High Tech NHS Holds Fundraiser for Operation Beachhead in Memory of Dan Beecher

(North Bergen—June 10, 2014) The National Honor Society (NHS) of High Tech has donated $1,450 from fundraising on behalf of Operation Beachhead to honor the late Dan Beecher, a veteran and friendly face of the Hudson County Schools of Technology maintenance department, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Beecher, a humble Vietnam veteran who received the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, died suddenly of cardiac arrest on April 6th of this year.

“The dedication that Dan exhibited for his country was evidenced every day in his dedication to our school,” says Joan Marie Bellotti, moderator of NHS and Department Liaison for the High Tech Language Arts Department, who reminded staff and students of the recent 70th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy Invasion, on June 6th.

High Tech NHS presented a check to Michael Ricci, Founder and President of Operation Beachhead, and Board member Joseph Potoczniak.

Operation Beachhead started as a way to provide adventurous beach activities, such as surfing, boogie boarding, kayaking, and paddle boarding, to disabled veterans before it expanded to include active duty troops, too. Entirely supported by donations and managed by volunteers, Operation Beachhead has expanded its programs and services by offering year-round activities, including winter programs, providing free services and opportunities to 225 participants. Its volunteer base has also grown tremendously, now having a group of over 200 people.

Four Students Honored in Annual Haiku Contest

(New York—June 7, 2014) Judges from the United Nations International School (UNIS), the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, and the Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese honored four High Tech students in the annual Student Haiku Contest, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School. At the Awards Assembly, held at UNIS on Saturday, June 7th, Si Tian Zhang of Kearny earned a Special Mention in the Japanese Division, while Honorable Mentions in the English Division went to Hoboken residents Cara Rosner and Catherine Sander and Jennifer Suarez of North Bergen.

UNIS received approximately 1,450 poems from various schools in the United States and around the world. From among these entries, the judges selected top haiku in eight categories as finalists. Those haikus selected had been displayed in the lobby of UNIS in early June.

High Tech French II Students Visit Madeleine’s Petit Paris

(Northvale, NJ—May 30, 2014) After organizing their own French café at High Tech, Dr. Laje Gashi’s French II class experienced the connection between projects and real life by indulging in professionally prepared French cuisine at Madeleine’s Petit Paris, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech. The absolutely stunning restaurant resembles an elegant French country inn. From the moment one arrives at Madeleine’s Petit Paris, he or she receives a warm welcome from Chef Gaspard Caloz, his wife, Madeleine, and their son, Francois. As people walk in, a waiter greets everyone with "Bonjour." The High Tech French II students employed their linguistic skills by ordering their entrées in the lingua franca of the restaurant’s owners.

“This project allowed us to get in touch with French cuisine, but it also provided a lesson in responsibility and management,” says Yenibal Almanzar, a resident of Jersey City. “Just like in a real French restaurant, we had to determine our menus, produce the food, advertise our cafes, and manage a successful working café.”

Traditional French dishes such as poulet français, ratatouille, gratin dauphinois, soupe à l’oignon, and soupe aux champignons and desserts like mousse au chocolat and crème brulée met with unanimous approval from the students.

After dessert, Chef Caloz and Madeleine serenaded students with traditional French songs and even gathered some of them to sing along, too.

“Not only did we get to enjoy French Food, but this trip has made me want to learn French language and culture even more,” says Jessica Zhu, a resident of Harrison. “I really hope our French class can experience this trip next year and, hopefully, in Europe as well.”

