Welcome to May!

Thank you for your continued support during the 4th and final marking period of the 2021-2022 school year!

Although it was shortened due to the spring recess, April was certainly a very busy and exciting month at VTHS! Please be sure to take some time to review this month's message and acknowledge the numerous students and staff members who have worked so hard to make VTHS such a special place to attend school. Students' high school experience is enhanced by belonging a club, becoming part of a team, or participating in an activity--and not just attending school.

As we begin a busy month replete with standardized testing for our students, please be sure to mark your calendars for assessment dates and ensure that your child is in attendance on the appropriate days. All standardized test dates are listed below.

We also have some exciting and memorable activities to look forward to this month, including the Junior Prom, our annual String Symposium, two spring concerts, a Unified Dance organized by DECA, the VTHS National Honor Society Induction, an Art Show and Induction, and the annual Actor's Showcase! We would like to encourage everyone to attend these--in addition to our numerous spring athletic events--during the last two months of the school year! It's important to celebrate our students for all of their accomplishments!

Wishing you all the best as we move toward the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year,

Pauline F. Anderson, Danielle Colte, and Nicholas M. Demsak

This is their message for May: You don't need to have everything figured out to find meaning in life. There are lots of actions that help us live with purpose, even in difficult or uncertain times.

For more information, please visit https://actionforhappiness.org/calendar

Thank you!

Sunday, May 1..............National College Decision Day!

(Seniors are asked to wear their shirts displaying their college choices on Tuesday, May 3rd!)

Monday, May 2.............AP Chemistry Exam

Wednesday, May 4...... AP English Literature Exam

......................................AP Comparative Government & Politics Exam

Thursday, May 5.......... AP Human Geography Exam

.......................................AP Statistics Exam

Friday, May 6................Princeton's Virtual Young Women's Conference in STEM*

......................................AP European History Exam

......................................AP US History Exam

......................................AP Art History Exam

Saturday, May 7........... SAT Testing - 7:45 am - 3:00 pm

......................................Junior Prom - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm - VTHS Gym

Monday, May 9 .............AP Calculus AB Exam

.......................................AP Calculus BC Exam

.......................................AP Computer Science Exam

Tuesday, May 10..........AP English Language and Composition Exam

.......................................AP Physics Mechanics Exam

.......................................ELA 9 Exam

Wednesday, May 11...... Faculty & Staff Appreciation Brunch sponsored by the SCA

.........................................AP Spanish Language and Culture Exam

Thursday, May 12...........AP French Language and Culture Exam

..........................................National Art Honor Society Induction & Art Show - 5:00 pm

..........................................BOE Work Session 7:00 pm Lounsberry Hollow

Friday, May 13 .................String Symposium - 7:30 pm - Auditorium

..........................................AP Music Theory Exam

Tuesday, May 17............. Math 9 Exam

Wednesday, May 18.........Spring Concert 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm Auditorium

Thursday, May 19............ SCA Virtual Meeting 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

...........................................BOE Public Meeting - 7:00 pm - Lounsberry Hollow M.S.

Friday, May 20 .................DECA Unified Dance 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Cafeteria

...........................................Visit from the Therapy Dog during Unit Lunch

...........................................AP European History Exam

Monday, May23.................NJSLA Science 11 Exam

............................................NHS Induction - 11:00 am - 12:30 am - Macerino Stadium

............................................Actor’s Showcase 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Room 024

Tuesday, May 24............... NJSLA Science 11 Exam

............................................Induction Ceremony for Departmental Honor Societies - 2:30pm

Monday, May 30............... District Closed/Memorial Day

We are happy to share that VTHS has once again been selected as one of the Best High Schools in the Nation by US News and World Report for 2022!

We would like to thank everyone for their dedication to our students and for the collaboration that exists between the school and the home in order to make this possible!

Thanks to lots of hard work and preparation by Mrs. Kristy Reigler

and the VTHS Student Council, the 2022 Spring Spirit Week and Pep Rally

were truly spirit-building and enjoyed by all!

Many thanks to the staff members who volunteered to challenge our students

to a great game of basketball!

We are not sure about the referee's skills, but it was an spirited game nonetheless!

The School Climate Committee worked hard to ensure that

all of our visitors enjoyed Bring Your Child to Work Day at VTHS!

Many thanks to all of the teachers who welcomed our staff's young children

into their classrooms to participate in some exciting activities!

Under the guidance of Mrs. Jeanette Emmerich,

7 VTHS students are finishing the third quarter of their EMT program.

The students attend an evening course at the high school and will continue serving the Vernon community following their final assessment in June!

