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Board reviews proposed new courses and hears student achievements; changes to drop notation and outreach planned
Summary
The education committee outlined additions to the 2025–26 program of studies including four new courses and noted plans for an eighth-grade parents night; student representatives reported regional competition results and arts/sports highlights.
The Watchung Hills Regional High School District’s education committee reported proposed revisions to the 2025–26 program of studies and presented a range of student accomplishments during the board meeting.
The proposed program changes include four new course offerings: Foundations of Creative Design, Biomedical Science A, Neuroscience Honors and Criminal Justice. A public speaking course was discussed but postponed for further review, and a change to the course-drop notation from “WF/WP” to “W” (withdrawal) after the deadline was noted for future policy discussion.
Mr. Sabino (curriculum supervisor, referenced in the education committee report) reviewed the proposed revisions and the district’s plan to offer Foundations of Creative Design in a new design lab that will house a broader design sequence. The district is targeting ninth- and 10th-grade students for the foundational courses and plans to phase in higher-level courses over subsequent years.
The committee also confirmed an eighth-grade parent night for Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center for sending-district parents to learn about the ninth-grade experience; students will return in April for club and sports information. Eighth-grade articulation meetings between sending-district science teachers and Watchung Hills staff were reported as having gone well.
Student representatives Sophie Lam and Julianna Santos reported extracurricular achievements: Watchung Hills had success at the FBLA regional competition with 14 students placing in the top nine positions; the math team was ranked second in the county and 11th in the state as of Jan. 2, 2025; and several instrumental and choral students earned placements in the Central Jersey Music Educators Association Region 2 honors ensembles. Notable individual accomplishments included a sophomore who danced four roles in the New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Mayo Performing Arts Center and top finishes by instrumentalists Aaron Lennox and Christopher Sperry in region auditions.
The operations committee and board acknowledged the new design lab and robotics students moving into the space; administrators said architects will complete punch lists for recent maintenance projects and that new chillers are installed but not yet hooked up. The board also noted two addendum agenda items related to long-range facilities and HVAC upgrades in the administration area that were on the meeting agenda.
No final curriculum adoptions or policy changes were approved at the meeting; the education committee’s revisions were presented for review and will return for future action.
