The Dragon Review

December 2024

As we approach the conclusion of 2024, BTHS continues to strive for excellence. This past month was highlighted with community outreach, connecting our students and co-curricular organizations directly with our community members. Students and teachers worked with our district elementary schools and town senior centers to make a positive impact. The various community outreach initiatives truly embodied the values of compassion, creativity, and connection. The Key Club, National Honor Society, and Acting Class all visited various elementary schools within the district to support holiday activities, provide leadership for future Dragons, and demonstrate their commitment to success. This was further evidenced by the outreach performed by the Key Club and Choir as they visited the Town Square Senior Center. Students shared their musical talents and completed holiday themed crafts. These events highlight the essence of what makes Brick Township High School so special - a commitment to not only academic excellence but also to building a compassionate inclusive community. I continue to be extremely proud of our students and staff who contribute their time, energy, and talents to initiatives such as these.

With a continued emphasis on excellence, BTHS honored and recognized two outstanding faculty members as we named our Governor’s Educators of the Year. Mr. Christopher Capone was named the Teacher of the Year. Mr. Capone serves as a Music teacher in the Visual and Performing Arts Department teaching courses such as Chorus, Honors Chorus, and Music Technology. He oversees our Choral department, Choir, and assists the Drama department in several essential capacities. Ms. Kaitlyn Donahue was named the Educational Service Professional of the Year. Ms. Donahue supports the BTHS learning community as a Guidance Counselor, Anti-Bullying Specialist, and Gymnastics coach. These individuals are recognized school leaders, consistently making positive contributions to our school community.

We held our Winter Band and Chorus concert on Tuesday, December 17. Our chorus and band students continue to impress. Students and staff were offered an additional opportunity to witness the wonderful talents of our performing arts students as we held a performance during Block 4 on Wednesday, December 18. Each of these performances were awe inspiring as students displayed their musical and theatrical talents. I continue to be impressed with the performances of our students.

I continue to be humbled and grateful for the staff, students, and parents that make up our school’s learning community. I am honored to be the Principal of Brick Township High School, where individuals regularly support one another in realizing and achieving their fullest potential. I hope everyone is able to take a few moments over the Winter Break to reflect on the past year, recognizing the individual gains each of us has achieved while prioritizing future goals. The new year will bring new opportunities and learning experiences. I look forward to meeting the challenges and successes of the new year in partnership with our school community.

“Celebrate endings-for they precede new beginnings.” ~ Jonathan Huie

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year.

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 want to congratulate all our new inductees into the Thespian Honor Society where the induction ceremony took place on Tuesday, November 26 in the BTHS Auditorium. The BTHS Alumni Networking Event was held on Wednesday, November 27 during Block 3 and 4 in the BTHS Auditorium. The event was a great experience for our current students to hear about our former students' experiences at various different colleges and universities. On Monday, December 2 the OCVTS made their presentation to sophomores about the opportunities that are available at our vocational schools in Ocean County.

The annual BTHS Powder Puff Game was held on December 2 and it was a great game to watch. The girls had a blast showing off their athleticism. The Brick Township Public School Stem Academy Open House was held on December 5 and was a very informative night for parents. The BTHS Band and Chorus Winter Concert will be held on Tuesday, December 17 at 6pm, with the in school performance being Wednesday, December 18 during Block 4. This event is usually well attended and a great time for both staff and students to celebrate the upcoming holiday season. BTHS is full of talent and are very proud of our Choral and Band programs.

There will be an early dismissal on Friday, December 20, with Winter Break to follow on Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1. Looking forward to the month of January, Seal of Biliteracy testing will be held on January 8, 9, and 10 in the BTHS IMC. January 13 will be Challenge Day for both BTHS Staff and Students and on Thursday, January 16 the BTHS Drama Club will be hosting this year’s Winter Staff and Student show. This has been a fun and exciting event to see the BTHS Staff members perform alongside students in a humorous light.

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:

"The Polar Express trip was so much fun and we loved seeing the kids." - Ava A.

"It was cool to see that so many people brought teddy bears to the

hockey game to support Toys for Tots." - Erica P.

"Starting my teaching field experience at Warren Wolf has been

so fun I'm excited for what's to come." -Marcella W.

"The mock trial cross-town invitational was awesome." - Chase R.

