The Dragon Review

September 2022

Hello Dragon Nation!

Welcome to the September edition of The Dragon Review. It is my privilege to once again address our school community with important information as well as highlighting events and activities taking place in our school. In support of a successful school year, the student body was brought together in respective grade levels to review school procedures, protocols, and expectations. Each grade level was addressed with a principal’s welcome, review of school wide expectations, and handbook review of essential information. Student voice is an essential element to our organization’s success. The assembly emphasized our school’s core values along with updated methods to recognize positive student behavior. It was rewarding to see the high level of attentiveness and participation on display by all classes, signifying a desire to remain engaged and connected to the BTHS expectations and opportunities present for the current school year.

School spirit is evident as students are continuing the tradition of “We Wear Green on Fridays”. The BTHS Homecoming Dance will take place on Saturday, October 8. Information specific to the Homecoming spirit week, game, and dance are present within this issue of The Dragon Review. This past month underclassman pictures were taken for all students in grades 9-11. There will be a make-up picture opportunity on Tuesday, November 15. As a reminder, our school day begins promptly at 7:10 AM. Please ensure that if dropping your child off in the morning that it is done at the East Entrance of the building. The campus traffic map has been included once again in this edition of the Dragon Review for reference. Additionally, It is essential that all individuals reporting to the school are prepared to present photo identification along with a valid reason for their visit prior to gaining entry into the building.

The strong attendance at the Back-to-School-Night event affirms the support available to our students and staff. Through a collaborative home/school connection we will be able to make strides in your child’s education. Continue to check our school’s website and twitter feed for regular updates and important announcements. In closing, the upcoming school year is a new opportunity for building relationships and remaining connected to our learning community. It is my hope that students take advantage of the opportunities to join co-curricular programs and attend school events. Together, we will ensure the success of each of our children during this upcoming year.

Respectfully,

David Kasyan, Ed.D.

Principal

This month we picked students from each grade level that won Dragon Scales for exhibiting model behavior that is a pure representation of Brick Township High School. The winners received Chick-fil-A gift cards and a free ice cream cone from Sundaes. Back to School Night was hosted on Tuesday, September 20th at Brick Township High School. The event included the first BTHS Activities Fair for parents which was hosted by Athletic Director Mr. Longo. The BTHS Activities Fair will also be held for Students on Thursday, September 22nd and Friday September 23rd in the IMC.

Brick Township High School will host Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, October 4th. More information about this event will be sent out to parents as the event approaches. The Italian Folk Group Festival will be held at Brick Township High School on Friday, October 7th. We are anticipating a very enthusiastic cultural experience as we have had this event at Brick High School in past years and looking forward to its return. Brick Township High School’s Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday, October 8th at Lake Riviera Middle School from 5pm - 9pm. Start Strong Testing will be held at Brick Township High School on October 11th - 13th. We are anticipating a great effort from our students that will ultimately represent the standards we believe in.

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! Here is an update about what’s happening on campus here at BTHS. The Brick Township High School fall sports season is underway. The fall season kicked off with a “summer football” game vs. Marlboro prior to Labor Day weekend. The game was packed and our fans were amazing. Unfortunately, the team dropped their opener; however, they were able to win two of the three games to head into the second half of the regular season with a 2-2 record. Our sub-varsity teams are playing well this season. The freshman team has a 4-0 record so far!

Our cheer team has been outstanding this fall! The team has been so supportive of our team and our school! We can’t thank them enough for how amazing they have been!

The Girls Soccer team has had a tough opening to the season. The team has worked extremely hard and they have been in every single game. A few hard fought, close games didn’t go their way as of late, but the Lady Dragons wouldn’t quit! They were able to pick up their first victory vs. Long Branch earlier this week. The Brick vs. Brick Memorial game took place this past week and it was an incredible game and our girls played outstanding!

The Boys Soccer team has been working extremely hard this fall and the team is up against some stiff competition. The boys are looking to get some wins as some of the non-divisional opponents are on the horizon. The Brick vs. Brick Memorial game was a battle the entire game. The boys came out on the losing end; however, it wasn’t from a lack of effort and heart!

Our Field Hockey team is off to a great start! The Lady Dragons picked up some big early season wins. The ladies are playing extremely hard this season and they had a hard fought tie vs. Brick Memorial this past weekend. Keep working hard team!

