On Thursday, April 3, our school held a successful and engaging Culture Day, celebrating the diversity of our student body and fostering an inclusive environment. The event featured a variety of activities, presentations, and performances that highlighted different cultures from around the world.
Students had the opportunity to showcase their heritage through displays, traditional clothing, music, dance, and food. Each wing of the building represented a continent and the classrooms in these wings represented selected countries that reflected countries of heritage of our student body. The various country setups throughout the school, allowed staff and students to explore and learn about different countries and cultures.
Additionally, we had performances that included traditional dances, musical performances, readings, and historical facts. Students and staff came together to appreciate the richness of our collective backgrounds, which helped build greater cultural awareness and mutual respect.
On behalf of the Administrative Team, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one for making our Schoolwide Culture Day a success! Your hard work, creativity, and dedication were truly evident in the various country activities, presentations, and experiences.
Immense thanks to Mr. Fitzgerald, the DEI Council, all the students who planned the different activities, who decorated the rooms and hallways, Mrs. DeVito for creating the passports and supplying the county stamps, Student Council, Chef Oberfrank and Chef Angarola for storing and warming the different dishes, the Baking teachers for contributing different desserts, the many staff who planned activities in their rooms with their students, NHS & NTHS students and the main office staff for folding the passports, Christina Simmerman for numbering and distributing stamps to the countries, everyone who assisted in the hallways to monitor the students, and all the parents who prepared food and desserts. All of your efforts helped create an enriching, engaging, and meaningful afternoon for our students and the entire school community.
It was heartwarming to see students and staff appreciate different cultures and participate in the various activities. The administrative team will reflect on the event and brainstorm ideas for improvements. Sincere thanks to our hard working custodial team for always assisting with our events and keeping our building clean.
The event was a wonderful reminder of the value of diversity and the importance of fostering a sense of community. We thank everyone who contributed to making Culture Day a memorable and enriching experience for all.
We look forward to making this an annual tradition!
Last weekend students from our SkillsUSA Chapter competed in a variety of competitions in the SkillsUSA State Competitions.
The SkillsUSA State Competitions are a series of events where students from across the state showcase their technical, leadership, and employability skills in a wide range of career and technical fields. These competitions are designed to recognize excellence in a variety of industries, including automotive technology, welding, culinary arts, mobile robotics, healthcare, construction, baking, cosmetology, and more.
Participants compete in both hands-on and written challenges, demonstrating their proficiency and knowledge in their chosen fields. The events test students' abilities to perform tasks that are directly related to their future careers, ensuring they are well-prepared for success in the workforce.
Throughout the competition, students were evaluated by industry professionals who serve as judges, providing valuable feedback and guidance. The winners of the state competitions often advance to the national level, where they have the opportunity to compete with peers from across the country and further showcase their skills.
The SkillsUSA State Competitions are not only a platform for students to demonstrate their talents but also an opportunity for them to build confidence, network with industry leaders, and earn recognition for their hard work and dedication to their craft. It’s a celebration of the technical skills that are essential to today’s workforce.
Winners of the competitions will be announced in a few weeks.
Special thanks to all the SkillsUSA Advisors and all the volunteers who assisted last Saturday when we hosted competitions in our building!
GCIT Students Compete at HOSA State Competitions
The HOSA State Competitions are exciting and highly competitive events where students interested in health professions come together to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and passion for healthcare.
HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) is a student organization that prepares future healthcare professionals through a variety of events that cover a wide range of healthcare fields, including nursing, medicine, dental hygiene, pharmacy, physical therapy, and more.
During the state competitions, students participate in both written exams and hands-on events, where they showcase their ability to apply classroom knowledge to real-world healthcare scenarios. These competitions test critical thinking, problem-solving, technical skills, and the ability to work under pressure, all of which are essential for success in the healthcare industry.
Some examples of competition categories include medical terminology, clinical nursing, dental science, sports medicine, Pathophysiology, Nutrition, and emergency medical technician (EMT) skills. Students may also compete in leadership events that focus on areas such as public speaking, health education, and healthcare issues.
Industry professionals and educators serve as judges, providing constructive feedback and recognizing the hard work and dedication of the students. The top 3 winners of the state competitions often advance to the HOSA National Leadership Conference, where they compete on a national level and have the chance to network with peers and professionals from across the country.
Overall, the HOSA State Competitions are an invaluable experience for students looking to pursue careers in healthcare, offering them a chance to demonstrate their abilities, gain recognition, and prepare for future success in the healthcare industry.
Here are the results for GCIT HOSA Competitors held last weekend:
- In the Nutrition category junior Tamara Stewart took 4th place and freshman Maya Malik took 5th place.
- In the Pathophysiology category sophomore Vir Patel took 3rd place.
- And in the World Health Disparities category senior Myla Todd took 4th place.
Congratulations to the winners, you should be proud of your hard work and dedication!
We are also very proud of everyone who competed this season and we hope to have more competitors next year!!
