The Dragon Review

October 2026

Hello Dragons!

I hope this message finds the BTHS community well. The month of October has offered our staff and students an opportunity to settle into established learning routines. BTHS has been extremely busy this past month kicking off the school year with traditions and events. It has been great to see our students engaged in co-curricular activities that contribute to a well-rounded high school experience. Whether it be in a club, sport, or activity, getting involved at Brick Township High School is something we encourage all of our students to experience as part of their four years at BTHS.

BTHS will continue the tradition of holding a Halloween Costume competition on Friday, October 30. As a reminder it is imperative that all costumes are school appropriate. Items inclusive of weapons, weapon-like props, or masks completely covering the face are NOT permitted. Please be mindful of extensive face makeup, we need to be able to identify each student present in our building, students may not be unrecognizable. Clothing choices and attire for this day must continue to meet the district dress code standards.

The First Marking period will close on November 11. As we approach the end of our first grading period, I urge all of our students to strive for excellence. Each of these grading periods play an important role in shaping your child’s high school journey. I am grateful for the ongoing support received from our parents and caregivers as we work together to promote a level of ownership within each of our students, recognizing the importance of our educational opportunities.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on November 18, 19, and 20. Students will have an early release from school on these days. Parents will sign up electronically for their desired conference through the Parent Portal. The opportunity to schedule a conference through Parent Portal closes on Wednesday, November 4. Note that Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held in-person, with the option of having a virtual conference according to the distributed schedule timeframe. More detailed information regarding Parent-Teacher Conferences was distributed earlier this month through a blackboard broadcast. This information can also be found in this month’s newsletter. Parent-Teacher Conference Information Letter.

In closing, I would like to share that I have continued to support BTHS in the role of building principal over the past month. As we move forward with the leadership transition, Dennis Filippone, former BTHS Principal, Central Office Administrator, and Interim Superintendent of BTPS, will serve as interim principal while the hiring process is completed. Mr. Filippone will continue to work closely with and receive support from the building’s administrative team. Mr. Filippone can be reached at dfilippone@brickschools.org.

Respectfully,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Regular school attendance is essential to student achievement, engagement, and long-term success. Throughout the school year, the district will continue to utilize monthly attendance nudge letters to keep students and parents/guardians informed of attendance patterns and progress. At the end of each month, students whose attendance patterns indicate they are on track to accumulate 18 or more absences by the end of the school year will receive a notification letter. This threshold represents approximately 10% of the school year and aligns with the criteria for chronic absenteeism. Through continued communication and collaboration among students, families, and schools, we can reinforce the importance of daily attendance and ensure students have consistent access to instruction, meaningful learning experiences, and opportunities for success.

Hello, Dragons!

We are excited to share an update about some of the wonderful things happening at Brick Township High School, along with several exciting events on the horizon! Students had the opportunity to take the ASVAB test on Thursday, October 8. On Friday, October 9, BTHS hosted its annual Italian Folk Dancer Presentation in the Auditorium. This wonderful cultural experience provided students with an opportunity to learn about and experience Italian culture through traditional dance, music, and theatrical movement. Our Heritage Festival took place in the IMC on Thursday, October 15, celebrating the diversity of cultures represented in our school community. Fall NJGPA testing took place on Thursday, October 15; Friday, October 16; and Monday, October 19. On Tuesday, October 20, BTHS hosted the Mazda-Be Moved fundraiser in partnership with Pine Belt Mazda. With more than 150 participants, this event was a great opportunity for our school and community partners to come together in support of Brick Township High School and its improvement initiatives. On Wednesday, October 21, BTHS was recognized at the Sustainable Jersey Annual Awards Ceremony in Atlantic City. This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our Green Team members. A special thank-you to Mrs. Godek-Johnson and Mr. Paxton for their commitment and contributions!

To kick off Red Ribbon Week, BTHS will host the Stephen Hill Assembly on Friday, October 23. Classroom activities will continue throughout the week, concluding on Thursday, October 29. The Halloween Costume Contest will take place on Friday, October 30. On Tuesday, October 27, Mrs. Smith and the BTHS Guidance Department will host the annual Financial Aid Presentation for students and families interested in exploring postsecondary educational opportunities and learning more about financial aid resources. On Wednesday, October 28, Thomas Snyder will lead a Distracted Driving Presentation to educate students about the dangers of distracted driving and the importance of making safe decisions behind the wheel. PSAT makeup testing will take place on Thursday, October 29.

