April 2024

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break. This past month was highlighted by our Spring Drama Production of Shrek the Musical, vertical articulation within the Performing Arts, community outreach by our Computer Science National Honor Society, and induction of new members to the Italian National Honor Society. I am excited to share details and pictures from these events, along with additional events and curricular happenings within this edition of The Dragon Review.

As we approach warmer weather, I would like to remind all parents and students of our arrival procedures. There should be no traffic in the horseshoe area in front of the building at the start or end of the school day. This is not the location to drop off or pick up your child as the horseshoe driveway is a fire lane and must remain clear. The main office entrance is to only be utilized for drop off / pick up during school hours (7:10 AM - 1:30 PM). Students should be picked up / dropped off at the East Athletics Assistant Principal’s office any time prior to the start of the school day as well as dismissal time frame. Additionally, all students are reminded that our school day begins promptly at 7:10 AM.

It should be noted that the Third Marking Period Report Cards were released for access on Friday, April 19. We have now moved into the fourth and final marking period of the school year. I urge all students to continue to put forth their best effort and finish the year strong.

Looking ahead AP Testing begins on Monday, May 6 and will run through Friday, May 17. Students will receive information from their AP teachers and Guidance Counselors for schedule and room assignments. Moreover, on Monday, May 20 through Thursday, May 23 BTHS will be administering the NJSLA - ELA/Math test to students in Grade 9, as well as the NJSLA - Science test to students in Grade 11. To facilitate the test administration, we will be operating on an altered schedule on these days. Specific communication and information regarding these testing dates will be distributed directly to all parents in an upcoming communication blast.

Additionally, I would like to bring the following to the attention of our learning community:

• The Junior Prom will take place on Thursday, May 16 from 5 PM to 9 PM at Jumping Brook Country Club.

• The Senior Ball will take place on Thursday, May 23 from 5PM to 9 PM at South Gate Manor.

• Senior Scholarship & Awards Night, sponsored by our Guidance Department, is Thursday, May 30, 2024 held in the BTHS Auditorium beginning at 6:00 PM. Scholarships and awards will be given from local donors and staff members to recognize Senior achievements.

I would like to conclude by expressing that Staff Appreciation Week begins on Monday, May 6. I believe Sidney Hook says it best, “Everyone who remembers his own education remembers teachers, not methods and techniques. The teacher is the heart of the educational system.” I am extremely grateful for the dedicated staff at BTHS, who fully care and support our students each and every day.

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. We hope everybody had a great Spring Break! The Spring Sports Season is underway as all the teams are competing as we start the beginning of the regular season. On April 18th through April 20th, the BTHS Drama club performed their Spring production, Shrek The Musical. This event featured the talented students from BTHS and we could not have been any prouder of the performances that were displayed. We are also very proud of the staff and the community who came out to support the club and the great performances from our student body.

On Wednesday, April 24th, Gabe Hurley will present to all 11th and 12th grade students in the BTHS Auditorium during 2nd block. This is a great assembly that will discuss students making smart choices as the Junior Prom and Senior Ball are weeks away. All 11th grade HPE classes will also participate in the Not Even Once Program that will be held on Thursday, April 25th. This is a very informative session with the Brick Township Police Department on the negative effects that drugs have on people, particularly teenagers.

On Friday, May 3rd the BTHS Brick Football Football senior class will play the Brick Township Police Department in the annual Helping Hands Charity Basketball game. The event will take place in the BTHS East Gym from 7-9 pm. The week of May 6th, BTHS staff and students will participate in teacher appreciation week. On Tuesday, May 7th, the BTHS Choral Department will sponsor this year's Silhouette Singer competition. The event will take place in the BTHS Auditorium and begin at 6 pm, this is a great opportunity to come out and support the BTHS Choral Department as staff members will be singing while students try and guess who the silhouette is. On Wednesday, May 8th, the JROTC program will be sponsoring a blood drive here at BTHS. The Senior Drama Showcase will take place on May 14th here at BTHS in the auditorium. Thursday, May 16th will be the Junior Prom, please pay attention to the morning announcements and google classroom for reminders and updates. On Friday May 17th, the BTHS Music Department will host its Music Festival Competition. During the week of May 20th, BTHS will be conducting NJSLA testing for students in ELA & Math in Grade 9 and Science for students in Grade 11. BTHS will be operating on a modified altered schedule for these dates.

