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SCHOOL NEWS
EMERSON
Forum Dec. 7 on Cavos/Cresskill football
The Emerson Public School District is in talks with the Cresskill Public School District to explore partnering on a cooperative football program.
Thatʼs according to Emerson superintendent of schools Brian P. Gatens, writing the community on Nov. 29.
As part of this exploration, Gatens says, interested community members are invited to attend a community forum on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Emerson Junior-Senior High School cafeteria.
He says, “This will provide an opportunity for school community members to share their thoughts, ask questions, and offer input. No decision will be made that evening regarding the future of the football program. Instead, the input from that evening will inform our ongoing discussions with Cresskill.”
Gatens says “Both districts are focused on their respective football programs. While cheerleading and marching band will be discussed with Cresskill, both programs are viable and a cooperative agreement is not needed for future solvency.”
The Emerson Public School District is charging toward the 2023–2024 football season in need of a new cooperative sports program. With only 10 Cavaliers confirmed for next season, Emerson finds it canʼt field a team at any level.
Gatens previously said athletic director Gus Paleoudis has reached out to North Jersey Interscholastic Conference member districts “to see who may be interested in working with Emerson for football, marching band, and cheerleading. We will continue to update the school community along the way.”
Gatens said, “For the past several years, Emerson has struggled with declining football participation numbers and last school year explored the possibility of expanding our cooperative sports agreement with Park Ridge to include football, marching band, and cheerleading. When the proposal was presented to the member districts of the NJIC, it did not receive the necessary endorsement and was defeated by a vote of 19 to 13 with one abstention.”
For more, see “Cavos football seeks ʼ23-ʼ24 co-op,” Pascack Press, Nov. 21, 2022. — John Snyder
DEMAREST
AHADonates 65 Turkeys to Food Bank
Students and staff from the Academy of the Holy Angels actively respond to the School Sisters of Notre Dame call to serve others.
As Thanksgiving approached, the Academy collaborated to donate dozens of frozen turkeys to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside.
Among them: Amaris Hiatt of River Vale.
Campus Minister Maryanne Miloscia organizes this annual turkey drive. After all the birds were delivered to CFBNJʼs Keith Owens, she told Pascack Press on Nov. 22, “Sixty-five families who are facing food insecurity now have turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner.”
Owens is a familiar visitor to AHA, where he has been picking up turkeys for several years. He recently shared that picking up and delivering the turkeys are two of his favorite responsibilities.
Holy Angels has an ongoing relationship with CFBNJ. Students regularly attend the food bankʼs Teen Hunger Summit and assist CFBNJ with Global Youth Service Day.
Angels also volunteer to educate others about issues relating to food insecurity and how events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, impact hunger throughout the state.
Holy Angels students also participate in the CFBNJ Teen Leadership Council and the CFBNJ Teen Advisory Committee. The latter is a leadership group for the freshman and sophomore classes.
Founded by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1879, the Academy of the Holy Angels is the oldest private girlsʼschool in Bergen County. The school serves young women from many cultural and religious backgrounds.
Coming through for those in need: Lucia McClure of Wyckoff,Amaris Hiatt of River Vale,and Anna Daniello of Upper Saddle River brought their turkeys to Keith Owens from the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.
