The Dragon Review

March 2026

Hello Dragons!

As we close the month of March, I am proud to reflect on the many events and accomplishments that made this a truly special time at BTHS. We were honored to host the District Arts Festival, bringing together representation from every school in our district for an evening dedicated to celebrating the arts. It was inspiring to see such strong student participation and community support, highlighting the creativity and talent that exists across our schools.

Our Dragon Drama Club delivered an outstanding production of Little Shop of Horrors, showcasing the incredible talent of our students. From captivating individual performances to dynamic musical numbers, the cast brought energy and professionalism to the stage. The student-led pit musicians added depth and polish, making this a performance that truly reflected the dedication and excellence of our performers.

Our partnership with community stakeholders remains strong, as demonstrated through the success of our Career Day and Transition Fair. Career Day provided students with meaningful, firsthand insights into a wide range of professions, helping them better understand potential career pathways. Similarly, the Transition Fair connected students and families with valuable local agencies and resources to support life beyond high school. We are grateful for the continued support of our community in making these impactful experiences possible.

We also look forward to welcoming our juniors and their families to Dragon Destinations: A Roadmap to Your Future on Tuesday, March 31 from 6:00–8:00 PM. This informative program will explore a variety of post-secondary options, including two- and four-year colleges, vocational programs, and military opportunities. Students will gain valuable guidance on the college application process, essay writing, SCOIR, and financial aid, helping them feel prepared and confident as they approach senior year. All students and parents from the Class of 2027 are strongly encouraged to attend.

As we move into the spring, Brick Township High School will administer the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA). Grade 9 students will complete ELA testing on April 29 - 30 and Mathematics on May 20, while Grade 11 students will take the Science assessment on May 18 - 19. All testing will occur during Blocks 1 and 2. Students should report at their normal time and proceed to their assigned testing locations, which will be shared in advance. We encourage all students to come prepared, well rested, and ready to do their best. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in ensuring a smooth testing process.

Finally, all students should have met with their school counselor to plan their course selections for next year. This is an important opportunity for students to take an active role in shaping their academic path, aligning their choices with their interests and future goals. Counselors are available to provide guidance and support throughout this process, and we encourage any student who has not yet met with their counselor to do so promptly.

“Engagement is a choice that transforms passive observation into active participation, turning movements into milestones and dreams into realities.”

With Dragon Pride,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Hello Dragons,

We are excited to provide an update on what has been happening and what we are looking forward to on campus at BTHS. On February 26, BTHS held its annual Battle of the Classes competition. The event was well attended, and all students involved had a great time. Congratulations to the Senior Class of 2026 for winning in a very close contest filled with excitement and school spirit. BTHS hosted the Brick Township Public Schools District Arts Festival on Thursday, March 5. This wonderful event showcased student artwork from across the district. The BTHS PTSA hosted its Craft Fair on Saturday, March 14 at Brick Township High School. This event provided a great opportunity for community vendors to promote their products while offering attendees the chance to purchase unique items not typically found in traditional storefronts.

NJGPA testing took place from Tuesday, March 17 through Thursday, March 19. On March 19, BTHS also hosted the Annual Special Education Resources & Transition Fair. This was an excellent opportunity for families to explore post-graduation resources and supports available to their children. On Wednesday, March 25, BTHS hosted it's annual Career Day. Representatives from the fields of Business, Law, Social/Public Service, Science/Technology, Vocational/Real Estate, and Medical/Health were be present. Students had the opportunity to sign up and participate in this community centered event. The BTHS Drama Club presented its spring production of Little Shop of Horrors on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.

On Tuesday, March 31, BTHS will host Dragon Destinations: A Roadmap to Your Future from 6:00–8:00 p.m. This informative and engaging evening is designed specifically for Grade 11 students and their families as they begin preparing for life after high school. Attendance is strongly encouraged, as the BTHS Guidance Department will explore a wide range of post-graduation pathways. The senior class picture will take place on Thursday, April 2 at 9:45 a.m. Brick Township High School will operate on an early dismissal, half day schedule on April 2 and April 3. School will be closed for spring break from April 6 - April 10.

