February 2025

It was great seeing staff, students, and parents at our recent Brick & Beyond event held at Brick Memorial High School. The Brick & Beyond event is a representation of our learning organization's value in supporting our students' increased access and opportunity for future success and engagement. Attending students were afforded an opportunity to explore post-secondary institutions inclusive of two and four year colleges and universities along with vocational and technical schools. Additionally, the guidance department from both high schools were on hand to assist current and future high school students/families with their academic programming needs. I encourage all of our students to continue to explore their post-secondary options. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your school counselor with any questions or items of inquiry.

BTHS will be administering the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) to all Grade 11 students on March 11, March 12, March 13, and March 14. The NJGPA will be administered as part of the graduation assessment requirements. The NJGPA will be broken into four test sessions, each day completing one 90 minute testing unit. There are a total of two testing units for ELA and two testing units for mathematics. BTHS will operate on a modified delayed arrival to school on these testing dates. Grade 11 students will arrive at school at the normal time, while students in the remaining grade levels will arrive at 9:45.

Moreover, students in Grade 10, who have pre-registered, will take the PSAT-10 assessment on Wednesday, March 12. Students registered to take the PSAT-10 on Wednesday, March 12 should arrive to school at the normal time. It is important to emphasize that students must have pre-registered for this assessment. Information regarding the modified schedule impacted by the NJGPA and PSAT-10 testing sessions is included in this newsletter. Please direct any immediate questions to your child’s school counselor.

In closing, I hope all of our students and staff are off to a great start to the second semester, feeling a renewed sense of focus and commitment to the learning process. I want to remind all members of the BTHS community of the importance of attending school daily, arriving on time, and remaining engaged in learning. This includes the necessity to limit access to cell phones during times of instruction. It continues to be our commitment to deliver the most effective instruction in a safe and supportive learning environment. Supporting students in their journey towards achieving success in a safe learning environment remains our top priority. To that end, attendance matters and being at school every day makes a difference. Thank you to all parents and students for supporting our school goals, core values, and being an integral part of the Dragon Family!

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. On Tuesday, February 11, the annual Brick & Beyond Event was held at BMHS. The event was well attended and was a great opportunity for students and their family members to see what post-secondary schools have to offer, along with what clubs and activities BTHS and BMHS have to offer. Battle of the Classes was held on Thursday, February 27. Students participated in an array of activities, earning as many points as possible. This event embodies the high level of school spirit and positive school culture we have at BTHS. It was great to see all of the classes compete while demonstrating camaraderie by supporting each other in this well attended event. BTHS held a Spirit Week throughout the week leading up to Battle of the Classes. The Spirit Week days included Denim Day, Green vs Pink (Elphaba vs. Galinda), Rival Day, Class Color Day, and Green and White Day.

Looking forward to the month of March, there will be the Brick vs. Brick Mayor’s Cup Mock Trial Challenge. This exciting event will take place on Monday, March 3 at the Brick Township Municipal Complex. The District Art Festival will take place on Thursday, March 6. This event is a great opportunity for all students in our district to represent their fantastic pieces of art from our elementary school students to our very talented high school students. Music performances will also be on display throughout the night in the BTHS auditorium. Wrapping up the month of March will be our annual BTHs Career Day on Wednesday, March 26.

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:

“It was very interesting learning about Sicilian Carnival Masks in Multicultural Club” - Madison L.

“I’m super proud of my team for making it to states and excited to see how we do!” Cici W.

“NHS had so much fun helping out Drum Point at their Special Someone’s Dance” - Santiago V.

“The Brick Birthday Party at Civic plaza was terrific.“ -Cian F.

In preparation for the upcoming administration of the NJGPA, we will be holding NJGPA Test preparation sessions for all Grade 11 students on March 3 and March 4. See the attached schedule. Our district academic coaches will guide students through essential test taking strategies and tips, preparing our Grade 11 students for success on this graduation proficiency assessment.

Brick & Beyond 2024 was a tremendous success as both high schools worked together to host colleges, universities, vocational and technical schools, military, local businesses, as well as BTPS clubs/activities, organizations, and athletics. This event unites the Brick Township Public School District in providing our students current opportunities, while showcasing all post-secondary education options available. The School Counseling Departments at BMHS and BTHS worked diligently with administration to deliver an all-inclusive evening event.

