Principal’s Newsletter
Voorhees High School
Volume 2, Issue 1
Sept./Oct. 2012
Note from the Principal
Welcome,
Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year!
The opening of school has come and gone
and we are off to a great start. Each new
school year brings with it a renewed sense
of excitement and it is great to have the
hallways and classrooms filled again.
Whether you are new to Voorhees or have
had past experiences here, I am sure you are
looking forward as much as we are to a
productive year for your child.
Calendar for September/October:
It’s a
Great
Day to
be a
Vike!
9/7 Last day for Schedule Changes
9/12 In-Service 11:55 Dismissal
9/18-20 PSAT Registration
9/20 Fall College Night
9/20 Blood Drive – Back Gym
9/26 No School – Yom Kippur
Voorhees welcomes the following new staff
to the Voorhees Family: Chase Barbieri –
Health and Physical Education, Amy
Bernard-Mason – Latin, Mitchell Collins –
Business Education, Ryan Ehrie – Social
Studies, Mellissa Haines – Special
Education, Bill Hanisek – Special
Education, Glen Stone – Science (Maternity
Leave Replacement), Tatiana Vlasova –
French, Barbara Risalvato- Spanish
(Maternity Leave Replacement) and Kelly
Anne Kieffer – Special Education
Department Supervisor.
10/2-4 HSPA
We at Voorhees High School would like to
thank everyone for your continued support.
It is going to be a great year to be a Vike!
10/24 Choral Concert 7PM Clinton Presb
Church, Center St.
Sincerely,
Ron Peterson
10/5 Homecoming Game vs. Sommerville
10/5 Dine Italian
10/6 Homecoming Dance
10/9 Mini College Fair 6-7:30 PM Back
Gym
10/10 In-Service – 11:55 Dismissal
10/20 PSAT at Voorhees
10/23-25 Quarterlies
10/29 1st Marking Period Ends
School News:
Tewkesbury (England) Exchange
Voorhees has been a proud part of the tradition of hosting students from Tewkesbury, England during
a 10 day visit to our area of the country. We are looking for families that would be willing to house
students and their chaperones during their visit from October 19 to 29, 2012. Students will visit the
school and other attractions in the tri-state area. If you are interested please email Ann Schaible at
aschaible@nhvweb.net and we will get back to you with the details. Thank you!
Homecoming Dance
The Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 6:30 – 10:30 in the VHS
Mall. Tickets will cost $20 and go on sale Monday, September 24th before and after school and during
most lunch mods.
English Clubs
As we begin the 2012-2013 school year, the members of the English department would like to let
students and parents know about the numerous clubs and activities that are available to all students in
areas related to reading and writing.
Club
Teacher
Time
Location
The Viking View (the
school newspaper)
Mrs. Castello
2:30-3:10 every
Thursday
Room 226
SAT English Prep
Ms. Leyland
2:30-3:10 every
Wednesday
Room 221
Book Club
Ms. Imhof
2:30-3:10 every other
Thursday (when
Poetry Club does not
meet)
Images (the school
literary and art
magazine)
Mr. Crane and Ms.
Imhof
2:30-3:10 every
Wednesday
Room 222
Poetry Club
Ms. Leyland
2:30-3:10 every other
Thursday (when Book
Club does not meet)
Room 221
WHAM (WarrenHunterdon Academic
Meet)
Mr. Masser
2:30-3:10 every
Monday
Room 223
Room 222
These are all fantastic clubs that are open to students in all grade levels. Please contact the teachers
involved with the clubs and activities for more information.
WORLD LANGUAGES
The German Club is meeting this Wednesday, September 5, under the advisorship of Ms. Maria
Meyler. Students will begin to plan for "Oktoberfest."
The Voorhees’ Latin Club is beginning to form and plot its 2012/2013 academic year. On
Wednesday August 29th, over 30 Latin students attended a planning session where they gave exciting
ideas for fundraising and activities ranging from movie screenings and chariot races to Orange Julius
sales and sponsored 5K runners. We also hope to run try-outs shortly for a school Certamen Team. In
the next week, magistrates will be elected and we will be adding to the Roman mural in room
255. “Like” “Voorhees High School Latin Club” on Facebook for continuous information! Ms. Amy
Mason is the club advisor.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Constitution Day, September 17th, will be commemorated in Social Studies classrooms at Voorhees
High School next Monday, 9/10. In 2005, Congress mandated that school districts provide
educational programming on the Constitution. This date was selected to commemorate the creation of
the Constitution and the last meeting of Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia on September 17,
1787. It was at this meeting that the newly created document was signed by delegates beginning the
ratification process. The goal of Constitution Day is to remind us all of the rights and privileges of
being a citizen of the United States.
The Environmental Club is gearing up for a new school year. The first vegetable garden was planted
last spring, maintained regularly over the summer by club members and advisor Mr. Chris
Wyglendowski, and we have recently partnered with students interested in ensuring clean drinking
water is available globally. The student non-profit organization, H2O 365 is partnering with the
Voorhees Environmental Club this year.
BUSINESS EDUCATION
The LAN CLUB is beginning the new school year with two new advisors, Mr. Mitch Collins and Mr.
Chase Barbeiri. The first meeting will be held this Thursday, September 6.
