varsity Ice Hockey team had a record-setting 22-1-1 season record, having won the HAAS Cup as the HAAS Division champions. Their only loss came in the second round of the State Playoffs against Morris Knolls High School.[9]

From 1996-1998 the Roxbury Gaels Baseball team won three consecutive Morris County Championships, beating rival Randolph High School in both '96 and '97. The team was coached by Bruce Shatel.

The football team won the NJSIAA state sectional championships in both 1998 (North II Group IV) and 2009 (North I Group IV).[10] In 1998 the Roxbury Gaels football team won the North Jersey Section II Group IV championship at Giants Stadium, its first state sectional title, in a closely fought 7-6 win over Plainfield High School a team that was one of the top-ranked in New Jersey.[11] The 1998 team also set the record for most wins in a season with 10 wins and 2 losses and was undefeated at their home field. The Gaels returned to Giants Stadium in 2009 to play in the North Jersey Section I Group IV championship game, defeating East Orange Campus High School 14-6 for the program's second title.[12] The 2009 football team also won the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, American Division championship and were undefeated in their division. The team also set a new record for most wins in school history with a final record of 11 wins and 1 loss.

In both 1996 and 2002, the Roxbury Gaels football team won the Iron Hills Conference, Iron Division Championship (Co-Champions).[citation needed]

In the 1995-96 season, the Roxbury wrestling team won the North Jersey Section II Group IV state sectional title. The Gaels also won the state sectional title during the 2003-04 season, this time as a member of the North Jersey Section II Group III competition.[citation needed]

The Girl's Basketball team, during the 2003-04 season, posted a 25-2 record and won the Iron Hills Conference, Iron Division Championship. Going undefeated in the conference, they also finished ranked number #18 in The Star-Ledger's Top 20,[citation needed]

In March 2005, Roxbury's Ryan Fikslin won the individual 103 lb. wrestling championship in Atlantic City.[13]

In both the fall of 2004 and 2005 the Roxbury girl's cross country team won County, Conference, Sectional and State championships and was invited to the Nike National Championships which they placed in the top 10 both years.

The baseball team won the 2001 NJSIAA North II, Group IV state title with a 4-1 win against West Orange High School.[14]

The girls soccer team won the 1997 Group IV state title with a win over Eastern High School.[15] The team won the 2004 North I, Group IV sectional title, topping Randolph High School 3-0 in the tournament final.[16] In 2005, the team repeated the feat, winning the sectional championship against Montclair High School, 2-1.[17] The team lost in the Group IV state championship game in both 2004 and 2005, falling to Brick Memorial High School and Eastern High School in those two seasons.[15]

The soccer team won the 1999 North II, Group IV title with a 5-2 win over Columbia High School.[18]

The Gaels were co-IHC Iron champions in 2008-09 going 8-1. They lost in the 1st round at the hands of the Rahway Indians.

The Roxbury Varsity Cheerleaders placed first at the Pocono Regionals 2007. At the 2008 UCA Nationals in Orlando, Florida, Varsity placed 17th in the nation and Junior Varsity placed 14th. Roxbury Varsity also placed first at the 2008 Pocono Regionals. In February, at the 2009 UCA High School Nationals in Orlando Florida, Varsity placed 5th in the nation in Division 1 for Small Varsity and Junior Varsity placed 12th in the Small Junior Varsity Division.

[edit] Languages

[edit] Academic

[edit] Student government and leadership

  • Conflict Resolution Team
  • Echo (yearbook)
  • Peer Leadership
  • Roxbury Review (newspaper) a three time winner of the GSSPA best all around paper.
  • Prime Time Roxbury (newspaper)
  • Student Council
  • Student Empowerment/Advocacy (SEA)
  • Guardian Angels

[edit] Other

[edit] Departments

Roxbury High School consists of the following departments: Business and Marketing, Family and Consumer Studies, Industrial Arts and Technology, Mathematics, Language Arts, PE and Health, Social Studies, Science, Special Education, Visual Arts, and World Languages.

[edit] Curriculum

The school follows the New Jersey state curriculum.

In order to graduate, the school requires 4 years of English classes, 4 years of Physical Education, 3 years of mathematics, 3 years of sciences, 3 years of history, 1 years in foreign language, 1 year of a practical art, and 1 year of a fine/performing art.

Practical arts include keyboarding, woodworking, and cooking classes. Fine/performing arts include band, orchestra, choir, and dance, as well as any art-related class (for example, Ceramics).

Students who fulfill the requirements before their normal graduation are not permitted to graduate early. Students must carry at least 35 credits (7 full-year classes) worth of courses per semester.

[edit] SAT scores

Average SAT scores for the 2004–05 school year were 532 on the Mathematics section and 529 on the Verbal section. 79% of students took the test.

[edit] Faculty

There are very roughly 200 faculty members. Some in teaching positions have bachelor's or master's degrees, with a small number of doctoral degree holders. Core members of the school's administration are:[19]

  • Jeffrey Swanson, Principal
  • Dr. Linda Bowles, Assistant Principal
  • Alexis Korsak, Assistant Principal
  • Domonic Miller, Assistant Principal

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Roxbury High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed August 23, 2011.
  2. ^ O'Dea, Colleen. "State orders impact study of school regionalization", Daily Record (Morristown), November 23, 2008. Accessed January 30, 2011. "Mount Arlington, K-8, sends its high school students to Roxbury, K-12."
  3. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed August 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
  5. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2009-2010, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 5, 2012.
  6. ^ League Memberships – 2011-2012, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed February 5, 2012.
  7. ^ School Info, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed August 23, 2011.
  8. ^ 2011-2012 Public Schools Group Classification for ShopRite Cup–Tennis–Soccer–Basketball–Baseball–Softball for North I, NJSIAA. Accessed February 5, 2012.
  9. ^ 2008 Ice Hockey Tournament - Public A, NJSIAA. Accessed June 23, 2008.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Jeff. NJSIAA Football Playoff Champions, NJSIAA. Accessed December 20, 2011.
  11. ^ Glickson, Grant. "HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL; Second Straight Title for Morristown", The New York Times, December 6, 1998. Accessed June 25, 2008. "Next came a 7-6 triumph by Roxbury (10-2) over Plainfield (11-1) in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 final.... Until today, neither team had won a state title. Roxbury's last appearance in the final was in 1987, when it lost to Union, 17-14.
  12. ^ JerseySmarts.com. "Roxbury High School Beats East Orange Campus in State Championship Game", JerseySmarts.com, December 5, 2009. Accessed December 5, 2009. "The Roxbury High School football team beat East Orange Campus earlier today at Giants Stadium. The final score was 14 – 6 in a game that had some high points and low points...
  13. ^ State Champions, New jersey Wrestling. Accessed December 23, 2011.
  14. ^ 2001 NJSIAA Baseball - North II, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  15. ^ a b History of NJSIAA Girls Soccer, NJSIAA. Accessed December 23, 2011.
  16. ^ 2004 Girls Soccer - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  17. ^ 2005 Girls Soccer - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  18. ^ Public Group Semifinals - North II, Group IV, NJSIAA. Accessed May 29, 2007.
  19. ^ Faculty and Staff, Roxbury High School. Accessed August 23, 2011.
  20. ^ Jennings, Rob. "ROXBURY GRAD ALMOST FAMOUS", Daily Record (Morristown), May 11, 2002. Accessed January 30, 2011.
  21. ^ Player Profile: Dave Moore, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Accessed December 6, 2006.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 40°51′50″N 74°38′40″W / 40.863961°N 74.644469°W / 40.863961; -74.644469

Public and Private High Schools of Morris County, New Jersey
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