The Dragon Review

November 2025

Hello Dragons!

As we approach the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I am filled with gratitude, reverence, and pride for all that our school community represents. This past month highlighted elements of our school tradition, offered students opportunities to be recognized, and demonstrated the connectedness of the school community. Our annual Halloween Costume contest was a resounding success, showcasing the talents of our students. It was heartwarming to witness the camaraderie and support among our students as they cheered for one another during the Costume contest sponsored by our Student Government Association. Students were overtly supportive of one another, recognizing each individual for their contributions to the positive school environment.

Moreover, this past month emphasized the importance of our communication and collaboration practices as Parent-Teacher Conferences took place. I want to express my appreciation to all of our parents and guardians for actively participating in your child’s education. The Parent-Teacher Conferences were a success as a direct result of the support offered throughout our educational community. BTHS faculty is grateful for the support received from our community and continue to look forward to future collaboration. Students are recognized for their hard work and dedication as we closed out the first marking period grading cycle for this current school year. Students achieving honor roll and distinguished honor roll will be recognized with the distribution of letters, posted to parent portal, signifying their achievement as well as the posting of their names outside of the guidance office.

This fall brought remarkable achievements across our BTHS athletic and performing arts programs. We are proud to celebrate the dedication and excellence of our students. Our Drama Club’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream was truly exceptional, each individual performance contributed to a masterful and memorable show. I would like to also extend a special congratulations to our Marching Band for an outstanding season highlighted by numerous first-place performances that showcased their talent, expertise, and school spirit. In addition, I am also proud to celebrate our Cheerleaders for being named the Best Cheer Squad in Ocean County, a well-deserved honor that reflects their hard work, energy, and commitment to excellence. Thank you to all of our student-athletes, performers, advisors, and coaches for an unforgettable fall season.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude toward our entire school community. I am thankful for our teaching staff and faculty, who work closely together to ensure a safe and engaging learning environment. Moreover, BTHS would not be successful without the help and support of our parents. During this season of reflection, I can not emphasize enough as to how thankful I am to be leading this wonderful learning community.

“Gratitude bestows reverence, changing forever how we experience life and the world.” ~ John Milton

With Dragon Pride,

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. This year’s fall Drama Production took place on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15. The play was outstanding as our talent and passion here at BTHS was once again on display. BTHS held parent-teacher conferences this month. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any follow up questions or concerns.

Winter Sports tryouts will begin on Monday, November 24, please make sure all paperwork is turned in and updated in the Athletic Office prior to this date. The Not Even Once Program Presentation will return to BTHS on November 24 and November 26 for all students who are participating in our Health and Physical Education classes this semester. The BTHS Alumni Networking Event will be held on Wednesday, November 26 in the BTHS Library. The event is a great experience for our current students to hear about our former students' experiences at various different colleges and universities. Thanksgiving Break will be Thursday, November 27- Friday November 28. BTHS wishes everybody a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, December 2 will be this year’s BTHS National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. The Winter Sports Season Dragon Walk will be held on Friday, December 5. The Mock Trial Team will be competing in their annual tournament on Monday, December 8. The annual winter concert will be held on Wednesday, December 10 in the BTHS Auditorium from 6- 9 pm. The World Language Department Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 11 in the IMC from 2 - 4pm. The Health and Physical Education Department will also be hosting the Teen Dating Program presentation during their classes on Monday, December 22. BTHS will operate on an early dismissal schedule on Tuesday, December 23 with Winter Break beginning on Wednesday, December 24. BTHS will be back in session on Monday, January 5.

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:

"This month at BTHS, I enjoyed being able to see my friends every day in my classes." ~ Kaitlin

"The best thing I’ve done this month in school is participate in Sirens, the female chorus. I love it, and I’m very excited for the winter concert." ~ Maggie

"Boys Soccer finished a great season with a win the State Playoffs!" ~ Jack

"It felt great to give back to our community with the Interact/Surf Club Food Drive." ~ Vincent

"During October was so much fun! Homecoming was definitely the highlight of the month. Another highlight was the Halloween Costume Contest, where I got the opportunity to help out." ~ Shelby

Earlier this month, BTHS hosted a Financial Aid – Simplifying the Process presentation for all families. During this session, parents and guardians received step-by-step guidance on completing the FAFSA application, an important component of the college financial aid process and a required part of our students’ established graduation criteria. The FAFSA is now available at https://studentaid.gov/ We were pleased to see strong attendance and engagement from our school community. For those who were unable to attend, or for anyone who would like to review the information again, the full presentation has been posted on our website for easy access and reference. Financial Aid 101 - Simplifying the Process Presentation.

