Tuesday, May 7, 2019

High Tech Student Selected to Perform at the International Festival of Languages and Culture

(Secaucus, NJ--May 6, 2019) High Tech freshmen Musical Theatre major Arjun Athalye, a resident of Secaucus, had recently been selected to perform at this year’s International Festival of Languages and Culture, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The festival had featured over sixty young performers representing twenty countries through a host of cultural music and dances. Athalye performed in a total of four shows at the festival, including Congress Hall and the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington D.C., the John Bassett Theater in Toronto, and the Manhattan Center in New York City.

On June 8th, Athalye, along with students from High Tech Voices, will perform on the stage of NJPAC as a part of An Indian Odyssey. That show, comprised of more than 180 performers, will showcase India’s diverse cultural heritage through folk, classical, and contemporary dance and music.

College and Career Fair at County Prep High School

County Prep hosted a college and career fair on May 2nd, 2019. 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 41 organizations representing New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island including the following: Rutgers University, NJIT, Stevens Tech, SUNY, Johnson and Wales, Drexel University, Mayor Fulop’s Office, United States Army National Guard, Bayonne Community Bank, and Eastern Millwork. The event allowed about 150 of our students who were in attendance to gather information about potential colleges and scholarships, 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," said Ms. Ulivella, County Prep Guidance counselor.


High Tech Excels in National World Language Contests

(Secaucus, NJ--May 6, 2019) Students chosen by their respective language teachers in various levels of French, Spanish, and Japanese participated in this year’s National Foreign Language Exams, competing with their peers from all across the country, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Dr. Laje Gashi and Christine Kawtari selected the High Tech French students; Idania Sierra, Margarita Guzman, and Jorge Villate chose the High Tech Spanish students; and Akemi Dobkin selected the High Tech Japanese students.

This year, the following French students earned Silver: Jersey City residents Sally Mangassa (French II), Fatou Mbaye (French II), Abdel Munpen (French I), Ashley Velez (French I), and Sandra Youssef (French I); and West New York residents Jade Lorences (French II), Andrea Mejia (French II), and Camila Streuly (French III). The following French students earned Bronze: Hoboken residents Xavier Aniello (French I) and Isabella Gibs-Garcia (French II); Jersey City residents Karla Diaz (French I) and Roxolana Hreb (French I); Kearny residents Alexander Calle (French I), Martin da Silva (French II), Jane Eid (French II), and Andrew Tran (French IV); North Bergen residents Diana Concepcion (French IV) and Janine Garcia (French IV); and West New York resident Ashly Estrada (French I). Honorable Mentions in French went to the following students : Bayonne residents Belina Bubenik (French I) and Alejandra Figueroa (French III); Harrison residents James Espinosa (French III) and Jake Mulrenan (French I); Hoboken residents Sara Bartoszek (French I) and Valerie Calligy (French II); Jersey City residents Krystal Andrade (French III), Jana Kawtari (French II), Lauralie Mufute (French I), and Francesca Fiona Umali (French I); North Bergen residents Jennifer Argumedo (French III) and Lyna Bacha (French I); Secaucus resident Benjamin Rosales (French I); Guttenberg resident Fiona Bezhani (French II); Union City residents Leslie Castro (French II), Erycka Castro (French II), and Nicole Sanchez (French III); and West New York resident Emmily Hernandez (French II).

The following Spanish students earned Gold: Kearny resident Giselle Echeverria (Spanish III) and Union City resident Joshua Ibarra (Spanish I). These Spanish students earned Silver: Weehawken resident Maialen Abio (Spanish I) and West New York resident Bryan Santana (Spanish II). The following Spanish students earned Bronze: Hoboken resident Olivia Cahn (Spanish II); Kearny resident Chloe Lopes (Spanish I); North Bergen residents Kassandra Deleon (Spanish II) and Rebecca Garcia (Spanish I); Secaucus residents Sydney Chaca (Spanish II), Alyssa Conde (Spanish IV), and Smriti Sukesh Kumar (Spanish IV); Union City resident Nixi Fuentes (Spanish I); and West New York resident Nicolle Colmenares (Spanish IV). Honorable Mentions in Spanish went to the following students: Bayonne residents Rawda Elsayed (Spanish III), Raghd Elzar (Spanish I), Emily Kelly (Spanish II), Chaco Iwase (Spanish II), Riley Quinn (Spanish II), and Kade Shippy (Spanish III); Guttenberg resident Anushka Teckwani (Spanish IV); Hoboken residents Sophia Barere (Spanish I) and Sara Leong (Spanish II); Jersey City residents Sophia Gliatto (Spanish III), Isabella Pliskin (Spanish II), William Pogatsias (Spanish III), Luke Rodriguez (Spanish I), and Mariam Saad (Spanish I); Kearny residents Aleksandra Krzynowek (Spanish II), Audrey Munro (Spanish II), and Julia Sikorski (Spanish I); North Bergen residents Aliza Abraham (Spanish II), Amiel Carbonell (Spanish I), Gabriela Conde (Spanish III), Ashley Gonzalez (Spanish I), Jenna Issa (Spanish I), Kara Kolodinsky (Spanish III), Dunya Mahmoud (Spanish II), and Mellina Perez Vieta (Spanish III); Secaucus residents Conde, Sahil Patel (Spanish IV), and Mahek Virani (Spanish IV); Union City residents Camila Garcia (Spanish III), Daniela Diaz (Spanish III), and Marla Paneque (Spanish IV); Weehawken resident Ariana Guevara (Spanish II); and West New York residents Lucas Betances (Spanish I), Zachary Fernandez (Spanish III), and Mia Jardines (Spanish III).

