The Dragon Review

December 2023

Hello Dragon Nation!

As we approach the conclusion of 2023, BTHS continues to strive for excellence. Marking period 2 progress reports are available for parent review in the student portal. This past month we recognized approximately twenty five students for their high academic achievement and contributions of community service through induction into the BTHS chapter of the National Honor Society. It was an amazing night to behold as students and staff connected over their love of learning and pursuit of excellence. Congratulations to all of our current and newly inducted students.

With the same emphasis on excellence, BTHS honored and recognized two outstanding faculty members as we named our Governor’s Educators of the Year. Mrs. Courtney Gough-Robinson was named the Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Gough-Robinson serves as a Special Education English teacher and advisor to our Student Government Association. Mrs. Lauren Ianniello was named the Educational Service Professional of the Year. Mrs. Ianniello supports the BTHS learning community as a Guidance Counselor, Anti-Bullying Specialist, class advisor, and coach. These individuals are recognized school leaders, consistently making positive contributions to our school community.

We continue to engage our student body in co-curricular activities and events focused on developing the whole student. This past month also saw many highlights from the visual and performing arts department. The Drama Club put on a wonderful rendition of “A Christmas Carol” with many outstanding individual performances. Continuing the support of our VPA department, we held our Winter Band and Chorus concert on Wednesday, December 13. Students and staff were further engaged with an opportunity to view the wonderful talents of our performing arts students as we held a performance during Block 4 on Wednesday, December 20. Each of these performances were awe inspiring as students displayed their musical and theatrical talents. I continue to be impressed with the performances of our students.

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Dragon families a happy and healthy holiday season. Earlier this month BTHS staff and students took a moment to reflect on the elements within Brick Township High School that brought them the most joy. The responses were recorded on ornament shaped paper and hung in the main entrance of our building. It was great to read the responses and see all of the various actions, interactions, and activities connected to BTHS that bring a level of happiness and joy to our school community. I continue to be humbled and grateful for the staff, students, and parents that make up our school’s learning community. I am honored to be the principal of Brick Township High School, where individuals regularly support one another in realizing and achieving their fullest potential. I hope everyone is able to take a few moments over the Winter Break to reflect on the past year, recognizing the individual gains each of us has achieved while prioritizing future goals. The new year will bring new opportunities and learning experiences. I look forward to meeting the challenges and successes of the new year in partnership with our school community.

“Celebrate endings-for they precede new beginnings.” ~ Jonathan Huie

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Respectfully,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Hello Dragons!

On behalf of the entire BTHS faculty, we would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season! Here is an update about what has been happening and what we are looking forward to on campus here at BTHS. BTHS hosted the district STEM Academy Open House on November 28th, this event had great attendance and was a success. The STEM Academy open house afforded parents and students an opportunity to gain greater insight into the academy pathways, engage with current STEM students, and view student passion projects. BTHS hosted its Sophomore Ocean County Vocational School Presentation on December 1st in the auditorium. This is a great opportunity for our students to be exposed and educated on the variety of vocational trades that they can get involved in.

The BTHS Drama Club performed its Fall Production, A Christmas Carol on December 7th, 8th, and 9th. All shows were largely attended by faculty, students, and family. Tremendous performances were given as BTHS has many talented students that provide stellar performances every year. On December 10th the BTHS Marching Dragons hosted their annual Craft Fair at BTHS. The National Honor Society will have its 2023 Induction Ceremony on December 12th at 6pm in the BTHS Auditorium. Congratulations to those students who are being inducted as it is a great honor and a great night to recognize this achievement. The BTHS Band and Chorus performed their winter concert on Wednesday, December 13th. This was a great opportunity for our talented students to showcase their hard work and vocal talents. As a final reminder, the last day before Winter Break will be a half day on Friday, December 22nd. Looking forward to January, the Seal of Biliteracy Testing will take place in the BTHS Library on January 10th, 11th, and 12th. Good luck to all those students participating.

