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Student News: Highland Park schools receive Sustainable Jersey certification

Student achiever news from:Highland Park School District, Linden High School, McManus Middle School, Metuchen Public Schools, North Brunswick High School, Middlesex County Academy,

Staff Report, @MyCentralJersey
  • Highland Park School and Metuchen Schools District awarded sustainable Jersey for Schools certification
  • Linden High School Dance Company performs for NJ School Boards
  • McManus Middle School in Linden honors new National Junior Honor Society members
  • North Brunswick Township Raider Marching Band celebrates successful season

All four of Highland Park’s schools have met the requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. These schools join a group of 83 schools that achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016, according to a news release.

A total of 538 schools and 218 school districts are participating in the program overall.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is voluntary, but achieving certification is not easy. Schools collaborate with their school district to complete actions, upload documentation and achieve certification.

“Becoming certified with Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a significant achievement for schools and their school district,” said Donna Drewes, co-director of Sustainable Jersey in the news release. “They are leaders in implementing sustainability measures that save money, improve the learning environment, and prepare today’s students to address the challenges of tomorrow.”

Each school that is certified at the bronze-level must submit documentation to show it has completed a balanced portfolio of the program’s sustainability actions, achieving a minimum of 150 points. Silver-level certification requires that a school attain 350 points or more. 

Certified schools excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, integrating sustainability into student learning and reducing waste. Randall Solomon, co-director of the Sustainable Jersey program congratulated the certified schools, “I commend the schools that have achieved certification for their demonstrated commitment toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.”

“We are proud of the leadership provided by the boards of education and their superintendents, as well as the contributions of principals, teachers, education support professionals and parents, that made this important milestone a reality,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, New Jersey School Boards Association executive director.

The Highland Park School District and the certified schools were honored at a reception during the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Workshop 2016 Conference on Oct. 25 in Atlantic City.

The Highland Park School District has been awarded prestigious Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certification.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. A total of 509 schools and 204 school districts are participating in the program overall.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is underwritten by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). The 2016 Sustainable Jersey for Schools small grants program is funded by the PSEG Foundation, NJEA, the Gardinier Environmental Fund and the New Jersey Department of Health. Founding Sponsor contributors are South Jersey Gas, New Jersey Natural Gas and NJM Insurance Group. Bayer Foundation is a Silver Sponsor and Jersey Central Power and Light and Spiezle Architectural Group are Bronze Sponsors.

For more information, visit www.SustainableJerseySchools.com.

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Highland Park: Irving School 

In December, 1913, due to growing enrollment, a special election was held, asking Highland Park voters to approve the purchase of a 140-by-150-feet tract of land on Central and South Eleventh Avenue for $1,750. The results were 73 in favor and 42 opposed.  A contract for $18,000 to build the school was later awarded.

Irving School was designed by architect, Alexander Merchant and was originally just four rooms. As World War I began, construction costs skyrocketed, resulting in the completion of Irving School being delayed by one year, according to a news release.  

Irving opened Jan. 8, 1916 to educate the children of the Racetrack (presently known as the Triangle) area of town with two teachers, Marguerite Prentiss and Hazel Dodge and principal Hilda Stults, according to school records.

In 1920 a contract for $62,756 was awarded to build an additional four classrooms  At the same time additional land adjacent to the school was purchased for $30,000. 

In 1940, Irving was still an eight-room neighborhood school with seven teachers for Kindergarten through sixth grade. The enrollment was 201.

In response to overcrowding, additions and renovations occurred in the 1960s.  

By 1979, still one of two elementary schools in town, Irving School had grown to 22 classrooms for 100kKindergarteners and 385 first- through third graders.

By 1983, with declining district enrollment, all lower grades from Lafayette, the other elementary school, were moved to Irving School, resulting in over 400 Kindergarten through Second Grade students in the building

In 2000 work began on three additional classrooms which were built on a parking lot on the Meriland Avenue side of the building.

In 2006 the three newest classrooms built were converted into the present day cafeteria. The former cafeteria in the basement of “The Tower,” the oldest part of the school, became the art room. Offices and classrooms were renovated and expanded, allowing the Pre-K classes to move from the High School to Irving, making it a true early education building.

According to the news release, in the 2016-17 school year, Irving Primary School has 300 Pre-K through First Grade students. There are 19 classroom teachers, numerous support teachers, specialists, paraprofessionals and staff, lead by principal  Kelly Freeborn.  

