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News from SPFHS...Forty-nine SPFHS Students Inducted into National Honor Society
The Times, February 18, 2010
Excerpted from news article and photo
When the earthquake devastated Haiti earlier this year, Park Middle School students, staff, and families stepped up to help. The students, especially in the French classes, who were studying Haiti wanted to do something.
So, French teachers Kathy Stotler and Alison Sabo, in conjunction with Sixth Grade Geography teachers Sacha Batra and Jan Townley, organized a school-wide fundraiser. From January 19th through 22nd, student volunteers collected change in two large canisters during each grade's lunch period. In addition, students were encouraged to bring donations from home.To the school's surprise, an anonymous parent contacted the school to say that they would match the students' donations up to $1,000. When the students raised almost $4,000 on their own, the family, in appreciation of the efforts, increased their anonymous donation to $1,500.
The Times, February 4, 2010
Excerpted from news article; photo courtesy of Al & Phyllis Mirabella
LIFE LESSONS...The Mini-Leadership Training Conference (LTC) program, Many Stars - One Universe, was held last Saturday at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Middle school students were taught public speaking, effective communication and leadership, team building, and problem solving through collaboration. More than 100 middle school students from Park and Terrill schools attended.
Suburban News, January 15, 2010
Excerpted from news article and photo
'CAUSE' FOR CELEBRATION - Faculty and members of the PTA at H.B. Brunner Elementary School in Scotch Plains presented Diane Coloney, director of Camp Starbright of the
Center For Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, also in Scotch Plains, with a check for $415. The money was raised through the sale of "Causology" bracelets at the school's holiday boutique. The school also raised money through a penny collection jar. The funds will be used to support the Center's Children's Bereavement Camp and its programs, which are offered free of charge to children who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Pictured (from left in front row) are Dean Rash, Douglas Tibbals, and Ryan Ciarrocca; (back row), Jamie Tibbals, seller of Camp Starbright Causology bracelets; Diane Coloney; Susan Rash, holiday boutique chairperson; Mrs. Frank, principal of Brunner School; and Lisa Ciarrocca, PTA president.
Suburban News, December 2, 2009
Excerpted from news article and photo
Pilgrim Grace Carter greets
Native American, Tommy Perez,
during the Thanksgiving gathering at Brunner School.
Scotch Plains preschool children learned about the first Thanksgiving and held a gathering to celebrate what they had learned. The combined classes taught by Bernadette Hoyer, May Jean Madden, and Margaret Mindnich celebrated how the Pilgrims and Native Americans lived a long time ago. Ms. Hoyer's students came as Native Americans. Ms. Madden's and Ms. Mindnich's students were the Pilgrims.The Native Americans made corn muffins and popcorn to share. The Pilgrims prepared applesauce. Both groups shared songs and poems about the group they represented.
Following the gathering, the children crafted colonial type wreaths with natural items to take home to their families for Thanksgiving.
The French Embassy, in partnership with the American Association of Teachers of French, is hosting a series of school contests to celebrate the Eiffel Tower's 120th anniversary. To participate, students were invited to design, paint or sculpt the Eiffel Tower, write a poem or story, create a video or song or even a web page about the famous French structure.
Shown here are students in Madame Michelle Emanuel's French class from Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains whose projects were chosen to be submitted for the contest. There are forty-five 3rd place prizes consisting of a souvenir bag of French gifts, four grand prizes of $500.00 each, and the super prize for one lucky winner is a trip to Paris! An awards ceremony for all prize winners will take place the first week of November during National French Week.
Congratulations to these fine young students and best wishes in the upcoming contest!
Suburban News, November 18, 2009
Excerpted from news article and photo
McGinn Elementary School in Scotch Plains recently celebrated "Respect & Tolerance Week" with classroom discussions, spirit dress-up days, and the annual highlight event, "Family Heritage Night."
McGinn School Principal Susan Kukucka, in partnership with the PTA, used this week to promote awareness around six key "Pillars of Good Character," which include responsibility, caring, respect, fairness, good citizenship, and trustworthiness to the elementary student population.
"Family Heritage" night was celebrated with McGinn students and families sharing foods and treats from various countries. Many wore native dress and brought in collectibles and cultural artifacts to share with attendees. Pictured are students participating in an African drumming session, led by performers from the organization MusIQ.The "Week of Respect" lessons and ideals are reinforced throughout the school year with classroom tallies for good deeds and a rewarding of the "Totem Pole of Respect" in the winning grade's hallway for a month-long residence.
Suburban News, September 2, 2009
Excerpted from news article and photo
Caitlin Mahony, a first grade teacher at School One in Scotch Plains joined the volunteer group, Somos Amigos Nicaragua, for 18 days to provide assistance in the educational sector in northwestern Nicaragua.
