
January
Chief's Report
Mr. Lester's Message
The month of January has come and gone in what seems like the blink of an EYE. Happy New Year to each and every one of you. May 2019 bring to each of your families, GREAT health, GREAT opportunity, and peace of mind. Our EMPIRE at PHS is off to an OUTSTANDING start for the New Year. As we enter the second semester of the school year, we are gearing up for the potentially harsh winter months ahead. We will take full advantage of the cold weather by creating an environment that is WARM and CONDUCIVE to TEACHING & LEARNING. The ENERGY inside this GREAT EMPIRE is that of ten suns, hence WE are always BRIGHT and INSPIRED. I am EXCITED about the AWESOME things that students and teachers will accomplish in the second half of the school year. Read on to find out how WE closed out 2018 and opened up 2019. Be well…
Strength and Honor
DECA Regional Competition
The Piscataway High School Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) participated in a regional competition on January 3, 2019. Three of our students attained final placement and are now eligible for the DECA state-wide finals in March. The students and the events are as follows:
- · Principles of Business Management & Administration – Danielle Natale
- · Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making – Ronak Patel & Vivek Trivedi
This is Piscataway’s maiden voyage into DECA’s regional competition and our students represented themselves and the “Empire” in an exemplary manner. The students and Mr. McCombs would like to acknowledge Mr. Wernlund and Ms. Lollin for their contributions to the establishment and ongoing success of the Piscataway High School DECA club.
High School Heroes
On December 18th, 48 Piscataway High School students, including FBLA members and students from Personal Finance and Principles of Economics classes, visited Martin Luther King School to teach hands-on, standards-based financial literacy lessons to 20 fourth and fifth grade classes as part of the High School Heroes program from Junior Achievement (JA).
Well over 400 Martin Luther King students enjoyed solving problems collaboratively, presenting business ideas to their classmates, and interacting with the PHS Heroes.
Many thanks to Dr. Gray, Principal of M.L. King School, and Ms. Blanshaft, Assistant Principal, for terrific logistical support, to the staff at MLK for the warm welcome, to Junior Achievement’s corporate and individual sponsors who donated thousands of dollars to facilitate the program at nearly zero cost to the District, to the team at Junior Achievement for their continued training and support, and to our PHS Heroes who collectively volunteered over 300 hours of their time to attend training, prepare for, and deliver the lessons.
Next year, MLK alumni who participated as 5th graders in December, 2016 will be PHS freshmen and can "complete the circle" by volunteering to return to MLK as Heroes!
Good News from The Key Club
Congratulations to Yeleena Rivera who was elected to the position of Lieutenant Governor for the NJ District of Key Club. She will take over for Maiya Dabare, a senior at PHS at the end of her term. Piscataway has a long streak of electing students to this prestigious position.
PHS A Cappella Festival | Megan Suozzo
The PHS A Cappella Festival brought local high schools (Hillsborough, Cecily Tyson, and Piscataway), Collegiate A Cappella Groups (Ithacappella and the Orphansporks from Rutgers), and the community together for an afternoon and evening of singing! It was an amazing event. Thanks to Ms. Suozzo, the Choir parents, and PHS’s Noteriety leadership (Madeleine Mendoza, Izabella Lopez, and Brian Jesus) for making the event happen!
Emma Broggi | Rising Tide Award | Dorothy Amme
Congratulations to PHS art student Emma Broggi who was selected as a Rising Tide Awardee in Bow Seat’s 2018 Ocean Awareness Contest. Emma’s submission was memorable and stood out from the more than 2,750 entries received from around the world. Way to go Emma and thanks to Ms. Amme!
Celebrating Art | PHS Art Students | Dorothy Amme
Congratulations to PHS Art Students who had their work selected to be published in Celebrating Art! Amaya Pegeron Fletcher, Emma Broggi, Kathleen Hammerdahl, Mia Tomasino, Takara Fuller, and Kevin Nguyen will all have their work published! Thank you to their teacher Mrs. Amme!
Piscataway Choral Collective | Alumni Return | Megan Suozzo & Rebekah Sterlacci
We were so pleased to see so many alumni come back at our January rehearsal while students were home from school! Our next rehearsal is on February 5th at 8PM in the PHS Choir Room! Adults welcome!
