Students

Founded in 1895, The Pingry Record has the distinction of being the oldest continuously published country day school newspaper in the United States. The paper began as a "lark" by a group of boys who thought it might be fun to edit a newspaper containing school news. The first paper, handed from student to student, was largely regarded as a joke by the student body and became known as "The Bughouse Tribune."

However, its successful circulation around the school presented the opportunity for a real school paper in printed form. The idea pleased everyone, and Headmaster W.H. Corbin was asked to appoint a board of editors to start an official school publication. The first editor in chief was Barton W. Currie (class of 1895), who took his work very seriously. Currie later went on to become editor in chief of the Ladies' Home Journal in 1925.

Today, The Record is staffed by Upper School students who write, edit, and provide the artwork as well as the layout in Adobe InDesign. 

 

The Pingry Record

 

Vital Signs is Pingry’s student-run current events magazine, featuring Pingry students’ original analyses of serious national and world issues. Topics range from domestic politics and policy to business and economics, from science and technology to international affairs and the changing dynamics of the global system.

Since its inception in 1986, Vital Signs has grown and evolved, and has been recognized with numerous awards. Today, Vital Signs continues to be staffed by Upper School students, with faculty advising from Matthew Honohan of the Pingry History Department. Vital Signs provides an opportunity for our contributors to grapple with the questions that shape the modern era, and is the place where “Pingry Students Take the Pulse of the World.”

 

Vital Signs

Published twice each school year, this is the art and literary magazine by Upper School students.

Calliope

A Journal of Scientific Research conducted by Pingry students.

PCR Issues

Pingry's premier linguistic magazine by Upper School students.

Polyglot

The Parker Road Review aims to showcase the very best of The Pingry School's student humanities scholarship, while recalling that only through process do writers grow over time and that we never stop growing when we embrace the process.

The Parker Road Review

 

The opportunity for Pingry students to share their honest opinions on a variety of pop-culture subjects. It gives both the writer & the reader an opportunity to broaden their perspectives and read about the opinions of the Pingry Community.

The Pingry Impression

Faculty-Sponsored Clubs

These clubs often meet outside of the regular school day and require a significant commitment.

Yearbook Club
Yearbook Club meets weekly with Ms. Boone. In Yearbook Club, students gain an understanding of print media, layout, and design as they collaborate under the direction of a graphic designer to work together in a joyful climate. Students will be responsible for the section of the Pingry yearbook that documents their time in the Middle School. Some activities documented in the Middle School section of the Pingry Yearbook include: class trips, class pages, athletics and activities, the arts, and life as a member of our Middle School community.

Chess Club
The Middle School Chess Club meets every Tuesday from 3:30-4:45 p.m. in Room M219 with Mr. Niehues. There will be a brief daily chess lesson, followed by chess puzzles and individual play. Students will get a membership at chesskid.com where they can take lessons, solve puzzles, and play others without restrictions of time and place. There are incentives (gift certificates for the “Bear Pause”) for students who reach certain milestones (especially puzzle ratings). There will be occasionally be opportunities to participate in USCF rated tournaments on weekends.

Math Club
Math Club meets every Monday afternoon from 3:45-5:00 p.m. in Room M208 with Mr. Brown. Math Club is an opportunity for students to practice for, and participate in several state and national math competitions. The Math Club competes in AMC 8, MathCounts, and Math Madness. During club time, students work individually or in groups to improve speed and understanding of competitive style math problems. Through Math Club, students who are excited about exploring mathematics are able to hone their mathematical skills and explore more complex concepts.

Math Team
Grade 6 Math Team meets 7:30-8:00 a.m. onThursdays in Room 437 with Mrs. Lange. We study logical thinking, number sense, algebra, geometry, and discrete mathematics. Students are encouraged to work together on 4-10 problems per session. Participants have the option of competing in five MOEMS (moems.org) contests at school, and/or as many as four Math League (mathleague.org) contests off campus, from October through March. Updates and a full schedule are available on Mrs. Lange’s Google+ Community, Pingry Mathemagics.

