County Prep Students Visit GOYA

On Friday, May 20, 2016, over 20 County Prep students participated in a structured learning experience at GOYA's facilities in both Secaucus and Jersey City.  Students toured the production facility to see first-hand how products are manufactured, packaged, and stored.  They were also exposed to the importance of an efficient and reliable supply chain of materials in order to maximize profits and optimize customer satisfaction.  At the conclusion of this tour, students visited GOYA's state-of-the-art Corporate Headquarters in Jersey City where they met with executives who shared their personal professional experiences at GOYA.  Students had the opportunity to speak informally with employees during a luncheon sponsored by GOYA  A special thank-you is extended to GOYA for organizing a Job Shadow Day for our students.

County Prep’s AV Students Visit the Museum of the Moving Image

(New York, New York — May 5, 2016) Ms. Pica’s Audio Visual Production class visited the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, NY. Museum of the Moving Image is the country's only museum dedicated to the art, history, technique, and technology of the moving image in all its forms. Embracing a wide range of subjects, from nineteenth century optical toys to the latest in digital art, the Museum explores every phase of the production, promotion, and exhibition of moving images.

An interactive museum, students had the opportunity to record their voices over dialogue from a film, the same procedure that actors use when dubbing their lines in post-production. Students also recorded their own movements as a sequence of still photographs that were printed into a flipbook.

The class was able to view various film/TV set components from “Law and Order: SVU,” “Titanic,” “The Exorcist,” and much more. These include historic film and television cameras, television sets, sound recording equipment, costumes, set design sketches and models, make-up, fan magazines, posters, and an outstanding collection of dolls, toys, board games, lunch boxes, and more.

County Prep Students Win First Prize at New Jersey Shout Down Drugs Music Competition

County Prep High School's Music and Audio Technology Department is happy to announce that seniors Ayman Abdalla, Juan Ferreira, and Alexia Velazquez took first place out of 22 finalists for New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music competition. The trio performed an original composition at Rutgers University on Wednesday May 25, 2016 and won a prize of $5000. The students composed and produced their original selection at County Prep's recording studio and are set to perform a small tour of live performances this summer in order to showcase their song at various locations throughout the state. Please visit http://shoutdowndrugs.com/contestants/ and listen to their song. Congratulations students!

Explore 2000 Middle School Students Tour the Sterling Hill Mining Museum

On April 26, 2016, the students of Explore 2000 Middle School became miners exploring the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. They took the tour through the mining tunnel, experiencing recreations of what the miners saw and did many years ago. They walked through tunnels and shafts that looked ready for work, peopled with mannequins dressed in authentic costumes with tools and machinery dating as far back as the 1830's. There were also rooms below ground exhibiting collections of the old tools. The Rainbow Room shows many of the fluorescent rocks and other items that fluoresce in the ultraviolet light. The room and the tunnel nearby show off the fluorescent qualities of the types of zinc that were the main ore minerals found in the mine.

 The Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence showed cases of the minerals found in the mine. Each case displayed at least twenty examples of a specific mineral type. The fluorescent theme of the museum is demonstrated by minerals from many parts of the country with explanations of the activators that cause the glow. It even contains a room devoted to the history of the development of ultraviolet lights.

Ore wasn't the only thing found by the miners. Fossils also came from the mine, including the bones of dinosaurs. The Zobel Exhibit Hall contains a life-size reproduction of a Tyrannosaurus Rex skull, dinosaur bones, their footprints in a slab of stone, eggs, and petrified wood. The Exhibit Hall also features a periodic table display with 112 sections, each containing a real example of the element and some information about it. There's also the Edison room with displays of Edison's New Jersey iron mining operation along with some of his inventions. The Hall has ore specimens and displays and even meteorites.

