Calendar Information...
Tentative October Events:
October 1:
- Picture Day -- In-Person by HOMEROOMS (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)
- Picture Day -- Virtual Students by LAST NAMES (12:30 to 2:30 p.m.)
October 2:
- Senior Day--Football, Cheerleading and Band Seniors at 6:45 p.m. on the Football Field.
October 5:
- "Week of Respect" Activities -- October 5 - 9.
October 6:
- Senior Day--Field Hockey Seniors at 3:45 p.m. on the Field Hockey Field.
October 7:
- NHS Induction Ceremony on the Athletic Field at 6 p.m.
- Faculty Meeting at 2:20 p.m.
- Senior Day--Boys Soccer Seniors at 3:45 p.m. on the Boys Soccer Field.
October 8:
- Progress Reports will be available on Genesis after 2 p.m.
- Senior Day--Girls Soccer Seniors at 3:45 p.m. on the Girls Soccer Field.
October 13:
- Parent/Student "Ring Night" for Sophomores at 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the School.
- Spirit Day--Gold Week.
October 14:
- PSAT Testing--special schedule. All students NOT testing will complete B-Day assignments at home.
October 15:
- Spirit Day--Gold Week.
October 16:
- Spirit Day--Gold Week.
October 19:
- "School Violence Awareness Week" Activities -- October 19 - 23.
October 21:
- Virtual Financial Aid Workshop; presented by Dionne Hallback. at 6 p.m.
- PLC Meeting at 2:20 p.m.
- Spirit Day--Blue Week.
October 22:
- Spirit Day--Blue Week.
October 23:
- Spirit Day--Blue Week.
- Crowning of the King and Queen at the Football Game.
October 26:
- "Red Ribbon Week" Activities -- October 26 - 30.
- ScIP Meeting.
October 31:
- "Happy Halloween."
Parent/Student Ring Night -- Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Time: 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Location: Under a tent in front of the school.
Attention: Sophomore Students
Hard copies of catalogs will be distributed to students in HR. There is also information in the 10th-grade level Classroom for an online version of the Balfour ring catalog. If you would like to order a ring totally online and need a plastic ring sizer for sizing purposes, please have your child pick one up from the Main Office at any time.
If for some reason, your child did not purchase a ring in his/her sophomore year and would like to order one now, please plan to attend the Parent/Student Ring Night on October 13. You can also pick up a ring catalog from the Main Office.
Progress Reports--Right Around Corner...
Progress Reports will be available after 2 p.m. in Genesis on October 8. To view your child’s progress report, simply login to Genesis (https://parents.genesisedu.com/florence) and click on the “Grading” tab at the top of the window.
Also, please feel free to login to Genesis at any time to see how your child is progressing in his or her courses. Checking Genesis frequently will enable you to see clearly how your child is performing throughout the school year.
If you are having trouble logging in or need your email and password reset, please contact your child’s counselor as soon as possible.
Academic Achievement Program
This is a wonderful program! We will once again be challenging our students to settle for nothing less than their best. We want to see our students succeed, and we will be communicating to them that we want them to set their sights on earning a GPA of at least a 3.0 (or a “B” average) with no “D” or “F” grades in any course for each marking period of the school year. Please join us in challenging your child to be content with nothing less than his or her best effort!
Students who earned at least a 3.0 (with no “D’s” or “F’s”) will be recognized at the end of the 1st marking period.
Thanks to our GENEROUS Parents Organization, four students – one from each grade level – will be randomly chosen and treated to $25 Wawa gift card!
Computer Science Club
This club will meet once every other week to work on web design, coding, drones, robots, and any other tech we can get our hands-on. We will look at tech issues in the district and try to solve problems that students and teachers are having. The goal here is to not only have a good time but create a club that others can rely on to help with tech issues and make tech more useful for teachers and students.
Cultural Awareness for Everyone Club (CAFE)
Introducing and educating students on cultural diversity. Online resources will be utilized extensively to explore music, culture, and art unique to each culture. Each month a different culture will be highlighted.
Students may run contests to involve the student body and attract new members. Monthly celebrations will explore unique culinary cultural differences.
An emphasis on what we have in common will be a prevailing theme. Other staff members will be invited to share stories of their cultural experiences.
