News From the Eagle's Nest
Principal's Newsletter - MacNaughton's Minutes
Welcome to the 2023 - 2024 School Year. Click below to view my Principal's Welcome Message.
MHRD welcomes new Superintendent, Mr. Nicholas Norcia!
Eshika Desai (12th Grade) Shines on Stage in Italy!
Eshika Desai, rising Senior, with her 44 teammates from the Kalashri School of Arts in Parsippany, took their skill, passion and dedication for dance to compete in the Dance Grand Prix Italia in Cesantico, Italy. They successfully competed against 34 teams from around the world and took top honors in the Folk dance category, earned Best Costume and took second place in the Ethnic category with choreographer Guru Bina Menon earning special recognition as well.
Eshika and her teammates also performed at the All-Indian Dance Festival 2023 at Carnegie Hall. She has performed at various venues such as NJPAC, Montclair State University and even during the half time show at a Devils’s hockey game at the Prudential Center.
Eshika, who has been learning dance since the age of 4, reached a momentous milestone in her journey – her dance graduation called “Arangetram” on July 23rd, 2023. Arangetram is a classical dance show that lasts over three hours and was performed in front of 300+ family members and friends, featuring three classical forms of dances called Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi and in Mohiniattam. The performances were the culmination of 13+ years of hard work.
Dance has been an integral part of her life, instilling in her invaluable qualities including discipline, commitment, and hard work. She continues to spread her knowledge of dance to younger children in community and believes it can help others the way it has helped her in becoming strong, independent, and confident young adult. Congratulations Eshika!
Senator Cory Booker congratulating Eshika and her dance team!
Shakthi Kumaravel excels in Johns Hopkins University summer program!
Shakthi Kumaravel (Grade 12) participated in the precollege program “Engineering Innovation” at Johns Hopkins University. It was an excellent college exposure for Shakthi and an opportunity to streamline his engineering mindset.
Part of the Engineering innovation program JHU gave the students a challenge to build the Spaghetti Bridge demonstrating engineering design and endurance. We are proud of Shakthi and his four member team who secured first place out of the 47 teams that competed. Their 250g Spaghetti bridge withstood a load of 28 Kg.
Congrats Shakthi!!
2023 Graduate, Elijah Dor, Wins Paper Mill Playhouse Outstanding Featured Performer!
Congratulations to Elijah Dor who was nominated for a Rising Star Award from Paper Mill Playhouse, and won the award for OUTSTANDING FEATURED PERFORMER in our Spring Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone.
The Paper Mill Playhouse is a renowned regional theater that recognizes excellence in high school theater and helps aide student achievement in theater through their Rising Star Awards and educational programs. Students who have won Rising Star Awards have gone on to work in the theater profession and have won Oscar and Tony awards.
Competing alongside more than 10,000 DECA emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, Avni Maheshwari (class of 2026) demonstrated her college and career knowledge and skills by competing at DECAs International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida. Avni qualified for the competition by earning a top score in her category, Principles of Marketing at the state competition in Atlantic City!
Diana Dandrea (Grade 12) earns state and national honors in dance!
MK Interact Club Volunteers at the Denville Rotary Street Fair
Joy Mazur, MK English teacher, presents at National AP Conference!
MK Students Shine in Skills USA Competition!
Congratulations to our recent graduates Angela Shasa and Alan Williams for placing at the state level of the Skills USA Competition. Angela placed 1st in Architectural Drafting and Alan placed 2nd in Technical Drafting. MK placed 1st in Presentation, 1st in Least Deflection and 3rd overall in the David Good 3D Bridge Competition at NJIT! Thank you to Mrs. Mary Miraldi and Mr. Keith Kasper for mentoring these fine students.
Interact Club Making a Difference!
Ms. Lis took our students to the Feed the Children Food Pantry. They were able to pack 521 boxes which will now go on to help children and families in our area!!
Kamran Rawshani shines in the U.S. National High School Chess Championship
We are excited to announce that our district has been honored with the 2023 Best Community for Music Education designation from the NAAM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Congratulations to our teachers, administrators, students, and community members for demonstrating outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
Thank you to Mrs. Erin Morgan, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts, for coordinating the nomination and application process for our district!
