North Hunterdon High School
Annandale, NJ
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December 2024 E-Newsletter | |
Upcoming Events
The following is a list of important upcoming events:
- December 3: World Language Induction, 6-8 pm, Theater
- December 5: Mid Point of 2nd Marking Period
- December 5: Winter Concert I, 7-10 pm, Theater
- December 10: VIRTUAL PAC Meeting 6:30-8 pm
- December 11: Early Dismissal Students, 11:55, Staff In-Service Day
- December 12: Winter Concert II: 7-10 pm, Theater
- December 14: Winter Sports Pictures, see coaches for schedules
- December 19: Winter Concert for students, 1:30 pm
- December 20: Early Dismissal, 11:55 am, Winter Recess begins
- December 20-January 1: School Closed, Winter Recess, No Homework, No Pressure Days
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Student Highlights
Leading the Pride!
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November Students of the Month
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DYLAN GRAY
CLASS OF 2025
Senior Dylan Gray is President of the Research Club. In this club, Dylan helps write research grants approved by the North Hunterdon Education Foundation. He is also co-president of Red Cross Club, is a varsity fencer, and is a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and Math National Honor Society. Dylan says his favorite classes he has taken at North Hunterdon are physics with Mr. Quinn because of his energetic personality that makes the class fun and rewarding. He also enjoyed exploring random details of Biology with Ms. Gallo, and learning about various chemical reactions with Mrs. Plaxe. Dylan is a Taekwondo instructor and current Governor’s STEM Scholar. He has done a few research programs, including one at Rutgers Institute for Translational Medicine and Science, and one at Hofstra University Summer Science Research Program. Dylan is hoping to attend Brown university next year, as a Molecular Biology major. His favorite memories from North are attending the football games with friends and having fun at the school dances. Dylan says he has grown a lot through his experience at North Hunterdon High School, both academically and personally. He has had great times with friends, spent a few too many late nights doing work, but all around had a great time!
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TESSA SANTORO
CLASS OF 2025
Senior Tessa Santoro is planning to major in Biology on the pre-med track next year. Some of her top choices for college are Johns Hopkins, University of Chicago and UNC Chapel Hill. Tessa’s favorite classes at North have been Physics, Chemistry and Drawing. She had a lot of fun taking Physics and Chemistry because the material made a lot of sense to her and she loves taking science classes. Drawing was also one of her favorite classes because the environment there was great and she loved creating art in her free time. She was able to make some great memories in all of these classes with her teachers and classmates. Tessa is involved in the school’s track and field team in both the winter and spring seasons. She is also in Math Honor Society, English Honor Society, History Honor Society, Science Honor Society and French Honor Society. Although there are no specific titles, she acts as a team captain for Track and Field in the spring. In track, Tessa holds the school record for the 4x200m relay. She has competed and placed in Sectionals and Groups in pole vault and other relays. Tessa is the Vice President of the Math Honor Society. Outside of school, she has a part time job working as a waitress in Frenchtown at Chez Daniel and is a volunteer EMT at South Branch Emergency Services. Some of Tessa’s favorite memories at North come from the bus ride home after a good track meet. Other good memories are from bonding with her friends through school events, like Spike for a Cure and in her classes. Tessa says her time at North Hunterdon has shaped her into who she is today, through newfound friends, experiences, and knowledge.
