Academy Newsletter
Kingsway Regional High School: Winter 2019
Business Leadership Academy News
Kingsway DECA Team Nets 18 Spots to the State Competition
On Tuesday 1/8, Business Leadership Academy students participated in a DECA District Competition held in Cherry Hill. Our BLA students competed against 14 other high schools in the South Jersey region. We are proud to report that 18 students won in their event and qualified to move onto the DECA State Competition in Atlantic City from March 4th to the 6th. Winners in their selected events were:
- Juniors: Annie Manes (1st place), Ali Kim, Abby Smith and Caroline Heino (3rd place - team event), Connor Bowen and Dennis Lee (1st place - team event), Kevin Gorman, Rylie Martin (1st place), Elijah Gatling (3rd place), and Divum Raval (1st place).
- Sophomores: Dalton Britner, Jacob Franzeo, Jess McCann, and Olivia Cavallaro.
- Freshmen: Victoria Griffiths (3rd place), Caitlyn Hickey (2nd place), Ali Helkowski (2nd place), and AJ Negro.
Congratulations to All!
BLA Students Visit Villanova's School of Business
BLA Students Invade Wawa Headquarters!
DECA Information
Each student enrolled in the Business Leadership Academy is required to participate in DECA. DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales and service. This organization prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management around the globe.
Kingsway's DECA aims to provide students with the skills necessary to be successful in life and the business world through integrated classroom instruction, applied learning, connections to business, and promotion of competition. To learn more about DECA, please click HERE.
DECA Events:
- Regional Conference: 1/8 @ Cherry Hill Crowne Plaza
- State Conference: 3/4 - 3/6 @ Atlantic City Harrah’s
- International Conference: 4/27 – 4/30 @ Orlando, FL
Kingsway's DECA Officers:
- Co-Presidents - Kevin Gorman and Annie Manes
- 11th grade VP - Evan Miles
- 10th grade VP - Kylie Ennis
- 9th grade VP - Allison Helkowski
- Secretary - Taylor Gary
- Treasurer - Brooke Ferguson
DECA State Officer Candidate Process
BLA Professional Dress Days - A Reminder
Just a reminder to all BLA students and parents, as stated in our Academy Program Guide and communicated throughout the years, all students are expected to dress in professional business attire on the first Wednesday of every month. Academy polo shirts or professional business attire should be worn on all other Wednesdays. Students are expected to remain appropriately dressed throughout the entire school day. For more information, please refer the Academy Guide on our website.
BLA Field Trips
Freshmen
- Phillies Organization @ Citizens Bank Park, Date: TBA
- Wegmans @ Mount Laurel, Date: TBA
Sophomores
- Campbell's Soup @ Camden, Date: TBA
- Subaru Corporation, Date: TBA
Juniors
- Wawa Headquarters @ West Chester, PA, Date: 10/24/18
- Villanova School of Business @ Malvern, PA, Date: 11/02/18
BLA Summer I Program (Rising Juniors)
The BLA Summer Seminar I will engage students by placing them in collaborative problem solving experiences; participating in activities that strengthen cohort partnerships, leadership acumen, and business principles: meet and learn from a wide variety of business executives across the community; and learn alongside faculty members from Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business.
Dates: Monday, July 15th - Friday, July 19th
BLA Summer II Program - Think Like an Entrepreneur (Rising Seniors)
Think Like an Entrepreneur program engages students for two weeks in learning the preliminary ins and outs of starting their own business. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to apply for three credits toward their admission into the Rowan University.
Hosted by Rowan’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dates: July 8th - 19th, Monday - Thursday, 9 AM - 3:00 PM
S.T.E.M. News
Kingsway Enters Science Olympiad
Kingsway Regional High School competed in the New Jersey Science Olympiad Regionals held at Camden County College on January 10, 2019. This is the first time the students have ever competed in this demanding science competition.