Debate Team
If you like to discuss current issues and win arguments, then you may want to try out for our school’s debate team. Debate involves opposing viewpoints on important public policy issues.
Through debate, students deepen their understanding of public affairs. They also learn to find a hook, formulate an argument, sharpen their speaking and writing skills, and spot and exploit weaknesses in opponents’ arguments.
Our team competes in the South Jersey Debate League beginning in December each year. Participating in debate will help you grow in meaningful ways, as you refine your own skills and mentor new team members, and thus will contribute to your future success in college and beyond.
Game Club
The Game Club will nostalgically play board game classics like Chess and Parcheesi, but also see activities centered around Boggle and Scrabble for vocabulary reinforcement, Monopoly and The Game of Life for Financial Literacy interactions.
Aside from these games, there are often numerous card/board games being released each year. We also wish to have games on video consoles.
There will be officers established in this student-run club and a Google Classroom where club procedures and expectations will be posted. Elected officials and club committees will set up game assignments and club events.
It will be our goal to create an inclusive club environment that would be competitive, but also respectful, intelligent, fun, and caring. There will be a possibility of tournaments occurring in between bi-weekly meeting days.
Since we are going "virtual" this year for clubs, our games may be modified.
Musical
Open auditions for the school musical will take place in December. Students of all grades and levels of experience are invited to audition at that time. Information will be available closer to December.
Since we are going virtual this year with our clubs, our "Musical" may be very different....
National Honor Society
The members of this Society are selected by a Faculty Council of teachers. Candidates eligible for selection to this chapter must be members of the sophomore or junior class and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 at the time of selection. Students who are eligible academically are notified and then considered for selection based on the high qualities of leadership, service, and character.
Academically eligible students are given an application packet. This packet requires the applicant to discuss their leadership, character, citizenship, and service qualifications. The application packet is individually reviewed by each member of the Faculty Council. Finally, applicants will participate in a group interview with the Faculty Council.
Seven- and one-half hours per marking period of community service (for a minimum total of 30 hours for the year) are required by all inducted members while maintaining the 3.8 GPA and a clean discipline record. NHS members serve the Florence and surrounding communities throughout the year by volunteering for numerous events, charities, clothing, and food drives, etc.
Newspaper
The Newspaper Club will give students the opportunity to experience being a journalist for both school and local events.
Students will learn the basics of writing a story and be able to consider being a photographer for events.
All students are welcome to come to our monthly meetings to learn more and see what events are being covered in the upcoming issue.
Interact Club
The 2020-2021 Interact Officers are:
President: Rajveer Kaur
Vice President: Fabiha Usha
Secretary: Hazal Akkaya
Treasurer: Logan Trayner
Sergeant at Arms: Gusahajpreet Singh
Interact is a service-based club, sponsored by the Bordentown Rotary. Students must participate in a minimum of 20 service hours per year. Projects include volunteering at a local
assisted living facility, assisting various community groups with projects, and helping with collection drives to benefit people in need.
Each student is required to pay $25 in dues, which covers the cost of two shirts to be worn when individuals are participating in club service projects.
From the desk of Mr. Lamaestra (SAC) Student Assistance Counselor...
Character Education -- October Character Trait is "Respect"
The development of GOOD CHARACTER is not an isolated skill to be taught in one area of a child’s life. It is an effort of home, school, and community to instill in our young people good values. The development of good character touches our personal development, it impacts our success with academic development in learning, and good character is essential in the workforce to be successful in our careers.
Bullying:
Going back to school this year looks a bit different for all students. Some students are attending class in person, some are learning from home and others may be doing both. Bullying prevention is one way to support students so they can get the most out of their education. Educators, teachers, parents and caregivers all play a role in children's learning and in bullying prevention. Read more on StopBullying.gov.
Here is a website for a new group that has formed to prevent legalization of marijuana in New Jersey. “Don’t Let New Jersey Go to Pot”. https://nopotnj.org/
Other Resources:
Counseling Support Services:
I'm available for consultation, support, counseling and referral services including:
Academic.
Family Alcohol/Drug Use.
Technology Dependence.
Anxiety and Depression.
Divorce.
Behavior Management.
Other Mental Health Concerns.
Contact Information:
Please contact Mr. Lamaestra at the high school at (609)499-4620 x 4225 or email me at jlamaestra@florence.k12.nj.us if you have any concerns or questions and follow me on Twitter for important news, motivation and updates @FTSD_Counselor.
