Triton Regional High School (New Jersey)

Triton Regional High School
Address
250 Schubert Avenue Runnemede , Camden County , New Jersey 08078 United States
Coordinates	39°50′57″N75°03′51″W / 39.849029°N 75.064091°W / 39.849029; -75.064091
Information
Type	Public high school
Established	1957
School district	Black Horse Pike Regional School District
NCES School ID	340177001338 [1]
Principal	Melissa Sheppard
Faculty	95.3 FTEs [1]
Enrollment	1,132 (as of 2022–23) [1]
Student to teacher ratio	11.9:1 [1]
Color(s)	Scarlet and   royal blue [2]
Athletics conference	Tri-County Conference [3] (general) West Jersey Football League (football)
Team name	Mustangs [2]
Website	www.bhprsd.org/Triton

Triton Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive regional public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from Bellmawr, Gloucester Township and Runnemede, three communities in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as one of three secondary schools of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. ^[4] Triton serves all students from Bellmawr and Runnemede, along with those from the northern portion of Gloucester Township. ^{[5] [6]}

As of the 2022–23 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,132 students and 95.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.9:1. There were 300 students (26.5% of enrollment) eligible for free lunch and 32 (2.8% of students) eligible for reduced-cost lunch. ^[1]

History

Voters approved spending $2.3 million (equivalent to $20.2 million in 2022) for construction of Triton Regional High School, the district's first facility. ^[7] The school opened in September 1957 with a total of 980 students. ^[8] The school celebrated its 50th anniversary during the 2006–07 school year. ^[9]

In October 2012, five of Triton's faculty and administration were charged in having sexual affairs with students. Three teachers (Nick Martinelli, Daniel Michielli, and Jeffrey Logandro) were charged for actually having committed sexual misconduct, while two administrators (Principal Catherine DePaul and Vice Principal Jernee Kollock) were charged for covering up the incident. ^[10] In wake of the teachers' firings, many different substitute teachers took the places of Logandro, Martinelli, and Michielli, Triton alumnus Daniel Mackie was appointed Interim Principal (in place of DePaul) for the remainder of the 2012–2013 school year, while Lynne Sireci was named interim 9th Grade Vice Principal (in place of Kollock) for the remainder of 2012–2013 until July 1, 2013. Starting July 1, 2013, longtime Black Horse Pike Regional School District employee and fellow Triton alumnus Melissa Sheppard was appointed Triton's new principal for the 2013–2014 school year and beyond, while current Triton Vice Principal Harold Little would take over the role as the Class of 2016's Vice Principal (the role Kollock had prior to her firing). Little would remain the Class of 2016's Vice Principal until their graduation in June 2016.

Awards, recognition and rankings

The school was the 241st-ranked public high school in New Jersey out of 339 schools statewide in New Jersey Monthly magazine's September 2014 cover story on the state's "Top Public High Schools", using a new ranking methodology. ^[11] The school had been ranked 271st in the state of 328 schools in 2012, after being ranked 278th in 2010 out of 322 schools listed. ^[12] The magazine ranked the school 221st in 2008 out of 316 schools. ^[13] The school was ranked 236th in the magazine's September 2006 issue, which surveyed 316 schools across the state. ^[14]

Athletics

The Triton Regional High School Mustangs ^[2] compete as one of the member schools in the Tri-County Conference, which is comprised of public and private high schools located in Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. ^[3] The conference is overseen by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). ^[15] With 830 students in grades 10-12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Group III for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 761 to 1,058 students in that grade range. ^[16] The football team competes in the National Division of the 94-team West Jersey Football League superconference ^{[17] [18]} and was classified by the NJSIAA as Group III South for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 680 to 889 students. ^[19]

Triton Regional High School students also have the opportunity to participate in the Triton ice hockey team during the winter months, which is not officially associated or funded by the school. Starting in the 2016-2017 school year, Triton added a lacrosse team for both boys and girls.

