Summit High School

Dear SHS Families,

I hope you have enjoyed a relaxing summer. The Summit High School staff has been working diligently to prepare for the start of the school year. I would like to welcome back our returning students and families and extend a special welcome to our new students and families.

I look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Tuesday, September 8th for a full day of instruction and lunch! Please be reminded that classes begin promptly at 7:45am, and all students need to be in their 1st period classes by that time. Please be sure to leave yourself enough time to get to school so your student can be in class on time.

This newsletter contains information and reminders about the start of the school year. Each week, I will be e-mailing a newsletter to all SHS families that will contain reminders and to highlight the many happenings at Summit High School.

Some new things at Summit High School described below are:

• Internet-enabled personal device
• No access to Genesis during the school day for students/parents/guardians
• Use of technology in classrooms
• Midterm and final exam changes

I look forward to another successful year at Summit High School. The accomplishments of our students stem from the partnership between the school and you as parents and guardians. I encourage you to attend our program and events, and reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have.

It's a great day to be a Hilltopper!

Stacy Grimaldi

Principal

Starting at 7:30am each morning, there will be three entrances to the building open for students. They are the entrances along Kent Place Blvd., the main office entrance, and the entrance by the gymnasium. Prior to 7:30am, all students must enter the building using the main office entrance.

When dropping off your student in the morning along the driveway, please pull up all the way before stopping to let your student out of the vehicle.

If you drop your student off on Kent Place Blvd., please drop off only on the school side of the street. For the safety of all students and drivers, please do not make K-turns or turn around in driveways along Kent Place Blvd. Do not use the faculty or student parking lots to drop students off, as this prohibits people from parking in their assigned parking spots.

Drop off your student with enough time so they can get to class on time. Drop off early to avoid the mad dash and traffic in and around the high school.

Attendance matters in high school. Therefore, it is imperative that students arrive to school on time. Students must be in their first timeslot class by 7:45am. Any student who arrives after that time will be marked late.

If your student is absent

A parent/guardian must notify the Attendance Secretary, Ms. Falconi, by either calling 908-273-1544 or emailing shsattendance@summit.k12.nj.us before 10am on the day of the absence. Please be sure to include the date and reason for the absence.

If your student is late

Please remember instruction begins at 7:45am, any student who arrives after that time must swipe in at the main office and proceed to class. This counts as an unexcused tardy.

Students arriving after 8am, must report to the main office and swipe in. This counts as an unexcused tardy and a class cut.

Parent verification of that tardy must be made to the attendance office on the SAME DAY as the tardy for it to be considered verified.

A student who is late more than 15 minutes to any class results in an unverified tardy and a class cut.

Attendance and Eligibility for School Activities

Students must be in school for at least 4 hours of instruction to participate in all sports/extracurricular activities or events. Lunch does NOT count in the 4 hours.

NJ State Law Attendance Requirements

State law requires 90% attendance for earning credit in high school courses.

All absences are counted and cumulative. There are few absence reasons that are non-cumulative - these can be found in the student handbook.

Medical Documentation for Absences

Notes from medical providers due to illness or office visits to verify absences must be brought to the Attendance Secretary the day the student returns to schools. Notes will NOT be accepted at a later date. Absences are still cumulative even when medical notes are provided.

Early Dismissals

Notification must be made to the Attendance Secretary by 10:00am in the form of a hand-delivered note, parent/guardian phone call, or parent/guardian email.

Notes, phone calls, and emails must include the parent/guardian phone number for verification by SHS staff.

Notes or phone calls will NOT be accepted after the fact to excuse an unverified absence or unverified departure from school.

If a student is dismissed from school through the Health Office, the student must check out in the Main Office before leaving the building.

School Consequences for Unverified Tardies, Class Cuts, or Excessive Absences

• Teacher referral, administrator meetings with students
• Parent/guardian, student, and administrator meetings
• Detentions
• Loss of current and future parking privileges
• Loss of current and future Unassigned Study privileges
• Loss of field trip/extracurricular privileges
• Meeting with Attendance Committee
• Referral for additional services and supports with a required parent/guardian meeting
• Withdrawal from class and loss of credit (WF on transcript)

Students are required to monitor their attendance weekly and follow up with

teachers and administrators with questions about class attendance.

Parents/guardians should maintain their own log-in for monitoring their student's

attendance.

More detailed information about attendance can be found in our Student Handbook,

which is located on our district and school website and is reviewed in school.

Please contact the appropriate grade-level administrator with questions:

Elizabeth Aaron, Assistant Principal, Classes of 2027 and 2029

eaaron@summit.k12.nj.us 908-273-1494 ext 5450

Brian Murtagh, Assistant Principal, Classes of 2028 and 2030

bmurtagh@summit.k12.nj.us 908-273-1494 ext 5502

New Jersey law bans the student use of cell phones and all personal internet-enabled devices during the school day (7:45am until 2:49pm). Summit High School students must silence and put all personal internet-enabled devices away in their locker, backpack, or other bag during the school day, including lunch and study hall. Internet-enabled devices include cell phones, smart watches, smart glasses, and tablets.