The Winter Band and Chorus Concert took place on Tuesday, December 17. It was a spectacular showcase of our students' talent and dedication. The evening featured captivating performances that brought the Holiday Spirit of the season to life, leaving the audience inspired and filled with holiday cheer. The event was highlighted with performances by our Concert Band, Jazz Band, Combined Choir, Inferno, Sirens and Voices of Fire. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible musicians, singers, and directors for their hard work and artistry!

The Key Club and Choir traveled to the Town Square Senior Center for a community outreach event. Students in the Choir sang holiday songs, while members of the Key Club engaged in small group activities. The Key Club members paired up with senior citizens to engage in conversation and together create holiday crafts and ornaments. This joint community outreach was a great success and experience for both students and community members.

On Tuesday, November 26, Brick Township High School proudly hosted the induction ceremony for the International Thespian Honor Society. This prestigious event celebrated the dedication, talent, and hard work of our student performers and technicians. The evening highlighted their achievements in the performing arts, recognizing their commitment to excellence in theater. Congratulations to all the inductees on this well-deserved honor!

BTHS hosted its Alumni Networking Day on Thursday, November 27. We had a great group of Alumni present to share their experience, guidance, and wisdom with our students. It was apparent that many Juniors and Seniors took advantage of this opportunity to gain greater insights into future planning.

The Voices of Fire Honors Chorus delivered a stunning holiday performance at the December Board of Education meeting, spreading joy and showcasing their incredible talent. The talented choir filled the room with festive cheer, showcasing their vocal skills and spreading holiday spirit to all in attendance.

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.

It is time for you to order your Graduation Cap and Gown. This is an essential step in preparing for a successful graduation ceremony. Please access the attached document with detailed information on how to order your Graduation Cap and Gown. There will be several prompts when accessing the website, please note that Caps, Gowns, and Tassels are paid for by the Board of Education. You must go through the “ordering” process on the Jostens web-site. There will be opportunities to purchase other items during this process but it is not required or necessary. The BTHS bookkeeper, Jessica Zimmer, would be glad to offer assistance or answer any questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out for support by stopping by the bookkeeper’s office located in the Guidance Office, sending an email to jzimmer@brickschools.org, or calling ext. 2004.

BTHS - Class of 2025 - Graduation Cap & Gown Ordering Instructions

Click here to go to the order page on Jostens Website

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.

BTHS Students of the Month - December

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.

Jade Shaffer, Grade 9

Jade is kind, polite, and respectful. She is a conscientious and hard-working student. I am nominating Jade because she is overall just a good human being! - Ms. Russell

Jade is such a positive member of the classroom. She goes above and beyond everyday, and is the kindest person to everyone she meets. Earlier this year, she volunteered to create a poster for Mrs. Christiani's daughter's birthday and spent her own free time drawing it. - Ms. Goff

Jade Huynh, Grade 10

Jade is a leader in our BTHS community, serving on the leadership teams of both SGA and the Mayor's Student Advisory. She always has a positive attitude and she brings this to every meeting and event as she is always willing to help out and do more! She consistently volunteers to help support our community, most recently at Brick's Fall Fest and the Longest Table. Her kindness, optimism and spirit exemplify our Dragon values on a daily basis. - Ms. Karu

Luis Leonor, Grade 11

Luis is an extremely hardworking student who constantly gives his best effort. He helps struggling classmates if they are having trouble on assignments. Luis deserves student of the month because he embodies the core values of what it means to be a Dragon! - Mr. Kleinfeldt

Jaynamarie Stango, Grade 12

Jaynamarie Stango has been working so hard on her college applications. She is taking several AP classes and has worked hard to achieve great grades the first marking period. In addition, she is kind, caring, dedicated and often the person who is not looking for recognition for her amazing accomplishments. For these reasons, I am pleased to nominate her for student of the month! She is unstoppable and will continue to shine in her future endeavors. - Mrs. Walling

Winter Sports are off and running. The boys and girls basketball teams have begun the scrimmage season with three scrimmages each. Both teams are young and hungry to prove themselves in the difficult landscape of Shore Conference basketball. The teams will begin regular season play the week of December 16th. The boys host Asbury on Monday, December 16 and the girls host Red Bank Regional on Tuesday, December 17. Both teams will participate in the final WOBM Christmas Classic over the holiday break. Additionally, the boys basketball team collaborated with the Autism Movement Project, a non-profit that works with kids, teens, and adults with autism, for a day of basketball. The wrestling team is preparing for a long, grueling season. The team has participated in an individual boys and girls match thus far. The team is getting ready for their opening match against Barnegat on December 17. The swimming teams are off to a nice start. Both teams had some fantastic performances in their first meet against Lacey.

