Pascack Valley High School: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox_School |
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| name = Pascack Valley High School |
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| image = |
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| motto = |
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| established = |
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| grades = 9 - 12 |
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| district = [[Pascack Valley Regional High School District]] |
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| type = [[Public high school]] |
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| principal = Tom DeMaio, acting principal |
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| enrollment = 1,062 (as of 2005-06)<ref name=NCES/> |
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| faculty = 78.2 (on [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis)<ref name=NCES/> |
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| ratio = 13.6<ref name=NCES/> |
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| teamname = Indians |
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| conference = [[North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League]] |
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| colors = |
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| publication = |
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| location = 200 Piermont Avenue<br>[[Hillsdale, New Jersey|Hillsdale]], [[New Jersey|NJ]] 07642 |
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| information = 201-358-7060 |
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| website = [http://pascackvrhs.schoolwires.com/pascackvhs/site/default.asp School website] |
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}} |
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'''Pascack Valley High School''' (PVHS) is a four-year regional [[public high school]] located in [[Hillsdale, New Jersey|Hillsdale]] in [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]], [[New Jersey]], one of two high schools in the [[Pascack Valley Regional High School District]]. Pascack Valley High School serves the residents of both Hillsdale and neighboring [[River Vale, New Jersey|River Vale]], while its counterpart [[Pascack Hills High School]] serves the communities of [[Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey|Woodcliff Lake]] and [[Montvale, New Jersey|Montvale]].<ref>[http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc07/narrative/03/3960/03-3960-000.html Pascack Valley Regional High School District 2007 Report Card Narrative], [[New Jersey Department of Education]]. Accessed [[March 5]], [[2008]]. "The district is comprised of two high schools. Pascack Hills High School, which is located in Montvale, receives students from the towns of Montvale and Woodcliff Lake. Pascack Valley High School, located in Hillsdale, enrolls students from Hillsdale and River Vale."</ref> The school is often noted for its '''1:1 eLearning Initiative''', in which the school provided a laptop to every student, teacher, and administrator for educational use. |
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As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,062 students and 78.2 classroom teachers (on an [[full-time equivalent|FTE]] basis), for a student-teacher ratio of 13.6.<ref name=NCES>[http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3404710&ID=340471000380 Pascack Valley High School], [[National Center for Education Statistics]]. Accessed [[November 1]], [[2007]].</ref> |
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Pascack Valley High School was the 23rd-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'' magazine's September 2006 cover story on the state's ''Top Public High Schools''.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20070429175914/http://www.njmonthly.com/topschools/hslist.lasso "Top Public High Schools in New Jersey"], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', September 2006, backed up by [[Internet Archive]] as of [[April 29]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[March 5]], [[2008]].</ref> |
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The acting principal of Pascack Valley High School is Tom DeMaio. On [[January 29]], [[2008]], the school district announced that following surgery on her knee, then-principal Dr. Barbara Sapienza had become comatose and that her recovery was uncertain.<ref>Mrnarevic, Karen F. [http://www.pvcommunitylife.com/NC/0/413.html "Principal in a coma"], ''Pascack Valley Community Life'', [[February 6]], [[2008]]. Accessed [[March 5]], [[2008]]. "...to a report issued on Tuesday, Jan. 29 by Superintendent Ben Tantillo, Pascack Valley Regional High School (PVRHS) Principal Barbara Sapienza is currently in a coma. She fell into the coma shortly after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 23."</ref> Assistant principal Tom DeMaio took over as acting principal, and has remained in that position following Dr. Sapienza's death on March 5, 2008. |
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==History== |
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The school was originally founded in 1955 with 650 students enrolled. As enrollment and faculty size increased, educators realized that both the curriculum and the facilities were in need of expansion. Double-session scheduling was used as a remedy for the problem in 1963. The next year, Pascack Hills High School opened and promptly became Pascack Valley's rival. For thirty-five years, the two schools would play a Thanksgiving Day football game, except when state playoff committements dictated a move to another day, which eventually ended when enrollment disparities led to Pascack Hills leaving the NBIL for football.(Pascack Valley had dominated the series in the final years, winning the final four games by lopsided margins). Perhaps the most notable match was in 1978, when 4-4 Pascack Valley defeated 9-0 Pascack Hills in Montvale, 31-20. |