History has been made! For the first time in school history, the BTHS Marching Band has brought home the ACC Championship title. Congratulations to our talented musicians, dedicated staff, and supportive community on this incredible achievement!

Congratulations to Mason Jacobs for being awarded the National Judges Association Scholarship in the amount of $4,000. This scholarship can be applied to the post-secondary school of his choice. Mason earned this recognition through a highly competitive application process, during which he highlighted the positive impact that his Tournament of Bands experience has had on his growth and development.

Be on the lookout for our Dragon Postcards in the mail. Staff have a monthly opportunity to recognize students with a positive message that will be mailed home on a BTHS postcard. These postcards provide another meaningful way to celebrate students for their positive contributions to our school community. We continue to be incredibly proud of our students and the strong character they demonstrate each day. Check your mailbox!

Congratulations to our talented cast and crew on a magical performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream! Their dedication, creativity, and hard work brought Shakespeare’s timeless story to life, delighting the audience and showcasing the incredible talent within our school community. A standing ovation is well deserved!

BTHS Students of the Month - November

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.

Christian Rodrigues, Grade 9

Christian is a student in the BTHS STEM Academy. He is a member of the Art and Multicultural Clubs. Christian is actively involved in Karate and spends his time volunteering as an assistant instructor at his Karate Club.

Christian’s dream goal is to be a mechanical engineer and work with a car company.

Christian is an amazing artist and student. Christian goes above and beyond in all that he does in the classroom. He is not only an excellent student but a class leader and an example for the rest of the class. His artwork is above grade level and some will be featured in the District Art Show. I am proud of Christian's accomplishments in art everyday. - Mrs. Gruber

Victoria Tornillo, Grade 10

Victoria is a member of the Sirens Choir. She is also a member of the Fashion Club. She is also actively involved in the drama program at BTHS.

Victoria’s advice for other students “You can’t control the way others act but you can control the way you react” -Advice from her father.

Victoria's work habits have really improved this month. Her in-class analysis of Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye has been thoughtful and mature. Thank you, Victoria, and keep up the good work! - Mrs. Farnsworth

Marco Linares Flores, Grade 11

Marco is a member of the Mock Trial Club. He also works part time while balancing his classes. He is motivated by curiosity and enjoys research and always learning about new things. He hopes one day to study science and work within the research or medical field.

His quote - “Life without expression is meaningless.”

I had Marco as a freshman, and I wish I would have nominated him in May of that year. He was always an amazing student, but has picked it up SO much since then! He did a lot of self reflection and realized that only 100s were acceptable from that point on. I have him again in Algebra 2, and he asks the most amazing questions, takes INCREDIBLY accurate notes, and does NOT give up until he fully understands every aspect of every lesson! He also teaches every student that will listen to him! He's still held that promise from 2 years ago and I'm so proud of him. I'm so lucky to have him in class - he makes me want to come to work everyday! - Mrs. Shevach

Zakary Hans, Grade 12

Zakary is a senior member of the BTHS STEM Academy. He runs Cross Country and is a member of the Winter and Spring Track Teams. He is also an active Pickle Ball Player and is a member of the newly formed Pickle Ball Club.

His advice for other BTHS students is to not let one setback define you because you can always be better.

Zak Hans always participates in the entire block. He lifts up other students and encourages them to join in. - Mr. Groschel

Winter is upon us, and as the new season begins, we take a moment to celebrate the many accomplishments of our fall athletes and student leaders. The football team closed out their season with a strong finish, earning back-to-back wins and ending with a 5–5 record. Field Hockey, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and Volleyball each completed successful seasons by qualifying for the NJSIAA State Playoffs, with the Boys Soccer Team securing their first playoff win in more than five years. We are also proud to recognize two Girls Lacrosse players, Reese Achille, who signed with Hofstra, and Madison Lacerda, who signed with Caldwell, to continue their athletic careers at the next level. Additionally, our Shore Conference Student Ambassadors, Matt McGuigan and AnnaClaire Staudt, represented Brick Township High School with pride at a recent Ambassador Event. Dragon's Athletics, across the board, continue to demonstrate dedication and hard work, which has led to a high level of success, big improvements, and plenty of pride. Go Dragons!

