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Pequannock students present Blue and Gold platforms proposing AP Capstone, 'Shadow Week' and junior study hall
Summary
Student leaders from the Blue and Gold parties presented proposals including an AP Capstone expansion, a 'Panther for a Day'/shadow week to ease eighth‑to‑ninth grade transition, a post‑secondary prep/communications course with AI literacy and an optional junior study hall; board members praised the presentations and noted overlap with planned curriculum changes.
Student leaders at Pequannock Township High School on Dec. 15 presented substantive platforms as part of their annual Blue and Gold convention, laying out proposals that school staff said overlap with planned curriculum updates.
Blue Party president Matt Mastretti proposed a "Panther for a Day" initiative to expand an existing marching‑band transition model to other sports, clubs and activities to help eighth graders acclimate to high school. "This is something that currently goes on with the marching band ... and so this could be something very beneficial for not just the marching band," Mastretti said.
Blue campaign manager Dora Chen proposed a combined post‑secondary prep and communications course that would use the first half of the year for SAT/ACT preparation and the second half for communications skills including AI literacy. "Because we know that right now, it's unavoidable that there's technology everywhere," Chen said, describing hands‑on TA and internship opportunities.
Another Blue organizer, Aubrey Lentz, urged integrating AP Capstone into the PTHS curriculum so students could start AP Seminar as sophomores and access AP Research in later years. "We propose that the current English 9 honors students opt to take AP Seminar," Lentz said, explaining how AP Capstone can strengthen college preparation.
Gold Party presidential nominee John O'Connor described a "Shadow Week" that would bus eighth graders for in‑year tours of the high school led by AP students, while Gold campaign managers Eva Rodriguez and Gabby Martie proposed an optional junior study hall for qualifying juniors and a districtwide local art show to connect students with businesses.
Board members and Dr. Portis praised the presentations for their preparation and substance and noted the district’s curriculum committee is already considering AP Seminar and AP Research, financial literacy, Microsoft Office offerings and unified physical‑education options.
The student candidates will debate on Friday and the administration said it will try to enact at least one student‑driven policy from the platform work in future planning.
