Pascack Valley High School

High school in Bergen County, New Jersey, US

Pascack Valley High School

Address

200 Piermont Avenue

Hillsdale

Bergen County

New Jersey

07642

United States

Coordinates| 41°00′30″N 74°01′43″W﻿ / ﻿41.008285°N 74.028695°W﻿ / 41.008285; -74.028695
Information
Type| Public high school
Established| 1955
School district| Pascack Valley Regional High School District
NCES School ID| 341251000720[1]
Principal| John Puccio Jr.
Faculty| 93.8 FTEs[1]
Grades| 9-12
Enrollment| 955 (as of 2023–24)[1]
Student to teacher ratio| 10.2:1[1]
Color(s)|  Kelly green and
white[3]
Athletics conference| Big North Conference (general)
North Jersey Super Football Conference (football)
Team name| Panthers[2]
Publication| Outside/In (literature and art magazine)[4]
Newspaper| Smoke Signal[4]
Website| valley.pascack.org

Pascack Valley High School (PVHS) is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school located in Hillsdale in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as one of two secondary schools in the Pascack Valley Regional High School District. Pascack Valley High School serves the residents of both Hillsdale and neighboring River Vale, while its counterpart Pascack Hills High School serves the communities of Woodcliff Lake and Montvale.[5] As part of its 1:1 eLearning Initiative, the school has provided a laptop to every student, teacher, and administrator for educational use.

As of the 2023–24 school year, the school had an enrollment of 955 students and 93.8 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.2:1. There were 12 students (1.3% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 8 (0.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch.[1]

## History

[edit]

Constructed at a cost of $1.25 million (equivalent to $14.7 million in 2024), the school opened in September 1955 with nearly 600 students, which was expected to jump to 800 by 1957 due to increases in the school-aged population.[6] Prior to that, students from Hillsdale, Montvale and Woodcliff Lake had attended Park Ridge High School as part of sending/receiving relationships.[7]

### Principal's death

[edit]

School principal Dr. Joseph Poli died suddenly in 1989. Among the many memorials to Dr. Poli was the renaming of the annual holiday girls' basketball tournament in his memory. The Joe Poli Tournament attracts top teams from across the region.[8]

### 1997 walkout

[edit]

In 1997, in an act of support for the proposed school budget which was up for voter approval, up to 700 students (much of the student body) walked out of the school. In the previous three years, the budget had been voted down, and if it had gone down again, the school would have had to dismiss about a third of its teachers, including all who were under age 40. In addition to other local activist activities, such as handing out fliers encouraging people to vote up the budget, students staged a walkout which the local media were called to attend. Originally, the principal had planned to let students walk only to the back following an all-student meeting, but students took matters into their own hands when the leaders of the group led the walkout to the front. In the end, the budget passed.[citation needed]

### 2008 child pornography scandal

[edit]

In 2008, four freshman students were caught with nude pictures of underage girls. These pictures were shown to have been transmitted through school laptops.[9]

### 2008 death of principal

[edit]

On January 29, 2008, the school district announced that following surgery on her knee, then-principal Dr. Barbara Sapienza had become comatose and that her recovery was uncertain.[10] Assistant principal Thomas DeMaio took over as acting principal, and remained in that position following Dr. Sapienza's death on March 5, 2008.[11] DeMaio was subsequently appointed principal in his own right.[12]

### 2015 white supremacy scandal

[edit]

On May 10, 2015, an open letter from the school's Human Rights League was published on the website of the school's newspaper, The Smoke Signal.[13] The letter referenced "incidents of racism" at the school, including a swastika being drawn on a hallway wall and white supremacy hand signs being flashed at sporting events. Media in northern New Jersey and nearby New York City picked up on the report, and the Anti-Defamation League visited with the school superintendent on Thursday, May 21. School officials revealed in media reports that five students were suspended, although the school would not make it clear what, if any, involvement these students had had in the incidents. To protest against white supremacy and to promote racial equality, school students put up a banner in the hallway, to be signed by students who wanted racial tolerance and diversity.

### 2018 child pornography scandal

[edit]

In January 2018, several freshman were found with nude pictures of their fellow students on their cellphones, and were found to be distributing and showing these photos to their classmates.[14]

### 2018 graffiti

[edit]

During a Board of Education meeting on November 5, 2018, Gundersen addressed two Swastikas previously found on September 27 and October 18, 2018, both being located in separate boys' bathrooms. After finding the second Swastika in October in the second floor boys' bathroom, it was closed up, with Principal DeMaio stating it was closed due damage that needed to be repaired.[15]

On November 6, 2018, it was announced that three additional Swastikas were found, leaving the locations unspecified.[16] Plaques behind a baseball dugout were later found with, "homophobic slurs, racial slurs, and drug references, among other vulgar language" etched into them. DeMaio had previously asked for all the plaques to be removed, with only one being removed. After finding the hateful speech, all plaques were removed from the dugout.[17][18]

On November 21, 2018, the students of Pascack Valley formed the shape of a heart on the football field and gave speeches, part of the "Movement of Unity" in order to, "foster unity throughout the PV community."[19] Almost a month after the Swastikas were addressed, more Swastikas and racial slurs were found in Pascack Hills High School, with administrators addressing students on the matter.[20] On December 4, 2018, another Swastika was found in a bathroom at George G. White Middle School, part of the Hillsdale Public Schools district.[21] It was later announced that a minor had been charged involving the incident.[22]

## Awards, recognition and rankings

[edit]

The school was the 39th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology.[23] The school had been ranked 73rd of 328 schools in the state in 2012, after being ranked 23rd in 2010 out of 322 schools listed.[24] The magazine ranked the school 25th in 2008 out of 316 schools.[25] The school was ranked 23rd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.[26] Schooldigger.com ranked the school tied for 49th out of 381 public high schools statewide in its 2011 rankings (a decrease of four positions from the 2010 ranking) which were based on the combined percentage of students classified as proficient or above proficient on the mathematics (91.8%) and language arts literacy (98.0%) components of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).[27] In 2013, Pascack Valley earned a place on the AP District Honor Roll along with Pascack Hills and 475 schools across the US and Canada.

