WEST ESSEXHigh School

On Wednesday, May 7th, in the quarterfinal round of the Greater Newark Tournament, Coach Joe Cardinale earned his 200th career win with a dramatic 4–3 walk-off victory over Columbia in the bottom of the 7th inning.

The West Essex Arts Department hosted the second concert of its Spring Concert Series on Thursday, May 1st. The packed crowd warmly received the amazing performances of the Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, and Jazz Quintet! At the end of the concert, Ms. Elise McAloon, Director of Bands, honored this years seniors and honors ensemble members. Congrats to all!

This past March, the WE Care Club hosted their annual tree sapling sale, working with the organization Tree Plenish to sell Red Maple, Flowering Dogwood, and Eastern Redbud saplings to community members. The goal was to offset the school's paper usage for the year. The WE Care Club ended up selling 31 saplings, 15 of which were planted right here at West Essex this past week.

May 1st was Decision Day, and our amazing high school seniors celebrated in a big way, taking photos with friends, enjoying cupcakes and snow cones, and signing their senior banner. Congratulations to the Class of 2025 as you prepare to take the next step in your academic journey!

ICYMI: Our Give-Kids-The-World senior service group hosted their sixth annual WE Family Feud tournament last month. The event was hosted by Mr. Patrick “Steve Harvey” McGlynn, with twelve student teams competing for the grand prize: a gift card to Chipotle!

On April 15th, West Essex STEM students had a unique opportunity to step into the future of American infrastructure during a field trip to the construction site of the Portal North Bridge in Kearny, NJ.

On Thursday, April 24, Anthony Drago reached a major milestone, eclipsing 200 career goals in boys lacrosse, surpassing the previous school record of 200 career goals set by Michael McWilliams (Class of 2000)! Anthony didn’t stop there — he scored 4 goals that day to reach 203 total career goals and added 8 assists, giving him 12 total points in the game, which also broke the school’s single-game points record.

On Wednesday, April 9, the West Essex High School Jazz Band performed live at Crossroads in Garwood! Fans enjoyed an evening of fantastic music and great food while supporting these talented West Essex musicians! Check out some pictures from this amazing performance:

The West Essex Regional School District is happy to announce the appointment of Dan Fulton as the next Head Football Coach of the West Essex Football Knights. The decision was approved by the West Essex Board of Education at their public meeting on April 7th.

A big congratulations to two of our WEHS Lacrosse players who achieved impressive milestones this past week. First, Junior Girls Captain Alivia Lugo scored her 100th goal on April 2nd. Second, Teddy Skopak’s 22 save performance vs Summit on April 4 is the most from a West Essex goalie since 2016. Congratulations to them both - we are so proud!

Twenty WEHS students from the Investors Club attended the opening bell at the Nasdaq on April 1st as guests of Tradeweb Markets Inc. The father of West Essex alumni Sammy and Michael Friedman currently serves as General Counsel for Tradeweb. He graciously invited our club to attend the office and hear from a series of financial and business speakers.

Last Thursday, the National English Honor Society (NEHS) held their tenth annual Spring Showcase, an evening of poetry, music, spoken word, art, & more. The evening featured 28 students and staff members who brought down the house with their amazing talent! All of the proceeds from the event went to Reach Out and Read NJ, which is a part of the society's literary charity fundraising efforts.

Ella Mesopotanese (grade 11) and Alex Bejjani (grade 12) were selected as finalists among over 100 applicants in Pomptonian’s 6th Annual Healthy School Lunch Challenge. This initiative emphasizes the importance of nutrition and using the cafeteria as an extension of the classroom. We are incredibly proud that Alex was crowned the Super Grand Prize Winner for his Lebanese Beef and Tomato Zucchini Boats paired with Quinoa and Apple Salad, while Ella received a Grand Prize for her Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla with Tomato-Apple Salsa and Tomato-Mexican Rice, both dishes featuring local apples and tomatoes.

