The Dragon Review

May 2024

It has been a busy month at BTHS as we are quickly approaching the end of the 2023-2024 school year. We kicked off the month of May by recognizing our wonderful BTHS staff for their daily contributions to our school community. Staff were honored and recognized during the first week of the month with Staff Appreciation Week. In support of this week the staff were provided gestures of gratitude each day, which included breakfast sponsored by the PTSA, gift card raffles, and lunch. The SGA and Key Club got in on the action by showing their appreciation through the distribution of snacks on a traveling Snack Cart. It should also be noted that all of our BTHS students had the opportunity to personally show their appreciation to our staff by participating in a Reverse Dragon Scale ticket program, where students recognized staff for demonstrating our school’s core values. This was a unifying practice that brought students and staff together to recognize the Core Values of Tradition, Pride, Acceptance, Integrity, and Respect.

The Second Semester will come to a close on Thursday, June 13. Final exams will take place on Friday, June 7 and Monday, June 10. We will follow an early dismissal schedule on Friday, June 7 through Thursday, June 13. Please review the schedule below for these identified dates. It is important to note that all Semester Courses will have a final exam. This final exam will count for 10% of the final course grade. The Full-Year ten credit courses will take a final exam worth 5% of the final course grade as the previously administered midterm exam counts for the other 5% of the final course grade. Students enrolled in vocational courses will have an opportunity to attend vocational school on each of the five half days. If your vocational courses conflict with a scheduled final exam, this absence will be excused from vocational school as your final exam at BTHS is a priority.

Attention Seniors! Please pay close attention to the following important information.

• Graduation is set for Thursday, June 13 at 4:30 PM. Graduation will take place in the BTHS football stadium. Students will be expected to report at 3:30 PM. A Rain Date of Friday, June 14 at 10:00 AM has been set if there is inclement weather and the planned graduation ceremony needs to be postponed.

• The Senior Picnic will take place on Tuesday, May 28 at Brick Beach 3. Seniors must submit the required paperwork in order to attend this event. It is also required that students take BTPS transportation and follow the presented guidelines. Yearbooks will be distributed to Seniors on Tuesday, May 28 at 12:45 in Cafe 1 following the conclusion of the Senior Picnic.

• The BTHS Senior Walk will take place on Wednesday, May 29 at Drum Point Elementary School, Emma Havens Young Elementary School, and Osbornville Elementary School. It is required that the necessary permission slip is submitted to attend.

• The Senior Breakfast will be held on Thursday, May 30 at 7:45 in Cafe 3.

• Senior Scholarship & Awards Night, sponsored by our Guidance Department, is Thursday, May 30, 2024 held in the BTHS Auditorium beginning at 6:00 PM. Scholarships and awards will be given from local donors and staff members to recognize Senior achievements.

• Cap & Gown Distribution and BTHS Device Collection will take place on Tuesday, June 11. During Block 1 students will begin being called down to the auditorium alphabetically.

• Graduation Practice will take place on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00 AM and Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 AM. It is expected that all graduating seniors are present for these practices as it is essential that all Seniors are aware of the graduation procedures and expectations.

Graduation information will continue to be shared, as needed, through multiple platforms to ensure that all students, parents, and families are aware of the details of the event. Please make sure that your child is a member of the Class of 2024 Google Classroom as important information is regularly shared through this medium. If you have any questions regarding any of the information presented within this message, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s assistant principal and/or school guidance counselor.

Respectfully,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Hello Dragons!

Here is an update about what has been happening and what we are looking forward to on campus here at BTHS. Spring Sports are coming to an end as teams look to make their final push towards the postseason. On Friday, May 3rd the BTHS Brick Football Football Senior class played the Brick Township Police Department in the annual Helping Hands Charity Basketball game. The event was well attended as the Police and BTHS Football Senior raised money for members of the community.

On Tuesday, May 7th, the BTHS Choral Department sponsored this year's Silhouette Singer competition. The event took place in the BTHS Auditorium and was well attended by staff and students. On Wednesday, May 8th, the JROTC program sponsored a blood drive at BTHS, the event was a success as both staff and students participated. The Senior Drama Showcase took place on May 14th here at BTHS in the auditorium, Seniors had an opportunity to perform for staff, students, and their families for their final performance of their high school careers. The Junior Prom was held on Thursday, May 16th. The students had a great time as the night was a huge success. During the week of May 20th, BTHS conducted NJSLA testing for students in ELA & Math in Grade 9 and Science for students in Grade 11. The BTHS Computer Club hosted its Senior Citizen Computer seminar on May 22nd in the IMC.

