Wall High School Knightly News

Dear Wall High School students, families, and staff,

School starts in just a few days, and you may feel like you are on information overload! In this newsletter we've tried to sum up all the important information you will need for a smooth transition back to school. Inside, you’ll find important dates, reminders, and resources to help you and your student get ready for September.

If you are driving to school please pay close attention to the transportation information below and note that busing information is now available in the Genesis Portal.

Important Dates for September

• Thursday, September 3 - First Day of School - This is a full day of school and an "A" Day. All students must be in their Period 1 class by 7:20 a.m.

• Friday, September 4 - Early Dismissal Day - Students will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m.

• Wednesday, September 9 - 6:00 p.m. - Senior Parent Night - The College Application Process - WHS Auditorium

• Wednesday, September 9 - 7:00 p.m. - Back-to-School Night - Families are invited to learn about courses and expectations from WHS teachers. More details will be shared soon.

• Monday, September 21 - School is Closed in observance of Yom Kippur

• Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24 - Undergraduate Student Picture Days (see flyer below)

• Friday, September 25 - Class T-Shirts - Order forms are due to class advisors - more details to come in grade level communications.

Internet Enabled Devices

As we prepare to welcome our students back to Wall High School for the 2026–2027 school year, I want to highlight an important change that will affect all students beginning on the first day of school. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:36-40b, WTPS policy and regulations prohibits students from using internet-enabled devices on school grounds during the school day (smartphones, smart watches, tablets, laptops and other similar devices). This includes passing time between classes and during the lunch period.

These policies and regulations have been enacted to help ensure that our school day remains focused on learning, engagement, and meaningful connections among students and staff.

To support these new policies and regulations, it is strongly recommended that students at Wall High School store their internet-enabled devices in their assigned lockers for the duration of the school day. Students who choose to self-store a device on their person rather than in their locker must ensure that the device is powered off and kept away throughout the school day in their backpack or bag. Students who self-store their smartphones are also required to place their powered-off phone in the classroom phone caddy upon entering the classroom for each instructional period. Phones will remain in the phone caddy until the teacher authorizes students to retrieve them at the end of the class period. Students must then return their smartphone to their backpack or bag until arriving in the next classroom.

Please see the section below for a flyer detailing these rules and disciplinary consequences for violations of the policy. There is also a text only version of the new policy. Both documents also provide details regarding allowable student use of internet enabled devices before and after the school day on school grounds, at school sponsored events off school grounds during the school day, and at school sponsored events outside of the school day.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home, and be assured we will review this new policy in detail with students at grade level meetings to start the school year.

Transportation

Parents please note that school starts promptly at 7:20am. Any student not in homeroom by 7:20am is considered late to school. Student bus stop information is posted in the Genesis portal and students are reminded to arrive to their bus stop early on the first day of school. Please be patient as it may take a few days for buses to establish a routine pick up time. Any student who arrives to school late due to a bus delay will be excused. Parents and students are encouraged to utilize the school bus to ensure your timely arrival to school.

Parents or guardians dropping off at school may enter through the 18th Ave entrance near the tennis courts or on the New Bedford Road entrance and then follow the traffic pattern to drop off at Door #13 (by the cafeteria). Please be mindful of pedestrians in crosswalks, follow the directions of school staff in the parking lots and drop off area, and please do NOT drop off anywhere else. Remember that students need to be in homeroom/1st block by 7:20am so students must be dropped off no later than 7:15am to allow for time to get to their classrooms. The doors to the school will open at 7am daily. If you plan to use private transportation please understand that traffic in the private drop off line is not an excuse for tardiness

To our students who drive, please make sure to obtain a parking pass in order to be permitted to park on campus. There are designated lots for juniors and seniors. Please refer to the parking application for more information and for a list of rules regarding student driving and parking on campus. Please complete a parking application and bring it to the main office during lunch or before or after school to receive a parking pass.

Dismissal is at 2:02pm and buses will assemble in the front (18th Ave) and side of the building (New Bedford Road). Please make sure your student knows their route number so they can find their bus more easily at dismissal. Students who are being picked up should meet their families in the parking lot near the tennis courts and all vehicles picking up must enter the lot from 18th Ave.

Busing information is now available in the Genesis Portal. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding busing, please contact the Transportation Department at 732.681.7698

Student Picture Days

All students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will have school pictures on September 23rd and 24th. There is no need to pre-order or pre-pay for pictures anymore. You can now preview pictures online prior to purchasing. Look out for links in your email and check out the flyer with links below!

Order Your 2027 WHS Yearbook

Yearbook pre-orders are already available! Order now so you don't forget!

BuyYour2027Yearbook

We look forward to welcoming students and staff back this week!

- Mr. Davis

The Wall High School community is proud to announce the Grand Opening of our new Athletic Turf Stadiums! The RED Stadium, located on the upper portion of the WHS athletic campus, is home to WHS Football, 8-lane Track, Soccer, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse. The BLUE Stadium, located on the lower portion of the WHS athletic campus (former FB stadium), is home to Soccer, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse.

Join us as we celebrate this exciting new chapter for Wall Township High School athletics, our students, and the entire Crimson Knight community.

The RED Stadium (upper field) Grand Opening Celebration will take place in front of the new home bleachers at the center of the RED field on Monday, August 31, 2026, at 3:45 pm, just prior to our first Varsity Field Hockey game being played.

The BLUE Stadium (lower field) Grand Opening Celebration will take place in front of the bleachers at the center of the BLUE field on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at 3:45 pm, just prior to our first Varsity Girls Soccer game being played.