The Class of 2015 is hoping to become involved with a fundraising opportunity with an outside
organization called The Arc of Hunterdon. The Arc is holding a 5k charity race in October. The Class
will sponsor a team as a way to help the organization raise money. The arc will donate money back to
the class as well as possibly offering grants/scholarships to students in the future.
Our Little Vikes Pre School program will start up next week. Children from the community
spend two hours each Tues and Thursday with our Childcare students under the supervision of
Mrs. Shelley Michel.
Student Achievements:
Mike Schmidt would like to recognize the following students who were accepted into the 2012 AllState Mixed Choir, and 2013 All-State Women's Choir. These students were selected from over 1,000
high school students who auditioned last April.
2012 All-State Mixed: Louise Gallahger, Elizabeth Maszczak, Brandon Simanski
2013 All-State Women's: Brigitte Francis, Christina Dornbusch
Physical Education
The Junior Health classes of Donna Exley and Heidi Hintz have started the year delving into Character
Education. They defined the 6 pillars of character, Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness,
Caring, Citizenship and used sidewalk chalk to created class presentation on the walkways outside of
school. This was followed up in class with the groups developing posters that illustrated the
interaction and interconnectedness of the 6 pillars. This unit dovetails neatly with the school-wide,
monthly recognition of students, nominated by teachers, who exhibit these qualities in their lives.
The Arts:
The VHS Drama club held auditions for the Fall play; You Can’t Take it With You.
The show will take place:
November 1, 2, 3 @ 7pm
November 4 @ 2pm
On Monday the 27th, the Music Department held an organizational meeting for any students planning
to travel to Disney World November 30th through December 3rd. Every student that is travelling
attended the meeting with a parent or guardian. Students were given payment information, required
forms, and fundraising information for the trip. Aidan Giannelli and Mike Schmidt are organizing the
trip.
Guidance Office:
Student Assistance Website
Numerous resources for parents are available on the Student Assistance Website at
http://www.nhvweb.net/vhs/Guidance/JHunt/. Information about Alive at 25, our Lifelines initiative,
depression, substance abuse issues, self-injury and many others can be found here. Please take a
moment to visit this resource.
New Staff to Voorhees
Mitchell Collins – Mitchell is a recent graduate of Bloomsburg University where he majored in
Business Education. He will be teaching the Business Classes, Financial Literacy and a section of
Advanced Academic Literacy this year.
Amy Bernard-Mason - Amy comes to Voorhees from Green Brook Middle School. She is a graduate
of the University of Southern Maine with a BA in Classics and has done graduate coursework in
classics at Rutgers.
Melissa Haines - The Special Education Department welcomes Melissa, a recent graduate of East
Stroudsburg University. Melissa is highly qualified in Language Arts and a certified teacher of
students with disabilities.
Bill Hanisek – Bill will also join the Special Ed Department. He is a Master’s level teacher, certified
by the State of New Jersey as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities and Teacher of English, with two
years of classroom experience working with students with emotional disturbance and autism. Bill
completed his student teaching at Voorhees and helped us out the last couple of years as a substitute
teacher.
Sharon Stemple - Another additional to the Special Ed Department is Sharon Stemple. She has been
with us several years as a long term replacement in the Math department. Sharon is a certified teacher
of Mathematics and has a NJ Certificate of Eligibility as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities.
Chase Barbieri – Chase is a recent graduate of Monmouth University with a B.S. in Health/Physical
Education and Education. He did his Student Teaching at Hillsborough Middle School. While in High
School and College Chase was very active in the soccer programs and will join the Athletic
Department at Voorhees as the Varsity Boys Soccer Coach.
Tatiana Vlosova – The World Language department welcomes Tatiana Vlosova as a French teacher to
replace Melissa Lewis. Tatiana has a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts in teaching English and
French from the State Pedagogical University, Chelyabinsk, Russia and a Master of Arts in French
from Montclair State University. She had recently been an Adjunct Teaching Assistant at Montclair
State University and has worked as an ESL tutor. Tatiana also has an interest in music performing as a
member of the New Jersey Choral Society.
Barbara Risalvato – Barbara will join the World Language Department as a Maternity Leave
Replacement for Diana Liscinski. Barbara has taught Spanish at Old Turnpike Middle School,
Randolph Middle School and most recently Van Buren Middle School in Tampa, Florida.
Glen Stone – The Science department welcomes Glen as a maternity leave replacement for Melanie
Kerr. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University and has served in the
United States Navy. Glen comes to Voorhees with extensive, diverse work experience including
teaching, coaching, engineering, computer programming and architecture.
Ryan Ehrie joins the Social Studies department. He comes to Voorhees from the New Hope-Solebury
School District where he taught Psychology, Sociology and World Cultures and was active with their
Football Program and Mock Trial Team. Ryan will be teaching American History and AP American
History at Voorhees this year.
Kelly Anne Kieffer comes to Voorhees from North Hunterdon High School. She will replace Mary Pat
Publicover as Supervisor of Special Education. (As of November 1st, Mary Pat will replace Ann Marie
Rose as the Director of Special Services for the District). Kelly received her Bachelor of Science
Degree in Special Education from Kutztown University and a Master of Science in Secondary
Education from Towson University.