Wall High School Knightly News

Dear Wall High School students, families, and staff,

Scheduling for the 26-27 School Year

The School Counselors have visited Social Studies classes to present scheduling opportunities to students for next year. Students were provided with detailed scheduling information to help them pick electives and submit their schedule in Genesis for the upcoming school year.

The parent portal is open, so students and parents can enter course requests. It is very important for students to have requests entered in the portal to give them the best chance of getting the courses they want. Course requests are due by Friday, January 30, 2026. Our Program of Studies is updated for the 2026-27 school year, and scheduling information can be found at:

WHS School Counseling Department- Scheduling 2026-2027

*Counselors will be meeting with students in February and March to finalize course requests.

See the Counseling Department section further down in the newsletter for more information regarding Monmouth County Vocational School Shared Time Programs if you are interested in applying for one of those programs.

Midterm Exams

As a reminder, midterm exams will take place from January 20 through January 23. Please be sure to review the letter linked here, which includes important information about the exam schedule, procedures if a student is ill, and other key details.

Students are expected to be present and on time for all scheduled exams and must bring a fully charged, school-issued Chromebook each day. If a Chromebook is required for an exam and a student does not bring the Chromebook on exam day, they may be required to stay after school to make up the exam.

Please also note that Monday, January 26 marks the first day of Marking Period 3. It will be an “E” day, and students will attend all eight classes in 41-minute instructional periods.

Band Concert and Dedication of Hollander Hall

Please join us for our next concert on Thursday night, January 22nd at 7pm in the newly renovated auditorium and Eva Applegate Theater to hear the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band perform. The evening will also include a formal dedication and renaming of the music hallway at Wall High School in honor of Mr. Les Hollander. Please come out to listen to our talented musicians perform and to support Mr. Hollander after fifty-five years of service and dedication to Wall High School.

- Mr. Davis

Yearbook is now $120

Link to order: Buy Your Yearbook

Please consider joining us for our Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meetings. These meetings will offer you a chance to hear information regarding school programs and other important information directly from the High School Administration. The PAC meeting schedule can be found by clicking the button below.

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 2025–26 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.

• September 17, 2025
• November 12, 2025
• January 14, 2026
• March 11, 2026
• May 13, 2026

Dylan Iachello - 9th Grade

Cylas Coyne - 10th Grade

Paige Cera - 11th Grade

Patrick Freud - 12th Grade

John Grasso, Henry Plevier and Jenna Guditis

We've started something new this year to recognize and celebrate our staff at WHS. The Knight of the Month award recognizes Wall High School staff members who go above and beyond in serving our students, colleagues, and community. One is nominated by colleagues and another is chosen by the Senior Student of the Month. Congrats to our two staff members recognized for November!

The Wall Township Police Department is proud to announce the winner of the Wall Police K9 Flag Design Contest in support of the upcoming Wall Police K9 Memorial at Police Headquarters. Congratulations to Wall High School junior Chiara Byrnes, whose outstanding design was selected as the winning entry. Chiara’s artwork stood out for its creativity, meaning, and thoughtful tribute to the bravery and service of our K9 officers. Her design will be professionally produced as a custom flag and proudly flown on the flagpole at the Wall Police K9 Memorial, serving as a lasting symbol of appreciation for the loyal K9s who have served and protected our community. We thank all students and schools who participated in this contest and helped make this project a meaningful community effort.

Art Experience students in Ms. Ryan’s class created paintings to explore color theory and showcase their amazing talent!

Horticulture students have begun to harvest their fall vegetables!

Monmouth County Vocational School District offers numerous shared time programs for juniors and seniors at Wall High School. Shared-time programs provide an opportunity for students to enroll in a career and technical education course while attending their home high school. The shared-time classes are a half-day in length and the student continues with their regular course of study at their home high school the other half of the day. Most programs consist of two years of study in which the student learns skills that will qualify them for entry-level jobs or prepare them for further education in their chosen career and technical education field.

Please click the button below for more details including links to the MCVSD website, links to the application and more. If you have any questions, please reach out to your school counselor.

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.

On October 22nd, our 9th graders completed the YouScience aptitude assessment, a series of engaging brain games that highlight students’ natural strengths and learning styles.

On November 14th and 18th, students revisited their results during a 7 Mindsets lesson focused on “Passion First.” They learned how to access their one-page summary and full aptitude report, completed a reflection sheet, and discussed how their strengths can guide future academic, college, and career planning. Reflection sheets were sent home.

Families can view results by logging into their student’s YouScience account. Select Aptitude & Career Discovery → Discover Aptitudes → Download Results to access the one-page summary and other reports. Additional tools—career matches, college and major exploration, and conversation prompts—are also available. We are excited to use these results to help guide future conversations about coursework, career exploration and post-secondary planning!

For more information, visit the YouScience parent page.

