Ocean City High School Principal s Report April, 2013

Transcription

1 Ocean City High School Principal s Report April, 2013 CONGRATULATIONS! Junior Kaitlyn Fox has been accepted to attend the 2013 Governor s School of Engineering & Technology at Rutgers University. Governor's School of New Jersey is a unique summer program committed to meeting the educational needs of academically talented high school students who have completed their junior year. Emphasis is placed on problem solving of complex issues that exist on a local, state, national, and international level, and leadership training. The Governor's School is an intensive residential learning experience held on two college campuses throughout the state. The admissions process is highly competitive and qualified students not only have outstanding test scores and rank at the top of their class, they are also devoted to engineering, technology, mathematics, and science. Junior John Jack Kane has been accepted to attend the 2013 New Jersey Scholars Program for five weeks at the Lawrenceville School. The mission of the New Jersey Scholars Program is to reach out to 39 able and enthusiastic residents of New Jersey who are rising seniors and who come from a broad socio-economic, ethnic and racial cross-section of the state's population. The Program creates an intense, interdisciplinary intellectual experience that will change their lives -- to awaken in them the awareness of their potential to achieve academic excellence. The rigorous admissions process consisted of multiple interviews as well as writing essays. Erica Catanoso, Shannon Farrell, Lauren Vetter, and Rachel Young will represent OCHS as candidates for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) sponsored by the two Ocean City/Upper Township Rotary Clubs (dinner and Noon). This program provides juniors the opportunity to live, work, and play together in an atmosphere of friendly competition which will offer a challenge to accept the responsibilities of leadership. This year the program is being held at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey from June 23 rd through June 27th. Juniors Tara Hadam and Ellen Pfeifle will represent OCHS as delegates for The American Legion Auxilary sponsored program known as Girls State. This program provides junior girls the opportunity to spend one week over the summer on a college campus learning about our democratic form of government. This year the program is being held at Georgian Court University from June 22 nd through June 27 th. Also, Juniors Elias Guseman, Joshua Olandt, Stephen Pashuck, Louis Paone, and Daniel Reinhold will represent OCHS as delegates for The American Legion sponsored program, Boys State. Boys State provides junior boys with the same opportunities as its partner-program, Girls State. Rider University will be hosting the program from June 15 th through June 20 th this summer.

2 Hannah Lucey, a sophomore and SADD Club member, recently won Cape Assist s Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest. Hannah, along with her Mom and advisor Mrs. Cathcart, attended a breakfast at Avalon Golf Club for all local county winners. The students read their PSA and recorded it for local radio playtime during the month of April for Alcohol Awareness Month. Hannah did a fabulous job and made OCHS proud not just with her message, but her public speaking skills, as well. Ocean City High School junior, Connie Meyer, has recently been accepted to the 2013 New Jersey All-State Chorus. Connie has been a member of All-South Jersey Senior High Chorus and has now achieved membership in this prestigious chorus. The All-State Chorus will be performing at the NJ Teachers Convention this fall in Atlantic City during the teachers convention. The chorus will also perform at the NJPAC in Newark the following weekend. Congratulations to Connie on this outstanding achievement. CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND VISITORS Robert Nepa and Dylan Perry attended the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders Student Government Day on April 24 th. The day began at the vocational school with county officials speaking to the students about county government, with visits to the police academy for a K-9 demonstration and other county offices. The day concluded with the students joining students from all the county schools, taking the place of the freeholders and running an official meeting that was open to the general public. The Life Skills class was featured in an article in the Ocean City Gazette regarding their craft sale. It was written by Cindy Nevitt who also took the pictures. We received several requests for crafts after this was published.ochs special services class learns life skills through Valentine s craft

3 The Ocean City Red Raider Jazz Band the Jazz Rock Ensemble performed a selection of jazz standards to an amazing audience. We were once again joined by the Upper Township Middle School Jazz band under the direction of Mr. Steve Skiscim. The evening culminated in a joint performance from all students with the tune Side Steppin On April 11, 2013 a representative from the Wetlands Institute visited Mrs. Catherine Georges biology classes for a Saltwater Gene Pools Activity. This activity allowed our biology students a unique opportunity to interact with and classify a variety of living wetland organisms. Ms. Kaitlin Gannon, an education-outreach coordinator for the Wetlands Institute, brought a variety of live organisms ranging from horseshoe crabs to sea urchins to eels and gave a brief description of each creature. Students were then given time to physically examine each organism and then charged with the task of classifying them into Phyla. A grant from the Ocean City Library made this exceptional experience possible and allowed many students to incorporate lessons learned in the classroom to real world experiences.

