The Redwing Quarterly

Greetings Redwing Family!

The 2023-2024 school year has come to an end, with the Graduation of 97 Redwings on June 18, 2024. Even the heat did not stop us from celebrating these beautiful young adults. I wish all of them the very best, and I welcome them back for a visit next year. Congratulations!

Summer school will begin next week. Mr. Ponce has sent a google form to parents so they can enroll their child in the appropriate course. If you need assistance, plesae do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Ponce or Mr. Williams.

Summer reading and math assignments were shared with all students as well as with their families via email. I will be sending it out periodically to ensure everyone stays on track.

I am so grateful for a fantastic year, and look forward to planning for the upcoming school year which will be here before we know it.

Enjoy your summer!

All the best,

Ms. Picc

2024 Senior Prom Photos

Check out the photos from the Class of 2024 Senior Prom!

https://tbishphoto.com/2024-hhs-prom/

Password: 2024hhsprom

In Geometry, the class recently completed an engaging unit on circles on the coordinate plane. Students learned how to solve for the center and radius of a circle, gaining a strong understanding of these fundamental concepts. They also mastered the skill of graphing a circle based on its equation, which involved using the distance formula to determine the radius from a graphical representation. Throughout the unit, students had the opportunity to work both individually and in groups to solve equations and graph the resulting circles. Each group or individual then proudly presented their work, demonstrating their understanding by graphing their circles on the board for the entire class to see.

During the fourth and final marking period, Mrs. Clark’s Pre-AP Geometry with Statistics students have been actively learning a range of concepts, including:

- Calculating arc length and the area of sectors, kites, rhombuses, and regular polygons.

- Determining the surface area and volume of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, cones, and spheres.

- Displaying quantitative data with histograms and boxplots.

- Applying the Empirical Rule to calculate event probabilities.

- Creating Venn diagrams and using them to find event probabilities.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Clark’s CP Statistics students concluded the year by focusing on inferencing with proportions and means. They constructed confidence intervals and conducted significance tests for both proportions and means.

As the school year drew to a close, a group of ESL students eagerly embarked on a journey to visit the iconic Statue of Liberty, an emblem of freedom and hope. The excursion was more than a sightseeing trip; it was a profound cultural experience that resonated deeply with the students, many of whom had recently arrived in the United States. As they stood at the base of Lady Liberty, listening to stories of immigrants who had passed through Ellis Island, the students saw reflections of their own dreams and aspirations. The visit not only celebrated their hard work and achievements but also offered a powerful reminder of the possibilities that lay ahead in their new homeland, reinforcing the lessons of perseverance and unity they had learned throughout the year.

During the 4th marking period, ELA 9 students have been engaging deeply with a variety of challenging and enriching activities. They explored the profound themes of survival and faith by delving into Yann Martel's Life of Pi, analyzing how these themes manifested in the protagonist's extraordinary journey. Alongside this literary exploration, students worked on their mechanics and grammar skills through structured literary analysis essays, allowing them to dissect complex texts while refining their writing capabilities. Additionally, they rigorously prepared for the NJSLA exam using the IXL skill-based program, which provides targeted practice to ensure they master the necessary competencies for the standardized test.

In ELA 11, students have examined the intricate themes of family and support in Barbara Kingsolver’s heart-warming novel The Bean Trees, exploring how these themes are interwoven throughout the narrative. They honed their analytical skills by recognizing Kingsolver’s use of symbols in the natural world, which added layers of meaning to the story. To deepen their understanding, students created visual representations of important quotes and ideas, bringing textual elements to life through art. Additionally, they watched the movie “Herself” to draw comparisons between the characters and their situations, enriching their comprehension of family dynamics and support systems across different contexts.

Students in the Hudson River Explorers Institute and Hoboken High School Environmental Science Club released over 50 rainbow trout into Wawayanda Creek in Vernon, NJ! This concludes this year's Trout In The Classroom program. The students had raised these trout from the egg stage and learned all about the trout's fascinating life cycle. The students were thrilled to release the young trout into their native habitat and see them happily and safely swim away.

As we conclude Marking Period 4, we are excited to share the various activities and achievements of our Physical Education class.

**Fitness Testing:** During this marking period, students completed their second round of fitness testing, which included push-ups, sit-ups, and the PACER test. It was great to see students challenge themselves and improve their overall fitness levels.

