It is very exciting to be alive and present in the year 2020. Earlier this month our young people from the middle schools had an opportunity to come out to the Piscataway Experience event. The students and their parents were greeted by our tremendous students, club advisers, coaches, teachers, and administrators as well as a showcase of the talents of our GREAT EMPIRE at PHS. I must say it was an AWESOME night.

We are pretty much half way through the school year, marking period 2 ended on January 29th as indicated on our brand new electronic marquee on Rt. 18N/Hoes Lane. To my SENIORS, I need each and every one of you to be your best during these last two marking periods here at PHS. My expectation is that you showcase the BEST possible CHIEF that you can be in the class as well as outside the class. Remember ALL of P’WAY is following your lead. Let’s stay warm and inspired to accomplish GREAT things during these cold months. Please read on to learn more about the TREMENDOUS opportunities we've seized here at PHS.

Strength & Honor

Mr. Lester

The Piscataway High School Chorale had an amazing opportunity to make their Carnegie Hall debut last month! The Chorale performed with Colbie Caillat, Tori Kelly, Us the Duo, and many other professional artists. Our students were leaders among other New Jersey high school students and gave a beautiful concert! Thank you to Megan Suozzo for providing this once in a lifetime opportunity and to the choir parents and chaperones that assisted with an 18 hour day in NYC!

Our PHS theater students had an opportunity to work with a Paper Mill teaching artist to write their own play and then got to perform it on stage at Paper Mill Playhouse! Our students did an amazing job presenting a play about love winning over all. Thanks to Mike Yoson for making this possible!

The National English Honor Society (NEHS) recently attended the MLK School's annual Day of Service. They helped craft gratitude letters, learn more about the life and works of Dr. King with activity sheets, and promoted Pway Reads by distributing DIY bookmarks with information about the event.

In addition, NEHS is currently:

*Mentoring in the high school writing lab after school

*Mentoring PIECE, an advanced writing style, and poetry in the freshman classes at PHS

*Developing and facilitating creative writing programs for the Piscataway Public Library to run in May

*Developing and facilitating programs for Pway Reads in April

and more... Thank you Ms. Klastava and Mr. Storey for your work with the NEHS

Our students in the International Thespian Society traveled to Robbinsville High School for a state-wide festival. Students participated in workshops and had opportunities to see performances alongside other high school theater students as well as professionals from the industry! Thanks to Mike Yoson and Erik Hall for providing this opportunity!

Congratulations to our PHS artists published in the Blick Celebrate Art Fall 2019 art anthology: Yumna Enver, Brice Kaye, Danielle Natale, Keven Nguyen, Jennifer Raymond, Kiera Reeves, Viviana Sanchez, and Laila Sohail! Thanks to Mrs. Amme for this amazing opportunity!

The PHS Dance program is offering a series of classes for PHS Dance Alumni! Thank you to Jessica Taylor and our alumni teaching artists for building this dance collective and community for our former students! Check out this Zumba class taught by dance alum Koron!

Congratulations to the PHS Instrumentalist who were accepted into region ensembles! Violinist Huyan Nguyen placed 5th in the central region and Clarinetist Annie Wang placed 1st in the central region! Congratulations and thank you to Chris Sumner and Ken Zampella!

Congratulations to PHS dancers Connie Mills and Gabrielle Langevine. Both dancers are featured in Kristine Smith’s coloring book “Let’s Dance.” The book is available on Amazon and proceeds from the book go towards dance scholarships and the Inspira Performing Arts Center.

PHS held the 4th Annual A Capella Festival featuring performances from JP Stevens High School's Chordgeous, Piscataway High School's Noteriety, Rutgers University's Orphan Sporks, and Ithaca College's Ithacappella! The event also featured a workshop with the college groups and a finale performance featuring all workshop participants! Thanks to Ms. Suozzo for providing this opportunity for students!

Our PHS Arts Educators and Students came out to share all that we have to offer with prospective PHS students! Thanks to everyone for sharing the joy of our department!

Piscataway High School held its annual Piscataway High School Experience on Wednesday, January 8, 2020.This important evening is very informative and an enjoyable program for our incoming freshman and their parents. Principal Lester and our Assistant Principals begin the evening in the PAC. Our Department Chairs discuss elements of their respective programs. PHS students host an Activity Fair and shared information on 50 clubs and activities and about 44 interscholastic sports teams that we offer at our campus. Please see below - photos from the PHS Experience.

