News From Middletown HS North: Indoor Track, Art Show, Chorus and Academic Contests

Middletown HS North senior Derek Carper delivered a report about events at the school at the Jan. 28 Board of Education meeting. Here is his report.

For publication in Middletown-NJ Patch, the board of education has replaced the names of the students in the report with initials, per board policy. 

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The 4 x 800 boys indoor track team broke the school record by three seconds running an 8:20 recently this winter.  The distance medley relay also broke a school record twice this season and has run a 10:33. This time currently ranks the relay at number eight in the nation.

In Girls Track, the 4 x 800 team broke the school record twice this season and their best time is 10:07. The sprint medley relay also broke the school record running 4:31.

The High School North Art Department was proud to display student artwork at Central Office on Friday, January 8. The pieces are titled and have been hung in the hallway. The students received recognition for their achievements by Dr. George.

Four Bottlecappers have been chosen (2 from High School North and 2 from High School South) to attend the 25th annual Elks conference.  These students will be sponsored by the local Elks Lodge to represent not only their schools but also the community at the conference.  One of North’s Senior Bottlecappers, ER, who attended the conference last year, has been chosen to return to the conference as a peer leader “highlighter.” North is very proud that for the past two years, Bottlecappers have been asked by the conference to return as peer leaders for the weekend.

North’s Future Educators Association students attended the National FEA convention at TCNJ on January 8, 2013. Students met with other members and attended meetings. FEA is also participating in the Reading Buddy Program at Middletown Public Library in January and February. They will meet with elementary students and read with them from 4:00-4:45 every Monday. 

The following students from High School North were recognized by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office for volunteering services in their local community: CT, CY, SW, KE and MV. Other students were recognized from High School South, Mater Dei, Ocean Township, Keansburg, Point Pleasant and Wall high schools.

Twenty-two students competed at the DECA Regional Conference on January 9, 2013. Six students had high enough scores to qualify for the state championships in Cherry Hill during the week of February 28. The students hope to make it to the International DECA Conference in Anaheim, California in April.

At the end of December and during the month of January, the MHSN choirs have hosted the 50th annual All Shore Chorus, comprising 135 of the best high school vocalists from all of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Seven of the chorus members are from High School North. Choir members at North have also auditioned for and been cast in this year’s musical, “Seussical.” Some members of the choirs have begun work on presenting a Cabaret of solo and duet vocal works from Classical, popular, and Broadway shows.

On Saturday January 19th, the North Academic Team participated in the New Jersey History Bowl in an attempt to qualify for the national tournament in Washington, DC. Founded in 2010, The National History Bowl is gearing up for its third school year of qualifying tournaments, leading to the National Championships in Washington, DC and Arlington, VA in the spring of 2013. This year, they are expanding the middle school division, adding many regional tournaments, introducing new features to the National Championships.

The North foods classes, led by Jill Nyland, will be donating $3,500 from the bread sale to Middletown families that lost their homes during the recent storm.  Students have just completed the annual dinner party project and the students will be entertaining faculty guests for a brunch as part of their midterm.

Mr. Scala’s United States History Honors Classes have been participating with the League of Women Voters Organization to become aware of political issues that impact the everyday lives of Americans on the local, state and federal level. Recently Brian Thompson of NBC News met with Mr. Scala’s classes and discussed the role of media in politics and the United States today.