HELPING HOSPICE
GCIT HOSA is hosting a drive for donations towards Grace Healthcare Services until April 15th! Items we are collecting include hand sanitizer, candy, snacks, cards, toiletries, pens and markers, lip balm, breath mints, coloring books, and any other items approved by HOSA advisors, Mrs. Melniczuk and Mrs. Boskey. You can drop off items in the donation box in the Health Sciences hallway or during club on Fridays. Questions? Message VPP Melanie Steward or advisor on Teams!
Written by Caitlin Estabillo
School Based Youth Services has been busy, and I just wanted to update you on a few things. We will be taking 96 students to Washington DC on May 9th. The students that will be attending have been entered into a Teams group. We will be taking a tour of the monuments, but unfortunately, we could not secure a visit into the White House. We will try again next year, and I just wanted to let those that did not get an opportunity to attend this trip, we will be going again next year, and I will do my best to get those that applied an opportunity to attend next year's trip. We are now looking into visiting several different museums while in DC.
We are also holding our Advisory Dinner on April 15th and would love to have you in. We discuss the positives and negatives of the School Based Program, and we get to share a great meal, prepared by our culinary students! You must email Dr. Jacob, jjacob@gcecnj.org to receive a confirmation on attending. All members of the family are welcome to attend. The event runs from 5:45 pm - 7:30 pm.
School Based recently took several students to Cathedral Kitchen and they did a great job assisting every person that walked through the door. The students served, prepped and cleaned the tables of those that came in. They did an absolutely great job! It is incredibly rewarding to see the students volunteering to assist people they have never met before. You should be very proud of yourselves.
Written by Dr. Jacob
Senior Prom:
Date: May 30, 2025
Time: 7pm-11pm
Location: The Grove at Centerton
Price for Tickets: $90, Tickets will go on sale April 7, 2025, and must be purchased by Wednesday, April 30. Completed permission slips and payment can be placed in the box in the Main Office or given to Mrs. Ruczynski in room 210. Hard copies of the permission slip have been placed in the Main Office.
Two tickets per senior can be purchased, guests (under the age of 21) that do not attend GCIT are allowed to attend prom.
Graduation Lawn Signs:
Lawn Signs are now available to be purchased. Lawn signs can be purchased online or by using check/cash. You may purchase your lawn sign using the link below or the attached order form. All orders must be placed by THIS FRIDAY, April 4. The lawn signs are 18x24, double sided, with a 30-inch stake. Each lawn sign is $12. The lawn signs will be available to be picked up in room 210 on Friday, May 23. If the signs come in earlier an announcement will be made through the Class of 2025 Teams Page and students will be able to pick their signs up earlier.
Graduation Lawn Signs - Gloucester County Vocational Tech School District
Graduation:
The Guidance Department handles all aspects of graduation including tickets, caps, gowns, etc. The Guidance Department will send out all information regarding Graduation in the next couple months. If you have specific questions regarding Graduation, please contact your student’s Guidance Counselor.
If you have any questions about Senior Prom or Graduation Lawn Signs, please reach out to a Class Advisor: Sarah Ruczynski (sruczynski@gcecnj.org), Christina Smyth (csmyth@gcecnj.org), Katie Knoblock (kknoblock@gcecnj.org), John March (jmarch@gcecnj.org).
Written by Sarah Ruczynski
We are pleased to announce that GCIT will be having “Take Your Child to work day” again this year!!
When: April 16, 2025
Ages: 5-17
We will be organizing events throughout the day that children can sign up to attend or they can hang out in their parent’s classroom all day. Any program or classroom that would like to host something please let Veronica Rhea know.
Looking forward to a great event!! More information to follow 😊
For more information, please contact Veronica Rhea
Written by Veronica Rhea
April 7 - 11 - Assistant Principals Appreciation Week
April 9 - PTO Meeting
April 10 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
April 16 - Administrative Professional's Day (observed)
April 17 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
April 18 - 25 - Spring Break (school closed)
April 28 - May 1 - Spring Dance Showcase
May 1 - College Decision Day & Spotlight On Practical Skills
May 2 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
May 2 - Junior Prom (Sapphire Grand formerly known as Auletto's)
May 5 - 9 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6 - 11 - Freshman Drama Production
May 7 - National School Nurse Day
May 12 - 30 - NJSLA Testing
May 20 & 21 - Dance Senior Pieces
May 23 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
May 26 - Memorial Day (school closed)
May 27 - Senior Awards Ceremony
May 30 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
May 30 - Senior Prom (The Grove at Centerton)
June 1 - 5 - Senior Trip - Disney World, Orlando, FL
June 9 - Junior Trip - Hersey Park
June 17 & 18 - Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
June 19 - Juneteenth (school closed)
June 20 - Graduation Day (Tentative)
June 20 - Last Day For Students - 12:15pm Dismissal
June 23 - Last Day For Instructional Staff (Half day)
