Morris Knolls High School

Morris Knolls High School
"Home Of The Golden Eagles"
Address
50 Knoll Drive Rockaway, NJ, Morris, 07866 United States
Information
School type	Public
Opened	1964
Status	Open
School board	Morris Hills Regional High School District
Superintendent	Jim Jencarelli
CEEB Code	311321
Principal	Bill Cleffi
Asst. Principal	Jim Devlin Erin Morgan Bill Schilling
Faculty	139.5 (on FTE basis)[1]
Grades	9-12
Enrollment	1,631 (as of 2008-09)[1]
Student to teacher ratio	12.5
Hours in school day	7
Color(s)	Green and Gold
Athletics	Varsity
Athletics conference	Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference
Mascot	Golden Eagle
Rival	Randolph, Morris Hills
Average SAT scores	1561
Publication	Spectrum
Newspaper	Quill
Yearbook	Talon
Budget	26,555,200 USD
Communities served	Rockaway Township, Rockaway and Denville
Website	School website

Morris Knolls High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in grades 9 to 12 in Morris County, New Jersey as part of the Morris Hills Regional High School District. The school is located in Denville but has a Rockaway mailing address. The other high school in the district is Morris Hills High School.

The high school serves students from Denville and most of Rockaway Township.^[2]

As of the 2008-09 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,631 students and 139.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.7.^[1]

As a part of the Morris Hills Regional School District's (MHRD) magnet program, Morris Knolls was approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) world school.^[3] The IB Diploma Program at Morris Knolls (MKIB) currently serves over 80 students. Scott Gambale is the district's IB Coordinator.

Awards and recognition

The school was the 79th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 88th in 2008 out of 316 schools.^[4] The school was also ranked 71st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state.^[5]

For the 1996-97 school year, Morris Knolls High School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.^[6]

The Morris Knolls football field and track.

The Morris Knolls High School Golden Eagles participate in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.^[7]

The varsity football team is known as a strong local program and was undefeated in 2005, winning every game including the New Jersey State football championships in the NJSIAA North I, Group IV.^[8] The football team also won state championships in 1994, 1995, and 1996. The team has been coached for over 30 years by Bill Regan Jr. Morris Knolls has run the Veer Triple Option offense since Regan became the head coach in 1975. In October 2007 Regan joined his father, Bill Regan Sr., who was a coach at the nearby Delbarton School, as one of four coaches in Morris County history to attain 200 career wins.

In 1999, the football program suffered from a sophomore hazing scandal that was exposed in a several article series in the Daily Record and The Star-Ledger.^[9]

In 2005, the Morris Knolls ice hockey team won the Mennen Cup and the Public School NJ State tournament. The team also reached the state semifinals in 1996 losing to Brick, and again in 2007, losing to rival Randolph.^[10]

The wrestling^[11] and bowling^[12] teams have both had recent success.

Morris Knolls' boys and girls lacrosse teams were established in 2006. Both teams played as JV level teams in 2006, and varsity for 2007. In its first established varsity year, the boys team finished with a 8-9 record (including post season games). The boys team made it into the second round of the County Playoff Tournament before losing to local powerhouse, Delbarton School and the state tournament losing to Vernon Township High School in the first round.

Marching band

The Morris Knolls Marching Band is a competition ensemble that has seen much success in the USSBA circuit in past and current years, earning it a reputation as a band of high caliber.

In 2003, the Morris Knolls Marching Band won the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) Group 3 Open State Championships.

Three years later, at the 2006 USSBA National Championships at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, Morris Knolls High School placed fourth in their group and the cologuard was recognized as Best Color Guard National Championship title in Class III.^[13]

Most recently, during the 2007 season, the Morris Knolls Marching Band won the title of state champions in their group of 3 Open at the USSBA NJ State Championships. The band also received the caption awards of Best Percussion, Best Colorguard, Best Effect, and Best Visual at this state competition. The same year, at the USSBA National Championships, Morris Knolls placed second in their group, also winning Best Colorguard and Best Percussion. The MKMB percussion was titled Grand National Champions, receiving the highest score out of all percussion ensembles at the competition, which included over 70 bands.

In the 2010 season, the Morris Knolls Marching Band won second place at the USSBA National Championships with a score of 95.838 in Group 2 Open, winning the caption for Best Color Guard.^[14]

Student government

The new school sign: A project sponsored by the Student Government Association in conjunction with the Class of 2008 and the Interact Club.

The Student Government Association (SGA) of Morris Knolls is composed of five elected Senior officers, and six elected representatives from each class. Members of the SGA organize school wide events to promote school spirit, and interact regularly with the Administration regarding school activities and improvements.

Each class has four elected officers; President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These four officers organize individual class events such as fundraisers, and prom for the Juniors and Seniors.

Administration

Core members of the school's administration are:^[15]

• Bill Cleffi - Principal
• Jim Devlin - Assistant Principal
• Erin Morgan - Assistant Principal
• Bill Schilling - Assistant Principal

Cleffi is a graduate of Morris Knolls' sister high school, Morris Hills.