Caitlin observed classes and assisted teachers at all grade levels at schools in the outlying rural communities of Villanueva. Caitlin brought to the schools Spanish language books which she used, and left with the schools, for read-aloud and response activities. Many of these schools had no books at all.
Nicaragua is the second poorest nation in Latin America and the Caribbean. School One families and teachers generously donated notebooks and school supplies which were received gratefully by needy children and teachers.Caitlin is looking forward to sharing her experience with her students and fellow educators. "The reality in the schools I visited paints a sharp contrast to schools in our community. Many teachers simultaneously teach grades."
"Supplies are limited and classes are held outdoors where indoor structures are not available. Nonetheless, I saw the same energy and dedication in Nicaraguan teachers as in the teachers at School One. Our goals for our students are the same."
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Suburban News, September 2, 2009
Excerpted from news article and photo
Anthony Triwahjudi, a resident of Fanwood and a third grade student at McGinn Elementary School, has his drawing about transportation in Fanwood and Scotch Plains featured on the cover of the 2009-2010 College Club Community Date Calendar.
Anthony's love for trains inspired this artwork. He has had the opportunity to travel on many kinds of trains with his parents in New Jersey, on vacation in Florida, and when visiting his relatives in Indonesia. His dream is to become a train engineer when he grows up.
The calendar cover design contest, based on the theme of a child's eye view of
Scotch Plains and Fanwood, was open to all elementary students in Kindergarten through fourth grade.
The College Club Calendar is available for purchase through Club members, libraries, and many merchants in both towns. All proceeds from calendar sales are applied to college scholarships awarded annually to students residing in Scotch Plains and Fanwood.
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News from SPFHS
DECA students have been working with the SPMC helping to produce a business directory for the Special Improvement District in Scotch Plains. In March, the students will be visiting local businesses in order to explain the benefits of advertising in the directory. They will produce and layout the advertisements as well as direct the distribution of the directory in the spring.
"This collaborative effort between school and business has been an excellent opportunity for the students to experience Marketing in action in our town. It is very rare that students get opportunities to participate in real world projects and apply what they learn in the classroom to a real life business situation," stated Marjorie FitzGibbon, DECA advisor and Marketing Education teacher at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. "We are grateful to the SPMC for this opportunity."
Pictured from left to right with the first place trophy are seniors Mike Burke, Nick Jastrzebski, Lauren Harnett, Steve Goldberg, from Family Investors and SPMC, senior, Alex Davis, and Tom Cusmano from the SPMC and owner operator of Park Avenue Printing.
Dr. David Heisey, Principal of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, announced recently that SPFHS students Sophie B. Chou and Zachary D. Flanzman were named Finalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Competition. All winners of the Merit Scholarship awards are chosen from the Finalist group, based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference. A variety of information is available for NMSC selectors to evaluate including the Finalist's academic record, information about the school's curricula and grading system, two sets of test scores, school official's written recommendation, information about the student's activities and leadership, and the Finalist's own essay.
Beginning in March and continuing through mid-June, NMSC notifies approximately 8,200 Finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award. Every Finalist competes for these single $2,500 payment scholarships, which are awarded on a state representational basis. Winners are selected without consideration of family financial circumstances, college choice, or major and career plans.
We congratulate Sophie and Zachary on this fine accomplishment and wish them well in the future years ahead!
Patch, January 11, 2010
Excerpted from news article by Lindsay Wilkes-Edrington and photo
Knitting may seem like an unlikely pick for the latest teen obsession, but students at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School say it's all the rage this year.
From stitching loops between periods to sneaking in a few minutes with their knitting needles during class - students are hooked. Now, one group of students at the school is hoping to use their skills to create winter wear for the needy and they're looking for the community to help with their efforts.With the encouragement of her guidance counselor, SP-F junior and avid knitter Lilia Perez formed a knitting club at the high school in December. She started by teaching the craft to a group of about 30 other students. Now about 20 are contributing to the club on a regular basis. On a recent weekday afternoon, the students were working to assemble small knitted squares they'd all created to make a patchwork blanket, which they hope to donate to a local hospice center. The group's first donation - scarves and hats - went to the Scotch Plains Giving Tree. Chemo caps and helmet covers for soldiers are on their radar for the future.
Perez says she first started knitting in 8th grade, when the principal at the private school she attended at the time taught her and a group of other students the basics. She's since moved on to make, hats, scarves, blankets, baby clothes and even Halloween masks for her friends. She's currently working on her first sweater. "I always wanted to start a knitting club, but I didn't think that many people would be interested," Perez said. "Once I realized people were, I decided I wanted to do it for a good cause." While the club has mostly been a student effort so far, Perez says anyone in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood community who's got an interest in knitting is encouraged to join. "This isn't just a high school thing," she said.
