Bridgewater-Raritan High School

Infobox School
name = Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School


motto = Pursuing Excellence in Education
established = 1950s; reopened 1995
type = Public high school
grades = 9 - 12
principal = James Riccobono
asst principal = James Argondizzo (9th)
Dr. Mark Morrell (10th)
Roy Dragon (11th)
Joseph Sicola (12th)
address = 600 Garretson Road
city = Bridgewater Township
state = NJ
zipcode = 08807
country = United States
enrollment = 2,825 (as of 2007-08)
faculty = 258
ratio = 10.9
athletics = tennis, football, baseball, boys lacrosse, girls basketball, etc.
colors = black and silver, red as accent
conference = Skyland Conference
teamname = Panthers
information = 908-231-8660
website = [http://www.brrsd.k12.nj.us/HighSchool.cfm?subpage=19 School website]

Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School (commonly BRHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school. It is the single high school of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District serving students from Bridgewater Township and Raritan in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. Because of its wide breadth of service, it is one of the larger schools in the state. The school has been recognized by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest award an American school can receive. [ [http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17475750&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6 CIBA cited as one of the best by Education Department] , "Journal Inquirer", November 16, 2006. "The Blue Ribbon award is given only to schools that reach the top 10 percent of their state's testing scores over several years or show significant gains in student achievement. It is considered the highest honor a school can achieve."] [Viers Mill School Wins Blue Ribbon; School Scored High on Statewide Test; "The Washington Post". September 29, 2005 "For their accomplishments, all three schools this month earned the status of Blue Ribbon School, the highest honor the U.S. Education Department can bestow upon a school."]

As of the 2007-08 school year, the school had an enrollment of 2,825 students and 258 classroom teachers, for a student-teacher ratio of 10.9. [http://www.brrsd.k12.nj.us/HighSchool.cfm?subpage=269 Principal's Message] , Accessed July 17, 2008.]

History and symbols

Until the 1950s, high school students from the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District attended Somerville High School. In the late 1950s, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was constructed. Increasing enrollments in the early 1960s led to the construction of a second high school, which was named Bridgewater-Raritan High School East (The Minutemen), while the original high school was renamed Bridgewater-Raritan High School West (The Falcons). The schools operated separately until the early 1990s, when a downward cycle in enrollments led to their consolidation into a single high school. High School West was expanded and updated over a period of several years, during which all of the district's high school students attended what had been High School East. In 1995, the former High School West reopened as the new consolidated Bridgewater-Raritan High School, and High School East became the district's Middle School.

The mascot of BRHS is the panther. BRHS's school colors are black and silver, with red serving as an accent color. Recently there has been much debate over this matter among the student body and sports fans. The red in uniforms of the past has been mostly replaced by black, white and silver. The football, baseball, boys lacrosse, girls basketball, and various other teams have eliminated red from their uniforms. A minority of teams, including boys basketball and boys cross country, have continued use of red as an accent color. The basketball team is usually one of the top teams in the county and is always competitive in the state.

The high school's football field is named "Basilone Field", named for John Basilone, a World War II recipient of the Medal of Honor who grew up in Raritan. On the wall of the field house next to the field is a mural honoring Basilone. [ [http://www.nj.com/news/reporter/index.ssf?/news/reporter/stories/veterans/marinehonor.html Marines join together to honor one of their own] , "The Reporter", September 6, 2004.]

The high school offers classes ranging from AP European history to Introduction to Culinary Arts.

Awards and recognition

During the 1999-2000 school year, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was recognized with the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education. [ [http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF)] , accessed May 11, 2006.]

For the 1997-1998 school year, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/education/ss/ss3.pl?string=id=053&maxhits=10000 BRHS' entry in the Star School winners' database] , accessed May 23, 2006.]

BRHS is one of only three high schools in the state of New Jersey to have received both awards. [ [http://www.brrsd.k12.nj.us/brhs/about.htm About Bridgewater-Raritan High School] , accessed May 23, 2006.]

In "Newsweek's" May 22, 2007 issue, ranking the country's top high schools, Bridgewater-Raritan High School was listed in 983rd place, the 29th-highest ranked school in New Jersey. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=State&count=1257&search=&start=700&limit=100&year=2007& "The Top of the Class: The complete list of the 1,200 top U.S. schools"] , "Newsweek", May 22, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2007.]

