NJ students: Westfield Public Schools students, community, demonstrate civic-mindedness
The Westfield Public Schools community demonstrated its considerable civic-mindedness in March, with students across the district packing lunches, designing greeting cards, making care packages, picking up litter, and participating in many other activities as a way of giving back to those in need.
Whether a Community Service Night or a Week of Service, parent volunteers coordinated and organized the many activities at each of the ten 10 schools. At Washington Elementary School, for example, students gathered in the gymnasium on Thursday, March 24, to lend a helping hand, painting and potting plants for local senior citizens, making animal beds and toys for a nearby animal shelter, decorating baby onesies for the non-profit organization Moms Helping Moms, packing “grab and go” bags for St. Joseph Social Services Center, and sending treats and thank-you notes to local police officers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and firefighters.
Additionally, Washington fifth graders participated in a targeted clean-up of Mindowaskin Park on Friday, March 25, part of a collaborative project with the Garden Club of Westfield, the Westfield Department of Public Works, and the Town of Westfield to renovate and plant a native wildflower garden on a hillside slope.
“The students raked and cleaned up trash and debris in preparation for spring and summer planting,” said Washington PTO member Nicole Ozturan. “We hope to get them back before the end of the school year so they can throw down some wildflower seeds. The field should be there for years to come so we hope they can see the results in the future.”
Wilson Elementary students collected toiletries during the week of Monday, March 14, with each grade assigned specific items to contribute to the supply kits packed by student and parent volunteers and donated to St. Joseph’s.
During the week of Monday, March 21, Roosevelt Intermediate School students wrote words of encouragement to Ukrainian children, sent letters of thanks to health care workers, cleaned up nearby Clark Park, and collected and organized non-perishable food items to be distributed to local families and individuals facing food insecurity.
And during Westfield High School’s Week of Service beginning on Monday, March 21, students, staff, and families collected approximately 1,200 toiletry kits for a local food pantry, sent more than 800 thank-you notes to healthcare workers at Overlook Hospital, collected thousands of books for Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library and dozens of bags of gently used summer clothing for a community in Cartagena, Columbia, and raised hundreds of dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project. “To finish the Week of Service, we presented our WHS nurses with thank you cards and flowers,” said WHS Community Service Club advisors Zorana Culjak and Gregory Bowers.
Superintendent Dr. Raymond González thanked all who organized and participated in Community Service Week, saying, “I have been impressed, but not surprised, by the giving spirit of the Westfield school community which embodies the district’s mission to educate our students to be productive, responsible and well-balanced citizens who respect individual differences and diversity in an ever changing world.”
Big Blue Marble Academy, Edison
Students at the Big Blue Marble Academy, Edison, have been celebrating Earth Day all month long with a variety of crafts and activities.
The 4-year-old classroom made a waterfall creation from recycled materials while the 3-year-olds had a blast creating projects using recyclable items found at home. These crafts teach children about recycling while utilizing creativity as they practice their fine motor skills.
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Hunterdon County Vocational School District
Two Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD) seniors, Prerna Shankar of Clinton, and Richard Li of Asbury, are finalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. To be selected as finalists, Shankar and Li are among the highest-scoring program entrants in NJ.
About half of the finalists will win one of the close to 7,500 National Merit Scholarships. The combined worth of the scholarships is more than $30 million. The winners will each earn the Merit Scholar title and be presented with a scholarship this spring.
Shankar attends HCVSD’s Biomedical Sciences Academy. She founded and is president of the Brain Bee Club and serves as a HOSA-Future Health Professionals officer. She also is a student member of the Biomedical Sciences Academy Advisory Committee.
“I want to enter a career in the medical field, more specifically as a physician specializing in some type of neuroscience,” she said. “I've always been drawn to the medical field, especially neuroscience, and through opportunities provided in the Biomedical Sciences Academy like the collegiate coursework, Anatomy & Physiology I and II, plus the opportunity to start the Brain Bee Club, I've been able to explore that realm of interest a lot throughout my years here.”
Dr. Donna Badgwell, an instructor in the Biomedical Sciences Academy, said Shankar is a natural-born leader who helps other students in the academy.