Community and Civic Engagement Club
All Middle School students are welcome to participate in the Community and Civic Engagement Club, but first priority is given to Form I and Form II students who need to fulfill their required 10 hours of community and civic engagement. Community and Civic Engagement Club meets after school once a month on various days. The club is organized by two student leaders under the direction of Mrs. Thau. Community and Civic Engagement Club members work on projects to benefit charitable organizations outside of Pingry such as Color-a-Smile, Samaritan Homeless Interim Program and Operation NJ Cares. Students who attend are responsible for submitting their own service hours to Pingry’s Community and Civic Engagement Database.

MS Green Group
The Green Group is a group of enthusiastic and committed students who raise awareness of “green” issues by planning and hosting such events as all-school environmental trivia games and poster campaigns to increase awareness of energy consumption and recycling procedures. Green Group meets weekly on Thursdays during Flex. All students are welcome to attend meetings and help with projects. Green Group also hosts weekly "Campus Rambles” during which they explore Pingry’s forest and wetlands.

Student Government
Student Government is comprised of sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade representatives to be a voice for their peers in the Middle School. These representatives host three after school events throughout the year open to all middle school students. They also work to create proposals of ideas they would like to implement to improve the Middle School. Student Government meets regularly on Wednesdays during Flex, but students will also get together as needed to work on their proposals. For a list of the current year's Middle School Student Government Representatives, see the Student Government section of this page.

Delicious Desserts
Delicious Desserts provides students an opportunity to bake treats for St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen in Newark, NJ in return for an opportunity to fulfill some community service requirements through baking. Students can earn one hour for baking a dozen treats and two hours for baking two dozen treats. This organization does not regularly meet as a club, but does provide students an opportunity to bake for a good cause!

STEAM Club
The STEAM Club meets each Thursday with Dr. Mirliss from 4:00 p.m.–5:00p.m. in Room M202. Students will be engaged in fun activities that combine digital technologies with art and engineering. Projects include 3D printed designs, coding projects, and wearable electronics. There is something for everyone and all levels of experience are welcome.

Robotics Club
Robotics Club meets every Friday in room M217 with Ms. Menon from 3:45 p.m.–5:00 p.m. In the Robotics Club, students will work as a team to design, build, and program the robot they build. The parameters for the robot will be provided and students will compete against other teams. This course will emphasize the importance of innovation, collaboration and teamwork to reach a common goal.

Student-Created Clubs

These clubs vary from year-to-year, based on student interest. They typically meet during Flex Period.

Debate Club
Mock Trial Club
Film & Photography Club
Leadership League
Creative Writing Club
3D Design Club
Dance Club
Comic Book Club
Singing Club
Band Club
Rocketry Club
Theater Club
Art Club
Book Club
Pingry Scouts
Track Club
Handbells Club
Code Club

The student government embodies the ideals and beliefs of the students and faithfully serves their best interests through the coordination and oversight of student activities. The student government strives to advance and unify the school by promoting good citizenship and encouraging school participation. It acts as a liaison between the administration and the student body and may, with the guidance and approval of the administration, recommend changes to school policy.

• Upper School Club List and Descriptions

HOLD! 

In your room or area.  Clear the halls.

Students: Clear the halls and remain in your room until an all clear is called. Do business as usual.

Adults: Close and lock the door. Account for students and adults (take attendance). Do business as usual.

SECURE!

Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors.

Students: Return to inside of the building. Do business as usual.

Adults: Bring everyone indoors. Lock outside doors. Increase situational awareness. Account for students and adults (take attendance). Do business as usual.

LOCKDOWN!

Locks! Lights! Out of Sight!

Students: Move away from sight. Maintain silence. Do not open the door.

Adults: Recover students from hallway (if possible).  Lock the classroom door. Turn out the lights. Move away from sight. Maintain silence. Do not open the door. Prepare to evade or defend.

EVACUATE!

A location may be specified

Students: Leave things behind if requested. If possible, bring your phone/device and follow instructions.

Adults: Lead students to Evacuation location. Account for students and adults (take attendance). Notify the leader if anyone is missing, additional students or adults, or if anyone is injured or requires assistance.

SHELTER!

Hazard requires a safety strategy

Students: Use appropriate safety strategy for the hazard

Adults: Lead safety strategy.  Account for students and adults (take attendance.) Notify the leader if anyone is missing, additional students or adults, or if anyone is injured or requires assistance.

Tornado: Evacuate to designated shelter area

Hazmat: Seal the room and move students to safe area

Earthquake: Drop! Cover! Hold!

Tsunami: Get to high ground