The Dragon Review

April 2025

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break. This past month was highlighted by our Spring Drama Production of Disney’s High School Musical, vertical articulation within the Performing Arts department, and induction of new members into our World Language Honor Societies. 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 Thursday, April 17. 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. Inclusive of these expectations of putting forth our best effort is the necessity to remain engaged, mindful of our cell phone procedures, and connected to classroom instruction.

Looking ahead BTHS will administer the NJSLA - ELA Assessment to Grade 9 students and the NJSLA - Science Assessment to Grade 11 students on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2. BTHS will administer the NJSLA-Mathematics Assessment to Grade 9 Students on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20. We will be operating on an altered schedule on these dates to facilitate test administration. More detailed information has been communicated in previous blackboard broadcasts and is also included within this newsletter. Moreover, AP Testing begins on Monday, May 5 and will run through Friday, May 16. Students will receive information from their AP teacher and Guidance Counselor for schedule and room assignments.

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

• The Junior Prom will take place on Thursday, May 8 from 5 PM to 9 PM at Jumping Brook Country Club.

• The Senior Ball will take place on Thursday, May 15 from 5PM to 9 PM at South Gate Manor.

• Senior Scholarship & Awards Night, sponsored by our Guidance Department, is Thursday, May 29, 2025 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.

• The Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony will be on Wednesday, June 18 at 2:30 PM.

I would like to conclude by expressing that Staff Appreciation Week begins on Monday, May 5. 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 this past month along with what we are looking forward to on campus here at BTHS. The World Language Honor Society Ceremony took place on April 10. It was great to see our students being recognized for their outstanding achievements in a foreign language. The Drama Club’s performance of Disney's High School Musical took place on April 11 and April 12 and as always, the students put on a fantastic performance. On Tuesday, April 15 there was an assembly held for all Junior and Senior students. The presentation focused on substance abuse and positive life choices.

BTHS will administer the NJSLA - ELA Assessment to Grade 9 students and the NJSLA - Science Assessment to Grade 11 students on Thursday, May 1 and Friday, May 2. BTHS will administer the NJSLA-Mathematics Assessment to Grade 9 Students on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20. BTHS will be operating on an altered schedule for those days, please see Dr. Kasyan’s NJSLA Testing Spring 2025 Parent Letter for specific details.

On Friday May 2, BTHS will be hosting their annual “Helping Hands” Charity Basketball game where the Brick Township High School Football Seniors will be playing against the Brick Township PBA. This is always a very fun and entertaining event along with raising money for a special family or individual in times of need. On May 6, the Choral Department will be hosting this year’s Silhouette Singer competition in the BTHS Auditorium. Staff and students will be participating in this fun and enjoyable event. The BTHS Junior ROTC will be hosting a blood drive at BTHS on Wednesday, May 7 for any staff or student who is interested in donating blood. The BTHS Junior Prom will be held at Jumping Brook on Thursday, May 8 from 5-9pm. On Monday, May 12, the Senior Drama Showcase will be held in the BTHS Auditorium starting at 6pm. Also on May 12, The BTHS Wall of Fame Dinner Ceremony will be held at the Lobster Shanty with a 6pm start time. The Senior Ball will be held on Thursday, May 15 at South Gate Manor starting at 5pm. The Spring is a very busy but special time of year for all of our staff and students and we are looking forward to all of these wonderful events with great student turnout.

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:

“As a cast member of the high school musical it was a grand experience”- Kyle D

“As the president of the Spanish Honor Society, speaking at the language honor society

induction was an honor. Congratulations to everyone who was inducted!” - Jade M

“ I was super thrilled being nominated top performer of the week for baseball.”- Sean S

“My favorite memory so far is girls lacrosse winning in overtime against

Donovan and having the game winning goal.” - Reese A

“The photography field trip to Asbury Park was so fun and such a good time!” -Riley N

Congratulations to the newest members of the World Language Honor Societies! Students were proudly inducted into the French, Italian, and Spanish Honor Societies in recognition of their excellence in language studies, cultural understanding, and academic achievement. We are proud of their dedication to expanding their global awareness and celebrating the beauty of world languages!

