Summit High School

Dear SHS Families,

This week the school and district will be recognizing Red Ribbon Week. At Summit High School, we will have an assembly program on Monday, October 26th and a Spirit Week to commemorate the week.

Please encourage your student to participate in the Spirit Week activities.

If your students is planning to dress up for Halloween, please be sure they are adhering to the guidelines listed below.

This newsletter contains information about upcoming happenings at SHS and important information for students and families. Please review it and share this information with your student.

It's a great day to be a Hilltopper!

Stacy Grimaldi

Principal

Students will attend an assembly on Monday, October 26th to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Erin Pompa will present to students about building resilience and taking care of themselves. Below is information about Erin Pompa.

Erin Pompa is a speaker and educator who helps students shift negative thoughts and take care of what's happening on the inside, not just what the world expects from them on the outside. In a culture that constantly pushes achievement, perfection, and comparison, Erin reminds students that their inner world matters just as much as their goals. Through real stories, practical tools, and honest conversations, she helps students build resilience, find happiness even when life gets hard, and learn how to care for themselves along the way. Her work helps young people trust who they are becoming, and move forward with confidence, courage, and purpose.

Erin is here to help students awaken their warrior and find their inner strength!

Many students dress up for Halloween at Summit High School. We will be hosting a Halloween Program during the lunch block on Friday, October 30th. As your students are planning their Halloween costumes, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Masks are not allowed to be worn during the school day. They can only be worn for the judging during lunch.
• No weapons can be included as part of a costume.
• Costumes must not reference drugs, alcohol, violence, or anything prohibited by our school code of conduct.

The Morris Avenue gate by the high school lower field will be open from 6am until 9am, and then from 2pm until 7pm to allow students to access the high school for arrival and dismissal. All other times the gate will be locked.

The Essex Regional Educational Services Commission (ERESC) Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program has an online resource for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness.

Families can find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more at https://eresccares.org.

Additional information can also be found at this district page, Families in Transition.

Cap and gown order forms and payment for 12th grade students are due on November 20th. Any senior using a sibling's cap and gown, still needs to submit an order and payment for a tassel.

All 12th grade students received an email from Mrs. Terrett with a link to a Google Form to indicate the name they would like on their diploma. This information must be submitted by October 30th.

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. Please reinforce this with your student. Away does not mean in a pocket...all devices must be away in a bag or locker.

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.

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

All students received a temporary ID on Tuesday, September 2nd.

Students are required to have their ID on them and visible at all times, including when they enter the building. Please help your student remember to bring their ID badge to school each day.

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%

Currently we are reviewing if there are classes in which exams are not needed. We will be compiling a list and will be sharing it with students and families by the end of October.

We have also enhanced the review process before exams. There will be two E days before exams to ensure in-class review time. Review materials with answer keys will be distributed to students earlier. In addition, time will be spent in class on how to study for large assessments.

If your student is interested in trying out for a winter sport at Summit High School, all forms need to be submitted to the Athletic Trainers by Monday, November 2nd. Click the button below to access sports information and forms.

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.

Monday, October 26, 2026

D Day

Erin Pompa Assemblies: 8:45am - 11th and 12th grade students; 9:45am - 9th and 10th grade students

Red Ribbon Spirit Week - Team Up Against Drugs - Wear Your Favorite Jersey

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

A Day

Red Ribbon Spirit Week - Put a Cap on Drugs - Wear Your Favorite Hat or Beanie

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

B Day

Red Ribbon Spirit Week - Wear Red

Wrestling Parents Meeting, 7pm, Library

Thursday, October 29, 2026

C Day

Red Ribbon Spirit Week - Dress From Your Favorite Decade

Board of Education, 7pm, Library

Share the Keys, 7:30pm, Virtual

Friday, October 30, 2026

D Day

Halloween Program, 11am, Auditorium

Red Ribbon Spirit Week - Wear Your Costume

• Tuesday, November 3rd - No School
• Thursday, November 5th - No School
• Friday, November 6th - No School
• Tuesday, November 10th - Last Day of 1st Marking Period
• Wednesday, November 25th - Single Session
• Thursday, November 26th - No School
• Friday, November 27th - No School