WEHS students celebrated Pi Day earlier this month in the most awesome way: throwing pies at their teachers!! On March 14th, the Give-Kids-The-World senior service group held a fundraiser where students who made a bid or purchased a raffle ticket had the chance to throw a pie (made out of whipped cream or shaving cream) at their teachers!

The Culture & Climate Committee helped spread over 2,500 positive messages this past month at WEHS with the “WE Compliment You” initiative! This new program, which began only last year, strives to send messages of kindness and positivity to students, faculty, substitute teachers, and staff anonymously.

On Thursday, March 13, senior Physical Education students were visited by the one and only Mr. Mike Giampapa! Mr. G is a West Essex alum and longtime teacher / coach at West Essex and Fairfield Public Schools. He is well known and beloved throughout the community for his dedication to teaching and fitness.

West Essex High School is happy to announce the recipients of the ShopRite Star award for Marking Period 3!

The West Essex Future Future Business Leaders of America, or FBLA, competed this month in the State Leadership Conference held at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. FBLA is a nationally recognized organization of high school and middle school students who strive to become business professionals in the future. The conference featured rigorous competitions in the areas of accounting, banking, broadcast journalism, economics, graphic design, and more.

The Masquers of West Essex are proud to announce that tickets are available for their production of The Wizard of Oz here at the West Essex High School Auditorium! Click below to read more and purchase your tickets now.

Congratulations to Alexander Bejjani, our West Essex High School Class of 2025 Valedictorian and Emily Dyme, our West Essex High School Class of 2025 Salutatorian!

Italian Club students were treated to an authentic Italian lunch on Tuesday, February 25th by Chefs Veronica and Giancarlo Palazzone of Palazzone 1960. The bakery and restaurant, located in Wayne, is well known for its outstanding pastries and delicious food.

WERSD is happy to invite parents and community members to our Knight of Knowledge event—a night dedicated to empowering families! This special evening will feature engaging information sessions designed to support and guide parents in raising confident, successful children.

West Essex High School kicked off an exciting new chapter in school spirit and inclusivity with the launch of its Unified Sports Recreation program. To celebrate the beginning of this initiative, the school hosted its first-ever event: a Tie-Dye T-Shirt Social on January 29th.

Sports Management students and members of the WEHS Hockey team had the opportunity to meet Columbus Blue Jackets Coach Aron Augustitus on Friday, February 14. Aron, a West Essex alumnus, spoke about his journey through High School and college, and how he worked his way up the ladder to become a coach on the Blue Jackets.

Mrs. Mondadori’s Accounting I and II Honors students had the opportunity to visit Premio Foods Production Facility on Wednesday, February 12th to learn more about supply chains, finances, and business operations. Thank you to Premio Foods and Marc Cinque for hosting these future business leaders!

Congratulations to Girls Basketball Captain Sasha Resnick ’25 on reaching an incredible milestone – her 1,000th career point! Sasha achieved this remarkable feat last night in the game against Mount Saint Dominic Academy. She now joins just five other female athletes in WE history to accomplish this achievement.

Kaya Gerdes' artwork was chosen to be exhibited in the Art Administrators of NJ Emerging Artists 37th Annual High School Exhibition at the James Howe Gallery at Kean University!

In a significant achievement for the students of the Culinary Arts program, several groups have recently earned prestigious food safety certifications, equipping them with the essential skills to excel in the foodservice industry.

WEHS students in Mrs. Mondadori-Llauguet’s Sports Management Classes were visited by Dr. Gina Pauline, Undergraduate Director & Associate Professor of Sport Management at Syracuse University. Down the hall in Ms. Pivetta’s Italian Club meeting, students were visited by former Club VP Daniel Martire ‘22.

West Essex had some adorable visitors last week: Mel and Charlie from Bright and Beautiful Therapy Dogs! High School students and staff had a chance to take a break from midterm exam preparations and enjoy some furry fun. It was paws-itively wonderful opportunity! 🐾

As the 2024-2025 school year reaches its halfway mark, our dedicated administration and faculty have already begun planning for the 2025-2026 academic year.