The following Japanese student earned Gold: Secaucus resident Katherine Ren (Beginner Japanese). These Japanese students earned Silver: Jersey City resident Alice Chen (Intermediate Japanese); Union City resident Jenny Chen (Beginner Japanese) and Hoboken resident Sayuri Pfeiffer (Beginner Japanese). This Japanese students earned Bronze: Bayonne resident Remi Hayashi (Intermediate Japanese). Honorable Mention in Japanese went to Bayonne resident Rena Hayashi.


Monday, May 6, 2019

High Tech eSports Team Competes for First Place

(Elmwood Park, NJ--May 4, 2019) High Tech’s eSports team competed against Elmwood Park Memorial High School, Garfield High School, Bergen Tech, Montclair, and others this past weekend, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

High Tech, which came in First Place for Super Smash Bros Squad Strike, included Nathan Kriegel of Hoboken, Jersey City resident Zion Dos Santos, and Kevin Osorio, Victor Figueredo, and Joseph Munoz-Breto of North Bergen.

In Super Smash Bros Squad Strike Singles, Osorio placed 15th, Figueredo 9th, Munoz-Breto 5th, Dos Santos 10th, and Kriegel placed 22nd.

(from left to right: Coordinator for Elmwood Park Memorial High School Moises Cordero, Kevin Osorio, Victor Figueredo, Joseph Munoz-Breto, Zion Dos Santos, and Nathan Kriegel)

High Tech BioMed Tours Health Science Attractions in London and Scotland

(Great Britain--April 22nd-25th, 2019) Thirteen students from High Tech BioMed Academy, along with teachers Kimberly Braun and Dr. Arun Srivastava, embarked on an overseas study of medical history at various London and Scottish sites of development, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

“Not only am I grateful for the modern medicine our world has to offer, but I left [London and Scotland] understanding the struggles that many individuals once had to face,” notes Payal Kalia, a junior at High Tech.

Caitlyn Ramdat of Bayonne; Hoboken’s Olivia Cahn and Sara Leong; Khushi Raithatha of Jersey City; North Bergen’s Marisol Garcia, Payal Kalia, and Grace Nodarse; Leslie Castro, Sabrina Cetinich, Giselle Hernandez, and Samantha Rodriguez of Union City; and West New York’s Ashley Pazmino and Kiara Roque took part in a Jack the Ripper walking tour and participated in workshops at the Old Operating Theatre, Florence Nightingale Museum, and Scotland Yard with an actual detective, all in of London.

“Seeing the students apply their knowledge to the oddities we saw in the Old Operating Theatre gave me a feeling of pride that all our work in class translates to worldwide experiences,” says Braun, veteran BioMed instructor at High Tech.

Also in London, the BioMed students learned about careers in various science workshops at Centre of the Cell, explored a working biomedical research lab and the Wellcome Collection, in which they viewed historical medical tools from all over the world, and topped their time in England with the famous Body Worlds exhibition, before moving on to a lecture on the history of medical education lecture at The University of St. Andrews in Fife, the oldest medical college in Scotland, and exploring Edinburgh Castle.

“My favorite part of our trip to London and Edinburgh was the Jack the Ripper walking tour and exploring the city of Edinburgh,” says Sara Leong, a sophomore at High Tech. “I thought the tour was educational, spooky, and great fun.”




(Dolly the Sheep, the first cloned animal)



County Prep Dance presents ENIGMA Dance Performance

The County Prep Dance Program will present its 18th Annual Dance Concert on May 16 & 17 at 7pm in the County Prep Theater. The show, titled ENIGMA, centers around an adaptable set designed and constructed by the dancers in collaboration with their instructor Ms.Heather Warfel Sandler. The performance includes choreography by the students, instructors, as well as guest artists Madelyn Eltringham and Stephen Galberth. ENIGMA addresses the complexities of our relationships to space, boundaries, and one another in both the physical and emotional realm. Don't miss this evening of compelling choreography!





Friday, May 3, 2019

High Tech Alumni Elyssa Cueto and Idaliz Cristian Perform at 2019 Billboard Music Awards

(Las Vegas, NV--May 1, 2019) High Tech High School Dance Alumni Elyssa Cueto (Class of 2018) and Idaliz Cristian (Class of 2017), both former North Bergen residents, performed at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Cueto performed as a backup dancer for Taylor Swift in the opening number. Taylor Swift and Panic! at The Disco's Brendon Urie kicked off the 2019 Billboard Music Awards by debuting the performance of their new song, “ME!” Adding to the electricity, the performance included members of a drumline marching in the aisles as well as on the stage. Swift entered sporting a sequined pink, silver-and-gold dress and sang the opening lyrics. A number of female backup dancers joined in, clad in pastel suits and employing briefcases as props during the intricately-choreographed routine. In the process, the ensembles and choreography mimicked the record-breaking music video.

Also during the show, Cristian danced with Khalid, who served up a pair of hits from his sophomore album Free Spirit. The R&B star, donning a trench coat over a tie-dye T-shirt, began his performance of “Talk” bathed in blue light, with twin pairs of female and male dancers in the background that complement his performance. Next, he dove right into “Better.” Khalid, fresh off his performance on the main stage at Coachella, will soon embark on his first-ever arena tour. Free Spirit premiered in April, debuting at the top spot on the Billboard 200.

Video clips of both Cueto and Cristian in action appear below:



High Tech Dance Alumnus Elyssa Cueto (Class of 2018)
High Tech Dance Alumnus Idaliz Cristian (Class of 2017)