High Tech High School Musical Theatre Presents Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA

(North Bergen, NJ—March 1, 2018) High Tech High School Musical Theatre continues its 2017-2018 season with its presentation of Disney’s award-winning musical Aida, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Aida, with a book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, features music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.  Winner of four Tony Awards and a Grammy Award, Aida went on to become one of Time’s Top Ten Musicals of 2000.

Aida offers a contemporary musical take on the timeless bond between an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian soldier.  As forbidden love blossoms between them, circumstances dictate that the young lovers must face death or part forever.

Directed by John Zisa, with musical direction by Rod Shepard, Aida features High Tech Musical Theatre Majors and a band consisting of Music and Audio Tech Majors.

Performances take place from March 21^st-25^th at 7pm at the Jay Todd Black Box Theater in the North Hudson Center of High Tech High School in North Bergen, New Jersey. 

To purchase general admission tickets, go to www.hthspa.booktix.com. Tickets cost $15.00 for all shows, although a full-length preview performance on March 21^st has discounted tickets available for $12.00.

High Tech’s Alex Becerril Builds Bookcase for Valentine’s Day

(North Bergen, NJ—February 14, 2018) As a part of his final project for DFab’s Wood Technology major, Alex Becerril of Bayonne constructed a bookcase that he crafted as a gift to his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

As a requirement, the Wood Technology project had to be constructed with a face frame, the frame fixed to the front of a cabinet carcass that obscures the edges of the carcass and provides the fixing point for doors and other external hardware.

As mentioned, Becerril created the bookcase as a gift for his girlfriend, an avid reader and book collector.  Over the course of several months, Becerril employed the machinery available in the High Tech garage.  He learned about new techniques and tools to which he and classmates had not been previously exposed.  Zach Bolich, Becerril’s instructor, guided him through the project, from preparation to the process of utilizing trade tools.

Shortly after completion of the bookcase, Becerril installed the fruits of his handiwork in his girlfriend's house.

“This project offered me experience in woodcraft etiquette, communication, and real- world situations,” says Becerril.  “More so, with this project, I finally got to embrace the tradition of my family’s four generations of woodworkers.”

The shelves of the bookcase, which stands at approximately eight feet from floor to ceiling, have already been filled with Becerril’s girlfriend’s novels.

Alex Becerril of Bayonne stands beside his handcrafted bookcase

County Prep’s Improvisation Class Performs in the Fourth Annual Improv Show

County Prep’s Improvisation Class Performs in the Fourth Annual Improv Show:

County Prep Live Season 2 on February 19th, 2018

Only two weeks after our very successful run of How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, County Prep theatre arts improvisers performed in our fourth annual improvisation and fundraiser event, County Prep Live Season 2.

The show was loosely formatted after NBC’s Saturday Night Live. It was hosted by Matthew Riccardi, and was dedicated to Chris Farley, on the occasion of the 20 year anniversary of his sudden and premature death.

The cast created the characters and the skits in their after school credited class. Together with Ms. Shields, the director, the performers picked some of their best work and put together a two hour laughter-filled event that stood out for its precise comedic timing, current events relevance and sheer fun. The performers in order of appearance were Sophomores Tyla Gibson and Dynajah Smith, Junior Ivory Love Torres, Freshman Kayla Velazquez, Junior Sirena Morales, Seniors Matthew Riccardi and Kyle Velazquez, Sophomores Yvelisse Vargas and Janell Garcia, and Freshman Gail Mulligan, Kim Caputo, and Jen Sarker.

Some of the highlights of the show were the Cold Opening: Hot Tea News, which introduced the entire cast to the audience, and Murder on the Train, a mystery orchestrated by a Russian mystery lady, played by Sophomore Tyla Gibson, and where a couple of French acrobats, played by Junior Sirena Morales and Senior Kyle Velazquez stole the show. Other audience favorites were Friday Update hosted by Matthew Riccardi and Shanqueesha, and the Two Grandmothers Skit, acted by Seniors Kyle Velazquez and Matthew Riccardi, Junior Sirena Morales and Sophomore Janell Garcia. As tribute to Chris Farley, the show also included three Chris Farley sketches from SNL, among which Matt Foley was clearly an audience favorite.

Ms. Shields is extremely proud of her extraordinary creative improvisers as well as the technical crew of the evening; student Light Designer Alexis Medel, student sound and lighting technicians Solimar Colombani and Delana Ramos, and students assisting with Make-up and wardrobe Karissa Cruz and Cindy Ramos.

Thank you all performers and crew for such an amazing performance!

County Prep Senior Denise Anderson Plays Basketball for Hoboken High School

Please see the attached article from the Hudson Reporter for news of our County Prep Senior Denise Anderson, who plays basketball for the Hoboken High School girls' basketball team.

http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/27533985/article-SCOREBOARD--Redwing-girls-are-flying-high---Huge-overtime-win-over-Kearny-puts-Hoboken-at-8-2-?instance=jim_hauge

High Tech Has Soup-Per Bowl Win! 345 Cans and Other Items Collected for Hoboken Shelter

(North Bergen, NJ—February 5, 2018) The High Tech High School community took part in Language Arts instructor Robert Dillon’s second annual Soup-Per Bowl, contributing 345 cans and non-perishable items to benefit the Hoboken Shelter once more, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

“We outdid ourselves by 55 cans compared to last year,” says Dillon.  “It’s great to see how caring and charitable everyone in our school can be, especially within our own community of Hudson County.

Robert Dillon, Organizer of High Tech's Soup-Per Bowl

Culinary Arts Students from County Prep Visit Hudson County Community College

County Prep Culinary Arts students visited Hudson County Community College multiple times from September through December to participate in the “Extended Culinary Student for the Day” program.  The students reported to HCCC at 7:30 am to cycle 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.   At the conclusion of each visit,  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. 

                                

County Prep Students Participate in Junior Achievement's High School Heroes Program

Ms. Bello and Ms. Torres teach classes at County Prep High School for aspiring young teachers.  Their students participated in Junior Achievement's High School Heroes Program in October and December.   The students shadowed teachers and then returned to Cordero School to teach Junior Achievement's interactive elementary school curriculum. The lesson plans focused on educational standards with grade appropriate themes of personal economics, business, work force readiness and the importance of staying in school.  This Structured Learning Experience helped students practice leadership, presentation, and communication skills as well as highlight the importance of team work and preparedness.  

County Prep sends a warm thank-up to Junior Achievement and the staff at Cordero School for supporting our students.