Autumn is in full swing and October has been a busy month here at PHS. We started with the Week of Respect where students read morning messages that challenged us to transform our intentions into positive actions. We administered the PSAT to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students while our 12th grade students began preparing for graduation. Seniors, order those caps and gowns now, June will be here before you know it! We had School Violence Awareness Week and students from each grade level attended an assembly that promoted the building of a positive school culture. We capped it off with an amazing Spirit Week. Congratulations, to the Junior Class for winning the Battle of the Classes and to the Senior Class for winning the hallway-decorating contest. We ended the week with a pep rally, a homecoming football game win, and a dance. It was a busy but enjoyable month, and I look forward to seeing what November has in store!

The Piscataway High School Theatre Program has again been accepted to the Paper Mill Playhouse Adopt-A-School Program. This program provides opportunities to see productions, attend workshops/festivals, work with Paper Mill Playhouse artists, and eventually perform at Paper Mill. All of this is free of charge for the schools that are selected. PHS is a previous participant and we are honored to be back! This will be an amazing experience for our students! Thanks to Mike Yoson for applying and providing these opportunities for students!

Congratulations, to PHS senior Radha Pandya! Radha has been learning Bharatanatymam (Indian classical dance) since age 4 and recently performed her solo dance recital after 13 years of intense training. Radha is also a violinist at PHS.

The Chiefs Dance Team and Superchief Marching Band are lighting up the field at our football games this year! A huge thank you to our student leaders, Jessica Taylor, Ken Zampella, and Christian Lopez!

PHS Artists in Drawing & Painting created this beautiful display in their classroom! Thank you to Dorothy Amme!

The Piscataway Choral Collective returned on October 4th at 7PM and met in the PHS Choir Room! This is an adult choir for members of our community - all are welcome! There is no cost and there are no auditions - just a community in song! Bring a friend and sing with us! Check out the schedule below.

Our RWJ Safety Ambassadors and Ms. Stephanie Rogers, Advisor attended a luncheon at the Imperial in Somerset, New Jersey. Our Ambassadors along with 17 other schools in Middlesex County are participating in the program sponsored by RWJ. Safety Ambassadors develop lessons surrounded by 4 components to help teach their younger peers how to be safe. Our Ambassadors and Ms. Rogers review program timelines, discuss strategies, provide feedback, and share ideas. Ms. Rogers, partners with Eisenhower Elementary School, so our Safety Ambassadors can teach their younger peers how to be safe. The topics are listed below.

• Fall Prevention
• Safety In/Around Cars
• Wheeled Sports/Helmets
• Pedestrian Safety

Tyler Tran took the AP test in May 2022, as a 10th grader and achieved a score of 5. He completed the highest score available on AP Exam. Advancement Placement courses are college-level courses taught at the high school level in which students can attain college credits if they achieve top scores.

Tyler's perfect score is truly an outstanding accomplishment and Principal Baldassano and the teachers at PHS are very proud of him. He is one of just 369 students in the world to achieve

a perfect score on the 2022 Advanced Place Computer Science Exam.

Mr. Soin, Tyler's Computer Science teacher said, "Nothing can get in his way now." Tyler intends to pursue computer science as his major in college.

A group of science scholars at Piscataway High School put their skills to the test in a real-world battle that everyone can relate to spotted lanternflies. The students of SNHS designed and built traps on some of the lantern flies' favorite trees around the school, in hopes to put a stop to their growing numbers. This year the SNHS is trying to think of ways, to give back to the community.

The students and advisor Dr. Janet Mrotek, sought assistance from an expert, Danielle Puglisi, an instructional coach from Branchburg Public Schools. Ms. Puglisi is involved in a design challenge through Rutgers University aimed at the lantern fly problem. She gave us directions and materials needed to build their traps. All the designs are different, but all try to accomplish the same goal.

On October 28th, four of the SNHS officers and Dr. Mrotek went to the traps and discovered hundreds of them on the first tree. the students used tacks and twine to attach the traps. The

concept of the design is for the bugs to crawl up the trees and the mesh is placed in a way that directs them into the water jugs, where they become trapped.

Lantern fly season ends around December and at that time, the students will see how their design works, make modifications, and will continue their efforts in the spring.

Arya Patel, SNHS Treasurer, and a Senior at PHS, said the project can be a success whether they catch a lot of bugs or just a few.

On Saturday, October 15th our PHS Varsity Gymnastics Team placed 3rd at GMCs for the first time in the history of the program!

Please see below for the team picture and a picture of Jillian Percarpio, who placed 9th on the floor at GMCs.

The students in the 9th/10th-grade Physical Education walking group class made kindness rocks to place around the outside of the school. During their physical Education class, they will be walking around the school to find the best spot for their rock. They wanted to create rocks for students to enjoy as they are walking around either during lunch or in between classes.

On October 6, 2022, Tasha Bethea visited our Introduction to TV 1 class. Ms. Bethea, a Piscataway High School graduate, is the daughter of our own PHS Assistant Principal, Mrs. Fisher-Griffin. She came to speak to students about the value of her education at Piscataway High School as it relates to her role in the TV Production program and the TV Club. Ms. Bethea also discussed her college experience, as well as her present career as a content creator and musician.

Ms. Bethea has appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show” and “The Nick Cannon Show” as on-air talent and a model. She is presently working with Viacom to construct musical scores for many television shows. Ms. Bethea presently works as a host for “Say Cheese” production company. In this role, she also produces original content for streaming channels.

We are proud of Tasha and her amazing accomplishments. She has made us PWAY proud!

Our AFROTC cadets have begun their annual mentoring at our elementary schools. Cadets leave fourth block classes earlier & board a bus to the schools. Once there, they are assigned different classes to work with & provide mentoring to our younger district students.

The class of 2023 came together to welcome the start of a new school year by waiting for the sun to rise on August 25. The senior class held the first-ever Senior Sunrise event on the field with music, dancing, and games. Dunkin Donuts and various snacks were for sale. Students also entertained themselves by tie-dying T-shirts and filling out raffle tickets. Senior class member Ava Manganaro won the raffle and therefore was awarded two prom tickets. The money raised from the Senior Sunrise event will go to help defray the costs of Prom 2023.

Piscataway High School celebrated Spirit Week October 17th-21st, 2022. Thank you all for another wonderful Spirit Week. We are proud of our students for all of their hard work at the Pep Rally and for planning our Homecoming Dance. Please see the results for Battle of the Classes and Hallway Decorations below.

Battle of the Classes Results

1st Juniors

2nd Seniors

3rd Sophomores

4th Freshman

Hallways Decorations

1st Seniors

2nd Freshman

3rd Juniors

4th Sophomores

Thank you everyone for your participation.

11/8 School Closed/Full Day In-service for Teachers/Election Day

11/10 School Closed/Teacher's Convention

11/11 School Closed/Teacher's Convention

11/16 Half Day/Parent Teacher Conferences

11/17 Half Day/Parent Teachers Conferences

11/18 Half Day Parent Teachers Conferences

11/23 Half Day for Staff and Students

11/24 School Closed for Thanksgiving

11/25 School Closed for Thanksgiving