NJ students: Rowan de Wet selected as Student of the Month

Rowan de Wet, a freshman in the Welding program, has been selected as Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School’s (SCVTHS) Student of the Month for October 2022.

SCVTHS English Instructor Christopher Miller nominated de Wet for the Student of the Month award stating, “Rowan demonstrates a real effort and desire to learn. Rowan is always respectful of school policies and personnel and is actively involved in classroom activities, including friendliness and support for other students.”

At SCVTHS, de Wet is an honor roll student. Outside of school, de Wet enjoys playing tackle rugby for Morris Rugby and training in Kyokushin karate.

After high school, de Wet plans to become a sculptor and hopes to own “a small house in the forests of Vermont.” In her free time, de Wet also likes to practice writing, making art, and studying psychology.

Bound Brook School District

The Bound Brook School District (BBSD) was recently recognized by the New Jersey School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for its “Bound to Astound” video, taking second place in the video category of the contest. NJSPRA’s awards recognize outstanding print and electronic materials developed by New Jersey school districts.

Last school year, Bound Brook School District launched its new branding campaign, “Bound to Astound,” which highlighted what makes BBSD exceptional. The district wanted to showcase the brand in action and bolster pride in the community and its programs through an engaging, fun video.

The “Bound to Astound” video tells the stories of students and staff who represent the district’s mission and vision and showcases the multiculturalism that is the hallmark of BBSD.

“Here, in the Bound Brook School District, we like to say that our students and staff are Bound to Astound you with the amazing things they are accomplishing,” said Superintendent Dr. Alvin L. Freeman. “The ‘Bound to Astound’ video captures that pride and excitement that our community feels every day when they walk into our school buildings. I am proud that this award recognizes that.”

NJSPRA’s Annual Communications Awards recognizes school districts for managing communication and expertly delivering important messages to its audiences. Forty different school districts/organizations submitted 87 entries. NJSPRA judges evaluated video entries based on professional quality including content, script, lighting, sound and music, motion, editing, and relevance to the audience.

BBSD’s philosophy in every school building is to educate the whole child. Teachers, administrators, and students narrate the video describing how BBSD’s learning environment educates students not only on the curriculum but in life skills which will set up students for future success.

Bound Brook School District is a pre-kindergarten to 12th grade district located in a small, tight-knit community in Somerset County.

Beth Fischer, assistant superintendent of curriculum, said in the video, “We look for opportunities to really vest ourselves in the community so that the kids coming to school feel like it’s a connection to home.”

The video captures the programs BBSD offers its students including its mental health services and technology integration. Bound Brook School District has updated Promethean boards in each classroom, a one-to-one student to device ratio, and a new engineering lab for seventh and eighth grade students. These tools give students 21st century skills that will make them bound to succeed.

The video is displayed on the district’s newly launched website and was used in a social media campaign to excite the community for the 2022-2023 school year. Through a montage of behind-the-scenes footage, the video captures the high-energy learning environment that is fostered in all classrooms. To watch the “Bound to Astound” video and to learn more about BBSD, visit the district’s website https://bbrook.org/

Far Hills Country Day School

Preschool students at Far Hills Country Day School had a special surprise. Deputy Chief Ferrante of Bernardsville Fire Department stopped by the campus with his firetruck. Students learned about a firefighter's role in the community to help keep people safe, the first steps of fire safety, and had the opportunity to learn about the components of a fire truck and the importance of clothing/items a firefighter wears to keep them safe.

Head of School Georgia Zaiser came outside to join in on the educational experience and was there just in time to demonstrate the articles of clothing that a firefighter must wear to keep them safe during a fire.

Mount Saint Mary Academy

Members of the Students of Color Affinity (SOCA) Group and Art Club at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung co-hosted a "Paint and Sip" event to celebrate Latinx art and culture and culminate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Madeline Albrittain, World Languages Department chairperson, said, "Amelia Benjamin provided students with art by Hispanic and Latinx artists as sources of inspiration! Students sipped lemonade and destressed using watercolors and colored pencils. Students also listened to the SOCA Spotify playlist."

"During the event, we provided pictures from Hispanic artists like Cesar Carbajal and Norma Garcia Torres, for the students, to use for inspiration and to recognize the styles implemented in the artist’s work," said Benjamin, a resident of Maplewood and co-leader of SOCA with Zoe Daly of Piscataway. Olivia Encarnacion of Plainfield is the president of SOCA.

"It’s so important to learn all aspects of Hispanic Heritage because it allows us to honor the history, culture, and influence from past generations that reflect in our world today," said Benjamin. "Hispanic artists have been trailblazers in the art world for centuries, creating diverse visuals and incorporating symbols and techniques that recall their meaningful as well as beautiful native culture."

