Panther News

While it was a short week, the students have already readjusted to the new school year with confidence and ease. It was a pleasure chatting with our Panthers as they circulated in the halls, caught up with friends, and started to settle into their new routines. The positive energy and excitement were truly contagious.

Our students also had the opportunity to meet with their counselors, class advisors, and administrators during their grade-level meetings. This was a valuable time to review school rules and expectations, ensuring everyone is on the same page for a successful year.

I am incredibly proud of how our students conducted themselves throughout this first week. Our Panthers smiled brightly for school pictures on 9/3 and 9/4 and celebrated with tremendous energy during our fall pep rally. Their positive behavior and enthusiasm made for a wonderful start. Based on the fantastic energy that filled the halls, I have no doubt that this year will be a great success. I can't wait to watch each of our students grow, learn, and succeed over the course of this school year.

Upcoming Events to Mark on Your Calendar

• Tuesday, Sept 8: Back to School Night (6:45 PM in the CGHS Auditorium)

• Thursday, Sept 10th: Club Fair @ lunch, CGHS Gymnasium

• Friday, Sept 11: Early Dismissal

• Monday, Sept 21: School Closed (Yom Kippur)

• Tuesday, Sept 22: Senior Parent Night (7:00 PM)

Please review the complete Back to School Night Letter for important schedule details, room locations, and event guidelines. We look forward to seeing you there and working together for a successful school year!

Thank you to our Peer Leaders, Ms. Minelli and the school counselors who assisted with New Panther Orientation. The morning was a fantastic success, filled with tours, engaging student-led activities, great questions, and wonderful conversations. Our newest Panthers were able to get a warm welcome to CGHS and start making new memories.

The Class of 2030 is off and running, and we could not be more excited to have them officially join the CGHS family.

A big thank you to the CGHS cheerleaders and Ms. Nardachone for welcoming the Cedar Grove School District faculty and staff back to school on September 2nd! Their bright smiles and enthusiasm created the warmest welcome as everyone prepared to kick off the new school year.

Cedar Grove High School kicked off the fall season with an electric Pep Rally today, filled with incredible school spirit and high energy! Students competed in crowd-favorite events including musical chairs, "Finish That Tune," and the famous fishing for donuts challenge.

A giant thank you to our Pep Club advisors, as well as our outstanding MCs, Dane Catanzarite and Alyssa D'Angelo, for keeping the crowd pumped up throughout the event. Best of luck to all of our fall sports teams as they gear up for a successful season—go Panthers!

Dr. Hicks joins us with an impressive 18 years of experience in education. His career includes eight years as a Business teacher and five years as a Program Coordinator for Testing and Career & Technical Education (CTE). Most recently, he served as an Assistant Principal for the past five years, bringing a strong track record of administrative leadership and dedication to student success.

In addition to his career in public education, Dr. Hicks has a passion for athletics and sports leadership. He has officiated collegiate ice hockey for the past 20 years and currently serves as the Director of Officiating for ECAC Hockey. Highlights of his time on the ice include officiating two NCAA Division I National Championship games.

Nurse Alonzo brings extensive emergency clinical experience to the district, having served in the emergency departments of top regional healthcare institutions, including University Hospital in Newark, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair. She holds advanced certifications in both Adult and Pediatric Advanced Life Support, as well as specialized training in trauma nursing.

A graduate of Ramapo College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Nurse Alonzo is currently pursuing her School Nurse Certification through Rutgers University to further specialize in student health and academic wellness.

"I am thrilled to join the Cedar Grove community and support our students and staff this year," said Nurse Alonzo. "Ensuring a safe, healthy environment where students can thrive is my top priority, and I look forward to bringing my emergency care experience into the school clinic."

Nurse Alonzo resides in Montclair with her husband and enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and traveling.

Ms. Cunningham joins CGHS following three years of classroom experience at West Orange High School. A 2019 graduate of Rowan University, she holds Bachelor’s degrees in both English and Psychology. Prior to transitioning into education, she worked in mental health and substance use counseling, a background that directly informs her holistic, student-centered approach to teaching and supporting adolescent development.

"I am thrilled to join the Cedar Grove High School team and look forward to an inspiring school year," she said. "Becoming part of the Panther family is a wonderful opportunity, and I can't wait to engage with our students and the broader community."

Cedar Grove High School warmly welcomes her to the CGHS faculty and looks forward to her contributions to the English department.

Ms. DelViscovo brings six years of hands-on experience within Cedar Grove schools, having supported students across North End Elementary, Memorial Middle School, and currently Cedar Grove High School. Prior to joining the education field, she established a strong foundation in corporate business before transitioning her skills to supporting student success and classroom instruction.

A longtime resident of the area, DelViscovo raised her children through the neighboring Verona school system, where they have since successfully launched their professional careers.

"Working with the students across our elementary, middle, and high schools over the past six years has been incredibly rewarding," said DelViscovo. "I look forward to continuing to help our Cedar Grove students reach their full potential this school year."

Outside of her work in the district, DelViscovo enjoys spending her free time at the Jersey Shore with her family.

Mr. Williams brings nearly four decades of executive leadership in technology sales and marketing, having held key positions at major corporations including Hewlett-Packard, Konica Minolta, and Sharp. At the peak of his corporate career, he served as Director of Sales and Marketing for Brother International. Transitioning from the corporate sector to education, he previously worked in the Hackensack School District and served at North End Elementary School last year.

As a 1981 graduate of CGHS, returning to the high school marks a special homecoming in the community where he and his family have deep roots. His wife, Lisa, and he have been married for 32 years, and both of their children, are also CGHS graduates.

"Working with students is incredibly rewarding—the smiles, the laughs, and especially those 'aha!' moments when a concept clicks make all the difference," he said. "Cedar Grove has always been home, and I am thrilled to support our high school students this year."

Outside of the classroom, he is a lifelong musician—a passion nurtured during his own high school years—and an avid collector of 1960s high-performance Ford automobiles.

Student members of the Cedar Grove High School Italian National Honor Society (INHS) and the CGHS Italian Club recently volunteered their time at the historic St. Sebastian Feast in Montclair during the last week of August, promoting Italian language and culture while completing community service hours.

Participating CGHS seniors and club members kicked off their academic year by running cultural activities and engaging with festival attendees to celebrate local Italian-American history. CGHS applauds these dedicated students for representing their school and heritage through civic engagement.

Our 11th and 12th grade students are invited to attend West Essex High Schools College Fair on Wednesday, October 7th from 6 to 8 pm. Students need to register via StriveScan by using the QR code.