An entry from a miner's diary as imagined by a First Year student:

Miner Diary Entry
by Yazan Baghdady

January 15, 1986
I found out today that the mine is closing in a few months. I've been working very hard to get overtime pay and searching for both jobs and minerals to sell to collectors, but I can't find either. Today I almost took my tag home, but I remembered. Thank god I don't have to clean the toilets in two days. I feel kind of bad for the new miner, Richard Dixon. He forgot his tag twice, and his light went out when he was on level 18. However, instead of staying put, as any normal miner would, Dixon wandered around and almost got blown up. The boss had to pay 20 miners overtime to find him, so Dixon is probably going to clean the honeypots on Friday, unless someone does something stupider, which is unlikely, given our jobs are on the line. The bosses have been laying off bad miners left and right to prepare for the closing of the mine. I'm lucky that I'm bringing in a decent amount of zinc, but it's been getting harder to find. Honestly, I think that we've mined most of the zinc to find. I'm not crazy about being a miner, but I have to be able to support myself. Anyway, I'm getting desperate, especially because other miners are finding gems when I can't. By now, I'm looking more for gems than zinc. One of the only interesting things that happened this week was that Michael Fettick almost fell into the crusher while breaking rocks. To finish this entry, I'm still looking for a job, but I have an interview next week. If this is ever read, wish me luck.

A First Year student, Lorey Cutkelvin, wrote about her experience:

Stirling Hill Mining Museum

Explore 2000 Middle School were hired as miners at the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. We learned all about the life, responsibilities and requirements of a miner. One of the things we learned was about how they used canaries to help identify when there was carbon dioxide in the air. We all give a huge thank you to the great guides and entire facility at the mine for making this learning experience amazing.

Almar Garcia becomes Jersey City's first public school golfer in NJSIAA tournament

Read below how Almar Garcia becomes Jersey City's first public school golfer in NJSIAA tournament

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/1802374153996647441/almar-garcia-becomes-jersey-citys-first-public-school-golfer-in-njsiaa-tournament/

Explore 2000 Students Win Recycled Regatta at Earthfest

On May 14, 2016, the eighth grade Explore 2000 team of Daniel McClain and Aaron Joshua with Crew Captain, Frank Colaluca won first place in the recycled regatta at the third annual Earthfest in Overpeck Park. It was the first time the Explore teams such an event with these boats. Afterwards, Daniel McClain said, "I was scared until we got into the boat and then I was like, 'Oh, this is going to float.' I think we were scared just because we knew we built it from the ground up." The event is the highlight of the annual celebration of the outdoors. The Earthfest event is hosted by the Hackensack Riverkeeper, North Jersey's leading advocate for clean water.

Amid green vendors, live music, and other activities meant to teach and demonstrate the reduce, reuse and recycle theme, the Regatta is a race on the Hackensack Creek in vessels made from used and recycled materials. At least 80% of the vessel must be made of such materials. Plastic bags and Styrofoam are not allowed because they are damaging to the waterways. The racing vessels have to be self-propelled with bonus point awarded for homemade paddles. They must contain at least two people, including a designated Crew Captain. Strict safety rules must be followed and safety gear including life vests must be worn. To win, the team must remain in the vessel and it should cross the finish line with all pieces on board. Any part that falls off must be retrieved in the spirit of discarding nothing in the waterways. Teams have to carry logos of any sponsors they have and the logos of the Earthfest sponsors too. Teams are expected to raise money for Hackensack Riverkeeper and an award is given for the team that raises the most money. The complete list of requirements for the annual race are here.

The Explore 2000 students in the Hands On Learning and Design (HOLD) program which promotes experimental learning, designed, built and launched two vessels made of recycled materials. Their projects were made from used pickle barrels, PVC pipe and empty soda bottles. The eighth grade team rowed to the first place win and the second boat, rowed by the seventh grade team of Andrew Kibalo and Angel Pinto led by Crew Captain Lauren Norcia, tied for second place. An article from NorthJersey.com can be found here.

Ms. Amy Lin-Rodriguez, Explore 2000's principal said, "The Recycled Regatta was a great opportunity for our learners to combine physical fitness with STEM, under the supportive leadership of facilitator Frank Colaluca."

President of the HCST Foundation which supplies financial support for the HOLD program, Daniel Gans said, "Congratulations to all the participating students."  

