Principal’s Message September 2018

As a lifelong learner, I believe educators must instill high expectations, provide opportunities for self discovery and leadership, and challenge students to think and process at elevated levels. As the building leader, I believe anything can be achieved and all students should have access to appropriate programming. Over the last four years, a number of programs have provided such opportunities to our students.

Sixty seniors, once again, will be working in the community and exploring career opportunities through an internship program known as the Senior Experience. We have a thriving and growing bilingual course of studies program for the 240 English language learners in our building. This year dual enrollment classes are expanding into the Social Studies, Foreign Language, and English departments. We are continuing our collaboration with the United States Army, University of Michigan, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bergen Community College, and New Jersey City University to offer programs to our students and staff. Through creative scheduling and resource management, course offerings continue to expand, despite enrollment increases. Cliffside Park News Network (CPNN) will soon be streaming live from the High School.

Despite the many challenges we face at Cliffside Park High School, we are excited about what we have achieved over the last year and look forward to strengthening our school community in this academic year. Three important goals were achieved last year: Decline in Chronic Absenteeism, increasing State Assessment Proficiency Levels and improving Graduation Rates.

Four years ago, our chronic absenteeism rate was second highest in the state with 37% of our population of students missing more than eighteen days of school. Through policy change, accurate reporting, identifying at risk students, and providing appropriate services, we have driven that number down to 8%. We will continue to work to drive the number down and identify and support at-risk students.

With more students in school more often, two tremendous achievements have been realized. First, our Juniors are exceeding state averages of proficiency in both Algebra II and English III. Our students’ performances in all levels of English proficiency and Algebra I continue to improve and are slightly off the state’s level of proficiency. Geometry has been identified as an area in need of improvement for this year.

Finally, our graduation rate has spiked. For the first time in over a decade our graduation rate is approaching 90%!!! While this achievement is exciting, it speaks to the commitment of our staff and addressing the needs of all our learners. The goals now are to sustain this growth and continue to build on the achievements thus far.

In order to continue the success we have achieved, Cliffside Park High School will continue to maintain levels of accountability and high expectations for members of our school community. I wish you and yours a great school year.