Each month we ask students to candidly share their highlights from the past month. Here is a sample of some of the feedback we received from this past month:

"Hockey season is starting! Looking forward to going to watch the games." ~ Erica

"Love the Holiday music in the hallways!" ~ Sofia

"Winter track! I love competing and the team atmosphere." ~ Kiera

"Signing carols for the faculty and hot chocolate at the faculty meeting." ~ Gia

"The Drama production of The Christmas Carol was awesome!" Trinitie

"Winter Cheer is Starting!" ~ Khloe

The BTHS Drama Club's enchanting rendition of "A Christmas Carol" was a spellbinding journey through the timeless tale of redemption and holiday spirit. With impeccable acting, theatrical performances, and a special heartwarming atmosphere, the cast transported the audience into the magical world of Charles Dickens. The dedication and passion of the performers shone brightly, bringing Scrooge's transformation to life with authenticity and flair. The BTHS Drama Club's production of "A Christmas Carol" was a festive triumph, leaving the audience captivated and filled with the joy of the season. Bravo to the talented cast and crew for a truly memorable performance!

The BTHS Band and Chorus students orchestrated a wonderful Winter Concert of musical brilliance. The recent performance that left the audience in awe, providing all of the students a standing ovation. From the harmonious melodies of the chorus to the dynamic and finely tuned arrangements of the band, every note resonated with festive spirit and skill. The dedication and talent displayed by these young musicians were nothing short of extraordinary, creating a captivating experience for all in attendance. Bravo to the BTHS Band and Chorus for their outstanding Winter Concert performance, a testament to their passion and commitment to the art of music!

Brick Township High School proudly celebrated academic excellence and commitment to community service at the recent National Honor Society Induction Ceremony held on Tuesday, December 12. The ceremony, a culmination of dedication and hard work, welcomed a select group of outstanding students into the esteemed ranks of the BTHS National Honor Society.Surrounded by a supportive community of educators, family, and peers, the inductees were recognized for their exceptional achievements in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The event showcased the school's commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically but also actively contribute to the betterment of their community.

The evening was filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment as the new inductees took their oath and received their well-deserved honors. As they join the ranks of the National Honor Society, these students serve as inspiring role models for their peers, embodying the values of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Brick Township High School continues to foster a culture of excellence and civic responsibility, with the induction ceremony standing as a testament to the dedication and achievements of its exceptional students. Congratulations to all the inductees, and may their future endeavors be as bright and promising as this momentous occasion.

The BTHS Parent Teacher Student Association is accepting membership for the 2023-2024 school year. Please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA.

LINK to Memberhub

BTHS Students of the Month - December

Congratulations to our Students of the Month. Students are nominated by BTHS staff members for outstanding effort in the classroom and positive contributions to our community. Students will be honored with a certificate, gift, and their names will be displayed on the marquee.

Lachlan Binney, Grade 9

Lachlan is a very organized student who always completes her assignments. She hands in quality work. She excels on assessments such as quizzes and tests. In addition, she is a nice student who treats her peers and the staff with the utmost respect. She is an absolute pleasure to have in class. -Mr. Dahl

Joe Curcio, Grade 10

Joe is very hardworking, participates daily, and consistently strives for excellence. He exceeds the expectations in Biology! - Mrs. Matthews

Joe comes to class every day ready to work. His contributions to book club are top notch!

-Mrs. Farnsworth

McKenzie Collins, Grade 11

McKenzie is the girls tennis captain. She was chosen for her leadership skills and compassion. She takes the younger players under her wing. She is dependable and even tempered. McKenzie also challenges herself academically and maintains excellent grades. She is just a well rounded, all around great student and an asset to our team and the school community. Her efforts deserve recognition. - Mrs. Merola

Ashley Burroughs, Grade 12

Ashley is always polite, respectful, and comes ready to participate everyday in class. - Mr. Groschel

The winter season has officially begun and our teams are primed for big years! The ice hockey team is off to a solid start. The team is 1-1-1 with a huge opening night victory of TRN. The ice hockey team won 9-2 with an outstanding total team effort. The next game is on 12/20 vs. Hopewell Valley.