The Volleyball team got off to a scorching start this fall with victories over Toms River South, Jackson and Brick Memorial! The girls continue to surprise their opponents as they work through the division portion of the schedule. The Lady Dragons broke into the Shore Conference Top 10 coming in at number 6!

The Girls Varsity Field Hockey Team will host Brick Memorial for their cross town rivalry game this Saturday September 24th @ 10 am. The Cross Country season is off to a great start! The team ran in our first race Battle @ OCP on Friday, September 16th. Senior Owen Bergen earned a PR in the 3.1 mile Varsity race with a time of 17.23. The Girls Tennis team is full of new faces this fall as the majority of the team is made up of underclass student athletes. The team has been competing hard in the very difficult A-South Division.

The Brick Township High School Marching Band hosted their BTHS Marching Dragons Music Fest earlier this month. Congratulations to them on another successful event! They will be competing this Saturday September 24th at Southern Regional High School.

The Activities Fair during Back to School Night was a huge success! What a tremendous way to showcase many of the co-curricular activities and sports that BTHS offers. Students had an opportunity to attend the activity fair on September 21 - September 23. We look forward to an even bigger and better fair next year! Keep an eye out for our virtual activities fair coming soon!

In an effort to promote a love and appreciation of reading and literature throughout the school community, a school-wide Book Club has been initiated. The Book Club will meet at the end of each month to review and discuss a selected text. The next two months will be spent reading The Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp. We will break the book up into two sessions.

The meeting to discuss the first half of the book, which entails chapters one through sixteen of The Knights of the Hill Country will take place after school on Tuesday, October 25 in the library. The meeting will conclude prior to late bus dismissal. All students are welcome to join. Any student looking to participate should grab a copy of The Knights of the Hill Country and start reading. There will be an open dialogue and discussion of the first half of the book at our scheduled meeting, reading the book ahead of the meeting will allow you a better opportunity to add to the conversation.

If you would like to borrow a copy of The Knights of the Hill Country, please send an email to our district literacy coach, Ms. Monninger at jmonninger@brickschools.org, and one will be provided.

I am looking forward to collaborating and connecting with our student body on Tuesday, October 25. Start Reading!

Thank You,

Dr. Kasyan

The Regaler, our school literary magazine, is seeking submissions for this year's publication. We believe in the power of sharing the words and pictures that inspire. Submit your works to us! Students can submit poems, cool photos, and art through our Google Classroom (code: shgtudl) through February 1, 2023. Be heard!

The new Harry Potter club kicked off its inaugural year with its first meeting in September. The Harry Potter club is a place where students can share in this common interest and celebrate all that they love about this best-selling series. Students come from all walks of life and unite for an afternoon of House competitions, Quidditch, discussions, and community. Meetings are held the second Thursday of each month in room 408.

Underclass School pictures recently took place on September 21 - September 23. If you purchased pictures, they will be mailed to your home in about four weeks. For any questions about ordering pictures call Lifetouch at 1-800-736-4775. Make-up underclassman pictures have been scheduled for Tuesday, November 15. Moreover, it has been identified that a handful of Seniors still need to take their Senior portraits. We are working with Lifetouch in an attempt to schedule one last final opportunity for Senior portraits. Stay tuned.

Yearbooks are now on sale! Order here before November 1st to save $10. Email jpiwowarczyk@brickschools.org with any yearbook questions.

Senior Parents: Senior Recognition Ads are now available for you to purchase. Make the yearbook even more special for your student! A yearbook ad is a loving tribute to your student, personalized with your own sentimental message and a cherished photo or photo collage. Please use this link to purchase and build your ad. For help with designing the ad call 760-787-1177 or email support@photolynx.com

BTHS Students of the Month - September

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.

Carlos Tejada, Grade 9

“Carlos did an excellent job organizing his group project and following through with completing the presentation.” - Mrs. Matthews

Paula Cobian-Ramos, Grade 10

“Paula has been very productive in school government and also participates tremendously in AP US History discussions and always comes to class excited and ready for anything.”

- Mr. St. Jean

Kurt Weiboldt, Grade 11

“Kurt is a hard worker and a leader in class. He is respectful and a big help in class.” - Mr. Lynch

Kieran McBride, Grade 12

“Great role model in ASL class and always has positive energy!” - Mrs. Cantelme

Congratulations to senior Phaedra L. Salerno was named a semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship program. More than 16,000 National Merit semifinalists are named nationwide, based on their scores on the PSAT. They are the top 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and scored the highest on the test in their state. Salerno is considering studying chemistry in college. Finalists are announced in February, and those students become eligible for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships. In addition there are about 950 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards and about 160 colleges and universities offer roughly 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for students who attend their colleges. Good Luck Phaedra!

