High Tech High School Spanish Honor Society and Spanish Club Host First Annual Spanish Café

(North Bergen--February 24, 2016) The Spanish Honor Society and the Spanish Club of High Tech High School hosted their first annual Spanish Café, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Students prepared and sold culinary cuisines and desserts from Spanish-speaking countries such as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and Panama. 

As part of the celebration of the first ever Spanish Café held at High Tech High School, students from the Spanish Honor Society and Spanish Club played lively Hispanic music and danced to the characteristic rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean.  The event proved a great success, thanks mostly to the dedication and the hard work of the members of both the Spanish Honor Society and the Spanish Club of High Tech High School.  

High Tech Talk Show “Starts the Conversation”

By Elektra Sipars

(North Bergen--February 5, 2016) Written, directed, and performed by High Tech High School students, The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation offers both a serious and humorous performance that addresses the support services made available to freshmen, including board policies on bullying, to foster a positive culture at High Tech, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Senior Emory Kemph, a Weehawken resident, originated the idea for The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation after experiencing anxiety during her sophomore year.  During her junior year, she became acutely aware that she didn’t struggle with harrowing challenges alone, that quite a few other students had experienced similar trials. Aware that bullying, a subject mandated for discussion in all schools today, might merely be the tip of the iceberg, Kemph sought a creative means to address the myriad concerns that affect so many students in their everyday lives. 

Kemph admitted to having had a great support system, yet she believed that other high school students might not be as fortunate as she.  Thus, she wanted to make a difference for them.  Drawing inspiration from theatrical productions on mental wellness and bullying at colleges all across the country, Kemph, a drama major herself, ran with the idea for The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation to promote mental health services at High Tech and make it easier for kids to feel comfortable in seeking out help. 

Embraced by administrators and performed by students from the Peer Leadership Club for freshmen at High Tech, The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation offers a series of vignettes that center on such student challenges as romance, succeeding in class, peer pressure, insecurity, bullying, and loneliness.  Each vignette proves relatable to most students and concludes with information on places to fseek help. To ensure the spread of the production’s message, members of the Peer Leadership Club who did not perform, along with Valeria Arias, High Tech social worker and Peer Leadership advisor, and Catherine Alvarez, freshman guidance counselor, attended all Freshman Orientation classes to discuss The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation.  Other Peer Leadership advisors, Elektra Sipars, Annemarie Gogliucci-Ponce, and Linda DiGiacomo, also surveyed students on their thoughts.  

Due to its stellar reception, The High Tech Talk Show: Start the Conversation will be performed again in the Blackbox Theater at North Hudson Center of Hudson County Schools of Technology on March 23^rd at 9:30 am, specifically for the Hudson County Social Emotional Consortioum.

Explore 2000 Middle School Science Fair Finalists

Explore 2000 Middle School Science Fair Finalists

Six students from Explore 2000 Middle School will participate in the Hudson County Science Fair as representatives of their school. Jonathan Pham is a third year student whose project tested three different methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation.

First year student Henry Jensen-Lim tested four types of water to see which one would make plants grow best. He tested tap water, Hudson River water, seltzer and Nestle bottled water.

Amanda Zweifler, another first year student presented a project called "Does music change your heartbeat?" She monitored the heartbeats of four different people while they each listened to four songs.

Three second year students worked together to present the effects of smoking on the human body.  Alexander Vogiatzis, Andrew Kibalo, George Vogiatzis were interested and concerned about how smoking affects health.

Here are their stories in their own words.

Heat Transfer by Jonathan Pham

This years science fair was a new and exciting experience for me. With the new school, and the fact that it was my last year at Explore 2000,this science fair was a place where I wanted to demonstrate how much I really learned. I know that I and several of my classmates were nervous with the thought of meeting other students and people, yet in the end we were glad that we were able to show our knowledge and school spirit. It was satisfying to meet new people who were actually interested in looking at my project and the effort put into it. I was also very intrigued with the unique and creative projects the students around me did as well. I remember one girl did an experiment on how a guitar works, and another person did one about how music affects your lifestyle. One of the students in Explore did an experiment with quicksand. I loved this year’s science fair and will remember it well.  

