Structured Learning Experience Program

Structured Learning Experience Program  - Youth Transitions to Work Starting Points Apprenticeship Program

A representative from the Youth Transitions to Work Starting Points Apprenticeship program spoke to County Prep students on Friday, November 21, 2014 about an exciting child care services program.  The presentation included an overview of career opportunities offered through the Starting Points apprenticeship certification program as part of the structured learning experience/transition planning for post-secondary options.  Students engaged in a Q&A session and were offered the opportunity to partake in the Youth Transitions to Work Saturday Workshops  to further explore this career option. 

Mood Fabric Structured Learning Experience 2014

Mood Fabric Structured Learning Experience 2014

The seniors from the Fashion Design and Merchandising program visited Mood Fabrics in New York City. Mood Fabrics is the store where the design contestants from the Emmy nominated show, Project Runway, shop for their fabrics and trimmings. The fabric purchased by the students will be used to construct garments for FCCLA competitions and the County Prep Fashion Show. During this structured learning experience, students demonstrated their planning and time management skills, critical thinking, and problem solving strategies as well as research skills and the elements and principles of visual art. Cost analyses were used to determine the fabric consumption of the purchases.  We look forward to seeing the finished designs on the runway this April at the County Prep fashion show.

Hudson County Community College – “Culinary Student for the Day” Structured Learning Experience

Hudson County Community College – “Culinary Student for the Day” Structured Learning Experience

Six County Prep culinary arts students visited Hudson County Community College on Wednesday, October 8, 2014 to participate in their “ Culinary Student for the Day” program. Tamera Alicea, Kyra Amaya, Joshua Lopez, William Matlock, Chelsea Steward, and Antonia Tsielepas were part of an excellent experience. The students cycled through the various culinary labs to gain exposure to the post-secondary culinary arts program and to “feel” what it is like to be a college student.  They also had the opportunity to interact with the professors and to partake in “hands-on” activities in the various kitchens.  The students met with an admissions counselor to review the application process.  At the conclusion of the tour, the students attended a luncheon in the dining hall that was served and prepared by the culinary college students.  Overall, it was an invaluable structured learning experience that defined a potential career option for our students.

Author Tris McCall visits County Prep

Tris McCall, award-winning former music critic for the Star Ledger, Hudson County-centric author, singer, musician and song-writer visited County Prep High School. Mr. McCall displayed his impressive command of the music industry and responded to student queries about his experiences as a writer.  Students from Mr. Calvanico’s History of Rock and Roll, Ms. Fedele’s Creative Writing class, and Mr. Figeureo’s and Mr. Matthews’ Music/Audio Technology specialization were invited to benefit from Mr. McCall’s real-world honed vision of culture and politics in New Jersey.  While an hour was allotted, students and staff continued the dialogue afterward in the hallway, fascinated by his front row and behind-the-scenes knowledge of bands and individual artists.

Tris will be offering a reading of his new book locally in early December (specifics yet to be determined); his is a tale of Hudson County politics with a personal bent.

Ms. Galluccio is to be thanked for her impeccable professionalism and efficiency in arranging to provide this Structured Learning Experience.   Extreme thanks to Tris McCall, a well-regarded, multi-faceted authority, for having spoken gratis as a favor to one of his regular readers, psychologist Lisa Tomasini.

County Prep Senior Wins State Soccer Championship

Congratulations to County Prep senior Ali Lachgar.  He is a key member of the Harrison boys soccer team that has just won the 2014 NJSIAA Group 1 State Championship. The victory means that Blue Tide are the best team in the state for all Group 1 schools. Harrison defeated Haddon Township 4 – 0 in the final game held at Kean University on Sunday November 23, 2014. The left halfback scored a goal in the victory to help seal the win. Ali is planning on attending college and hopes to continue his success on the field at the next level. Well done, Ali!

Youth Transitions to Work (YTTW) Certified Nursing Assistant and Physical Therapy Aide Programs

Structured Learning Experience -  Youth Transitions to Work (YTTW) Certified Nursing Assistant and Physical Therapy Aide Programs

Representatives from the Youth Transitions to Work (YTTW) Apprenticeship Program presented to over 50 students at County Prep High School on Monday, November 10, 2014.  The scholarship program provides outreach, training, and placements for students interested in becoming Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) or Physical Therapy Aides (PTA).  Students learned about potential career pathways that can be launched as part of this “Earn While You Learn” initiative.

High Tech Badminton Club Alumni Sing High Tech's Praises

Where Are Those Great High Tech High School Badminton Club Members Now?

By Kelsey Paul

It comes as no surprise that High Tech’s 2014 graduates continue to hone their skills throughout their college careers. And, those from the Badminton Club are no different. Some participate on competitive badminton teams and intermurals. “It’s pretty popular; it has around 60 members, a dedicated section of the Werblin Recreation Center with a total of three courts,” says Jackson Luis, a freshman at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Others take to a lighter route, like the freshman at Hawaii Pacific University, Kayleigh Rogers. “Yeah, I play recreationally with some kids who played in high school. There’s no intramural program for it; we just play outside in an open field.” 

