Greetings, VTHS!
VTHS enjoyed many enjoyable activities during October and we look forward to a great November.
We continue to encourage all of our students to become active participants in school so they will developa a sense of belonging while attending Vernon Township High School. A list of extracurricular activities is available on the district website. Please be sure to encourage your children to get involved in their school!
Please be advised that that first marking period ends on Friday, November 12th and the second marking period begins on Monday, November 15th. Please reach out to your child's teacher(s) with any specific concerns or questions. Thank you!
We are currently seeking nominations for this year's Governor Educator of the Year program. Please consider nominating a teacher fand/or an ESP (educational services professional). An Eligibility Criteria Form and a Nomination Form are available below for your convenience. We would sincerely appreciate your input so we can honor two of staff members who work so diligently to ensure that our students receive a quality educational experience. All nominations must be submitted to the principal on or before Tuesday, November 16th.
Wishing you all the best as we continue working together for the 2021-2022 school year,
Pauline F. Anderson, Danielle Colte and Nicholas M. Demsak
Some November Dates to Remember:
Thursday, November 4.......... Schools Closed - NJEA Convention
Friday, November 5................ District Closed - NJEA Convention
Thursday, November 11......... Share The Keys - 6:00 pm - VTHS Auditorium
................................................... BOE Work Session 7:00 pm - Lounsberry Hollow
Friday, November 12...............First Marking Period Ends
....................................................Fall Wind Ensemble Concert 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Auditorium
Monday, November 15............ Committee Meetings - 2:10 pm
Thursday, November 18.......... SCA Meeting 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm - via Zoom
....................................................BOE Public Meeting - 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Lounsberry Hollow
....................................................Fall Athletic Awards - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm - Auditorium
Friday, November 19.............. ASVAB Testing
Monday, November 22............ Professional Development - Led by VTHS Staff Members* ....................................................(*following student dismissal)
Wednesday, November 24....... Early Dismissal with Grab and Go Lunch - 11:20am
Thursday, November 25.......... District Closed - Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 26............... District Closed
Jets Tackle Bullying
The Jets Tackle Bullying program presented by Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a collaboration with STOMP Out Bullying to tackle all forms of bullying by raising awareness, providing tools for educators, and preventing bullying for kids and teens.
To date the Jets have hosted 5 educator symposiums with over 1,000 educators participating, conducted 25 school visits reaching over 10,000 students directly since 2015 and donated over 1,750 STOMP Out Bullying educator toolkits to schools with the potential to impact nearly 800,000 students. Additionally, the Jets have provided more than 27,000 tickets to schools for incentives for students who are upstanders.
For October, the two student "upstanders" selected were Joseph Dunlop and Ella Brock. In addition, Ms. Kerri Ludeking was selected as our Faculty Upstander for the Month.
Stay tuned for VTHS's December Upstander of the Month, who will be announced soon!
Action for Happiness Calendars...
...will be shared with you each month. They truly bring messages of hope and are replete with exceptional ideas to enrich your life--and the lives of those around you! Be sure to take a moment to review and/or print them out for your use throughout the month.
This month, Action for Happiness is encouraging you to try something new! Learning something new or getting involved in an activity that really absorbs and interests us is great for our wellbeing. Keeping your brains active is not only good for you physically but it can help you feel you are flourishing as you see yourself make progress with a new skill, or just make you smile as you make a mess and decide to start again. Being playful and trying new things is important, as is remembering that it's OK not to get it right first time - change "I can't do it", into "I can't do it...yet!"
This month's calendar is full of ideas to help you decide what to try next!
Behind the Scenes at VTHS
KAYLA WALLACE (CLASS OF '21) SPEAKS TO COSMETOLOGY CLASSES
2021 VTHS graduate, Kayla Wallace, came back to Vernon High School to speak to the Cosmetology students about her 4 year experience at the high school and in the Cosmetology program.
Kayla spoke about the importance of studying hard, joining clubs and sports are all part of your high school experience for sure. It may be hard at times, but the best things in life are the things that we worked for.
"Your high school years go by fast….you will be a senior before you know it and wonder where all the time went!"
She did have a great time in Vernon High School, she’s in SCCC now and has her Cosmetology license. Kayla’s world is FABULOUS so far since graduating from VTHS with a plans and goals!!!
ATTABOY BRING MUSIC AND A POSITIVE MESSAGE TO VTHS!
Class of 2022 President Harry Malile as Viktor the Viking!
VTHS HOMECOMING QUEEN & KING '21
Around VTHS Throughout the Month of October
Senior Amanda Weston asks Mrs. Coesfeld to wear her cross country jersey.
VTHS Class of 1981 graduate Ken Fiola visited VTHS on his trip from Florida to see his name on the Veterans Mural. Thank you for your service!
Freshman Academy students are recognized for their admirable traits!
