


PPHS February 2025 Newsletter
#R.O.A.R #ShowYourStripes
Principal's Message
Hello Palisades Park Community,
Itβs hard to believe, but weβve officially passed the halfway mark of the school year! Midterm exams concluded last week. Please keep an eye out for report cards which will be released via Genesis today.
As we close out the first semester and look ahead to the second half of the year, I am pleased to invite you to our Parent-Teacher Conference Night on Thursday, February 20th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM (by appointment). While we will do our best to accommodate walk-ins, the only way to guarantee a meeting with your childβs teachers is by scheduling your conference through the Genesis Parent Portal.
To assist you, we have provided the following resources:
π Video Tutorial on How to Schedule a Conference
π Parent-Teacher Conference Memo
If you need any help scheduling a conference, please donβt hesitate to reach out to your childβs counselor, teacher, or the main officeβweβre happy to assist! Contact information can be found in the memo linked above.
We look forward to seeing you on February 20th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM!
With Tiger Pride,
Mr. Andrew Garcia
ππ December Student and Teacher of the Month ππ
Emily Kong - Student of the Month
βEβmily embodies excellence in both character and academics, making her a true role model of our core values: Respect, Ownership, Achievement, and Responsibility. Her dedication, kindness, and leadership inspire those around her every day.
But donβt just take our word for itβher classmates and teachers, who proudly nominated her, shared their own words of admiration, highlighting the incredible impact she has on our school community.β Here is what they have to say:
- Good student
- Volunteers at her church
- Helpful
- βKind
Mr. Koonce - Teacher of the Month
Mr. Koonce goes above and beyond to build meaningful connections with his students and athletes, creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
But donβt just take our word for itβhis students and athletes say it best! Hereβs what they had to share:
- Understanding
- Encouraging
- Nice and Patient
π Happy National School Counseling Week π
Helping Students Thrive
This week, we celebrate and recognize the incredible impact our school counselors have on our students, staff, and community. The theme, "Helping Students Thrive," perfectly reflects the dedication, compassion, and hard work our counselors put in every day to support students academically, socially, and emotionally.
From guiding students through college and career planning to providing a listening ear and words of encouragement, our counselors are truly the heart of our school. Their unwavering commitment to student success helps create a safe, supportive, and thriving learning environment for all.
Letβs take a moment to thank our amazing counselors for all that they do! If you see them in the halls, stop and share your appreciation.
β January Recap β
ππ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπͺ Shoutout to our PPHS Heroes & Cool Kids πͺπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ
Our high school "Heroes" had the amazing opportunity to visit Lindbergh Elementary, where they teamed up with our "Cool Kids" to share valuable lessons on positive choices and character education. This mentorship program fosters leadership, connection, and personal growth for both our older and younger students.
Keep up the great work, Tigers!
π Career Fair Success! π
Mrs. Graffβs class hosted an amazing Career Fair, where students proudly showcased their research and enthusiasm for their future careers! From doctors and engineers to chefs and entrepreneurs, they brought their dream jobs to life with creativity and passion.
Great job, studentsβyour futures are bright!
π PPHS Dance Team Takes the Top Spot! π
Congratulations to the PPHS Dance Team for an incredible performance at their last competition! Under the leadership of Coach Morgese, the team earned both Regional Champion and Grand Champion titles!
Their dedication, hard work, and countless hours of practice have truly paid off. Way to go, dancersβwe are so proud of you!
β Future Leaders In Action β
Our middle school students teamed up with NJ4S to dive into the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens program! From team-building tasks to learning life-long skills, these future leaders are setting the stage for success!
π« ESL Bilingual Parent Night π«
PPHS, in partnership with the amazing PPEA PEP Team, hosted our ML Bilingual Parent Night!
This is the power of community in actions as parents, guardians, student volunteers, and faculty came together for an informative and welcoming evening filled with important resources and updates to support their students. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success and for showing the strength of our Tiger community.
π Upcoming Events and Important Dates π
February 6 & 7
- Korean New Year Celebration (students only) @3pm in the PPHS Cafeteria
February 7
- Q2 Principal's List Breakfast
February 12
- Heroes & Cool Kids Training Session Trip to Ramapo College
February 14 - 18
- No School - Winter Recess
February 27
- Hour of the Arts from 4-6 in the PPHS Cafeteria