The Patriot Press
First Edition 2023-2024
The Patriot Press: Second Edition January-February 2024
In this issue:
- Teacher of the Year: Mr. Pastor
- Educational Professional of the Year: Jill Preis
- SAIL Good News Reports
- Junior State of America events
- Pep Rally recap
- .... and more!
Welcome!
Welcome to the second edition of the Patriot Press! If you have a tip or a story you'd like covered, please reach out to Ms. Taveras ( ttaveras@sboe.org) .
TEACHER OF THE YEAR: RAPHAEL PASTOR
By: Tenzin Choedon
Every year, a teacher from Secaucus High School gets awarded with a “Teacher of the Year” award. For the 2023-2024 school year, Mr. Raphael Pastor, a physics teacher, got rewarded! Congratulations!
Interview with Mr. Raphael Pastor:
1) What do your students describe you as?
I believe my students see me as enthusiastic about the content that I teach. Many of my students tell me that I say what I mean, mean what I say, and that I don’t have to be mean when I say it. I don’t sugarcoat stuff and they know it. I’m always happy to see my students, past and current, grow as a person.
2) What do you love about teaching?
Teaching involves more than just content knowledge. I believe teaching involves influencing the new generation of students to think about their future, current events about the world, and to become productive members of society. I believe I can contribute to all of that by teaching. I want to make a difference in student’s lives. That is why I love it so much.
3) Why did you choose to teach in Secaucus?
In Secaucus, the district is small and the community cares a lot for the students. There are also a lot of positives for me such as having my own parking space. Everybody knows each other and allows them to work together without any problems. I enjoy that a lot.
4) How did you feel when you were announced as “Teacher of the Year”?
I was surprised and I never thought about the award. It wasn’t on my bucket list and when I heard the announcement, I was extremely caught off guard. I also felt indebted to all the kind, generous, and dedicated staff members who helped another person grow, with that being me.
EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: JILL PREIS
By: Lola Acevedo
Jill Preis has been our beloved Student Assistant Counselor for many years. She is always there to lend a helping hand and listen to the many students of Secaucus High School. She has been a source of light for many not only providing counseling but many clubs throughout the years including KAI and Gay-Straight Alliance. It should come as no surprise when she was awarded Educational Professional of the Year.
In an interview with Ms. Jill, she stated:
"When I became professional educator of the year, I felt grateful for the acknowledgment of my work in Secaucus. The Secaucus community has been warm, supportive, and welcoming to me. I am grateful to be free to use my unique creative and professional style in my work with students. Having the opportunity to get to know students as they grow up is a unique honor."
Congratulations, Ms. Jill!
Dylan Caruso: 2023 NJIC All Leagues Coach of the Year
By: Hadia Durrani
Our very own Mr. Dylan Caruso wears many hats here at Secaucus High School. He isn't just our beloved Supervisor of STEM, but he is an extremely talented and hard working Volleyball Coach. All of his hard work, love for the sport and dedication came to fruition when he was awarded the 2023 NJIC All Leagues Coach of the Year and the NJIC Liberty Division Coach of the Year.
Why did you want to become a coach in this sport? What made you interested?
Secaucus Volleyball has always been a program that any Secaucus HS athlete looked up to. When I was a student at SHS, my phys. ed. teacher was Coach Nolan, the winningest volleyball coach in the state of New Jersey. Our gym classes consisted of full blown volleyball practices and that’s when I fell in love with the sport. A few years after I graduated, my sister was a part of the SHSVB team and all I wanted was to learn as much about the sport as possible. Coach Rivera was kind enough to let me join the coaching staff as an assistant, and the rest is history.
Can you describe what a typical practice looks like for your teams?
Our practices are not for the weak. We practice 6 days a week for 3 hours… That's 18 hours a week that these athletes put into mastering their art. The typical practice starts out with stationary stretching and plyometrics for the whole program before we go into heavy duty conditioning for half an hour. My theory is that if we can work hard and play well after 30 minutes of conditioning, we should play at an even higher level when we’re fresh on a game day. Following the warm up, that is when our teams split. Varsity will sometimes go into the weight room or have a team meeting, JV will begin their rotations. Varsity will then do work on individual skills before we end the practice with game play.
What are your core values as a coach?
I have a few core values when it comes to coaching. Some of the main ones are to be accountable for your actions, respect those around you, and most importantly, play for those around you. Volleyball is not a sport that can be played by an individual, teamwork is mandatory. All of my athletes know, the only way we can be successful is when we put our personal motives aside, and all buy into the overall goal of the program.