"I feel that this event gave the students a greater understanding of Hispanic art and how to follow their methods, like using warm colors and making patterns in their work. It also introduced them to a new kind of art that can be explored and shared to all!" said Benjamin.

Annabelle Johnson of South Plainfield, a member of the Art Club, said, "I appreciate the Students of Color Affinity Group coming to teach us about Hispanic artists and the work they did. I had a lot of fun participating in the activity and was inspired by the use of vibrant colors to create my own."

"We had a fantastic turnout and hope we will be able to collaborate again soon!" said Albrittain.

Also: After researching buildings such as the CN Tower in Toronto and the Empire State Building in New York City, Patrizia Davis' Engineering Honors students at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung were placed in groups of two and were challenged to build the tallest structure. They used 50 pipe cleaners, 50 straws, and 25 paper clips with no other tools permitted. Each tower needed to support a golf ball for two minutes without deforming more than 20 percent.

"In the last 100 years, building construction has undergone challenges in many areas," said Davis. "None more so than the upward expansion of building heights." She said that the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was constructed in 2009 and now rises at a staggering 828 meters. She said the tallest wooden structure in the world at 181 meters ― the Gliwice Radio Tower or the Silesian Eiffel Tower ― is in Poland and was built in 1935.

To complete the Tall Tower Challenge, students utilized their knowledge of architectural, structural, and environmental engineering.

"I decided to take Engineering Honors because I knew this is what I possibly wanted to major in when I go to college," said Renee Vozza, a senior from Westfield. "This class has helped me explore the different types of engineering to see which one I am drawn to most. Specifically, the Tall Towers Challenge taught me the challenge of a time constraint in engineering. We had one class period to finish building and it was a lot of pressure to make sure that our tower was both tall and stable. My partner and I were nervous that our tower was not going to be stable enough to hold the golf ball, but ultimately in the end it worked out."

Kathleen Altobelli, a junior from Bridgewater, said, "When doing this project, we only had a limited amount of time to design and create our towers. We learned how engineers sometimes have a limited amount of time to design and create something, in this case a building. It also taught that are initial design may not work out and that we either have to add more or remove for it to work. I loved this project, and it was very educational."

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

Eighteen seniors at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit earned AP Scholar, and AP Scholar with honors for their performance on Advanced Placement tests, the College Board has announced.

“Congratulations to all of our AP scholars this year,” said Jennifer Wilson, director of college counseling at Oak Knoll. “This is a remarkable accomplishment and a tribute to your academic talent and hard work as well as the dedication of your teachers.”

AP Scholar awards are given each year to students who earned scores of three or higher in three or more AP exams.

Current seniors named AP Scholars include: Emely Abreu of Newark, Iman Ali of Watchung, Zoe Boggier of Essex Fells, Ava Bourneuf of Kinnelon, Jennifer Callandriello of Morristown, Gabriella Cilli of West Orange, Katharine Cugno of Summit, Catherine Huegel of Essex Fells, Sarah Kuhl of Essex Fells, Sarah Maher of Westfield, Katie Nguyen of Watchung, Laura Ryan of Madison, Bridget Sheehan of Westfield, Katherine Siedem of Madison, Anna Stiesi of West Orange, and Susanna Sykes of Summit.

Mya Arends of Morristown, and Clara O’Mara of Basking Ridge were also recognized as AP Scholars with honor for earning an average score of 3.25 on all AP exams and scores of three or higher on four or more exams.

The College Board further announced Lily Andersen of Chatham and Katherine Gupta of Berkeley Heights were also named as Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests (PSAT/NMSQT).

Raritan Valley Community College

Raritan Valley Community College continues to help students reduce their educational costs by providing free instructional materials in a growing number of classes. Since 2018, the use of free Open Educational Resources (OER) has saved RVCC students $3,076,844.19 in textbook costs.

Approximately 75 RVCC faculty members use free online resources in their courses instead of expensive textbooks. These resources can be downloaded, edited, and shared. In addition to the cost savings, students benefit by using course materials that can easily be customized by their professors.

“Our students face any number of challenges starting, continuing, and completing their education, so we want to ease the burden of textbook costs as much as possible for them,” said RVCC Instructional Services Librarian Megan Dempsey, who has spearheaded the project with assistance from the OER Steering Committee, which she chairs.

“Beginning this fall semester, when students register for classes they can see if a course has a zero-textbook cost or a low-textbook cost of less than $45. They can even search for ‘no cost’ and ‘low-cost’ courses as they are building their schedule. Students are able to find classes that not only fit their educational needs, but also fit their financial needs, and this is really important in supporting students to be successful and remain in college,” said Dempsey. The initiative has received financial support through the RVCC Foundation.

When faculty choose to use OER in their classes, they discover new ways for students to be involved in their learning process. Several RVCC faculty are exploring open educational practices, including Open Pedagogy, which give students greater freedom in how they demonstrate their learning. Students can create new content that is in turn openly licensed and shared with future students or with the public.

