August 2023

On behalf of the entire staff at Brick Township High School, I would like to welcome our new and returning students and families to the 2023-2024 school year. I hope you found time this summer to take care of yourselves, to enjoy time with friends, family, and loved ones, and to recharge and reinvigorate for the upcoming year.

As we begin this new academic journey, I am reminded of the incredible potential and promise that each school year brings. These past summer months have afforded our dedicated faculty and staff an opportunity to prepare for the year ahead. Our commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environment remains unwavering.

We at Brick Township High School value the partnership and collaboration that exists within our learning community. It is through this partnership that we will succeed in our commitment to providing an optimal learning environment for our students to learn and grow. We value open communication between home and school. Our teachers are here to support your child’s learning journey, and we encourage you to stay engaged and informed about their progress.

Please know that we value and respect every one of our students, recognizing the immense responsibility that each member of our learning community possesses to effectively support, guide, and encourage our students to succeed. We encourage all students to actively participate in our co-curricular activities and clubs. These opportunities not only provide avenues for personal growth and exploration but also help build lasting friendships and connections that extend beyond the classroom.

I would like to welcome our new and returning staff members to BTHS. I am proud to introduce them to you and I am confident that they are going to hit the ground running and be great additions to our community. Please join me in welcoming:

• Kathleen Bartok - English Department

• Greg Deluca - Visual Performing Arts Department

• Gayle Gruber - Visual Performing Arts Department

• Jennifer Fischer - Paraprofessional

• Michelle Gray - Paraprofessional

• Deirdre Heinly - Paraprofessional

As the school year progresses, you will receive regular communication updates in the form of monthly newsletters, mass notification through our blackboard system, and website updates. Information is also shared through our school’s twitter feed @BTHSDragons, consider following for regular updates. Additionally, if you are not a member of our School’s PTA please consider joining. PTA Membership Link.

Please take some time to review the important information contained within this newsletter as it will support a successful upcoming school year. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the main office at 732-785-3000 or visit our website at www.brickschools.org/bths for additional information.

I am looking forward to greeting our students on the first day of school, which is Tuesday, September 5. I am confident that together we can continue to ensure the success of each student at Brick Township High School.

We look forward to a year with academic achievements, personal growth, and memorable experiences. Together, we can make this school year a successful and enriching one for all members of our school community. I consider it a privilege to serve as your principal and look forward to supporting you in this upcoming school year. Thank you for being BTHS Dragon Proud! Go Dragons!

Sincerely,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Brick Township High School strives to inspire, empower, and challenge our students to pursue excellence in reaching their fullest potential within a learning environment that values equity, belonging, and inclusivity. We are united in the expectation that all members of the learning community contribute to a safe and respectful learning environment, while maintaining strong school-family relationships and promoting a well-rounded educational experience that meets the diverse needs of each of our students. We will honor our traditions while consistently offering students access and opportunity. We maintain the the core values of Tradition, Pride, Acceptance, Integrity, and Respect.

Parent Portal will be open for parent access on Friday, August 25. Students will be able to access their schedule for the 2023-2024 school year at this time.

Student schedules are available for review. Please take time to review your schedule for the new school year. If there is a mistake in your schedule (i.e. missing block during the day, course level, conflict of classes) please email your school counselor. Be sure to include your name and scheduling conflict.

Please note that only requests to correct scheduling problems caused by errors in course assignments will be honored. We are unable to accommodate requests for schedule changes related to teacher, block, or convenience changes. If changes are needed a Drop/Add form must be completed. The Drop/Add form must be signed by both the teacher and a parent/guardian and then approved by the department supervisor and building principal. There must be an open seat in the requested course in order for the drop/add to be initiated. Students must request a drop/add within the following time frame:

• 10 - Credit Courses: 10 school days from the beginning of the school year.

• 5 - Credit Courses: 5 school days from the beginning of each course.

The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 5. The following information will assist with a successful 2022-2023 school year.