Thirty-Five High Tech Students Earn Excellence Awards in French

(Carbondale, IL—June 9, 2014) The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) has recognized 35 High Tech students with Excellence Awards that salutes non-native speakers from grades 9-12 who excel in the study of French, commit to study the language by participating in French-related activities, and maintain an average over 94, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

The following represents the list of students who received the Excellence Award:

Bayonne residents Amina and Sara Bendaoud, Hasumi Hayashi, Maria Kaldes, Danica Lichauco, Sofia Madrid, Alexia Mavros, Kara Neal, Tyng Pan, Sophia Velazquez, and Tristan Ventura; Edelyn Vargas of Guttenberg; Harrison residents Hsinyo Yin, Mingyu Zhao, and Jessica Zhu; Nicole Albornoz, Yenibal Almanzar, Vibha Chauhan, Amy Suchodolski, and Mya Veras of Jersey City; Kearny residents Rachel Spillane and Karim Zitouni; Elizabeth Acebedo, Denisse Cortes, Jennifer Falconi, and Michelle Majano of North Bergen; Secaucus residents Rachelle Manalo, Vicky Trieu, and Luana Xu; Giselle Camino, Tania Houwayek, and Maria Villalobos of Union City; Weehawken resident Kellen Dorio; and Alessandra Carreno-Novoa and Annabelle Familia of West New York.

Founded in 1927, the AATF represents the largest national association of French teachers in the world, with nearly 10,000 members to its credit. Headquartered at Southern Illinois University, the AATF boasts 73 chapters located all across the United States, and as a professional association, it promotes the study of French, facilitates the implementation of national and state standards in the classroom, encourages minimum levels of language and cultural proficiency, creates various opportunities for teachers and students, and supplies resources for classrooms.

Jacob Vega of A. Harry Moore High School Completes Business Computers Application Program at High Tech

(North Bergen, NJ—June 6, 2014) Jersey City resident Jacob Vega, a shared-time student from A. Harry Moore High School, has successfully completed the two-year business computer applications program at High Tech, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Not only has High Tech honored Jacob's hard work, but so has Berkeley College in Clifton, which has presented Jacob with the Perseverance Award in recognition of his outstanding perseverance in high school business education.

High Tech’s Wendy Ide Selected to Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers University

(Piscataway, NJ—June 5, 2014) Wendy Ide, a resident of West New York, has been accepted into this summer’s Governor’s School of Engineering & Technology at the Rutgers University School of Engineering, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

Ide will spend four weeks, from June 29th-July 25th, tuition-free, at Rutgers University, engaging in five academic classes, completing an intensive research and/or design project in a group with three to five Governor’s School participants, visiting local corporations, and mingling with talented professionals from across the state. The Governor’s School will put Ide’s academic dedication at High Tech to the test, as she will be expected to work very hard and go beyond her already outstanding work in high school.

Committed to providing an enriched educational opportunity for gifted and talented high school students, the Governor’s School program benefits not only individuals, but also benefits the State of New Jersey by preparing students to enter highly demanding fields. Students learn a sense of ethical, social, and civic responsibility, as taught by faculty who promote a sense of community among learners, bringing scholars, faculty, and staff together beyond the traditional classroom environment.

New Mission, Beliefs, Strengths and Challenges for HCST

June 5, 2014 (North Bergen, NJ) – The HCST District held this year’s "Mission Vision 2020" meeting at St. Peter’s University in Jersey City and included representatives from local businesses, announced Linda J. Quentzel, Executive Director of the Foundation.

The Mission Vision 2020 meeting gathered educators, parents, administrators, current students, alumni, HCST Foundation members, Board of Education members and community members together to assess the direction of the schools. This community-wide effort has been a long-standing district tradition.

With the financial support by the HCST Foundation, Dr. Joseph Sirangelo, Assistant Superintendent and Colleen Smith, Director of Personnel, did a tremendous job facilitating the event.

“The objective of the meeting is to identify HCST, to improve, and to look at our challenges,” said Superintendent Frank J. Gargiulo who has hosted these meetings for 25 years.

During the duration of the meeting, teams were assigned with the goal of identifying district beliefs, strengths and challenges. A core committee will be tasked with developing a vision for the future.

Collectively the groups came up with the new mission statement, “The Hudson County Schools of Technology is a visionary community that inspires creative independent thinking through diverse learning opportunities.”

Action teams will be established throughout the district to address the goals and action plans. “We have been doing this for 25 years and every challenge and goal that we have set has been accomplished,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joseph Sirangelo.

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