Chief's Report
December, 2017
Principal's Message
Season’s greetings from your PHS! We are truly thankful and ecstatic about seeing yet another successful school year. Many tremendous things took place in 2017, thus making it a year that we will never forget! As we glow in the GLORY of the EMPIRE, we must never, ever forget those that are less fortunate than we are during this season of giving. It is also important that we keep those service men and women around the world as well as their families in our thoughts and prayers for safe travels and journeys. Their courage and time away from their families and loved ones make it possible for the majority of us to enjoy this joyous season.
Winter is now upon us…. As a FAMILY we have worked long hours in the hot sun planting seeds of knowledge and making sure that our harvest would sustain us through the brisk harsh months to come. As these brutally cold months grip our beloved Piscataway we will not fret….WE are prepared. We knew these days were coming. We will dress warm and continue to work hard, inside and outside of our classrooms. More importantly we will be better CHIEFS than we were a year ago. WE welcome 2018!!!
As CHIEFS it is our duty to make at least one person happy every day. That can be done through performing a kind deed, speaking a kind word, or sending kind thoughts to those in need. Create as many happy lives as you possibly can. Happy Holidays! Be Well.
Strength & Honor
The Barcelona Exchange Program
This year we celebrate our 25th anniversary of our Barcelona Exchange Program (1992-2017).
Every year in February, a group of students from Piscataway High School have the privilege to live in Barcelona, Spain and to attend school for 10 days in our sister school, Sagrada Familia. In March, this rewarding experience is reciprocated to them. We also invite Scotch Plains High School to be part of this wonderful experience. The program has grown so much over the 25 years.
In addition, tours are organized to various sites in Madrid and Barcelona. During the entire trip our students are immersed in the Spanish language and culture. Through participation in this program, students are given a true sense of what it means to be part of a Global Community.
It is an honor to be able to bring this amazing program to PIscataway High School. The Barcelona Exchange Program has been very successful thanks to the hard work and cooperation of our World Language Department, Piscataway High School faculty, staff, and our community. Thank you Ms. Herrera, the Coordinator of the program for all your hard work and dedication.
Performing Arts News
PHS Instrumental Department | Chris Sumner & Ken Zampella | December Happenings
December was a busy month for the high school Instrumental music department. The department kicked off the month with a trip to Lincoln Center in New York on Dec. 6 to hear the New York Philharmonic perform at Avery Fisher Hall. They played Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, among other works. Eight students auditioned for the CJMEA Region 2 bands and orchestra on December 9th. On Dec. 15 the Chamber Orchestra performed its annual Winter Tour. This year they visited all three of the district middle schools as well as the Lakeview Cerebral Palsy School in Edison, NJ. After months of preparation, the Chamber Orchestra, String Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Symphonic Band performed at the annual Instrumental Music Winter Concert on Wed. Dec. 20 in the PAC. Finally, some of our chamber groups traveled to King School on Fri. Dec.22 to help prepare the students for the holidays.
PHS Dance | Love Your Body Week
Students in Dance 2 and Dance 3 participated in Love Your Body Week, an initiative of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Over the course of the week, students engaged in activities that intentionally foster body positivity. Each of these exercises culminated with the drawing or writing of a positive statement to be posted on the mirror. By the end of the week the mirror was covered in messages of self-love.
Activities included:
- Small group discussion where students gave compliments to one another.
- Students wrote compliments to themselves and posted them on the mirror.
- Small group discussion where students shared thanking their body for all it does.
- Writing ‘Thank You’ notes to their bodies and posting them on the mirror.
- Writing a negative comment about their body on Post-It. Students then destroyed the negative comments and replaced them with compliments they posted on one another and wore for the remainder of the class period.
- Declaring and signing the “Body Peace Treaty”
Lincoln Center, New York
PHS Dance Team "Love Your Body Week"
PHS Dance Team
PHS Students Go Above and Beyond
PHS Students and Rutgers University
Paul McLean, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology at Rutgers University worked with PHS students in Mr. Reynolds’ sociology classes on December 19, to talk about the kinds of jobs and careers for which Sociology may be a suitable preparation. He also shared some insights with students who are currently working on a quantitative research project. Professor McClean is also creating a repository of teaching resources for high school teachers to access and use in the classroom.
Robotics Team 224
The Piscataway High School Robotics Team 224 competed at the Brunswick Eruption Robotics competition held on Saturday November 11, 2017 at the North Brunswick Township High School.