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 mayor student advisory held its annual brick hero awards and it was so much fun working together with the kids from memorial to present awards to everyone who deserved recognition in the town including our very own teachers, Mr.Lynch and Ms.Gruber!" - Jade

"Going to the Tigger Stavola polar plunge was an unforgettable experience!" - Nunia

"The golf team is looking great this year. I am excited for the upcoming season!" - Brody

"I am grateful for the opportunity to attend career day. After hearing from the speakers, I was able to narrow down what I want to study in college." - Reese

Mrs. Segreto’s Computer Science students participated in a high school programming competition at Monmouth University. Two BTHS Computer Programming teams of three students participated in the Monmouth University High School Hawk Hack on February 20. The students had a fun day with hands-on programming experience in a competition with a total of 15 teams participating from NJ. Students participating were Ashlee Niers, Jade Huynh, Yazira Medina, Bobby Scott, Dennis Haines and Riley Gerling. It was a great surprise to see two former BTHS Computer Science students (Tommy Tran and George Khalil), freshman at Monmouth University and majoring in Computer Science, helping to run the competition (pictured).

Brick Township High School hosted Career Day on Wednesday, March 18 during Blocks 1 and 2. Students explored a wide range of career pathways by attending sessions in healthcare, business, science and technology, law, vocational fields, visual and performing arts, and social and public service. A special thank you to the Brick Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Dawn Celona, and our School Counselors for organizing this engaging and informative experience, providing students with valuable insight into future career opportunities.

Celebrate your Class of 2026 Graduate by displaying a personalized yard sign on your front lawn! Signs are 18” x 24” and display the below graphic. Your senior’s FIRST name will be printed on the single sided sign. A wire stake is also included for easy installation. Turn in cash or check payment and order form to Ms. Velez in Room 23 or BTHS Main Office. Order forms must be received before June 1, 2026.

Brody Acropolis has made the most of his time at BTHS both on and off the ice. A member of the varsity hockey and golf teams, Brody is also active in Peer Leadership, the Rotary Interact Club, and the Brick Hockey Club. His favorite high school moment was winning the Handchen Cup with his hockey teammates this season in front of a packed crowd that included his family and classmates. After graduation, Brody plans to attend a four-year university in the South and major in business.

Brody led the ice hockey team to great victories this season. He is very humble about his accomplishments. I also have Brody in class and he is always willing to help whenever needed. - Mr. Lynch

Throughout her time at BTHS, Brilyn Impellizeri has balanced athletics, leadership, and service. She is a member of the varsity gymnastics team and participates in both winter and spring track, in addition to her involvement in dance. Brilyn is the Treasurer of Key Club, President of the Italian Club, and the founder and president of PAWS Pals. She plans to pursue a degree in Animal Sciences in college. Her advice to younger students: “No matter your age, you’ll wish you started younger, but today is the youngest you’ll ever be, so start today.”

It is my pleasure to nominate Brylin. I have been particularly struck by her resilience and dedication to improvement. Brylin approaches challenges with a positive attitude, turning setbacks into stepping stones. - Ms. Cardin

Sophia San Jose has found a home in the arts at Brick Township High School. She is an active member of Drama Club and performs in the ensemble for the upcoming production of Little Shop of Horrors. Sophia is also a member of the choir and plays percussion in the band. She shares that she absolutely loves being part of the arts community at BTHS. Her goal for the future is to set herself up for success so she can live her dreams the way she wants to. Her favorite memory this year came during a drama rehearsal when several lead actors were away at a local band competition, and the director turned the rehearsal into a sing-along where everyone joined in on the show’s songs.

Sophia gives her all every day in Honors Biology. She works hard, helps others, and always has a positive attitude! We are so lucky to have Sophia in our class! - Mrs. Matthews

As the winter athletics season comes to a close at BTHS, we celebrate an outstanding few months filled with impressive team accomplishments and remarkable individual performances across our programs.

Our Boys Basketball team made great strides this season, finishing with 11 wins, their highest total since 2019, earning a berth in the NJSIAA State Tournament for the first time since 2022. The junior varsity team also enjoyed a tremendous season, securing 16 wins and finishing undefeated against Class C South opponents. Individually, junior Jamel Pitts and junior Sean Nausedas were both named First Team All Class C South Division, while sophomore Jaylen Johnson earned Second Team and junior Ryan Tufaro earned Third Team recognition.

