Governor Livingston High School
Encyclopedia
Governor Livingston High School, known informally as GL, is a comprehensive
four-year co-educational public high school
located in Berkeley Heights
, in Union County
, New Jersey
, United States, operating as part of the Berkeley Heights Public Schools
. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1965.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,043 students and 80 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.04.
The school was built in 1960 on the site of a former Nike Missle Control Station in the Murray Hill
section of Berkeley Heights. It is the sole secondary school for students from Berkeley Heights and Mountainside
for grades 9-12, who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship
with the Mountainside School District
. The high school's namesake is William Livingston
, the first Governor of New Jersey
and a signatory of the United States Constitution
. The Royal Stewart tartan of the Stewart Clan (of whom Livingston was a member) is a symbol of the school and the tartan's red and blue colors are the high school's colors, as well.
, the school was ranked 32nd in New Jersey and 1,112th nationwide. The school was ranked 416th in Newsweek
's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was ranked 8th in New Jersey, with 2.293 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 48% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam; The school was ranked 707th nationwide in 2008. In Newsweek's 2007 rankings of the country's top 1,200 high schools, Governor Livingston High School was listed in 776th place, the 17th-highest ranked school in New Jersey. With the rankings calculated by Jay Mathews shifted to The Washington Post
in 2011, the school was ranked 31st in New Jersey and 1,071st nationwide.
The school was the 24th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 15th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 21st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
, Garwood
, Kenilworth
, Mountainside
, and Springfield
. At that time, all students residing in the district attended Jonathan Dayton High School
in Springfield. As the district began to grow, additional schools were built, and, in September 1960, Governor Livingston Regional High School opened its doors to 800 students from Berkeley Heights and Mountainside. The regional district's superintendent at the time was Dr. Warren Davis and Frederick Aho was the first principal of the high school.
School Principals
The "Highlander" was chosen the school's mascot by student body vote in 1960, combining the tradition of the town's first baseball team and the location of the school at the highest point in Union County. William Livingston, for whom the school is named, was of Scottish Highland descent.
In 1960, the yearbook adopted the name Claymore
, which has continued to the present day.
Project Graduation
, held the night of graduation and run entirely by volunteers, debuted in 1989, and provides a safe all-night celebration of each graduating class.
In 1997, the vote to de-regionalize the school district passed and the incoming freshmen in the fall of 1997 were the first to enter Governor Livingston High School, part of the Berkeley Heights School District.
The school has offers a wide variety of courses. There is a language requirement, in which a student must take at least two years of a non-English language. It is highly recommended to take four years of a single language. Languages Offered: Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, and American Sign Language
.
Governor Livingston was the winner of the 1994, 1995, and 1996 New Jersey Science Olympiad Division C Championship, 1997 Division 5 National Champions for the Junior Engineering Technical Society's
TEAMS
competition and winners of the 1997 New Jersey State Science Bowl.
This program offers the following services to our students who are deaf and hard of hearing:
• Self-contained, resource center, general education classes on all academic levels.
• Elective classes in a wide variety of subject areas.
• Shared program available with Union County Vocational Technical School.
• Teachers of the Deaf who instruct using Total Communication (voice and sign).
• Educational interpreters on staff.
• A speech and language specialist who is responsible for enhancing communication skills. Our program includes two sessions per week.
• Clubs, sports and after school activities in an inclusive setting.
• Strong auditory component to support students with Cochlear Implants.
• Interpreters are available for non-curricular activities including guidance appointments, assemblies and GLHS theatrical performances.
The JrNAD (Junior National Association for the Deaf) is a club consisting of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students, that promotes leadership, socialization and community service. Under the guidance of the advisors, students not only plan trips and social events, but also engage in fundraising activities to benefit causes outside the organization. Past trips have included interpreted Broadway performances and special D/HH events across New Jersey.
In addition, American Sign Language is offered as a language. The students enrolled in ASL classes have the opportunity to interact with the deaf and hard of hearing students. This enables the students to both practice and enhance their signing skills.
References: http://www.njdeafprogram.com Berkeley Heights Public Schools, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Presentation
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
. Previously, the school had been part of the Mountain Valley Conference
. The school fields teams in varsity, junior varsity, and freshman football, boys and girls soccer, cross country, cheerleading, wrestling, basketball, indoor and outdoor track, baseball, softball, golf, swimming, tennis, field hockey, bowling, lacrosse, fencing and ice hockey.