Jan. 8, 2016 marked the kick-off of Irving’s Centennial Year. A school-wide assembly was conducted with students and staff dressed in 1916 garb. The students learned a song from that time, as well as about artists, sports teams, games and authors of the day. The students were visited by Mother Goose, whose well loved rhymes became part of a  lesson on proper 1916 classroom manners.

In May, 2016 The National Arbor Foundations sent the school 100 tree seedlings. Several were planted on the school grounds and the rest given out to community residents.  

The first-grade moving up musical celebration was in June, 2016. This was the 100th First Grade class to be educated at Irving.  With the support from our PTO their t-shirts for the show  read “Irving School Centennial Class”

The final event of the year will be an Alumni and Community Open House on Sunday, Nov. 20, from 12 to  3 p.m. There will be tours of the building, an apple pie contest, performances by Irving alumni and old-time activities and games for all to enjoy. All are invited to attend.

Hofstra University

The following Central Jersey residents at Hofstra University volunteered at the 2016 Presidential Debate: Brianna Holcomb of Somerset, Nicole Buckley of Clark, Nicholas Koumis of Monmouth Junction, Nicolas Bermudez of Old Bridge. 

Kean University

Just a few weeks into the fall 2016 semester, 24 theater and music majors from Kean University were given a Broadway-style experience of a lifetime. The students performed alongside two-time Grammy and Tony Award winner Patti LuPone in Don't Monkey with Broadway on Sept. 17 at Kean's Enlow Recital Hall.

“Going to college is all about learning, so the real-life experiences we get while we are here are really important,” said Connor McKenna, a sophomore theater performance major from Hillsborough. “Learning from the best of the best is awesome, especially when you’re studying performing arts. Patti LuPone was inspiring, and it was incredible to get the chance to explore what we want to become with someone who is already there.”

Three Middlesex County residentsalso  joined LuPone on stage: Jose Arroyo from Perth Amboy; Cecilia Resto from Woodbridge and Patty Romano from Avenel.

In preparation for the concert, the Kean University Broadway Babies, as the backup choir was called, worked tirelessly with Kean’s Holly Logue, director of the Theatre Conservatory, and Joy Hermalyn, an adjunct professor of theatre who played LuPone’s understudy in the show War Paint in Chicago this summer. The group's final rehearsal, held the afternoon of the show, was led by LuPone’s musical director. 

“Halfway through the rehearsal, the theatre doors opened and in walked Broadway megastar Patti LuPone,” said Logue. “The students’ reactions were priceless. There was a moment of sheer silence and utter excitement before everyone in the room broke out in applause.”

For the next hour, the rehearsal became an intense master class for the students studying music and theater performance. LuPone gave the choir members advice on how to improve their singing and emphasized the importance of maintaining one’s individuality as a character in a musical. 

“It is a brutal business,” LuPone told the aspiring performers. “One needs patience and discipline, and to be able to accept the sacrifices that the business demands.” 

That evening, the Kean University Broadway Babies and Patti LuPone ushered in Kean Stage’s 2016-2017 season when they met again in front of a capacity audience in Enlow Hall. The backup choir accompanied her on several favorites from a variety of classic Broadway shows.. 

"Some of the greatest lessons are not found in books. It’s important to learn how to connect with the audience and oneself on a professional level and being part of this concert definitely helped us learn more about how to go about doing just that,” said Kevin DeCastro, a junior theatre major from Elizabeth. “Having had the chance to learn directly from a legend in music and acting is both humbling and exciting. I see this experience as an incredible stepping stone to achieving my dreams of becoming an actor.” 

Taking the stage with LuPone was the first of several learning opportunities that Kean Stage has planned for Kean University students. Students will get the chance to learn from experts in their chosen fields and to participate in professional-level programs. New Jersey native Christine Ebersole offered a master class following her solo concert on Nov. 12, and a new choir will be auditioned to perform backup for Judy Collins on Dec.18. That concerts also will be in Enlow Recital Hall.

ALSO: Kean University architecture students Robert Gallagher, John Grega and Gabriel Morales presented the findings of their Students Partnering with Faculty grant-funded research project to an audience of professional architects on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Notre Dame University's The Art of Architecture: Hand Drawing and Design conference. 

The Michael Graves College at Kean University, named for the internationally acclaimed architect who helped develop the program, shares its namesake’s commitment to hand drawing as a part of the art and science of architecture. 

