Henry Hudson Regional School senior Cole Harbison’s monthly report to the Board of Education last month included everything from awards at the Atlantic Highlands Grammar School and a trip to New for Highlands elementary school students to learn and appreciate more about the 9/11 disaster to National Honor Society awards at the high school.
The senior student makes monthly reports at each board meeting, all of which are included in the minutes as well as both the administrator’s, business administrator’s and board president’s reports. The principals of each school also give their reports during the meetings along with reports from each of the board committees.
Harbison’s report, however, focuses on daily and planned activities and recognizes the work of individual teachers , staff members and students. He presents his reports as student representatives under the guidance of Student Council Advisors Dawn DeSanto and Miranda Saaryian.
In reporting on his information from the Atlantic Highlands elementary school, Harbison noted Mrs. Bellantoni’s class took a first-place award in October in the Prodigy Math State Challenge, answering more than 20,000 questions correctly. He highlighted the work the students completed to accomplish the honor, and noted their success and enthusiasm earned a Prodigy package to the school and officially qualified it for the prodigy National Cup in May.
Also in Atlantic Highlands Tech Club, students planned, prepared and presented “All About Me” with multimedia slide decks, photos and videos to introduce themselves to their Tech Club-mates.
Students also organized a Veterans Day project with STARS Organization, led by Ms. Plaia and Mrs. Voorhees. To honor veterans, the groups hosted a Red, White, and Blue-Ribbon Fundraiser to support Community Hope: Hope for Veterans, an organization in New Jersey that provides housing, counseling, and other important support to veterans and their families.
Students, staff, and families were invited to purchase ribbons for $5 each to recognize a veteran. The ribbons were tied to the playground fence, and stars with veterans’ names were displayed on the school bulletin board as a tribute to those who served. The Student Council , thanks to the generosity of the school community, raised $515 it donated to Community Hope,” a means of enabling students to show gratitude and make a meaningful impact in support of veterans,” Harbison said.
In order to reduce food waste, the Student Council also conducted a one-day Food Audit in which they collected unopened items from breakfasts and lunches that were being thrown away. In just one day, students gathered over 150 items — including milk cartons, cheese sticks, fruit, and breads — totaling 52 pounds of food, all donated to the Food Pantry in Atlantic Highlands. To keep the program going, the PTO purchased a wire rack, cooler bags, two clear storage totes, and a mini storage fridge and set Boxes on every floor, so students can now place unopened breakfast items. The Student Council collects the food daily and stores it until the food pantry picks it up, weekly. It’s a great way to recycle food back into the community and shows how students can make a real difference Harbison said.
Mrs. Melissa Phair’s class led the school’s annual Election Day when the class engaged the entire school in the voting process, providing students with hands-on experience in civic engagement and decision-making. The Room was transformed into a lively polling station, the young election team of first and second graders took charge of everything from planning and setting up, to greeting voters and collecting ballots. Students and staff streamed in throughout the day to cast their votes for either Pajama Day or Decades Day. When the results were tallied, Pajama Day took the win! The tradition continues to remind everyone that participating in the community and making voices heard is something worth celebrating.
In Highlands, the 6th grade trip via Sea Streak ferry to New York enabled students to visit the 9/11 Memorial and deepen their connection to their unit on the novel Eleven by Tom Rogers. Prior to the trip, students participated in a live Zoom Q&A with the author, which helped bring the story and its themes to life.
As part of Feel-Good Friday, students at the Highlands Elementary School got a lesson from Mr. DiLorenzo on the importance and means of identifying and leaning on trusted adults in the school to help manage challenges and build resilience. In addition to the lesson, each class was paired with a buddy class. As an example. Harbison cited a 6th grade student pairing with Pre-K students, and 5th grade with 2nd grade throughout the school, to foster mentoring relationships and strengthen the school community.
For the annual Veterans Day Assembly, the National Elementary Honor Society organized a Veterans Day assembly at the Highlands School to honor and learn from local veterans. The program included a respectful flag-folding ceremony and a discussion about the meaning of Veterans Day. Students also had the opportunity to hear directly from veterans during a Q&A session.
The High School’s activities as reported by Harbison included Spirit Day, a national anti-bullying movement when all are encouraged to wear purple and pledge to take a stand against bullying and support LGBTQ+ youth. GSA member Irena Evelich participated in a virtual Pride 5K when she and Mrs. Boylan met at Popamora Point Highlands and made their way down and back the trail to Atlantic Highlands. Hudson alumnus Madison Boylan also participated with Allie Burgaletta from Middletown. Pride 5K was organized by USA Olympian Nikki Hiltz to raise money for Point of Pride.
The National Honor Society welcomed guest speakers from Grace Healthcare Services who gave a presentation on Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia and explained the on-profit organization’s collaboration through a service project in which members create Memory Books to help prompt memories for patients living with these conditions.
Advisors Dawn DeSanto and Sarah Fahmie announced eight students from the junior and senior classes were inducted into the William H. Barrett Chapter of the National Honor Society when President Blakely Smith presided over the candlelight ceremony and inducted Josie Corr, Alexander Estrada Diaz, Charles Grooters, Lake Gulian, Addison Krzycki, Aurora O’Neill, Sydney Pettigrew and Liliana Zertuche into the Society.
The HHRS Drama Club presented “Be More Chill” In November a musical that tells the story of Jeremy Heere, an awkward teenager who gets access to a supercomputer called a Squib meant to help him navigate high school with swagger, confidence, and pride.
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