Monthly Archives: April 2012
Big day in the big apple for junior class trip
By FRANCESCA COCCHI, News Editor
Attending the annual junior trip Wednesday, the Class of 2013 got a taste of the big city with an NBC studio tour, a scavenger hunt and a Broadway show.
“Everything ran smoothly and we have gotten pretty positive feedback so far,” said Class of 2013 co vice-president Ciara Cornette of Rumson. “Everyone seemed to love the scavenger hunt and Broadway, and we’re happy with the day overall.”
After taking two charter buses to NYC, the juniors toured the National Broadcasting Company headquarters in Rockefeller Center. Stops on the tour included the set of the Dr. Oz show, a make-up room and the Broadcast Operations Center, which controls the programs sent from the headquarters to four different time zones.
Within the mob of CHS Juniors, classmates Kate Evans, Sarah Bertekap, and Victoria Palfini make their way toward Rockefeller Center in New York.
“It was really cool just being there in the place where they film all these shows,” said Summer Russo of Spring Lake Heights.
The students also saw an eight-minute video on the history of NBC, which was the first major broadcast network in the United States and now owns stations such as E!, Oxygen and Telemundo. Throughout the tour some students even saw stars from some of NBC’s programs, including Jane Krakowski from “30 Rock.”
Culminating the tour was an interactive miniature news show where two volunteers per group acted as anchor and weather person in what tour guides called a “Fisher Price version” of an NBC news studio. A recording of the short was broadcast to the NBC cafe.
“It was fun doing the weather at NBC,” said volunteer Christian Kelly of Brielle. “I mean it didn’t feel much different than doing it at CHS, except you don’t get any run-throughs. So when you have a directionally challenged moment with the weather map and your orientation to it, everyone sees it.”
The juniors and chaperones walked to the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch, where they had an entire room of the restaurant to themselves. Students selected drinks and entrees from a limited menu and finished off the meal with cookies before preparing for the second half of the day.
Approximately half of the juniors attended the Broadway production of “Anything Goes” while the rest split into pre-determined groups to participate in a Watson Adventures scavenger hunt in Midtown. Scavenger hunters followed directions and answered a series of questions based on clues about each location. Destinations for clues included the Disney Store, Rockefeller Center and Sardi’s.
Groups received points for each correct answer. Teams rushed back to the base at 3:41 to make the scheduled finish time and compare scores. After gaining a point for the best team name and winning the tiebreaker, the Holy Walkamoles won a slim victory.
Although they didn’t technically win, the N-Y-C-eekers felt their own victory in reaching the finish line first.
“The scavenger hunt was by far the best part of the day,” said N-Y-C-eeker Austin Smith of Hazlet. “Our group was so happy we finished first we were power walking like champs through the city, and we definitely bonded a lot while fighting over what the spinach on the New York Yacht Club was supposed to be.”
The N-Y-C-eekers, led by math teacher Justine Lane, even had a team motto, chant and pose.
“We were like a machine. A very efficient machine,” said Smith. “We passed like two groups and never looked back.”
After relaxing for an hour, the scavenger hunt groups met back up with the Broadway group to board the buses.
“[The play] was a delightful surprise,” said McKenzie Pavacich of Ocean. “It was a great production and I’m very satisfied.”
Students discussed the humorous play on the ride home, commenting on favorite scenes and lauding the tap numbers.
Class of 2013 council member Tyler Richardett of Tinton Falls said the trip went better than expected, highlighting the success of the scavenger hunt and the play. “It was a relaxing play,” he said.
PSFA grants $5,000 to Skills USA national trip
By FRANCESCA COCCHI
News Editor
After much discussion and debate at a monthly meeting Thursday night, the Parent Student Faculty Administration voted 13-7 in favor of granting $5,000 to help cover costs of the Skills USA national trip to Kansas City.
“I think it’s a no brainer,” said Beautification Committee chairperson Sophie Weiner, “see[ing] their enthusiasm and dedication.”
Juniors Sarah Gleason of Ocean and Austin Smith of Hazlet, seniors Gabby Maurer of Avon, Jessie Kraus-Lavy of Marlboro and Ally Kowalski of Shrewsbury and advisor Kelly Harmon spoke for the club, which includes 20 percent of the student body and offers competitions for students in different areas of the work force.
12 of the students in the club placed first in the state for categories such as entrepreneurship, crime scene investigation and job interview. They also received invitations to compete at the national level in Kansas City, and 10 of those students plan on attending the conference if costs are covered. The cost per student to attend the trip is $1000, which has been brought down to $667 through district funding.
PSFA co-president Debbie Talamo noted that the original allotment for student grants from the PSFA was $5000 for the year, and $2500 had already been spent on grants to other clubs such as Photo and STN. Any remaining money would come from the general fund.
The unprecedented request resulted in some scuttlebutt among the members, who contributed contrasting comments.
“We can only pay for what we can afford to pay for,” said co-president John Talamo.
As the year comes to a close the PSFA has $36,100.26 in its account, over $14000 of which came from a particularly successful dinner, dance and gift auction event March 3. The Talamos also mentioned that graduation costs will be covered this year by the Monmouth County Vocational School District.
“We are in a good position to do it [fund the trip] this year,” said Mr. Talamo, noting, “There’s no guarantee next year.”
After crunching the numbers, treasurer Isabella Grove determined there would still be enough money left over in the account for upcoming expenditures and to start out the new year if the grant were passed.
Principal James Gleason also reported on a successful incoming freshman orientation for the accepted class of 2016.
With 58 of the 85 accepted students being female, Gleason said, “the imbalance of Communications High School will continue for another year.”
Gleason also ball-parked that the graduating class accumulated over $5 million in scholarships this year, up significantly from $450,000 last year.
Upcoming events for students include the drama production of Neil Simon’s Rumors Friday and Saturday at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove, spirit week starting Monday, the junior class trip to NYC Wednesday and Mr. CHS next Friday.
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