## 1:1 eLearning initiative

[edit]

In the fall 2000, a program was proposed to provide a laptop to every student and teacher for educational purposes. A wireless network environment for the school was part of a referendum project. As the concept evolved, school representatives visited districts where such a program was already in place. The school's Steering Technology Committee was responsible for the logistics of the plan from 2000 forward.

For the 2004–05 school year, the school issued all its students laptops, and was the first public school in the state to do so. The laptops were issued by Sony and were put under a contractual lease for a period of four years, expiring in 2008. While the laptop program was hailed as a success by the administration, students largely differed in their opinions.

The school ceased use of the Sony Vaio laptops given to students and teachers during the years 2005–2007 in order to integrate 1.6 GHz MacBooks from Apple for the 2007–2008 school year. Several classes were used to test the students' abilities to adapt to Mac OS X Tiger OS interface and assess the laptops' value for use with school activities. The laptops featured all the standard Mac programs as well as having a digital camera built into the top of the screen. The "test runs" of the MacBooks were successful. Printer driver issues arose, but were addressed during the 2007–2008 school year.

## Campus

[edit]

Pascack Valley High School has a wide range of facilities and a large campus, including a track (with a new surface as of the spring of 2006), surrounding an artificial turf football field. The school grounds also have eight tennis courts, a dance/recreational room equipped with a ballet barre, a softball field, a weight room, and one baseball field. The school has two levels and is mainly arranged in a rectangular fashion.

The campus underwent major renovations in 2005 that added several wings and a total overhaul of the athletic complex and auditorium.

https://team1676.comhttps://team1676.com==Extracurricular activities==

Like most other area high schools, Pascack Valley offers a wide range of co-curricular and extracurricular activities, including:[28]

* Academic Decathlon
* Animal Rights Club[citation needed]
* Art Portfolio Club
* Asian Culture Club[citation needed]
* Audio Visual Club
* Band[29]
* Concert Band
* Jazz Ensemble
* Panthers Band
* Beekeeping Club
* Camp Raspberry
* Chemistry Olympics
* Chess Club
* Chinese Honor Society
* Choir[30]
* B Naturals, an auditioned all-female group
* Bro Squad, an all-male a cappella group
* Chamber Choir
* Concert Choir
* Mixed Choir
* Clothing for a Cause
* Computer Club
* Debate Team
* DECA Club
* Drama Club
* Environmental Club
* FIRST Robotics Team 1676
* Fishing Club
* French Club[citation needed]
* French National Honor Society[citation needed]
* Gender & Sexualities Alliance
* Girls Who Code
* Habitat for Humanity
* History Club
* Human Rights Club
* Interact Club
* Interfaith Club
* International Thespian Society (Troupe 7427)[31]
* Investment Club
* Italian Honor Society
* Literary Magazine
* Model U.N.
* Musical & Theatre Program[32]
* Musical Costume Designer
* Musical Orchestra
* Musical Set Construction
* National Honor Society
* Newspaper[33]
* Our Minds Matter
* Panasonic Challenge
* Pascack Pi-oneers, the school's FIRST Robotics Competition team, operated together with sister school Pascack Hills High School (Team 1676)[34]
* Peer Leader Program
* Public Relations
* P.V. Network
* PV PALS (Peers Assisting and Lending Support)
* Science League
* Science National Honor Society
* Science Research Club
* Senior Projects Coordinator
* Ski Club
* Society of Women
* Spanish National Honor Society
* STEM League
* Student Government
* Technology Student Assoc. (TSA)
* T.E.E.E.M.
* This Week in Politics
* Tri-M Music Honors Society
* Volunteer Club J.A.C.
* World Culture Club
* Yearbook

### Pascack Valley HS Theatre

[edit]

Pascack Valley has an award-winning theatre program, most recently winning the 2018 Metro Award for “Outstanding Production Number- Coffee Break". Pascack Valley also won the 2018 MSU Foxy Award for Excellence in Dramaturgy for their 2017 fall production of Stephen Gregg's “Crush” as well as “outstanding achievement by an acting ensemble of a drama” for their 2016 fall production of “Metamorphoses”.

Pascack Valley High School performs two shows each year, a fall play in November as well as a spring musical in March.

For the 2018 spring production of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, they were nominated for six awards, having won one, they also have been nominated for five awards in 2017 for “Pippin”, 6 awards in 2016 for Urinetown: The Musical, seven awards in 2014 for Cabaret, and 13 award nominations— including best musical, in 2015 for “Anything Goes”.

