FTMHS NewsFLASH
January 2021
Calendar Information...
Tentative January Events:
January 1:
- "Happy New Year 2021."
- Character Education Theme for January: "Self-Discipline."
- Equity Focus for the Month of January: "Individuals With Disabilities."
January 4:
- Blue Group starting with A Day (From January 4 to January 8).
January 6:
- Faculty Meeting at 2:20 p.m.
January 11:
- Gold Group starting with B Day (From January 11 to January 15).
January 13:
- ASVAB Testing.
January 18:
- Celebrate Martin Luther King Day--School Closed.
January 19:
- Blue Group starting with A Day (From January 19 to January 22).
January 20:
- PLC Meeting at 2:20 p.m.
January 25:
- Gold Group starting with A Day (From January 25 to January 29).
- ScIP Meeting at 2:20 p.m. in the Media Center.
January 29:
- End of Marking Period II.
Blue and Gold Days for the Month of January
"A Man To Remember"
This is a picture of Mr. Brown attending one of many Jr./Sr. Proms. He enjoyed being around students and helping out in any way he could. Mr. Brown was part of the Florence Township School System as "Director of Security" from 2004 to 2017.
He will truly be missed by All.
The 2020-2021 Governor's Teacher of the Year Award Goes to... Ms. Carey Kessler--Math Teacher
Ms. Kessler is greatly respected by students, parents, and colleagues. She cares tremendously about her students. Ms. Kessler works tirelessly to help her students understand abstract mathematical concepts.
In the process, she builds excellent relationships with students, parents, and staff, because they can see how much she wants to see her students succeed inside and outside of the classroom.
We are proud to have Ms. Kessler as a teacher at our school.
The 2020-2021 Governor's Educational Services Professional of the Year Award Goes to...
Ms. Pam Tamowski, Social Worker--Child Study Team
Ms. Tamowski is a School Social Worker for the Child Study Team. She is a case manager for students at our High School and at other special services schools outside of our district.
Ms. Tamowski is a hard worker who is full of enthusiasm. She works collaboratively with teachers, parents, students, and staff. She does an excellent job of motivating our students to do their best.
We are fortunate to have Ms. Tamowski at our High School.
Dr. Ambrosius, Superintendent of Schools.
Student of the Month -- Special Recognition
Congratulations Rajveer!
Character Education Program--"Word of the Month" for December was "Compassion."
The following students were chosen by our faculty for the way they personified this character trait:
Jordan Blackman, Taylor Bridges, Ida Brooks, Brianna Burak, Michael Dunphy, Jaelynn Edwards, Duygu Erzurum, Nicholas Hollendonner, Bridget Lloyd, Mikayla Maschke, Evan McCown, Maiyah McDuffie, Geovana Mitchell, Victoria Nitti, Kyle Oakley, Elijah Quinn, Ashley Rafferty, Mindy Rafferty, Codie Sciacca-Martin, Grace Skinner, Allison Slotkin and Kayla Weisneck.
Congratulations to these students for doing such a great job!
Chosen to Receive Special Recognition!
"Compassion" -- Character Education (December)
Thanks to our Parents Organization -- Geovana Mitchell, Grace Skinner, Allison Slotkin and Kayla Weisneck were chosen to receive $10 WaWa gift cards for doing such an excellent job!
Geovana Mitchell -- "Geovana has shown compassion toward her classmates. She always tries to make everyone feel welcomed."
(Nominated by: Ms. Covaci)
Grace Skinner—"Grace cares about others and shows compassion by what she does for the community."
(Nominated by: Ms. Rodan)
Allison Slotkin -- "Allison cares about others and shows compassion by what she does for the community."
(Nominated by: Ms. Rodan)
Kayla Weisneck -- "Kayla shows compassion toward her classmates. She is caring about how her classmates might feel and their needs."
(Nominated by: Ms. Covaci)
Holiday Drive
The FHS Student Council would like to thank the following businesses for their support in our holiday drive. These businesses supported our program financially and by letting the Student Council members place collection boxes in their establishments:
- Boyd's Pharmacy
- Vinny G's
- Florence Family Dental
- Bob's Corner Deli
- Rocco's Pizza
- Florence Hardware
- T.C. Irons
- Florence United Methodist Church and
- McHugh Insurance.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to the members of the community who helped to provide gifts for those in our community especially the Florence Township Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops and the Florence Township F.O.P.
