Tales of the comet

 

Volume 2          february  2005

 

Did you know:

 

…..The Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Committee was founded by Mr. Ed Acciardi, a former guidance counselor, to provide scholarships for middle income families.  Our goal is $1,000,000. We have collected nearly $500,000 meeting the “Sanzari Challenge” of $100,000. To date, we have given $85,000 in scholarships and plan to award $35,000 to our present seniors.   We wish to thank you for your continued support.  Upcoming events are as follows: On March 6, 2005 a trip to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City will be held.  The cost will be $30 per person. You will receive breakfast and a casino package (TBA).  For information contact Dale Houlis (201) 646-7910. If you are interested in joining the Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Committee, please contact Toni Miello at (201) 767-7224, Extension 1.

…..Sonia Perez, senior captain and four year winner and starter for the Lady Comets Volleyball team became the New Jersey State all time leader in assists with 2040 for her four year Varsity career, eclipsing the former total of 1825.  According to the Star Ledger, no other girl volleyball player has ever passed 2000.  Sonia led the Comets to a four-year record of 78-32, two NNJIL titles and two league second place finishes.  Sonia has been a four-time NNJIL selection, two-time All Bergen selection and two-time Group IV volleyball player, and this year she was named to the All-State third team.  She also participated in the NJSCA Senior All Star match on Saturday, December 11th along with teammate, fellow team captain and Group IV player Chelsea Townes.  Chelsea this year gathered her third NNJIL selection and an All Bergen berth also.  Good luck to both ladies in their futures. 

…..The Lady Comets Volleyball team, which has been in existence since the 1974-1975 season, is 15 wins away from number 500.  The all-time record stands at 485-245.  The team has won seven league titles, one county title and two state titles along with numerous tournament wins in that 30-year stretch.  When reached, the Lady Comets will be only one of seven teams in all of New Jersey to reach the 500-win plateau.

…..Once again HHS has been included in the district RIF (Reading Is Fundamental) grant.  RIF is a 75-25 Federal Government/School PTA program that provides three free books per year to every student.  Last year, the first time the high school participated in RIF, the students were very happy to receive their books.  This year, we hope to be able to have even better titles available.  The books for the first distribution arrived late, due to supplier delays, so our first distribution will take place in January instead of December.

…..The P.A.L. Program is up and running.  If you enjoy working with young children and can volunteer at least one day a week after school, this is the program for you.  You will receive service points for your participation.  You can be a P.A.L. at the four elementary schools in Hackensack, the Memorial School and the Maywood Avenue School in Maywood, and the Midland School in Rochelle Park.  At a special ceremony last year, Paula Pangilinan, was given special recognition and an award by the YMCA for her volunteer service as a P.A.L. at Nellie K. Parker elementary school.  Two students who were P.A.L.s last year at the Memorial School in Maywood have been hired for pay this year.  See Arlene Meyers in the Drop-In Center, Room 161, if you are interested in the program.

…..The Consumer Bowl Team competed at the Bergen County level on Monday, January 10, 2005. HHS won the County Title. The competition was held at the Bergen County Police Academy in Mahwah.  Team members were Angelique Phillips, Captain; James Donatello, Carleetha Moore, Dakota Marositz; and, Alternate, Lavina Ramchandani.  The team advisor is Valerie Gancarz of the Business Education Department.  The team will compete at the Regional Level in the spring.

…..To help ease the loneliness and post-holiday depression of the courageous men and women stationed in Iraq, our grade 9 students wrote letters and purchased items to send to them.  Ms. Stacy Biss, English teacher and Coordinator of the Mentoring Program, together with the other teacher/mentors from all departments (Russ Cohen, Jaime Thornton, Roseanne Cavallo, Madeline Zak, Antoinette Alston, Chris Capone, Amy Curry, Lynette Gardner, Amber Hanabergh, Sandra Harrington, James Montesano, Kim Moore, Robert Mortorano, Darren Petersen, Al Piotrowski and Mark Porto), packaged the items and sent them to members of the first battalion.