## Athletics

[edit]

The Pascack Valley High School Panthers[2][3] compete in the Big North Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, and was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).[35] Prior to the NJSIAA's realignment in 2010, the school had participated in the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League.[36] With 908 students in grades 10–12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range.[37] The football team competes in the Patriot Red division of the North Jersey Super Football Conference, which includes 112 schools competing in 20 divisions, making it the nation's biggest football-only high school sports league.[38][39] The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III North for football for 2024–2026, which included schools with 700 to 884 students.[40] There are 10 boys' interscholastic sports activities and seven girls' interscholastic sports activities.

The school participates as the host school / lead agency in joint cooperative ice hockey and boys / girls swimming teams with Pascack Hills High School, while Pascack Hills is the host school for a joint gymnastics team. These co-op programs operate under agreements scheduled to expire at the end of the 2023–24 school year.[41][42]

School colors are Kelly green and white. Interscholastic sports offered by the school include:[3]

Fall sports

* Cheerleading: Varsity, JV
* Cross Country (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Dance: Varsity, JV
* Football: Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Gymnastics: Varsity
* Soccer (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Tennis (G): Varsity, JV
* Volleyball (G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen

Winter sports

* Basketball (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Bowling (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Cheerleading: Varsity
* Dance: Varsity, JV
* Ice Hockey: Varsity, JV
* Swimming (B&G): Varsity
* Winter Track (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Wrestling: Varsity, JV, Freshmen

Spring sports

* Baseball: Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Golf (B&G): Varsity, JV
* Boys Lacrosse: Varsity, JV
* Girls Lacrosse: Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Softball: Varsity, JV, Freshmen
* Tennis (B): Varsity, JV
* Track & Field (B&G): Varsity, JV, Freshman

The school has had considerable success in basketball and football.

The boys track team won the spring / outdoor track title as Group III champion in 1961 and 1965 (as co-champion).[43] The boys track team was the indoor track Group III in 1965.[44]

The girls' basketball team, led since 1972 by New Jersey's winningest girls' basketball coach, Jeff Jasper, has won 30 consecutive league titles (1979 through 2008), and seven county championships to go along with multiple state titles. The girls' basketball team won the Group III state championship in 1981 (vs. Camden Catholic High School), 1982 (vs. North Hunterdon High School), 1989 (vs. Mainland Regional High School) and 2017 (vs. Ocean City High School), and the Group II title in 2005 (vs. Rumson-Fair Haven High School) and 2008 (vs. Rumson-Fair Haven). The program's six state titles are tied for eighth-most in the state.[45] The 1981 team became the first girls team to finish the season with victories after defeating Camden Catholic by a score of 58–52 in the Group II final.[46] In 2008, Pascack Valley won the Group II state title with a 58–52 win against Rumson-Fair Haven, qualifying for the state Tournament of Champions, and giving Jasper the 800th coaching victory.[47] Jasper was inducted by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association into its Bollinger High School Hall of Fame in 2006.[48] The 2010 girls' basketball team was NBIL champions and won the North I, Group III state sectional title, defeating top-seed Teaneck High School 51–47.[49] Jasper earned his 900th win in January 2013, joining Bob Hurley as the only other coach in state history to reach that mark.[50] On January 11, 2018, Jasper earned his 1,000th career coaching victory with a 73–25 win against Northern Highlands Regional High School, becoming the first girls basketball coach in New Jersey to reach this milestone, joining Hurley again as the only other high school basketball coach in New Jersey with 1,000 or more wins.[51]

The boys cross country running team won the Group III state championship in 1973.[52]

The football team, coached by Len Cusumano, has made 14 state playoff appearances all-time, including seven sectional final appearances, and three sectional titles (1990, 2013, and 2014):[53] Former coach Craig Nielsen led Pascack Valley to their 2013 and 2014 titles and compiled a 119–46 record during his 15 seasons (2001–15) as head coach.

* 1989 (Final North I, Group III)
* 1990 (Champions North I, Group III with a 14–0 win against Wayne Valley High School[54])
* 1999 (Quarterfinals North I, Group III)
* 2004 8-3 (Semi-Finals North I, Group II; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2005 10-1 (Semi-Finals North I, Group II; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2006 10-2 (Final North I, Group II; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2007 8-4 (Final North I, Group II; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2008 9-2 (Semi-Finals North I, Group III; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2009 8-2 (Quarterfinals North I, Group III; NBIL Division 2 Champions)
* 2010 5-5 (Quarterfinals North I, Group III)
* 2011 9-2 (Semi-Finals North I, Group III; Big North Independence Division Champions)
* 2012 11-1 (Final North I, Group IV; Big North Independence Division Champions)
* 2013 10-2 (Champions North I, Group IV with a 32–8 win against Paramus High School;[55] Big North Independence Division Champions)
* 2014 10-2 (Champions North I, Group IV with a 22–6 win against Paramus High School[56])
* 2015 8-3 (Semi-Finals North I, Group III)

The girls tennis team won the Group II state championship in 2003, defeating Haddonfield Memorial High School in the final match of the tournament.[57]

The ice hockey team won the McMullen Cup in 2004 with a 5–0 win in the tournament final against Northern Highlands Regional High School.[58][59]

The girls volleyball team won the Group II state championship in 2005, defeating Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest in the final match of the tournament.[60]

The girls' soccer team won the Group II state championship in 2005 as co-champion with Haddonfield Memorial High School.[61]

The Pascack Valley Regional gymnastics team won state titles in 2008 and 2009, and was selected by The Record as Team of the Year in 2009.[62]

The wrestling team won the North I Group III state sectional championship in 2018[63]

The Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team has been the National Grand Champions for the past two years at the National Dance Alliance Championship. In 2007 they were state champions as well. The Pascack Valley Regional Dance Team was on the cover of the February 2008 issue of The Record's Sports Magazine. In 2008 they took home two first-place trophies in the Large Pom and Small Team Performance categories at the NDA National Championship. They were state champions in 2008 and 2014 as well.

