West Orange High Serves Up Loss to Golda Och

The West Orange High School boys team won four of the five matches.

West Orange High School served up Golda Och Academy's fifth loss Monday, winning four out the five matches.  West Orange High won in each singles match, according to nj.com. Gabriel Chalom beat Jeremy Freemman, two sets to one; Tyler Christian beat Jonah Buckley, two sets to none and Renee Chalom beat Noah Hessdorf, two sets to none.  In the first doubles match, West Orange high's players, Mayer Chalom and Justin Hayes, won over Golda Och players Matt Blum and Jordan Broder, two sets to none. Golda Och took the second match, winning two of the three sets.

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NJ Commissioner of Banking Visits West Orange High

Kenneth Kobylowski, Commissioner of Banking and Insurance for the State of New Jersey appeared at West Orange High School last week for an assembly on financial literacy to recognize New Jersey’s Financial Literacy Month

How Does West Orange High Compare to State's Top High Schools?

U.S. News and World Report releases 2013 "Best High Schools" report.

U.S. News & World Report released its annual list of the nation’s best high schools last week, but the West Orange High School didn't seem to make the cut. On average 87 percent of West Orange High student were proficient in language and 71 percent in math. Those percentages were based on student performance on state exit exams and internationally available exams on college-level course work, according to the publication.  The list, which includes the top 50 performing schools in New Jersey, measures a variety of criteria including, the proficiency levels on High School Proficiency Exams (HSPA). On the HSPA in language the school tested: On the HSPA in math the school tested: Also on the report, the West Orange High School was given a 39.9…

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District: Despite Threat, High School Safe and Secure

West Orange High School said no indication April 24 threat on bathroom wall is credible, but officials taking it seriously — school to go on with increased police presence Tuesday.

The West Orange School District announced Monday the recent graffiti found in a West Orange High School lavatory warning of a bomb threat has been taken seriously but it believes the threat is a prank and school will go on as planned Tuesday. "We believe this is a prank bomb threat which does not directly indicate the high school is the target," Interim Superintendent Jim O'Neill said. "Nevertheless, we take this and any threat of this kind very seriously." The graffiti was found on a bathroom wall of West Orange High School on April 24 and warned of a bomb threat by the end of the month, police said.  At that time, the district said threat was an "adolescent prank." The administration reassured parents the high school is safe and secure …

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Vicki Russo

7:10 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

I spoke with the principle after school was dismissed and today occurred without incident. The threat never stated there would be a bomb at the school only that there is a bomb. Also the writings on the wall had been wiped down looking as if the words were trying to be erased. Maybe the perpetrator tried to erase after writing this stupid remark on the wall. Well whatever happened was a wakeup of…   more ›

Report: West Orange HS 'Lags in Comparison' in Two Categories Statewide

Interim Superintendent James O'Neill denounces report card results, metrics which the reports are based.

In recent state school performance reports issued by the Christie administration, West Orange High School ranked above average among peers but "lags in comparison" on two performance categories compared to other schools statewide.  "I join the growing number of superintendents across the state to denounce both the results of this new ‘Report Card’ and the process and metric on which it is based," the West Orange's Interim Superintendent of Schools James O'Neill said. The reports ranks the school on three different categories: academic achievement on Language Arts Literacy and Math sections of the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment, HSPA, college and career readiness which measures SAT, PSAT and participation in AP courses and …

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Jacobs Replaced as West Orange Football Coach

Despite supporters objections, West Orange Board of Education hires Jim Matsakis as new high school coach.

Over the objections of almost 200 supporters in attendance Tuesday night, the West Orange Board of Education approved the hiring of a new high school football coach to replace longtime coach John Jacob. In a 4-1 vote, with board member Ronald Charles dissenting, the board approved the hiring of new head coach Jim Matsakis despite pleas from community members, students and former players for the board to let Jacob retain his job after 10 seasons. More than a dozen residents offered testimony how the school community sees Jacob as more than a teacher or a coach. The parents and students also demanded transparency from the board why Jacob was removed. The residents cheered Jacob when he appeared at the meeting and several times throughout …

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O'Neill Addresses Misinformation in Teacher Hiring Process

Following the arrest of a second teacher in the last year for alleged sexual assault, interim Superintendent James O'Neill outlines district policy, procedures.

Interim Superintendent James O'Neill addressed misinformation in the district's hiring process of teachers at Monday night's West Orange's Board of Education meeting, the Alternative Press reported. According to the report, O'Neill explained the procedures for background checks during a teacher's hiring process. Principals review Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying every year and provide at least one sexual harassment workshop every five years.  He also said school principals advise staff to not be alone with students. The superintendent's address comes less than a week after a second West Orange teacher, Christopher Yonitch of Livingston, was arrested for alleged sex assault of a student in the last year. Yonitch is currently on paid …

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HS Steam Pipe Bursts, Students Out in Cold

Fire alarm at West Orange High School leaves students and staff in the cold for more than 20 minutes in Wednesday's 18-degree weather.

West Orange High School students and staff were forced to evacuate the building and stand out in the cold 18-degree weather Wednesday afternoon for more than 20 minutes after a steam pipe burst in the boiler room, West Orange fire officials said.  According to the fire department, a steam pipe broke in boiler room at about 2:10 and filled the room with steam. The steam spilled out into the hallway and set the school's fire alarms off at 2:13 p.m. Students and staff were then forced to exit the building, located at 51 Conforti Ave., without coats, officials said.  Fire Deputy Chief Paul Wannemacher said the crew worked as quickly as possible to get the students and staff back in the school possible because of weather conditions. A reverse …

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Attempted Luring Reported on Valley Road

Police are looking for a man, in his late 40s to early 50s, driving a convertible, after he offered students a ride in his car.

The West Orange Police Department is investigating an attempted luring, which happened Thursday morning at around 8 a.m. Police responded to the corner of Valley Road and Pillot Place where multiple teenage girls, waiting for the bus to West Orange High School, were approached by a man, according to a West Orange Police Department desk sergeant. A student told police the man, driving a silver convertible, stopped at the bus stop and asked the students to come into the car.  The man reportedly said, "I'm a comedian, two can fit in my car. Who wants to come?" The man is described as white, in his late 40s to early 50s with salt and pepper hair. He was seen wearing a black hat and a black leather jacket. When the girls turned down his offer, …

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Lost In Yonkers Coming to West Orange High School

The drama club will present the Neil Simon classic this week.

The West Orange High School Drama Club will present the Neil Simon classic Lost in Yonkers this week at the WOHS auditorium.  Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. on November 15, 16 and 17. Called the best play the award-winning comic playwright has ever written, Lost in Yonkers received numerous accolades including the 1991 Drama Desk Award for Best New Play and the 1991 Tony Award for Best Play.  The coming-of-age tale is about Bella, a 35-year old mentally challenged sweet, young woman living at home with her stern mother.  Comedy ensues when her n’er do well brother, Eddie, leaves his two young sons on the mother’s doorstep and the boys are left to contend with Grandma, a frightfully intimidating immigrant, Bella and her secret romance with …

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