We are honored to be recognized by the NAAM Foundation for our commitment to music education. At MHRD we believe that music education is an integral part of a well rounded education and we are dedicated to providing our students with access to high quality music programs. This award is a testament to the efforts of our entire school community.
Congratulations MHRD!
MK Music Department Continues to "Ignite Excellence"
Our students took part in a performance tour to Norfolk, Virginia where they performed at the Virginia International Music Festival, and the Marching Band marched in the NATO "Parade of Nations." From the tour, the department proudly earned several awards, including a Fourth place trophy and Silver rating for the Concert Bands, a Second Place trophy, and Gold rating, for the Choirs, and a First Place trophy, and Gold Rating for the district Orchestras. Additionally, the department has proudly seen several students accepted into the 2023-24 All-State Ensembles from the Choirs, Bands, and Orchestras. Congratulations to our department's graduating seniors: we wish you all the best in the years to come, and we will certainly miss you!
Dr. Kevin Doyle (District Supervisor of Science) and Ms. Lara Carlson (MH Math Interventionist) get published!
Congratulations to the newly named officers of FCCLA and FEA Officers!
FEA Officers
FCCLA Officers
In July, APA Theater students participated in a professional acting workshop, dined at Ellen's Stardust Diner and enjoyed Back to the Future on Broadway!
Congratulations to the 2023 - 2024 SGA and Class Officers!!
Rising Senior, Anna Staltari, Making a Difference!
Anna Staltari is currently in the process of earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. This award recognizes Girl Scouts at the highest level of achievement through their creation and execution of a “take action” project which is intended to make a difference in their community.
For her project, Anna created a performing arts program called Arts for All, which is is an inclusive and cost-free program designed for kids with various challenges and disabilities to participate in musical theater. During this process, Anna has not only created, advertised, and written a curriculum, but also, she led the activities over the six week period in which the program ran. With the help of volunteers/peer-mentors, all participants in Arts For All had fun while creating music, friendships, and memories through team building activities.
Anna hopes to continue this program yearly, with the intentions of both spreading her passion of musical theater, in addition to creating safe and welcoming community for all children to have fun and grow. ”
Please join us in congratulating recent graduates, Katie Padormo, Peter Bloom, and Antonio Garcia, our most recent graduates of CCM's Culinary Opportunity Program!
This pre-vocational program covered fundamental skills in culinary and baking, and is intended for students who have the physical and intellectual capacity, as well as the desire, to become a member of the workforce. This 72-hour job preparation program incorporated culinary and baking, Serv-Safe certification, and resume and interview preparation.
We are so proud of them and everything they accomplished!
Class of 2023 MK French Students Earn Honors!
Kaylea McDermid, Ana Gomez, and Jane O'Leary earned their Seal of Biliteracy in French. and completed a year-long independent study with Madame Hansen in which they delved into a different aspect of French language/culture each quarter: music, literature, cinema, and art. They also prepared a series of fun, interactive games and activities in French and taught students at Valleyview Middle School for the day. They made quite an impression on our future Golden Eagles!
They will all be attending McGill University in Montreal, Canada this Fall. They will be fully immersed in a bilingual community, both socially and academically. We are extremely excited and proud that they will have the opportunity to perfect their French even more by continuing their education in a bilingual country.
Don't forget to Check out the great articles in our school newspaper: The MK Quill
Shout Out to Joy Mazur and the entire cast and crew of our Fall play - Radium Girls for earning recognition in May!
Ms. Mazur and the cast and crew recently attended the Montclair Theater Awards Night ,aka the Foxy Awards. This was our first time for the Fall Play. MK had an award winner. Congratulations to Olivia 'Livi' Costa for winning Outstanding Achievement in Makeup Design!
Congratulations to Livi and to the whole cast and production team -- this was a win for all involved in MK Theater!!
Catherine Baresh - Volunteers for Boonton Ambulance Squad!
Spring Athletic Shout Outs!
Congratulations to Coach Mindrebo and the entire baseball program for making school history by winning both a Group and State Sectional Title!
WALK OFF HOMER BY RISING SENIOR LUKE DICKERSON TO WIN THE SECTIONAL TITLE!
