County Prep Inducts Seniors into the National Honor Society

On April 26th, 2017 County Prep Inducted the following seniors into the National Honor Society:

Anjela Maravilla, Genna Post, Patrick Gabriel, Nicole DeAssis, Marian Hanna, Raymundo Hernandez, Patricia Ramirez, Sarah Salama, Umradha Shievkumar, Karina Sanchez, Karina Pereira,Xuan Pham, Dana Suthammanont, Juliana Yeung, Simran Dutta, Fatima Munawar, Snehal Patel, Joseph Mamaril, Michelle Nunez,Karolina Minkiewicz, Vanessa Chicas, Felicity Agustin, Kush Agrawal, Emily Jaramillo and Nikolina Krzymanska.

Ms. Mendolla, the entire County Prep staff and NHS officers extends "Congratulations" to these outstanding students for their accomplishments

Awards for County Prep Theatre Arts Students

County Prep Theatre Arts News

County Prep’s Matthew Riccardi won the Judge’s Award for his monologue from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

County Prep’s Theatre Arts’ production of Ondine has received four Foxy Final Nominations for Montclair State University Theatre Night Awards!

On March 9th, at the Teen Arts Alliance competition at New Jersey City University, Theatre Arts Junior Matthew Riccardi won the Judge’s Award for his rendition of Benvolio’s monologue from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. His performance impressed the Judges with its clear understanding of the text and its truthfulness. Congratulations to Mathew and all of our other competitors this year.

Mrs. Shields is also very excited to announce that our production of Ondine, by Jean Giraudoux, has received nominations for Outstanding Achievement for an Acting Ensemble of a Classic Play, and three Outstanding Performance Nominations for Senior Adam Hassan (Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Classic Play), recent graduate Alexia Velazquez (Outstanding Performance by a Leading Actress in a Classic Play), recent graduate Jose Lupianez (Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Classic Play).

The Awards will be announced during the Theatre Night Awards on May 15th, 2017 at Montclair State University. This program has been established in 2009 by Montclair State University Theatre and Dance Department professor Susan Kerner and Mahwah High School teacher JoAnne Fox. They conceived the event to provide a balance for the popularity of the high school musical and its celebration at well-established awards ceremonies in New Jersey and the region.

This competition is open to all secondary schools in the state of NJ, and only to straight play production. The event is a positive educationally based community building experience.  Students are able to share their work with other students and to be recognized outside their own high schools.  This outside recognition has direct benefits for students and teachers in districts throughout the state.

High Tech Drama Majors Meet and Consult with Playwright David Ives in Preparation for Spring Production of THE LIAR

(North Bergen, NJ—April 19, 2017) This year, the High Tech Drama Department will be showcasing The Liar, a French farce originally written by the famous playwright Pierre Corneille, but updated by David Ives, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

The Liar, set in Paris in 1643, involves mistaken identities, the pursuit of marriage, and duels between rivals, in short, a classical comedy with a modern twist.

The drama majors have worked closely with the prolific contemporary playwright, since properly executing this show has not been a simple feat.  In preparation for the stage interpretation, the Drama Department watched New York City’s Classic Stage Company perform The Liar.  Afterward, the majors took part in a talk-back with the actors and playwright.  So impressed with High Tech’s questions and comments, Ives wrote Deborah Arters, High Tech Drama Director, stating that the cast raved about the inquisitiveness, intelligence, and passion of her department.

Ives, best known for contemporary comedic pieces like “All in the Timing” and “Is he Dead,” has recently been writing verse adaptations of 17^th century plays.

Show dates for High Tech Drama Department’s presentation of David Ives’ version of The Liar take place Thursday through Saturday, May 4^th-6^th, at the Black Box Theatre at High Tech High School.  May 4^th and 5^th shows begin at 7pm.  May 6^th show starts at 3pm. 

Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://www.showtix4u.com.

HCSTF Sponsors Winning Workshop for County Prep Dancers

March 10, 2017 (Jersey City, N.J.) – The County Prep Dance Program, led by Ms.

Heather Warfel-Sandler, recently won Top Honors at the Hudson County Teen Arts

Festival thanks in part to an HCSTF-sponsored collaboration with percussionist Ravish

Momin, announced Silverio A. Vega, Development Coordinator of the HCST Foundation.