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 absolutely loved Shrek the Musical! The first act was the best!” - Kaylah J

“My tennis team beat Brick Memorial for the first time in 7 years!” - Santiago V

“Winning a rivalry baseball game against Toms River South” - Sean S

“Sharing my passion for computer science with elementary school students by introducing encryption and decryption was truly memorable!” - Grace R

“My friends and I were inducted into the Italian Honor Society!” - Kendyl M

The Drama Club's Spring Production of Shrek the Musical was a spectacular success. The show was well attended over all three performances, reflective of the outstanding performances by our cast and crew. The auditorium was alive with excitement as our live band set the stage for each performance throughout the show. From the enchanting fairy-tale setting to the powerhouse performances by our talented students, the show captivated audiences and left a lasting impression. Congratulations to all involved for bringing this beloved story to life with creativity, passion, and undeniable talent!

April is recognized as Child Abuse & Prevention month. The BTHS Strong Club, in coordination with the Women's Club of Brick, planted Pinwheels in the front of our school to bring awareness and attention to ending child abuse. "Pinwheels for Prevention". We value and appreciate our collaboration between our School Based Youth Service Program, BTHS Students, and the Women's Club of Brick.

Congratulations Mrs. Gayle Gruber, BTHS Art Teacher, for receiving the "Teachers Who Rock!" award! Mrs. Gruber was recognized for dedicating herself to making our community a better place for all stakeholders.

BTHS hosted the secondary Choral Workshop Day this month. Choirs from both high schools and both middle schools came together to learn, sing, create, and collaborate. Getting the choral department together in settings like this adds to the efforts to continue to grow our programs and our students. It was a wonderful experience had by all!

Congratulations to all the newly inducted members of the Italian National Honor Society! Your dedication to excellence in Italian language and culture has been recognized with this prestigious honor. Your commitment to academic achievement and cultural appreciation is truly commendable. Keep up the great work and continue to inspire others with your passion for Italian language and heritage. Buon lavoro!

Attention BTHS Students - The Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is holding a T-Shirt Design Challenge. The PTSA is looking to sell BTHS Gear designed by a BTHS student. If your original design is selected as the winning submission you will receive a $50 Gift Card and Free T-Shirt. Not to mention the pride of knowing you designed the gear worn by your peers!

Attention Class of 2024 - PTSA Graduation Lawn Sign are on sale!

You may place your order by clicking on the link below. Orders will begin be filled once received. Parents, please check your emails for confirmation that your child's Senior graduation yard sign is available for pick up. Yard signs are now available for pickup. You may pickup signs from the main office or if your child drives and you would like them to pick up on your behalf they may do so at the end of the day. If you are unable to pick up please contact Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org for other arrangements. All Graduation Lawn Signs must be ordered before June 1, 2024.

Class of 2024 Graduation Lawn Sign - PTSA Fundraiser Document

The next PTSA Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 at 4:30 PM in the Library. An announcement will be pushed out through PTSA Member Hub. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the PTSA president, Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org.

The next PTSA Fundraiser will be a stand at the Class of 2024 Graduation.

If you have not already, please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA.

LINK to Memberhub

BTHS Students of the Month - April

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.

Caroline Kirby, Grade 12

Caroline is a breath of fresh air! She is a wonderful student and supportive of her peers.

- Mrs. Rahbari

Tyler Acropolis, Grade 11

He is always on task, very respectful and always tries his very best. will revise his work to improve.

- Mrs. Roselli

Hayden Graf, Grade 10

Hayden is always over prepared, full of enthusiasm and willing to help others.

-Mrs. Cardin

Rhobbyn Barretto, Grade 9

Rhobbyn is an exemplary student. He is a reflective practitioner of art that always asks questions about how his work can get better. Additionally, he is polite, respectful and always willing to go the extra mile. It is a pure pleasure to have him in my class. Rhobbyn also plays tennis for the school and is involved in other school related activities. I find him to be an excellent dragon filled with the dragon spirit.

- Mrs. Gruber

Spring Sports are underway. The baseball team is working hard to compete in the A-South. The team is 2-6 and has played much better as of late. Softball is battling each and every game having played some of the best teams around. The team is hoping to get into the win column this week! The boys Lacrosse team is currently 3-3 and looking to build on a strong start to the season. The girls Lacrosse team are 2-5 and are looking to bounce back from some close, early season games. Track and field is off and running. The team recently competed in the A-South meet, where many athletes achieved personal records! The boys Tennis team is off to a 3-2 start! The team is working hard to finish at the top of the A-South! Finally, the golf team is sitting at 4-2 on the season!

Congratulations to Ava Aguanno who broke two school records this past season. She was recently recognized with for her strong winter season by being presented with All-Shore honors!

The Multicultural Club learned about the origins of Churros and the Spanish Hot Chocolate. Students followed the recipe and created delicious churros and hot chocolate for dipping. Wanted to share some pictures.

The students from the Future Educators of America club had a great time reading to the preschool students at Warren H. Wolf. They celebrated Earth Day by reading Milk and Juice: A Recycling Romance and doing activities with the students to educate them on the importance of recycling and reducing waste.