Frank J. Gargiulo, HCST district superintendent, added, "This is a fine achievement that demonstrates authentic learning and I'm proud of the work of the student and their instructors,"   

HCST Foundation Executive Director Linda J. Quentzel said, "We were proud to support the HOLD program and we are glad to see this endeavor having success. A hearty congrats to Aaron and Daniel on their victory!"

Explore 2000 Announces Summer STEM Camp

The Explore 2000 Middle School announced the opening of registration for its Science, Technology, engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp 2016, which will take place from July 18th through July 29th. Students entering fifth through eighth grades in the fall of 2016 are eligible to apply and will be taught by certified teachers from Explore 2000 and certified facilitators from STEM Education, LLC.

"We are excited for the 2016 STEM Summer Camp," said Explore 2000 Principal Amy Lin-Rodriguez. "Thanks in part to the HCST Foundation, students will have the opportunity to learn about the STEM field in a fun and interactive manner."

The STEM Summer Camp seeks to prepare campers for the future as engineers, scientists, business marketing and creative professional. Through comprehensive math and science lessons, the camper will better understand the concepts and skills needed to be tomorrow's technology and business leaders.

"This is an innovative approach to teaching, we believe that proper instruction, teamwork, competition and challenge will allow our campers to build a passion for the STEM field," said Lin-Rodriguez.

Through the national STEM Initiative, campers will learn the STEM field by designing and racing model race cars and participating in a Student Racecar Challenge. The students will compete as part of a team using electric radio control cars.

The tuition will be $375 for the two week session, and includes all supplies and camper t-shirts. Those interested in taking part in the STEM Summer Camp can call (201) 631-6396. http://www.hcstonline.org/explore2000/stem-camp.html 

NJ State Trooper Andrew Parker Visits with County Prep Students

Trooper Andrew Parker met with over 25 students at County Prep on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 to discuss law enforcement as a viable post-secondary career pathway.  The presentation included an overview of the skills and minimum requirements to qualify for the New Jersey State Police exam.  Trooper Parker discussed " A Day in the Life" of a trooper inclusive of both the rewards and challenges of serving the public.  His presentation was dynamic, informative, and inspiring to the students because he spoke with honor and courage all of which was a testament to his dedication to the profession. Aside from Field Operations, he discussed career opportunities in Forensic Science, Information Technology, Homeland Security, Special Operations, and Administrative capacities further underscoring the value of up-skilling and furthering one's education. A warm thank-you is extended to Trooper Parker for taking time out of his busy schedule to provide a valuable structured learning experience for our students.

High Tech National Honor Society Holds 2016 Induction Ceremony

(North Bergen—April 21, 2016) This year, the High Tech High School National Honor Society (NHS) inducted 26 seniors, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The following students earned initiation into NHS for 2016:

Bayonne residents Amina Bendaoud, Sara Bendaoud (President), Jessica Driscoll (1^st Vice President), Mariam Elsaker, George Iskander, Vanessa Kirschner, Elena Lazareva, Danica Lichauco, Sofia Madrid (2^nd Vice President), and Ivana Rodriguez; Jessica Zhu of Harrison; Hoboken resident Erin Leong; Jyote Borate, Celine Molfetta (Secretary), Shreyaben Patel, and Amy Suchodolski of Jersey City; Secaucus residents Ben Bafumi, Manasa Chilakala, Ryan Gulati (Treasurer), Justin Luh, Raechelle Manalo, Emma Spahic, and Alessandra Tringali; Miriam Janssen and Emory Kemph of Weehawken; and Alessandra Carreno-Novoa of West New York.

Below please find a statement released from the aforementioned students:

“The 2016 students of NHS would like to recognize Mrs. Joan Marie Bellotti, Language Arts Department Liaison and teacher, and Mr. David Polito, veteran Social Studies instructor, for their indefatigable work and their wholehearted commitment to NHS.  Without their efforts, NHS wouldn’t be the success that it is today and every other year.  You’re the best!”

