Whippany Park High School
The Principal’s Newsletter
February 2015
Principal’s Message
We live in a competitive, fast-paced society. Modern technology and a 24/7 news cycle serve as consistent reminders of
our 21st century information age. As a school district we are continuing to prepare our students for the competitive
challenges of the 21st century. Whether in the standardized testing realm, the athletic arena, or the college admission
process our students are faced with the varied aspects of competition as a part of their daily lives. In response to these
competitive demands, our district continues to infuse the concepts of increased opportunity and rigor across the
curricula. These concepts are based upon a collective belief that our student body must be prepared for the competitive
world beyond our high school walls and must be continually challenged to reach higher and farther. I believe, however,
that our students at Whippany Park are prepared to face these challenges. Reasons for my optimism can be found in the
variety of accomplishments and achievements highlighted in this newsletter. Though a newsletter can provide a snapshot
of student successes, one can see that our students compete and excel in a wide range of areas. Our role, as educators and
parents, is to encourage them and support them on the journey. I believe this is our collective mission as we prepare our
young adults for this competitive, fast-paced society.
Athletic Booster Club
Environmental Education
The Booster Club’s purpose is to foster and promote all the
athletic programs of Whippany Park. Through memberships and
fundraising the club provides scholarships to outstanding
athletes and donations to the athletic department for the
procurement of equipment. The Booster Club will sponsor a
fundraising dinner dance on March 21, 2015 at the Ukrainian
Center in Whippany.
Our environmental club (S.E.E.K.) will provide
environmental education topics for the
Hanover Township After School Child Care
Program. The club began their monthly visit in
December 2014 and will end in May 2015.
Spring Musical
The Whippany Park Theatre Department proudly presents a hilarious new musical, The
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The show centers around several socially awkward kids finding joy, heartache and a purpose in competing at the regional spelling bee.
Senior Evan Plaza and junior Ali Rojek explore the idea that maybe winning isn't everything; maybe friendship means more than a trophy. Jose Llana, Broadway's
Chip Tolintino who originated the role, came and did a master class with the cast on the
art of improvisation. Senior Anthony Michetti plays Tolintino and got great feedback
from the Broadway star himself! Sophomores Danielle Gurcan and Connor Blanchfield
host the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, so come on down and enjoy a night of
heartfelt laughter! Performances are on Thursday, February 26 th at 7:00pm, Friday, February 27th at 8:00pm, and Saturday February 28 th at 2:00pm and 8:00pm. Tickets are $15 for
the public and $10 for high school and college students with a valid school ID. All tickets
can be purchased in the theater lobby every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-6pm.
All seating is reserved. Audience participation is a big part of the show, so be sure to sign
up in the lobby the night of the show for a chance to come up on stage and spell with the
cast! See you there!
Character Counts Award Recipients
Marking Period 2
Riya Mehta
Evan Wilson
Future Business Leaders of America
2015 Regional Competition Winners
The following students qualified to compete at the FBLA
State Competition in February:
Matt Jeng
Tina Lu
Manan Bhalodia
Justin Chan
Brian Lee
Jimmy Gleichmann
Business Calculations, 1st place
Accounting I, 1st place
Computer Applications, 2nd place
Personal Finance, 5th place
Business Calculations, 5th place
Accounting I, 7th place
Literary Honors
A team of students representing Whippany Park High School recently won high honors in this year’s WordWright
Challenge, a national competition for high school students requiring close reading and analysis of many different kinds of
prose and poetry. Participating with 600 school teams from all across the country, the schools eleventh graders tied for
fourteenth place in the nation in the year’s second meet, held in December. Students at the school who won high
individual honors were Alexa Canella, Lydia Chen, Bethia Chin, Eric Jones, Tom Saad, Lianna Schuele, Bhavya
Thuremella, and Kenny Wang. More than 60,000 students from across the country participated in the meet. The
students were supervised by Donna Raguseo-Mahar and Judith Meskill.
Student Achievements
Rose Nixon was selected as a Chief State School Officer candidate to represent New Jersey for application to the
US Presidential Scholar Program. After a competitive selection process Rose was designated as a candidate for
the US Presidential Scholars Program.
Matthew Jeng has been nominated to attend the Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology and Kenny
Wang has been nominated to attend the Governor’s School of the Sciences.
Julian Colicchio has been selected to receive the Scout Scholar Athlete Award from the Boys Scouts of America
and the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award.
Kaitlyn Krause completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project by developing a comprehensive program designed
to focus attention on the dangers of texting and driving.