Freshman Olivia Russell, showcased her cross country talent by winning the Ocean County Championship 2-mile race with a time of 13:48 at Ocean County Park. She followed up that victory by improving her time to win the Shore Conference Freshman 2-mile race in 13:21! Olivia wrapped up her season by competing in the Future 7 race, where she ran a personal best of 21:06 in the 5K at Ocean County Park, securing 4th place overall and finishing as the top freshman in the race. Caitlin McHugh, Roselyn Romero-Hernandez, Rose Arroyo, Rachel Moreira, Mia Cozzi, and Brianna Desisto all ran season best times at the Future 7 race.

Senior Captain Kiera McHugh delivered a season of consistent excellence. Kiera ran a powerful 19:08 at the Shore Conference meet at Ocean County Park. She moved on to the State Sectional Championships at Thompson Park, running a strong 19:51 and successfully qualifying for the Group Championships at Holmdel Park. At Holmdel, Kiera completed her season by running her season-best time on the notoriously difficult course with a 20:33. Kiera earned our school’s top times in 2024 at Holmdel Park (20:07) as well as Ocean County Park (18:47).

The entire team had a great season, reflecting countless miles of training and team spirit. We wish our seniors the best of luck next year: Kiera McHugh, Roselyn Romero-Hernandez, and Lucero Vargas Flores. Congratulations to the entire team on a memorable year!

Shore Conference Student Ambassadors Matt McGuigan and AnnaClaire Staudt proudly represented Brick Township High School at a recent Ambassador Event. Their participation showcased the leadership, character and commitment of our students within the greater Shore Conference community.

The BTHS Marching Band completed an undefeated season, earning 1st place at every competition. They were named Region 7 (Central NJ) Champions, receiving awards for Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Percussion. The band went on to become New Jersey State Champions, capturing additional honors for Best Music, Best Visual, and Best Auxiliary. Making school history, they were crowned Atlantic Coast Champions for the first time ever, earning awards for Best Music and Best Visual. Their remarkable score of 95.5 at the Atlantic Coast Championships also set a new school record.

Our Culinary students showcased their creativity and seasonal spirit during this year’s Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest! It was a fun and festive way to blend artistic expression with hands-on culinary learning. The results of the voting saw Number 8 Owl in First place, Number 5 VW Bug in Second Place, and Number 13 Spiderman in Third Place. Great job to all who participated!

The Multicultural Club met on November 14. Students learned about the various versions of Rice Pudding or Arroz con leche. Afterwards, they made Mexican style Arroz con leche and enjoyed it with friends.

This past month BTHS Senior, Kiera McHugh, in collaboration with the Cross Country program, hosted a 1-mile run to raise funds for Girls on the Run, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls through physical activity and confidence-building programs. This event also served as Kiera’s National Honor Society (NHS) passion project, fulfilling the NHS expectation that members complete a meaningful project demonstrating service and leadership. Thank you, Kiera, for making such a positive impact on our school community!

Want to be featured in our school literary magazine?

Join our Regaler Google Classroom to send your poems, artwork, and cool photos to us. (Code: shgtudl) Even better, join our staff to be a part of it, where we believe in the power of words and pictures to inspire. We are especially seeking interested freshmen this year. Be heard!

