March

There has been nothing typical about this March to say the least. Usually, we can expect an untimely snow storm that really throws us for a loop or a crazy weather pattern that takes us by surprise. If you are thinking like I am thinking…I would surely welcome a blizzard rather than the uncertainties of COVID-19.

Although the situation looks uncertain, I need all of US to know that WE are TOGETHER, WE will remain TOGETHER and more importantly WE will SURVIVE TOGETHER! The Chief’s Spirit that is in ALL of US makes us special and able to overcome obstacles that may keep other people fearful but we look to a bright future. Our future is BRIGHT with AWESOME young people and educators like yourselves. Make sure that WE all continue to practice those great old school habits like washing your hands, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing…all the things our parents taught us to do back in style now. Stay safe and be well. Please read on about the GREAT things going on in and around our beloved PHS…

Strength & Honor

Mr. Lester

The Barcelona Exchange Program has been in existence since 1992. Our students just came back with amazing memories, stories about the beautiful and amazing places they visited and their personal experiences with the families they stayed with.

Thank you Ms. Herrera for all you do to coordinate this exchange. Muchas Gracias!

On March 5th, 18 students from the Piscataway High School National English Honor Society (NEHS) visited six schools throughout the district in honor of Read Across America Week and the upcoming PwayREADS event to encourage and inspire literacy in our classrooms and beyond. Our schedule took us from PHS to Arbor, Grandview, Eisenhower and on to Randolphville, Knollwood and wrapping up at M.L. King school. During each stop, the NEHS students as well as Mr. Coleman, the K-12 Supervisor of the Humanities, Ms. Cathline Tanis, English Department Chair and Ms. Klastava, English teacher and NEHS advisor, were able to read books, sing songs and answer question with our students. This endeavor could not have been possible without the collaboration of teachers, principals, vice principals, and security staff across our district. The success of the day was a great reflection of Pway Pride!

PHS’s student run a cappella group made history in their first ever entry into the International Championship of High School A Cappella on Long Island. The group received high marks and was one of only two groups to advance! Madeleine Mendoza also won an award for best arrangement and Reidyn Wingate won an award for best soloist. An amazing day with an outstanding group of students! Thanks to advisor Megan Suozzo and student directors Izabella Lopez and Madeleine Mendoza!

Our PHS Visual and Performing Arts Academy students met with Emalina Thompson from the Mason Gross School of the Arts admissions office. She shared information about applying to arts school, auditions, portfolios, and the benefits of going to an arts school and the many opportunities following graduation!

PHS Art students created works of art on wearable pins for Youth Art Month! These pins are located in vending machines that will travel the district for Youth Art Month. All proceeds will go to the PHS Food Pantry. Art changes everything. Thanks to Dorothy Amme, Lisa Lentini-Pombrio, and Sandra Guevara for coordinating this!

PHS artist Ishita Jain won 4th place in the Ocean County Camera Club's High School Photo Competition (Architecture category). Her work will now move on to the National Competition. Congratulations to Ishita and her teacher Lisa Lentini-Pombrio!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of PHS’s musical 9 to 5! The show was outstanding and sent a powerful message about gender equality and following your dreams. Thanks to the whole team for all of your collaboration and your care for our students and community!

Congratulations to our students that were selected for the Permanent Art Collection this year! We are sad that our ceremony was cancelled but we look forward to celebrating you in person soon! Here’s a sneak preview.

Our PHS Arts students had a great day at the Middlesex County Teen Arts festival performing, sharing artwork and getting critiques, and attending/presenting workshops! Thanks to Mike Yoson, Dorothy Amme, Lisa Lentini-Pombrio, Gwen Sylvan, and Mary Wartenburg for providing this opportunity for your students!

The PHS team competed in this spring’s Fed Challenge and won their bracket – but subsequent rounds were canceled. Click here to learn more about the Fed Challenge. The student's that competed in this years Fed Challenge are listed below.