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In 1970, Pascack Valley's capacity was again full and it became necessary to perform another expansion. A new cafeteria was provided as well as expanded areas for each department, new classrooms, a new gymnasium, and a new library. |
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In 1989, tragedy struck the school as popular principal, Dr. Joseph Poli, noted for his trademark green jacket and affable manner, died suddenly. Among the many memorials to Dr. Poli was the renaming of the annual holiday girls' basketball tournament in his memory. The Joe Poli Tournament still attracts top teams from across the region.<ref>http://www.northjerseysports.com/sports/girlsbasketball/2008/122707PoliTournament.htm</ref> |
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===1997 walkout=== |
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In 1997, in an act of support for the proposed school budget which was up for voter approval, up to 700 students (much of the student body) walked out of the school. In the past three years, the budget had been voted down and this had caused major setbacks for the school. Fearing the loss of popular teachers due to budget limitations, students staged a [[walkout]] and the local media were called to attend the event. Originally, the principal had planned to let students walk only to the back, but students took matters into their own hands when the leader of the group impulsively decided to take the walkout to the front, where it could be noticed. Half of the instructional time allotted for the day was missed, but students eventually had to return to class. In the end, the budget passed. |
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<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:pv_indian.gif|thumb|Pascack Valley HS Mascot]] --> |
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===2004 Mascot Controversy=== |
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The school's [[mascot]] is an [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]]. In 2004, there was a major controversy at the school about the appropriateness of the mascot. The school took up the issue after researching high schools and colleges around the U.S. with similar nicknames that had decided to change their mascots. Many of these schools had received complaints from Native American groups about the stereotypes that the mascots reinforced. The student council also discussed rumors that New Jersey would be banning Native American-related mascots eventually, and it was decided that taking up the issue by choice rather than force was the right thing to do. After months of public debate and an official symposium in which students voiced opinions from both sides of the issue, a vote was held among the students and faculty and the motion to keep the Indian was overwhelmingly affirmed, 67% voting in favor of keeping the mascot. |
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===2007 Threat=== |
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On [[May 1]], [[2007]], suspicious writing was left in one of the school bathrooms, consisting of sayings with sexual connotations and derogatory comments toward another school. At the bottom of the list was a phrase that could have be taken either as a threat or as a comment with sexual connotations. In short, the writing was not a clear, direct threat against the school. After the Chief of Police from the Hillsdale Police Department consulted with the Superintendent, it was determined that they should do a check of the classrooms and lavatories for suspicious items. None were found, and the police, taking into account the ambiguity of the writing on the wall and not finding anything in the school, declared the building safe for occupancy.<ref>Glynn, Kevin. [http://www.mycommunity.com/all/MyCommunity/Details_story/Graffiti_causes_PVRHS_evacuation/view.php?action=Detail&type=story&sub_id=18431&area=&category=19&domain_username=CommunityLife&PHPSESSID=62cbc410cfd1283b0d1a5a9247cdb290 "Graffiti causes PVRHS evacuation"], ''Community Life'', [[May 2]], [[2007]]. Accessed [[May 7]], [[2007]].</ref> |
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===1:1 eLearning Initiative=== |
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In the fall of 2000, it was proposed to provide a [[laptop]] to every student and teacher for educational purposes. A [[wireless network]] environment for the school part of a referendum project. As the concept evolved, school representatives visited districts where such a program was already in place. The school's Steering Technology Committee was responsible for the logistics of the plan from 2000 to the present. |
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Corporate partners for the district included [[Sony]], [[Promedia Technology Services|Promedia Technology Services, Inc.]], [[McAfee]], [[Nexus Consortium]], [[Stewart Industries]], [[Motion Systems]], [[ScanSoft]], [[Minitab]], [[Questia|Questia Media Inc.]], and [[Quia]]. |
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For the 2004-05 school year, the school finally issued all its students laptops, the first [[public school]] in the [[state (sub-national)|state]] to do so. The laptops were issued by the Sony Corporation and were put under a contractual lease for a period of 4 years. The lease will expire in 2008. The laptops were hailed as a success by the administration, but the students largely differed in their opinion. Soon after the issuing of the computers, many of them promptly began to break and malfunction. In response, the school debuted the so-called "Laptop Hospital," where students could drop off their laptops for repair. |