The Girls Basketball team delivered one of the most successful seasons in over two decades, finishing with an impressive 18–9 record. They advanced to the second round of the Shore Conference Tournament and reached the quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group 3 State Tournament, while also finishing 8–2 and second in their division. Ariana Wissen had a historic season, earning Second Team All Shore honors, Ocean County MVP, and First Team All Division recognition. She set a school record with 70 three-pointers in a season, tied the single-game record with seven, and led the Shore Conference in scoring at 19.9 points per game. Kendall Fredricksen was named Second Team All Division and ranked among the top three in the Shore in assists per game, while AnnaClaire Staudt also earned Second Team All Division honors. Summer Fenwick was selected to participate in the Senior All-Star Game.

The Ice Hockey team continued its dominance this winter, winning the South Shore Division and capturing the Shore Conference Handchen Cup Championship. Brody Acropolis earned Third Team All-State (co-op) honors and was also named First Team All Division by the coaches. Matt Morris was selected Second Team All Division, Gavin Majors earned Third Team honors, and Sid Zito received Honorable Mention recognition.

Our Wrestling program also saw strong individual success this season. David Marzetti earned All-Division honors at 175 pounds, while Aidan Leonard was recognized as All-Division at 215 pounds and further distinguished himself by earning All Ocean County honors.

In Boys Track, Solomon Brown qualified for the Meet of Champions, finishing 11th in the state and earning a spot at the Nike Indoor Nationals. The Girls Track team continued to excel at a high level, qualifying for the Meet of Champions in the 4x400 relay (Kiera McHugh, Kennedy Lipford, Camryn Fogarty, and Olivia Russell), with Kiera McHugh also qualifying individually in the 800 meters. The team sent two relay groups to nationals, both setting school records. The sprint medley relay (Emma Canfield, Caitlin McHugh, Olivia Russell, and Kiera McHugh), which won its heat, and the 4x400 relay, which placed second in its heat.

In Girls Bowling, Audrey Britton delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 9th overall in the state. Congratulations to all of our winter athletes and coaches for their dedication, teamwork, and continued success. Sprint Sports are now underway. We are looking forward to another season filled with success. Go Dragons!

On February 27, the BTHS Chapter of the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS) , with their advisor Mrs. Segreto, visited Emma Haven Young Elementary School to work with Grade 5 students. The CSHS members prepared a Cyber Security activity that was a "Clue-like" mystery game. 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 received a gift bag of prizes including a bracelet with "Code the Future" on it. The fifth graders enjoyed all of the activities as did all of the CSHS members who can't wait to do another outreach.

Grab a sneak peek of this year's issue of The Regaler! Our magazine student staff collaborated on writing a tag-team poem, pictured here. Check out more original student works when this year's issue arrives in May 2026. BTHS students are turning up the volume of their voices!

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.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 on winning the Battle of the Classes! We had a great turnout, with so many seniors showing up to participate and support one another. It was clear how much time and effort went into preparing, and it paid off. From rehearsals to the final performance, everyone had a great time and showed incredible class spirit. Thank you as well to everyone who participated in our final Double Good Popcorn fundraiser this month. Your efforts and support are greatly appreciated! Looking ahead, prom season is right around the corner. Prom bids will go on sale right after spring break. Please make sure the prom packets are fully completed in order to purchase your bid. All class updates and important information will be shared through Google Classroom. 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

The Class of 2027 will be selling tickets to the Junior Prom during lunches A,B, and C in room 306 from Friday, March 27 through Thursday, April 2. Students need to have all necessary prom packet forms filled out and submitted to the appropriate location. Tickets are $85 and can be paid for with cash or check. Checks should be made out to BTHS SAA. There will be no tickets sold after the date, so please make sure to buy tickets early. Don't wait until the last minute! The Junior Prom will take place at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune, NJ on Thursday, April 23 at 5:00 PM. Anyone arriving later than 6pm will not be admitted into the dance. Any questions, please send an email to or go see Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (304).

The Class of 2028 had an active March with a mix of fundraising efforts. While our Dining to Donate event at Burger 25 had lower attendance than anticipated, we appreciate those who came out to support. On a more positive note, our “Pictures with the Easter Bunny” fundraiser was a great success, bringing in families and smiles from across the community. We would like to extend a special thank you to the PTSA for hosting the craft fair and helping make this event possible. See Ms. Freedley (Rm 217) or Mrs. Rahbari (Rm 411) with any questions.

