Garfield students honored; Music Makers, powerlifting, mock trial and student government spotlighted

The Garfield Board of Education on Feb. 24 heard student presentations and recognized several student groups and programs, including a student-government progress report, the Garfield High School student of the month, the schools powerlifting team, the mock-trial club and a partnership with Music Makers International.

The student-government liaisons summarized recent events, including a Feb. 10-14 spirit week, career night on Feb. 12 and upcoming drama and fundraising activities. The board heard that more than 70 students registered for the career night and that alumni volunteers and community partners supported the event.

Garfield High School named Emily Topale its February student of the month. The board noted Topales unweighted GPA above 3.9, membership in the math honor society and early-college enrollment at Bergen Community College, where she is on track to earn an associate's degree. Topale also was cited for athletics: four seasons on varsity volleyball, two-time GHS MVP and more than 500 career kills; she said she plans to play at Ramapo College and major in finance. Topale addressed the board to thank teachers and coaches.

Coach Chris DeGeorge, the districts strength and conditioning coach, described the high school powerlifting program and its results. He said the program was the first public high-school powerlifting team in the state and that team members have earned medals at state meets and qualified for national competition, with two athletes advancing to nationals in Wisconsin and one student qualified for a world high school competition.

Leslie Mobiglio, head coach of the mock-trial team, told the board the team placed among the top 16 in Bergen County in the 2025 Vincent J. Apruzis High School Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the New Jersey Bar Association. Students described the realism of the competition, which uses retired or practicing attorneys as judges and follows courtroom procedures.

The board also heard a demonstration and recorded video from Music Makers International, a visiting music-education provider that worked with district elementary pupils from September through December to teach songwriting, recording and composition in a mobile studio. Malcolm Pope (Music Makers) and Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Taj Jackson described the program's goals of building creative skills and social-emotional learning and invited the district to expand the partnership.

Board members and staff praised students and volunteer coaches for their commitment and encouraged continued community support for programs that provide alternatives to classroom instruction and build extracurricular pathways.

Sources: student-government presentation, remarks by Emily Topale, coach Chris DeGeorge, Leslie Mobiglio and Music Makers representatives delivered at the Feb. 24 Garfield Board of Education meeting.