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Against the wishes of the administration, students downloaded games and various other [[software application|application]]s for personal use. In early 2005, the networked [[multiplayer]] game [[Halo (video game series)|Halo]] in particular caused a major problem for the school's limited [[bandwidth]]. An increase in personal student-to-student [[e-mail]] was noted. Concerns regarding a possible drop in academic performance due to non-academic use of the laptops during the school day were expressed. |
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In the 2005-2006 academic school year, computer use was for the first time restricted for all students. As of now, students no longer have access to student email during the school day and are limited to a restricted screen with a single window full of shortcuts to the various needed applications within the computer. The situation is not likely to change as the administration has not budged on the issue thus far. The school email also features a spam-block program. This has its advantages but the one cited disadvantage to this, is that many incoming replies from university emails have been blocked; thus complicating the process of applying to a university online if the student uses a school issued email address. |
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The ''1:1'' in the name of the program probably refers to the ratio of students to computers that it sought to attain. |
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==Campus== |
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Pascack Valley High School is well endowed with a wide range of facilities and a large [[campus]]. It is complete with one track (with new surface as of Spring 2006), surrounding a new artificial turf [[American football|football]] field. The school grounds also have four [[tennis]] courts, a softball field and one [[baseball]] field. The school has two levels and is mainly arranged in a rectangular fashion. |
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The [[campus]] is currently undergoing major renovations, with the addition of several wings and a total overhaul of the [[track and field]] areas. |
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==Extracurricular Activities== |
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Like most other area high schools, Pascack Valley offers a wide range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Included are the Academic Decathlon, the [[animal rights|Animal Rights]] Club, the Art Portfolio Club, the Audiovisual Club, the [[marching band|Marching Band]] and Concert Band, the Computer Club, the Debate Team, the Flag Squad, Fall Drama, the [[French language|French]] Club, the [[French National Honor Society]] and [[Spanish National Honor Society]], the [[National Honor Society]], HOPE (<u>H</u>elping <u>O</u>ther <u>P</u>eople <u>E</u>very Day), the [[human rights|Human Rights]] League, the Interact Club, JAC (Just About Caring), a Literary Magazine, a [[Mathematics]] League, the [[spring (season)|Spring]] Musical, and the [[Yearbook]]. [[Pascack Pi-oneers]] is the school's US [[FIRST]] robotics team, operated together with its sister school, Pascack Hills High School (team 1676). |
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The school newspaper is the ''Smoke Signal'', published on a quarterly basis. |
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==Athletics== |
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In athletics, the Pascack Valley High School Indians participate in the twelve-member [[North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League]]. There are ten boys interscholastic sports activities and seven girls interscholastic sports activities. Sports offered include [[cheerleading]], [[dance]], cross-country, football, boys' [[soccer]], girls' soccer, [[tennis]], [[volleyball]], [[gymnastics]], basketball, [[bowling]], [[ice hockey]], [[swimming]], [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling]], [[Athletics (track and field)|winter track]], [[baseball]], [[softball]], and [[lacrosse]]. The school has had considerable success in athletics, most notably in girls' basketball and in football. |
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The girls' basketball team, coached by Jeff Jasper, has won 29 consecutive league titles, and several county and state titles as well.<ref>[http://www.northjerseysports.com/girlsbasketball/2004/031004JeffersonPaskV.htm Jefferson takes PV's best shot and the North 1, Group 2 title], North Jersey Sports, [[March 10]], [[2004]]. "The loss ended Pascack Valley's season, one in which the Indians won a 26th straight league championship and reached both the Bergen County and state sectional final."</ref> |
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The football team, coached by Craig Neilsen, has enjoyed recent success, including state playoff berths in 2004, 2005, and state finals appearances in 2006 and 2007. |
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Pascack Valley Regional Gymnastics Team recently was selected by ''[[The Record (Bergen County)|The Record]]'' as Team of the Year after only its second year as a team. |
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The Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team has been the National Grand Champions for the past two years at the National Dance Alliance Championship. In 2007 they were state champions as well. |
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==Student government== |
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Pascack Valley High School is governed by the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education in consultation with the PVHS Executive Student Council. The Executive Council recommends appropriation of funds for student activities, with the approval of the Board, for the school. It is also very deeply involved in organizing activities and events for the school. Each year there is a special student representative to the [[Board of Education]]. The next step down the ladder of the student government consists of the four class councils, which participate in the running and operations of the school with the Executive Council, but represent and are responsible to the electing class. |