As school comes to a close, BTHS will have the opportunity to celebrate this year's Senior Class with several upcoming events, starting with the annual Senior Ball which will be Thursday May 23rd. This will be followed by Senior Week which will begin on Tuesday May 28th with the Senior Picnic. The Senior Class walks will be on Wednesday May 29th. On Thursday May 30th, the Senior class will have their Senior Breakfast followed by the Senior Awards and Scholarship night which will be in the BTHS Auditorium @ 6 pm. The last school performance of the year will be on June 5th as the BTHS Band and Choir perform their annual Spring Concert. On Friday June 7th, the Senior will have their Senior Field Trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. Lastly, Final Exams will be on June 7-10 while BTHS Graduation for the Class of 2024 will take place on June 13th @ 4:30 pm.

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:

“Prom went really well and everyone seemed to be having a great time!” - Ava A

“I’m excited to be a class officer again for Junior year!” - Reese A

“Racing our cardboard canoes with the Stem Academy was super fun!” - Emily K

“Playing the police department in the Helping Hands

Basketball Game with the football team!” - Christian B

“I loved switching the roles of giving dragon scales instead of receiving them” - Ana Cobián-Ramos

“Co-hosting Silhoutte Singer was super fun! It was a great fundraiser for the choir!” - Vinny V

On behalf of the BTHS administration team, students, and parents (PTSA) we would like to thank each BTHS staff member for their dedication, commitment, and ongoing contributions to the success of our school. “May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are, and the difference YOU make.” Happy Staff Appreciation Week!

Although it was previously announced, this year’s Teacher of the Year Mrs. Courtney Gough-Robinson and Educational Service Professional of the Year, Mrs. Lauren Ianniello were formally recognized at this past month's Board of Education Meeting for their accomplishments. Mrs. Gough-Robinson and Mrs. Ianniello are staples for our school organization, directly supporting our school culture by addressing the varied needs of our students. Congratulations to Mrs. Gough-Robinson and Mrs. Ianniello for their achievements as you both are amazing educators, leaders, and advocates of our school’s success.

Moreover, I would like to recognize BTHS Senior, Amaya Dalton, for her contributions to our school community. Along with being our school’s SGA president, Amaya provided a monthly report to the Board of Education, highlighting the events and activities that took place at our school on a monthly basis. Amaya, your student leadership has been recognized and valued, best of luck in the next step in your journey!

A heartfelt congratulations to the Senior Drama Club students for your outstanding contributions and unwavering dedication to the success of our drama department. Your talent and hard work shone brilliantly in the recent Acting for a Cause Senior Showcase event, leaving a lasting impact on all who attended. Thank you for your commitment and passion for the performing arts. As a result of your commitment to the arts the BTHS Drama Club was able to raise over $500 for the Ashley Lauren Foundation at the Acting for a Cause Senior Showcase event.

Congratulations to the Senior STEM Academy students for meeting all the program requirements and achieving personal success! Your hard work, perseverance, and passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are recognized. It is evident that each member of this year's graduating class has set a high standard for excellence. The entire BTHS community is looking forward to witnessing the incredible contributions you will make in the future. Bravo!

Attention BTHS Students - The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is holding a T-Shirt Design Challenge. The PTSA is looking to sell BTHS Gear designed by a BTHS student. If your original design is selected as the winning submission you will receive a $50 Gift Card and Free T-Shirt. Not to mention the pride of knowing you designed the gear worn by your peers!

Attention Class of 2024 - PTSA Graduation Lawn Sign are on sale!

You may place your order by clicking on the link below. Orders will begin be filled once received. Parents, please check your emails for confirmation that your child's Senior graduation yard sign is available for pick up. Yard signs are now available for pickup. You may pickup signs from the main office or if your child drives and you would like them to pick up on your behalf they may do so at the end of the day. If you are unable to pick up please contact Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org for other arrangements. All Graduation Lawn Signs must be ordered before June 1, 2024.

