LION'S VIEW

 

Welcome to Middletown High School North - Home of the Lions.  

Dear Members of the North Community:

As the Principal of Middletown High School North I am pleased to report some of the many positive happenings that have taken place during the month of January.

 

(Departmental Highlights at North for January 2008)

 Academic Assistance   

  • We received some new reading materials from Central Office.

  • All seniors except one in the AA classes finished their SRA portfolios this week.  We only have a few who still have SRA’s outstanding.

  • The Performance Based Mid-term for  English12 CP was an interesting and creative assessment.

  • Classes are going well for the freshmen, sophomore and juniors in math and English.

English              

  • Barbara Christopher and Barbara Guenther in the World History/English Honors class...

    • A panel discussion forum on current happenings in China was held to culminate the unit on China.  Students evaluated topics such as the controlling role of the Internet in China, China’s economic standing, its positive and negative political aspects, limited human rights and Olympic preparations.  The unit on China ended with a “cultural experience” which entailed great sushi, homemade Korean dumplings, Lebanese “bread”, almond cookie tea, and many other Asia foods.  The students also learned about the Japanese Tea Ceremony, flower arranging, and other cultural practices of China, Japan, and Korea.

    •  We (with the help of the League of Women Voters) registered approximately 225 students—this year also included a few juniors.  Most students seemed very interested in registering.  Our numbers are down a little, but that is due to the opportunity now of students to register when they get their licenses.  Many seniors had already registered.

  • Linda Ranger: 

    • On January 16, 2008 two Cub Scout Dens visited our studio (about 16).  We interviewed a few and let them use some of the equipment.  This opportunity enabled the young men to earn their Communication Badge.  The TV club members provided a tour and the interviews.

    •  The TV Club taped auditions for Gypsy, a wrestling match, a handball tournament, coffee house and the Are you Smarter than a Senior? Challenge.

  • Lauren Sokol:

    • My seniors classes attended a production of Macbeth at Two Rivers Theatre on Jan. 22nd.

  • Marybeth McDonnell:

    • Tuck Isherwood’s Latin class came to “judge” my first period students’ Julius Caesar projects on Roman theme parks.

  • Patrice Thornton:

    •  My Speech class planned an activity utilizing Parliamentary Procedure. For the first time in my career here, the students included charitable donations as part of the activity.  They discussed what charity would be best and decided on Middletown Helps Its Own. When the Giving Tree program was publicized with that organization as one of the recipients, they decided to participate.  We took a mini “field trip” to the Giving Tree. Each student took at least one ornament (some took several), and they brought in their gifts that Monday. One of my girls even went back to the tree to take another ornament or two, and brought in additional gifts.  I was so proud of them!

  • Michele Taylor:

    •  Freshmen:  Classes created autobiographies that tied into the novel, The House on Mango Street.  Each student was required to write ten chapters about his/her life.

    • Sophomores:  The students worked on their New Year’s Resolution journaling projects that are due at the beginning of February.  We started this project as soon as we finished with Benjamin Franklin’s, “The Autobiography”.

 

Guidance

  • Met with Seniors to work on Brookdale applications.

  • Hosted two college preparatory meetings for Junior parents in the morning and the evening.

  • Communicated to Seniors regarding Scholarship opportunities.

  • Introduced the Naviance college/career program to 11th graders.

  • Hosted “Alumni Day” for college bound Seniors.

  • Visited English classes to present curricula options for 2008-09.

  • Hosted Vocational School information assemblies for 10th graders.

 

 Math

  • Welcome to Collen Nill, the newest member of the Middletown North Mathematics Department. Collen replaced Kevin Robinson who is now an AP here at High School North.

  • On January 15th there was an overwhelming level of participation on the part of our students in the state wide New Jersey Math League Contest.

  • Our Geometry teachers continue to explore using the Geometer Sketchpad software with their classes.

  • The Math Department’s “Let’s Get Ready for the HSPA” initiative is well under way. Students at all levels are preparing for state testing by completing weekly open ended assessments and familiarizing themselves with the state rubric.

  • Hank Young attended an all day workshop at Rutgers University detailing HSPA concepts.

  • Dr. Giordano has introduced problem based learning activities in her AB and BC  AP Calculus classes. One such activity involved Newton’s Law of Cooling.

  • Rich Decker, Rich Piro, Poroshat Shakoor, John Oxley and George Kostas attended a training session for the ADP Algebra 2 End of Course Exam, which will be field tested by their students in early February.

 

Physical Education/Health

  • The Bloustein Center for Survey Research at Rutgers University asked Dr. Cartier in September to participate in a 2007-08 New Jersey High School Risk and Protective Factor survey. 

  • Pam Tanis offered to be the liaison person and coordinated the survey at North in Physical Education and Health classes.  BCSR randomly selected five classes-- approximately 120 students to participate in the survey.  Students were required to have parent permission in order to take part in the program.  On January 11th students responded anonymously to questions related to drugs and alcohol use.  Ninety-nine other New Jersey schools participated in this program and statewide results are expected in the late Spring.  Students participating in the survey were rewarded with a $5.00 gift card from Wawa stores.

 

Social Studies

  • Barb Guenther’s Honors classes enrolled 225 new voters. Every month the League of Women voters works with her classes.

  • Cheryl Laue and Doug Felegy are participating on a professional development grant.

  • Ed Jones, Doug Felegy and Ellen Hill are having their students debate/discuss the presidential primaries.

  • Barbara Guenther had her World History students participate in panel discussions on current problems in China and other Far East countries.

  • Seven of Doug Felegy’s FBLA members have qualified for the State Championships in March.

  • The Social Studies Department is offering a new elective next year. Junior students completed applications for the Civic Leadership course.

  • Beth Anne D’Alessandro coached the Mock Trial Team to the quarterfinal round.

  • The US II curriculum is being revised, and the Committee is researching new textbooks.

World Language

  • The Spanish Honor Society is sponsoring a Mexican child on a monthly basis.  Correspondence has been received from this child, and the students are going to write a letter to her in return.

  • The Italian I classes with Mrs. Lentini made masks for Carnevale.

  • Ms. Magiera’s Spanish II and III classes went to see a flamenco show and ate at a Mexican restaurant. Her level II class presented their dream houses in Spanish for their current unit of study, and her level III classes made paper bag friends for their unit.

 victories. 

Patricia Vari-Cartier, Ed.D
 
 

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