Please keep the following important dates and events in mind as we head into November:

• Thursday, November 5, and Friday, November 6: School will be closed for the NJEA Convention.

• Tuesday, November 10: BTHS will participate in the NJ Youth Tobacco Survey.

• Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14: BTHS will present its annual Fall Drama Production. We look forward to seeing our students showcase their talents!

• Wednesday, November 18, through Friday, November 20: Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place. BTHS will follow an abbreviated half-day schedule during these three days.

• Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27: School will be closed for Thanksgiving Break.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, our staff, and the entire BTHS community. We appreciate your partnership in making Brick Township High School a place where our students can learn, grow, and succeed.

Go Dragons!

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:

"I had a fun time at my last game senior night for soccer." ~ Jack D.

"Fall fest is a yearly favorite that connects me with my community!" ~ Anna Claire S.

"I had a great time at fall fest volunteering in the community" ~ Rowan F.

"I loved the Heritage festival and enjoyed all the food" ~ Jaeden M.

Brick Township High School was recognized as a Sustainable School at the 2026 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Awards Ceremony in Atlantic City this past month, earning Bronze certification with an impressive 190 points. This marks the third time BTHS has received Bronze-level Sustainable School recognition, reflecting the school’s continued commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. This achievement was made possible through the leadership and dedication of Mrs. Godek-Johnson and Mr. Paxton, whose efforts continue to support and advance sustainability initiatives throughout the school community.

BTHS students enjoyed a vibrant and engaging Italian Folk Dancer Assembly on Friday, October

9. The performance brought Italian culture to life through expressive movement and traditional

music. This cultural experience offered students a fun and meaningful opportunity to explore the

rich traditions of Italy while celebrating the diversity that enriches our school community.

Brick Township High School was proud to participate in Brick Township’s annual Fall Fest, joining community members for a day of connection and community pride. BTHS students and staff represented the Dragon community, demonstrating their commitment to service, involvement, and strengthening the connection between our school and the greater Brick Township community.

Brick Township High School observed the Week of Respect from October 5 - October 9 with activities promoting kindness, empathy, and respect. Students painted kindness shells, sharing positive messages through creativity, and attended a guest speaker presentation on Consent 101, emphasizing personal boundaries and respectful relationships. These experiences reinforced the importance of creating a school community where everyone feels valued and respected.

Red Ribbon Week is a National Drug Prevention Campaign that encourages students to live drug free lives. Every year during the week of October 23 - October 31, schools across the nation aim to educate youth on the dangers and societal problems that can occur within a community as a result of drugs. This year's theme is “Make a Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free. Students had the opportunity to participate in the various activities and classroom lessons throughout Red Ribbon Week to promote awareness, safety, healthy choices and positive decision making. Students and staff are encouraged to wear RED on Thursday, October 29 to show support in promoting the message behind Red Ribbon Week.

A huge thank-you to the BTHS PTSA and Pine Belt Mazda for partnering on the “Mazda Be Moved” fundraiser, which raised nearly $9,000 to support our school community! We are grateful for their generosity, collaboration, and continued commitment to our students. This outstanding effort demonstrates the power of community partnerships and Dragon pride!

Communication associated with upcoming PTSA Meetings is pushed out to members through the Memberhub platform. Please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA. LINK to Memberhub

Underclass makeup pictures will be November 17, for students who missed the original picture date or were not happy with their original pictures. More details will be shared closer to that date.

2027 Yearbooks Are On Sale Now Order your copy by December 1 to save $10! Order your yearbook here.

Celebrate Your Senior! The back of the yearbook has a special section for senior recognition ads. Families can write a personal message and add favorite photos to honor their graduate. Purchase & design your senior ad here.

BTHS Athletics: Dragons Making Their Mark. The fall athletic season is coming to a close. We are proud of all of our student-athletes for their hard work, commitment, and dedication. Whether they are celebrating victories, overcoming challenges, or continuing to grow as a team, our Dragons continue to represent BTHS with pride. Here’s a look at how our teams are doing as they continue to represent BTHS both on and off the field.