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.

SGA has been busy preparing for the 2022 Homecoming festivities including spirit week, homecoming elections, and dance preparations. The homecoming court will be presented at the game on Friday, Oct. 7th and the winners will be announced at the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, Oct. 8th at Lake Riviera Middle School. Elections for Freshmen Officers will take place at the end of September via the SGA Google Classroom and officers will be instated on October 1st. SGA is has been encouraging students to show off their Dragon Pride with a weekly "We Wear Green Friday" raffle where students can win prizes. Looking ahead, SGA will be participating in Brick Recreation's Fallfest at Windward Beach Beach on October 15th. SGA is also planning the annual Halloween Costume Contest for Monday, October 31st.

The Class of 2023 is busy preparing for Homecoming. The seniors have nominated their lists for King and Queen and soon the students will be voting through the SGA Google Classroom. In addition, students are putting together an exciting fundraiser for October. We will be hosting a Trunk or Treat here at BTHS in the East Lot on Thursday, October 20th from 4-7pm. All are welcome! There will be food and drinks, as well as senior students with decorated trunks and candy. Donations are welcome. Any questions about this event, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Scipione at dscipione@brickschools.org. Thank you for your support!

Class of 2024: Our class is hard at work planning our co-hosted Gift Auction (November 19) with the class of 2025. Please reach out to the class advisors if your family is able to donate a gift basket for our gift auction. The class officers are also working on final details for our Junior Prom which will held on May 5, 2023. Check our google classroom for important class updates!

The Class of 2025 is gearing up for another successful year as we start our Sophomore year. We have plenty of great activities coming up and are looking forward to participating in the Homecoming Hallway Decorating Contest and Fall Fest in October. We are also looking forward to our Gift Auction scheduled for November. More information to follow. If any parent/guardian of a student in the Class of 2025 would like to help out the class please feel free to reach out to either Ms. Velez (mvelez@brickschools.org) or Mr. Pazmino (cpazmino@brickschools.org)

The class of 2026 has arrived. They are making their presence known in the hallways, at

club meetings and at athletic events. This week SGA will be holding elections and we are

looking forward to meeting our new officers. We are excited to hold our first class meeting

to prepare for the Homecoming Dance. All freshmen are encouraged to attend as we will

need help with making decorations. The first class meeting will be on Thursday, September

29th, after school in room 106. If any freshman has not joined the Google Classroom yet, the class code is lf4subd. This is where we will post all information and announcements for our class. You can also find information on our Instagram and Twitter accounts. Don’t forget to order your Class of 2026 apparel. It is our first fundraiser. This is the link. Orders should be submitted by September 30th. Instagram: @bths_classof2026 Twitter: @bthsclassof2026 Google Classroom: lf4subd

The School Counseling Department;

• The Week of Respect and Red Ribbon Week occur yearly every October. We will be celebrating Week of Respect October 3rd-7th and Red Ribbon Week October 23rd-31st. Throughout the month, in schools across the United States, these 2 initiatives aim to create a culture of kindness while promoting character education, drug and alcohol prevention and awareness as to how the relationship between drugs and violence creates destruction for communities and families. This year, through the efforts of the Tigger-Stavola Foundation, we are fortunate to have Laura Stack, founder of Johnny's Ambassadors, https://johnnysambassadors.org/ present her informative and moving story to our 9th and 10th grade classes in the auditorium during block 2 on October 4th.

• Brick Township High School will be hosting Financial Aid Night on Tuesday, October 4th in the IMC. Ms. Tricia Mayers, a consultant from HESAA (Higher Education Student Assistance Authority) will be facilitating the Financial Aid Information Session for the students and families of Brick Township and Brick Memorial High Schools.

• Ocean County College has partnered with Brick Township Public Schools for the College Pathway Program. Representatives from the Enrollment Office of OCC will be presenting to our 12th grade students about “College 101” on Tuesday, October 4th.

• The School Counseling Department utilizes SCOIR as our College and Career resource. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to sign up for college visits through their SCOIR account. Admissions representatives from colleges and universities in the U.S. will be visiting BTHS during the next few months to meet with students. This is a great opportunity for students to learn more about specific colleges; admission and application process, as well as student life and athletics.

