Piscataway High School
Chief Report
Message from the Principal
The school year is in full swing as October winds down here at PHS. Fall sports are wrapping up, with the Volleyball Team still in the playoff hunt. We started October with the Week of Respect where we had morning messages that challenged us to transform our intentions into positive actions. We administered the PSAT in a digital format to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students while our 12th grade students began preparing for graduation. Order those caps and gowns now; June will be here before you know it! We capped it off with an amazing Spirit Week. Congratulations, to the Junior Class for hallway decorating contest. We ended the week with a pep rally, where Mr. Berdecia and I got a pie in the face, a homecoming football game win, and a dance. It was a busy but enjoyable start to the school year and I am looking forward seeing what November has in store!
Senior Yunus Yucel Perfect Score
PHS senior Yunus Yucel received a perfect score on the Advanced Placement Computer Science Exam. Yunus is one out of 91 in the World, to reach this increditible accomplishment. This is Piscataway second year in a row that a student attained a perfect score in AP Computer Science. Yunus moved here from Turkey at the beginning of his junior year. Principal Baldassano, said his success is a point of pride for the whole school. Congratulations, Yunus!
21 PHS Students Earn National College Board Academic Honors
Twenty-one Piscataway High School students earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs. These academic honors for African American and Hispanic students are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent. The criteria for eligible students include: GPA of 3.5 or higher; PSAT scores that are within the top 10% in each state for each award program or earned a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams in ninth and 10th grade.
Cullen Scholarship
Recipients of the Cullen Family Scholarship at PHS gathered on October 19th, for a luncheon with their generous benefactor at Rutgers University. James G. Cullen a member of the first PHS graduation class in 1960, has endowed the scholarship for more than 20 years for high-achieving PHS students who plan to attend Rutgers. He also hosts the annual luncheon to stay in touch with the recipients while they are in college. Mr. Cullen is a member of the PHS Wall of Fame, a 1964 graduate of Rutgers, and former CEO of Bell Atlantic, the predecessor to Verizon. Thank you to Mr. Cullen, for his generosity and for always remembering his Piscataway roots with pride.
Congratulations, Greg Michaels
On Wednesday, November 1, 2023 PHS Business Teacher and former FBLA Lead Advisor Greg Michaels was one of just three honorees recognized at the Piscataway Rotary’s 55th Anniversary Celebration. Greg was honored for community service based on his work as the Lead Advisor of the PHS Chapter of FBLA for eleven years from 2012 thru 2023. The Piscataway Rotary specifically noted that during his tenure with the PHS FBLA, Greg and the many FBLA members worked closely with the Piscataway Rotary on the Business Plan Simulation and Career Day activities as well as supporting Rotary activities such as Trick-or-Suite and the Taste of Piscataway. Throughout his years as PHS Lead FBLA Advisor, Greg volunteered and coordinated the volunteer efforts of the PHS FBLA members at Johnson Park, the Piscataway Senior Center, Central NJ Diaper Bank, Turtle Back Zoo as well as Hands for Hope and FISH Hospitality Volunteer Program. In recognition of his service to the community the Piscataway Rotary presented Greg with the Piscataway Rotary Community Service Award. Congratulations Greg!
PHS Artists Honored in CareSparc Art Competition | Dorothy Amme & Sandra Guevara
PHS juniors Mason Tomasino, Yaksh Bhatia, and Tasneem Mohideen were honored for their entries in the CareSparc Village Fest Statewide Art Contest! Mason Tomasino was the state winner and his artwork will be featured at all Village Fest events this September! He also will receive a $1,000 scholarship and a laptop this coming spring as he heads off to college. A huge thank you to Dorothy Amme and Sandra Guevara for encouraging and supporting their students to participate!
Superchief Marching Band Award-Winning Season | Ken Zampella + Christian Lopez
The Superchief Marching Band had a truly remarkable season - winning first place in the AA division at the East Brunswick Competition - and also taking home Best Music, Best Visual Performance, and Best Overall Effect! This season, the band also hosted their annual Marching Band Festival and Band Appreciation Night - honoring seniors and their families. A huge thank you to Ken Zampella, Christian Lopez, the marching band staff, the student leadership, and the band parents!
Chiefs Dance Team at Homecoming | Kylah Sessoms
The Chiefs Dance Team performed a new routine at the Homecoming Game on Friday, October 13th. Thanks to Kylah Sessoms!
PHS Choir Attends Rowan University’s Tenor and Bass Festival | Megan Suozzo
Tenors and Basses from the PHS Choirs attended the Tenor and Bass Festival hosted by the Rowan University Choral Department. Students from all over NJ attended and sang together. Thanks to Megan Suozzo!
PHS Theatre Students Attend The Great Gatsby | Erik Hall + Mike Yoson
PHS Theatre students attended a performance of the sold-out, highly anticipated run of The Great Gatsby at Paper Mill Playhouse as part of the Adopt-A-School Program. Students attended a pre-show talk and then saw the performance in its pre-Broadway run. Thanks to Erik Hall - and to Mike Yoson for making all the arrangements.