Thank you, one and all!

Christmas in APRIL!!!! the JUNIOR's KITS HAVE ARRIVED!!!!

Aliyah Chester measures herself next to some empty kit boxes ready for Cosmo Camp 2022!!

Audrey Bodle is ALL smiles and ready for Senior year Cosmetology 2024!!!!

The Juniors are unwrapping their kits!!

Congratulations to Logan Peek, a junior at VTHS,

who has been selected from a very talented pool of applicants to participate in this summer's Governor's School of Engineering and Technology hosted by

the Rutgers University School of Engineering.

His accomplishments and hard work have distinguished him among a talented group

of his peers and we are very proud of him.

Well done, Logan!

VTHS students recently had success at both the Wallkill Valley and Mount Olive invitational art shows. The art department would love to have the following students recognized in this month's Smore:

Wallkill Valley Art Show:

• Kayla Patterson-2nd place in the Open Category

Mount Olive Art Show:

• Jayden Cabrera-1st place in the Open Category
• Jayden Cabrera-Hartford College Scholarship
• Idalis Santiago-Moore College Scholarship
• Colleen Fraser-Moore College Scholarship
• Nathan Horn-Savanah College of Art and Design Summer Seminar Scholarship

Mr. Kelsey Falkowski recently received the Daughters of the American Revolution

2022 Outstanding Teacher of American History Award!

Congratulations, Mr. Falkowski, on receiving this well-deserved honor!

Additionally, Joshua Jean was awarded best rhythm section solo and Wesley Sanders was awarded best overall solo.

Congratulations to our very own Jazz Express! We are so proud of all of you!

We need your help! We are looking for teen volunteers to help us with the programs listed below. Without our teen volunteers, we would not be able to launch and keep these programs up and running. Please consider volunteering when you can and make a difference in your community!

Volunteer at a Food Pantry:

Since COVID, the need of our community has grown exponentially. With the added need, the Sparta Community Food Pantry has added additional hours to accommodate the full time working community members. We are looking for volunteers to assist in distributing and packaging food at the Sparta Community food pantry on Thursdays from 4:30 pm -6:30 pm. You can sign up on the days you are available using this link.

Volunteer with local youth:

Exciting news! Pass It Along has partnered with Norwescap to bring youth programming to Sussex, NJ! Norwescap is a non-profit organization that serves low income populations, with a primary focus on early childhood education. We have two amazing programs available at their new community center located at 37 Main Street Sussex, NJ. These new programs provide opportunities, which otherwise would not be available.

Youth Art Classes on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm. We will have a different program each week, including crafts, dance, music, and more! Sign up here and help put a smile on a child's face.

Homework Buddies from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This will include fun activities to assist with homework and literacy. Sign Up Here!

Additional

For all of our other opportunities, please click this link!

Thank you for considering these amazing volunteer opportunities! Together we can make a difference. "Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs

Please take the time to review the important information listed below:

All eligible juniors and seniors will be permitted to park on campus if they complete and/or provide all of the necessary Parking Registration materials listed below, including Random Drug Screening and attendance at a Share the Keys presentation. At this time, we do not have any additional Share the Keys presentations scheduled.

All vehicles parking on campus should be registered at this time. All students must complete and submit the necessary paperwork in order to receive a parking pass for the 2021-2022 school year.

Each eligible driver must present the following information in order to obtain a parking decal to be permitted to park on campus:

• A completed PARKING REGISTRATION form (see below)
• A COPY of a valid DRIVER'S LICENSE
• A COPY of the CURRENT REGISTRATION for the car
• A COPY of the CURRENT INSURANCE CARD
• A signed copy of the RANDOM DRUG TEST form (see below)
• Proof of participation in the SHARE THE KEYS' Program

If your child would prefer to pick up hard copies of the Parking Registration and Random Drug Test Form, please have them stop by the main office.

Student drivers should gather all information and return the completed forms to the main office. Mrs. Linda Hopper will be there to answer all questions and assist our student drivers!

President - Dianne Falcone

Vice President - Keren Gonen

Treasurer - Joanne Jarosz-Quaranta

Recording Secretary - Dayna Germinario

Corresponding Secretary - currently open*

*If you are interested in serving in this capacity on this 2021-2022 board, please contact Ms. Falcone at dion828@aol.com.

The VTHS SCA will be meeting via Zoom for the remainder of the school year. Please contact Dianne Falcone if you are interested in receiving the link.

Thank you!

Thank you for your continued assistance and cooperation,

Pauline F. Anderson, Danielle Colte and Nick Demsak