Let's Talk TPS

Timing is everything. Tenafly High School will be celebrating its 100th graduation. I’m starting my first year. Against that backdrop, it seems fitting that I begin with a few “then and now” facts.

The “Roaring Twenties” accurately describes that decade for Tenafly, as the Borough’s population grew by 58% between 1920 - 1930. The local railroad station and World War I’s Camp Merritt were among the main contributors to the growth spurt as soldiers returned to the area after the war. In 1922, the town began numbering houses and delivering mail directly to residents. It was around this same time that Tenafly built its own high school at what is now known as The Browning House. Respected borough residents such as J. Spencer Smith and Walter Stillman served as the Board of Education’s president and vice president. In 1925, Tenafly High School would graduate its first senior class (33 students) as previous classes had attended high school in Englewood.*

Side note - the class yearbook was The Tenakin, with a school newsletter named The Echo - sound familiar?

Fast forward to today–and we now have approximately 1200 students enrolled in Tenafly High School’s current home, built in 1972 on 28 acres. Over these last 100 years, Tenafly High School has graduated over 20,000 students. Today, we rank among the best high schools in New Jersey and the nation, offering a wide range of college-prep, honors, and advanced placement courses, together with an equally robust selection of extra-curricular and athletic programs.

I suppose that the 100th anniversary is as good a year as any to begin my post as the District’s 18th Superintendent. Tenafly is a special place with a rich history. I’m excited about what we can accomplish and celebrate together this school year.

Yours in Education,

Michael Ben-David, Superintendent

(* Credit to U.S. Census data, various Tenafly book authors, and the first Tenakin yearbook)

As we welcomed back our staff to the 2023-2024 school year, we took a moment to celebrate six milestone anniversaries:

STILLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Kathleen Ehalt, Paraprofessional, 25 years

Ana Maria Zawadzki, 2nd Grade Teacher, 25 years

TENAFLY HIGH SCHOOL

Jeffrey Koehler, Physical Education Teacher, 25 years

Stephen Moger, Video Production Teacher, 25 years

James Laux, Math Teacher, 30 years

Miriam d' Adolf, Secondary C&I Supervisor, 35 years

Thank you for your years of service in education, and especially for all you have done, and continue to do, for Tenafly Public Schools!

You can view a special video created to honor these staff members here: https://youtu.be/ARDcdACqRz4

Over the summer, a brand new playground was built at Mackay Elementary. Special thanks goes out to the past and present HSA committee members, Ms. Brenda Yoo, and all of the Mackay families. This is a welcome space for all students to play and enjoy!

This year Maugham started a new tradition with a Kindergarten Signing Day - students transitioned nicely into Maugham the first day of school and had a great photo opportunity with their teacher and parents. Students signed saying they would uphold the school's motto by Margaret Wheatley - "Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of this place." Welcome to all of our new students!

Gordon Sun, a Class of 2023 THS graduate, had his work accepted and published as a co-author in the October issue of Biochemical Engineering Journal. Gordon started this research work in his junior year under the guidance of the late Ms. Helen Coyle (whom he mentions in his acknowledgements) and completed it while a senior in Ms. Subramaniam's science research class. Tenafly High School is mentioned as the institution affiliation of the co-author. Congratulations to Gordon - we are very proud of you! You can view the full research article HERE

Tenafly Public Schools and our individual schools can be found on various social media. You can follow the district on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. Just search for @TenaflySchools or Tenafly Public Schools and stay informed on what's happening across the district! For updates on all things athletics, look for Tenafly Athletics or @GoTigersTHS.

As we mentioned back in June, we are working on a new district website designed to be user-friendly whether viewing on a desktop computer or mobile device. Our official launch date is currently planned for late October. We ask for your patience as we strive to provide helpful information and resources for all visitors to our district and school sites.

Over the summer, several parents came together to form the Tenafly Asian-American Family Association (TAAFA). Per their website, "TAAFA is an inclusive organization that brings together parents of diverse Pan Asian backgrounds to actively participate in the education and enrichment of our children. We are committed to fostering a sense of unity, cultural awareness, and academic support to Asian families of all backgrounds creating a vibrant and inclusive school community". Click HERE to learn more!

Do you have questions or concerns related to your student? Please check the school/teacher websites for helpful information. Not finding what you need? Contact your building principal. They are here to help you and can be reached at:

• Mackay School - hchizzik@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Maugham School - jferrara@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Smith School - dgeorge@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Stillman School - glander@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Tenafly Middle School - jfabbo@tenafly.k12.nj.us
• Tenafly High School - jmorrison@tenafly.k12.nj.us