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November Athletes of the Month
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JAYNA KAWAS
CLASS OF 2025
Senior Jayna Kawas is captain of the gymnastic team at North Hunterdon High School. Jayna is an all-around gymnast which means she competes on the vault, bars, beam, and floor. Jayna is very proud of how her team grew and competed with confidence this year. The girls earned a score of 108.275, which gave them a second place finish in the conference. They also came in third in this year's sectionals. Jayna won her first overall as an individual and first on beam along with placing fourth on bars. She has been competing in gymnastics for the past nine years. Jayna was a part of the Head over Heels Team in Sayreville, NJ. Throughout her years there, she competed in USA Gymnastics at levels 3-9 and had a third place all-around at a regional competition. Jayna is also a competitive USA and AAU diver. She made it to the AAU nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this past summer. Next year, Jayna is not planning on competing in gymnastics, but she does plan on doing springboard diving and platform diving on a division I or III team. She is currently looking into Case Western Reserve University, Georgetown University, Tufts University and Emory University, where she plans on majoring in Biochemistry. In addition to competing on the gymnastics team, Jayna is on the swim team. She is a member of National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, Rho Kappa, and Research Club. Even though Jayna is not competing in gymnastics outside of school, she is thankful to the amazing North Hunterdon team and coaches for supporting her through the rough times and helping to give her confidence to re-learn hard skills she hadn’t done for over two years. Jayna says North Hunterdon has been an important part of building her character through great teachers, friends, coaches, and extracurricular activities.
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ALEXIS ONDOVIK
CLASS OF 2025
Senior Alexis Ondovik has been doing gymnastics for 14 years and has competed in gymnastics for the past ten. Alexis competes all-around for the gymnastics team which means she competes in every event. At this year’s Skyland Conference championship, the team achieved their highest score in team history and won second place with a score of 108.275. In this competition, Alexis placed first on bars, becoming the very first North Hunterdon gymnast to become the Skylands Conference Bars Champion. She also earned fourth place in the all-around competition. At the Sectional Championships, the team finished in third place and she was able to qualify for the NJ State Individual Championships on floor and bars, competing alongside two other teammates. Alexis also competes for her club team, Paramount Gymnastics. In May, she will also compete at the Senior High School Nationals. This is a team of the best senior gymnasts in New Jersey where they will compete against other state's teams of senior gymnasts. Next year, Alexis does not plan on competing in gymnastics in college or any other sport. Her plan is to major in either Biomedical Sciences or Public Health. In the future, she would like to attend either Medical School or Physician Assistant School. Alexis plays lacrosse for North Hunterdon in the spring season. She is a member of National Honor Society, Rho Kappa Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and Science Honor Society. Alexis is a peer leader, is a member of Key Club, and is the Historian and Secretary for the Research Club at North. She coaches youth gymnastics at Gymnastics Unlimited and volunteers at Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps in her freetime as an EMT cadet. Alexis says in the past four years at North Hunterdon, she has grown and been challenged in the best way. She has met many people that have supported her through her high school career and have pushed her to be the best version of herself. Alexis has always felt supported by her teammates and coaches. Though the gymnastics team is small, everyone on the team encourages and motivates each other.
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November Department Students
of the Month
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English: Gabriella Rousos '26 and Caleb Morman '26
Fine Arts: Helayna Brady '28 and Eli Coss '28
Mathematics: William Gabrielson '27 and Demetrius Gervickas '27
Music: Anna Bennington '25 and Matthew Harris '25
PE/Health: Lucy Sklar '26 and Joshua Szobonya '27
Practical Arts: Katherine Reed '25 and Allie Borzelli '25
Science: Daniel Medeiros '26 and Yohji McConnell '26
Social Studies: Charlotte Letko '27 and Caylee Smith '27
World Language: Joseph O'Sullivan '28 and Kendall Young '27
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November Good Citizens
of the Month
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English: Elias Wysong '26 and Natlaie Loewenstein '26
Fine Arts: Autumn Mickens '26 and Lev Jones '28
Mathematics: Maddox Villa '27 and Luke Testa '25
Music: Savannah Wrigley '27 and Evan Santoiemma '27
PE/Health: Olivia Schlicher '26 and LEah Lesko '25
Practical Arts: Logan Hale '27 and Ava Davis '25
Science: Sam Gazzillo '26 and John Monaco '26
Social Studies: Osemene Omologbe '26 and Gabriella Schipani '27
World Language: Aiden Stinson '27 and Ellize Hardiman '28
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NHHS News and Updates
from Lion Pride
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Top November Posts from Dr. Cottrell @nhprincipal
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The food drive at NHHS is underway! #Lionpride | |
Thanks to Mrs. Hopta for making this month's Lion Pride announcement. She spoke about the importance of creating a school community where we all support each other. #LionPride | |
Congratulations to Dylan Gray and Tessa Santoro for being named Students of the Month and Jayna Kawas and Alexia Ondovik for being named Athletes of the Month. #LionPride | |
The North Hunterdon Key Club collected 2000 lbs of food in November, sorted and packed it up yesterday for the NHVSD community at CTMS. #LionPride | |
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Health Office News
December is Seasonal Depression Awareness Month
Seasonal Depression Awareness Month raises awareness about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the various ways to relieve its symptoms.