Six High Tech High School Students Honored at 2016 Letters About Literature Award Ceremony

(Piscataway, NJ—May 19, 2016) Out of almost 2,000 letters submitted from New Jersey in the 2015-2016 Letters About Literature contest, High Tech High School received notice that six of its students had been honored at the 2016 Letters About Literature Award Ceremony at Rutgers University’s Livingston College Student Center, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Letters About Literature received almost 2,000 letters from New Jersey students.  After two rounds of judging at the national level, seventy-four letters at the high school level qualified for at least two more rounds of judging at the state level.  Judges originally recognized twenty students from High Tech out of these seventy-four letters to advance to the final round of judging. 

Six of these High Tech finalists, however, received honors at the Award Ceremony:  Bayonne’s Natalie Skibniewski; Nicole Lee of Guttenberg; Kearny’s Andrew Tran; North Bergen residents Sarah Bacha, Genesis Cevallos, and Zhixiu Zheng.

Letters About Literature, a reading and writing contest for students in grades 4-12, asks each student to read a book, poem, or speech and compose a letter to the author (whether living or dead) about the ways that the author’s work affected that student personally. Contest judges at state and national levels choose from tens of thousands of letters gleaned from students all across the country.  The 2015-2016 Letters About Literature contest, made possible by a generous grant from the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, with additional support from gifts to the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, celebrates authors who have helped shape America and the world itself.

County Prep's Dominick Quintela Awarded Scholarship from NJCECA

As a result of our district's participation in the New Jersey Cooperative Education Coordinators Association (NJCECA), County Prep is proud to announce Dominick Quintela was recently selected to receive a $6,000.00 scholarship to attend Lincoln Tech.  Dominick plans on pursuing a program in IT this coming fall at the Edison campus.  A special thank you is extended to the NJCECA for awarding this scholarship to Dominick

Explore 2000 Middle School at the Urban Watershed Program

The First Year students at Explore 2000 Middle School spent the week of May 9, 2016 working on the Urban Watershed Education Program. Part of the New Jersey department of Environmental Protection, the program begins with a day in the classroom. The students prepared for their field experience with lessons in map reading, learning to identify the local waterways, estuaries, bioaccumulation, watersheds and identifying water species that are under NJDEP Fish Consumption advisories.

                    

Global climate change and the effect it will have on estuaries was discussed along with some ways the students can help to reduce energy consumption. Life forms found in local waterways were discussed as well and the species that are not safe to eat were pointed out. They also learned about the food chain and health effects from eating fish and crabs contaminated with pollution.

On the second day of the program, students traveled to the local waterways to engage in activities that showed how pollution occurs and how it is affected by a watershed. They learned how citizens can reduce and prevent pollution. Dariya Kubska said, " I always hear about pollution, but to see it up close is different. It makes me think about what our generation is doing to our planet."

                

And eco-tour by boat was conducted by the Hackensack RiverKeeper. The students saw how people meet nature in an urban waterway as they learned how to coexist in harmony. The students observed and conducted tests of the water, learning to monitor the levels of healthy and harmful chemicals. The students learned what is needed for water to sustain life. Tests included dissolving oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, temperature, turbidity and salinity. Amanda Zweifler commented, "I never knew there was so much science behind water." Groups compared their results and discussed how results can vary from one location to another.

The Hackensack RiverKeeper has been presenting this program for 20 years at no cost to schools. This interactive program provides a front row seat to environmental issues in our neighborhood and encourages them to look at habits that may not be conducive to protecting our planet.

County Prep Student Wins First Place at 33rd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest

The County Prep World Language Department is proud to announce that County Prep students excelled once more at the 33rd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest, held at William Paterson University on May 19. This year, fifty-eight schools participated in this great event and one of our students, Alexander B. Berman, won First Place in the Chinese Beginner category in this reputable contest. Congratulations, Alexander.

County Prep Environmental Science Students Take Class Outside

Ms. Cynthia Rose and her Environmental Science students did some Spring planting in the front gardens of County Prep High School's campus this week.