“I cannot imagine a more deserving student for this honor,” said Badgwell. “Prerna is a remarkable young woman and has earned this honor through hard work, compassion and determination. Prerna makes me proud every day just by being the kind of person she is. It has been a privilege to work with her over the last four years.”
Li, a student in HCVSD’s Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy, is currently working on running 3D printers for students, maintaining and upgrading the printers and putting together a user manual to help others maintain the printers when he is gone.
After graduation, he plans on spending time at an internship and then attending a STEM-based college.
“I want to work in computer engineering with an emphasis on networks and data science,” says Li about his future. “The Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy’s Cyber Security Unit really got me hooked on the idea of installing and managing networks.”
Justin Montgomery, instructor of the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy, says Li enjoys taking leadership roles and cares about the well-being of others. He invests much time and energy into giving back to the academy.
“Richard is the consummate scholar,” said Montgomery. “Enthusiastic and respectful, he is always engaged in the learning of lessons, often asking questions and contributing during group discussions. His work is always completed on time and to the fullest extent. His sterling character is matched only by his incredible work ethic.”
The Biomedical Sciences Academy and the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy are two of the three full-time, science-based academies offered by Hunterdon County Vocational School District. They attract driven students, like Shankar and Li, who have clear career interests in the sciences and a track record of academic success. To learn more, visit www.hcvsd.org.
JP Stevens High School
NJM Insurance Group, in partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ), has announced JP Stevens High School in Edison as the NJ third place winner for its 4th annual “Just Drive” PSA contest. JP Stevens High School was awarded $5,000 for their creative PSA video that highlights five steps that lead to safe driving. The school can use the award money towards a post-prom, post-graduation or safe driving program.
The Learning Experience in Edison
Local preschoolers as young as 3 are inspiring hope and raising money to grant wishes for Make-A-Wish children through a month-long fundraising event at The Learning Experience in Edison.
April's "Let's Grant Wishes" fundraiser is part of the preschooler's ongoing "philanthropy" curriculum which continuously teaches children the importance of kindness, inclusion, and giving back. Children at The Learning Experience preschools across NJ and nationwide have already raised more than $1 million for Make-A-Wish this month.
During the fundraising campaign, preschoolers are learning about Make-A-Wish and the positive difference they can make in the world when they work together. Guided by teachers and educational characters "Charity Chihuahua" and "Grace the Greyhound," children are engaging in philanthropic lessons, creating unique arts and crafts, and organizing fundraising events while raising money online.
Raritan Valley Community College
Local high school students interested in learning more about Raritan Valley Community College’s Honors College are invited to attend an Information Session, Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m. The program will be held in the Event Center at the college’s Branchburg campus.
The evening will include information about admission to RVCC’s Honors College and transfer opportunities after graduating from RVCC. Students in the top 20 percent of their high school class who possess a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, or have a cumulative SAT score of 1100 or higher, are encouraged to attend.
Current Honors College students and Honors College alumni also will be on hand to talk with prospective students and parents about their own experiences at RVCC, as well as their experiences transferring and acclimating to four-year schools. The evening also will include information about the NJ STARS Scholarship program.
Launched in 2011, RVCC’s Honors College serves highly qualified high school graduates who are entering college for the first time. Honors College students benefit from being in small classes with similarly academically motivated students. Students in the program are taught by a select group of faculty. The Honors College features a cohort-based program with smaller, seminar-style courses that have an interdisciplinary focus and afford students the opportunity to develop a close working relationship with their professors.
Students who are admitted to the Honors College become part of a select community of learners and have various opportunities for academic, social and personal growth. Their college experience is further enhanced through leadership and volunteer activities, as well as through service learning. Honors College students enjoy several notable benefits, including opportunities to transfer to highly selective four-year colleges and universities.
RVCC Honors College graduates have been accepted to such schools as Columbia University, Cornell University, Yale University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, Smith College, University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and the University of Pennsylvania.
To register for the Honors College Information Session, visit www.raritanval.edu/visit. For additional information about RVCC’s Honors College, email honors@raritanval.edu or visit www.raritanval.edu/honors.