**Outdoor Activities:** With the warmer weather, we were able to move our classes outdoors and engage in a variety of sports and games on the field. Students enjoyed playing football, basketball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse, and volleyball. We also introduced base games like wiffle ball and kickball, which were a big hit with the students.

**Field Day:** The highlight of Marking Period 4 was our first-ever Hoboken High School Field Day, which took place on a beautiful sunny day. Students from all grades came together to enjoy a fun-filled day of activities, including water slides, obstacle courses, carnival games, and beach games like Kan Jam, Cornhole, and Spike Ball. It was a fantastic event that promoted teamwork, school spirit, and physical activity.

As we end the school year, we will continue to focus on developing our physical skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship. We are proud of the progress our students have made and look forward to another exciting school year in September.

The Hoboken Varsity Softball Team worked hard to rebuild this year after graduating 11 seniors last year. They participated in the HCIAL American Division, which includes the best teams in Hudson County. On April 14th the team played Cliffside Park in Weehawken’s Autism Awareness Softball tournament. The team made it to the semifinals in the Hudson County Tournament, after defeating Kearny, the higher seed in the quarterfinals. Unfortunately they fell short to Bayonne in the semifinals. The team also made it to the NJSIAA Group 1 Section II Tournament where they were victorious over North Arlington in the first round, but unfortunately fell short to the number 1 seed Weehawken.

Alexa Bracero was selected to the 2024 All-League American Division League Players for Shortstop and Isabella Pisano was likewise selected as a Pitcher. Honorable Mentions from the team included Sarah Burns and Mischa Mercado. Sophomore Pitcher Isabella Pisano earned over 200 career strikeouts this year, and we look forward to her returning as our starting pitcher next year. Senior Alexa Bracero reached many milestones this season, including 100 Hits, 100 Runs and 100 Stolen Bases.

On Wednesday May 1st, the team celebrated seniors Alexa Bracero, Jalissa Johnson and Arianna Marin in their Senior Night Game against Hudson Catholic. The team is appreciative of all the fans, parents and Hoboken High School Faculty that came to their games to support them throughout the season. Special Shout Outs to Mr. Perez, Mrs. Weaver, Mrs. McGreivey, Mr. Kolmer, Mrs. Gomez, Mrs. Perry, Mrs. Nellins, Mr. Munoz, Mr. Terry, Ms. Mildred, Ms. Angela and Ms. Cindy who came to games this season and cheered on our teams.

The team looks forward to next season but will miss their Seniors Alexa Bracero, Jalissa Johnson and Arianna Marin.

Hoboken Boys Lacrosse had an excellent 2024 season and hit some milestones that the program hasn’t seen before. The team had 2 all conference players (Miles Angley, Gabe Mestre) and an honorable mention (Noah Gibbs-Garcia) for the first time in team history. Freshman Gage Angley was 2nd on the team in goals and Kyle Wholf was an integral part of the team, playing all over the field and pacing the offense. The highlight of the season was the win over Paramus Catholic where the team put together their best performance of the season. Overall it was an awesome season and the future looks very bright for Hoboken Lacrosse.

Girls Lacrosse: The Redwings ended their season with a 4-10 record, significantly improving since last year! The Redwings defeated Newark East Side, Irvington, Boonton, and Tenafly. The team's offense was led by freshman attacker, Skylar Kowalski, tallying 24 points this season. Sophomore midfielder, Marina Boyajian, led the team on both ends of the field, recording 11 points, 30 ground balls, 28 draw controls, and 10 forced turnovers. Dallas Connors, a senior defender, and Addison Rumph, a sophomore defender, also led the defense, along with freshman goalie, Gabriella Tarinelli. Tarinelli had a standout first season with the Redwings, recording over 100 saves in one season, earning her first team recognition in the NJIGLL American White Division. Coach Hall and Coach Arciero are excited to continue to grow next season!

Boys Volleyball: The Hoboken Redwings completed their season with a respectable 15-9 overall record and an 8-4 mark in their division. The team was spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Angel Acosta and Damian Acosta. Angel tallied 119 kills, 41 blocks, and 28 digs, while Damian led the team with 140 kills, 202 digs, and 81 service points, including 25 aces. Setter Denilson Carino played a crucial role in the team's success, dishing out 424 assists while also contributing 44 kills and 115 digs. The Redwings showed promise and potential throughout the season, and with a strong core of players, they look forward to building on this success in the years to come.