High Tech Students Shine in Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest

(Wayne—May 19, 2016) This year, High Tech High school students shone at the 33^rd Annual Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest, held at William Paterson University, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

The following students excelled in the French poetry contest: North Bergen resident Erica De Lacerda earned first place for intermediate level; Mously Lo of Jersey City earned second place for advanced level; and Harrison resident Joseph Barbosa earned third place for beginner level.

These two students received recognition in the German poetry contest: East Newark resident Carlos Arce-Sanchez has received honorable mention for intermediate level and Armando Alvarez-Suarez has received honorable mention for beginner level.

In addition, students participated in the Italian poetry contest: Kiara Espinosa of North Bergen earned third place for intermediate level and Jersey City resident Carlos Hernandez, who entered at beginner level, also deserves credit for his efforts.  

Three students also excelled in the Japanese poetry contest: Kearny resident Camille Romano earned first place for intermediate level, and Genesis Cevallos and Cindy Wong, both of North Bergen, earned first place for beginner level and second place for advanced level, respectively.

Last but not least, these students excelled in the Spanish poetry contest: Jersey City’s Mariam Abdelmoula, who entered at advanced level, and Elisabeth Kamara, who entered at beginner level, as well as Marvin Martinez of West New York, deserve credit for their efforts.   Joan Tubungbanua of Jersey City received honorable mention for native level.

“All contestants did great work representing High Tech High School,” declares Dr. Laje Gashi, veteran French Language and Culture instructor at High Tech High School.

Sponsored by the Department of Languages and Cultures, the Orlando Saa Foreign Languages Poetry Recitation Contest features competitions in Chinese, ESL, Korean, and Latin languages as well.

High Tech’s Halaena Merrill Wins First Prize at the 42nd Annual NJ Young Filmmakers Festival

(Jersey City, NJ—May 16, 2016) High Tech’s Halaena Merrill, a Weehawken resident, has won first prize in the High School Category at this year’s New Jersey Young Filmmakers Festival, a project of the Thomas A. Edison Media Arts Consortium, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Merrill won for her three-minute seventeen second, French-spoken short Le Cadeau (“The Gift”), a film noir about a P.I. hired to surveil a wife shopping for her husband’s birthday present, but the detective learns that the wife has cuckolded her husband.   

The New Jersey Young Filmmakers Festival provides young filmmakers, who either live in or attend school in the Garden State, the opportunity to exhibit films and have them evaluated by media arts representatives.  Since its inception, the festival has recognized, celebrated, and encouraged emerging young talent in the state in which Thomas Edison first developed motion pictures.

The 42nd Annual New Jersey Young Filmmakers Festival holds its premiere event, including a screening and awards ceremony, at the home of Thomas Edison’s film studio, the Black Maria, at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 21st, at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange.  Founded in 1981, the New Jersey Young Filmmakers Festival, a project of the Thomas A. Edison Media Arts Consortium, an independent nonprofit organization associated with New Jersey City University’s Department of Media Arts, honors Edison’s development of the motion picture. 

For more info, please contact Jane Steuerwald, professor of media arts and executive director of the Thomas A. Edison Media Arts Consortium, at (201) 200-2043 or jane@blackmariafilmfestival.org.  Additional information about this year’s New Jersey Young Filmmakers Award Winners may be accessed at www.blackmaria.org.

High Tech High School Takes Part in Genetic & Genomics Virtual Conference

(North Bergen, NJ—May 11-12, 2016) High Tech’s Science Majors took part in the 4^th annual Genetics and Genomics free virtual conference, a two-day event held in Dr. Arun Srivastava’s class, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

The 4th Annual Genetics and Genomics free virtual conference, one of the most attended of its kind by researchers, lab directors, instructors, and other genetics professionals, allows viewers to discover advances in genetics research.  The virtual conference allows participation in a global setting, whereby people interact through live-streaming video and chat sessions with presenters from the two-day conference.

