NJ student news: 'Mama Mia' to take the stage at Montgomery High School
Carolyn SampsonMontgomery High School will present the "fun, feel-good" musical "Mama Mia" at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 and 2 and 8 p.m. Feb. 23.
The production includes Bella Juhaeri as Donna Sheridan; Mary Sisler as Sophie Sheridan, Donna’s daughter; Jack Haftel as Sky, Sophie’s fiancée; Alex Madej as Ali and Kayla Losier as Lisa, Sophie’s best friends and bridesmaids; Kelly Shao as Tanya and Jessie Smires as Rosie, Donna’s oldest friends and backup singers in Donna’s singing group, Donna and the Dynamos; Sean Glennon as Harry Bright, Matthew Jarzyna as Bill Austin and Logan Reilly as Sam Carmichael, Donna’s boyfriends and Sophie’s possible fathers.
Also featured are David Holloway as Pepper and Rolando Pena as Eddie, employees at the Taverna, and John D’Avanzo as Father Alexandrios. There also are 48 talented singers and dancers playing a variety of parts in the ensemble.
Tickets are $7 for children, students and senior citizens and $8 for adults and can be purchased in advance at Montgomery High School, located at 1016 Route 601. Tickets will be sold from 3:30 to 5:30 p,m. in the high school lobby on Feb. 18 and 20. If still available, they will also be sold at the box office before each performance. All tickets are general admission.
For tickets or information please call 609-466-7602 or email thandschin@mtsd.us.
Berkeley College
The following Central Jersey residents at Berkeley College were named to the president's and dean's list: Jessica Balick of Lebanon and Jessica Costa of Flemington, president's list; Natalie Vergara of Whitehouse Station, dean's list. Students must achieve a GPA of 4.0 president's and 3.5 for dean's list.
Becker College
Matthew Venezia of Flemington, received a bachelor's degree in interactive media design, computer game design concentration, magna cum laude for Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Cedarville University
Lindsey Yarrington of Bridgewater was named to the dean's honor list at Cedarville University in Ohio. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.75
Denison University
Elizabeth Higley of Lebanon was named to the fall dean's list at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.7.
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Lebanon: Woodglen School
Cara Montferrat has been recognized as Woodglen's Teacher of the Year and Kim Enchill has been recognized as Woodglen's ESP of the Year. Montferrat is in her sixth year of teaching, and her third at Woodglen School. Enchill is in her 16th year in education, 13 of which have been in Lebanon Township. She has worked with students at both Woodglen and Valley View schools during her tenure in the district. The Governor’s Educator of the Year program will announce the county teachers of the year in May with the State Teacher of the Year announced in September.
Mercer University
Brie Pavol of Ringoes was named to the fall dean's list at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia.
Moravian College
The following Central Jersey residents at Moravian College in Pennsylvania were named to the fall dean's list: Cassandra Bower of Somerville, Michelle Ciliberto of Middlesex, Jillian Ferrara of Warren, Paige Kovacs of New Providence, Austin Markowski of Neshanic Station, Clare Mastronardi of Hillsborough, Gabriella Nasta of Green Brook, Christine Neu, Kaitlyn Roberto of Middlesex, Rachel Shafer, Nicole Zangara of Somerville, Joseph Solis of South Bound Brook. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.5.
Muhlenberg College
The following Central Jersey residents at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania were named to the fall dean's list: Thomas Barrett of Califon, Gal Behiri of Summit, Katherine Behling of Raritan, Brian Biskaduros of Berkeley Heights, Joshua Bordwick of Lambertville, Adam Cantor of Berkeley Heights, Jonathan Capra of Martinsville, Skyllar Capuno of Somerset, Emma Carmody of Bridgewater, Rebecca Carrara of Flemington, Victoria Castillo of Summit, Jordan Cimring, Zachary Cimring of Scotch Plains, Sara Dilly of Berkeley Heights, Catherine Esposito, Olivia Fargiano of Summit, Victoria Fuerst of Lebanon, Nora Going of Fanwood, Richard Hennessey of Ringoes, Hallie Hoffman of Belle Mead, Kevin Irving of Westfield, Matthew Itzkowitz, Francesca Jones of Scotch Plains, Madison Kirchofer of Green Brook, Jason Kopp of Bedminster, Kayla Lawrie of Whitehouse Station, Julia Lombardo of Franklin Park, Peter Luther of Princeton, Jacqueline McKenna of Flemington, Pooja Menon of Hillsborough, Hannah Merlo of Flemington, Julian Mone of Westfield, Anthony Natale of Neshanic Station, Kiara Ryan of Hillsborough, Darby Ryden of Summit, Lynsey Stanicki of Green Brook, Caitlin Strain of Basking Ridge, Lindsay Tata of New Providence, Michael Tronolone of Whitehouse Station, Nicholas Ugarte of Warren, Ashley Veglia of Scotch Plains, Sierra Yetka of Califon. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.5.
North Hunterdon, Voorhees high schools
North Hunterdon and Voorhees High Schools recently announced their selections of the Teacher of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year for the 2019-20 Governor’s Educator of the Year Program.