4 On April 12 th, 2013 Mrs. Capizola s Italian II Advanced classes presented their food project. Each student was required to research an authentic Italian meal (its origin, ingredients, and tradition behind it) and prepare it for the rest of the class. This project was very successful in many ways: students learned about an essential component of the Italian culture and they had a chance to bond at home with grandparents or parents while preparing these delicious meals. Many students of Italian heritage felt more connected to their ancestors culture thanks to this project! Mrs. Capizola prepared espresso for everyone with an Italian caffettiera.

5 On Monday, April 22 nd, staff and students gathered together to -a world-wide event promoting Autism Awareness. Each bubble sent into the atmosphere magically brings hope and joy to one s inner soul. Ms. Rubina Cooney- Dombrosky International Crafts teamed up with Mrs. Lisa O Neill Life Skills class and had a bubblicious making Bubble Snakes (giant bubbles that continue to flow into a snake-like shape) bubble cones (that make big bubbles).

6 CLUB ACTIVITIES Our Color Guard is recruiting for next marching season, please contact Mrs. Donna Schwartz in room D113 for more information. Leadership Club baked and sold cookies several times this year to raise money for Charity: Water to help provide clean water for impoverished areas in the world. We have raised $ so far and hope to earn $ to donate to Charity: Water. Next bake sale in April. STUDENT COUNCIL ACTIVITIES As the end of the year approaches, the Student Council is preparing for a few important events before the summer. The next Student Council hosted event is PB&J Day, and is a required event for general members who wish to become officers for the next school year. The event will be hosted on May 3 rd and participants will make sandwiches that will be donated to the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. For those wishing to become a Student Council Officer, a packet must be filled out prior to the May 8 th interviews. After candidates are slated for their respective positions, school wide elections will be held May 22 nd. On May 16 th, the Student Council will be attending the annual NJASC Conference held and Six Flags Great Adventure. They will be revealing the State Charity for the school year. Along with these events, the Student Council is beginning to plan their first Senior Dinner Dance that that will be held in the Senior Courtyard on June 8 th.

7 The Annual Social Studies Fair March 28 th was Social Studies Day. Freshmen had an international festival of food and cultural information for the first two periods organized by the freshmen world history teachers; Mr. Bristol, Mr. Conroy, Mr. Cox, Mrs. Daniel, Mr. Monteleone and Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Mimi Fleming organized a Psychology Fair with her Behavioral Science classes where subjects could test many theories also during the first two periods of the day. History Club organized a geography trivia bowl for Mr. Bristol s classes to challenge Mrs. Daniel s classes during community lunch. During most class periods the ever popular knowledge bowl took place organized by Mr. Clark, assisted by Mr. Chojnacki, Mr. Purdue and MCed by Mr. Bruno. The seniors won the Knowledge Bowl. The most popular part of the Social Studies fair day is the Knowledge Bowl organized by Chris Clark. John Bruno fires the questions, Bryan Chojnacki records the results and the buzzer system is operated by Chris Clark and Matt Purdue. Each grade level plays teams of 4-5 until a team of champions emerge to represent the grade in the final. This year s finalists were: Sophomores-Ryan Beebe, Ryan Givens, Sean Laux, Lauren Bowersock and Mercy Griffith Freshmen Asa Littlefield, Brett Levering, Tucker Birmingham, Scott Steinberg

8 Seniors Ben Colbert, Juliann Baker, Ashlyn Roze, Mike Ehresmann Juniors Flavia Martinez, Kaitlyn Fox, Hannah Childs, Jack Kane, Dennis McAneny As part of Social Studies Fair Day on March 28 th, the entire freshman class prepared for an International festival. They make food as well as design travel and cultural information posters. On the day itself students visit each country by tasting the food and reading about the culture. March 28, Social Studies Fair day - Freshmen geography bowl organized this year by History Club, during community lunch. Mr. Bristol s classes challenge Mrs. Daniel s classes

9 on geography trivia. The winners were Colin Stewart, Will Philips, Travis Longstreet and Fritz Dubbs Little Dresses Update Val Oliva delivered some of the dresses the students made to the Dominican Republic over spring break. For those of you who donated pillow cases this is what happened to them!! Thank you!!

10

11 STUDENT OF THE MONTH Each student was chosen to be Student of the Month because of exemplary behavior, character and performance. We appreciate the support of each of the community organizations. There is a critical connection between a successful public high school and a strong relationship with its community. Sarah Childs was the Rotary Club Student of the Month. Jason Shirk was the Exchange Club Student of the Month.