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[[Election]]s to the class councils are held at the end of every year for various positions, and in the fall for the freshman class. There are two positions to which candidates must be appointed. The Executive Council, which is separate from the constituent class councils, holds elections in the spring. |
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==Future Of PVHS== |
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From 2005 to 2007, the school underwent a major renovation to add a new gymnasium and auditorium, expand upon the science/mathematics wing, and refurbish existing construction. The future classes have met this arrangement with much apprehension, including concerns about limited parking space and a general state of disarray. |
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The high school ceased the use of the Sony Vaio laptops given to students and teachers during the years 05-07 in order to integrate 1.6Ghz Mac Books from Apple Inc. for the student body and administration's use for the 2007-2008 school year. Several classes were used as "guinea pigs" with the Mac Books in order to test the students' abilities to adapt to Macintosh OS and interface, and assess the laptops' value for use with school activities. The proposed Macintosh laptops feature the Tiger X OS and feature all the standard Mac programs as well as a digital camera built into the top of the screen. The "test runs" of the Mac Books were successful. However, many network issues have arisen with the Macbooks but have been addressed during the 2007-'08 school year. |
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==Assorted facts== |
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* 96% of the senior students of the past year received a diploma. |
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* 92% of the seniors planned to attend college. |
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* Three world languages are currently offered: Spanish, French,and Italian. |
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* 14 [[Advanced Placement Program]] (AP) classes are offered: [[AP Computer Science]], [[AP Biology]], [[AP Calculus AB]], [[AP Calculus BC]], [[AP Chemistry]], [[AP English Language and Composition]], [[AP English Literature and Composition]], [[AP European History]], [[AP French Language]], [[AP United States Government]], [[AP Physics B]], [[AP Spanish Language]], [[AP Statistics]], and [[AP United States History]]. |
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* Pascack Valley participates in the Honors program. |
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==Notable alumni== |
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*[[Tyler Cowen]], economist, author, and blogger.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}<!-- Sources are needed to establish a connection to PVHS.--> |
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*[[David Remnick]], Editor for ''[[The New Yorker]]'', who was editor-in-chief of ''Smoke Signal'' while in high school.<ref>Ringle, Ken. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/daily/remnick.htm "The New Yorker's Literary Lion Cub"], ''[[Washington Post]]'', [[August 6]], [[1998]]. Accessed [[May 13]], [[2007]]. "He was editor-in-chief of the twice-yearly Pascack Valley Smoke Signal in high school and that was preparation enough."</ref> |
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*[[T.J. Taormina]], aka TJ the DJ. TJ is the Assistant Producer of Z100's Z Morning Zoo and is famous for his Z100 phone taps. He graduated from Pascack Valley in 2002.<!-- Independent reliable and verifiable sources are needed to establish notability AND to establish a connection to PVHS. Entry will be removed if sources are not provided. --> |
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*[[Clark R. Woods]], President, Domestic Theatrical Distribution, at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.{{Fact|date=November 2007}}<ref>Daily Variety, 3/9/06 by LaPorte, Nicole</ref> · More from publication<!-- Independent reliable and verifiable sources are needed to establish notability AND to establish a connection to PVHS. Entry will be removed if sources are not provided. --> |
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*[[Garrett Zablocki]], guitarist for [[Senses Fail]]. |
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*[[Heather Zurich]], [[Rutgers]] girls' basketball starter.<ref>[http://www.scarletknights.com/basketball-women/roster/roster-detail.asp?ID=366 Heather Zurich], [[Rutgers University]] Women's Basketball. Accessed [[December 27]], [[2007]]. "Averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a senior at Pascack Valley High School ... Was named the 2005 Star-Ledger Player of the Year"</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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*[http://pascackvrhs.schoolwires.com/pascackvhs/site/default.asp Pascack Valley High School web pages] |
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*[http://www.pascack.k12.nj.us Pascack Valley Regional School District official site] |
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*{{NJReportCard|03|3960|050|Pascack Valley High School}} |
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*[http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3412510 National Center for Education Statistics data for the Pascack Valley Regional High School District] |
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{{Geolinks-US-buildingscale|41.008285|-74.028695}} |
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[[Category:High schools in Bergen County, New Jersey]] |
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Revision as of 21:56, 6 March 2008
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