On Monday, December 2, the Seniors and Juniors squared off in our BTHS Powderpuff event. It was a fun event for all in attendance. In the end, the Senior class beat the Juniors with a score of 36-13. It should be noted that it was a great turnout, with lots of student involvement, and an amazing game!

The Key Club and National Honor Society visited Warren H. Wolf to assist with their Winter Holiday Move event. We continue to strengthen our community partnerships through offering positive experiences for our future Dragons. Thank you Key Club members for being such great role models!

Our NHS Member of the Month for December is Caitlyn Chandler! She is our Secretary, which requires attention to detail and the ability to keep up with the happenings of our chapter. Caitlyn is diligent, responsible, and always has a positive attitude. When asked to do something, she is consistently reliable and she also contributes ideas and support to the group, regardless of what we are doing. Congratulations to Caitlyn on this recognition. We are so happy to have you as a member of our NHS Executive Board!

Throughout the month of December, the BTHS Acting classes, under the direction of Ms. Best, have shared their talents with each of our sending elementary schools. Students visited Drum Point Elementary School, Emma Havens Young Elementary School, and Osbornville Elementary School to put on a performance of various Fairy Tales for student enjoyment. It was clear that all of our future Dragons enjoyed the show.

We are proud to highlight the amazing work of our Teaching Students to Teach class and Student Government Association (SGA), who recently partnered with Warren H. Wolf PDEC to bring holiday magic to life by assisting with their Polar Express event. Through this initiative, our students demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and a spirit of giving back. Our high school students provided a memorable experience for the younger learners in our community. Seeing our students engage so enthusiastically with the children was a reminder of the power of shared experiences and the joy of fostering a love for reading. It’s inspiring to see their commitment to education and community outreach in action!

Our Work Based Learning program develops partnerships with local businesses, offering students an opportunity to develop and refine their work readiness skills. The Bay Head Yacht Club is one of these essential partnerships. Students work on preparing themselves for future employment.

Keep the submissions coming! Send us your creative writing, photos, and artwork - let us publish it for you! We are The Regaler, your school literary magazine, and we believe in sharing the words and images that stir the soul. Upload your work to our Google Classroom (code: shgtudl) by Feb. 1. Be heard! Contact Mr. Doyle, Mrs. Stansbury, or our Editor-in-Chief, sophomore Inara Napolitano, with questions.

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.

The Classics with Kasyan Book Club will continue with the conclusion of the The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. This will be our second meeting reviewing this book, which will take place after school on Tuesday, January 21 in the library. The meeting will conclude prior to late bus dismissal. All students are welcome to join. Any student looking to participate should grab a copy of The Secret Life of Bees and start reading. Please have the book finished by the scheduled meeting date of Tuesday, January 21 to ensure that you can contribute to the book discussion.

If you would like to borrow a copy of The Secret Life of Bees, please send an email to our district literacy coach, Ms. Monninger at jmonninger@brickschools.org, and one will be provided. I am looking forward to collaborating and connecting with our student body on Tuesday, January 21. Start Reading!

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.

Our BTHS elves have been busily decorating doors to participate in SGA's annual door decorating contest. SGA is also the proud sponsor of the annual holiday card competition. All doors and cards will be presented on the SGA Google Classroom for voting. Recently, the SGA accompanied the Teaching Students to Teach class to Warren Wolf Elementary School for Polar Express Day. BTHS students read the story to the preschoolers and participated in crafts and coloring. Finally, SGA would like to wish everyone at BTHS and beyond, a very happy and healthy holiday season. We look forward to seeing you in 2025!

