Hillcrest North April 2024 News
April 2024
Principal's Message
Dear Hillcrest Academy North Campus (HAN) Students and Families:
Hillcrest Academy North has been very busy during the month of April. We have had a productive launching of our Pathful Explore program which is designed to identify students skills, develop those skills, and align them to college and career. Teachers and students have been meeting for one hour a week to work in this software program which gives them the time to plan for their future. There is certainly a "buzz" around the building about the program and how each student will benefit from it.
Also, we hosted Career Day 2024! Every school year HAN asks professionals from the community to join us for a day of "exploration" for our students as they learn about different professions from experienced professionals, are able to ask questions about the profession they are most interested in, and leave with a mindset that they must plan for their future while still in high school. It was a very fantastic and fun day at HAN.
Keep up the good work, HAN!
Sincerely,
Mr. Marquet
Principal
Upcoming Dates
May 3rd - School Wide Incentive Field Trip
May 7th-14th - State Testing for select students
May 17th - Field Trip for select Seniors
May 21st - Field Trip for select Seniors
May 24th - Science Field Trip for select students
May 27th - No School - Memorial Day
May 30th - Prom!
*Prom Packets can be picked up in the Main Office*
Staff Spotlight - Mrs. Picciano
Mrs. Picciano has been the Art Teacher at Hillcrest Academy North for over 15 years!. She is able to inspire her students through her passion for art and give the students a space for them to explore their creativity. Due to Mrs. Picciano's dedicated to HAN, she along with several students created the award winning bulletbin board for the UCESC contest! The halls of HAN are decorated with student art work that they create in Mrs. Picciano's classes.
Main Office Spotlights
Mrs. Prieto, School Nurse
Mrs. Goldenberg, Social Worker
April has been a productive and busy month in the Social Work office. Upon returning from Spring Break, the social work/guidance department took a group of 12 Seniors to UCNJ to visit the campus. Many students now plan to attend there next year, and will be attending a “New Student Orientation” on 5/21 where they will have the opportunity to register for classes for the Fall 2024 Semester. The social worker has worked with all other Seniors to help them take steps regarding their post graduate plans, including: assistance with college applications, career exploration, and completing financial aid. We also had our first NJ4S School-wide program over the course of three weeks, which was entitled “Relationship Losses”. In this program, two professionals completed a presentation on ways we can effectively cope with relationship losses. They will be returning in June to complete a presentation on marijuana.
April 26, 2024 was our Annual Career Day, and professionals from various fields attended. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn not only about all of the different fields, but about how the individuals came to be in the field that they are in. Our students reported a positive experience – and we’ve already asked the professionals to return for 2025!
April at HAN
Yearbook Pictures
Students were excited to have their pictures taken for this year's Yearbook! Students posed for group Homeroom and Superlative pictures along with individual Senior portraits. Due to HAN being awarded a UCESF Grant for Yearbook equipment this year, students were able to take a more hands on approach to creating this year's Yearbook and have high quality pictures!
Relationship Loss Presentations
HAN students were visited by.... to present and discuss about relationship loss and how to handle it. Students participated in discussion about what red flags in relationships (both romantic and plotonic) are and how to work through a heartbreak.
UCC Trip
Graduating seniors who were interested in Union County College went on a field trip to tour the campus and learn more about the programs of study offered there. Several students are enrolled at UCC for the fall and will be going back to the campus to complete an orientation in May!
Career Day
HAN held its Annual Career Day where professional members of the community gave presentations on their careers and how they reached their goals. Students were able to ask questions and engage in discussions with the professionals and wrote reflections about what career was the most interesting to them. Thank you to all of professionals who attended our Career Day!
Master of Public Health & Social Worker
EMT & Firefighter
Elizabeth Police Officers
Thank You!
April 24th was Administrative Professional's Day and HAN was able to celebrate Mrs. Di Carlo! Mrs. Di Carlo is the best of the best and ensures that HAN runs smoothly every day! Thank you for all that you do!
STOPit Solutions
Students and staff were introduced to STOPit Solutions, a program that allows students and staff to report any concerns about unsafe, harmful, or inappropriate behavior to the HAN Safety Team. Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to download the STOPit App onto their phones.
About HAN
Hillcrest Academy North assists students from the Elizabeth Public School District in reaching their full potential by providing an alternative to the traditional high school setting. We offer smaller class sizes with a rigorous and challenging high school curriculum that is aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and prepares students for college and career. Our goal is to provide a safe, supportive, and empowering school environment that fosters lifelong learning, mutual respect, creativity, and the joy of learning, with an effective, caring, innovative staff, in partnership with home and the community.
Mr. John Marquet, Principal
Mr. Thomas Van Cleef, Supervisor of Instruction
Location: 2630 Plainfield Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Phone Number: (908) 233-9366