West Essex Regional School District
Allison Freeman
Manager of Communications and Community Outreach
Find out what's happening in Caldwellsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Email: afreeman@westex.org
Find out what's happening in Caldwellsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
West Essex News October 28, 2011
Hello everyone! I hope you all had a great week. This is the fourth issue of the West Essex News.
Thank you for all of your submissions. They are due noon Thursday for publication Friday. Submissions can be sent to afreeman@westex.org. Any questions, feel free to call me at extension 101.
Did you know that West Essex Regional Schools is on Facebook? Make sure you become a fan and receive updates on everything happening at West Essex.
West Essex Regional Board of Education
The West Essex Regional Board of Education will hold a Regular meeting on Monday, November 7th at 7:30 p.m. at the middle school.
Important Dates:
- October 31: Halloween and Middle School Walkathon
- November 10 and 11: NJEA Convention, Schools closed
District News:
The West Essex Regional High School Art Club carved about 25 pumpkins for the Gardens Aglow at the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens in Montclair tonight at 6 p.m. The event celebrates the remontant iris, which blooms first in the spring and then the fall. High schools from all over Essex County carved pumpkins for the event, which will feature lit pumpkins, live music and children’s activities. The Art Club selected to botanical theme for its pumpkins, carving fruit and vegetables into them after preparing them with a bleach solution. The club members then coated the carvings with petroleum jelly to help preserve them. The gardens are located at 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Montclair. If you would like to see photos of the students’ work, please visit our high school website at www.westex.org.
The West Essex SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) will sponsor a special presentation about the difference between high school and college in supporting special needs students November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in room 313 at the high school. Abbe Benowitz, the Director of Disabilities Services of Caldwell College, will lead the presentation. Prior to the presentation, the SEPAC parent support group will meet at 6:30 p.m. in room 313 at the high school.
The West Essex Regional Marching Knights, who hosted a Tournament of Bands Chapter X Championship Sunday October 23 at the high school, received a 92.10, their highest score in West Essex history at the event. They also took home the award for High Music.
The Marching Knights are currently ranked No. 6 in the East Coast and will showcase their talent at the Atlantic Coast Championship Nov. 6, 2011 at Hershey Park.
Ryan Zyla, a West Essex senior baritone sax player, also received a Tournament of Bands Chapter X Championship Scholarship award. Ryan wrote a paper titled "What Marching Band Means to Me." The scholarship contest was open to seniors from the 13 participating high school bands. Ryan was presented with a $250 scholarship award. A senior from Lenape Valley High School also received an award.
Each year West Essex selects a student representative from the sophomore class to attend the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) conference in June. HOBY is widely recognize as a premiere youth leadership development organization. HOBY’s mission is to inspire and develop a global community of volunteers dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. Any sophomore who wishes to be considered for this opportunity should inform their guidance counselor by November 4, 2011. More information on HOBY is available at www.hoby.org.
West Essex Regional High School is full of creative “Mole Day” projects created by the high school’s chemistry students. You can see photographs of the students work on our high school website at www.westex.org.
West Essex Regional Schools observed “Red Ribbon Week,” this week with special programs including a video “Every 15 Minutes,” about drunk driving during physical education classes in the high school as well as wear red day and a pep rally at the middle school.
Yearbooks may be purchased online at www.Jostensyearbooks.com through December 31. Ads may also be purchased and can be designed by the yearbook staff. For information, visit www.westex.org.
Student Achievements:
Twelve West Essex Regional High School students from two AP History classes participated as two teams in the PHSAT XIX Quiz Bowl competition hosted by Princeton University earlier this month. The students, who competed against teams from prestigious public and private schools from across the Mid-Atlantic, finished fourth and fifth in their brackets. The West Essex teams performed admirably in their first appearance in the Quiz Bowl and demonstrated their ability to think quickly on their feet, answering questions on everything from ancient history to theoretical physics. The teams consisted of the following students: Amanda Alhout, Glenn Griffin, Vittoria Contuzzi, Jillian Crooks, Tommy Haversang, Schuyler Gardner, Darren Gomez, Erik Maher, Mark Mascera, Chris Mei, Alex Peckman, Alex Truong and Regina Walter. The students were accompanied by teachers Caroline Blanchard and C.J. Rauch.
West Essex Regional High School senior Nicole Del Mauro won first place in the Garden State Scholastic Press Association’s annual competition for a review of CDs by Britney Spears, Adele and the Foo Fighters that she wrote for the Wessex Wire last June. Nicole was awarded a certificate at the Garden State Scholastic Press Association conference at Rutgers University where her review was also displayed.
Kira Shabbab, a seventh grader at West Essex Regional Middle School, was cast as “Annie” in the musical “Annie” at the Smiling Rhino Theatre, 247 Wanaque Ave. Pompton Lakes. Kira is in the silver cast. Show times are Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25; $22 seniors and $20 students and children. Call (973) 248-9491. Visit www.smilingrhinotheatre.com.