As the season comes to a close, we bid farewell to our six graduating seniors: Angel Acosta, Damian Acosta, Nico Kaplun-Muller, Jared Lee, Christian Morales, and Oscar Figueroa. We extend our gratitude for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the team. Their contributions will be remembered and cherished as they move forward in their volleyball careers and beyond. Congratulations to the Hoboken Redwings on a successful season!

The Hoboken High School Varsity Baseball team wrapped up their season with an 11-11 record. The Redwings hung tough and played in tight games throughout the entire season. Their season was highlighted by an extra inning win against McNair in the second round of the Hudson County Tournament.

Ethan Ortiz (P), Adrian Tavera (C) and Vincenzo Torre (DH) garnered All League awards for the HCIAL National Division.

William Herrera (P/INF) and Peter Stehil (P/UT) were Honorable Mentions for the HCIAL National Division.

Max Casazza (SS) took home HCIAL National Division Play of the Year.

The Redwings will be back in action in the Spring of 2025 and will be looking to making some noise in Hudson County.

In our Financial Literacy program students engaged in a range of activities, such as researching companies to understand their history and ethical practices. For instance, consider the case study of Wells Fargo. Founded in 1852, Wells Fargo became one of the largest banks in the United States. However, the company has faced significant scrutiny for unethical practices. Notably, in 2016, it was revealed that Wells Fargo employees had created millions of unauthorized accounts to meet sales targets. This scandal led to the resignation of key figures, including CEO John Stumpf. The unethical behavior harmed numerous customers, damaging their credit scores and leading to unauthorized fees. In the short term, Wells Fargo faced substantial fines and reputational damage. Long-term effects included a loss of customer trust and increased regulatory oversight. This case study helps students understand the importance of ethical practices in business and the far-reaching impacts of financial misconduct. In the slides below a student presented the ethical problems that faced the Nestle company.

In Video in the Connected World 1, students are immersed in the dynamic process of motion picture production, navigating through its five pivotal stages. Beginning with development, students brainstorm and conceptualize their ideas. In the pre-production phase, they craft screenplays, shooting scripts, and detailed storyboards. The production stage brings their visions to life through filming. In post-production, they meticulously edit their footage. Finally, during distribution and exhibition, their polished works are prepared for audience viewing.

Currently, students are finalizing their commercials in the post-production phase. With 30 commercials nearing completion, these projects will soon be submitted for class-wide review. This peer feedback session is designed to provide positive critiques, offering production teams valuable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement in their work, ultimately improving their skills in creating compelling and professional-quality productions..

Video in the Connected World 2

During Marking Period 4, students have diligently worked on the pre-production phase of their short films. Impressively, some have chosen to invest the time to create feature-length screenplays, each extending 90 pages or more. This is a proud Redwing tradition, with five feature screenplays already crafted by our students in the past.

Several students in the class have been meticulously writing shooting scripts for their short films (10 pages) and utilizing Frameforge 3D Studio to develop detailed storyboards that correspond to each shot in their scripts. This method of previsualization provides the entire crew with comprehensive information about the production, significantly reducing the potential for time wastage on set. As all my students know, "Time is Money.”

In our Animation class, students have just wrapped up their one-scene projects, blending live-action footage with hand-drawn animation. They filmed a scene in our school studio, creating different versions by featuring four distinct groups of talent. Each team selected their favorite group and edited the scene using Final Cut Pro. After completing the initial cut, they exported the footage to Toon Boom, a professional animation software that mimics traditional cell animation techniques in a digital format.

Students meticulously drew each frame—ranging from 692 to 970 frames—using the rotoscope process. This week, they skillfully integrated their drawings over the first cut, added sound effects and music, and perfected the audio mix. The result was a polished animation project, ready for submission as their final grade.

In US History II, students are engaging in Document Based Questions (DBQ), where they analyze both primary and secondary sources to develop their critical thinking and reflection skills. A key focus is the presidency of Ronald Reagan, examining his economic policies known as Reaganomics, the Iran-Contra Scandal, and the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly referred to as Star Wars. Additionally, students explore the broader context of the Cold War, delving into the ideological conflict between communism and capitalism that defined much of Reagan's foreign policy