Hoboken High School Weekly Update
March 17, 2023
I want to start off by congratulating Senior Madison Ramos. I was thrilled that she was chosen for the 2023 Unsung Heroes Student Recognition. This award goes to a student who makes your school a better place simply because they are part of it, and without a doubt that is Madison Ramos. Madison has overcome adversity, has stellar grades, and is a gift to the HHS school community. We are so proud of you Madison.
Congratulations to our Harvard Model Congress Team who just returned from Madrid, Spain. Please see the details in Mr. Huggins' write up below.
Our juniors were spectacular this week, as they all sat for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) Monday - Thursday. I was proud of their effort, attendance, and behavior, as they took this test seriously. With only a few make-ups to go, we can put this to bed. As a reward for their work we are going to have a skating field trip to the Woodbridge Community Center in late May or early June.
Wishing everyone a Happy St. Patrick's Day and a wonderful weekend.
Ms. Picc
Harvard Model Congress - Europe
This past week the Hoboken High School Debate Program traveled to Madrid, Spain to compete in one of the world’s most prestigious international debate competitions, the Harvard Model Congress Europe Conference. Students assumed the roles of senators, congressmen, United Nations delegates and members of the Security Council and European Union.
They authored and passed laws and resolutions that addressed national and global issues such as water scarcity, private interest in space, standardized testing, women's rights, and threats to democracy,
All the delegates excelled as they worked with students from around the world. Hoboken High School’s distinguished performance was recognized during the closing ceremonies as they won an unprecedented 12 awards, more than any other participating school. A special congratulations goes to:
- Frances Michaels for winning Best Delegate for her work in the House Climate Committee
- Sage Gurtman for winning Honorable Mention for her work in the United Nations World Health Organization
- Julia Critz for winning Best Delegate for her work as a member of the World Bank
- Kendall McDonough for winning Honorable Mention for her work in the House Climate Committee
- Mara Reba for winning Honorable Mention for her work in the European Union
- Daniel Weintraub for winning Honorable Mention for his work as the head of the CIA
- Jacob Linder for winning Best Delegate as a member of the House Intelligence Committee
- Camila Suarez for winning Best Delegate as a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
- Amalia Batlle for winning Best Delegate as a member of the House, Environment, Labor and Pension Committee
- Genevieve Fink for winning Honorable Mention as a member of the UN Group of 20
- Coby Kriegel for winning Best Delegate as a member of UN Group of 20
and - Juliet Hysen for winning Honorable Mention for her service as a member of the press in the Media Committee.
Way to Go Redwings!!!
Congratulations Arcadio!
Hoboken sophomore Arcadio Torres was selected as one of the 10 national finalists for Flocabulary's Black History Month rap competition. As part of Mrs. Loughlin's African American History and Culture class, students researched and wrote hip hop songs about famous Black Americans. Arcadio chose abolitionist Frederick Douglass and beat out over 450 entries to make it to the finals. If his final work is chosen as the grand prize winner, Arcadio will work with a professional team of musicians and graphic artists to turn his work into a Flocabulary lessson that will be used in over 35,000 classrooms across the world. Good luck, Arcadio!
Girls in Technology
Students at Hoboken High School participated in the The Hudson County Schools of Technology Girls in Technology Essay Contest. These students will also be participating in the Girls in Technology event which takes place on March 30th. The event is a “a day of interactive and education designed to inspire girls to study and pursue careers in STEM. The day consists of a panel and Q&A with women working in technology, several hands-on activities, a technology display contest, an essay contest, demonstrations, meals, giveaways and more”.
The students who are participating in the essay contest are Arya Khanna, Madison Walia Peters, Morgan Walia-Peters, Samantha Gotimer, Sophie Katz and Valentina Castellon-Ardon. Judging will be taking place ahead of the event and the winners will be announced on March 30th.
For the essay contest, students were asked to write an essay about how technology affects life in the 21st century. Arya weighed the pros and cons of technology and discussed how technology can be both exciting and improve people’s lives but also can be a detriment to the environment and people’s health. Madison discussed in her essay how technology has been used to improve people’s health and save lives. She detailed how innovators in medical technology are the unsung heroes making the life saving treatments doctors administer possible. Morgan shared a personal anecdote about a family member whose life was saved by the miracles of modern medical technology and pondered the possibilities of AI as a potential source of even more cutting edge treatments. Samantha views technology as a “helping hand” – and focused her essay on how technology has improved education as we know it. Valentina Castellon-Ardon shared how technology has led to innovations which have aided in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies. Sophie reflected on the quick pace that technology has improved over the past century and how it has affected every aspect of daily life.
Vocational Skills
What an amazing experience we had helping out the Seniors. We look forward to our next outing.
