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Sparta High School

Politics
18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board 18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board
18-Year-Old Wins Seat On NJ Town's School Board Lifelong Sparta resident Chad Wood has been elected to the town’s Board of Education just five months after graduating from high school. The 18-year-old is one of the state’s youngest to hold a BOE position. Wood ran alongside Jennifer "Lonsky" Grana and Kaitlin Gagnon. The trio incumbents Christina "Longo" Keiling and LeeAnne M. Pitzer. Wood might be young, but he comes with plenty of experience, having served as Student Council President for three years at Sparta High School, and was elected Executive President his senior year. Wood was also elected as the BOE’s Student Representative d…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Sussex County Native Claire Fendt Dies, 34 Sussex County Native Claire Fendt Dies, 34
Sussex County Native Claire Fendt Dies, 34 Sussex County native Claire Marie Fendt died Tuesday, Oct. 10 at the age of 34, prompting an outpour of condolences and support. Born in Newton, Claire was raised in Sparta, her obituary says. She attended Sparta Middle School before graduating from Sparta High School and attending Sussex County College. Claire was known as a skilled and creative artist with a fierce love of animals. She had adopted several shelter cats throughout the years and had dreams of opening a cat sanctuary. Claire spent time in Bayonne, and lived in Brighton, England for a year before settling in Philadelphia, whe…

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by Valerie Musson
Schools
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Sussex County, Report Says These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Sussex County, Report Says
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Sussex County, Report Says The grades are in, and these Sussex County high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering a number of key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Sussex County” report: No. 1 - Sparta High School No. 2 - Newton High School No. 3 - Lenape Valley Regional High School No. 4 - High Point Regional High School No. 5 - Kittatinny Regional High School Sparta earned an overall grade of A-, with the Newton and Lenape Valley schools earning a B+ on Niche. The school…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Beloved Sparta High School Grad, Johns Hopkins Research Technologist Dies Suddenly, 26 Beloved Sparta High School Grad, Johns Hopkins Research Technologist Dies Suddenly, 26
Beloved Sparta High School Grad, Johns Hopkins Research Technologist Dies Suddenly, 26 Beloved Sparta High School graduate and Johns Hopkins research technologist Erin Julia Beebe died unexpectedly on Monday, April 4. She was 26. Erin attended Reverend George A. Brown Memorial School and Pope John XXIII High School before graduating from Sparta High School in 2014, her obituary says. She then used her love of science to pursue higher education at Muhlenberg College, where she graduated with a Neuroscience degree in 2018. Erin went on to earn employment as a Laboratory Research Assistant in the Department of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine at the…

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by Valerie Musson
Schools
Sudden Suspension Of Beloved Sparta HS Teacher Leaves Furious Parents Looking For Answers Sudden Suspension Of Beloved Sparta HS Teacher Leaves Furious Parents Looking For Answers
Sudden Suspension Of Beloved Sparta HS Teacher Leaves Furious Parents Looking For Answers The sudden suspension of a beloved teacher at Sparta High School has left outraged students and parents looking for answers. Kate Brennan was suspended from her position as an English teacher, women’s studies teacher and lacrosse coach at Sparta High School, according to a Change.org petition that hopes to get the town’s board of education to reinstate her. School Superintendent Matthew L. Beck was unable to confirm the reason for Brennan’s suspension citing legal constraints regarding “confidential personnel matters.” However, at Wednesday’s Board of Education meeting — which can be seen …

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Support Surges For Daughter, Infant Son After Unexpected Death Of Sussex County Mom, 32 Support Surges For Daughter, Infant Son After Unexpected Death Of Sussex County Mom, 32
Support Surges For Daughter, Infant Son After Unexpected Death Of Sussex County Mom, 32 Support is surging for the young daughter and infant son of a mother from Sussex County after her unexpected death. Jessica A. Mongiovi, 32, died at her home in Henrico, VA on April 20, her obituary says. Born in Hackettstown, Mongiovi grew up in Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School in 2007. Mongiovi went on to study veterinary technology at John Tyler Community College in Midlothian, VA, and worked at Tyson Foods in Glen Allen, her memorial says. She was also known for her love of sports and played travel soccer for many years, according to her obituary. More than $2,800 had bee…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
NEW RANKINGS: Website Runs Down Top Public Schools In Sussex County NEW RANKINGS: Website Runs Down Top Public Schools In Sussex County
NEW Rankings: Website Runs Down Top Public Schools In Sussex County We’ve seen the top public schools throughout New Jersey, but what about Morris County? Niche.com graded every school across the U.S. based on a "rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education," it said. According to the newly-released set of rankings, the top public high school in Sussex County is Sparta High School. Here are the other top-rated high schools in Sussex County, according to Niche.com. State test scores, college readiness, graduation rates and teacher quality were among the …

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by Valerie Musson
News
COVID-19: Sparta High School Halts Athletics For 2 Weeks After Multiple Cases Emerge COVID-19: Sparta High School Halts Athletics For 2 Weeks After Multiple Cases Emerge
Covid-19: Sparta High School Halts Athletics For 2 Weeks After Multiple Cases Emerge Athletic activities at Sparta High School have been put on hold for two weeks after several COVID-19 cases were reported. The cases are among members of the football and girls’ soccer teams, the school’s acting superintendent said. Sports practices are scheduled to resume on Monday, Oct. 5. “Our intent is to take this action as a proactive measure to protect the health and safety of our student athletes and our coaches,” said Acting Superintendent Patrick McQueeney in a letter on the district website Sunday night. “We are hoping to avoid a potential scenario that could result in a future c…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Sparta HS Football Player Cody Ulrich Dies, 28 Sparta HS Football Player Cody Ulrich Dies, 28
Sparta HS Football Player Cody Ulrich Dies, 28 Cody LaMont Ulrich, a 2009 Sparta High School graduate and football player, died Thursday, April 16. He was 28. Ulrich -- who had been living in Pompano Beach, Florida when he died -- played football during his freshman and part of his sophomore year. He was known for his intelligence and kind heart. Ulrich had earned his Journeyman’s certification at Dixie Plumbing and later worked for Home Depot, his obituary says. Fueled by a passion for all things Egypt, Ulrich had aspirations of becoming an Egyptologist. He also loved music, Star Wars and the Green Bay Packers, according to his obitua…

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Sparta Mourns HS Junior Melanie DiDomizio, 16 Sparta Mourns HS Junior Melanie DiDomizio, 16
Sparta Mourns HS Junior Melanie DiDomizio, 16 Sparta is mourning the loss of 16-year-old Melanie Paige DiDomizio, who died on Jan. 23 after a valiant battle with bone cancer. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., Mel moved to Sparta in 2012 where she was an accomplished dancer and gymnast. Her obituary remembers her as the "life of the party," all the while looking out for others. "She touched the lives of so many; our beloved, shining, happy girl, the light of our lives and the star of our hearts," her obit says.  "She never complained. She took whatever circumstance came her way and never let it stop her from getting what she wanted." Her dance…

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by Cecilia Levine