TALES OF THE COMET

november 2003

DID YOU KNOW:

…..The Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Committee is running it’s 2nd Annual Beefsteak Dinner on Saturday, February 7th, 7:00 p.m. at the Lodi Boys’/Girls’ Club. For ticket information please contact Dale Houlis (201) 646-7910 or Fran Borg (201) 646-7919. Help support the Hackensack Blue and Gold Scholarship Fund. For further information log onto www.hackensackhigh.org.

…..Are you struggling in math, science, history or English? Perhaps you can use the services of a tutor to help you stay on top of things. We have just the service for you, and it is free of charge. The Drop-In Center tutorial division can set you up with a volunteer tutor who will work with you one on one to help you become more competent. See Arlene Meyers in the Drop-In Center in Room 161.

…..Do you enjoy working with young children? Are you perhaps contemplating a career in early childhood education? If you are a patient and caring person with excellent communication skills, and if you present yourself properly in dress and overall appearance, perhaps the P.A.L. Program is for you. Mentor and tutor students in the after school programs in one of Hackensack’s four elementary schools or the Memorial School in Maywood. Remember, you will act as a role model for our younger students. You can choose the day(s) and times. See Arlene Meyers at the Drop-In Center in Room 161.

…..Jigar Contractor, a 12^th grade student at Hackensack High School, has been named Commended Student in the 2004 National Merit Scholarship Program. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Congratulations!

…..The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently met and elected the following officers: Amir Sari (President), Jhuny Flores (Vice-President), Mabel Bonilla (Secretary), Michael Mercado (Treasurer), and Johanna Rodriguez (Historian). The initial meeting was followed the next week with a “Meet and Greet the Officers Pizza Party” in which the 22 members became acquainted with their elected peers. The FBLA, a national organization that works to bring business

and education together, is for students interested in developing leadership skills in preparation for careers in business and business-related fields. Besides operating the school store during lunch periods, the FBLA will be sponsoring a food drive, a toy drive, and the officers will be attending the Fall Leadership Conference in Edison, NJ.

…..Hackensack High School’s Interact Club met success in September, kicking off our volunteer vigor full blast with various philanthropic causes and drives. During the month of September, our Interact volunteers, headed by Vice President, Liana Mark, served in the Hackensack Rotary Blood Drive, either serving food or donating blood. They also assisted the Hackensack Riverkeeper during Hackensack River Day. Additionally, the Interact Executive Board met with Hackensack Rotary Advisor, Mr. Roman, our Maywood Rotary Advisor, Mr. Bertson, and Maywood Rotary Representative, Mr. Williams to discuss numerous service projects. Among them, the Maywood Rotary Kenya School Project-a project that will go towards assisting the Mpopong Primary School students of Kenya. These students lack the facilities and provisions necessary for a high quality education. The big event in October is the Lupus Walk. Also in October there will be a Hackensack River Cleanup, and the Maywood Pancake Breakfast. If any Hackensack High School student is interested in participating in these events, but not an Interact member, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Durso in Room 322, or any of the Interact Executive Board members whose information can be found on the Interact web site (http://www.hackensackhigh.org/~interact).

…..The Department of World Languages is very proud to announce that Sabastian Sarmiento, who graduated in June, was named a State winner in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese’s annual Spanish Essay Contest. Sabastian’s essay was selected from hundreds of essays submitted from all over New Jersey for students whose native language is Spanish. Sabastian was a student in Mr. Mirabal’s AP Spanish class. Felicidades, Sabastian!

…..Due to the overwhelming success of last year’s trip to Cuba for Hackensack teachers, Mr. Mirabal has decided to sponsor another trip during the February recess. Visits to three schools have already been mapped out, along with tours of Havana and other historic and cultural sites of interest. Any Hackensack teacher interested in finding out more about the upcoming trip should get in touch with Mr. Mirabal at 646-7963.

…..On March 1, Mr. Mirabal, Mr. Castaneda, and Mr. Decter accompanied 33 students to Cresskill High School so they could take the National Spanish Exam in their respective categories of study. Eight of our students did so well that they have been named as winners in their language categories.