For my experiment, I tested the different methods of heat transfer. The three different methods were conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction is travel through physical objects, convection is travel through liquids or gasses, and radiation is heat travel through infrared waves. I had to test each method and write down the results and research how temperature and heat work. This was an original idea, and was inspired by the flickering flames of the stove in my home. I remember explaining the process to many different people in the science fair and answering difficult questions on my project. It was very tiring, yet I enjoyed seeing people leave with a good understanding of what I tested.

Water for Plants by Henry Jensen-Lim

My project was about determining which type of water would make plants grow the best.   I watered four equal sized plants of the same kind with different types of water and observed  changes over a seven day period.  I used tap, Hudson River water, seltzer and Nestle water as my four  types of water. On the end of the seventh day I measured the plants and marked down  their heights and state of health. The end conclusion was that the seltzer worked the best, Nestle water worked the second best, the tap water the third, and Hudson water worked the  worst.

Effects of Smoking by  \Alexander Vogiatzis, Andrew Kibalo, George Vogiatzis   

As we witnessed countless people smoking daily, we were all eager to reveal to ourselves the damage that these people's bodies endured.

Large cigarette monopolies are still making innumerable amounts of money and we wanted to see what they were really selling to people. Soon after, all our experiences and memories of people smoking the Hudson County Science Fair came up. We believed that this was the perfect opportunity to showcase all of our curiosity for the effects of smoking cigarettes on the Human body. The three of us decided to take on our desired challenge. We all worked as a team and took numerous days and nights to succeed in our research and to find our answers.

Once we completed this stage we displayed all of our research and work on our science board. We were committed to inform the public on cigarette smoking and its effects on people. Lastly, just from one mission, we learned great amounts of information and we want to continue learning as much as we can from just our simple science experiment.

Does Music Change Your Heart Beat? by Amanda Zweifler

In the beginning, I did not know what to do for my science project. I started thinking about the things I like or I have a big interest in. Right away I knew my project had to be about music and people because I love being around people and I love music. I particularly like the beat which led me to my science fair project, "Does music change your heartbeat?" I surveyed 4 people and played 4 songs. I measured their heartbeat per minute. I enjoyed doing my project and liked the fact that it incorporated my two favorite things. In addition, it is very exciting to participate in the first science fair in the new facility.

The Robot in the Classroom: High Tech Students Display Their Handiwork on STEM Day

by Art Schwartz
Reporter/staff writer, Hudson Reporter

Feb 21, 2016

Inching around assorted debris, the robot crept forward to rescue the pair of climbers caught in the avalanche. Built of exposed metal beams, gears, motors, wires, and a hydraulic arm, the two-foot-tall robot towered over the three-inch climbers.

“This is our competition robot,” said High Tech High School (HTHS) Senior Jing Bao. “We’ve worked on it since the beginning of the year.”

So far the robot had won two awards and was on its way to another competition in South Jersey. But first it was making an appearance at STEM Day at HTHS on Wednesday, Feb. 10. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

High Tech is the county’s public high school, based in North Bergen. It draws students from all towns in the county.

The school has held a STEM Day for two years to coincide with CTE (Career and Technical Education) Month in February. This year there was something additional to celebrate, with the launch in 2015 of the High Tech’s Digital Design and Fabrication Academy, known as D/FAB.

The 220 students in the D/FAB academy offered demos and presentations on their various disciplines over the course of the day, including showing off the robots created by three teams in the robotics class.

Also on the agenda were four presenters offering students information on various topics including industry and study programs.

Preparing for tomorrow’s careers

D/FAB offers courses in architecture/design, industrial design and animation, engineering technology, wood technology, and computer programming. Students apply with a portfolio and 65 freshmen are accepted each year.

The freshmen take introductory courses in all of the available disciplines.

_____________
“It allows students to go from digital design into actually making their creations a reality.” – Alba Simon
____________ “They go through architecture to get their fine art and better development in their graphic abilities,” said Engineering Technology Instructor Sergio Gamarra. “In industrial design and animation they learn such things as orthographic drawing, dimensioning, 3D printing. Then they have the robotics portion where they actually learn programming.”

In their sophomore year students choose two of the disciplines to study in more detail before selecting a major to specialize in during their junior and senior years.

In Gamarra’s class the students learn to work with metal and machining equipment. “I also teach the students mechatronics, the marriage between mechanical and electronic engineering,” he said. “It’s used to solve manufacturing problems. It’s pretty much robotics for manufacturers.”