If you need to contact your student during the school day, please contact the main office.

Please discuss this new law and the Board of Education policy/regulation (linked below) with your student.

Below are the consequences for students using a personal internet-enabled during the school day.

1st Occurrence:

• Student gives device to staff member.
• Device is stored in the main office.
• Student can pick up device at the end of the school day.
• Student signs an acknowledgement of this 1st occurrence.

2nd Occurrence:

• Student gives device to staff member.
• Device is stored in the main office.

• Student can pick up device at the end of the school day.
• Student conference with administrator.
• Student signs an acknowledgement of this 2nd occurrence.
• Parent/guardian contacted by an administrator.
• 1 detention

3rd Occurrence:

• Student gives device to staff member.
• Device is stored in the main office.
• Parent/guardian can pick up device at the end of the school day.
• Student conference with administrator.
• Student signs an acknowledgement of this 3rd occurrence.
• Parent/guardian signs an acknowledgement of this 3rd occurrence.
• 2 detentions
• Student must turn in device to an administrator at the beginning of the school day for a minimum of 5 day. Device will be stored in the main office.

4th Occurrence:

• Student gives device to staff member.
• Device is stored in the main office.
• Parent/guardian can pick up device at the end of the school day.
• Student conference with administrator.
• Student signs an acknowledgement of this 4th occurrence.
• Parent/guardian signs an acknowledgement of this 4th occurrence.
• 1 day suspension
• Student must turn in device to an administrator at the beginning of the school day for a minimum of 5 day. Device will be stored in the main office.

The expectations for storing devices will be addressed during the first day of school.

Students and parents/guardians are able to view student schedules in Genesis. Please have your student check their schedule as some room changes were made recently.

Students and parents/guardians will not be able to access Genesis between 8am and 3pm on all school days. All students will receive a paper copy of their schedule in their first period class on Tuesday morning.

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! Just a reminder, students are not allowed to self-medicate with any medication with the exception of asthma inhalers, EpiPens, diabetes medications, and Hydrocortisone Sodium Succinate. New Jersey state law requires that all other medications be administered by a nurse while a student is at school and/or during a school sponsored event. In order for the nurse to administer medications, the student must have a:

• Current medication order completed and signed by a doctor and parent/guardian for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Students wishing to self carry EpiPen and/or Asthma inhaler medications must still have a valid medication order on file in the health office.

• Medication orders are required for all medications including daily, short term or over-the-counter medications (ie- Tylenol, Motrin, cough drops, etc).

• All medications must be received, at school, in their original packaging with a pharmacy label affixed which shows the students’ name, medication, dosage, and administration instructions. For an over-the-counter medication please provide the medication in its original sealed packaging labeled with your student’s name, do not send open bottles.

• Medication prescribed for the school must remain in school (it cannot be sent back and forth to the home).

• Other than the exceptions students are not permitted to transport medication in their backpacks. Parents/Guardians can deliver medication to the school nurse the week of September 8th from 8am-12pm or 1pm-2:45pm. Please email us at kakian@summit.k12.nj.us or mdriscoll@summit.k12.nj.us if these times are not convenient.

All Medication forms can be found at https://www.summit.k12.nj.us/departments/health-services/medical-forms

Be well,

Summit High School Nurses

Students will have their picture taken during their Physical Education class on either Wednesday, September 9th or Thursday, September 10th. All students must have their picture taken so we can provide each student with a student ID care.

Ordering information will be e-mailed to each family once pictures have been taken. Wallburg Studios sent an email to all families on Sunday, September 6th with additional information about school pictures.

12th grade students with an unassigned study hall during period 1 should arrive at school on time (7:45am) on Tuesday, September 8th and report to the library. There is some required paperwork that needs to be completed and distributed during the 1st time slot on Tuesday. After the first day of school, students with unassigned study hall can arrive late to school (by 8:30am) when their unassigned study hall period occurs during the first time slot.

The forms in Genesis need to be completed by 5pm on Monday, September 7th in order for a senior to be allowed to leave for lunch on Tuesday, September 8th.

Only 12th grade students who have been assigned a parking spot for the 1st marking period AND have picked up their parking decals are allowed to park on campus.

If your 12th grade student has been assigned a parking spot, but did not pick up their decal, they MAY NOT park on campus on Tuesday.

Decals can be picked up in the main office after school on Tuesday.

Students with study hall during a morning period can arrive late to school when their study hall period occurs during the first timeslot in the morning. Parent/guardian permission is required and should be done in the Genesis portal. The permission form can be found under "Forms" in Genesis and is listed as Study Hall Late Arrival - All Students.

Please note that students who have permission to arrive late for study hall must arrive in their study hall by 8:30am on a typical A,B,C, or D day. Times will be adjusted for single-session and delayed start days. These times will be communicated to students and families as they occur. Late arrival for study hall will start on Wednesday, September 9th.