For example, students in Professor Melanie Lenahan’s General Biology OER class learn how to develop scientific communication about research studies and their summaries are then published by Sciworthy, an online OER science encyclopedia. And students in the Foundations of Education class, taught by Professor Kathy Suk, have created educational videos and infographics that can be used during future semesters to teach challenging concepts to new students.

In addition, a major project to create a fully updated Business Law OER textbook is being funded by the RVCC Foundation. Professor Melanie Morris will be writing substantial updates to the course’s 10-year-old OER textbook and adding new assignments that encourage critical thinking and application of concepts. The new OER textbook will be shared publicly for adoption by other institutions.

RVCC continues to work toward offering degree pathways with minimal textbook costs. In the college’s Liberal Arts degree, for example, 51 of 60 credits in the program can now be taken as zero-cost courses, which is 85 percent of the program. Dempsey said when students were surveyed about using OER, 60 percent of the respondents said it improved their ability to complete their assignments, and 52 percent said using OER increased their satisfaction with the learning experience.

For additional information about Open Educational Resources at RVCC, contact Megan Dempsey at megan.dempsey@raritanval.edu.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools

Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools has once again been designated as a high-performing district by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE). The designation is given to schools who perform at or above standards in several areas of review from fiscal management to personnel performance.

These reviews were conducted through the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJ QSAC). Districts are assessed in five key areas: Instruction and Program, Fiscal Management, Governance, Operations, and Personnel. In order to be credited as “high-performing,” districts must score at or above 80% in all five categories.

The NJ DOE reviewed the district's self-assessment on the district performance review and found SPFSD scored as follows:

• Instruction and Program: 90%• Fiscal Management: 96%• Governance: 100%• Operations: 89%• Personnel: 97%

“These scores are an external validation of our collective commitment to the students, families, and community we serve,” said Scotch Plains-Fanwood Superintendent Dr. Joan Mast. “It’s an honor to receive this designation, and we will continue to innovate and excel, now and in the future.”

More:The good things students are doing in Central Jersey and beyond

More:Education news from around the region

More:College Connection: Advice from local expert columnist

Thomas Edison State University

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) in Trenton has expanded its partnership with edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc., by joining its group of MicroBachelors program providers.

TESU's Critical Information Literacy (SOS-110) program will now be offered alongside Harvard University, NYU, Arizona State University, Southern New Hampshire University, Western Governors University and Doane University MicroBachelors programs on edX.org. While TESU has been a provider of college credit for MicroBachelors programs on edX since early 2020, this is the university’s first program offering.

"This marks an important milestone as the university's first undergraduate modular online program offering through the partnership," said Dr. Jeffrey Harmon, vice provost for Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness at TESU. "We are working toward offering additional bachelor’s-level introductory courses and a fully-stackable TESU associate degree is currently in development with edX."

MicroBachelors programs on edX are created with input from industry leaders and academics to deliver immediately transferable skills for the workplace or further study. The new MicroBachelors program in Information Literacy is open to everyone and ideal for students just embarking on, or returning to, college-level study. Through interactive instructional software, those enrolled can evaluate and strengthen their skills in critical thinking, professional communication and information literacy.

"We are committed to continually breaking down the barriers of time and cost for working adults and are proud to be part of the MicroBachelors program movement," said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, president of TESU. "We value our ongoing partnership with edX and our latest role among its partners. Coupled with other programs on the platform TESU has evaluated for credit, it equates to a flexible and efficient method of earning a degree through a group of highly respected and groundbreaking institutions. We look forward to our continued work with edX to identify programs we can add or evaluate for credit."

To learn more about edX MicroBachelors programs evaluated by TESU for credit, visit www.tesu.edu/degree-completion/edx-credit.

Union College

Establish yourself as a globally-recognized project manager by earning the most sought-after credential in the profession, Project Management Professional (PMP).® PMP certification is a proven way to enhance your resume, elevate your career potential, and boost your earnings. If you’re ready to earn your PMP certification, the Office of Continuing Education’s PMP Exam Preparation program beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 15, will help you prepare to pass the PMP Exam.

This intensive, hybrid program combines live instruction with The CertWise® Learning System for PMP® Exam Preparation to expand and test your knowledge in areas critical for project management career success. The CertWise® courseware aligns with PMBOK version seven. By focusing on the most current PMP Exam Content Outline (ECO), to help you prepare for the exam, the structured classroom environment accelerates learning and improves retention. You’ll be better prepared for the certification exam and more effective in your project management role. This is a hybrid program with classes held in-person and through remote-live instruction on Tuesday evenings, beginning Nov. 15, through Feb.7, 2023 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. In-person classes will be on the Scotch Plains Campus and remote-live instruction will be delivered through Canvas, the college’s Learning Management System. The cost of the program including the CertWise® Learning System courseware is $1,395. To enroll online, go to www.ucc.edu/ce.