We are thrilled to recognize and congratulate Nicholas Esteves for his exceptional academic performance and dedication! Nicholas Esteves has been named eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic recognition awarded to the top-performing students nationwide. Out of more than 1.3 million entrants, Nicholas ranks among the top 50,000 highest-scoring participants on the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT®! This achievement highlights his remarkable academic potential and places him in the running to be recognized as either a National Merit Semifinalist or a Commended Student in Fall 2025.

BTHS recently hosted a powerful and engaging drug prevention education assembly. Sponsored by the Tigger Stavola Foundation, the event featured Robb Holla, a vetted speaker from the Foundation’s portfolio. Holla is an acclaimed presenter who promotes drug and alcohol prevention through presentations that emphasize the dangers of vaping. His precautionary tales through his high-energy, transformative assemblies, Robb made a monumental impact with his Anti-Vaping, empowering young people to break through the obstacles that stand in their way resonated deeply with students.

We kindly ask that you ensure your contact information is always up to date in our system. Please take a moment to access your parent portal account to confirm that personal information is accurate. Accurate phone numbers, email addresses, and emergency contacts are essential for timely communication, especially in the event of an emergency or important school updates. Information can be updated directly in your parent portal account. In the event that you need assistance, please reach out to our guidance department at 732-785-3000 ext. 2053 or send an email to bkiseli@brickschools.org. Your partnership helps us keep every student safe, informed, and supported.

2025 Yearbooks are still on sale!

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 and designed by Tuesday, April 1. Click here to purchase and design your Ad. For help with creating ads, email support@photolynx.com or call (760) 787-1177

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 - 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.

Mikey Castaneda Zepada, Grade 9

Mikey is a hard working, respectful student who has consistently put forth added time and effort to find academic success. Mikey is funny, kind and works well with his peers. - Mrs. Karu

Aydan Christensen, Grade 10

Aydan is a conscientious, polite, and respectful young man. He greets you with a smile and is always upbeat. Aydan should be the student of the month because he deserves to be recognized for his hard work and positive attitude. - Ms. Russell

Mason Jacobs, Grade 11

Mason is a model student with a phenomenal work ethic and excellent character. He constantly works to help others with such poise and patience. He always has a fantastic attitude and approach to everything he is a part of. If I could clone him, I would. - Mr. Capone

Nick Deredita, Grade 12

Nick was cast in his very first musical as a senior. He has grown as an actor and now has the confidence to be in front of hundreds of people because of being one of the leads in High School Musical. - Ms. Best

Spring Sports are in full swing! Here is a look at how everyone is performing.

Baseball has a hot start to the season! The Dragons are 8-3 overall with a 5-0 record in conference. The team has been quite busy hitting Coach Groschel's 200th milestone win, supported future Dragons with a special event at the Brick Little League field, and traveled to Myrtle Beach to compete against top regional programs.

The Softball Team is currently 4-6 overall with a 4-3 division record.

Girls Flag Football began its inaugural season with high participation.

The team picked up their first win in program history.

The Lacrosse season is well underway. The boys are very young and are working their way through some early season struggles. The girls are 4-4 overall with a 3-2 division record. Highlighting this season thus far was a huge win vs. Donovan Catholic in OT.

The Boys and Girls Track teams are having a great season. The Boys Track team recently made program history by winning the 4x400 heat at Penn Relays, receiving the historic Penn Relay Wheel. Pictured below is the 4x400 Relay team of

Trey Williams, Jake Hancox, Tyshawn Corbett, and Braden Rostek

The Winter Guard earned Second Place at Region Championships, improving by 8 points from their last competition. Moreover, the Winter Guard captured First Place in both General Effect captions! The show is based on the idea of the Green Light from The Great Gatsby, signifying the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. The Winter Guard will continue their season as they compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships in Wildwood. Best of Luck!

We are excited to recognize Mohamad Srouji as this month's NHS Member of the Month! Mohamad has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication, especially when it comes to organizing and participating in events. He approaches every task with a positive attitude and a willingness to help wherever needed. His sweet nature, reliability, and calm presence make him a joy to work with and an essential part of our chapter. Mohamad's ability to take initiative and handle responsibilities with ease reflects his strong leadership skills and commitment to service. He never hesitates to step up, and he always does so with kindness and a smile. Thank you, Mohamad, for being such a valuable member of our team and for setting a great example for others to follow!

