Category: News

Permanent district principals to be announced in March

January 21, 2020

The permanent principal positions for both Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills will be announced by the end of March, according to District Superintendent Erik Gundersen. These positions were posted on Wednesday, Jan. 15, and candidates have until Feb. 2 to apply. After PV Principal Tom DeMaio retired on Dec...

Smoke Signal speaks at Bergen LEADS conference

Ellie Kim and Morgan Jones

January 10, 2020

Smoke Signal editors in chief Rachel Cohen and Katie Mullaney and adviser Bill Rawson spoke on an expert panel about the future of journalism at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The panel also featured Frank Scandale, the Director of Investigations and Sports at Gannett, Rebec...

Physical education teacher tapped as interim assistant principal

Rachel Cohen, Editor in Chief

January 2, 2020

Physical education teacher Tom Gallione will become an acting assistant principal starting Tuesday, Jan. 7. Superintendent Erik Gundersen said he is recommending the position to the Board of Education at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 6. Gallione is stepping in for current interim Principal John Pucci...

Assistant principal to become interim principal

Rachel Cohen, Editor in Chief

December 9, 2019

Assistant Principal John Puccio was approved as the Pascack Valley interim principal from Jan. 2 until July 1, according to the Board of Education’s regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9. A search open to internal and external candidates for the permanent principal will be held after the new year, acc...

Smoke Signal attends NHSJC in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Cohen, Matt Austin, and Victoria Donofrio

November 25, 2019

The Smoke Signal attended the Fall National High School Journalism Convention, sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and the Nation Scholastic Press Association, in Washington, D.C. from Thursday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 24. At the convention, around 6,000 student journalists across th...

Smoke Signal hosts ‘Life with Layla’ screening

Ellie Kim, Ava Devincenzo, and Izzy Zuluaga

November 6, 2019

(Editor's Note: This article was updated on Wednesday, Nov. 6 to include a Facebook live stream of the Q & A.) Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said that there is no doubt that “we have an opioid and heroin epidemic” in Bergen County. Musella gave an opening speech during the star...

Harvesters’ club collects donations for foster care families

Joselyn Yoo, Staff Writer

November 4, 2019

Pascack Valley’s Harvesters' club, a nondenominational club that explores Christianity, collected donations such as food, college supplies, and hygiene products for Embrella, a nonprofit organization that supports foster families and kids. According to Embrella’s website, the organization provides scholarship pro...

The Smoke Signal wins 45 awards at GSSPA Conference

Katie Mullaney, Editor in Chief

October 28, 2019

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PV Principal to retire after 18 years

Rachel Cohen and Katie Mullaney

October 25, 2019

Editor’s Note: Updates were added to this article at 10 p.m. following the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Oct. 28. District Superintendent Erik Gundersen said Tom DeMaio has been a “dedicated, thoughtful, compassionate, and motivated person” in leading Pascack Valley. “He has really accelerated what we were able to do at Pas...

PV Choir to hold annual Halloween Talent Night

Abby Shapiro, Staff Writer

October 24, 2019

The Halloween Talent Night, hosted by Pascack Valley’s Choir, will be held in the PV auditorium at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 and consist of singing, dancing, poetry, and comedy by students and faculty. Tickets are $5 purchased in advance and $8 at the door. All proceeds from the event will go to the choir ...

Tri-M Music Honor Society to host first-ever Harvest Festival

Sarah Shapiro, Staff Writer

October 14, 2019

The Pascack Valley Tri-M Music Honor Society will be hosting its first-ever Harvest Festival in the PV lecture hall on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. Students and members of Tri-M will be performing, prizes will be given out, and food will be available for $5 admission to the event. “We wanted...

Longtime PV coach receives Bob Hurley Award

BJ McGrane, Sports Editor

October 6, 2019

Jeff Jasper is one of the most accomplished high school coaches of all time, surpassing 1,000 wins, as well as winning six state championships and 14 sectional titles in his 46-year tenure as girls basketball coach at Pascack Valley. However, Jasper does not think his accomplishments are solely based...