In 1965, the Governor Livingston Regional High School football team, coached by Jack Bicknell
, won the school's first State Championship, Group II title for a team that was undefeated, untied and nearly unscored on.
In 1977, the Boys Varsity Soccer team, led by Chaz Sutherland won the school's first State Championship, Group II title, defeating Lawrence High School
. The team won the Group II title for a second time in 1979, defeating Freehold High School
. In 1984, the Boys Varsity Soccer team won the State Championship, Group II title and was ranked by The Star-Ledger
as high as number 4 in the State of New Jersey. In 1994, the Highlanders Boys' Soccer team won Mountain Valley Conference, Union County and the New Jersey Group II State Championships with a 2-0 win over Hopewell Valley Central High School. The Star-Ledger
ranked them as high as number 3 in the State of New Jersey.
In 1985, the Highlander Girls' Varsity Soccer team won the school's first girls' State Championship, Group II title over Delran High School
.
In 1989, the Highlander Football team, coached by Joe Hubert, won the Mountain Valley Conference and advanced to the North Jersey Section 2 Group I Championship Game.
In 1993, Ricky Ortega won the state championship in wrestling at 130 lbs.
The cheerleading squad has gained many awards in past competitions.
In 2004, Mike Carmody won the State Championship in the 800m.
In 2006, the tennis team placed 10th in the state of New Jersey.
In 2007, the women's Field Hockey team had a triumphant and victorious breakthrough as the Varsity team made States for the first time in 30 years. The 2007 record was also the highest it had been in the past decade. In the 2005 season, they carried a total of five wins and equal ties, after the 2004 season which had only one win. The girl's motto, "One Heart", has characterized the dedication and hard work that has changed the face, name and tradition of Governor Livingstons' field hockey team in most recent years,
In 2006, the school finished installing a FieldTurf
on its football field. It is used primarily for football, soccer, lacrosse
and field hockey
.
The Governor Livingston Boy's Cross Country team won the Mountain Valley Conference in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
The 2006-07 Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2007 Kelley Cup playoffs, finishing fourth in the Central Blue division.
The 2007-08 Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2008 Kelley Cup playoffs, finishing third in the Central Blue division, also the Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2007-08 New Jersey Public High School State Championship
The softball team won the 2007 Central, Group II state sectional championship with a string of shutout wins over Roselle Park High School
(10-0), Shore Regional High School
(6-0) and Delaware Valley Regional High School
(1-0) in the tournament final. The team moved on to win the Group II State Championship with wins over James Caldwell High School
(4-2) and Pascack Hills High School
(2-0) in the final game.
In 2008, the football team qualified for the playoffs and reached the state sectional final, where it lost to James Caldwell High School
at Giants Stadium
by a score of 22-7.
In 2009, the girls fencing team won the state title, as well as the state sabre title, while the boys fencing team placed second in the state. The team also has several individuals who are now competing at national fencing events.
In 1999, the Highlander Baseball team won the Group II state championship. The program won its second title in 2011, winning the Group II State Championship against the West Essex High School
Knights by a score of 8-2.
In 2011, the track team won their fourth state sectional championship in the previous seven years.
(TOB). TOB is organized into regions called "chapters", with the Highlander Band being in Chapter X. The championship competition is known as the Atlantic Coast Championship held each November. The Highlander Band has won many awards in TOB such as 28 chapter championships. Every four years, most recently in 2010, the band travels to Scotland to perform in the summer street parade in Edinburgh
.
The Governor Livingston Highlander Band is the winner of twelve Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships: 1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011 (1980 Group 4, 1993 Group 2, others Group 1). Governor Livingston is also the winner of seven USSBA
(Formally CMBC) Championships: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1997 (1993 and 1997 Group 2-Open, others Group 1-Open).
Comprehensive high school
Comprehensive high schools are the most common form of public high schools in the United States and are meant to serve the needs of all students, as compared to the common practice in other nations in which examinations are used to sort students into different high schools for different populations...
four-year co-educational public high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
located in Berkeley Heights
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,183....