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

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 2026 just finished a Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser. Future fundraisers will be posted in the Google Classroom and on Instagram. 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 / Instagram @bths_classof2026

For planning purposes, the Junior Prom will be held at Jumping Brook Country Club on Thursday, April 23, 2026 from 5:00-9:00pm. In addition, Powder Puff will also be held in the spring. Battle of the Classes will be sometime in early 2026. There are many fun things on the horizon for the new year, so make sure you keep your eye on the Google Classroom and/or come see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (304) with questions or ideas. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Our Class of 2028 catalog fundraiser ends tomorrow, November 26! This is the perfect time to grab holiday gifts, wrapping essentials, and tons of great finds—gourmet snacks & cheeses, candles, magazines, kitchen and home items, jewelry, and more. Everything ships right to your door. We’re also looking forward to teaming up with other classes for even more fundraising fun this spring. Wishing everyone a safe, happy, and healthy kickoff to the holiday season! See Ms. Freedley (Rm 217) or Mrs. Rahbari (Rm 411) with any questions.

The Class of 2029 is busy this December with two great ways to celebrate the holiday season!

• Candy Cane Grams: Send a holiday message and a candy cane to a student or staff member for just $1 to spread holiday cheer! Orders are due by December 17 and will be delivered in school on December 23. Order Candy Grams HERE.

• Freshman Holiday Social: Freshman (ONLY!) are invited to a festive social on Wednesday, December 17, from 1:30 PM–2:45 PM in Cafe 3. Enjoy music, games, snacks, and a specialty drink from Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck! Tickets are $10 cash and can be purchased from Class Advisors or Officers. Complete the Interest Form to attend.

Follow the class on Instagram @bths.classof2029 or the Parents Facebook Page BTHS class of 2029 for updates. See Ms. Ianniello (Guidance Office) or Ms. Velez (Rm 23) with any questions.

The School Counseling Department

Alumni Networking Day will take place on Wednesday, November 26. BTHS Alumni were invited to attend this event and take part on a panel discussion to speak about post-secondary topics including 4 year colleges, 2 year colleges, military, majors, college life, collegiate athletes, college applications, high school classes that prepared them for college (Honors, AP, Dual Enrollment) and time management.

Ocean County Vocational Technical School will be presenting to all sophomore students on Wednesday, December 3 about the shared time programs and application process. Application for September 2026 Shared Time Programs will open on Monday, January 5.

The SAT will be offered at BMHS on Saturday, December 6. Registration for all future testing administration dates can be found on https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines

The Counselors are hosting Scholarship Working Lunches every Monday during A, B 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 2026. Please view the Scholarship letter for families for more information. Click Here for Access to the BTHS Scholarship Letter for Families.

Hello Dragons!

As the weather turns colder, it is important for students and families to take simple steps to stay healthy throughout the winter months. The most effective way to prevent illness is regular hand washing. We should all be washing our hands with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds, especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing. Consistently practicing good hand hygiene helps reduce the spread of many illnesses such as colds, the flu, and stomach viruses. Students should stay home if they are not feeling well to prevent spreading illness to others and be fever free for twenty-four hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school.

The holidays can bring excitement and joy but they also can bring stress and plenty of tempting treats. To help students and their families find balance, try to encourage mindful eating by enjoying the holiday treats in moderation while still choosing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. Incorporating quiet time whether by reading, meditation, or other quiet activities can help reduce holiday stress. Talking to friends, counselors, and other trusted adults about stress can help manage feelings of being overwhelmed. By keeping routines regular and focusing on healthy habits, families can enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season.

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.

Health Office Contact Information:

• Nurse Amanda Cerracchio - acerracchio@brickschools.org - Ext. 2009
• Nurse Jessica Kopenhafer - jkopenhafer@brickschools.org - Ext. 2037

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.

Yearbooks are now on sale! Order by 12/31 and save $5. Yearbooks can be ordered here.

Senior Parents:

• The back of the yearbook is dedicated to personal messages that you can purchase for your graduate. You can customize your message with photos. Purchase & design your ad here.
• Please submit a baby picture of your graduate for the yearbook using this form by December 12th!

The next BTHS PTSA meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22 at 1:45 PM in Room 23. We look forward to seeing you there! Communication associated with upcoming PTSA Meetings is pushed out to members through the Memberhub platform. The BTHS Parent Teacher Student Association is accepting membership for the 2025-2026 school year. Please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA. LINK to Memberhub

Principal

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Assistant Principals

Erin Biancella - Grade 10 & Freshman P-Z

Ryan Hesnan - Grade 12 & Freshman H-O

James Marvin - Grade 11 & 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