STEAM Academy Newsletter
January 2024
A Message from Mrs. Tara Buckley
Happy New Year!
I would like to extend warm wishes to all for a happy, healthy and successful 2024! It is nice to have everyone back after a long and well deserved break. As we enter a new year, I want to encourage all students to continue to work hard, persevere, and to be sure to make time to have fun at school.
Thank you all for your continued support of the STEAM Academy and please don't hesitate to reach out at anytime with any questions or concerns at tbuckley@trschools.com.
Tara L. Buckley
STEAM Academy Facilitator
STEAM Academy Students in Action
Honors Anatomy & Physiology - Cadaver Lab
Honors Anatomy & Physiology students attended a trip to the Cadaver Lab at Rutgers University.
AP Research - College Board Project Proposals
AP Research students in Mrs. Vansurza's class have completed their topic and project proposals! Behind them is the project progress chart where each student selected a picture or symbol that represents their topic. They will move these as they complete the steps needed for their projects. Currently, students are working to design and write their methods. To practice this, students created a marshmallow and toothpick structure and then wrote directions for another student to replicate it. This activity helped them think about the correct level of detail needed to meet College Board's requirement of repeatable methods.
Honors Physics - Human Dynamics Carts
Honors Physics students in Ms. Ellerson's classes used Human Dynamics Carts and a spring scale to determine the relationship between force and acceleration (with a constant mass) and acceleration and mass (with a constant Force). Students collected data to calculate the acceleration for each run. They used the acceleration to create graphs to analyze the relationships.
Honors Anatomy & Physiology - Skeletal Bones Investigation
Students in Dr. Kretz's A & P class investigated the skeletal system using synthetic model skeletons.
Honors Chemistry - Chemical Nomenclature Practice
Students in Mrs. Buckley's Honors Chemistry class learned how to classify and name chemical compounds, as well as write the appropriate chemical formulas. They reinforced these concepts by creating posters and playing a competitive challenge game.
Advanced Digital Design - AutoCAD
Engineering students worked on CAD plans and models in the AutoCAD software. Students are moving through projects that involve Orthographic Projections and Isometric Models, which gives them the skills to visualize more advanced shapes and structures in the future. They will be transitioning to making realistic objects and scenes while adding materials, textures and lighting to a 3D scene that will then be rendered in a high quality format. Having the ability to break down a 3-dimensional shape allows them to understand a space from all directions. This gives them a stronger attention to detail, which is crucial in these technical fields.
Important 2024-25 Class Scheduling Meeting
Mark your calendars!
On Thursday, January 11, 2024 there will be an IMPORTANT parent/student scheduling meeting at High School East in the lecture hall.
All parents and students are highly encouraged to attend as the upcoming school year (2024-25) schedule, specific course requirements, etc. will be discussed. It is important that parents and students attend their scheduled time due to the content being discussed, as it is grade-level dependent.
We hope to see you all there!
5:00 - 5:45pm: current Grade 9 students
5:45 - 6:30pm: current Grade 10 students
6:30- 7:15pm: current Grade 11 students
College and Career Lecture Series
On December 8, the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City presented a career panel to students on various science careers (physics, aeronautical engineering, biomedical engineering, IT, and business) within the administration (below).
On December 15, Dr. James Vassilides, Chief Director of the Habitat Ecology Branch of NOAA, spoke with students on careers in ecology and marine science (below).
Upcoming January Career Presentations:
January 8: GraceAnn Taylor, Save Barnegat Bay; Careers in Environmental Education and Advocacy
Every month we have several community members come in and speak to our students about their careers and the path that led them to where they are today. This is an invaluable experience for students to be a part of and may expose them to possible careers that they didn't even know existed!
We encourage students to sign up to attend sessions for careers and topics that interest them. Students must sign up in advance in the Guidance Office, where they will be provided a special pass to attend.
Any parent or family member who is interested in coming into High School East to deliver a presentation to students on their respective career or field, please contact Mrs. Buckley at tbuckley@trschools.com
2024-25 STEAM Academy Admissions
The entrance exams is on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at 4:00pm at High School East.
Students will be notified of their acceptance during the week of February 19, 2024.
Please click the link below for more information on recruitment and admissions for the Class of 2028.
REMINDERS AND RESOURCES
Communication: Chain of Command
Please follow the appropriate chain of command when there are concerns with STEAM Academy curriculum and instruction:
1. speak with the teacher FIRST
2. speak with the guidance counselor
3. speak with Ms. Tiffany Lucey, Supervisor
4. speak with Mrs. Stephanie Hines, STEAM Academy Administrator
5. speak with Mrs. Erin Anders, Principal
Guidance Corner
Mrs. Calhoun (last name A - Co )
Mrs. Millard (last name Cr - Han)
Mrs. Lulias (last name Hao - Mc)
Mrs.Bush (last name Me - Ro)
Mrs. Weinberger (last name Rp - Z)
If students would like to meet with their guidance counselor, they must complete a request form, which is available in the Guidance Office. It will be returned to the student with an appointment time.