The group is also seeking donations of yarn. Perez said the students have purchased their own knitting needles, but that she hopes to provide all other materials and would appreciate anyone who has spare yarn to donate it. The club is small now, but continues to grow as students gain interest. Even guys are in on the effort. "I'm the male representative," student Chris Gilman said with a smile.
Perez says that while they've currently focused on making winter wear, she doesn't want to see the club die down in the spring and summer. During those months, she hopes to move on to other projects, including afghans for Afghans (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/), a humanitarian and educational project that sends hand-knit and crocheted blankets and sweaters, vests, hats, mittens, and socks to the people of Afghanistan. "I want this to keep going through next year, definitely," Perez said.
Those interested in donating or getting involved should e-mail spfknittingfortheneedy@gmail.com (spfknittingfortheneedy@gmail.com) .
Twenty-eight Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School students have been recognized as Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), an independent agency of the State of New Jersey, administers the Garden State Scholarship Program, which includes the Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholar and Urban Scholar awards. More than 7,000 students statewide receive scholarships in recognition of their high level of academic achievement each year. Students may use these awards to continue their education at New Jersey institutions of higher education.
Row 1: Devra Traiman, Lindsay Robinson, Jeremy Busch, Lauren Steinbeck, Mackenzie Sizemore, Sruthi Narayanan, Lyndsey DouglasRow 2: Sarah Canfield, Kelsey Rossi, Timothy Carroll, Matthew Alfano, Stephen Scannell, Alanna Salituro, Aleksandra Szczuka
Row 3: Sophie Chou, Geri Flood, Neha Pannuri, Caitlin Hoynes-O'Connor, Victoria Dalessandro, Lauren Hirschhorn, Melissa Goldber
Not pictured: Alyson Linsenberg, Adam Offitzer, Samantha Goldner, Samantha Henderson, Daniel Nizri, Jason Pearl, Andrew VanHaasteren
Congratulations to these students on their exceptional academic achievement!
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School's Marketing II students hosted a C.E.O. Breakfast and Brunch on Tuesday, November 17, as part of Entrepreneurship Week. Mrs. Marjorie FitzGibbon, SPFHS DECA advisor, along with students Sarah Hoffman, Samantha Goldner, Joey D'Auria, and Justin Brownstein invited representatives from six local businesses: Dairy Queen, K9 Resorts, 1910 House Bed & Breakfast, Apple Blossoms Flower Shop, Park Avenue Printing, and A Little Shop of Comics, to discuss marketing strategies and skills.
Small discussion sessions were held while participants enjoyed the refreshments of bagels and juice provided by the students. Each group contained a representative from a business and a small group of students, who then rotated to the next business. These discussion sessions gave students the opportunity to ask questions, take notes, and hear personal stories regarding the start up of local businesses."We had the opportunity to hear true stories and see what it really takes to start a business. We got first hand experience on entrepreneurship. This event is a great idea that should be passed down to future DECA students," said SPFHS student Devon Daly.
This event was held for a chapter project for DECA students to compete on a state level and the project will continue with the collaboration of a children's book consisting of pages dedicated to the local businesses that attended the C.E.O. Breakfast and Brunch. Once the book is completed, members of this group will deliver this book to elementary schools in town and teach a class on entrepreneurship.
At the conclusion of the event, all guests who attended expressed enjoyment in the time spent talking with students. The DECA students plan to keep close relationships with the businesses that attended, starting with the creation of the children's entrepreneurship book.
FORTY-NINE SPFHS STUDENTS INDUCTED INTO NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Pictured here left to right:
Chris Fortunato, Tim Carroll, Matt Glassett, and Sarah Canfield.
In front Allison Zimmermann and Shannon Reimers
On October 27th, 2009, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School inducted 52 new members into the SPFHS Chapter of the National Honor Society, joining 28 returning members from last year. The new members include Brie Adamczyk, Matthew Alfano, Marissa Berlant, Elle Bernardo, Micaela Bernardo, Danielle Bernstein, Kyle Birnbaum, Lauren Buckley, Sarah Canfield, Timothy Carroll, Rebecca Chavan, Sophie Chou, Hayley Cornwell, Meghan Cunningham, Paige Della Badia, Jethro Dimeo, Vangelis Dimopoulos, Marc Henry Estriplet, Matthew Glassett, Elena Haggan, Amanda Ho, John Howarth, Caitlin Hoynes-O'Connor, Priyanka Kamath, Emma Kaplan, Emma Kelly, Alison Koransky, Jeffrey Kranz, Richard Krema, Anna Leistikow, Isabel Lopez, Samantha Mannino, Kimberly Many, Nathalia Montoya, Jessica Moore, Daniel Nizri, Nicole Ostrowski, Alexander Parker, Shannon Reimers, Michael Riesenberg, Lindsay Robinson, Carrie Salem, Danielle Schweizer, Lauren Steinbeck, Margaux Streep, Charles Timko, Gabrielle Vacca, David Van Wert, Kevin Welch, Brandon Wheeler, Thomas Zeile, and Allison Zimmermann.Student selection is based upon rigorous criteria in the areas of scholarship, leadership, character, and service. The National Honor Society, sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, ranks as one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for high school students. Chapters exist in more than 60 percent of the nation's high schools.
