KHS Highlights

Beginning with this week's Kinnelon High School Highlights newsletter, we will feature a background photograph taken by one of our Photography students. This week's photo was captured by Senior Benjamin Fazio, featuring our scenic Kinnelon High School campus. Ben is part of our Digital Imaging & Photography program.

• Tuesday, October 27: Board of Education Meeting (7pm)
• Friday, October 30: District-Wide Trunk or Treat (11:45am - 1:15pm)
• Wednesday, November 4: Early Dismissal for KHS Students & Staff (11:50am)
• Thursday, November 4 - Friday, November 5: No School for Teacher's Convention
• Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day
• Thursday- Saturday, November 12-14: Fall Drama
• Tuesday, November 17: Board of Education Meeting (7pm)
• Wednesday, November 18: Post-Secondary Planning Night (7pm)
• Wednesday, November 25: Early Dismissal (11:50am)
• Thursday, November 26th - Friday, November 27: No School for Thanksgiving Recess
• Monday, December 7: Choir Concert (7pm)
• Tuesday, December 15: Board of Education Meeting (7pm)
• Wednesday, December 16: Instrumental (Band) Concert (7pm)

This week we are celebrating Red Ribbon Week, the nation's largest drug prevention campaign. This year’s theme encourages us all to live healthy, happy, and drug-free lives. Each day, the following messages will be read during morning announcements.

Monday 10/26:

Did you know that 9 out of 10 addictions start during the teen years? Research shows that when you find your "Natural High"—those activities that uplift, inspire, and motivate you—you are far more likely to avoid drugs and alcohol.

Tuesday 10/27:

Making smart choices keeps your mind sharp and your future bright. Did you know youth who start drinking before 15 are 7 times more likely to struggle with alcohol later in life? Don't forget to wear blue tomorrow to promote substance abuse prevention awareness!

Wednesday 10/28:

Today we wear blue to promote substance abuse prevention awareness. We wear blue to symbolize our commitment to a healthier community and to stand together against drug and alcohol abuse. Every choice you make shapes your future. Staying drug-free means keeping your eyes set on your goals, your passions, and your success. Thank you to everyone wearing blue today to show support!

Thursday 10/29:

Today’s message is all about community and support: Friends don't let friends do drugs. Real friends lift you up and help you make positive, healthy choices. During lunch today, take the National Red Ribbon Campaign Pledge and commit to living a drug-free life!

Friday 10/30:

Today is the final day of Red Ribbon Week, and it's also time to take care of your overall well-being. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Here are a few quick tips to boost your wellness today:
- Exercise daily and eat healthy foods.

- Take an intentional break from social media to recharge.

- Focus on the positive things happening around you and get a good night’s sleep.

Have a safe, fun Halloween weekend, and let's end Red Ribbon Week strong by making smart, healthy choices!

Every KHS student is encouraged to get involved in one of three ways!

1. Juniors & Seniors with a car can select a theme and decorate their trunk to match the theme! Then, these students are invited to pass out 'treats' to PRM, Stonybrook, & Kiel-Sisco students! Juniors & Seniors must complete this FORM for approval by October 16th in order to sign up to participate!
2. Clubs, Activities, & Athletic Teams are invited to do the same as Juniors & Seniors with a car. They will select a theme and decorate a table to match, distributing "treats" to the elementary and middle school students as well! Students participating with an athletic team, club, or activity must complete THIS FORM by October 16th in order to participate!
3. Students can also volunteer to support an elementary class during the Trunk or Treat! KHS students must complete this VOLUNTEER APPROVAL FORM to express interest by October 16th!

After participating in the Trunk or Treat, PRM students and District staff are invited to cast their vote for their three favorite decorated trunks! The three Junior & Senior car trunks with the highest number of votes will each win a gift card, compliments of the KHSA! Thank you, KHSA!

Students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from the following colleges this week during lunch.

Congratulations to everyone on a great Morris County Championship Meet.

We had a lot of personal records on a beautiful day!

Special congratulations to Kieran Fitzgerald, who took 4th place overall, medaled, punched his ticket for ALL-COUNTY, and BROKE the SCHOOL RECORD by 9 seconds! The school record was previously held by Andrew Garcia in 2022 with a time of 16:33.01. Kieran ran 16:24.06! He is the highest-placing Kinnelon runner at the county meet on this Greystone Course since the course was established in 2017, and overall since as far back as 1995 when they began archiving records in Morris County.

We also had some freshmen and sophomores medal in the 3200m race. Congratulations to Calista Garica for placing 17th, and Izzy Holman for placing 19th for the girls, and Jacob Klevtsov for taking 6th and Andrew Morillo for taking 14th for the boys!

Varsity Boys took 11th out of 24 teams overall!

Anthony Manna was named a Super Football Conference's "Young Man of the Year" award recipient and will be honored at the Jets football game on December 13th!

The Colt Chronicle won the following awards at the Garden State Scholastic Press Association's Fall Student Press Day at Rutgers University:

• Third Place Overall Excellence Online
• Second Place for Photography (Peyton Triano)
• Honorable Mention for Infographics (Ava Gutkin)
• Third Place Sports Writing (Izza Raza)
  

Senior and Colt Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Ava Gutkin won the New Jersey All-Star Journalist Award! She also presented to a standing-room-only audience with her session entitled "Good Writing Isn't Good Journalism."