VTHS HOSTS "MUSIC IN THE MOUNTAINS"
CHARLOTTE'S WEB PRODUCTION IS A GREAT SUCCESS ENJOYED BY MANY!
Students from Cedar Mountain and Rolling Hills enjoyed four preview opportunities!
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Keith Hawkins Visits VTHS to Work with DECA, Freshmen and Sophomores
This was the introduction shared with our students before working with Keith Hawkins:
Keith Hawkins has endured some of life's most difficult hardships throughout his teenage years. Being raised mostly by a single mom, surrounded by violence, most days Keith felt hopeless. When Keith realized that the bad things happening around him were not by his choice, he realized he could choose how to live his own life. Being in high school leadership taught him that life's challenges are an opportunity to step up and make a difference. Even through struggle, you can do and become whatever you want in our great nation as long as you're willing to step up to the challenges along the way.
Keith Hawkins is an international speaker that addresses of 400,000 educators, business owners, parents and students each year. Keith Hawkins is the creator of the program, "Day of Understanding" that focuses on bringing people together through understanding and inclusion.
Keith has dedicated his life and work to improving the human race by helping them to strive for positive personal growth.
We are very thankful that Mr. LoPresti and Mrs. Ryder--together with the DECA members--brought this program to our students once again this year. Thank you, one and all!
DRIVE-IN NIGHT FOR THE CLASS OF 2022!
Organized by the Student Life Committee of the Board of Education and funded by VTHS alumnus Andrew Wiik, the Class of 2022 enjoyed an evening fun-filled evening with their classmates at Warwick Drive-In this month! Prizes were awarded for the best decorated cars, popcorn and soda was provided for all attendees, and the seniors enjoyed a Halloween movie together as a class! Thank you, one and all for making it happen!
ROBOTICS CLUB WELCOMES GLEN MEADOW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
Pumpkin Carving Event Held at Crystal Springs
Although VTHS did not win the pumpkin carving contest this past weekend, it was a great collaborative event!
Dozens of students (and teachers) from Sculpture I, Sculpture II, Art Major, and CFM put in tireless hours over the last several weeks to produce props and carvings to represent VTHS at this year's annual Pumpkin carving contest hosted by Crystal Springs. In keeping with our theme "haunted street", students created 22 carvings of nightmarish Halloween characters and built handmade props that included mailboxes, a street sign, headstones, and a coffin. At the center of the display was a 7-foot tall haunted house that was made entirely of cardboard along with an impressive wooden Dracula.
Many thanks to Mr. Dave Blauvelt, Mr. Dom Demsak, Mr. Doug Miller and Ms. Trish Soriano-Bunger and their students for working so hard to represent VTHS so well!
FRESHMAN ACADEMY FALL CARNIVAL FEATURES SCARECROW CONTEST
First place was the Art Department that created a Bob Ross entry!
VTHS STUDENTS SELECTED AS EXTRAS IN "TOUR BUS LEGENDS" TV PILOT!
On Sunday, October 24th, Mrs. McAloney provided six students the opportunity to perform as extras and featured extras in a tv pilot called, Tour Bus Legends. Students got to feel what it was like to be on set and work with professional actors including Jared Gilman (Moonrise Kingdom), Matthew Brousard (Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel), Michael Saguto (Netflix's Easy), and Zach Petrovic (Netflix's Mindhunters). The production team is hopeful for a Fall 2022 premier.
STUDENT DRIVERS' PARKING PASS INFORMATION FOR GRADES 11 & 12
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. 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.
In conjunction with the Vernon Township Police Department and the Vernon Township Board of Education, we are proud to continue our Safe Driving Initiative for the 2021-2022 school year. Student safety continues to be a priority to us at Vernon Township High School; therefore, we will be offering the Share the Keys program to Vernon families virtually this year. At this time, we do not have any additional Share the Keys presentations scheduled.
Student safety is of our utmost concern and students driving on campus poses potential hazards to our students, staff, and visitors. We feel having you attend this program with your child will help instill a sense of importance and responsibility that comes with sitting behind the wheel, whether driving to campus or anywhere else.
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!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO SHARE
Community-Wide Pumpkin Smashing!
The VTHS Green Team is holding a community-wide pumpkin composting event at Pochuck Valley Farm on November 14. Please join them! It’s going to be a SMASHING good time!
VTHS SCA
Please join us in welcoming this year's VTHS SCA Board:
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.
We look forward to another successful year as we work with our SCA board members!
The VTHS SCA will be meeting on Thursday, October 21st at 12:30 pm this month in-person at the high school. If you are interested in attending via Zoom please contact Ms. Falcone.
In closing...
...please reach out if we may be of any assistance throughout the school year. Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends!
Dr. Pauline F. Anderson, Principal
Mr. Nick M. Demsak, Asst. Principal (grades 11-12)
Ms. Danielle Colte, Asst. Principal (grades 9-10)
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