, in Union County
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States, operating as part of the Berkeley Heights Public Schools
Berkeley Heights Public Schools
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade from Berkeley Heights in Union County, New Jersey....
. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit association dedicated to educational excellence and improvement through peer evaluation and accreditation...
Commission on Secondary Schools since 1965.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,043 students and 80 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.04.
The school was built in 1960 on the site of a former Nike Missle Control Station in the Murray Hill
Murray Hill, New Jersey
Murray Hill is an unincorporated area within portions of both Berkeley Heights and New Providence, located in Union County in northern New Jersey, United States....
section of Berkeley Heights. It is the sole secondary school for students from Berkeley Heights and Mountainside
Mountainside, New Jersey
If you are looking for the community in Ontario, see Mountainside, Ontario.Mountainside is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States...
for grades 9-12, who attend the district's high school as part of a sending/receiving relationship
Sending/receiving relationship
A sending/receiving relationship is one in which a public school district sends some or all of its students to attend the schools of another district. This is often done to achieve costs savings in smaller districts or continues after districts have grown as part of a historical relationship...
with the Mountainside School District
Mountainside School District
The Mountainside School District is a community public school district, that serves students in Kindergarten through eighth grade in the borough of Mountainside, in Union County, New Jersey, United States....
. The high school's namesake is William Livingston
William Livingston
William Livingston served as the Governor of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and was a signer of the United States Constitution.-Early life:...
, the first Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
and a signatory of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. The Royal Stewart tartan of the Stewart Clan (of whom Livingston was a member) is a symbol of the school and the tartan's red and blue colors are the high school's colors, as well.
Awards and recognition
In the 2011 "Ranking America's High Schools" issue by The Washington PostThe Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, the school was ranked 32nd in New Jersey and 1,112th nationwide. The school was ranked 416th in Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
's 2009 ranking of the top 1,500 high schools in the United States and was ranked 8th in New Jersey, with 2.293 AP tests taken in 2008 per graduating senior and 48% of all graduating seniors passing at least one AP exam; The school was ranked 707th nationwide in 2008. In Newsweek's 2007 rankings of the country's top 1,200 high schools, Governor Livingston High School was listed in 776th place, the 17th-highest ranked school in New Jersey. With the rankings calculated by Jay Mathews shifted to The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
in 2011, the school was ranked 31st in New Jersey and 1,071st nationwide.
The school was the 24th-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 322 schools statewide, in New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly
New Jersey Monthly is a monthly glossy publication featuring issues of possible interest to residents of the United States state of New Jersey...
magazine's September 2010 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", after being ranked 15th in 2008 out of 316 schools. The school was ranked 21st in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which included 316 schools across the state.
History
In 1937, the first regional high school district in New Jersey (Union County Regional School District No. 1) was established by the state for the towns of Berkeley Heights, ClarkClark, New Jersey
Clark is a township in southern Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 14,756.-History:...
, Garwood
Garwood, New Jersey
Garwood is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 4,226.Garwood was incorporated as a borough on March 19, 1903, from portions of Cranford Township and Westfield Town....
, Kenilworth
Kenilworth, New Jersey
Kenilworth is a Borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,914.Kenilworth was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 13, 1907, from portions of Cranford and Union Township, based on the...
, Mountainside
Mountainside, New Jersey
If you are looking for the community in Ontario, see Mountainside, Ontario.Mountainside is a borough in Union County, New Jersey, United States...
, and Springfield
Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey
Township of Springfield is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population increased to a record high of 15,817....
. At that time, all students residing in the district attended Jonathan Dayton High School
Jonathan Dayton High School
Jonathan Dayton High School is an American four-year comprehensive public high school in Springfield Township, in Union County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Springfield Public Schools...
in Springfield. As the district began to grow, additional schools were built, and, in September 1960, Governor Livingston Regional High School opened its doors to 800 students from Berkeley Heights and Mountainside. The regional district's superintendent at the time was Dr. Warren Davis and Frederick Aho was the first principal of the high school.