A message from Best Buddies
Moving towards a more inclusive school environment, we have completed our buddy and peer buddy matches. We're thrilled to report that because of the high number of participants, our peer buddy:buddy ratio is 2:1. It is exciting to see friendships begin to develop between our neurotypical student population and students with disABILITIES. In the spirit of Best Buddies Month and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, let us all be mindful of what it means to be inclusive and what we can each do to affect change. #BestBuddiesMonth is a time to show the world the significance of one to one friendship, integrated employment, leadership development, jobs, and inclusive living in EVERY individual's life.
Our most recent social gathering held on March 9th was a huge success. Buddies gathered in pairs and small groups to get to know one another using Dicebreakers, colorful dice with questions on every side that each player answered. It was great to watch students interact. The event was a wonderful way for buddies to meet like minded peers while eating chips and drinking juice. Enjoy a few photos from the event.
We are gearing up for next month's Best Buddies Friendship Walk. Stay tuned for further details.
A Note from your Guidance Team
This week in the Guidance department:
College Scholarships
We understand that college can be expensive, so the Guidance Department has started compiling a list of scholarships available to current seniors who are planning to attend a two-year college, four-year college, or trade school next year. We encourage students and parents to view potential scholarship opportunities and deadlines by clicking here. This is not an exhaustive list and students are encouraged to continue searching as well as scholarships may be available through a variety of organizations. Please continue to check this link as new scholarships are being added on a frequent basis.
Pre-College Programs
One of the projects that our team has been working on since the calendar flipped to 2023 is compiling a list of Pre-College Programs that rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors can use as a reference. These programs can be wonderful opportunities for students to gain insight into college coursework and learn more about the expectations that will come with being a college student in the near future. Many of these programs may also provide the opportunity for students to live on-campus for a period of time in an actual college residence hall. We encourage parents and students to view these programs by clicking here to see if any are of interest. Mrs. Gleason and Mr. Terry are always open to discussing these summer opportunities with students as well. Please continue to check this link as new programs are being added regularly!
FAFSA and Financial Aid Award Letters
Senior students who intend to attend a college or trade school after graduation should have submitted their FAFSA to earn federal aid. If a student's FAFSA has not yet been submitted, it is imperative that the process is started as soon as possible. Mr. Terry has provided students with numerous resources including this link for creating an FSA ID, this link with a step-by-step tutorial for completing the FAFSA, and this link for NJ state aid through HESAA. Students who have completed the FAFSA and received their Financial Aid Award Letters from colleges/universities are encouraged to set up a meeting with Mr. Terry to review.
Mark Your Calendars!
College Planning Night (3/23)
We will have a presentation for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to go over college requirements, SAT preparation, what colleges are looking for in applications, the CommonApp, financial aid through FAFSA and/or HESAA. Essentially, the Guidance department will review the process from college application to college admission!
Stevens Institute of Technology Dual Enrollment Deadline (4/1)
This program allows rising high school juniors and seniors who reside in New Jersey to enroll in a preselected college course at no cost to the student. They are currently accepting applications which are due by April 1, 2023. You can learn more at this link.
Field Trip: Columbia University Tour (4/25)
Due to the water main break, this trip has been rescheduled to April 25th! We will be headed to NYC for a walking tour of Columbia that features information on the undergraduate experience at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, including academics, student life and campus resources. Permission slips can be found in guidance and students must be in solid academic/disciplinary standing with the school by passing all current classes.Ms. Weaver's English Classes
Ms. Weaver’s English II
This week, the sophomores continued their study of A Raisin in the Sun. In addition to learning about systemic racism and how difficult it can be to achieve your dreams, they are learning how to analyze characters by reading the stage directions and discussing how the characters speak and interact with each other. The students completed reading Act I and discussed the characters’ dream as well as what constitutes the “American Dream.”
Mr. Huggins and Ms. Weaver’s English III
The juniors sat for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) this week. They worked on the English Language sections Monday and Tuesday and the Math sections on Wednesday and Thursday. They have been preparing for this assessment for weeks by reading classical literature, answering questions about vocabulary and main idea of passages, and choosing the best textual evidence to support their responses. Additionally, they practiced writing analytical essays about the stories they read. The juniors are thrilled that this assessment is over.
Ms. Weaver’s English IV
The seniors spent the week researching a topic of their choice. They first had to develop a research question and then locate information on their topic from three different sources. Then they created a slideshow to share their presentation with their classmates next week. Some of the topics are about the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arizona Tea, and Only Murders in the Building.
Classroom without Walls
Ms. Tank's Mathematicians
Mrs. Tank's Pre-Calculus students reviewed systems of equations in two variables and practiced various methods of solving them including substitution, elimination and graphing methods. The AP Calculus class completed practicing differential equations from various AP Exams and took a test on differential equations with both multiple choice and free response problems on Friday.
Students in a small group also celebrated Pi-Day during PreCalculus class on March 14th this week.
PE Healthy Competition
The Physical Education students continue to play multiple indoor sports. We love seeing that pickleball is becoming more of a hit each day. Volleyball and basketball continue to be the most favored activities in which most of our students are engaged. Floor hockey is beginning to make a comeback to HHS.