The BTHS Key Club, Woodworking Class and Kiwanis Club worked together to creat book boxes for Brick Beach. In May they will be collecting donations for our fur friends at the Popcorn Zoo. We continue to partner with WWES twice a month. On June 6 we will be spending a few hours with our little friends doing motor skill activities. We are looking forward to our May 15 pizza party and selling more Gertrude Hawk to raise money for the club.

Brick Township High School, under the leadership of Mrs. Segreto, Computer Science teacher at BTHS, started a new chapter of the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS). The chapter did its first outreach with fifth grade students at Emma Havens Young on March 27th. CSHS students prepared a Cyber Security & "Clue-like" activity for the fifth graders. Students learned about Cryptography and used different ciphers to decode the clues and solve the mystery. There was also a second activity involving encoding and decoding pixels to make pictures and emojis. All students got a bag of prizes including a bracelet with “Code The Future” on it. The fifth graders really enjoyed the activities as did all of our CSHS students who can’t wait to do another outreach.

Mr. Lynch sharing some of the recent student projects from Woodworking course. Recent student projects included birdhouses, storage caddies, and a Book Exchange House for the Key Club.

Students complete Hour of Code from Code.org on programming a dance party. Students from Robotics built and programmed simple Kitronik robot chassis and completed a Robot Dance Challenge. Students in Robotics II built and programmed a Lego mindstorms Blast, to a number of beats and completed a Dancing Robot Challenge. STEM Robotics built and programmed a Lego Mindstorm EV3 base to complete the Amazon forkbot Challenge. These challenges brought real life examples of robotics and programming to our BTHS College and Career Readiness classes.

Students enrolled in the Culinary course have been cooking and baking a variety of delicious food. Recent food items include sour cream coffee cake, carrot cake, Belgian waffles, snickerdoodle muffins, and focaccia bread.

The staff of The Regaler has been busily at work preparing this year's edition of our school's digital literary magazine. Get ready for some spectacular creative works from our Dragon Community, coming soon!

All students have an opportunity to receive extra help during Block 5 in the content areas of Science, Math, and English Language Arts. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to have support and guidance from our master teachers.

Last chance for yearbooks!

Reserve your BTHS 2024 Yearbook before they sell out!

Click Here to Order your BTHS Yearbook

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.

Coming up: BTHS students are looking forward to showing our staff some love during Staff Appreciation Week (May 6-10). SGA is working with Key Club as well as other BTHS organizations to provide the Staff Appreciation snack cart. Additionally, students will be distributing reverse dragons scales to staff members to show their gratitude for all that our wonderful staff members do for students at BTHS. Dragon Scales can be entered into the staff gift auction at the May faculty meeting for the chance to win awesome prizes. Finally, SGA is sponsoring a spirit week that includes SWAP day, a day when staff members can dress like BTHS students and students can dress like staff. Thank you BTHS Faculty and Staff for all you do!

The Class of 2024 have several activities planned to celebrate their achievements and create lasting memories together. It's been an incredible journey watching our students flourish, and now it's time to honor their hard work and dedication!

Upcoming Class of 2024 Activities

• Senior Ball: Date - May 23, Time - 5-9pm, Venue - South Gate Manor
• Senior Picnic: Date - May 28, Venue - Brick Beach 3, Time - 9:30am; Cost $5 which includes lunch
• Senior Walk through in Elementary Schools: Date - May 29, Time - 9:30am, T-Shirts will be provided for this event
• Senior Breakfast: Date - May 30, Venue - Cafe 3, Time - 8:30am
• Six Flags Grad Night: Date - June 7, Time - 8pm; Cost $75

Permission slips for the senior events can be picked up from either Mr. Lucchetti in room 205 or Mrs. Ianniello in Guidance. You can contact Mr. Lucchetti at flucchetti@brickschools.org and Mrs. Ianniello at lianniello@brickschools.org. These events are sure to create lasting memories for the graduating Seniors. Make sure to mark your calendars and pick up your permission slips to participate in these exciting activities!

The Class of 2025 executive board members and advisors have been working diligently to finalize all Junior Prom details. The last day to purchase a bid for anyone interested in attending the Junior Prom has been extended to May 1st. No bid will be sold after May 1st. As the year continues we urge Juniors class members to frequently check the Class of 2025 google classroom page, turn on notifications and follow us on our instagram page for important updates and information. Our google classroom not only offers students the opportunity to stay up to date with class happenings but also includes school wide and district events. You do not want to miss out! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the class advisors Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org or Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org

The class of 2026 will have one more fundraiser before the end of the year. Make sure to check our Google Classroom and Instagram for updates and information. If you have any questions, you can see Ms. DePoto in room 408 & 415 or Mrs. Buell in 306 & 310.

