Student board representative, principals outline student engagement, new mascot and fall achievements

The West Essex Regional School District meeting included reports from the student representative and school leaders highlighting student engagement initiatives, recent fund-raising, athletic successes and a student-selected mascot.

Emily, introduced as the student board representative, told the board she and other student leaders will run "lunch chats" at the high school to hear directly from students about concerns including school start times, lockdown procedures and transitions from eighth to ninth grade. She said the student government is coordinating with administrators and that the second No Place for Hate lesson for the year will run in social studies classes between Nov. 20 and Nov. 27.

A middle-school representative outlined October activities that included a Halloween walkathon that raised $1,300 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and a "Cookie with a Cop" event that brought officers from the four sending police departments (Essex Fells, Fairfield, North Caldwell and Roseland) into school programs. The presenter also reported athletic highlights: the middle-school field hockey team won its twelfth straight championship, finishing the tournament final 3–2, and the team posted a 13–0 season record with a cumulative scoring margin reported in the meeting.

Dr. Roosevelt recognized five seniors who received ShopRite Stars for the first marking period and praised the world languages department for growth in seal-of-biliteracy earners. Dr. Roosevelt said the student vote produced a new mascot name, "Victory Night," selected from three options developed by the culture and climate committee.

The reports were delivered as part of routine principal updates; board members thanked staff and volunteers. The transcript does not specify the meeting date.