### Mascot controversy

[edit]

PVHS's former 'Indian Head' mascot, depicted in 1966.[64] The mascot was phased out starting in 2015.[65] The district's board of education formally retired the 'Indian' team name and logo on June 22, 2020.[66]

The school's mascot was an Indian. In 2004, there was a major controversy at the school about the appropriateness of the mascot. The school took up the issue after researching high schools and colleges around the U.S. with similar nicknames that had decided to change their mascots. Many of these schools had received complaints from Native American groups about the stereotypes that the mascots reinforced. The student council also discussed rumors that New Jersey would be banning Native American-related mascots, and eventually it was decided that taking up the issue by choice rather than force was the right thing to do. After months of public debate and an official symposium in which students voiced opinions from both sides of the issue, a vote was held among the students and faculty and the motion to keep the Indian was affirmed, 67% voting in favor of keeping the mascot.[citation needed]

In 2015, the school district decided to change the logo to one using the initials "PV" while deferring a decision on the mascot name.[65]

In June 2020 the district board of education voted to eliminate both the PVHS "Indians" and the "Cowboys" at Pascack Hills High School.[66][67][68]

New mascot for Pascack Valley High School as of Oct. 2021.[69]

In March 2021, the board of education ratified new team names that had been selected by a vote of students and staff at each school, with Pascack Hills being renamed the Broncos and Pascack Valley adopting the Panthers as its new team name.[2]

In October 2021, a school committee reached a consensus on two mascot choices, leaving the final selection to students and staff. The panther logo that won received 83.5% of the votes.[69]

## Student government

[edit]

The Pascack Valley High School Student Government Association consists of five councils. Each grade has a class council, and the PVHS Executive Council governs the entire student body. Each council consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and eight elected and appointed representatives. In 1996, two district students, Matt Kracinovich of Pascack Hills, and Ryan Shell of Pascack Valley, successfully lobbied the Board of Education to accept a special student representative from each school to sit on the board. In the following year, the 1997–1998 school year, Kracinovich and Shell became the first students to occupy the new positions officially known as the Non-Voting Student Members of the Board of Education.

The Executive Council recommends appropriation of funds for student activities, with the approval of the Board, for the school.[citation needed] It is also deeply involved in organizing activities and events for the school. The next step down the ladder of the student government consists of the four class councils, which participate in the running and operations of the school with the Executive Council, but represent and are responsible to the electing class.

Elections to the class councils are held at the end of every year for various positions, and in the fall for the freshman class. There are two positions to which candidates must be appointed. The Executive Council, which is separate from the constituent class councils, holds elections in the spring.

## Demographics and curriculum

[edit]

* 99% of the senior students of the past year received a diploma.
* 96% of the seniors planned to attend college.
* As of the 2009–10 school year, four world languages are offered: Spanish, French, Chinese and Italian.[70]
* 15 Advanced Placement (AP) classes are offered: AP Computer Science, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP European History, AP Projects in Music Theory, AP French Language, AP United States Government, AP Physics B, AP Spanish Language, AP Statistics, and AP United States History.
* Pascack Valley participates in the Honors program.

## Administration

[edit]

The school's principal is John Puccio Jr. His core administration team includes two assistant principals.[71]

## Notable alumni

[edit]