Notable alumni

• Lou Benfatti (born 1971), former defensive tackle for the New York Jets (1994–1996).^[16][17]
• Neal Casal, (born 1968), is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for his work with Ryan Adams and the Cardinals.^{[citation needed]}
• Lexie Fyfe (born 1969), professional wrestler.^[18]
• Laura San Giacomo (born 1962), actress known for playing the role of Maya Gallo on Just Shoot Me! and Kit De Luca in Pretty Woman.^[19]

Senior Pranks

Throughout the past twenty years there have been many students who have attempted to pull a Senior prank, some of which that have made local news. In 2002 a few students put three chickens in the school marked one, two, and four. This was done to keep the administration busy looking for the third chicken, but in reality it never existed. In 2007 the senior and junior class started a huge food fight which caused approximately 2,780 dollars in damage to ceiling tiles, tables, and televisions. The class of 2009's prank was so controversial, that it actually made the news on News 12 New Jersey and various local News Papers. A few unknown students placed a dead Deer in the senior Bathroom ^[20] . On the dead carcass was a sign which said “The class of 2009, the last class to make you say Oh!”. The administration was infuriated by the prank, and actually had the Police investigate and possibly press charges. The prank of 2009 would go down in Morris Knolls History. Most recently in 2010, several students attempted to place Rabbits, Mice, and Chickens inside the ceiling tiles in the school. Unfortunately, for the seniors of 2010 the prank was not a success, and resulted in several arrests.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Morris Knolls High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2011.
2. ^ Program of Studies 2011-2012, Morris Hills Regional District. Accessed May 19, 2011. "MORRIS KNOLLS HIGH SCHOOL receives students from Denville, all of Rockaway Township with the exception of White Meadow Lake and the area described above in the southern part of Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough south of Route #46 with the exception of the area of Rockaway Road and the Trailer Park behind the Boro Plaza (west of the railroad track) south of Route #46."
3. ^ Morris Knolls High School, International Baccalaureate. Accessed May 19, 2011.
4. ^ Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly, August 16, 2010. Accessed February 1, 2011.
5. ^ "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly, September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
6. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Star School Award recipient detail 1996-97 school year, Morris Knolls High School, accessed May 29, 2006
7. ^ School Info, Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference. Accessed May 19, 2011.
8. ^ 2005 Football - North I, Group IV, NJSIAA, accessed May 9, 2006
9. ^ "High school throws flag on hazing by gridders". The Star-Ledger: p. 25. September 2, 1999. "When it comes to hazing on the Morris Knolls High School football team, former players and students say the only difference between previous years and the current season is that this time the participants got caught.... Last week, school officials acknowledged that some of the varsity team's younger players had been pelted with mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, dog food and eggs, while others were struck with plastic whiffle ball bats as part of an initiation ritual. The incident, which took place in a Rockaway Township home, involved eight or nine juniors and seniors who were initiating about 15 sophomores, said Robert Woodruff, an attorney representing Golden Eagles head coach Bill Regan Jr.... The Golden Eagles were forced to forfeit their opening game against Morristown, scheduled for Sept. 18.... James McNasby, superintendent of the Morris Hills district, which includes Morris Knolls, said yesterday 15 to 20 students had been disciplined for the hazing incident." 
10. ^ "Tomensky's five goals help Morris Knolls advance to Public semis". Daily Record. March 10, 2007. 
11. ^ MK right at home in sections: Morris Knolls High School wrestling coach Larry Rizzo will be getting his wish - his Eagles have landed a home date for the state team sectionals, The Citizen, January 31, 2007
12. ^ It’s revenge on the lanes for Knolls: Greg Elbin knew he didn’t have to remind his team about what had happened less than a week ago ... but he did anyway., The Citizen, January 31, 2007
13. ^ USSBA National Championship Titles, United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) press release dated November 14, 2006
14. ^ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1 AT ANNAPOLIS, MD, United States Scholastic Band Association. Accessed May 19, 2011.
15. ^ Administration, Morris Knolls High School. Accessed May 19, 2011.
16. ^ Lange, Randy. "CRUSHING HALT TO JETS CAREER: BROKEN NECK KOS BENFATTI", The Record (Bergen County), April 8, 1997. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Benfatti hides his turmoil well behind a calm demeanor that has been his trademark at Morris Knolls High School, at Penn State, and as a third-round draft pick of the Jets in 1994."
17. ^ Lou Benfatti, Morris Knolls High School. Accessed August 2, 2007.
18. ^ Seegers, Sandy. "Enjoying life inside ropes", Daily Record (Morristown), August 27, 2008. Accessed February 1, 2011. ""Soon Fyfe, known as MaryBeth Bentley during her days at Morris Knolls High School, was in the ring."
19. ^ Cooper, Chet. Laura San Giacomo interview by Chet Cooper, Ability Magazine. Accessed February 1, 2011.
20. ^ http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/police_say_senior_prank_behind.html

External links

• Morris Knolls High School
• Morris Hills Regional High School District
• Morris Knolls High School's 2009–10 School Report Card from the New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Morris Hills Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics

Coordinates: 40°53′09″N 74°30′28″W / 40.88595°N 74.507841°W / 40.88595; -74.507841