Boys and girls Basketball seasons are underway. The boys are 0-2 and still searching for their first win. The team is very young, but hungry. The girls team is 1-1. They have a victory over Pt. Beach and they lost to Howell. Both teams are gearing up for the WOBM Christmas Classic.

The wrestling team suffered an opening night defeat at the hands of Southern Regional. The team had many solid performances at the Ron Mazzola Memorial Tournament this past weekend and they begin to prepare for the rigorous holiday tournament season.

Boys and Girls Winter Track season started this past weekend. The teams competed at the Toms River Bubble. Caitlyn Chandler set the school record in the high jump, twice in one meet! She has now eclipsed 5’2”! The boys and girls had some awesome performances and the future of the track program looks bright!

The Boys and Girls Bowling season is rolling right along. The boys team is 2-4 so far this season with wins over TR North and Central. The girls team is 5-1 on the season. The team won the annual Rolling with the Indians Invitational this past weekend!

Computer Science Education week was the first week in December. The Computer Club celebrated by hosting an afterschool event on 12/5 that was a fun introduction to Computer Science and real-world Cyber Security challenges. The event provided an introduction to the CyberStart America Challenge, which is a national online challenge. Students learn about Cyber Security through hundreds of puzzles and challenges and can win awards and scholarships from CyberStart. Students also played games and activities with the Hour Of Code. The event was well attended and everyone enjoyed an afternoon with friends, food, prizes and Computer Science.

Dr. Kasyan's Book Club will continue with another highly acclaimed novel. The next selection will be Refugee by Alan Gratz. The Book Club will meet after school on Tuesday, January 23 in the library and will conclude prior to late bus dismissal. All students are welcome to join. Any student looking to participate should grab a copy of Refugee and start reading. There will be an open dialogue and discussion of the book at our scheduled meeting, reading the book ahead of the meeting will allow you a better opportunity to add to the conversation.

If you would like to borrow a copy of Refugee, please send an email to our district literacy coach, Ms. Monninger at jmonninger@brickschools.org, and one will be provided. I am looking forward to collaborating and connecting with our student body on Tuesday, January 23. Start Reading!

Alleviate winter break boredom - submit a poem or cool photo to your school lit mag! Time is running out - submissions close 2/28/24. Be heard.

Want to be featured in our school lit mag? Join our Google Classroom for The Regaler (code = shgtudl) to send your poems, doodles, and cool photos to us. Even better, join our staff to be a part of it, where we believe in the power of words and pictures to inspire. We are especially seeking interested freshmen this year! Contact Mr. Doyle, Mrs. Stansbury, or our Editor-in-Chief, senior Emily Kozemchak, with questions.

Your school lit mag wants your creative works. Be heard!

Submission deadline: March 1, 2024

All students have an opportunity to receive extra help during Block 5 in the content areas of Science, Math, and English Language Arts. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have support and guidance from our master teachers.

Attention Brick Township High School - Yearbooks are on sale Now!

See the graphic below for ordering information.

Click Here to Order your BTHS Yearbook

Senior Parents

The back of the yearbook is dedicated to Senior Recognition Ads, where you can create a personal message to celebrate your senior and add pictures. Click here to purchase and design an ad! Save $10 when you order before December 1st.

Stay connected and informed about BTHS happenings through SGA (Student Government Association). Join the SGA Google Classroom (q2hav5z) and follow SGA on Twitter and Instagram (@bths_sga). SGA General Membership meetings are open to everyone and take place once a month in Cafe 2. New members are always welcome. Additionally, the Principal's Cabinet meetings will take place on the last Wednesday of each month in Cafe 2. We welcome one representative from each BTHS organization to participate. These meetings are a great opportunity to connect with Dr. Kasyan and collaborate on school-wide initiatives.

