On Tuesday, May 20, Midland Park High School Seniors joined their peers at Ramsey High School for a moving and impactful presentation titled After the Fire. The program is based on the true story of a tragic dormitory fire at Seton Hall University that occurred on January 19, 2000. The fire, which was the result of arson, quickly swept through a freshman residence hall, claiming the lives of three students and injuring fifty-eight others.
Two of the most severely injured survivors, Shawn Simmons and Alvaro Llanos, were freshman roommates at the time. Now, more than two decades later, they travel the country sharing their harrowing experience in hopes of educating young people on the importance of fire safety and personal responsibility.
Their presentation went far beyond the details of the fire. Shawn and Alvaro shared their emotional journey of recovery and healing—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They highlighted themes of courage, resilience, friendship, and forgiveness, leaving a lasting impression on students and staff alike.
Midland Park High School was proud to partner with the Senior Class of Ramsey High School to bring this important program to our students. The After the Fire presentation not only underscores essential safety protocols but also inspires young adults to find strength in adversity and to value the relationships that carry us through difficult times.
This event was a valuable reminder of the real-life consequences of seemingly small decisions—and the incredible power of the human spirit to overcome tragedy. We thank Ramsey High School for their collaboration and extend our gratitude to Shawn and Alvaro for their bravery in sharing their story.
Congratulations to Tarra Lawlor(middle school) and Emily Donovan (high school) 2025 Bergen County Teachers of the Year!
Honoring Heroes:
Students, along with Mr. Strohmeyer and Mrs. DeRitter, place flags on the high school lawn in tribute to those who gave their lives in service, marking Memorial Day with respect and remembrance.
Congratulations to Lisa Hayne, Lawry Stein, the cast and crew of Almost, Maine for their incredible success at the Montclair State University Theater Awards Ceremony!
They were honored with the Overall Outstanding Production of a Recreational Production of a Play at last night's prestigious Foxy Awards.
In addition to this outstanding win, Almost, Maine received nominations in over 10 categories, including the following areas:
1. Outstanding acting ensemble in a contemporary comedy.
2. Outstanding production of a contemporary comedy, Lisa Hayne
3. Outstanding performance by an actor in a contemporary comedy, Matt Oliveri.
4. Outstanding performance by an actress in a contemporary comedy, Kelly Hagen.
5. Outstanding achievement in contemporary costume design for a play.
6. Outstanding achievement by a student lighting technician for a play, Juan Cuervo.
7. Outstanding achievement by a student scenic design technician for a play Teya Rosso and Julianne Quinn.
8. Outstanding achievement in live or original music Mat Oliveri.
9. Outstanding achievement for a dance captain in a play Jullianne Quinn.
10. Overall Achievement in Comedy.
The Madrigal Show was held on Friday, May 16. It was a wonderful success! Many friends and family members attended. The students performed solos, duets, and small and large group songs. The members of the Madrigals worked all year towards the performance. These senior Madrigals members performed in their last show: Matthew Oliveri, Michael Zamora, Teya Rosso, Kelly Hagen, Saniya Weekes, Juan Miguel Cuervo, Elissa Adamo, Andrea Cruz
On Friday, May 16, students went to the 50th annual Teen Arts Festival at Bergen Community College where they displayed their art and photography. Students met with college professors who critiqued their video projects. Students were also able to take various workshops in art, video production, music, and theater.
Thank you to “Paws in Hand” who worked with our students today.
At Paws in Hand, we empower students to develop empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence through meaningful interactions with our trained companion dogs.
The program fosters a deeper understanding of kindness, responsibility, and respect for all living beings, creating a foundation for students to build positive relationships with themselves and others.
Through the special bond between humans and dogs, we inspire a more compassionate generation ready to make a positive impact in their communities."
“Learning at both ends of the leash”
Congratulations to Gabriella Gesualdo who was the first place winner of the Midland Park Middle School VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest. As the first place winner she received $250.00 prize.
On Thursday, May 15, she was invited by the VFW to read her essay at the 13th annual "Roll Call for Veterans" ceremony at the Wyckoff YMCA.
Each year, nearly 68,800 students in sixth through eighth grades enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest.
The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief.
The 2024-25 theme is:
"My Voice in America's Democracy?"
Midland Park Jr./Sr. Spirit Week
Congratulations to our MPHS Performing Arts Program for earning 10 Foxy Award nominations and 3 Metro Award nominations during theater awards season!
MPHS Prom
Walk the Red Carpet
Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Midland Park High School
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5th - May 9th. Thank you to our teachers for all that they do to help our students find success!
Congratulations to our Athletic Director, Patrick Clark, on being named the NJIC Athletic Director of the Year for the 2024-2025 school year!
MIDLAND PARK BOOSTER APPAREL SALE – NOW OPEN!
The Online MPHS Booster Club Apparel Store is officially live!
Enjoy fast, convenient shipping — all items will be ready to ship within 1–2 business days from the time your order is placed.
A portion of the proceeds directly supports our student-athletes and athletic programs. Show your school spirit and support the Booster Club by purchasing new gear for the spring season!
Thank you for supporting Midland Park Athletics!
Just a reminder that our Winter Athletic Awards Ceremony will take place tonight, Thursday, April 3rd, at 7:00 PM in Memorial Hall at Midland Park High School. We look forward to celebrating the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our student-athletes from the winter sports season.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM, and a representative from United Sports Apparel will be available in the lobby from 6:30 to 8:00 PM for anyone interested in purchasing a Midland Park varsity jacket.
We hope to see you there for an evening of recognition, reflection, and celebration!
Senate, Interact and NHS Food Drive
March 24- April 7.
Items to be collected:
· Canned soup
· Dry Canned Food and snacks
· Canned vegetables
· Non perishables
· Pasta/Pasta sauce
*No glass
Attention Jr./Sr. Band Parents,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to inform you of an important change regarding the upcoming band concert originally scheduled for Wednesday, May 14. After careful consideration and discussion, we have decided to reschedule the event to Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
We understand that this change may cause some inconvenience, and we sincerely apologize for any disruption this may cause to your plans. Our goal is to ensure that the concert is a success and that our students have the best opportunity to showcase their hard work and talent. The performance on June 4 will be held at 7:30 pm Memorial Hall, and we would love to see our community come together to support our students in their musical endeavors.
We appreciate your understanding and flexibility in this matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and our school community. We look forward to seeing you on what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music
Sincerely,
Mr. Capuano
Students and Parents:
Attached is the student school newspaper. To access the paper use the following link:
https://www.canva.com/design/DAGYKieV0Jg/_ImlszqQNyjOBmvf2tp3EA/view?utm_content=DAGYKieV0Jg&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hfb3a5a6e32
Girls Basketball
Midland Park @ Pompton Lakes HS 5:00 pm
Boys Basketball
Midland Park @ Passaic Charter HS 6:30 pm
Support our Senior Scholarship Fund and show your Panther Pride by picking up some new "merch" in our online store! https://sportstimenj.chipply.com/MidlandParkHS/?action=viewall