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

Our Air Force JROTC cadets recently took a meaningful trip to New York City to visit the 9/11 Memorial. The experience offered students a powerful opportunity to honor the lives lost, reflect on the impact of that day, and deepen their understanding of service, sacrifice, and resilience. It was a memorable and moving experience for all who attended.

Stay tuned for The Regaler, our school literary magazine, which drops in late May! Check out a sneak peak right here. It will "leaf" you wanting to read the rest!

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.

The Class of 2025 is ready to celebrate big time at their Senior Ball which will be May 15 at South Gate Manor in Freehold. As May approaches students and parents are asked to check for updates and information frequently as we have many special senior class events lined up including Senior Week. During Senior Week students will be participating in the Senior Walk, Senior Picnic and the Senior Breakfast. Students who want to purchase yearbooks are encouraged to do so early as they will sell out. Additionally, Senior Yard signs are on sale now and can be purchased through the PTSA link that is provided within this newsletter. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Ms. Velez at mvelez@brickschools.org or Mr. Pazmino at cpazmino@brickschools.org.

The Junior Class is thrilled to announce their upcoming prom, set to take place on May 8th at Jumping Brook Country Club. We can't wait to see everyone dressed to impress! 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 planning for next year and getting ready for a full year of fundraising for junior prom! Anyone interested in being a part of the planning and fundraising should make sure to keep an ear out for an end of the year meeting. If you want to have a voice, you have to get involved! See Mrs. DeBonis (Room 306) or Ms. Scipione (Room 202) with any questions or concerns.

Freshman Year - Almost a Wrap. Can you believe it? Freshman year is flying by, and what a ride it’s been! To celebrate and end the year on a high note, we’re working on rolling out one last hurrah: a Car Wash Fundraiser! Keep your eyes peeled for a date & location - come out, support the squad, and help us make a splash as we close out this amazing chapter. 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 30th. Students planning to attend OCC in the Fall 2025 will meet with advisors to create their schedule, tour the campus and have lunch in the dining hall.

Our Military Recognition Ceremony, honoring our seniors from BTHS and BMHS enlisting in the military after graduation, will be held on May 21 at 12:00 PM in the BTHS Auditorium. All Brick Township and Brick Memorial Military Alumni and their families and any Veterans are welcome to attend the ceremony. Please email Marie Walling at mwalling@brickschools.org for more information.

Our Advanced Placement students and teachers have been working diligently to prepare for the College Board AP Exams. AP testing administration will take place from May 5 - May 16. AP Exam Date Calendar. Room assignments and details will be posted in the AP Google Classroom and shared with the AP teachers/students. Please contact Marie Walling in Guidance at mwalling@brickschools.org with any questions or concerns. We are so proud of our students and wish them the best on their exams.

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!

April is a time of renewal and growth as well as a great time to refocus on our health and well-being! This month is full of important health awareness initiatives and the Health Office is proud to support the well-being of all our students, staff, and families. As we head into the final stretch of the school year, the Health Office would like to share a few important reminders:

• Spring Allergies are in full bloom! Please ensure that students who require allergy medications have updated their forms with the nurse’s office. Spring allergies can make focusing in school challenging. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, please update the Health Office with any new medications or care plans. We are here to help students manage symptoms and stay comfortable.

• Seasonal Illnesses like colds, strep throat, and flu are still circulating. Encourage students to wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when feeling unwell to prevent the spread of illness.

• Self-Care and Mental Health: April is also Stress Awareness Month. Encourage daily self-care practices like staying active, getting enough rest, and reaching out for support when needed. With springtime excitement also comes increased responsibilities and stress. We encourage everyone to prioritize mental health by practicing mindfulness, maintaining regular sleep routines, exercising, and reaching out for support when needed. Remember: managing stress effectively is key to both academic success and overall wellness.

At BTHS, we are committed to promoting a healthy school environment where every student can thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please reach out to the Health Office.

Additionally, here are 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.

• 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.

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