As an example he described an assembly line where quality can be maintained by a person, introducing the possibility of human error, or a machine, which is more efficient. But even machines need human overseers, and that’s where mechatronics and HTHS come in.

“We’re training the students to be able to understand how these pieces of equipment work and how to keep them running,” said Gamarra. “Because as with any moving part, they’ll wear out. Something will fall out of adjustment.”

From design to fabrication

Gregory Simon has been teaching architecture at High Tech since the school established the Academy of Architecture and Contemporary Themes (AACT) in 2005. “Two years ago we expanded to include other industries that were more broadly based, connected to design and fabrication,” he said.

That resulted in D/FAB, which Simon now supervises, pulling the different disciplines under one umbrella. One big change is the introduction of more manufacturing technology, like using CNC (computer numerical control) to program a plasma cutter and cut intricate designs out of metal.

“We are challenging ourselves to collaborate,” said Simon. “When I’m working with the wood technology teacher, I’m thinking about innovative designs of space and form. He can help me to fabricate those.”

“Before D/FAB we just had the digital design aspect of it,” explained Alba Simon, the teacher for industrial design and animation and facilitator for robotics. “Now we have the fabrication aspect due to all the new technology that the school has purchased. It allows students to go from digital design into actually making their creations a reality.”

The school also partners with Eastern Millwork, Inc. (EMI) of Jersey City, a world-renowned wood fabrication company utilizing technology in architectural design and manufacturing projects for hotels, airports, corporations, residences, and entertainment venues like Lincoln Center.

“They give our kids internships,” said Assistant Principal Allyson Krone. “They need skilled workers and that’s why they’re tapping into our kids,” with the hope that the students will be pre-trained and inclined to take jobs at EMI upon graduation.

Former EMI employee Roman Malantchouk was among the speakers at STEM Day. Malantchouk is an entrepreneur in Hoboken with the firm walkTHIShouse offering interactive 3D models, floor plans, and architectural design, among other things.

Also speaking were Jazlyn Carvajal, the director of finance for the Latinas in STEM Foundation; John Cays from the NJIT College of Architecture & Design; and Tiffany Onorato from Stevens Institute of Technology.

“They came and talked about all the pre-college programs, and the students literally came running to me saying, ‘I want to sign up for this,’” said Krone.

“A lot of these students think they know what an engineer is but don’t understand that there are so many different pathways,” said Gregory Simon. “We’re trying to build that in early so that they have a better understanding once it’s time to make decisions regarding their education.”

Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.

To see more images, please go to the following link:

http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/27093207/article-The-robot-in-the-classroom--High-Tech-students-display-their-handiwork-on-STEM-Day-?instance=latest_story

AACT Morphs into D|FAB and Embraces a New Generation of STEM Learners

(North Bergen--February 13, 2016) Formerly known as the Academy of Architecture & Contemporary Themes (AACT), the Digital Design and Fabrication Academy (D|FAB) at High Tech High School aims to usher in a new generation of leaders and workers in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Rooted in liberal arts values, D|FAB offers students a range of vocational instruction in cutting-edge machinery and technology, provided by experts in their respective fields.  D|FAB, the entry point for High Tech’s industry-supported Force21 initiative, addresses the need for high-paying, high-demand careers in manufacturing fields.

D|FAB prepares High Tech students for college or careers in architecture, fine arts, interior design, urban planning, industrial design, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, automotive technology, digital fabrication, programming, and wood technology.  This innovative academy provides basic skills (e.g., sketching, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, AutoCad, and 3DMax) while reaching beyond the traditional classroom environment into the landscape of practical vocational training so much in demand these days. 

Students witness programmers writing code for industrial designers who work hand-in-hand with machinists; review careers in STEM fields via field trips, guest speakers, and job shadowing; select pathway courses and dedicate themselves to them; obtain a knowledge of applications including Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, Rhino and Python, and elements of CAD/CAM; and commit to a vocational program in earnest preparation for post-secondary study and/or employment.  

D|FAB students eventually chose a field in which they intent to excel, cultivating innovative and technically exceptional projects in their respective subjects. They focus extensively on problem solving, creative cultivation, portfolio development, historical and contextual understanding, and group work dynamics, nurturing projects of personal interest.  Students often work collaboratively in a fabrication lab, employing machinery/technological equipment such as 3D Printers, CNC Router, and Laser Cutters, along with the computer programs required for these tools.