At North Hunterdon High School, the Teacher of the Year is Summer Morris. Morris is a World Language teacher who teaches Spanish, including the advanced level courses. She has been with the district since August 2007. The North Hunterdon Educational Services Professional of the Year is Jessica Allora. Allora is a School Psychologist on the Child Study Team. Allora started with the district in August 2006.
The Voorhees High School Teacher of the Year is Melissa Haines. Haines is a Special Education teacher who provides instruction for students with a variety of cognitive impairments. She started at Voorhees in June 2012. Librarian/Media Specialist Leslie Ahrendts-Edwards is the Voorhees Educational Services Professional. Edwards started with the district in August 2011. She has worked to strengthen research-based writing at all grade levels over multiple disciplines.
Phillips' Mill Community Association
The Phillips’ Mill Community Association announced the opening of the sixth Youth Art Exhibition. In its first year, 10 schools participated. This year, the number has climbed to 20 schools. These schools are located in Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania as well as Mercer and Hunterdon counties and include both public and private schools.
The Art Department at each school was asked to select six 2D pieces and two 3D pieces for the exhibition. There were 144 pieces of art work submitted, which include painting, watercolor, collage, pastel, graphite, digital art, photography, ceramics and sculpture. Awards were presented for first, second and third place winners in Painting, Works on Paper, Photography and 3D Works. A Best in Show was awarded and there were also Honorable Mention winners in each category. Awards were determined by this year’s juror Lisa Tremper Hanover and $3,200 was awarded to winning students.
The Youth Art Exhibition was conceived when Phillips’ Mill decided to build on the success of its well respected adult Art Exhibition, now in its 90th year. As the adult show seeks participation from artist living within a 25-mile radius of the Mill, the Youth Art Show solicits participation from the art departments of high schools located within a 25-mile radius of the Mill.
This year participating schools from the Central Jersey area include: Hillsborough High School, The Hun School, Hunterdon Central High School, The Pennington School, Princeton Day School Stuart Country Day School, West Windsor-Plainsboro South High School.
The exhibition is free for the schools and the students, no commission on sales is charged and there is no admission fee.
The Youth Art Exhibition is open to the public Feb 17 and 18. It is open from 1 to 5 p.m. and is held at the historic Phillips’ Mill, 2619 River Road, two miles north of New Hope, Pennsylvania. For additional information email http://youthart@phillipsmill.org or visit http://www.phillipsmill.org.
Plainfield: Evergreen Elementary School
Children at Evergreen Elementary School in Plainfield marched around their school to remember the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"The children are marching around the school 51 times to remember the 51st anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr,” said Kenyetta Knight, a fifth-grade teacher.
“We are here today celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King and our students are learning his dream is still alive. They are learning what it means to be equal, what it means for everyone to have an opportunity and a right to education and to have freedom,” said Principal BJ Brown-Lawson.
As the children marched, they chanted slogans such as "Black Lives Matter," "We want Freedom" and Freedom for Immigrants."
Fifth-grade teacher Ana Ramos said the students drew posters and wrote down their ideas and what they believe we should all be working and fighting for.
Jhair Garcia wrote on his poster, “No to Drugs,” Angel Serrano wrote, “Immigrants Matter” and Vanessa Garcia wrote, “No to War.”
Siena College
Melissa Calabria of Scotch Plains was named to the fall president's list at Siena College in Loundonville, New York. Also, Erin Hayes of Scotch Plains and Rose Doherty of Westfield were named to the fall dean's list: Students must achieve a grade point average of 3.9 president's list and 3.5 dean's list.
Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School
This past December, as part of an annual project, students in the Graphic Communications program at Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) created a T-shirt design for the Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) Jingle All The Way 3K Road Race & Fun Run.
Mesara Scarpellino, a senior from South Bound Brook, had her T-shirt design selected and used at the 10th annual event. As a “thank you” for designing the shirts, SONJ Special Events Director Jeanene Leppert stopped by SCVTHS to give all of the Graphic Communications students T-shirts thanking them for their help.
The Jingle All The Way 3K Road Race & Fun Run was held on Dec. 2 in Lawrenceville. Yearly, hundreds of runners and volunteers take part in raising funds for Special Olympics New Jersey.
The College of St. Scholastica
Desiree Gibbs of Somerville received a doctor's of physical therapy from The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.
The Wardlaw+Hartridge School
The Green Team at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School in Edison sponsored its second annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Recycling Event at Warlaw+Hartridge on Monday, Jan. 21.
Local families donated their gently used clothing, household items, shoes, toys, books and electronics during the daylong event. More than 50 volunteers from the W+H community including students from the Lower, Middle and Upper schools worked together to help sort the items for distribution to various charitable organizations such as Fish, Inc., Goodwill, nursing homes and more.
Donated items such as computers, iPads, phones, and monitors were delivered to Electronic Access Foundation (EAF), a nonprofit organization which keeps electronics from being thrown in a landfill and prepares the donated electronics for donation to other qualified charitable organizations. A large flat-screen TV was donated to a veteran’s home. Many of the volunteers took the donated items to the various charities who were overwhelmed with gratitude to the W+H community.