Pictured above back row, left to right are Seniors
Ian Weinberg, Alex Davis, Brian Dempsey, Steve Kuchinski and Michael Riesenberg
Front row are Seniors Melissa Goldberg and Devon Daly
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School DECA sold "Raider Riot" shirts to compliment the Raider pride shown at every school game. Each game would have a color scheme of blue, white, or black that every student on the bleachers would wear as they cheered for their team. "Raider Riot" shirts, named after the roaring of the crowd, made it easier and affordable for high school students to blend in with the rest of the fans and allow every student to feel as though they were participating in a "big win."The proceeds from the shirt sales were donated to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Bristol/Myers Squibb Pediatric Oncology Unit. SPFHS DECA raised over $500 in order to continue the fight against cancer.
The shirt sales were organized by DECA advisor Marjorie FitzGibbon, as well as by seniors Stefani Silverman and David Watson. DECA is a student-centered, co-curricular organization whose program of leadership, competition, community service, and personal development is designed specifically for students enrolled in marketing and business education classes.
Delia McGee, a Scotch Plains-Fanwood Senior, is among some 3,100 Outstanding Participants in the 2010 National Achievement Scholarship Program of students being referred to U.S. colleges and universities. Delia scored in the top 3 percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans. A certificate was presented to Delia for her potential for academic success in college.The National Achievement Scholarship Program was initiated in 1964 specifically to honor academically promising Black America high school students. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation conducts this annual scholarship competition.
We congratulate Delia on this fine accomplishment and wish her well in the future years ahead!
Eleven students from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School have been named Commended Students in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students that have demonstrated a strong academic performance include, starting with the front row, left to right, Alanna Salituro, Samantha Henderson, Sruthi Narayanan, Adam Offitzer, and Lauren Steinbeck. In the back row, left to right, are Alex Graham, Matthew Alfano, Luke Durett, Andrew VanHaasteren, Alex Davis, and Chris Fortunato. These Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.4 million-plus students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
Congratulations to these students on their exceptional academic achievement!
Dr. David Heisey, Principal of Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, and Mr. Timothy Donahue, Supervisor of Counseling, announced recently that Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School seniors, Sophie Chou and Zachary Flanzman, were named Semifinalist in the 55th annual 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. This designation identifies these outstanding young students among the 16,000 highest scoring students nationwide on the PSAT/NMSQT exam of critical reading, math, and writing skills.
Sophie and Zachary now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $35 million, that will be offered next spring.
To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn an SAT score that confirms the student's earlier performance on the qualifying test. In addition, Semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student's self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist's participation and leadership in school and community activities. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
We congratulate these fine young students on their accomplishment and wish them well in the future years ahead!
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times, September 3, 2009
Excerpted from news article
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School Marching Band will host the 11th Annual Marching Band Festival on Saturday, September 12. Numerous marching bands throughout the area will participate.
Approximately 500 student musicians will perform and compete in the festival. They will vie for trophies for Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Visual, Best Color Guard, and Best Overall Effect.
"Our festival allows students to meet students from other school districts and experience the many different styles of marching band music and performance," said Marching Band Director, SPFHS, Durand Thomas. "Plus, it's a fun afternoon of entertainment for the community at a great price."All participating bands are members of the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA), Northeast Region (ussba.org). The USSBA was founded in 1988 with 100 marching bands. There are now 1,200 member bands throughout the United States. Each region has its own set of shows, regional competitions, and championships.
The SP-F Marching Band is comprised of 135 students. It is among the top 10 high school marching bands in the state, having won: Top Percussion Section, NJ State Finals, 3 times; Color Guard Section titles, past five years; regional rankings in music, marching, overall-effect and over placement. The SP-F Marching Band show this year is entitled "The Pursuit of Intrigue, Chronicles of a Secret Agent" and features music from Mission Impossible, James Bond films and The Incredibles.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SPFHS "STUDENTS OF THE MONTH"!
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