A special thank you to Bonduelle Foods for the generous donation of salads for each family and the Empower Your Town group for their donation of craft projects for each family.
The annual Student Council Holiday Drive assisted more than 70 district families this year. The "Holiday Drive" is truly a community project.
Interact and Black and Latinx Student Union Collected Items for the "Blessing Bag Stockings" for the Homeless.
"Support Team Madison"
The Student Council and the Interact Club are also selling bracelets to benefit the Luyber family. Support Team Madison by purchasing a bracelet for $3.00. You can place an order for a bracelet using this link:
Wreath Decorating Contest
Here are just a few of the entries.
National Honor Society
Math Department
Fine and Performing Arts Department--Dance
Class of 2021 -- SENIORS
Newspaper Club--The Sentinel
Science Department
Student Council
Computer Science Club
CAFE--Cultural Awareness for Everyone Club
"Ugly Holiday Sweater Day"
Checkout Mr. Pereda's socks...
"Happy Holidays" ...from Santa and his helper Buddy!
"First Ever" -- VIRTUAL SNOW DAY!
These 3 Students and 3 Staff Members were interviewed about the “Virtual Snow Day,” and they were all OKAY with it.
According to Mr. Weatherbee...
“It was a regular school day—‘virtually.’ It just delayed my shoveling out at home.”
Academic Achievement Program
This is a wonderful program! We will once again be challenging our students to settle for nothing less than their best. We want to see our students succeed, and we will be communicating to them that we want them to set their sights on earning a GPA of at least a 3.0 (or a “B” average) with no “D” or “F” grades in any course for each marking period of the school year. Please join us in challenging your child to be content with nothing less than his or her best effort!
Students who earned at least a 3.0 (with no “D’s” or “F’s”) will be recognized at the end of the second marking period.
Equity Focus for December: "Human Rights/Poverty & Helping Those Who Are Less Fortunate."
Some of Our Classroom Activities...
Arts Department (Theater Performance) -- Mr. Donovan
In Theater Performance class, we took a look at two models of radical transformative theater: Jerzy Grotowski's, Poor Theater, and Augusto Boal's, The Theater of the Oppressed.
We are also doing a deep dive into Charles Dickens', "A Christmas Carol," doing not only a character study on the ultimate reformed oppressor - Ebenezer Scrooge - but also taking a hard look at how the classic story highlights the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots."
English Department -- Mr. McEnnis
Also, in Journalism, students have been discussing the impact that Journalism can have in terms of fighting for those who are less fortunate.
ESL Department -- Ms. Diaz
Math Department -- Mr. Senni
We also talked about valuing and respecting other people's opinions when they share them publicly, even if they do not agree with our own.
Science Department -- Ms. Davis
The students not only identified the components of water but why is water a basic human right. The students were able to explain that water is necessary for growing food, drinking, cooking, bathing, etc.
We extended our lesson about the necessity of clean drinking water in third world countries.
Genesis Parent Portal (http://bit.ly/2hqH935)
IN MY CLASSROOM...
Mr. Breen's Classroom
Nothing brings more joy to our holidays than this famous ballet.
Mrs. Croley's Classroom:
Following our lesson on "The Nutcracker Suite" and "Harlem Nutcracker," the students were asked to create some sort of response to what they heard: a written reaction, a poem, a drawing, a video reaction, etc. Here is an example of one of the many amazing submissions, this one by Holly Lippincott.
Ms. Davis' Classroom:
Miss Paiva's Classroom:
In addition, they learned how the human body moves and made paper fingers to represent the movement! See the picture below with students holding paper fingers.
Mrs. Triglia's Classroom
Report Cards--February 5
Report Cards after 2 p.m. in Genesis on February 5. To view your child’s report card, simply log in to Genesis (https://parents.genesisedu.com/florence) and click on the “Grading” tab at the top of the window.
Also, please feel free to log in to Genesis at any time to see how your child is progressing in his or her courses. Checking Genesis frequently will enable you to see clearly how your child is performing throughout the school year.
If you are having trouble logging in or need your email and password reset, please contact your child’s counselor as soon as possible.