The baseball team won the South Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1959 and 1970. ^[20]

The field hockey team won the South Jersey Group III state sectional championship in 1983. ^[21]

Marching band

The school's marching band won the Chapter One Championships in 2000-2002, 2004, 2008, 2010, and 2011. They were also the 2001 Atlantic Coast Champion in Group 1. They went on to become the 2011 Atlantic Coast Champion in Group 1A. ^[22]

The school's indoor drumline was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic A champions in 1997 and 1999, and the Scholastic Open Concert champions in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The school's indoor color guard was the Tournament Indoor Association Scholastic Open champions in 1999 and 2002. In 2009, they were the TIA Scholastic A champions. In 2010, they were Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network champions and placed 5th at the Winter Guard International South Brunswick Regional, held at South Brunswick High School. The color guard has since been discontinued.^{[ citation needed ]}

Administration

The school's principal is Melissa Sheppard. Her core administration includes five vice principals, one for each class and one who serves as athletic director. ^[23]

Other district high schools

Including Triton, there are three high schools within the jurisdiction of the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Students attend one of the three based upon their area of residence. The other two schools (with 2021–22 enrollment from the National Center for Education Statistics ^[24] ) are: ^{[25] [26]}

• Highland Regional High School: Located in Blackwood, Highland opened in 1967 and served 1,131 students from Gloucester Township.
• Timber Creek Regional High School: Located in Erial, Timber Creek, established in 2001, is the newest of the three high schools within the Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Timber Creek served 1,177 students from Gloucester Township.

Notable alumni

See also: Category:Triton Regional High School (New Jersey) alumni

Notable alumni of Triton Regional High School include: ^[27]

• Rob Andrews (born 1957; class of 1975), member of Congress from New Jersey's 1st congressional district. ^[28]
• Chrissy Conway (born 1979; class of 1997), Contemporary Christian music singer/songwriter and former member of the groups Choice and ZOEgirl. ^[29]
• Michael Iaconelli (born 1972, class of 1990), bass fisherman. ^[30]
• David R. Mayer (born 1967, class of 1985), New Jersey General Assembly member who represented the 4th Legislative District from 2002 to 2008. ^[27]
• Jeff Moore (born 1980), retired soccer player. ^[31]
• Jack O'Halloran (born 1943; class of 1961), boxer and actor who appeared in Superman and Superman II . ^[32]
• A. Raymond Randolph (born 1943; class of 1961), federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit who was appointed to the court in 1990. ^[33]
• Lisa Regina (born c. 1961; class of 1979-1980), actress, screenwriter, director and acting coach. ^[34]