- Despite the long, dark days, December can be the most wonderful time of the year for most people. But it’s also the time for the winter blues for many others. For this reason, December has been designated as Seasonal Depression Awareness Month.
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Seasonal Depression Awareness Month is an obscure observance intended to educate the public about seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and the various ways to alleviate its symptoms.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder is more prevalent in regions with harsher winters. But, like other mental health conditions, this condition doesn’t discriminate. It affects individuals of all ages, though older adults may have a higher risk.
To learn more, please visit: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder
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Winter Concerts
North Hunterdon High School's annual tradition of the Winter Concerts returns!
The concerts start at 7:00 p.m. in the high school's theater and are free to attend.
December 5, 2024 - Winter Concert 1 will feature the Freshmen Choir, Madrigals Choir, Show Choir, String Orchestra & Jazz Ensemble.
December 12, 2024 - Winter Concert 2 will feature Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Future Lions & Friends, & Concert Band.
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Blood Drive
Thank you to all who participated in the annual Blood Drive, which was held on November 26th.
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Club Sign-Ups
Your student can still sign up for clubs! If your student(s) would like to participate in an extracurricular club or activity, we now require a parent/guardian to complete a consent for participation form in Aspen. To give your consent for club membership, please do the following:
- Log into your parent Aspen account
- Click on Page Directory on the left-hand side
- Click on the North Hunterdon Club Form
- Click on and fill out the Consent for Participation Form* (this also serves as your consent for your student to be placed in the Random Drug Testing Pool)
- To search for a club in the form, click on the magnifying glass next to the Select Club/Activity field. There are multiple pages of clubs, so use the arrows at the top to advance through the list.
* You must complete this consent form multiple times if your child wants to participate in more than one club or activity.
For a list of current clubs and activities at North Hunterdon High School, please visit https://www.nhvweb.net/nhhs/studentactivities/resources/
**Note: Some activities are not listed in the Aspen form as they are event-based, and students need to sign in at the event, such as the Math Competition, or they are by invitation only, such as the Honor Societies.
Announcements regarding upcoming club meetings are made daily during morning announcements. The morning announcements are posted on the NHHS Website – scroll down past important links on the right-hand side of the homepage.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with Anthony Petraglia, Director of Student Activities, at apetraglia@nhvweb.net.
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Student Accolades & Accomplishments
Hear us ROAR!
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Board of Education Student Recognition | |
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At the November 26th Board of Education meeting, North Hunterdon HS recognized Senior Aaron Dorr. Aaron organized and led the school-wide wiffleball fundraiser, Dingers for DeTorres, which raised over $750 for the "Sophia's Shining Light Foundation," which was set up to honor Sophia DeTorres.
To learn more about this foundation, please visit: https://sophiaslight.org/
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Congratulations to the North Hunterdon Theater Organization, who put on an outstanding performance of PLAY ON! on November 1, 2 and 3! | |
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North Hunterdon
Show Choir!
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The North Hunterdon Show Choir warmed hearts and lifted spirits on Monday, November 18th, spreading festive cheer with their soulful winter tunes for the local residents of Independence Manor! | |
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North Hunterdon Music
Department!