How do you view the relationship between academics and athletics?
Academics come first every day of the week, hence why we call them “student-athletes''. One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was growing up is something I share with my athletes daily. Nothing is more important than academics. Academics are forever, athletics are not. Unfortunately, every athlete is one accident away from not being able to play again. I am constantly checking their grades to ensure that they are putting their focus on the right places.
Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete?
While I may not have the athletic ability to be a great athlete myself, one of my strengths that I like to share with my athletes is my “never settle” attitude and a very competitive mindset. I grew up in a household where things weren’t handed to me, they had to be earned. I had to work hard to get a TV in my room, to get my first cell phone, to save for my first car, etc. Being status quo was not an option, it was expected by my parents for my sister and me to be exceptional. Even at my “exceptional” times, I always looked for ways to grow and better myself.
How was this season different from any other for the team?
In comparison to last season, this team was significantly way more experienced. My four freshmen were now four sophomores with a year of varsity experience under their belts. Every girl on that court knew the feeling of losing a game that we didn’t deserve to lose and came back to the gym with fire in their eyes. They refused to settle for mediocrity and worked day in and day out to ensure success.
What are the things that you are looking for in your team?
I’m looking for a ton of attributes when it comes to selecting a varsity team member. Not only do I expect a high volleyball IQ, I look for someone who is willing and wanting to learn, someone who is a great teammate and leader, and most importantly, understands the legacy that is Secaucus Volleyball and refuses to accept anything less than perfect.
What are some things you have and want to share to others about the team and in general the sport?
Volleyball as a sport is on the rise throughout the US… At the beginning of the 2023 NCAA season, Nebraska volleyball set a record when they played on their football field in front of a crowd of 92,000+ people. This set the world record for most fans at a women’s sporting event. Looking more local, more and more schools are now incorporating men’s teams at the high school level. As someone who has been around the sport for over a decade, it's a super exciting thing to see.
As far as our team is concerned, these girls that are returning for the next few seasons are seeing red. They refuse to lose. This is just the start of the new wave of Secaucus Volleyball.
Girl's Volleyball: Their Historic Season
The Secaucus HS volleyball team went 25-4 with some big wins throughout the season to really put an exclamation point on a near historic season. They started strong with a solid win against their rivals from Bogota; this is the first time since 2014 that we have beaten them! We finished the regular league season 11-1 and were the NJIC Liberty Division Champions. The team’s biggest win came against Hudson Catholic in the Hudson County Tournament Final to crown us champions. The season ended a bit earlier than expected during a tough 3 set loss against Verona in the state sectional semi-final game. Head coach Dylan Caruso won the NJIC Liberty and NJIC All-Conferences Coach of Year accolades, which is voted upon by the other coaches within the league.
Fall Cross Country
By: Lola Acevedo
Cross Country:
The boys XC team finished this season with a record of 6-3. They continue to maintain their record as this program has not had a losing dual meet record since 1997! It's all thanks to the coaches that dedicate their time and skills to make our XC team flourish. The head coach, Stan Fryczynski and assistant coaches Kathy Gomez, Mehek Parikh, and Claire McAndrew showed us just how much care they put into the XC team as they advanced to the State championship once again for the 8th consecutive year and 12th time in the last 13 seasons.
Another great picture with the Seniors of the XC team as they celebrated the completion of
The County Meet on October 26th. It marked the last meet the entire team ran before the limited roster of 7 people for state sectional squads was announced.
The annual XC dinner on December 15th was a night to remember as the coaches treated their runners to a celebratory dinner. This was the last time for them to spend time together as a team and it’s safe to say this was night was a great way to end the XC season.
SAIL Good News Report
Each month, S.A.I.L. students volunteer their time reading to children ages 3-5 in the Secaucus Public Library. Here are some pictures from their February meetings.
At this month´s town council meeting, the Secaucus High School S.A.I.L. students were awarded a $1400 donation from the Carnegie Diner & Cafe in Secaucus for their help with this year´s Fall Pumpkin Fundraiser. The students were also awarded $216.00 from the Mayor and Town Council for their participation in selling soft drinks during this year´s Restaurant Night. A huge thank you to all involved for supporting our S.A.I.L. program!
Luis Pacheco, Grade 11, was "Caught in the Act" providing a good deed for a senior citizen in town. Luis was "caught" showing an act of kindness to a senior citizen and rewarded for his good deeds. Thank you, Luis, for being a great role model for others!
