Starting your last year of high school can be an intimidating experience. Here three Chatham High School graduates from the class of 2011 offer advice to this year's seniors: From Brendon Kaufman: Don’t rush your college decision just because others are already in and you want it over with. You do have some slack room…just don’t find yourself with multiple C's Go down the shore for Prom weekend Make the most of your sports season if you play a sport, it may be your last Take a class with "Ferg" (Terrence Ferguson, an English teacher at Chatham High School.) Make your prank a good one…just don…

The Board of Education of the School District of the Chathams recently approved a new anti-bullying policy based on New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which Gov. Chris Christie signed into law in January. The law is seen as the toughest in the country and requires extensive reporting to administration and the Board of Education. Assistant Superintendent Michael LaSusa spoke at Chatham schools and to the PTOs earlier this year about the new policy. "We don't see the [new policy] as deviating too far from what we've done in the past," he told Chatham Patch. "The new law and our …

The School District of the Chathams has planned an observance for students and faculty for  developed a plan over the summer to observe the tenth anniversary of 9/11, which will go into effect Friday. According to Assistant Superintendent Michael LaSusa, each school will observe the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 with a moment of silence, along with an address from the principal, on Friday. The observance plans come weeks after the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) released guidelines in July for how to teach 9/11 to different grade levels. The 264-page book of …

After spending more than half of the past week without power or communication capabilities due to Hurricane Irene, faculty and staff at Washington Avenue School worked hard to prepare the campus for the start of school. Mary Quigley, the principal of Washington Avenue, said power returned to Washington Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The teacher initiation Thursday morning took place in the library at Chatham High School. With only one full day to prepare, Quigley said the school is in good shape for students to arrive on Tuesday. Some roofing improvements at Washington Avenue are still …

When Milton Avenue School opens its doors for the new school year Tuesday, they will welcome more than the 380 students currently enrolled. Principal Marion McCarthy said, “We have several new teachers. We have a new counselor. We’re sharing the counselor with Washington [Avenue] School. We have a new media specialist. We have a new kindergarten teacher. And we have a new custodian.” Jill Mills will act as the new media specialist in the library. Jaclyn Brief will teach kindergarten in the mornings and basic skills in the afternoons. Martina McElroy will teach special education, and Lindsay …

Parents and students at Southern Boulevard School will find familiar faces and a familiar academic program waiting when school starts Tuesday. “[Last year] we placed tremendous emphasis on the teaching of writing,” said Ralph Pesapane, principal of Southern Boulevard. “And we saw kids write up a storm last year. We were so impressed with what they wrote. At the end of the year they have portfolio days where they share all their writing from the beginning of the year to the end of the year with their parents. … So we will rededicate ourselves to emphasizing writing again,” he said. Social …

Before fourth and fifth graders (and their parents) head off to the Lafayette Avenue School, here are some important things to keep in mind. Students stayed busy with summer reading over the past few weeks. A list of suggested books and assignments is available on the school's website. While much will remain the same at the school, whose motto is “Create a caring community of lifelong learners,” there will also be some changes. Principal Cheryl Caggiano said two new teachers will join the staff this fall. Justin Perinotti will instruct fourth grade math and science and Christine Nigro will …

Chatham Middle School has changed more than its dress code. Three new classrooms are currently being added to the school to help accommodate its growing population. The administration found that rooms formerly used to teach shop classes at the middle school could be converted into classrooms, which “gives us room for growth over the next couple of years,” according to Board of Education member Al Burgunder. Robert Accardi, the principal at Chatham High School, said that the new classrooms should be "ready to go" when school starts again Sept. 6. Other upgrades to the school include a newly …

When Chatham Middle School students step onto campus on Sept. 6, things will look a little different. Principal Robert Accardi said that after numerous concerns reported from parents and teachers in the last academic year, the school decided to revise its dress code. "We haven't had a revision in a good many years," Accardi said, "[but] last year we noticed a real change in some of the clothing that had become popular with the kids." The new fashions for the tween and young teens who attend the school "were very revealing," Accardi said. "Very short dresses, very short shorts, and tops that …

Chatham High School administrators are busy putting the finishing touches on classrooms and facilities in anticipation of welcoming back teachers Thursday and students on Tuesday. "I think the conversion of some of the space for classrooms in the building is going to look different," Principal Darren Groh said. "We have more instructional space than we've had in the past." Three rooms inside the school were converted into classrooms, including the science department office on the ground level, a computer lab and the athletic office, which is now located across from the trainer's office near …