Husky Highlights
November Newsletter
Principal's Corner
Greetings!
On November 13th, we hosted “The Husky Experience”- our annual orientation for 7th and 8th grade students. During the evening, there were a number of programs on display including the jazz band, chorus, fall drama, and presentations by each of our Academy programs. The evening was meant to provide incoming students with a glimpse of what they will encounter during their time at Matawan Regional High School.
On my drive home, I couldn’t help but think about what kind of answers our current students would give when asked to describe their own “Husky Experience.” I’d imagine everyone would agree that the fundamental purpose of any educational institution is to provide students with new knowledge and learning opportunities that will set them on a path for success in college and career. My hope is that every student’s “Husky Experience” will take them well beyond this.
Regardless of what stage of your MRHS career you are in, there is still time to be involved in different programs, explore another club or activity, and build relationships with members of our community. I hope that everyone takes advantage of their years here so you can look back on the moments at Matawan Regional High School as some of the best of your life.
My favorite holiday is July 4th, but coming in a very close second is Thanksgiving. In addition to my love for turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy, I love the sense of family and community that comes with the days leading up to it. I also have fond memories from my childhood of my mom dressing up as a pilgrim for her 1st grade students, and eventually, as the Principal of a K-3 school. (The History major in me can’t help but bring up how incorrect the common interpretation of pilgrim culture is and the “festivities” of the “First Thanksgiving”...every year.) Regardless of your love for Thanksgiving dinner or the memories you will have of the holiday season, being thankful for what we have should be a year-round routine.
Thank you for being a part of the Matawan Regional High School community and for playing a role in each other’s “Husky Experience.”
I wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday season.
After School Tutorial
Fall Drama
Husky Athletics
Student-Athlete Signing Day - Wednesday, November 13th
Congratulations to our student-athletes who have signed their national letter of intent!
Kelly Lambertson - Marist College - Soccer
Anna Margarites - Gettysburg College - Soccer
Sara Margarites - Gettysburg College - Soccer
Bryn Radvanski - Winthrop University - Soccer
Brynn Reiser - Sacred Heart University - Softball
Football
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Field Hockey
Girls Cross Country
Boys Cross Country
Girls Tennis
Cheerleading
Dance Team
Challenger
Marching Band has a Championship Season!
Color Guard soloists this year were Allyson Lombardo and Jade Greene. Instrumental soloists were Kassie Miano, Allison Chen, Dorothy Brussel, Lucas Lew, and Riley Moffitt. Our Drum Major this year was Mr. Garret Crawford. The band expanded its size this year to compete in Group 2A class in the US Bands circuit.
Among numerous awards, the band was honored to win the Yamaha Cup Group 2A title on 10/5 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. On 10/19, the marching band hosted "Train Up with the Band" Day here at the High School. Over twenty students from Lloyd Road School and MAMS bands came to train with the band and guard, meet the staff, learn proper movement technique exercises, and got to see a full performance of the halftime show.
The marching band students and staff would like to thank the MRHS community for all their support. Also, they are so thankful to have the constant support of the band booster organization. Matawan band Boosters hosted the 22nd Annual Bayshore Band Competition here at MRHS and welcome twenty-two bands from all over New Jersey to compete on September 21st. The band boosters support all aspects of our band and color guard programs and they could not do it without them! They have had a very successful season and look forward to representing the communities at important events throughout the year. For more information, please visit www.mrhsbands.org or email kcotter@marsd.org.
Civic Leaders
Additionally, Civic Leaders are fundraising money for their Season of Giving where they adopt families from the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation and provide support for the Holiday Season. They had a successful FruttaBowl "give back" fundraiser on November 9th and are selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts throughout the month of November. Contact any Civic Leader or see Mrs. O’Neill in room 415 for more information.
Additionally, please consider sending a “thankful candygram” during the week of Thanksgiving to a friend, teacher, or classmate. Candygrams will be on sale during lunch periods by Civic Leaders. Thank you for all of your support!
Student Council
The 2019 Homecoming game featured an inspiring victory from the football team. Seniors Brandon Rodriguez and Zaire Williams were selected as homecoming King and Prince respectively, and Emily Mulradelis and Bryn Radvanski were selected as Queen and Princess respectively. All members of the court were honored at the game. The Student Council is extremely excited to be hosting such ambitious year-long events, and they are eager to start tallying up participation points from each class. They urge you to continue to stay active in your community and continue to pay attention to websites on social media, the morning announcements, and on the Scoop. Go Huskies!
Nurse's Corner
Just a little note for a safe Thanksgiving dinner:
Food handling errors and inadequate cooking are the most common problems that lead to poultry-associated food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States. Safely thaw your turkey. Thaw turkeys in the refrigerator, in a sink of cold water that is changed every 30 minutes, or in the microwave. Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A frozen turkey is safe indefinitely, but a thawing turkey must defrost at a safe temperature. When the turkey is left out at room temperature for more than two hours, its temperature becomes unsafe as it moves into the danger zone between 40°F and 140°F, where bacteria can grow rapidly.
November is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) awareness month. COPD occurs when there is chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. COPD is a treatable disease and one that can be managed once diagnosed.
Two of the most common conditions that contribute to COPD is emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes which is characterized by a daily cough and mucus production.
Emphysema is a condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages of the lungs are destroyed as a result of damaging exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritating gasses and particulate matter.
Symptoms include:
Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning, due to excess mucus in your lungs
A Chronic cough that may produce mucus that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish
Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds
Frequent respiratory infections
Lack of energy
Unintended weight loss (in later stages)
Swelling in ankles, feet or legs
Causes include:
Tobacco smoking
Fumes from burning fuel for cooking and heating in poorly ventilated homes
Genetics
Air pollution
Workplace exposure to dust, smoke or fumes
Age
COPD has a clear cause and a path for prevention. Stop smoking or never smoke to prevent this disease. If you have occupational exposure to chemical fumes and dust, speak with your supervisor about the best way to protect yourself. If you think that that you may have COPD, speak with your physician about a treatment plan that will work for you.
Matawan-Aberdeen Educational Foundation
The Educational Foundation would also like to thank the district and our community families for all your support. They are able to award these grants to our MARSD teachers because of your donations and support.
The 2019-2020 MAEF Grant Recipients are:
- Power Up with UNICEF- Sheryl Preiser- Strathmore
- Virtual Business Academy- Krista Huebsch- MRHS
- Collaborative Cricut Crafting- Michelle Sloan- MRHS
- Preschool Beetbox -Sarah Bakley, Rachel Alvarez, Alexa Johnson- Cambridge Park/Cliffwood
- KEVA Planks Education- Lisa Schultz- Clifffwood
- Tapping Tabla- Lindsey Fiore- MAMS
- Grant Me My Tech Wish- Lisa Baue,r Dave Lehman- Lloyd Road
- A Day with Edgar Allen Poe- Diana Starr, Dana Spafford, Samantha Dansky, Kerri Maltese, Cynthia Sobieski- MAMS
- Learning Through Movement- Kristen Fisco- Ravine
- Coding in Kindergarten, Colleen Burden, Colleen Marion, Nicole Cordi, Wendy Riley, Lisa Schneider- Strathmore
Dates to Remember
- November 25-26: Parent teacher conferences, 4 hour sessions
- November 27: 4 hour session
- November 28-29: School closed for Thanksgiving
- December 5-8: Fall Drama