Also: Union College of Union County, New Jersey is celebrating its history and looking forward to the future. On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Union College community celebrated the 89th Founder’s Day at the college’s Cranford Campus, complete with a name change celebration and a new logo reveal. Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, the college was then known as Union County Junior College. Effective this year, Friday, July 1, 2022, the college changed its name from Union County College to Union College of Union County, New Jersey.

Union’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin welcomed attendees to the celebration and Union’s Vice President of Student Development Dr. Demond T. Hargrove served as the master of ceremonies.

Attendees included Union College’s Board of Trustees Chair Victor M. Richel; Union’s Board of Governors Chair Mary M. Zimmermann (Union ’01); Trustee Daryl Palmieri; Board of Governors members Melinda Ayala (Union ’11), Nancy J. Benz (Union ’73), Ryan J. Greco (Union ’97), and Francis Raudelunas; Foundation Board Chair Maksim Sheyn (Union ’01); New Jersey Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Kathleen Comanto; Union County Commissioners Lourdes M. Leon and Alexander Mirabella; Mayor of Plainfield Adrian Mapp (Union ’86) and Mayor of Cranford Kathleen Miller Prunty; representatives from the Offices of Congressman Donald Payne Jr. (NJ-10), Assemblyman Reginald Atkins (LD-20), Assemblywoman Linda Carter (LD-22), and Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis (LD-21); and Superintendent of the Westfield Public Schools, Dr. Raymond A. González, Acting Superintendent of Plainfield Public Schools, Rashon Hasan, Superintendent of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools in Scotch Plains, Gwen Ryan, and Superintendent of Cranford Public Schools, Dr. Scott Rubin.

The event included a sparkling cider toast before the grand logo reveal. Union’s new logo incorporates the traditional red and white that the college has used in the past, in addition to a new, darker red to complete the design. The logo features a flame, for Union’s seal, “Fiat Lux,” in the shape of the letter “U,” representing Union. The logo was well-received by the students, staff, and friends of the college. Following the formal event, attendees were invited to sign a commemorative banner, get a free t-shirt with the new logo, and enjoy a cupcake while the deejay (a Union ’15 alum), kept the crowd entertained.

“This is an exciting time at the College. We are delighted to be celebrating 89 years of positive economic and social impact on our diverse community, resuming the use of a former name, and the launch our new logo. However, regardless of the name or logo, we will continue our mission to transform our community, one student at a time,” said Union President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.

Union College is a public, comprehensive community college which will continue to provide quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater Union County region. As the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students, Union has a history and decades of impact on the community. The college operates campuses in Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, and Scotch Plains. In addition to physical campuses, the college offers more than 20 programs that can also be completed online as part of its emerging Virtual Campus. Union was named a Semifinalist for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. For more information about Union, visit www.ucc.edu.

Westfield Public Schools

At its Tuesday, Oct. 18, meeting, the Westfield Board of Education welcomed Westfield High School 12th grader Andrew Matus, a semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Matus is among a nationwide pool of about 16,000 semifinalists who represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. These academically talented students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.

Eleven Westfield High School students have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise as Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program as well: Owen Craig, Elaine Deignan, Adrian Gripp, Julian Hamilton, Audrey Jones, Grace Kilbourn, Meryl Li, Michael Liebermann, Cameron Linenberg, Mackenzie Wilson, and Sophia Xing.

Additionally, five Westfield High School students earned perfect scores on June 2022 ACT and SAT subject area tests: Aprameyo Chakravarty (SAT Math), Graydon Calder (SAT Math), Audrey Jones (ACT Reading), Rachel Malkinzon (ACT Math), and Iskandar Mirtagavi (ACT Reading).

Also: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Westfield High School Girls Volleyball team held its 13th Annual PINK OUT fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 30, as varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen teams played East Brunswick High School, with all proceeds raised benefiting Pathways, a program of The Connection for Women and Children that supports women with cancer and cancer survivors. The Westfield High School Student Government Association (SGA) also organized a homeroom fundraising effort and a staff/student volleyball game, raising an additional $1,500 for Pathways (the proceeds for the annual Pink Out volleyball game are still being counted). “It was a great morning filled with a lot of pink and passion to show support for this incredible cause and a wonderful first Student/Teacher Game Day, one of several the SGA is planning for this school year,” said SGA advisors Jamie Glickman and Callie Campbell.

Student and School news appears on Saturdays. Email: cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com

Carolyn Sampson is Executive Office Assistant for the Courier News, The Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com, and handles the weekly Student News page. 

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ students: Rowan de Wet selected as Student of the Month