Principal's Welcome

August 2025

Dear Colleagues, Parents, Guardians, and Students,

 

The arrival of a new academic year never fails to surprise me, presenting with swiftness as summer draws to a close and September gains momentum. It feels like only yesterday when we gathered on Gifford Field in June, honoring the achievements of the graduates of 2025, in all their dignity. Yet here we are again, as our school doors swing open with characteristic energy and spirit, bringing together students, parents, teachers, and our entire community for a fresh beginning.

Time seems to move faster than we can catch it, and once more I find myself welcoming you to the 2025 - 2026 school year — a year brimming with possibility, eager anticipation, and renewed enthusiasm. As we stand together at the threshold of Morris Hills High School, our collaborative spirit continues to drive our shared dreams and ambitions. We are ready to craft a new story together, one focused on fresh achievements and rekindled aspirations. May this new academic year inspire us all to aim higher and discover deep fulfillment in the paths we'll travel together.

It has been my practice as your building principal to offer a school-wide theme each year that connects directly to our district’s summer reading experience, thereby underscoring the message and the relevance of the reading and extending that message to other school happenings. This year’s experience calls all students entering grades 9-12 to embark on their own literary journey by selecting one book that speaks to their interests, centered around the theme, “Books are the Voyages of Discovery: Choose Your Own Adventure.”

So, I once again identify a school-wide theme for 2025 - 2026 against the backdrop of the summer reading experience: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ~ DISCOVERY AWAITS. The theme captures the essence of what education truly represents — an endless series of choices that lead to personal growth, new understanding, and transformative experiences. Just as our summer reading program invites students to select books that resonate with their individual interests and curiosities, this theme encourages every member of our Morris Hills High School community to approach the academic year with intentionality and courage. Each day presents countless opportunities to step outside our comfort zones, explore unfamiliar territories, and make decisions that shape both immediate experiences and future possibilities. This theme reminds us that learning is not a passive process but an active adventure where students hold the power to determine their own paths toward discovery.

It is my hope this academic year that this theme will manifest in countless ways across all aspects of school life. In the classroom, students will be encouraged to take intellectual risks, pursue independent research projects, and engage in collaborative problem-solving that mirrors real-world challenges. On our athletic fields, teams will discover the power of perseverance, strategic thinking, and collective effort as they navigate competitions and build character through both victories and setbacks. Our stage will come alive with students choosing to express themselves through dramatic performances, discovering new facets of their creativity and confidence. Student activities will provide platforms for leadership development, community service, and personal passion projects, while our band and chorus members will embark on musical journeys that teach discipline, teamwork, and artistic expression. Each of these experiences represents an adventure chosen by our students — a conscious decision to grow, contribute, and discover what they are truly capable of achieving. As we embrace this theme throughout the 2025 - 2026 academic year, we create a culture where all members of the Morris Hills High School community understand that their journey is theirs to shape, and discovery awaits around every corner.

Among the most rewarding aspects of starting each school year is introducing new team members to our Morris Hills High School community every August. What begins with unfamiliar faces quickly transforms into meaningful professional relationships, as newcomers find themselves embraced by the support, encouragement, and camaraderie of our returning faculty. Our school's success stems from this foundation of professional teamwork and mutual cooperation—a recipe Morris Hills High School has perfected over the years. We're thrilled to announce that we'll be welcoming the following new staff members this August 2026:

Joe Carlson - Director of Building and Grounds
Joseph DeMott - Maintenance
Erick Gill - Teacher of Business
Danielle Matovski - Business Administrator / Board of Education Secretary 
Kayley Moran - Teacher of Science 
Lynda Oricchio - Teacher of Spanish - Leave Replacement
Samantha Pino - Teacher of Mathematics 
Victoria Rama - Teacher of Mathematics 
Justin Scrufari - Teacher of Social Studies 
Tiana Victor - School Counselor

School-community partnership forms the cornerstone of everything we do at Morris Hills High School — it's not just our practice, but our fundamental principle. I strongly encourage all parents and guardians to save these important dates and join us for our fall Back to School Night Program on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 (families with last names A through L) and Thursday, September 25, 2025 (families with last names M through Z). This is your opportunity to meet our newest team members, reconnect with familiar faces, and launch the 2025 - 2026 academic year alongside us. 

Nothing fills me with greater pride than when visitors step onto our campus and express amazement at our building's pristine condition — particularly impressive for a facility that first welcomed students in 1953. The Morris Hills Regional District prioritizes exceptional facilities management, guided by our belief that "your environment speaks volumes about your values." Thanks to our devoted maintenance and custodial teams, a forward-thinking Central Office, and a Board of Education that understands strategic resource management, our building continues to shine as we proudly welcome everyone through its doors. This summer's key improvements include the following:

Annual painting and cleaning 
New banners around the campus
New state of the art Media Center / Library 
New classroom spaces - 3 new classrooms 
New turf field, with lights, on Gifford Field 
New drop ceilings and ceiling tiles in several classrooms 
New security desk at the main entrance
New furniture and decals in the Faculty Room
New sound system for the Main Gym 

Morris Hills High School has indeed experienced a bustling summer as we prepare for another school opening. As these warm months draw to a close, I'm struck by time's relentless pace and our endless quest to somehow capture and savor it. Though this battle against time's swift passage may be unwinnable, we choose to embrace it rather than resist it, positioning ourselves at Morris Hills High School's threshold, ready to create new memories and achievements. We invite you all to join us in this collaborative journey.

May your remaining summer days bring joy to you and your loved ones. May they be filled with safety, peace, and meaningful experiences. As your Administrative Team and I look forward to your return — whether as parents, guardians, colleagues, or students — we hope you will bring that distinctive energy and optimism that define our community. Together, we will engage in what I consider the most meaningful work possible: uniting in partnership to teach, learn, mentor, develop, and flourish, always striving to make our world better for one another. My hope is that when we reach the end of the 2025 - 2026 academic year, each of us can reflect with satisfaction and say to ourselves and each other — I played my part in making this an exceptional year on "The Hill."
 

 In the Spirit of Partnership, 

 

 

Todd M. Toriello, Ed.D. 

Principal