PHS Chamber Orchestra Winter Tour | Chris Sumner
The PHS Chamber Orchestra toured the district Intermediate schools and also Lakeview School, playing selections from their upcoming concert, and also some holiday favorites. Thank you to Chris Sumner, Haley Schilla, and Steve Mejias for coordinating and arranging this!
Paper Mill Playhouse Arts Fest | PHS Theater | Mike Yoson
PHS Theater students participated in workshops as part of Paper Mill Playhouse’s Adopt-a-School Arts Fest! Students participated in dance and theater workshops and a vocal music master-class. Additionally, students got to watch the year three students (PHS will be in year 3 next year) perform their original plays on the Paper Mill stage. Thanks to Mike Yoson for coordinating this and providing such great opportunities for our students!
Special Guest Teacher Ms. Chane' Jones, Esq.
On Friday, January 18th Mr. Viney’s African American Experience class welcomed Ms. Chane' Jones, Esq. of the NJ Institute for Social Justice as their guest teacher for the day. Her lesson focused around reforming the criminal justice system. Several other social studies classes were invited to join the presentation leading into the MLK Day weekend. Prior to the class, Ms. Jones hosted a "Lunch and Learn" for students interested in careers in law and or social justice.
The National Society of High School Scholars
Congratulations!
JROTC - Mini Grant
JROTC received a mini grant from the PTSO for a virtual reality system to improve our flight simulation training. Ms. Tata is shown presenting the check to Cadet Colonel Teja Nath who coordinated the request.
The JROTC would like to thank the PTSO and PTSO President, Ms. Tata.
Save the Date
Sunday, Jun 9, 2019, 10:00 AM
Piscataway High School, Behmer Road, Piscataway Township, NJ, USA
Successful GMC Tournament
We would like to congratulate our wrestlers who placed in the tournament:
Joseph Hatcher 160- 1st (3 time champion!)
Marcus Petite 152- 2nd
Gabriel Rodrigues 170- 2nd
Nick Recine 195- 2nd
Desmond Pleasant 106- 3rd
Deon Pleasant 113- 3rd
Nick Lodato 182- 3rd
Kendall Jordan 120- 7th/8th
Daniel Mikita 132- 7th/8th
Jake Sisk 138- 7th/8th
David Greene 285- 7th/8th
The wrestling coaches want to thank all of our parents and those who volunteered to help in the team room, selling items at the door, handling the 50/50's, helping with our transitions, dealing with the tournament programs and anything else that needed to get done. The wrestling coaches would like to extend a special thanks to the Hatcher Family for their efforts and involvement to ensure that the weekend ran as smooth as it did!
All of this plus the efforts of our other varsity wrestlers led to Piscataway taking 2nd in the team standings for the 3rd year in a row.
Thanks again and we will see you soon!
PHS Boys Winter Track
Congratulations to Nichos Silvera, Jadyn Terry, Lorenzo Bowers and Christian Davis on winning a NJ Group 4 State Championship in the 4x400 M Relay Event with a time of 3:26 on Wednesday, January 23 at the NJSIAA State Group 4 Relay Championship Meet in Toms River.
Proud Sponsors of Piscataway High School
Proud Sponsors
Of
Piscataway High School
Chiefs Nation Membership
Cullen Family Foundation
Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala, & Taylor, LLC.
DJSC Inc.
Piscataway Municipal Alliance
Tribe Members
Tequila & Tacos
Bellamy & Sons
Royce Brook Golf Course
Neshanic Valley Golf Course
Pete Falco’s
The Max of Piscataway
Robert Williams Esq.
Cedar Grove Café & Pizza
Ricochet Club
Black & Gold Members
Piscataway Soccer Club
Lester Taylor
Hand & Stone Massage
Piscataway Pizza
Stelton Lumber
Paul Schoeb
Rita’s
Wine Chateau
George Thomas Jr.
Thai Basil
Petrucci’s
Important Dates for February
February 2 - 5th Annual Father & Son Conference 8:30am
February 4 - PTSO meeting 7pm
February 12 -Teacher In-Service ½ Day students
February 18- No School Presidents Day
February 22 - PTSO TRICKY TRAY 6:00pm