Whatever form of the game the former High Tech High Badminton Club members take to, they all have the same fiery passion they had when they first held the racket in their hand their first club practice at High Tech. However in college, the stakes have been raised and the competition has been heightened. “While practicing, I'm always focusing on form and footwork--2 important fundamentals I ignored in high school. There are so many high-level players here, and they're always giving me tips on how to improve my game play. The coaches say I’m good, but it'll probably take a year in order for me to become good enough to make the team due to the competition,” says Garrett Chu, a freshman at Rutgers University Business School. Yes, the foot work may matter more, and, yes, college badminton may be more stringent than high school badminton. But, many will attest to the “footing” in badminton they received while at High Tech being a positive building block. “The badminton program she [Ms. Gilmartin] has going on at High Tech is, believe it or not, better than Colgate. We have a small student-run club and everything is basically self-supported,” says Mark Ma, a freshman at Colgate University. Ms. Gilmartin, the glue that keeps Badminton Club functioning and expanding, has made great strides to give her students the best resources to excel. She even managed to get the Hummersknott/Oxford Badminton club of Darlington, United Kingdom to come compete with High Tech’s Badminton Club during the summer of 2013. This meeting provided students the chance to exchange badminton tips and to form an international friendship. Ms. Gilmartin prepares her students for a competitive world but also teaches that kindness and friendship extends beyond the perimeters of High Tech. It extends to accepting people from all walks of life. “Going off my experience in joining the Badminton Club at High Tech, I wasn't surprised by how easy it was making friends at my college's Badminton Club,” says Toshi Piazza of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

So, the High Tech graduates of 2014 have fared well both academically and in their badminton performances. They have practiced form. They have drilled over and over again. They have made friends. And, they all got their start from the quaint and dedicated High Tech Badminton Club. Still, Mark Ma, would not be the troublemaker that he is if he didn’t offer his little tidbit to Ms. Gilmartin and the rest of the club. His suggestions? “Get better nets and, for the love of God, get the lines right next time!” Okay, Mark Ma, Badminton Club will get the lines right this time around.

Here's to the bright futures of all High Tech’s students!

High Tech Engages in Café Chic

(North Bergen, NJ—October 27, 2014) The High Tech Sophomore French classes took the opportunity to express French design and culture in Café Chic, the classes’ end of the unit French project, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

During the first marking period, the sophomores became familiar with French design and cuisine, very prominent influences in French culture, and taught throughout the unit.

Encouraged to bring in French dishes and make outfits for a fashion show, the students in each sophomore French class constructed and managed their own cuisine booths.  This event, a mix of a French fashion show along with a French café, featured models, designers, and DJs, all of whom took part in creating the student-based French Fashion show.  These models brought in their own outfits and composed French biographies.

Students also expressed their different personalities by collaborating with French styles and ideas.  In the overall café project, students created and sold a variety of French-inspired cuisines, ranging from macaroons, crepes, croque-monsieur, chocolate fondue, and baguettes with cheese.  Not only did this cooking project teach them about French food and culture, but it also helped them appreciate money management and hone their organizational skills.

“It was a very fun project for everyone and a very good fundraiser as well,” says Dr. Laje Gashi, veteran French instructor at High Tech.  “As a whole, the sophomore French class was able to raise about $600 and they will take this money to go to an actual French café.”

Structured Learning Experiences

Structured Learning Experiences – Hudson County Community College Tour -

County Prep students visited Hudson County Community College on Tuesday, October 21, 2014.  The students met with an admissions representative to discuss the various programs offered at the institution and the overall college application process. The visit included a tour of the offices, library, and classrooms.  The students were exposed to a two-year college as a potential post-secondary option.

Structured Learning Experience – Bergen County Community College Tour -

County Prep students visited Bergen County Community College on Tuesday, November 11, 2014.  The students met with an admissions representative to discuss the various programs offered at the institution and the overall college application process. The visit included a tour of the culinary arts facilities, medical sciences laboratory, library, tutoring services, and classrooms.  The students were exposed to a two-year college as a potential post-secondary option.

Job Shadowing – Clip Shoppe

 Job Shadowing – Clip Shoppe

County Prep students Sherry, Joshua, and Cindy visited the Clip Shoppe on Thursday, October 23, 2014 to explore possible career pathways as a dog groomer.  The students met with an Admissions Representative to discuss program requirements and toured the facilities. The Clip Shoppe offers a state-approved 420 hour Professional Dog Groomer Certificate.  Students in the program learn essential elements to become a finished groomer and quickly begin a paid career working within a grooming shop or a grooming facility environment.  The students shadowed all facets of the dog grooming process and participated in “hands-on” activities.    All in all, it was a very valuable structured learning experience that complemented classroom learning.