Kean University architecture students Robert Gallagher, John Grega and Gabriel Morales delivered a presentation highlighting the efficiency of touch-screen interfaces for design applications on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Notre Dame University's The Art of Architecture: Hand Drawing and Design conference.

“Twenty years ago designers used paper and pencil; today they use computer-aided drafting (CAD) programs,” said Gallagher. “We looked at the large touch-screen table as a way to mix mediums between the physical and digital.” 

Gallagher, Grega and Morales presented research quantifying and qualifying the advantages of touch-screen interfaces over mouse and keyboard. The students performed a series of five tasks on both a laptop and a digital table and recorded the time necessary to complete each task and the user experience, along with anecdotal commentary. The researchers found touch-screen interfaces to be more intuitive and efficient than keyboard and mouse based interfaces. Efficiency improved by four to 13 percent for most tasks and an astonishing 66 percent in one isolated case. 

“The students were equally nervous and excited to be at Notre Dame but did a fantastic job of articulating their experiences with the grant," said Kean professor Craig Konyk. 

Konyk also delivered a presentation at the conference. His lecture further explored how touch-screen surfaces can re-engage the hand-drawing dynamic in architectural design.

Founded in 2015, Kean’s Michael Graves College is rethinking the role of technology in its architectural curriculum. Utilizing a curriculum developed in part by Michael Graves before his death, the program encourages hand drawing as a discipline for creative expression and exploration, according to a news release.

Lincoln University

The following Central Jersey residents at Lincoln University were named to spring dean's list: Brittany E. Longshore of Linden, Tamara A. Greene, Shandria R. Laing, Jessica E. Obodo, Alanna L. Van Ness of Piscataway, Asyrra J. McCoggle of Rahway, Deion T. Miller of Sayreville, Kendall Gilbert, Aida S. Chiles of Somerset. 

Linden High School

Members of the Linden High School Dance Company under the direction of Barbara Brady were given the honor of performing at the NJ School Boards Association Conference in Atlantic City on Oct. 25. The dance company performed on the main stage at the conference as the "opening act" for guest speaker, Acting Education Commissioner, Kimberley Harrington.  The ensemble was one of only six performing groups selected from the entire state for the three-day conference, according to a news release.

Linden High School dance company performs NJ School    Boards Association conference in Atlantic City

Linden: McManus Middle School

On Oct. 20, family and friends gathered at McManus Middle School in Linden for the induction of the McManus chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Thirty-five students were inducted into the chapter: 22 seventh-grade students and 13 eighth-grade students. 

The McManus Chapter of National Junior Honor Society represents McManus students who thrive on academic challenges and seek personal fulfillment through community service, according to a news release. The officers for the 2016-17 school year, reminded the members of the five pillars that they are expected to uphold as NJHS members: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.

Shanell Holmes proudly displays her McManus Chapter of National Junior Honor Society certificate.

The new inductees were presented with a membership pin and certificate and asked to sign the chapter ledger for posterity. The officers are: President Bianca Palomino; Vice President Makenzie Kuntz; Secretary Alexandra Panitz; and Treasurer David Sokolosky. The students that presented the pillars were: Aaron Arjoon (Scholarship), David Sokolosky (Service), Makenzie Kuntz (Leadership), Alexandra Panitz (Character), Anna Pieta (Citizenship).

McManus students Bianca Palomino, Makenzie Kuntz, Alexandra Panitz, Aaron Arjoon (lighting the candle), Anna Pieta watch the pillar of Scholarship is presented.

The students that were inducted were: Brian Bara, Jordan Best, Isabelle Brito, Ariany Cabrera, Kayla Clemendore, Nahuel D’Elias, Jillian Dabrowski, Adrian Fuster, Olivia Golec, Fiona Gumaroy, Shanell Holmes, Camille Jeannot, Jasmine Kaszcynska, Makenzie Kuntz, Craig Lampert, Milan Lazaro, Justin Loftus, Andrea Luna, Joseph Maurigi, Merna Mostafa, Lucas Osiecki, Alexandra Panitz, Olivia Principato, Carolyn Ramos, Samara Razuri, Ariana Rodriguez, Lorena Sablon Serrano, Valerie Sanglay, Leah Siegel, Kaitlyn Sremcevic, Emily Sznurkowski, Athanasios Tsoukaras, Thomas Turon, Prince Vazquez, Jordyn Williams.

Linden: School No. 10

Kindergarten classes at Linden School No. 10 will host a Thanksgiving Friendship lunch on Nov. 23 at 11:15 a.m. 