Senior dancers Mia Stephens, Amanda Abdelaal, Tamir Rios, Selah Rogerson, Alyssa

Acciavatti, and Veronica Gagliardi from Ms. Wafel-Sandler’s dance program initially met

with Ravish Momin in the fall of 2016, after the HCST Foundation approved a grant for

the workshop. Momin, who has international performance experience and has worked

with musicians including Shakira, worked alongside these young artists to create a

unique dance-and-drum piece which earned them Top Honors.

Ms. Warfel-Sandler says the piece was conceived by the students, who had the vision

to include live music and to use performance as a platform for sharing their often

unheard points of view. Warfel-Sandler explains, “This successful collaboration

between myself, my students, and a professional guest artist is another testament to

the mission of the County Prep Dance Program, which is to make progressive, original

work. We will continue to prioritize the creative process, and we are grateful to the

foundation and our administration for their support of our unique goals.”

The dance program also received a Judges Award for “Learning to be Lost,” a trio

choreographed by Meagan Woods.

Foundation President Daniel Gans says, “We’re very proud to have helped forge a

meaningful and successful connection for Ms. Warfel-Sandler and her students. We

hope this endeavor will inspire these young artists to further their many talents.”

HCST Superintendent Frank J. Gargiulo adds, “Congratulations to Ms. Warfel-Sandler

and her students. The Foundation has helped these students to make a vital

connection in the worlds of dance and music, and their collaborative success is

something to be proud of.”

The County Prep Dancers will host their annual concert on May 11th & 12th, 2017,

where they will showcase the full extent of their talents.

High Tech’s Japanese Language and Culture Students Attend 23rd Annual NECTJ "Harumatsuri"

(New York, NY—March 20, 2017) High Tech Japanese language and culture students attended the Japanese Spring Festival (Harumatsuri) at the United Nations International School, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Sponsored by the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ), Harumatsuri featured an array of traditional Japanese activities in which students could take part and delicious foods that students could sample to experience and better understand Japanese culture.

Almost 400 students from schools in the Tri-State area attended Harumatsuri.  Groups of students met one another and took turns visiting booths to practice their Japanese.  Judges graded students according to their competence with the language, and the group that spoke Japanese the best won prizes.

The day ended with a Japanese poem contest and talent show.  After, the entire audience closed by singing together the Harumatsuri's theme song, “Umi no Uta.”

High Tech’s Alana Aninipot and Makayla Blount Win Bronze Medal in 2017 Skills USA Competition

(Somerset, NJ—April 8, 2017) High Tech High School TV Production students Alana Aninipot of Secaucus and Jersey City resident Makayla Blount received the Bronze Medal in the 2017 Television (Video) Production Competition at the New Jersey SkillsUSA Championship, held at the Garden State Exhibit Center, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

For the TV (Video) Production Competition, teams of two arrived with the proper equipment to record and produce a sixty-second promotional video. Upon arrival, the students received additional detailed parameters by the coordinator.  Teams had until 1:30 PM to hand in a burned DVD or Flash Drive of the given project.  Moreover, students had to bring production music packs and SFX bundles to enhance their projects.

“We are so proud of [Aninipot and Blount] for bringing home two bronze medals and for proudly representing our school,” says Gregg Ascolese, TV Production instructor.

Aninipot’s and Blount’s award-winning video can be viewed at the following link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg-jLoJUyrA

Alana Aninipot and Makayla Blount

Three High Tech Students Receive 2017 New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese Language and Culture Study Award

(Princeton, NJ—March 11, 2017) High Tech High School students Cara Rosner of Hoboken, Kearny resident Camille Romano, and Eleanore Woodruff of Weehawken have received the 2017 Japanese Language and Culture Study Award, sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Teachers of Japanese (NJATJ), accepted at Princeton University, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

The award recognizes students in New Jersey for their hard work and achievement in learning Japanese language and culture.  This year, 47 recipients from 18 high schools and universities have been honored with the award.  Also, the event coincided with the sixth anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Fukushima.

“I’m very grateful to have had this experience and am extremely proud of all that I have achieved,” says Rosner, award recipient.