…..In an effort to support our students who are facing the new academic challenges of grade 9 English and World History curricula, Thursdays have become “Tutorial Thursdays.”   Some grade 9 students are required, while others are encouraged to attend an after-school tutorial program, staffed by English and social studies teachers from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Dr. Louis Moore, Director of English and Social Studies, grades 7 through 12, is also tutoring students from grades 10, 11 and 12 who need assistance with writing from English and social studies classes.  He is working with students from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Thursday.

…..This year, high school students will be performing “Arsenic and Old Lace,” the hilarious comedy by Joseph Kesselring, made famous by the Frank Capra movie of the same title, with Cary Grant.  Typically each Spring at Hackensack High School, the students perform a musical.  But Co-directors Robert Mortorano and Mark Porto chose this comedy in an effort to involve students who do not sing and dance and should have the opportunity to perform.  However, the evening will not be without song: Porto and Mortorano have chosen some pop standards from the Big Band Era (late ‘30’s and early ‘40’s) for a chorus of students to sing during scene changes.  Karen Greenstein, music and chorus teacher, will be working with students who have auditioned for this special singing opportunity.  Please come out and support the Hackensack High School Drama Club and enjoy this exciting experience of murderous mayhem and music.  There will be four performances on Thursday, March 10, 2005 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 11, 2005 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 12, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Get your tickets in advance!  (Tickets are $8.00.)

…..During the April recess, Mr. Petrocelli will once again be taking a large number of students on a tour of Italy.  This year, a group of 33 students and adults will visit Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Capri.  This will be the 6th trip for our students who study Italian, and as in the past, will surely be a great success.

…..The French Union was founded by and is under the sponsorship of Mr. Eric Fahrenkopf.  Officers for the current school year are Khiern Tran, Tiara Robinson, Gian Paolo Croce, and Jessenia Aultmon.  The purpose of the Union is to promote additional French cultural awareness beyond the confines of the traditional classroom.  This year, students are planning a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to explore French Impressionism and subsequently, enjoy a French meal at a restaurant in NYC.  Next year might see a trip to France!

…..The Latino Club’s fundraising activities continue.  The Club has held several dances, and a T-shirt sale in February and March.  Plans are also underway for the annual Latino Community Talent Show.  The Club hopes to feature the dances of the many different Latin American countries represented in Hackensack.  The Latino Club teamed up with the Spanish Honor Society by making a very generous donation to get the Dominican Education Project started and off the ground.

…..On December 23rd, Mrs. Jordan and her ESL students went on a trip to Radio City Music Hall to see the annual Christmas Spectacular, featuring the world famous Rockettes.  The entire program was truly spectacular!  Following the show, everyone enjoyed a multicultural dinner at the Rainbow Café in Fairview.  In addition to Mrs. Jordan, Ms. Soraya Gonzalez, of the Board of Education, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Jordan, and Mrs. Vallinino also attended.

…..The Salvador Dali Chapter of the Spanish Honor Society of Hackensack High School has been working very hard since early September trying to raise the necessary funds to pay for the ten poor students we have sponsored in the “Children of Bonao Dominican Education Project.”  These children can attend school and get the necessary books, materials and supplies thanks to our efforts.  The cost is $10.00 per child monthly.  In December, we received the first report card.  All of our sponsored students are doing very well academically, and their attendance is excellent.  We have also received samples of their work along with some pictures.  We are planning to set up a display so that our entire school body can see who they are and note their progress.  We have had several fund-raising activities, and we have received and expect to be able to raise the $1,200 we need to pay for the entire school year.  Mr. Decter and Mr. Mirabal, advisors of the Spanish Honor Society, are very much pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment of all the members of our Chapter to this noble cause.

…..Twenty-one outstanding students of Spanish have been recommended for membership in the Spanish Honor Society his year.  Mr. Decter and Mr. Mirabal along with the Executive Committee are making plans to have the Induction Ceremony early in the spring.

…..In late November, members of the Spanish Honor Society and AP Spanish class went to Scheutzen Park in North Bergen where they attended a performance of Latin American and Spanish music and dance.  Afterwards, the group enjoyed a multicultural buffet luncheon at a local restaurant.