See also: Category:Pascack Valley High School alumni

* Brooke Ammerman (born 1990), ice hockey forward who was the first player to score a goal in Metropolitan Riveters history.[72]
* Sal Cenicola (born 1960), professional boxer recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest interval between professional boxing matches[73]
* Richard Cottingham (born 1946), serial killer active between 1967 and 1980 variously known as "The Butcher of Times Square" or "The Torso Killer".[74]
* Tyler Cowen (born 1962), economist, author and blogger.[75]
* Rob Delaney, (born 1984), pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays' organization[76]
* Peter Enns (born 1961), Old Testament scholar[77]
* Dan Fogelman (born 1976), screenwriter for multiple TV shows and movies, including This is Us, Tangled and the Cars franchise[78]
* Jeff Phillips (born 1968), fitness trainer and former actor best known for his work in Guiding Light, As the World Turns and the 1996 film Independence Day[79]
* David Remnick (born 1958), editor for The New Yorker who was the editor-in-chief of Smoke Signal while in high school[80]
* Jenn Tran (born 1997, class of 2016), star of season 21 of The Bachelorette[81]
* Gary Tuchman (born 1960, class of 1978), staff correspondent for CNN's weeknight Anderson Cooper 360° TV show.[82]
* Jesse Van Saun (born 1976), retired soccer player who played professionally in Major League Soccer and USISL.[83]
* Heather Zurich (born 1987), former Rutgers University women's basketball player[84]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e School data for Pascack Valley High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 15, 2024.
2. ^ a b c Cooper, Darren. "Board of Education approves new mascot names for Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills", The Record, March 8, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2021. "Get used to saying Pascack Valley Panthers and Pascack Hills Broncos. After a long, contentious and compelling process, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted 5-4 to approve the new mascots at both schools. Panthers and Broncos were the names that students of each school selected during a vote held last month.... Each school community (students and staff) voted last week on three finalists for its school. In both cases, the voter turnout was close to 75%, with Panthers and Broncos receiving a convincing majority."
3. ^ a b c Pascack Valley High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
4. ^ a b Clubs, Pascack Valley High School. Accessed May 31, 2022.
5. ^ Pascack Valley Regional High School District 2015 School Report Card District Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed May 31, 2016. "The district is comprised of two high schools. Pascack Hills High School, which is located in Montvale, receives students from the towns of Montvale and Woodcliff Lake. Pascack Valley High School, located in Hillsdale, enrolls students from Hillsdale and River Vale."
6. ^ "Raubinger Aids In Dedication Of New Regional High School", The Record, September 26, 1955. Accessed May 31, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "New Jersey, faced with a yearly increase of 40.000 pupils and the need for 1,000 teachers and 1,000 classrooms each year, is handling the problem but not solving it, Dr. Frederick Vv. Raubinger, commissioner of the State Department of Education said yesterday afternoon at the dedication of the Pascack Valley Regional High School on Piermont Avenue. He noted that even the new school here must expand within 2 years from its present enrollment of less than 600 to about 800.... He urged residents of the regional high school district of Hillsdale, Montvale. River Vale, and Woodcliff Lake to do their part in looking and planning ahead, and to obtain a good teaching staff.... William F. Van Tassel, president of the Regional Board gave a resume of the 2 years since voters approved construction of the school, at an estimated cost of $1,250,000."
7. ^ Beuscher, Kristin. "This Week In Local History: A New School at Park Ridge", Pascack Press, October 22, 2019. Accessed August 19, 2020. "Opened in September 1922, the school housed students of Park Ridge, Montvale, Woodcliff Lake and Hillsdale until Pascack Valley Regional High School opened in 1955."
8. ^ Doviak, Cory K. "Audio Report: Poli Tournament a fitting tribute", NorthJerseySports.com, December 27, 2007. Accessed November 27, 2014. "The Joe Poli Holiday Girls Basketball Tournament is stocked with talented teams and that is the way Pascack Valley head coach Jeff Jasper likes it. The tournament is named in honor of his friend and former colleague, Joe Poli, who was a principal at Pascack Valley High School before passing away in 1989 and is a celebration of his legacy."
9. ^ o'reilly, bill. "o'reilly on teenagers' topless photo scandal". mediamatters for america. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
10. ^ Mrnarevic, Karen F. "Principal in a coma", Pascack Valley Community Life, February 6, 2008. Accessed March 5, 2008. "...to a report issued on Tuesday, Jan. 29 by Superintendent Ben Tantillo, Pascack Valley Regional High School (PVRHS) Principal Barbara Sapienza is currently in a coma. She fell into the coma shortly after undergoing knee surgery on Wednesday, Jan. 23."
11. ^ Levin, Jay. "Beloved Pascack principal dies at 63: Barbara Sapienza called school 'family'", The Record, March 10, 2008. Accessed June 6, 2016.
12. ^ DeMaio, Thomas, Pascack Valley High School. Accessed October 3, 2014.
13. ^ "Open letter to our community from the PVHS Human Rights League".
14. ^ Cattafi, Kristie (January 19, 2018). "Nude images of Pascack Valley students being investigated by police". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
15. ^ Gallo, Madison (November 6, 2018). "Superintendent confirms anti-Semitic graffiti". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
16. ^ Cohen, Rachel (November 7, 2018). "Three additional anti-Semitic drawings identified". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
17. ^ Gallo, Madison (November 12, 2018). "Hateful graffiti found on plaques along baseball dugout". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
18. ^ DeLuca, Josh (November 14, 2018). "Plaques containing hateful etchings removed". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
19. ^ DeLuca, Josh (November 26, 2018). "Pascack Valley participates in 'Movement of Unity'". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
20. ^ Cohen, Rachel (December 3, 2018). "Hateful graffiti discovered at Pascack Hills". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
21. ^ Cohen, Rachel (December 5, 2018). "Anti-semitic graffiti discovered at George G. White School". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
22. ^ Gallo, Madison (March 4, 2019). "Minor charged in hate and bias incident". The Smoke Signal. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
23. ^ Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly, September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
24. ^ Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2012. Accessed August 27, 2012.
25. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed March 22, 2011.
26. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
27. ^ New Jersey High School Rankings: 11th Grade HSPA Language Arts Literacy & HSPA Math 2010–2011, Schooldigger.com. Accessed February 26, 2012.
28. ^ PV Life - Clubs, Pascack Valley High School. Accessed June 10, 2023.
29. ^ Band, PVHS Music Department. Accessed February 4, 2024.
30. ^ Choir, PVHS Music Department. Accessed February 4, 2024.
31. ^ International Thespian Society
32. ^ Home Page, Pascack Valley High School Theatre. Accessed February 4, 2024.
33. ^ The Valley Echo
34. ^ FIRST Robotics Competition Team 1676
35. ^ League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
36. ^ League Memberships - 2009-1010, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, backed up by the Internet Archive as of July 24, 2011. Accessed October 3, 2014.
37. ^ NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
38. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Here's what we know about the new Super Football Conference 2020 schedule", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference (SFC) is a 112-team group, the largest high school football-only conference in America, and is comprised of teams from five different counties."
39. ^ Cooper, Darren. "NJ football: Super Football Conference revised schedules for 2020 regular season", The Record, July 23, 2020. Accessed March 22, 2021. "The Super Football Conference has 112 teams that will play across 20 divisions."
40. ^ NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2024–2026, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated September 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
41. ^ NJSIAA Fall Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
42. ^ NJSIAA Winter Cooperative Sports Programs, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed December 1, 2020.
43. ^ NJSIAA Boys Spring Track Summary of Group Titles, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
44. ^ Boys Winter Track and Field Championship History: 1922-2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed February 1, 2024.
45. ^ Girls Basketball Championship History: 1919–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated March 2024. Accessed September 1, 2024.
46. ^ Kenney, Bob. "Late rally fails, Irish lose bid for championship", Courier-Post, March 22, 1981. Accessed December 20, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Camden Catholic's bid for a state championship came up three points short here yesterday. Pascack Valley became the first team in state history to win 30 games as it held off a furious Camden Catholic rally to win the Girls' Group 3 title, 59-56."
47. ^ Staff. "Pascack Valley 58, Rumson 52", The Star-Ledger, March 9, 2008. Accessed August 24, 2011. "Their guidance enabled Pascack Valley, No. 7 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, to withstand a late challenge from No. 16 Rumson and present Jasper with a milestone victory by virtue of a 58–52 decision yesterday in the NJSIAA/ShopRite Group 2 state final before 1,975 at the Ritacco Center in Toms River. For Jasper, the state's all-time winningest girls basketball coach, the triumph marked the 800th of his illustrious career and the timing could not have been much better."
48. ^ Hall of Fame Class of 1996 Archived May 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 24, 2011. "Jeff Jasper – Girls basketball coach at Pascack Valley, 26 league championship titles; 6 Bergen County titles; 3 state titles; 695 career victories in girls basketball; 1996 Regional Coach-of-the-Year (WBCA); 2001 National HS Coach-of-the-Year – Woman's Basketball Coaching Assoc.; 2002 National H.S. Federation Coach-of-the-Year; Bergen County's Coach-of-the-Century; selected #3 on list of ranking all coaches in all sports of all time in North Jersey; 7 time Bergen County Girls Basketball Coach-of-the-Year."
49. ^ 2010 Girls Basketball Tournament – North I, Group III, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed August 24, 2011.
50. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Cooper: Pascack Valley's Jeff Jasper collects win No. 900", The Record, January 26, 2013. Accessed October 8, 2014. "After the Indians' 63-21 victory Saturday over Dumont in the opening round of the Bergen County girls basketball tournament, he is the first New Jersey girls coach to hit 900 wins, and the second basketball coach in the state to reach that number – St. Anthony's Bob Hurley (1,064 wins entering Saturday) is the other."
51. ^ Iseman, Chris. "Jeff Jasper makes history, wins 1,000th career game at Pascack Valley", The Record, January 11, 2018. Accessed January 21, 2018. "They watched Jasper's Indians beat Northern Highlands, 73-25, to give the legendary coach his 1,000th victory on Thursday. Jasper, in his 45th year on the sideline, is the first girls basketball coach in New Jersey to reach that milestone. He's just the second basketball coach in state history to reach the 1,000-win mark, joining former St. Anthony boys basketball coach Bob Hurley."
52. ^ NJSIAA Boys Cross Country State Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
53. ^ NJSIAA Football History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
54. ^ Fox, Ron. "PV gains sweet revenge over Wayne Valley", The Record, December 2, 1990. Accessed December 1, 2020, via Newspapers.com. "Pascack Valley won its Group 3, Section 1 title, 14-0, over two-time defending champion Wayne Valley."
55. ^ Doviak, Cory K. "Nielsen turns the spotlight on his players after long-awaited title", North Jersey Sports, December 8, 2013. Accessed January 31, 2021. "If there was ever a coach who earned the right to crow a little bit after his team finally broke through like it did on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium, it is Nielsen. Pascack Valley beat Paramus, 32-8, in the North 1, Group 4 state sectional final to claim the program's first trophy since 1990, but his new-found success has not changed the man.... This time around, Pascack Valley (10-2) grabbed momentum early and never let Paramus settle into the game."
56. ^ Stypulkoski, Matt. "Football state finals: Pascack Valley uses smothering defense to down Paramus, 22-6", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, December 6, 2014. Accessed January 31, 2021. "For the second straight season, Pascack Valley's defense smothered Paramus to secure the NJSIAA/SportsCare Institute North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 title at MetLife Stadium. A year ago, the Indians held Paramus to just eight points. This season, they one-upped themselves in a dominant 22-6 win."
57. ^ Girls Tennis Championship History: 1971–2023, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, updated November 2023. Accessed September 1, 2024.
58. ^ NJSIAA Ice Hockey State Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
59. ^ "Indians skate to division title", Pascack Valley Community Life, March 24, 2004. Accessed March 19, 2021. "Pascack Valley High School's hockey team, which led the Northern White Division the entire season, recently won its two playoff games to capture the McMullen Cup, that division's equivalent to the NHL's Stanley Cup. On Wednesday, Feb. 25, PV defeated Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan 5-0 at the Ice House in Hackensack, as the Indians dominated from the start of the game."