S.A.I.L. students held their monthly Senior Citizen Computer Tutoring class.
Pictured are a few of the many Key Club and SAIL students who have volunteered this winter to shovel for the senior citizens in our community.
Winter Pep Rally!
By: Lola Acevedo
We all know how fun the fall pep rally was right? Well say hello to the winter pep rally, another fun event to look forward to with different activities for students to enjoy. With an introduction to new winter sports such as wrestling, bowling, and even indoor track, we will host different events such as balloon tag and a classic like Simon says. Everyone truly had a wonderful time and the school spirit was proudly visible throughout the school that day. Everyone, including the teachers, loudly expressed their patriot pride!
Fall Pep Rally Recap
By Lola Acevedo
Now let's talk about our previous pep rally, our first one of this year and the first one for the freshmen! This was the first appearance of our mascot for the 23-24 season and he did not disappoint! Our student mascot made a grand entrance and enthralled all our patriots as he does every year and gave a personal photo shoot with the seniors. Every grade enjoyed themselves and gave off a beautiful patriot pride, but a shout-out to the freshman for going above and beyond with their color scheme.Having almost the entire grade in yellow along with their yellow necklaces. Also congratulations to the juniors for winning the fall pep rally! A wonderful showcase of their skills and ability to work together. Not to mention how they also were decked out in white to support their grade. Another mention for the seniors, all of them decked out in their signature color, red. They were 100% full of passion that day, screaming and cheering for their teammates at the top of their lungs. We're sad this is your last year here seniors but we're certain to make this your best year yet. Last but not least, the sophomores. Dare I say a couple of them went all out with the face-painting, covering their entire face in their grades colors.Hopefully they keep that spirit all throughout their high school years at Secaucus. With the efforts of the SGO, it’s looking like the next few years of high school will bring lots of fun and great memories.
Meet our Staff
Raahi Mehta-- Editor in Chief
Hi, my name is Raahi Mehta and I am a senior student at Secaucus High School. I have been a devoted member of the Patriot Press and have been editor since my sophomore year. This has been an exciting experience coupled with substantial responsibility reporting on various school events and activities. From conducting interviews with students and staff to overseeing newspaper publication and editing the work of other writers, my role has provided a firsthand taste of the dynamic world of journalism, a field I aspire to pursue a career in. Beyond my commitments to the paper, I took the initiative to establish the Dance Club here at SHS, proudly assuming the position of club president. The opportunity to share my passion for dance with other fellow dancers has been immensely rewarding as I have also cultivated many friendships along the way. Upon my graduation, I know that my time with the dance community at SHS and the Patriot Press are two of the highlights I will miss deeply, but I hope to see them thrive and continue in my absence and give other students the same opportunities and memories that it did for me throughout my high school career.
Hadia Durrani
Hi, My name is Hadia Durrani, currently a junior in Secaucus High School. Being a part of the newspaper club is an exhilarating experience for me. It allows me to explore my passion for writing. I enjoy the collaborative nature of the newspaper club, as we work together as a team to gather information, conduct interviews and write articles. Moreover, seeing my work getting published and read by others is incredibly rewarding. Overall being a part of the newspaper club provides me with a platform to express myself, develop valuable skills and to contribute meaningfully to the club.
Tenzin Choedon
Hi, I’m Tenzin and I’m currently a sophomore. This is my first year of being a member of the Patriot Press and I can’t wait to contribute more to the club throughout my highschool career!
Lola Acevedo
Lola Acevedo, 14 year old freshman. A social person who enjoys laughing with friends and teachers. Don’t hesitate to say hi and chat!
Saniya Pharel
Saniya is a new freshman writer to the Patriot Press. Snaiya looks forward to contributing the reporting all SHS news and events.
Tara Taveras, Patriot Press Advisor
Ms. Taveras is the new Patriot Press advisor this school year. She has been a Guidance Counselor since 2011 and is excited to start this new endeavor. Writing and photography have also been passions of mine and I'm so happy that I was given this opportunity to work in the realm. Aside from writing and photography, my other loves are my daughter Olivia, Corgi Hunter, iced coffee, traveling, the beach and Disney. If anyone has any stories or wants to submit any stories, please reach out to me at ttaveras@sboe.org or come to the Guidance Office.
ADDRESS:
Secaucus High School11 Mill Ridge Road
Secaucus, NJ 07094
INTERNET/SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: https://shs.sboe.org/
INSTAGRAM: @SecaucusPSD
TWITTER: @SecaucusPSD