April
Chief's Report
Mr. Lester
It has been an unprecedented April as we have officially completed a month of online/remote learning and teaching. During the course of this pandemic, we have learned a few things about ourselves as individuals, as families, as a school, and as a larger community. We have more in common as human beings then not. I, and we, have learned that COVID-19 does not discriminate, it does not care if you are black or white, rich or poor, famous or not famous, democrat or republication, young or old. This crisis continues to teach us that we are a global community and that we are interdependent on each other.
Our district continues to echo these words from all of the schools and from our Board of Education, “We are in this Together.” I now have a greater appreciation for the April rains as the precursor to beautiful flowers, green lawns, and SUNSHINE. Without the April rain the beautiful flowers, green lawns would not exist in the sunshine. The sunshine is coming soon so take the time to fully enjoy what it brings.
Despite US not being “in school” physically, we have had GREAT things take place for our EMPIRE PHS. The US News continues to recognize us as an educational leader throughout the country as we are ranked again in the top 15% in the nation. Awesome work by our teachers for providing each of our students with a foundation that they can build upon and expand in order to do GREAT things. Please read on to read about Nathan “Aqua-Man” Borges and others who are doing great things in this month’s Chief’s Report. Stay safe and be well!
Strength and Honor
Piscataway High School #1 Vocabulary Bowl
Despite all the recent upheaval, one thing that hasn’t changed is the incredible effort that students from all across the map are putting into the Vocabulary Bowl. The April 2020 results of the Vocabulary Bowl have been released. Listed below are the results for New Jersey. Thanks to the efforts of our students and English Department, PHS ranks #1!!.
New Jersey Leaders for April 2020
- Piscataway Township High SchoolPiscataway, New Jersey 18,031words
- Millburn Middle SchoolMillburn, New Jersey 11,975 words
- Cliffside Park High SchoolCliffside Pk, New Jersey 11,543 words
- Timothy Christian SchoolPiscataway, New Jersey 11,377 words
Competing in the Bowl is a great way to stay on track and stay connected now that schools have shifted to online instruction. To learn more about motivating and engaging your students in the virtual classroom, come to one of our free Remote Learning Edition Webinars.
Let's keep up the good work and get your students involved today, and give our school a shot at the top!
Congratulations Nathan
Nathan Borges is going to be a proud graduate of Piscataway High School on June 18, 2020. He has competed on the Piscataway High School swim team for four years. At GMC’s in his junior year he broke the 200 & 500 Freestyle records winning both events and came back his senior year to win and break both of his old records in the same events.
This year he represented Piscataway High School at the Meet of Champions where he won both the 200 Freestyle and the 500 Freestyle with his 500 free time breaking a 34 year old record. By senior year he has been chosen as a team captain, a GMC All-Conference selection, and a member of the division all star team.
Outside of the pool he participates in clubs such as the Math League and does volunteer work with his club team, Somerset Valley YMCA. He is proud to have maintained a stellar GPA through it all with an aggressive course load including AP courses Junior & Senior year.
Nathan is a member of the Somerset Valley YMCA Competitive Swim Team where he has qualified and competed multiple times at both YMCA Nationals Swimming and USA Junior Nationals meets. He is the current reigning YMCA National Champion in the 800 free. In 2019 as he strived to reach his goal of competing at Olympic Trials he qualified for the 18 and under “USA swimming Top 100 World” ranking.
Nathan will be attending Yale University in the fall and plans on majoring in Chemical Engineering and swimming for the Bulldogs.
High School Awards
GMC Scholar Athlete Award
Greater Middlesex Conference All-Conference
Greater Middlesex Conference Division All Star Team
Piscataway High School 4th Year Swimming Award
Piscataway High School MVP Award 2020- Boys Swimming
Piscataway High School team records in individual events
100/200/500 Freestyle
100 Backstroke
200 IM
Changes to AP Exams
This year, AP exams will be administered online. Students who registered for an exam through My AP classroom have been receiving emails from College Board about the updates. We have a page on our website dedicated to the changes. Our AP teachers are up to date and sharing important information with their students. A genesis email was sent to all parents of AP students and another will be sent in early May. Please read the updates and make sure your student is aware of them, that they are communicating with their AP teacher, and taking advantage of all the exam prep resources the College Board is offering.
2020 Best Community for Music Education
Piscataway Township School District has been listed as a 2020 Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation for the third year in a row!
Here is a link to the listing:
Best Communities for Music Education | 2020
This accomplishment is due to our district’s continued commitment to music education and the opportunities that our teachers provide for students and the community each day, in and out of your classrooms. We are so grateful to the board of education and district administration for their support of our arts programs!