Journalism 1 and 2 students, as well as a few Colt Chronicle staff members, attended the conference.

"Last Block on a Friday" - Spooky Season Edition! On this show, hosts Kayla and Mike, along with show producers, share several video segments highlighting the arts, school and community features, and more! We catch up with new KHS Staff members and get a glimpse inside our new Culinary Arts classroom. We have a wonderful segment highlighting the Fall Drama "Alice in Wonderland". Later in the show we learn more about the new Freshmen Academy program. Plus, we share several fun moments with our GridIron Trivia contest and some laughs with the Halloween - Cam on the Street!

Congratulations to our students who participated in Round 1 of the Latin League! Our participants brought great focus and enthusiasm to the competition against Covington Classical Academy (Covington, KY).

For any other students interested in Latin, problem-solving, and friendly competition, it's not too late to get involved! We welcome everyone to join us for Round 2, which will take place in early November. Whether you want to test your skills or try something new, come be a part of the team! Any questions can be directed to the Latin Honor Society Advisor, Sra. Sappio.

More details: https://latinleague.org/

Congratulations, Elle Ives!

Students in the Biomedical Sciences Academy had the opportunity to hear Dr. Emmons-Hindelong from William Paterson University speak about her education and career path in the medical field, followed by a Q&A session.

NAHS students painted these beautiful pumpkins.

Donations are being accepted now!

Support HOSA's bagel fundraiser!

Digital Photography & Imaging Honors students completed another senior media poster and highlighted Michael Piccolo.

The Varsity Club will be volunteering for Tim Tebow's Night to Shine once again on February 12, 2027! This event is a worldwide Special Needs prom held in over 75 countries on this one special night.

They are in need of new or gently used prom gowns for their special guests to wear. If you have any to donate, they will be collected by Mr. Soules at the high school. All gowns will be delivered on Jan 7, 2027.

If you have any questions, please email Mr. Soules at soulesj@kinnelon.org.

Please help the Give Back Club in their partnership with Shelter Our Soldiers to make care packages for homeless veterans. Donations can be ordered directly from the following link or purchased and dropped off at KHS: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25AOEXQP41MT4?ref_=wl_share

Check out the promotional video below!

*Please note that lunch has been split into A and B this year to accommodate "Freshman Academy" meetings, as well as having definitive start and end times for science and lunch labs (as well as other classes and activities taking place during this time). Students who are not scheduled for a class or activity during this time will have the full block for lunch as in the past.

Upon logging into the Parent Portal, please click "Daily Attendance" under the menu. Then, select the "Report Student Attendance" button and fill in the requested information. Next, click "Review Attendance Request" and submit. This will communicate your student's absence directly to the Kinnelon High School Main Office.

If you are unable to submit your student's absence via the Parent Portal, please email: khsattendance@kinnelon.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Students need to be in school for 4 hours to get credit for the day. If a student arrives on time, they need to be here until 11:45am. If they are not here for 4 hours, they will be marked absent.

Please note that the Rules and Regulations below will be strictly enforced in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct. Thank you in advance to our students for their compliance, as well as families for their continuous support at home.

Students are expected to adhere to the dress code as outline in our Handbook. Students who are not dressed appropriately for school will be asked to change, or we will request that a parent/guardian bring a change of clothing to school.

Please review the following to ensure that we maintain a positive, learning-focused environment at Kinnelon High School:

The following are considered inappropriate:

• Footwear must be worn at all times. (NO BARE FEET)

• Hoods are not permitted in school

• Hats may be worn at the discretion of the teacher

• Clothing such as shorts, pants, or skirts are not permitted to be worn lower than the hip-line.

• Excessively tight shorts and skirts are not acceptable.

• Skirts and shorts that do not reach mid-thigh are not acceptable.

• See-through clothing that exposes undergarments is not acceptable.

• Low-riding pants, shorts, or skirts that expose undergarments are not acceptable.

• Tops that:

• Expose undergarments

• Expose midriff- no more than 2 inches between the bottom of the top article of clothing to the top

• Have plunging necklines

• Have back lines lower than the mid shoulder blades

• Are marked as undergarments

• Clothing with inappropriate pictures, liquor advertisements, sexually suggestive messages, tobacco or gang affiliations, slogans which contain offensive or obscene symbols or signs, slogans depicting violence or degrading any race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, national origin, social or economic status, or sexual orientation or drug related messages are not permitted.

• Trousers/slacks with studs or gaudy accessories cannot be worn in school. Other items prohibited are wrist/ankle/neckbands with spikes, chains, cleats, or other articles which could cause damage to other students or property.

• Outdoor jackets or coats must be placed in student lockers except when entering or leaving the building and when there is a defect in the heating system.

• Sunglasses/non-prescription sunglasses that are glazed and tinted glasses are not to be worn in school except as prescribed by the pupil's doctor.

*Thank you in advance for your cooperation with our Dress Code. The KHS Administration ultimately reserves the right to determine whether an article of clothing is appropriate and may direct a student to change or remove an item that is not.

Students may not use any personal electronic device during the school day. If students take their cell phone out at any time, school staff will confiscate the device and forward it to the main office for safe keeping in accordance with our Code of Conduct.

At this time, students are required to scan their school identification when arriving late or leaving school early, as well as to visit the Media Center. Later this school year, students will also need their Identification in order to unlock the bathroom doors.