The students will be either Pilgrims or Native Americans and the tables will have turkeys with all the trimmings for Thanksgiving, according to a district news release.

This year the students extended an invitation to the Linden Police Department to join in their Thanksgiving lunch. According to the news release, the children are thankful for the officers that keep the community safe every day.

Magyar Bank

Magyar Bank representatives provided a $1,500 donation to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in support of their Students Change Hunger Program which encourages schools from across New Jersey to collect donations of non-perishable food items for the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The school that collects the most donations will win the Governor’s Cup, and schools will be collecting donations until Dec.12.  

Magyar Bank representatives provide a $1,500 donation to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in support of students change hunger program. From left: John Reissner, vice president, marketing director, Magyar Bank; Tim Boyle, manager, Community Food Bank of NJ; and Joseph Yelencsics, director, Magyar Bank.

Metuchen Public School

Two schools in the Metuchen School District have met the requirements to achieve Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification. These schools join a group of 83 schools that achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016. A total of 538 schools and 218 school districts are participating in the program overall.

The two schools that have achieved certification are Edgar School and Campbell School.  

Principal Kathy Glutz said, “Edgar Middle School is proud to be recognized for our efforts in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Program. The school community led by the building’s Green Team supported the philosophy and actions of this program. We are also pleased that in each of the last two school years, two Edgar teachers received Sustainable Schools grants to support our work.”  

Principal Ed Porowski added, “The Campbell School Family, under the leadership of the school’s Green Team, developed and implemented a variety of sustainable measures within the school community to educate our students and staff. By participating in this program, our school family has learned how to be more responsible in making changes that can help impact environmental change. This is another great program that has assisted the Campbell Family in our goal to “pay it forward” to others.” 

Metuchen Edgar Middle School achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016
Metuchen Campbell School achieved the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification in 2016.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is voluntary, but achieving certification is not easy. Schools collaborate with their school district to complete actions, upload documentation and achieve certification. 

Certified schools excelled in areas such as improving energy efficiency and health and wellness, integrating sustainability into student learning and reducing waste. Randall Solomon, co-director of the Sustainable Jersey program congratulated the certified schools, “I commend the schools that have achieved certification for their demonstrated commitment toward the long-term goal of a sustainable New Jersey.”

“We are proud of the leadership provided by the boards of education and their superintendents, as well as the contributions of principals, teachers, education support professionals and parents, that made this important milestone a reality,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, New Jersey School Boards Association executive director.

Edgar and Campbell Schools and the other certified schools were honored at a reception during the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Workshop 2016 Conference on Oct. 25 in Atlantic City.

The Metuchen School District educates more than 2,250 students. Moss School houses the central offices and our preschool and kindergarten students.  Campbell School is home to first- through fourth-grade students. Edgar Middle School host the district’s fifth- through eighth-graders. The flagship of the district is Metuchen High School, home of the Bulldogs.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is a certification program for public schools in New Jersey. It was launched by Sustainable Jersey, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that provides tools, training and financial incentives to support and reward municipalities and schools as they pursue sustainability programs. A total of 509 schools and 204 school districts are participating in the program overall.

Sustainable Jersey for Schools is underwritten by the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Clean Energy Program, The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA). The 2016 Sustainable Jersey for Schools small grants program is funded by the PSEG Foundation, NJEA, the Gardinier Environmental Fund and the New Jersey Department of Health. Founding Sponsor contributors are South Jersey Gas, New Jersey Natural Gas and NJM Insurance Group. Bayer Foundation is a Silver Sponsor and Jersey Central Power and Light and Spiezle Architectural Group are Bronze Sponsors.

For more information, visit www.SustainableJerseySchools.com.

Middlesex County Academy

Two juniors at the Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technology in Edison were named semifinalists in the Siemens Competition, the nation’s premier competition in math, science and technology for high school students.

Malavika Vivek and Anjali Gupta, both of Edison, were selected from more than 1,600 students who submitted innovative individual and team research projects. They were mentored by Dr. Jonathan Spergel of the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

The title of their project is "Development of a Two-Class Neural Network Algorithm for Tree Nut Cross-Reactivity."

Middlesex County Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Technology juniors Malavika Vivek, right, and Anjali Gupta, both of Edison, have been named semifinalists in the nation’s premier competition in math, science and technology for high school students.