Nicholas Chen (Senior)

Neet Dhabalia (Junior)

Nikhil Kundu (Senior)

Raj Limbachia (Senior)

Esha Patel (Senior)

Rishi Patel (Senior)

Congratulations to the following members of the PHS Boys Winter Track team on their recent performance at the NJ State Group IV championships: Sophmore Jack Napoli competed in the two mile run setting a PR of 9:43. The mile relay team consisting of Freshman Dallas Jones, Kaelen Mitchell, Jabari Moore and Cristian Thornton ran a season best time of 3:30 earning them a wild card into the NJSIAA All GroupMeet of Champions at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island, NY.

Thank you Coach Buccino for your time and dedication to our students.

On Saturday, February 29th the PHS student run cappella group Noteriety competed for the first time in the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) in Long Island. Only two groups move on to the semi-finals later this month in Massachusetts and Noteriety is one of them!!!! The group also received awards for best arrangement (Madeleine Mendoza) and best soloist (Reidyn Wingate)! This group is completely run by students under the leadership of Izabella Lopez and Madeleine Mendoza and the group performs original arrangements by Madeleine Mendoza. It was inspiring to see these talented, focused, mature, and humble kids show the world their passion! If they advance from the next round, the finals are at The Town Hall in Manhattan in April (to be determined)! This is the same competition from the movie Pitch Perfect. Thanks to Megan Suozzo for providing this opportunity and the space for these awesome kids to take leadership of their own group!

PHS Prime along with Ms. Eyler and Ms. Leibowitz, Co-advisers were in action on Friday, March 13th. The student depicted is Sauquoia Smithson, 11th Grade. The gentlemen in the picture below are workers from the Senior Center.

Ms. Leibowitz's CBI students recently put together a number of pre-filled bags for the Piscataway Senior Center to distribute as they see fit. With school closure, social distancing and self-quarantine we reached out again prior to their pick up to see if there was anything else they needed.

We quickly put together some additional items as our contact stated, "they would take anything we could give" - they were becoming increasingly concerned about their home-bound seniors in the face of this national crisis.

Congratulations, Cadet Srihari Yamunan for being selected for the second consecutive year by the Civil Air Patrol for 'Legislative Day'. In February, Cadet Srihari went to DC to serve as their 2020 Legislative Cadet Delegation to the United States Congress. Srihari along with other selected cadets attended meetings in Washington D.C. alongside Civil Air Patrol's Senior Leadership. During this time they met in Capitol Hill with New Jersey's each one of the Congressional offices and their Senators and discussed how Cap's Federal appropriations are spent and what their future requirements are.

This was very special for Srihari as he had the honor of receiving the prestigious milestone Earhart award, one of the five milestones in Civil Air Patrol, statistically moving him into 5% of cadets in CAP to have received this.

The following swimmers were awarded with All-GMC and All-Red Division distinctions by the coaches based on their performance at the GMC Championships. Congratulations to all!

Girls

Ava Atienza

Olivia Willemsen

Boys

Nathan Borges

Marcus Czarrunchick

Ryan Erdman

Nathan Borges took home the title in the 200 Freestyle and the 500 Freestyle. In the 500 freestyle, he set a new Meet of Champions Record with a time of 4:23.92. The previous state record in the event stood since 1986!

This caps a tremendous swim career at the high school for Nathan, and I believe it's the first time a P-way swimmer has won an event at Meet of Champions, let alone two.

Marcel Walker signed with Southern Connecticut and Angel LaPorte signed with New Haven University. Congratulations to you both!

Please click on the link below to see the PHS Counselors Awesome video!

https://youtu.be/S76IheKI7ck

Elana Youssef had her baby on March 26. The baby’s name is Jeanine Allouette. The baby was born on her Daddy's birthday! Congratulations and best wishes on your new bundle of joy!

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Neshanic Valley Golf Course

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9 Round 30 Min Kickbox Fitness

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Hand & Stone Massage

Piscataway Pizza

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Paul Schoeb

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Thai Basil

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