The PHS Chamber Orchestra toured to all four of our K-3 buildings to perform for students in December. The performance features information about string instruments, a varied selection of repertoire, and even a student-conducted piece featuring Dr. Sumner on clarinet! Thank you to Chris Sumner for providing this opportunity for all of our students!

Check out these photos from our winter performances!

On December 7th, a crossover between two school clubs Health and Wellness Club and Chiefs for Christ helped unite the clubs into one large community day. The two clubs combined to assist an organization called Feed My Starving Children. The goal for the Piscataway High School students was to prep, package, and organize meals for underprivileged families and children so that they could have food to eat. They teamed up with over 5,000 volunteers throughout the state of New Jersey. The clubs, alongside other volunteers, were able to package 1.1 million meals. The two clubs made major strides in terms of community service. They made the Piscataway families and the community very proud.

Take a look at our bulletin board that pays tribute to Martin L. King Jr. located in stairwell 5. Thank you Ms. Sanchez! The bulletin board looks great.

Congratulations Jordyn Allen!! She was selected for the NJSIAA Forum. New Jersey celebrates National Girls and Women in Sports.

The swim team had an AMAZING meet in January at the GMC Championships.

Top Finishes

Nathan Borges, Senior

• 1st Place in the 200 Freestyle and 500 Freestyle
  
• Broke his existing MEET records in both events
  
• Broke his existing SCHOOL record in the 200 Freestyle
  

Olivia Willemsen, Freshman

• 1st Place in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle
  
• Broke a SCHOOL record in the 50 Freestyle (that had been standing since 2006)
  
• Earned a Meet of Champions qualifying time

• This was a tremendous breakout swim for her... she's established that she will be a force to be reckoned with in the GMC for years to come.
  

Ryan Erdman, junior

• 3rd place in the 50 Freestyle
• 6th place in the 100 Freestyle

Ava Atienza, junior

• 4th place in the 100 Breaststroke
• 6th place in the 50 Freestyle

Boys 200 Medley Relay and 400 Freestyle Relay

• Nathan Borges (senior), Marcus Czarrunchick (junior), Clayton Davis (junior), Ryan Erdman (junior)
• 3rd place in both relays

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay

• Olivia Willemsen, Claire Okamoto, Katie Napoli, Ava Atienza
• 3rd place

Overall

• On Friday, January 24 the boys team finished in 6th place (up from 8th place last year)
• On Saturday, January 25 the girls team finished in 7th place (up from 12th place last year)

The PHS Annual Soccer Awards Banquet was Sunday, January 5th, 2020.

The following students from Piscataway High School attended the All State Awards:

George Hayden Louis-Ferdinand

Diego Navas Trujillo

Santiago Rojas

And Coach Dave Hilgert

Congratulations to the following relay teams who earned medals:

4 by 2 and 4 by 4-Kaleia Arrington, Tamara Rawles, Jolea Crearer, Sydni Patterson

High Jump- Judith Aleguin and Alexus Enabosi

Novice 4 by 4-Evelyn Marshall, Jaeda Bynes, Cecelia Lewis Jackson, Talea Lewis

Novice 4 by 8-Rea Pagatpatan, Meglena Mileva, Victoria Opitz, Ikjot Paur

Also, congratulations to Jenna Engels for breaking the school record in pole vault 11 feet 1 and a quarter inches. She is currently ranked 3rd in the state for the event.

Manvir Chahal, a 12th grade Air Force Junior ROTC cadet at Piscataway High School has received a scholarship to attend an accredited aviation university participating in a private pilot license training program in the summer of 2020.

Cadet Manvir Chahal is one of 200 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the Scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama. More than 2,575 cadets applied for one of the 200 scholarships. There are more than 125,000 high school students enrolled in Air Force Junior ROTC at almost 900 high schools in the U.S and overseas. The scholarship covers transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot license. The scholarship is valued at approximately $22,500.

The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is Air Force-level initiative in collaboration with the

commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage. Those who participate in the program do not incur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service, nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s commissioning programs.

The mission of Air Force Junior ROTC is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community, while instilling values of citizenship, service to the United States, personal responsibility and sense of accomplishment. When looking to fill tomorrow’s career needs with the best candidates, there is simply no better place for the nation to look than Air Force Junior ROTC!

Chief's 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

February 1 6th Annual Succession: Building Males of 50 Strong

February 5 PTSO Meeting 7:00pm in the Anthony Commons

February 17 School's Closed - President's Day - In-service for Teachers