Congratulations to Coach Heinemann and our MK Softball coaches and players for an amazing season. Our girls took home a State Sectional Championship!! They made it to the State Group finals and had a historic season!!! Way to Go!!!!
Jessica Russo (Class of 23) Earned her 100th Career Goal in Lacrosse...Her sister Vanessa had the assist!!!
Girls Lax finishes with a 11 - 9 winning record ( 5 - 1 in the NJIGLL) and a memorable season!!!
MK started a new Unified Track and Field Program and Unified Soccer is coming this Fall!
This past spring was the inaugural year for the MK Unified Track and Field team. Athletes and partners participated in numerous track and field sports this spring: 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m Relay, Long Jump and Shot Put. Although this new team only brought home a few medals, they were always very competitive at meets and had a great first season. A shout out also to the coaches (Ms. Alina Escobar, Head Coach, and Assistant Coaches Mr. Douglass Gabel, Ms. Sheila Biank, Ms. Jennifer Brady, Ms. April Acquaviva, and Ms. Susan Stirret) who made it a fun and enjoyable season!
Congratulations to Coach Reilly and the Boys Lacrosse Team for winning conference titles and making it to the State Semifinals! Historic record of 16 - 3!!
Class of 2023 Nick Forgione Surpasses 100 career Goals!
In just 3 years Ryan Beller (Manhattan Commit) has broken the all time saves record at Morris Knolls with now 636 saves, but more impressive he holds currently a 73 percent save percentage and a career 68 save percentage
Jack Martinez Breaks Single Season Scoring Record - Boys Lax!
Shout out to Coach Moore and the MK Golf Team for winning their NJAC Divisional title for the 3rd year in a row!
MK Boys Tennis finishes with a 12-6 winning season and made it to the state quarter finals!
MK Track and Field Teams Ignite Excellence last Spring!
Undefeated NJAC National Division Champs!🏆 Congrats to our Boys and Girls Track teams on clinching the division
Luke Schagelin, rising senior, is the State Sectional Champion in the 400m, 800m, 1600m. He went on to win the Group 3 State Championship in the 800 and placed 2nd in the Meet of Champions!! What an achievement!🪙 😤💪
Stroll down Memory Lane - Video of Morris Knolls Athletic Moments over the past 50+ years!! Thank you to former teacher/coach Dan Benz for creating the video!
MK is a Special Place. Thank you to Mrs. Christina Crane for taking this awesome photo!
Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2023. We wish you the best as you take on the next chapter of your life! To view the graduation celebration, click the link below.
Morris Knolls runs a 4:00 PM Bus Monday - Thursday and a 6:00 PM late bus run Monday - Friday. Click below to view the routes.
Click Below to Join the Morris Knolls Home and School Association!
MK Continues to Offer 24/7 Tutoring for Students through Princeton Review!
Don't Forget to Download the Morris Knolls Mobile App!
Morris Knolls Live Streams School Events!!
NFHS Athletic Streaming
Morris Knolls High School is proud to announce our continued partnership with the NFHS Network to broadcast our Golden Eagle athletic contests and school wide events LIVE. We have invested in new technology that will bring you every game or event from Caruso Stadium and the Gene Kelly Gymnasium LIVE online. That means that if you or family members can’t make it to the game or school event, the live action can be watched from anywhere on your phone, tablet, computer or smart TV.
The NFHS Network will help showcase our primary mission of expanding participation and opportunities for involvement in education-based interscholastic sports and activities. The Morris Hills Regional School district has paid for memberships for all of our families and joining the NFHS Network and subscribing for unlimited access is a simple process.
Just follow these simple steps!
1. Go to NFHSnetwork.com
2. Enter Morris Knolls in the search box. This will bring you the free site for your Golden Eagle broadcasts.
3. Click “Follow” so you can stay up to date on all upcoming Morris Knolls broadcasted events.
Thank you for your continued support of Morris Knolls High School. We look forward to bringing you top notch broadcasts of our events!
District Transporation Center Information
Morris Knolls High School
Email: rmacnaughton@mhrd.org
Website: www.mhrd.org
Location: 50 Knoll Drive, Rockaway, NJ, USA
Phone: 9736642201
Twitter: @MKPrincipal