School Principals
| Principal | Term |
|---|---|
| Frederick Aho | 1960–1973 |
| Peter Festante | 1973–1990 |
| Dr. Rosalie Lamonte | 1990–1997 |
| Benjamin Jones | 1997–2003 |
| John Farinella | 2003–2006 |
| Gregory Meissner | 2006–2008 |
| Scott McKinney | 2008–present |
The "Highlander" was chosen the school's mascot by student body vote in 1960, combining the tradition of the town's first baseball team and the location of the school at the highest point in Union County. William Livingston, for whom the school is named, was of Scottish Highland descent.
In 1960, the yearbook adopted the name Claymore
Claymore
The term claymore refers to the Scottish variant of the late medieval longsword, two-handed swords with a cross hilt, of which the guards were in use during the 15th and 16th centuries.-Terminology:...
, which has continued to the present day.
Project Graduation
Project Graduation
Project Graduation is a program offered by many high schools in the United States, in which organized, adult-supervised and alcohol-free activities are offered as part of a post-graduation party, in lieu of student-run events with alcohol or drugs. Events often last through the night and are held...
, held the night of graduation and run entirely by volunteers, debuted in 1989, and provides a safe all-night celebration of each graduating class.
In 1997, the vote to de-regionalize the school district passed and the incoming freshmen in the fall of 1997 were the first to enter Governor Livingston High School, part of the Berkeley Heights School District.
Academics
Governor Livingston's academic program has been very highly rated, with the high school finishing in the top 40 secondary schools in New Jersey in a recent survey. The school offers a wide variety of classes including Advanced Placement (AP) courses for college credit.The school has offers a wide variety of courses. There is a language requirement, in which a student must take at least two years of a non-English language. It is highly recommended to take four years of a single language. Languages Offered: Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, and American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
.
Governor Livingston was the winner of the 1994, 1995, and 1996 New Jersey Science Olympiad Division C Championship, 1997 Division 5 National Champions for the Junior Engineering Technical Society's
Junior Engineering Technical Society
Junior Engineering Technical Society is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting engineering and technology careers to America's young people. JETS engages students in various engineering education programs that are designed to encourage secondary school students to pursue...
TEAMS
TEAMS (academic competition)
Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science is an annual competition originally organized by the Junior Engineering Technical Society...
competition and winners of the 1997 New Jersey State Science Bowl.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program
Governor Livingston has an extensive Deaf and Hard of Hearing program for students around Union County. Our American Sign Language (ASL) and Junior National Association for the Deaf (JrNAD) clubs promote the cultural aspects of deafness that support a strong deaf peer group.This program offers the following services to our students who are deaf and hard of hearing:
• Self-contained, resource center, general education classes on all academic levels.
• Elective classes in a wide variety of subject areas.
• Shared program available with Union County Vocational Technical School.
• Teachers of the Deaf who instruct using Total Communication (voice and sign).
• Educational interpreters on staff.
• A speech and language specialist who is responsible for enhancing communication skills. Our program includes two sessions per week.
• Clubs, sports and after school activities in an inclusive setting.
• Strong auditory component to support students with Cochlear Implants.
• Interpreters are available for non-curricular activities including guidance appointments, assemblies and GLHS theatrical performances.
The JrNAD (Junior National Association for the Deaf) is a club consisting of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students, that promotes leadership, socialization and community service. Under the guidance of the advisors, students not only plan trips and social events, but also engage in fundraising activities to benefit causes outside the organization. Past trips have included interpreted Broadway performances and special D/HH events across New Jersey.
In addition, American Sign Language is offered as a language. The students enrolled in ASL classes have the opportunity to interact with the deaf and hard of hearing students. This enables the students to both practice and enhance their signing skills.
References: http://www.njdeafprogram.com Berkeley Heights Public Schools, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Presentation
Athletics
The Governor Livingston High School Highlanders competes in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic ConferenceUnion County Interscholastic Athletic Conference
The Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference is a New Jersey high school sports association operating under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association...
, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association is an association of hundreds of New Jersey high schools that regulates high school athletics and holds tournaments and crowns champions in high school sports.-State championships:...
. Previously, the school had been part of the Mountain Valley Conference
Mountain Valley Conference
The Mountain Valley Conference was a New Jersey high school sports association under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association . The conference consisted of sixteen public and parochial high schools covering Union County and Essex County in northern New Jersey...