I'm also available for consultation, support, and referral services even during these days of virtual learning. Please contact me via email to make the appropriate arrangements.
Counselor: Mr. Lamaestra
Counseling Office News
The high school counselors, Mrs. Sebastian and Mr. Varga, invite you to visit the updated Counseling Department website which is accessible from the high school main page or by clicking here. There you will find useful information and links for academic support, mental health resources, college planning and research, post-secondary financial aid, etc.
Seniors
Senior Class College Packets can be found in 12th grade English Google classrooms, the Class of 2021 Google classroom and on our counseling department website. This PDF packet contains a wealth of information about the college application process. Seniors have a few tasks to do in their Naviance Student accounts, such as requesting recommendation letters and completing the Student Brag Sheet and Scholarship Application.
RCBC Spring Ahead
This is a program that allows seniors to apply to RCBC, take assessment tests, and schedule college classes with ease.
Step 1:
Seniors and parents will be invited to view a virtual information session in October.
Step 2:
Apply online for FREE at www.rcbc.edu before Feb. 5, 2021 and ask your counselor to send your official transcript.
Step 3:
On Feb. 24, 2021 RCBC will administer the Accuplacer test at FTMHS. Visit the Test Center website for sample exam questions and practice. http://www.rcbc.edu/testcenter
Step 4:
Those students who are committing to attend RCBC, and have completed all prior steps will tour the Mt. Laurel campus AND schedule classes for the fall semester on April 14, 2021.
College and Trade School Visitations
NJ Virtual College Exploration Program (9/29-10/9):
Given the cancelation of in-person regional college fairs this fall, NJACAC has been working to provide a virtual alternative for our students to engage with colleges and universities across the country. The goal of the New Jersey Virtual College Exploration Program is to provide students with a wealth of college search information, allow them to browse and learn about different colleges, and ask questions of admission counselors, all in a safe, flexible, online format. https://www.njacac.org/nj-virtual-college-exploration-program/
Students who are researching colleges may be able to do a virtual tour from the college’s website or from virtual tour sites such as https://www.youvisit.com/collegesearch/.
BCIT Adult Education is a great, local trade school that is taxpayer-funded. Visit their website www.bcit.cc/AdultEdu and click on Registration to learn about their various programs.
College Admissions Testing
The SAT and ACT have undergone significant changes due to COVID-19. Please visit their official websites for the most current information. More than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities are now test-optional for this admissions cycle in response to the effects of the pandemic. Check a particular college’s Admissions Office site for their admissions requirements and testing information before you register for a test.
College Financial Aid Information
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2021-22 school year will open on October 1, 2020. You will need information from the parent’s and student’s 2019 tax return. Visit fafsa.gov to get started.
If you are applying to any New Jersey schools, you can find your state financial aid information on the HESAA website in your NJFAMS account which can be found under the Students tab. https://www.hesaa.org/Pages/Default.aspx
New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority or HESAA has valuable resources for college and career planning and financial assistance. One important ebooklet is the Student Loan Guide. Here is the link to several of their publications and ebooklets: http://www.hesaa.org/Pages/HESAAPublications.aspx
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
All college-bound student-athletes should explore the NCAA eligibility qualifications early in their high school careers. Please visit the following websites for more information: www.eligibilitycenter.org and www.2point3.org
College Scorecard provides clear, accessible, and reliable national data on college costs, graduation rates, student debt, and post-college earnings. Collegescorecard.ed.gov
College Cost Calculator:
What does college really cost? Colleges are required to have a college cost calculator (aka net price calculator) available on their websites. Please check them out when researching colleges.
Operating Virtually
School counselors are available through email and virtual meetings. Email is the best avenue to reach your school counselor. To schedule an appointment, students and parents may email the school counselor directly to find a mutually agreed upon date/time.
Mr. Joseph Varga: jvarga@florence.k12.nj.us
Mrs. Nancy Sebastian: nsebastian@florence.k12.nj.us
If you or someone you know is in crisis, reach out to their parent or guardian and these local agencies:
NJ PerformCare Mobile Response: 877-652-7624
Screening & Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP): 609-835-6180
For emergencies: call 911
Our website also lists many available resources:
https://sites.google.com/a/florence.k12.nj.us/ftmhs-counseling-department/home?overridemobile=true
Counselors: Mrs. Sebastian and Mr. Varga
School Nurse
New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub
The COVID-19 Information Hub is now online. The New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub provides New Jerseyans with the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the State's response, including information about services such as food assistance and small business assistance.
