By Elaine Van Develde
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School's Chris Lanzalotto has a new job — vice principal in charge of athletics and extra curricular activities.
It's a vice principal role of a different kind — a departure from the standard disciplinarian role that comes with the title. And he's officially on the job, as of July 1.
Among other things, Lanzalotto — who has been a coach for many sports teams in and out of RFH as well as founder of girls volleyball at the high school — was chosen because of his background and proactive approach to boosting student involvement in an array of activities, according to a release.
He plans to hone in on getting more students involved where their specific interests lie, from civic organizations to fine and performing arts and sports, it added.
How he plans on implementing that plan is by targeting incoming freshmen and making them more aware of what activities and opportunities are available and most suitable to them and their interests while balancing academics.
“I look forward to making positive changes to the ways in which we encourage students to become involved in school activities, and in how we celebrate their achievements,” Lanzalotto said in a released statement.
As part of his plan to get freshman involved from the start of their RFH high school years, Lanzalotto will be adding a Fall Activities Event at the start of the school year during the course of a school day.
That will supplement the existing annual Spring Student Activities Fair for eighth grade incoming RFH freshmen.
The impetus for the second activities event, according to school officials, is to first give the new freshmen a chance to see their schedules and better coordinate time dedicated to activities without compromise to academics.
Lanzalotto’s vision for activities initiatives, according to RFH officials, includes the following enhancements to the current program:
- providing a more formal end-of-year banquet for graduating seniors and their parents, celebrating their achievements in all areas;
- organizing student pep rallies at the beginning of all three sports seasons, not just in the fall;
- encouraging all students to make use of the RFH lower gym, which is in the process of being refurbished to offer higher-end equipment for working out;
- empowering the RFH student cheering section, also known as “The Dawg Pound,” to continue to display a positive sense of school spirit and to get even more students involved in attending and supporting athletic events.
Lanzalotto’s background includes:
- being founder of the highly successful Girls’ Volleyball program at RFH, for which he served as head coach from 2003-2004;
- spending four years as assistant coach of RFH Lacrosse;
- being supervisor of Student Activities at RFH;
- having fifteen years’ experience as an assistant football coach at St. Peter’s Preparatory School, Manchester Township High School and at RFH;
- having two years’ experience as assistant basketball and track and field coach at Manchester Township High School;
- having a 17-year background as a physical education and health teacher at St. Peter’s Prep, Manchester Township High School, and RFH;
- being head coach of Boys’ Volleyball at St. Peter’s Prep, where he started the program;
- and serving as thletic site supervisor at St. Peter’s Prep.
A Lincroft resident, Lanzalotto has a master's degree in Education Leadership from Monmouth University. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in physical education with a concentration in coaching from Montclair State University.
In his community, Lanzalotto serves as vice president of the Lincroft Little League Board. He is also actively involved with the Bill Grier Basketball League affiliated with St. Leo the Great Grammar School, and acts as a coach for local sports teams as well.
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