This was Mr. Hayzler's message to the PTHS students and staff on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 that he read over the morning announcements.
Good morning, Golden Panthers.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Twenty-five years is a long time. For those of us who experienced that day, 25 years ago may seem like another lifetime. For others, it is a reminder of a moment in our nation's history that you have learned about but never experienced yourself.
Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day and the families whose lives were changed forever. We remember the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, military personnel, and first responders who ran toward danger to help others. And we remember the ordinary people who, in extraordinary circumstances, became heroes by helping a stranger, comforting someone in need, or simply refusing to give up.
But, there is something else I hope we remember about September 11th.
We remember how our nation came together.
For a time, the things that divided us seemed much less important than the things that connected us. People reached out to their neighbors. Communities supported one another. American Flags appeared everywhere. We stood together, cared for one another, and reminded ourselves that we were part of something bigger than any one individual.
There was a strength in that American spirit. It was a spirit of compassion, courage, sacrifice, resilience, and unity. It is a spirit we need today.
So, on this 25th anniversary, I want you to think beyond today.
Where will you be 25 years from now?
You may be sitting in a classroom today, but 25 years from now, you may be a parent, a teacher, a doctor, a business owner, a member of the military, a community leader, an artist, an athlete, or pursuing a path none of us can imagine yet.
I was a Business Teacher here at PTHS in my first year of teaching, walking from Room 308 to Room 412 to teach my next class. I never thought that 25 years later I would be the Principal of that same school, giving a speech to the Golden Panther community about that day.
Wherever life takes you, what will you stand for? What will you believe in? And, most importantly, what will you do about it?
Spirit is more than a feeling. It’s more than wearing a T-shirt. Spirit is action.
If you believe in your family, show it by being there for them.
If you believe in your faith, live it through how you treat others.
If you believe in your school, make it better.
If you believe in your community, serve it.
If you believe in something worth fighting for, have the courage to step forward and make a difference.
Your purpose will not be defined only by the career you choose or the success you achieve. It will also be defined by what you choose to stand for and what you choose to do for others.
So when you think about yourself 25 years from now, don't just ask, "Where will I be?" Ask yourself:
"What will I have done?"
"Who will I have helped?"
"What will be better because I was there?
Twenty-five years from now, I hope you can look back and know that you carried forward the best of the human spirit. You carried forward the courage to stand for something, the compassion to care for others, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the willingness to turn your beliefs into action.
Twenty-five years later, we remember those we lost. We honor those who served. We recognize the ordinary heroes who showed us the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.
Now, it is our turn. Not just to remember the spirit of how America responded to September 11th, but to live it.
It is our turn to stand for something. To serve someone. To make a difference. To find your purpose and put it into action.
Today, we remember. We honor. We never forget…..and we carry the spirit forward through what we do and who we are.
Please join me in a moment of silence.
Good morning, Golden Panthers.
Today marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.
Twenty-five years is a long time. For those of us who experienced that day, 25 years ago may seem like another lifetime. For others, it is a reminder of a moment in our nation's history that you have learned about but never experienced yourself.
Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day and the families whose lives were changed forever. We remember the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, military personnel, and first responders who ran toward danger to help others. And we remember the ordinary people who, in extraordinary circumstances, became heroes by helping a stranger, comforting someone in need, or simply refusing to give up.
But, there is something else I hope we remember about September 11th.
We remember how our nation came together.
For a time, the things that divided us seemed much less important than the things that connected us. People reached out to their neighbors. Communities supported one another. American Flags appeared everywhere. We stood together, cared for one another, and reminded ourselves that we were part of something bigger than any one individual.
There was a strength in that American spirit. It was a spirit of compassion, courage, sacrifice, resilience, and unity. It is a spirit we need today.
So, on this 25th anniversary, I want you to think beyond today.
Where will you be 25 years from now?
You may be sitting in a classroom today, but 25 years from now, you may be a parent, a teacher, a doctor, a business owner, a member of the military, a community leader, an artist, an athlete, or pursuing a path none of us can imagine yet.
I was a Business Teacher here at PTHS in my first year of teaching, walking from Room 308 to Room 412 to teach my next class. I never thought that 25 years later I would be the Principal of that same school, giving a speech to the Golden Panther community about that day.
Wherever life takes you, what will you stand for? What will you believe in? And, most importantly, what will you do about it?
Spirit is more than a feeling. It’s more than wearing a T-shirt. Spirit is action.
If you believe in your family, show it by being there for them.
If you believe in your faith, live it through how you treat others.
If you believe in your school, make it better.
If you believe in your community, serve it.
If you believe in something worth fighting for, have the courage to step forward and make a difference.
Your purpose will not be defined only by the career you choose or the success you achieve. It will also be defined by what you choose to stand for and what you choose to do for others.