BCB Community Bank and Global Container Terminals Donate Funds to High Tech Dance Department for Trip to National High School Dance Festival

(North Bergen—February 12, 2016) BCB Community Bank and Global Container Terminals have each donated $1,000 to support High Tech’s Dance Department’s traveling expenses to the 27^th Annual National High School Dance Festival, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.  

The National High School Dance Festival, held Thursday, March 3^rd, through Sunday, March 6^th, at Point Park University, will welcome over 1,200 high school students from across the United States, Canada, and abroad.   

Trista DeFilippis veteran High Tech dance instructor, will serve as a guest faculty member, teaching a master class at the National High School Dance Festival.  Because the Festival caps the number of students who may attend, DeFilippis plans to take fifteen High Tech senior and junior dancers with her.  

Along with exciting opening and closing ceremonies, the Festival features six Adjudicated Concerts (two evening Gala concerts, two late afternoon Showcase concerts, and two midday Informal concerts). The first Showcase Concert features student choreography, whereby a festival committee awards the Outstanding Student Choreography Award.

The National High School Dance Festival also offers a full day of scholarship auditions and over 100 Master Classes in subject areas, including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, musical theater, world dance, Pilates, massage, stretch, injury prevention, and nutrition.  Commercial Exhibitors and Special Interest Workshops should entice faculty members and students alike.

County Prep Students Introduced to Starting Points Apprenticeship Program, Structured Learning Experience

Marsha Nivins from the Youth Transitions to Work Starting Points Apprenticeship program spoke to County Prep students on January 13, 2016  about an exciting child care services program.  The presentation included on 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 as a "pre-apprentice"  to further explore this career option. 

County Prep Students Recruited for Jersey City Summer 2016 Internship Program

A special thank-you to Luis Pacheco from Mayor Fulop's office for recruiting County Prep students for the Jersey City Summer 2016 Internship program (JCSI).  He presented to over 50 County Prep juniors on January 21, 2016.  The program will entail a career readiness component and placement with major companies to explore career opportunities representative of the 16 Career Clusters.  All the corporations and organizations are located in Jersey City thereby showing their support for our community and students.  This will be an invaluable Structured Learning Experience for our students as they make their debut into the world of work.  We wish them the best of luck in the competitive application process.

In addition to the presentation, current County Prep seniors who participated in the Jersey City Summer 2015 Internship program spoke candidly about how the program helped them grow personally and offered their highest recommendations for all eligible students to apply.  They all expressed gratitude for having been proffered such an opportunity while still in high school.

High Tech Robotics Club Earns BOTBALL Scholarship

(North Bergen, NJ--February 4, 2016) The Robotics Club received a $1,000 BOTBALL Scholarship from the BOTBALL Association, sponsored by NASA, to participate in the New York/New Jersey Regional BOTBALL Program, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

BOTBALL, an educational robotics program, concentrates on engaging middle and high school-aged students in team-oriented robotics competitions.  The Robotics Club and its two USFIRST teams recently competed at the Liberty Science Center Qualifier. High Tech Team 7994 finished third, reaching the semifinals of the tournament. High Tech Team 9554 earned the Motivate Award for their outreach work in North Bergen.

Due to their recent success, Team 9554 ranks in 34^th place and team 7994 ranks in 29^th place in New Jersey, earning both teams an invitation to participate in the NJ Meet Championship, where a win moves them into the State Championships. The USFIRST FTC Robotics Competition promotes hands-on STEM research and activity through technology courses such as CAD, Engineering, and Computer Programming. Through the Robotics program, High Tech students demonstrate their engineering skills by creating amateur robots and competing against comparable local schools.

Since its inception in 2014, the Robotics Club has grown exponentially.  Most recently, in 2015, it founded a new USFIRST team, Team 10633.  Team 10633, a new freshmen team, hopes to build upon the successes of the two older teams.

“We’re excited that the robotics program is growing and gaining experience,” says Harry Peles and Alba Simon, co-facilitators of the High Tech Robotics Club, in a joint statement.

High Tech’s Keyu Sheng Qualifies as a Finalist for the 2016 Competition for a National Merit® Scholarship

(Evanston, IL—February 10, 2016) High Tech High School senior Keyu Sheng, a resident of Harrison, has met the qualifications as a finalist for the National Merit® Scholarship this year, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Sheng received a Certificate of Merit from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). NMSC has recognized approximately 16,000 semifinalist who will continue in the competition for National Merit® Scholarships in 2016.

