Northern Highlands Education Association

10/29/2026

Mr. Beatty’s Forensics classes took a field trip to the “Mind of a Serial Killer: The Experience” in NYC today to dive deeper into the criminal investigation process. Students had the opportunity to explore the physical archives, timelines, and case files of 20+ notorious serial killers like Dahmer, Bundy, Gein, BTK, and more! They were able to see first hand the recreated scenes of many of these grisly cases and learn to differentiate fact from fiction regarding cases that are often the center of recreated movies, documentaries, podcasts and social media influencers. Meticulously recreated physical sets, detailed replicas, and historical relics of famous cases, allowed those in attendance to examine the physical spaces exactly as the first detectives found them. Students also got to experience a virtual reality experience where each participant became a criminal investigator working to solve a serial kidnapping case by piecing together clues, witness statements and suspect interviews.

If this pop-up exhibit sounds like something you want to know more about or visit on your own, the NYC space will only be around until this Saturday! The exhibit will then be moving to Philadelphia for those that want to make the trip. The class and Mr. Beatty said it would definitely be worth it… one student even rated the trip an 11/10!

10/28/2026

Northern Highlands welcomed guest speaker Mike Domitrz(Mike Domitrz ) from The Center for Respect for an important conversation about consent, making SAFER choices and asking first. Mike is an author and educator who speaks with high school students about consent, healthy boundaries, and respectful relationships. His programs help students learn to communicate clearly, respect others’ choices, and build a culture of respect.

Thank you to our Wellness Department for organizing today’s dynamic speaker on vitally important topics for not only high schoolers but everyone in society. Thank you, Mike, for sharing a powerful lesson and reminder with our students: ask first, listen, and respect the answer! respecttheanswer

10/28/2026

Please come out and support our DECA project that is raising funds for “First Candle” an organization raising awareness of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) and supporting families affected by infant loss.

10/28/2026

NH Chemistry teacher Ashley Green recently published an article sharing her experiences using specific terminology within instruction and subsequent assessments with other chemistry educators via ChemEd X.

Green notes that “explicit language helps all students access rigorous science content, participate in scientific discourse, and build transferable reasoning skills. It makes thinking visible, supports equitable participation, and scaffolds learners as they move from novice to expert in identifying patterns, evaluating evidence, and constructing explanations.” When Green references being explicit, she is referring to words stated clearly and directly in full detail, leaving no room for confusion, doubt, or misinterpretation. Rather than being vague with questioning techniques, using direct and actionable terminology allows students to cut down on previous confusion and instead synthesize accurate, complete and deeper answers.

Mrs. Green is a contributor to the ChemEd X platform which is is considered a premier place for chemistry educators, providing high-quality, peer-reviewed, actionable content for high school and college-level instructors. “At ChemEd X, teachers can Xplore classroom-ready resources, Xperience peer community talks and blogs, and Xtend your professional reach. Their goal is to connect, support, and elevate the teaching and learning of chemistry.” Thank you Mrs. Green for sharing your experiences with other teachers and engaging in peer to peer self-driven professional development!

Check out the article here: https://www.chemedx.org/explicit-language-explicit-learning

10/28/2026

Some of our Geophysics classes ventured outside last week during the beautiful weather to try to catch some speeders on Hillside Ave. The students had to determine an experimental technique that would allow them to calculate the speed of the cars passing by with their groups. Our teachers also purchased two radar guns this year to confirm student’s findings for the vehicles. The students then had to determine what percentage of cars speed above the 25 mph speed limit while children are present during school hours to determine if a PSA campaign should be pursued to educate the community on the speed limit.

10/28/2026

On Monday, members of the Highlands Fling school newspaper attended the Garden State Scholastic Press Association (GSSPA) Fall Press Conference at Rutgers! The day included over 60 workshop options on a wide range of topics to enhance the skills of the Fling staff writers and editors. The day also included a keynote address from Jack Brewster, founder and CEO of Newsreel and former Forbes and NewsGuard journalist. Be sure to give The Highland Fling a follow to stay up to date with everything around Highlands!

10/27/2026

Mrs. Ajalat’s Criminal Law Class enjoyed listening to a guest speaker, David Bruno, Esquire.  Mr. Bruno shared insight from his work as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. He also spoke about his experience on Court TV and Ted Talks. Students enjoyed learning helpful tips on how to persevere and thrive in law school and as an attorney.  

10/24/2026

10/24/2026

Great end to Spirit Week with our Student Council hosting our Fall Sports Pep Rally! Thank you to the Student Council for planning a way to highlight our athletes but also allowing a culmination of the grades challenging each other to win the week in several games! Thank you the Sports Association for sponsoring prizes for winners at the pep rally!

10/23/2026

Mr. Beatty’s forensics students practiced their crime scene searching skills during class this week as they searched with a group to find 100 paperclips hidden within their quadrant. Paperclips were hidden high and low, some in plain sight and others requiring a change of vantage point to discover. The activity was meant to show students flaws in their search techniques as well as areas of concern that arise from failing to follow the basics. Students learned first hand the need to secure the crime scenes and ensure that all unauthorized personnel, including the teacher, should not be allowed within the confines of their search area. We hope the students learned some valuable skills as they continue their unit on crime scene processing and documentation!