This week we added a technological component to our walking program. The students had to track their steps using their cell phones in the allotted time during their walking segment. The goal is to have students walk 1500 steps during this time frame. Most students are exceeding this goal! It has been fun to see the growing competition in each class to see who completed the most steps. We spoke about how the students should be walking 10,000 steps each day and how walking is an easy and wonderful way to stay healthy.
Culinary Arts
This week students in Culinary Arts I learned about young workers' safety in the restaurant industry. Students explored the OSHA website and then created and gave presentations on what they learned.
In International Pastries, students have started their "Cupcake War" competition. Students choose groups. They have been working on researching cupcake, frosting & cookie recipes in order to create their own cupcake in hopes to win the competition. They had to create a theme and then cupcakes to go with the theme. The requirements are: creating16 cupcakes that incorporate a cookie and fruit of choice. It will be exciting to see what the students come up with.
Ms. Laallout's French Class
Ms. Simon's Mandarin Class
This week in both Mandarin I & II, we celebrated International Women's Month by doing presentations on notable Chinese women. The students selected women (both historical and current) to research and present to their peers. Utilizing Google Slides, Canva or personal drawings, students completed impressive presentations.
Some of the women that were presented:
Lin Siniang - warrior from the Ming Dynasty
Michelle Yeoh - First Asian woman to win an Oscar
Wang Zhenyi - scholar from the Qing Dynasty
Li Qingzhao - poet from the Song Dynasty
Wu Zetian - first and only woman emperor of China from the Tang Dynasty
Chou Tzuyu - Taiwanese K-pop star
Mr. DeBenedetto's Western Expansion
Infrastructure and Western Expansion
People depend on Infrastructure. As we have witnessed here in Hoboken, something as simple as a water main break can be hugely disruptive to society. When we consider the obstacles faced by the pioneers of the early American west, it is awe inspiring. The U.S. government was aware that its vast territorial acquisitions were somewhat theoretical. Those lands needed to be settled fast and the will of rugged individuals and their manifest destiny alone would not be enough. Infrastructure was needed ASAP. This week, U.S. History I students investigated how federal investments in that area were instrumental to western expansion.
The impact of canals, railroads, and transcontinental telegraph lines on the growth of the country cannot be overlooked. Through examining various videos and document sources, evidence tells the tale of a nation rapidly bringing order to chaos through a build-it-and-they-will-come approach. The Erie canal was dredged and, sure enough, we saw boomtowns such as Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo spring up in its wake. The monumental Transcontinental Railroad created a spine from sea to shining sea through which people and commerce could flow. A network of Western Union stations gave Americans the ability to reach out and transcontinentally touch somebody via primitive text messages. Chicago, before it was anyone’s kind of town, had a train station, telegraph lines, and even a newspaper! The cart often went before the horse, for sure.
All of this progress was not without a price. As students completed their synthesis writing tasks assessing the impact of western infrastructure, they were without key pieces of evidence–those dealing with native populations, working conditions, treatment of new immigrant groups, the creation of federally subsidized monopolies, and the spread of slavery. These darker aspects of our national development will certainly be addressed in classes to come. For now we stand impressed with the speed, ingenuity, indomitable will, and pioneering spirit that marked America’s westward expansion. We also appreciate the government investments that made possible the option to “go west, young man!.”
PLTW Human Body Systems
Welcome to the Student Center
We’ve had a productive week at the Hoboken School Based Youth Services Student Center! As many of you know, our goal is to provide students with the skills and tools needed to overcome daily challenges, develop a healthy sense of self, and build strong positive relationships with peers, family, school, and community members. We strive daily to promote academic and social emotional wellness while helping students navigate their day to day challenges.
On Friday, 3/3/23, SBYSP held its Friday Nights at the Nest. Friday Night at the Nest, held in Hoboken High School, is an opportunity for Hoboken High School Students to connect with other students, sharpen their social skills, and have a safe and secure place to spend their Friday nights. We hosted an Open Gym night as well as our popular Artists Guild.
The School Based Youth Services Program is currently running bi-weekly groups aimed at tackling some of the common challenges facing our students in their daily life. The participants of the I’m Empowered Group are currently creating a collage that will represent each student’s unique vision of beauty from images, phrases and words taken from print media. The goal of this project is to help the young women recognize the many forms of beauty in the world and to empower them to reflect on and recognize their own beauty and worth.
The Student Center will host its next Chat & Chew on Monday, 3/27/23. Students will enjoy using their creative culinary skills to decorate cupcakes and have the opportunity to socialize with their peers and staff while eating the fruits of their labors. Students will have the opportunity to relax and express themselves while having fun using their creativity.
For parents of seniors - Yearbook ads
If you are considering buying an ad in the yearbook for your special student, what are you waiting for? Ad space is still available but won't be for long. We are eager to help you celebrate your student. Please fill out and return the attached ad form and money (cash or check payable to Hoboken High School Class of 2023) with your student. If it's a surprise, you can email the form to michelle.mcgreivey@hoboken.k12.nj.us. Thanks for your support!