• The College Night at the Jersey Shore is a college fair hosted by Ocean County School Counselor Association. This fair will host over 140 colleges, universities, technical schools and the Armed Forms on Thursday, October 6th, 2022 from 6pm-8pm. There will be a Financial Aid Presentation by HESAA at 5:30pm and 7:00pm.

• We will be hosting the SAT Administration on Saturday, October 1, 2022. Please bring your admission ticket, form of ID (i.e. Driver’s license, student ID, passport), number 2 pencils, a calculator, and a snack. Good luck to our students!

• The PSAT will be administered on Saturday, October 15th, 2022 at Brick Township High School from 7:30am-approximately 11:00am. Sophomores and Juniors are eligible to take the PSATs for FREE and they can sign up in the Guidance Department; spots are limited. We highly encourage students to sit for the exam as juniors have the opportunity to earn merit-based scholarships.

Building Hours - Public

Brick Township High School will be open for business between the hours of 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Visitors should schedule an appointment when at all possible so we can be prepared to greet you. All visitors will be required to show photo identification and state the purpose of their visit prior to being buzzed into the building. Upon entering the building, all visitors must proceed directly to the Main Office Front Desk.

Building Hours - Students

Brick Township High School will be open to students between the hours of 6:50 AM and 1:30 PM. Students who are on campus outside of these hours MUST be under the direct supervision of a District Staff member (e.g. teacher, coach, advisor). In order to ensure the safety and proper supervision of your children, students who are not with a staff member will NOT be granted access to building outside of these hours.

Drop off of Items

Drop off of student items will be allowed prior to 9:00 AM and after 1:30 PM. In order to limit traffic in the building, a drop off bin will be located outside the front door. If you need to drop off items, please label the item clearly with your student's name, place in the box, and buzz the front desk to alert that the items are there. Items brought to school between 9:00 AM and 1:30 PM will only be accepted in extreme circumstances and require the approval of an administrator.

Students are to be dropped off and picked up at the East Lobby Entrance, which is Door 34. There will be a security guard present at this location to assist with parent traffic patterns. The main entrance horseshoe will not be used for parent drop off / pick up during arrival and dismissal timeframes.

Hello BTHS Community!

Our health offices would like to send a warm welcome to all parents, students, and staff as we begin the 2022-2023 School Year. This month’s Health Office focus is centered around the importance of the NJ State Mandated Immunizations which are required for school entry and daily attendance. we must continue to remain vigilant with maintaining overall state mandated vaccination compliance as per our school health guidelines to ensure these successes and hopeful optimism for our children’s return to their activities of daily living to what it once was, both within the home and school community for continued school connectedness - this last point being so vital for social-emotional learning. In so doing, I implore all community members to please schedule your children’s yearly Physical Exams with your pediatricians office to remain up to date with our state and school mandated vaccination schedules for continued school attendance and avoidance of missed days. For students within our community who are arriving from Out-of-Country or State, there are two locally federally funded clinics (see below) where appointments can be made in order to obtain Physical Exams, along with receiving all of the necessary Vaccinations for school attendance - appointments can be scheduled via online for either facility. Parents of those new students entering the district, please remember; there is a short time frame to begin receiving the required vaccinations - if the first dose of all state mandated immunizations required are not obtained within the designated time frame, your child will be blocked from attending (see attached Immunization Schedule for downloading in order to bring to your Primary Care Physician’s office during your scheduled appointment).

Please don’t hesitate to contact either of the Health Offices here at BTHS if you would like to speak directly with the School Nurses to review your child’s immunization status. Best Wishes for a happy, healthy, & safe school year ahead!

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 office. Students should stay home when not feeling well or developing signs of illness.
• Notification: If you suspect that your child has been exposed to COVID-19, please contact Mrs. Carlsson or Mrs. Yarbrough in the health office.

Health Office Contact

West Nurse Office - Mary Carlsson Ext. 2037

East Nurse Office - Tammy Yarbrough Ext. 2009

The BTHS Parent Teacher Student Association is accepting membership for the 2022-2023 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

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

Janet Maciel

Antoinette Sirico

Christine Velardi

Mike Zuccaro

Website: www.brickschools.org
Location: 346 Chambersbridge Road, Brick Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-785-3000
Twitter: @BTHSDragons