These 16,000 recognized as National Merit Program semifinalists represent the top scorers in each state, and approximately 34,000 other high scorers will be commended for their performances on the PSAT/NMSQT. 

7,400 students will be selected for these Merit Scholarship® awards.  Announcements of results will be forthcoming this spring.

High Tech’s Aaleah Oliver Advances to 2016 Poetry Out Loud Region 6 Competition

(Englewood, NJ—February 8, 2016) Aaleah Oliver, a resident of Secaucus, who won the 2016 Poetry Out Loud school-wide competition, represented High Tech High School at the Poetry Out Loud Region 6 Competition, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Oliver competed against students from all across Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic counties.  She recited Frank Marshall Davis’s “Four Glimpses of Night,” “Light Shining out of Darkness” by William Cowper, and “anyone lived in a pretty how town” by e.e. cummings, the same poems that she had recited in the school-wide competition held at High Tech.

“Although Aaleah didn’t advance to the final round,” says Joan Marie Bellotti, veteran High Tech moderator for the competition, “her performance was exemplary and we are all very proud of her.”

In addition to Oliver, six other students competed in the High Tech school-wide competition: Daniel Ibraham of Bayonne; Kearny resident Jillian Boyle; Sarah Bacha, Diana Concepcion, and Jose De Jesus of North Bergen; and Union City resident Emily Fung.

This year marks the 11^th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud.  For further information on this terrific contest, please go to www.poetryout loud.org.

County Prep High School Theatre Arts Students Attend 2nd Annual Theatre Day

A large group of the Theatre Arts students participated this year in the 2nd Annual Theatre Day organized by Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists in Partnership with Hoboken High School on Friday January 8th, 2016. The students took part in a full day of theatre activities taught by professionals who are leading the field in theatre education. They each chose two hands-on workshops. Among the choices were the following: Musical Theatre Audition Techniques with Eric Diamond, professor at Montclair State University, who worked with students in groups and individually on the choice and interpretation of vocal selections; Musical Theatre Performance with Broadway Actress Janet Saia from “Phantom of the Opera”, who taught the students the Phantom Story by being given the opportunity to sing and dance a portion of the "Masquerade" scene from Act II of the Broadway Show; Theatre Make-Up techniques, led by Pearleta N. Price/Thelma Pollard from Phantom of the Opera and founding members for the Broadway Division of Local 798) who taught the participants how to earn money in non-performance areas of theatre, how to turn make-up into a fantasy style and how to use make-up to create theatrical cuts and bruises; Devising acting Techniques, led by Robin Irwin a professor of Theatre at Montclair State University, who taught the participants how to explore methods of “Devised Theatre”, by creating small scenes through structured group improvisation, movement, and paired interviews.

This has been an amazing opportunity for our students, who had a chance to work alongside other Hudson County performing arts students and take workshops with theater professionals. They all found the workshops insightful and challenging, and are looking forward to more next year.

The Hudson County Alliance of Teen Artists is funded by the Hudson County Division of Cultural & Heritage Affairs/Tourist Development, Thomas A. DeGise, County Executive and Board of Chosen Freeholders, New Jersey Dept. of Education Interim Executive County Superintendent, Monica M. Tone, and the Hudson County Superintendents Round Table; North Bergen Board of Education, Secaucus Board of Education and Bayonne Board of Education; and New Jersey City University.

High Tech Business Majors Participate in 13th Annual NJ Business Idea Competition

(North Bergen—February 4, 2016) High Tech High School Business majors participated in this year’s New Jersey Business Idea Competition, sponsored by Fairleigh Dickinson University, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The 13^th annual competition offers students the challenge of creating a business idea.   A panel of professors and experts in business and entrepreneurship judge the competition. 

Under moderator Dr. Syed Abbasi’s watchful eye, Bayonne residents Paige Finnerty, Nadia Mkanyia, and Gabriella Navas; Adrion Perez of Jersey City; Kearny resident Kevin Shi; Tim Cruz and Bansari Patel of North Bergen; and Union City resident Valery Villalobos submitted innovative, entrepreneurial concepts as part of their participation in the New Jersey Business Idea Competition. 

