Principal’s Newsletter Voorhees High School

Volume 3, Issue 2 November/December 2013

Note from the Principal Calendar for Nov-Jan 2014

This is a great time of the year when we 11/27 – ½ day – Dismissal 11:55am, stop and give thanks. It is my favorite Recess begins 11/28 & 29 – School Closed for Thanksgiving because it truly is centered around 12/6 LAN family and friends. Please take this time to 12/11 In-Service – 11:55am Dismissal enjoy all that you have to be grateful for 12/11 Winter Concert I (Choir) 7:00 pm and sit back, relax and enjoy. 12/14 Key Club’s Cookie Walk 8am-12pm in Cafeteria I am very thankful for the students, faculty, 12/18 Winter Concert II (Band) 7:00 pm 12/23-1/1 School Closed, Winter Recess parents and community that put forth so 1/8 In-Service – 11:55am Dismissal much effort to make Voorhees the very 8th Grade Parent Orientation, 7:00-9:00 best. In a time when education is changing PM in Auditorium at a faster pace than ever before, I am 1/16 PAC Meeting – 9:30 AM Athletic Advisory Mtg. – 6:30pm, Room gratified to know that the Voorhees Viking 250 family will meet and conquer every 1/20 School Closed, Martin Luther King Jr. challenge placed in front of Day us. Congratulations to all for a great first

quarter, and thank you for everything you

do.

Sincerely,

Ron Peterson

School News

A Technology Resource Center has been created at VHS to service freshmen students and teachers as we transition to the use of Chromebooks. The TRC will be open first and last periods as well as during lunch periods. Students will be able to get help in using their devices, whether that is to help troubleshooting technical issues or to provide “hands on” help with Google Docs. Additionally, teachers will have the opportunity to work with other teachers to fine tune their repertoire of teaching strategies. At the present time, teachers will be manning the TRC. It is hoped that a cadre of students will volunteer their time to work with other students in center as well.

The Freshman PE classes completed their Project Adventure unit. Please see the series of amazing photos of a student leaping out to grab the swing from the top of the pamper pole.

Student Achievements

FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club and FCCLA (Family Career & Consumer Leaders of America) went to Valley View Elementary School to perform a CHARACTER COUNTS! and Anti-bullying presentation with 2nd graders. 25-30 VHS students worked with 4 second grade classes.

Under the direction of Voorhees English teacher Nancy Anne Castello, senior volunteers travel to High Bridge Elementary School several times a year to be paired up with students in Lynn Hughes’ 4th grade class. The high school students help their 4th grade peers in improving their writing. The first visit was on Thursday, October 10, 2013.

VHS Science teacher and Key Club advisor Sharon Smith announced that Key Club held a Tricky Tray in conjunction with the Women’s Club of Clinton on Friday, October 11. Proceeds went to local scholarships. 25 Key Club members attended the annual Fall Rally at Great Adventure on Sunday. October 13, 2013. This unique event is a special opportunity for role model students all over the state to spend networking and social time together.

Genevieve Schweikert, VHS Senior, and Warren Gabriel, VHS Sophomore, were recognized as our Most Respectful Students at the conclusion of The Week of Respect. VHS Science Teacher and National Honor Society Advisor Laurie Hance reported that $350 was raised on Friday, October 25th through pink ribbon sales and faculty donations for Blue Jean Friday. All money collected is donated to Sloan Kettering. The photo below shows many of the dedicated pink-spirited students and staff!

Students in MaryJo Rosania’s 2012-13 Photo 2 classes studied the differences and similarities between Documentary and Photo Journalistic Photography. As part of this lesson, they were able to participate in the New York Times Lens Blog Project – “My HomeTown”. Teenagers from all over the country were invited to share images of their hometowns with the world – Ms. Rosania’s students documented them through film and digital photography, then wrote the caption that accompanied the photographs. Their photographs are alongside almost 5,000 photos from teenagers from every state in the nation! Many of the images will be archived at the Library of Congress in the Prints and Photographs Division.

To view the entire piece, go to the following website: http://www.nytimes.com/projects/2013/lens-my-hometown/?best_200=true&page=1

Athletics

Jake Blazovic, VHS Senior, was named the Courier News Football Player of the Week.

The Crown Trophy Athletes of the Month for September were:  Vitor Nunes – Boys Soccer  Kathryn Boyce- Field Hockey

Girls Tennis (coaches Mitchell Collins and Eric Hall) – Skyland Conference Raritan Division Champions

Girls Field Hockey (coach Taylor Vidak) - Skyland Conference Raritan Division Champions

Girls Cross Country (coach Matt DeRobbio) – Skyland Conference Raritan Division Champions

Boys Cross Country (coach Robert Carroll) - Skyland Conference Raritan Division Champions

Girls Volleyball (coach Nicole Bolash) - Skyland Conference Raritan Division Champions

The VHS Football Team defeated Ridgefield Park in the state consolation game, 37-0. The team finished their 6-4, which gives them 2 winning seasons in a row!

Charlie Rodenberger (quarterback) broke the 31 year old school record set by Tom Polte in 1982 of 10 touchdown passes in a season by throwing 11 TD passes.

Boys Cross Country finished 8th overall in the Group 3 Championship Race. Chris Thompson finished 9th, Anthony Capone 14th and Nick Raefski 15th. They qualified to participate in the Meet of Champions on November 23, 2013 at Holmdel Park.

Girls Cross Country finished 3rd in the Group 3 Championship race – this is the 17th year in a row that the team has qualified for this meet. Clarissa Modde was 9th, Meaghan Driscoll was 10th , Kelly McLaughlin was 36th, Erin McLaughlin was 38th and Eli Brakewood was 61st.

In Girls Field Hockey, Kathryn Roncoroni tied a school record with 33 goals in a season, and went over 100 points in her career.

TROOP 81267 IS COLLECTING ITEMS FOR THE PEDIATRIC CHILDREN AT HUNTERDON MEDICAL CENTER & SAINT BARNABAS HOSPITAL

If you wish to help, please donate: Arts & Crafts Dolls Action Figures Legos Play Doh Toys for babies/toddlers (ex. Rattles) Matchbox Cars Handheld Games New PJs Fuzzy Socks Recents DVDs New little books (for toddlers/young children) Crayons, markers, scissors, etc. Stuffed animals

There will be a box outside of the Main Office for donations.