STEAM Academy Student Monthly Workshops
STEAM Academy students participate in monthly workshops to enhance their skillset and learn new strategies to maximize their education. December's workshop focused on "Effective Communication" and was presented by Assistant Principal, Dr. Palumbo.
Click the link below for a full schedule of workshops.
Volunteer and Community Service
All Toms River H.S. East students are encouraged to volunteer in the community. While logging community service hours is not a requirement for graduation, the culture and spirit at East values those students who give back to their school and their community. As a school, we value public service and celebrate it! The Spirit of the Raider Award can be achieved when students have completed at least 40 hours of volunteering within a school year. For our seniors, who have achieved and dedicated at least 160 hours towards helping others, they will receive a cord to wear at their graduation ceremony.
What is community service?
Volunteering and hours earned for volunteerism in community service is considered to be any support or participation outside of regular roles or duties of the student. For example, a student who is a member of the National Honor Society has a responsibility to the organization in providing tutoring assistance. Part of their role is to serve as a student and this is extracurricular. Should a student volunteer outside of school, such as volunteering on their own time at the elementary school as a tutoring support, this would constitute a service to the community.
How do I turn in volunteer hours?
The Guidance Office has Community Service Hour log cards. A student can take a card, bring it with them to the volunteer event, and ask for an advisor to sign off on their hours/participation. All volunteer activities must receive a signature. For other community service opportunities, the Guidance Office can also accept letters from the organization stating how many hours a student received and in what way the student volunteered. These are due back to the guidance office in May where there will be an official record of hours kept on file.
Please see the guidance office for more information on volunteer and community service.
National Honor Society
The Raider Chapter of the National Honor Society is designed to honor students who have distinguished themselves in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership and demonstrating high moral character.
Students may submit their candidacy for potential selection into the National Honor Society at the end of their junior year or the beginning of their senior year if they meet the eligibility requirements (see below). Students will be notified of their eligibility to become a candidate, then attend a meeting to receive the guidelines and directions that outline the standards and procedures for selection. Students wishing to obtain information about factors involved in selection into the National Honor Society may do so in Guidance or from Ms. Morgan.
The selection process used for the National Honor Society~Raider Chapter is as follows:
- An eligible candidate’s Grade Point Average is determined through the Guidance Office, including minimum 3.75 unweighted or 4.5 weighted effective as of the Class of 2024. (3.75 unweighted or 4.25 weighted effective through the Class of 2023; adjustment reflects recent shifts in relative course weights.)
Those scholastically eligible candidates will be notified and invited to a meeting in which they will be given a packet from the advisor that outlines and explains the remainder of the selection process. - The candidate then completes the necessary forms and essay included in the packet and submits them to the advisor for further consideration by the Faculty Council.
In accordance with the Constitution of the National Honor Society, the selection process will meet the following criteria:
- It is fair and applied consistently to all candidates.
- It is described and published in an official school publication which is made available for students, parents, faculty and others to review.
- It is consistent with the rules and regulations of the NHS as they are currently described in the national handbook.
- It is determined by and meets the approval of the local Faculty Council and administration.
- It concludes with a vote by the appointed members of the Faculty Council to determine individual selection to the chapter. The selection of each member to the chapter shall be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council.
Please see Ms. Morgan in Room W-24 with any questions.
Tutoring
National Honor Society tutors are available in the media center after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:40 - 2:25pm.
Students can come for help in any subject!
Parent Tips for a Successful School Year
- have conversations with your child about school and their classes
- set reminders for deadlines (SAT registration, college fairs, etc.)
- encourage your child to seek extra help if needed
- encourage your child to advocate for themselves and to communicate effectively with their teachers
- encourage your child to get involved with clubs and extra-curricular activities
- discuss the extra opportunities that are available to students
High School East Student Handbook
Please click the link for the High School East 2023-24 Handbook.
School Calendar
Please click the link below for the Toms River Regional Schools 2023-24 calendar.
https://www.trschools.com/calendar/docs/2023/07/_2023_2024-Calendar-_-Sheet1.pdf
Upcoming Important Dates
JANUARY:
- 1/1: Schools Closed - New Year's Day
- 1/2: Students return to school
- 1/15: Schools Closed - MLK Jr. Day
- 1/16: STEAM Entrance Exam for Class of 2028 applicants at HSE 4pm
- 1/17: STEAM Student Monthly Workshop during lunches - "Volunteering and Community Service" (Lecture Hall)
FEBRUARY:
- 2/10: Lunar New Year
- 2/14: Valentine's Day
- 2/16: Schools Closed - Staff Professional Development Day
- 2/19: Schools Closed - President's Day
MARCH:
- 3/8: STEAM Academy student commitment due (Class of 2028)
- 3/9: SAT
- 3/11 - 3/15: NJGPA for Grades 11
- 3/13: Engineering Day @ Rutgers University
- 3/17: St. Patrick's Day
- 3/29: Schools Closed - Spring Break begins (students return to school April 1)