Mrs. Segreto’s Computer Science students participated in a high school programming competition at Monmouth University. Two BTHS teams of three students each went to the Monmouth University High School Hawk Hack on February 7. The students had a fun day with hands on programming experience in a competition with a total of 15 teams participating from NJ. The first team (Tommy Tran, Shea Morgan, Gianni Campione) finished in 5th place, while the second team (Chris Todd, Will Pearson, George Khalil) finished in 7th place.

The South Side District Band Day was a fantastic showcase of musical collaboration, bringing together talented students from elementary, middle, and high school. Young musicians had the opportunity to learn from one another, perform as a unified ensemble, and experience the joy of making music across grade levels. The event highlighted the power of teamwork, dedication, and the vibrant musical community within our district!

On Friday, February 21, School Based took a group of students from BTHS and BMHS to the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide's annual Be S-Well Summit for Ocean County. The summit was focused on teaching students about the importance of mindfulness and wellness, especially related to mental health. The summit taught students how to become wellness and mental health advocates in school.

Yearbooks are on sale now!

Order your Yearbook by Accessing this Link.

The back of the book is dedicated to senior recognition ads. You can include photos and a personalized message to congratulate your senior. Ads must be designed and purchased by 3/15/2025. Click here to purchase and design your Ad.

The BTHS Parent Teacher Student Association is accepting membership for the 2024-2025 school year. Please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA. LINK to Memberhub. Meeting dates/times along with other important information is shared directly with members through the PTSA Memberhub platform.

Brick Township High School’s Battle of the Classes was a thrilling display of school spirit, teamwork, and friendly competition! Students from all grade levels participated in exciting challenges, showcasing their energy and enthusiasm. Congratulations to the seniors for taking home the victory! A huge thank you to all students for their incredible participation and to the staff for their support in making this event a memorable success. Go Dragons!

BTHS Students of the Month - February

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.

Zander Mendoza, Grade 9

Zander is overall such a great student. He participates every day, he is always kind to everyone, asks for help when needed, and is always here, is on time, and ready to go. Despite having a lot going on outside of school this year, we can always count on him to do what he needs to do, and more. We are so grateful he is a part of our class this year. - Ms. Goff

Justin Phanomchon, Grade 10

Justin has an upbeat and positive attitude. He is always kind, polite, and respectful. He is a pleasure to have in the classroom. - Ms. Russell

Jayla Lopez Gomez, Grade 11

Jayla is a hardworking student who consistently puts forth her best effort in everything she does. Beyond the classroom, Jayla is a natural leader—always setting a positive example. Her kindness, enthusiasm, and infectious smile brighten the hallways every day. She embodies what it means to be a role model! - Ms. Donahue

Elizabeth Avila, Grade 12

Elizabeth recently set a record and is a leader in BTHS Wrestling, is involved with the band along with events like it's Winter & Spring Concerts, and academically is top 10 in her class. Elizabeth demonstrates all-around consistency for being considered student of the month, every month. - Mr. Martone

Winter Sports are wrapping up this month. The boys and girls basketball teams had a successful finish to their seasons. The girls team qualified for both the Shore Conference Tournament and the NJSIAA Tournament this season. The team finished with a record of 15-11. The boys team finished with a record of 8-16.

The boys and girls bowling teams both had very successful seasons. The boys made it all the way to the South Jersey sectional semi-finals. The girls won the South Jersey, group II sectional tournament.

The Wrestling team finished with a record of 15-9. Liz Avila took third place in the region and has moved on to the state finals in Atlantic City. Aidan Leonard and Rustam Olimov placed in the District tournament and will wrestle at Regions this weekend with a shot at advancing to the state finals!

Our Ice hockey team captured the Dowd Cup earlier this month!!! The team finished 12-8 and made it to the second round of the NJSIAA playoffs where we fell to the #1 seed 2-1.

Female leaders from BTHS recently took part in the Shore Conference's National Girls and Women in Sports Day! The event was held to honor our strong female leaders. Breakout sessions were held and keynote speakers were on hand to lecture our ladies about becoming strong positive role models in the world and in sport.

