By Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi, MEd²., M.S., M.B.S., M.A.², Ed.D., Ph.D., Superintendent, Pennsauken Public Schools

We are soon approaching the start of the 2021-2022 school year. We look forward to seeing all of our students back to school this fall; and I assure you that this will be a fun and exceptional school year for our children. We are taking every step to make certain the start of the school year is safe, while ensuring that students have every academic and extra-curricular opportunity they would have any other year.

As of right now, we are opening on a full day, regular five-day schedule for all of our schools. We will work to ensure all sports, extra-curricular activities, and daily educational procedures are continued with a sense of normalcy for all of our students despite the rising COVID-19 numbers. Please expect multiple communications coming from me before the school year begins regarding changes in state government mandates, masks, and overall safety precautions. We are praying for a normal school year filled with learning, curiosity, wonder, and amusement for all of our students.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the Rowan University Graduate School to Pennsauken Public Schools. For the first time, Rowan University will be partnering with a school district to create doctoral and master’s programs that will be hosted at Pennsauken Public Schools. Graduate school classes will take place at our new Media Center at Pennsauken High School and this partnership with Rowan University will ensure a wonderful opportunity for Camden County, Rowan University, and all of South Jersey.

Since 2016, we have created articulation agreements with Camden County College, Rowan College of Burlington County, Rowan College of Gloucester County, and Rowan University, Main Campus. Our students have already begun to take advantage of these programs and have left Pennsauken High School with college credits which not only advances their post-secondary education, but it also saves their parents a great deal of money when paying for college. Now, with the addition of these master’s and doctoral graduate programs from Rowan University being added to our campus, educational professionals from all over the state and area can grow as scholars on our Pennsauken High School grounds. The first doctoral cohort, starting this September, is comprised of many of our educators that will begin their doctoral journey in our beautiful media center. I would like to congratulate our students that took advantage of this opportunity and we look forward to many years of this partnership with Rowan University. 

Additionally, the Board of Education and I have spent a great deal of time building Career and Technical Education (CTE) options for students which include automotive, carpentry, cosmetology, culinary arts, electrical construction, welding, criminal justice, Air Force JROTC, HVACR, EMT and fire safety, and health occupations. Pennsauken Public Schools will slowly be opening a night school program for many of these CTE programs in the near future. 

Through these partnerships and options, Pennsauken Public Schools will have the option of career growth or change for both educational professionals and vocational careers.  This will be in addition to the plethora of academic and vocational opportunities offered to our secondary students on an annual basis.