“These semi-finalists should be extremely proud of this high-level academic accomplishment,” said David Etzwiler, CEO of the Siemens Foundation. “Their projects represent some of the most noteworthy and exceptional of those submitted and reflected an advanced level of STEM research.”

Launched by the Siemens Foundation in 1999, the Siemens Competition promotes excellence in math, science and technology and is recognized by colleges and universities as the premier math and science research competition in the United States. For more information, go to siemenscompetition.discoveryeducation.com.

More information on the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools is available atwww.mcvts.net.

North Brunswick Township School District

The 2016 season was a great one for the NBTHS Raider Marching Band, according to a news release.

The band's show, Don’t Stop Me Now: The Music of Queen, was a fan-favorite, scoring highly with audiences and judges alike. The band was led by student Drum Majors Elizabeth Sun and Kylie Knight, who directed and conducted the band throughout the entire season.

The band competed at a record high of seven competitions this season. The band competed at Piscataway, Hamilton West, Monroe, States at Rutgers University, East Brunswick and Old Bridge, and hosted the 32nd annual Raider Marching Band Festival. The Color Guard, led by captains Eureka Vertus and Nicole Jimenez, placed second at States and won Best Guard at two competitions. The percussion section, led by Carl Almazan and Mary Mehalick, took Best Percussion at three different competitions and finished seventh at States.

The marching band is directed by Danielle Nudelman and assistant directed by Stephen Komar. Jeffrey Smith, Christopher English, and Elizabeth Fackelman assist with marching and music techniques. Lyndsay Werner and Angela Peletier are the color guard instructors, and Paul Bongiovi is the percussion instructor. The band is supported by Band Parents, led by president Barbara Williams. 

Awards this season included: Piscataway High School: Best Music, Best Percussion; Hamilton West: Best Visual; Home Competition: Best Percussion; States at Rutgers: Second place Color Guard, Seventh Place Percussion, Tenth place overall; East Brunswick: Best Color Guard; Old Bridge: First Place Group 4A, Best Visual, Best Overall Effect, Best Music, Best Percussion, Best Color Guard.

The Pennington School

The Pennington School welcomed author Martha Southgate on Oct. 25, as the second guest speaker in the school's  2016–17 Stephen Crane Lecture Series.

Southgate is the author four novels; her newest, "The Taste of Salt," was published in September2011 and was named one of the nest novels of the year by the San Francisco Chronicle and the Boston Globe. She has received fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Bread Loaf Writers Conference.

Author Martha Southgate spoke at The Pennington School on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Her essay "Writers Like Me," published in the New York Times Book Review, appears in the anthology Best African-American Essays 2009. Previous nonfiction articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, O, Entertainment Weekly, and Essence. Her most recent publication, Rise Up, an essay about the impact of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Hamilton, is published in The American Scholar. She is currently at work on a new novel.

After her talk, Southgate met with AP English classes who have been working with her novel, "The Fall of Rome." She then joined the Pennington community for lunch.

The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in day and boarding programs. Questions can be directed to Director of Speaker Programming Amelia Becker at abecker@pennington.org.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School is presenting its fall play — "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" — with two performances on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19. According to a school news release, the cast and crew are excited to bring alive this production which appeals to all ages. 

Friday night's opening show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Saturday matinee finale is set for 3:30 p.m. Leading players include Carlin Schildge of Westfield, Steven Bessette of Scotch Plains, CJ Stueck of Scotch Plains, Kallie Schildge of Westfield, Thomas Borner du Cane of Plainfield, Hannah Yates of Piscataway and Shane Kornecki of Colonia. 

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. For more information, call the school at 908-754-1882.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School

The varsity girls soccer team at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink jerseys for its first-round Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament game vs. Carteret on Oct. 21. The Rams prevailed 3-0 in the game and also raised funds that were donated to the American Cancer Society.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School

Seventh- and eighth-grade students and teachers at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison observed the National Day on Writing by sharing their favorite passages of prose and poetry during the Middle School division meeting in the amphitheater on Oct. 20.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School

Lending A Hand.... Dawn Francavilla of Somerset, Director of Student Life at The Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison, is joined by juniors Kevin Nader of Bernardsville, Ovidio Chavez of Elizabeth, Raj Raval of South Plainfield, Jack Sartor of Green Brook and Rohan Arvindh of Woodbridge as they prepare to load boxes with more than 800 food items collected during a food drive for Hands of Hope in Edison.

Student and School news appears Fridays. Email:hntmetro@mycentraljersey.com