• Bell Schedule
• Student Handbook
• Digital Backpack Access
• BTHS Announcement Feed

The student handbook along with the other listed documentation contains important information about the process and procedures at BTHS. Please review these important pieces of information with your child.

On Wednesday, August 23 BTHS welcomed the Class of 2027 to Brick Township High School. Students were afforded the opportunity to engage with peers, tour the school, and attend multiple information sessions focused on pertinent topics. Parents had an opportunity to attend an evening information session. The presentation is linked HERE if anyone missed the information session or would like a refresher on important information and key practices.

We are proud to recognize Karlos Gordillo and Vincent Vargas for the recognition from College Board for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on national assessments. These students have earned this honor because of their GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT. Congratulations to these two outstanding students on this national recognition.

"Students in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) class at Brick Twp High School, taught by Gary Paxton, focused their efforts on remediating an erosion issue in the school’s courtyard by designing and installing a new rain garden. Their garden design included a terraced slope and stone filtration system to capture and divert rain water to prevent continued soil erosion. Based on the information they received from their soil assessment, they used the Jersey-Friendly Yards Plant Database to select appropriate plants for their garden site conditions: slightly acidic, dry sandy soil, in full sun. Their species choices included drought tolerant grasses, groundcovers, shrubs and flowering perennials, such as Little Blue Stem, Bearberry, Lowbush Blueberry, Blue Giant Hyssop, Butterfly Weed, Coreopsis, Purple Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Aromatic Aster, Moss Phlox, Eastern Bluestar and Seaside Goldenrod. All of these plants support pollinators, as well as birds and wildlife by providing food, shelter and nesting material. In addition to the plants, bird feeders and bluebird nest boxes were installed near the garden. Water conservation practices are modeled by adding a rain barrel used to collect rain water to help irrigate the garden."

Building Hours - Public

Brick Township High School will be open for business between the hours of 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Visitors should schedule an appointment when at all possible so we can be prepared to greet you. All visitors will be required to show photo identification and state the purpose of their visit prior to being buzzed into the building. Upon entering the building, all visitors must proceed directly to the Main Office Front Desk.

Building Hours - Students

Brick Township High School will be open to students between the hours of 6:50 AM and 1:30 PM. Students who are on campus outside of these hours MUST be under the direct supervision of a District Staff member (e.g. teacher, coach, advisor). In order to ensure the safety and proper supervision of your children, students who are not with a staff member will NOT be granted access to building outside of these hours.

Drop off of Items

Drop off of student items will be allowed prior to 9:00 AM and after 1:30 PM. In order to limit traffic in the building, a drop off bin will be located outside the front door. If you need to drop off items, please label the item clearly with your student's name, place in the box, and buzz the front desk to alert that the items are there. Items brought to school between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM will only be accepted in extreme circumstances and require the approval of an administrator.

Brick Township High School Seniors and Juniors, who possess a valid driver’s license, will be permitted to drive their vehicle to school and park in designated locations on the BTHS campus during the 2023-2024 school year. Parking Permit Application 2023-2024. The cost of a parking permit is fifteen dollars, cash or check accepted. Please have exact change when making payment. Payment will be collected when applying for the parking permit.

• Seniors will have the first opportunity to purchase/reserve their parking permit. During the month of August, Seniors only may pick up permits in the Main Office and/or the South Office beginning on Monday, August 21st from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Bring your driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance card, and $15 dollar fee. No student is to park in any parking lot on campus until they have received a permit. Seniors may reserve their parking permit at any time, however, a parking permit will not be issued until proof of driver’s license, insurance, and registration is provided.
• Juniors will be able to purchase a parking permit during the week of September 11th. Juniors must have their driver’s license, vehicle registration and $15 dollar fee with them at the time of purchase. No student is to park in any parking lot on campus until they have received a permit. Juniors have the opportunity to purchase their parking permit throughout the school year once they have received their license.

Information regarding the parking permit application and process is also available on our school’s website. Again, here is access to the Parking Permit Application.