Class of 2024 Graduation Lawn Sign - PTSA Fundraiser Document

The next PTSA Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 at 4:30 PM in the Library. An announcement will be pushed out through PTSA Member Hub. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the PTSA president, Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org.

The next PTSA Fundraiser will be a stand at the Class of 2024 Graduation.

If you have not already, please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA.

LINK to Memberhub

BTHS Students of the Month - May

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.

Matthew Allocca, Grade 9

Matt has the greatest attitude! He also a disciplined and talented student who is always polite and friendly to all of his peers. Such a positive influence. - Mrs. Bartok

Angelina Terhune, Grade 10

Angelina is always prepared and cooperates a lot with classmates.She displays great manners toward me and her classmates as well. Her smile is contagious. - Ms. Cardin

Elizabeth Avila, Grade 11

Liz excels at everything she does, whether it be in the classroom where she is an honors student in NHS prepping for AP exams or her extracurricular activities: which include wrestling, chorus, color guard, and band. - Mrs. Lindenbaum

Vincent Baracia, Grade 12

Vinny is a polite, kind young man who consistently does his best. Vinny is a student in my AP Calculus class where he works hard and helps his fellow classmates; his character and integrity are unquestionable. - Mrs. Struble

Spring sports are winding down, with only a few games left to play. The baseball team enjoyed a really good second half of the season. The team battled for a playoff spot until the last day of the season. The softball season has come to an end. The season was a challenging one for the Lady Dragons, but this young team kept working hard and playing together! The team is very young and they are looking to build on that youth next year! The boys and girls lacrosse teams had roller coaster seasons. The teams had some really solid wins that they can use to propel them into next year! Track and field recently competed in the Shore Conference Championships. The team had several noteworthy performances. Caitlyn Chandler won the Shore Conference high jump! The boys tennis team is having a solid season. The boys qualified for the state tournament and they are heading into a round one showdown with Shawnee! Good luck boys! The boys golf team finished the season 10-9 winning five of their last seven matches. In other news, the NJSIAA held their annual Scholar Athlete Luncheon where student-athletes around the state were honored for their academic and athletic accomplishments. Amaya Dalton was Brick Township’s recipient! The annual Shore Conference Sportsmanship awards were held on May 19th. This year’s honorees from Brick Township High School were Vivianna Sharples and Travis Trempy. Athletes from each school in the Shore Conference are honored for playing the game with sportsmanship, pride and dignity! Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to all the athletes and partner students who participated in the BTHS vs. Point Pleasant Boro kickball game! Your teamwork, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm made the event a fantastic success. Well done on showcasing the spirit of friendly competition and camaraderie. You all made us proud!

The BTHS Green Team has been hard at work! In addition to their usual activities, Green Team members have been pursuing Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification.

Student members worked with advisor Denelle Godek Johnson to create a presentation entitled “Earth Day is Over. Now What?” Juniors Liz Avila and Isabella Dautrich presented simple, mostly low-cost ways people can reduce their impact on the environment focusing on areas around the home. In addition, the team had some of the items they talked about in their presentation on hand for audience members to check out.

Green Team members were also on hand at the annual Brick Township Green Fair, where they offered activities that focused on the Food Waste Scale–discussing ways to reduce food waste in our homes and communities and the importance of composting. Food waste reduction is one of the easiest ways to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and it saves you money–a win all the way around. You can find more information about the impact of food waste on the Green Team Site.

While much of the work of the Green Team is behind the scenes, visitors to BTHS will notice two areas the Green Team has focused on this year. One of those areas is Outdoor Air Quality. While BTHS has always limited outdoor activities for our physical education classes and athletics when air quality is poor, we did not have a formal system for alerting all members of our school community. Now, in addition to daily emails to the staff, students in Ms. Bristol’s TV Production class include the air quality forecast in the morning announcements, and students in Ms. Ryan’s class post the appropriate air quality flag at the entrance of the East Gym Lobby for students and staff to see as they enter the building. The other area that has visibility in the school is Access to Healthy Water in Schools. Over the past several years, BTHS has been switching out the old water fountains for bottle fillers, which refrigerate and filter the water. As part of this action, which includes testing the water, Green Team members created and hung posters as visual reminders of the importance of staying hydrated.