The award ceremony, which began with greetings from Yoko Fukuda, President of NJATJ, featured two guest speakers, Tomofumi Horiki (Consul, Japan Information Center of Consulate General of Japan in NYC) and Dr. David Greer (Coordinator of world Languages NJ Department of Education), who congratulated the award recipients and praised their hard work.  They also rang the “kane,” a dish-shaped bell from Japan, in remembrance of those lost in the Fukushima disaster.

Each award recipient made a short speech on the benefits of learning Japanese. 

County Prep's Karolina Minkiewicz Wins Judges Award at Photography Competition

Photography students from County Prep High School competed in the 2017 Pingry Photography Competition in Basking Ridge, NJ. Over 30 photographs were submitted. All work was displayed at the Photography Show which took place in February 2017. This years Judges Award goes to senior, Karolina Minkiewicz with her photograph “Winter Stroll." Mr. Patten would like to congratulate the winner, Karolina, as well as all the contestants. 

Karolina Minkiewicz- Winter Stroll

High Tech’s Digital Design | Fabrication Academy Visits Gensler NYC’s New Offices

(New York, NY—April 6, 2017) High Tech’s Digital Design | Fabrication Academy, composing classes facilitated by Gregory and Alba Simon, recently visited Gensler NYC's new offices at 1700 Broadway, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

“We held a class discussion to reflect on the tour and some of the topics that were discussed,” says Gregory Simon.  “After having such an engaging conversation, Alba and I were reminded of the importance of these types of learning experiences.”

Gensler recently relocated its more than 600 employees after spending more than 25 years in Rockefeller Center. Gensler occupies 120,000 square feet in the Theatre District, taking up the second through the sixth floors of a 42-story office tower between 53rd and 54th Streets.

“The way that the office is designed shows just how Gensler is all about innovation and creative new ideas, comfort, and cohesiveness," adds Lisette Guacamaya, a junior Architecture major from Union City.

Gensler, widely recognized as the world’s leading collaborative design firm, focuses on a “one-firm firm” ethos to save time, cut costs, and deliver innovation.  Gensler offers the design industry’s deepest bench of expertise, matched with experience gained by working with its clients across the global economy.

"The tour opened my eyes to how crucial it is that people working in creative fields should discover their own process," says Daniella Tero, also a junior Architecture major from Bayonne.

High Tech’s Alana Aninipot Receives Nomination from Ridgewood Guild Film Festival for Her Documentary

(Ridgewood, NJ—April 6, 2017) The prominent Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival has nominated Alana Aninipot, a junior TV Production major at High Tech High School, in the documentary category for her insightful and revolutionary film, Thinking Body Positive, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Aninipot, a resident of Secaucus, created a four-minute social commentary on perceived norms of the human body with Thinking Body Positive, which restructures the idea of self-appreciation and objects to the way in which people scrutiny looks.

“I really wanted to exaggerate the idea of loving yourself, which can be a tough topic to grasp,” says Aninipot about her inspiration for Thinking Body Positive.  “The documentary presents three girls learning to do just that.”

Aninipot and her friends got involved in the project after some people told her to give advice to others who felt insecure about themselves.

“My best advice to anyone who watched my documentary would be to take your time learning to love yourself,” Aninipot advises.  “It’s a time-consuming thing to find the parts that are difficult to love, then learning to love them, regardless.  Everyone learns at a different pace and in different ways.”

The Ridgewood Guild International Film Festival will be held April 24^th-26^th. Aninipot enters this festival straight from her win in the Ramapo College Film Festival for Best Public Service Announcement/Documentary.

High Tech’s Halaena Merrill Receives Scholarship Award from Golden Door International Film Festival

(Jersey City, NJ—April 3, 2017) Weehawken resident Halaena Merrill, a senior TV Production major at High Tech High School, received the Scholarship Award at the Golden Door International Film Festival, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Organizers and judges at the award ceremony, held at The Beacon Complex, bestowed a scholarship, worth $500, on Merrill.  Merrill’s award-winning short, Reverie Train, a beautiful, cinematic story of a falling out between first loves.

“I’m proud of [Merrill’s] achievement,” says Freeholder Anthony Romano (D-District 5, Hudson), “as it was the first time a student from the Hudson County Schools of Technology had received this award.”

After graduating from High Tech, Merrill plans to continue to study Video Production at State University of New York (SUNY) at Purchase.