(Pictured Below) Josue Montalvo, Dev Patel, Amruh Mubin, Dustin Copeland, Konrad Radecki, Ahmad Kamran,Jazmine Brown, Mr. Giacomarra, and Mr. Mazur.
Engineering Hydrogen Fuel Cell Competition
Mr. Giacomarra's Engineering students participated against 40 area high school teams at New Providence High School on December 13th. All four students performed extremely well, with 2nd place in Speed going to the vehicle built by Ariel Jimenez and Jazmine Brown. The team of Neel Patel and Christian Hoppeler earned 2nd place for Engineering Design and also 2nd place for Craftsmanship. PHS alumni Sean Daley joined the team to provide technical support.
NJCU On the Spot
Yet another great day for our PHS IDD candidates, as 9 out of 10 of our students were accepted on the spot to NJCU, and the 10th student should know after the release of SAT scores!!!
Students pictured below with NJCU Admissions Counselor Brian Ferrante. Couselors loved hearing the students reactions as they came out of the interviews!!
Students pictured (Left to right)
Stacy Desir
Nijhea Nolan
Ammaarah Shaikh (Awarded Scholarship)
Sarah George (Awarded Full Scholarship)
Brian Ferrante, NJCU Admissions Counselor
Najilah Redd
Mytaya Jackson
Nicklyn Pierre
Johnmene Deemua Williams
Students who are not pictured but participated:
Afif Abdulfattah
Mohammad Butt (Awarded Scholarship)
Kean University
On Wednesday, December 6th we had 14 out of 14 students accepted to Kean University. It was a great day!! The admissions’ counselors were impressed with the process, and our students were so thankful to Ms. Pernell for all her work in setting us and our students up for success for our Instant Decision Day. (Pictured below).
The students who participated:
Sarah George (Awarded scholarship)
Najjiyya Greene (Awarded scholarship)
Nishant Halari (Awarded William Livingston Scholarship)
Sandra Hamilton
Sangat Kotak (Awarded Presidential Scholarship)
Haseeb Malik (Awarded Merit Scholarship)
Krishna Patel (Awarded scholarship)
Julie Paul
Matthew Peterson
Ariel Rogg
Stephanie Rojas (invited to Honors Science program and awarded scholarship)
Jennifer Scala
Ammaarah Shaikh (Awarded Presidential Scholarship)
Muskan Shiva
Holiday Spirit Week
SGA hosted a school-wide Holiday Spirit Week to ring in the holidays by showing our school spirit!
On Monday, December 18th we celebrated the United Nations by dressing to represent a favorite country or region.
On Tuesday, December 19th we had Tie Dye Tuesday where students and faculty donned something Tie Dyed.
Wednesday, December 20th had us seeing double with Holiday Twin Day. The PHS community paired up with a friend to coordinate matching outfits complete with holiday gear or colors.
Thursday, December 21st was Comfy Clothes Day. Students and faculty kept warm with favorite sweatpants, festive flannel pants or spirited onesies.
On Friday, December 22nd we celebrated Festive Friday by wearing “ugly” holiday sweaters or any other winter gear. Senior Syeda Husian was our PHS winner.
Faculty also competed in the the annual “Ugly” Holiday Sweater Competition.
We had a three way tie: Amanda Ruppel, Chris from IT, and Lori Joseph.
Holiday Door Decorating Contest
The Brew Crew hosted a Holiday Door Decorating contest.
There were so many amazing entries. The Brew Crew thanks everyone for all for their hard work and holiday spirit!
The “Brew Crew” students voted and the results are:
- Honorable Mention for Most Original: Ms. Patel, holiday photo booth
- Honorable Mention for Most Interactive: Ms. Hernandez and her Spanish class, singing Feliz Navidad
- 3rd Place: Child Study Team, gingerbread village
- 2nd Place: NHS and Dean McGowan, reindeer decorators
- 1st Place: Ms. Giaimo, Christmas is Lit!, for their creativity and attention to detail
Happy Holidays!
Important Dates
January 2 Winter Break
January 8 PTSO Meeting 7:00pm in the Anthony Commons
January 10 Piscataway Experience 6:00pm in the PAC
January 15 M.L. King Jr. - School Closed
January 17 Piscataway Experience (Inclement Weather Date) 6:00pm in the PAC
January 30 Marking Period 2 Ends
January 30 In-Service Day for Teachers - Half-day for Students