High Tech French Honor Society Holds 2014 Inductions

(North Bergen—June 23, 2014) The High Tech French Honor Society (FHS) held inductions for 13 students to recognize those who excelled this year, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Director of High Tech.
 The following sophomores have been inducted into the High Tech FHS for 2014: Bayonne residents Amina and Sara Bendaoud, Jessica Driscoll, Danica Lichauco, and Sofia Madrid; Jessica Zhu of Harrison; Jersey City residents Yenibal Almanzar and Amy Suchodolski; Karim Zitouni of Kearny; Secaucus residents Manasa Chilakala and Raechelle Manalo; Tony Houwayek of Union City; and West New York resident Alessandra Carrena-Novoa.
 “[The induction] was a gathering of students who shared experiences and thoughts on the importance of knowing a foreign language,” says Dr. Laje Gashi, moderator of the French Honor Society.
 Graduating seniors received cords and tassels. In addition, FHS held its elections for president and vice-president for the 2014-2015 school year. Kellen Dorio of Weehawken will become the new president and Union City resident Tania Houwayek will be the new vice-president. Also, Matthew Dynes of Bayonne shall become editor of the French newsletter Le Journal Français, with Kearny resident Melina Dallastella as co-editor.

County Prep Performing Arts Earn Top Honors at Teen Arts Conference

The County Prep Dance and Theater programs participated in the Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists Festival on May 28th and 29th.

 Ms. Warfel Sandler, Director of Dance at County Prep, presented three pieces of choreography for adjudication. With this year’s inception of the 407 Moves Dance Company offered an opportunity to send 7 of the most advanced dancers as a group to perform Looking On, choreographed by Guest Artist and teacher Meagan Woods. Dancers Gianna Diaz, Brendaliz Torres, Emmy Sepa, Malichi Morris, Alyssa Acciavatti, Tamir Rios, and Diana Uribe earned the highest award of Top Honors in the Dance Large Group Category. The 6 male dancers of the program: Devin Rodriguez, Dino Principe, Joshua Cordova, Malichi Morris, Tamir Rios, and Michael Romero, also won Top Honors in the Dance Small Group category for a piece they choreographed in collaboration with professional dancer Alex Biegelson. “We are thrilled and grateful for the recognition, and also appreciate the opportunity to share what we do with the community at large,” says Ms.Warfel Sandler.

 This year’s production of In The Heights, directed by theater instructor Ms. Shields along with Ms.Warfel Sandler & Mr.Contreras, brought an excerpt from the show for the Large Group Musical Theater category. Devin Rodriguez, Alexia Velazquez , Martha Wachulec, Juan Ferreira , Ryan Wares, Scarlett Melendez, Valerie O’Higgins, and Juarez Henriquez earned the Judges Award from theater professionals Marc Dalio and Adria Firestone. The performance was specifically commended for its strong, full vocals, diction, and choreography.

 Additionally, Ms.Shields also presented two humorous physical comedy scenes in the Small Group Drama category. Wally Villanueva & Chris Gawron performed Laughter on 23rd Floor by Neil Simon, and Joshua Dunn & Christine Bacuyag performed from Anniversary by Conrad Bishop. Also in the Solo Dance category, senior Stephanie Ramos performed Untold Emotion, choreographed for her by fellow senior Destiny Hernandez. The piece included a video background, also devised and edited by the students.
 Principal Barbara Mendolla along with Ms. Shields and Ms. Warfel are very proud of all of the young performing artists and look forward to the continued growth of the Theater and Dance programs at County Prep.

County Prep's Theatre Arts Performs A Dream Play by August Strindberg

On May 29 and May 30th County Prep theatre arts students performed in the expressionist play A Dream Play, written by August Strindberg in 1901. The main character is Agnes, a daughter of the Vedic god Indra. She descends to Earth to listen to the problems of human beings. She meets about 40 characters, some of them having a clearly symbolical value. After experiencing all sorts of human suffering (for example poverty, cruelty, and the routine of family life), the daughter of gods realizes that human beings are to be pitied. Finally, she returns to the Heaven and this moment corresponds to the awakening from a dream-like sequence of events.