(From left to right) Chris DePierro, Amanda Vanegas, Halaena Merrill (award winner), Hank Green, Gregg Ascolese

High Tech Attends Ocean County Symposium

By Tanushri Shah

(Toms River, NJ—March 30, 2017) On Thursday, March 30^th, and Friday, March 31^st, High Tech Students visited Ocean County College for the First Annual South Jersey Junior Science Symposium, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Students presented more than sixty research projects from STEM fields at the Junior Science Symposium.  On the morning of Thursday, March 30, 2017, Shelina Chotrani of Secaucus, North Bergen resident Jeel Shah, and Muhammad Umar of Bayonne, all presenters at the general poster session, and North Bergen resident Tanushri Shah, an observer, attended several interesting, intellectual oral presentations.  Afterward, the general poster presentations took place. 

Umar won second place and Shah won third place in the “Life Sciences & Biology” category.  Other activities included “Electrostatic Sword Tournaments,” trivia, and puzzles.  

Some attendees accepted invitations to an evening banquet at the Clarion Hotel, where many students, like Maya Ravichandran, won $150 for winning the Student Choice Awards and a $200 environmental scholarship. Ravichandran collaborated with Princeton University to research environmentally-sustainable concrete.

On the last day, final oral presenters wrapped up their presentations.  For example, seventeen year-old Indrani Das worked on “Exosomal microRNA-14a: Mechanistic Reactive Astrocyte Repair in Brain Injury In vitro.”  Das won the Junior Nobel Prize for her pioneering research in brain injury and disease, and earned a well-deserved $250,000. Das discovered a method of increasing the survival rate of neurons after brain injuries.

College and Career Fair a Success at County Prep High School

County Prep hosted a college and career fair on March 16th 2017. There were many hands that helped to orchestrate this event from administrators, teachers, counselors, and Ms. Galluccio to maintenance and security staff, transportation staff and our Culinary Program. Colleges, universities, as well as the military and apprenticeship programs were in attendance. There were about 40 organizations representing New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania including Rutgers University, NJIT, Steven’s Tech, SUNY, University of Pittsburgh and West Point Academy. The event allowed students to gather information about potential colleges, the military and other career options in a “one-stop-shop” situation. We hope to host the fair again next year and thank everyone for the support.

Asian Cultures Club of High Tech Celebrates Holi

By Tanushri Shah and Jeel Shah

(North Bergen, NJ—March 24, 2017) The Asian Cultures Club celebrated the festival of Holi, an Indian tradition in which people play with colorful powders, to spread its message of cultural diversity, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

This festival, originally intended to celebrate good’s triumph over evil, won the hearts of many around the world, and High Tech’s first Holi festival consisted of a multitude of colors, friendly socializing, snacks, and, of course, enjoyment in keeping with the Holi tradition.  

“This [Holi festival event] paved the way for celebrating culture in a grand way,” says Dr. Srivastava, moderator of the Asian Cultures Club, “as it assured many people in and around High Tech that our community honors diversity through various means.”

Usually celebrated in India as a way to show happiness about the victory of good over evil, Holi boasts many legends about the origin of the festival.  However, one of the most popular legends concerns the story of an evil king and his son, a devotee of good.  Because the son opposed the king’s evil ways, the king eventually ordered his sister to take his son to a bonfire, ostensibly to burn his son to death.  In the end, though, the son turned the tables on the king’s sister and the son survived, which represents the victory of good over evil, some say.

In many places of India, people celebrate Holi over the course of two, even sixteen, days.  Some celebrate Holi to welcome the harvest season, while others learn morals from the legends or simply enjoy the colors and moment to reconnect with family.

The Asian Cultures Club looks forward to a much bigger celebration of Holi next year.

County Prep High School Students Attend The Beneath the Sea Marine Careers Program

On Friday March 24th, 2017, 19 County Prep students attended the Beneath the Sea Marine Careers Programs with chaperones Casey DeBaun, Nick LaVolpe and Caroline Ulivella. Students had the unique opportunity to meet many “hall of famers” in the world of diving, try marine career-related interactive activities and speak with representatives from marine career programs associated with colleges, universities and branches of the military. While our students did not win any of the raffles that day, they did have free access to try the scuba pool over the weekend and gained valuable information into the marine world.