Thanks for all you do to make music a central component in the lives and culture of our community. You are providing needed artistry, creativity, and family/team support to students even now at a distance. You are all amazing teachers who continue to inspire our whole community.
The Laramie Project Nominated for Montclair Theatre Night Awards
Congratulations to the PHS Drama Club on their nomination for the 2020 Theatre Night Awards at Montclair University!! Taylor Malone, Aspen Schafer, and Lea Rafisura all received nominations for this prestigious event! Thank you Mr. Yoson!!
Videos from Pway Arts!
Check out these videos from remote learning! Grateful for this team for finding new ways to collaborate and share music with our community!
Pway Arts Remote Learning
Share Your Art! | #PwayArtsAtHome
Show us your art! We want to see what you are creating, performing, and collaborating on at home! Students, Teachers, Administrators, Parents, Grandparents, Community Members - Everybody! Share with the hashtag #PwayArtsAtHome. Art Heals. Art Matters. Art Changes Everything.
Daily Jam Sesh
Every weekday, Rebekah Sterlacci releases a short video featuring a song and short lesson. Daily Jam Sesh is your dose of joy through sharing music. Click here for the youtube channel!
Pway Arts Daily Drawing Challenge
Every day a new drawing challenge is released on the @PwayArts Twitter page! Take the challenge! Share your drawing using the hashtag #PwayDraws!
Ms. Cregar-Porch's Class Zooms with Author Dr. Strayer
On April 21, Mrs. Cregar-Porch conducted a Zoom with her AP World History students and Dr. Robert Strayer our textbook’s author! Students engaged in a Q & A session on the upcoming test and the following questions from Dr. Strayer.
"What have you found particularly surprising or engaging in your study of World History?
In what ways have you found World History to relate to your own life and times?
How might World History provide some context for understanding our current situation as we experience a modern Pandemic?"
Ms. Cregar-Porch's AP World History class enjoyed Zooming with Dr. Robert Strayer.
GMC Sportsmanship Award Winners
Congratulations to Dana Ogilvie and Steven Hernandez for being selected by the athletic department and coaching staff as our GMC Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2020 school year. We want to congratulate both of you for representing Piscataway Athletics and being ambassadors for sportsmanship throughout your high school career. Congratulations Dana and Steven!
Middlesex County Principal's Associations Award Winner - Benjamin Lorenc
Congratulations Benny!! You have been named the Middlesex County Principal Association's Student of the Year, representing Piscataway High School. Each high school in Middlesex County has a representative from their high school that has demonstrated what it means to be an awesome student, who embodies the spirit of the school, and is civic-minded not only towards the students and staff but to the entire community.
I can think of no other student that has represented PHS in this manner like you have done over your four years here. The passion and the concern you expressed to me about how the brand of PHS is represented and looked upon is a true testament of you being the CHIEF that Ms. Fisher envisioned you would become when she recommended you to the Principal's Student Council your freshman year.
WE are all PROUD of YOU! Great things are headed your way when you continue to work for the betterment of our community. THANK YOU for ALL that you have done for PHS!
Earth Day - Celebrating 50 Years
Earth Day was a unified response to an environment in crisis with oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans, approximately 10% of the U.S. population, took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way forward for our planet.
The first Earth Day is credited with launching the modern environmental movement, and is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
Annie Wang - NJSIAA Scholar Athlete Winner
Congratulations to Annie Wang for being selected by the Athletic Department and coaching staff as our NJSIAA Scholar Athlete Award winner for the 2020 school year. We want to congratulate her for representing Piscataway athletics and for being an ambassador of sportsmanship, athletics and academics throughout her high school career.
Congratulations to Elana Youssef
Ms. Elana Youssef’s baby Jeanine turned 1 month on Sunday, April 26th. Congratulations and best wishes.
Happy Administrative Day
Happy Administrative Day to all the Administrative Professionals. You are the foundation of our buildings and on the front lines every day. You keep our offices and our school running smoothly. We want to thank you all for your loyalty, dedication and hard work. You all are tremendous at what you do. Thank you!
Proud Sponsors
Of
Piscataway
High School
Chiefs Nation Membership
Cedar Grove Café & Catering
Cullen Family Foundation
Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala, & Taylor, LLC.
Gabriele’s Bar & Grill
DJSC Inc.
Piscataway Municipal Alliance
Tribe Members
Tequila & Tacos
Bellamy & Sons
Neshanic Valley Golf Course
Pete Falco’s
9 Round 30 Min Kickbox Fitness
Robert Williams Esq.
Ricochet Club
Black & Gold Members
Piscataway Soccer Club
Lester Taylor Esq.
Hand & Stone Massage
Piscataway Pizza
Stelton Lumber
Paul Schoeb
Rita’s
Wine Chateau
George Thomas Jr.
Thai Basil
Petrucci’s