Blue Jay Broadcast
News and Notes from the Hallways of MHS
Coffee talk with Mr. Guzman
Email: guzmana@middlesex.k12.nj.us
Website: http://www.middlesex.k12.nj.us/msd/HS/
Location: 300 John F Kennedy Drive, Middlesex, NJ, United States
Twitter: @MHSMiddlesexNJ
Principal’s Message:
It’s the middle of the school year and it's already time to start thinking about next year. In the coming weeks, students will be faced with making decisions regarding their education. For seniors, this will include what to do after graduation - will they attend a college/university/trade school? If they get accepted into more than one school - which school do they choose? Maybe they'll decide to pursue a career instead of attending school. For our underclassman, their decisions are going to be what classes to take next year - is there a specific elective they're interested in? They'll have to decide their first, second and third choices for electives.
All of these decisions will impact their education and their future. We want to prepare them to make the best possible choices. You can find different models for decision making by a number of different organizations and individuals. Last year I presented a model that has 5 basic steps:
Identify the Decision, Brainstorm Options, Identify Possible Outcomes, Make Decision, and Reflect on Decision
These steps can help our students create their "big picture", whether it is selecting courses for the next 4 years or looking at their future beyond MHS.
This year I would like to share with parents, students and the community an interesting topic you may want to look further: how the brain of an adolescent develops. The brain continues to develop into our teen and adult years which mean adults can still learn and strengthen skills.
Improving student behavior, raising graduation rates, boosting achievement levels, and forging strong relationships between students and teachers are common goals for high school principals which are all related to social and emotional learning programs that impact all areas, leading to a better school climate and meaningful changes in student outcomes.
We at MHS encourage you to discuss with your child the five skills listed below as they progress through high school and make those important and impactful social, emotional and academic decisions. (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
1. PLANNING: Being able to make concrete plans, carry them out, and set and meet goals
2. FOCUS: Concentrating on what’s most important at any given time
3. SELF-CONTROL: Controlling how we respond to our emotions and stressful situations
4. AWARENESS: Noticing people and situations around us and how we all fit into the picture
5. FLEXIBILITY: Adapting to changing situations
Each of our students is different - they will face different decisions, follow individual paths and experience the world in their own unique way. It is my hope that we've provided them with the skills and tools to be successful, confident individuals.
News & Notes
Middlesex High School has been invited to take part in a unique collaboration with the Smithsonian Science Education Center and Johnson & Johnson. We are one of only a few schools across the country to be selected as participants in the STEM2D initiative.
J&J, in partnership with the Smithsonian, developed STEM2D to advance student outreach and inspire young people to pursue careers in the STEM2D fields of science, technology, engineering, math, manufacturing and design.
As part of the initiative, volunteers from J&J will lead all of our 10th grade Chemistry students in a hands-on “Engineering Batteries” activity. Following a kick-off assembly, students will work in teams to create a multi-cell battery using common household materials. This challenge will introduce our students to electrochemistry, and the history and design of the batteries we use in our everyday lives!
Middlesex High School will present the musical CHICAGO: High School Edition on March 14, 15, and 16 at 7pm. This Kander and Ebb/Bob Fosse musical was first produced on Broadway in 1975 and features great songs such as All That Jazz and Razzle Dazzle. The current revival has become the second longest running show in Broadway history. But who needs to go to New York when you can see it right here in Middlesex! Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens. Due to its mature subject matter, the production is not recommended for younger audience members.
So mark your calendars now and come out to see CHICAGO at MHS!
Cross Country Team is accepting donations of sneakers that are no longer used for GotSneakers, a sneaker recycling organization that provides wearable sneakers to those less fortunate around the world as well as keeping used sneakers out of landfills. They will be collecting sneakers until May 1st.
Alumni Spotlight
Class of 2018 Graduates Return to MHS!
On Thursday, January 3, 2019, twelve student representatives from the Class of 2018 returned to Middlesex High School to lead an alumni panel on collegiate student life for current seniors. Topics of discussion included preparation for college, dorm living, extra-curricular activities and time management. This program was coordinated by the Middlesex High School Counseling Department including, Mrs. Blumetti, Mrs. Powers, Mr. Schmitt and Mrs. Shehu.
Did You Know?
Mr. Inciong currently has an open project to fund a new wifi audio mixer for our students to use for our live performances. If you are in a position to help, or know someone who is, please follow or share the link below! https://tinyurl.com/DonorsChooseMixer
For more information about the projects at Middlesex High School, please visit DonorsChoose.
Shout Outs
Shout Out to Our Young Writers! The following student were selected to have their writings published in the "Stranger Sagas - From The Shadows."
J'Mi Cassagnol for "Girl In The Newspaper "
Jillian McGovern for "Flashback"
Matthew Spazian for "Empire"
Samantha Nordhaus will be attending the National Youth Delegates at George Mason University for her outstanding essay written for the Washington Youth Summit on the Environment.
Artist Corner
Rutgers University, Camden Campus – has selected five students work from Middlesex High School Ceramics Department for inclusion in their student art exhibit, New Visions!
The work will be displayed in the student gallery February 3-9, and the opening reception will be February 9 from 10 am until 2pm. The students representing Middlesex are Claudia Jones, Giselle Rubina, Geraldine Penagos, Michelle Penagos, and Wyatt Meixner.
Fun with Foods!
The Foods classes have started their cooking and grains unit. They made pasta from scratch using their wonderful donated pasta machines from the donors choose project!
Music Corner
The Music Department hosted a Cabaret Night January 16th to help raise money for the spring musical. The night was filled with some amazing music and performances!
Mr I. recommends...
For parents and all students in elementary school and middle school:
- Listen to music together! I prefer you share rock music, because it is the the style we mostly focus on at MHS for our music scene, guitar classes, and drum labs. Any music where the actual musicians are performing their own instruments is a plus! Listen often and watch live in concert videos on YouTube.
- If you can afford private lessons, please invest in them. Particularly for piano, band instruments, and guitar. I have some private teachers to recommend so please send me an e-mail to mhsnjmusic@gmail.com
For parents and ALL students:
- Frequent the State Theater and other local performance venues to watch live performances! Musical theater, dance, orchestra, jazz...there is education and enrichment engaging with any and all!
- Listen to all kinds of music! Develop an ear and appreciation for everything you can search.
- Watch film composer, Hans Zimmer, Live in Prague (Netflix).
Project Act News
Project ACT, Middlesex High school’s transition program provides unpaid, structured learning experiences designed specifically for each individual student, 18 years of age and older. The (SLE) Structured Learning Experiences are structured, supervised activities that take place in various locations/businesses within the community.
The students also work in the high school cafeteria preparing elementary school lunches alongside the staff, stocking juices and milk, packaging cookies, and cleaning lunch tables and chairs.