It was a memorable day with family, teachers, staff members and students working together to recycle and give back to those less fortunate. The Green Team members and the W+H community are thankful for all those who donated items, volunteered and contributed their time to help make this a successful event.
Also, sixth-grade students at W+H have been learning about the parts of the cell. This week they examined onion cells and human cheek cells by making wet-mount slides with methylene blue stain. They were amazed at how thin a tissue of onion should be for viewing under the microscope and thrilled to see their own cells and a little bit of their lunch too.
This lab, completed over three class meetings, was one part of our unit on eukaryotic cells. Using the microscope is an education-long skill that will take them into high school and possibly beyond. It also pulls in mathematics to understand magnification. This lesson was followed by a cell model engineering project that incorporates learning the function of cell parts and magnification of a typical plant cell.
University of Albany
The following Central Jersey residents at the University of Albany in New York were named to the fall dean's list: Erik Dannenberg, Victor Van Werven of Basking Ridge, Ryan Finnegan of Belle Mead, Erik Dluhy of Branchburg, Andrea Leitner of Scotch Plains, Christopher Munsch, Felisa Simpson of Princeton Junction., David Gray of Somerset. Student must achieve a GPA of 3.25.
University of Dayton
The following Central Jersey residents at the University of Dayton in Ohio were named to the fall dean's list: Peter Dombrowski of Hillsborough, Sierra Kochersperger of Princeton and Allison Lamperti of Glen Gardner. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.5.
University of Findlay
Alexa Sendro of Flemington was awarded the James L. Child memorial scholarship endowment fund and the VanSweringen memorial scholarship endowment fund at the University of Findlay in Ohio.
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Enzo Biagini of Stewartsville was named to the fall dean's list at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.25
Warren: Central School
The Central School Student Leaders and Central School PTO hosted Penny Wars from Jan. 11 through 18 to benefit the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter. This particular charity was selected because the Student Leaders are passionate about helping animals in need of finding their forever homes.
Students were eager to participate in Penny Wars after the event was kicked off on Friday, Jan. 11 with a pep rally and surprise slideshow displaying photographs of students and school staff with their own pets. Ms. Pech, Central School Counselor and the Student Leaders choreographed a dance to “Who Let the Dogs Out” and taught it to the entire school. Mascot Baldwin even showed up to show off his moves.
During the week-long event, all grade levels competed in spirit days and a penny collection to win the most points. Students were excited to view the Penny Wars chart that showcased the leading teams.
At the conclusion of the event, the grade 2 team finished with the most points and as a result will be able to vote on the name of the first dog that will live in the Central School Kennel, located within the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter. A total of $1,074 was raised by Central school, these funds will help support the shelter for a year.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide a safe, temporary home for a dog until he or she finds his or her forever home,” Pech said.
Westfield: Tamaques School
A watershed is an area of land that drains into a body of water such as a river, lake, stream or bay. There are five water regions in New Jersey and 20 watershed management areas. Tamaques fifth-graders recently heard from “ambassadors” from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection about the importance of watershed stewardship and what can be done to protect the state’s water regions.
Four members of the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program visited Tamaques School in January. Fifth-graders rotated between hands-on presentations that included taking a close look at how macroinvertebrates help to determine the health of a body of water, following the journey a simple drop of water makes, acting out the varied ways water can be polluted, and becoming Clean Water Rangers as they examined ways they can help to protect New Jersey’s watersheds.
“In social studies, our curriculum looks at global connections. We analyze case studies in different continents, using the five themes of geography. The idea of water as a limited global resource is seen in most, if not all, of the case studies,” said Tamaques fifth-grade teacher Victor Alfonso, who coordinated this year’s watershed ambassador visit. “Concepts like a watershed, freshwater, ecosystems, food chains, food webs, point and non-point pollution and resource competition are explored.”
Alfonso says these concepts also apply to the fifth-grade science curriculum and that there are other connections to be made as well.
“Our Sandy Hook field trip allows us to case study the watershed and ecosystem there,” he said. “And we can find connections with our community garden watershed in front of our school. We learn how important conservation, preservation, and sustainable development are to our community and world.”
“After the watershed presentations, I learned that almost every tiny garbage or waste that goes into the watershed will affect the environment in that area,” said 10-year-old Patrick Greeley. “I learned that it’s up to all of us to do our part, even if it is just one little piece of garbage. Pollution can and must be stopped!”
Ten-year-old Hope Walsh said she found the presentation very beneficial, too. “It taught me that things in everyday life are hurting the watershed including littering, car oil dripping in parking lots, and factories. I now try to not do things that hurt the watershed, including not littering.”
Alfonso said he appreciates the support and collaboration of all who helped to “provide this unique learning experience for the students.”
Wilkes University
The following Central Jersey residents at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania received their degrees:
Tina Doshi of Somerset, bachelor's degree in psychology; Cornelia Gilpin of Piscataway, doctor's degree in nursing; Valeria Pannia of Raritan, master's degree in education. Also, the following students were named to the fall dean's list: Colin Greeman, Taylor Hubiak, Christine Walsh of Glen Gardner and Kendall Koch of Asbury. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.5.
Student and School news appears on Fridays. Email:cnmetro@mycentraljersey.com