This play is truly unconventional, it follows a non-linear plot with time jumps and déjà-vues, it moves along mythical and real spaces and presents characters that in the author’s own words : « split, double, multiply, vanish, solidify, blur and clarify ». As the play seems to « imitate the disconnected but seemingly logical form of the dream … imagination designs and embroiders a medley of memories, experiences, free fancies, absurdities and improvisations. » (preface to A Dream Play by the Strindberg)

County Prep’s rendition of the play was very well received by the audience. Directed by Ms. Shields, the piece was chosen for its versatility and unconventionality. With a cast of 30 actors and a crew of 5 it has been a tour de force both due to the difficulty of the material and its sheer complexity. As the director and Drama Teacher Ms. Shields puts it, the process has been both rewarding and insightful: « We have truly embarked on an one of a kind journey, searching for answers and trying to present human’s fears, injustices, hopes and dreams as envisioned by the author. We have been questioning whether our world is nothing but the dream of a god or whether a poet is the creator of it all. We hope to make the audience ponder and decide for themselves, all the while learning about human connections or lack thereof, amidst of smiles, and laughter, anguish and hope. »

The lead role of Agnes was played by seniors Crystal Jahoor, Azizzah Mabinuori, Melissa Ramcharitar, and Sophomore Alexia Velazquez. The role of the Officer was played by Junior Flora Keim and Sophomores Joshua Dunn and Ryan Wares. The role of the Lawyer was played by Junior Isaac Martinez and Sophomore Juan Ferreira. The role of the Poet was played by Aldana Quiroga. Other supporting roles were played by Seniors Alexandria Rivera, Devin Rodriguez, Christine Bacuyag, Reina Medina, Steven Suarez, Shalanda McCue, Renee Behr, Wally Villanueva, Juniors Kaylee Cox, Helena Dobson, Chris Gawron, Sophomores Samantha Killion, Jonathan Dunn, Brianna Pitchford, Gianni Ortega and Freshmen Adam Hassan, Nyzira Lynn, Kailyn Vazquez, Laura Revell, and Jennifer Soderstrom.

This production was overall an ensemble piece, where each performer was involved at all times, either on stage in numerous scenes, or backstage preparing the set, props, costumes, posters, sound effect, dramaturgy or program. Special recognition also goes to student sound and lighting technicians Joshua Lee and Chris Ortiz and to our stage and house managers Valerie O’Higgins and Scarlett Melendez.

Ms. Shields is very proud of all the actors, and crew who gave their all in our premiere rendition of this play as well as of the overall growth of our program. A special congratulation goes also to a few of the performers Ryan Wares, Juan Ferreira, Samantha Killion, Adam Hassan and Valerie O’Higgins who along with other County Prep students also performed in the Art House production of Music Man. The performers made the front page of The Jersey City Reporter of Sunday May 4th, 2014.

Principal Barbara Mendolla congratulates Ms. Shields and her theatre arts students.

High Tech’s Hamza Qureshi Earns Second Place in Third Annual National High School Architecture Competition

(Chicago, IL—June 13, 2014) The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) announced High Tech’s Hamza Qureshi, a resident of Jersey City, the winner of the second prize in its DiscoverDesign.org National High School Architecture Competition, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Qureshi, sponsored by his teacher, Gregory Simon, joined 219 teens from 28 high schools in 12 states who submitted design projects to redesign their school athletic pavilion to promote healthy lifestyles. A jury team of 35 architects, engineers, and designers from across the country, including the Director of Design at HOK, Vice President at Thornton Tomasetti, an architect with Incite Design Studio, and the founder of Black Spectacles, judged the final 10 projects, one of which had been drafted by Qureshi.

As the second prize winner, Qureshi receives a $250 CAF Shop gift certificate, a year-long membership for design software tutorials from BlackSpectacles.com (valued at $280), and a copy of CAF's text, The Architecture Handbook.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture, CAF launched DiscoverDesign.org, a web-based tool that provides high school students with a chance to solve real-world design problems, in January 2012. Through project-based learning and social networking, students connect with professional architects and engineers, allowing for professional feedback during each step of their design process.

High Tech NHS Holds Fundraiser for Operation Beachhead in Memory of Dan Beecher

(North Bergen—June 10, 2014) The National Honor Society (NHS) of High Tech has donated $1,450 from fundraising on behalf of Operation Beachhead to honor the late Dan Beecher, a veteran and friendly face of the Hudson County Schools of Technology maintenance department, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Beecher, a humble Vietnam veteran who received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, died suddenly of cardiac arrest on April 6th of this year.

“The dedication that Dan exhibited for his country was evidenced every day in his dedication to our school,” says Joan Marie Bellotti, moderator of NHS and Department Liaison for the High Tech Language Arts Department, who reminded staff and students of the recent 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy Invasion, on June 6th.

High Tech NHS presented a check to Michael Ricci, Founder and President of Operation Beachhead, and Board member Joseph Potoczniak.