The school was the 91st-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 316 schools statewide, in "New Jersey Monthly" magazine's September 2008 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools". The school was also ranked 83rd in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. [http://njmonthly.com/articles/towns_and_schools/highschoolrankings/top-new-jersey-high-schools-by-rank.html "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank"] , "New Jersey Monthly", September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.] In previous years, the school had been ranked in the 20's in the same ranking. Following publication of the 2006 "New Jersey Monthly" article, the school's principal issued a public statement explaining changes in the magazine's ranking methods that altered the school's standing, and generally criticizing the ranking methodology. [ [http://www.bridgewaternj.com/boardofeducation.html Memo from James C. Riccobono, Principal] , accessed October 26, 2006.]

Music

Bridgewater-Raritan HS is host to one of the nation's most prestigious high school music programs. The award winning orchestras travel the region attending various festivals and events. The 2007-2008 Symphony Orchestra as well as Wind Ensemble were both invited to play at Carnegie Hall in March 2008. The school's wind ensemble has performed in the State Gala concert numerous times within the past decade. With multiple performances in the featured evening portion. The high school's three jazz bands have become increasingly successful lately. With back to back state championships in 2006 and 2007. The school's second jazz band was seeded number two in the state's jazz circuit in 2006. Among the indoor programs offered at BRHS is the school's nationally recognized marching band. The band has become the premier marching band in USSBA New Jersey State Champion Overall title in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007. The marching band is a member of a group of six nationally recognized hubs for the organization Music for All a Bands of America affiliate. The band has become a premier competitor in the Bands of America circuit, which is the nation's top marching band circuit. In 2006 the band was named 2006 Bands of America Mid-West Regional Champions for class AAA. This was the first time any New Jersey band had ever accomplished this. The band has also been a finalist at the 2007 BOA Hofstra University Regional (5th), as well as the 2007 Towson, Maryland Regional (7th). They are widely considered one of the best marching bands in the North East. The band is well known for its ability to go out and compete with Mid-West power house bands and dominant music programs from all over the country despite their small size by BOA standards, around 110-140 people.

Extracurricular Clubs

The high school currently has many ongoing clubs and activities, including a Model United Nationa club and a Forensics Speech and Debate Team. In the past, they have had students qualify for the National Championship, as well as many students win the State Championships and one national champion. BRHS also is the home of Team 303 in the FIRST Robotics Competition.

The school's honor societies include the National Honors Society and various language Honors Societies.

In the past decade, the high school has expanded its Peer Mediation program, training approximately 100 new mediators a year and student conflicts have followed a consistent downward trend since the program's inception.

The High School prides itself on a competitive mock trial team which on a consistent basis makes it to the county playoffs in the annual tournament and achieved the Somerset County Title in 2005.

Athletics

Bridgewater-Raritan High School competes in the Skyland Conference, made up of public and parochial high schools covering Hunterdon County, Somerset County and Warren County in west Central Jersey. The league operates under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA).

The school was recognized as the Group IV winner of the NJSIAA ShopRite Cup in 2005-06. The award recognized the school for achieving a tie for 3rd in Girls Soccer, 1st in Boys Soccer, a tie for 3rd in Girls Volleyball, 2nd in Field Hockey, 1st in Boys Swimming, a tie for 3rd in Boys Lacrosse, 1st in Boys Tennis and 1st in Boys Volleyball. [ [http://www.njsiaa.org/AWARDS/06ThirdShopRiteCup.pdf Third Annual ShopRite Cup: 2005‐2006 Final Standings] , NJSIAA. Accessed June 2, 2008.]

The boys soccer team won the 2005 Group IV State Championship over Shawnee High School completing the best record the soccer team has ever seen with 23 wins and one loss. The team finished with a ranking of second in the state and a national ranking of 24th in the country.Fact|date=June 2008

In 2006, the boys soccer team repeated as Group IV North II Sectional Champions, defeating Elizabeth High School 3-0.Fact|date=June 2008

The boys volleyball won the 2005 State Championship over Clifton High School, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=107574&tclass=Boys%20State%20Volleyball 2005 Boys Volleyball Tournament] , NJSIAA. Accessed June 1, 2007.]

