Thursday, December 23, 2010
NH-S SWIMMER MAKES DISTRICTS
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
FBLA STUDENTS CREATE HOLIDAY FUN
On December 19th, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Club of New Hope-Solebury High School held their annual “Breakfast with Santa” community event at the Eagle Fire Hall in New Hope. The students helped young children make ornaments and sold personalized Santa and elf hats.
While the students were there, they had an opportunity to see and touch a steel beam from the Twin Towers. The Eagle Fire Hall had received the beam the day prior in recognition of the firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
“It was a very special event,” commented FBLA advisor, Betty Ohanian. “The Eagle Fire Company officers and staff complimented the students on all their efforts working with the community and children”.
FBLA STUDENTS ADVANCE TO STATES
David Hahn, Sara Howell, Neil Baldasari, Genna Post, Steven Taylor, Noah Gross, Laura Reinert, Tommy Sutton, Sean McGarry, Jonah Warshawsky, Shirley Liu, Nicole Kelner, Hannah Wheeler, Mackenzie Koval, Kristen Taylor and advisor, Betty Ohanian.
o Laura Reinhert – 10th Grade – 1st Place – Introduction to Business Communications
o Shirley Liu – 12th Grade – 2nd Place Winner - Business Communication
o Steven Taylor – 12th Grade – 1st Place - Sports Management
o Sean McGarry – 12th Grade - 4th Place Sports Management
“The students did a great job representing New Hope-Solebury,” remarked FBLA advisor, Betty Ohanian. “I’m very proud of them.”
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ADOPT-A-CHILD
Since 1996, the Adopt-a-Child program receives lists of children in need from Fisherman’s Mark, school counselors, nurses, teachers, social workers, and the Woods Services in Langhorne.
Friday, December 3, 2010
NH-S COUNSELOR EARNS NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
This is Wierzbowski’s fourth year in the counseling office at New Hope-Solebury. Prior to that, she was a biology teacher at NH-S for seven years. Wierzbowski received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lycoming College and a Masters in Science degree in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University.
“Veronica is a terrific counselor and this is a well-deserved achievement,” remarked Dr. Young.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
WIZARD OF OZ
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
FOUR NH-S TEACHERS ACHIEVE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION
The four NH-S teachers who achieved National Board Certification this year are:
John O’Hara: John obtained a degree in Mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Masters for Teachers of Mathematics from the University of New Hampshire. After teaching math in California for nine years, John has been teaching math at New Hope-Solebury High School for almost seven years.
Staci Shade: Staci received a Bachelor’s degree from West Chester University and a Masters degree in Education from Holy Family University. This is her eighth year teaching math at New Hope-Solebury High School.
Lori Soriano: This is Lori’s sixth year teaching Language Arts at New Hope-Solebury High School. Prior to NH-S, she spent a half year at Pennsbury High School. She has a Bachelor’s in English from West Virginia University and Masters in Education from Holy Family University.
Margaret Thompson: Meg earned her Bachelor’s degree from the College of the Holy Cross with a double major in Physics and History. She earned a Masters in Secondary Mathematics Education from Temple University. She has been teaching for 15 years, seven of those years were at Germantown Friend’s School and this is her sixth year teaching math at New Hope-Solebury Middle School.
National Board Certification is recognized as a model of pay-for-performance and is supported by teachers and administrators nationwide. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and hundreds of local school districts recognize National Board Certification as a mark of distinction. Many states and local school districts provide salary incentives and cover the cost for teachers who pursue and achieve this advanced teaching credential.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
JOURNALISM STUDENT RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION
My.hsj.org is an organization created by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) and is funded by the Knight Foundation and the Reynold’s Foundation. ASNE is devoted to leadership development and journalism related issues. My.hsj.org has been created for high school journalists and they currently provide a platform where 3,461 student publications are published on the web.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
NHS-S TAKES A VIRTUAL TOUR OF LATIN AMERICA
The Read the World program is a collaboration of the New Hope-Solebury High School, the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury and the New Hope-Solebury Education Fund. The group, whose mission is “one community exploring cultural diversity one book at a time,” recommended a selection of books to read about Latin American. Previously in the month, author Margarita Engle visited the school and community to speak about her books on Cuban history. Engle’s visit was paid in full by a New Hope-Solebury Education Fund grant which was awarded to Mary Schwander, the high school librarian. “The Read the World presentations helped bring awareness about Latin American cultures and brought students and our community together by reading the same books,” commented Schwander.
NH-S STUDENTS WEAR IT PINK
Monday, October 25, 2010
NH-S GOLF TEAM MEMBER HEADS TO STATES
Front (from left) – Corey Curran, Raleigh Chapin, and Mike Merana.
Golf team members not present: Cameron Cathcart and Sean Rowland
In addition to Chapin, senior brothers Jake and Mike Merana also competed in the regional championships. They missed advancing to the states by just 3 strokes and Mike was one of ten golfers in a playoff for the final spot. The team, overall, took second place in districts, ahead of BAL Champion Holy Ghost and the remainder of the Suburban One League.