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The North Hunterdon Music Department hosted the 'Fall Future Lions' event on Tuesday, November 19th. Franklin and Bethlehem Township sent 128 band, choir, and orchestra students from grades 4-8 to join our North Hunterdon ensembles for the day and perform in a concert! | |
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NHV Second Annual
Leadership Summit!
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On November 21st, the NHV Leadership Summit united NHHS and VHS students to come together as school leaders. The event was held in the Gold Gym at NHHS. Approximately 60 students gathered to work on communication, empathy, and team building.
The students in the last photo won the Marshmallow Structure Challenge!
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Friendship Day, created and hosted by our Interact Club, was designed to bring students together by fostering new friendships and encouraging team-building activities. The goal is to help everyone find common ground and connect with classmates they might not know well. This year, we welcomed over 230 participants, forming teams through random selection to inspire students to leave with a few new friendships.
While Friendship Day is a highlight every year, this year held extra significance. With heavy hearts, we dedicated the event to Sophia Dettores, whose spirit truly embodied the essence of friendship. In her honor, our Interact Club raised $3,000 to present to Sophia’s mom, supporting the impactful work of Sophia’s Shining Light Foundation! We also collect hundreds of toys and gift cards for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for the Kisses for Kyle Foundation. These contributions will bring joy and support to many children and families facing the challenges of cancer.
Everyone had a good time, and we are extremely appreciative of our Senior leaders, Olivia Parisi, Charlotte Shannon, Sam Dougherty, Devin Merkle, and Gavin Jordan, for making this event a success!
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Enjoy artwork from the Color and Design Classes!
"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life" - Pablo Picasso
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School Organization News
Members of the Pride
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Get Involved
Please visit the links below to learn more about our parent organizations and how you can join.
Join our Pride!
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Our meetings are one hour once a month, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, in the conference room next to the Athletics Office (near the Route 31 entrance doors). All are welcome and needed from every class grade.
There are many springtime volunteer opportunities for student & teacher events to choose from… join us!
Meeting Dates for event planning: December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13.
Important to note :
This parent-teacher-student volunteer program cannot continue beyond this school year without new volunteers from our campus community.
Don’t forget, there’s still time to enter the annual Visa Gift Card Raffle. The drawing is on December 13, 2024. Tickets arrived in the mail. Grand prize is $1,000. Thank you to all who have coordinated this & donated so far!
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Stay connected
Like us on Facebook Visit our Website
Question or comment? Please email us
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NHEF Mission
North Hunterdon Education Foundation (NHEF) is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of education at North Hunterdon High School. We work together to fundraise and support grants researched and requested by NHHS staff that provide unique opportunities and experiences for North students. The NHEF's mission is to enhance education by funding innovative programs and experiences for all students.
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College Trip to Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU)
The NHEF proudly sponsored a bus trip for a College Visit to Fairleigh Dickinson University October 21st, 2024.
The North Guidance Department accompanied Sophomores and Juniors. This bus trip was funded through the NHEF College and Career programs at no cost to students. - NHHS Foundation.org
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Coming soon !!! January 17th, Jersey Mikes Fundraiser
Receive a free regular sub with a minimum $3 donation to North Hunterdon High School.
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Parents - We welcome you to join us!
We are looking for new parent volunteers to join us in our efforts, especially in the following areas: Treasurer Support, Sponsorship Relationship, Communications, Grants, and Events. Please email a brief introduction and area of interest to: nhef@nhhsfoundation.org
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As always, we appreciate your support! Coming together goes a long way! NHHS Foundation.org
All donations are tax-deductible.
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Follow NHEF on Facebook (@NHEdFoundation) and Twitter (@NHHS_NHEF) Checking in with us means so much!