After School Clubs for the 2020-2021 School Year:
Black and Latino Student Union
Class of 2021
Class of 2022
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
Computer Science Club
Cultural Awareness for Everyone
Debate Team
Environmental Club
Game Club
Interact
Marching Band Director
Marching Band--Front Line
National Honor Society
Newspaper Club
No Place for Hate
Science League Competitions
Student Council
Yearbook
Black and Latinx Student Union
The BLSU has been having productive meetings and brainstorming ideas in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion. The students have also been taking a lead role in the various charity efforts.
Also, we have had one workshop with a College Prep/First Gen Counselor discussing the challenges faced by students of color in attending college.
On Friday, December 18, we attended a virtual scholarship workshop sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Advisor: Mr. McEnnis
Class of 2021 (SENIORS)
Class of 2021 Officers
President: Nadja Savage
Vice President: Julia Najem
Secretary: Allison Slotkin
Treasurer: Fabiha Usha
Historian: Mohammed Islam
Advisors: Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Zucchero
The Class of 2021 has been very busy this month...
Community Service Project:
We completed our charity drive with the Class of 2022 and received many PPE supplies for the schools in our district to help deal with Covid-19.
Senior Class Trip Update
We also met with members of the Alternative Senior Class Trip Committee to brainstorm new ideas for the Seniors to experience. We look forward to more meetings and are excited and hopeful with the ideas that we've had so far. We plan to meet after the winter break to discuss the ideas further. Stay tuned for more information!
Wreath Competition
The last thing we did as a class was to create a Class of 2021 wreath for our wreath competition. Special thanks to Katie Suplicki for designing our wreath.
We hope everyone has a happy, healthy new year 2021!
Advisors: Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Zucchero
Class of 2022 (JUNIORS)
Class of 2022
President: Lana Duke
Vice President: Chinenye Nwagbaraji
Treasurer: Alyssa Baldorossi
Secretary: Cassaundra Alicea
Historian: Samara Lakhan
Advisors: Mrs. L. Pereda and Mr. C. Pereda
Thank you again to all who donated supplies for our COVID-19 drive.
We are looking forward to the results of the wreath decorating contest.
Please continue to check our Google Classroom to stay up-to-date on upcoming drives.
Advisors: Mrs. Pereda and Mr. Pereda
Class of 2023 (SOPHOMORES)
President: Mya Cabanas Montero
Vice President: Abigail Anthony
Secretary: Maiyah McDuffie
Treasurer: Kate Woolston
Historian: Sydney Slotkin
Advisors: Mrs. Holmstedt and Ms. Tannenbaum
I would like to commend the Class of 2023 for their dedication and hard work through this very difficult and trying time.
With one more task to complete before the end of the year, I would again like to thank sophomore class officers and those students who helped with projects throughout the fall.
I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season and a prosperous and healthy new year.
Stay strong!
Class Advisors: Ms. Tannenbaum and Mrs. Holmstedt
Class of 2024 (FRESHMEN)
Class of 2024 Officers
President: John Paul Dunphy
Vice President: Darien Woody
Secretary: Madelynn Hoch
Treasurer: Kaycee Carnival
Historian: Shadman Adib
During December, the Class of 2024 held their first charity drive. Warm socks and gloves were collected for the homeless.
These were delivered to the St. Francis Inn homeless shelter in Philadelphia before the holiday break.
Thank you to everyone who donated to this cause!
Advisors: Mrs. Byrne and Mr. Varga
Computer Science Club
This month we elected officers and have begun discussing the possible future of video announcements and the creation of a small "studio" to do this in.
The students are brainstorming ideas for not only topics and announcement protocol but also branding the "station" so that we can get more involved in showing the community all that we do here.
We also continued discussion and brainstorming a student app for organization and classwork purposes.
Advisor: Mr. Roberson
Cultural Awareness for Everyone Club (CAFE)
The Cultural Awareness for Everyone (CAFE) Club is nearing completion of their digital international cookbook which will be made available to all who are interested.
Discussions are underway with regards to inviting guest speakers to our meetings and recording/writing personal experience blurbs for the school newsletter.
Contact Ms. Diaz if you are interested in joining the club -- jdiaz@florence.k12.nj.us
Advisor: Ms. Diaz
Debate Team
The Debate Team is preparing to compete in the South Jersey Debate League’s tournament via Zoom in January.
