Heard Honor Society Activity, Poetry Winners, Kindness and Community Service were all highlighted in this month’s report by Cole Harbison to the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education at its regular meeting last week..
Harbison, a senior at Henry Hudson, includes his monthly report at every meeting, immediately following the administrator’s and business reports to the board. He compiles activities throughout the month at each of the three schools in the district, under the direction of student council advisors Dawn DeSanto and Miranda Saryian.
Harbison reported the Highlands Elementary School Student Council assembled 124 gift bags filled with toys and activities through a toy drive they organized for the benefit of ill youngsters at Jersey Shore Children’s Hospital. The Holiday Toy Drive is part of the students’ annual holiday season activities.
Another initiative at the Highlands School, Cozy Up to Kindness included the students partnering with the PTO in collecting hot cocoa, tee and coffee in support of Lunch Break a local organization that provides food, clothing housing support and essential life-skills training to individuals and families in need throughout Monmouth County and beyond. With that work completed, the students are looking forward to starting their next activity, a pop tab collection to benefit the Ronald McDonald House and will start working on that initiative in February.
Harbison also reported the district’s Preschool Program has been working on building relationships and making new friends. The pre-schools in both the Highlands and Atlantic Highlands schools and their families got together for a morning of science fun. Meeting at the Reaction Lab in Atlantic Highlands the group made slime, snow and worms, 22 families participating. The reporter said both kids and parents were very grateful and enjoyed it so much that they requested more events in the future, naming the first community outing bringing the schools together a great success.
At the scholastic level, the National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society, in collaboration with their advisors Mrs. Kondas, Mrs. Fahmie, and Ms. DeSanto, sponsored the 6th Annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest. Classrooms throughout the school were decorated in the holiday spirit, and honor society officers selected Mrs. Larsen’s classroom as the best-decorated door of the season. Proceeds totaling $170 were donated to Lunch Break in Red Bank, a community organization chosen by the members of both Honor Societies to support this year.
Teachers Mrs. Fahmie and Ms. DeSanto commended their honor society members for their continued commitment to service and community involvement: – During the holiday season, members spread holiday cheer by donating $400 in gift cards to families within the HHRS community.
On January 9, NHS members also volunteered at the Fulfill Food Pantry in Neptune. Using their after-school time, students purchased $300 of non-perishable food and toiletry items to donate. During their visit, members worked diligently, mopping and sweeping the warehouse, as well as sorting and packing donations for individuals and families across Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The Volunteer Coordinator at Fulfill specifically recognized HHRS National Honor Society members, noting that they were the hardest-working group, students or adults, that the organization had hosted all year.
Also in January, Mrs. Merrigan and the AP Literature class presented the school community with the annual Poetry Out Loud Competition. Students and staff were welcomed to compete, perform, and judge. -This year’s contestants were Nick D’Antonio, Juliana Rangel, Derby Savas, Lily Hensel, Danny Neno, and Evelyn Knox. -Judges included: Mr. Gates, Mr. Manigrassio, Dr. Beams, Ms. Lebel and Mrs. Pharo. The program also included poetic performances by Mr. Stabile, Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Bodnar; and live music by Indifference featuring HHRS students Kai Newman, Nico Kurdes and Lucca Tapia.
An original slam poem, written by students in Mrs. Merrigan’s Creative Writing class was also showcased, featuring Angela Staples, Marishka Evelich and Mrs. Merrigan. – The audience included the entire HHRS community, allowing students and faculty to unite and celebrate the arts together. –
The three top finalists in the poetry competition were Lily Hensel who placed third, Danny Neno, second, and Evelynn Knox, first. Evelynn will now compete in the Regional Competition February 11 at Ocean County College.
On the musical level, the groups at the Highlands school, the Osprey Band, Beginner Band, and HES Chorus delivered a seasonal performance that brought acclaim and applause from the student body, with Ms. Furda and her students credited with a “fantastic concert” and enthusiasm for the upcoming spring performance!
The HHRS Admiral Players announced their upcoming production of Disney’s The Descendants this March! Made popular on the Disney channel, The Descendants tells the story of the next generation of Disney characters, including Maleficent’s daughter, Mal, and Belle’s son, Ben. Will the children repeat the mistakes of their parents? Or can they unite and find strength in their togetherness? Harbison asked before announcing performances are March 13 at 7 pm and March 14 at 3 pm and 7 pm, with all tickets available at the door at the time of the performances.
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