Also: Raritan Valley Community College Cosmetology student Emma McJury of Franklin Park has been selected as a member of the Beacon Class of 2022, one of the beauty industry’s most prestigious programs for students, sponsored by the Professional Beauty Association (PBA). Her participation enabled her to take part in the PBA’s International Salon + Spa Expo event, held Saturday, April 2, and Sunday, April 3, in Long Beach, Calif. She also attended the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) as part of the program.
The PBA event featured two days of industry professionals educating new cosmetologists on relevant topics in the beauty industry. Presentations focused on such topics as goal setting, personal finance, and how to be successful in the industry.
Reflecting on her participation in the Beacon program, McJury said, “This experience allowed me to network and build connections I couldn’t make anywhere else. Being part of Beacon is incredibly special. I recommend every student in the Beauty Professions program apply because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am so inspired and excited to begin my career and want to thank RVCC for letting me represent them at this prestigious event.”
RVCC offers a number of programs for students interested in cosmetology, esthetics and make-up design. The college is offering a Make-up Designory (MUD) certification program beginning May 9, and the next full-time Cosmetology and Esthetics programs begin August 31. To learn more about the MUD program, visit https://bit.ly/3vIAEM0. For information about the Cosmetology program, visit https://bit.ly/39sGf1H, and to learn more about Esthetics at RVCC, visit https://bit.ly/3vlwniC.
To learn about all of the college’s beauty programs, register for an upcoming Beauty Programs Information Session at www.raritanval.edu/visit. For additional information about the programs, contact Amy Layton, amy.layton@raritanval.edu or 908-526-1200, ext. 8618.
Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools
On Wednesday, April 20, students in English instructor Brittany Maldonado’s English classes at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) in Bridgewater were visited by Rob Hart, author of "The Warehouse." "The Warehouse" is a required reading as part of Maldonado’s junior-level English classes. The novel has been sold in more than 20 different countries and has even been optioned for film by Ron Howard.
During the two-hour presentation, students and staff took part in a discussion with Hart about his process, characters and themes from the novel, as well as what he believes happens after the story has concluded. Also during the presentation, Hart spoke of "The Warehouse" saying he wanted to write a fun-to-read book that would be hard to put down. Hart said he wanted to keep a balance of writing an educational but interesting book that engaged readers and kept their interest.
SCVTHS Supervisor of Academics Teresa Morelli spoke of the author’s presentation saying, “Rob Hart’s visit was a direct way for our students to connect with a living author. Hart explained his process of writing the novel, as well as the ideas he was presenting, so our students interacted directly with the author during the presentation. Students had the opportunity to ask questions relating to the story, the characters, and the writer’s style during the two-hour assembly, demonstrating their analysis of 'The Warehouse'.”
Maldonado said, “I am so grateful to Rob Hart for coming out to interact, answer questions, and engage in academic discourse with our eleventh-grade students. The students posed many analytical questions that not only gave them the opportunity to think critically about the novel but challenge the author with inquiries ranging from content to real-world parallels to his writing process. Students remained engaged throughout the event, and many stayed after the conclusion of the assembly to have one-on-one conversations, ask more questions, and even get their books signed! It was an enriching experience for all, and we are so grateful for this opportunity!”
Also: On Wednesday, April 6, Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) students and staff were given a presentation by a group of United States Navy SEALs. Organized by SCVTHS Social Studies Instructor and Army veteran Ed Graf, the SEALs discussed their experiences, duties, and responsibilities as some of the most elite military personnel.
“The SEALS spoke to the students about achieving their goals in life, never quitting, putting forth their best efforts, and doing the best in every job and opportunity they have,” said Graf. “Through this type of motivation, the SEALs stated that in their experiences, only then will the students feel fulfilled and truly happy in life.”
