The Dragon Review

March 2025

As March comes to a close, I am excited to recognize and reflect on the events and accomplishments that made this month so special. BTHS was recently recognized as one of 40 schools across the state of NJ to receive a Sustainable Jersey Grant to advance Green initiatives. BTHS continues to be committed to a sustainable future. Our Green Team, under the leadership of Ms. Godek-Johnson and Mr. Paxton, will use these grant funds to expand and improve our recycling program initiating a focus on terracycle procedures.

BTHS was proud to host the District Arts Festival this past month, which saw representation of every school throughout our district in an evening dedicated to celebrating the arts. I was personally proud of the student representation, participation, and community support represented at this event. It was a great evening where the Arts across the school district were highlighted.

Our partnership with our community stakeholders continues to remain strong as the success of our school’s Career Day and Transition Fair events were highly supported and successful. The BTHS Career Day offered our students the opportunity to experience firsthand insights into various career fields, industries, and pathways. This event connected students with their passions as well as assisted each participant with a deeper understanding of their potential career options. The BTHS Transition Fair, similar to our Career Day, highlighted the essential role our community partners play in the success of our students. The highly successful event connected our students and families with local agencies, community organizations, and resources to ensure a successful transition into life beyond high school. We are extremely grateful to the community for their unwavering support of both of these events.

At this time, all students should have met with their counselor to discuss and plan for next year’s course selection. Students are expected to play an active role in creating their schedule. This process is more than just selecting your courses for next school year, it is about crafting a pathway that aligns with your interests, goals, and aspirations. Your school counselor is here to guide you through the process, offering personalized support and expert advice to ensure that you make informed decisions that will set you up for success. Please reach out to your counselor directly if you have not held a course scheduling meeting as this practice is vital to your success.

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

Respectfully,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

Hello Dragons!

Congratulations to all of our Winter Sports Teams as they finished up their seasons earlier this month. As March comes to a close, we would also like to wish good luck to all the Spring Sports whose seasons are about to begin. The District Art Festival took place on Thursday, March 6 and was hosted here at BTHS. This event was a great opportunity for all students in our district to represent their fantastic pieces of art from our elementary school students to our very talented high school students. The event was well attended and was a great success as musical performances from all different grade levels were also on display throughout the night in the BTHS auditorium.

NJGPA testing was completed on the week of March 10, with students also having the opportunity to take the PSAT. Wrapping up the month of March will be our annual BTHS Career Day on Wednesday, on March 26. Students at BTHS had the opportunity to learn about careers from professionals from our community.

Looking ahead to the month of April, the Class of 2025 Senior Picture will take place on Wednesday, April 2 at 9:45 AM. An announcement will be made directing students to the Home Bleachers on the Football Field. The rain date for this event will be Friday, April 4. On Thursday, April 10 in the IMC the World Language Department will have their Honor Society Ceremony after school at 2:30 pm. The BTHS Spring Drama Production “High School Musical” will take place on Friday, April 11 and Saturday, April 12 . On Tuesday, April 15 there will be a special assembly for all sophomores and seniors presented by Rob Holla. BTHS Spring Break will begin on Friday, April 18, with a half day schedule the prior day on Thursday, April 17. Students will return to regular class on Monday, April 28.

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:

"I had a great time learning about the medical field today at career day.

I am so inspired to pursue a profession in the field."- Kezia O.

"The annual Tigger Stavola Foundation polar plunge was exciting.

The water was freezing, but definitely a cool experience!" Brannon M.

"I'm so excited for my upcoming tennis season and our first week of practice went great!" Sean G.

"I had so much fun at the Class of 2025 volleyball tournament

and enjoyed winning for the second time in a row." Bella M.

Career Day at BTHS took place on Wednesday, March 20 during Blocks 1 & 2. Students had the opportunity to attend sessions in the healthcare field, business sector, science/technology, law, vocational, visual & performing arts, and social/public service. Thank you to the Brick Chamber of Commerce, Mrs. Dawn Celona and the School Counselors for organizing an informative and beneficial event for our students to learn about different career pathways.

BTHS held a Transition Fair on Thursday, March 27. This event connected students and families with valuable resources, agencies, and support services to help navigate life after high school. This was a wonderful opportunity for students and families to connect with community stakeholders. Planning for the future is essential. BTHS is committed to supporting our students for life beyond high school. Thank you to all of the agencies in attendance as your support is crucial to our students' success.

On February 24, the BTHS Chapter of the Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS), with their advisor Mrs. Segreto, visited the Grade 5 students at Emma Haven Young Elementary School. 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 crime. 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.

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 - March

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.

Ava Aguanno, Grade 10

Ava is polite, respectful, and kind. She is both a conscientious student and a talented athlete. I sincerely enjoy having Ava in class. She is a fantastic young lady! - Ms. Russell

Rashaad Dingle, Grade 11

Rashaad was recently promoted to Colonel in the JR ROTC. He has achieved the highest level in the ROTC since the program began in 1992! But beside that honor, Rashaad is quite possibly the kindest most polite young man walking the halls of BTHS. Rashaad is VERY deserving of the Student of the Month any month of the year! - Mrs. Reddan

Dan Lohmeyer, Grade 12

Dan has been so helpful. He volunteered to make some pedestals for the District Art Show when I mentioned that we needed them. He made four which took him over a month to construct. These pedestals will be used for years to come. He truly embodies Dragon values of pride and respect--for our school and others. - Mrs. Pavao

Sarah Ferrone, Grade 12

Sarah has been a student of BTHS and has always been an inspiration to her fellow students. She is always there to help out a friend whether they need assistance with their work or are having a bad day. Sarah greets everyone with a smile and is friendly to everyone she encounters. - Mrs. Lucchetti

Spring Sports have sprung! The teams have all been selected and we are in the middle of scrimmage season. The teams are looking forward to a good season!