So when you think about yourself 25 years from now, don't just ask, "Where will I be?" Ask yourself:
"What will I have done?"
"Who will I have helped?"
"What will be better because I was there?
Twenty-five years from now, I hope you can look back and know that you carried forward the best of the human spirit. You carried forward the courage to stand for something, the compassion to care for others, the resilience to overcome challenges, and the willingness to turn your beliefs into action.
Twenty-five years later, we remember those we lost. We honor those who served. We recognize the ordinary heroes who showed us the extraordinary strength of the human spirit.
Now, it is our turn. Not just to remember the spirit of how America responded to September 11th, but to live it.
It is our turn to stand for something. To serve someone. To make a difference. To find your purpose and put it into action.
Today, we remember. We honor. We never forget…..and we carry the spirit forward through what we do and who we are.
Please join me in a moment of silence.
Pequannock Schools Announcing Apptegy Rooms!
In an effort to unify our communication tools and to make it easier for both families and staff, the following will be our main classroom communication tools:
1) GMAIL - our pequannock.org accounts are still the best and easiest way to contact us
2) GOOGLE CLASSROOM - many of our staff will continue to use Google Classroom as our Learning Management System (LMS)
3) ROOMS - our latest communication tool is built right into our new Pequannock Township Schools app making our app a one-stop-shop for all district and school news
We are rolling out Rooms slowly but we wanted to make everyone aware of the new tool. Our sports and activities are already using Rooms and a few teachers are jumping in right away. However, please give our staff time to acclimate themselves to our tools so they can choose the best way to share information with our families.
Here are some links to help you get started:
STEP ONE: Download our new Pequannock Township Schools app
STEP TWO: Connect to Rooms either via an email invite going out later today on 9/4/26 or sign up via our app
(warning - you must use an email or phone number that we have associated with you and your student)
FOR FAQ's or other HELP, CLICK HERE
Mr. Shea's Pro Tip: when you download the app, be sure to select which schools you want to follow (screenshot here).
Thank you for your support - we hope your children are as excited as we are to be back to school!
Best Regards,
Matt Shea, Chief Technology Officer at Pequannock Township School District
PTHS will be following a single-session schedule on Friday, September 4th. PTHS will dismiss at 12:26 pm. We will be following our Day 4 schedule and hosting class meetings with the Administration.
PTHS is excited to welcome our parents to our annual Back to School Night on Thursday, September 24th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. There will be a brief meeting for Senior Parents in the Auditorium at 6:30 pm. An email will be sent out with the schedule for the evening. We will be following an "All Meet" schedule.
PTHS will be following an "ALL MEET" schedule on Wednesday, September 2nd and Thursday, September 3rd. Welcome Back!
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, New Jersey law requires public school districts to implement Bell-to-bell policies restricting student use of personal Internet-enabled devices during the day. At PTHS, our expectation is simple:
OFF - Devices are powered off
AWAY - Not on your person, stored in locker or backpack
OUT OF SIGHT - from 8:00 am - 3:04 pm
The goal is more than following a policy. It is creating a school environment where students can stay focused, stay present and stay connected to learning.
School-issued Chromebooks remain available for learning throughout the day.
We recognize this will be a change for many, but we thank you in advance for working together to make PTHS a productive learning environment for everyone. To read more about the policy, check out the letter from Mr. Hayzler here.
-Pequannock Township High School has once again been recognized among New Jersey’s top high schools, climbing to No. 81 in the state and #8 in Morris County in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings released this week.
The new ranking represents a significant jump for PTHS, which was ranked No. 105 in the 2025 rankings. The U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools rankings evaluate public high schools using multiple measures of academic performance and college readiness, among other factors. U.S. News has described the rankings as a way for families to compare schools based on indicators including academic achievement, graduation outcomes, and preparation for students beyond high school.
Attention Seniors: Come get a jumpstart on your college essay at this informative workshop on August 11th!
Congratulations to all of our AP Students and Teachers for an outstanding job on this year's AP Testing! Check out some of the highlights from this year's testing!
PTHS is excited to welcome our Grade 9 and new students to Orientation on August 18th from 8:30 am- 11:30 am!
Attention Seniors! Check out the Common App Workshop coming up in August!
The Senior Wall for the Class of 2026!
Thank you to our Senior Class Officers for your leadership and dedication! We will miss you!
Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We wish you the best of luck!
Congratulations to Mr. Hayzler on being recognized as the newest member of the Quarter Century Club. Thank you for your 25 years of service to the district!
Join us April 22nd at 7pm for a presentation on Neurodiversity & Mental Health. PTHS Student Assistance Counselor, Jennifer Basilone, will share practical strategies to create a supportive home and school environment.