Somerville High School
The Somerville High School Winter Guard won the Gold in the Scholastic Open Class at 2022 Mid-Atlantic Indoor Network (MAIN) Championships on Sunday, April 24, at the PPL Center Arena in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Their first-place show, “Unspeakable World,” is directed by Rick Delancy. The 15-member team includes captains Colin Sheeley, Rebecca Wolin and Heather Young, along with Nate Cohen, Katie Curtis, Kiarra Dalida, Kaylie Fabriczi, Diego Gonzalez, Karis Kechula, Lizzy Malanga, Skye Naranjo, Gianna Perrine, Kylie Ronning, Hannah Varley and Selina Verbanas.
Winter Guard — known as “the sport of the arts” — is a competitive indoor color guard activity in which performers use flags, rifles, sabers and other equipment combined with dance to produce a choreographed show. Teams are judged in various categories, including movement, technique, design analysis, equipment and general effect.
The Somerville Winter Guard has been featured in two documentaries on the sport. Musician David Byrne selected the team to be one of ten to collaborate with indie musicians to create a live music and winter guard show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Toronto’s Air Canada Center, which was featured in the 2017 documentary Contemporary Color.
The Guard also participated in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) documentary "Marching to the Coolest Beat," which focused on how this dance sport tradition binds communities together and brings creativity and joy to performers and audiences, especially at the high school level.
Somerville High School students and Somerville Middle School and Branchburg Middle School students in grades seven and eight who love to perform and are interested in auditioning for the 2022–23 Color Guard and Winter Guard team on Wednesday, June 1, and Thursday, June 2, can fill out the Color Guard Interest Form at https://bit.ly/3xXltkT or email somervillehighschoolguard@gmail.com. No experience in dance or twirling is required; all you need is a love of performance.
Union County 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 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, May 10, 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 structured classroom environment accelerates learning and improves retention by focusing on the PMBOK Guide–Sixth Edition content to help you prepare for the exam. You will be better prepared for the updated certification exam and more effective in your project management role. Classes will be held in-person and through remote-live (real-time virtual) instruction on Tuesday evenings beginning Tuesday, May 10, through Tuesday, July 26, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Face-to-face classes will be on the Scotch Plains and Cranford campuses 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/ceregister.
Also: The Union County College Women’s Basketball Team is taking five — five regional championships, that is. On Saturday, Feb. 26, the women’s team won their fifth National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIX Division II Championship in a row under the leadership of Coach Marbely Montas. Montas has also been named the Region XIX Coach of the Year for the fifth straight year.
On Saturday, Feb. 26, the team hosted Harcum College for the NJCAA Region XIX Title. The game was a nail-biter, but Union prevailed, defeating Harcum College with a score of 74-61.
This advanced Union to the District Finals on Saturday, March 5, and Sunday, March 6, held at Niagara County Community College where they were the first seed. On Saturday, March 5, they defeated Jamestown Community College with a score of 64-42. On Sunday, March 6, the team was narrowly defeated by Niagara County Community College with a score of 65-62, but they still took home the NJCAA Division II District East B Championship. Union has advanced to the NJCAA Division II Championship Tournament, which took place Tuesday, March 15, through Saturday, March 19, in Port Huron, Michigan.
Leading the team is Head Coach Marbely Montas, who also serves as the college’s Assistant Athletic Director. Montas is a 2007 alumna of the college. After graduating from Union, she received a full scholarship and continued her basketball career at Monmouth University while she pursued her bachelor’s degree. Montas returned to Union in 2011 as the assistant coach before assuming the role of head coach.
“We are incredibly proud of this hardworking team of student-athletes for what they’ve achieved this season. Not only do they have a dynamic leader in Coach Montas, but as a graduate of the College herself, she is also a standout role model. It’s remarkable that under her leadership, the team has secured the Region XIX Championship and herself the Region XIX Coach of the Year five consecutive times,” said Union President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
At the National Championship Tournament, the team was defeated in the first round, but continued strong in the consolation bracket. They won the first round in a nailbiter game at the final buzzer. The play made it as number eight on the ESPN Sports Center top 10 moments of the day.
Union offers a full array of NJCAA athletics including soccer, baseball, softball, wrestling, lacrosse, and more. For more information on its athletics program, visit www.unionowls.com.
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: Westfield Public Schools demonstrate civic-mindedness