Andrew Kuzemczak has been selected as the ambassador to the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Program for
2014-2015. Julia Nixon has been selected as the alternate ambassador.
Brad Ritschel and Kenny Wang have been nominated to the New Jersey Scholars Program.
Lucia Colicchio placed in the top 30 Varsity Lincoln Douglas debaters at the National Ridge Debate
Tournament. Nick Zarras placed 3rd at the Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate Tournament in Freehold, NJ.
Nine students participated in the annual “Joseph W. Andrushkiw Math Competition” at Seton Hall University in
November. WP tied with two other schools for 3rd place. The top scorers were Matthew Jeng and Tina Lu.
There was a three-way tie for the third top scorer: Ryan Kim, Rose Nixon, and Denis Zou. Brian Lee, Alex
Chen and Jim Tang received honorable mention and Alex Maietta received the highest score in the freshman
group.
Michelle Amoresano has signed a letter of intent to attend Rutgers University on a Division 1 full athletic
scholarship for gymnastics.
Mike Poulter has signed a letter of intent to attend East Stroudsburg University for football.
Nickolette Dunbar became the 2015 Morris County Champion in Girls Shot Put by breaking the meet record.
Karl Melchior broke the 400 Freestyle and 50 Freestyle Park Swimming records.
Our Mock Trial Team advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Morris County Tournament held at the Morris County
Courthouse.
The boys and girls winter track teams won 2 state sectional championships. Both teams won the North Jersey,
Section II, Group I State Championship.
Physical Education Students of the Month
Literary Excellence
Whippany Park’s ETCETERA literary magazine
has received an Honor Rating of First Class from
the National Scholastic Press Association and
received a Second Place Award from the
American Scholastic Press Association.
November 2014
Ashley Coppola
December 2014
Andrew Kuzemczak
January 2015
Jordan Sanislo
Service Learning Initiatives
Our Freshman Seminar classes have sponsored the following service activities:
Mrs. Souto’s class collected canned and boxed foods for the Community Food Bank.
Mr. Wilson’s class collected non-perishable foods, toiletries/personal items, cleaning supplies and
household items for The Jersey Battered Women’s Service.
Mr. McCarthy’s class collected canned goods for the Interfaith Food Pantry.
Students of the Month
December 2014
Daniel Blessing
Elizabeth D’Altrui
January 2015
Matt Grasso
Service to Others
Our ERASE and Interact Clubs combined their efforts to
sponsor a Thanksgiving Drive for the Market Street Mission.
Through donations and contributions the clubs were able to
help feed 100 people.
Our Future Educators of America Club sponsored a book
drive that will enable used summer reading books to be
redistributed to students next year.
The Whippany Park faculty raised $160 as a donation to
military veterans as a part of the “Jeans for Troops”
program.
Our Interact Club collected personal care items for military
veterans in conjunction with the American Red Cross.
Musical Honors
Kenny Wang has been selected through highly competitive
audition to the All State Band. Kenny is the third bassoonist
in the state of New Jersey and will represent WP at the New
Jersey Performing Arts Center.
Kenny Wang, Emily Kwon, and Jim Tang have been
selected to the North Jersey Region Bands. Kenny will
represent WP as the first chair bassoonist in the Wind
Ensemble while Jim and Emily will play alto sax and clarinet
respectively as part of the Symphonic Band.
Emily Kwon, Ryan Kim and Kenny Wang have been
selected to the 2014 North Jersey Area Band. These
outstanding student musicians performed in a concert in
January after a successful competitive audition which
included over 300 students from North Jersey.
Emily Hughes has been accepted to the Junior Region Band
and will represent WP at a concert in March.
Chelsea Oliver and Brad Ritschel were accepted into the
2015 North Jersey Region Choir.
February 2015
Iliana Thierwechter
Allie Mangino
Ben Handler
Academic Team Regional Competition
Honors - Regular competitors
Justin Chan Bronze Medal in Math
Honorable Mention in Essay
Tina Lu
Honorable Mention in Math
Highest WP Honors Scorer
Most Valuable Player
Scholastic - Regular Competitors
Brian Lee
Honorable Mention in Math
Jonathan Ng Highest WP Scholastic Scorer
Varsity - Regular Competitors
Aaron Chen Bronze Medal in Social Sciences
Honorable Mention in Language Arts
Bronze Medal in Essay
Highest WP Varsity Scorer
Alternates - Honors Division
Andrew Se Bronze Medal in Language Arts
Matt Jeng
Gold Medal in Math
Spring Sports Physicals
February 24, 2015
Boys - 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
Girls - 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Students should sign up for an
appointment in the Health Office.