West Morris Central High School

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West Morris Central High School
Location
259 Bartley Road
Chester, NJ 07930
Information
School district West Morris Regional High School District
Principal Michael J. Reilly, Ed.D.
Enrollment

1,313 (as of 2005-06[1]
Faculty 106.6 (on FTE basis)[1]
Student:teacher ratio 12.3[1]
Type Public high school
Grades 9 - 12
Athletics conference Iron Hills Conference
Motto Make your life extraordinary!
Nickname Wolfpack and Highlanders
Color(s) Colombia Blue, White and Grey
Publication The Highlander
Information 908-879-5212
Homepage School website

West Morris Central High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in grades 9 through 12 and is a member of the West Morris Regional High School District. The school serves students from Washington Township, New Jersey, United States, where the school is located, and part of Chester Township. However, the school has a Chester mailing address.

As of the 2005-06 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,313 students and 106.6 classroom teachers (on a FTE basis, for a student-teacher ratio of 13.3.[1]

The school is a member of, and fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education. The school has offered the IB Diploma Programme, as part of the International Baccalaureate Organization, since January 1998.[2]

Its sister school, West Morris Mendham High School, serves students from Chester Borough, the remainder of Chester Township, Mendham Borough and Mendham Township.

Contents

[edit] Awards and recognition

West Morris Central High School was the 41st-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.[3]

West Morris Central High School History Teacher, Roseanne Lichatin, was named the 2005 Preserve America History Teacher of the Year, and was recognized with the honor by First Lady Laura Bush.[4]

[edit] Athletics

West Morris Central High School Highlanders compete in the Iron Hills Conference, an athletic conference made up of high schools located in Essex County, Morris County and Union County. While the original school mascot was the Highlander, many West Morris Central teams have taken on the name Wolf Pack. Some teams still call themselves the Highlanders out of respect for former graduates.

The athletics at West Morris Central include: Cross country, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, ice hockey, softball, volleyball, wrestling, and the newly added swim team.

Boy's wrestling won its first ever Iron Hills-Iron title in the school history in 2006. The Wolfpack wrestlers were considered as high as number two in the daily record area, and was voted a top ten team in the prestigious Region 1 of the NJSIAA wrestling. The team was led under the guidance of Ken Rossi who was a two-time state finalist for Jefferson High School.

The girls tennis team won all-conference during the 2007 season and Ariel Lin (class of '11) won 2nd singles at the Morris County Tournament. The team ended their season undefeated in conference; 15-0

The girls' lacrosse team won the 2001 North A championship, defeating Bridge-Raritan High School 8-7 in the tournament final.[5]

The boys lacrosse team won the Group II State Championship in 2007 with an 8-7 win against Ramapo High School in the tournament final.[6]

The 2002 girls softball team won the North II, Group III sectional state championship, edging Cranford High School by a score of 1-0.[7]

The 2001 football team won the North II, Group III state championship against West Morris Mendham High School by a score of 15-14.[8]

The 2005 football team won the North II, Group III state championship against West Morris Mendham High School by a score of 10-7

Strong rivalry with West Morris Mendham High School

[edit] Activities

The clubs at West Morris Central include: Academy of Science, Art Club, Jazz Band, Book Talk, Cheerleading, Chess Club, Color Guard, Concert Choir, Cultural Arts Club, Deebate Club, Musical, Drama Club, Economics Club, Environmental Club, Film Club, Fly Fishing Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Future Educators, Habitat for Humanity, INtramurals, Literary Magazine, Marching Band, Math League, National History Club, Newspaper, Photography Club, Prayer Group, Roundball, Science League, Self Defense Club, Service Learning Club, Ski Club, Sound and Lighting, Stage Craft, Student Council, SADD, Technology Student Association, TV/Radio Club, Veterans Oral History Club, Women's/Men's Ensemble and the Yearbook.

The high school also promotes the REACH Program. As it is stated in the school's handbook, "This club is comprised of Jr. and Sr. from all student groups. REACH promotes and assists in the integration of 9th graders into the HS community. It also provides a vehicle to address student and school concerns, issues and problems.

West Morris participates in the French Honor Society, German Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society.

West Morris Central High School is also known for its popular shows, one of them being "Mr. Central." A somewhat fashion show for men includes a starting dance, swim suits, talents, and formal wear.

Another show is the Junior Fashion show. Juniors get together every year and participate in a Fashion show including Formal Wear, Casual Wear, Swim Suits, etc. The fashion show does not have a winner.

Just like every other school, West Morris has a Battle of the Bands where bands from the school get together and play songs both pre-made and original.

Musicals and Non-Musicals are another part of West Morris life.

[edit] Notable alumni

  • Tashy Bohm (Class of 1997) - Swimmer in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100 and 200 backstroke.
  • Frederick J. Chiaventone (Class of 1969) - Author of "A Road We Do Not Know" and "Moon of Bitter Cold".
  • James 'Jamie' Smith (Class of 1990) - U.S. Ranger killed in action in Somalia and portrayed in the 2001 film Black Hawk Down.

[9]

[edit] Administration

Core members of the school's administration are:[10]

  • Principal: Michael J. Reilly, Ed.D.
  • Assistant Principals: Gil Moscatello, Bob Perkins, Anne Steffan
  • Athletic Director: Kent W. Schilling
  • Director of Substitute Teaching and Student Life: Dr. Kenneth Raatzinger

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d West Morris Central High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed November 1, 2007.
  2. ^ West Morris Central High School, International Baccalaureate Organization. Accessed August 23, 2007.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Mrs. Bush's Remarks at the Preserve America History Teacher of the Year Award Ceremony, Office of the First Lady press release dated October 14, 2005.
  5. ^ 2001 NJSIAA Girls Lacrosse - North A, NJSIAA, accessed April 26, 2007.
  6. ^ 2007 Boys Lacrosse - Group II, NJSIAA. Accessed October 20, 2007.
  7. ^ 2002 Softball Tournament - North II, Group III, NJSIAA, accessed April 26, 2007.
  8. ^ 2001 Football Championship - North II, Group III, NJSIAA, accessed October 20, 2007.
  9. ^ Hanley, Robert. "THE SOMALIA MISSION; Relatives Recount Dreams of 2 Killed in Somalia", The New York Times, October 7, 1993. Accessed December 26, 2007. "Mr. Smith, himself a retired Army Ranger captain who lost the lower half of his left leg in combat in Vietnam in 1967, shared portions of his 21-year-old son's letter, dated Sept. 25, at a news conference near their home here and talked about his son's boyhood, his decision to enlist in the Army after graduating from West Morris Central High School here in 1990 and his death after a month's duty in Somalia."
  10. ^ School Administration, West Morris Central High School. Accessed September 29, 2007.

[edit] External links

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