This state-of-the-art facility represents the pride, tradition, and commitment that make Wall High School a special place.

Come experience the energy, excitement, and CRIMSON KNIGHT PRIDE as we officially open our new home for the Wall Crimson Knights.

We are pleased to offer parents and guardians a new, convenient way to notify your child's school when your student will be absent or tardy: the Notify Attendance Office feature within the Genesis Parent Portal. This is an additional option available to you. You may continue to notify the attendance office by phone or email as you have done in the prior school year.

As always, parents/guardians are still required to notify the school office by the start of the school day for any absence or tardy. Reporting through Genesis satisfies this requirement. The link below provides directions with screenshots to walk you through this new feature.

The Wall High School Parent-Teacher Organization plays an important role in building a strong school community and supporting programs for both students and staff. PTO funds help provide classroom resources, student events, teacher appreciation activities, and more. We encourage every family to join the PTO for the 2026–27 school year and pay annual dues—your participation directly benefits our school. Membership information and payment options can be found through the link below. Thank you for helping us make this year exceptional for our students.

If you join on or before September 15th your student will be entered into a raffle to win a yearbook compliments of the PTO!!

Thank you to Panera Bread and Pet Supplies Plus for donating gift cards to support the Wall High School PTO Teacher Appreciation Program. Your support helps us celebrate our incredible teachers and is truly appreciated by our entire school community. Each month we honor two staff members who go above and beyond for our students, and we reward them with one of the gift cards that has been donated to the PTO.

ALL student and parent forms in Genesis must be completed/acknowledged in order to view student schedules. Forms are in the parent and student portals (links can be found below).

• Valid reasons for which a student may request a change of schedule include:

  • An error or omission in data entry

  • Meeting a graduation requirement (seniors)

  • Course failures, which prohibit progress to the next sequential course

  • Successful summer school attendance allowing progress to the next sequential course

  • In order to honor, where possible, the student’s original course selection requests

  
  

  Any student requesting a change of schedule must do so by Friday, September 11th. The dropped course will not become a part of the student’s permanent record. A student dropping a course after September 11th will have the course printed on his/her permanent record. The course will appear on the student’s transcript as either Withdraw Pass (WP) or Withdraw Fail (WF) based upon the grade at the time of dropping the course. This policy for changes will be followed at all times. Students will receive an email from Mrs. Misa, Director of School Counseling, with a form to request any schedule changes.

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The Genesis portal will also be used to communicate busing information. The busing information may not be viewable yet on August 17th. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding busing, please contact the Transportation Department at 732.681.7698

Scoir is a solution for students, supporters, counselors, and colleges focused on finding the right fit through a unified college search and planning network. This platform connects students to a powerful set of tools to help them identify their talents, search for their college fit, plan with their supporters, and apply when ready. As a parent/guardian, you play an integral role on Scoir by providing your student(s) with college suggestions, financial information, and general guidance.

For students assigned to Mrs. Rivera, our school counselors will be assisting with scheduling needs for the remainder of the summer.

We are excited to share that Mr. and Mrs. Rivera welcomed baby Aiden earlier this month! Congratulations to the Rivera family!

Counselor assignments for Ms. Rivera's students for the summer are:

• Seniors: Mr. Janks

• Juniors: Mrs. Griggs

• Sophomores: Ms. Gilberti

Everyone should try to join at least one club!

Take a look at the club and activities website and email the clubs advisor if you have any questions.

Whether your child is entering elementary, middle, or high school, the start of a new school year brings a mix of excitement, anticipation, and sometimes a little uncertainty. While each stage of development presents unique experiences, there are a few universal strategies that can help students of all ages feel prepared, connected, and confident.

1. Get Back into a Routine
A week or two before school starts, begin returning to school-year routines. Younger children can practice bedtime and morning routines, while older students can reset sleep schedules and organize school materials.

2. Build a Sense of Belonging
Connecting with familiar peers can make returning to school feel easier. Plan a playdate for younger children or encourage older students to connect with friends before the first day.

3. Get Familiar with the School Routine
Help your child know what to expect. Younger children can practice drop-off, while older students can review schedules, transportation, locker combinations, or classroom locations.

4. Encourage Voice and Agency
Help your child practice speaking up, asking for help, and solving everyday problems. Talk through situations such as forgetting lunch, getting lost, missing the bus, or needing help. Older students can practice emailing a teacher or asking a question on their own.

5. Talk About Their Feelings
Make time to talk about excitement, worry, or uncertainty. Help your child make a simple plan, such as talking to a Trusted Adult, reaching out to a friend, or asking a teacher for help.

Monmouth ACTS ResourceConnect
Monmouth ACTS ResourceConnect offers Monmouth County residents a simple way to connect with a wide range of local services and supports. ResourceConnect can help connect families with food, housing assistance, medical care, employment programs, mental health services, child care, and more. For additional assistance or help connecting with resources, please contact your child’s school counselor.

Lack of Permanent Housing
If your family is experiencing economic hardship or does not have permanent housing, please visit the McKinney-Vento webpage for important information about your rights and available resources.

District Homeless Education Liaison
Tiffany Steiner
tsteiner@wallpublicschools.org
732.556.2657

Please be advised, WHS will not accept food deliveries from services such as DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, etc. for students in our school. While we understand the convenience these services provide, they create significant disruptions within our main office. More importantly, allowing outside food/lunch deliveries raises concerns about the safety and security of our students and staff.

Please note: Parents and guardians are still permitted to drop off lunch for students who may have forgotten their meals. However, we ask that you coordinate these drop-offs directly through our main office to ensure a smooth process.

Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the well-being and security of our school community.

Mr. Davis