Congratulations to the Brick Dance Team for their successful season. Special recognition to those students receiving their varsity Dance Team letter. Kayla Pandolf (Co-Captain), Isabella Yianakki (Co-Captain), Roselyn Romero-Hernandez, and Alexandria Burton

Spring sports are approaching quickly. Physicals were due in the athletic office by February 21. If your physical is going to be late, please contact the athletic office to be placed on the late list. All spring athletes must register in the genesis portal regardless of fall or winter athletic participation.

The portal is now open! Please log into the Genesis Parent Portal to register and follow these steps:

• Select the 2024-2025 BT SPRING Sports Athletic Form (HS).
• Complete the Sports Participation questions.

If you have any questions, please see your coach or stop by the Athletic Office.

February's NHS Member of the month is an NHS Junior, Erica Pokorny. She does an amazing job at all of the events she attends. She's always making sure everything is organized and together. She has a positive attitude and always turns things in or responds in a timely manner. She represents the dedication an NHS member makes to all that they do and she represents it in the best way possible! Congratulations, Erica. Well deserved!

The Spanish Honor Society members presented "La fiesta de la Candelaria" this month. Presenters Kiera M. And Paola C. explained about the tradition, origin and activities associated with this celebration. Spanish Honor Society members joined in on the celebration by practicing a traditional dance called "La Diablada".

On Monday, February 10 BTHS students took on the Army Fitness Challenge during their physical education classes, pushing their limits and showcasing strength, endurance, and teamwork. Guided by Army representatives, students engaged in a series of physical challenges that tested their agility and resilience. It was an exciting and motivating experience, reinforcing the importance of fitness, discipline, and perseverance!

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.

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.

Dragon Spirit was everywhere this month with the building anticipation of the 2025 Battle of the Classes showdown. Students have been practicing their dances, dressing up for spirit days, and challenging their classmates in Roshambo (rock, paper, scissors). Looking ahead, students are planning spirit weeks for the Spring, as well as opportunities to show gratitude for our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week.

The Senior Class is gearing up to win Battle of the Classes this Thursday! We are hoping for great participation and lots of fun to be had by all. Currently, the Seniors are running their next fundraiser, our DOUBLE GOOD Popcorn sales. Seniors can earn a chance to win a free prom bid by sharing their own personal links. Please look at the Google Classroom for more information. If anyone has any questions, please contact me at mvelez@brickschools.org or Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org.

The Class of 2026 has been preparing for Battle of the Classes. They completed the Gertrude Hawk fundraiser. Congratulations to the participants who earned free prom bids for themselves this year. Prom bids will be on sale from March 31st-April 4th. They are $85 per person. Please pick up a prom packet in one of the offices and make sure it is read and filled out before purchasing a prom bid. If you have any questions, please see Ms. DePoto or Mrs. Buell. All class updates and information will be in Google Classroom or Instagram. Google Classroom: lf4subd and Instagram: @bths_classof2026

The Class of 2027 has been practicing their dance skills over the course of the last few weeks to prepare for the Battle of the Classes 2025, coming up on February 27th! The students are looking forward to competing against the other classes in various activities for a chance to be the winner of BOTC. In addition, there is a Crumbl fundraiser where students are selling boxes, so see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scip (202) for order forms or questions.

The Class of 2028 has successfully completed two amazing fundraisers and we’re excited to announce that even more are on the way! We want to thank everyone who participated in BOTC this week and hope to see an even bigger turnout next year! Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming events which will always be posted in our Google Classroom (b772wxc). If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the class advisors Ms. Freedly (Room 217) at jfreedley@brickschools.org or Mrs. Rahbari (Room 219) at jrahbari@brickschools.org.

Updates from the School Counseling Department

Ocean County College Express Enrollment Day will take place on Wednesday, April 30 from 9am-1pm. Students planning to attend OCC in the Fall 2025 will be able to register for this field trip through Guidance. Please pick up a field trip permission slip form in Guidance. RSVPs are due April, 11. Students will be given a tour and meet with advisors to select courses.

The PSAT-10 will be administered on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:10am for all students who pre-registered. Room assignments will be posted outside of the Guidance Department and on the google classroom.

