Toms River High School East

I want to wish you a holiday filled with joy, family and laughter and an amazing New Year!

Just a reminder that Friday is a shortened day and dismissal for all students is 11:15am. Progress reports will become available for your viewing that afternoon.

Erin

The December female senior of the month ranks in the top 5 students of the senior class. It has been said that this senior “embodies the best traits of scholarship, community service, citizenship, and accomplishment”. Making every effort to not let time go to waste, this senior successfully balances her challenging course load and demanding extra-curricular schedule. She is a student in the STEAM Academy, an athlete on the girls’ soccer and lacrosse teams, a member of the National Honor Society, president of the Medical Club, Lieutenant Governor of District 4 in New Jersey’s Key Club, and the Senior Class President for the Class of 2023. Outside of High School East, this senior volunteers her time at a local animal shelter and helps tutor elementary school students. It is no wonder that this “tenacious, conscientious, and focused” student has been accepted into several collegiate learning academies and scholars programs, most notably and recently named a NJ Governor STEM Scholar. Her determination and persistence to personal excellence will serve her well as she continues her post-secondary studies to achieve her ultimate dream of becoming a physician. Congratulations to the December female senior of the month, Sophia Merlino.

The December male senior of the month ranks in the top 15% of the senior class. He has been described by one of High School East’s staff members as “someone who makes it their goal to leave their school better than they found it”. He dedicates himself to both his academics and his extra-curricular activities, approaching all his endeavors with exceptional motivation, unwavering drive, and a winning personality. Not only is this student a captain of our Varsity Football and Swim teams, but he is also the President of FBLA and qualified for both regionals and nationals last year. He is also an active member of the East Ambassadors. His display of focus, dedication, good-judgment, and maturity make him a wonderful role model for his peers, all characteristics that will serve him well as he pursues a post-secondary degree in Business. Congratulations to the December male senior of the month, Michael Bruno.

This month we will begin focusing on Habit #2": Begin with the End in Mind- Define your mission and goals in life

Creating Your Own Family Mission Statement

• Discuss and apply the 3-step process:

− Explore what your family is all about by answering some or all of the following questions together:

• What is the purpose of our family?

• What kind of family do we want to be?

• What kind of things do we want to do?

• What kind of feeling do we want to have in our home?

• What kind of relationships do we want to have with one another?

• How do we want to treat one another and speak to one another?

• What things are truly important to us as a family?

• What are our family’s highest priority goals?

• What are the unique talents, gifts, and abilities of family members?

• What are our responsibilities as family members?

• What are the principles and guidelines we want our family to follow?

• Who are our heroes? What is it about them that we like and would like to emulate?

• What families inspire us and why do we admire them?

• How can we contribute to society as a family and become more service-oriented?

− Write your family mission statement based on your family’s answers to the questions.

− Use your family mission statement to stay on track through weekly family meetings.

• Identify the 4 Unique Human Gifts. Discuss how developing a family mission statement helps develop these gifts.

The Boys Ice Hockey team begins it’s season 4-0. With wins over Bayonne, Morris Catholic, Manasquan, and Freehold Township, the team boasts the best record in the Shore Conference and is in first place in their division. Freshman Center Brady Verdon has been on fire recording 9 goals over the 4 games. Senior Captains Jarrod Dye (1 goal, 4 assists) and Jake Verdon (5 goals, 4 assists) have asserted themselves as 2 of the top defensemen in the Shore Conference with timely goals and stellar defensive play. Seniors Ethan Smith (2g,3a), Ryan Fortunato (3g,3a), and Michael Taliercio (3g,3a) are playing like seasoned veterans and have combined for a total of 8 goals over a 4 game span. Sophomore Joey Taliercio has evolved into a playmaking machine recording 8 assists so far. His knack for controlling the puck and creating offensive opportunities is a big reason for the teams success so far. Coming off a solid freshman season where he earned the Defensive rookie of the year award, Alex Fortunato (1 assist) picks up right where he left off as a strong defensive player. Sophomore Reilly Hoagland (7 assists), and Junior Mark Colasurdo (1 assist) have both settled in to their new roles as top line players. Freshman Jack Decaprio has provided important support minutes at the forward position and is projected to play an important role on the team in the future.

The team has a busy schedule next week hosting Jackson Liberty on Tuesday at 4pm, traveling to Red Bank Regional on Wednesday at 8PM, and then returning Home again on Friday to face rival Southern Regional and 6PM. Let’s keep it rolling!!!

The Boys and Girls swim teams opened their season with wins over Jackson Memorial. Next meet is Tuesday, December 20 against Brick Memorial. GO RAIDERS!

Boys Bowling team has started the year 2-0 and they are currently ranked #9 in the state! Go East!

Mr. Strohmetz and Mr. Miller hosted a most enjoyable winter concert this week! Great job by all!