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We made it Swift-ly "Back To December" | |
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Join Us At OurWinter Musical Concerts
Winter Concert 1 – Thurs., 12/5, 7 PM
Concert, Show and Freshman Choirs, and the Concert Band
Winter Concert II - Thurs., 12/12, 7 PM
Chamber and Madrigals Choirs, String Orchestra, and the Jazz Ensemble
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The Golden Lions Marching Band will be making another appearance in the Clinton Christmas Parade Friday Dec. 6th 7-9 PM!
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Support all of our music programs, see our fundraisers below: | |
Thank you to all our fall athletes for their hard work and dedication. We’ve experienced some truly incredible sports moments over this season! To our Seniors, here’s to your future! May it be bright and full of amazing opportunities. | |
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Gymnastics
Gymnastics Team Sectionals were held on Saturday, November 2, 2024 in Edison, NJ.
Congratulations Lions on earning a spot on the Team Sectionals podium! WE PLACED THIRD! Well done, Varsity Gymnastics, on your outstanding season and remarkable achievements!
Allie, Olivia, Alexis, Jayna, Truth, Danika: North Hunterdon HS Class of ‘27, ‘26, & ‘25. Congratulations!
Sectionals Individuals Medals:
Truth Aponte, Varsity ‘27, placed 2nd on Vault, placed 4th (tie) on Bars, placed 2nd on Floor and placed 4th in All Around! Congratulations!
Alexis Ondovik, Varsity Team Co-Captain ‘25, placed 6th on Bars, placed 5th on Floor! Congratulations!
Jayna Kawas, Varsity Team Co-Captain ‘25, placed 4th on Bars (tie)! Congratulations!
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Girls Cross Country
Varsity Girls Cross Country won their 10th consecutive Sectional (North 2 Group 3) Championships this
month. All 5 runners finished in the top 8! Kelly Shanklin came in 1st place for the second year in a row.
JV also finished strong at the Viking Last Chance Meet. The Varsity squad will finish their season at Nike
Northeast Regionals at Bowdoin Park in New York.
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Football
The 2024 Football season came to an end with an exciting, heart-pounding win against Voorhees, 56 to 21! JV also beat Voorhees with a 28-0 victory. It was a great season, and we look forward to next year! Go North!
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Boys Cross Country
North Boys Cross Country team ended their season in style with a #14 ranking in the state! The team took 2nd place at the North 2 Group 3 Sectional meet and 4th place in Group 3. Senior Chase Kober represented North at the Meet of Champions with several teammates in attendance cheering him on. Special thanks to Coach Higgins and Coach Shanklin for their awesome support throughout the season. Lots of excitement for winter track to start up – congratulations to all of our hard-working runners!
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Boys Soccer
NHHS Boys Soccer celebrated their season with a banquet at Beaver Brook Country Club. Athletes from the Varsity, JV, and Freshman teams were recognized for their contributions to the program. Congratulations to Seniors Justin Crismale, Chwuku Emeaso, Yasin Eldegowy and Bryce Readie for making First Team All Conference. Congratulations, Seniors Charlie Monsell, Dylan Berg, and Bryce Baucom, for making Second Team All-Conference, and Junior Aidan Reisner for being recognized as an Honorable Mention. Best of luck to all our Seniors and thank you for a wonderful and memorable season!
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Board of Education Updates | |
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Each month, we will include key topics discussed or approved at the most recent Board of Education meeting. Meetings are livestreamed and you can find the link on the district website prior to each meeting date. Please click here to view agendas, recordings and minutes.
The Board of Education held its regular meeting on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 7:00pm in the district office. The following topics were approved or discussed at the meeting:
- Board recognized outgoing members Glen Farbanish and John Melick for their service.
- Board approved the 2025-2026 school year calendar.
The next meeting of the Board will be their annual Reorganization Meeting on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 6:00pm in the district administration office. The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 7:00pm.
For more information on Board meetings and agendas, please visit the district website at www.nhvweb.net and click on the District & BOE Services menu tab.
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