Operation Beachhead started as a way to provide adventurous beach activities, such as surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, and paddle boarding, to disabled veterans before it expanded to include active duty troops, too. Entirely supported by donations and managed by volunteers, Operation Beachhead has expanded its programs and services by offering year-round activities, including winter programs, providing free services and opportunities to 225 participants. Its volunteer base has also grown tremendously, now having a group of over 200 people.

Four Students Honored in Annual Haiku Contest

(New York—June 7, 2014) Judges from the United Nations International School (UNIS), the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, and the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese honored four High Tech students in the annual Student Haiku Contest, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School. At the Awards Assembly, held at UNIS on Saturday, June 7th, Si Tian Zhang of Kearny earned a Special Mention in the Japanese Division, while Honorable Mentions in the English Division went to Hoboken residents Cara Rosner and Catherine Sander and Jennifer Suarez of North Bergen.

UNIS received approximately 1,450 poems from various schools in the United States and around the world. From among these entries, the judges selected top haiku in eight categories as finalists. Those haikus selected had been displayed in the lobby of UNIS in early June.

High Tech French II Students Visit Madeleine’s Petit Paris

(Northvale, NJ—May 30, 2014) After organizing their own French café at High Tech, Dr. Laje Gashi’s French II class experienced the connection between projects and real life by indulging in professionally prepared French cuisine at Madeleine’s Petit Paris, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech. The absolutely stunning restaurant resembles an elegant French country inn. From the moment one arrives at Madeleine’s Petit Paris, he or she receives a warm welcome from Chef Gaspard Caloz, his wife, Madeleine, and their son, Francois. As people walk in, a waiter greets everyone with "Bonjour." The High Tech French II students employed their linguistic skills by ordering their entrées in the lingua franca of the restaurant’s owners.

“This project allowed us to get in touch with French cuisine, but it also provided a lesson in responsibility and management,” says Yenibal Almanzar, a resident of Jersey City. “Just like in a real French restaurant, we had to determine our menus, produce the food, advertise our cafes, and manage a successful working café.”

Traditional French dishes such as poulet français, ratatouille, gratin dauphinois, soupe à l’oignon, and soupe aux champignons and desserts like mousse au chocolat and crème brulée met with unanimous approval from the students.

After dessert, Chef Caloz and Madeleine serenaded students with traditional French songs and even gathered some of them to sing along, too.

“Not only did we get to enjoy French Food, but this trip has made me want to learn French language and culture even more,” says Jessica Zhu, a resident of Harrison. “I really hope our French class can experience this trip next year and, hopefully, in Europe as well.”

Thirty-Five High Tech Students Earn Excellence Awards in French

(Carbondale, IL—June 9, 2014) The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) has recognized 35 High Tech students with Excellence Awards that salutes non-native speakers from grades 9-12 who excel in the study of French, commit to study the language by participating in French-related activities, and maintain an average over 94, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The following represents the list of students who received the Excellence Award:

Bayonne residents Amina and Sara Bendaoud, Hasumi Hayashi, Maria Kaldes, Danica Lichauco, Sofia Madrid, Alexia Mavros, Kara Neal, Tyng Pan, Sophia Velazquez, and Tristan Ventura; Edelyn Vargas of Guttenberg; Harrison residents Hsinyo Yin, Mingyu Zhao, and Jessica Zhu; Nicole Albornoz, Yenibal Almanzar, Vibha Chauhan, Amy Suchodolski, and Mya Veras of Jersey City; Kearny residents Rachel Spillane and Karim Zitouni; Elizabeth Acebedo, Denisse Cortes, Jennifer Falconi, and Michelle Majano of North Bergen; Secaucus residents Rachelle Manalo, Vicky Trieu, and Luana Xu; Giselle Camino, Tania Houwayek, and Maria Villalobos of Union City; Weehawken resident Kellen Dorio; and Alessandra Carreno-Novoa and Annabelle Familia of West New York.

Founded in 1927, the AATF represents the largest national association of French teachers in the world, with nearly 10,000 members to its credit. Headquartered at Southern Illinois University, the AATF boasts 73 chapters located all across the United States, and as a professional association, it promotes the study of French, facilitates the implementation of national and state standards in the classroom, encourages minimum levels of language and cultural proficiency, creates various opportunities for teachers and students, and supplies resources for classrooms.

Jacob Vega of A. Harry Moore High School Completes Business Computers Application Program at High Tech

(North Bergen, NJ—June 6, 2014) Jersey City resident Jacob Vega, a shared-time student from A. Harry Moore High School, has successfully completed the two-year business computer applications program at High Tech, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Not only has High Tech honored Jacob's hard work, but so has Berkeley College in Clifton, which has presented Jacob with the Perseverance Award in recognition of his outstanding perseverance in high school business education.