The Multicultural Club learned about Children's day celebrated in Japan. It marks the final celebration in Golden Week and celebrates children's happiness, wellbeing and progress. Students worked along side Mrs. Velez and Mrs. Pavao to create Koinobori Fish (giant carp windsocks).

Our school literary magazine, The Regaler, is LIVE! See it on our school homepage of the Brick Schools website, or use the link here. Click Here.

Enjoy your journey into space as you enjoy the creative talents of our Dragon writers, artists, and photographers. Thank you, students and staff, for your eager contributions to this year's issue!

BTHS was honored to host guest speaker Manny Lindenbaum, a Holocaust survivor whose inspiring story underscored the power of perseverence and resiliency. Manny Lindenbaum's heartfulet message emphasized the importance of seeing the good in others, even in the darkest times. He emphasized with students the power of self-care and importance of feeling good about one's actions as they will ultimately have a positive reflection on society. His life is a testament to the enduring human spirit and the profound impact of home and kindness.

In celebration of New jersey Special Education Week, BTHS participated in a door decorating contest with the theme of "Inclusion & Acceptance". The winner of our contest was Mrs. McDevitt's classroom with a door focused on promoting inclusion and connection. Thank you to all of the staff and students who participated in this event as it brought continued awareness and focus on the value and importance of honoring an inclusive learning community.

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.

At this time, yearbooks will only be available for purchase following distribution. Any extra yearbooks can be purchased out of the guidance office. Please see Ms. Piwowarczyk to purchase a yearbook.

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.

SGA recently conducted elections for next year's class officers. Congratulations to all new and returning officers. SGA is also in the process of conducting interviews for the executive board of the SGA. The new board will be announced and the graduating board members will be celebrated at our last meeting on Wednesday, May 29th.

It's been an incredible journey watching the Class of 2024 flourish, and now it's time to honor their hard work with the following activities!

Upcoming Class of 2024 Activities

Senior Picnic: May 28, Venue - Brick Beach 3, Time - 9:30am

Senior Walk through in Elementary Schools: May 29, Time - 9:30am

Senior Breakfast: May 30, Venue - Cafe 3, Time - 8:30am

Senior Awards Night: May 30, Time - 6pm

Six Flags Grad Night: June 7, Time - 8pm

Graduation: June 13, Time - 4:30pm

You can contact Mr. Lucchetti at flucchetti@brickschools.org and Mrs. Ianniello at lianniello@brickschools.org with questions. We wish the Class of 2024 our best as they begin the next chapter of their lives beyond Brick Township High School!

The Class of 2025 just finished having our Junior Prom at Jumping Brook Country Club. It was a great success and the kids had an awesome time. We are gearing up for the end of the year and looking forward to having some activities set up this summer with the new Executive Board. Next year we are hoping to get the yard games fundraiser going again as well as the community volleyball tournament to accompany the student volleyball tournament. The Junior Class is also gearing up for some Senior Year victories in Powder Puff and BOTC. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the class advisors Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org or Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org

Congratulations to our elected class officers, who were all in attendance at the Class of 2027 Junior Prom. This was a great opportunity to take note on how we would like to move forward with our Junior Prom planning. We are excited for next year's events. If you are interested in helping in these preparations or assisting with class business please be sure to come to our next class meeting. Details will be posted in our Google Classroom. Continue to check our Google Classroom and Instagram for updates and information. If you have any questions, you can see Ms. DePoto in room 408 & 415 or Mrs. Buell in 306 & 310. Google Classroom lf4subd / Instagram @bths_classof2026

The Class of 2027 is eagerly anticipating the newly elected Executive Board for next year. It's hard to believe that next year will be Sophomore year! We are looking forward to the fundraisers we will be planning and implementing. Please remember to be part of the Google Classroom and see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (202) with any questions. It will be Homecoming again before we know it!!

Updates from the School Counseling Department

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to high-performing, underrepresented students. The five national recognition programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National First-Generation Recognition Program (beginning in 2024), National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program

Recipients are strong academic performers who take eligible administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams and meet the score requirements considered for awards. Students must also identify as African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Indigenous/Native American, first-generation, and/or attend high school in a rural area or small town. Many colleges intentionally recruit awardees, and school communities often celebrate students who receive these awards.