Advisor: Mrs. Hughes
Environmental Club
Co-Presidents: Mesbah Monower and Logan Trayner
Mr. Dubrul's Environmental Club learned how to make fire from scratch this month. Students were taught how to make the proper set up for the bow and drill fire starting technique.
Hopefully, students will be able to demonstrate what they have learned.
Advisor: Mr. DuBrul
Game Club
President: Gursahajpreet Singh
Vice-President: Alexandra Witty
Secretary: Finley Charles
The Game Club is hosting the very popular online game Among Us. We are hosting the third manifestation of Among Us on the 22nd and we will be hosting online a Holiday Social during winter break on December 29th @ 3 PM. So if too much free time during the break is a problem for you, come to our social.
Please take time to connect or reconnect with family and friends. The quarantine may soon end, but now more than ever, we need to remember to support others who may need to be reminded that they matter, that they are important, even if that is ourselves. Games are great, especially if they are played with someone we know.
Happy Holidays, I hope you get your PS5!!!
Advisor: Mr. Weatherbee
Interact Club
The 2020-2021 Interact Officers are:
President: Rajveer Kaur
Vice President: Fabiha Usha
Secretary: Hazal Akkaya
Treasurer: Logan Trayner
Sergeant at Arms: Gursahajpreet Singh
Interact Club and the Black and Latinx Student Union put together "50 Christmas Stockings" to benefit "Naming the Homeless." The stockings will be distributed to homeless individuals in Camden and Philadelphia.
Each stocking includes:
- a toothbrush and toothpaste
- gloves and a hat
- soap
- a mask
- hand sanitizer
- individually packaged snacks and
- a cup of soup in each stocking.
The Interact Club is continuing to collect plastic bags. We collected over 500 pounds of plastic and received a bench from TREX which will be put together and placed in the courtyard. The program was such a success that we are currently collecting more plastic for a second bench.
Please email grodan@florence.k12.nj.us to make arrangements for plastic pick up.
Advisor: Ms. Rodan
Musical Update
While details of the musical are still being finalized, we are still hoping to have some type of performance, but likely not until MAY or JUNE 2021. Therefore auditions will likely be in February or March 2021.
Stay tuned and stay safe!
Director: Mr. Donovan
National Honor Society
President: Allison Slotkin
Vice President: Katherine Hein
Secretary: Krystyna Laszkowski
Treasurer: Fabiha Usha
Parliamentarian: Rajveer Kaur
Historian: Matthew Adkins
Advisors: Ms. Diaz and Mr. Weatherbee
Projects/Activities
Book Collection:
The National Honor Society (NHS) is collecting children's books to be donated to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in honor of Madison Luyber.
Food Drive:
In addition, the NHS collected cans of food to support the Florence Township Food Drive.
Roebling Museum Wreaths
The NHS created wreaths to decorate the fence of the Roebling Museum and worked with a local community member to build a community little library.
Tutoring Center
The NHS Tutor Center is running successfully at the high school and will soon be expanded to Riverfront.
Advisors: Ms. Diaz and Mr. Weatherbee
Newspaper
This past month the Newspaper Club has been preparing for our second publication. We met virtually this month, workshopped articles, and prepared our staff members' bios, which will be included in our next publication. You can view the latest publication at Florencesentinel.wordspress.com.
Issue two has an anticipated publication date of early February. If you are interested in joining the Newspaper Club, new members are always welcome.
Our next meetings are planned for January 7, 14, 21, and 28.
If you are interested in joining or have an article idea, you can contact the advisors.
Mr. Lamaestra jlamaestra@florence.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Covaci: lcovaci@florence.k12.nj.us
No Place for Hate
We will be participating in #CivilRightsNJ Stand Up Against Hate Campaign:
Calling NJ's young people, 25 and under, to submit a creative hashtag, artwork, or video that will inspire others to stand up against hate!