The West Essex Regional Board of Education honored 15 students with Rogate Awards for receiving a score of 510 or higher on any one section of the SAT’s when they were in the seventh and eighth grades. The West Essex News apologizes to Rogate winner Kyle Betley whose name was not provided on the original list of winners. The current eighth grade students who were recognized are: Elizabeth Cornman, Liam Fahey, Bethany Hou, Courtney Hou, Allen Jones, Thomas Maj, Timothy Ruszala and Evan Snerson. The following current ninth grade students were also recognized: Kyle Betley, Jennifer Brisco, Ariana Daly, Joseph Egan, Lauren Gupton, Jennifer Pischeria and Gabriella Sanzari.
West Essex Regional High School senior David Shields has been named a National Merit Semi-Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program for receiving one of the highest scores on the PSAT among students across the country. David can apply to become a Finalist in the program. Nine high school seniors were also named commended students for receiving high scores on the test. The following students were named commended students: Alejandro Alvarez, Sahil Amin, Deanna Daly, Patrick Fant, Herminio Navia, Sara Notte, Stephen O’Neill, Maria Picariello and Ryan Towey.
West Essex Middle School Principal David Montgomery has recognized the Students of the Month for October, 2011. They are seventh graders Erica Torter and Michael Chris, both from team 7A, and eighth graders Justin Capozzi and Sherri Astorino, both from Team 8A.
Athletics:
Congratulations to the Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team. They are the North Jersey 2/Group 2 Sectional State Champions!
Varsity Field Hockey and Girls’ Lacrosse Coach Jill Cosse celebrated her 300th victory as a coach this week. Cosse is in her 15th season as head field hockey coach, capturing 12 conference championships, 14 Essex County Championships, 10 State Sectional Championships and 5 State Group II titles. Cosse was also recently inducted into the 2010 New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association (NJSCA) Hall of Fame.
West Essex will host several state tournament events next week:
Monday: Varsity Girls’ Soccer - 2 p.m. vs. Hanover Park
Tuesday: Varsity Boys’ Soccer – 2 p.m. vs. Hackettstown
Tuesday: Varsity Girls’ Volleyball – 4 p.m. vs. Parsippany
Wednesday: Varsity Field Hockey – 2 p.m. vs. winner of River Dell/Parsippany
PTO News:
The West Essex Regional PTO will host its next meeting Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. The meeting will include reports from each grade’s student council on their plans for the year. All parents are welcome to attend and find out what is going on at West Essex.
PTO Membership forms will be mailed out to families in the near future. Each family is encouraged to make a $35 donation to the organization. In the past, the money has been used to purchase a mascot costume, a new speaker system for the stadium, equipment for the fitness center and contributions for the beautification committee’s efforts. The PTO also supplies refreshments for special events including class breakfasts, teacher in-service days and funds special teacher projects. The PTO is also looking for volunteers to help with these events. If you would like to volunteer, contact Jenifer at jpetrocca@optonline.net.
West Essex Volunteers:
Art teacher Amanda Procaccino is participating in the November 6th PurpleStride 5K/ run/walk to support Pancreatic Cancer Research. Her team “Band on the Run” raised more than $1,000 last year. To contribute, visit http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=482619&lis=1&kntae482619=B761F1C1A34D487195644C8DE73B73EA&supId=303617359&emaillogid=5006820923.
The West Essex Key Club is sponsoring a Trick-or-Treat for Unicef Drive. Teachers will collect money during homeroom Tuesday Oct. 25th through Wednesday Nov. 3rd. The homeroom that collects the most will win a bagel breakfast during the week of November 7th. The collection will support The Eliminate Project: Eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus. The Key Club is also participating in the Coups for Troops coupon clipping project. Please send coupon circulars from your mailbox or newspapers into school and place them in Jill Schneck’s mailbox. U.S. Military families stationed abroad can use coupons for up to six months past the expiration date. The program was started this year to aid military families. For information, e-mail jschenck@westex.org.
Caldwells Patch is having a Costume Contest for charity. Patch is asking readers to submit photos of their kids in their most creative costumes. The Grand Prize winner will get to meet model Heidi Klum and have a donation of $1031 (for October 31) presented to a local charity of the winner’s choice. Nine runners up will also get a $1031 donation from Patch to a charity of their choice. For information, visit www.Caldwells.patch.com or email Caldwells Patch editor Teresa.akersten@patch.com.
Special Note:
We are asking parents to fill out a new Student Publicity Authorization form posted under general forms on the website and send them in to school with your child. This is different than the original form you filled out in September. The form will allow your child’s photograph or name be used in a press release for the District website and the local media. Please take a few minutes to fill it out now. Click here for the form: http://www.westex.org/cms/lib6/NJ01001533/Centricity/Domain/1/Forms/publicityauthorizationform.pdf.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Take care,
Allison
Allison Freeman
Manager of Communications and Community Outreach
West Essex Regional School District
West Greenbrook Road