• We would like to celebrate the following students for the National First-Generation Recognition Program; Tyler Acropolis, Trinity Elrod, Jamie Fischbach, Ryan Lehrach, Michelle Lin, Matthew Maugeri, and William Pearson
• We would like to celebrate the following students for the National Hispanic Recognition Program; Iriana Ramirez, Gael Reyes, and Mariana Uribe Wharff

AP Testing Administration concluded on May 17th. Congratulations to all of our students who worked diligently to prepare for their AP exam(s). Scores will be available in July on Collegeboard.

Senior Scholarship/Award Night will be on Thursday, May 30th at 6pm in the BTHS auditorium. We look forward to celebrating our 12th grade students who will be receiving scholarships and awards.

Current Sophomores and Juniors; consider signing up to take the SAT on Saturday, August 24th at BTHS. Please register on collegeboard.org to reserve your seat.

Military Recognition Day will be held on Wednesday, May 22nd to recognize and honor our students from Brick Township High School and Brick Memorial High School who plan to enlist into the military to serve our country.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a national observance started in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. Across the country, individuals, schools and organizations step up to raise awareness and help address the challenges faced by people living with mental health conditions. Here is a link from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) where you can learn more about this observance and how you can move mental health forward for yourself and others this month and all year long. You will also find some incredible and useful resources to find constructive ways to deal with many mental health issues facing youth today. In addition, see below for some apps that you and your family can utilize to aid in support for overall mental health and well-being.

Best for depression: BetterHelp

Best for talk therapy: Brightside

Best for chat therapy: Talkspace

Best for mindfulness: Headspace

Best for sleep: Calm

Hello BTHS Community!

As the BTHS health offices wrap up all the state mandated health screenings for the 2023-2024 school year and send out any referrals, we would like to focus on Vision Health this month. If you have received a letter in the mail regarding a vision referral, please respond to the health office with follow ups that you have scheduled. The NIH-National Eye Institute recognizes May as, “Health Vision Month,” encouraging healthy vision and eye protection. Eye health is connected to our overall health, so having a full eye exam can reveal other health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.

NIH-National Eye Institute recommends several things to do to protect your vision.

1. Routine eye examination, including dilation. Many eye conditions go unnoticed without any relevant symptoms.

2. Get your heart pumping by adding physical activity to your daily routine, even if it means dancing between commercials or walking the block while making phone calls.

3. Get to know your family’s history because some eye conditions, such as, glaucoma and macular degeneration can be genetic.

4. Add more eye-healthy foods into your diet, such as dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, and collard greens) and fish high in omega-3 fatty acid (salmon, halibut, and tuna).

5. It is important to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, even when it is cloudy, by wearing protective sunglasses. This is especially important for those with light colored eyes, since you are at an increased risk for cancer or melanoma of the uvea, then those individuals with dark colored eyes.

6. Manage chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure to reduce your risk of vision loss.

7. If you smoke- QUIT or make a plan to stop smoking!

Health screenings are done as another preventative measure, which includes vision. Although vision is not checked at every grade level, if a parent or student has a concern regarding their vision, please reach out to one of the nurses, so we can address the concern.

The National Eye Institute does recognize that there are barriers to healthcare, so they have provided a list of useful resources that are available at little or no cost to those in need to address your eye care needs. Many are unaware that due to the Affordable Care Act many health insurances cover eye examinations for children 19 and younger, so be sure to contact member services. While prevention is key, it is important to seek further medical evaluation when an issue is recognized. If your child did receive a referral for their vision and you need assistance with resources regarding further evaluation, please reach out to one of the health offices.

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. Here is an update on recent events from SBYSP:

• For the Peer Leadership Program, we received nominations from staff members for new Peer Leaders and sent out applications. The students nominated and interested in becoming Peer Leaders for the next school year submitted their applications and engaged in group interviews. We are excited for our new group of Peer Leaders joining our program to help deliver Outreaches to freshmen next year!
• In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, School Based hosted a Mental Health art contest, in which students could submit various artwork (i.e. painting, graphic design, photography, etc.) to represent a positive message about mental health. The artwork will be displayed in School Based for staff and students to vote on the best and prizes will be distributed

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