Science Olympiad competitions are like academic track meets, consisting of a series of 23 team events in each division (Division B is middle school; Division C is high school). Each year, a portion of the events are rotated to reflect the ever-changing nature of genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology. By combining events from all disciplines, Science Olympiad encourages a wide cross-section of students to get involved. Emphasis is placed on active, hands-on group participation. Through Science Olympiad, students, teachers, parents, principals and business leaders bond together and work toward a shared goal.
Science Olympiad, in its 35th year, is one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to nearly 8,000 teams in all 50 states. The team of students from Kingsway, as a whole, placed 10th out of 19 schools with the following students from Kingsway receiving medals.
- In the category of Dynamic Planet (glaciers), Nikolaos Kalfas and Samuel Allen placed 2nd.
- In the category of Herpetology, Seth Sims and Olivia Smith placed 2nd.
- In the category of Mouse-Trap Vehicle, Michael Parker and Evan Bretz placed 6th.
- In the category of Write It-Do It, Briana Worrell and Madison Phun placed 6th.
S.T.E.M. Visits Princeton University Plasma Physics Lab
This past December the S.T.E.M. Academy took a tour of the prestigious Princeton University and got a behind-the-scenes look at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The PPPL, on Princeton University's Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, N.J., is devoted to creating new knowledge about the physics of plasmas — ultra-hot, charged gases — and to developing practical solutions for the creation of fusion energy. Results of PPPL research have ranged from a portable nuclear materials detector for anti-terrorist use to universally employed computer codes for analyzing and predicting the outcome of fusion experiments. The S.T.E.M. students learned about how fusion could provide a clean, affordable, safe, and abundant energy of the future. The Laboratory is managed by the University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the largest single supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time.
For more information, please visit science.energy.gov (link is external).
S.T.E.M. Academy Student Reports on his Experience at the "Building a Culture of Health in New Jersey" Conference
(Written by Anirudh Muralidharan of the S.T.E.M. Academy)
I was recently invited by the NJ Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to co-present a workshop at the “Building a Culture of Health in New Jersey: Thriving Communities Transform Lives” in Somerset, NJ. The mission of the conference was to improve health, equity, and well-being for all residents. The conference included many interesting workshops presented by speakers from various backgrounds. The conference was well-attended by caregivers, dietitians, early care/health educators, evaluators, health care providers, local health departments, municipal/transportation planners, parents, policy makers, public/population health professionals, and school administrators.
My workshop entitled “Youth Leading the Way in Building a Culture of Health in NJ” consisted of a panel of 4 presenters. In particular, I discussed my involvement and experiences with the national FuelUpToPlay60 program and about the importance of youth engagement in initiatives and programs in schools and in communities. My fellow presenters took time to discuss topics related to human trafficking awareness, public safety, and drug prevention. I also had the opportunity to attend another informative session, “Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Journey to Wellness for Youth.” All presentations were very informative and grew my understanding of many topics that I was previously unaware.
Overall, it was a great opportunity to learn and highlight the importance of student voice and engagement and I encourage others to attend in the future. Below is the link to more information about the conference where some of the presentations can also be accessed: http://www.cpe.rutgers.edu/cultureofhealth/.
Celebrating 150 years of the Periodic Table
Kingsway S.T.E.M. academy students have been invited to "A Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Periodic Table Competition" on March 19th at Johnstone School from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
During this time, students will compete in six competitions. Two events, 3D Model Construction and Periodic Table Analogy, will be constructed in advance and judged at the competition. Four events - Element Facts, Spelling Bee, Symbol Identification, and Periodic Table Race, will take place on our campus. Trophies and pins will be awarded to winners. All participants will receive certificates commemorating this historical occasion.
Additional Important Information
Understanding College Credit Opportunities at Kingsway
College Credit Opportunities at Kingsway:
Today, students have a vast amount of opportunities to earn college credits while in high school. The amount of college credits a student can receive depends upon the goals of the individual student. For example, two years ago, a Kingsway Academy student was able to receive his Associate Degree while in high school - an outstanding accomplishment to say the very least!