Advisor: Ms. Levine
Student Council
Student Council
President: Grace Skinner
Vice President: Cassaundra Alicea
Secretary: Finley Charles
Treasurer: Breanna Ojeikere
BOE Rep.: Gabrielle Fleming
Historians: Mya Cabanas Montero and Michael Dunphy
Executive Members: Maiyah McDuffie and Sarah Olatubosun
The FHS Student Council would like to thank the following businesses for their support in our holiday drive. These businesses supported our program financially and by letting the Student Council members place collection boxes in their establishments:
- Boyd's Pharmacy
- Vinny G's
- Florence Family Dental
- Bob's Corner Deli
- Rocco's Pizza
- Florence Hardware
- T.C. Irons
- Florence United Methodist Church and
- McHugh Insurance.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to the members of the community who helped to provide gifts for those in our community especially the Florence Township Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops and the Florence Township F.O.P.
A special thank you to Bonduelle Foods for the generous donation of salads for each family and the Empower Your Town group for their donation of craft projects for each family.
The annual Student Council Holiday Drive assisted more than 70 district families this year.
The "Holiday Drive" is truly a community project.
The Student Council and the Interact Club are also selling bracelets to benefit the Luyber family. "Support Team Madison" by purchasing a bracelet for $3. You can place an order for a bracelet using this link:
https://forms.gle/9CdqTfnjsHRcAXNc7
The Student Council along with the newspaper staff also sponsored a wreath decorating contest and ugly sweater day to promote holiday cheer! Each club, group and department represented at FHS was asked to decorate a wreath to represent its mission. Wreaths will be voted on by the high school staff and a snack basket will be awarded to the group with the winning wreath!
Advisor: Ms. Rodan
Yearbook
Not a Typical Year
This school year is not typical, and we need everyone's help to make the yearbook a success.
We are looking for responses to the Yearbook surveys posted on grade level Classrooms. If you haven't submitted yours yet, please check your grade level classroom for information about how to submit your information/photos. Keep your eye out for more surveys.
Yearbook Club
The Yearbook Club has been gathering photos. We have completed our first deadline: a major success given the circumstances. Next up: senior pages and student life, especially from home. We are still looking for pictures of what school looks like from your view. Send your pictures to us!
New Members
New members are still welcome. Staff will be working to prepare pictures and survey information for unique spreads on our second deadline.
If interested in joining please contact:
Mrs. Eckart aeckart@florence.k12.nj.us or Mrs. Covaci lcovaci@florence.k12.nj.us
Preserve a piece of history with a school yearbook.
Full-color yearbooks are currently on sale for $75.
A payment plan is available through Jostens. The link for ordering yearbooks is also on the school website. Yearbooks: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01096210
Proud PARENTS:
Celebrate your student with the purchase of a parent recognition ad.
The deadline for ordering a parent ad is January 11, 2021.
See the link here or on the school website for further details and pricing.
Ads: https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1562364
Advisors: Mrs. Eckart and Ms. Covaci
Parent Organization News...
The Florence Twp. Memorial High School Parent Organization (FTMHSPO) is an active parent group who meets regularly to discuss and plan ideas and events as well as support the well being of our students, staff and administration as needed.
The FTMHSPO participates in fundraising, spirit events for the students, Prom Fashion Show, Breakfast with Santa & the Grinch, teacher grants, teacher appreciation lunches and dinners and more.
We are always looking for new ideas and welcome ALL FTMHS parents to join! No membership fees are required! To sign up please complete the following form. For more information please contact us at ftmhspo@gmail.com.
Gift Card Program
Character Education: Month of January -- "Self-Discipline"
From the desk of Mr. Lamaestra (SAC) Student Assistance Counselor...
Character Education -- January Character Trait is "Self-Discipline"
Self-discipline is the ability to control yourself and to make yourself work hard or behave in a particular way without needing anyone else to tell you what to do.
The development of GOOD CHARACTER is not an isolated skill to be taught in one area of a child’s life. It is an effort of home, school, and community to instill in our young people good values. The development of good character touches our personal development, it impacts our success with academic development in learning, and good character is essential in the workforce to be successful in our careers.
Emotional Intelligence:
Through his studies, psychologist and author Daniel Goleman found out that emotional intelligence (EI) means twice as much as your IQ in an ordinary job. For leaders, 85% of their success is related to EI, while only 15% comes from IQ.
Emotional intelligence has five key elements:
Self-awareness.
Self-regulation.
Motivation.
Empathy.
Social skills.