The Baseball recently participated in their annual clean up at Brick Little League. See baseball team pictured above.

Three Brick Baseball Seniors created a program called Giving Gloves as part of the NHS Passion Project. This program, in partnership with Brick Little League, will collect and donate gently used baseball equipment locally and in the Dominican Republic.

Our National Honor Society Member of the Month for March is Santiago Valencia! Santi's enthusiasm and dedication to our chapter are truly unmatched. Always eager to lend a helping hand, he plays a key role in making our elementary school events a success. Whether he's assisting with activities, engaging with students, or bringing school spirit to life, Santi's passion for service shines through. He even goes the extra mile by dressing up as the mascot at every event, bringing joy and excitement to everyone around him. His commitment, positivity, and willingness to go above and beyond make him a valued member of the NHS. Congratulations, Santi!

Check out some of the recent food creations coming out of our culinary classroom. Consider enrolling in our Culinary 1 and Culinary 2 courses, where you will have an opportunity to create some delicious dishes.

This month, the Spanish Honor Society students got a chance to learn about La Marinera, a traditional dance from Peru. Our student presenters Danika and Malek, who are both natives of Peru, explained the origin and significance of the dance. Malek and Danika modeled how to perform the dance which requires "panuelos blancos", white handkerchiefs. Students enjoyed learning how to dance this traditional Peruvian dance.

Students in Conversational Spanish/ASL learned colors and fruit in both Spanish and American Sign Language. As a special treat, students learned how to prepare Mexican fruit salad and had a chance to enjoy the traditional Mexican treat.

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 continues to work hard at fundraising and making memories this Senior year. They came out victorious during the Battle of the Classes and at the BTHS Volleyball game. Students will be able to purchase prom bids for our May 15th Senior Ball at South Gate Manor on April 7th to April 11th. Prom bids for the Senior Ball are $95 per person. As always, we ask that students frequently check their 2025 Google Classroom for important information, deadlines and events. 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 Class of 2026 Junior Prom is on Thursday, May 8. Prom bids will be on sale from March 31 -April 4. Students can purchase during lunch in Room 206. Prom bids are $85 per person. Please pick up a prom packet in one of the offices and make sure it is read and filled out before purchasing a prom bid. 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 had the best time participating in this year's Battle of the Classes! They once again took home third place, though they are already thinking ahead to next year and the opportunity to WIN. Also, the class completed a Crumbl cookie fundraiser, so thank you to all those who participated. Looking forward, there will be at least one other fundraiser this year, so keep your eyes open for more information on the Google Classroom. See Mrs. DeBonis (306) or Ms. Scipione (202) with any questions.

Happy Spring, everyone! The Class of 2028 has had a fantastic start to the year with several successful fundraisers, and we’re excited for even more to come! Stay tuned to our social media for updates on upcoming events—you won’t want to miss them! 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 30 from 9:00 - 1:00. Students planning to attend OCC in the Fall 2025 semester 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 4/25. Students will be given a tour and meet with advisors to select courses.

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.

Looking ahead, 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. 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.

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.

BTHS will be hosting the May SAT on Saturday, May 3. Register at https://mysat.collegeboard.org. Students must arrive with a physical copy of a photo id.

Hello BTHS Community!

March is National Nutrition Month. How we feed our bodies impacts every aspect of our health such as our moods, sleep, and potential for developing chronic diseases. Eating foods high in trans fat, added sugars, and foods that are highly processed increase the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, dementia, kidney disease, and other chronic diseases. These conditions can occur in children as well as adults. A healthy diet also helps maintain a healthy weight.

Children and adolescents need a well-balanced diet to maintain their energy levels throughout the day, support brain development and function, and assure proper growth. A balanced diet also helps with attaining restful, quality sleep. Diets should be high in fruits and vegetables, protein sources such as lean meats, beans, eggs and yogurt, healthy fats such as those found in nut butters and fish, and whole grains. It is also vital to maintain adequate hydration. Water is the best option as there are no added calories, artificial sweeteners or sugars. Abstaining from eating salty, sugary snacks, drinking soda or energy drinks, and consuming large amounts of fast food are steps that can be taken to improve nutritional intake.

The BTHS school nurses are here to help students and their families meet their nutritional needs. Feel free to stop in or call to receive education and resources to help make BTHS healthy.

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. Here is an update on SBYSP:

• We are continuing to work with the physical education teachers to deliver Botvin LifeSkills curriculum to freshmen health classes.
• On Tuesday, March 18, we conducted the first Peer Leadership Outreach to freshmen students during their gym classes. The outreaches focus on a range of topics such as building peer connections, stress management, communication and social skills, and learning school resources. Here are a few pictures:

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