…..On June 5, the Department of World Language sponsored it’s annual World Languages/ESL/Bilingual Awards Assembly. Almost 200 students were recognized and honored for their outstanding work in various classes within the department. We are extremely proud of the work our students are doing in their studies of Spanish, French, Italian, and ESL/Bilingual studies.

…..Our school’s Multicultural Dance and Talent Show was held on June 5, under the direction of Mrs. Mauriello, Mr. Morel, and Mrs. Rosemary Jackeson. Dances and music from many Spanish-speaking countries were presented by students from those countries.

…..While our students were enjoying their first week of summer vacation senior, Daniel Giurleo, was spending his week at Northern Highlands Regional High School, totally immersed in a Spanish language environment, speaking nothing but Spanish, regardless of any situation which presented itself. Daniel had to sign a pledge that he would not speak his native language under any conditions. Daniel felt this experience was “an important step in helping improve my fluency in Spanish.” He also had the opportunity to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art to see and study the paintings by the great Spanish masters. Our school hopes to participate in this program again in June, when we may be able to send several students to participate.

…..The World Language Department is very happy to welcome two new teachers to the department. Eric Fahrenkopf has joined the faculty as a full time French teacher, and Frank Giordano has joined us to teach both French and Italian.

…..For the sixth consecutive year, every single HHS student who took the AP Spanish Language Exam in the spring has passed! Not only did they all pass, but 17 of the 19 students passed with the highest possible score. The remaining two passed with the second highest score possible. We hope to continue this amazing streak of success next spring.

…..As he has done for the past several years, Mr. Mirabal has arranged for the AP Spanish students to attend two performances of well known Spanish plays – La Casa de Bernarda Alba, and Bodas de Sangre. Both plays are done at the Spanish Repertory Theater in New York, and our students have always enjoyed being able to enjoy and actually “use” their knowledge of the language they have been studying for their years at HHS, not to mention the always popular multicultural luncheon which follows.

…..For the third consecutive year, Mr. Omar Mirabal was invited by the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program and Educational Testing Service to participate as an AP Reader in the annual AP Reading at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, from June 12-18. It is indeed an honor to receive an invitation for this most important event of the AP program. Mr. Mirabal is a member of the Executive Board of the NJ chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (NJ-AATSP). On October 4^th, he presented a workshop entitled “Discipline in the Spanish Language Classroom: Is It the Kids or is It You? At the association’s fall meeting held at Rutgers State University. Mr. Mirabal is a regular contributor to En Accion (In Action), the official newsletter of the NJ-AATSP. He is responsible for the publication of a column entitled “Sabias que…? (Did you know that…), which highlights interesting aspects of Spanish grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. He is also a regular contributor of articles on Hispanic culture and methodology.

….. Hackensack High School’s Fall induction to the E.T. Marlatt Chapter of the National Honor Society took place Thursday, October 16, 2003, at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The guest speaker was Trisha A. Badishian, MSW, alumna of the class of 1994. She spoke on the virtues upon which admission is based, namely scholarship, altruistic service, character and leadership. The Honor Society at Hackensack High School was founded during the 1923-1924 school year by the Principal, Edward T. Marlatt. It became affiliated with the National Honor Society in 1955. To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.3 (i.e., 85%). Additionally, potential members must meet high standards of leadership, service, and character. Members of the junior and senior classes were evaluated by the faculty council. Leadership is based on quality of the student’s participation in community or school activities, or election to an office. To meet the service requirement, the student must have been active in service projects in the school and community, earning a minimum of 15 school service activity points (300 service hours). Character is measured in terms of integrity, behavior, ethics, and cooperation with both students and faculty. Previously, 12 students, all seniors were members. This induction added 5 seniors and 13 juniors, giving a total of 30 members. The new inductees are: Areej Belal, Johanna Calle, Whitney Cusack, Jonce Dimoski. Egreis Gjergjani, Jennifer Jimenez, Gillian Koch, Shelly Mack, Dana McGovern, Ileana Moyano, Robert Mozia, Lavina Ramchandani, Ami Jogesh Shah, Alyssa Stepien, Irene Tejeda, Chelsea Townes, Hoangkhiem Tran, and Kathryn Zoch.