“High Tech business majors have won this competition in the past, and I’m quite confident that our participation this year will be very competitive as well,” declares Dr. Abbasi.

The winners will be awarded scholarships of $40,000 over four years.  This Annual New Jersey Idea Competition, offered by Rothman Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, a subsidiary of Fairleigh Dickinson University, attracts New Jersey students enrolled in secondary schools.

High Tech French Club and French Honor Society Perform Fundraiser for Victim of the Paris Terrorist Attacks

(North Bergen—January 14, 2016) The High Tech School French Club and French Honor Society offered an after-school performance to raise funds for a victim of the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13^th, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Thirty-nine-year-old Eric Thome, one of the 130 victims killed in the terrorist attacks, left behind his wife--and expectant mother—Laurence and their five year-old daughter.  An artist and music fan, Thome and his partner had operated a Paris design studio that specialized in fanciful illustrations and photographs, after having worked in advertising for years.  Thome died in the Bataclan concert hall attack.     

“He was an artist, always hip, a party guy who loved music," a friend said to a reporter from the French daily Le Parisien. "He was full of joie de vivre and adored his kid."

Students and facility gathered for the fundraiser in the Blackbox Theatre.  Performers sang, danced, recited poems and essays, and played instruments.  Inspired by a French song, the events of the attack, or a French play, every piece honored Thome in some fashion. 

Performances included original spoken word pieces and songs, like “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own” from Les Misérables, as well as “Alors on Danse” and “Liszt Consolaion No. 3.”

County Prep Theater Arts Performs the Musical Jekyll & Hyde

     In just its fourth year, the after school Theater Arts credited course has brought a new

performance opportunity to County Prep students, who are learning both performance and

rehearsal practices and encountering first hand all of the aspects of professional theater. This

year in particular has been special due to both having complete live accompaniment, by our

Music Director Mr. Chuck Macklin, and having the show designed by a professional lighting

designer, Mr. Lance Michel. “This has brought our production to a new level and we are so

thankful to the administration and to Ms. Warfel for facilitating this” says Ms. Shields, Theatre

and Language instructor.

     This year, the course focused on rehearsing and performing the musical Jekyll & Hyde (B’WAY),

play about the duality of human nature, as it is reflected in Jekyll and Hyde. Dr. Jekyll attempts to

create a potion to separate good from evil, but what ends up happening is that the potion simply

strips away the civilized veneer, exposing man’s essential nature. So the play becomes a struggle

attempting to answer lots of questions, and inviting the audience on a journey of self-discovery.

What really is good and evil? How do these concepts apply to the social structure of the

1888 London society? Is good only a façade? Or is good the inner essence of a human heart?

     County Prep’s rendition of the musical was a tremendous success. Performed for two audiences

with standing ovations, plus an open dress rehearsal for Explore 2000 middle school, the

response has been overwhelming.  There has been a lot of buzz around the school of audience

members sharing their favorite moments. Some called it “marvelous," some reported

“goosebumps” at various points, others pointed to being surprised by the quality of the singing

and the acting, and the virtuosity of our musical director.

     Directed by Ms. Shields, Ms. Warfel-Sandler, and Mr. Macklin, this piece was chosen to

showcase our performers this year. Adam Hassan starred in the role of Jekyll/ Hyde, with Alexia

Velazquez as Lucy, Kaylin Vazquez as Emma, and Joshua Dunn as Utterson. . The cast also

included Jose Lupianez, Samantha Killion, Kyle Velazquez, Gianni Ortega, Matthew Riccardi,

Alyssa Massa, Joshua Vazquez, Sirena Morales, Jahn Camac, Robert Delmonte and Elizabeth

Flores. This production was overall an ensemble piece, where each performer was involved at all

times, either on stage in numerous group numbers and scenes, or backstage preparing the set,

props, costumes, and program. Special recognition also goes to sound technician Vander

Washington, lighting technicians Juliana Yeung and Shannon Murphy, and stage manager

Katherine Castro.

     Ms. Shields, Ms.Warfel-Sandler, and Mr.Macklin are very proud of all the actors, dancers and

singers whose work has developed through our premiere rendition of this Broadway classic.

 Jekyll &Hyde (B’WAY) is presented through arrangement with Music Theatre International

(MTI) All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

www.MTIShows.com.com
See photo gallery: http://www.hcstonline.org/cphs/jekyllandhyde.html