NH-S Celebrates National Day on Writing
On October 20th, a group of New Hope-Solebury High School students visited 2nd graders at the Lower Elementary school to celebrate the National Day on Writing.
The reading specialist at the high school, Emi Lengyel, and the reading specialist at the elementary school, Nancy Rachlin, arranged for approximately seventeen high school students to work with four 2nd grade classrooms. The older students volunteered to work in groups with the younger students to help them write creative Halloween stories.
“Intergenerational activities such as The National Day on Writing affords both high school and elementary school students the opportunity to connect and interact,” remarked Lengyel. “The continuum of intergenerational activities is endless and for that reason we look forward to meeting with the younger students later in the year.”
The National Day on Writing was established by the National Council of Teachers of English to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing in which we engage.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
NH-S STUDENTS CAPTIVATED BY TWO NEW AUTHORS
Today, both Quick and Bessette are realizing that their dreams are becoming reality. Quick’s novel, Silver Linings Playbook has earned numerous positive reviews and has been signed to be made into a movie. His young adult novel, Sorta Like a Rock Star, was equally embraced and has been nominated by the American Library Association for Best Fiction for Young Adults. Bessette’s new novel, Simply from Scratch is also receiving rave reviews and was read by Drew Giorgi’s English students.
This is the third visit by Quick to New Hope-Solebury and Bessette’s first.
“The students are thrilled with Matt’s and Alicia’s visit to our school,” remarked Giorgi who arranged for the visit. “Not only do they enjoy their books but they are genuinely inspired by their stories of becoming writers.”
COSTUMEPALOOZA HELPS GET COMMUNITY DECKED OUT FOR HALLOWEEN
Friday, October 15, 2010
CUBAN AMERICAN AUTHOR VISITS STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY
Ms. Engle spoke to NH-S high school Spanish and English classes about her Cuban background and about her inspiration for her young adult books. The Spanish students have been reading The Poet Slave and have been learning about Cuba in their classes and the English students have been reading The Surrender Tree. Both books explore Cuba’s history through a collection of poetic verses, and both have won numerous literary awards. Ms. Engle spoke again in the evening, allowing the community an opportunity to learn about Cuban culture and history and to hear about Ms. Engle’s writing process.
The Read the World program is a collaboration of the New Hope-Solebury High School, the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury and the New Hope-Solebury Education Fund. The goup’s mission is “one community exploring cultural diversity one book at a time.” Two additional presentations have been scheduled which celebrate the cultural diversity of other Latin American countries. On October 25th at 7:00 pm, photographer, Bob Krist, will present his professional photographs of various Latin American countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, Peru, Buenos Aires and Easter Island.
The presentation will be held in the Stephen J Buck Auditorium at New Hope-Solebury High School. On October 28th at 7:00 pm, there will be a Mexican Fiesta Dancing demonstration via a live video feed. A professional dancer will be demonstrating Day of the Dead dances in the New Hope-Solebury High School Cafeteria.
Further information can be found at http://www.nhs-read-the-world.com/ or by contacting Mary Schwander, NH-S High School librarian, at mschwander@nhsd.org or 215-862-2028.
Donation information for the NH-S Education Fund can be found at http://www.nhsedfund.org/.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
NH-S SOPHOMORE CHOSEN FOR H.O.B.Y.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
NH-S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM AT MUSIC CONFERENCE
The New Hope-Solebury Chamber Orchestra has performed extensively throughout the United States and Canada under Wehr’s direction. Performance highlights include: Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, and Toronto, and other destinations. The orchestra has earned Superior ratings at Heritage, North American, and Peak Music Festivals. Members of the orchestra have also earned soloist awards at various festivals and adjudications. The orchestra performs five to six concerts per year and other community events in the New Hope area.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
COMMENDED STUDENTS IN THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2011 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2011 competition.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
NH-S KICKS LEUK FOR CARLY
At the NHS Boys Soccer game on October 7, the New Hope-Solebury community will be sponsoring “KICK LEUK FOR CARLY NIGHT” in support of high school sophomore, Carly Stephens, who was diagnosed with leukemia this past summer. Students and community members are encouraged to wear orange (Carly’s favorite color) to the soccer game, as well as to bring a donation for the Ronald McDonald House, Leukemia Society, and the Stephen’s Medical Fund.
Carly has expressed concern over the lack of supplies at the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, which prompted her fellow volleyball teammate, Katie D’Andrea, to start a fund drive. Katie received a “Wish List” from the Ronald McDonald House which can be viewed online at http://www.nhsd.org/hs/pdf/Kick%20Leuk.pdf.
Monday, September 27, 2010
New Hope-Solebury Prepares to “Read the World” of Latin America
The following books are featured:
The Poet Slave: A Biography of Juan Francisco Manzano by Margarita Engle
A portrait in poems of Juan Francisco Manzano, the poet who was born a slave in Cuba in 1797.