Emotional intelligence allows you to understand and manage your emotions in order to self-motivate and to create positive social interactions; it's the first step in realizing your true potential. The value and benefits of EI are vast in terms of personal, academic, and professional success.
Other Resources:
2020 National Alcohol and Drug IQ Test - Test your knowledge!
https://teens.drugabuse.gov/quiz/national-drug-alcohol-facts-week/take-iq-challenge/2020
Social-Emotional Intelligence
If you could teach one set of skills to every child in the world, what would it be? What if it could be something that would bring intelligence and compassion to decision-making, reduce (or end?) violence, embed within humanity a drive towards kindness, empathy and create relationships that connect, heal, nurture and flourish those who are in them? Social-emotional intelligence could do this, and if we could teach it to every child on the planet, by the time the world was in their hands we would be living in an amazing one.
https://www.heysigmund.com/social-emotional-intelligence/
Counseling Support Services:
I'm available for consultation, support, counseling and referral services including:
Academic.
Family Alcohol/Drug Use.
Technology Dependence.
Anxiety and Depression.
Divorce.
Behavior Management.
Other Mental Health Concerns.
Contact Information:
Please contact Mr. Lamaestra at the high school at (609)499-4620 x 4225 or email me at jlamaestra@florence.k12.nj.us if you have any concerns or questions and follow me on Twitter for important news, motivation and updates @FTSD_Counselor.
I'm also available for consultation, support, and referral services even during these days of virtual learning. Please contact me via email to make the appropriate arrangements.
Student Assistance Coordinator: Mr. Lamaestra
Counseling Office News
The high school counselors, Mrs. Sebastian and Mr. Varga, invite you to visit the updated Counseling Department website which is accessible from the high school main page or by clicking here. There you will find useful information and links for academic support, mental health resources, college planning and research, post-secondary financial aid, etc.
College Scorecard:
This has been recently upgraded so you can compare colleges and get info on fields of study, salary after graduation, costs, debt load after graduation, etc. It provides clear, accessible, and reliable national data. collegescorecard.ed.gov
PSAT Score Reports:
PSAT score reports are available on the College Board website: www.collegeboard.org. Students who took it in October should have received an email with instructions on how to access their score. Students will be encouraged to use the code on their score reports to create a College Board profile and to learn about free test prep through a partnership between Khan Academy and College Board.
ASVAB Testing:
Select 12th graders will take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery for free at the high school on January 13, 2021. Results can be used for career exploration, armed services entry testing, and state graduation testing purposes. Scores will be given directly to students and will not be shared with recruiters. Students should speak with their Counselor with any questions.
RCBC Spring Ahead:
This is a program that allows seniors to apply to RCBC, take assessment tests and schedule college classes with ease.
Step 1:
Seniors and parents are invited to view the RCBC Virtual Information Session video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqZrI8Xc0LM&feature=youtu.be
Step 2:
Apply online for FREE at www.rcbc.edu before February 5, 2021, and ask your counselor to send your official transcript.
Step 3:
On February 24, 2021 RCBC will administer the Accuplacer test at FTMHS. Visit the Test Center website for sample exam questions and practice. http://www.rcbc.edu/testcenter
Step 4:
Those students who are committing to attend RCBC, and have completed all prior steps will tour the Mt. Laurel campus AND schedule classes for the fall semester on April 14, 2021.
Senior Class College Packets:
The packets can be found in 12th grade English Google classrooms, the Class of 2021 Google classroom, and on our counseling department website. This PDF packet contains a wealth of information about the college application process. Seniors have a few tasks to do in their Naviance Student accounts, such as requesting recommendation letters and completing the Student Brag Sheet and Scholarship Application.
College Admissions Testing:
The SAT and ACT have undergone significant changes due to COVID-19. Please visit their official websites for the most current information. More than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities are now test-optional for this admissions cycle in response to the effects of the pandemic. Check a particular college’s Admissions Office site for their admissions requirements and testing information before you register for a test.
College Financial Aid Information:
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2021-22 school year opened on October 1, 2020. You will need information from the parent’s and student’s 2019 tax return. Visit fafsa.gov to get started.