Girls Cross Country: Our Girls Cross Country runners delivered incredible performances at the Shore Conference Cross Country Race! In the freshman 2-mile race, Eliza Luddy took 1st place with an impressive time of 13:51, while Amya Yerkes secured 7th place with a strong PR of 15:25! In the varsity race, Olivia Russell ran a standout race, setting a powerful new PR of 20:25. Catch us back in action this Tuesday at Ocean County Park for the Future 7 meet!

Boys Cross Country: Jayden White placed 20th at the Ocean County Championships with a 5K personal record of 16:58, qualifying for the Shore Conference Championships alongside Anthony Gagliardi, who set a 5K PR of 20:06. In the freshman boys 2-mile race, Cooper Matos finished 10th (12:56), Paul Gilson 11th (12:58), Bryce Tikotsky 15th (13:18), and Gary Lowenstein finished in 14:24.

Boys & Girls Soccer: Regular seasons wrapped up and are waiting to see if they qualify for the state tournament. Pictured: The Brick Girls Varsity Soccer team walked in the “Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk” last weekend.

Volleyball: Achieved key victories over Brick Memorial and Manasquan in the first round of the Kim Cole Coaches Cup.

Field Hockey: Finished 13–5, reached the Shore Conference Tournament for the second time in over 30 years, won their first division title in school history, and celebrated Lindsay Giovine's 100th career point.

Football: Football currently holds a 5 - 4 record (4–1 in B South). The Dragons victory Friday night over Lacey Township secured their first playoff berth in seven years! The Dragons are the #5 seed and will face #4 seed Burlington Township at home due to field issues! Come out and support our Dragons! Let’s go, Brick!

Brick Township High School proudly celebrates the rich diversity of our school community through our annual Heritage Festival. This special event provides students with an opportunity to share their cultural traditions, heritage, music, food, and customs while learning from one another. The festival highlights the importance of embracing our differences, celebrating our shared experiences, and fostering a school community grounded in inclusion, respect, and belonging.

All students have an opportunity to receive extra help during Block 5 in the content areas of Math and English Language Arts. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have support and guidance from our master teachers. Support is offered daily after school during Block 5 in Room 219.

The SGA participated in Brick Recreation's Annual Fallfest event at Windward Beach on Saturday, October 18th. The students hosted a lollipop pull game for a small donation. Students enjoyed the variety of games, food trucks, and music.

Coming up, SGA will be collaborating with the Student Services Department to host its annual Alumni Networking Event on Wednesday, November 25th. Junior and Senior students will have the opportunity to meet and network with recent BTHS alumni who are currently in college or the military.

The Class of 2027 had their first popcorn fundraiser for the year selling Double Good popcorn. Those students who sold more than $400 earned themselves TWO free Senior Ball bids! There are many opportunities for free bids or money off, so keep an eye on Google Classroom and the Morning Announcements for the next sale, which will be toward the end of November. Any questions, see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (304).

The Junior Class is busy planning for two exciting events: Junior Prom and Battle of the Classes! We have already had two successful fundraising events at Burger 25 and Chipotle, and we appreciate everyone who came out to support our class! We are currently working on additional fundraising ideas and events for next month. If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas for upcoming fundraisers or events, please feel free to bring them to Ms. Freedley or Mr. St. Jean. We appreciate your support and look forward to making this a great year for the Class of 2028! See Ms. Freedley (Rm 217) or Mr. StJean (Rm 310) with any questions.

CLASS OF 2029 UPDATES! Sophomore class: Get involved and help support the Class of 2029! Next Student Meeting: Friday, October 9 @ 1:30 PM in Room 23 (All students welcome!) Mark Your Calendars: Saturday, October 17 – Fall Fest @ Windward Beach: Our class will run a skeeball station for kids! Student volunteers needed, sign up with class advisors or class officers!

The Brick Township High School PTSA, in partnership with the BTHS Class of 2029, will host a night of fun and games with Bingo with DJ Lunique, a Gift Auction, and 50/50 on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the Brick PAL Building. Tickets are on sale now: BUY TICKETS HERE The doors open at 5:30 PM, and Bingo starts at 6PM! Families and local businesses are invited to contribute gift baskets, gift cards, products, services, or monetary donations by October 1, 2026.