The Surrender Tree: Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom by Margarita Engle
A collection of poems in which Rosa, a healer, describes her experiences trying to help Cuban peasants who have been forced to leave their farms and villages in 1896 and given eight days to find their way to "reconcentration camps" or be killed.
Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy by Carlos Eire
The author describes his privileged life in Havana before he was sent at the age of eleven to the U.S. in 1962, in the wake of the Cuban Revolution.
Havana Fever by Leonardo Padura
Mario Conde, who became an antique book trader after he retired as a police officer, is drawn into an investigation when a murder takes place shortly after he finds an article in a rich Cuban's book collection about a beautiful bolero singer who disappeared in the 1950’s.
My Havana by Rosemary Wells
For younger readers; A picture book which relates events in the childhood of architect Secundino Fernandez, who left his beloved Havana, Cuba, with his parents, first to spend a year in Spain, and later to move to New York City.
Other recommended books on various Latin America countries can be found on the “Read the World” website.
The community is invited to participate in the following presentations which explore the cultural diversity of Latin America. The events are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, October 13
7:00pm in the Stephen J. Buck Auditorium at New Hope-Solebury High School
Cuban American poet and novelist, Margarita Engle, speaks about Cuba and its culture.
Monday, October 25
7:00pm in the Stephen J Buck Auditorium at New Hope-Solebury High School
Bob Krist of National Geographic takes us on tour of Latin America through his wonderful photographs
Thursday, October 28
7:00pm in the New Hope-Solebury High School Cafeteria
Mexican Fiesta Dancing: Day of the Dead demonstration. Via video conference, a professional dancer will be demonstrating various dances and inviting participants to learn some dance steps.
Further information can be found at http://www.nhs-read-the-world.com/ or by emailing or calling Mary Schwander, NH-S High School librarian, 215-862-2028. Donation information for the NH-S Education Fund can be found at http://www.nhsedfund.org/.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
NHS Students Earn AP Schloar Awards
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.
At New Hope-Solebury High School:
Three students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average score of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. These students are Phillip Azanov, Richard Lee and Gregory Stelmach.
Ten students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are Ian Antolik, Phillip Azanov, David Kilgariff, Richard Lee, Meghan McCrorey, Ari Oppenheim, Maura Schlussel, Collin Smith, Megan Snyder and Gregory Stelmach.
Eleven students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. These students are Caitlyn Benonis, Nicholas Brussock, Maria Degiovanni, David Dwight, Thomas Hische, Caitlin Kerr, Shirley Liu, Michael Magaziner, Tyler Mertens, Dylan Platt and Kristen Taylor.
Twenty-seven students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Bryant Andrews-Nino, Vishwa Angampalli, Prateek Balasundaram, Calvin Baldasari, Donovan Breth, Cheznye Clark, Meghan Compeau, Ian Crawley, Gabriella Crimi, Timothy Elliot, Ashley Flor, Alexendra Heffern, Michael Heffernan, William Hicks, Rachel Jensen, Nicole Kelner, Richard Kovac, Nora Lee, Sean McGarry, Weston Michael, Wade Millward, Jacqueline Pauley, Eliot Reshetar-Jost, Andrew Reszka, Thomas Sutton, Matthew Thomas and Oluwarotimi Vaughan-Ogunlus.
Of this year’s award recipients at New Hope-Solebury High School, twenty-two are sophomores and juniors. These students have at least one more year in which to complete college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.
Through more than 30 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,800 colleges and universities annually receive AP scores. Most four-year colleges in the United States provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Students Named Semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program
These students now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth more than $36 million, that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements and advance to the Finalist level of the competition.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
NHS SENIORS AWARDED SCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS
David received a S.Y.S.T.E.M.S. Star scholarship award to support his summer traineeship at Amicus Therapeutics in Cranbury, NJ and Caitlin received her award to support her summer traineeship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.
The S.Y.S.T.E.M.S. program was initiated last year in collaboration with the NHSHS Parent Teacher Forum. The program introduces students to the diversity of career options available in the sciences. Each program features 5 adults (Ambassadors) that give a very personal overview of how they got interested in science, what training they received, what they do now and what they love about science. “These programs are highly interactive and not didactic,” said program coordinator, Michael Daley. “In addition, each of our Ambassadors have volunteered to serve as Mentors for the Senior Culminating Project for those interested in a science related topic”.
Last year’s presentations at the high school were very well received, with 130 students and 12 parents in attendance. This school year Daly is planning on continuing and even expanding this program with possible field trips to the PA Biotechnology Center in Doylestown, as well as attending the PA Bio Annual Conference in October, held in Philadelphia. “We are asking for additional volunteers to assist with logistics, organization and to serve as Ambassadors if they work in a science related field,” remarked Daly. “In addition, you may also know of neighbors, friends or other community members that work in a science related field and you think would make great role models for students. The time commitment is minimal and only involves 2-3 hrs over the entire school year as an Ambassador”.
Interested volunteers can contact Dr. Michael Daley at michaeljdaley@comcast.net.