60. ^ NJSIAA Girls Volleyball Group Champions, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
61. ^ NJSIAA History of Girls Soccer, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
62. ^ Cooper, Darren. "Gymnastics Team of the Year: Pascack Valley Regional", The Record, December 11, 2009. Accessed July 30, 2012. "Pascack, competing for the final time as a co-op team, defended its State team gymnastics championship, becoming the first Bergen County program to win two titles. The Indians are the North Jersey Gymnastics Team of the Year."
63. ^ NJSIAA Wrestling Team Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2021.
64. ^ Bindell, Stan (January 5, 2021). "What's in a name? Hopi students weigh in on the use of Native American mascots". Navajo-Hopi Observer.
65. ^ a b Wyrich, Andrew. "In Pascack Valley High's new logo, a quest for sensitivity", The Record, September 2, 2015. Accessed May 31, 2016. "Pascack Valley High School will phase out its 'Indian Head' logo — a stark rendering of a Native American warrior with a painted face and a Mohawk haircut — and replace it with the initials 'PV' in a simple serif font, the district's superintendent said this week."
66. ^ a b Levine, Cecilia. "Pascack Valley, Hills High Schools Remove Racist Mascots", Pascack Valley Daily Voice, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "Two Bergen County sports teams are no longer named the Cowboys and Indians. The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted unanimously to remove the nicknames and logos during Monday's virtual meeting.... Charleen Schwartzman, a PHHS math teacher who will assume the role of assistant principal position July 1, said the name 'cowboys' excludes females and people of color."
67. ^ Miller, Zach. "Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills high schools will remove Indians and Cowboys mascots", The Record, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "The sports teams at Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills high schools will no longer be named the Indians and Cowboys. During Monday night's virtual meeting, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted unanimously to remove both nicknames and logos."
68. ^ Kim, Ellie. "District approves removal of PV and PH mascots", The Smoke Signal, June 23, 2020. Accessed June 23, 2020. "The removal of the Pascack Valley mascot as the Indians and the Pascack Hills mascot as the Cowboys was voted on and unanimously approved by the Board of Education at its virtual meeting tonight held on Zoom. The motion to remove the mascots and 'at a later date replacing them with something else or deciding to not have a mascot moving forward' was proposed by Board member Arnold Scher."
69. ^ a b Olohan, Michael. "Go teams! New looks at PHHS, PVHS", Pascack Press, October 30, 2021. Accessed February 4, 2024.
70. ^ "PVHS Program of Studies" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
71. ^ Administration, Pascack Valley High School. Accessed February 4, 2024.
72. ^ Rosen, Dan. "Breaking the Ice", copy of article from The Record, March 4, 2005. Accessed May 6, 2020. "The skating didn't give the truth away, the motion was fluid, compact and strong. A freshman wasn't supposed to handle the puck with such flair either. At only 14 years old and enlarged by layers of pads, the 5-foot-7 player looked like everyone else on the ice. But when Brooke Ammerman, playing her first varsity game for Pascack Valley in December, was about to break into the clear for a glorious scoring opportunity, the defenseman did what he needed to do to avoid being beaten."
73. ^ Sal Cenicola, New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Accessed November 16, 2016. "Sal 'Rocky' Cenicola was born Salvatore Cenicola, III at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ... He was a wrestling standout and champion for Pascack Valley Regional High School where he wound up wrestling for the state championships at Princeton University."
74. ^ 405/serial killers/Cottingham, Richard _spring 2007_.pdf Richard Francis Cottingham, Radford University. Accessed November 2, 2017. "1958 [age] 12 - Family settled in River Vale, NJ when Richard was still a youngster... 1964 [age] 18 - Graduated from Pascack Valley High School"
75. ^ "Chess", The Ridgewood News, September 12, 1976. Accessed March 19, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Tyler Cowen, 14, of Hillsdale, a freshman at Pascack Valley High School, trounced Ruth Cardoso of Jersey City, the state's women's chess champion."
76. ^ Staff. "Rock Cats' Delaney proved he belongs", The Herald (New Britain), September 2, 2008. "'I've been a Yankee fan since I was a little kid and I've been fortunate enough to watch guys like Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland' said Delaney, who attended Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, NJ."
77. ^ Dr. Peter Enns, Inspiration & Incarnation. Accessed March 22, 2011. "I was born in Passaic, NJ, (January 2, 1961) to German immigrant parents, grew up in River Vale, NJ and graduated from Pascack Valley High School (Hillsdale, NJ) in 1978."
78. ^ Gladstone, Douglas J. "This Is Us Is Back (Now Stop Sobbing); NJ native Dan Fogelman never imagined his hit series This Is Us would make viewers cry so much.", New Jersey Monthly, October 6, 2017. Accessed November 2, 2017. "'When I started showing the pilot to people it started happening,' says Fogelman, who grew up in River Vale and attended Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale."
79. ^ Duggan, Amelia; and Spelling, Ian. "Big Name, 'Small' Start: Famous people who entered the world in Bergen", Bergen.com, May 9, 2012. Accessed October 27, 2015. "Veteran soap actor Jeff Phillips was raised in Hillsdale and went to Pascack Valley High School and Ramapo College."
80. ^ Ringle, Ken. "The New Yorker's Literary Lion Cub", Washington Post, August 6, 1998. Accessed May 13, 2007. "He was editor-in-chief of the twice-yearly Pascack Valley Smoke Signal in high school and that was preparation enough."
81. ^ Wallace, Amanda (July 9, 2024). "NJ natives Jenn Tran and Grant Ellis are looking for love on 'The Bachelorette'". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
82. ^ Gary Tuchman (October 29, 2018). "Gary Tuchman, CNN". Twitter. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
83. ^ Yannis, Alex. "Red Storm Rising? Champions Are Young", The New York Times, December 17, 1996. Accessed November 2, 2017. "'He laid the groundwork for the program,' said Jesse Van Saun, who scored the winning goal in the semifinal match against Creighton.... Van Saun was recruited nationwide out of Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, N.J."
84. ^ Heather Zurich, Rutgers University Women's Basketball. Accessed December 27, 2007. "Averaged 19.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game as a senior at Pascack Valley High School ... Was named the 2005 Star-Ledger Player of the Year".