For instance, High Tech’s Jeel Shah, a resident of North Bergen, asked Vice-President and Chief Scientist for Illumina, Inc., David Bentley, “Will the sequencing detected in this U.K. industry [in the area of medical genomics] be available to other parts of the world (like the U.S.) for further research?”

Tanushri Shah, also from North Bergen, wondered if the program proved ethical and transparent, to which Bentley assured Shah that such proved to be the case.

Andrew Tran of Kearny and North Bergen resident Sarah Bacha viewed a conference given by Frederick Dewey, Head of Translational Genetics for Regeneron Genetics.  Tran inquired about the data collection of volunteers who might have died due to the gene being observed or due to natural causes.  Bacha questioned Dewey about 1^st and 2^nd tiers of systematic ascertainment of founder population studies.

To view the 4th Annual Genetics and Genomics free virtual conference, please go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzmJZpBfJR8.

High Tech Students Excel on 2016 National Japanese Examination

(North Bergen, NJ—May 16, 2016) The Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ) has recognized High Tech students in Japanese I, II, and III classes who participated in the 2016 National Japanese Examination (NJE), announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

NEJ, an online, proficiency-oriented, standards-based tool, assesses middle school, high school, and college students who study Japanese as a second language through a national exam that awards students for high achievement. The students featured below have been recognized for their achievements:

Erin Chen of Harrison earned a gold medal for Japanese II; Bayonne resident Russell Schimitt, Jay Jasty of Secaucus, and West New York resident Rebecca Rosas received silver medals for Japanese I; Genesis Cevallos and Zhixiu Zheng of North Bergen, Alice Yao of Weehawken, and West New York resident Alma Rojas earned bronze medals for Japanese I; and Honorable Mentions included Cara Rosner of Hoboken for Japanese III, Kearny resident Camille Romano for Japanese II, and Phoebe Chang and Fujia Ren of Secaucus for Japanese I and Japanese III, respectively.

“These students are hardworking and earned these honors by themselves,” states Akemi Dobkin, veteran teacher of Japanese Language and Culture at High Tech.

AATJ promotes Japanese language education at all educational levels and supports Japanese language teachers all across America.

County Prep Students Attend 2016 NJ FCCLA State Leadership Conference

(Cherry Hill, NJ. March 2016) Students represented County Prep High School at this year's FCCLA State Leadership Conference, which is attended by 700 NJ students. Congratulations to all the award winners!

Award winners included the following:

Rodaina Ahmed, Vasudha Kumar, & Suly Merida: Gold Medal, perfect score in the "Life Event Planning"

Samantha Rivera: Silver Medal, $1500 scholarship in "Fashion Runway Career wear"

Krystal Reyes: Gold Medal, $3250 scholarship in "Fashion Runway Evening wear" 

Janel Schroth: Silver Medal, $2000 scholarship in "Fashion Runway Sportswear"

Imanye' Ali: Gold Medal, $ 3250 scholarship in "Fashion Runway Career wear"

Jakelin Mendez: Gold Medal, $2600 scholarship in "Sewing for Service"

Mia Malmad: Gold Medal, "Fashion Design"

Jakelin Mendez: Gold Medal, "Luncheon Menu Showcase"

Other Medalists included the team in the "Entrepreneurship" category. A Gold Medal was awarded to Anjela Maravilla & Patricia Ramirez. 

And Katlyn Dimatos, Mical Gomez, & Jennylee Pineda won a Gold Medal for the "Environmental Ambassador" category.

Silver Medals were awarded in various categories to Samantha Rivera, Jatzary Gutierrez, Karlissa Giron, Jessica Massa, Adrianna Cruz, Wally Koutanding, Mauli Maniar, Christine Jimenez, Mayra Morales, Jessica Camano, and Leslie Santana. 

Bronze Medals were awarded in Fashion categories to Shavon Williams and Lissette Hernandez.

County Prep Students Win at Teen Arts Visual Arts Competition

This week County Prep students entered their work in the Teen Arts Visual Arts Competition at the Bayonne Public Library. Top Honors went to Jagdish Patel for Photography. Also, Michelle Nunez received a Judges Award for Photography. The remaining students received Judges Awards for their art work: Graphic Art student Daniela Noguera and Art Students Brianna Morales, Lauryn Landron and Darriesha Coaxum. Congratulations to all of the winners!