. The school fields teams in varsity, junior varsity, and freshman football, boys and girls soccer, cross country, cheerleading, wrestling, basketball, indoor and outdoor track, baseball, softball, golf, swimming, tennis, field hockey, bowling, lacrosse, fencing and ice hockey.
In 1965, the Governor Livingston Regional High School football team, coached by Jack Bicknell
Jack Bicknell
-Professional:-External links:...
, won the school's first State Championship, Group II title for a team that was undefeated, untied and nearly unscored on.
In 1977, the Boys Varsity Soccer team, led by Chaz Sutherland won the school's first State Championship, Group II title, defeating Lawrence High School
Lawrence High School (New Jersey)
Lawrence High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence Township, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States, serving grades 9-12 as part of the Lawrence Township Public Schools. LHS was built in 1967...
. The team won the Group II title for a second time in 1979, defeating Freehold High School
Freehold High School
Freehold High School is a four-year public high school located within Freehold Borough, New Jersey, operating as part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The school serves students from all of Freehold Borough and from portions of Freehold Township...
. In 1984, the Boys Varsity Soccer team won the State Championship, Group II title and was ranked by The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
as high as number 4 in the State of New Jersey. In 1994, the Highlanders Boys' Soccer team won Mountain Valley Conference, Union County and the New Jersey Group II State Championships with a 2-0 win over Hopewell Valley Central High School. The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
ranked them as high as number 3 in the State of New Jersey.
In 1985, the Highlander Girls' Varsity Soccer team won the school's first girls' State Championship, Group II title over Delran High School
Delran High School
Delran High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Delran Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Delran Township School District....
.
In 1989, the Highlander Football team, coached by Joe Hubert, won the Mountain Valley Conference and advanced to the North Jersey Section 2 Group I Championship Game.
In 1993, Ricky Ortega won the state championship in wrestling at 130 lbs.
The cheerleading squad has gained many awards in past competitions.
In 2004, Mike Carmody won the State Championship in the 800m.
In 2006, the tennis team placed 10th in the state of New Jersey.
In 2007, the women's Field Hockey team had a triumphant and victorious breakthrough as the Varsity team made States for the first time in 30 years. The 2007 record was also the highest it had been in the past decade. In the 2005 season, they carried a total of five wins and equal ties, after the 2004 season which had only one win. The girl's motto, "One Heart", has characterized the dedication and hard work that has changed the face, name and tradition of Governor Livingstons' field hockey team in most recent years,
In 2006, the school finished installing a FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
on its football field. It is used primarily for football, soccer, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
and field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
.
The Governor Livingston Boy's Cross Country team won the Mountain Valley Conference in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
The 2006-07 Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2007 Kelley Cup playoffs, finishing fourth in the Central Blue division.
The 2007-08 Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2008 Kelley Cup playoffs, finishing third in the Central Blue division, also the Ice Hockey team qualified for the 2007-08 New Jersey Public High School State Championship
The softball team won the 2007 Central, Group II state sectional championship with a string of shutout wins over Roselle Park High School
Roselle Park High School
Roselle Park High School is a four-year public high school located in Roselle Park, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Roselle Park School District. Starting as of 2007, Roselle Park High School serves grades 9-12...
(10-0), Shore Regional High School
Shore Regional High School
Shore Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students from four communities in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The high school serves students from the constituent municipalities of Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch, where the school...
(6-0) and Delaware Valley Regional High School
Delaware Valley Regional High School
Delaware Valley Regional High School is a regional, four-year public high school and school district, that serves students in western Hunterdon County. The high school is located in Alexandria Township...
(1-0) in the tournament final. The team moved on to win the Group II State Championship with wins over James Caldwell High School
James Caldwell High School
James Caldwell High School is an American four-year comprehensive public high school in West Caldwell, in Essex County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. The school is named after American Revolutionary War figure Reverend James Caldwell...
(4-2) and Pascack Hills High School
Pascack Hills High School
Pascack Hills High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, one of two high schools that are part of the Pascack Valley Regional High School District in Bergen County, New Jersey. PHHS serves the residents of both Montvale, where the campus is located, and the neighboring community...
(2-0) in the final game.
In 2008, the football team qualified for the playoffs and reached the state sectional final, where it lost to James Caldwell High School
James Caldwell High School
James Caldwell High School is an American four-year comprehensive public high school in West Caldwell, in Essex County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. The school is named after American Revolutionary War figure Reverend James Caldwell...
at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
by a score of 22-7.