West Essex Regional School District is once again participating in ADL’s “No Place for Hate Initiative.” The Middle School and High School Culture & Climate Committees have been hard at work planning activities to create more inclusive, respectful, and equitable school environments.

West Essex High School is happy to announce the recipients of the ShopRite Star awards for Marking Period 2.

A big congratulations to WEHS students Anthony Drago and Benedetto Matteucci on signing their Letters of Intent! Drago has committed to playing lacrosse at Duke University in Durham, NC, while Matteucci has committed to playing soccer at the Rome City Institute of Soccer in Rome, Italy.

Throughout the months of November and December, the culinary classes and Cooking for a Cause club have been busy! Chefs Robert Eckert and Michael Delapaz have brought an inspiring energy to the newly renovated culinary kitchens at West Essex High School, transforming them into a hub of creativity and community. Under their guidance, the culinary arts students have showcased their skills by preparing an impressive array of dishes.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks for Mrs. Andrea Mondadori-Llauget’s Business Classes and Clubs! On December 5th, Ms. Mondadori’s Sport Management classes (which are run through Syracuse University) visited Madison Square Garden...

At the December 9th Board of Education meeting, Board Members and District Administration honored teachers, students, and outgoing board members for their time and dedication to West Essex.

The Masquers of West Essex hosted their inaugural fall Cabaret Knight on Thursday, November 21st. The night featured students performing scenes and songs from their favorite plays and musicals. The auditorium was full of supportive family members, peers, and WE staff who cheered the performers on.

The West Essex Middle and High School Student Councils honored Support Staff this year with Holiday Luncheons. The events featured delicious catered food and performances, as student council and district leaders thanked the staff for all that they do to keep West Essex running smoothly.

West Essex High School is happy to announce the recipients of the ShopRite Star award for Marking Period 1.

On Wednesday, November 20th, students in Mrs. Andrea Mondadori’s Sports Management classes hosted the 5th annual Turkey Classic Volleyball tournament to raise funds for the Caldwell Food Pantry. Students in these classes are required to run one sports event during the school year and donate the proceeds to a local charity.

The Freemasons Lodge #7, F. & A. M., has recognized our very own Mr. Tim Martin for his outstanding contributions to education. Nominated by a junior at West Essex High School and selected through a rigorous review process, Tim was celebrated at an honorary dinner this past weekend.

On Wednesday, November 13, the National English Honor Society hosted their annual Fall Showcase: a night of poetry, spoken word, and acoustic performance. Students were invited to perform their own creations or a favorite poem, song, or other work that someone else has made.

Ava Russo and Sophia Sisco signed their letters of intent to play field hockey at Dartmouth and Boston College respectively on November 13th (National Signing Day). Congratulations to both girls on continuing their academic and athletic careers at the next level!

The West Essex community congratulates Head Football Coach Chris Benacquista for becoming the ALL-TIME wins leader at West Essex High School with an incredible 114 wins!

The West Essex High School Guidance Department hosted their annual College Fair on October 1st. The event was packed with students from West Essex (and surrounding schools) and tons of colleges and universities.

The West Essex Marching Knights will host and compete in the Tournament of Bands Chapter X Championship Competition! Come support our performers and musicians as they compete against other bands across the region.

The Masquers of West Essex Theater Club is hard at work on their production of the brand new play "Witches?! In Salem!?" which will be held on Friday, November 1st and November 2nd at 7:00pm at the high school auditorium.

On September 12th, WE Parents had the opportunity to meet their child's educators, learn more about student clubs and activities, and walk the halls of WEHS.

WEHS held its first-ever club fair on September 11th and 12th during the lunch block. Students had an opportunity to learn about the dozens of extracurricular activities offered at the High School.

13 new faculty members have joined the West Essex family as the 2024-25 school year begins. Get to know these new educators by reading a bit more about them below!

Welcome back, students and staff, as we kick off the 2024-25 school year!

The West Essex School District announces the following changes in the district administration for the upcoming 2024 - 25 school year.

West Essex High School has been designated as a Gold Star No Place for Hate School for the 2023-24 School Year!