Teaneck High School Reaches Out to Local Jewish Community

will hold an information session Thursday for the Jewish community in hopes of encouraging more families to take a deeper look at what the school has to offer.

School officials will host an open house that will include teachers, administrators, students and parents, all of whom will be on hand to answer questions, share their experiences, and provide a tour of the building. 

Interim Principal Dennis Heck said he believes this is the first time the high school hosted an open house specifically for the Jewish community.

“We’ve gone to homes and done things off-site, but I wanted to do it in our building because I want people to come to our building,” Heck said. “If people really want to see what’s going on at Teaneck High School, instead of having a conversation at someone’s home, I’d rather have that conversation take place in my building.”

The event is open to anyone in the community, but Heck said programs specific to the Jewish community will include:  

• Holocaust Center and programming
• Accommodations provided, supported, and available to the Jewish Community in all aspects of student life (kosher hot-lunch programs, accommodations for all Jewish holidays and Sabbath Observant Students)
• Israel Club and other after-school learning clubs available to all students

Besides attending the open house, Heck said students of all backgrounds can find out more about THS through its shadowing program. Students in middle school or those who are new to town can contact THS’s guidance department to request to spend a day with a THS student.

“I believe that the people coming to shadow – the kids and their parents – they like what they see here; they’re enthusiastic about it,” Heck said. “Our guidance department does an awesome job with setting the kids up. They try to match up students who share similar interests.”

Thursday's open house takes place in the high school's Media Center and starts at 7 p.m., Heck said. Kosher refreshments will be served, and topics to be discussed will include:

• Academic offerings, including the Advanced Placement and Honors Programs and courses
• Educational support services and college-planning services
• Technology usages in all subject areas and Language Arts and Social Studies course offerings

Heck said THS has a diverse student body, and he’d like to see it continue to reflect that of the township.

“THS is a unique building, and all of our students are special here,” he said. “I hope families that come to the event can see that THS offers an educational setting that would make any family feel comfortable in sending their child here. I think we offer an outstanding education. We have an open-door policy here. Anyone at anytime – whether they give us a call or stop by – can take a tour of our building."