The boys tennis team won the 2005 North II, Group IV state sectional championship with a 4-1 win against Westfield High School. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=106049&tclass=North%20II%2C%20Group%20IV 2005 Boys Team Tennis - North II, Group IV] , NJSIAA. Accessed June 4, 2007.] The tennis team won the 2006 Group IV State Championship, defeating Cherry Hill High School East 3-2 in the semifinals and West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South 3-2 in the finals to take the title. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=159688&tclass=Public%20Group%20Finals 2006 Boys Team Tennis - Public Group Finals] , NJSIAA. Accessed May 30, 2007.] The Boys Swimming team won the 2005 Public A State Championship over Cherry Hill High School (West). Just edging out West with a score of 88-82.

The 2007 girls tennis team won the North II, Group IV state sectional championship with a 5-0 win over J. P. Stevens High School in the tournament final. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=242871&tclass=North%20II%2C%20Group%20IV 2007 Girls Team Tennis - North II, Group III] , NJSIAA. Accessed October 25, 2007.] The team moved on to win the Group IV State Championship with a 3-2 win over Montgomery High School in the semifinals and Bergen County Technical High School in the finals by a 4-1 score. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=242871&tclass=Public%20Group%20Semis%2FFinals 2007 Girls Team Tennis - Public Group Semis/Finals] , NJSIAA. Accessed October 25, 2007.]

The Boys Wrestling team became 3 time District Champs from 2003 to 2006

In 2007, the field hockey team won the North I, Group IV state sectional championship with a 2-0 win over Montclair High School in the tournament final. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=243004&tclass=North%20I%2C%20Group%20IV 2007 Field Hockey - North I, Group IV] , NJSIAA. Accessed November 12, 2007.]

The girls soccer team won the North II, Group IV state sectional championship in 2007 with a 2-1 win over Ridge High School in the tournament final. [ [http://www.bracketmaker.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=246050&tclass=North%20II%2C%20Group%20IV 2007 Girls Soccer - North II, Group IV] , NJSIAA. Accessed November 15, 2007.]

In 2003, the girls soccer team won the North II, Group IV state sectional championship with a win over Roxbury High School and were Group IV state finalist.

The Panthers football team has a combined 11-40 record in the 2004, 05, 06 and 07 seasons.Fact|date=March 2008

Administration

Core members of the school's administration include: [ [http://www.brrsd.k12.nj.us/brhs/admin.htm Administrators at Bridgewater-Raritan High School] , accessed February 6, 2007.]
*Dr. James Riccobono - Principal
*Joseph Sicola - Assistant Principal, 9th Grade
*James Argondizzo - Assistant Principal, 10th Grade
*Dr. Mark Morrell - Assistant Principal, 11th Grade
*Roy Dragon - Assistant Principal, 12th Grade

Notable alumni

*Eric Murdock (born 1968), former professional basketball player. [ [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/murdoer01.html Eric Murdock] , Basketball-Reference.com. Accessed January 1, 2008.]
*Tom Wilson (born 1967), chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee since 2004. [Goodnough, Abby. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0DE3D91F3BF93BA1575AC0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all "IN PERSON; So What Will He Do After November?"] , "The New York Times", September 28, 1997. Accessed April 24, 2008. "That early foray into politics did not hook Mr. Wilson, who said he never even considered participating in student government at Bridgewater-Raritan High School East, playing on the golf team instead."]
*Peter Ventantonio (born 1970), lead singer of cabaret-punk band The World/Inferno Friendship Society under the stage name Jack Terricloth.Fact|date=July 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.brrsd.k12.nj.us/HighSchool.cfm?subpage=19 BRHS website]
*NJReportCard|35|0555|005|Bridgewater-Raritan High School
* [http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3402280 Data for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District] , National Center for Education Statistics
* [http://www.nj.com/education/ledger/widetable.ssf?/education/ledger/stories/2005/somersethigh.html NJ.com NJ Somerset Schools Report Card 2004-2005]