New Chromebooks and chargers will be distributed to 9th graders during their PE classes starting Wednesday, September 9th. Students must turn in their current Chromebook and charger in order to receive a new one.

If a student does not have their issued Chromebook charger, they must either have a $50 check made out to Summit Public Schools or purchase and turn in a compatible charger. A compatible charger is one with a USB-C connector.

While we are working to reduce the amount of screen time students have in school, Chromebooks will be used in classes throughout the day.

The main office will no longer be providing Chromebook loaners or chargers to students who forget their Chromebook at home or forget to come to school with a charged Chromebook. If your student forgets their Chromebook at home or comes to school without a charged Chromebook, they will have to either contact you to drop their Chromebook and/or charger off at school or use paper/pencil in their classes.

Please join the SHS PTO to learn all things about Summit High School and get introduced to many of the parent/guardian groups that support Summit High School programs. This program will take place at 9am on Friday, September 18th in the library. Parking will be available on Kent Place Blvd. between the Weaver Street entrance to the high school and High Street.

Full-Year Courses

Quarter 1 = 21.25%

Quarter 2 = 21.25%

Midterm Exam = 7.5%

Quarter 3 = 21.25%

Quarter 4 = 21.25%

Final Exam = 7.5%

Semester Courses

Quarter1/Quarter 3 = 42.5%

Quarter 2/Quarter 4 = 42.5%

Exam = 15%

More information about other exam changes will be communicated in the coming weeks.

All schools will be making a concerted effort to reduce the amount of time students use technology in their classes. While some classes require the use of technology in order to meet the curricular objectives, we will be using these guiding principles in determining when and how technology will be used in classrooms.

Technology will be used to

• Enrich student learning
• Provide targeted differentiation
• Empower teachers with measurable data
• Develop digital skills

Use of technology at Summit High School will be targeted to specific skills and activities. Students will engage in more handwritten classwork. Teachers will determine when it is appropriate for students to use technology.

Sometimes students request schedule changes. All requests to drop and/or add new courses require administrative approval. Included below is a timeline and scheduling window that includes the parameters to drop/add classes and change levels. Requests for a teacher change within a given subject area will not be approved unless the student has had a previous course failure with that particular teacher. All course changes are based upon availability.

Appointments must be made in advance to see teachers, counselors, administrators, and other staff. Please be prepared to announce your name and purpose in order to be granted access into the building.

When a visitor arrives at the school, they will be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license or state-issued ID card. If the visitor does not have any means of identification on them, they will be asked to input their first name, last name, and date of birth into our visitor management system. The identification is then scanned into the system, and the visitor's information is checked against a database to ensure they are not on any prohibited lists. Once the visitor's information has been verified, a temporary badge will be printed and provided to them by the school security officer or school secretary. This badge must be worn at all times while the visitor is on school grounds and will be collected upon their departure. All visitors to the building must be escorted by a staff member at all time.

In the event an emergency visit is necessary, please call the school’s main office ahead of your arrival so we are prepared to accommodate your needs.

Drop-off items (lunch, instrument, Chromebook, etc.) may be dropped off in the bin outside the main entrance vestibule. We will not inform students when items have been dropped off for them.

Food deliveries (such as DoorDash, UberEats, etc.) for students are not permitted during the school day and during lunch. This includes a parent/guardian stopping at Starbucks or other restaurant and dropping off food or drink for a student.

Please click the links below for information from Pomptonian Food Services.

For specific safe menus, please go to the Lunch Tab on the Resources Page of the Summit High School website.

We have transitioned to a new website for our athletic schedules. Please be sure to use and bookmark this link to access our athletic schedules.

https://hilltopperathletics.digitalsports.com/pages/schedule/schedule.php

Monday, September 7, 2026

No School - Labor Day

12th Grade Lunch Privilege Parent/Guardian Permission Due by 5pm in Genesis

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

E Day

First Day of School

1st Day of Senior Lunch Privilege for Seniors

Back to Theater Party, 6pm, Cafeteria

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

A Day

1st Day of Late Arrival for Study Hall & Unassigned Study Hall

9th Grade Chromebook Distribution During PE Classes

ID/Yearbook Pictures Taken During PE Classes

Choir Blast-Off, 5pm, Cafeteria & Orchestra Room

Thursday, September 10, 2026

B Day

9th Grade Chromebook Distribution During PE Classes

ID/Yearbook Pictures Taken During PE Classes

Orchestra Blast-Off, 6pm, Cafeteria

Board of Education Meeting, 6pm, SHS Library

Friday, September 11, 2026

C Day

Ceremony & Tree Re-Dedication to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, 7am, Library Courtyard

Announcement and Moment of Silence to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

• Tuesday, September 8th - First Day of School
• Monday, September 21st - No School, Yom Kippur
• Thursday, October 1st - Back to School Night