HAS Newsletter
April was filled with trips, events, and our spring break to enjoy Easter. Students enjoyed two field trips to UCNJ and the third marking period Honor Roll field trip. While in school, students celebrated Arab-American Heritage. Other school-wide events included an extremely successful Career Day with outside vendors, an EOF assembly, April Fool's day pranks, as well as visiting the Westlake Sunshine Cafe on Wednesdays and the Westlake Snack Shack everyday during student lunches. Please enjoy our newsletter and feel free to contact me with any questions.
Ms Picciano - Art
Mr Barone - PhysEd/Health
HAS's Teacher Assistant, Ms. Pradel, planned and executed an extremely successful Career Day. With the help of staff, students met individuals from many different fields such as LPN (nurse), Waxer, Hair and Makeup Artist, Real Estate Agent, Therapist, Doctor, Photographer/videographer, Barber, Police Officer, Construction/Paving, Professional Printer, and Home renovations. Students were able to ask questions and document their answers as part of their assignment:
How and why did you choose this career?
What is a typical day in your work life (work/life balance)?
What are the most rewarding aspects of your job?
What are the most challenging parts of your job?
What education requirements and/or licenses are required for your career?
What skills and abilities would prepare you for this career? How can we start preparing now?
What advice do you have for someone who is interested in the same career?
It was so successful that a few students during their down time that same day, looked up and researched these professions and applied for available opportunities!
A representative from UCNJ came to speak to our seniors about their EOF Program.
"Since 1968 The Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program has been instrumental in creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to pursue a college degree. EOF is a comprehensive student support service program that offers financial and academic assistance to eligible UCNJ students. The program’s purpose is to help EOF scholars achieve their maximum potential and persist through graduation.
The EOF Program offers a wide range of benefits and services including:
- An additional financial aid grant of up to $800 per semester
- Free pre-college summer programs for incoming first-year students
- Registration, Career, Transfer, and Financial Aid advisement from a personal EOF Advisor
- Leadership Activities and Workshops
- Academic Support through tutoring and supplemental instruction
- Internship opportunities
- Opportunity to join the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society"
The above information (and more) is found on the UCNJ website available here: Educational Opportunity Fund Program – UCNJ
Bulletin Board
April Fool's Day is a day of practical jokes and hoaxes. So when April 1st hit, there was no short supply of fun at HAS. To start the day, silly eyes mysteriously popped up all around the Dr B's offices to watch the happenings of the main office. Next, our popular community mirror that is visited frequently by students was "tagged" up to make viewing one's self a bit more difficult. Then, in a strange turn of events, our English teacher, Ms Vlastaras, taught math and our math teacher, Ms Fern, taught English; it was a world gone mad! The best part of the whole day was when every single student got "Rick Rolled" while working on their Chromebooks. Finally, the day ended when Ms V and Ms Fern sprayed silly string at our Safety & Security Monitor, Mr DiOrio, as a surprise to both him AND Mr Whitehead, the 1571 head custodian! If you would like to see more pictures and videos of the fun had here at HAS, click here!
Bringing in the "Back" Up
Yanssel has been playing football for 4 years. He got started because he felt that he was undersize and lacked support. He was looking for an outlet but was unsure as to what; that's when he discovered football. Yanssel plays defensive backfield which is a skilled position where usually the "back" drops to coverage and potentially have to play defense against the best players on the other team aka the wide receivers. Being a part of a team makes Yanssel feel like he has a second family. The student stated "You wake up, top of the morning, to grind and hustle and get hit just to perfect your craft. At home I never got the support of my family because they didn't want me playing. However, I was willing to risk my body and mind for it and I feel not just part of a family, but as a teenager, the coaches mature you in a type of way that is unique; you seek victory by putting your foot down and being assertive. At the end, its an unexplainable feeling that only hits when I see yardage on green grass and a yellow goal post over a endzone. I describe this as the best feeling in my world."