The Toms River Education Foundation presented Mr. Kenny and the Military Support Club with a $4000 check in support of the Ropes course! Thank you for supporting this initiative! There will be more details to come about this EXCITING project coming to the grounds of High School East!

1) 9th grade students will meet with school counselors on Monday, 12/19/22 during their Phys Ed class to discuss the transition from middle school to high school, graduation requirements, the importance of academics, the effect grades have on GPA/Rank & college acceptances, tutoring (Writing Center, NHS, etc.), and athletic eligibility (especially for Spring sports).

2) The ACT is on February 11, 2023. Registration deadline is 1/6/2023. Register at www.act.org

3) Volunteer hours need to be submitted at the end of every month. Please drop off your community service card in Guidance.

Media Center Highlights: December was a busy month, bringing 2022 to a close! Here are some of the activities that took place in the Media Center this month:

· On December 1st, STEAM Coordinator Amanda Gregorek hosted an Open House for 8th grade students interested in applying to the STEAM Academy next year. Ms. Gregorek also discussed the Capstone Project with prospective students and their parents.

· Guidance Counselor Carrie Bush was in charge of hosting a Community Service & Wellness Fair on December 9th. The Community Service & Wellness Fair was a chance for students to meet community service partners who are looking for volunteers for their organizations as they share their service mission.

· World Language Facilitator Ann Gural presented a NJ Seal of Biliteracy informational session to a group of interested HS East students on December 12th. Prospective students in grade 12 were given information on the opportunity to attain the State Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating proficiency in English and one or more world languages.

· The Freshman Academy students came to the Media Center during their Phys. Ed. class on December 19th. They engaged in activities facilitated by the Peer Leadership students that will help them acclimate to high school, provide guidance on improving academic achievement, and prepare them for their remaining years of high school and beyond. As part of the school-wide The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens program, the students engaged in an activity that was both fun and educational!

· Science teacher Rebecca Vandzura and her AP Seminar students as well as Math teachers Kelly Zyskowski and Tinamarie Manning and their Algebra 2 students came to the Media Center where small groups of students utilized our mobile partitions to solve problems using dry erase markers on the clear acrylic boards. It proved to be both educational and fun!

· Just a reminder that the National Honor Society offers free peer tutoring to students seeking help in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. Tutors are available after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:45 until 2:25 in the Media Center and no appointment is necessary. For more information on National Honor Society tutoring, please contact advisor Laura Morgan at lmorgan@trschools.com

November behavior and attendance data!

Mrs. Schindler’s freshman English class participated in a fun and entertaining Escape Room to conclude the short story “The Gift of the Magi”. In groups, students had to work together to determine the plot, character motivation, and theme to unlock the secret message. Students enjoyed this teamwork activity!

Mrs. Mika's Spanish Conversation and Culture Class studied the Annual Butterfly Migration to Mexico. They learned how every autumn the Monarch butterflies swarm for a long incredible journey. They travel thousands of miles to Mexico to hibernate until the weather gets warmer. The students created their own swarm hibernating on a tree. What a great cross-curricular way to combine World Language, Geography, and Science topics!

This week, Mrs. Santonastaso’s AP Language class was learning about logical fallacies with different activities at multiple stations around her classroom. Some students searched magazines for examples while others reviewed a list of commercials. Other groups learned to use logical fallacies by creating skits and designing advertising posters using different logical fallacies in each. Giving students multiple ways to illustrate and interact with a concept really helps to cement understanding and promotes mastery!

Mrs. Fazzini's Honors Biology class took a trip to Cedar Grove last week! They were given the task of writing a children's book to help teach the elementary school aged children about some of the concepts that they learned throughout the unit. Their story needed to teach the students some of the concepts while being engaging and comprehensible by the younger students. The elementary students were tasked with illustrating the book. The collaboration was a great lesson for both the high school and elementary school age students.

Parent Portal updates: Coming soon!

Starting January 1st, Toms River Middle and High School students will have access to their own Genesis Student Portal to look up schedules, grades, bus assignments, attendance and more. The site address is https://students.trschools.com. Students will use their Google account credentials to login. To ensure students are accessing their new personal Student Portal, parents should change their Parent Portal password.

Thank you to the parents that attended the Google Meet chat this month. Save the date

(January 24th @ 9am) for the next Chat with the Principal: meet.google.com/toh-iuxw-bst

The next meeting will be January 24th at 6pm in the Main Office Conference room! All parents are welcome!

Thank you to MORANO TOURS for the monetary donation to our student fund! We appreciate you!

Thank you to, Steve Waunsch from Papa John's Pizza for his donations!

If your business is interested in making a donation please reach out! We can advertise you on our social media ( almost 3,000 followers on Instagram) : Eanders@trschools.com