Google Classroom lf4subd

Instagram @bths_classof2026

The Class of 2027 did a great job participating in Battle of the Classes at the end of February and holding their own against the rest of the classes to come in third place! Looking forward, there will be a meeting in the month of May to discuss sophomore year and fundraising. It's hard to believe we have entered the fourth marking period! Make sure you are in the Google Classroom! Any questions can be brought to the attention of Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (202).

Updates from the School Counseling Department

The School Counselors are hosting a scholarship completion workshop every Wednesday until May 8th during A and C Lunch to provide seniors an opportunity to work on and complete their scholarship applications as well as answer any questions.

Ocean County College Express Enrollment Day took place on Thursday, April 18th. Students planning to attend OCC in the Fall 2024 met with advisors to create their schedule, toured the campus and had lunch in the dining hall.

This year, our Advanced Placement students and teachers have been working extremely hard to prepare for the College Board AP Exams. Testing begins May 7th and continues until May 16th at BTHS. We are so proud of our students and wish them the best on their exams.

2024 Schedule of testing dates: Link to Schedule

Advanced Placement courses are a great way to earn college credits while taking a course in High School. Students who earn a certain score on their exam can use the score to get college credits in certain subject areas. The cost of the exam this year was $88 with a reduced cost for students eligible for free and reduced lunch. Students receive an additional 10 points for an AP course added to their final grade for that course, which will be used for calculation of cumulative GPA. If you are interested in more information about the qualifications needed to take an AP course or need more information, please refer to the Program of Studies below or contact your child's Counselor. BTPS Program of Studies

NJSLA Spring 2024 Administration

On Monday, May 20 - Thursday, May 23 Brick Township High School will be administering the NJSLA test to students in Grades 9 (ELA/Math) and Grade 11 (Science) Monday, May 20th and Tuesday, May 21st. Our academic coaches have been providing information sessions to grade 9 to help prepare students for the upcoming testing administration.

BTHS is hosting the June SAT on Saturday, June 1st. Register at www.collegeboard.org by May 16th.

Hello BTHS Community!

There are several important things that are recognized in April for health awareness, but our focus will be on Alcohol awareness. With any health awareness prevention is always key. It is important that we talk to our children/students in regard to alcohol and provide them with the facts and risk factors in order to make healthy choices. These conversations are not always easy, so some important pointers would be to assure there is a sense of open communication- sharing family values and clear expectations, showing your child that you care by listening, offering acceptance and not criticism when needed will often lead to a more positive outcome.

Children are often exposed to alcohol at a young age, whether it is adults drinking in real life, TV, or social media- for this reason it is never too early to start the conversation in order to help make healthier choices and to even say “no” if they have tried it in the past. Children that have been educated about prevention are less likely to get in trouble in school, get hurt in a car accident, be a victim of a crime, or have a problem with addiction as an adult¹. It is important that when starting the conversation with your child that you begin with our family values and expectations, while using age appropriate language and continuing as your child gets older. This allows for there to be open conversation encouraging them to ask any questions they may have. Trying not to “talk at '' your child, while giving them your full attention so they know that you are really listening is important. Using everyday events are perfect ways to aid in beginning the conversation. In addition to discussing that underage drinking is illegal and providing facts, ask your child’s view on alcohol and listen carefully, stress good reasons not to drink, and importantly discuss different scenarios on how to handle peer pressure. Helping your child make a plan in case they are put in a situation involving alcohol usage, whether themselves or their peers is very useful.

Knowing the facts is key! Stressing to your child how alcohol affects the brain, the body (including reaction time), and how it can cause problems at home and in school. If your child is into sports then you can focus on how it affects athletic performance, or any other interests that they may have. “Alcohol is a powerful drug that slows down the body and brain.” ¹ People tend to be very bad at judging how seriously alcohol has affected them. That means many individuals who drive after drinking think they can control a car—but actually cannot. “On average, it takes 2 to 3 hours for a single drink to leave a person’s system. Nothing can speed up this process, including drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, or walking it off.”² It is important that our children know that we as parents/guardians are most concerned with their well-being and safety and by keeping the open communication will help in the event they get stuck in a difficult situation and need to reach out regardless of what the consequences maybe later on. Having these conversations will help your child make healthier choices when the time comes.

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

• Notification: If your child has tested positive for the Flu or COVID-19, please contact Mrs. Yarbrough in the health office.

Health Office Contact- Nurse Tammy Yarbrough & Nurse Bridget Blunda

• West Nurse Office - Ext. 2037 - Nurse Tammy Yarbrough
• East Nurse Office - Ext. 2009 - Nurse Bridget Blunda

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.

Principal

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

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

Janet Maciel

Antoinette Sirico

Christine Velardi

Mike Zuccaro

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