Career Day is just around the corner and we are excited to announce that it will be held on March 26 during Blocks 1 and 2. This event is proudly sponsored by the School Counseling Department and the Brick Chamber of Commerce. There will be over 40 speakers in attendance to provide valuable insight about different career paths. Student signups will open on Monday, March 3 and we encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity to explore potential career options.

The counselors conducted workshops with Grade 11 students focused on post-secondary planning. Topics covered included exploring college options, vocational and technical schools, and using SCOIR for research and applications. They also discussed the application process, standardized testing, the importance of college visits, and financial aid. Additionally, they provided guidance on preparing for the year ahead to ensure students stay on track with their post-graduation plans.

The Counselors are hosting Scholarship Working Lunches every Thursday during A and C lunches, in the School Counselor offices for the next few months so students can ask questions in regards to scholarship applications. The Scholarship Program has been announced for the Class of 2025. Please view the Scholarship letter for families for more information. Click Here for Access to the BTHS Scholarship Letter for Families.

Ocean County has many resources for services in the areas of Mental Health, Addiction, Abuse, Social Services, and more. Mental Health Association of Ocean County. There is also a Food Bank service in Toms River called Fulfill that is providing weekly food pick up for those in need.

Hello BTHS Community!

Every year, February is recognized as “American Heart Month,” raising awareness to the importance of heart health while encouraging all Americans to take preventative measures to reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Understanding your risk for developing heart disease is the first step towards maintaining a healthy heart. Some factors can be changed, and others cannot. You have a high risk if you have high blood pressure, are overweight/obese, have pre-diabetes or diabetes, smoke, do not get enough physical activity, have a family history or early heart disease, have unhealthy eating behaviors, or are older (55 yrs. and over for women and 45 and older for men). You can modify or make gradual changes over time with how physically active you are. In addition, try to get enough sleep each night (8-10 hours of sleep per night for teens) and reduce stress levels by going for a walk or doing things that you love.

• Physical Activity: It is recommended that you have 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

• Sleep: It is suggested that teens get 8 to 10 hours per day and adults get 7 hours or more in 24 hrs.

• Manage Stress: Finding healthy ways to manage stress, such as physical activity, relaxation exercises, or meditation can help lower your heart rate and overall risk of coronary artery disease. Long term stress can affect your heart, nervous system, and hormones to your lungs and gut.

The health office has begun our Health Screenings on all of our students, which includes height/weight and blood pressures for all students (G9 - G12). In addition, scoliosis (G9 & G11), vision (G10), and hearing (G11). Follow-up referrals will be sent home whenever the recordings obtained are out of the normal parameter range.

AHA Blood Pressure Categories- English /AHA Blood Pressure Categories- Spanish

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 offices. Students should stay home when not feeling well or developing signs of illness.

• As we begin to approach allergy season, any student that is diagnosed with asthma, or allergies, please make sure that the health office has a current Asthma/Allergy Action plan for 2024-2025 school year.

Respectfully,

Nurse Bridget Blunda - Ext. 2037

Nurse Amanda Cerracchio - 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 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. Please reach out to your child's counselor with any questions regarding this program or opportunities for support. Here is an update on SBYSP:

• School Based has started facilitating the Botvin LifeSkills High School Curriculum in freshmen health classes. This year, we are partnering with the gym teachers to also train them to deliver the curriculum.
• February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. In honor of this month, School Based hosted a tabling event in the cafeteria to distribute information on healthy relationships and have students fill out hearts to complete the phrase "Love is...". All the completed hearts were used to create a bulletin board.

The purpose of the Brick Township High School Wall of Fame, created in 2004, is to promote pride in our school and honor graduates or those affiliated with the school for outstanding achievements or noteworthy service. The Wall of Fame will also preserve the contributions by exceptional individuals to our school’s legacy.

Nominate a deserving graduate for the BTHS Wall of Fame. Nominations for the 2025 class are now closed, however, our nomination link will remain open for future consideration. Here is the Nomination Link.

Follow us on Instagram @bths_walloffame to stay connected.

BRICK TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL WALL OF FAME NOMINATION FORM

Principal

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Assistant Principals

Erin Biancella - Grade 12 & Freshman P-Z

Ryan Hesnan - Grade 11 & Freshman H-O

James Marvin - Grade 10 & 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

Dawn Eberhard

Lorraine Cooper

Christine Velardi

Mike Zuccaro

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