'Friday Nights In The Nest' Will Provide Hoboken High School Teens With Activities

HOBOKEN, NJ — Keeping teens busy is always a challenge. Starting next month, Hoboken High School kids can be involved in activities on Fridays from art to dance to basketball to cooking, and the schools are looking for volunteers to do more.

The Hoboken School Based Youth Services Student Center will sponsor these "Friday Nights at the Nest" starting Friday, Oct. 7.

The idea is for Hoboken High School’s School Based Youth Services staff members to provide fun activities and learning experiences in a safe environment to students.

"The goal of the program is to connect Hoboken High School teens with one another as they engage in Culinary Arts Throwdown Challenges, Artist’s Guilds, Music Production, Dance Sessions, Fitness Workouts, and Open Gym Basketball Games," said the district. "Throughout the school year, this program will include additional activities selected by students in focus groups hosted by Hoboken High School’s administrators." Robin Piccapietra, principal of Hoboken High School, said, “Hearing student voices and putting their thoughts into action is extremely important to us.”

If you or someone you know would like to volunteer your time, skills, or passion, reach out to Stephen Dickerson, Director of SBYSP at sdickerson@hoboken.k12.nj.us.

Challenges and COVID

Hoboken High School staff members know that in addition to efforts to continuously improve academic achievement, there is a great need to nurture the social and emotional well being of students. Nationally, students face many daily challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated those challenges.

“Adopting preventive and intervention strategies are essential, but adding social activities that foster healthy relationships is what is at the core of Hoboken High School’s School Based Youth Services Program,” said Christine Johnson, superintendent of schools.

Stephen Dickerson, director of School Based Youth Services Programs, said, “The Student Center wanted to provide a space for our students to explore their passions and interests in a safe and engaging environment. Friday Nights at the Nest provides a location for students to engage in sports, art, dance, cooking, and music productively with one another, with trained volunteers, and with highly successful professionals. Programs like this highlight the amazing gifts our students possess.”

At Hoboken High School, each student's academic, physical, cultural and social development is viewed as a shared responsibility. Teachers, support staff, administrators and families work to provide all of the necessary support that students need to be successful, productive members
of the school and community at large.

Friday Nights at the Nest goes beyond the support systems that are already in place during the school day; it cultivates relationships and connections during evening hours for Hoboken High School students, the district said.

Find out more about the Hoboken public schools here.