Structured Learning Experience – Georgian Court University

Structured Learning Experience – Georgian Court University

County Prep students visited Georgian Court University on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.  The students met with an admissions representative to discuss the various programs offered at the institution and the overall college application process. The visit included a tour of the residential housing units, library, and classrooms.  The tour concluded with a complimentary luncheon hosted in the dining room.  Narendra Gajraj, Giselle Lopez, Anji Masoud, Josette Ortega, Gianni Ortega, Brianna Pitchford, Kayla Roman, Alexandra Suarez were exposed to the college as a potential post-secondary choice.

County Prep Students: Structured Learning Experience – Centenary College

Structured Learning Experience – Centenary College

Six County Prep students visited Centenary College on Thursday, October 30, 2014.  William Bush, Narendra Gajraj, Gianni Ortega, Ashlee Reynolds, Alexandra Suarez, and Paola Veliz were exposed to the college as a potential post-secondary choice.  They met with an admissions representative to discuss the various programs offered at the institution and the overall college application process. The visit included a tour of the residential housing units, library, and classrooms.  

Cosmetology class comes to JDC

On Friday October 24th, seven cosmetology students from the adult school came to the Hudson County Juvenile Detention Center to provide manicures to staff and residents at the JDC. All who participated had a wonderful time being pampered by the students.

We would like to thank Ms. Mcfadden for assisting us in making this happen and we look forward to having the students come back in the future for more pampering.

The students are Kevaan Walton, Milagros DeJesus, Francia Dunbar, Yoweek Scott, Alejandro Beccera, Ana Benner, and Deneal Kelly.

Business Insider Lists High Tech High School as One of the Top 25 Public Schools in the Nation

(New York, NY—November 4, 2014) Business Insider, a business and technology news website launched in February 2009, ranked High Tech High School 21st and gave the school an A+ in its list of the 25 best public schools in America, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Please follow the link for the details on Business Insider.

Business Insider provides and analyzes business news and acts as an aggregator of top news stories from around the web. The site reported a profit for the first time ever in the 4th quarter of 2010. In June 2012, it received 5.4 million unique visitors.

Explore 2000: Opportunities To Visit Our School!

Collaborative Science Fair and Student Showcase

DECEMBER 15 & 17, 2014
JOIN ANY TIME BETWEEN 9:00 A.M-10:30 A.M

Explore 2000 is giving you the opportunity to visit our school. After each academic trimester, we hold a student showcase where we present all of the information learned during our field experiences and activities with our classroom advisors. Please join us if you’re interested in learning more about our experiences and for the chance to interact with our students. 

Download Flyer>>

Two High Tech Students’ Writings Featured in Book Entitled 'New Jersey Workers Then & Now'

(Haledon, NJ—November 3, 2014) The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark has selected the writings of two High Tech students, Jersey City resident Mously Lo and Eleanore Woodruff of Weehawken, to be featured in the book, New Jersey Workers Then & Now: Celebrating New Jersey’s 350th Anniversary, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Targeting students third through twelfth grade, the American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark’s Writing Contest invited students to share their creative talents and unique ideas to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Garden State. Students like Lo and Woodruff had to choose a contemporary New Jersey worker and compare his or her workplace experience to the same type of worker from days past. Projects appeared as original essays or poems for consideration in New Jersey Workers Then & Now: Celebrating New Jersey’s 350th Anniversary.

The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark invited Lo and Woodruff, as well as their teachers, families, and friends, to the unveiling ceremony for the book at the Museum on October 17th, sponsored in part by the Passaic County Educational Association (PCEA).

High Tech Dance Majors to Participate in Taylor Teen Ensemble

(New York, NY—November 3, 2014) Three High Tech dance majors have been invited to participate in the Paul Taylor Teen Ensemble, which offers high school students a chance to learn a diverse repertory, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Senior dance majors and Kearny residents Demaris Gonzalez and Kyla Gualtieri and junior dance major Raechelle Manalo, a resident of Secaucus, auditioned for the Paul Taylor Dance Company in May, with all three earning their invitations to participate in the Taylor Teen Ensemble.

Chosen by audition only, the Taylor Teen Ensemble expands a student’s experience with Paul Taylor’s movement style, while developing the student’s technical proficiency and artistry. Students in the Taylor Teen Ensemble must commit a year to the program, which includes classes in technique and rehearsals, culminating in performances within the tri-state area at public and private schools, as well as larger, popular venues such as Symphony Space, Peridance Capezio Center, and SUNY Purchase.

Classes, which began at the Taylor School in September, take place three days a week (Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), and continue throughout the spring.

As an added treat, Gonzalez, Gualtieri, and Manalo will perform in the 2015 University Partners Showcase at the Joyce Theater on Valentine’s Day. As part of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 2015 Season, students from select national dance training programs will also perform there.

“The Taylor Teen Ensemble is a phenomenal opportunity for these girls,” says Trista DeFilippis, veteran dance instructor at High Tech. “Not only will this experience enhance Demaris, Kyla, and Raechelle’s versatility as dancers and performers, but it will be a terrific addition to their resumes, especially during the college application process.”