The Class of 2025 has been working very hard to finalize plans for Senior year activities. Students have been meeting during lunches and afterschool to organize and map out logistics for upcoming events including Battle of the Classes and the Senior sponsored Volleyball Tournament. Earlier this month, Senior girls came out and represented during the Powder Puff game where the Seniors defeated the Juniors. Students, parents and staff had a great time watching and participating in this annual event. Students are encouraged to continuously check their Google Classroom page for updates and surveys that are crucial for their Senior year. If anyone has questions, they should reach out to Ms. Vélez at mvelez@brickschools.org or Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org

The Class of 2026 has two fundraisers coming up. One fundraiser will be at Chipotle on January 15th from 4-8pm. The other fundraiser will involve our students selling Gertrude Hawk chocolate bars. Look for the Chipotle flyer on our social media and make sure you get some delicious chocolate from the students who are selling it. If you have any questions, you can see Ms. DePoto in room 408, 415 & 411 or Mrs. Buell in 112, 306 & 310. All class updates and information will be in Google Classroom or Instagram. Google Classroom: lf4subd and Instagram: @bths_classof2026

The Class of 2027 is looking forward to the Spring 2025 semester at BTHS! There is only one more month until classes switch and Battle of the Classes planning is just around the corner. Just a reminder to see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scip (202) if you have ideas for fundraisers or if you're interested in getting involved. Have a great holiday!

We are thrilled to announce that our first fundraiser has been successfully completed! A huge thank you to everyone who supported and participated – your generosity and dedication will help make our future events even more memorable. We couldn't have done it without you! As we approach the holiday season, we want to take a moment to wish the entire BTHS family a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. May you enjoy this time with loved ones, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead. 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

The NJSLA Fall Block 2024 was administered on December 10th-11th for all 9th grade students enrolled in a Fall semester math course (Algebra I Honors, Geometry and Geometry Honors) and Fall semester English course.

The Ocean County Vocational Technical Program application will be available for students to apply on Thursday, January 2nd. Current sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in admission for September 2025 should visit the OCVTS Admissions page: https://www.ocvts.org/admissions. Please see your school counselor for more information.

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.

Brick & Beyond will be hosted at Brick Memorial High School in the Gymnasium on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 5pm-7pm. There will be information on high school programs as well as a postsecondary opportunities. More information and details will be provided in the coming weeks.

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.

Giving Dragons would like to thank everyone who donated gift cards and helped our BTHS families this holiday season. Your kindness was greatly appreciated.

Have a happy and healthy holiday season from the School Counseling Department at BTHS!

Hello BTHS Community!

During the holidays, many individuals spend time with family and friends and even exchange gifts. It is important to acknowledge and briefly discuss two important National Health Observances during December. Child and Family Services recognizes National Safe Toys & Gifts Month during December. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has compiled a list based on research of safety tips to consider while we shop for our family and friends this holiday season. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you follow the age recommendations for items that you are purchasing and that each item be thoroughly inspected before gifted to a child. Look for any sharp edges, chords, and removable parts that are small, such as batteries or magnets- these items could be dangerous! Any active toys for outside, such as a bicycle, skateboard, scooter or dirt bike, should be appropriate for the child’s size. In addition, the child should receive any safety gear needed, such as a helmet, protective eyewear, and protective pads to prevent injury.

Furthermore, it is important that we recognize National Handwashing Awareness (Dec. 5th-11th). During this season let’s spread kindness and cheer and not germs by performing proper hand washing to help keep our hands clean and prevent the spread of illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed their campaign- Life is better with Clean Hands, to motivate individuals to keep their hands clean and promote a healthy lifestyle with 5 easy steps:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap (front/back, between your fingers, and under your nails).
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds- the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.

Sanitizer can also be used to get rid of germs, but will not be as effective if your hands are visibly dirty or greasy. Research shows that we could prevent, “1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu,” with proper handwashing (www.cdc.gov/handwashing). Proper hand washing can aid in keeping ourselves, as well as our friends and family, healthy as we gather and spread joy and cheer during this holiday season and all year long.

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.

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 School Based events and happenings:

• The School Based Recreation Club had been working with some NHS students to take part in “Color a Smile”. This involves completing coloring pages that get sent in to the organization and then distributed to people in need of a smile (such as those in hospitals or long term care facilities).
• Our Peer Leadership program will be conducting another Freshman Outreach on December 17th, with the activities centered around stress management and communication skills.
• We are hosting our annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest amongst our clubs and lunch groups. Each group decorates a house and then students can vote the week before break. Whichever group’s gingerbread house gets the most votes that group gets a pizza party!

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