If you are applying to any New Jersey schools, you can find your state financial aid information on the HESAA website in your NJFAMS account which can be found under the Students tab. https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/Default.aspx
New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority or HESAA has valuable resources for college and career planning and financial assistance. One important ebooklet is the Student Loan Guide. Here is the link to several of their publications and ebooklets: http://www.hesaa.org/Pages/HESAAPublications.aspx
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA):
All college-bound student-athletes should explore the NCAA eligibility qualifications early in their high school careers. Please visit the following websites for more information: www.eligibilitycenter.org and www.2point3.org
College Cost Calculator:
What does college really cost? Colleges are required to have a college cost calculator (aka net price calculator) available on their websites. Please check them out when researching colleges.
Operating Virtually:
School counselors are available through email and virtual meetings. Email is the best avenue to reach your school counselor. To schedule an appointment, students and parents may email the school counselor directly to find a mutually agreed upon date/time.
Mr. Joseph Varga: jvarga@florence.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Nancy Sebastian: nsebastian@florence.k12.nj.us
If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out to their parent or guardian and these local agencies:
NJ PerformCare Mobile Response: 877-652-7624
Screening & Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP): 609-835-6180
For emergencies: call 911
Our website also lists many available resources:
https://sites.google.com/a/florence.k12.nj.us/ftmhs-counseling-department/home?overridemobile=true
Mrs. Sebastian and Mr. Varga
Important AP Information
Here are two very valuable links that we encourage you to explore to learn more about the benefits of AP testing:
- https://apscore.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies
- https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/exploreap
Our school will be administering AP exams on the following dates this year:
AP United States Government & Politics – May 3rd @ 8:00 a.m.
AP Calculus AB – May 4th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP English Literature and Composition – May 5th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP United States History – May 6th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP Chemistry – May 7th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP European History – May 7th @ 12:00 p.m.
AP French Language and Culture – May 10th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP Spanish Language and Culture – May 11th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP English Language and Composition – May 12th @ 8:00 a.m.
AP Microeconomics – May 12th @ 12:00 p.m.
AP Biology – May 14th @ 8:00 a.m.
The cost of each AP exam is $86. Checks and money orders are acceptable forms of payment. We are not permitted to accept cash. Please make your check or money order payable to “Florence Township Memorial High School.” Please drop off or have your children drop off their AP payment to Mrs. Belcher in the Main Office. If your child is in our Free and Reduced Lunch Program, then the College Board and the District will work together to cover the cost of your child’s AP exam(s). Please email Mrs. Belcher at kbelcher@florence.k12.nj.us to register your child for his/her exam in this circumstance.
Our only second-semester AP course is Microeconomics, and we will need to know whether or not your child will be taking that test by Friday, February 26th. The money needed to order the AP Microeconomics test will also be due on February 26th.
This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College Board is not going to charge us if we cancel our order for your child, provided we do so at the beginning of March. Although we strongly encourage all of our AP students to take their AP exams, we will be able to refund you for the cost of the exam as long as you cancel your order by Wednesday, March 3rd. In order to cancel an AP exam for your son or daughter, all that you need to do is email our AP Coordinator, Ms. Barbara Fazekas, at bfazekas@florence.k12.nj.us.
School Nurse
Burlington County COVID Testing Information
Active Infection Test
This test shows if you're currently sick with COVID-19 (Current Infection).
Burlington County Locations
Burlington County Human Services Building
796 Woodlane Rd
Registration On-Site
9AM – 4PM
In December,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
12/1, 12/2, 12/3
12/8, 12/9, 12/10
12/15, 12/16, 12/17
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
12/21, 12/22, 12/23
12/28, 12/29, 12/30
*NOTE: The test offered at this location is a SALIVA test. Please do NOT eat, drink, smoke, vape or chew gum for 45 minutes prior to testing.
