TALES OF THE COMET
VOLUME III APRIL 2005
DID YOU KNOW:
…..The regional level competition for the New Jersey Consumer Bowl took place on April 5, 2005 at the Passaic County Administration Building in Paterson. Hackensack’s team competed against the winners from Essex, Morris, Sussex, Passaic, and Warren counties. Team members are Angellique Phillips (captain), James Donatello, Carleetha Moore, Dakota Marositz, and Lavina Ramchandani. Time advisor is Valerie Gancarz of the Business Education Department.
….The Hackensack High School Academic Decathlon students made a valiant effort at the North Jersey Academic Decathlon Regional Competition at Ramapo High School on February 5, 2005. Though the team did not place this year, individually, Hackensack High School students performed well. Senior, Adam Tatgenhorst, captain of the team, won a silver medal (second place award) for his speech on the meaning of success in the life of Tennessee Williams. Senior, Gregory Ames, earned a gold medal (first place award) for his excellent essay on “Oedipus Rex” and a bronze medal (third place) for music (which focused on the Classical Era, with works by Haydn and Mozart). Senior, Kelly Salkin earned an honorable mention in the language and literature competition (which focused on the tragedies by Sophocles.) Senior Marsha Lindsay won a silver medal in Super Quiz (studying astronomy) and a bronze medal for social science (studying ancient civilizations). Seniors, Gillian Koch, Terace Thomas, and Tom Santoro also earned awards: Gillian earned a bronze medal in social science, Terace earned a silver medal in social science, and Tom earned an honorable mention in the Super Quiz competition. Sophomore, Emily Halter, earned a bronze medal in social science and an honorable mention for her essay. Gregory Taylor, also a sophomore, earned a silver medal for language and literature, bronze medal for social science, and honorable mention for the Super Quiz. Coach Mark Porto was pleased with the overall results of the team, and the individual successes of team members. Seniors, Eric Tatgenhorst, Robert Mozia, Ami Shah, Jackie Gadja, Tarek Elsayed, and Christen Martinez also worked hard and contributed to the team’s efforts.
…..On March 4, almost 90 students in our school, representing all levels of instruction, took the National Spanish Exam. Each year, our school’s participation in this most difficult exam has been increasing. This reflects the gaining strength of our World Language program. Within the next few months, we will receive the results and be able to see how our students rank in comparison with their peers from around the country.
…..On March 3, teachers in the World Language Department spent the evening at the 8th Grade Orientation Program. Diane Menditto prepared and presented a wonderful Power Point presentation, which showcased our Spanish program at all levels of instruction. She was assisted by Spanish teachers, Omar Mirabal and Mercedes Hernandez. Mr. Petrocelli and Mr. Fahrenkopf were also there to talk about our Italian and French programs.
…..Very shortly, Mr. Petrocelli will be leading his 7th tour of Italy with 30 students. They will be visiting Rome, Florence, Venice and Sorrento.
…..Just prior to the February recess, Mr. Decter and Miss Martinez took their Spanish III and IV classes for a Spanish luncheon at Picasso.
…..The Latino Club continues its activities. All money raised by the club is given back to graduating seniors in the form of scholarship awards. All HHS students are encouraged and welcome to attend these dances.
…..Miss Martinez and Mr. Castaneda have formed groups for our Latino students. Mr. Castaneda advises Hombres De Honor (Men of Honor), and Miss Martinez advises Mujeres De Valor (Women of Value). These groups give students a chance to voice their concerns and discuss issues of importance (in Spanish) to Latinos within our school.
…..HHS history teachers, Sandra Harrington, Patricia Loeb, and Aaron Taylor met with scholars and engaged in historical research at the Franklin D. Roosevelt President Library on March 18. Their work will enrich learning experiences in the United States history program. The project is part of the Teaching American History Grant directed by English/Social Studies Supervisor, Louis Moore.
…..Hackensack Public Schools and Rutgers University have been awarded a federal grant to study African history and culture starting this summer. The project will support curriculum development, workshops, and a summer research visit to Africa. Hackensack teachers will visit Ghana and Benin this summer along with Rutgers professors and other educators. Louis Moore and Professor Allen Howard collaborated on grant application and proposal.