This month SGA sponsored a holiday spirit week as well as our annual Holiday Greeting Card and Holiday Door Decorating Contest. SGA is already making plans for 2024 including the upcoming Battle of the Classes. SGA would like to wish our entire Dragon Family a happy, healthy, holiday season. We look forward to seeing everyone in 2024!

Congrats to the Seniors for winning the Powder Puff game this year in a fun, exciting game against the Juniors! Great job to the players, coaches, and cheerleaders who came out for this event. The Class of 2024 will participate in our last round of fundraising Double Good Popcorn in the new year as we provide seniors with one last opportunity to reduce the price of their Senior Ball Bid or Senior Trip (Grad Night @ Great Adventure on June 7) ! Please take advantage of lowering the cost of your senior activities with this easy fundraiser (directions can be found in Google Classroom). Members of the Class of 2024 should join our Google Classroom with code ozvfp3p. Please reach out to Mr. Lucchetti flucchetti@brickschools.org in room 205 or Mrs. Ianniello lianniello@brickschools.org in guidance with any questions!

Save the Dates

Senior Ball: May 23 at South Gate Manor in Freehold, NJ 5-9pm

Grad Night @ Great Adventure: June 7

The Class of 2025 continue to work hard at fundraising and making the final arrangements for our Junior Prom. We are asking students to ensure their notification settings are on in the 2025 Google classroom to make sure they receive important information, forms, fundraising opportunities and more. Thank you to the many students who have been actively playing a role in our activities. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. If anyone has any questions please contact Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org in Room 300 or Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org in Room 23.

The sophomores had a class meeting on December 14th to discuss upcoming fundraisers. We will be selling Gertrude Hawk chocolates in January and we will have a fundraiser at Chipotle on January 31st. Make sure to check Instagram, Twitter and Google Classroom for information and updates. Instagram @bths_classof2026 / Twitter @bthsclassof2026 / Google Classroom lf4subd

The Class of 2027 is participating in Holiday Spirit Week and getting ready for the New Year after break! We will be having a meeting on Wednesday, January 10th in room 202 to discuss upcoming events. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. DeBonis or Ms. Scipione. Happy Holidays! Any questions about anything Class of 2027 related, see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (202).

Updates from the School Counseling Department

December

• The NJSLA Fall Block 2023 was administered on December 12th-13th for all 9th grade students enrolled in a Fall semester math course (Algebra I Honors, Geometry and Geometry Honors) and Fall semester English course.
• The Ocean County Vocational Technical Program application will be available for students to apply on Tuesday, January 2nd. Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in admission for September 2024 should visit the OCVTS Admissions page: https://www.ocvts.org/admissions. Please see your school counselor for more information.
• The Counselors will be hosting Scholarship Working Lunches every Wednesday, starting December 6, during A and C lunches, in the School Counselor offices for the next few months so students can ask questions in regards to scholarship applications.
• The Scholarship Program has been announced for the Class of 2024. Please view the Scholarship letter for families for more information. Click Here for Access to the BTHS Scholarship Letter for Families.
• Brick & Beyond will be hosted at Brick Memorial High School in the Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 13, 2023 from 5pm-7pm. There will be information on high school programs as well as a postsecondary opportunities. More information and details will be provided in the coming weeks.
• Ocean County has many resources for services in the areas of Mental Health, Addiction, Abuse, Social Services, and more. Please click on this link if you are interested in more information. There is also a Food Bank service in Toms River called Fulfill that is providing weekly food pick up for those in need.
• Students signed Holiday cards that were sent to Veterans to brighten their day.
• Giving Dragons would like to thank everyone who donated gift cards and helped our BTHS families this holiday season. Your kindness was greatly appreciated.

Have a happy and healthy holiday season from the School Counseling Department at BTHS!