The Class of 2029 invites students and families to support our upcoming Spirit Fundraiser at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, April 15. Students who attend will have a chance to win a Chick-fil-A gift basket! We encourage families to enjoy a meal and help support the Class of 2029. Also on April 15, we will hold our next Class Meeting in Room 23. During this meeting, we will discuss upcoming events for the remainder of the school year. All freshmen are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Looking ahead to May, we will begin collecting donations for our biggest fundraiser of the year, which is our Graduation Snack Tent. We are asking families to donate items such as bottled water, soda, Gatorade, individual bags of chips, and coolers. We will also need student volunteers to help run the snack tent. If you have any questions or would like to contribute, please reach out to the Class of 2029 advisors, Mrs. Ianniello or Ms. Velez. For ongoing updates, follow us on Instagram at @bths.classof2029 or join the BTHS Class of 2029 Parents Facebook page

The School Counseling Department

Ocean County College Express Enrollment Day will take place on Tuesday, April 28 from 9am-1pm. Students planning to attend OCC in the Fall 2026 will be able to register for this field trip through Guidance. Please pick up a field trip permission slip form in Guidance. RSVPs are due April 21, 2026. Students will be given a tour and meet with advisors to select courses.

BTHS will host the May SAT on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The regular registration deadline is Friday, April 17, and the late registration deadline is Tuesday, April 21. Students can take free practice tests on the College Board website. Link to Practice Test.

AP testing administration will take place from May 4 - May 15. AP Exam Date Calendar. Room assignments and details will be posted in the AP Google Classroom and shared with the AP teachers/students. All students must confirm they have read the policies/Guidelines for AP testing in their Collegeboard account prior to testing. Please contact Marie Walling in Guidance at mwalling@brickschools.org with any questions or concerns.

Our Military Recognition Ceremony, honoring our seniors from BTHS and BMHS enlisting in the military after graduation, will be held on May 20, 2026 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.

Families who need support completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are encouraged to take advantage of free assistance offered through Ocean County College’s O.P.E.N. Workshops (“Opening Pathways to Education Now”). These sessions provide step-by-step guidance on completing the FAFSA and understanding the financial aid process. Assistance is available both virtually and in person. More information, including dates and registration details, can be found at this location. Click Here. Register HERE

Hello Dragons!

March is recognized as Brain Injury Awareness Month by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), highlighting the importance of recognizing symptoms and seeking prompt treatment. Early identification can help prevent long-term complications. Notably, a brain injury occurs every 9 seconds in the United States and can result from a variety of causes, including sports, falls, car accidents, and other incidents.

As we head into the spring season and outdoor activities increase, the BTHS Health Office encourages everyone to prioritize safety and awareness. While helmets and protective gear are important, they do not fully eliminate the risk of injury, making it essential to remain vigilant.

After any bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or impact to the body that may affect the brain, please monitor for signs such as confusion, dizziness, headache, nausea, memory issues, or changes in behavior. Symptoms may appear immediately or develop over time. If any concerns arise, seek medical attention promptly for proper evaluation and care.

As a friendly reminder:

If your child experiences a possible brain injury, please reach out to the health office, so that we can work together to establish the necessary medical documentation to formulate Return to Learn Accommodations, so your child has what is needed in place during their recovery process. In addition, please contact the Athletic Department if the injury occurred while playing sports for BTHS and provide any necessary updates.

As always, please make sure that asthma action plans, seizure action plans, and allergy action plans are signed by both a parent and physician and handed into the nurses office. We are continuing to complete health screenings for height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing and scoliosis. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the nurses.

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. Here is an update on some recent events:

• The School Based staff and the Mental Health Awareness Club are running "March Madness of Coping Skills" throughout the month. The event is focused on raising awareness of coping skills that can be used to help regulate our emotions. A bracket of coping skills was created, and every Tuesday during lunch, students vote on their preferred coping skills, and the winning coping skills move on. We have reached our Final 4, which includes listening to music, watching tv/movies, spending time with loved ones, and talking to friends.
• School Based started delivering another Botvin LifeSkills Curriculum to a freshman health class. The curriculum focuses on various topics, including learning the value of good health, developing communication and decision-making skills, discussing how the media impacts health, and regulating our emotions.

Yearbooks are now on sale! 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. Ads must be designed by April 1, 2026.

Communication associated with upcoming PTSA Meetings is pushed out to members through the Memberhub platform. Please consider joining the Brick Township High School PTSA. LINK to Memberhub

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