Broadway Cabaret | Erik Hall
The PHS Drama Club presented their annual Broadway Cabaret. The production featured group and solo numbers with students performing songs from Broadway. The evening concluded with a full cast finale from In the Heights! Thanks to Mr. Hall and the student leadership for a wonderful evening of theatre!
PHS Musical Theatre Students Perform at School Board Convention | Rebekah Sterlacci + Megan Suozzo
Savannah Weaver, Jackson Bartle, and Ashley Hamilton represented the PHS Musical Theatre course at the NJ School Boards Association Convention in Atlantic City. All three students sang a musical theatre solo piece for conference attendees. We were so proud to represent our district!
Chiefs Dance Team and Superchief Marching Band Senior Night | Kylah Sessoms, Ken Zampella, + Christian Lopez
The PHS Chiefs Dance Team and Superchief Marching Band honored seniors at a home football game. Seniors and their families took the field to celebrate their achievements as part of these performing arts groups! Thanks to Kylah Sessoms, Ken Zampella, and Christian Lopez!
Hallway Decorating Results
Hallway Decoration Contest Results
4th place - Freshmen
3rd place - Sophomores
2nd place - Seniors
1st place - Juniors
Senior Hallway
Senior Hallway
Freshman Hallway
Sophomore Hallway
Sophomore Hallway
Sophomore Hallway
Junior Hallway
Junior Hallway
Sophomore Hallway
PHS Student Michael Robinson
PHS student Michael Robinson and his mother, Valerie Mason-Robinson, traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in a civic opportunity through the On The Hill program on the weekend of September 23rd. Jack and Jill of America is a membership organization of mothers with children ages 2 – 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, In addition to a visit to Rep. Frank Pallone’s office, they had a chance to meet VP Kamala Harris. Keep up the good work Robinson family!
New Members of the VPA Team
We are so excited to welcome new members to our VPA team this year! Read about our new team members below and be sure to reach out and say hi!
Arley Kuehl | PHS Visual Art
Arley is excited to join Piscataway High School as an Animation Teacher! It has long been his dream to teach Art and he has always loved to draw, paint, and create animations. Arley graduated from Stockton University last year with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studies in the Arts and he spent the last school year in Long-Term Substitute Art Teacher positions in two different districts. Arley also has many hobbies and interests outside of the visual arts including hiking, gardening, cooking, playing video games, and writing music. Arley is looking forward to the school year and meeting everyone!
Kylah Sessoms | Chiefs Dance Team Coach
Kylah is our new Chiefs Dance Team Coach, bringing her passion, creativity and excitement to PHS! She studied both Psychology and Dance at Rowan University where she graduated in 2020. By day, she’s a Care Manager in Social Work, working hand in hand with youth and families. By night, she dedicates her time working at a dance studio spreading her love of dance. Kylah has been dancing for 15 years and has experience in leadership, child development, and teaching. She is an alumni of Piscataway and its dance program - once a member of the team. Kylah is honored to take up this position as CDT is very near and dear to her.
PHS Artist Wins First Place in State Teen Media Contest | Dorothy Amme
Congratulations to PHS Artist Gabriella Freeman who was awarded first place in the Teen Media Art Contest! Gabriella was honored at the State House in Trenton this past June. Thanks to Dorothy Amme!
Madison Scheideler | PHS Dance Student Teacher from Mason Gross School of the Arts
Madison Scheideler earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Rutgers University and is a second-year graduate student in their EdM Dance Education program. She is a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts for demonstrating outstanding artistic merit, leadership, and academic achievement in the field of dance. Madison has trained in the Royal Academy of Dance certification program and danced with the World-Famous Donetsk Ballet Company for the Nutcracker. She has also worked with the Ananya Dance Theatre and choreographers such as Pam Tanowitz, Michelle Manzanales from Ballet Hispanico and the late Kim Elliott. She is also a choreographer and teacher and an International Talent Winner for three self choreographed modern ballet solos. Madison aspires to perform in a dance company or on Broadway after graduation. She is very excited to be a student teacher at Piscataway High School this year!
PHS Theatre Students Attend West Side Story | Mike Yoson & Erik Hall
Members of the PHS Theatre program attended a performance of West Side Story at Villagers Theatre and had an opportunity to participate in a talk back with the cast following the performance. Thanks to Mike Yoson and Erik Hall for providing this experience for students!
Our artists share their beautiful artwork with our community!
PHS | Dorothy Amme
Peachtober! Artwork every day in October! Students signed up for daily prompts and added their art to the classroom collaborative space!
FBLA Cleans Johnson Park
The Piscataway High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) did a wonderful job cleaning up Johnson Park on October 7, 2023. The students collected trash and treasures and left the park looking amazing.
Happy Halloween from PHS!! 🎃
November Events
November 9 - School Closed NJEA Convention
November 10 - School Closed NJEA Convention
November 15 - 1/2 Day for Students (Evening Conferences)
November 16 - 1/2 Day for Students (Evening Conferences)
November 17 - 1/2 Day for Students (Afternoon Conferences)
November 22 - 1/2 Day for Staff & Students
November 23 - School Closed for Thanksgiving
November 24 - School Closed for Thanksgiving