Season Greetings, BTHS Community!

During the holidays many individuals spend time with family and friends and even exchange gifts. It is important to acknowledge and briefly discuss two important National Health Observances during December. Child and Family Services recognizes National Safe Toys & Gifts Month during December. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has compiled a list based on research of safety tips to consider while we shop for our family and friends this holiday season. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you follow the age recommendations for items that you are purchasing and that each item be thoroughly inspected before gifted to a child. Look for any sharp edges, chords, and removable parts that are small, such as batteries or magnets- these items could be dangerous! Any active toys for outside, such as a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or dirt bike, should be appropriate for the child’s size. In addition, the child should receive any safety gear needed, such as a helmet, protective eyewear, and protective pads to prevent injury.

In addition, it is important that we recognize National Handwashing Awareness (Dec. 5th-11th). During this season let’s spread kindness and cheer and not germs by performing proper hand washing to help keep our hands clean and prevent the spread of illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed their campaign- Life is better with Clean Hands, to motivate individuals to keep their hands clean and promote a healthy lifestyle with 5 easy steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap (front/back, between your fingers, and under your nails).

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds- the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.

Sanitizer can also be used to get rid of germs, but will not be as effective if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Research shows that we could prevent, “1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu,” with proper handwashing (www.cdc.gov/handwashing). Proper hand washing can aid in keeping ourselves, as well as our friends and family healthy as we gather and spread joy and cheer during this holiday season and all year long.

A few friendly reminders from the BTHS Health Office:

• Please do not hesitate to bring any important health-related information to the attention of the health office. Students should stay home when not feeling well or developing signs of illness.

• Notification: If your child has tested positive for the Flu or COVID-19, please contact Mrs. Yarbrough in the health office.

Health Office Contact- Nurse Tammy Yarbrough & Nurse Bridget Blunda

• West Nurse Office - Ext. 2037 - Nurse Tammy Yarbrough
• East Nurse Office - Ext. 2009 - Nurse Bridget Blunda

The School Based Youth Services Program (SBYSP) provides our students year round intervention and supportive services that are promotive and protective of healthy adolescent development and well-being. School based staff are valued members of our school community, advocating and developing for collaborative partnerships with all who share our passion to motivate and empower our youth. Together we strive to create a safe environment, as well as a place to seek guidance and mentorship.

Updates:

• We have officially begun facilitating the Botvin LifeSkills High School curriculum to freshmen health classes. This curriculum is an evidence-based model designed to promote positive health and personal development for high school youth, and has been shown to improve self-management skills, drug resistance skills, and social skills.
• We will be carrying out our annual gingerbread house contest amongst the School Based facilitated clubs and groups. Each group makes a gingerbread house and anyone who comes into School Based has a chance to vote, and the winning group gets a pizza party.

The Brick Township High School Wall of Fame Committee accepts nominations throughout the year. All submitted nominations will be considered for our next induction, which will take place in the Spring of 2025. Click Here for the BTHS Wall of Fame Nomination Form.

Principal

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Assistant Principals

Erin Biancella - Grade 11 & Freshman P-Z

Ryan Hesnan - Grade 10 & Freshman H-O

James Marvin - Grade 12 & Freshman A-G

Athletic Director & Co-Curricular Supervisor

Jason Longo

Supervisor of Guidance

Angela Smith

Guidance Department

Lauren Ianniello - Students: A - Da

Jennie Piwowarczyk - Students: De - I

Kaitlyn Donahue - Students: J - Mo

Dawn Celona - Students: Mu - Sa

Marie Walling - Students: Sc - Z

Lori Roland - Student Assistance Counselor

Child Study Team

Janet Maciel

Antoinette Sirico

Christine Velardi

Mike Zuccaro

Website: www.brickschools.org
Location: 346 Chambersbridge Road, Brick Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-785-3000
Twitter: @BTHSDragons