In 2009, the girls fencing team won the state title, as well as the state sabre title, while the boys fencing team placed second in the state. The team also has several individuals who are now competing at national fencing events.
In 1999, the Highlander Baseball team won the Group II state championship. The program won its second title in 2011, winning the Group II State Championship against the West Essex High School
West Essex High School
West Essex High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school in North Caldwell, New Jersey in the United States. The high school is part of the West Essex Regional School District, which serves students from four municipalities in western Essex County. Communities served by the district's...
Knights by a score of 8-2.
In 2011, the track team won their fourth state sectional championship in the previous seven years.
Marching band
The Governor Livingston Highlander Band (http://highlanderband.org/) was under the direction of Dan Kopcha since the early 1970s. However, in 2007 Kopcha announced his retirement and the band has subsequently been under the direction of Nicholas O'Sullivan, himself a Governor Livingston alumnus and former Highlander Band member. The band is extremely competitive and has been recognized with many awards. One of the earliest competitive wins was the 1972 award of the Governor's Cup at the Festival of States in St. Petersburg, Florida. The band competes against other bands associated with an organization called Tournament of BandsTournament of Bands
The Tournament of Bands is one of the largest competitive band organizations in the United States and is one of several major circuits in the mid-Atlantic states . TOB was founded in 1972 by the National Judges Association and currently has 439 member bands...
(TOB). TOB is organized into regions called "chapters", with the Highlander Band being in Chapter X. The championship competition is known as the Atlantic Coast Championship held each November. The Highlander Band has won many awards in TOB such as 28 chapter championships. Every four years, most recently in 2010, the band travels to Scotland to perform in the summer street parade in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
The Governor Livingston Highlander Band is the winner of twelve Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championships: 1980, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2011 (1980 Group 4, 1993 Group 2, others Group 1). Governor Livingston is also the winner of seven USSBA
United States Scholastic Band Association
The United States Scholastic Band Association was formed in the Fall of 1988 to provide high school band programs with a competitive circuit featuring top judges from across the continent and a venue for the US Scholastic Band Championship....
(Formally CMBC) Championships: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1997 (1993 and 1997 Group 2-Open, others Group 1-Open).
Clubs
The school has many clubs including foreign language clubs, drama, and various student outreach programs.Student government
The government is a typical high school governing system. It consists of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and various representatives. The Student Council works to make changes in student policy and plan special events.Administration
Core members of the school's administration are:- Scott McKinney, Principal
- Mary Ann McAdam, Assistant Principal
- Scott Neigel, Assistant Principal
Notable alumni
- Scott GimpleScott Gimple-Early life:Gimple grew up in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey and graduated from Governor Livingston High School. He graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television.-Film and television:...
, television and comic book writer. - Brielle LaCostaBrielle LaCostaBrielle LaCosta is a beauty queen from Warren Township, New Jersey who is Miss New Jersey International 2010 and Miss New Jersey Galaxy 2011.-Personal background:...
(born 1984), Miss New Jersey International 2010, Miss New Jersey Galaxy 2011, Class of 2003. - Peter SagalPeter SagalPeter Sagal is an American playwright, screenwriter, actor, and host of the National Public Radio game show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He is originally from Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, although he currently resides in Oak Park, Illinois. Sagal attended Harvard University in Cambridge,...
(born 1965), playwright, class of 83. - Jill SantorielloJill SantorielloJill Santoriello is an American musician, composer, lyricist, and author. She is a self-taught musician whose award winning first musical A Tale of Two Cities was an Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for Outstanding New Musical in 2009.Santoriello was born in Summit, New Jersey and grew up in...
, Broadway playwright and composer, musical A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities (musical)A Tale of Two Cities is a musical with book, music and lyrics by Jill Santoriello based on the novel of the same name by Charles Dickens....
, class of 83.
External links
- Governor Livingston High School Official Website
- Berkeley Heights Public Schools
- Data for the Berkeley Heights Public Schools, National Center for Education StatisticsNational Center for Education StatisticsThe National Center for Education Statistics is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States...
- Governor Livingston Highlander Band website