High Tech’s Wendy Ide Selected to Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers University

(Piscataway, NJ—June 5, 2014) Wendy Ide, a resident of West New York, has been accepted into this summer’s Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at the Rutgers University School of Engineering, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Ide will spend four weeks, from June 29th-July 25th, tuition-free, at Rutgers University, engaging in five academic classes, completing an intensive research and/or design project in a group with three to five Governor’s School participants, visiting local corporations, and mingling with talented professionals from across the state. The Governor’s School will put Ide’s academic dedication at High Tech to the test, as she will be expected to work very hard and go beyond her already outstanding work in high school.

Committed to providing an enriched educational opportunity for gifted and talented high school students, the Governor’s School program benefits not only individuals, but also benefits the State of New Jersey by preparing students to enter highly demanding fields. Students learn a sense of ethical, social, and civic responsibility, as taught by faculty who promote a sense of community among learners, bringing scholars, faculty, and staff together beyond the traditional classroom environment.

New Mission, Beliefs, Strengths and Challenges for HCST

June 5, 2014 (North Bergen, NJ) – The HCST District held this year’s "Mission Vision 2020" meeting at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and included representatives from local businesses, announced Linda J. Quentzel, Executive Director of the Foundation.

The Mission Vision 2020 meeting gathered educators, parents, administrators, current students, alumni, HCST Foundation members, Board of Education members and community members together to assess the direction of the schools. This community-wide effort has been a long-standing district tradition.

With the financial support by the HCST Foundation, Dr. Joseph Sirangelo, Assistant Superintendent and Colleen Smith, Director of Personnel, did a tremendous job facilitating the event.

“The objective of the meeting is to identify HCST, to improve, and to look at our challenges,” said Superintendent Frank J. Gargiulo who has hosted these meetings for 25 years.

During the duration of the meeting, teams were assigned with the goal of identifying district beliefs, strengths and challenges. A core committee will be tasked with developing a vision for the future.

Collectively the groups came up with the new mission statement, “The Hudson County Schools of Technology is a visionary community that inspires creative independent thinking through diverse learning opportunities.”

Action teams will be established throughout the district to address the goals and action plans. “We have been doing this for 25 years and every challenge and goal that we have set has been accomplished,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joseph Sirangelo.

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High Tech Science Instructor Catherine Yuhas Accepted into Two National Science Foundation Workshops

(North Bergen, NJ—June 4, 2014) Catherine Yuhas, the science facilitator at High Tech High’s Academy of Architecture and Contemporary Themes (AACT), has been accepted into a pair of National Science Foundation workshops, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Yuhas, who teaches Biology, Earth & Space Science, and AP Environmental Science for the Science and Technology Major at High Tech, will attend Stevens Institute of Technology’s Biology and Engineering Infusion Project, a two-year course focused on the development of the engineering design process in the biology curriculum. In addition, she will take part in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s Coastal Marine Sciences workshop, which centers on hands-on, coastal marine educational materials that may be incorporated into the curriculum as well this summer.

Yuhas graduated from Fairfield University, obtaining a degree in Biology, and she then earned a Master of Science in Environmental Science from NJIT/Rutgers University--Newark, where she conducted research on the Meadowlands salt marshes. Staying current in the environmental field, she attends lectures, seminars, and monitors the horseshoe crab population along the Raritan Bay.

HCSTF Boost Brings Robotics to Explore 2000

May 16, 2014 (North Bergen, NJ) –Students at Explore 2000 Middle School in Jersey City have been introduced to a new Robotics Club thanks to financial assistance from the HCST Foundation (HCSTF), announced Linda J. Quentzel, Executive Director of the HCST Foundation.

The Robotics Club is part of the First LEGO League® (FLL), a global initiative for 9 – 14 year olds that challenges students to utilize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts to build robots from LEGO components. Teams bring their robots to local FLL tournaments where the machines complete tasks or “missions” in a competitive setting.

The Explore 2000 team, known as the E2K Lego-bots, has started strong. Christopher Cosavecchia, a student in the program, explains: “I am excited to be part of E2K: Lego-Bots because I get to be creative and use my imagination to build anything that comes to mind.”

Ms. Carrie Rapaport, who is the club’s moderator says, “I am excited to work on an activity that incorporates team building, character education and valuable STEM skills in a fun, creative environment.”

Executive Director Quentzel adds, “STEM-related careers are on the rise in America, and a Robotics program for local middle school students is crucial to getting students into STEM fields. We take pride in our efforts at providing a foundation for a better future via the robotics program at Explore 2000.”

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