County Prep’s AV Students Visit the NBA Replay Center

(Secaucus, NJ—April 29, 2016) Ms. Pica’s Audio Visual Production class visited the NBA Replay Center in Secaucus, NJ. The group had the privilege to meet Joe Borgia, Senior Vice President and Replay Referee at the NBA. Borgia explained that at the Replay Center they make strategic game decisions based on the use of HD cameras and fiber-optic transmitters.

Students handled various equipment used for playback of NBA games. They viewed games from four NBA arenas. One of such games included Drake in the audience! Ms. Pica’s class was also able to view basketballs from past years, including balls dedicated to Dominique Wilkins and George Miran.

Beginning with the 2014-2015 NBA regular season, the NBA launches its new state-of-the-art NBA Replay Center based in Secaucus, NJ. The studio is equipped with a groundbreaking high-speed arena network to enhance the performance and decision-making of NBA referees. The replay center is equipped with 94 HD monitors connected by fiber optic wires from all 29 NBA arenas.

Explore 2000 Student Sings the National Anthem at the Prudential Center

Prudential Center: National Anthem Experience

By Lauralie Mufute

 I didn’t know this then, but my journey to sing at the Prudential Center started on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2015. My mom was there at the Veteran’s Day celebration and she saw me sing the Star Spangled Banner. She thought it could be possible for me to sing the National Anthem at the N.J. Devils game on December 19th, 2015 because the dance studio I currently take classes at was performing that day. My mom coordinated with my dance teacher and I got a chance to audition to sing at the Prudential Center. I didn’t get to sing on December 19th, which is the date the performing group I’m in performed. I finally got to sing on Saturday, February 6th, 2016.

I sang the national anthem at the New Jersey Devils vs. Washington Capitals game. When I walked towards the ice to sing, I was a bit nervous because I had NEVER performed in front of 16,000 people before. I took deep breaths and calmed myself so I wouldn’t mess up. There were a lot of people who were behind the ice with me and they told me to do my best like I did at practice. I had a lot of fun singing at the Devils game and I hope to do it again.

Watch Lauralie sing the Star Spangled Banner >>

Explore 2000 Ring Ceremony 2016

On May 6, 20126, the graduating class of Explore 2000 Middle School held its Ring Ceremony. The first Ring Ceremony celebrated in the new building was an emotional event. It symbolized the end of one era and the beginning of a new one. The Third Year class faced the audience of First and Second Year students as they received their class rings and relived memories.

 

                                             

 

Each Third Year student was introduced by a video description by Second Year students or teachers. Each introduction began with a characterization of the student, ending with the student's name. Many of the videos brought laughter to the listeners. One by one, the graduating class came to the podium and received their ring which was placed on their fingers by Ms. Garrett and Ms Norcia. Parents and friends commemorated the moment with photos.

A slideshow of pictures featuring the experiences of the Class of 2016. The class enjoyed sharing the memories.

                            

The slideshow was accompanied by two songs, 

"Be Humble and Kind" by Tim McGraw  

"Hold the door, say please, say thank you

Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie

I know you got mountains to climb but

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you

When the work you put in is realized

Let yourself feel the pride but

Always stay humble an kind."

  

and "My Wish" by  Rascal Flatts 

"I hope you never look back but you never forget

All the ones who love you and the place you left

I hope you always forgive and you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get" 

The history of class rings was shared. The class ring tradition began in 1835 at West Point Military Academy when rings were given to show unity of the class members and remembrance of the experience of their time at the Academy. Included in class ring tradition is turning the ring for good luck. The number of turns corresponds to the year of graduation. The class of 2016 will turn their rings 116 times.

The ring is turned towards the pinkie and a wish is made for that person. The last turn is done by somebody special.

  

The last turn is not towards the pinkie but towards the middle finger or towards the heart to lock in all the good wishes so that they come true.