…..Congratulations to both Fernanda Fajardo and Bradley Haymes! These artistically motivated HHS juniors have entered and both have received recognition as finalists in the first phase of the New Jersey art scholarship competition. Good luck to them! Even if they do not get a chance to participate this summer as full time scholars they have shown their ability to focus and submit excellent artwork that has been judged as some of the best in the entire state. They are going to continue building their strong portfolios for their interviews next month. In this program students from various counties come together and share their talents in the arts. It feels like a taste of going to college while still in high school. This intensive approach introduces artists to various new art techniques and a variety of interesting people from all over New Jersey.
…..During our winter break a very intriguing and educating art show occurred at Montclair State University. Both Mrs. Bracchitta and Miss Kypreos submitted artwork along with other local artists of New Jersey to the Women’s Center Art Gallery on campus for a group installation commenting on and representing the missing women of Juarez, Mexico. Many people are not aware of the atrocities that have occurred in this border town of the United States. The strong artistic body of work was created to express the emotions surrounding this dilemma. Artists created pieces that were either a personal expression or voice to this tragedy and others created informative pieces that provoked the consciousness and educated the viewers. The work was an expressionistic representation of the fragile spirit and voice of humanity. This art exhibit is an installation called “Que Pasa Aqui?” Our goal is to educate students and the community about the situation in Juarez and hopefully inspire change. There is an ongoing investigation into the mystery of the women who have vanished.
…..Lavina Ramchandani, a senior at HHS, has been awarded a $10,000 Matrix 2005, “Women Who Change the World” scholarlship from NYWICI Foundation (New York Women in Communications, Inc.). The presentation was held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on April 11, 2005. The presenters were Senator Hillary Clinton; Oprah Winfrey; Tina Brown; John Dooner; HBO Entertainment President, Carolyn Strauss; PR Chief, Madeline DeVries; and, authors Allison Pearson and Tom Peters. Lavina applied for the scholarship, passed the telephone
interview, and then went to Lifetime Television in New York City for a personal interview. HHS is proud of you. Congratulations!
……The Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship held its 3rd Annual Atlantic City Bus Trip to the Taj Mahal on Sunday, March 6th. It was a huge success, raising $1,325 toward our goal of $1,000,000. The next event is a golf outing to be held at White Beeches Golf and Country Club in Haworth, NJ on June 6, 2005. Registration is at 10:30 a.m., and the cost per person is $225. For further information call Charlie Jones, (201) 646-7834. Also, the Johnson Public Library will hold a nostalgic exhibit of Hackensack presenting the book “Hackensack A Pictorial History.” This exhibit will begin April 1st through April 30th. For further information about the Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Committee, please contact Dale Houlis, (201) 646-7910.
…..The E.T. Marlatt Chapter of the National Honor Society, our local chapter, held their spring induction ceremony of Thursday, March 31, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hackensack High School Auditorium. Speaking at the induction ceremony was former Hackensack Public School’s Superintendent, and current Hackensack Education Foundation treasurer, Mr. Anthony Marseglia. Mr. Marseglia addressed the inductees and current members on the virtues upon which admission is based, namely scholarship, altruistic service, character and leadership. The Honor Society at Hackensack High School was founded during the 1923-1924 school year by then Principal, Edward T. Marlatt. It became affiliated with the National Honor Society in 1955. To attain membership, students must have a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.3 (i.e. 85%) and possess high standards of service, character and leadership. Members of the Junior and Senior classes were evaluated by the faculty council as to their fulfillment of the requirements for admission. The current membership of our chapter is composed of 27 members and with this induction, that number increases to 43; 32 are seniors and 11 are juniors. The new members are: Ashley Budinic, Lisa Budinic, Frank Chinga, Ilana Galed, Marc Guzman, Jeanelle Javois, Sara Mammone, Brittany Mei, Matthew Nowicki, Paula Marie Pangilinan, Sonia Perez, Antonia Richards, Thomas Santoro, Matthew Sasso, Terace Thomas and Ligia Villa.