Stay Connected: IG: @bths.classof2029 | FB: BTHS class of 2029

Advisors: Ms. Velez (mvelez@brickschools.org | Rm 23) & Mrs. Ianniello (lianniello@brickschools.org | Guidance)

The School Counseling Department

The PSAT NMSQT was administered to juniors on October 14 and October 28. Scores from the first administration will be available on November 5, and scores from the second administration will be available on November 12. studentscores.collegeboard.org.

Senior meetings with your Counselor are off to a busy start. Please remind your student to see their Counselor to help with future planning and the College Application Process.

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses will need to complete the registration form DUE no later than November 10th. Please contact Mrs. Marie Walling (mwalling@brickschools.org) if there are any questions or concerns.

The Counselors host Scholarship Working Lunches every Monday during A and C lunches in the School Counselor suite to help students with the scholarship application process.

Financial Aid Night was presented on Tuesday, October 27 from 5PM-7PM at BTHS in the IMC (Library). The presentation will be available on our website.

Here are some Community Resources for your consideration:

• FULFILL THE B.E.A.T. CENTER 1769 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, NJ 08753. You can access Thanksgiving food and holiday meal assistance in Ocean County through Fulfill's People's Pantry in Toms River (1769 Hooper Ave) or via Fulfill's local network of over 300 partner food pantries leading up to Thanksgiving week in November 2026
• Free Thanksgiving meals, food baskets, and assistance programs in Ocean County, New Jersey, are available through local non-profits, churches, and community pantries. Major organizations supplying holiday food boxes and delivered or sit-down meals include A Need We Feed, Ocean Community Church Food Pantry, and local county pantries.
• Free Thanksgiving meals and food distributions for families in Brick, New Jersey, and Ocean County are provided locally through Ocean County NJ Non Profit Delivering Meals To Feed The Hungry and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, with local drives hosted at sites like the Ocean County Library, Brick Branch.

Local Organizations & Food Resources

• A Need We Feed: This Ocean County non-profit delivers freshly packaged hot and nutritious holiday meals, including Thanksgiving distributions for veterans, seniors, families, and children in need.

• Ocean County Library (Brick Branch): Located at 301 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ, this branch partners on seasonal holiday food and turkey basket collections leading up to Thanksgiving week.

• Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ): Serves local Ocean County residents by connecting families to regional pantries, emergency meal sites, and SNAP assistance.

• Helping Hands NJ: Coordinates annual holiday food drives supplying turkeys and complete Thanksgiving meal fixings to local families.

• In Point Pleasant Beach, St. Gregory's Church will host a sit-down dinner from noon-3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 820 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant Beach.
  In Lakewood, Rays of Hope/Greater Bethel Church of God in Christ, 201 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Lakewood, will host a sit-down meal from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Hello Dragons!

Health screenings conducted by school nurses are an integral part of student well-being and academic success. The screenings that are conducted by a school nurse serve as a preventative measure in identifying issues that could potentially hinder a student’s learning and overall quality of life. These screenings include blood pressure checks, vision tests, hearing evaluations, and scoliosis checks. Early identification of potential health concerns can ensure timely intervention and treatment.

The Brick Township High School nurses will be conducting health screenings starting November 2,

2026. The following screenings will take place:

• 9th grade: height, weight, blood pressure, scoliosis
• 10th grade: height, weight, blood pressure, vision
• 11th grade: height, weight, blood pressure, scoliosis, hearing
• 12th grade: height, weight, blood pressure

Health Office Screening Notification - Parent Information Letter

As always, remember to stay home when you are feeling sick and notify the school nurses with any new diagnosis of asthma, allergy, or seizures. The nurses at BTHS are committed to maintaining a healthy school environment. If you have any questions or need support, please do not hesitate to contact the nurses’ office. Working together, we can continue to support the health, safety, and well-being of all students.

Health Office Contact Information:

• Nurse Nicole Ottman - nottman@brickschools.org - Ext. 2009

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.

Dennis Filippone

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

Lorraine Cooper

Antoinette Sirico

Christine Velardi

Mike Zuccaro

Website: www.brickschools.org
Location: 346 Chambersbridge Road, Brick Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-785-3000
Twitter: @BTHSDragons