The BTHS Guidance Department is excited to start the 2023-2024 school year. All students are fully supported by our school counselors. Please review the current counselor assignments (alphabetically by last name):

• Students Last Name - A - Da ----> Mrs. Ianniello
• Students Last Name - De - I -----> Ms. Piwowarczyk
• Students Last Name - J - Mo ----> Ms. Donahue
• Students Last Name - Mu - Sa --> Mrs. Celona
• Students Last Name - Sc - Z -----> Mrs. Walling

Please do not hesitate to reach out to your respective school counselor with any needs or concerns. We firmly believe that our partnership between home and school is paramount in ensuring the success of each of our students. We are here to help and assist in ensuring that each of our students optimize their time and experience at BTHS. We are looking forward to welcoming our students and having a positive and successful year at Brick Township High School.

School Counselors will be organizing meetings for senior students in September to discuss important topics related to their graduation and future plans. These meetings will include graduation requirements, assessment requirements and post-secondary plans including our career and college platform; SCOIR. The senior meetings are intended to provide students with the information and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their next steps after high school.

The School Counseling Department utilizes SCOIR as our College and Career resource. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to sign up for college visits through their SCOIR account. Admissions representatives from colleges and universities in the U.S. will be visiting BTHS during the next few months to meet with students. This is a great opportunity for students to learn more about specific colleges; admission and application process, as well as student life and athletics.

If your student completed the assessment, but did not meet the minimum required score (725 or above) in one or both content components, the following pathways are available to meet the graduation assessment requirement:

Available Pathways

1. Retake and demonstrate proficiency on the ELA and/or Math component of the NJGPA.
   
2. Meet the minimum required score on one of the ELA and/or Math assessments listed on the menu of substitute competency tests.
   
3. Meet the criteria of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Portfolio Appeal for ELA and/or Mathematics.
   

Note: The Second and Third Pathways are available only to students who attempted the NJGPA.

The graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2023 through 2025 are available on the Graduation Assessment Requirements webpage at https://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/requirements. There you will find the list of substitute competency tests and minimum required scores, along with additional information you may find helpful.

There will be an option to retake the NJGPA in October 2023. We will be hosting an Accuplacer Test in September 2023 for any student who did not demonstrate proficiency on the ELA and/or Math component of the NJGPA. There will also be an opportunity to be enrolled in an NJPGA Portfolio class during the 1st semester to meet the graduation assessment requirement.

In the beginning of the school year your child’s School Counselor will be conducting Senior meetings and they will review the graduation requirements, test scores and post secondary plans. At that time we will ensure that your child is placed appropriately in order to meet all graduation requirements for the Class of 2024.

Click Here to Apply for Free / Reduced Price Meal Benefits

Student Food Service Experiences:

• Breakfast: Upon arrival, students will have an opportunity to go to a cafeteria to pick up breakfast. Breakfast will close at 7:05 AM.
• Lunch: Students will have the opportunity to purchase / receive lunch during their assigned lunch period. Students will be assigned either A or C lunch. Students will be required to input their student ID. Students must remain in their selected eating locations (Cafe 1 / Cafe 2 / Cafe 3) for the duration of the lunch period. Students will not be permitted to eat lunch in the library.

Click Here to Apply for Free / Reduced Price Meal Benefits

CLICK HERE to access the BTHS Food Service web page, where you can find complete department information. Additionally, the Free and Reduced Lunch application is posted on this page. The application is offered in both English and Spanish.

Attention Seniors! Senior portraits will be taken the week of September 18. Information regarding portraits will be sent directly to all senior students via a blackboard blast, Google Classroom post, and mailed directly home once Lifetouch has finalized the appointment process and ordering information. Underclassman pictures will be in October with more information to follow.

Every student should get their picture taken, even if they do not plan on purchasing pictures since they will be used for student ID cards.

A few friendly reminders from the BTHS Health Office:

• Please do not hesitate to bring any important health-related information to the attention of the health office. Students should stay home when not feeling well or developing signs of illness.

Health Office Contact: Mrs. Tammy Yarbrough

West Nurse Office - Ext. 2037

East Nurse Office - Ext. 2009

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