Secaucus High School

Dear SHS Community,

I hope this update finds you well. This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week, a special time to recognize and celebrate the incredible dedication of our faculty and staff. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all of our teachers for the enthusiasm, care, and commitment they demonstrate each and every day in supporting our students. Their hard work goes far beyond the classroom as they foster meaningful relationships and create a positive learning environment where students can grow academically and personally. Our school is a special place because of the knowledge, professionalism, and care our teachers bring to their work, and we are truly grateful for the lasting impact they make on the lives of our students and school community.

We are thrilled to announce that the opening night of our annual Art Show was a tremendous success. Students proudly displayed beautiful works of art that showcased their creativity, talent, and passion for the arts. The exhibit reflected the hard work and artistic growth of our students.

A special thank you to our dedicated art teachers, Ms. Lindner, Mrs. Jimenez, and Ms. Greene, for organizing such an outstanding event and for their continued commitment to fostering creativity and appreciation for the arts at Secaucus High School.

Congratulations to Emma Maher, Secaucus High School’s Unsung Hero. Each year, the Hudson County School Boards Association invites every high school in the county to nominate one senior for this distinguished recognition. These students are individuals who lead with empathy, demonstrate quiet strength, and serve others. They navigate their journeys not by seeking recognition or the spotlight, but by building connections, strengthening their communities, and inspiring those around them. Emma exemplifies these qualities each and every day, and we are incredibly proud to honor her with this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations to our valedictorian, Simran Bhatla, an exceptional student whose academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to service has distinguished her as a student leader. Simran's passion for engineering has been showcased through a competitive summer research program in which she completed and published a NASA-funded project focused on innovative air-quality technology. Beyond academics, Simran has been an outstanding leader and role model as President of the Robotics Club, President of the National Honor Society, a member of five honor societies, Band, and a varsity tennis player whose team won the division championship this year. This fall, Simran will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to study Biomedical Engineering.

Congratulations to Isha Patel, our salutatorian, who earned an outstanding GPA of 4.862 while excelling in our school’s rigorous STEM Academy. Throughout high school, Isha challenged herself with an extensive schedule of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Her passion for innovation and interdisciplinary learning was highlighted through her Gold Medal-winning STEM Fair project, in which she developed a Python program exploring the use of nanotechnology to address diseases caused by protein synthesis errors. In addition to her exceptional academic achievements, Isha has demonstrated strong leadership and involvement through the Robotics Club, ATHS Coding Seminar for 8th and 9th grade students, Science Club, Band, and Varsity Tennis. This fall, she will attend Rutgers University Honors College to study computer science.

On May 1st, seniors participated in National College Decision Day by proudly wearing apparel representing the colleges, universities, and post-secondary institutions they will attend this fall. National College Decision Day is a nationwide celebration recognizing high school seniors as they officially commit to their future plans by submitting their intent to enroll. We are incredibly proud of our students and all they have accomplished, and we are confident they will continue to achieve great success as they begin this exciting new chapter in their lives.

Congratulations to Daniel Pascale, whose outstanding essay was selected as the winner of the SPD Chief for a Day Contest. As part of this special recognition, Daniel had the unique opportunity to spend the day at Town Hall alongside School Resource Officer Masullo, gaining firsthand insight into local government, community leadership, and public service. This experience provided Daniel with an invaluable look at the important work performed by law enforcement and municipal officials in supporting and strengthening the community.

This spring, your child will participate in New Jersey’s statewide assessments. These state-required tests provide one important way to understand how well students are learning grade‑level skills in English, math, and science.

Depending on their grade level, your child may participate in one or more of the following tests:

• New Jersey Student Learning Assessments- Adaptive (NJSLA‑A) for ELA and Mathematics (Grade 9) May 14-18

• New Jersey Student Learning Assessments for Science (NJSLA‑S) (Grade 11) May 18-19

For the first time, statewide tests in English and math (NJSLA‑A) will be computer‑adaptive. As your child answers questions, the test adjusts in real time. If a question is answered correctly, the next one may be slightly more challenging. If your child struggles, the test may provide a question that is less difficult. This helps the assessment “zero in” on your child’s understanding more precisely.

The NJSLA-A will consist of three (3) units; ELA-Reading, ELA-Writing, and Mathematics.

Students should make every effort to arrive on time each day with their Chromebook fully charged and report directly to their testing location. Students who arrive past the start of the testing time will need to complete a make-up assessment. Testing room locations will be provided via email to the students the week prior to testing. Students are reminded that preparing for the test also includes getting a good night's sleep the night before and eating a healthy breakfast.

As always, please reach out to me with any questions.

Best regards,

Steve Viggiani

Secaucus High School Principal