RiteAid- Age Requirement - 18 years or older to test
1147 Cooper St. Edgewater Park
217 Sunset Road, Willingboro
Preregister at https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19- testing
CVS Locations- Age Requirement - 18 years or older to test No-Cost, Drive-Thru Testing
1300 Woodlane Road, Eastampton
2920 Route 73 N, Maple Shade
137 Route 70, Medford
508 High Street, Mt. Holly
1021 Neck Road, Burlington Township
Pre-register at https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing
Central Jersey Urgent Care – Browns Mills
(Age Requirement: 6 months or older to test)
Rapid Test Available
6 Earlin Ave, Browns Mills, NJ
609-400-4383
https://cjurgentcarebrownsmills.com
Southern Jersey Family Medicine
(Age Requirement: 2 years or older to test)
Burlington City Location
By Appointment Only
609-415-9374
Virtua Health and Wellness Center
(Age Requirement: 13 years or older to test)
401 Young Ave, Moorestown, NJ 08057
By Appointment or Walk Up or Drive Thru
Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun, 8am – 12pm
Closed Tues and Weds
Please call 1-888-847-8823 to make an appointment
MedExpress - Cinnaminson
(Age Requirement: 18 years or older to test)
1210 Route 130 N, Cinnaminson
Please call 856-829-0407 for more information
Resource Numbers: General COVID-19 Questions: 2-1- 1 (24/7); Medical COVID-19 Questions: 1-800-962-1253; Text NJCOVID to 898-211 to receive alerts; Mental Health Hotline: 866-202-4357; NJ Hopeline (Peer Support & Suicide Prevention Hotline): 1-855-654-6735; NJ VET2VET: 1-866-838- 7654 (Peer hotline for veterans) Rev 11/25/2020
Burlington County VA Clinic
3000 Lincoln Dr, Suite E, Marlton
215-823-5800
Veterans Only – Call for more information
Testing Available in Neighboring Counties
Patient First Urgent Care
(Age Requirement: 5 years or older to test)
Mercer County
Hamilton Location
641 US Highway Route 130
Hamilton, NJ 08691-2101
Please call (609) 568-9383 and enter “5” to make an appointment
Camden County
Cherry Hill Location
2171 Route 70 West
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-2733
Please call (856) 406-0023 and enter “5” to make an appointment
Voorhees Location
705 Haddonfield-Berlin Road
Voorhees, NJ 08043-3714
Please call (856) 679-0537 and enter “5” to make an appointment
Antibody Test
This test detects antibodies to see if you have been exposed to COVID-19 (past infection). Antibody test will not tell you if you have immunity.
LabCorp
Individuals have the ability to receive the COVID-19 IgG antibody test from their doctor, in person or through a telemedicine program, and now directly using www.LabCorp.com/antibody-testing.
Quest
You can make an appointment at a Quest patient service center for an immune response test, https://appointment.questdiagnostics.com/patient/ confirmation. However, your doctor must have submitted an order for your test or you must have purchased one through QuestDirect.
Central Jersey Urgent Care – Browns Mills 6 Earlin Ave, Browns Mills, NJ
609-400-4383
https://cjurgentcarebrownsmills.com
Southern Jersey Family Medicine
Burlington City Location - By Appointment Only 609-415-9374
Patient First Urgent Cares
Available on a Walk-In basis from 8 am to 10 pm. Visit www.patientfirst.com/locations to find your closest Patient First Center.
Nurse: Mrs. Emery
Athletic Department--Contact Information:
Boys and Girls Basketball
First Practice: January 11
First Competition: January 26
Last Competition: March 6
Volleyball and Wrestling (Co-Op w/Bordentown)
First Practice: March 1
First Competition: March 16
Last Competition: April 24
Unfortunately, with the new COVID restrictions, there will be no fans in attendance at our home winter sporting events. Florence Memorial High School understands the importance of getting to see your athlete play, so all of our Home Games will be streamed on our YouTube Channel. More details to follow.
Please contact the athletic office with any questions.
Contact Information:
Kyle Kaminskas, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal --Extension 4150
Mary Ellen Cassidy, AD Secretary (609)-499-4620, Extension 4149
Audrey Tannenbaum, Athletic Trainer--Extension 4154.
John Cogan, Principal--Extension 4202.
Maria E. Sadar, Vice Principal--Extension 4204.
Also, make sure to follow us for up-to-date Athletic information on our Facebook page @FlorenceAthletics and our Twitter Account @FTSD_athletics. LET’S GO FLASHES!
Visit the Florence Athletic Schedule Website for game dates, times, locations, and any changes due to weather.
GO FLASHES!
Florence Township Memorial High School
Website: www.florence.k12.nj.us
Location: 1050 Cedar Lane, Florence, NJ, 08016
Phone: (609) 499-4620
Twitter: @FTSD_HS