Visit the COVID-19 Information Hub.
Please make sure your student's COVID/wellness form is completed every day BEFORE they come to school. The form can be found on either the parent or student genesis portal under the forms tab. It can be completed starting at 6 p.m. the evening before.
If you are filling out the form and the warning box comes up, you must stay home. Please contact me for the next steps to take.
Nurse: Mrs. Emery
Athletic Department--Contact Information:
The start of the 2020 Fall season is beginning October 1. Please see our expectations around spectator policy, expectations and ticket policy:
Florence Fall 2020 Home Game Policy
Who May Attend:
Spectators will be permitted at athletic events.
Please limit your attendance to 4 adult family members per athlete.
Minor dependents may attend if accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Students wishing to attend must be accompanied by adult family and be under that adult direct supervision.
We reserve the right to adjust these policies-- if and when the circumstances change.
Spectator Expectations:
All spectators must wear a face covering with on school grounds.
Please maintain your social distance from family members in different households.
Family members who live together do not need to distance from each other.
Social distancing signs are posted throughout the facility as a reminder.
If you are not feeling well or unable to follow or social distancing procedures, you are not permitted to attend that event.
We reserve the right to adjust these policies-- if and when the circumstances change.
Facilities:
There will be no indoor access. Bathroom use will be permitted in the football stadium field house.
The bleachers have been removed from the field hockey and soccer fields to promote social distancing.
Please bring your own chair for field hockey and soccer events.
For soccer and field hockey events, please sit behind the green poles to leave a safe distance for our players.
No concessions will be sold.
We reserve the right to adjust these policies,--if and when the circumstances change.
Ticket Procedure (Field Hockey and Soccer):
No tickets will be needed.
We reserve the right to adjust these policies--if and when the circumstances change.
Ticket Procedure (Home Football Games Only):
We are limited to a 500 max capacity at our facility.
It must be a 60/40 split (300 tickets home team, 200 tickets away team).
Ticket Costs:
$4 adults.
$2 students (Grade K-12).
Free Senior Citizens (Over 60).
Ticket Purchasing.
Our goal is to get family members of football, cheer, and band priority purchasing opportunities with this system.
200 tickets will be given to the away team for sale at their discretion. They will have from Monday to Thursday to sell tickets.
Any unsold tickets will be returned to us and sold at the door.
300 tickets will be sold for home sales. Below is the breakdown of how home tickets will be sold:
Monday & Tuesday (of game week) - Football, Cheer and Band families can purchase a max of 2 tickets.
Wednesday & Thursday (of game week) - Anyone/Fall teams can buy an 2 tickets.
Please have your child bring an envelope to the screening tent clearly labeled with the following:
Name of Child.
Number of Tickets.
Type of Tickets (Adult, child, etc.).
Amount Enclosed (cash only).
Any unused home and away tickets will be sold at the door.
There will be a strict enforcement of a no re-entry policy during home football games.
Once we hit our 500 max. in ticket sales, we will be forced to close entry to the event.
Everyone will need a ticket to enter.
We reserve the right to adjust these policies--if and when the circumstances change.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Contact Information:
Kyle Kaminskas, Athletic Director/Assistant Principal --Extension 4150
Mary Ellen Cassidy, AD Secretary (609)-499-4620, Extension 4149
Audrey Tannenbaum, Athletic Trainer--Extension 4154.
John Cogan, Principal--Extension 4202.
Maria E. Sadar, Vice Principal--Extension 4204.
Also, make sure to follow us for up-to-date Athletic information on our Facebook page @FlorenceAthletics and our Twitter Account @FTSD_athletics. LET’S GO FLASHES!
Visit the Florence Athletic Schedule Website for game dates, times, locations, and any changes due to weather.
GO FLASHES!
Florence Township Memorial High School
Website: www.florence.k12.nj.us
Location: 1050 Cedar Lane, Florence, NJ, 08016
Phone: (609) 499-4620
Twitter: @FTSD_HS