High School Heroes Program a Success for County Prep Student Participants

Aspiring young teachers at County Prep participated in Junior Achievement's High School Heroes Program on October 26th, January 11th, and April 26th. 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, organization, presentation, and communication skills as well as highlight the importance of team work and preparedness.  The SLE gave students the opportunity to assess the possibility of a career pathway in education.

High School Hero - County Prep Student Feedback:

“One of the girls thought I was a legitimate student teacher. That felt really nice to hear!”- Student K

“The students were very engaged in the activities and actually listened to what we had to say!”- Student L

“The best part of the day was talking to the kids about their interests and seeing their enjoyment!”-  Student S

High Tech Students and Teachers Honored at 11th Annual UNIS Haiku Contest

(New York—June 3, 2017) Judges from the United Nations International School (UNIS) honored three High Tech High School students and two High Tech teachers at the 11^th annual UNIS Haiku Contest in English, French, and Japanese Awards Assembly, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech.

High Tech students Emily Ortega (senior) of North Bergen won First Place for French, West New York resident Ivanna Guerrero (junior) earned Second Place for French, and Jessica Gonzalez (freshman) of North Bergen took home Third Place for French.

High Tech instructor Dr. Laje Gashi won First Prize in the French Teachers Division and fellow High Tech teacher Akemi Dobkin earned Second Prize in the Japanese Teachers Division.

Poets, their families, and their teachers received special recognition during this event.  Judges reviewed over sixty entries in the French division, 300 entries in the English division, and another 600 haikus in the Japanese division.  Contestants also wrote haikus in Arabic, Italian, and Spanish.   

A pair of schools or programs submitted in the French division, nine schools or programs likewise in the English Division, and seventeen schools or programs from across the world entered the Japanese Division.  Approximately a dozen of these poems earned First, Second, or Third Place finishes. Furthermore, the balance of the haikus received Special Mention and Honorable Mention distinctions.

High Tech Holds Senior Doubles Badminton Tournament

(June 5, 2017--North Bergen, NJ) High Tech held a senior doubles badminton tournament, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Mingyu Zhao of Harrison and partner Indhu Kanakaraj of Bayonne won the tournament, beating runners-up Anthony Chae of Harrison and Cara Rosner of Hoboken.

“I’m very proud of our badminton players,” says Dorothy Gilmartin, veteran physical education instructor.  “I encourage our excellent badminton players to join their college badminton teams/clubs.” 

Many of badminton alumni trained at High Tech and now play for their respective colleges.

(from left to right: Anthony Chae, Cara Rosner, Indhu Kanakaraj, and Mingyu Zhao)

County Prep Students Visit Junior Achievement's Finance Park

On Friday, March 3, 2017, approximately 75 County Prep students participated in a financial literacy program entitled “Finance Park” sponsored by Junior Achievement. County Prep students were privileged to visit Junior Achievement's state-of-the-art facility located in Edison, NJ.  The students engaged in an intensive, high-energy immersion learning experience in which they received a fictional life situation and created a balanced monthly budget.  The activities reinforced NJ’s Core Curriculum Content Standards while focusing on important elements of money management and career exploration.  The event boosted the students’ confidence in making smart academic and economic decisions.

                                                  

County Prep Students Attend Annual Women's Future Leadership Forum

County Prep students participated in Junior Achievement of New Jersey's Annual Women's Future Leadership Forum on Friday, May 12, 2017.  The event was held at Goldman Sachs in Jersey City, NJ.  The students enjoyed a working breakfast and luncheon where they were able to network with inspirational female role models from top companies in New Jersey. Each student was paired with a mentor for the day to learn about that person's job and personal narrative.   It was an invaluable opportunity for students to interact with such accomplished leaders, develop work readiness skills through interactive activities throughout the day, and listen to the trials and tribulations these leaders faced in an effort to achieve their goals.  

CP Senior Receives Varsity Bowling Team MVP Award

Edward Martins-Krasner, senior at County Prep High School, received the 2016/17 MVP award from Ferris High School's Varsity Bowling Team. Edward has been an active member of the bowling team since the 10th grade.  Mr. Macri (Head Coach) stated that Edward was recognized for his outstanding performance and contribution to the team.  Ms. Mendolla and the entire County Prep staff and students sends out a big "Congratulations" to Edward.

Veteran Hollywood Actress Ann Robinson Visits High Tech

(May 30, 2017--North Bergen, NJ) Renowned actress of film and television, Ann Robinson, paid the High Tech Performing Arts students a visit, sharing her remarkable life experience in show business, announced Dr. Joseph Giammarella, Principal of High Tech High School.

Robinson offered the High Tech Performing Arts students an oral history of her rise to Hollywood, from playing an extra to signing on as a studio performer for Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Studios. 

Robinson's breakthrough role came at the age of 19, when she landed the role of Sylvia Van Buren in the 1953 cult classic, War of the Worlds, starring Gene Barry.  She has also starred in the 1954 film Dragnet, starring Jack Webb, which launched the popular, long-running TV show from 1951-1959 and 1967-1970. 

Robinson has also acted in the Doris Day thriller Julie (1954) and 1959's imitation of Life, as well appearing in guest-starring roles for such popular TV fare as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Ben Casey, the George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Perry Mason, Peter Gunn, Gilligan's Island, Adam-12, and Police Woman.  She has appeared in hit soap operas as well, including General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, and many TV commercials.  

Her grandson and granddaughter, High Tech sophomores Sam and Victoria Bravo of Hoboken, introduced Robinson to the students. 

"Really listen to your acting partner and really respond truthfully," says Robinson, offering seasoned advice to the budding thespians at High Tech. 

When asked if she ever felt discouraged in Hollywood, Robinson responded in the negative, chalking up not getting a part to something mundane, like the color of her hair or her height, not due to a lack of talent.  In addition to speaking on acting, Robinson offered interesting anecdotes as well, as when she attended a private screening of A Star is Born in Jack Warner's Hollywood mansion in 1954, and had the good fortune to be seated next to the legendary Judy Garland. 

In 2005, Steven Spielberg offered Robinson a cameo in his re-make of War of the Worlds, starring Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning. 

"Even though [Robinson's] credits and significant achievements have been many, it was her profound wisdom, sense of humor, and authenticity that the High Tech Performing Arts students will treasure most," says Deborah Arters, Director of the High Tech Drama Department.