References

1. School data for Triton Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Triton Regional High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
3. Member Schools, Tri-County Conference. Accessed November 18, 2020.
4. Triton Regional High School 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 3, 2016. "Triton Regional is a community based high school and we value the support of our parents, community members and local businesses. Our students and staff are ambassadors of Runnemede, Bellmawr, and Gloucester Township and carry that honor with Mustang pride."
5. District Home: Registration Info tab, Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Accessed February 7, 2017. "What school will you be attending? All Bellmawr and Runnemede residents attend Triton Regional High School. Gloucester Township residents Click Here to view the District Map."
6. Gloucester Township High School Attendance Areas, Black Horse Pike Regional School District. Accessed February 7, 2017.
7. "BHP Region OKs $340,000 Bond", Courier-Post , March 6, 1957. Accessed April 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The Black Horse Pike Regional High School District approved a $340,000 bond issue Tuesday night by a vote of 245 yes, 139 no. The district includes Bellmawr, Runnemede and Gloucester Township... Earlier, the voters had approved a $2,300,000 bond issue to construct a school, known as the Triton Regional High School, which is now under construction at Schubert ave. and Evesham rd., in Runnemede."
8. "County School Enrollment to Hit 58,000", Courier-Post , September 11, 1957. Accessed April 4, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "On Sept. 23, the Triton Regional High School, Evesham rd., Runnemede will add approximately 980 pupils to the enrollment figure, and on Sept. 30 another increase of 93 pupils is anticipated when Overbrook Regional High School opens."
9. Triton Alumni Hall Of Fame, accessed October 18, 2006.
10. Wells, Charlie. "5 busted in New Jersey student-teacher sex scandal", New York Daily News , October 5, 2012. Accessed November 28, 2012. "Teachers Jeffrey Logandro, Daniel Michielli and Nicholas Martinelli, Principal Catherine DePaul and Vice Principal Jernee Kollock of Triton Regional High School could all face at least five years in prison if they are convicted."
11. Staff. "Top Schools Alphabetical List 2014", New Jersey Monthly , September 2, 2014. Accessed September 5, 2014.
12. Staff. "The Top New Jersey High Schools: Alphabetical", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2012. Accessed September 7, 2012.
13. Staff. "2010 Top High Schools", New Jersey Monthly , August 16, 2010. Accessed February 12, 2011.
14. "Top New Jersey High Schools 2008: By Rank", New Jersey Monthly , September 2008, posted August 7, 2008. Accessed August 19, 2008.
15. League & Conference Officers/Affiliated Schools 2020-2021, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
16. NJSIAA General Public School Classifications 2019–2020, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
17. Triton Mustangs, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023.
18. Home Page, West Jersey Football League. Accessed May 1, 2023. "The WJFL is a 94-school super conference that stretches from Princeton to Wildwood encompassing schools from the Colonial Valley Conference, the Burlington County Scholastic League, the Olympic Conference, the Tri-County Conference, the Colonial Conference, and the Cape Atlantic League. The WJFL is made up of sixteen divisions with divisional alignments based on school size, geography and a strength-of-program component."
19. NJSIAA Football Public School Classifications 2022–2024, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
20. NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
21. History of NJSIAA Field Hockey Championships, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023.
22. Tournament of Bands - Chapter One History, Tournament of Bands. Accessed November 1, 2010.
23. Administration, Triton Regional High School. Accessed October 28, 2023.
24. School Data for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
25. School Performance Reports for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 4, 2022.
26. New Jersey School Directory for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 29, 2016.
27. Current Hall of Fame Members, Triton Regional High School's Alumni Hall of Fame. Accessed January 14, 2020.
28. Rob Andrews (D), The Washington Post U.S. Congress Votes Database. Accessed February 12, 2011. "Andrews, Robert Ernest, a Representative from New Jersey; born in Camden, Burlington County, N.J., August 4, 1957; graduated from Triton High School, Runnemede, N.J., 1975."
29. Staff. "South Jersey musician finds her calling as a member of a Christian trio", Courier-Post , May 10, 2002. Accessed September 22, 2011. "Conway, who graduated from Triton Regional High School in 1997 and is about to make settlement on a house of her own in Nashville, said she was thrilled..."
30. Callahan, Kevin. "Animated angler seeks Bassmaster title again", Courier-Post , July 27, 2005. Accessed February 12, 2011. "Iaconelli, who attended Triton High School and grew up fishing Timber Creek, also should have some home cooking on his side."
31. Ralph, Matthew. "Previous MLS draft picks reflect on the experience", Brotherly Game, January 18, 2018. Accessed November 22, 2022. "Moore, who graduated from Triton Regional High School, won a Division III national championship with Stockton in 2002 and was first noticed by the MetroStars in an open tryout among a sea of some 60 players."
32. Alumni Hall of Fame, Triton Regional High School. Accessed June 1, 2015.
33. Oral History Project - Arthur Raymond Randolph, Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit. Accessed October 1, 2015. "Judge Randolph: No, we never lived in Riverside. We lived in a town called Palmyra, New Jersey, for a while, which is where my grandmother and my great-uncle lived, and then moved in 1950 to what was then a very small rural town called Glendora.... Mr. Prettyman: And where did you go to high school? Judge Randolph: I was a member of the first graduating class of a high school called Triton Regional High School. Mr. Prettyman: And when did you graduate? Judge Randolph: The year was 1961.
34. Gross, Dan. "'Big Pussy' defends suit from Jersey girl", The Philadelphia Inquirer , February 26, 2009. Accessed December 14, 2013. "Vincent Pastore, who played Big Pussy on The Sopranos today began trial in the Supreme Court of New York over an April 2005 assault of former fiancee, Gloucester Township native, Lisa Regina.... Regina, an actress/acting teacher, who graduated Triton High in Runnemede, later filed civil suit against the actor."

External links

• Official website
• Black Horse Pike Regional School District
• School Performance Report for Triton Regional High School , New Jersey Department of Education
• Data for the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics
• South Jersey Sports: Triton HS