One way a student can receive college credits while in high school are through Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered on our campus. AP courses are considered college-level courses; Kingsway offers 23 AP courses through its programs of study. Students can take up to 5 AP courses during their junior year and up to 6 AP courses during their senior year. We have students who take multiple AP courses during their 9th and 10th grade school year as well. To receive the college credits through this option, a student would need to take the AP exam during the spring. A score a 3 or higher tends to be considered a "passing" score by receiving colleges and universities.
Another way for students to earn college credits while in high school is through our High School Options Program (HSOP). Students who participate in this option take courses at Rowan College of Gloucester County (RCGC) on their own time during the summer or after school hours. Students can this program as early as their freshman year, but RCGC does have an age requirement of 15.
Finally, Kingsway students can receive college credits through a dual credit partnership, or High School Plus, with Camden County College (CCC). As part of this option, CCC and Kingsway teachers work together to identify specific Kingsway courses that are aligned to college-level courses at CCC. Students then take these approved courses on Kingsway's campus and receive credit at CCC as well. There is a cost associated with both programs noted above; however, it is extremely discounted. The links below provide further information on both the High School Plus with CCC and HSOP with RCGC.
- High School Plus: https://www.krsd.org/Page/882
- HSOP: https://www.krsd.org/Page/885
College Credit Acceptances at 4-year Institutions:
Each college varies in their acceptance of credits outside their institution (AP, dual credit, county colleges, 4-year colleges, online programs, etc.); this may also depend on the particular post-high school program a student is accepted. Below are resources that may better meet specific institution inquiries.
- Does the Institution accepts AP credits/placement? https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies
- Do my community college credits transfer? http://njtransfer.org/
As always, if you have questions regarding your child's specific programming options - please reach out to his/her guidance counselor to explain more and plan for your child's future!
On January 24, 2019 at 6:30pm, the High School will hold an information session in the Eitel Theater that will contain more in depth information about earning college credits while at Kingsway. Please bring any questions you may have.
Kingsway Earns Accolades from College Board
This year, the Kingsway Regional School District was honored by College Board as one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada to receive 9th Annual AP® District Honor Roll status.
To be included on the 9th Annual Honor Roll, Kingsway Regional had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals shows that Kingsway is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are not only ready for AP level courses but also successful.
Thank you to our students, teachers, and administrators for their continued efforts to live up to our motto of Committed to Excellence.
*To learn more about this recognition, please visit: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/awards/district-honor-roll.
Academy Meetings
Just a reminder, below are the dates for the meetings throughout the year. If they need to be changed for any reason, students will be communicated to in advance.
Upcoming Events to Highlight
- Academy Exam for incoming Freshman, January 19th @ 8 a.m.
- High School Open House, January 30th 6:30-8p.m.
- Academy Career Day, February 7th @ 7:30-10:30 am. - The overall goal of career day is to provide students with information that will help them prepare for the “real world” and assist them in determining a career path.
- DECA State Competition - March 4-6th in Atlantic City
- Academy Program STEAM Night (Freshman Academy Service Learning Project): May 3rd, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
- S.T.E.M. Academy Student Peer Presentation: May 17 during SMART lunch in the South Gym
*We are currently working to develop an information session for the new senior-level Honors Capstone course. More information is forthcoming.
Academy Contacts
S.T.E.M. Academy:
- Megan Bruder, S.T.E.M. Supervisor, bruderm@krsd.org
- Apryl Palazzo, S.T.E.M. Guidance Counselor, palazzoa@krsd.org
Business Leadership Academy:
- Balvir Singh, BLA Supervisor, singhb@krsd.org
- Vivian Cassidy, BLA Guidance Counselor & DECA Advisor, cassidyv@krsd.org
- Patricia Conn, Business Teacher & DECA Advisor, connp@krsd.org
Academy Oversight & Program Development:
- Patricia Calandro, Chief Academic Officer, calandrop@krsd.org