## External links

[edit]

* Pascack Valley High School web pages
* Pascack Valley Regional School District official site
* School Performance Report for Pascack Valley High School, New Jersey Department of Education
* Data for the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics
* Pascack Valley High School Theatre
* The Smoke Signal, online newspaper

* v
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Public and private high schools in Bergen County, New Jersey

Public|

* Becton
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* Bergen County Academies
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* Ridgefield Park
* Ridgewood
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Private|

* Academy of the Holy Angels
* Barnstable
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* Community
* Don Bosco
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* Frisch
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by county
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Big North Conference (NJSIAA)

Bergen
County|

| public|

* Bergen Tech
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* Ramapo
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* Ridgewood
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* Teaneck
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|

non-public|

* Academy of the Holy Angels
* Bergen Catholic
* Don Bosco Prep
* Immaculate Heart Academy
* Paramus Catholic
* Saint Joseph Regional

Passaic
County|

| public|

* Clifton
* Eastside (Paterson)
* Kennedy (Paterson)
* Lakeland
* Passaic Tech
* Passaic
* Passaic Valley
* Wayne Hills
* Wayne Valley
* West Milford

|

non-public|

* DePaul Catholic

* v
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North Jersey Super Football Conference (NJSIAA)

United Red|

* Bergen Catholic High School
* Don Bosco Preparatory High School
* Paramus Catholic High School
* Saint Joseph Regional High School
* St. Peter's Preparatory School

United White|

* Delbarton School
* DePaul Catholic High School
* Pope John XXIII Regional High School
* Seton Hall Preparatory School

United Blue|

* Hudson Catholic Regional High School
* Immaculata High School
* Immaculate Conception High School (Montclair)
* Morris Catholic High School

Liberty Red|

* Bayonne High School
* East Side High School (Newark)
* Irvington High School
* Kearny High School
* North Bergen High School
* Union City High School

Liberty White|

* Barringer High School
* Bloomfield High School
* East Orange Campus High School
* Livingston High School
* Montclair High School
* West Orange High School

Liberty Blue|

* Clifton High School
* Eastside High School (Paterson)
* John F. Kennedy High School (Paterson)
* Passaic County Technical Institute
* Passaic High School
* Teaneck High School

Freedom Red|

* Hackensack High School
* Northern Highlands Regional High School
* Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan
* Ridgewood High School
* Wayne Hills High School
* Wayne Valley High School

Freedom White|

* Belleville High School
* Columbia High School
* Millburn High School
* Nutley High School
* Orange High School
* West Side High School (Newark)

Freedom Blue|

* Morris Knolls High School
* Morristown High School
* Mount Olive High School
* Randolph High School
* Roxbury High School
* West Morris Central High School

Patriot Red|

* Bergenfield High School
* Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest
* Pascack Valley High School
* Paramus High School
* Ramapo High School
* River Dell Regional High School

Patriot White|

* Chatham High School
* Montville High School
* Morris Hills High School
* Parsippany Hills High School
* West Essex High School
* West Morris Mendham High School

Patriot Blue|

* Lakeland Regional High School
* Jefferson Township High School
* Passaic Valley Regional High School
* Sparta High School
* Vernon Township High School
* West Milford High School

American Red|

* Dumont High School
* Mahwah High School
* Pascack Hills High School
* Ramsey High School
* Ridgefield Park High School
* Westwood Regional High School

American White|

* Hackettstown High School
* High Point Regional High School
* Kittatinny Regional High School
* Lenape Valley Regional High School
* Newton High School

American Blue|

* Hanover Park High School
* Kinnelon High School
* Madison High School
* Mountain Lakes High School
* Parsippany High School
* Pequannock Township High School

National Red|

* Central High School (Newark)
* Hoboken High School
* Lincoln High School (Newark)
* Malcolm X Shabazz High School (Newark)
* Henry Snyder High School (Newark)

National White|

* Cedar Grove High School
* James Caldwell High School
* Newark Collegiate Academy
* Verona High School
* Weequahic High School (Newark)

National Blue|

* Boonton High School
* Hopatcong High School
* North Warren Regional High School
* Sussex County Technical School
* Wallkill Valley Regional High School
* Whippany Park High School

Ivy Red|

* Bergen Tech
* Cliffside Park High School
* William L. Dickinson High School (Jersey City)
* James J. Ferris High School (Jersey City)
* Fort Lee High School
* Memorial High School (West New York)

Ivy White|

* Dover High School
* Dwight Morrow High School (Englewood)
* Fair Lawn High School
* Glen Ridge High School
* Indian Hills High School
* Tenafly High School

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

Geographic|

* NCES

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