Please reach out to Mr. Tarantin if you have any questions or would like support reviewing your student’s results.

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.

The WHS Peer Leaders will be spreading kindness this Valentine’s Day by collecting items for the pediatric patients at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune, New Jersey. The following NEW items can be dropped off to Ms. Lucas by 2/10: Play-dough, bubbles, coloring books, UNO cards, markers or colored pencils, fidget toys, and stress balls.

Adriana McLaughlin, Kylie Garabadian, Maggie Houston, Kate Tiedemann, Eden Bonny, Emily Richards, Taylor Knight, Heath Reinhardt, Molly Thorn, Sailor Leslie, Claire Campanelli, Amelia Auch, Max Katsouris, Ana Gallinari, Avery McKee, Devyn Lecorchick, Ladai Velazquez, Sawyer Ochel, Maeve Donovan, Delany Mitchell, Charlotte Switze,r Mason Thorn and John Dean

Wall High School Peer Leaders truly demonstrated the Live to Give mindset through their recent community service efforts. By collecting over 275 bars of soap to support S.A.C.K. (Supporting A Community with Kindness), they helped address a real need for basic hygiene supplies among people experiencing hardship. S.A.C.K. is a grassroots nonprofit that inspires volunteers to donate bars of soap—often paired with handmade soap sacks—to homeless shelters, food pantries, veteran clinics, relief efforts, and social service agencies, helping ensure that essential toiletries reach those who might otherwise go without them. Their dedication reflects generosity, compassion, and a commitment to serving others, making a meaningful impact in the community while embodying what it means to live with kindness and purpose.

Susan Twidle of MCREA, Joseph Trainor, Claire Campanelli, Maggie Housten, Lily Rafferty, Lois Lyons of MCREA, Michael D'Alessio and Stacy Wiener, Founder of SACK

This committee educates and activates youth to be agents of change for respect and inclusion. As part of the broader Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools strategy, the committee brings together young leaders from across the state, with and without intellectual disabilities, to work collaboratively. Members organize inclusive events, promote acceptance, share meaningful stories, and develop leadership skills, all with the goal of fostering a more inclusive school culture and community.

During this particular meeting, the committee’s agenda included discussions on the Coca-Cola–FIFA Future Career Academy, planning and promotion of Inclusion Spirit Week activities, Youth Summit initiatives, and preparations for the SONJ Summer Games.

The WHS Dance Club went on a field trip to New York City on December 19th. Our first stop was Steps on Broadway, where we took a private, professional-level Jazz class with John Leggio. We learned a combination and got feedback on what choreographers look for in auditions and how to make the best impression. Our next stop was the Museum of the City of New York for the exhibit Urban Stomp: Dreams and Defiance on the Dance Floor. We learned about how social dance in NYC has changed over time, from the waltz to swing to hip hop and vogue, due to cultural influences and changes in societal norms. We saw costumes and learned dance moves from each era, then got to practice on the dance floor!

In an effort to spread out school spirit throughout the year, the Wall High School Student Council is sponsoring a Battle of the Classes. Students can earn points for their class at the Pep Rally, Volleyball Night, Hall Decorating, and by attending various school events each marking period. For more details or to stay up to date with Battle of the Classes events, check out @WallStuCo on Instagram.

Join us in celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with events and activities all year. This section will share district celebrations, announcements, and ways our school community can honor this historic milestone.

It's time to start planning for the 2026-2027 school year! Please take note of the upcoming registration dates for our youngest students:

• Kindergarten Registration: Monday, February 2, 2026
• Preschool Registration: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Children are registered in their neighborhood schools in the order that completed registrations are received. Please be advised in the event that grade-level capacity is reached, incoming students may be assigned to another WTPS elementary school.

Registration Questions?

Do you have questions or need assistance with the registration process? Please follow this link to the district website or contact Kerrin McGowan, our District Registrar, with all your questions and inquiries.

• Email: kmcgowan@wallpublicschools.org
• Phone: 732-556-2658

If your family is experiencing economic challenges or homelessness, visit the McKinney Vento webpage for essential information and guidance on available resources.

District Homeless Education Liaison

Tiffany Steiner
tsteiner@wallpublicschools.org
732.556.2647

Wednesday February 11, 2026 at 6:00pm in the Wall HS Auditorium

STUDENTS, PARENTS, BOOSTER CLUBS, COMMUNITY: Please join us to find out

everything you need to know about Wall Crimson Knights Athletics for WHS.

• NEW Turf Stadiums
• UPDATE on Athletic Facilities and impact upon Spring 2026 Athletic Season
• Meet our Coaches
• Sports Available
• Athletic Seasons
• Requirements
• Registration Process
• Athletics Philosophy
• Parent Booster Club Information
• Policies and Procedures ….plus much more!
  
  

Please be sure to visit the Wall Athletic Website for more information.

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